Rekindle The Flames (The Men of CLE-FD Book 4) (6 page)

His mouth returned to follow the path his hand had been. 
He kissed down her torso, slowly circling her belly button, before gently
nipping the soft skin of her stomach. It was all so good, every place he
touched on her relieved his own months of loneliness for a brief moment. His
lips moved further down, caressing the inside of her thighs, his tongue sliding
down and over her soft leg and under the backside of her knee, then back up to
caress the soft skin where her legs formed that perfect V.

His mouth hovered over her aching heat, torturing and
still refusing to satisfy her. She tried raising her hips, but couldn’t as the
weight of his shoulders pressed her against the bed, holding her in place,
keeping her captive—right where he wanted her.

He felt her go limp on the bed, ready to give up. His
hands parted her soft folds, his thumbs caressing her inner heat as he sealed
his lips over her sensitive area. She screamed out in pleasure as he sucked her
into his mouth, his tongue quickly rubbing over her.

She begged, “Please, Ryan. Now.  Make love to me now.”

Her hips rotated and she moaned softly. Ryan ignored her
pleas and stretched her open some more. “Soon, baby.”

He felt her body tense as his tongue laved the lips of her
womanhood, making her cry out and shudder with fierce, aching lust.  His
fingers continued to explore as his tongue slid deeper and deeper.  Megan
released a series of short, incoherent noises. Her body arched as he latched
onto the nub, clamping it lightly with his teeth.

She tried to push at his shoulders, but it was no use, his
tongue was relentless and she was powerless to stop him. Every nerve in his
body was on fire, but he was determined not to lose control.  He was in control
this time.  Megan would submit to him first then he would enjoy his pleasure. 
His large hands slid under her butt to bring her womanhood tight against his
mouth.  He increased the pressure on her nub and felt her legs trembling as she
crossed them over his back.  Her whole body was shaking.  Ryan knew how she
reacted when she was close and she was on the edge of an orgasm that would rip
her soul apart.

Then she shouted as her body shook as spasm after spasm
washed over her.  “Yes! Oh, yes,” she squealed over and over.

Ryan lapped the juices that flowed from her, enjoying
every drop.

*****

When he inserted his fingers deep inside her core at the
same time as his tongue swirled over her bud, she exploded with delighted
pleasure. Her body shook against his skilled mouth as he guided her through
waves of pure pleasure.

Exhaustion took over her body, she sagged against the bed.
Her bones felt heavy, making her unable to move. She felt the release of his
mouth as his body moved up. She wanted to push him away, tell him she couldn’t
take anymore, but she couldn’t move. She was his for the taking and she had
never denied him and would not start now.

“My turn, baby. I love you aren’t a selfish lover.” Ryan
said as his teeth bit down on the soft lobe of her ear. She could feel the tip
of his thickness pressing against her soft, wet opening.

Lacking the energy to move, Megan’s head fell back and she
moaned with abandon as her entire body felt like it was on fire.  She shuddered
feeling his burning, naked flesh against hers as he settled on top her. She
adjusted her body, trying to lead him where she desired him most. She heard a
soft groan escape his lips.  The sound of his pleasure heightened her very own,
knowing that he still desired her.

His mouth covered hers and she tasted her own essence on
his lips.  She returned the kiss, letting him know the significance of what
they’d just shared, the passion, and the connection of a married couple still
deeply in love.  She moved her mouth away feeling his hardness against her
thigh.  She squirmed, ready for him to take her, to fill the empty place inside
her.

He lifted his head to look down at her.  She clearly saw
the love he had for her shine in his eyes. “Please make love to me now.”

“Tell me you missed me, Megan.  Tell me how you miss my
dick inside of you,” he demanded, his tone raw and harsh.

She could feel him nudging against her opening.  “I miss
you and dammit, I miss you making love to me.”  He pushed inside her a little
more, it produced a small sting, but she didn’t care.

“Should I use a condom?” He asked lifting his body
slightly off her.

“Don’t you dare move. I want all of you inside me.”  Megan
wasn’t on the pill and if she got pregnant she would tell him this time.  She
wanted to save her marriage and if sealing the deal with a baby would do it,
then so be it.

His hips thrust forward and slowly pushed himself inside
her, one inch at a time. He was going to rip her apart. He pushed deeper and
she whimpered. It hurt. He was large, but they did fit together magnificently. 
However, she hadn’t had sex since they separated.  Ryan stretched her, forcing
her walls to expand and accept him.  Her slick flesh gave way, allowing him
entrance as his massive member lodged entirely inside her.

