Flashpoint Read online

  “We have nothing to talk about,” she insisted. “You cam bet I’ll get you back for this.”

  She moved away from him, nodding and smiling to people she knew. She visited with acquaintances she hadn’t seen for some time, helping herself now and then to some of the snack foods Jeff had put out. Three televisions were tuned to the game, a big screen in the living room, a countertop in the kitchen and one out on the patio. Jeff sure liked his television, she thought.

  It was easy enough to avoid serious conversation, what with everyone cheering or booing he game. She could smile, utter a few pleasant phrases and look like she was enjoying the party. Wherever she was, she was acutely aware of Noah’s presence and his gaze on her. Finally she stepped off the patio onto the lawn and wandered toward the back of the small yard. A large, mature crepe myrtle dominated one corner, and the moon siting high in the sky cast silvery beams of light on it. Randi walked over to stand near it, hoping some of the serenity of the beauty would wash off onto her.

  What on earth was going on with the men in her life? Jeff surprising her, Noah acting like he was sorry they had ended things and Dan trying to push the envelope of their partnership again? Not to mention the very hinky nature of the arson investigation.

  What was up with that, anyway? Every accelerant was different, every burn pattern. The only thing they all had in common was an ILS to create the quickest flashpoint. She was still chewing over the fact that there was something screwy and she had no idea what it could be when a hand tapped her shoulder. She nearly jumped a foot and almost lost her beer bottle.

  “I didn’t mean to startle you like that.” Noah’s voice was deep and warm in her ear.

  “Then don’t sneak up on me.”

  She was afraid to turn around and look at him. Even after all this time just the sight of him made her pulse points throb, moisture flood her panties and her nipples ache for the touch of his fingers and his mouth. She had worked so hard to get over him, to put the pain of that last night behind her. She’d been so certain she was successful, but who was she kidding? The moment she saw him the other night all the old feelings came rushing to the surface.

  I am a glutton for punishment. Will I never learn?

  He gently nudged her to turn and face him. When she did, slowly, he took the bottle from her and set it on the ground. Then he cupped her face in his warm hands.

  “I am the stupidest fucking man in the entire world.”

  She shook her head. “You said that the other night. Or words to that effect.”

  “And I’ll keep saying them again and again, as many times as I have to in order to get you to hear me.”

  “And if I don’t?” she asked.

  “I’m never giving up, Randi. Take that to the bank.”

  He looked so intently into her eyes she was sure he could see clear to the inside of her soul. She drank in he sight of him, the deep brown irises flecked with gold, the late day scruff that accentuated his jawline and looked so sexy on him. The chocolate silk of his hair, still just below his collar the way he’d always worn it. She drew in a breath, inhaling the outdoor scent of his cologne that had always appealed to her, and waited to see what he’d do next.

  Very slowly, as if giving her the chance to stop him, he pressed his lips to her. His were just as warm as she remembered, and softer than she expected. At first the contact was gently, a gentle brush that still ignited all her nerve endings. She felt his warm breath on her face as he held them in that position, just the lightest of contacts. Then his tongue, that very clever tongue that she’d never been able to forget, licked a soft line along the seam of her lips, just once each way. As if she’d just been waiting for that she opened her mouth and that clever tongue swept in.

  Oh, god!

  The touch of it was so familiar, the wet heat of it as Noah tasted every inch of the inside of her mouth. She brought her own tongue into play, dancing with his in an erotic rhythm that sent shafts of desire through her body. He held her head firmly in place, taking his time with the leisurely exploration. When he lifted his head a little moan drifted from her mouth. She wanted more. Much more. That soft kiss wasn’t nearly enough, as the hunger she’d suppressed for six long years came surging back like a tidal wave.

  “I’ve never been able to get you out of my mind.” His voice had a raspy sound to it, thick with emotion. “God knows I wanted to, but Jesus, Randi. I think you’re in my blood.” He brushed his lips lightly over hers again. “I’ve regretted the things I said that night and the way it all ended more than I can ever tell you.”

