Only Her Smokejumper Firefighter - Cami Checketts Page 0,13

and now? Would that ruin the next four months of his life or, more likely, the next sixty years? He’d never find a woman like Mavyn again and she seemed determined to ditch him.

She took the decision away from him. Sliding her arms around his neck, she pulled herself close and kissed him.

Ren could hardly remember feeling such happiness. Even their kisses that fateful night paled in comparison. This kiss was her choosing him in spite of the pain and agony they’d both been through the past four months. He knew now that she’d been hurting as badly as he. The only healing balm was being together.

He returned the kiss and then some. They traded kiss for kiss and nothing had ever been so right. If she tried to push him away now, or ever, he was going to fight. He was strong enough physically, mentally, and spiritually to win any battle and he wasn’t about to lose this most important one. He didn’t know how it was possible, but he knew deep down that he loved her, that Mavyn was meant to be his.

The kisses became more insistent, more passionate. He carried her to the bed, sinking onto the mattress with her in his arms. Resting back against the headboard, he continued to kiss her like this was the last time he’d hold her. But it wasn’t. He and Mavyn were meant for each other and nothing could come between them now.

Ren experienced joy and desire he’d never known holding and kissing Mavyn. It could easily lead to more than he should participate in before their wedding night. That thought settled him.

Their wedding night.

Mavyn was here, she was in his arms, they were meant to be. Whatever reasons she’d had for ditching him four months ago could be worked out. Of course he’d forgive her, every time he’d forgive her. She was his and he was hers. Of course they’d end up together. There was no other path open for them through this ring of fire but to walk it together and always stay close. No matter what the fire threw at them, they could conquer it together.

As these thoughts comforted and enlightened him, he released her from the kiss, smiled gently, and held her more loosely in his arms. Mavyn had a hungry look in her green eyes and she didn’t seem to appreciate him stopping. She leaned in to kiss him again. Her kiss was insistent and full of a desire he couldn’t resist. Her fingers trailed over his chest. She loosened his tie and started unbuttoning his shirt.

A burning sensation licked through him as dangerous as any blaze he’d encountered. He had to get out of here, now. He released his grip on her, took her hands, and moved them away. Her gaze went from intense and passionate to instantly full of shame. She scrambled off his lap onto the other side of the bed and refused to meet his gaze. He wanted to reassure her that it was okay and he wasn’t upset with her, but he wanted to do things the right way. For him and his long-held beliefs in the sanctity of marriage, that meant waiting for their wedding night. But he wasn’t in any frame of mind to stop and explain all of that right now. She was too beautiful and appealing to him. Those kisses were too incredible and all he wanted was to repeat them all over again.

Ren jumped to his feet and darted to the door, shutting it firmly behind him. He hurried into the other bedroom and realized that Grams had indeed lied. It was clean and ready for guests. He almost went down and confronted Grams, but it would do no good. He realized he’d left his bag in the other bedroom. He definitely wasn’t going to retrieve it tonight.

Sneaking into the joined bathroom, he was relieved that the door to Mavyn’s bedroom was firmly closed. He found an unopened toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste, brushed his teeth, stripped out of his suit, returned to the bedroom, and tried to settle down in the comfortable bed. Mavyn was only two flimsy doors away. He wanted to slam through both and take her in his arms again. He clenched his teeth and said a prayer for strength.

With Mavyn in his arms, it had been impossible to think straight. He’d been ready to forgive and forget and move on with their relationship. But not as quickly as she