Part 1 here

She seemed to pull back further as Michael took another step toward her, pressing against the corner of her shower. Was he frightening her somehow? Then it dawned on him… she was feeling understandably vulnerable and scared, and there was no humanity in his appearance with his mask on and his helmet covering much of his face.

He reached up and pulled off his mask, letting it drop on the strap around his chest, and swept his helmet off too. Dave is going to kill me for this. On a whim, he bowed low, sweeping his helmet across in a curve, as though he was a courtly gentleman meeting a lady for the first time. But it felt right, like something she needed to see. “Firefighter Michael Antonio, at your service, ma’am. Here to escort you to safety, away from this dragon’s cave before the evil beast returns.” Cue the gas explosion for ironic timing, he thought, and mentally crossed his fingers.

She simply stared at him, her eyes wide in the reflected light of his torch, and he couldn’t help but feel slightly silly. He’d made a fool of himself to try to reach her, and even that hadn’t worked.

Then she smiled, and he was struck with how genuine it was, how pretty it made her, even huddled, scared, in a corner. No, she’s not just ‘pretty’, she’s beautiful… she’s gorgeous. And he wondered how he hadn’t seen it before.

“Most gracious of you, Sir Knight,” she said, but her smile faded as quickly as it came. “Why did I have to be naked, Michael? Why couldn’t I just be fully clothed and… and have a broken leg or something? Like most people?” At least she was engaging with him now. His ploy had worked.

“I’d prefer you uninjured, milady,” and he used the word deliberately, to extend the Knight-and-damsel metaphor, while being struck by how appropriate it was. A Knight in shining… Kevlar. His answer had been heartfelt. He didn’t want to imagine this attractive, vulnerable girl lying injured, slowly bleeding out. He shook his head to clear the image. A thought occurred. “Where’s the towel you said you had?”

She gestured with her chin, her arms remaining wrapped protectively around her nudity. “Under that. It smashed my radiator.”

Michael turned and looked, picking up the torch and swinging it around. A large, dark green bath towel lay pinned to the floor by the corner of the steel girder. “Yeah… that’s not coming out, is it?”

“No,” she replied, bitterly, “It’s not.”

He reached over anyway and gave it an experimental tug. It was as trapped as it looked.

“Was there nothing in my bedroom?”

He turned back to face her, setting the torch down to point once more at the wall. “I’m sorry to say… no,” he grimaced. “You don’t have a bedroom anymore.”

“Fuck!” The vehemence was justified, given the circumstances.

His radio crackled. “Mike, status update?”

He thumbed the mic button. “With victim. Stand by, please.” He released the button and met her eyes. “It really is time to go, but…” He pushed himself to his feet and began to pull off his gloves. She watched him, her eyes wide in the light.

“What are you doing?”

“Taking my gear off,” he said, pulling the mask over his head and working the buckles of his SCBA straps, unclipping the belt that held not only the SCBA tank, but the carabiner for his harness. He knew it was an inexcusable risk. Dave really is going to kill me.

“Why?”

“To give you my jacket, milady.” He lowered the tank to the floor with a dull thunk.

“But… your gear. Won’t you need it?”

“Not between here and the ground.” Hopefully.

“Won’t you… won’t you get in trouble for abandoning it?” Lady, you have no idea. Dave was going to be seriously pissed. He might even dock it from his wages – after he finished reaming him a new one for being a soft touch. But it was a surprise she’d even asked, that despite her vulnerability she was thinking of him over herself.

“It’ll be fine.”

Her chin came up. “That wasn’t very convincing, Sir Knight.”

He chuckled. “Don’t worry about it.” He began to unzip his jacket.

“No, wait…”

His fingers paused as he looked at her, puzzled.

She seemed to take a steadying breath, then to his surprise she lowered her arms, pushed herself to one knee, and stood.

He noticed her breasts first, but only because they caught the light. Or so he told himself. Yet, his eyes couldn’t help being drawn to them: their perfect shape, her nipples erect, even as the water continued to fall, bouncing off them. His eyes travelled down despite himself, over her smooth belly, her thighs, the triangle of her womanhood hinted at but hidden in shadow.