  She stared into his eyes, searching for the truth of the matter.

  “You hurt me, Noah. More than I can tell you. It still hurts that after everything we were to each other you could treat me the way you did. Say the things you did.”

  Pain slashed across his face. “I was an arrogant, conceited know-it-all who thought I could make decisions for both of us.”

  “You wanted me to drop everything and run off with you on your exciting new job without even one opportunity awaiting me,” she reminded him.

  “I was an ass,” he agreed. “But the other part? About moving from EMT to firefighter? Randi, I loved you so much t hurt and I was scared shitless for you to put yourself in danger.”

  “I hear you,” she told him. “But we could have worked through it together. You just wanted to take the decision out of my hands.”

  He stroked her cheekbone with the pad of his thumb. “Because I was scared to death something would happen and I’d lose you.”

  She sighed. “But you knew this was something I’d wanted all my life. I just—“

  He pressed the tip of one finger to her lips. “Ssh. Enough. I want another chance with you. All the success in the world means nothing to me without you. I learned that the hard way.” He locked his gaze with hers, staring intently into her eyes as if trying to read what was going on deep inside her. “Can you give me another chance, Randi? Please?”

  God, she wanted to so badly, but she was afraid to trust what he said.

  “Please?” he asked again, and she heard the deep emotion in his voice.

  She closed her eyes, trying to sort through all the crazy emotions assaulting her.

  “Randi, you about ready to go?”

  Dan Kessler’s voice startled her into awareness of where she was and what she was doing. She blinked, trying to kick start her brain again. When she looked over Noah’s should she saw Dan standing there, impatience and irritation in every line of his posture.

  “Um,” was all she could manage.

  Noah tensed but he did not drop his hands from her face. Instead he stared intently at her as if searching for answers or maybe sending her a message.

  “Come on.” Dan sounded impatient now. “Don’t forget we need to pick up your car.”

  “Where’s your car?” Noah asked.

  “I, uh, left it at the firehouse. Dan picked me up when we went to check the fire sites again. It was easier just to come right here when we were finished.”

  “I’ll take you to get your car,” he told her in a soft voice. “Or I can take you home and we can pick it up in the morning.” He paused. “Your choice.”

  “Randi?” Dan’s voice nudged at her. “I’m fine, Dan. You go on. I’ll talk to you in the morning.”

  “Are you sure?” he persisted. “I can wait if you aren’t ready to leave yet.”

  “She told you she’s good,” Noah said, an edge to his voice.

  “He’s right.” Noah’s touch burned against her cheeks. “Thanks for being my caretaker but Noah will see that I get home okay.”

  For a long moment it seemed as if he wasn’t going to leave.

  “Fine,” he said at last. “Call me first thing in the morning.”

  “Okay.”

  “Do you want to go pick up your car now?” Noah asked.

  “I’ve hardly spent any time here,” she pointed out. “I don’t want to be rude to Jeff.”

  He
gave her a heated smile. “I think Jeff has enough company that he won’t miss us. Let me text him and tell him we’re leaving. I can talk to him in the morning.”

  He pulled his cell phone from his jeans pocket, sent Jeff a message, then took Randi’s hand and tugged her toward the walkway leading around the townhouse. Her heart was thumping so hard and fast that she was sure he had to hear it. Reservations aside, the anticipation of being with Noah again had every cell in her body on high alert. All ready the walls of her pussy were flexing with need and her breasts demanded to feel his warm hands on them.

  As they rounded the townhouse and headed toward when Noah had parked his rental car she noticed Dan’s car still parked at the curb.

  “Wait.” She stopped, forcing Noah to stop with her.

  “What?” He studied her face in the streetlight. “Please don’t tell me you’re changing your mind. I’m not sure I could stand it.” His mouth curved in a crooked smile as he placed her hand over his fly. “And neither could he.”

