Hell, Fire & Freedom (Fighting for Freedom) (20 page)

“It’s okay, Brynn, people can still drink and not turn out like Ma. I know that; I guess I was just surprised tonight.”

“I know, but it was the wrong place, wrong time, and also only the second time I have ever tasted alcohol. I promise so long as I’m taking care of you, you’ll never see me like that again.”

“Okay.”

“Now, want to talk about why you were just crying?”

“Sort of. I guess I’m just sad that it was the last time I’m ever going to see Ma, you know? It just doesn’t seem fair. I feel like I never got to know her, or why she drank, or if she even loved us.”

“I know,” I say, understanding how she feels. “Anyway, you have school in the morning, and I have work, so I guess we had better get some sleep, even though you slept most of the day on the plane.”

“I know. Good night, Brynn.”

“Sweet dreams, Marie. I love you,” I say, leaving her room and closing her door behind me. I head to the kitchen and grab my phone off the counter, checking for missed calls and messages.

There are none.

I check the front door, making sure it’s locked and dead bolted, and then walk into my room, closing the door behind me. I remove my robe and slip on a pair of panties and a nightie, refusing to look at my stomach again. At least the ibuprofen is helping, and the pain has subsided for now. I lay down in bed, pulling the blanket up to my chin. I try to find sleep, but it doesn’t come. I’m too anxious for Blaze’s phone call. Did he just want to end things over the phone? Or did he really want to talk to me?

I hear my phone start to buzz beside me and grab it anxiously, hitting the accept button.

“Hello,” I answer.

“What are you doing?” Blaze asks in a husky voice. I’m slightly confused. Is someone with him?

“I’m lying in bed,” I answer.

“What are you wearing?” he drawls.

Holy shit, what is he doing? I feel my body heat up.

“A nightie,” I answer hesitantly.

“Just a nightie, Brynn?”

“No …”

“Tell me what else you’re wearing?”

I look down at my nightie and wonder if I have the courage to tell him.

What could it hurt?

“A white silk nightie and white lace panties,” I breathe out.

“Mmm, you’re fucking beautiful, Brynn, do you know that?”

“Thank you,” I say, feeling my nipples harden.

“I want you to reach inside your nightie for me, Brynn. I want you to grab one of those firm tits, and I want you to use your thumb and stroke your nipple for me,” he orders.

I start to panic at the direction this is heading in. I can’t do this!

“I can’t …” I start.

“Oh, you can, Brynn, and you will. Slip your hand in there and feel your perfect tits for me.”

“Okay,” I breathe. I hold the cellphone to my ear with my left hand and slowly bring my right hand over to my left breast, pushing the silky material down, and slipping my hand over my hardened nipple. I stroke it with my thumb and let out an involuntary moan.

“Feels good doesn’t it, beautiful? Fucking flawless.”

“Yes …” I manage to say breathily.

“Now reach down, and slip those panties off.”

I stop once again and start to panic, but I remember how good my touch felt against my breast. Plus, he can’t see anyway, right? I reach down and slide the panties over my legs and off my feet.

“Okay,” I say.

“Now I want you to take your hand down to your pussy, and tell me if it’s wet.”

I don’t hesitate this time as I slip my hand beneath the blanket and down between my thighs. I find my core dripping wet. I wouldn’t know if this was a good or a bad thing, if I hadn’t been reading the romance novels, but from what I can tell, it’s a good thing.

“Yes,” I breathe out.

“Mmm, Brynn, I wish that was my hand there. I want you to close your eyes and pretend it is. Tell me what you want me to do to you,” he breathes.

“I want you to touch me,” I say bravely.

“Touch you how?”

“I don’t know …” I answer honestly. Blaze has been the only one to ever touch me lovingly there. Carl never went down … I stop myself, pushing him out of my head. He’s stolen too much from me. He’s not stealing this, too.

“I want you to take a finger Brynn and dip it inside—tell me how that feels.”

I do as he asks, feeling a wonderful sensation as I enter myself.

“More,” I plead.

“Tell me how much you want it, Brynn, tell me how much you want me.”

“I want you Blaze, I want you to make me feel good,” I beg.

“Slip another finger inside, and pump them in and out, over and over again.”

I do as he says, starting to feel the pressure build somewhere inside of me. I stop.

