Erica's Choice by Sami Lee

of emergency workers, the occupants—a young couple and their two children—could not be saved. A spokesperson for Queensland Fire and Rescue said working smoke detectors might have averted the tragedy.
    In other news, the prime minister is set to…
    Erica’s first thought was for Corey’s well-being. But he was on the phone with her late last night, so he wouldn’t have been on shift. What about Griff? Erica’s eyes stung as she thought of that young family, all of them perished in one terrible event. Had Griff been one of the firefighters forced to stand by and watch as flames obliterated four lives?
    Shoving the melancholy and concern to the side, Erica climbed out of bed. She slipped on her plain white cotton robe and, after visiting the bathroom, wandered out to her front porch to see if the paper had been delivered.
    No paper graced her lawn, but what she saw instead made her heart slam to a stop. A sleek red Ute was parked across the street. Erica recognized the car and the man sitting behind the wheel, staring at her house.
    Erica stood frozen on the porch. After a moment, Griff opened the car door and got out. Even from this distance, she sensed tension in his strides as he crossed the road. He mounted her steps with heavy footfalls. Erica noticed his eyes were bloodshot and there was a shadow of stubble visible on his jaw.
    He appeared irate, reckless and decidedly dangerous. Erica’s fear instinct kicked in even though she didn’t think for a minute Griff would hurt her. Her erogenous zones tingled. Seeing Griff again made her feel so much more than trepidation.
    “I want you to break it off with Corey.” His abrupt demand hit her like a slap. “If you’re not going to fuck him, stop fucking him around.”
    “I’m not.” He responded with nothing more than a sardonically quirked eyebrow which made guilt wash through her. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “He calls me.”
    “So hang up.”
    “Have you ever tried to hang up on Corey?”
    A muscle ticked in his jaw. Erica easily read the truth in his eyes—no way could he turn Corey away so easily if he were in her situation. “You’re going to hurt him,” Griff said roughly.
    “I never want to hurt Corey.”
    “Then don’t.” Griff took a step forward and glared down at her. “Next time he calls you’re going to put him out of his misery. Either break it off or fuck the man—I don’t give a shit which one you do.”
    “I can see that.”
    His eyes flashed at her terse response, a brief gleam of satisfaction. He’d hoped to needle her. Griff had not come here at six o’clock in the morning because he was in a good mood.
    No, he’d come here because of last night. He must have witnessed last night’s tragedy. She could feel it in the frustration and pain radiating from him. Why he felt the urge to come here, Erica had no idea. But she sensed his need for something unnamed in every ragged breath, in the flashing vulnerability barely concealed by his bloodshot eyes.
    Quietly, she asked, “Is that all you came here for?”
    “No. I have to check your smoke alarms.”
    Erica blinked. “I beg your pardon?”
    “You heard me. It’ll only take five minutes then I’ll leave you in peace.”
    Erica doubted any form of peace would be in her near future. Before she could respond to Griff’s odd demand, he had stalked past her into the house.
    Erica hurried after him. She found him in the living room, where he had taken it upon himself to pull apart the little circular device embedded in the ceiling. His stance caused his faded red T-shirt to ride up, exposing those ripped abdominal muscles.
    Her inner walls contracted and her breasts peaked. Every fantasy she’d ever had involving her tongue and those abs, his mouth and her mouth, her pussy and his cock returned to haunt her. The fact that she was aroused at the mere sight of him despite his high-handed attitude really increased her irritation. “Is this a new service