Free Ignite (Firefighters of Montana Book 3) by Nicole Helm Page B

growled against the valley between her breasts.
    “What?” she squeaked. Go? He was just getting started! Or in the middle or something. How could he want to go?
    “Lina, this is…this is… Hell, this is too much. This is…” He laughed, his mouth now nowhere near hers, his fingers raking through his dark hair, though he still kneeled in front of her. “I’ve never felt like this.”
    “That sounds like a line,” she managed to say, though she’d never felt like it either. But she was a virgin. He was a hot, arrogant smokejumper who looked like a model. Surely he’d…done all this before.
    His gaze met hers and again there was an intensity that caused her to shiver in fear and lust and something else she didn’t know how to analyze. And she always knew how to analyze.
    “I know it sounds like one, but I… This…” He shook his head. “Too much,” he muttered, like he was just as confused and torn as she was. “It’s too much and you… You said that you’re inexperienced.” He handed over her shirt and she scowled at it.
    “I’m also very good at knowing what I want.”
    His mouth curved in that cocky flash of a grin that made her stomach do cartwheels. “Oh, I just bet you are.” But he didn’t kiss her again, or touch her again. “You have to work tomorrow?”
    The question made no sense, but she shook her head no, finally taking the shirt when he jabbed it at her again.
    “Well, doc, since you’re the reason I can’t work tomorrow, you owe me some entertainment.”
    “E-Entertainment?” she stammered, feeling off center and confused and…well, irritated he was doing a whole lot more talking than kissing. She didn’t put her shirt on, just held it in front of her.
    “Yes, entertainment. You’re going to have to keep me company since I can’t do my job. So, I’ll pick you up about nine.”
    “Nine?” What on earth was he talking about?
    “Yes. Nine in the morning. Wear shoes fit for hiking and eat a good breakfast.” He got to his feet and grabbed his own shirt, pulling it over his head.
    “What are you talking about?” she demanded irritably.
    “I’m going to take you on a hike that will give you a beautiful view. I’m going to pack a picnic. I am going to give you your perfect day. And then… If after all of that you still want this… Then we’ll come back here.”
    “And if I don’t?” she grumbled, disliking the high-handed way he was taking control of things.
    “I’ll take you home. And we’ll go our separate ways.”
    “That seems very…rational.” Time to think. Time to regain her senses. Boo.
    “Yes, I’m very proud of myself. I’ve never been very good at being rational.”
    “It’s all I’ve ever been,” she muttered sullenly.
    He came closer again, leaned down so he could trace her cheek with his finger. Something that was becoming like a habit even if they’d only spent a couple hours in each other’s company. “Oh, honey, that was not true tonight.”
    She could only stare at him and think about how he was right. She hadn’t done anything remotely rational tonight—from the beginning.
    She smiled up at him. “I kinda like it.”
    He chuckled, dropping his hand and stepping away again. “Bring that attitude tomorrow.” He stood for a second, his intense blue eyes all but boring into her.
    She swallowed. She could all but see the fight in his face. He wanted to stay. He wanted her . Could that really be?
    “So, I’ll be back at nine.” Then he was striding to toward the door as if… Part of her thought he couldn’t get away fast enough, but part of her wondered…if he was walking away to keep himself from wanting to stay.
    The door swung open and he gave her one last backward glance, muttered something under his breath that sounded like a swear, and then he left and closed the door behind him.
    She sat on a couch holding her shirt to her naked chest wondering if she’d just experienced some kind of fugue state. But her nipples were