Page 17 of Time Bomb

Me: Hey gorgeous. Any chance I can convince you to come over tomorrow night?

While I don’t want to push her, I can’t let these opportunities pass me by. I work a risky job, so I know how fragile life can be. I fully intend to grab on with both hands and never let go. Not if I can help it.

Philly: Hmmm. Maybe.

Frowning, I don’t like her response.

Me: I’ll be by after my shift.

Nichols comes out, and I pocket my phone. I hate compartmentalizing, but in my profession, we have to. So, when I feel my phone buzz with her response, ignoring it nearly kills me.

“Let’s get this over with,” Conley grumbles as he gets in.

The afternoon passes quickly as we play games with the kids, teach them about fire safety, and finally finish with the rest of the guys bringing the rig by the school so the kids can explore the inside. That’s always what they want to do, but it doesn’t happen until we ready them for the scenario of a possible fire.

“Kids were good today,” Conley comments as I’m helping the last one out of the engine. His mood has shifted, and I think it has a lot to do with the cute teacher who has been blushing on and off all afternoon whenever he gives her a smidge of attention.

“You’ve got five minutes,” I tell him as I begin packing the rest of our stuff.

“For what?” He’s genuinely confused.

“To get her number. I suggest you hurry before she disappears inside and you have no reason to go back in there.” I grin when he blinks at me before turning and taking off.

They talk for a minute before she finally gives in and hands over her digits. He comes back, staring at the piece of paper in his hand, a huge grin on his face. “Thanks, Lieu.”

Giving him a pat on the shoulder, we head back to the station behind the truck, and when we pull into the lot, I’m surprised to find Ophelia sitting on the bench outside the firehouse.

“Philly, everything alright?” I’m barely out of the truck before all the guys are watching her with keen interest.

“Fine.” A blush works up her cheeks when she notices everyone staring.

“Go do something!” I shout, but they ignore me. Having a visitor at work is an anomaly for me.

“Are you busy? Am I interrupting?” Her fingers fidget with the package in her hands.

“Nope. Just got back from a presentation at a school with a bunch of grade-schoolers. What’s going on?” Taking the box from her, I circle the other around the back of her neck and drag her in for a searing kiss. It wasn’t planned; my body acted of its own accord. I don’t regret it, in any case. Any chance to get my hands or mouth on her is one I’m going to capitalize on. Slipping my tongue past her lips, I take what I want, what she needs, and I give everything back to her. Her fingers dig into my chest as she pushes up on her toes.

Deepening the kiss, I use her hair to tug her head back to angle her to my liking. A sexy little moan slips from her mouth, and I swallow it down. Needing more. So much fucking more.

Hoots and hollers are the only reason I pull back but only barely. Her eyes are hooded with lust, and my dick presses so hard into her belly that I’m confident she feels it. When her hands begin petting up and down my chest, I’m tempted to take her lips again. If only there were no witnesses because now, she’s blushing for an entirely different reason.

“I can never get enough of you,” I say to distract her.

“I brought cookies.” Her lusty eyes slant to the box I almost forgot was in my hand.

“You brought me something?” Christ, could she get any sweeter? Her head nods up and down as she attempts to take a step back. I don’t let her; I need her close.

“It’s no biggie. They were extras from the store. Laken suggested I bring them here. Avoid temptation for her, and all.” Her shoulder shrugs like this is no big deal, but it’s a fucking huge deal because it means she’s thinking of me.

Trailing my hand along her neck, across her shoulder, and down her arm, I grab her hand, bringing it to my mouth so I can kiss the top. Nibbling on the inside of her wrist makes her giggle. A sound unlike anything I’ve heard.

“Come inside?” I don’t give her much of a choice as I pull her behind me. The guys are still ogling shamelessly. “Seriously, dudes, go do something.”

“Wait, what have you got there?” Flint leans closer, trying to get into my gift.

“Back off,” I bark at him. “She brought them for me, not you idiots.” I see her biting her lip from the side.

“There’s plenty in there,” she whispers when we’re out of earshot.