Feel the Fire (Hotshots 3)

“Yeah, I miss the part of parenting where the toughest question was whether he could have the latest Lego set or another ten minutes before bedtime.” Voice going wistful, Tucker paused before he started eating his breakfast.

“My nephews are still at the Lego age. I want to keep them there forever.”

“Did you ever want kids? You’re good with them. And you certainly could keep them fed. This food is fabulous.”

“Thanks. And I’m not sure,” he admitted, giving Tucker a far more honest answer than he gave most. “Mike was adamant on no kids, so it wasn’t something I thought about that much while we were together. I love my brothers’ kids, though being able to send them home at the end of the day is nice too.”

“I get that. There have been weeks when I’ve counted down to the days that Heidi has them. And other times I miss them like crazy.”

“Yeah, I can imagine. But unlike you and your complaints about being old, I still feel like I’ve got some time to sort out whether that’s a goal for me or not. Right now, the job has me traveling enough that going it on my own as a single parent would be a no-go, but who knows about the future.”

“There are times when I feel like thirty-five is still young, and other times when I see twenty-year-olds bickering and I feel ancient.”

“Perspective is everything. And you seemed plenty spry last night, old man.”

“Yeah. We both did.” A blush crept up Tucker’s chest, flushing his neck, before finally settling into his cheeks. “That was... Thanks feels inadequate somehow but thank you. I had no idea...didn’t expect...any of this, really.”

“Good. And I know the feeling.” Boy, did he ever. He liked sex fine, had had plenty of it, but he too had not been prepared for sex with Tucker, specifically, for how emotional the experience would be. And now that he knew how good they were together, he couldn’t bear the thought of leaving it all behind him. But he refused to think about that right then. “Whatever this is, we’ve got it now. We should make the most of it.”

“I know.” Tucker’s tone was solemn but then he brightened, almost as if like Luis he was forcing himself to live in the here and now. “Are you suggesting shower number three before we have to be at work?”

“If you’d like.”

Tucker nodded, blush deepening, but he managed a roguish grin nonetheless.

“Soon I have to share you with the office, and then later your family will undoubtedly need you, but right now you’re all mine, and I intend to enjoy every second of having you.” Luis’s throat felt strangely thick. All mine. He’d meant it as a sensual tease, but the words sprang from a deeper level too. Tucker was his, and forget living without the transcendental sex, how was he supposed to live without this man, period?

“Well, then by all means. Let’s skip dishes for now, and see how much enjoyment we can squeeze in before we’re late.”

“You’re on.” He knew better, he truly did, but he couldn’t quite seem to tamp down his suddenly rejuvenated inner optimist whispering, maybe...

Chapter Seventeen

“There. See? Not late.” Luis was all smiles as he exited Tucker’s SUV at headquarters. Tucker wasn’t quite as merry as him, but he had to admit that his own mood was rather good, thanks to a long, steamy shower and mad-dash race of dressing and driving to work. He’d parked in the back of the lot, and he wasn’t too worried about being seen arriving with Luis—plenty of other people had carpooled due to the fire and shortage of department vehicles.

“Yup.” His body was still humming with the aftereffects from the shower as they walked toward the building. They’d kissed and kissed, stroking each other off like they had decades, not minutes, and when he’d finally climaxed, his knees had barely held him with the force of the pleasure. “Back to the grind now.”

No more flirting, no more tender glances, and definitely no touching. For a few hours at least. “You want to come over tonight? Boys are probably both at Heidi’s. You could see to Blaze, come over later...”

Luis’s mouth quirked like he was thinking about turning Tucker down, his eyes distant but thoughtful. “Maybe.”

“You were the one who said we should make the most of the time we have.” He didn’t want to have to beg, but he also wasn’t squandering another opportunity to spend off-duty time together.

“Yeah. Good point. But—”

“Tucker! And Luis! Glad you made it in.” Christine came up the sidewalk from the other direction. “Fred wants an admin meeting in ten.”

“Got it.” Tucker nodded, back tensing because somehow he knew Luis wasn’t going to finish his thought even once Christine moved on. He’d undoubtedly wanted to remind them both how much parting was going to hurt and how they were in over their heads. Which Tucker knew. He knew and he still wanted.