Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 90721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
She didn’t wake, however.
We were both utterly and thoroughly exhausted.
The fire that Baylee had been called to was enormous, and had evolved fast. What started out as an apartment fire turned into a fire that had taken over nearly the entire block: houses and apartments alike. The source of the fire was yet to be determined, but it looked to have originated from a grill at the very back of the apartment’s property line.
The scuffle of boots coming towards me had me sitting up, with the upmost reluctance, and coming face to face with an older man that looked to be just as tired as I was. He’d been the one to ask for volunteers, and since I kept my bunker gear in my truck, I’d been more than willing to help in any way I could.
He’d introduced himself as Captain Allen Shepherd, checked my credentials, overlooked the fact that I wasn’t registered in the State of Texas as a firefighter, and sent me to do my best at containing the fire from spreading to any other neighboring homes.
I’d lost Baylee in the chaos, as she was immediately treating multiple people for smoke inhalation upon arrival. Her job had been done well over an hour before my own, and I’d seen her take a load off on the truck. Once I’d made sure she was alright, and only sleeping, I came back to my assigned job until the last smoking ember had been extinguished.
The Captain extended his hand, and I extended my own, giving him a firm shake before dropping it back down to my leg in exhaustion.
“You look a little worn out there, young man.” The Captain observed.
“Long day and really long night. I’m not as young as I used to be.” I agreed.
The Captain acknowledged that with a nod of his own. “I understand what you mean. Mind if I take a seat?” He asked, indicating the empty tailgate beside me.
“Of course. Just kick her feet over. She’s dead to the world.” I joked.
The Captain laughed. I moved Baylee’s extended legs onto my lap, and made room for Allen to take a seat.
“You did a fine job tonight. I just wanted to say thank you for all your help. How long have you been in the fire service?” He asked conversationally.
“A while. I started in the Marines as a firefighter when I was nineteen. Been doing that in some way, shape, form, or fashion for going on fifteen years now.” I explained.
Allen nodded. “Sounds like me, only I went Army. Slowed down a lot about a year ago. Had a heart attack that made me get my head out of my butt and take better care of myself.”
“Heart attacks are the main cause of firefighter’s deaths each year. You may be as healthy as an ox, but still be dropped down low from one due to the stress of the job.” I told him.
“Yes, that’s what I heard from my doctor. I still hear it from my Linnie every day, too.” He chuckled. “You don’t happen to need a job, do you?”
I burst out laughing. “To be honest, I’ve been thinking about a change in pace. I’m tired. Sounds to me, though, that you’re looking for someone to put that much effort in on a daily basis. This body isn’t up to too many more days like this.”
Thirty-four wasn’t old, per say, but it wasn’t nineteen either. Not that I didn’t love my job, but I didn’t want to die doing it, either.
He nodded in understanding. “Well, if you’re ever interested in one, let me know.”
He shook my hand one more time before walking away into the smoke-filled night.
Hopping down myself, I shucked my bunker gear, stowing all of it in the tool box in the back of my truck. It was good that I had that, because I reeked of smoke to high heaven.
Even the noise of stowing my belongings didn’t rouse Baylee; so, instead, I scooped her up as if she were a child, and stashed her in the passenger seat, belting the seatbelt, and closed the door as quietly as I could.
The ride to her house was quiet and soothing. There weren’t many people out on the road, and I didn’t have to deal with any road raged idiots trying to fight me for the fast lane.
When I pulled up, I shook her gently awake; she groaned. “What?” She croaked.
“Where’re your keys, darlin.” I asked quietly.
“Bag.” She told me.
I laughed. She sounded cute when she was grumpy.
“Where’s your bag?” I chuckled.
“Dunno.” She mumbled before falling back to sleep.
After ten more minutes of trying to find the elusive bag, I gave up and pulled out of her driveway. I remembered her taking it into James’ place when she went to change. She’d wanted to get out of her swimsuit, and must’ve left it there in the process; that was why I was driving us back to my place. It was too late to worry about it now.
When I pulled up outside of my house, I cajoled her awake, and practically carried her inside, even though her feet were on the ground.
Her feet shuffled like a zombie, but then again, I wasn’t feeling much better myself.
“Will you be okay to take a shower?” I asked her.
“Mmm-hmmm.” She agreed, head resting on my shoulder.
I decided that maybe it would be best to just go ahead and put her into the shower in my own bathroom. While she was doing that, I’d go to the one that my son used, and rinse off quickly in there.
I turned the water on, stripped her down to her bra and panties, and sent her into the shower with a tiny shove to get her moving.
She moaned as the steaming water hit her flesh, and I shot out of there like my ass was on fire. I didn’t get out fast enough, however. I did happen to notice that when she was wet, her bra and underwear became transparent. Which, in turn, made me see the dusty brown areolas of her nipples, and the dirty blonde thatch of hair at the apex of her thighs, before I could get out of the door.