Michael hadn’t intended to stare, to run his gaze so blatantly over her, but the way she had risen – the abrupt decision to reveal her nakedness – had caught him by surprise. He’d reacted not with his training, but as a man presented with the vision of a beautiful woman. Fuck, she’s gorgeous... She wasn’t even making an attempt to cover herself – a reflection on the futility of such an action, perhaps – and it was an effort to lift his eyes to her face.

“I can’t have my rescuer inconvenience himself for me.” She sounded resigned. “Put your gear back on, please, Sir Knight.”

His fingers resumed, pulling down the zip of his jacket. “I appreciate the sentiment, milady, but —” he slipped the coat from his shoulders, “— it is a little cold outside the dragon’s cave.”

She seemed to sway slightly in response to his words, and her determined stance became a more hunched posture. “Yes… yes, I’d noticed.” She reached back and turned off the water, and her body angled in the light as she did so, revealing more of her to his eyes. “The water is cold now, too.” The sound of her voice distracted him, and he realized he’d been staring at her. He cleared his throat, looking away.

“Michael, I…” her voice was suddenly a whisper and he glanced back to see her begin to waver. He exclaimed, letting his jacket fall to the floor and jumped forward to catch her even as she crumpled, and she fell into his arms as her legs gave way. He dropped to one knee, lowering her carefully as he did so. He was kneeling in water, but he hardly noticed; his hands were on her body, her skin beneath his palms, and in that moment the feel of her stole all his attention.

She’d fainted, he realized, and kicked himself for not predicting that. Ages sitting on the floor, cold, scared, stressed – and then standing abruptly. Reduced blood flow to the brain, exacerbated by the circumstances.

Her skin was cool to the touch, and wet from the shower too. That wasn’t helping, and it would only get worse as they went outside. He needed to get the excess water off her but had nothing with which to help. He slid one hand down each arm as he held her with his other, brushing what he could off her skin. As he did so, she came round.

“I’m sorry,” her voice was so quiet he had to lean down to hear her. “I’m not usually so pathetic.”

“Milady, you merely fainted. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. Quite understandable – even expected. It’s my fault for not warning you when you stood. I was…”

“…distracted?” she smiled up at him, even as she lay in his arms, and he could only shake his head in admiration. Who could show so much spirit in such a situation? He wasn’t sure he would, were the situations reversed. She was formidable. She was showing remarkable character strength in the face of adversity, and, given the extreme circumstances, it was no detriment to her that she had fainted. That was mere physiology.

“Very distracted, milady,” he answered honestly, then was struck by how inappropriate the comment was. “I... er… I’m very sorry for… er… looking,” he trailed off weakly.

“I’m naked, Sir Knight,” she pointed out, her voice sounding stronger with each passing second. “I think I would’ve been offended if you hadn’t. Surely the damsel wishes her Knight to find her attractive?”

“I do,” he admitted, and he couldn’t help himself as he added: “You’re beautiful.”

 ~

“You’re beautiful.”

Vicki closed her eyes and smiled. “Well, that’s alright then.” She knew, objectively, that she was attractive. But for some reason it was important that he found her so. Her rescuer. Her Knight.

The whole situation was so surreal it was impossible to keep perspective. He’d only been in here – what – two minutes perhaps? And he’d seen her naked and now she was in his arms. That beat her personal best with any man prior by… well, days.

She was in his arms, naked… the thought seemed difficult to accept, despite its evidence. He’d seen all of her… before I stupidly fainted. Yet she wouldn’t have been in his arms if she hadn’t fainted, and it was… nice. She became aware that he was stroking her arms with his hands. That was nice too. Comforting.

Her eyes flicked open. Comforting? Why was she responding to him like this? She hardly knew him. She didn’t know him. And yet… maybe it was the intensity of the situation, the life-and-death nature of it, the fear she’d felt for so long, huddled in the corner of her shower, expecting the floor to give way… or the roof to crumble down… or the water to trickle toward a live cable somewhere.

