12-Alarm Cowboys (97 page)

Sugar, there was no way he could. “No. I’m glad you held on because I couldn’t. In fact, I don’t think I could stand right now if you promised me a closet full of lingerie.”

“Really?” Cole’s prideful smirk had her laughing inside.

“I think I could sleep for a week starting right now.”

“Oh no you don’t.” He scooped his arms under her back and lifted her up, so she sat on his thighs, his cock still inside her, her breasts pressed against his hard chest.

The rush of excitement the position caused had her sheath tightening again. She chuckled at his intake of breath. Served him right. “Hmm, I think I like this new position.”

“Racy Lacey, you are going to kill me for sure.” He paused. “Unless you happened to have a couple popsicles that might help me recover?”

She laughed. “Are you still eating orange popsicles?”

“Of course. They are one of the five main food groups.”

She hugged him tight. “Then we better go into the kitchen.”

He pulled back to look at her. “You have orange popsicles?”

“Oh, I’m not sure what flavors I have, but I definitely have popsicles.” She smiled widely, ridiculously pleased she could accommodate his request.

His open laugh shook them both and had her stomach doing summersaults. Both her heart and her sheath approved of his laughter.

Cole grasped her tight and moved one of his legs off the bed.

“What are you doing?”

He ignored her and stood on that one leg. While holding her tight, he moved his other off so he could stand. “We’re getting popsicles.”

Her heart raced as he strode toward her kitchen, keeping them together as if he couldn’t stand to be parted from her. Darn, the man was strong.

When he reached her small kitchen, he must have realized he couldn’t maneuver to open the freezer with her in his arms. She kept her lips closed, curious to see what he would do.

After a couple seconds, he turned around to face her kitchen table. The pale oak furniture was rarely used for eating. Half the time it was where she worked on her computer and the other half of the time it was bare, like now.

Cole plunked her down on the edge and carefully disengaged them. “Cole, what are you doing?”

“Just stay there while I check out what you have to offer.” His gaze roved over her body before he finally turned to the fridge.

Oh gosh, her nipples were hard just from that simple look. What was it about this man that turned her on so much? Cole’s back muscles rippled as his hand searched her freezer. She held her breath, waiting for him to spot the popsicles.

“Ah, here they are.” He bent over, showing her his tight ass and the ball sac that hung below.

Duh. It was pretty obvious why he had her libido revving. The man was built.

He turned around, the popsicle box in his hand, and set it on the table next to her. “Let’s see what we have.” After rummaging through it, he pulled out a red popsicle and handed it to her. “You can have this one.”

She grinned, tickled by his seriousness over the flavors, and quickly unwrapped her designated treat.

“I’ll take this one. It’s the only orange. You must have eaten the rest.” He frowned at her as if she’d committed a sacrilege.

She shrugged, barely holding back a smile, and instead popped the icy tip into her mouth.

Cole’s stare riveted to her mouth. She took advantage of his attention and slowly guided the popsicle deeper, as far as it would go before letting it slide out. Then she lapped up the sides, glancing at him to be sure he watched.

He watched, but then growled and his large hand closed over hers. “Stop.”

She released the popsicle from her mouth and fluttered her lashes innocently. “Why?”

He grasped her chin with his free hand and kissed her, his tongue mimicking the movement she’d done with the popsicle. His hand moved to the back of her head and he didn’t stop until she was breathless. “That’s why.”

Her heart pounded in her chest as she took in large gulps of air to cool down her hot body. She stuck the popsicle back in her mouth and kept it there, letting it cool her mouth.

Cole must have been as hot as she was because he ripped off the wrapper of his popsicle and proceeded to bite hunks off it. She wanted to laugh at how silly they were, but a quick glance at his cock confirmed silliness was the furthest thing from his mind.

She pulled the pop out of her mouth. “Do you like it?”

He looked at her in puzzlement. “It’s a popsicle, what’s not to like?”

“Yes, but it’s a sugar-free popsicle. With all Selma’s cooking, I try to snack light when I’m home.”

Cole shook his head. “I don’t care what size you are.” He bit off the last piece of his popsicle and threw the stick in the trash nearby. Then he foraged in the popsicle box for another.

“You say all the right things, Cole Hatcher.” She lay her hand on his chest, unable to resist touching him another minute.

“And so do you.” He pulled out another popsicle, a purple one.

She bit off the final piece of her own and let it cool her mouth as she handed the stick to him to throw away. “What did I say?”

He unwrapped the popsicle and looked at her, a devilish grin on his face. “Sugar-free.”

“Are you on a diet?”

He opened her legs and positioned himself between them, his hard cock teasing her. “I guess I am. A diet of you. Good to know I won’t be eating any calories.”

“Cole, I think—”

“Lie back.” His command surprised her.

“On the table?”

He nodded. Oh wow, she’d never had sex on a table before. Even as she lay back, her folds moistened.

Cole stared down at her, licking at the popsicle, something he never did. He always bit them. But he made no move to enter her. If he was going to eat that before doing anything, she might fall asleep by time he finished.

“Now put your hands behind your back so you’re lying on them.”

“Why?” Though she asked, she did as he wished, liking how it tilted her opening to a better angle.

He grinned. “Because I don’t want you to stop me.” He took the popsicle from his mouth and circled one of her nipples.

“Oh Cole.” Her nubs hardened on contact and her sheath contracted.

He leaned over and sucked off the purple liquid. Then he did the same with her other nipple. She couldn’t help it. She arched upward, loving the contrast of ice cold and warm mouth.

He ran the popsicle along her lips then licked them clean. Though she opened her mouth, he refused her silent invitation. Instead, he brought the icy dessert to just above her mons.

