Page 40 of Dueling Flames

“You’re killing me, Graves. Get off.” She pushed me off, and I stayed standing by her. “Now why don’t you tell me about your meal with Milo.”

“What meal with Milo?” I tried to remember eating with Milo. “I don’t remember eating with him.”

“Breakfast with him after you eavesdropped on my conversation with the captain.”

“Right! I can’t believe I forgot about that.” It’s wild I couldn’t remember breakfast with an ex. “He came to the station and asked to go eat. Then he proceeded to ask me to have a friends with benefits situation. But we’re not friends. Ex with benefits? What would you call it?”

“Does it matter?” Lissa cocked her head to the side and stared.

“You’re right. It doesn’t matter.” I kissed her forehead. “I said no and left. I haven’t thought about it since that day. Too busy thinking about why you didn’t want to be my partner.”

“You’re an idiot.” She pulled me down and kissed me. “Next time don’t avoid me. Talk to me. If you don’t, I won’t stick around. Okay?”

I smiled. “Okay.”

Chapter 15

Lissa

Thorne volunteered to watch over me for the next forty-eight hours at home. He was right behind me whenever I walked from room to room. Water found my hand before I wanted it. Dinner was cooked, the kitchen cleaned, and I swear he would have bathed me if I didn’t shut that down. At night, he curled around me, keeping me warm.

The next shift, he went alone as I didn’t have the doctor’s release yet. While he worked, I went to my check up and received the all clear. I’d go back next shift.

One thing stayed on my mind all day. At no point did he make a move on me over the past two days. I both admired and loathed his actions. We were apart for a week, and he hadn’t even acted interested, but I was also recovering from a concussion. Not anymore.

I waited patiently for him to return the next morning in only an oversized shirt and underwear. When he walked in, he instantly smiled at me.

“Hey firecracker. You’re awake.” He dropped his bag by the door and toed off his shoes.

“Wide awake.” I looked him up and down. He’d stopped walking with any trouble last week so now he strolled over to me with confidence.

“Turns out Trevor broke his tibia. And since he was caught on camera wearing socks on the stairs, he’s been denied workman’s comp.”

“That’s rough.” I pulled Thorne down on the couch.

“Yeah. This incident opened up his file, and all the complaints people have made about him over the years, including all the near misses he’s caused.”

“That’s terrible.” I unclasped his belt.

“He might get fired.”

My mouth met Thornes, for a second before I pulled away. “I’m devastated. How will I ever get over it? You should comfort me.” I licked the side of his mouth and stared at him.

I saw the shift in his eyes, from casual to sultry. His voice dropped an octave as he said, “I can ease your distress.”

He pulled me close and kissed me. Hands softly roamed my body, but I craved for more. I pulled out of the kiss. “Don’t be gentle.”

He hummed against my lips, then devoured them. Fingers pressed into my skin as he hauled me onto his lap. I answered with my fevered movements, pressing my hand into his hard muscles on his back and arms. A single hand gripped the back of my head as he sucked on my tongue, the other hand slipped down the back of my shorts.

He kissed up and down my jaw, down my neck, then latched onto my shoulder. My body reacted instantly, rubbing against his, trying to get closer. My nails took purchase on his skin under his shirt. There would no doubt be scratches on his back later.

He pulled my shirt off me and kissed and sucked down the front of my shoulder and down my chest. A trail of red told me where he’d been. I pulled off his shirt and rubbed my hands over his hard chest.

He pushed me back on the couch and slipped off my underwear. His eyes wandered over my naked body while his fingers lightly traveled along the trail he’d marked on my body.

“I love seeing you like this. Panting and wanting with clear indications that I’ve been here.” He lay his body over mine and bit at my lips until I allowed him entry. Our tongues twisted together. My hands pulled him closer, and I wrapped my legs around his middle. He ran his hand through my hair and pulled it back, exposing my neck, which he immediately kissed and sucked. My core ran hot, my body moved on its own, and I made sounds I didn’t know I could make.

His hand covered my mouth. “Shhh. The neighbors will hear us,” he said with a smirk.