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I touched his rigid forearm gently. “We'll find who did this, Emmett. I promise.”
He exhaled harshly, then nodded, the rage leaving his eyes. My breath caught unexpectedly at the tenderness that replaced it as he gazed at me. Before I could react, his calloused hand was cupping my cheek, his skin rough but his touch impossibly gentle.
We were covered in soot and ash, but I didn’t care as electricity crackled between us. I leaned into his touch, craving more. His nearness both comforted and unnerved me, a heady mix of safety and danger that I couldn't resist.
Our eyes locked, and for once, I silenced the ever-wary voice in my mind. No past betrayals, no trust issues mattered in this perfect suspended moment. We were alone, but after tonight, we were more bound together than ever.
Before I realized what was happening, Emmett pulled me into a crushing kiss. When his lips met mine, I didn't resist. My doubts evaporated as I returned the kiss with equal fervor. The touch of his mouth obliterated my doubts, leaving only this wondrous sense of rightness.
Lost in the whirlwind of emotions, I melted into his embrace, my fingers tangling in his hair as the world around us faded. His lips moved against mine with a passion that ignited an inferno within me, an inferno I could no longer deny.
His tongue slid against mine like silken velvet, tasting me, conquering my mouth until I was moaning into his.
From the moment I’d laid eyes on him, I’d wondered what it would be like to kiss Emmett Furbane. The expertise of his mouth, lips, and teeth as they nibbled at mine surpassed my wildest imagination.
I’d been kissed plenty of times, but never like this, as if he was claiming not only my mouth but also my body.
He smelled amazing. He tasted divine. The passion surging between us was faintly overwhelming yet undeniable.
In that fleeting instance, time stood still, and all that mattered was the connection between us. Emmett's warmth enveloped me, filling the voids I hadn't even realized existed.
The intensity of our kiss silenced the doubts that had plagued my mind, replaced by an overwhelming certainty that this was where I was meant to be.
“Jesus, you taste so fucking good. Like honey and citrus. And you smell like wildflowers,” he groaned when we finally broke apart, breathless and flushed. His deep voice reverberated in my womb and made my ovaries swoon. “My little wildflower.”
I searched his eyes, finding an unspoken understanding mirrored in their depths. He was as shaken as I was. It was as if we had unlocked something profound, a bond that transcended words.
I didn’t want to fight this bond–a bond now forged by this kiss and the two fires we’d faced together. For now, I would simply let myself feel without reservation.
And then he was kissing me again, harder, deeper than before. My hands moved to his shirt, bunching in my hands, clutching him close. I gasped as he cupped my breast, his thumb swiping over my nipple and teasing it to a hard peak. I whimpered as lust pooled between my thighs.
Dear God, what was this? This powerful pull toward this man?
“Holy shit,” Emmett breathed against my sensitive lips.
“Yeah,” I whispered, shaken to my core.
Emmett wrapped me in his strong arms. Tomorrow would bring fresh battles, but could I let myself believe we might have a future?
Even as I allowed myself this flicker of hope, a nagging thought persisted. If I failed to uncover the truth behind these fires, if I couldn't stop whoever was threatening this town and these people I'd grown to care for, I might have no choice but to return to the city, leaving Silverpaw Hollow and Emmett behind.
The thought of walking away, of never having his arms around me again, left me cold despite the warmth of his embrace. I couldn't let that happen. I wouldn't. No matter what secrets Emmett and his family were keeping, no matter how dangerous this investigation became, I was determined to see it through. For this town. For these people.
And for a chance at something real with the man who made me feel more alive than I had in years. I prayed that the truth, when it finally came to light, wouldn't tear us apart before we even had a chance to begin.
Chapter 7
Amber
Iwalked briskly through the Fire Station, my boots echoing against the cool concrete. The bay doors rumbled behind me as trucks slid into place, and the clash of metal rang out as my fellow firefighters busied themselves with their post-call routine.
As I weaved through the kitchen, the delicious aroma of coffee wafted into my nostrils, mingling with the ever-present odors of motor oil and smoke. Those smells clung to the station's walls as if painted on.
The rec room buzzed as the crew exchanged stories and ribbed each other, an atmosphere that had once felt welcoming. Now, though, every laughed story and sideways glance felt like an undercurrent of judgment, reminding me of how some resented my presence here as an outsider—a woman who didn't belong.
I slipped into my office, the weight of their skepticism like a lead vest on my shoulders. Once seated, I twisted my fingers absent-mindedly through my hair, a habit that had grown more pronounced with each passing day.
My encounters with Emmett and the complex puzzle of arson in which we were tangled had changed me. My response to my colleagues' jibes had shifted from mere irritation to a quiet determination to prove myself worthy.
