Fire in the Smokies

Chapter Eleven

Brianna shivered, her clothing soaked through. She’d never been so tired and so relieved all at once in her life. Thank God for the rain. She’d been working fourteen hours when her crew was finally relieved of their duties. By morning the next crew would have the fire contained.

She scrambled through the mud with the rest of her unit until they reached the base. By the time she arrived, her feet hurt and her arms were sore from cutting back brush. The job was brutal. It was tough for a woman to be in good enough shape to do it. Suddenly she was rethinking her great need to fight fires. For about two seconds.

A long soak in her tub was the only thing on her mind.

As soon as they arrived at the base, everyone scrambled to load up the truck that would haul all their supplies. The drenching continued. The sky had turned completely dark hours ago in the storm. It was nearly eight o’clock.

Exhausted, Brianna turned around to find Jaxon standing not far from the crew. He was with the sheriff. Hardin wore a rain slicker. Jaxon stood next to him in nothing more than jeans and a T-shirt. It wasn’t the same T-shirt he’d been wearing this morning. He didn’t even wrap his arms around himself to ward off the chill.

Even soaked, the man was a sight. Or perhaps in his wet condition he’s even more sexy.

As soon as the thought filtered through her head, he glanced her way and grinned.

Greeaat. She’d forgotten the man could infiltrate her brain like an undercover agent imbeds himself into a group of drug dealers.

Everyone scattered, dashing for their respective vehicles in the downpour. Brianna didn’t even have a car. A coworker had picked her up from her apartment two days ago to carpool to the site. She hadn’t been home since.

With heavy legs, she wandered toward the police cruiser. “Everything okay?” she asked when she got closer. The look on Jaxon’s face told her all was not perfect.

He smiled. “Better than. I’ll tell you about it at home. Come on, let’s go. We’re both soaked.” Jaxon took her arm and led her toward his truck, nodding back at the sheriff as they left.

As soon as they climbed into the cab, Jaxon flipped on the heat and rubbed his hands together. He tugged Brianna to his side and wrapped his wet arms around her body. “Thank goodness the temperature didn’t dip as low as expected today. We’d be popsicles.”

Brianna leaned against Jaxon. He was warm, even soaked. His temperature ran higher than normal humans, no doubt. “Jax, I just want to go home, climb into my tub, soak for a while and then sleep in my own bed for two days.”

“I thought we’d go to my place. You want to go to your apartment?”

“Please. I need some time. Alone. I’m tired, Jax. And overwhelmed.” She tipped her head up at him.

He raised his eyebrows. “Wait? Alone?” He shook his head. “No way, baby. There’s a vampire out there somewhere, and believe me, he’s pissed.”

“I don’t care. I need to regroup with myself. When I’m with you, you distract me from the world. I can’t think.” Like now.

He smelled so fantastic, even wet. The soap from his morning shower lingered under the layers of dirt and wilted clothing. And the scent of outdoors that always surrounded him made her squeeze her legs together.

Lord. Not now.

The last thing she wanted right this second was to be aroused. She was too tired. And frazzled.

Her body betrayed her every time Jaxon was near.

“Bri. I can’t leave you anywhere. Not even your apartment. Hell, especially not your apartment. Do you have any idea what I’ve been through today? I nailed that bastard to a stake. And do you know how much good that did? None. He disappeared. I have no idea if he’s actually dead and somehow just poofed from existence or if he escaped. I don’t know the capabilities McKinney possesses. He could be watching us even now.” He squeezed her and kissed her nose. “Besides, I wouldn’t leave you even if the vampire didn’t exist. You’re mine, baby. We’re mated now. Separation isn’t really an option.”

Brianna wiggled free of his clutches and sat back. He still had his arm around her, but not as tight.

“Wait. What? You fought with the vampire?”

“Yeah. He set a trap and strung me up into a tree. It was fun. Except for the part where he took me hostage and dragged my wolf ass into a cave with the intent of killing me.”

“And you’re just telling me this now? You could have been killed.” She swatted his hand away from her entirely, her gaze narrowed on him. “You’re trying to convince me I’m all uber-important to you, and you don’t even think to tell me a vampire tried to kill you today?”

“What?” He threw his hands in the air. “I’m still alive. It’s not like I wasn’t going to tell you all the details. I just thought we’d—”

“Fuck first?” She could feel her skin flushing. Fury made her scoot away from him.

Jaxon glanced at the ceiling and sighed. “Bri, of course not. It’s not like that. You’ve had a bitch of a day, worse than mine. You’re tired. I didn’t think you needed me to heap my day onto your problems right now. After we get home, take a long bath, eat—”

“No.” She shook her head. “Jaxon, I need to think about all this. This—this—this thing between us…” she zipped her arm through the air in a Z pattern, “…it’s weird. It hit me like a freight train. Still is. I need space. Time. To think about what I want. I’m clear what you want, but I do have my own will here, you know?”

Jaxon shook his head again. The man was infuriating. “It’s not possible.”

“It is,” she shouted. “I insist. I’m not asking you. I’m telling you. You have to let me go home. Let me sleep for like a day and a half. And then let me think. I’ll call you. Don’t…suffocate me. It won’t end well.”

“Bri—”

“Jax, no. I’m all good with you dominating me in the bedroom, but the buck stops there. You can’t order me around when we aren’t between the sheets. If you do, you’ll find yourself awfully lonely.”

