Chapter 6
Gael wasted no time getting to his house. He wondered what she thought of him breaking the speed limit in his rush to get home. He tended to be the staid one of the two of them when it came to driving. Pulling into the garage, he cut the engine and shifted sideways in the driver’s seat. She did the same, facing him, careful to keep her injured foot from hitting the middle console.
He tucked a stray strand of her auburn hair behind her delicate ear. “Is this what you want, mi sol? Because it can’t be undone, and I’d never want to lose what we have.”
She studied him in the half light, as serious as he’d ever seen her. She seemed to be searching, or waiting, for some type of sign. What was he missing? What were the magic words to help her understand exactly what making love with her meant to him?
And then he understood, because her fears weren’t so different from his own.
“I love you, D.J.,” he confessed. “I think I always have. It’s only been this last year that I realized I wanted… no, I needed, something stronger, deeper, than just friendship.”
Tears pooled in her eyes, and for a brief moment he worried he’d screwed up when she remained silent.
Touching her was imperative. Gael reached for her hand, entwining his fingers with hers.
“Is this what you want?” he asked again.
She closed her eyes and nodded, seemingly too overcome to speak. The simple gesture was enough for him. The fear keeping him frozen in place dissipated. He cupped her jaw in both hands and dropped a soft kiss on each of her eyelids, on the tip of her nose, on the corner of her mouth, and then on the opposite corner, before concentrating more fully on her full, ruby lips.
He teased them open and slipped his tongue inside. He met no resistance. Indeed, she became fired up, clutching at him and pulling his body closer.
“Inside,” she murmured when he drew back to take a breath.
“That’s my goal,” he returned as he dove for her again.
“No,” she laughed, giving him a little shove. “Let’s take this inside.”
“Your wish is my command!”
Gael climbed out of his truck and moved to her side of the vehicle. She had already opened the door and was balancing on one foot. When she lifted her arms to him, so trusting and full of anticipation, his heart seized on the spot. This was D.J., and their lovemaking was really going to happen. Was he dreaming? No, she was flesh and blood. The idea of fucking her senseless had his cock filling with blood and throbbing behind his jeans. If she looked down, he was certain she’d see his desire for her was in full bloom.
He hefted her into his arms and stared down into her wondrous gray eyes.
“Am I too heavy?” she teasingly asked, lightly trailing her fingers over his lower lip.
He bit the tip and laughed as she scowled.
“A mere feather,” he told her huskily.
“Good, then what are you waiting for. Let’s get this show on the road. You’re hot as hell, and I’m horny.”
“Fuck me, sweeter words were never spoken!”
Her laughter triggered his own. Their mutual amusement fit like an old hat. Comfortable and effortless. They shared the same sense of humor. Perhaps it was one of the things he enjoyed the most about her.
The trip to his bedroom was made in record time. When she would have hurried the removal of clothing, he stilled her hands and forced her to slow down. Anticipation was a huge part of the fun. “Slow down, mi sol. We have all night.”
She whimpered, and he laughed again. His D.J. was adorable on every level. His. While the dream of them seemed like it had been one he’d held forever, the reality was so much better.
As her hands fumbled with her buttons, he replaced hers with his. With each exposed inch of skin, he ran his tongue along the opening of her blouse. Her mewls of pleasure had him rock hard. Still, he denied her, taking his time and teasing. When he’d removed her shirt, he started on her jeans. Gael eased them over her hips, stopping to grab handfuls of her luscious ass. He circled around to run the tips of his fingers below her pantyline. He toyed with her, lighting on her clit with his index finger and then backing off.
When she growled, he laughed again. After she was completely naked, he stepped back to appreciate the beauty that was Dallas. “Oh, mi sol,” he breathed. “You were well worth the wait.”
Dallas snapped. One second he was in charge, and in the next, she was ripping at his clothes. Because his own patience was at an end, he aided the cause and stripped down in nothing flat.
