Up In Flames (23 page)

Still laughing, he slid down her body. “Yeah, but my mouth's going to be busy for the next little while.” He looked up, dark eyes full of mischief. “Unless you have a problem with that."

She sighed. “None whatsoever."

Nipping a trail over her stomach, tracing her freckles, Shane brought his mouth to her sex. His tongue flicked at her clitoris and Jules arched below him. Over and through her lips, he let his tongue glide, drinking in her juices. And as he did, he felt his heart pound. He loved this woman, wanted her more than any other he'd ever known. And she was giving herself so happily, so openly, to him. She was like the most precious present he'd ever unwrapped, and he loved taking time to explore all her nuances, all the sweet little corners which made her Jules.

And when she came to orgasm so beautifully, so dreamily, under his lips, it was like watching all the ribbons fly off his present. More exciting than being a child in the midst of a ticker-tape parade, surrounded by a cascade of colorful confetti.

She was all his, and he could make her do that. He was the one to make her writhe and moan and whimper his name, and it filled him with such love and gratitude.

Shane's gratitude increased tenfold when a panting Jules climbed out from under him and pushed him down on the bed. Grinning, his eyes half-closed, he watched as she lay on top of him. Watched her delightful tongue sneak out and flick along the length of his erection. His breath stilled and his heart seemed to stop pounding as Jules took him in her mouth. She was a scorching, sizzling fire as she sucked and licked at him and he didn't think he'd ever been so content to burn.

Jules reached a hand down to tease him further, stroking the sensitive spot under his sac. She knew he was ready to come and she seemed determined to repay the favor. God bless her, the look on her face was so hungry, she looked as if she might die without his essence inside her.

But it had been so long, and he was desperate to be buried in her.

At the brink of his control, Shane withdrew from her mouth and rolled her over. He planted two kisses on her behind, one on each cheek. Then, gripping her hips, he plunged deep into her body, filling her to the hilt, satisfying his need to be inside her.

He closed his eyes, and gave into the feeling.

Jules gasped. He seemed thicker, hotter, than ever. Maybe it was the fact they'd dispensed with the condom for the first time. Maybe the danger of the fire had infused their lovemaking with a desperation they hadn't felt before. And maybe it was their love.

It had to be their love, because she'd never felt such teeming sensation, such completeness.

His thrusts reached a roaring crescendo. Her body contracted around him as her orgasm ripped through her. Shane was right behind her, and clutched her tightly as he came inside her. She felt his tremendous shudder, felt the trickle of his sweat as it trailed over her back. And she heard him whisper her name as if it were a prayer.

They collapsed onto the bed, into each other. For several minutes, there was no sound in the robin's egg blue bedroom other than that of their quiet breathing and the rustle of sheets as they entwined their bodies in a serene, satisfied embrace.

Shane's lips found hers, swallowing her sigh of happiness. He ran a hand over her hair, playing with the short strands at her temple. “Have I told you yet today that I love you?"

"Well,” Jules joked, running her hand down his strong back to his bottom, “I think you owe me about another seventy declarations before the day is up, but I'll stop counting if it helps."

"Oh, I don't know,” he responded, nibbling at her lips. “You keep touching my ass like that and I just may get inspired to finish that countdown. I love you, Juliet Baker."

He deepened his kiss, stroking his tongue into her mouth, and his hands began another titillating journey over the curves of her body.

Jules laid back, closed her eyes, and started counting.

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"I'm terribly sorry. We're all sold out for that weekend, but we do have a vacancy the week after,” Jules suggested over the phone, smiling over at Shane.

He was in the kitchen, prepping another batch of his deliciously hot “Five-Alarm Chili.” Jules had a perfect view of him from her mother's old pantry, the one he'd helped her transform into a small office. As if he sensed her gaze, he looked up from chopping onions, his eyes misty, and shared one of his intimate smiles with her. At least, until he was overcome from onion vapor and had to rinse his eyes.

