Caught in the Flames (34 page)

“Aww . . .” Ash grins and pulls my pants the rest of the way off. “It’s little bunny foo foo.” He slides his body down between my legs and kisses just above the waistband.

I try not to die of embarrassment. “I told you they were horrible.”

“You’re right. Let’s get them off immediately.”

I giggle and he chuckles. He still hasn’t tried to remove them, but watches me with such an unnerving gaze. His lips pull up at the corners and his thumbs rub tiny soft circles at my hips.

“Hey,” I say without thinking. “You’re pretty awesome, Ash.”

His smile catches the breath in my throat. “You’re pretty awesome yourself, Callie.” His brows rise and his smirk pulls to one side of his face. “Though I have to question your attraction to creatures with large ears. First these panties, and now this ugly mug.” He points to himself and I shake my head no.

I know he’s joking, mostly, and probably to ease my own nerves, but I don’t want him to put himself down.

“I love your ears. I’ve imagined pulling them to get your head between my legs so you can eat me out,” I admit.

His eyes widen and in them I see his own lust mirror my own. “Fuck, I love that filthy mouth of yours. You want me to do that now?” He lays one kiss right on top of my dreadful underwear, just above my throbbing clit.

I agree with Ash. These undies need to go. “Yes, please.”

He hooks the sides and pulls the fabric away from my hips. It doesn’t rip, it just tightens across my belly. “The fuck? What are these things made of?”

“What are you doing? Just pull them off.” I laugh.

“I thought it’d be fucking hot to rip them off.” His face scrunches with determination and he sits up to give it another shot. “Shit. This is made of high quality chastity protecting super strength!”

I burst out in laughter and place my hands over his to stop him from another failed attempt. “Let’s just take them off the old fashioned way.”

Ash nods, a little disappointment and defeat written across his face.

“I have better lingerie. I swear. It’s sexy as fuck. I can put it on right now and you can rip it off!” It’s a sincere offer to earn back his joy.

He shakes his head, fingers hooking into the sides of my underwear. “Nah. I don’t need that. All I want is you.” And there it is again. I can’t breathe under the intensity of his gaze. I’m almost thankful for the stupid panties and our game of cat and mouse because being able to see him, like this, with the lights on is more sensual than anything I’ve ever experienced. His eyes don’t leave mine as he drags the scrap of fabric off my legs and tosses it over his shoulder.

I eye his jeans. “My turn.” I reach for his pants. He slides away and uses his hands to push my legs open.

“Sure. But first, I’m eating you out. I promised.”

I don’t think he actually
promised
but I don’t argue as all thoughts and ability to speak coherent words leave my brain when his tongue licks between my folds. I watch him, his hands as they spread my legs apart, his face at my center, licking, sucking, and working me up to my release. My hands at his ears.
Fuck!
He’s good. So good. His oral skills are insane for someone who doesn’t walk around declaring it to the world.

He moans at the same time he locks down over my clit to suck and I shout God knows what. My body covers in sweat and I’m hot all over. I’m so close, riding the edge, and I want nothing more than to get there.

“Fuck, yeah. Come on my face.” He groans and moves one hand to finger inside me. He rocks two digits inside, working them in a come hither motion and my entire body shakes. I want him inside.

“Fuck me, Ash!” I demand so breathy and sexy I almost don’t recognize my own voice. His hazel eyes travel up my body and lock with mine. He pulls his fingers from within me, replaces them with his tongue, and holds my gaze. His thumb flicks my clit, fast and steady, and that’s all it takes.

I squeeze my eyes shut. My hips buck.
Yes!

Ash moans. His hands hold me steady as he sucks every bit of release from my body.

When I finally come down enough to realize what I’ve done, the post sexual intercourse panic hits me full force.

I can’t share orgasms with Ash and not fuck up our friendship.

Callie, what the hell were you thinking?

I hate that Ash sees me.

“Callie, what’s running through that gorgeous head of yours?” He crawls up and over my body so that I have to meet his gaze.

I chew on my lower lip. There are two ways to go about this. Be honest and lay out all the crazy that runs through my head, or lie.

