Free New Recruit by Em Petrova Page A

alone even less.
    Mind made up, he grabbed what he needed from his locker and headed out of the firehouse. The few guys left on the night shift were starting to slump on the sagging couches in the common room. They threw half-hearted waves as he walked through, but Jagger just walked by. He had one thought in his mind, and she had eyes the color of melted chocolate and curves the perfect ripeness to fill his hands.
    In the street, he looked around. At this time of night, the city was quiet. Well, as quiet as a city can be. But there were no taxis, which meant he was getting to Hanna’s place by foot. He set off, his long strides eating up the blocks between them.
    As he walked, he clenched his fingers into fists and relaxed them over and over, trying to dispel some of his nervousness. Funny how in the heat of a fire with the threat of a ceiling collapse, he’d kept his cool. Now that he was minutes away from Hanna, his nerves kicked in.
    He didn’t want to fuck this up, and that thought scared the hell out of him more than a wall of fire.
    With each step that carried him to her, more happiness flooded his veins. He relived their moments together, and by the time he reached her building, he was aching for her. He stabbed the buzzer as if it was singlehandedly trying to keep them apart. When nobody answered, a dozen scenarios ran through his mind.
    She was asleep, her beautiful features relaxed as rest rejuvenated her.
    Or something was wrong up there. He craned his neck to stare at the building face. No smoke trickled from the windows.
    That meant she was ignoring his call.
    He leaned into the buzzer again and again until her sweet, groggy voice transmitted over the speaker system. “Yes?”
    His heart stammered and remorse filled him. She’d been asleep. His pitched his voice low, tenderness weaving into his tone. “It’s me, beautiful.”
    A long heartbeat passed where she didn’t respond and he was left to believe he’d be standing out here all night. Dropping his forehead against the cool wall, he pressed the intercom again. “Hanna, please. I’ve had a terrible night, and I want to be with you.”
    As he spoke the words, he realized how true they were. While in the thick of the fire calls, he’d gone into robot mode, doing what he needed to do. But now that he was out and able to think and feel, he just wanted her in his arms.
    The door unlocked, and he filled his lungs to bursting as he yanked open the door and took the flights of stairs as fast as he could despite the fatigue singing in his muscles. She met him at the door wearing a pale blue robe that made her golden skin glow. Her hair, loose around her shoulders, was rumpled and sexy as hell.
    He plunged his fingers into it and walked her backward, claiming her mouth at the same time. She tasted of sleep and a trace of the toothpaste she’d probably used before bed. As soon as his lips brushed hers, she clutched him with a desperation that sent prickles down his spine. Need exploded.
    He kicked he door closed and reached behind himself to lock it. Then he looked into her eyes and found them burning with lust.
    He jerked her into his arms and stomped to her bedroom, never releasing her lips. Small coos escaped her throat, and he reveled in the silky flip of her tongue and the silkier slip of her robe against her bare flesh beneath. His cock ached more with every step he took.
    By the time he got her onto the bed, still smelling faintly of their previous lovemaking, he was as hard as steel. She palmed his cock through his jeans, and he groaned.
    Without breaking the kiss, he eased a hand under her robe. He stopped dead as his fingers met slick, wet flesh. Tearing his mouth away, he growled, “What were you dreaming about, naughty little slut?”
    She arched at his words, her eyes fluttering shut. He probed her slippery folds, drawing more juices from her. He strummed her straining clit with his thumb, and a low cry left her. Watching her face, he sank two