She covered the receiver and suppressed a laugh. “That would be just fine, Mr. Dylan. I'm booking you in the nights of the sixth, seventh and the eighth. I'll e-mail you the confirmation details, and we look forward to seeing you at The Laughing Cow Bed and Breakfast!"

Once she hung up the phone, she did a little dance of excitement and ran over to hug Shane, who'd quite recovered from his onion trauma. “That's another one. We're booked solid the next two months!"

He turned from his cutting board and pointed solemnly to a frame on the kitchen wall above their heads. Jules had taken a patch of the old cow border and framed it, in homage to her mother's decorating style. They'd subsequently christened the B&B The Laughing Cow, in memory of the bovine border. Shane's face was a mock mask of severity. “No dancing in front of the cow. She doesn't like it."

"Well, the cow can lump it, then. I'm happy and I want to dance."

Surprising her, Shane dropped his utensils and swung her into his embrace, and spun her into a very technically-deficient waltz around the kitchen. “How's that for dancing?"

"You need to go back to firefighting. Stick to your day job,” she laughed.

He leaned down and kissed the length of her neck. “I'd prefer to stick to my night job right now."

She giggled, pushed him away, and then grabbed him back again. “The guests will see you."

"Let ‘em look,” he growled. “They've been learning how to make ice wine at the winery all day. It'll do them good to see something a little more stimulating.” He reached a hand down to cup her bottom.

She pulled away and finished writing Mr. Dylan's reservation details in her agenda. “You're incorrigible, Gaskill."

When he didn't say anything, she looked up to find him smiling at her, a dreamy look on his face. “And you're amazing. It's been six months, and look at the success you've made of this place. You've got customers coming out your yin-yang, and the B&B looks beautiful.” He walked over and pulled her into an embrace. “I'm so proud of you, baby."

Feeling her heart swell, Jules looked into his brown eyes, the eyes which had claimed her soul. “I couldn't have done it without your help. You've worked so hard here, and with a full-time job. It's incredible you still have energy to touch me at night."

"That,” he replied, winking, “is something I'll never be too tired to do."

"Well, you can touch me later, bucko. That chili won't make itself! It's tasty, but I can't believe the guests requested it for dinner again tonight. The Burtons must have stomachs made of steel.” She slapped his bottom and disappeared into her office.

Shane went back to his cooking, humming a Mellencamp tune. As much as Jules tried to work, her eyes were once again drawn to his figure. Smiling, she still couldn't believe how lucky she was.

After Shane had declared his love for her six months ago, he'd made it very clear he wasn't going anywhere. He'd stopped being just the boarder some time ago, although he still called himself that as a joke. Especially when they made love. Nothing made him laugh more than to say ole Ms. Baker was seducing her boarder. To tease him back one day, she bought him a doily and made him display it prominently in the robin's egg blue bedroom.

Their bedroom.

They shared everything now, and he spent all his free time with her and her family. He was part of the family. He'd even asked the kids to call him “Uncle Shane,” and beamed when they did.

Shane had helped her tackle the work at the B&B, helping her finish the renos ahead of schedule. Nothing seemed to make him happier than to tuck Jules into Bear the pick-up and take her to the hardware store. He was full of ideas and generosity and took as much pride in the place as she did.

He'd helped her become a success. And she'd never been so happy.

The fire was mostly forgotten. Kevin was long forgotten. Her wounded pride was healed under Shane's loving touch. She'd even gotten up the nerve to visit him numerous times at the firehouse, and he was always there for her, thrilled to see her.

He'd made her excited to love again.

And each night and morning, as he took her in his arms and kissed her, she saw a glimpse of heaven. Even after half a year, the feel of Shane's fingers on her body was enough to make her quake with anticipation. His glances, full of hungry desire, reached into her soul. And she never felt more complete than when he was inside her, stroking her, loving her.

He made her have all kinds of crazy dreams of bearing him a litter of beautiful, sandy-haired children. And for the first time in her life, she wasn't afraid of what kind of mother she might be.

She watched him saute his onions, and he felt her gaze. Turning, he looked over and grinned, a grin full of love and searing-hot promise.

Jules smiled back, and returned to her work.

