The Fire he Ignited in Me

Chapter 8

I wake up with another pounding headache and groan miserably. Why does this keep

happening?

"Belle?"

I scrunch my nose recalling that voice before frowning. Am I obsessed or something now?

"Belle?"

The shaking of my shoulder has me shooting to sit up straight as I normally sleep alone.

Right there at the edge of an unfamiliar bed is Trent. He smiles softly and nods beside me where

I see a glass of water and a pill.

The memory of last night rushes back to me, but I can only remember so much. How am I with

Trent? I didn't stumble my way to the firehouse did I?

I take the medicine and stare at Trent who stares back for a moment before talking.

"How are you?"

I shrug and look around the messy room. There are closes here and there and things are bustled

on different surfaces.

"Confused."

He grants me with a nod, to which eventually leads to some answers.

"Do you know how strong Vodquila is?"

I shake my head.

"It's the ghost pepper of alcohol."

My eyes go wide and I cringe a bit.how many did I have? Two? That's what I remember.

"How'd you find me?"

Please don't say I found you...

"I saw that guy giving you glass after glass. I brought you here to make sure you stayed safe."

Yet again. How many times will this man save me?

Trent POV

Fucking hell. What was I thinking? I could've taken her anywhere, but my apartment just had to

come to mind. Now Annabelle is sitting here making doe eyes at me and I don't have the self

control.

Self control. It's such an expected quality and thinking on it now with a pair of bright green eyes

staring into my soul, I wonder why I'm holding back.

I reckon just by the look in her eyes that she would be willing to give me a chance, but can I be

bothered after Marie?

I put all my energy into her only to realize she still had the attitude of a little girl and I'd been

ignoring the problems she'd caused. I haven't dated in two years. Two f*****g years.

Maybe I should just ask Anabelle to a movie or something? Yeah, minimal talking, dark room,

kissing...

She's so shy, I wonder if she'd even let me claim her lips on our first outing. I'd like to try. The

thought alone makes my friend shift in my pants a bit.

"Belle, do yo-"

I stop talking immediatley after hearing her phone for off. Again. It's been buzzing and ringing

for hours and if it wasn't an invasion of privacy, I'd have answered. I chose to put it on vibrate

instead.

"Sorry," she apologizes reaching for her phone.

Her eyes widen and a small breathy gasp of air sucks through her teeth. I bet I could make her do

that again...

"Oh man," she mumbles scrolling along her screen.

"My friends didn't know I left!"

I raise my brows. Her friends were letting a guy drink her senses down the drain?

She texts them back quicker than lightning and I gape at how quickly her fingers fly across the

keyboard on the screen. That's a gift. My thumbs are too big to even click on anything properly.

"Sorry again. I feel terrible! We were supposed to be celebrating my friends twenty second

birthday a week early because she's going to Uganda two days before, but... Well you know."

A cold wash of reality moves through my skin, nearly causing a shiver.

"You're friend is turning twenty-two? How old are you all exactly?"

I'm afraid of the answer because if she's as young as I think...

"Um... Jayla is almost twenty-two, Will is twenty-four and a half, and I just turned twenty-one a

couple weeks ago."

21. Twenty f*****g one.

I nod blankly with all hopes of making Annabelle mine down the drain. I'm thirty-four for god

sakes! How can I date a woman thirteen years younger than me?!

I work for the county and it's a small town. The descision is clear. There's no choice to make

because it won't be possible for the two of us to make it. Asking would be a waste of time.

From here on out, it doesn't matter how beautiful Annabelle is or how much I feel that urge to

protect her. She's almost young enough to be my daughter.

"That's great," I say trying to remain casual.

"Now I've got a twenty hour shift coming up and I'm sure you'll need to check up with your

friends," I mention trying to politely urge her to leave.

Luckily she gets the hint and hops up quickly.

Fuck.

That dress.

I take a few steps back and clear my throat. Thank God I'm wearing jeans. If I had on sweatpants,

my hardening d**k would be obvious.

"Yeah. Thanks again for helping. I guess your a hero off duty too huh?"

I shrug trying not to reach out or even worse, ask her to say it again under me.

"I do what I can."

I can't help but feel a little rude as I usher the most beautiful girl on the planet away, but it has to

be done.

I can't be with her.