Embracing Today, a firefighter romance: (The Trading Yesterday Series, #3), Kahlen Aymes [essential reading txt] 📗

Reluctantly, I pulled my lips from hers, softly caressing her cheek with the back of my knuckles after I released her from my embrace. “Get your baby, and let’s go inside the house. I don’t trust that they won’t be back,” I said, more seriously.

Marin nodded and opened the gate to the stall. “I’m glad you were here,” Marin said softly as we started to walk out of the barn. I slid my arm back around her waist.

“Me, too,” I agreed. “I’m not going anywhere anytime soon. At least until that check clears.” I resolved to call the police and give them a description of Apollo’s car and what had just happened. Maybe a friendly police reminder to leave town was in order.

A feeling of pure love settled over me when Marin’s arm tightened around my waist, and her head came to rest on my shoulder. “At least,” she returned with a smile.

I inhaled a deep, satisfying breath.

MARIN

My chest seized in panic then I sat straight up in bed, disoriented.

I was sweating. My breathing was shallow, my heart pounding hard, and the wetness of tears dampened my cheeks. I pulled my knees up to my chest, resting my elbows on them as I struggled to catch my breath. I glanced at Ben, peacefully sleeping on the right side of my bed, and then at clock on the nightstand. It was 2 AM.

My face crumpled as the content of the dream came back to me in living color. It was so vivid, so real… so heartbreaking. A sob broke from my throat and I quickly covered my face with my hands trying to silence the pain, but my brow creased as the torrent of tears overwhelmed me. I prayed I wouldn’t wake Ben, but I couldn’t stop the pain from overwhelming me.

This was the second time in a week I’d had this nightmare. I was reliving the fire, except this time I was running through the flames trying to save the victim, my skin melting away in a scream of pain that didn’t stop my progress to the man on fire. His face imprinted on my brain; his face morphing from Carter’s into Ben’s… his screams forever scared on my soul as Carter’s voice turned into Ben’s. My worst fears were coming to life in my sleep. It didn’t matter that I was also dying in the fire… Ben. He was all that mattered. I gasped in another deep breath.

Oh, God, my mind railed as I cried, harder now. My head dropped and hung between my arms and bent knees, my body shaking with the effort of my sobs and keeping them from erupting so he wouldn’t hear, but this time it was to no avail.

Ben had stayed at the ranch after Apollo’s visit, and I was glad to have him with me. He made me feel safe, except Apollo and his goons weren’t what scared me. Losing Ben was my worst horror. In such a short time he’d become so important to me. As the nightmare had materialized, he was more important than my own life. I’d let him convince me that I wasn’t cursed, that nothing would happen, but now…

“Hey,” Ben’s voice called softly in the darkness which was only broken by the blue light of the digital numbers indicating the earliness of the hour. “What’s wrong?”

His strong hand reached out and slid down my back over the T-shirt I was wearing as a nightgown. His touch was so comforting. I would have turned and melted into him if it wasn’t for the awful dream and direction of my thoughts.

I sniffed, wiped my nose on the back of my hand then used both hands to wipe the tears away. Unable to resist the pull between us, I laid back on the pillows then turned toward Ben. His face was visible only in light blue and black shadows. I sniffed again as his arm slipped easily around my shoulders to pull me closer, still.

We were nose to nose, and I couldn’t help reaching out and pushing the hair that had fallen forward on his forehead away. His hand came up to cover mine as it slid down his cheek, now bristled with almost a day’s worth of beard growth. I liked the way it prickled my fingers; I liked the way it made him look so masculine and tough. Ben kissed the inside of my palm.

“I like your scruff,” I said softly, hoping I could revert the conversation away from the nightmare. I didn’t want to lie to Ben, and I didn’t know if I’d be able to even if I tried. “It makes you look hot.” I smiled gently.

Ben huffed out a short laugh. “Thanks, I think.”

We lay in silence for a few seconds, both of us gently touching the other. The back of his fingers brushed up and down my arm beneath the covers.

“Why were you crying? Don’t worry about Apollo. I won’t let him hurt you.”

I inhaled a shaky breath and nodded. “I know.” I wanted to tell him about the dream, but I struggled with what to do about it. I wanted him in my life, but what if staying with me would mean something bad would happen to him?

“Okay, so don’t sweat him,” he brushed off casually. “We can follow-up with insurance on Monday, then when the old lady signs the release to get the check, you’re free of him. If he comes back around, I’ll take care of it. I think we should file a complaint with the sheriff so there is something on file. We’ll do that on Monday. Just don’t worry, babe. I’ll take care of you.”

Babe. My heart leapt and an aching lump formed in my throat.

It was the first time he’d called me that and it made my heartbeat faster and heat flush beneath my skin. He was staying with me, and we’d made-out every night, but we hadn’t made love