Hearts on Fire 1: Serefina(12)
A glance toward the front door and there was no sign of any of the men. They probably thought she was at fault for the incident. She did slap that jerk pretty damn hard, but he had no right touching her and pulling her onto his lap. They all saw her belly, the piercing, and he made a sexual comment.
Lester set her down on the couch.
“You go get some ice, I’ll check her shoulder,” Florence said. “Take off your blouse, Serefina. Let me see how bad it is.”
“It’s okay. I can go into the wash room and take care of it.”
“Nonsense. I feel to blame for this. We should have told that group of morons they weren’t welcome at Sullivan’s anymore. They bothered the last two waitresses. Granted Stacy and Emily went out with a few of these guys, but this was different.”
“I probably shouldn’t have slapped him so hard.”
Florence chuckled as Serefina pulled off her blouse and looked her in the eyes. “Are you kidding me? That was great. I’m sure it left a mark, too. Although I think Ice’s punches might have done a bit worse.”
“Punches? Oh no. Your sons fought with those men?”
Florence smiled. “They hadn’t taken their eyes off of you since they all arrived. I’d say my sons were ready to protect you and watch over you even before those men arrived.”
Serefina closed her eyes. She was so embarrassed, and then she heard the gasp. “Son of a bitch. I hope my boys kicked their asses,” Florence said.
“Is it bad?” Serefina asked, and got her answer as three huge men pushed through the doorway cursing.
“I have the ice,” Lester interrupted and then made a similar comment.
“Did you hit your head?” Bull asked. “It looked like you went down hard.” Bull came around to sit in front of her. Ice and Ace joined him.
“No. Just my shoulder on the way to the floor.”
“I’d better get the first aid kit,” Lester stated.
“Give it to us. We’ll take care of it,” Ice stated and then walked closer. Florence stepped out of the way.
“I’d better go back up front. Can you three take care of her?” Florence asked, and when the men gave their mother a stern expression, she raised her palms up and left the room.
* * * *
Ice was fuming. He still had enough anger in him to kill someone, but luckily Bull had stopped him from doing further damage to the asshole who hurt Serefina.
He reached over to push her hair to the side so he could see the damaged skin. She shuddered from his touch as she grabbed a hold of herself and turned toward him.
“I’ll be fine. I can go take care of it in the bathroom.”
Ace knelt down and placed his hand on her bare knee. “We’ll take care of you.”
As Ice moved her hair away from her neck, he saw an older scar, and damaged skin. It looked like she had sustained burns at some point in her life. Then he remembered when her brothers and the chief had headed out to North Carolina. She had been in a fire and lost some friends from what he remembered. But they never said that she was burned.
She looked over at him, pulling her hair back over the scarring.
“Am I bleeding?” she whispered so softly. It was hard to not move closer and kiss her tender lips. The scent of her light perfume was appealing.
“No, sweetie, just scratched up and already bruising.”
“The ice will help, and then we can apply some ointment and a bandage,” Bull stated.
“Just do the bandage. I need to get back out there to help your mom.”
“Are you kidding me? You’re done for the day,” Ace stated.
Ice swallowed hard. His brother could be so controlling and in command at all times. He always took control of every situation. But this wasn’t a job, a mission, a fire. This was a woman all three of them were attracted to. She was important, and considering that she was also the daughter of their fire chief as well as the sister of their friends, they were going to have to tread pretty damn carefully.
“I think she’ll be fine, Ace. Let’s just ice it like Bull suggested and then bandage it up so she can go back to work.”
Ace took a deep breath and released it, but kept his hand on Serefina’s knee. Ice could see him caressing it with his thumb.
“How is your hand?” Bull asked, after he handed the ice packet to Ice and walked to her other side. He gently took her hand and turned it over palm up. It was bright red.
She jerked a moment as Ice placed the cold pack onto her bruised shoulder.
“It’s okay,” she whispered, staring at Bull.
