Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 44188 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44188 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
The certainty slips from her expression for a moment, and I’m relieved she realizes there’s more to this than sexism. She glances at me and I give my head a small shake.
Her gaze slips back to James. “I’m hoping to learn,” she says simply.
James snorts and leaves the room.
I’m dying to wrap Lia up in my arms, but, of course, I can’t. Rocket’s up behind her, dropping a hand on her shoulder. I should be grateful the rest of the crew has some sympathy, but the sight of him touching her makes my fingers curl into fists.
And of course, that’s when the alarm sounds, ending any chance for explanations or discussion.
Lia
I call my cousin Talia on the way to Blaze’s.
“Hey, girl. How’s the new job?”
I close my eyes, grateful for her enthusiasm. As the only girl in a male-dominated family, I latched onto my older cousin like we were sisters. She spent a couple summers with us when she was a teen and I stayed with her for a few months after I graduated high school—when I was trying to figure out what to do with my life. She pretty much got me on the track that led me here. I sometimes joke that she’s my life coach.
“Hey. It’s good. Hard, but good.”
“Yeah? Have you made any friends yet? Are your co-workers hot? Or is it wrong to perv on firemen when you’re one of them?”
I laugh. “Actually…” I drag the last syllable out.
“Ooh. This sounds interesting. Did you make a special friend?”
“Okay, wow. You read into this situation way too fast. Um, yeah. I have a date tonight with the captain.”
“A date? Is that allowed?”
I get off the subway and walk up the street with the phone glued to my ear. “No! It’s totally not allowed. But we had this kind of incredible magnetic attraction. We both agreed not to tell anyone. Do you think I’m crazy?”
“I think you should be careful,” she hedges. “You worked really hard to get this job. But if anything happens to affect your job, we’ll find you a good lawyer and sue the FDNY for sexual harassment.”
“Yeah, and he pretty much admitted he was opening himself up for that, so I think I’m safe. We both know what we’re messing with.”
“You sound good.”
I smile, even though she can’t see it. “I do? Thanks. I’m excited. And nervous.”
“So what are you doing for the date?”
“Um.” I don’t want to tell her this part. I mean how do you say, it’s not really a date, it’s kinky spank play that I can’t even begin to understand my attraction to? “I don’t know yet—he’s in charge.” Not a lie. “I’m almost there, just wanted to say hey in person. Thanks for listening.”
“My pleasure. Have fun on the date. Text me to let me know you got home okay later.”
“I will—thanks!” I end the call just as I reach Blaze’s building. He texted me his address along with the instructions to wear panties like the ones I had on for my last spanking. The ones he kept.
Has he been thinking about that scene as much as I have?
I ring the bell. He buzzes me in and I climb the stairs to his apartment and stand in front of his door.
I’m wearing a pair of leggings and a t-shirt. I went for easy removal—hope I made the right choice! My knees are knocking even more than they did my first day on the job. The day I showed up to a very grouchy captain and a crew who didn’t want me.
This is a totally different kind of nervous, though. It’s the exciting kind, with the butterflies dancing around and heat thrumming between my legs. I knock.
He answers, looking sexy as hell in a worn pair of jeans and a tight, fitted t-shirt that shows off every line of his sculpted torso.
I lick my lips and his gaze tracks the movement. “Hey.”
He pulls me inside and shuts the door. “Hey, yourself. I’m glad you came.”
His place is nice—small, but very clean and neat, with decent furniture. A little on the spartan side.
“Were you worried I wouldn’t?”
He reaches for a lock of my hair, which I wore down tonight, and twists it around his finger. “I might’ve sweated it a bit. You ready for your punishment?”
I nod. My mind’s been going crazy over the past four days since our date, trying to figure out what this all means. What’s Blaze’s deal? Is he only in this for the kink? He offered me the option of coming or having him never mention it again. Us dating the normal way wasn’t on the table.
Or am I overanalyzing this?
Probably.
He lifts his chin toward an open door. “The bedroom’s in there. I want you to go in, shut the door, and take off all your clothes but your panties. If you need to use the restroom, do that first. Then kneel in the corner and wait for me.”