Chapter Ten
Angela
Well, that was a bust.
I felt the tension coming from Eric’s mom as soon as she opened the door. However, I did my best not to let it get to me. I knew this was a big deal for Eric, bringing a woman home to meet his family. I thought it might be a little awkward, but I figured I’d be able to get his family to warm up to me. Obviously, that didn’t happen, and now I was feeling bummed. Not only bummed but totally out of sorts. I was starting to fall for this man, but not being liked by his mother was a problem for me. I couldn’t imagine being with someone who my parents didn’t accept.
I sighed, lifting my gaze to realize we were just now turning onto my street. The entire car ride had been silent. I got the impression Eric was attempting to calm himself down or trying to figure out a way to let me down easy.
“Thank you for dinner. I can walk myself to the door,” I stated, opening the car door. My movement was stopped by a large hand on my knee. I turned to glance back at Eric who wore a quizzical expression.
“Since when have I ever let you walk yourself to the door? Or open your own door for that matter?” His eyes drifted to my hand on the door. I let my hand fall from the handle.
“Don’t move.” He got out and rounded the car to open my door, just like he always did.
I’m going to miss this, I lamented as we crossed the street to my home. I left the porch light on to make it easier to see. Before I could put my key in the lock, Eric reached out, pulling my arm to turn me toward him.
“I’m sorry about my mother. I don’t know what got into her.”
I forced a smile. “It’s all right. Hey, I’ll see you around, okay?” I quickly turned to insert the key, but before I could turn the knob, I was spun around.
“See me around? I’m a pretty smart guy, so I know a brush off when I hear one. What the hell is that about?”
I shifted my gaze to a point over his shoulder, not liking the feeling rising in the pit of my stomach at the thought of not seeing him anymore.
“I was trying to give you an easy out,” I admitted.
“An easy out?”
“Yes. Since things didn’t go so well with your parents—”
“My mother, you mean.”
I nodded. “Okay, with your mother, I figured that would be the end for us.”
“Why the hell would you think that?”
“Well, you were kind of quiet on the ride over here, so I assumed you were trying to figure out a way to let me down easy. I don’t want to cause any strife between you and your parents.”
“And you won’t. My mother’s issue is her issue.”
Blowing out a deep breath, I folded my arms across my chest. “Eric, family is important. I know how important it is and I don’t want to be the reason you and your mother don’t get along.”
My eyes fluttered shut when he took a step forward, cupping the left side of my face with his hand. In spite of my will to remain firm, I leaned my head into his hand, parting my lips slightly when his brushed against mine. I felt bereft when, instead of deepening the kiss, he pulled his head back.
“You want to know what I’ve learned in the last seven years?”
My eyelids parted to see his serious expression.
“Family isn’t just blood. Family is who we make it. My parents are my family. The guys at my firehouse are my family. And you…you’re going to be my family.” He growled the last part, before his lips took possession of mine. His hand cupped the back of my head, as our tongues dueled. I unfolded my arms, reaching them up around Eric’s neck. He pulled me in tighter by the waist. Feeling his hardness press against my lower abdomen, I gasped.
“Let’s take this inside,” he murmured against my lips.
I hesitated, my brain still foggy from his words and that kiss.
“Angel, don’t think I mind giving your neighbors a show. Open the door or I can pin you to the door and take you right here for all to see.”
Holy shit! I gasped at his words, moisture pooling in my panties. I peered up into his eyes to see they’d darkened, his perfect jaw rigid with tension.
I nodded, then somehow fumbled for my keys in my purse. Once inside, Eric took the liberty of flicking the light on, shutting the door, locking it, and pulled me to him. His lips pressed to mine, again and again. I was lost in the softness of his lips, the hardness of his body, and the pulse of electricity that occurred whenever we touched.
“Which way to your bedroom?” he asked his lips still on mine.
“Down the hall and to the left,” I breathed.