“Nothing.” I attempt a smile.

His lips pull up at one side and he shakes his head. “Wrong answer. Callie. What’s wrong? I know you came because . . .” His smile pulls wider. “Well, because I felt it on my face and I love how you taste. So, what gives?” His fingers skim up and down my belly and his touch sends goosebumps all over my flesh. My sex tightens, my nipples harden, and I can tell he notices my body’s reaction because his eyes go lusty again, the hazel more amber than green.

“Ash. I don’t want to lose our friendship.”

“Okay, you won’t . . .” he draws out, watches my eyes, and traces shapes around my breasts and over my stomach.

“Stop distracting me,” I pant. Attempting to focus my concern is not easy while he does that. I want to take off his pants.
Shit.
I glance down to find my fingers at the button of his jeans. I drop my hands to my sides.

His fingers stop their delicious torture and he leans on his side so our bodies still touch. His fingers tilt my chin so our eyes meet and I roll from my back to my side, propping my head on my hand so we’re face to face.

“I have a proposition that solves everything,” he says soft.

“What?”

“Come home with me.”

I chuckle and shake my head. “Were you even listening to me?”

“Hear me out. Come stay with me, just for the weekend. We’ll hang out, eat junk, watch movies, and fuck. Mostly, we’re gonna fuck because that was really good and I only made you come with my mouth. Can you imagine how much better the real thing will be?”

I can imagine it. I want to roll him over and straddle his hips right now.

“But won’t things get weird between us? I don’t understand how this can work.”

“Let me lay it out for you. You want to get laid but you’re not ready to date. Me? I’m in the same boat. It’s perfect, really. We each help the other out.” His eyes light up as the words tumble from his mouth.

“Wait, why aren’t you ready to date?”

His smile dims. He blows out a deep exhale and rubs his hands over and through his hair. “Callie, you asked me once . . . The reason I decided to pick up and move two hours from the only place I ever called home, well, that’s my reason I’m not ready to date. Hell, I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready.”

“Tell me?”

He pauses and takes one deep breath before nodding his acceptance. “Her name is Melanie. We were college sweethearts, stayed together while she went on to grad school and I joined the department. It wasn’t always easy, but we stuck it out . . . or so I thought. Last Christmas I asked her to be my wife, she said yes, and we were planning our wedding. Would’ve been this month, actually.” Bitterness drips from his words and I reach over to lay my hand over his heart, knowing whatever comes next isn’t good. It beats steady and fast through the ink on his skin.

“I walked in on her and my best friend—practically my brother from all the years we fought fires together. I may have lost my mind for a short second.” Ash cringes and I have to ask.

“What did you do?”

“I punched him in the face while he was still inside her,” he admits with a smirk.

“Ashley!” I exclaim, both impressed and horrified. I wish I could’ve punched Chase. “That’s why you transferred?”

“Not by choice. I was placed on leave for three weeks to attend anger management classes and then given the choice: be transferred or fired. He was also my supervisor. That sort of behavior isn’t tolerated.”

“But him fucking your fiancée is?” I’m horrified for him. That someone could be so cruel, especially after all the kindness he’s shown me.

Ash shrugs as if it’s nothing. But I know exactly how that sort of betrayal feels. This is why he gets me. He knows. Ash drags his gaze down my naked body and my flesh prickles with awareness.
Bam!
Just like that I’m ready and wanting another one of his delicious and expertly delivered orgasms.

“Melanie was an idiot.” I caress my hand down his abs and to that glorious dip near his hip that leads inside his pants.

“Chase is an idiot too,” Ash says so earnestly he draws all my attention from his torso and back to his hazel hues. “So, what do you say, Callie Gordon? Care to partake of a little friendly fire?” He waggles his brows.

“Okay.” Ash has my best interests at heart and would never hurt me. He’s right. We both want the same thing here. What could go wrong?

“Okay?” His lips pull into a hopeful grin.

“But how will this work? Don’t we need rules, guidelines?” That part inside of me, the one that craves order, buzzes with nerves at this turn of events.