She swallowed hard. “You can’t.” Her words were barely a whisper and the complete opposite of her body’s wishes.

Once again, he grinned mischievously. “I can.” He lay the tip of the popsicle against her clit and she dropped her hips, trying to run from the cold, but Cole only chuckled. “Come on, Lacey. If you brave the cold, I can warm you up.”

Her heart beat faster, her throat went dry, and her nipples hardened more even as her sheath loosened, wanting intrusion. She nodded, unable to voice her assent.

Once again, Cole lowered the popsicle head to her clit and she forced herself to remain still, experiencing its chilling sensation on her sensitive nub. Within seconds it was removed and Cole’s mouth covered her. He sucked gently then licked all around it. Her body revved at his ministrations, wanting more.

It got more. The popsicle once again lay against her clit, tightening her sheath and bringing every nerve to the breaking point before Cole followed it with his mouth, laving away at the juices. She felt them dripping down to her opening and hoped he followed them there. He didn’t disappoint. His tongue licked all around her folds, readying her for his penetration.

Again the popsicle moved to her clit, her body expecting it and welcoming it this time. But then he drew it down her folds toward her opening and she held her breath. He wouldn’t.

As her entrance grew cold, Cole’s tongue licked at her clit. She moaned at the hot and cold sensation. It was so good. Every part of her was caught up in the maelstrom of sensation, bringing her to the edge of sanity.

Then the popsicle slid inside.

She squealed as her orgasm erupted, ice and fire rampaging through her, making her shiver even as her body heated with exquisite exhilaration. She pulled her hands out from beneath her and grabbed the table as the powerful pleasure hit her.

“Aw shit.” Cole’s voice penetrated her euphoria a moment before the cold popsicle disappeared and he replaced it with his warm, hard cock that forced her sheath to widen.

Her slowing orgasm sped back up as Cole thrust into her, rocking her body on the table, pushing into her until her world exploded again. “Cole!” She yelled his name and he pulled her up to hold against him as he finished his own release.

She grasped on to him, her body shuddering. He was her rock in a microburst of orgasm.

As his thrusts slowed to a stop, he wrapped his other arm around her and held her close. The pounding of his heart against her ear made her feel safe.

“Shit, Lacey, that was…”

She nodded against his chest. There were no words to describe what it was like to have so much pleasure with the person she loved. She wanted to tell him, but her throat closed, her stupid mind still refusing to yield up everything.

Cole leaned back and tipped her chin up. “I don’t know about you, but I’m wiped.”

She smiled sleepily. “Me too.”

He nodded. “Can you wrap your ankles around my waist?”

She did as he asked, switching her arms to link her hands around his neck. Then he strode back to the bedroom as if she weighed nothing. There were definite advantages to having a strong cowboy firefighter for a lover.

Cole sat on the bed. She unhooked her ankles and pulled herself off him, but her knees weren’t ready for her weight, and she stumbled.

He scooped her up and lay her down on the bed. Climbing in beside her, he pulled the light blanket over them.

She rested her head on his massive shoulder. Muscles were so much nicer than a pillow. Then she placed her palm on his chest, exhausted but content.

Cole kissed the top of her head. “I’ve missed you.”

She wanted to respond, even parted her lips, but sleep won and she happily drifted away.

*

The ear-splitting scream
woke Cole faster than the fire alarm at the station, but it took a minute to figure out where he was. The thrashing in the bed finally penetrated and he pulled Lacey against him. “Lacey, wake up.”

Fear coursed through him at her screaming. “Lacey! Wake up!” He shook her and her eyes opened wide.

“Cole.” She grasped him about the neck and sobbed.

Holy shit. Her body shook within his arms and he felt her heart pounding. It had to be one hell of a nightmare. Fuck, his own adrenaline still coursed through him just from the terror in her scream.

Stroking her back with one hand, he held her tightly against him. “It’s okay. Everything’s all right. It was just a nightmare.” To call what she’d experienced a bad dream would be an insult. He’d only heard that kind of fear in a woman’s voice once before when a mother’s baby was trapped inside her burning home and one of his men held her back as Cole raced inside. Luckily, he’d been able to save the child before the ceiling collapsed.

“Shhh, it’s okay now. You’re safe.”

Her head came off his shoulder. “But you weren’t.”

He looked into her watery eyes filled with grief and his heart constricted. She dreamed of him? “Why wasn’t I?” He stroked her tangled tresses away from her face.

“You were trapped in a burning building and it collapsed on top of you.”

A shiver ran up his spine. He had to admit he bought into many of the superstitions his fellow firefighters had. A dream with a trapped firefighter was never a good thing. Then again, it wasn’t his dream.

Her hand came up and pulled his head toward her lips. Complying with her silent request, he kissed her. But it wasn’t his mouth she wanted. She kissed his lips, the stubble on his chin, his cheek and finally his nose.

He pulled away and looked at her. She feared his death. It meant her heart felt so much more than she admitted. A surge of relief washed through him. There was hope for them. “But I’m okay. In fact I rarely go into the buildings anymore and if I make captain, it will happen even less often.” He grinned. “I hope I was doing something heroic like saving someone.”

Her face froze.

“Lacey, what is it?” He stroked her back again, hoping to see color return to her face.

“You were. You were looking for me in the carriage house, but I was outside. I’ve been having these nightmares every night since the fire here.”

His mind raced at her admission. Were her nightmares a reflection of her involvement? He stared into her concerned face. Maybe the Orson fire
had
been an accident. Maybe she’d forgotten to blow out one of the candles she was so fond of using back then. He glanced around the bedroom. There wasn’t a single candle in it. “It could be your subconscious acting out your guilt from long ago. Hopefully, once Sean proves who started this fire, your dreams will go away.”