Let It Burn (8 page)

With dark hair, short on the sides and tangled and longer on top, and warm honey-hazel eyes, he was stunning. I thought I had always used that word properly before. I was good with words. But I had always been wrong. Because Cage....he was stunning. With a defined jaw that models would sell their soul for, a perfectly straight nose, that dimple and a smile warmer than the fields back home on a hot July day, he was fucking stunning.

Not just stunning.
Fucking
.
Stunning.
The CFD shirt he wore seemed to be ill fitting, barely containing the mountains and valleys of his impressive chest and narrow waist. Massive arms like tree trunks threatened to rip it to shreds.

Watching him as he twisted to face me, hands still drumming at his hips, my eyes went south. It was because of his drumming fingers, I would claim, but mostly because he was massive everywhere so I was curious.
Sweet Jesus
. There too, I guess. My face felt hot and I still felt sticky so my eyes swept up.

Then I was lost as he took a step forward, forcing me a step back. His eyes were...they were watching me but moving. Flicking over me in a way that felt like warm touches, though he wasn’t close enough to touch me. How could I feel like he was right there, close to me when he was so far away? Blinking when I saw his mouth moving, wondering if he was talking to me, I took a step forward.

“.... Cage. Sara was just telling me...” That was all I made out because I was fixated on his mouth.

It was beautiful and so was he. His mouth made heat lick between my legs and I clenched my thighs, curious about that. That was new. I watched in fascination as the dimple peeked out, that side of his mouth hiking up in a smirk. Jesus. His tongue came out, whip fast, wetting his bottom lip and I stepped closer.

Thought of his mouth and what it might taste like. Feel like. Thought of his tongue and teeth and imagined them on my skin, at my neck, my ear, between my legs. My skin felt hot again, all over, and I knew I was flushed. My eyes swung away from him because I couldn’t look him in the face a second longer.

“Yes, Charli is taking over for me. Come here, pet.” Sara saved me and my eyes held hers, thanking her silently.

“Y-yes. Nice to meet you, Mr. Cooper.” I was almost to Sara, brushing past him but keeping my distance when he spoke.

“Cage. Just Cage, Charli. Pleasure, sweetheart.” Suddenly I was aware of his warmth because he had backed up to cut me off.

“Yes. Of course, Cage.” I took a calming breath which filled my lungs with him; soap and smoke and leather and it was delicious.

“Tell me what to do.” Damn he even
sounded
sexy.

“Sorry, what?” Desperately wanting to reach Sara, to be away from him, I blinked at his soft, husky demand.

“Charli,” I immediately hated how he said my name, “Do I just start talking? I mean I wrote notes; thought I might deliver a little lecture, take questions after. What do you think?” At last I could focus because he was talking about the program and somehow it cleared my head.

“Oh yes. That’s perfect, I think. Just one moment, I’ll get things started, Mr. Cooper.” At last I shook off whatever had just happened to me.

As if a fog had lifted, one brought on by whatever Cage had just done to me, I felt alert. I was so excited about this program, about being a part of it. Sara seemed proud of my efforts with it thus far, especially after I completely booked the rest of the weeks with mentors. Now I just had to get the damn thing started.

Exchanging a look with Sara who winked and then pointedly glanced at Cage, I led him to the set up I had waiting for him. To be informal, instead of a podium or a dais, I sat a high back director’s chair facing the club loungers.

The kids had filed in and all the loungers were full. After a quick introduction, I took one of the smaller director’s seats waiting behind him. Sara and the kids’ chaperone, Miss Elderry took seats beside me.

“Thank you. I’m Cage Cooper," He began as he folded his large frame into the seat,” First victim of Miss Sara’s new project. Thank you Miss Elderry for bringing the kids; Miss Charli.” A glance over his shoulder at me, followed by a bright smile and a dimple and I fidgeted in my seat.

