Raised From the Flames Read online

  “People who are called to help have a need to keep fighting, no matter how many lives we cannot save. The few that we can make it all worthwhile.”

  She raised herself onto one elbow and looked down at him.

  “I have the unique position of understanding both sides. No matter how many patients I lose, how many times it crushes my heart, I can’t run away from the ones that I can save. Their smiles, their lives, are worth it. I lost my entire family in that fire and I will never forget them or stop grieving for the loss, but that doesn’t mean that I am not extremely thankful that I am alive. If you hadn’t been there…” she sniffed, “I would have died as well. I think that one alive has to be better than three dead.”

  When he looked down, she lifted his chin to draw her gaze back toward her.

  “There was never a chance of saving all three of us.” She knew this in her heart. She’d seen the autopsy reports. “But you did save me and that has to count for something.”

  Sabrina leaned forward and pressed her lips against his. She wanted him to mull over her words; now was not the time for him to respond. Hopefully, he would come to see that her life, her very beautiful life, was a result of his bravery and devotion to saving complete strangers.

  He responded to her kiss with a sweet passion that was very different from the uncontrollable urgency that they had shared the previous night. The tender communication that flowed through their actions said more to Sabrina than words would have been able to.

  When she reached her hand between them to feel him hardening against her, Sabrina pushed him to his back and crawled astride him. She sat above him, the mood of their conversation completely thrust aside with the need that was growing between them. Sabrina put all of her growing emotion into their lovemaking. She tried to convey with her body, though not yet her words, the love that she felt for this man.

  The rest of her vacation passed in a blissful haze. Sabrina had never felt more relaxed or content in her life. With days spent exploring the tropical islands and nights and mornings cocooned in the warmth of her bed, she was happy with the natural rhythm that their days had begun to take.

  When the night before her departure from the island rolled around Sabrina began to wonder if Charlie intended to continue their relationship upon their return to Canada. She knew that he no longer worked in their hometown, having moved to Toronto shortly after the fire that had taken her parent’s lives.

  The fact that they had not discussed it worried her deeply. Perhaps his feelings were not as strong and true as her own. No words or promises had been spoken between them and Sabrina was not sure how to approach the topic without revealing the full extent of her affections. Though she knew that she was in love with him, she wondered if it was too soon for him to reciprocate her feelings.

  That night, as they shared a late dinner in the resort restaurant, Charlie received another phone call from the Fire Chief. The table that they shared was too far away from the bar, where he again took the call, for her to overhear what had been said.

  She desperately wanted to ask if he would be returning to the department. Sabrina hoped that he would not abandon his talent, and the passion for saving lives that she knew still resided in his soul. When he sat down across from her he did not reveal anything about the conversation. She did not ask.

  On the following morning Sabrina packed her bags and Charlie offered to drive her to the airport. As she moved about the room gathering her items she tried to hide her moodiness. They still had not discussed what would happen once they had both left the island. Charlie’s plane was due to leave the following night.

  When she zipped the cover of her luggage shut Charlie caught her arm from where he sat on the edge of the bed and pulled her onto his lap.

  The kisses that he was spreading along the curve of her neck were distracting her from the frustration that she was supposed to be feeling. Sabrina was having a difficult time repressing the positive emotions that soared whenever she was near him.

  “So were you planning on just disappearing on me or were you going to leave me some information on how to see you again?” he nipped at her collarbone playfully.

  Sabrina’s heart soared. She had really wanted to remain aloof and cool but instead her emotions betrayed her. When he asked the question, Sabrina threw her arms around his neck and flung herself against him so that he toppled backward onto the bed. She kissed him quickly and then laughed.

  “You really want to see me again?” she asked.

  Charlie’s face turned serious as if surprised by her question.

  “Of course I want to see you again.” He pulled her close and kissed the tip of her nose. “I plan on seeing a lot of you, if you don’t mind.”

  Sabrina kissed him with a joyful smile.

  Two weeks later, Sabrina sat at her kitchen table preparing to mail out her bill payments. She had only spoken to Charlie once since her return home. He had called a few times while she was at work but when she had tried to return his calls he always seemed to be out. Sabrina was beginning to wonder how they were going to be able to maintain a long-distance relationship when their schedules barely permitted them contact.

  Her phone rang and when she picked it up she was pleased to see Charlie’s number across the screen.

  “Hi!” She answered.

  “How are you?” They made small talk for a few minutes before there was a moment of silence.

  “I miss you.” She said softly. She missed sleeping beside him, waking in his arms, the conversations that they shared and his silly teasing. She missed everything about having him in her daily life.

  “That’s good.” He laughed.

  Sabrina’s eyebrows furrowed. Did he miss her?

  “I was thinking about planning a trip out to see my family.” He began. “I thought that maybe you would like to see me too?” She could tell from the laughter in his voice that his intention was not to come down only to see his family.