“Damn, baby, you’re so tight.  Feels so good to be home
again,” he mumbled against her neck.

“Yes,” she panted. “You’re home where you belong.”  His
large body consumed her, dominated her as he pulled back and entered her again,
rubbing against her spot, driving her higher and higher as he increased his
pace.  His hips pushed into her, one hand sliding beneath her to pull her up to
meet him, making their skin slap together in a forceful meeting.

Ryan did as promised and made her body sing with pleasure
as he slammed into her.  She cried out his name with each repeated powerful
thrust and every pump of his hips.  Their bodies were covered with a film of
sweat as they moved against each other.  The weight of his body, his large
hands kneading her breasts, and his lips on her skin, added to her arousal,
making her moan louder.

“Come for me again, baby. I want to watch you,” his low
seductive voice whispered to her as he filled her again and again moving faster
with each thrust.

Hunched on his knees between her legs, his thumb boldly
stroked her nub as he moved in and out of her; she exploded as ecstasy seized
her.  Bright colors flashed through the darkness as her body pulsed and her
womanhood clenched around his manhood, milking him.

Ryan growled. “That’s my girl, show me you like it.”  His
mouth came down on hers as he entered her one last time, spilling himself deep
inside of her well with a harsh, tortured groan.

Ryan’s full weight collapsed on top of her as he rested to
catch his breath.  Although, he was mostly muscle, his 200-pound frame had her
struggling to breathe beneath him. Megan kissed the top of his damp shoulder as
she tried to catch her breath. Her heart was pounding and she felt Ryan’s doing
the same.  She wished she could see his face and know that he was as satisfied
as she was.

The bedroom was dark, the only light streaming through the
window was the brightness of the moon.  Ryan shifted his weight and rolled off
her and onto his back.  His light breathing filled the quietness of the room. 
This was the awkward part.  What to say now that the lovemaking was over?

She had to say something, the quiet was weird.  “I have a
permanent assignment at the hospital now—I’m an ER nurse.”

“Yeah, that’s great.  I’m happy for you,” he said in a
raspy tired voice.

“I heard from Gabrielle that you are now a journeyman.”

The bedding rustled as he moved around. “Yeah, the Chief
promoted me to the rescue squad instead of the ladder.  I didn’t say anything
because I didn’t want to ruin our dinner tonight.”

Megan turned over and traced a finger down his chest
feeling the ripples of his defined abs.  She loved this man and it was time he
knew it. “Ryan, I don’t want to argue about this anymore.”

“Neither do I, but I can’t change how you feel.”

“Well, I’ve been doing some thinking and I want to stay
married if you do.”

He caught her hand with his.  His thick fingers traced the
wedding set on her slender finger. “You want to call off the divorce?”

“Yes.  I think we should see a marriage counselor and let
him help me learn to live with the danger you’re putting yourself in every
day.  What you said to me about being childish and immature hit home and I do
need to grow up.”

“Baby, I said that out of anger and I didn’t mean to hurt
you.  I love you, Megan.  I will always love you no matter what happens between
us.”

“I love you too.  I have been miserable without you.  Tell
you what, to celebrate our achievements, why don’t we invite everyone over for
a cookout.  We’ll announce we’re working to keep our marriage together and put
all the negative crap behind us.”

“We could do that, but Iona will not be happy with you and
neither will Emin.”

“I’ll take care of my mother and Emin isn’t even an
issue.  He lives in New York and should be leaving soon anyhow.”

“He doesn’t plan on leaving without you.  He told me that
I should step aside and let him take care of you. You wouldn’t want for
anything.”

“Emin is always throwing around his wealth and my mother
eats it up.  She should marry him.  You don’t think for a minute I have any
feelings for him, do you?”

“I’d be lying if I said no but not anymore.  Look, he made
a lot of sense, Megan.  He’s your age, rich and has a job you don’t mind.  I
know you want kids, and on the fence about having them with me since I’m a
firefighter.”

She sighed. “We had sex without using protection, Ryan. 
Apparently, I’m not letting that stand in the way anymore.  We’ll live our
lives and let the chips fall where they fall.  You just have to promise me
you’ll be extra careful when you’re at work.”

“What if you get pregnant before we iron out our problems?
I don’t want to be shut out of my kid’s life.”

“I won’t get pregnant; I’m safe for now.  Anyhow, I know
about your childhood and I would never keep our child away from you.”  Hurt
tugged at her heart.  She would have to tell him about the miscarriage
eventually.

He rolled off the bed. “Well, I’m going to shower and go
to bed.”

