Chapter Seventeen

 

 

 

 

 

Kelly

 

 

 

 

 

“Okay. Bring your right foot up behind you and try to balance.” I kept my hands out, ready to catch the eleven-year-old if she fell, but she stayed upright despite her wobbling. I grinned and nodded after thirty seconds. “Okay, you can put it down. Awesome job, Tanya.”

A proud smile appeared on her face and she reached out to high five the hand I was holding up. “I could have gone for even longer.”

“Oh, I’m sure,” I replied with a wink as I looked over her shoulder at her mom. “She’s doing amazing. I want to do two more sessions but I think my work will be done after that.”

Her mother’s eyes teared up and she wrapped her daughter in a tight hug while looking at me. “You’re a miracle worker, Kelly. I don’t know what we would have done without you.”

“It was all Tanya. I just bossed her around.” I squeezed the little girl’s shoulder and promised to see them both the next week.

Tanya’s posture was perfect and she bounced on her heels while walking with her mom to the door. She’d been assigned to my workload a year before because she had walked with an exaggerated limp due to a muscular deformity she’d been born with. I’d worked with orthopedics to get her fitted for leg braces and we’d done some intense physical therapy. The change was amazing.

It was a Friday afternoon, almost three weeks after my bee sting, and nine weeks since Nick and I had gone to Vegas. It was strange because I was happier in my fake relationship than I had ever been in a real relationship.

Nick and I had a great day to day routine down and were usually together if we weren’t working. He and I could have lived in my bedroom, only resurfacing for the gym, food, and work, but he wouldn’t allow it. We went out at least twice a week, usually to dinner but sometimes to the movies, the batting cages, bowling, street festivals, and we even did a paint and sip class where we each painted one half of a landscape of the ocean.

For someone who had never been in a relationship, Nick was really good at it. Rather than making it all about sex, he made the effort to ensure we spent quality time together. I mean, there was sex and a lot of it, but it wasn’t just sex.

“Do you have anything else today?” Chuck asked and I shook my head.

“My four o’clock canceled so I’m done for the day.” I closed Tanya’s file after I’d written my notes and looked up at him. “What about you?”

He nodded and stretched his arms behind his back, making his muscled chest push out slightly. “She’s running late. Are you going out with everyone tomorrow night?”

“Nope. My parents are meeting my in-laws on Sunday and I’d prefer not to be hung over.”

“That sounds like the opposite of fun,” Chuck replied with a laugh and I nodded in agreement.

“I’m pretty sure Nick and I will both be drinking Sunday night after it’s done.” I grinned at him as I picked up my files from the day. “So, if I come to work hung over on Monday, don’t be surprised. Have a great weekend.”

Chuck returned the sentiment and I put everything away before grabbing my purse and bag out of my locker. I pulled out my phone as I walked to my car and grinned when I saw that Nick had sent me a picture of him cleaning the bathroom.

 

Nick:      Owens has to make sure not to show favoritism. I pulled bathroom duty today.

Me:      If only you pulled bathroom duty at home, too.

Nick:      Nag, nag, nag. You’re such a wife.

Me:      Whine, whine, whine. You’re such a husband.

Nick:      Your husband, beautiful. Don’t you forget it.

Me:      You make that impossible, Nick. How’s work?

Nick:      Not too bad. I lent my charger to Hughes and he left it at home, though. My phone isn’t going to make it through dinnertime.

Me:      Damn, I was going to send some pictures tonight, too.

Nick:      You liar.

Me:      You’ll never know.

Nick:      You’re mean.

 

I laughed as I sat in my sweltering car and put my phone down so I could start the engine. I turned the AC up to full blast and shook my head as I looked out the windshield. Texting Nick was one of my favorite things to do and I dug around in my bag to see if I had my phone cable and wall brick. When I found them, I pulled out of parking lot and went left instead of right.