It was crazy, but the entire atmosphere in the room was different. It was so charged up with sexual and physical attraction that Ice felt his own cock thicken and push against his crotch. Sitting next to her, he towered over her small petite frame, and he felt so possessive and protective. He didn’t want to release her, or let her out of his sight. It was an outrageous and totally first ever experience in his life.
He gently ran his thumb along the top of her shoulder bone as he held the ice in place.
“It looks pretty damn red,” Bull whispered. She tried to pull it back, but Bull wouldn’t let her. She was fidgeting now, and squirming on the couch.
“Listen, I appreciate the help and the concern, but I’m a big girl and I need to get back to work. I just have an hour or so left.”
Bull seemed to ignore her as he raised her palm up to his lips as he bent forward at the same time and kissed her skin. She shuddered again.
“Bull, please don’t do that,” she whispered, her voice cracking.
“I thought a nice kiss might make it feel better. Didn’t it work?” he asked and smiled.
“Did it work?” Ace asked her as he continued to caress her knee.
“I suppose,” she said softly. Ice leaned forward and kissed her shoulder above the ice pack.
She turned toward him, her lips inches from his own. “Please don’t do this. I’m sorry, but I can’t do this.” She stood up, causing Ace to stand up and Ice, too. Bull took his time and watched her closely.
She reached for her blouse, but Bull took it and then opened it up for her. She had no choice but to turn her back toward him so she could place her arms in the sleeves. When she did, Ace stepped in front of her and began to slowly button her blouse. The scene caused so many flashes of fantasies to run through Ice’s head. He wanted her. He wanted to touch her, kiss her, and get to know the woman she was. By the intense expressions as well as actions from his brothers, he realized that they did, too.
Bull caressed her arms and inhaled against her hair. “That was a hell of a situation, Serefina. I think you need looking after.”
Ace finished up the buttons and then reached up to touch her cheek. He gently rubbed his thumb along the bottom lip. “I agree. You need looking after.” He leaned forward as if he were going to kiss her and Serefina ducked to the left and pushed by Ice.
“Thanks for the help,” she said and walked out the door.
“Son of a bitch,” Ice stated.
“What?” both Ace and Bull asked.
“Marco was right. He said that when we met that special someone, we would know it. It’s Serefina.”
Chapter 8
Denis looked at the map he created on the computer. He had them all. The ones touched by the flames. The survivors. Two had moved not far from here, but the one who really caught his interest was nowhere to be found. It was as if she disappeared off the map entirely. He used his special abilities and the help of his master to identify them, research everything he could find out about the five of them. But this last one. The one with the powerful name stirred not only his interest but that of his master’s. Denis glanced at the notes by his computer. He had to finish up the master plans behind the condo fire and then they could maybe nab this woman, and take her with them. Or better yet, make her his last endeavor before retirement.
He traced her name, Bing searched the meaning behind it.
The burning one. The highest ranking flying angel of God that guarded the gates of heaven. You are mine. The fire within me will prevail against your power. You shall be mine. I prepare for your destruction. Serefina, Serefina, Serefina.
* * * *
Serefina awoke incredibly sore. Even the bath she took last night hadn’t seemed to help. She slowly got out of bed and made her way to the bathroom. When she looked at her shoulder in the mirror, she cringed. There was a huge bruise covering her entire shoulder and upper arm. She brushed her teeth, washed her face, and then brushed out her hair. As she pulled it back and to the side, she thought about yesterday, and of course about Ace, Ice, and Bull. It was so crazy. She had panicked. Completely freaked out that all three, very large, muscular men surrounded her in the small office. They were touching her gently and caring for her, but she had to ignore that. There were so many negatives about this.
For one, she felt guilty. It had taken her forever to fall asleep last night and not just because she was aroused. She would think about Matt, and the fact that they had dated for months before they made love. She had wanted it to be meaningful, and he respected that. She was in love with Matt. She thought about marriage, kids, the whole thing with Matt, and suddenly he was gone.
What confused her most was that she had even contemplated taking her own life. She felt so lost, so alone, and the pain was incredibly deep. It was like she lost her heart and soul. She wouldn’t wish that type of pain or loss on even an enemy.