Then he was talking about his role as a fire fighter. What his day to day looked like, the exciting moments and the routine. He told a great story about what he thought was going to be his first fire. How he had gotten so worked up to end up actually retrieving a fluffy kitten from a tree.

Cage spoke smoothly, clearly and with a deep laugh punctuating his stories and I was not the only one mesmerized. The kids were hanging on his every word. The girls especially. I can’t say I blamed them. He spoke with passion and excitement, only sitting seated for the first moments. Then he was up, walking back and forth, gesturing with his hands, excited and laughing with the kids. Cage was a sight to witness.

“Sexy bastard isn’t he," I shot Sara a look as she hissed this beside me and she giggled,” I may be old enough to be Cage’s mama. Doesn’t mean I’m immune to that. Neither are you, it seems, huh lass?” My face flamed and we exchanged a look and she giggled more.

“No. Hush. No.” Another look passed between us and I bit the inside of my cheek.

Then I watched Cage as he moved and talked, annoyed that every time he laughed I felt it between my legs. A thrumming, pulsing heat that was startling. Each time he glanced my way, my crossed legs tightened because of the achy feeling he stirred between them. I had never felt something like that. Never.

I heard him talking but none of it penetrated because I was just hearing his voice. It was husky and cocky and I felt something stirring not just between my legs but everywhere else.

Often, his eyes fell on me and made me feel like he knew just what I was feeling. Like he knew without trying to, without maybe meaning to, he had ignited something inside me. Something burned hotter every moment I was near him.

It felt like the most thrilling, terrifying torture to watch him, listen to him talk about himself and his career. Like he was sharing himself with us. I was mesmerized by him and yet I didn’t like it. Made me feel prickly and unfocused and shockingly, jealous. When he began taking questions, the girls were blatant with their flirtation and I hated it. Felt foolish for it, but it was fact.

The way he looked right at them, focused on them as they asked pointless questions that were borderline improper made me agitated. Angry even. I foolishly wanted to stop the questions, stop his friendly teasing with them and insist he instead share it all with me. Only me.

For almost half an hour I was battling the most powerful attraction I had ever felt and when he finished, I wanted to do nothing but run away. I wasn’t ready for him. Not at all. What I most definitely wasn’t ready for was the way my body reacted to him, because I had never known something like this.

When he thanked the kids, turned and faced me, I felt drawn to him in a way I couldn’t explain. I wanted to move closer, smell that scent that had teased me earlier look into his hazel eyes and feel him close. Instead I murmured something like an apology towards Sara, offered him a nod as way of approval of his lecture and I was gone.

Somehow I made it to the safety of my office, my breathing obnoxiously loud in the small room. Locking my door, I fought to gain composure. To focus myself and my thoughts the way Maisie and Sadie had taught me when they forced me to join them for yoga at the local YMCA.
What the hell had just happened to me?
I was a level headed, composed adult who had dealt with handsome men before.

Back home it looked like we were growing handsome cowboys on a stud farm. I had even felt desire before; for Tucker of course but once before in a different way. For Ryder. The boy who was all bad and all wrong for me. Who never knew I had very dirty, very hot, very frequent fantasies that starred him.

“Chin up, butter cup.” I say softly, calming my breathing and willing the throbbing between my legs, the aching at my breasts to ease.

The mantra, one that my mama used often whenever I was sad or angry or had somehow otherwise lost control, seemed to fall on deaf ears. Because this, what that man had just made me feel was nothing like any of that. It was also categorically more than I had ever felt when I had those fantasies starring bad boy Ryder. Sweet nothings in comparison to what was on my mind since I had met Cage Cooper.

From the moment I saw his hulking figure, he flashed that warm, beautiful smile at me, then said my name like it meant something only the two of us understood. Then watching him move and dominate the entire room.

I wanted him. I wanted Cage Cooper to dominate
me
with his strong hands and huge body and beautiful, cocky smile. I wanted his full mouth to mark my skin as his, to claim mine, to taste me.