Then she was trembling violently in his arms as the adrenaline coursed once more through her body.

“Easy now, easy…” His voice was calm, but it made no difference. She couldn’t stop trembling. “Easy, milady.”

And he wrapped his arms around her and held her to his chest.

She pressed against him, clutching at him, feeling the solid warmth of his body through the soft clothing he wore beneath his coat. The tears came and she sobbed into the crook of his neck, burying her face against him.

“It’s okay, you’re safe, it’s okay.” He was stroking her hair, holding her against him, his voice calm and gentle and reassuring. It helped, but it wasn’t enough.

She wrapped an arm tightly around his neck and clung to him, and it was a long moment before her trembling slowed, before she could regain control over her sobbing. She became aware of his hands on the skin of her back, rubbing gently as he held her to him. He hadn’t protested, hadn’t pushed her away. He’d given her what she needed without complaint.

Vicki pulled back slightly to look up at him, his handsome face poorly illuminated by the reflected light, much of it in shadow. But he is handsome, she decided. Very much so. Okay, so maybe there was a bias of circumstance in that appraisal – but he was her Knight, and she was allowed to find him handsome.

Her arm was still around his neck, her face angled up toward his, her breasts pushed against his chest. He was looking down at her, his eyes so very close, and it seemed natural to do what she did. She pulled him down to her, opening her mouth to him, and kissed him.

She’d kissed him and for a moment he tensed beneath her touch, her lips, but then his mouth opened to her, and he was kissing her too. It was just a few seconds; the feel of his lips against hers, their tongues dancing… then he was pulling back, gently, considerately.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that,” but his eyes searched her face even as he apologized.

“You didn’t; I did,” she whispered to him. “I should be the one to apologize.” She lowered her eyes in embarrassment. “I’m sorry.” He was tense against her. She’d clearly made him uncomfortable, and it was all her fault. What a way to repay her savior. “You’re married, aren’t you?” Of course he would be. All the best ones were. Oh… what a fool she was!

“No, actually,” he said, and she was aware of his gaze still upon her face, his expression intense. “But… I shouldn’t have encouraged you. You’re probably in shock. My training… I… that was irresponsible of me.”

He was so awkward, so uncertain all of a sudden. And just from one kiss. She didn’t like to see him like this, and she had caused it. Yet, too, it was endearing, and suddenly she saw the ridiculousness of it all. She laughed, a mirthless, self-loathing sound.

“What’s so funny?” he asked slowly, taken aback but not offended.

“Oh… everything and nothing!” And it was all so absurd she laughed again, hearing the slightly hysterical note. “This whole freakish accident… being trapped, completely naked… being rescued by my handsome Knight… and now,” her tone turned bitter, “he’s too gallant to kiss me because I’m a ‘vulnerable civilian’ and his training says he’d be taking advantage!”

 ~

“…My handsome Knight…” and though he’d heard all she’d said, it was that upon which he focused.

Michael stared at her for a long moment, then he was lowering his lips, drawing her more tightly into his arms, the delicious feel of her soft breasts pushed against his body, and his mouth was on hers once more. He kissed dominantly, pushing his tongue into her mouth, and she opened to him, whimpering in response. Her other arm snaked up around his neck and she pulled herself into a sitting position even as she kissed him in return. He felt her fingers push into his thick hair, holding him against her.

His hands were caressing the smooth skin of her back and she felt cool beneath his touch, but not so much as to concern him. Yes, he needed to get her safe and warm, but… they had a moment to finish their kiss.

Somehow, she wriggled even closer to him, pressing herself firmly against him, and their tongues battled as if with desperate need from both of them. As they kissed, he let one hand push down her back, fingers spreading over the top of her bare ass. She whimpered, pressing against him, and—

His radio crackled. “Mike, status update. What the hell is going on up there?”