Ash grins but doesn’t poke fun. “You pack a bag. You’re going to have a mini-sex vacation at my place, and Sunday I drop you back here. After this weekend, we go back to being friends. Simple. Easy. Not complicated.”

“That sounds amazing, bu—”

“Good. Go pack your bag, Sweet Cheeks. I need to fuck that pussy.”

“You have a filthy mouth, Ashley,” I say. He grins. My eyes roam his body and when they hit the bulge in his jeans my chin snaps back to his face. “Hey, wait!”

“No. No more excuses. No backing out. This will be amazing.”

I shake my head. “No. It’s not that. It’s . . . my turn.” I chew on my bottom lip and consider doing what I want to do most. Normally, I’d hold back, need to get comfortable, but this is Ash and as he said, it’s my sexcation. That fact alone emboldens me. Besides, I can’t have him starting his sexcation with an extreme case of blue balls. What kind of a friend would I be?

I crawl onto my knees and push at his chest when he tries to follow my movement. “Lay back.” I swing my right leg over his waist and trace my fingers over his tatted skin, starting with his arms and shoulders and landing back at his chest. I brush his nipples and love that he groans in response. He reclines all the way back on the bed and I shimmy down his legs. Hooking my hands inside his pants, I giggle. “Let’s see what kind of undies you’re sporting, big guy.”

Ash grins and crosses his arms behind his head to watch my every move. I flip open the top button. Hmm . . . I take the zipper and lower it, nice and slow as the bright red fabric is exposed. I shake my head and roll my eyes. “Color coordinated to match the firetruck?”

He chuckles. “Nah, more like comes in a pack of three for ten bucks.”

“Well, they’re very nice, but I’m more interested in what’s underneath. I scooch further so my knees hit the carpeted floor, and with my hands grip the waistbands of both his underwear and pants. He lifts his hips and I drag them from his body. His erection pops free like a naughty jack in the box and I giggle as I get his jeans all the way off.

“Callie, that’s no way to greet a man’s penis,” he says through a chuckle.

I toss his clothes to the side. “Oh, sorry. That’s not why I was laughing.”

“Don’t apologize—” he says. I grip his cock in both of my hands and it steals the words from his mouth. “Oh fuck, that feels good.” He groans as I move my hands up and down over his erection.

“I was laughing at dirty thoughts. You have nothing to be embarrassed about here, Ash.” I consider his size. He’s big, but not outrageously so. And I can’t wait to make him feel as good as he just did for me.

I lean forward and lick the tip.

His hips jerk upward and I swirl my tongue over and around. His fingers find their way into my hair, sweeping my curly locks away from my face. I glance up to watch him watch me and I’m transfixed by the pleasure I find. I open my mouth, take him in deep, and suck hard.

His eyes, open half mast, follow my every move and his mouth parts open to let loose the groans and pants of ecstasy. I find my pace. My hands and mouth move in sync to bring him pleasure. I suck him deep again. But this time the tip of his cock hits the back of my throat and causes me to choke a brief moment as he begins to lose control.

“Fuck, yeah,” he groans and I do it again. The slurp, gag, slurp of my actions mixes with the increasing volume of his groans. He tugs my hair and lifts his hips to thrust inside my mouth and I let him. His building orgasm turns me on and even though I came only moments ago I ache to feel him inside.

“Callie, I’m gonna come.” He pants and releases my hair.

I pull my chin back and work my hands up and down his length. “Where do you wanna come?” I want this to be good for him. But I don’t know him well enough to know what he prefers.

He groans and blinks, “Anywhere. Mouth, tits, hands . . . fuck, I want it all.”

God, that’s hot. I want him everywhere, too.

I squeeze the base of his dick tighter and glide my hands up and down his shaft. He’s hard in my hands, but the skin is soft and smooth. I position my mouth over the tip so it barely brushes my lips. “I want to taste you. Come in my mouth, Ash.” I pant and his breath grows so loud, so ragged, it’s as if he’s running a race. His abdominals contract and his gaze leaves mine as his eyes snap shut. He tosses his head back against the bedding. I open wide and suck him back inside my mouth just as I feel the warm liquid of his release hit the back of my throat.