Obsession (A Bad Boy's Secret Baby) by Adair Rymer, Nora Flite Page A

feeling for a bump that wasn't there yet.
    What am I going to tell our child, Mal? My whole world was crashing down around me. My face was ruined with sobbing tears. How could I even go on after this? You promised you'd never leave me again.
    You promised.
    I watched the orange tendrils lick out the open windows and was soon lost in the hypnotizing flames that consumed the blazing building. It was so hideously beautiful that I felt sick.
    And then there was another crash of exploding windows. A huddled mass of something was launched out of the second floor window, on the side of the building. Flames licked out after it, as if angry that whatever it was had escaped.
    Part of the smoking form on the grass rolled away, then stood up and peeled off his breathing apparatus.
    I screamed and ran from the car like a madwoman.
    EMTs and a few nearby officers beat me to the human wreckage. Mal was stripping off his ruined leather jacket and helmet when they arrived. He helped the EMTs and officers move Brendan and the little girl to a safe distance, then took me into a massive embrace. He was sweaty, covered in char and soot and smelled terrible. I didn't care.
    “Oh thank you, thank you, thank you.” I whispered, sobbing near uncontrollably. I was so relieved that it felt like someone had lifted a boulder off me. “I thought you were gone.”
    “I made you a promise,” was all Mal replied. I never wanted to leave those strong, stinky arms but I tore away anyways. I needed to check on Brendan.
    Brendan was in rough shape, the young girl was worse, but it looked like they were both going to make it. They were both loaded onto stretchers and were made ready for transport to the hospital.
    “On the ground!” Officer Winter came running over, gun drawn. It took everyone, even the other officers, by surprise. “Malik Long, you're under arrest!”
    “What!” I shoved Winter to little effect, then was pushed out of the way. “Are you fucking joking?”
    Captain Demoe ambled up to us, but didn't intervene. He watched as Mal was forced to the ground and cuffed in front of everyone.
    “Captain,” Brendan wheezed from all the smoke he'd breathed in. He reached out for Demoe, who took his hand and moved in closer so that Brendan wouldn't have to shout.
    “Don't do this...” Brendan's words were broken and incredibly labored. It must have hurt him considerably to talk at all. “Malik saved my life. The girl's life too. We broke into his firehouse earlier today. Roughed him up and he still came. To help.”
    Brendan was standing up for Mal? It was something I'd never thought I'd see, ever. Brendan hated Mal, didn't he? Maybe having his life saved by his enemy changed his perspective.
    I hoped so.
    “Get him out of here,” Demoe told the EMTs, releasing himself from Brendan's grip. Demoe muttered that he'd let the fire chief decide what to do with Mal, then impatiently waved for the EMTs to take Brendan.
    “Hey, Ness,” Mal said, with officer Winter's knee on his back. His hair was matted, his face was stained with black streaks and sweat, but his smile was pearly and glowing and incredibly sincere. “This might not be the best way to do this, but... Will you marry me?”
    “For fuck's sake, Long,” Winter complained, but we ignored him.
    “Yes.” I nodded, crying again. I laid on the charred grass next to Mal and kissed him. It was an awkward angle and he tasted like barbeque, but it was the single best kiss of my life. “A thousand times yes!”
    “Let him up,” Captain Demoe declared, ending his call with the fire chief and gesturing toward Mal. “You too, Kait. This is still an active crime scene, come on.”
    “Sir?” Winter whined.
    “Are you going to make me repeat myself, Winter?” Demoe gave the man a glare that lit a fire under the officer's ass. Then he extended a hand to help me off the ground. I smiled and apologized for the display. When the old man had me back on my feet he even congratulated me on the