“Wait, you’re sleeping in the spare bedroom?” Did he
regret what happened between them?

“I’d love to stay with you, but we can’t use sex to cure
our problems, Megan.  Once we make progress with the marriage counselor, we’ll
resume sharing our bed.  I’m trying to be fair and put every effort in saving
our marriage because I could make love to you again right now with no problem.”

Surprise choked her, jamming the back of her throat.  As
much as she hated the idea of him sleeping in another room, he was right. The
main issue surrounding their marriage had to be addressed first.  Sex was never
an issue between them.  He got it whenever he wanted it and she didn’t mind
giving it to him whenever he needed it.  Their sex life was healthy; it was
everything else that was falling apart.

He exited the bedroom, closing the door softly behind him.

Megan rolled on her back and groaned from the ache he’d
left inside of her.  When she closed her eyes, she felt his weight on top of
her.  Their desire for each other was unbridled.  Soon, their whole being would
be that way.  She was determined to keep her marriage and man happy forever.

Chapter Seven

It was too early and too beautiful a morning for a
confrontation.  The sun was high in the sky, and the weather was the perfect
temperature for a run on the beach or sitting and watching the waves roll
across the lake.  However, Megan wasn’t doing any of that on her day off.

Megan hitched her purse under her arm as she trotted
across the street to the coffeehouse. Inside, the smell of freshly brewed
coffee instantly hit her nose.  She needed a cup of the strong coffee to help
her do what she had to do—confront her mother. It would be a battle and a
showdown, but she was prepared to stand her ground.

Iona waved from a table near the window, catching Megan’s
attention. She joined her mother and ordered a coffee and a chocolate scone
from the waitress who appeared at the table as soon as she sat down.  “Thanks
for meeting me this morning, Mom.”

“You made it sound important.  What’s going on?”

“We need to talk about Ryan.” Megan looked at Iona and
immediately saw the shield cover her eyes.

“Oh, God. The only thing I want to hear about him is that
you’ve come to your senses and have signed the divorce papers.  Megan, you’ve
dragged this out long enough.  Even though I don’t care for Ryan, he deserves
to be happy. Let him find a woman, one his own age, to make him happy.”

“Why don’t you like him, Mom? We’ve been together for four
years, and not once have you ever shown him any kindness,” Megan said.

 “I disagree,” Iona replied. “I have not been outwardly
rude to him. He’s been in my home, and I’ve treated him with respect.”

Megan retorted, “Dad likes him, and so does Connor. You’re
the only one that gives him a hard time.”

“Okay, Megan, here is the deal,” said her mother. “He has
no family support system. His parents are dead. He has a brother and sister who
he doesn’t have contact with, ever. What does this say about him? He doesn’t
value the sanctity of family. You want to have children. They will know nothing
about his family, because he doesn’t care if he has anything to do with them.”

“That’s not fair,” Megan hissed. “Not every family has
that loving feeling, Mom.  He does keep in touch with his brother, and he is
close to a cousin that lives here. What you need to understand is that Ryan is
my husband.  You don’t hide that you don’t like that. You know what, Mom, I don’t
care anymore. We’ve decided to work on our marriage. In order for me to make my
marriage work, I have to keep you out of it.”

 “Megan, don’t speak to me in that tone of voice,” Iona
said, frowning.

“I’m not trying to be disrespectful, and if I am, I’m
sorry. But it’s time for me to stop letting other people make my decisions. I
know what I want, and I want to stay married to Ryan. So, call off Emin and
stop meddling in my marriage.”

“You sound so stupid right now. Emin is better suited for
you. I have nothing against blue-collar workers, but Ryan is not the man for
you. He is a loner and will never be able to provide you with anything but
worry. Megan, how many babies are you willing to miscarry because you’re
stressed out about him?”

“Who’s being hurtful now, Mom?” Megan asked, fighting to
keep the tears at bay. “Look at me!” she shouted. “Even though you’re my
mother, my face is that of a black woman. Why can't you understand I will never
fit into Emin’s society and that I don’t want to? I don’t love him and never
will. Ryan is my husband, and that’s final. Stay out of my marriage if you want
to keep me as your daughter.”

“It seems I’ll have to have a talk with your father about
this.”

“I’ve already talked to Dad and he feels exactly as I do.
Mom, you aren’t happy unless you’re meddling. Why do you think Connor moved to
Florida? He did it to put distance between you and his wife. Now he controls
the amount of interference you have in his marriage. I should’ve done that
years ago. Maybe then I wouldn’t be so damn insecure and afraid all the time.”