He bent down, swooped me up in his arms, and strolled down the hallway. Kicking the door open, he walked over to my bed and placed me in the middle.
“Where’s the light switch?”
When I pointed to the switch on the wall by the door, he went over and turned the light on, illuminating the entire room.
“I want to see all of you,” he explained. He pulled the T-shirt over his head, and my mouth went completely dry. I struggled to swallow, as I let my eyes drift down over the hard muscles of his chest and the rippling of his six-pack abs as he slowly made his way toward me. I bit my lower lip when his fingers grazed against the inside of my ankle, removing first my right, then left shoe. His hand trailed up my leg along the sensitive skin of my inner-thigh, until it met the seam of my panties. I was never more thankful to have worn a dress in my life. I widened my legs. He leaned down, capturing my lips with his, and I wrapped my hands around the back of his head.
“Ahh,” I gasped when he began rubbing his fingers against my clit through my panties.
“I need you.” His voice was hoarse.
Moving to sit up on my knees so that I was eye level with him, I held his hand to my core and responded, “Then have me.”
From there it was a frenzy, each of us working to undress the other. I felt his hand on my back, pulling down the sides of my dress. My own hands went straight to his belt buckle, fiddling with it, trying to get it undone. I was unable to look down to see what I was doing because I was caught up in yet another one of his kisses. Thankfully, the belt came undone, and I went for the button and zipper of his jeans. By then, he’d pushed my dress down around my waist. He then laid me down again, and stripped me entirely of the dress, leaving me in my strapless bra and black, lace panties. He moved quickly to remove his jeans, but not before pulling his wallet out and placing it on the white wicker nightstand next to my bed. He stepped his long, muscular legs out of his jeans, kicking them aside. Wearing only a pair of boxer briefs, he moved over me on the bed.
He dipped his head again, stealing another kiss. “I can’t get enough of the taste of your lips.”
“I know the feeling,” I laughed, raising up to meet his mouth again. Soon after, he broke the kiss off, moving over my jaw, kissing his way down to my neck.
“Mmm,” I moaned when he bit my earlobe.
Taking my hands in his, he lifted my arms over my head and held them there as he kissed, sucked, and nibbled his way down to my breasts. Once there, he encouraged me to sit up so he could undo the back strap of my bra. My breasts spilled out, nipples tingling and awaiting his hot mouth. Thank God, he did not disappoint. He covered one hard nipple and used his tongue to moisten it, before biting down with his teeth, lightly. He gave just enough pain to make it pleasurable. An electric zap flowed from my nipple down my belly until it reached my core. I threw my head back and moaned when he did the same thing to the other nipple. My legs widened, knees bending, allowing me to raise my hips until my core met with the hardness in between his legs.
“Eric,” I panted and moaned at the same time.
“Shh.” He left a trail of kisses down my belly, stopping to tongue my belly button. My hips shot up, and I pressed my head into the pillow as the feelings of need grew even more intensely. The lower muscles of my abdomen clenched. I inhaled and exhaled in rapid succession, wanting him to move faster, to put out the fire he was stoking.
“Isn’t it your job to put out fires?” I whined.
“Are you feeling hot, Angel?” The rumble of his deep laughter had me growing even wetter.
He sat up in between my legs, placing his palm to my core; the only thing between his skin and mine was the thin layer of lace.
“You are,” he answered his question.
Feeling impatient, I went to sit up, reaching for him, only to be stopped by his large hand. He pressed me back down against the bed with one hand and began removing my panties with the other.
“Let me show you how I put out fires,” he said, lips hovering above my core.
“Ohhh!” I groaned when his tongue made contact with my throbbing clit. He used his tongue to make love to me with his mouth. My toes clenched, and my feet dug into my mattress. I’ve experienced oral sex before, but nothing like this. My pelvis thrust up to meet Eric’s mouth. He said this was how he puts out fires, but I could feel my body temperature rising with each passing second. I struggled for air. His mouth on me could sustain me for a lifetime.