The fire station that the guys worked at was on the opposite side of New Hope from where I worked and it took me about fifteen minutes to get there. I parked my car in the lot and put the brick and cable in my pocket once I’d stood. The overhead doors were closed on the garage bays so I went in through the lone door at the front of the building.

The front room had a small reception desk but it was vacant. I’d been in the station house a couple of times but only when Nick knew I was coming. I had no idea where to go when there wasn’t anyone to greet me. That didn’t stop me, though, and I headed down the hall behind the desk. I passed both the captain and Simon’s offices but they were empty. I heard voices coming from a little further down the hall and I stuck my head into a large gym. Three guys and Tori were in there working out. Tori was on the treadmill next to Tyson and Gilbert Trujillo was spotting Rowen Barthe at the bench press.

Tori caught sight of me first and she continued running as she grinned. “Hey, Kel.”

“Hey. Is it okay that I’m here?”

“Of course,” she replied, not breaking her stride. “You looking for Christos?”

“Yeah. I brought him a phone charger.”

Tyson laughed quietly and shook his head. “I would have lent him mine. I just wanted him to work for it.”

“I was already in town.” I shrugged my shoulders as I smiled. “Any idea where I can find him?”

“He should be cleaning the women’s restroom. He was down here about ten minutes ago making sure I was out so he could go in.” Tori used her shoulder to wipe her face without stopping. “Head on up. The women’s bathroom is marked at the end of the hall.”

I thanked her and offered up a small wave as I turned and found the flight of stairs. A few people were on the couch watching TV but none of them were Simon or Nick. I checked the first door to see if Nick was in his bunkroom but it was empty so I went down to the bathrooms. I pushed the door open to the small, women’s room and I heard Nick instantly. There were two shower stalls, two toilet stalls, and one changing area. I found my husband standing inside a shower as he wiped down the wall with his back to me.

I moved slowly and when I was right behind him, I immediately ran my hands under his untucked shirt so I could wrap my arms around him. He froze for a second as I rest my palms on his bare stomach and his whole body relaxed when my cheek pressed against his back, right between his shoulder blades.

“Hey, sweetheart,” he murmured without turning around, one of his hands pulling the glove off the other. “What are you doing here?”

I pushed up so I could press a kiss to his neck and stepped backwards. “I brought you a phone charger.”

He turned around with a smile on his face and shook his head as he gave me a quick kiss. “You’re amazing, Kel.”

“I know,” I replied with a shrug and his smile only widened.

“I just need to finish the showers and I’m done in here. Want to wait for me in the lounge?”

I shook my head and loved the way he leaned into my hand when I reached up to touch his cheek. “How about I wait for you in your bunkroom? On your bed?”

“Fuck,” he muttered, taking the obvious hint, and he pressed another kiss to my lips. “Go. I’ll be there in a minute.”

I stepped backwards and raised my brows at him without saying anything and I heard him mutter something else once I’d turned around. I left the bathroom feeling triumphant and I headed for the room I knew was Nick’s.

When I stepped inside, I closed the door and pulled the charger out of my pocket. I was just putting it on top of Nick’s backpack when the door opened and I turned around with a smile on my face. It dropped immediately when it was Chad who walked through the door, not Nick.

“What are you doing here?” he asked with a frown on his face as he closed the door behind him.

I folded my arms across my chest as I held his gaze with my own. “I’m waiting for Nick.”

“Nick,” he said with a scoff as he stepped towards me. “I’m so sick of hearing about Kelly and Nick. I’m not good enough for you but he is?”

“What are you talking about?”

He rolled his eyes and kept moving as I stepped back. The room was small, though, and soon my back was against the wall and Chad crowded me with his chest.

“You know what. How many times did I try to get you to go home with me?” he asked quietly as he braced one of his hands on the wall, his palm next to my head. “The one night you finally agreed, you had to be wasted and even then your cock-blocking sister had to be all nosey. You’ll fuck everyone but you won’t fuck me.”