He took a deep breath and leaned his head on the steering wheel for a moment. When he lifted it, he looked her in the eye. “Brianna. Listen to me. I’m so sorry about how this happened so fast that I didn’t have time to fully explain how it works. You can’t actually choose to ignore it. It’ll pull you in. You won’t be able to rest without me by your side. And I won’t either. Your body will crave mine twenty-four seven. We’re…connected now.”

“Surely after all the sex we had last night and this morning, I can go a day or two without fucking.” She tilted her head and glared at him. Right? “I’m not telling you to take a hike. I’m just asking for some time. To adjust. Consider my choices.”

Jaxon sucked in a breath. He undoubtedly took offense at her use of the word choices, but he didn’t comment on it. “Okay. Look. Just so you’re clear. The fact that we had sex so many times in the last day does not help your case; it makes it worse. The drive, need, to fuck will take over until you can’t see straight. Granted, I’ve not experienced this personally, but I watched my brother and Juliana go through it and it isn’t pretty. It’s normal for our kind to spend a few weeks without coming up for air before the craving eases. It will abate…somewhat…eventually. But not tonight.”

When Brianna opened her mouth, he held up a hand. “Let me finish. Fine. I’ll take you home. I won’t leave, but I’ll take you home.”

“You can’t—”

“I won’t even come inside. You can have whatever time you want. I’ll wait outside.”

“Might get a bit cold and I’m thinking you’ll be rather hungry out there for several days.” Is he kidding? Does he think this highhanded manner of his is going to change my mind? She was stomping furious now.

“I’ll take my chances.” He put the car in drive and pulled away. “Where’s your apartment?” His voice was low, barely audible, but still rather cocky.

She didn’t even glance at his face for fear it would piss her off if he was smirking. How dare he try to control this situation?

They sat in silence as Jaxon drove her home. She had a modest apartment in Pigeon Forge and he cringed inwardly when he realized hers was on the second floor. At least he had a view from the parking lot. He hadn’t been kidding. He wasn’t going anywhere.

He just prayed it didn’t matter and she wouldn’t be able to hold out very long. He was banking on that. God, let him be right about this…

As Jaxon parked, he did not look at his mate. The last thing he needed was for her to argue about him seeing her to the door. He was nothing if not a gentleman. And furthermore, he had no idea about McKinney’s location. Hell, he didn’t even really know if the vampire was alive or dead.

Nope. His mate was not roaming around outside alone under any circumstances, even if the idea pissed her off. She could have her space. She could take whatever time she needed in that little apartment of hers, but not outside.

That was not debatable.

Jaxon rounded the truck and opened Brianna’s door. He bit his lip. It would be much easier to walk her to the door without saying a word than get into a verbal match about his chivalry and her lack of need for such things.

Jaxon exhaled when Brianna said nothing and led him to her place. She unlocked the door, grabbed her bag out of his hand and smiled up at him stiffly. “I’ll call you. You really don’t have to hang around here waiting on me. I’m fine.”

Jaxon nodded, while inside his head he was thinking a solid “fuck that”.

Jaxon sauntered back to his truck and climbed into the cab. He grabbed the wheel with both hands and squeezed. Perhaps the pressure would cut down on some of the tension.

“Not going to be home tonight, guys.” It was official now. He had to let his brothers know.

Chuckles filled the connection. Sergius spoke first, sarcasm lacing every word. “Shocking. What? You couldn’t just pick up a few things at her place and make it back here? She already has you naked and panting?”

“Wait? Why are you even talking to us?” Micah added.

“Hardly. I wish it was that simple. Nope. My strong-willed, independent mate believes she can just go home tonight and ‘think’. She isn’t convinced we are destined to be together even though we—”

“Whoa whoa whoa. Stop. No details please,” Sergius interrupted. “Seriously? You aren’t planning to leave her there, are you?”

“What do I look like? Of course not. I’m sitting outside, freezing my balls off in the truck while she ‘thinks’.” Jaxon rubbed his hands together. It really was going to get quite cold tonight. He’d have to run the truck every now and then to warm up. Hell, he’d have to run it for a while now to get completely dry. His clothes were still damp. Thank God he’d even had clothes to put on after ruining the ones he’d been wearing when he dashed from the cave earlier. He always kept spare clothes in the cab. His lifestyle sometimes depended on it.

“Dude. That’s bad.” Micah sounded much more sober this time. “How long do you think she can hold out?”

“How should I know? I’ve never been mated before.” Jaxon knew he sounded snarky, but hell, he wasn’t particularly social right now. He didn’t need any ribbing. “I hope it’s not too long or freezing will be the least of the problems my balls endure.”

“I hear ya,” Sergius said. “Keep us posted. We’ve got everything covered here, so don’t worry. Keep your eye on her. I don’t like to think about what McKinney is up to, but I wouldn’t let down my guard for even a second.”

Jaxon asked the question niggling in his mind. “Do you think it’s possible he did die in that cave? Like, maybe his body disintegrated or something after I left?”

“No idea. I called several family members in Virginia to see if anyone had any experience with vampires. None of our immediate cousins or aunts and uncles knew a thing, but they were going to ask around and contact some more distant friends and family in Canada to see if any of them had any light to share. If I hear anything I’ll let you know,” Sergius said.

“’Kay. Well, you know where I’ll be. Until Bri comes out of that apartment, I’ll be on constant vigil right here…in my nice, comfortable warm car…in the parking lot…yards away from my mate’s nice warm bed…the one she’s occupying…alone.”

“Good luck with that,” Micah added.

Jaxon sighed and turned the key in the ignition to warm up the cab. Please, God, let my wonderful mate see the light…soonish.