The next day, a gorgeous, surprisingly mild February day, Shane and Jules waved good-bye to the Burtons and watched them drive down the snow-lined path. It still surprised Shane that they managed to snag guests in the middle of winter, but there were so many fun things to do in the area. Between snowshoeing and skiing at the nearby hills, there were plenty of activities, and guests loved to retire to the Laughing Cow at the end of the day for a cup of Jules’ spiked hot chocolate.

They were about to head inside when he pulled her over to the porch swing. He brushed the snow off for her and made her sit.

"Shane, it's cold. Let's go in."

"Hush, woman,” he drawled, pulling her into the warmth of his arms. “It's beautiful out."

Jules snuggled in tight, wrapping her arms around his waist, caressing the muscles under his flannel lumber jacket. But no sooner had she settled in, when he began to squirm under her arms. She looked up. “What's wrong? Are you still sore from that rescue the other day?” Worry creased her features.

Shane looked down, feeling his heart swell at her concern, and brushed his fingers over her cheek. “I'm fine, honey.” But then he squirmed again, twisting his waist. “I just can't seem to get comfortable."

Jules released him. “I could get you a heating pad."

"Don't need one.” He looked down at her fleece pullover, and tried his hardest not to smile. “You don't have something pointy in your pockets, do you?"

She shook her head, narrowing her eyes in suspicion.

"There must be something in my pocket, then,” he said softly, his eyes trained on hers.

"Oh,” she whispered. He knew from the look on her face that her heart was racing. She bit her lip, clearly not wanting to jump to a disastrous conclusion. “You should take it out then."

Shane smiled, seeing her so ill at ease. Slowly, he reached into his pocket and made a show of fishing around in there for a minute. He looked up at the sky, pursing his lips. “It must be in here somewhere.” He looked back at Jules, knowing she was starting to sweat. He figured it was time to stop torturing her.

Soon, anyway. Maybe in a couple of minutes. He was enjoying himself way too much.

Jules gasped when he finally produced the small, red velvet box from his pocket. And she lost her breath completely when Shane got off the swing and knelt down before her. He opened the box and revealed an extraordinary, solitaire diamond ring. It looked antique, with a beautiful filigree design on the band.

She couldn't have picked a more suitable ring for herself. Her eyes already full of tears, she looked up at him.

"Juliet, I want to drive you around in my beat-up pick-up truck for the rest of our lives. I want to watch old movies with you. I want to make babies with you. I want to get old and fat with you. And more than anything, I want to be the one to rub your back every time you puke over a little bit of blood."

She burst into laughter, her chest heaving.

His own eyes misty, Shane continued. “I love you more than life, sweetheart. Will you marry me?"

Speechless, she nodded and he slid the ring onto her finger.

And then, giddy with love and happiness, Jules dove off the swing and into his arms. Laughing, they both rolled around on the snowy porch, heedless of the white powder soaking into their clothes. His lips found hers, and Shane rolled her under him. Her mouth opened to his, and she melted as his tongue caressed hers.

After kissing him for a few minutes, she began to shiver. He pulled her off the porch floor. “Come on. I know just how to warm you up, and it has nothing to do with that killer hot chocolate of yours."

He led her inside the house, and Jules turned to close the door behind them. As she did, she took a long look at the yard outside, at the porch railing Shane had sanded for her. And as she walked across the threshold, she took a look at the peaceful surroundings of their B&B.

Their home.

Shane was already standing at the entrance to their suite of rooms, his lumber jacket already on the floor, his chest bare. He held his hand out to her, his eyes devouring her. “Come here."

And as Jules grinned at the gorgeous man who would soon be her husband, she realized it was wonderful to be home again.

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Rosanna Leo has her degree in history and literature, as well as in classical singing. She currently resides in Toronto, Canada. Her favorite things are her family, libraries, and her mother's gnocchi. Rosanna loves it when the geeky, awkward girl gets the hot guy, and has made it her mission to see this happen in her books as much as possible. She is the author of
For the Love of a God
, also published by Liquid Silver Books.