Page 31 of Nanny for the Firefighters

I turned and walked away, leaving him hunched over in the semi-darkness, his little empire of deceit crumbling at his feet.

The next day, I walked into the local college and changed my major. Yes, my dreams of a career in law enforcement had been shattered, but I knew I could put my skills to use in helping children, in loving them the way my parents had taught me.

I still meant to serve justice. I'd just do it my way.

The Present Day

I lie sprawled across a tangle of sheets, a warm, sated cat amid a gloriously disheveled bed.

The lingering scent of sex hangs in the air, a heady mix of sweat and something more primal, something uniquely us. Everyone is huddled together in various states of undress.

I can't believe my luck. Four men, all extraordinary in their own right, all currently focused on me.

Marcus leans close, his dark eyes crinkled in a concerned frown. "You good, sweetheart?" His voice is low, almost a rumble, and it sends a shiver down my spine despite the room being comfortably warm.

I blink a few times, trying to refocus. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fantastic. Why wouldn't I be?" I attempt a nonchalant shrug, but it's a sorry imitation under the weight of their combined gazes.

Ethan, my gentle giant, sits up, a single sheet draped artistically across his broad chest. "Because, Ella," he starts, a hint of amusement in his voice, "even with all our combined stamina, that was… well, intense."

Theo, all golden skin and tousled hair, snorts indelicately. "Intense? Dude, that was like a nuclear meltdown with a side order of fireworks for the grand finale." He shoots me a wicked grin, and a familiar blush creeps up my neck.

Will, the quietest of the four, reaches out, his touch featherlight on my bare arm. "Hey, no pressure," he says, his voice barely above a whisper, "But if that was too much, we can dial it back, you know."

His words land with a soft thump against the bruised tenderness of my heart. Too much? No, not physically. In fact, physically, I could happily stay here forever, tangled up with these four incredible men who make my body sing like nothing else ever has.

But emotionally? Well, that's a different story altogether. Relationships are messy, complicated things, and I'm about as good at navigating them as a hamster would be at solving differential equations.

"Guys," I begin, the words catching slightly in my throat. I force myself to meet each of their gazes, needing them to understand. "This… whatever this is… it's amazing. More than amazing." I spread my arms out, encompassing the chaos of the bedroom, the lingering energy. "But it's also…"

"Not a relationship," Marcus finishes, his voice surprisingly gentle. He leans back against the headboard, his expression thoughtful. "Trust me, I get it. More than you know."

There's a flicker of pain in his eyes, a fleeting glimpse of shadows that I suspect mirror my own. We don't talk about the past, about the emotional scars we both carry. We don't have to.

Theo clears his throat, his usual easygoing smile replaced by something more tentative. "Honestly, Ella, coming out of… well, let's just say a messy situation myself, the last thing I want is complications."

Ethan's rumble of agreement echoes around the room, followed by Will's quiet nod.

Relief washes over me, a sweet wave against the bittersweet ache lingering in my chest. "So… what?" I offer a half-hearted shrug, "We just… do this? Whenever? As long as it feels good?"

Marcus grins, his eyes glinting with a hint of mischief. "Sweetheart, if it were just about feeling good, we wouldn't get out of this bed for a week."

A ripple of laughter fills the room, easing the tension that had threatened to settle. These men, my four impossibly handsome, understanding men, they make something inside me unwind, a knot I didn't even know was there.

"If we're being honest," Will finally says, his voice thoughtful, "This is kinda perfect, right? The best parts without the, uh… baggage."

I tilt my head, considering. "Yeah," I murmur, the word tasting sweet on my tongue. "Perfect might just be the word for it."

"Hey, Marcus." Will's voice cuts through my languid thoughts. "You okay if I order us some pizza? I'm starving."

Marcus is absently thumbing through something on his phone. "Yeah, sure, man, whatever. Just get one with extra pineapple. Ella and I love that stuff."

I make a dramatic gagging noise, earning a playful swat on the arm from Marcus.

Theo snorts. "Dude, pineapple on pizza? That's a crime against humanity."

Marcus suddenly lets out a low chuckle, his eyes fixed on his phone screen. "Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in."

Ethan leans over curiously. "What's up?"