  “No, not changing my mind.” If even her brain told her she should. “It’s just—That’s Dan’s car and he’s sitting in it. I wonder why he hasn’t left.”

  “He’s either making calls or keeping an eye out for you. I don’t think I trust that guy.”

  “He’s fine. He’s just been a little off lately. I hope he’s okay. This care we’re working has really gotten to both of us.”

  “Dan’s fine.” He swung her around to face him. “I’ll bet he’s just jealous that I get to take home the prettiest girl at the party. Come on, let’s not worry about Dan.”

  “I’ve moved,” she told him once they were in his car. “I live on the northwest side now.”

  She gave him her address and he programmed it into the GPS before he pulled out into the street. They said nothing on the drive to her place, as if saying something might disturb or damage the fragile atmosphere between them.

  “You bought a house?” he asked, pulling into her driveway.

  “I like owning my own place.”

  “You’re pretty far out thought, aren’t you?” He looked around, obviously see the rural nature of the little community.

  “It’s what I wanted. Besides there are things I like to do that I can’t do in an apartment or a condo.”

  He chuckled. “Like what? Wild monkey sex?”

  She batted his arm. “You know better than that. No, for one thing, I like to hang my clothes out to dry on a line.”

  “You don’t have a dryer like very one else on the planet?”

  “What for? I like my clothes to smell of fresh air. Using fabric softener isn’t quite the same thing. I like the smell of sunshine and the breeze and—“

  “Okay, okay.” He threw up his hands. “How did I never know this about you?”

  “There are a lot of things you never knew about me.” Then, before they could get into a discussion that would break the mood, she opened her door and climbed out of the car. “Come on. Let’s go inside.”

  She had left a small lamp lit in the living room, giving a soft glow to the room. She looked around at the comfortable furniture she’d chosen and wondered what Noah thought about it. Then there was no time to think as he swung her around to face him and took her in a kiss that made the earlier one feel like a chaste peck. He threaded his fingers through her hair, holding her head firmly in place while he plundered her mouth like a starving man. His tongue was a wild thing, thrust and sweeping and licking, drawing her own into his mouth and scraping it lightly with his teeth. The kiss went on and on until she had no breath left yet still she didn’t want it to stop.

  Finally Noah lifted his head, the expression in his eyes hot and demanding.

  “Which way is the bedroom?”

  She pointed toward a short hallway. “The door at the end.”

  He swept her up in his arms and carried her into her bedroom where he set her beside the bed. The room was dark but he seemed to have no trouble finding either the bed or the little light on the nightstand. He turned it on then stepped back and looked Randi over from head to toe. She shivered beneath the intensity of his gaze.

  For a brief moment she panicked, wondering how she could let herself fall into this trap allover again. Nothing had changed. For all she knew, Noah still felt the same way about where she worked and where he lived. They certainly hadn’t taken the time for any deep discussion.

  Maybe that was just the way it was supposed to be. And maybe they would just have this one night If so, she planned to take full advantage of it. It would be a better memory than the one of the last time they were together.

  Chapter 5

  “You have too many clothes on.” His voice was rough with need. “I need to do something about that.”

  He peeled off her ever-present blazer and tossed it to the side, not even looking or apparently caring where it landed. Then, slowly, as if unveiling a present, he tugged her tank top from the waistband of her jeans and eased it in increments up and over her head. She lifted her arms to help him, wondering if he could tell she was trembling.

  With the tank gone his eyes focused on the lace and satin bra she wore. With the tip of one finger he traced the line of her collarbone then dropped to the upper swells of her breasts. His fingertip just ghosted over her skin, setting up another little ripple of shivers.

  “Look at me, Randi,” he commanded. “Can you see how much I want you?”

  “Y-Yes.” She whispered the word.

  “You want me, too.” A statement, not a question.

  Oh, lord, did she want him. More than she would have thought possible.