Their mouths collided and they tumbled onto the bed. Gael was careful to twist so he took the brunt of the fall. With her on top, feeling the friction of her soft body on his hard edges, he found himself unable to wait. He positioned her thighs to straddle his hips and plunged into her in one fell swoop. Her gasp had him initially wondering if he was too forceful. He paused for as long as she would let him, and then resumed thrusting when she grunted in irritation.
With her auburn hair tumbling over her shoulders—the curls playing peek-a-boo with her dusky nipples, her back arched, and head thrown back, Dallas reminded him of a warrior princess, taking what she wanted and leaving no prisoners.
She shifted to lean over him, brushing her breasts against the rough hairs of his chest, teasing him with her hardened nipples. Picking up the pace, he surged upwards as she rocked down, grinding her hips to his. The slap of skin on skin echoed around the room.
Her chant of “Ohgod, ohgod, ohgod!” had him ratcheting into high gear, pumping for all he was worth until she collapsed against him and bit his shoulder to stem her scream. The pain sent him over the edge to his own climax, and he shouted her name. The sound ricocheted off the bedroom walls and reverberated back to him.
“Jesus Christ! I think you’ve killed me,” he panted, arms spread wide.
“Mmmm, but what a lovely way to go,” she murmured, lips against his neck.
Gael’s arms closed around her, and he made long, lazy strokes along her back and thigh. “Yes it is.”
Dallas giggled and nipped at his chin.
“Who knew you were a biter?”
“I love to bite. I’m not sure what it is about gripping your mate between your teeth, but…” she trailed off with a shrug. “Do you mind?”
“Not really. As long as you don’t draw blood or get those chompers within two feet of my dick, we’re good.”
“You don’t want my mouth on your dick?”
“Now I didn’t say that! Let’s not be hasty.”
Her giggle had him chuckling. God, he loved this woman.
“I’m hungry. Are you going to make me the dinner you promised?”
“What did I promise? I might have only said it to get you into bed.”
“Let’s put it this way, if you don’t make my Mac and Cheese, my chompers are going to be biting your dangly bits.”
“You’re a bloodthirsty wench, mi sol.” He said with a heavy sigh. “I’ll be right back.”
“As the lady requested, artificial Mac and Cheese.”
Dallas accepted the bowl with an appreciative sniff of the steaming contents. “You sure know how to make a girl feel special.”
“You’re easy.”
She looked up sharply. “Why? What did you hear? I thought they removed my number from the men’s room wall?”
Gael let out a snort and slid under the sheets to position her in front of him as he rested back against the headboard. In between feeding him forkfuls of the pasta, she arched her head back to nibble his lip, offering up love bites. He couldn’t recall a sexier meal. If he lived to be one hundred, he would never grow tired of sharing a bowl of Mac and Cheese with Dallas.
“What do you want to do tonight?” he asked and rested his jaw atop her mussed auburn curls.
“We’re doing it,” she sighed contentedly, placing the empty bowl on the nightstand. “Do we ever have to emerge from our love nest?”
“Someone has to get food and household supplies on occasion, mi sol.”
“What about that nice restaurant manager, Joe? He said he owes us. I’m sure he would deliver food.”
“Ya think? Indentured servant might be a slight bit more than he bargained for.” Idly, he reached a hand between her legs to caress her. A thrill shot through him at her body’s immediate response. “But enough about Joe. I’ve something else I want to discuss.”
“Later,” she panted, shifting to face him and straddling his lap. “Much, much later.”
Dallas woke, disoriented and uneasy, with her heart pounding. A touch of her cell phone screen showed the time to be two thirty-four a.m. She could see Gael’s profile in the faint light and turned on her side to study him fully. The man was beautiful, though she’d never tell him. He’d be offended. He’d insist on being called ruggedly handsome. She supposed he was to a degree, but the straight nose, high cheekbones, and defined jawline all worked together to create a perfect specimen. The urge to trace his features was strong, but she didn’t care to wake him since he was back on duty in a few hours.
