Page 16 of Playing With Fire
Evelyn stood her ground, her back straight, the steel in her posture betraying none of the discomfort she felt inside. “I’mlooking at the bigger picture, Cass. The department’s future depends on adaptation. You can’t keep clinging to the way things have always been.” She lifted her chin, the words coming out sharper than she intended. “Efficiency doesn’t mean we lose heart. It means we’re prepared for what’s coming.”
Cass took a step closer, her gaze intense. “You’re not hearing me. You think you can just impose your way without understanding what we’re up against, what we’ve built here. People aren’t numbers, Evelyn. You’re losing sight of that.”
The air between them crackled, the words fading in comparison to the tension humming beneath the surface. Evelyn’s chest tightened as she met Cass’s gaze, and for a moment, the argument didn’t seem to matter anymore. The heat between them—unspoken, simmering—was undeniable. She opened her mouth to respond, but the words stuck in her throat. Instead, she found herself fixated on the way Cass’s jaw clenched, how her lips parted as if ready to say something else, something that wasn’t just about policy.
Cass’s frustration flared, her voice growing louder with each word. “We’ve been having this same argument for days, Evelyn! Over and over again. You’re not listening. You’re just pushing your plan without even considering the consequences. You’re bulldozing through, and it’s like you don’t even care about the people who actually have to carry this out.” She threw her hands up, exasperated. “This isn’t about policy for us; it’s about real lives, real work.”
Evelyn’s eyes flashed with a mix of irritation and something else, something sharper. “I’m listening, Cass. But the fact is, we don’t have time for endless discussion. The department needs change, and I’m trying to make sure we have a future. If we don’t cut costs now, there won’t be a team to lead.” Her voice was colder now, more controlled, as though the emotional undercurrent between them wasn’t even there. “You think thisis easy for me?” Cass shot back. “I don’t want to see our team struggle. But your way—this cold, calculated approach—it won’t work. We need to adapt, yes, but we also need to respect what we’ve built. I won’t just let you tear it all down because you don’t understand the stakes.”
Evelyn shook her head, her voice steady but tired. “We’re going around in circles, Cass. You don’t trust my vision, and I don’t trust your resistance to change. We’re not getting anywhere with this.” Her tone softened, just slightly, as she took a step back. “But the longer we argue, the more it feels like we’re both fighting something…that isn’t about this department anymore.” She caught herself, realizing the weight of her words as soon as they left her mouth.
The shift in their dynamic was undeniable. The words they’d been saying no longer seemed to matter as much as the space between them. The tension that had been building for days now felt like it might explode.
Cass took a deep breath, her fingers curling at her sides. “We’ve been doing this dance for too long,” she said, her voice rough with a mix of anger and something softer. “I just don’t know what you want from me anymore.”
Evelyn’s eyes softened for a split second, a flicker of something unguarded. “I don’t know either,” she admitted quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. “But whatever this is, it’s not helping either of us.”
At a lull in their argument, Evelyn found herself faltering, her frustration mounting alongside her growing attraction. Her voice softened, and the usual coolness in her tone faded. “This is…difficult for me,” she admitted, her words tumbling out before she could stop herself. She saw Cass’s expression soften in response, a spark of understanding in her eyes that made Evelyn’s heart clench.
“Why?” Cass asked, her voice low, as though sensing the vulnerability in Evelyn’s admission.
Evelyn hesitated, the weight of her emotions pressing down on her. “Because I’m supposed to be here to do a job. I’ve done this so many times before. I walk in, make the changes that need to be made, and I leave. It’s clean, efficient. But this time…” She searched for the right words to convey what she felt.. “You, this place, it’s different.”
Cass stepped closer, and Evelyn’s pulse quickened, her heartbeat thrumming in her ears. “Maybe it’s time to let down some of those walls,” Cass said, her voice barely above a whisper, the intensity in her gaze pulling Evelyn in, grounding her in a way she hadn’t expected.