  “Your nipples are all swollen and hard,” he murmured, brushing his thumbs over them before taking them between thumb and forefinger and pinching them.

  Heat shot straight to her pussy, the walls in spasm, and she could feel how soaked her panties were now.

  “I want to touch you,” she half-whispered, unbuttoning his cotton shirt.

  He helped her remove it then added it to the growing pile on the floor. Randi smoothed her hands over the hard wall of his chest, feeling the crispness of the scattering of dark curls.

  She pressed a kiss to his breastbone, reveling in the clean masculine scent of him, the earthy touch of his aftershave. Everything about him just smelled so good. When she found his flat male nipples and scraped her fingernails over them the hiss of his indrawn breath was sharp in the otherwise silent room.

  “My turn,” he said, unhooking her bar and tossing it.

  His eyes flamed with hunger as he took in every inch of her naked breasts. Then, cupping both of them in his large palms, he lowered his head and took one of them in his mouth, drawing hard on it. She felt the pull clear to her core and had to grab his biceps to hold herself steady, her legs were shaking so badly. He turned his attention to the other one, taking the first one between thumb and forefinger and squeezing just hard enough to cause an erotic bite of pain.

  Oh, god!

  Randi was sure she was going to come just from what he was doing. It had been so long since anyone had touched her this way, with such reverence and desire. The few times she’d engaged in meaningless sex he past six years had done nothing to diminish either her feelings for Noah or her need. Her response. If only—

  Whatever thought had begun to germinate in her brain dissipated when he unzipped her jeans and began to push them past her hips.

  “Kick off your shoes,” he told her. “I want to get these off and see you naked. Damn, Randi, this is all I’ve dreamed about for six long years.”

  She sat down to take off her ankle boots then laid back on her elbows while Noah slid her jeans off. Kneeling between her outstretched legs he lifted one foot and slowly kissed his way up the inside of one leg from ankle to thigh. The soft touch of his mouth was like magic, awakening every little nerve beneath the surface of her skin. When he reached her mound he stopped, placed a kiss on the top of it then continued his journey down the inside of her other leg. By the time he was fin
ished she was quivering with need. Without warning he spread her thighs, bent closer again and drew a line the length of her slit with his tongue.

  “Mm,” he hummed against her. “Soaked and delicious.” He did it again, then lifted his head a deliberately licked his lips. “I missed this taste, Randi. I missed all of it.”

  So saying, he slid off her tiny bikini panties, dropped them and went to work on her with his mouth and his fingers. She had forgotten just how clever he was, how good. Opening her labia like the petals of a flower, he slowly lick the tender flesh surrounding her opening, pausing now and then to swirl his tongue around her now throbbing clit. She tried to urge him on with a thrust of her hips but he seemed determined to take his own sweet time, tormenting her as long as he possibly could.

  When he finally slid one long, lean finger into her she clamped down n it as hard as she could trying her best to ride it to completion. Again he was determined to control everything, sliding his finger in and out with a slow rhythm. He punctuated the movement with occasional attention to her clit, nibbling it with his teeth or sucking it gently with his mouth. The need was building slowly in side her, making that slow climb up and up, but leaving her hanging on the precipice.

  “Please,” she said at last. “Oh, please.”

  She remembered now (as if she’d ever forgotten) how much he loved to tease her and make things last. He would take her right to the precipice and leave her hanging until he was sure he taken her as high as possible. Then he’d give her that last little push and she’d tumble into a whirlwind of erotic sensation.

  He slipped a second finger inside to join the first, moving them together to stretch her and scrape that very sensitive spot on her inner walls. The sweet spot. It was certainly sweet the way he played it like a musical instrument to give her as much pleasure as possible.

  She could feel it now, that hot sweet feeling that swamped her and engulfed her body. Like a swimmer poised on the high diving board, ready to take that leap and reaching for the edge of the board with her toes.

  “Please,” she cried out again.