Page 12 of Rescue My Heart
As she walked in, someone called out to her.
“Hey, stranger. What brings you here? Another apology?” McKenna’s voice cut through the air, playful but with that strong, no-nonsense undertone she had.
Mazey turned, trying to suppress the sudden flutter in her chest at seeing McKenna again. “Hello again,” she replied, offering a smile she hoped didn’t betray her nerves. “We didn’t get to finish our conversation last time. You know, I really need to get to know my character better if I’m going to make these rescues realistic.”
McKenna raised a brow, her lips quirking into a smile. “Yeah, of course. You’re right, last time was cut short.” Her tone was casual, but Mazey could sense there was something behind her deep brown eyes, curiosity, maybe, or something more.
“So, did you end up rescuing someone from a near-tragic accident? Tell me all about it.” Mazey leaned against the doorframe, trying to match McKenna’s ease.
McKenna chuckled, shaking her head. “Oh, it was crazy. I thought I was going to die. Had to jump out before the building collapsed.”
Her expression was so serious that for a second, Mazey believed her.
“What?” Mazey’s eyes widened, her heart skipping a beat. “Oh my god, I’m so glad you’re okay. I-I'm sorry for making a joke about it earlier.”
McKenna burst out laughing, her deep, hearty chuckle echoing through the fire station. “I’m messing with you. It was a false alarm.”
Mazey's mouth fell open. “Wow. You’re supposed to be someone who’s truthful and reliable!”
“Hey, I can joke around too!” McKenna shot back, crossing her arms and grinning at her.
Mazey shook her head, laughing despite herself. “You got me. Alright, alright, you win this round.” She paused, then her smile turned mischievous. “But this time, I want some demonstrations.”
“Demonstrations?” McKenna tilted her head, a twinkle in her eye. “Alright. How about we get you geared up, and I’ll show you a few things?”
Mazey’s stomach fluttered with a mix of excitement and nerves. “That sounds perfect.”
McKenna disappeared for a moment, then returned with a heavy set of firefighting gear. She handed it to Mazey, who immediately felt the weight of it.
“You think you can put this on yourself?” McKenna asked, her tone teasing but kind.
Mazey smirked. “Yeah, I’m a big girl. I got this.”
She started with the pants and boots, and she nearly toppled over trying to step into them. McKenna watched with a raised eyebrow, clearly holding back laughter.
Mazey pulled at the jacket, trying to get it over her head without unzipping it first. After a solid minute of wriggling, she huffed in frustration, realizing she was hopelessly stuck.
“Uh, I think I might need some help,” she muttered, muffled beneath the bulky fabric.
McKenna tried and failed to hide her amusement as she stepped forward. “Did you try to put this on without unzipping it?” she asked, shaking her head but smiling.
Mazey’s face flushed with embarrassment. “Maybe…”
McKenna let out a soft laugh, stepping closer. “Alright, hold still. Is it okay if I unzip this?”
Mazey nodded. “Yeah, I’ve got clothes on underneath.”
“Good to know.” McKenna knelt slightly to unzip the gear, her hands brushing against Mazey’s sides. “Alright, now grab onto my arms so I can help you out of this mess.”
Mazey’s hands found McKenna’s forearms, gripping them tightly. Her fingers brushed against the firm muscle, and for a moment, she was struck by how strong McKenna felt under her touch. It sent a small jolt through her, something electric.
“Lift up your arms,” McKenna instructed softly, her voice low.
Mazey did as she was told, and McKenna gently slid the jacket onto her properly. But the proximity, how close they were, how she could smell the faint scent of McKenna’s skin, mixed with the musk of smoke and sweat, made her dizzy. And even after the gear was settled, she was still holding onto McKenna’s arms, their faces just inches apart.
Without thinking, without planning it, Mazey leaned in. The kiss was long and deep, her lips pressing against McKenna’s with a kind of urgency that surprised even her. The world around them seemed to melt away. For a moment, Mazey forgot where they were, who they were, everything except the feeling of McKenna’s lips on hers, the rush of heat that spread through her entire body.
It wasn’t just a kiss. It was a revelation, an unraveling of everything Mazey thought she knew about herself. She had kissed people before plenty of times, but never like this. There was a hunger in it, a desperate need to be closer, to hold on to this moment for as long as she could. Her heart pounded, her pulse quickening as she deepened the kiss, her hands instinctively finding their way to McKenna’s shoulders. They were strong, solid beneath her fingertips, grounding her as the world spun around them.