I reached down, placing my hand on the back of his head, holding him in place, out of fear he would move and this marvelous feeling would end too soon. I swear I heard a muffled chuckle, but I was too far gone to know what was going on.
“D-don’t stop!” I ordered, clenching my thighs tightly around his head. The fear of cutting off his airway didn’t even occur to me. A feeling that began deep in my pelvis washed over my entire body, and I began shaking, my orgasm consuming all of me. I did my best to surrender to the orgasm, still feeling Eric lapping up the juices that flowed from me. I turned my head into my pillow, letting out the biggest moan I can remember ever doing. When it ended, I fell back against my bed, breathing hard and more satiated than I’d ever felt.
I opened my eyes to see Eric’s stern face looking down at me.
“You’re fucking fascinating to look at when you come.” His voice was thick, full of awe. He moved, pushing down the black boxer briefs he wore, and the longest cock I’ve ever seen sprang out.
“Holy shit!” My eyes were glued to the thick, veiny snake staring back at me, pointed in the exact direction it was intended for.
Wordlessly, Eric reached over me for his wallet. He removed a condom, then sat back, hand holding the condom, reaching for me.
“Put it on me, Angel,” he ordered.
I sat stunned for a moment, then with trembling hands, I retrieved the gold wrapper from him. Ripping it open, I removed the slippery latex, pinching the tip, and pausing to stare up at Eric. His eyes were sharp, waiting for me to finish this task. His chest rose and fell in rapid succession, telling of his eagerness. I dared to let my eyes fall from his and stare, again, at the monster between his legs. Swallowing, I reached out, placing the tip of the condom on him and then looking up at him, as I rolled the condom down, sheathing him.
Gripping both of my wrists in his hands, he pushed me back to the bed, kissing me as we fell. He moved his hips, aligning his cock with my opening. He bit my lower lip at the same time he breached my entrance. The fire that had burned low, after being nearly extinguished from my first orgasm, began to grow in my belly again. It was a slow burn though, due to Eric’s slow penetration. He moved centimeter by centimeter, allowing me time to adjust to his length and girth. But time wasn’t what I wanted.
“Eric, hurry!” I demanded in between kisses.
“You feel too good to rush.”
I moaned in anguish at his reluctance to fill me up. I broke my wrists free of his grip, wrapping my hands around him, my fingernails digging into the skin of his back, urging him. He grinned down at me but continued, slowly, until our pelvises touched, and he filled me up completely. I had no idea what I was thinking, rushing him. I felt filled to the hilt.
A cocky expression covered his face.
“See what you get for rushing,” he dared to gloat. He didn’t wait for me to respond before he pulled out of me and then thrust back in, this time much quicker than the first time. Every bit of oxygen I had in my body was pushed out of me. He did it again, and again I struggled for air.
“Mmmm,” I finally managed to get out. The feeling of fullness gradually ebbed into a deep sense of bliss. The more he thrust into me, the top of his cock rubbed against my clitoris every time he entered me. I continued to dig my fingers into the skin of his back, needing something to hold on to.
“That feel good?” he asked before biting down on my earlobe.
“Unh-hunh,” I answered, too tongue-tied to respond with actual words. Lifting my legs, I wrapped them around his waist. We grinded against one another’s body, wringing out pleasure I’ve never encountered before. Our lips smacked against one another’s and the bed squeaked as Eric jolted it when he penetrated me. We moved in unison, creating our own little dance, which felt as if it had been made just for us. I don’t know how much longer it took, but I felt that same welling up deep in my pelvic area and knew my orgasm was imminent. Breaking my lips from his, I moved my head back and opened my mouth on a silent cry as my second orgasm flooded every cell in my body.
Moments later, I felt our bodies move, rolling over until I was on top and Eric laid beneath me. Though I was spent, I knew he didn’t orgasm yet, and I wanted to make him feel at least half as good as he made me feel.
