Page 10 of The Smokejumper's Lady
“It’s not about routine. Wildfire doesn’t care about your schedule, Clea.”
She squares her shoulders, her jaw tightening. My words clearly hit her hard, but she’s trying to stay in control of her emotions.
She blinks, looking down at her hands for a beat. “I didn’t know. If I had, I never would’ve taken them there.”
She tries to tilt her head so I can’t see, but I catch sight of a single tear leaving a track in the soot on her face. I realize she’s still shaking slightly from shock.
Damn it. Now I feel even worse for grilling her.
Hating myself for causing her any amount of pain, I exhale, stepping toward her slowly. “Hey. I’m not saying it to blame you. You kept your group calm, and kept that kid safe. Most people would’ve panicked. You did good.” I reach out and brush away another tear from her cheek. I can’t help it.
Fuck, her skin is just as soft as I imagined.
She glances up at me, something softer in her eyes now. “That sounded suspiciously like a compliment.”
“Don’t let it go to your head.”
Her mouth quirks. “Too late.”
We hover there for a moment, the air between us becoming charged again, crackling like embers catching dry pine. I should sit. I should back off. But all I can think about is her mouth. Her legs. Her curves and the way she looked at me in that chopper—like she’d let me touch her if I wanted to.
God help me, I want to.
“You always this bossy?” she asks, lifting one brow at me.
I step in closer, crowding her knees. “Only when it counts.”
“You think chewing me out in a trauma room counts?”
“You were in danger. I didn’t like it.”
She studies me, and something in her gaze flickers. Her lips part slightly. “You don’t even know me.”
“Feels like I do,” I murmur, reaching out to brush a thumb along her cheekbone again, leaving my hand there this time, holding her face like it’s something precious.
What the hell are you doing, Lewis?
She doesn’t pull away. Her breath catches, lashes fluttering low. My hand slides into her hair, and I tilt her face toward mine.
She leans in.
Fuck.
That’s all I need.
I slowly lower my mouth to hers, giving her time to pull away, to jerk me out of this trance she has me in, but her mouth meets mine, her lips parting eagerly for me. She sinks into me, making this sound in the back of her throat that shoots straight to my cock. I grab her waist, pressing her body closer to mineas I deepen the kiss. She fists the front of my shirt, pulling me between her legs, and I reach down and press my palms to her thighs, spreading her open, anchoring her to me.
This is madness, but I can’t pull back now.
“I need to check you,” I murmur against her lips.
Her brow creases. “Check me?”
“Yeah,” I say, lips dragging along her jaw. “Thorough inspection. Head to toe. Make sure you’re not hiding any smoke damage…or bruises…or sensitive spots.”
“Ryan…”
I like the way she says my name. Soft. Breathy.
