Fighting the Flames (Firefighter Romance #1)(63)

“Great. Just what I always wanted.” She looked him in the eye. “I'm glad you're okay. I was really scared you were dead.”

“I'm fine. No harm done.” His lips twitched.

“Still if anything had happened… I mean, you've gone out of your way to help me…” She lowered her head finding herself at a loss for words.

Toby lifted her chin with his finger, lightly stroking the line of her jaw as she held her breath. Warm blue eyes stared into hers. Something in the way he studied her caused a tingle with an old familiar sensation. Desire coursed through her body.

“Nothing happened to me that I couldn't handle,” Toby said. “It was you I was worried about. Still am, actually.”

For a moment, they stared at each other.

“Oh, to hell with it.” Jacqueline closed her eyes and slanted forward, putting all her energy into planting a deep, passionate kiss on his lips.

Toby’s body froze but didn’t draw himself away. She lingered as the ice in his muscles melted. Strong arms encompassed her, spinning and pinning her to the wall. Her mouth parted in a silent moan as his tongue teased her bottom lip. Sparks ignited, lighting the living room behind her closed lids and within her core. The current of heat and passion intensified as she wrapped her arms around his strong body, pulling them closer.


More. Please give me more.

As if hearing her thoughts, his hands skimmed underneath her shirt and touched her skin. His fingers practically sizzled with heat as he stroked her flesh, and she savored the fire on her tongue.

She let her mind go, allowed the fervor burning her cheeks to sweep through her form. Images of falling into bed with Toby replaced the nightmares. The thought sped her heart as it slammed into her rib cage. His groan overpowered the haunting voices of the past and the truth she realized. No kiss had ever affected her like his.

“Wow.” Matilda stood in the doorway. “Now that is some crazy shit with all the sparks and stuff.”

Startled, Toby and Jacqueline broke apart and looked at the older woman. Tears were glistening in her eyes.

“That reminds me of the first time your father and I kissed, Toby. He was a helluva good kisser.” Matilda grinned at Jacqueline. “Tell me, sweetie, is my son any good at kissing? I figure he must be since you guys were literally sparking.”

“Mom.” He dug in his pants pocket and pulled out a set of keys. He threw them at her, but Jacqueline’s mind reeled over him calling her mom. “Take the keys and go.”

With a cry of delight, Matilda grabbed them.

“Mom?” Jacqueline tilted her head, studying Toby. “Matilda is your mother?”

“Uh-huh.” The pink in his cheeks deepened.

“How come I never knew that?”

“Because she's not exactly…” Toby lowered his voice. “She's not right in the head.”

“I heard that.” Matilda spun and stuck her tongue out at them.

“Yeah, she told me earlier that she thinks she's a dog,” Jacqueline said.

“I am a dog.” Matilda shrunk down, losing her human form and changing into the shape of a wolf-like dog. Jacqueline squealed. The keys to Toby's bar were in her mouth, and she cocked her head to the side as if to say, “See? I told you so.”

“Is she a Siberian husky?” Jacqueline asked inching closer to him.

“Yeah.” Toby reached for her hand and squeezed. “That's my mom. My dad married a shape-shifter. Because he was a wizard, they had all kinds of issues with the Brotherhood. Wizards aren't supposed to marry other supernaturals.”

Matilda barked and wagged her tail.

“But your dad isn't living anymore?”

“No, he passed a long time ago.”

Jacqueline thought a bit of frost came into Toby's tone at the mention of his father.

“Wow.” Jacqueline slipped from Toby’s side and sunk into the couch, fanning herself. “I think I might need a break.”

“What do you mean?” Toby leaned over the back of the sofa, and the hairs on her body stood at attention as if awaiting his touch.

She twisted and faced him. “Well, in the last twenty-four hours, I found out I'm a banshee and that you and my husband are wizards. There is another wizard trying to capture me so that he can control my new gifts. Your mother is a dog. There's a kid in the kitchen that looks like your dead son and the murderer of my husband.” She took a deep breath and blew it out. “When we kissed just now, there were literally sparks jumping around everywhere, and not less than thirty minutes ago, I accidentally killed you.” Jacqueline forced a tight smile feigning indifference but that kiss had ignited her inside and out. “I need a few hours to process all this.”

A breeze chilled her damp neck. Toby knelt beside her but didn’t reach for her. “Hmm… I see what you mean.” Toby's face reflected seriousness, but a hint of humor danced in his eyes. “How about you take a little time to… what did you call it? Process? Take the time to do that, and we'll figure out a game plan.”

Relief exhaled as her breath hissed through her teeth. “Sounds good. I think I'll call my mom and find out about this O'Grady thing, too.”

Toby stared at her, uncertainty in his eyes. Beside him, Matilda wagged her tail and panted.