“Ride me,” he said.
Doing as requested, I braced my arms―which still felt like jelly from my orgasm―against his chest and sat up. Eric reached up, squeezed my breasts in each one of his hands, and pinched my nipples. I gasped at the pain-turned-pleasure of his ministrations. I began moving my hips, lifting and falling on his thick cock, squeezing my pelvic muscles to tighten around him.
“Shit,” he murmured at the same time his hands tightened around my breasts.
I reached my hands down, bracing his arms to give myself some leverage, and continued riding him like my life depended on it. At that moment, I was pretty sure it did. The smacking of flesh against flesh echoed around the room, along with a mix of moans. A short while later, I felt him swell inside of me, and I looked down at him.
“Come with me,” he growled.
I had no idea it was possible, but somehow his words managed to wring a third orgasm out of me. My climax ripped through me, my hips moving wildly against him, my hands gripping his arms tightly. Eric’s hands remained on my breasts, squeezing as his body jerked. All the while, our eyes remained locked on one another’s. It was the most intimate, passionate thing I’ve ever experienced, staring into my lover’s eyes as we both came.
****
The following morning, I walked out of my bathroom, dressed in my black silk robe. My lips spread when I saw Eric still resting comfortably in my bed. His bottom half was covered in the light pink sheets on my bed, while his top half was bare, his broad back exposed, allowing me to ogle it. His spine rose and fell as he breathed. It was then that I saw a scar that ran about halfway down his back, curving around the side. When I moved in closer, I gasped, covering my mouth with my hand. A feeling of embarrassment overcame me as I saw higher up on his back were fresh nail marks, obviously from my doing the night before.
“What’s the matter?” he asked, voice groggy with sleep.
“I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“I’ve been awake for a while. Even heard you singing in the shower.”
I dipped my head. “What’d you think of it?”
“Don’t quit your day job, Angel,” he retorted.
Giggling, I swatted at him, only for my hand to be caught by his, as he turned over, pulling me onto the bed with him.
“I’m sorry about the scratch marks,” I said, timidly.
“That’s what had you gasping?” he asked, laughter in his voice.
I swatted his arm. “Don’t make fun of me! I got a little carried away.”
“I’ll say.”
I moved from his embrace, grabbed one of the pillows from my side of the bed, and hit him with it, causing him to roar in laughter. He easily yanked the pillows from my hands and wrapped me up in his strong arms to lay back against his chest.
“What’s the other scar on your back from?” I asked before I could think better of it. I hadn’t noticed it the night before, but now that I had my curiosity got the best of me.
“You really want to know?”
“No, I just asked to be polite.” The sarcasm was evident in my tone.
I smiled at the deep sound of his chuckle, leaning back and relaxing my head against him comfortably.
“It happened on a call a few years ago. The guy was high out of his mind and had set a small fire in his house. We came to put it out, and he went crazy and stabbed me.”
“Oh my God!” I gasped, sitting up and turning to him. “Really?”
He nodded. “It was mostly a superficial wound though it obviously left a scar. About a year ago I got a letter at the fire station apologizing. He was in jail and got clean.”
I stared at him, my mouth wide open. He recounted the story as if it was no big deal. As if this guy hadn’t endangered his life, not just by fire, but also physically attacking him. I hadn’t even considered that someone would attack a firefighter. These were the good guys. The ones who came to help.
“You sound like you don’t even blame him.”
He gave a nonchalant shrug of his shoulder. “I mean, what am I gonna do? Still be pissed over a call that happened years ago? The guy apologized.”
“But you could’ve been seriously hurt … or worse?”
He gripped my chin in between his thumb and forefinger, yanking me toward him, pressing a kiss to my lips. He pulled back. “Remember what I told you the other night in my car?”
I frowned, forehead creasing as I recalled that night. “You said you worked with the best of the best, and if anything happened to you, they were your insurance policy.”
