Page 67 of Built of Flames

It was wonderful. And exhausting.

After a lifetime of having a limited friend group, being surrounded by people wishing her well was amazing.

The mattress dipped as Mitch lay on the bed beside her. She opened her eyes to find him resting his head on his hand, smiling down at her.

His other hand came up to brush back her hair and then caress her jaw. “I’m really glad your injuries are going to heal, and I’m still so sorry you have them at all.”

When she started to sit up to argue, Mitch stopped her with a finger on her lips. “I know it’s not my fault, but it’s going to be a long, long time before I forget the panic and terror. I was so afraid I was going to lose you.” His eyes glinted, but he didn’t look away from her.

“I’m okay. We’re all okay.”

He nodded. “I know. And I’m so grateful for that. For you. I love you, Isabella Martinez.”

Bella’s eyes filled with tears. “I love you too, Mitch. So much. For so many reasons. I’m so grateful you came to Phail.”

He leaned down to kiss her, his lips brushing hers softly, gently. “Do I get to stay here in this room with you, or should I make an apartment above the new firehall?”

She reached up with her good hand to poke his chest. “With me. Wherever we need that to be. I want to be with you, Mitch. The rest is just details.”

He grinned and kissed her again. “Well, you’ve got a pretty kickass fire lab out here and I’m going to be putting some time in with Midnight Security, so let’s make this our home base.”

She grinned. “It’s an amazing home base. Friends around us, but we won’t be living in each other’s pockets. There’s lots of space here. We can even expand the fire cabin if we want to.”

So many possibilities.

“We’ve got all the time in the world, Bella. And I don’t want to waste another second of it.”

Then he leaned down and kissed her with such passion, it made her dizzy.

She lifted her arms to loop them around his neck, but he leaned up with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Doc said you’re supposed to rest and not overexert yourself. So, why don’t you lay back and concentrate on not overexerting?”

Then he straddled her, but kept his weight off her.

“Getting undressed might be too taxing, so why don’t I take care of that for you?”

He eased her t-shirt up and kissed the skin he exposed, starting with her belly button.

Slowly, the t-shirt and his mouth moved up, exposing more skin, and he kissed every part of her.

By the time he lifted her to slip the shirt off, being careful of her arm and her shoulder, she was a puddle of need. But instead of picking up the pace, he laid her back and kissed her senseless, then turned his attention to her leggings.

Inch by inch.

Kiss by kiss.

She felt treasured. Claimed.

Loved.

So loved.

His words and whispers filled her. Warmed her. Healed her.

Love, promises, hopes, and dreams.

She was coming down from her second blissful orgasm when he moved to lean against the headboard, and then he lifted her into his lap. She straddled him and lowered herself down inch by inch until they were joined in the very best way.

She cupped his face and brought his mouth to hers. “I love you, Mitch. Forever. For always.”