He broke the kiss reluctantly, freeing one hand from her to reach for his radio. His other hand slid down her back, replacing the first at the curve of her bottom, holding her to him with the full length of his arm.

His thumb was on the mic button. “I’m coming down, one survivor.” He dropped the button and whispered to her, “You were alone in the apartment, right?”

“Yes.”

He nodded, pushing the button again. “She’s uninjured but cold and…” he glanced at her, his expression in shadow, “…traumatized. Have EMS ready.”

“Acknowledged.”

 ~

“…Traumatized.”

Vicki flinched as he said it. Yes, that’s what I am. Traumatized. A silly girl responding to my Knight because I’m ‘traumatized’.

She pushed back from him, waiting until he’d finished talking on his radio.

“I’m not traumatized,” she said, angrily, as soon as his hand lowered from the button. It was insulting. He’d kissed her back, hadn’t he? Had he been merely placating her?

She moved back further, her anger giving her energy, warmth even. She held onto it, getting a leg beneath her, preparing to stand.

“Wait, let me help you…” his expression was hurt, guarded. Good.

She was being petty, dammit all. He didn’t deserve her wrath. Oh, he’d rejected her with that comment… she knew that now… and she’d instigated it. She’d kissed him first, then goaded him into kissing her back.

“I don’t need your help, thank you.” She stood slowly, taking her time, ensuring that she didn’t embarrass herself even further by fainting again. Never again. Not before this man, for sure.

He rose too, keeping his arms out as if ready to catch her, but not touching. “Don’t be angry with me, please.” His voice was apologetic, his expression earnest, his eyes staying deliberately on her face, even as she revealed her full nakedness to him once more. “You may not realize it, but you are showing signs of trauma…”

“So, I’m traumatized,” she all-but spat the word at him. “And you just did what you did to calm me.” And damn him that it had worked. Damn his soft lips, his warm hands, his firm body… his kind, composed voice.

She wanted to lash out at him, to make him hurt because she’d liked it. She’d liked him. And with that one word, he’d rejected her. She wasn’t traumatized.

But even as she thought it, even as she saw the hurt in his expression, the openness he’d shown her ever since he’d arrived, she realized that actually, she probably was traumatized. How could she not be? His assessment – his professional assessment, no less – may have carried more than a modicum of truth.

And objectively, her behaviour even now, even in this moment, only seemed to reinforce that truth.

So she was traumatized. So what? That didn’t drive her to kiss him, she’d wanted to. He’d kissed her back. He’d wanted to… hadn’t he?

She took a breath, trying to calm herself, and realized as she did that she’d treated him poorly again. Her Knight, her rescuer, and she such a… bitch. She should apologize, explain that it was just because she had felt so vulnerable, so confused, so scared, so… traumatized.

Damn him for being so right. Damn her reaction to him. Did she even want him, or was it just the intensity of their encounter? ‘Want’ him? Now I ‘want’ him? But she did. She realized that now. It was more than the circumstances of their encounter. Possibly. She hoped it was more than that, that her judgement wasn’t so flawed, merely because she’d been… traumatized.

But yes, in that moment, she did want him.

Yet she knew she couldn’t have him.

He wouldn’t allow it, not when it conflicted with his training, with his sense of responsibility. Not while he saw her as a ‘victim’. Not while she was… traumatized.

She watched as he picked his coat from the floor. He straightened slowly, and she thought she saw a furrow across his brow, but it was hard to be sure in the limited light.

“We need to go down,” he said, the coat in his hands.

“Yes.” A curt, monosyllabic answer, fed by her anger. She stood watching him, waiting, her hands on her hips, making no attempt to hide herself from his eyes but instead to flaunt her nakedness as if to say, ‘I don’t care anymore’, and ‘you don’t get to have me’. She hoped he got the message.

He held the coat up. He didn’t offer it to her; he held it open by its shoulders, in the way a gentleman might hold a coat for a lady. Why didn’t he just hand it to her?

She would have to turn, present her back to him, slide her arms in and let him place it upon her.

That wasn’t going to happen.