“Right. They have my back, and I’ve got theirs. Nothing’s going to happen to me.”
I wasn’t able to respond before he engulfed me in another kiss. I moaned into his mouth, feeling myself falling under his spell, but I moved back before I could get too lost.
“Turn over and lay on your stomach.”
He looked at me quizzically.
“I want to kiss it,” I answered his silent question. I pushed him by his shoulder. He complied, and turned over, exposing his broad back to me. I sat back on my haunches, just examining the muscles in his back. Leaning over, I pressed a kiss to his scar, then another one, and another. I sighed with contentment, stretching up to wrap my arm around his lower back and lay my cheek on his upper back, laying half on top of him.
“What’re we going to do about your mother?”
He made a snorting sound. “What about her?”
I lifted my head. “Don’t say it like that, Eric. She’s your mother. I know you’re upset with her, but I do think she just wants the best for you.”
“You’re the best for me.” He turned over, capturing me in his arms again and gripping my chin. “I meant what I said last night.”
Him telling me I was going to be a part of his family came flooding back. Butterflies began moving in my stomach. I swallowed then sighed into his mouth when his lips brushed against mine. Once again, I lowered my head to lay on his bare chest. After a few silent moments, I laughed slightly, thinking about the other encounter I had yesterday at the gym.
“It seems your mother isn’t the only one upset about us being together.”
“Someone else is giving you shit?” The tone of his voice almost had me regretting my previous comment.
I shook my head to signal that it was no big deal. “It was just Marshall. He was at the gym yesterday and said some things. I think his feelings were a little hurt, which is understandable.” I waved my hand around as if I was shrugging it off.
“What’d he say?”
“Eric, it was nothing―”
“What’d he say?”
I hesitated. “Just that he didn’t expect me to fall for the games of a firefighter or something to that effect.”
“What else?” he asked, forehead wrinkled.
“Uh, he said he thought I was smarter than that or something.”
He gave me a long glare. I could see the wheels of his mind churning but couldn’t read his facial expression.
“It’s okay, Eric. No big deal. Like I said, he was probably hurt. And I mean, I didn’t reach out to let him know that I was now seeing someone else—”
“Which you didn’t have to since you two weren’t a couple.”
“Yes, but…”
“But nothing. Does he go to the gym regularly?”
“Yes, that’s how we met.” I paused. “Don’t do anything. He got the message yesterday after I told him to have a nice life.”
Eric’s jaw clenched before he spoke. “I’m sure he did,” he retorted, but his eyes were staring at something over my head.
I cupped his face between mine. “I’m serious, Eric. Leave him alone, and he’ll go away quietly.”
He turned those dark brown eyes, which often spoke more words than his actual mouth, back to mine. They wrinkled at the edges when his lips formed a half smile. Leaning down, he kissed me. “Okay, Angel.”
I gave him a skeptical look, but he kissed me again, before pulling me into his arms, as he sat back against the headboard of my bed. I turned, so my back was against his chest again. We were quiet for a few minutes, just savoring the feeling of being in each other’s arms. It wouldn’t last all day. Eric had to go to work in a couple of hours and then I needed to open up the bar.
“You have a thing for white wicker.”
I glanced around my bedroom, at the white wicker dressers and vanity, along with the headboard of my bed, which was white wicker as well.
“The picnic basket you used the other week was made of white wicker, too.”
I chuckled. “Yeah, I have a thing for it I guess. I went on vacation a few years back, and the hotel room we stayed in was all white wicker. It was right on the beach. Since then, it reminds me of spending time on the beach. That’s how I feel when I come into my room. It’s my own little getaway.”
“Where’d you go on vacation?”
I began telling him about my trip to Costa Rica that I took with friends as a college graduation present to myself. It was one of the most fun experiences of my life. We talked about other vacations we’ve been on until late that morning when I got up and made us both breakfast. Eric had to leave soon after that to get back to his place, shower, and change for work. I missed him before he even left.