Her fingers go to my hair as I lick and suck at her neck. I’m going to leave a mark, and the thought turns me on more.
“Don’t stop,” she whispers and pushes her body against mine.
“Never,” I growl. I wonder where that came from. I’ve not once been this possessive of anything in my life, and I suddenly find myself wanting to throw her over my shoulder and carry her to a tower in a castle so no one else can so much as look at her beauty.
I feel her hands on me, and her little body trying to rub against mine, and I can’t think straight.
“We need a bed,” I grit out before moving to the other side of her neck. I want to lick and bite all of her like some caged animal.
“I…oh, God, right there.”
I sweep my tongue over the spot just below her earlobe and feel her shiver.
“An hour,” she pants, like she’s running a marathon. “Give me one hour to finish up at work and I’m yours.”
Pulling back, I look into her crisp blue eyes. Her hair has come loose from her ponytail, and her cheeks are flushed. Her lips are full, and she looks like she’s been roughly kissed. Good. She looks like she belongs to someone. Me.
“Mine,” I say, not breaking eye contact. It’s not a question, but I want her to know the gravity of what she’s just said. “You better mean it, Fia. Because we both know something is happening here. And if you’re telling me that you’re mine, you better mean that in every sense of the word.” I’m being too forward and hard, but I can’t help it. When I didn't know where she was for those few hours, it was torture, and now I can’t lose her again.
She lets out a shaky breath, and I feel her fingers move against my chest. She gives me a shy smile and then nods.
“One hour,” I say, my voice rough with need.
“One hour,” she confirms.
11
Fia
My heart’s still racing thirty minutes later. I can still feel his lips and hands on me, sending feelings I’ve never had before never thought I’d have - through my body. I glance over at Derek, who’s sitting in the corner booth. His bulk takes up one side of the bench. He’s unmissable. He doesn't even have to say a word. I can just feel him in the room. He looks just as handsome without his uniform on, wearing casual jeans that grip his thick thighs, and a firehouse shirt that stretches across his broad chest. It looks like the same one he’d given me to wear last night.
Whenever I look over at him he’s either looking at me or giving my boss a death glare. Sam just seems uncomfortable, which is nice. I like seeing the tables turn on him for once. I have to bite my lip to keep from smiling. I want to ask him how he found me, but I’m guessing it wouldn’t take much for him to find out who I am given that he already knew where I lived. I’m still shocked he showed up here. At first I thought it was because he had to ask me questions about the fire or something, but then I saw the jealousy flicker in his eyes when he looked at Sam.
He must have seen him staring at me or something, because he went right for him. I should have been scared. Normally when I come up against a man with anger on his face, I run. It was something I’d faced many times with my own father, and later with some of the women’s husbands and lovers at the shelter, but I didn’t feel even a trace of fear. In fact, for the first time that day, I felt safe. I didn’t have to worry about Sam cornering me because it was clear Derek wouldn’t let that happen.
He watches me like he has every right to. Like I belong to him. Like it’s his responsibility. And it makes something deep inside me settle. It’s been too long since anyone has really looked out for me. It’s as if a small burden has been lifted from my shoulders. I don’t even care if it’s only for a small window of time, I’m going to enjoy it. I’ll take what I can get because life hasn’t been handing me many great things lately. I’m going to take this ray of sunshine, because that’s what Derek is.
I walk over to him with my pot of coffee to refresh his drink, or maybe it’s just because I want to be near him again.
“He stares too fucking much.” He says it loud enough for anyone to hear. He doesn’t appear to care. I feel heat hit my cheeks. I ignore his words. What can I say to that? Sam does stare too much, and I hate it, but I don’t think it’s against the law to stare.
“He always do that?” This time his words are soft and low and only for me. I just nod at his question. His jaw clenches. “He ever do anything else?” I just look down at him, not sure what to say. “Never mind. Don’t answer that or I’ll be out of this seat. Just finish your shift, angel.”
He gives me a warm smile, but I can tell it’s forced. I like that what Sam does pisses him off. That it bothers him. That someone seems to care and finds it not okay. Not like Tracy, who is only upset because she wants Sam’s attention, and I don’t even think it’s his attention she wants. More like his money, but Sam doesn’t seem like he’s loaded or anything, so I really don’t get it at all.
I go back to waiting on my tables and try to stay clear of Sam as much as I can. I don’t want there to be a problem. I just want to finish my shift and be done. I’m really going to have to find a new second job. This just isn’t working, and the tension and unease I’m feeling is only getting worse. It doesn’t matter at this point that I make the best tips here, I’m just going to have to find something else.