She held out a hand. “Give it to me.”

“No.” He just stood there, damn him, his single-word answer as aggravating as it was resolute and unyielding.

She extended her hand insistently. “Give it to me.”

“No,” he smiled, and took a small step back.

“Fine,” she dropped her hand. “Keep it. I’ll go naked.”

“Fine,” he said, and she could hear the smile in his voice. “Go naked.” He lifted the coat slightly as if offering it again.

She almost stomped her foot. Damn the impertinence of the man! He calls her ‘traumatized’ then plays games with her! But to go down naked… it was going to be hard enough to go down, let alone do so naked. And she still hadn’t told him… that.

Damn him.

“Oh, very well, you win. It’s not like I have a choice, is it?” She took a step toward him and turned, reaching to slide one arm into the coat as he held it. “I thought Knights were gentlemanly. You are taking advantage.”

“Yes, I am,” he said frankly, holding the coat as she slipped the other arm inside, and that was all the warning she had.

He stepped into her, wrapping his arms about her, holding her to him, and his mouth came down on the side of her neck, kissing, licking. His arms slipped around her, pulling her back against him, and his hands… his hands cupped her breasts.

She gasped in surprise, trying to pull away, but he held her still, his lips but an inch from her ear. “You are traumatized, my little damsel, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want you. That doesn’t mean I don’t find you beautiful, and desirable. And spirited… let’s not forget spirited.”

She ceased trying to pull away as she listened to his words, held captive by them, and as soon as she stopped resisting his hands caressed her. “This is probably the most fleeting relationship in the history of relationships,” he murmured against her, even as his thumbs flicked over her hard nipples, and she arched back against him. “It won’t last past us getting to the ground. It shouldn’t last past that point, and it can’t. We both know that. But… it doesn’t mean I don’t want you, right here, right now.”

She moaned, pressing back against him, turning her face to find his, kissing him even as his hands continued to caress her breasts.

He allowed the kiss for a moment then broke it, his hands dropping away, and instead he reached for her shoulders and turned her to face him, taking the two sides of the coat and fitting the zip together, pulling it up over her nakedness.

He moved with such gentleness, but such control. Her anger had abated; he had calmed her again. Only her arousal lingered... but she wasn’t sure how long he’d had her aroused for. Since before his hands on her body, that much was certain. Maybe their first kiss. Or… no. The second kiss. Definitely the second kiss, when he’d kissed her back. Assertively, dominantly… arousingly.

She allowed him to dress her in his coat, stood demurely, chastised, while he affixed the zip. The coat was ridiculously large on her.

She’d been a bitch to him – she admitted that readily enough. After all, she’d let her anger take over and had ridden it deliberately – he’d met it with playfulness, teasing, and control. Of her. He’d given her no choice but the one he wanted her to take, and when she had, he’d taken advantage of her. He’d controlled her. Then he’d seduced her with his words, and… she’d allowed him to. Willingly.

“We need to go down,” he said, his eyes on hers.

“I know.”

“This’ll be all over soon. Let’s get you down.”

“Yes, I suppose,” she didn’t want it to be all over soon, but they couldn’t stay here, however much she might wish to.

He heard the reluctance in her voice. “Don’t worry, I’ll be with you every step of the way. I’ll keep you safe.” He took her hand in his.

“I know,” she said again, clutching his hand with both of hers. She’d never felt safer than she had in the last few minutes, since her Knight had come into her life.

He bent, picking up his gloves, and held them out to her. “You should put these on. They’ll keep you slightly warmer out there.”

She shook her head, “These sleeves are more than long enough to cover my hands.” She released his hand with one of hers, flapping the excess sleeve material to illustrate her point, then shook back the sleeve and gripped his hand once more. “Besides, your gloves are way too big for me. You should wear them.”

He smiled. “No, I’ll have a better grip of you without them.” He wedged the gloves in the waistband of his trousers.

Neither of them acknowledged the truth: both wanted to feel the touch of the other, and the gloves would be an impediment to that.

