Free On Fire by Tory Richards Page B

thing I knew he ripped the shower
curtain off the hooks, folded it around my body a few times, bent,
and threw me over his shoulder. I squealed, feeling myself slipping
as he stood. “I’m falling!” I tried to wiggle my arms free but he’d
wrapped me up like a cocoon.
    “Hold on!” He managed to bounce me back into
position, and wrap his arms around my upper thighs. I felt my face
flush, ever conscious of my size fourteen curves, although he
didn’t seem to mind. I thanked God the shower curtain was red and
not clear because my ass was close to his face.
    “I can walk, damnit!”
    He ignored me, and turned quickly to walk
into my bedroom, through the smoke filled apartment, and toward the
opened front door. We were almost there when I remembered
Tootsie.
    “Wait, my cat!” I began to squirm.
    “My first priority if getting you out of
here.”
    His first priority? I was more
confused than ever. “But she won’t come to you!”
    We reached the door just as three firemen
burst into the apartment. I glanced up from my undignified position
long enough to take in that they were dressed in full uniform and
weighted down by the various tools of their trade. One of them
smiled at me and I lowered my head with a groan.
    “What have we got?” One of them asked.
    “Looks like an electrical, check the stove,”
Dean replied, surprising me. “The fire is contained in the kitchen
right now.” He moved around them and headed down the hallway. “Far
as I can tell this is the only apartment affected.”
    “What’s up with the fireman’s carry ?”
Another firemen yelled out as we moved down the hallway. I could
hear the amusement in his tone.
    “Uncooperative female,” Dean responded,
receiving loud guffaws in return.
    “Dean!” I wanted to die of embarrassment. I
could hear the shuffling and mumbling of my neighbors as they
vacated their apartments and headed toward the stairs. “Where are
you taking me?”
    “Some place safe for the time being. Until we
get your apartment fire under control and assess the damage.” He
came to a door and opened it.
    We? “Are you a fireman?”
    “Yes ma’am.” He set me down on my feet. “I
was returning from the mailbox when I noticed smoke coming out from
beneath your door. I pulled the alarm and the rest you know.” He
turned to leave.
    “Wait a minute! You can’t leave me like
this.”
    His gaze moved down my curtain clad body. The
only thing visible was my neck and wet head. If he left me and I
fell to the floor I’d lay there like a helpless slug until his
return. The corners of his mouth lifted, as if he was thinking
something similar.
    “I guess it won’t hurt to turn you
loose.”
    He located the ends of the plastic and slowly
spun me around as if I was a ballerina on top of a music box. Every
turn left him with more curtain in his hands until I was standing
completely naked before him… again.
    Cool air touched my damp, exposed skin, but
it was the hot interested look in Dean’s eyes that made me shiver.
I ran my gaze with deliberately slowness over his chest, arms and
abs, pausing at where his jeans were slightly open. God, he
makes me hungry! Remembering what it had felt like when my
breasts were crushed against him didn’t help. When I raised my gaze
to his, I realized he was looking me over just as thoroughly.
    I waited until his gaze met mine again before
saying, “Please don’t forget my pussy when you go back.” I knew it
was an outrageous thing to say, but I was rewarded when his pupils
dilated. Fire exploded in my blood because that one tiny change,
that he couldn’t control, told me he was turned-on. “Her name is
Tootsie.”
    He didn’t miss a beat. “Big white cat?” he
asked.
    He must have seen her in the window because
she was an inside cat. “Yes.”
    “Okay, I gotta get back. Feel free to look
for something to wear from my closet.” He turned, and closed the
door behind him.
    I stood there for a moment, looking around
his