Page 119 of Burn

He makes a face, one that’s kind of disgusted and kind of annoyed. Or maybe equal parts of both. “Jesus, Jacey fuckin’ ratted me out on everything, didn’t she?”

I hold up my hand and pinch my thumb and forefinger together. “Little bit.”

Just when I think he’s not going to answer me, he does, and it surprises the hell out of me. “No, I didn’t love Gemma. She was just someone to pass the time with.”

Okay, so like me. Awesome.

My voice shakes when I ask, “Do you ever see yourself falling in love?” I want to punch myself in the mouth for all these stupid questions I’m asking.

He doesn’t look at me. Won’t. “I don’t know.”

My heart deflates. Unsure of what to do next, I return to lying back against him and decide not to ask any more questions about love.

“Have you always been on search and rescue?” I ask after five minutes of silence.

Slowly, he runs his hand over my chest with a bar of soap in his palm. It glides easily, leaving a path of suds in its wake.

The water around me clouds and he inhales, the action moving my chest. “Have you always wanted to run a hotel?”

I raise an eyebrow, twisting my head to look back at him. “Why are you answering my question with a question of your own?”

He shrugs. “Because I’m boring.”

“You’re far from boring, Caleb.” He’s washing me again, and I’m fascinated by the way my body reacts to having his hands on me. I never want to wash myself again. I’ll forever imagine him doing it.

Which could pose a problem if I’m touching myself like this.

“I haven’t always been on search and rescue,” he finally tells me. “I went to college for a year, decided that wasn’t for me, or maybe I was kicked out, I don’t remember.” He laughs, shaking his head against my shoulder, the sound of his laughter shaking me. “After that, I got my EMT certifications and went to the academy. I was a probationary firefighter for a year on an engine up in SoDo, but when I moved over to Station 25, a guy on the truck had just retired, so I got that job.” He sighs and wraps both arms around my shoulders, still kissing me. Contentment for having him this close, opening up to me, makes my heart swell. “I’ve always wanted to be a firefighter. It’s in my blood.” His lips stop moving and his arms tighten. “Maybe that’s why all the men in my family are firefighters. Aside from Kellan. There’s something wrong with him and he went brass.”

I have to laugh at the memory of Kellan finding me stalking Caleb. Not my best day. “I’ve met Kellan. I’d have to agree.”

And then there’s something in the way he asks, “You think I’m crazy for what I do for a living, don’t you?”

He’s remembering my reaction in his truck the other night. I don’t want the conversation heading back there, so I say, “I wanted to be a princess when I was little.”

He lets go of me, his arms resting on the edge of the tub again. “And now you’re making fun of me.”

I turn to face him and wait for his eyes to meet mine. It takes a second, but when they do, I wink. “I’m being serious.”

His jaw flexes. “Sure you are.”

“Iam. I used to pretend this hotel was my castle and someday my prince would come rescue me.”

It takes a minute but the grin returns. “Oh, you mean Judah?”

“Yep.” Raising my hand from the water, I fan myself. “Goddamn did that man sweep me off my feet.”

With very little effort, he scoops me up and I’m straddling him. “And then dumped you right on the king’s lap.” He’s staring at me as if he’s branding my face in his memory, and it seems to frustrate him because he lets go of me completely and runs a restless hand over the back of his neck. “I can’t give you what you’re looking for.”

My heart thuds in my ears. “You don’t know that. I haven’t told you what I’m looking for.”

I’m telling myself not to feel anything for him, begging myself to listen as his lips move to mine. Here’s the thing about falling for someone as quickly as I am for Caleb. You don’t pay attention to anything else around you. I’m clutching him like a stairwell railing, hoping I don’t slip down the steep steps that lead to loving someone like him.

MY PHONE RINGING for the fourth time in a row draws my attention, and I know I need to get it. Anyone who calls four times this early must need something.

We stayed the night in the suite, the sun coming up over the city as we lie in the blue dawn light, lazily talking and him trying to convince me we should talk less and fuck more. His words.

“I’ll be right back,” I tell Caleb who’s on his side, his hand between my legs. “I need to check that.”

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