He picked up the torch and the light danced wildly around the small room.

“There’s debris across the floor, and your feet are bare. Would you… would you mind if I carried you?”

“I’d love it if you carried me,” she whispered.

He smiled at her, then bent and swept his arm behind her knees, picking her up and cradling her to him as though she weighed nothing.

She laid her head against his chest. “I thought you’d fling me over your shoulder,” she said playfully.

“Usually, yes… but your naked ass would be too much distraction, and we’d never make it down.”

“I’d be okay with that,” she replied, and her tone was serious.

He smiled down at her gently. “Let’s get you safe.”

It was only a couple of paces to the girder, but he hadn’t exaggerated: the floor was littered with rubble and sharp hazards to hurt bare feet.

“We have to climb over the girder. I’m going to go first. There’s a drop the other side, and I want to be there before you come through, okay?”

“Okay,” she replied, and she couldn’t stop her fear build. Her voice was small, frightened.

“It’ll be fine,” he sought to reassure. “I’m going to set you down on the girder itself. It’s pretty solid, and the floor has all kinds of crap on it. I need you to wait for me to go over it first. Can you do that?”

“Yes, Sir Knight.” If you’re quick. Don’t leave me long, please.

“Thank you, milady.”

He set her down carefully on the lowest part of the girder, checking she was stable before he released her. “You’ll have to climb up this, but it’s just like a ladder. I’ll be able to help you as soon as you reach the door.” He indicated with his torch. “Easy, right?”

“Yes, easy.” Her voice still sounded scared. Had he noticed?

“I have to take the torch. It’s going to get dark fast, but it will just be a moment. Is that okay?”

“It’s not the dark that scares me.”

He smiled at her reassuringly. “Right then. See you on the other side.”

He was up over the girder and jumping down to the floor beyond so quickly that she hardly had a chance to notice the dark, and then the torch was swinging round. “Your turn. Take your time, okay?”

She wanted to prove to him that she was as brave as he was, but her heart was hammering in her throat. I should’ve told him. But he’s a firefighter… he wouldn’t understand.

She clambered up the girder on hands and feet, the large coat a hindrance. He had been agile; up and over in an instant, and perhaps on a different day she would have too. But I’m not really at my best, am I?

Vicki was halfway up the girder before he was able to reach her. “I’ve got you now, okay? You’re almost there.”

“I can do it.” She wanted to show him. She didn’t want him to see more weakness than she’d already displayed… than she was about to display.

“Let me help, milady. This isn’t the time for that stubborn tilt of your chin.”

Vicki glanced at him in surprise. So yes, she did do that, particularly when she was being recalcitrant. Her chin would come up slightly, her jaw clench. Her mother had teased her about it all her life. He was observant if he’d noticed so quickly.

And he was right, dammit. This wasn’t the time for ego. “Very well.” That had sounded petulant. She tried again. “Thank you, Sir Knight.”

She climbed, slowly, and he supported her with one hand beneath her elbow, slipping his other arm around her waist as she came in reach. It was easy to lean into him, the feel of his body against her a comfort, his strength apparent as he lifted her into his arms.

“Okay?” he asked, gently.

“Yes… I’m fine.” She snuggled against him. “Are you protecting me from sharp objects on the floor, or do you just like carrying me?”

“Both.”

She looked out toward the world, away from him, and saw the devastation of her apartment for the first time. The light on the platform of his ladder clearly showed the destruction that had been wrought. This was her bedroom… and she didn’t recognize it at all. It wasn’t even there. There was just a hole where her bed had been, the floor angling steeply away, the strobe lights of the emergency services visible almost directly below. Her wardrobes, her belongings, all her personal things were strewn somewhere down there, gone forever.

And mere feet from where he held her was an abrupt drop down to the ground. No fence, no railing, nothing to keep her safe, nothing to keep her from being sucked into that vacuum save for his arms around her, and her grip on him.

She whimpered and turned away, burying her face in the corner of his neck, feeling her body begin to tremble again.