Iona released a heated breath. “You’re blaming me that
you’re separated from Ryan? That’s your doing; I only supported you like a
parent should.”

“Maybe so, but it didn’t help that you kept saying he
would be killed in a fire. Where was your support when he was on trial? You
honestly thought he was guilty.”

“Yes, I did until the facts proved he wasn’t.  The
evidence that girl had was damaging, Megan.  Ryan is the quiet type, and you
never know what is on their minds.”

“Lusting after teenage girls is not a fetish of his, Mom. 
You never once gave him any support.”

 “How could I! You were barely out of your teens when you
met.  He didn’t have a problem pursuing you.”

 “He tried to push me away, but I went after him.  Yes.
Your timid daughter was the one that wore him down by not letting him get away.
I seduced him, and when he finally gave in to me, it was the best sex I ever
had.”

“Megan! I’m still your mother, so watch your damn mouth!”

Megan snarled. “Please, don’t play the moral role with
me.  You took Dad away from a woman he was engaged to marry.  Somehow, you
suspected he would be successful, and he wasn’t going to marry that woman, but
you.  Sorry, Mom; I’m not like you.  I don’t care about materialistic crap. 
Love is what I want, and that’s what I’m going after.”

“I resent the gold digger remark, Megan.”

“I don’t think you’re a gold digger. I’m saying you saw
the potential in Dad before you fell in love with him.”

Iona appeared flushed and unsettled. “Unlike you,
sweetheart, I have a solid marriage. And, yes, the money and status is a plus.
However, I did not lure your father away from his fiancée. At the time, they
were having problems, and I was there to lend him a shoulder and an ear.”

“I’m curious, did you encourage Dad to save his
relationship or to end it and move on?” Megan asked with contempt in her eyes.

Iona slammed her hand on the table. Her face transformed,
the anger draining the color from her piercing gray eyes. “Look, I’m the
parent, and I will not be questioned by my child. Don’t get me started on this
newfound backbone that you have gained. It’s a nice touch but laughable.” Iona
leaned in close to Megan. “I know you. You’re weak, whiny and depend on others
to clean up your messes. You’ll attempt to stay with Ryan to prove me wrong,
but you won’t be able to sustain the pressure. Mark my word: the first time
Ryan is badly hurt or killed, you’ll crumble like an old building. And who will
be there to pick up the pieces of your shattered existence? Your father and I
will! So, before you start sassing off at the mouth, I would think twice. You
don’t want to burn your safety net.”

Megan’s knees were shaking, and her pulse rate increased.
She wanted to run out of the coffeehouse and go hide, but that would confirm
all her mother's claims. She rose from the chair, praying her legs wouldn’t
buckle under her weight. “I’ve said what I came to say, regardless of what you
think about me or how you feel about Ryan,” she said.

Iona clenched her teeth together and seethed, “Sit down!
I’m not done yet.”

Megan swallowed and sat down, trying to look unaffected by
her mother treating her like a child. Perhaps she had bitten off more than she
should by confronting her mother. Iona had the face of a sweet lady, but she
could be a furious foe when she wanted to be. She never showed that side of
herself in public--that was for private viewing only.

Megan folded her hands together, squeezing them tightly
until the blood left her fingers. “Mom, I’m not backing down. If this means you
want to disown me, I’m fine with that.”

Iona laughed.  “I would never disown a child of mine. I do
expect you, however, to obey me.  This is what you’re going to do: Sign the
divorce papers unless you want Ryan to find out about the miscarriage. Megan,
your marriage is a disaster and past repair. You realize that but can’t get
past the so-called fantastic sex.”

Megan straightened her shoulders and thrust her chest; she
refused to be led around by the end of her mother’s leash anymore. “I won’t be
blackmailed.”

“This isn’t blackmail. Ryan lost a child three years ago.
It’s about time he knew about it, and hopefully he’ll understand why you hid it
from him.”

“Jesus, Mom, I’m your daughter,” Megan said, hurt. “Is
being in Emin’s social circle that important to you?”

Iona’s eyes narrowed as she stated cruelly, “It would be
best for everyone if you’d just marry Emin and move your ass to New York and be
damn happy for once. I have an appointment to get to.”

“I’m not marrying him. I don’t care what you say. I’ll
tell Ryan about the miscarriage myself. It should come from me anyhow.”

“I’ll give you a day to think about it what I’ve said.
Just get the divorce done, Megan.”