  “That could be arranged.” Her voice lowered to a sultry tone as she imagined him once again in her bed. There was a ring throughout the house and Sabrina mouthed a curse. She was not expecting visitors so she expected it was some sort of door-to-door service. They can go away, she thought. The bell rang again.

  “Can you hold on, there’s someone at my door.” She grumbled.

  “Yeah, make it quick. I have to go in a few minutes.”

  Sabrina cursed again and moved to open the door. She was about to tell the person that she did not want any of what they were selling when she realized that Charlie was standing outside of her door, cell phone pressed to his ear. She flung herself at him and allowed Charlie to spin her in a circle.

  “You’re here!” She exclaimed.

  “I’m here.” He laughed through her kisses.

  She pulled him into her home and shut the door.

  “For how long?” She was already unbuttoning his shirt. It had been far too long since she had seen him naked and she refused to wait another minute.

  He shrugged. His hands were working just as urgently on her clothing. He pulled her sweater over her head and covered her bra with his hands.

  “As long as you want me around.” Now her bra was on the ground, her pants followed, and he lifted her into his arms. “Which way?”

  Sabrina pointed down the hallway and made a gesture to the left.

  She drew her mouth away from his only long enough for her to speak.

  “Well that doesn’t work because I want you around forever.”

  Charlie stopped in the doorway to her bedroom.

  He pulled back and looked seriously into Sabrina’s eyes.

  “Do you mean that?” he asked.

  Sabrina’s heart fluttered. Their weeks of separation had proven more than anything else how much she loved him. Every moment apart had been agonizing.

  “Yes, I mean it.” She whispered.

  “OK. Then I’ll stay forever.” He smiled a charming half grin.

  “Very funny.”
Sabrina slapped his arm playfully. “What about the Fire Department in Toronto?”

  “I put in my two weeks the day you left the island.” He admitted with a grin.

  How could he be so happy? She wondered. With everything that she now knew about him she could not imagine how leaving his profession would make him happy. She refused to let him abandon his dream.

  “Oh, Charlie.” She looked at him with sadness. “You can’t do that. Staying here won’t be enough to keep you happy. You can’t give up fighting fires.”

  He had the audacity to laugh.

  Didn’t he understand? Being with her would make him happy but only for a time. Eventually he would miss it, and then he would grow to resent leaving, to resent her.

  “I left the Toronto department because I applied for a transfer back here.” He smiled. “I always preferred working here and if I’m going to continue I want it to be where I enjoy it most.” His hands that were holding her up pulled her tighter against him. “It doesn’t hurt that it brings me closer to you.”

  “Really?” Sabrina kissed him with such happiness that she felt as if her heart would burst.

  “It took me a while to arrange the transfer, and to find an apartment here.” He explained between kisses. “That’s why I was so busy. I’m sorry that I couldn’t talk more but I was afraid that I would slip up and tell you. I wanted it to be a surprise.”

  “It is the best surprise.” She smiled. “I love you, Charlie.”

  She held her breath after the admission. She hoped that her assumption was correct, but if he was moving back he must love her.

  “I love you too, Sabrina.”

  He set her back on her feet and they continued to remove what little clothing remained. This time, when they joined together, it was with new level of passion that had been released by their admissions of love. Now that they had both admitted their love, there was nothing to hold them back from saying the words, often and with great feeling.

  Afterward, as Sabrina lay in his arms, enjoying the muted feeling of his fingers strumming against her soft stomach she felt, for the first time since the fire, that unique emotion that came from being loved completely.

  “Does this mean that I’m finally allowed to thank you for saving my life?” She ran her hands down his muscular chest.

  “I suppose so.” He smiled. “But only because we are even.” And he pulled her closer to him as they both drifted off to sleep.

  THE END

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  Fighting For Love

  Forbidden Seduction

  SEALed Hearts

  Tempted by the Alpha Billionaire

  Claimed by the Alpha Bear

  Turn the page to begin!

  Jenna Pitsenburg, a no-nonsense sports agent, receives the opportunity of a lifetime in the form of a lucrative promotion that will catapult her directly into the career of her dreams. The only problem is that the terms of the promotion come with a major hitch: her future career hinges on the completion of a successful contract with a particular high-profile client—none other than bad-boy, professional MMA fighter, Alexander Rockwell.

  Jenna wants nothing to do with her arrogant, super-star, ex-boyfriend, the man who disappeared without a trace from her bed over five years ago. She’s heard about the terrible reputation he has developed on his search for fame and glory and she has little confidence in his ability to change.

  However, Jenna, armed for battle, is not prepared to discover that his journey has left Alex feeling unfulfilled and in need of a new direction in his life—a new direction that he has every intention of sharing with Jenna...