“Are you okay?” he asked. “I’ve got you, okay? You’re safe.”

Vicki nodded jerkily, gripping him tightly around the neck. “I… I probably should’ve mentioned before,” her voice sounding high with the stress she felt, “but… I’m scared of heights.” The last came out in a rush, and she pressed herself tightly against him. “And… and… not a little bit scared. Like… really scared.”

“It’ll be fine, you’ll see. I know it’s scary, but I’m not going to let anything happen to you. You just need to stay in my arms. Can you do that?”

His voice was so calm, so reassuring, that she felt herself nod her acceptance. It was a jerky, panicky nod, but it was a nod. She knew he’d keep her safe. It was almost enough.

“I’m going to walk us over to the platform, and we’ll climb aboard. I’m going to take us down slowly and gently. Like a fair ground ride, okay?”

She nodded again, well aware of what he was trying to do by explaining it to her in advance. It didn’t help. Maybe a bit.

He took a step toward the edge, and she froze, tensing. “I… I’m not sure I can do this.”

“Sure you can, milady. Your Knight has you safe.” Another step.

She fought not to writhe in his arms for fear of dislodging his grip on her. “Please, Michael, please… I can’t do this.”

“Do you want me to distract you, milady?”

“God yes! But how? How can you distract me? What could possibly…”

He shifted his weight slightly, holding her briefly with one arm while the other dropped down and came back up again inside the coat. His hand was on her naked ass, his palm against her skin and his fingers squeezed her buttocks.

“Oh!” she gasped in surprise, hardly aware he’d taken another step. “You… you!”

“The damsel doth protest muchly,” he said, giving her ass a light slap before gripping it again and taking another step forward.

“The Knight is taking liberties with the damsel’s person,” she replied through gritted teeth, trying to focus on his touch, trying not to think of the ground beneath them. But it was working. What he was doing was helping. And she liked it. She wanted more. Despite her fear, her arousal had spiked.

“We’re here, Vicki. I’m going to put your feet down on the platform, okay? I’m going to keep a hold on you too. I want you to just hold onto the rail, and edge across slightly. Can you do that?”

“I think I can if you keep your hand on my ass.”

He chuckled softly. “I don’t recall being trained to do it that way, but in your case I’m willing to make an exception.”

He set her down as promised, and the metal was ice-cold beneath her bare feet. True to his word his hand slid round to her ass, pushing her slightly forward. She took a tentative step further along the platform and grabbed desperately for the rail. Icy wind rushed up under her coat making her shiver beneath his touch, but she couldn’t bring herself to object, to risk him pulling his hand away. It was her lifeline, that touch: her Knight’s hand on her bare bottom, grounding her, keeping her sane. Sane-ish.

She felt him step up behind her, his arm sliding tightly and protectively around her waist, pulling the gate closed behind them.

“Okay, milady. Difficult part complete. I need you to cling on to me and I’m going to take us down. You’ll be on the ground before you know it.”

“Yes, Sir Knight.” It was so easy to release the railing and slide both hands around his neck instead. She clung to him desperately, pushing herself against his chest.

“We’re going to move,” he said, and the platform lurched beneath her.

She swallowed a scream, her breath coming in fast, sharp gasps. “More distractions, please Michael, more distractions!”

“You just want my hand on your ass again, don’t you?” he murmured, his lips against her ear.

The platform was moving beneath her, and she felt her panic threatening to overwhelm. “Anything! Distract me!”

“Shall I make you beg?” his voice carried a teasing note.

She pulled back to stare at him with wide eyes, his audacious question and tone providing the distraction she’d so desperately needed. This was a side of him she hadn’t expected, and… she liked it. Was he merely teasing, or was something deeper hinted at?

There was one way to find out. “Please, Sir Knight, please put your hand on my ass again, I beg it of thee.”

He smiled, a contented, self-satisfied, dominant smile, and there was enough light for her to see the gleam in his eyes. Both his hands slid down her back, pulling up the low-hanging hem of his too-large coat, and gripping her ass with a tight squeeze.