“Blaze, I don’t know ...” I start, but he cuts me off.

“Let go, baby, let go. Take your two fingers and rub them against your clit. Slow at first until you find that perfect spot.”

I do as he says, breathing heavily into the phone.

“That’s it, baby, nice and slow, now swirl those fingers around for me.”

I start to feel the pressure build again, but this time I take Blaze’s advice and let go. I let out an involuntary moan.

“Fuck, that’s beautiful, baby. I’m rubbing you harder now, Brynn. I want you to go harder and faster, feel it build.”

I do as he says, going faster and faster, wondering how the night progressed to this, but thankful it did.

“Let go baby, let go, come for me,” he begs.

“Ahh, ahh,” I scream gently into the phone as a wave of sheer ecstasy ripples through my body. I moan again and again, my fingers still moving deliciously inside of me, before the feeling is too intense, and I’m forced to stop.

“Fuck, I wish I was there to see that. Sexiest thing I’ve ever heard, beautiful.”

I let out a small awkward laugh as the waves start to subside, and I realize I’m completely alone and just did that over the phone.

“Would you let me do that to you, Brynn?”

“Yes,” I breathe instantly, not a doubt in my mind.

“Would you let me use my tongue again? Lick that hot, sexy flesh of yours, bury my tongue deep inside of you as you ride my face?” he asks.

“Yes,” I breathe again, wishing he was here to do that now.

“Would you let me bury my cock inside of you? Would you let me make you come, Brynn, over and over?”

“Yes,” I say, feeling my breathing grow heavy again.

“What time does Marie have swimming tomorrow?” he asks, breaking the moment.

“From six until eight thirty.”

“I’ll be at your house at six, and I want you in the same fucking thing you’re wearing now.”

“Okay,” I breathe.

“Sweet dreams,” he says before disconnecting.

I fall asleep quickly, my body spent. Unfortunately, the pleasure doesn’t last long. I wake several times through the night with nightmares of Carl finding and killing me. I’m exhausted, though, and manage to fall back asleep each time.

Chapter 15

I wake the next morning after a restless sleep. I’m feeling a mixture of nervousness and excitement about seeing Blaze today. Fortunately, I’m not feeling the remnants of a terrible hangover, like I probably deserve. I take another shower and quickly get ready for work. I throw my nightie and panties in the washer, wondering if he actually expects me to wear them again tonight. My body tingles in anticipation.

I decide to make Marie breakfast, as another way to apologize for my behavior last night. I look up an omelet recipe on the computer and decide to give it a try. I’m positive she likes all of the ingredients involved, but I’m not certain she likes them together. It’s worth a shot anyway. I work swiftly, and luckily they turn out looking much like the photo. I head down the hall and wake a still sleepy Marie before returning to the kitchen. She comes out a minute later.

“Hey, you didn’t have to do this,” she says, motioning to the omelets.

“Don’t thank me yet,” I laugh.

“Oh?”

“New recipe. Orange juice or milk?”

“Milk please,” she says, taking a seat at the island. I slide her plate of toast and omelet over and pour her a cold glass of milk. She hesitantly takes a bite.

“This is actually pretty good,” she says, finishing her first bite and taking another. “Really good, actually.”

“Oh good! You were my guinea pig,” I say, pulling out the plate that I had hidden on the counter. I take a seat beside her.

“Oh, that’s just cruel,” she laughs.

“Yeah, yeah. Pay back for the concoction you cooked for lunch the other day,” I joke.

“Hey now, the reviews on the internet said it was supposed to be delicious.”

“Yes, if you followed the recipe!” I say, taking a bite of the omelet. She was right, it’s actually pretty good. I make a mental note to add the recipe to our card box.

I finish up breakfast and do the dishes. I’m beginning to run a little late for work so I grab my purse and a light jacket, desperate to not make a bad impression—especially since I took the day off yesterday.

“I’ve gotta get to work. I won’t be able to make it to your swim practice today. I was going to do something with Blaze if that’s all right?” I ask.

“Brynn, you’re a grown woman, you don’t need to ask permission to date,” she laughs. “But if you did have to, I’d probably say no to anyone but Blaze. I like him, and he’s got great taste in music.”

