FOUR
Blaise
One thing I had registered the minute she’d said she’d had to get to work Thursday morning.
This woman should never have to work again.
I would take care of her.
I was determined to provide for her.
For some fucking reason, she’d been abandoned in life. I could see the hurt all over her face. The way she’d cradled that cat like it was the only thing in life she loved.
I’d love her.
And I was fairly certain I could make her love with me the way her eyes rolled back in her head when I breathed across her skin.
Brianna was so turned on I was fighting every urge in my body not to bury myself between her thighs and fill her up with my seed until she was claimed. I’d never let another man touch what was mine.
“I’m moving you into my bedroom.” I uttered, my lips brushing across her skin with every word. Goose bumps burned up her neck before a faint twitch darted across her lips.
Her eyes cut to me before she replied. “What makes you think I want to be there?”
I arched an eyebrow. “I know what a woman looks like when she’s turned on.” I pressed a thumb to her inner thigh, sinking into her silky flesh. “Your breath comes out in sweet little pants.”
Her eyes darkened, her breaths doing just that thing I was talking about. So fucking cute.
Cute.
Christ, for the first time in my life, a woman had me by the balls.
I pressed another hand behind her back and slid her closer to me. As if on instinct, her arms draped around my neck, her body molding a little more perfectly to mine.
“I’ll stay, but the cat stays with me.” She grinned against my neck.
The sweet lilt to her voice slammed straight into my balls. I groaned. “The cat doesn't like me.”
“You’ll grow on him. It takes time.” Her fingers whispered across the short hair at my neck, my cock growing with every fucking pass of her sweet little fingers.
“If that’s what it takes to get into your pants…” I cupped her cheek, sliding the pad of my thumb across her lush lips.
“You're such a pervy old man.” She swatted my shoulder playfully.
“See? I knew it!”
“Knew what? That you're pervy?” She slid off the counter, taking extra time to wiggle against my crotch.
“That you thought I was old. I should have lied about my age.” I wrapped my hands around her waist, nestling her under my heavy arms, just where she belonged.
“Nah, I just like to tease you.” She stuffed her hands into the back pockets of my jeans. “I think you’re really sexy, Chief Michaels.”
Sarcasm dripped from every word.
“You might be the most dangerous person I’ve ever met, Brianna Foster.”
“Oh, yeah?” She grinned up at me, smile wide and playful. “Why’s that?”
“Because you make this old heart feel shit again. Didn’t know it was possible.”
Her eyebrows shot into her hairline. “Romantic, aren’t you?”
I shook my head, pulling her a little closer. “’Nother piece of old wisdom, sweetheart. Words mean shit, it’s actions that matter.”
She hummed against my chest. “I’m starting to learn that.”
“Good, sweetheart. You're gonna have a lot more learnin’ to do.”
She swatted me again, laughing before swiping at a small tear hovering on her eyelash.
“You okay?”
“Great.” She grinned, another stubborn tear forming. “I have no home, not a single thing to my name, but somehow…that doesn’t matter because I’ve been swept off my feet by this cocky knight in a firefighter suit.”
I crushed her a little closer, soothing her with hands on her back. “Shit only gets better from here, Brianna. I can promise you that.”
“Thanks, but I can’t accept—”
“You can, and you will. Starting with quitting that job and enrolling in classes full time. You got a dream? You should follow it. Don’t let something like bills get in the way of that.”
“What, are you insane? I’m not quitting my job.” She backed away, arms over her chest and instantly defensive.
“Why not? Seems like a good offer. Hang out here with me, study when I’m fighting fires. Live the dream with me.”
“The dream? Jesus, you’re the most incorrigible man I’ve ever met, Blaise Michaels.”
“I prefer determined.”
She shook her head, eyes rolling up and down my body.
“Call them and quit. Tell them you need time to heal. They’ll understand.” I thrust my cell phone at her.
Her eyes narrowed as she swiped the phone from my hand and mumbled. “What kind of name is Blaise anyway?”
I grinned, watching her punch in the number before she huffed and held the phone to her ear. “Hi, Michelle?” Her eyes held mine as she spoke. “Hey, I just wanted to call and let you know there was a fire at my apartment last night. I’m fine, but I have a shift on Thursday—” She paused, at which point I imagined Michelle saying something about taking time off.
I crossed my arms, waiting for Brianna to interrupt her and tell her she was quitting.
Done.
Traumatized. Focused on school. I don’t give a shit what Brianna told her, I just didn’t want her to worry about anything from now on. I could give her anything she needed.
“That won’t be necessary.” Brianna continued. “I just wanted to let you know what happened before you heard about it on the news or something. But I’m fine, and I’ll be there for my shift Thursday. Thanks, Michelle. See you Thursday.” Brianna hung up and handed me back my phone, smug smile pulling at her cheeks.
“This is going to be a lot harder than I anticipated.”
The bastard cat chose that moment to curl around her feet, meowing so loudly I swear he’d call in wild cats.
“Jinx is going to need a litter box.” She picked up the cat, snuggling into his sooty gray fur.
“Of course he is.” I grabbed my keys and shoved them in my pocket. “I’ll get him something out of the garage. Get changed, and we’ll head to town. Sweat pants will be a little big, but they’ll have to do until we can get you something else.”
“Blaise, just bring me back to my apartment. I know it’s not livable at the moment, but I can get a few things.”
I paused, watching her from across the kitchen. “Brianna…”
She cocked her head, innocence radiating through every feature. For as smart and cocky as she was, she was still fragile. I could see it coming off her in waves.
“There was a back draft, took out the entire second floor. The structure caved in.”
“What?” Her eyes widened.
I nodded, pulling her into my arms and soothing her all over again. “I’m sorry.”
“All my stuff… Shit!”
“At least you got Jinx,” I attempted lamely before the surly beast snarled and swiped at my hand. “He’s a lucky little fucker.”
She rested her head on my chest, breath heating my skin, my nerves, my very heart. “I can hear the sarcasm in your voice.”
She was right; that was sarcasm.
He wasn’t lucky, he was a little asshole, but if it took me rescuing him to find her, then I was mighty glad I’d found him.
I was the lucky one in this odd little threesome we had going.