Stunned that her mother refused to hear what she was
saying, Megan pushed to her feet, feeling the pain radiate through every nerve
in her body. Defeated by the Queen of Mean again, she gathered the strap of her
purse in her hand and left the coffeehouse.

*****

Ryan stacked the boxes from the garage on the lawn.  He’d
been meaning to clean out the storage space for months and never got around to
it. It wasn’t too hot outside and the extra testosterone still lingered from
last night.  He grinned. Making love to his wife after a long separation gave
him the jolt he needed to get his act together.  Yeah, Megan was stubborn but
so was he. He had every intention to seduce her last night but was waiting to
make a move; she beat him to it.

He sat in the flimsy lawn chair and flipped the lid off
the box to go through it.  He had stuff stored in the garage from his parent’s
house and from Megan’s apartment.  Her stuff she could sort through later.

“Hey can you have company or are you grounded to cleaning
out the garage?”

Ryan looked up at Jon and Orlando walking up the driveway.
“Hey, what brings you two to my neck of the woods?”

“We were going to play baseball down at the sandlot and
need another player. Only it looks like you have the ‘honey do’ list going on,”
Jon said with a chuckle.

“Grab a couple of chairs and chill. I have beer on ice in
the cooler if you want one,” Ryan offered to his guests.

Orlando unfolded a chair and sat down. “What are you
doing, packing or unpacking?”

“Cleaning out junk that should have been discarded years
ago,” Ryan said flipping old papers into a tall trash can.  “How the heck did
both of you manage to get out today when you have kids at home?”

Jon grinned. “My kids are with their grandparents in
Africa.  I miss them, but my days off belong to me until they return home.”

“Africa.  I don’t know, Jon, I don’t think I could send my
kids that far without me,” Ryan said shaking his head.

“Gabby’s sisters flew with them and we tried not to worry
until we got the call they’d landed safely.

Orlando replied, “Regan is with Lincoln and her kids out
shopping for more crap Miguel doesn’t need.  I swear that boy has more clothes
than he’ll wear.  He’ll be ten before he wears all the outfits Regan has gotten
for him.”

“I’m jealous that you both have kids.  I imagined one day
Megan and I would have a baby,” Ryan said sorting through more piles of paper.

Jon tossed a baseball in the air catching it. “Once you
get through the rough patches and get the marriage back on the right track, it
will happen.”  Jon paused and cocked his head to one side. “What’s with that
face, man?”

Ryan looked at his two best friends. “Alright, I gotta
tell somebody and you have to swear not to tell your wives or the guys at the
firehouse?” They both swore to keep Ryan’s secret.  He got up from the chair
and paced back and forth on the concrete.  “Yesterday I get home and Megan gets
in a little after me. We try to be pleasant to each other but start to bicker. 
Well, I suggested we put aside our differences and go out to eat; she agrees. 
The waitress is hitting on me and Megan is getting pissed.  She tries to play
it off, but it’s written all over her face.”

“Aw, man, don’t say you flirted back with his woman in
front of Megan?” Orlando asked with a low groan.

“Nah, I pretended not to notice even though she was hot. 
I had on my t-shirt so she knew I was a firefighter.”

Jon interrupted. “You went from mild-mannered school
teacher to picking up on our ways.  Megan had to be furious.”

“She handled it maturely, but that’s not the important
part of the night.  That happened when we got home.”

In a burst of laughter Orlando and Jon let out a loud
“Hell nah!”

Ryan licked his lips mischievously, “Yup, I did.  Man, she
was all over my shit last night.  Before I took her to bed, I asked her if she
was sure and she wasn’t taking no for an answer.”

“That’s good, Ryan.  She doesn’t want the divorce if she
slept with you,” Orlando said.

“We decided to hold off signing the papers until we see a
marriage counselor to give us some insight,” he said rolling his eyes upward.
That was still a touchy subject with him.  He didn’t like exposing his business
to strangers.  He didn’t care if they were professionals.  “I’m sure we’ll stay
married.  I have to keep control of myself and not jump her bones when I’m
horny.”

“Women are fickle.  Megan seen first-hand what she had to
lose when that waitress flirted with you.  She didn’t want another woman
getting what you gave her in the bedroom,” Jon said opening a beer. “I’ll bet
you money, that you will see a marriage counselor for a month before she throws
in the towel and tears up the divorce papers.”

“Jon, I hope you’re right.  I’m ready to stop the insanity
and get on with life.” Ryan resumed the task of cleaning out the box.  He came
across an envelope and opened it.  The contents startled him as he stared at
them.

“Hey, did you tell her about your position on the rescue
squad?” Orlando asked.