“Chad.” I shook my head and tried to shrink away from him. “That’s not how it is.”

He narrowed his eyes and leaned in so our faces were inches apart. “No? Then how is it, Kelly? You know you’re no different than those badge bunnies, right? How many firefighters did you sample before you got your hooks into Christos?”

“Don’t be a dick.” I glanced at the door and shook my head again. I wasn’t scared but I knew that, one way or another, this wouldn’t end well. “You make me sound like some sort of whore. I’m sorry that you feel like I overlooked you. It wasn’t intentional but I love Nick. You’re going to damage your friendship with him if you don’t back off.”

He shrugged as his lips stretched into a smile. “All this looks like is that you asked me to come closer. I’ve been his friend for five years. You’ve been his fuck buddy for a few months. Who do you think he’d forgive first, Kelly?”

“Her,” Nick answered for me, his voice a low growl as he stood by the door that was now open. “Get away from my wife.”

Chad’s expression didn’t change and he turned around to face Nick. He shrugged his shoulders for the second time. “Chill the fuck out. We were just talking.”

“I heard more than enough.”

I stayed where I was against the wall with my arms still folded across my chest. I watched as Chad tried to walk to the door but Nick’s hand on his shoulder stopped him. I knew that punches were going to be thrown.

“Nick.” His eyes snapped to mine and I shook my head. “You’re on duty and he’s not worth it. Let him go.”

He stared at me for a long moment before turning back to Chad. “Get the fuck out of here.”

We both watched as Chad walked out of the room like nothing had happened. Nick slammed the door behind him and I was already moving towards him when he looked at me.

“Did he hurt you?”

I shook my head and wrapped my arms around his middle. “It wasn’t like that. Besides, I could have taken him.”

“Yeah, you could have,” Nick replied quietly as he returned my embrace with his own. “Fucking dick. What did he say?”

I told Nick what happened and his grip around my shoulders was almost painful by the time I was done. His cheek rested against my head as I pressed my face into his neck and we didn’t speak or move for several long moments. I could feel the tension emanating from his body and I knew he wanted to go after Chad. I shifted slightly so my lips could graze his skin and his breathing increased when I began to suck gently.

“Are you trying to distract me?” he asked, his voice low as one of his hands gripped my ponytail. I nodded and ran my teeth across his flesh until my lips were at his throat.

“Is it working?”

Nick gently tugged on my hair to tilt my neck even further and his mouth covered my own. His tongue was forceful against mine and he controlled our movements as he poured all of his anger into the kiss. I knew he needed it so I let Nick have complete control and when he reached out to lock the door, I shivered in anticipation of what was coming.

My shirt came off first and Nick’s mouth trailed down my neck as he unhooked my bra. As soon as my breasts were uncovered, his lips were all over them both. I let my head fall back as I tangled the fingers of one hand into his hair and tugged on his shirt with the other. He pulled away from my breasts and took his shirt off quickly before doing the same to my shorts and underwear.

His brown eyes stared into my own as he made quick work of his pants and he only bothered to let them and his underwear drop to his knees before he reached for me. I was still in my sneakers when he lifted me and my back pressed against the door as he thrust his hips against mine. I inhaled a sharp breath and wrapped my legs around his waist tight. Nick’s movements were hard and deliberate but his face was a mask of tenderness as he stared at me.

“You,” he breathed as he shook his head. “You are everything. You are so beautiful.”

I placed both hands on his either side of his neck and kissed him again. Nick continued moving against me as he held my body up. He lifted me even higher and ground his hips into mine, causing me to gasp against his lips. That just encouraged him to do it again and again until my body was vibrating. I couldn’t feel anything and at the same time, I felt too much. The sensations were amazing and I never wanted to stop.

I finally regained cognitive thinking as my orgasm waned and Nick had stopped moving. He stared at me as his breathing came out in pants. My lips slowly curled into a smile and I pressed my cheek to his. We stayed like that for several long moments before Nick stumbled backwards and sat on the bottom bunk with me straddling his waist.

