Embracing Today, a firefighter romance: (The Trading Yesterday Series, #3) by Kahlen Aymes (best short novels TXT) 📕

I wanted to devour and be devoured. It was like no first kiss I’d ever experienced, and I’d known it would be. My thighs tightened against his hips and he thrust against me in a heavenly rhythm that was echoed in the giving and taking of his mouth and tongue against mine. His hands slid around my thighs under my bottom, and he pulled my groin closer against his. I could feel the outline of his hardness pressing into me, teasing; a delicious hint of what being with him would feel like.

Soon we were out of control, our kisses deepening, our breathing increasing in perfect unison. My hands slid up his arms, over his shoulders and into his soft hair. I wanted him to devour me, and I communicated it with him by sucking his tongue deeper into my mouth.

When the kiss broke, Ben was breathing hard, his face turned into my neck to drag his mouth down until it opened hotly over my collarbone, then he sucked lightly. I was dying, my body open and hungry, screaming for his to fill me.

I tried to surge my hips against his, but his hands stopped me, his forehead falling onto my shoulder. “Marin, are you trying to kill me?” His voice was low and deep.

Instantly, I stilled. “I’m sorry! Did I hurt you?” My eyes searched his in the shadowy darkness, then he pulled me close again while he surged toward me. I could feel his erection through my shorts and now damp panties, hard and throbbing against me.

“In a good way,” he said before taking my mouth in a slow, deep kiss, his tongue parting my lips and laving mine. He sucked in his breath as the kiss ended. “Having you in my arms, finally… it’s incredible. I say finally, because these few weeks have felt like years.”

I could tell he was struggling; fighting to stop, but I wanted more, though I was worried about his stitches breaking open. Clearly, the Novocain injection hadn’t worn off, but I was betting that when it did, he would be in a lot of pain. “Ben… let’s go upstairs to my room. I’m worried you’ll start bleeding again. You need to rest.”

I drew in a shaky breath as he lowered me to the floor yet slid his hand under the curtain of my hair to cradle the back of my head and tangle in the loose curls. My fingers curled into the fabric of the T-shirt as he kissed me again. His lips teased mine open, and our mouths were once again engaged in a series of hard, then soft kisses, his arm hooked around my waist and pulling me close, and off the floor to leave me feet dangling. I resisted the urge to wrap my legs around his waist.

“Ben,” I said, my hand flattening on the hard muscles of his perfect chest. God, this man was perfect. “I’ll get Gem settled, but why don’t you go up to my room and crawl into bed? It’s the last door on the left. The bathroom is the door before it.”

The farmhouse was built long before ensuite bathrooms became fashionable, but it was next to my room.

“Will you lay with me, at least?” he asked with a slight smile, the back of his knuckles grazing my jaw. He was so hot yet had such boyish charm. My heart stopped inside of my chest.

“As long as it doesn’t hurt you,” I acknowledged under my breath as I gently tore myself away.

“It will hurt more if you don’t.” His voice was low; intense, but hesitant. “I mean, I’d sleep better if you were next to me.”

I needed to collect myself, so I moved out of his arms, and he released me reluctantly. Despite the passionate kissing and dry humping that we’d just engaged in, and as thrilling as it was, I forced myself to remember his injury. My body was throbbing with unresolved desire and judging from the big bulge in his blood-stained jeans, Ben was suffering, too. It was unlike anything I’d ever felt, and I wanted to feel every inch of him inside me. I shuddered just thinking about it.

I cleared my throat; acknowledging to myself that he needed to get cleaned up, and he needed rest. “Do you want some water?”

“I wish I could take a cold shower,” he groaned, reaching for me but then dropped his hand.

“I’m sorry. You know I want to, but I’m worried.”

“I understand.”

“So? The water?”

“Sure. Thank you.”

I nodded, then went to the kitchen to get two glasses filled with ice and water. Ben stood at the foot of the stairs waiting for me to join him rather than going up like I’d asked.

“Come on, Gem. Let’s go to mommy’s room.” She knew the nightly routine, but she was still quite small, so it took her sometime to climb the stairs.

Ben took the glass I offered, and took a long, thirsty drink, then ushered me to follow the puppy in front of him. I was extremely cognizant of his presence behind me as I made my way into my room. I turned on the small lamp next to the bed and the room was bathed in the low golden glow.

It was late so Gem went into her crate and laid down without prompting. “She’s so good about getting in her kennel,” Ben commented, hovering and uncertain if he should sit on the bed or wait.

“I think she’s pretty perfect,” I agreed. “She sleeps with me sometimes, though.”

I felt nervous, as I sat my glass on the nightstand and began pulling the extra decorative pillows from the bed and tossing them on the floor next to it, then pulled down the covers on one side.

“You can’t sleep in those soiled clothes. You must be so uncomfortable.” The dried blood had made the denim of his jeans crusty and stiff, and the shirt was dirty from being stuffed behind his seat in the truck. “I’ll be right back. I’ll find a