I wanted to touch his skin with its tattoos and peaks and roped muscles with my fingers, feel it against my own. Closing my eyes I could see it; see his large frame fit beneath my thighs, muscles tense as his hips thrust him deep inside me.
Sweet Jesus
, I was wet just thinking about it.

What exactly had Cage Cooper just done to me?

1

Cage

I had not been nervous this morning when I woke up late for the mentoring program I was starting. I had notes and had even practiced the lecture for Gigi a few times. I was prepared. I wasn’t a shy guy, though I hardly liked to be the center of attention. Still, I had always been comfortable with people and so I was really kind of looking forward to it.

I was glad to be helping Sara, and knew my pop was proud of me for being so willing to take part in the program. Even when I got to the library, in time somehow, I had not been nervous. Sara was waiting for me in the atrium, which had been set up for the lecture today.

“Oh you come here, you.” Sara smiled and wrapped me in one of the warm hugs she was famous for.

“Sweet Sara," Sara’s dirty mouth and sometimes inappropriate mind were all that proves she wasn’t a saint, "You look lovely today. Sure you want me to be the grading scale for this program of yours?”

Sara had worked magic at the library in her time here. With all sorts of job programs and life skills programs, the kids who hung out here got something of value from her. Oh they used the pricey laptops for social media and nonsense and spent more time in the commons room hanging out than in the book nooks reading.

But she made sure they knew they had opportunities and ones that she wanted to see them try out. This mentoring program was just one of the ones she had started in hopes of giving them those opportunities. I wanted to do her proud and I was anxious to get started.

“Cage, lad I don’t think I could ask for a higher bar to be set. You love your job and are passionate about it. That’s what these kids need to see. That there are choices out there, ones that can fulfill them.”

“Well I do love wearing the uniform," I joked, ramping up my charm because Sara was fun to rile up, “does things for the ladies. Just a perk of the job, I suppose.”

“I just bet, Cage. Bet they like you out of the uniform even more," We shared a laugh because Sara was not known for being proper, "Now...oh here my lovely surprise is. My mouthy, Midwest lass.” Sara’s bright green eyes swept past me.

All at once I was nervous. Not because of the lecture or making Pop and Sara proud. I was nervous because I knew she meant her new librarian and our new tenant. Charli Dixon. It was the way my dad had said her name this morning when we talked about her. Just like Sara was talking about her, a look of pride and affection in her eyes as she looked her over.

The way Regan had talked after she had met her Saturday. We had been finishing up at the house when she had stopped by for a sneak peek. Regan had chatted with her and I had no idea she had even been there because Regan hadn’t let her inside. Wanted to surprise her she said. Anyway, they all talked about her a certain way and I was more curious than ever about her.

When I twisted to chance a look at her, I knew why. Just like that, just that easy. With one look at her I felt like I understood why everyone seemed so taken by this girl. Because shit if I wasn’t the moment I laid eyes on her.

If there was a template of what I wanted, what just might be my perfect woman, Charlie was it.
Jesus Christ
she was absolute perfection. The chatter of the kids as they filed in and Sara talking beside me about Charli and how great she was, hummed at my ears as I stared at her. My breath caught in my chest when her eyes swung to mine and her approach stilled.

Curves, thick and soft were all I could see at first. From the messy curls piled atop her head, my fingers itching to yank it all down and let it fall around her face, to soft slopes of her sexy legs, she was all soft curves. A beautiful face with plump lips, rosy cheeks and wide gray eyes with thick lashes framing them looked up me.

With wide hips and tits to match, there was no doubt she was a woman whose body was made for pleasure. Every inch of her. I liked how little she was, her head tipped back to peer up at me. I was certain I could pick her up and keep her close as long as I wanted. Which I suddenly wanted very much.

There was something in her eyes; they were the softest gray I had ever seen with flecks of gold and green. Something that made me want to protect her, hold on to her and never let go. Sadness.