  Fighting For Love

  Jenna Pitsenburg sat suddenly upright in the center of her plush queen-sized bed. Her sleep mask was shoved haphazardly toward the messy bun that sprouted directly from the top of her head while she glanced with disdain at the bedside alarm clock. It read 4:59 A.M.

  With only moments to spare she cancelled the alarm before it released an obnoxious, ear-splitting ring that would have been enough to cause a heart attack if rousing its victims from a deep slumber.

  Disentangling her legs from the satin bed-covers, Jenna shifted the sheer nightgown to fit more comfortably over her voluminous breasts. Even though she had rarely made time to date these past five years, it always made her feel beautiful to start her day in luxurious clothing. She had developed the habit years ago after realizing how much her confidence soared when waking in the morning to her boyfriend gazing at her lush frame with pure adoration. Wanting to maximize his pleasure Jenna had invested in a glamorous collection of plus-sized nightwear that remained long after the relationship had ended.

  Jenna’s eyebrows pinched together in confusion. It had been a long time since she had associated her pyjamas with Alex. Generally she was successful at pushing his memory to the back of her mind, a habit developed out of extreme necessity and self-preservation. Most of the original pieces had been replaced over time so, why then, had her mind strayed down that particular path?

  Then, like a bucket of ice water rushing over her skin, she remembered.

  Jenna rocketed out of bed and rushed down the hallway to the office of her small Chicago condominium.

  “Please be a dream. Please be a dream.” She muttered relentlessly as if sheer determination could make it true.

  As she waited for her computer to load she paced anxiously around the tiny office still whispering the same four words like a desperate plea to the universe.

  The screen flashed to life and Jenna settled into the yellow upholstered chair at her desk.

  She took a deep, steadying breath.

  “It IS a dream. It HAS to be.” She logged in to her email account and accessed a message from only the night before.

  Ms. Pitsenburg,

  We are pleased to inform you that the Board of Directors has noted your exceptional performance representing Mr. Caulfield during his recent sponsorship negotiations with Laramex, Inc.

  It has come to our attention that you have submitted an application for the position of Senior Account Executive here at Bramble and Bowman.

  As you are well aware, there are two other qualified applicants who surpass you in years of account experience at this time.

  However, the board feels that in the seven years you have been with us you have shown extreme talent and tenacity that has yielded results comparable to those with more tenure.

  For this reason we have decided to present you with an opportunity to prove that you are the most qualified candidate for the position of Senior Account Executive.

  We have received notice of an athlete in need of a fresh new agent who has specifically requested your services. If you are made Senior Account Executive you will no longer be working individually with athletes but instead will be directing and consulting with the agents of your current position. This is your chance to prove that you are capable of handling a high-profile account with the precision and professionalism that you would potentially expect of all agents under your senior guidance.

  Alexander Rockwell, the professional Mixed Martial Arts fighter, will be returning from a six-month sabbatical on September 8th. You are to retrieve him from the O’Hare International Airport promptly at 2pm. Lena Norway has been assigned as your personal assistant for this account.

  Please note that Mr. Rockwell will remain your client through December 31st at which point the account will be reviewed in regard to acceptance or denial of the promotion.

  Sincerely,

  Jonathan Bowman

  Chairman of the Board

  With a resounding thud Jenna dropped her head to the desktop. No wonder her mind had focused on Alex this morning. Starting today she would be his agent, representing him in some of the most important decisions of
both of their careers.

  She was torn between excitement and agony.

  Jenna had been working for this opportunity for seven long years, since even before she had initially met Alex. She had not then had the experience needed to take him where he was going professionally. He had been a rising star and she, a lowly pencil pusher. Now, though, they were both at the top of their game. Equals.

  Even with all of her success as a sports agent Jenna did not understand why Alex would have requested her specifically. They had not ended on the best of terms, or rather; they had hardly ended on any terms at all. One day Alex was beside her, and the next he was gone, packed up like a thief in the night. Two months later she had seen him in a television interview with a leggy blonde draped on his arm, and six weeks after that, a bikini model with flowing chestnut-brown hair. Jenna could not imagine ever wearing a bikini but, she smiled to herself, she did have a pretty amazing one-piece that made her feel like a sultry Marilyn Monroe in candy-apple red.

  With newfound determination Jenna sat up. She had not seen Alex in five years. For all either of them cared he was just a regular client choosing the best agent available. She refused to let him rain on her parade. She was going to be Senior Account Executive and the notion of working with that scumbag would not slow her down.

  With that thought, Jenna rose and went to prepare for the day ahead.

  An hour later Jenna entered the offices of Bramble and Bowman wearing a crème tie-neck blouse, full skirt and a pair of elegant black stilettos that meant serious business. Her olive skin still had a slight tan from the summer sun and the stylish chignon emphasized her sleek auburn hair.

  Lena Norway, who was perched casually on the edge of her own desk, bounced with excitement as Jenna drew near.