Fighting the Flames (Firefighter Romance #1)(24)

She’d really done a number on him and his heart. God. Maybe he was crazy for even considering getting involved with her again. How could he be sure she wouldn’t break his heart a second time? Was it worth the risk? His entire body screamed yes while his mind said no. He already knew which side was going to win that argument.

He heard a sound and he paused, trying to identify it. It came again, louder this time. Someone was knocking at his front door.

Ryan hesitated for a brief second, deciding if he should put on some pants first. Nah, he was covered. He went to the door and swung it open, expecting to see Jim. The last person he expected to see was her. “Jess?”

Her hands were tucked in her back pockets, and she rocked on her heels. “I’m sorry to come over so late, but...”

“Don’t apologize.” He smiled and stepped aside. “Come in. Can I get you something to drink?” Ryan closed the door behind her and walked into the kitchen.

“No, thank you. I’m fine. Lisa and I polished off a couple bottles of wine with dinner.” She laughed.

Ryan leaned up against the counter, crossed his arms over his chest and smiled. “So you’re drunk?” That explained why she showed up at his door.

“I’m not drunk, just a little fuzzy around the edges.” She laughed again.

He remembered how much fun she was when she drank. Her inhibitions were gone, she was more of a wildcat in bed, and she liked to talk. Now would be the perfect time to get the answers he wanted. Jess sauntered toward him, a sultry smile on her face. He reached for her, and she stepped into his arms. “Why are you here, Jess?”

“Do you want me to leave?” She put her palms on his chest and he tightened his hold on her.

“No. I’m just curious why you’re here.”

“If you think it’s because I’m drunk, you’re wrong.”

“Am I?” he asked with a raised brow.

“Mmm hmm.” She lowered her head and puckered her lips against his bare chest. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the feel of her in his arms, of her hot mouth on his cool, still damp skin. “I want you, Ryan.”

Not once had he ever told her no, and he wasn’t about to start now, despite the nagging voice in the back of his mind that told him to stop and talk to her. He held her at arm’s length, ready to say those exact words. But when he looked into her face, he could only murmur, “Fuck it.”

He took her face in his hands and brought her mouth close to his, but he stopped before he kissed her. “I’m all yours, baby.” Then he pressed his lips against hers, his tongue dipped into her mouth for a long drink of her sweetness. He closed his eyes, feeling her against him. And damn if she didn’t feel like heaven.

Ryan slid his hands under the hem of her shirt and lifted it. She raised her arms in the air, and he guided her shirt over her head. Sweet Jesus, she was still braless. That was so hot. Her nipples were already hard, and his erection twitched at the sight of them. He squeezed them between his thumb and forefinger, eliciting a moan from her. His brain felt like it was short circuiting, his synapses frying and catching on fire. He was kissing Jess—his Jess. She was the woman he remembered—hot, willing, unafraid, and just as crazy about him as he was about her. Yet she felt different than she had earlier. She was more connected now than she had been before. Was it because of the alcohol? Did it really matter? She was here, in his arms, and that’s all he cared about.

Ryan lifted her around the waist and set her on the counter. He stood between her legs, which she wrapped around him, her ankles crossed at his back. One of his hands cupped her breast, and he brought his mouth to the other. Jess arched her back, thrusting her nipple deep into his eager mouth.

“Yes,” she hissed as she grabbed handfuls of his hair. He loved it when she did that. “Oh God that feels so good.” He really liked it when she did that too—tell him what felt good, what she liked. Not that he needed the guidance. He knew her body and what she liked almost as well as he knew himself. But still, it was nice to have the encouragement.

“I’m gonna taste every inch of you tonight,” he said with a determined snarl. And he was going to take his time doing so.

“Do you have any idea how many nights I touched myself thinking about you?”

Ryan’s head jerked up, and his eyes bore into her. Conflicting thoughts and emotions rushed through him. First, the thought of her touching herself was so damn hot, he wanted to bend her over right there in the kitchen and screw her senseless; to hell with taking his time. The second was her confession meant she’d thought about him and missed him. And finally, if she had cared, why the hell had she taken off? His arousal teetered on the brink of anger. “Are you serious or are you just talking dirty?” It was hard to tell with her at times.

She chuckled. “I’m very serious.” She took his face and kissed him with frantic need.

Okay, that solved it: sex first, talk second. “Come with me.” He helped her off the counter and led her to his bedroom. He dropped his towel to the floor and stood before her in all his naked glory. Jess caught her bottom lip between her teeth, and gave him an appreciative once over. “Like what you see?”

“Always have.”

He closed the gap between them in a single stride. “My turn.” Ryan removed her shorts. She stepped out of them and kicked them out of the way. He took a moment to admire the view: firm perky breasts that rose and fell with her rapid breaths, hard nipples that still showed evidence of where his mouth had been, flat stomach, pierced belly button, and… she had shaved down there? He had to take a second look to make sure he’d seen correctly. He decided that was one of the sexiest things he’d ever seen. How the hell had he missed that little detail earlier? He thought back. No, there had definitely been hair down there before. Hadn’t there? He couldn’t remember. He’d been so damn excited, he hadn’t paid attention.