The Way We Burn

Fourteen: Gigi

"Welcome to my humble abode."

I went slack-jawed as Sully ushered me into his home. I honestly hadn't really thought about what his place would be like, it hadn't crossed my mind. But if I had envisioned what kind of home this gruff, dirty-talking fire captain chose to make his residence, it certainly wouldn't have been this.

Stepping through the front door as he held it open, I could already see that the place was immaculate, all clean lines and neutral colors, everything perfectly polished and sparkling. The entry way was painted in a light gray, a bench with coat hooks at the top and cubbies for shoes at the bottom to the left. There was artwork and photos, every flat surface had at least one live plant atop it. This was definitely no run of the mill bachelor pad.

I let out an astonished breath of air as Sully stepped in the house and shut the door, his hands immediately wrapping around the collar of my coat and leading It off my arms. This place looked like something right out of an HGtv wet dream.

"You sure you ain't hiding a family or something?" I asked as I gawked. "Maybe a basement full of bodies?"

"Where's the fun in telling?" Sully's warm breath tickled against my neck, causing a shiver to ripple through me. "I'm just a bit of a neat freak."

"I don't know," I teased, a playful grin lifting the corners of my mouth. "This place kinda screams serial killer vibes... or at least an attic full of secrets."

Sully chuckled as he stepped forward and took my hand. "No attic. Come on. I'll give you the tour."

"But not the basement, right?"

Sully rolled his eyes but his smile was beaming as he tugged me into motion. "Come on, weirdo."

I giggled, eager to follow wherever he led. We turned the corner into his living room, one low meow and followed by a higher one sounded as he flicked on the lights. Instantly springing from a midnight blue sofa sprang one black cat and one friggen lion.

"That is the biggest cat I have ever seen!" I exclaimed as the mismatched duo padded toward us. I squatted down so the black cat could sniff me, but the beast of the two immediately went to it's father. "Hi pretty," I cooed as the smaller cat rubbed its head against my hand. "Hi there."

"That is Rocky and this..." Sully grunted softly as he stooped down to scoop up the behemoth at his feet, "is Rambo. He's a Maine coon. They're both rescues."

"I would never have pegged up for a cat guy," I stated, getting back to my feet. "Though I'm not sure 'cat' is an appropriate classification for that one there."

Sully grinned as he placed a swift peck on Rambo's head before lowering him back to the hardwood floor. He instantly sauntered back to his corner of the couch, Rocky following at his heels. "Rambo's my baby," Sully explained, though he sounded more like an awe-struck father than a pet owner. "He was supposed to be just a foster when Chelsey and I were still together, but I got attached and Rocky wandered into the firehouse as a baby, before I was captain, and I couldn't just leave him. Rambo needed a friend, so..."

"Hmm," I hummed, stepping toward him and looping my arms around his trim waist. "So what I'm hearing is you're a secret softie under all that big bad façade."

Sully grinned down at me, wrapping his arms around my shoulders and pinning me in place. "Trust me, sweetheart, I'm hard where it counts."

"I guess we'll have to see about that." I pressed my lips to the underside of his jaw and released my hold on him, intertwining our fingers and giving his arm a tug. "Come on. Show me the rest of the palace."

"Right away, your majesty."

"And this," Sully began as he ushered me to the last unopened door. "This is my little sanctuary."