Light up the Night (Firehouse Three #2)(19)

“Everly, wait.”

His hand closed gently around her wrist and he turned her to face him. Her eyelids slammed shut in self-defense. Being this close to him, smelling how beautiful he was, if she saw him too? She was a goner.

“You bought me tonight. That means we’re going on a date.”

“No, I just made a donation.” She spoke quickly, without opening her eyes. “You don’t have to go out with me.”

His breath blew across her lips as he answered.

“But I want to.”

The heat from his body burned her up from the inside. She knew without looking that he was only centimeters away. Leaning forward just the slightest bit would let her touch that beautiful, hard body. Being in his arms again had consumed her dreams ever since he’d kissed her the first time.

“Everly.” Her name sounded so beautiful on his lips.

She couldn’t stand it any longer. She opened her eyes. There he was, head tilted slightly, lips aligned with hers perfectly, just waiting for her consent to kiss her.

God damn his chivalry.

Slamming the door on her logical brain, she gave in. Arms twining behind his neck, the loop of Gossamer’s leash sliding up her arm, she pressed her lips to his. As if he’d been waiting all day for the opportunity, he devoured her.

Lips, tongue and teeth explored her, his deep groans wrenching answering pangs low in her belly. Her blood pulsed and roared in her ears as his broad, strong hands swept down her back to cup her ass and lift her high and hard against his erection.

Jesus, he felt thick and hot against her belly. Her panties were damp against her slick skin as she pressed her hips harder into him.

His fingers dug into her ass as he lifted her higher. Mouth on mouth, he tasted her deeply. She tangled her own fingers into the hair at his nape, the tousled, dark strands silky to her touch. He possessed her, her every nerve singing with his touch. The feel, the smell, the taste of him, all of it blacked out her senses until he was the only real thing in her world.

That is, until he pulled away.

She blinked, and blinked again. Her brain came online in segments. First her sight, and there he was, gorgeous, but smiling ruefully. Then her balance, as she swayed slightly, remembering she was standing on her own two feet. Finally, her ears came back online.

And then she heard the last catcalls from the door of the building.

“Woo-hoo! Way to go, Everly!”

Shit. Shit, shit shit. Charlie was there, along with Hannah, Frieda, and Roger, all of them Hopeful Paws volunteers. They were grinning at her, waving and jumping and generally making a massive deal over what they’d just seen.

“This is—I—” Everly stopped, her face burning like mid-July in the desert. “Fuck.”

“That was sixteen hundred well-spent, huh, boss?” Charlie laughed as she and the rest of the volunteers walked toward the extra van they’d rented to bring the pups to the festival. “Don’t worry about the rest of the loading, we’ll take care of it. You go and enjoy your date. Leave your car at the shelter, I’ll pick you up tomorrow.”

Everly’s mouth fell open, but coherent words refused to come out. Charlie grabbed Gossamer’s leash and gave her a wink before walking away.

“Come on,” Drake said, and Everly didn’t have the presence of mind to refuse when he led her away.

What the actual f*ck?



The stunned look on Everly’s face was actually pretty cute, but Drake had a sneaking suspicion that once she could think again, she was going to be pretty upset at her staff seeing their make out session. Only one thing he could do.

He led her to the parking area and unlocked the cab of his pickup. Helping her up into the passenger seat, he stayed quiet.

The engine rumbled to life, and he put the truck into gear.

“Where are we going?”

“Somewhere so you can have your meltdown without an audience.”

“Meltdown? I’m not going to have a meltdown. Why should I have a meltdown? Because everybody and their brother saw me shoving my tongue down a sexy, half-dressed guy’s throat?” She dropped her face atop her knees and groaned. “Jesus f*ck.”

“Exactly,” Drake said, a knowing smile escaping as he turned from the lot. “Go ahead, baby girl.”

Her grunts of outrage and embarrassment were muffled by her hands, and he tried not to laugh. He really did. Biting his cheek kept the worst of the sounds from coming out, but she heard him anyway.

“What’s so funny?”

“You are. You’re cute when you’re pissed.”

“I’m not pissed, I’m mortified. And it’s your fault.”

“My fault?” They were stopped at a light, so he took the opportunity to hike an eyebrow in her direction. “You kissed me, sweetheart.”

“I only did it because you’re gorgeous, half-naked, and you were about a quarter-inch from my face.”

“If you want to blame anything, blame your lips for being so kissable. I was helpless against you.”

Everly slumped back against the truck’s bench seat, her skull thumping against the headrest. “What am I going to do?”

“Well, right now, we’re going back to my place so I can shower and put some clothes on. And then we’re going to figure out where to go on our date tonight.”