Page 70 of Slow Burn
The fingers brushing over my hand closed around it in a tight, reassuring hold. I opened my eyes and was immediately met with Maddie's beautifully patient stare.
Deep breath in.
Slow breath out.
"A little over three years ago, I left my home to go have a few drinks, When I came back, the building was engulfed. Giant orange flames viciously licked up the walls and capped the roof."
Her eyes grew a little, but she remained silent. I was thankful for that. The hard part, the hardest part, was about to come. "Angie, my wife, had been trapped inside. I was a trained firefighter, I knew better than to run into a burning building without gear or backup, but when you're on the other end of it, you don't think straight.
"I never made it very far before one of the beams tore from the roof. It slammed against my shoulder and pinned me to the floor. There was too much heat, too much smoke. My body fought and fought but eventually, I passed out. Woke up in the hospital looking like…." I swallowed roughly, and Maddie pressed her trembling fingers to her lips. "Well, like this."
My leg was doing that hoppy thing again. Jumping up, I speared my fingers through my hair and started pacing. "I had so much guilt over not being able to save Angie and then every time I looked in the mirror, I saw this hideous beast looking back at me. I pushed everyone away. My parents. My sister. My best friend."
I stopped in front of her and dropped my hands to my hips. Maddie tilted her head back; our gazes met and held. Licking my lips, I forced the words from my tongue, "At first I couldn't leave the house, then I refused to leave my room. My mom tried everything. She hired nurses and housekeepers, but I chased them all away. Because they'd always stare. No one looked atme, they only saw this," I ground out, flicking my hand toward my neck.
Slowly, torturously slow, Maddie climbed off the couch. "I seeyou," she whispered. Just like they had on the beach the other morning, those three words held so much conviction.
Closing my eyes, I nodded once before reaching over my head to grip my shirt between my fingers. One rough tug and the material was up and over. Releasing an unsteady breath, I opened my eyes just as I dropped my tee to the floor.
I had run into burning buildings more times than I could count. Walls had crumbled around me, roofs had caved in. But not once had I been as nervous as I was right then.My heart pounded so hard, so fast, I feared it mightgive out. I wanted to look at her, to see the expression on her face but I was afraid to.
Taking the coward's way, I screwed my eyes shut again and waited for the sound of her disgust to reach my ears.I waited and waited and fucking waited but it never came. When I opened my eyes, Maddie wasn't looking at my scars; her gaze was on me.
No disgust.
No pity.
But rather something that looked a hell of a lot like amazement.
I didn't deserve it.
Averting my gaze, I tried to turn my face away. Maddie pressed her palm against my cheek and guided me back."Don't hide, Adam. Not from me."
Emotion pushed up my throat and I gritted my teeth to keep it down. A task made more difficult by the gentle way she was touching me. Her fingers moved along my jaw in a slow caress, brushing over my stubbly scruff before smoothing down my neck.
I knew where she was going and, so help me, I wanted to stop her.
The tips of her fingers traced over my collarbone and down over my pec. She was an inch away from the ugliness that covered most of my left side.
When her questioning gaze lifted to meet mine, my heart slammed against my ribs like a wild animal desperately trying to break free. Still, with a stiff nod, I gave her permission to proceed.
Because I wasn't expecting it, a sharp breath hissed from my lungs when instead of her fingers, she touched her lips against my mangled skin. Palms pressed to my side, she dragged her mouth over my scars. The touch registered in the deepest darkest part of my being. The part only she could reach.
I speared my fingers into her hair, grabbing a fist full of the silky tresses. One small tug and she lifted her head and met my gaze.
"No one has ever touched me like this." The words came out hoarse and broken. My chest squeezed tight, verging on the edge of being painful.
This gorgeous woman pushed onto the balls of her feet and pressed her lips to the side of my jaw. "There's not a single part of you I don't want, Adam." Another kiss. "Your broken parts fit with mine." She pulled back and studied me. "Tell me I'm not alone in this."
My hand slipped from her hair to cradle her cheek. I damn near lost it when her lids fluttered closed as she pressed into my touch. Did she even have any idea how fast and hard I was falling for her?
Dropping my forehead to hers, our mouths hovered just a whisper apart. Precariously dangling on the edge of what would be an amazing kiss. Tilting my head slightly, my bottom lip brushed over hers.
"I'm right there with you, baby."
I crashed my mouth to hers, our tongues immediately slipping, sliding, tasting. Our movements urgent. Frantic. Maddie's hands were all over me while I buried one ofmine in her hair and swept the other down to fill my palm with her ass.
Curling my fingers, I squeezed hard and pressed her soft body even more flush against mine. She moaned into my mouth. The sound so incredibly sexy, it had me twitching with need.