Evelyn swallowed, her carefully guarded control slipping further as she held Cass’s gaze. “I don’t know how,” she murmured. There was a rawness in her voice, a vulnerability she hadn’t allowed herself to feel in years.
Cass’s eyes softened, and without thinking, Evelyn reached for her, her hand resting on Cass’s arm as she allowed herself to feel, to let go of the constant need for control. Cass’s hand covered hers, warm and reassuring, and in that moment, Evelyn felt a strange sense of calm, a feeling she hadn’t even realized she was missing.
They stood in silence, the charged air between them thickening as Evelyn’s defenses crumbled. And then, as if drawn by an invisible force, Cass leaned in, her hand brushing against Evelyn’s cheek. The tenderness in her touch was unexpected, sending a shiver down Evelyn’s spine as she closed the gap between them.
Their kiss was softer this time, more tentative, yet filled with an intensity that spoke of the barriers they’d both fought so hard to maintain. Evelyn felt herself melting into Cass, the tensionand frustration that had built between them dissolving in that moment of shared vulnerability.
When they pulled apart, Evelyn felt a flicker of uncertainty, her usual self-assuredness replaced by a quiet thrill that left her feeling exposed yet alive. Cass’s hand lingered on her arm, grounding her, anchoring her in the present as they stood together in the dim light of the firehouse.
Neither of them spoke as Cass led her to the captain’s office.
Cass stood close to Evelyn, the space between them charged but tender, her pulse thrumming in her ears. Evelyn’s fingers hovered near the hem of Cass’s shirt, a question lingering in her soft, searching eyes. Cass nodded, her breath catching as Evelyn’s touch brushed her skin. Slowly, Evelyn lifted the fabric, her movements deliberate, as if every second mattered. The shirt slid off, pooling in Cass’s hand before she let it drop to the floor.
Cass returned the gesture, her hands trembling slightly as they found the buttons of Evelyn’s blouse. One by one, the tension between them unraveled, each button revealing more of the woman beneath. Evelyn let the blouse slip off her shoulders, and Cass swallowed hard, overwhelmed by the quiet vulnerability in Evelyn’s expression.
They moved closer, skin brushing skin, their breaths mingling in the stillness. Cass wrapped her arms around Evelyn’s waist, pulling her into a gentle embrace. Their bodies fit together as if they’d always belonged, and Cass closed her eyes, savoring the warmth. Evelyn’s fingers traced along Cass’s back, hesitant at first but growing surer with each pass, as if memorizing the feel of her.
For the first time, the walls between them felt miles away.
There was no raw urgency to them this time. No fiery passion, just gentle longing touches as they gave in to the tension that had engulfed them since their first meeting.
Cass ran her hand along Evelyn’s shoulder, brushing her hair behind, and Evelyn shivered at her touch. Gently tugging her hand, she pulled Evelyn down onto the pullout bed. It creaked slightly under their shared weight, and they both held their breath, waiting for some noise outside to indicate that someone had heard.
Silence.
Cass took her time kissing and touching Evelyn, making her way up and down her body, paying attention to anywhere that elicited a gasp or soft moan. Evelyn responded, playing with Cass’s breasts. Squeezing, tugging. Fuck, it felt amazing. As Evelyn continued, Cass worked her way down to Evelyn’s pussy, finding it already slick and hot.
Sucking and licking on her breasts, Cass slipped two fingers between her folds, slowly pumping back and forth. The sensations washed over Evelyn, her core curling tighter and tighter with each stroke. Her finish flooded through her quickly, throbbing and pulsing. She let it subside before looking at Cass, still situated between her legs, a pleased smirk across her face.
Evelyn dropped to her knees as Cass leant back against the wall. Evelyn buried her face between Cass’s legs, her hungry mouth going straight to work on Cass’s pussy. Her tongue delving and lapping and sucking.
Cass’s deep guttural moans were driving her absolutely crazy.