Page 17 of Playing With Fire
It wasn’t long until Cass’s own climax wracked through her as Evelyn flicked her tongue back and forth over her clit, Cass bucking up into her mouth wildly, fighting to keep her moans silent. The energy that had filled them faded, replaced by a contented, sleepy haze.
Evelyn lay still, her head resting on Cass’s shoulder, the pullout bed beneath them creaking faintly as their combined weight shifted. The room was silent, save for the rhythmic hum of the firehouse in the distance—the muffled buzz of voices, the faint thrum of the building’s heating system, the occasional crackle of a radio. It was a stillness Evelyn wasn’t accustomed to, one that made her hyperaware of the warmth of Cass’s arm around her, the steady rise and fall of her chest, and the faint scent of soap lingering on her skin.
It should have been unsettling, lying here in the arms of someone who, only days ago, had felt like her most vocal adversary. But instead, it felt strangely right—natural, even. Cass held her with a certainty that Evelyn wasn’t sure she’d ever experienced before, as if her presence here, in this moment, wasn’t just accepted but essential.
That thought should have terrified her. Itdidterrify her.
Evelyn closed her eyes, willing her racing thoughts to quiet. Her entire career had been built on discipline and detachment, on making the tough calls and keeping emotions at arm’s length. She’d spent years learning to shield herself from vulnerability, to focus on the goals and objectives at hand without letting personal entanglements muddy the waters. And yet, here she was—wrapped in the arms of a woman who had challenged her at every turn, who had infuriated her more than anyone else ever had, and who now had the power to completely unravel her.
She hadn’t planned for this. She hadn’t wanted this.
And yet…
Evelyn shifted slightly, her hand brushing against Cass’s, their fingers tangling instinctively. The contact sent a faintshiver down her spine, and she cursed herself for how easily her body responded to Cass’s touch. She was supposed to be the one in control, the one who kept her emotions neatly compartmentalized. But Cass…Cass had obliterated all of that with a single look, a single touch, a single whispered word.
How did I let this happen?
It wasn’t just the physical pull, though that was undeniable. It was the way Cass looked at her, as if she could see through every carefully constructed wall Evelyn had built over the years. It was the fire in her eyes when they argued, the passion that blazed so fiercely it left Evelyn both awed and unnerved. Cass had a way of making her feel exposed, vulnerable in a way she hadn’t allowed herself to be in years. And yet, Evelyn couldn’t bring herself to pull away.
She opened her eyes again, staring at the ceiling as she let herself feel the weight of Cass’s arm across her stomach, the steady warmth of her body against hers. This wasn’t supposed to be possible. Evelyn had spent so much time convincing herself that her job left no room for distractions like this, that she couldn’t afford to let anyone in—not when she had a role to play, not when she had a reputation to uphold.
But Cass didn’t feel like a distraction. She felt like gravity, like an irresistible force that Evelyn couldn’t fight even if she wanted to.
Her mind drifted back to the arguments they’d had over the past few weeks, the tension that had built with every confrontation. At the time, Evelyn had told herself it was just professional friction, the inevitable clash of two strong-willed people with opposing views. But now, lying here in the quiet of the firehouse, she couldn’t deny that it had always been more than that.
Cass had gotten under her skin from the moment they met. She’d seen through Evelyn’s polished façade, challengedher in ways no one else ever had. And somewhere along the way, Evelyn had stopped dreading their arguments and started craving them, started looking forward to the way Cass’s eyes would flash with determination, the way her voice would carry that fiery edge that made Evelyn’s pulse quicken.
And now…now they were here, tangled together in a way that felt as inevitable as it was terrifying.
Evelyn’s fingers tightened slightly around Cass’s, and she felt the faintest pressure in return—a silent reassurance that made her chest ache in a way she didn’t quite understand. She turned her head slightly, her gaze flickering to Cass’s face. Her features were softer now, her expression unguarded in a way Evelyn rarely saw. The lines of tension that so often creased her brow were gone, replaced by a quiet peace that made Evelyn’s heart clench.
She’s beautiful,Evelyn thought, the admission startling in its simplicity. It wasn’t just the physical—though Cass’s sharp cheekbones and piercing blue eyes were impossible to ignore—it was the strength and vulnerability she carried in equal measure, the way she fought for what she believed in with an intensity that was both maddening and inspiring.
Evelyn let out a quiet sigh, her breath catching slightly as she felt Cass shift beside her, her arm tightening just enough to pull Evelyn closer. The gesture was so natural that it sent a pang of longing through Evelyn’s chest. She wanted to stay here, to let herself sink into the warmth and safety of Cass’s embrace, to forget about the job and the cuts and all the reasons this could never work.
But she couldn’t.
The thought hit her like a bucket of cold water, and she swallowed hard, her chest tightening as reality came rushing back. This—whatever this was—couldn’t last. She’d let herself get swept up in the moment, let herself give in to feelings shecouldn’t afford to have. But tomorrow, when the sun rose and the firehouse came back to life, they would still be on opposite sides of this fight.
And Evelyn would have to choose.
She would have to decide whether to let herself fall deeper into this connection with Cass, knowing it could jeopardize everything she’d worked for, or to pull away, to put up the walls again and focus on the job she’d come here to do.
It wasn’t a choice she wanted to make. But it was a choice she’d have to make.
For now, though, she let herself stay. Just a little longer. Just until the pull of Cass’s warmth and the quiet steadiness of her breathing lulled her into a dream-filled sleep.
9
CASS
Cass woke slowly, her senses pulling her from sleep in fragments. The muted morning light seeped through the cracks in her blinds, brushing against her closed eyelids. Her bed felt warmer than usual, and there was the faintest scent of lavender in the air. For a few blissful moments, she lingered in that twilight between dreams and reality, her body heavy with contentment. Then she felt the soft weight of an arm draped over her waist, and everything came rushing back.
Her eyes snapped open, and she turned her head slightly. There, lying peacefully beside her on the narrow pullout bed, was Evelyn. Her blonde hair was tousled against the pillow, her face relaxed in sleep. The vulnerability of that moment caught Cass off guard. Evelyn, who was always so composed and unreadable, looked entirely different now—soft, almost fragile. Cass’s chest tightened, a swirl of emotions she couldn’t quite name making her stomach churn.
For a moment, she simply lay there, listening to the quiet rhythm of Evelyn’s breathing. The memory of the previous night played in her mind, vivid and inescapable. The way their tension had finally snapped, giving way to something raw andundeniable. The heat of their connection, the intensity of every touch—it was like nothing Cass had ever experienced before.
But now, in the cold light of morning, reality pressed down on her like a weight. They were still on opposite sides of a professional battlefield, still fighting for entirely different visions of the department’s future. Nothing about their situation had changed, except now they’d crossed a line that couldn’t be uncrossed.