“I’d kiss you, but they’d see that,” he murmured, gazing into her eyes. “As it is, we’re almost down. You’ve done it, milady, you’re safe now.”

She pulled her eyes from his with an effort and looked about, seeing the commotion on the ground around her, the dozens of emergency vehicles, and hundreds of people. Many of those close to them were pointing, clapping, and cheering, and she felt herself flush with embarrassment. She stepped back from him as the basket came to a jerking stop, its journey complete, and smiled at him, suddenly shy in the face of all the attention.

Plus, it would do him no good to be found with his hands on her naked ass, and it wasn’t as if the platform they’d travelled on fully obscured them.

“Thank you, Sir Knight,” and she meant it with every fiber of her being. Not for saving her life – though that was quite high up there – but for everything else. She would never forget.

His gaze searched her face, but his expression was inscrutable. “My pleasure, milady.”

An EMS crew was rapidly approaching with a gurney and several other firefighters had gathered around. She could see the surprise on their faces as they realized she was in his jacket. It told the whole story.

Well, almost the whole story. The rest they could fill in themselves. She was sure they would.

A large man in a firefighter’s uniform opened the gate of the basket, glanced questioningly towards Michael then held out his hand to assist her down.

Vicki hesitated, knowing she would be whisked away from him in an instant. She turned back to him, going up on her toes to whisper in his ear. “I’m safe because of you, Sir Knight. I’ll only be safe with you.”

 ~

“I’m safe because of you, Sir Knight. I’ll only be safe with you.”

He gazed at her in surprise, and she turned and took Dave’s hand, letting herself be helped to the ground. The EMS crew descended, helping her to the gurney, and she was whisked away, lost in the crowd.

“Busy evening, Mike?”

He glanced over at Dave and grinned sheepishly. “Have to leave some gear behind, Captain.”

Dave shook his head. “So I see.” He held out his hand and Michael took it in a clasp, jumping down from the basket. “I consider a life saved to be worth a bit of gear.” He fixed Michael with a stare. “You were up there an awfully long time just to bring down one victim.”

Michael met his gaze with an innocent expression, “Barely five minutes.”

“Which is four-and-a-half too long with the risk of gas explosions.”

Five minutes hadn’t been nearly long enough, Michael thought, but he wasn’t about to say so. Instead, he shrugged, glancing through the crowd as he tried in vain to see Vicki. “We couldn’t smell any gas.”

“That’s a shit excuse and you know it.” Dave turned to look in the same direction. “I’m not going to hear this whole story, am I?”

Michael shifted uncomfortably. “I think it’s self-evident, and I see no reason to compromise the lady’s privacy more than has already been forced upon her this night.”

Dave glanced at him sideways, “In that case you might want to wipe the lipstick off.”

Reflexively, Michael swiped his sleeve across his lips, rubbing firmly… before it occurred to him she’d been in the shower and, dark or not, she hadn’t been wearing lipstick. He glared at Dave, who grinned smugly.

“Mmm, thought so.” Dave pushed the basket gates shut. “Sign your kit out as ‘lost’ when we get back to the station, Mike. And… er… don’t forget to include your jacket. I’m guessing this isn’t the time to ask her for it back.”

“No, Captain, I don’t suppose it is.” He gazed after her, but she was already lost in the mill of busy people in the dark, the strobe lights making it a challenge to see too far. He had no idea where she was, and she’d been gone only a moment. He felt like he was missing something, and it wasn’t his coat.

She’d be on her way to a hospital soon enough. He should’ve told them to check for a possibility of hypothermia… but they knew their jobs. She’d be fine. She’d be safe.

“I’m safe because of you, Sir Knight. I’ll only be safe with you.”

It was a nice fantasy, but she’d get over it. It had been an intense evening for her – for both of them. But it hadn’t been real. She’d see that, in the morning.

More was the pity.

He stared after her wistfully, then shook his head and went to help the rest of the crew.

~

Part 3