“Thank you, sweetheart.” His warm, brown eyes stared into my own and I smiled as I ran my fingers through his hair.

“You’re very welcome, Nicky.” I watched his eyes flutter closed as my fingernails lightly scratched his scalp. “Don’t get into any fights, especially on duty, okay? I have expensive tastes and I’d be a really bad sugar-mama.”

He laughed out loud and pressed a kiss to my nose. “Expensive tastes. Now that I’m thinking about it, that organic shit that you buy is kind of pricey.”

“That organic shit is going to keep me alive until I’m one hundred, bud.” I lifted my hips from him, breaking our connection, and bent down to grab my clothes. Nick’s hand ran across my naked body and he let out a long, appreciative sigh.

“A hundred years of this ass. I’ll buy us a fucking Whole Foods if that’s the case.”

I grinned as I stepped back into my underwear and the sports shorts I wore to work. Nick’s eyes stayed on me until I was completely clothed and a pout appeared on his face. I shook my head as I bent down to kiss his forehead.

“Just a little more than twelve hours until you’re off, handsome, and then you can undress me again,” I promised with a small laugh as I fixed my ponytail.

Nick stood, drawing up his own pants as he did, and he pressed his lips to mine before grabbing his navy blue t-shirt. He grinned once it was over his head and walked to the door.

“You know, you’re the only girl I’ve ever had in my bunkroom.”

“Really?” I raised my brows and felt a trickle of satisfaction run through me. “I’m impressed.”

He held his hand out to me once the door was open. “You’re the only person who’s mattered enough.”

Something in my chest swelled slightly as I took his hand. I let him lead me out to the common area and my pseudo brother smiled when he caught sight of me.

“Hey, Kel.”

I stepped into his open arms and hugged him tight. “Hey, Simon.”

“What are you doing here?” he asked as he released me and I gestured to Nick.

“Made a delivery. This guy would be lost without me.”

“It’s true.” Nick shrugged and dropped his arm across my shoulders. He opened his mouth to say something else but Chad appeared at the top of the stairs and the man next to me tensed up.

Simon didn’t miss it, either. He followed Nick’s gaze and when he turned back to us, he had his eyebrows raised. “What’s going on there?”

“Nothing,” I replied with a shake of my head as I gripped the hand that was on my shoulder. “Walk me out, babe?”

It took him a second but he nodded and I waved to Simon as we moved for the stairs. Nick, of course, slammed his shoulder into Chad as we walked by him but neither guy acknowledged the other. We didn’t speak as we walked out into the hot, early August sun. When we made it to my car, I ducked in to start it so the air conditioner could run before I straightened up in front of Nick. He pressed a kiss to my forehead and sighed.

“I’m going to move the rest of my shit out of the house and into the apartment, if that’s okay.”

“Of course it’s okay if that’s what you want to do,” I responded quietly as I reached up to rub his cheek with my thumb. “I’m sorry.”

He shook his head slightly and gave me a small smile. “Don’t apologize because my friend is a total douche. I’m sorry that you he ever came near you.”

Nick didn’t give me a chance to rebuff what he had said as he wrapped his arms around my waist and pushed his mouth to mine. I gripped his shirt and kissed him back for a moment. A small whimper escaped my lips when he pulled away and he just chuckled.

“A little more than twelve hours, hot stuff,” he teased, using the words I’d thrown at him just minutes before. I just rolled my eyes and gave him one last kiss as I moved to get into my car.

“See you in the morning?”

Nick bent down and wiggled his eyebrows. “I’ll ‘see’ you tonight when you send me those pictures.”

“Maybe,” I replied with a smirk as I pulled my door closed. Nick looked in my window and gave me a stern look that was hard to take seriously when the corners of his lips twitched. He offered me a small wave and watched as I pulled out of the parking lot.