Warnings and Wildfires

“And what are you planning to do with all this new free time?”

I pretend to think about it for a second. “Spend it with you.” My fingers trail a little higher gently cupping her breast. “Preferably naked.”

To my surprise, she kneels up and strips off the shirt, tossing it aside. I nod and run my hand over my chin. “That’s a good start.”

She hooks her fingers in the shorts, wiggling her hips. “These too?” she asks in a playful way that makes me lean in and kiss her.

“Those too.”

She stops playing with the waistband and puts her hands on her hips. “You first,” she says, dropping her gaze to my shorts.

Last night was pretty dark in here. Now with morning sunlight filling the room, I can really appreciate Sully.

As he tugs his boxer briefs down, any sassy comeback evaporates on my tongue.

Sully. Naked.

Clothed he’s impressive. Naked, wow.

He stands there, allowing me to stare and take him all in, and boy is there a lot to take in.

There’s something magnetic about his confident stance. Not arrogant. Sexy. Showing off his hard work.

“Well, you’re already impressive with your clothes on.” I gesture wildly in the direction of his dick. “But naked with some good lighting, you’re something else.”

“Thank you.” He lifts his chin at my shorts. “Your turn.”

“There’s a lot of daylight in here.” My fingers curl in the fabric at my waist. “I don’t look as good naked as you do.”

He doesn’t respond. Instead, he places one hand on the bed and one on my leg. “No, you look better.”

Curling his fingers, he drags the shorts down my legs. I fall back on the bed, laughing. He drapes himself over me, holding himself up with powerful arms on either side of my head. “What’s with you? I can’t keep my hands off you. And you keep questioning yourself.”

“Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize.” He moves his hips in slow circles letting me feel his growing erection. “I like everything about you.”

I reach up and trap his face between my palms. “I like everything about you too.”

“Good.” He reaches over to the nightstand and the anticipation of what he’s about to do has me spreading my legs wider. Something he notices and given the way he tears into the wrapper, seems to please him.

“How do you feel this morning?” he asks while tugging on the condom.

“I could feel better.”

“Yeah? Something I can help with?” he teases, covering my body with his again. His cock brushes against me and I moan out an incoherent bunch of nonsense.

He does it again, sliding through my wetness.

“Stop teasing,” I beg.

His mouth curves into a wicked half-smile. “That’s the best part.”

We only end up getting out of bed because Aubrey’s alarm goes off.

“Crap! I’m supposed to be at the coffee shop at eleven.”

I cup her cheek and pull her close for another kiss. “Go grab a shower, I’ll make breakfast.”

She hesitates and I raise an eyebrow. “Do you mind grabbing my bag from the backseat of the car? I have a change of clothes in there.”

“Sure. I would’ve grabbed it earlier for you.”

Her shoulders lift. “I like wearing yours.”

“I like you in them.” In fact, I want to see her in them again tonight. “What are your plans after your shift?”

“I guess go home and check on the apartment.”

“How about you come over and I’ll make you dinner?”

She blinks. “You sure you want me here two nights in a row?”

I lean in and press a kiss to her cheek. “Yes, I want you here.” Two nights in a row, hell I wouldn’t mind waking up with her every morning.

She leans into my touch and ducks her head. “Okay. I’ll come by the gym and follow you.” She glances up and her cheeks turn pink. “I was too excited last night to pay attention to how we got here.”

She’s too damn sweet and I kiss her again before letting her go.

All too soon, she’s driving me to the gym and pulling into the back parking lot. She’s late, so she doesn’t shut the car off.

“Hey.” I reach for her face. She smiles when I touch her. A beautiful, sensual smile that reminds me of last night. Her lips part right before I press mine against them. I take my time, memorizing her taste. Wanting her to feel this kiss for the rest of the day.

“Have a good day,” I say when we part.

She blinks a few times. “You too.”

Jake catches me at the back door, grinning wide enough to make me groan.

“Nice of you to show up.” He peers out the back door. “Where’s she going?”

“Coffee shop.”

He nods but is surprisingly quiet. Never a good sign.

“Everything okay here?” I ask, glancing over my shoulder to see if he’s following me to my office.

“Both classes were full this morning.” His voice lacks the annoyance I’d expect after covering two full classes for me.

“Morning, handsome.” Keegan’s slow grin and wide body filling up my office doorway stops me in my tracks.

I turn and glare at my brother. “Can’t you keep your mouth shut?”

“What?” Jake can’t fake an innocent expression to save his ass, but he gives it a solid try. “He wanted to know where you were.”

“Assholes,” I grumble pushing past Keegan.

Keegan’s rumbling laughter irritates me. Eventually, when he realizes I have no details to share, he leaves.

I have a few afternoon appointments, so I focus and prepare for those.

Jake sticks around and helps out more than usual, which immediately makes me suspicious.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

I barely slide through the back door of Busy Beans on time. Brantley shakes his head while I loop my apron around my neck and take my place at the cash register. He’s not mad, but he’ll definitely tease me later.

After the mid-morning rush, customers come and go at a slow, but steady pace. Around three o’clock, the bell chimes and I glance up. Griff’s holding the door open for a tall, slender, dark-haired girl who can’t be more than sixteen. She breezes right up to the counter and studies the baked goods before telling him what she wants.

A slow grin turns his mouth up when our gazes finally collide. “Afternoon, Aubrey. I wasn’t sure if you’d be working today.”

“I’m here.”

He taps the glass case. “Two blueberry muffins.”

The girl tugs on his sleeve and he amends his order to three muffins.

“Anything else?”

“Large black coffee and a Caramel Mocha Frappe,” he orders with a straight face.

“Skinny frappe? Fighters have to watch their weight, right?” My lips quirk. “I assume it’s for you.”

“Ah, funny girl,” he jokes. “I guess we didn’t scare you too badly last night.”

“Nope. I don’t scare easy.”

The girl flounces off to the end of the counter to wait for their drinks.

I raise an eyebrow. “She’s a little young for you, no, Griff?”

He doesn’t laugh. “She’s Remy’s baby sister. What kind of guy do you think I am?”

“Well…”

He snorts and shakes his head. “That your way of saying you’re interested, Aubrey? Jealous?”

Now it’s my turn to snort out a laugh. “No, I’m good. Thanks.”

He slaps his hand over his chest. “Damn, girl. You didn’t even get to see what I can do in the ring.”

“I’m sure it’s breathtaking.”

He grins a little wider. “I saw you and Sully making eyes at each other all night.”

I can’t even hide the smile on my face.

“Real talk?” he asks, leaning in closer.

“Sure.”

“Sully’s a good guy. I got a lot of respect for

him.”

I cock my head and nail him with a glare. “Is that your way of saying I need his permission to work the ring again?”

“Nooo, I’d never put it that way.”

“Griff,” the girl calls, a note of exasperation coloring her voice.

“Be right there, Molly,” he answers without looking away.

“Someone has you wrapped around her finger.”

He laughs, not at all embarrassed. “Pretty much.”

“Hey, is Remy okay after last night?” I ask.

The question seems to surprise him. “Yeah, last night was nothing. He’s taken much worse beatings.”

Molly returns and hands him his coffee. This time she actually acknowledges me. “Did you get to see my brother fight last night?”