Page 21 of Time Bomb

She huffs out a laugh. “We could be…”

Rolling her to her back, I pin her body under me, kissing up her neck before reaching her ear and whispering, “We could be. Or maybe we should try again to make sure we are.”

I swallow her gasp as I slide into her wicked little treasure. Burying myself deep, I take her slowly this time, making love to her instead of fucking until we both scream. Our mouths clash as fiercely as our bodies, leaving nothing untouched until we’re an exhausted heap of sweat and sex.

CHAPTER 6

Ophelia

ALL GOOD THINGS…

Standing in my bedroom, I stare at my nude reflection. Bite marks pepper my neck, shoulder, breasts, insides of my thighs, and I catch matching chafe marks from his stubble. I feel a sense of belonging.

When I rolled out of Torque’s bed this morning, he followed me down to the kitchen, made me breakfast and coffee, then drove me to The Cup. I thought he would leave; I was totally wrong. He stayed and helped me prep for the day. It was so normal. So married couple.

When he told me he had to go at ten to teach a class at the fire academy, I’d wanted to beg him to stay. Instead, he spent ten minutes devouring my mouth and promising very wicked things in bed tonight.

Around two, Laken rolled in with Jesse, and they tinkered around the shop until it was time to close. Now, it’s seven, and I’ve somehow agreed to go on a double date with Laken and Hale. At first, I’d objected until she told me, of course, that Torque would be my date.

I haven’t told her we’ve been intimate yet because I know she’ll freak out in the best ways possible.

The problem is that I’m already freaking out in the worst.

Torque wasn’t concerned with our lack of protection last night in any of the six times we’d made love. In fact, talking about it seemed to rev him up for more and more with each breath. He’s not all to blame, of course. I kept reaching for him through the night too. I can’t get enough of the man.

I’ve had one sexual partner before, but it’s been years. Even so, he never made me feel the way Torque did last night. Comparing how the two men kissed me, Torque comes out on top every time.

There’s something about the devilishly handsome fireman that calls to my soul. I want him with a ferocity I’ve never experienced about anything.

And it’s terrifying.

I know I could easily fall in love with him. There’s absolutely no doubt about it. The problem is, what happens on the other side of happiness? What happens when he falls out of love with me? Because it will happen. It always does.

I can never hold anyone’s attention for long. Left behind for one thing or another. Except for my grams, who left me the coffee shop. Everyone else has always disappeared on me.

I’m not anything spectacular, and once Torque realizes that, he’ll leave me as well. The problem is that at the rate we’re going, a child could be in the mix by that point. There might already be, and we just don’t know it yet.

“Stop it, Ophelia,” I snap at myself. Torque is a good man, and I understand I’m what he wants. It’s these damn doubts that plague my mind, however. They’re unending.

Heading to my closet, I pull out the slinky black dress I’ve been saving for just this type of occasion. The straps are thin, I’m not wearing a bra, the hem ends about two inches too short, and I debate not wearing panties. I realize if I don’t, that Torque will be equal parts pissed off and ravenous. I just need to decide which part of him I want.

Choosing to go without, I slip a thong inside my matching clutch, just in case I get uncomfortable like this. Grabbing a pair of black pumps, I slip them on just as the doorbell rings.

“Coming!” I shout down the stairs, and I swear I hear the man growl. I notice he does that a lot.

Opening the door, I’m immediately yanked into Torque’s body for a kiss. It sears me to my soul as his tongue sweeps in my mouth, teasing me in slow flicks, the same way he feasts between my legs.

By the time he draws back, I’m dizzy with lust and can’t quite catch my breath. “You’re fucking stunning.” His hungry eyes slowly walk across my body, snaring on the short hem of the dress. “Too fucking short,” he grumbles.

“We should go,” I say to halt what I know he’s thinking—cancel the date and crawl beneath the sheets.

“Right.” He steps back—not much—his hand still on my back as I lock the door. “You really are the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen.”

A delighted smile erupts on my face as pulsing need throbs between my legs. “Thank you.” Pushing up in the heels, I kiss his cheek. “You’re very handsome, also.” He’s wearing a dress shirt, buttoned only enough to cover his chest. The sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, and the dark pants do nothing to hide his raging erection.

“I want you ass-up in nothing but these heels once we get home.” He growls again, nipping at my neck. A shiver races through my entire body as he guides me to his truck, and we move on to the restaurant.

The drive is charged with an electric current that doesn’t warrant mindless chatter. I find that with Torque, I’m in a constant state of desire, and I want so much more with him than we’ve spoken about. However, if I’m honest, what he makes me feel scares me a little bit.