“Why are you staring at me?” he murmured the question, sleep heavy in his voice.
“Sorry. Did I wake you?” She gave in and traced his jaw, scratching his stubble in long, slow strokes.
“No. Why are you awake?”
“A disturbance in the force,” she quipped. Her fingertips found their way to his mouth and traced his upper lip. The plumpness which nature had graced him with was something women paid good money for.
“You too?”
She stopped what she was doing and met his eyes in the semi-dark. “What do you mean?”
“I’m not sure. I feel—do you smell smoke?” He shot up, pausing to sniff the air like a wild animal. “Fuck! Get up! Get up!”
Not needing to be told twice, Dallas surged up from her prone position, grabbing her phone and reaching for the crutches resting against the nearest wall.
By the time she turned in his direction, he was dressed and charging across the room to her with an oversized shirt and sweat pants.
“Wrap up in the sheet. I’m dumping you out the window. Hurry, D.J.”
“What about you?”
“I’ll be right behind you.”
Panic seized her when he avoided her eyes. He was lying. “Gael, don’t even think about going to find the source.”
“I’m not arguing. There are things I need to try to save. Now move!”
She dialed the emergency number and wrapped in the sheet simultaneously. True to his word, Gael placed her just outside the window and handed her crutches out behind her.
“911, what’s your emergency?”
“I need to report a house fire…” She stayed on the line and gave details as she worked to move away from the house, all the while pulling clothes on without flashing the growing mob of neighbors.
Seconds turned into minutes which seemed like hours because Gael had not returned. Trucks from Stations 58 and 34 arrived on scene, and now nearly three quarters of the ranch style building was up in flames. Beside herself with worry, Dallas hobbled over to meet the crew. “Gael’s still inside!” she shouted over the noise.
Tory Mallory swore and charged for the entry. Three more firefighters joined the search for Gael, as others rolled out the hose in preparation to fight the blaze. She hadn’t been aware of sobbing Gael’s name until a female member of the unit hugged her tight.
“He’ll be fine, D.J. Don’t worry. Now get the fuck out of the way so we can do our job.”
The reassurance and casual reprimand to stop hindering them did the trick. Dallas moved to an out-of-the-way location and went to sit with two of her co-workers. At the very least, Gael would need oxygen when he was brought out. She intended to stay by the paramedics while he was treated.
Two shadows appeared, backlit from the raging fire behind them. She could tell one was a firefighter from the outline of his gear. Instinct told her the other person was Gael. The relief was palpable. The rage following on its heels was uncontrollable.
“Are you hurt?” she demanded, shifting both crutches under one arm to feel he was real.
“No,” he said, contradicting himself with a fit of convulsive coughing.
“You idiot! What the fuck were you thinking? You could’ve gotten yourself killed! Did you think of that?” If her voice was shrill and high enough to break glass, it was to be expected.
She tried to follow as Gael was led away to be treated, but Tory held her back. “Jennings,” he barked. “Knock it off. He’s inhaled a lot of smoke and his lungs have to be be feeling as if an elephant is compressing his chest right about now.”
Embarrassed by her outburst and the fact she’d needed to be reprimanded, Dallas nodded tearfully and charged toward where Gael sat on the step of the paramedic rig. She balanced on her crutches, watching him breathe in oxygen as his vitals were checked.
His tired honey eyes bore into her remorseful gaze. “I’m sorry,” she mouthed.
The crinkling of the skin around those heavenly eyes indicated a smile, though it was a little more difficult to tell with the oxygen mask over his mouth. He waved away the first responders, Cary and Terry, then opened his arms to Dallas. She flew into his embrace with a sob.
Just like the others she’d loved, she almost lost him to an inferno. The cold started in her core and flowed out from there. Shivers wracked her body. The reality of the situation, of nearly losing Gael, was too much to process. The last words she heard were Gael’s “Christ! Get me a blanket, she’s going to pass—” as her world went dim.