“Right!” I say, remembering the iPod. “Anyway, I’ll meet you after school. Think of something for supper, will you? Oh, and switch the laundry before you head to school, too, please!” I say, hoping she doesn’t notice me blush.

“Yup, have a good day,” I hear her call back as I rush out the door, locking it behind me.

I decide to run to work. Not the easiest thing to do in New York foot traffic, but I manage to make it happen. I arrive ten minutes early, instead of my usual fifteen, so I miss having my morning tea.

“Missed you yesterday,” Wren says as I meet her behind the counter a few minutes before the café opens. “I got stuck working with Trisha, who just went on and on about her boring life. Anyway, what happened to you yesterday, were you sick?” Wren prods.

“Nope, but I’d kill for a boring life,” I tell her honestly.

“Oh, you would not. A boring life would not include that sexy fireman of yours. He came in here looking pretty glum yesterday, so I knew you weren’t playing hooky to have a good romp,” she says playfully.

“Wren!” I holler, looking around to make sure no one heard her.

“Oh, come on, you can’t even deny it anymore—that man looks like he wants to jump your bones,” she teases.

“Yeah, well I guess I’m pretty happy with my non-boring life at the moment,” I say, giving in a little.

“I knew it!” she shouts. “Way to go, girl. Now, you need to hook me up. Think he’s got any friends? I’ll take each and every man from that calendar. Line ‘em up!” she says, laughing at her own joke.

“Bad mental picture, Wren,” I say, joining her.

“Oh, you love it. Anyway, time to open; we’ll continue this chat later,” she says, winking before going to unlock the front door.

The morning passes pretty quickly, and I’m surprised when Blaze walks through the door. I look over at the clock and realize I should have started my break fifteen minutes ago. I wait on the customers ahead of him, stealing a glance in his direction.

He looks absolutely livid.

Shit, what did I do
? I wonder. Is he still pissed about me being drunk last night? He didn’t seem pissed on the phone … but maybe he is now that he slept on it. I start to worry more and more as he gets closer and closer to the counter. When he finally reaches me, he puts on a smile, but I know it’s fake, even if I hadn’t just seen his scowl.

“Hey, do you have a minute?” he asks.

I look over at Wren to see if she can handle the few customers left on her own.

“Go ahead, you’re overdue for your break anyway,” she says sweetly. “And don’t forget what we talked about,” she says, winking. I stick my tongue out at her and sign out of my cash register.

“Did you want anything?” I ask him.

He leans in and whispers in my ear, “Just you.”

Normally that would give me a full body shiver, but at the moment I can’t feel anything besides worry. I walk around the counter, removing my apron.

“Aren’t you going to eat?” he asks.

“Not until you tell me what’s bothering you,” I demand, sitting down at an empty table.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he says, clearly lying to my face. He takes the seat beside me.

“Please, Blaze. You walked in here so pissed off, I thought your head was going to explode. Don’t lie to me,” I say, feeling myself start to get angry.

“Nothing that matters, Brynn, it’s taken care of.”

“What do you mean? Does it have anything to do with me?”

“No,” he says in a clipped tone.

“Look, did you come here to yell at me, because I was in a good mood before you walked in with a scowl,” I ask angrily. He seems to relax a little.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. I just have a lot of pressure on me right now, but it’s going to be fine. I didn’t mean to bring it to your work, though; I really did just come to see you,” he says, grabbing a hold of my hand. “You always put me in a better mood.”

“That’s a laugh. You’re still pissed off,” I retort.

“I’m pissed off at a situation I’m in. I am not pissed off at you. Now, let’s just forget about it for now, we’ll talk about tonight,” he says, his mood lightening.

“Tonight?” I choke.

“I believe I have a date with a white silk nightie and a matching pair of lace panties,” he says in a low, husky voice.

“Blaze,” I say, heating up. I look around to make sure nobody heard him, and sure enough, everyone is doing their own thing.

“Did you actually mean that?” I ask, breathily.

“That’s all I dreamed about last night, Brynn. I have never been more serious about anything in my life,” he says, those beautiful green eyes growing dark. I start to feel my body do things that are completely inappropriate in public, especially at my place of work. I can do nothing to stop it, though.

“Anyway …” I say, trying desperately to change the subject. “Did you want to come over for supper tonight, too? It will probably be around five,” I offer, thinking that he and Marie spending more time together would be a good thing.