302 Forbidden Ave. (A Cherry Falls Romance)

I knew that whenever I did give myself to this man, my entire life would change. I knew Braxton would ruin every other man for me, that he was my end-all. I’d only ever crave him, and after his touch, his kiss, I only wanted him.

And it was very clear that he felt the same way too. Now it was only a matter of time before that passion between us exploded, and there was no stopping it.

And I looked forward to that part of my life being irrevocably out of control.

9

Braxton

Two weeks later

Being a firefighter meant my schedule wasn’t typical, not in the nine-to-five, Monday through Friday sense. I worked twenty-four hours on, then had forty-eight hours off. That first day off, I tried to get house shit done, home improvements, daily things for the week so I didn't have to worry about it. But for the last couple of weeks, I was finding that stuff taking a backseat. Because when I was off, all I did was spend time with Amelia, and I didn't give two shits what other aspects of my life were being neglected because of it.

She made everything… better.

I pulled my truck beside the curb in front of her house and cut the engine. It had been two days since I’d seen Amelia because of our work schedules, and to say I was going through withdrawals to see her was a fucking understatement.

Talking on the phone, texting, even the few times we’d video chat on my work days weren’t cutting it for me. Now, more than ever, it was clear I couldn’t simply walk away from Amelia. Even if she asked for space, I didn’t know if I could truly do that. She was too ingrained in me. She was a part of me and forever would be.

I loved her. I was so in love with her that the thought of going even one day without seeing her left me so on edge I was a miserable fuck to be around. The guys at the station had commented on as much.

I put the truck in park and cut the engine, scrubbing a hand over my face. A harsh groan ripped from me. I was constantly hard. Just thinking about Amelia made my cock stand at attention, and seeing as I thought about her all the damn time, let’s just say walking was fucking uncomfortable as hell.

After taking the keys out of the ignition and shoving them in the front pocket of my jeans, I climbed out and walked around to the passenger side to grab the takeout I picked up for us tonight.

She mentioned just hanging out at her place tonight, saying she wanted more alone time. I wasn’t about to argue with that, because it sounded fucking incredible.

I’d ordered an extra-large supreme pizza from Cherry Pie Pizza and picked up a bottle of red wine to go with it—although I wasn’t sure if Amelia would like it, so I grabbed a six-pack of beer but also some soda. I also picked up dessert in the form of cupcakes from Bella’s Bakery, and grabbed a pint of homemade vanilla ice cream from Cherry on Top Ice Cream Parlor. Hell, I was a walking advertisement for the businesses in Cherry Falls.

I put everything that would fit into the large paper bag, balanced that in one arm, grabbed the bouquet of roses I picked for Amelia, and set them on top of the pizza box before picking that up and shutting the door with my hip. Then I headed toward her front door. To say I was all but salivating to see her was fucking lowballing it.

I lifted my hand, about to bring my knuckles down on the wood, when the front door swung open. Amelia stood there staring at me, her eyes bright, her smile wide, and her focus trained right on me.

Fuck, I wish I didn’t have all this shit in my hands so I could pull her into my body.

“I saw you pull in,” she said breathlessly, and I couldn’t help the way my chest tightened at the clear pleasure on her face and in her voice that I was here.

She stepped aside and let me in, and I instantly spotted her table, making a beeline into the kitchen to set the things on it. Her house was small, with the kitchen and living room essentially one space, a small two-seater breakfast counter separating the two areas.

I turned around and saw she was a few feet from me, and I didn’t even stop myself from striding the few steps to her, reaching out and pulling her into my arms. God, she felt good, soft and warm and smelling like peaches and cream. I groaned, unable to stop myself.

Over the past couple of weeks, we’d spent a lot of time together. I’d taken her on dates, to the movies, out to eat. We’d taken walks around the lake. We’d gone to Kissme Bay to ride the Ferris wheel and play mini golf. I’d given her a tour of the fire station, and my arms tightened as I remembered the way the other firefighters had been instantly enamored with her. They couldn’t help it. No one could in her presence.