SWAT Ed: Fox & Bull (Nothing Special 8)

Bull shook his head. “No, that’s not why.” He stopped her from asking any more questions as Garvin’s warning continued to play on a loop in his mind. He didn’t want Fox’s anger at him to fester. “I’ll handle it, Amelia, don’t worry.”

“Tell him he had no other choice, okay?” she pleaded as he took the stairs two at a time.

“Yes, ma’am. I will.”

Bull stopped just outside of Fox’s door. He knocked twice before he let himself inside, expecting to see Fox slinging his things into his duffle bag, but he wasn’t. He was sitting calmly in the windowsill, glaring at Bull’s land in a way that squeezed his stomach.

“Fox.”

“What?”

“I’m sorry.”

Fox whipped his head around, but he didn’t speak.

Bull removed his hat and set it on one of the bedposts before he walked up on him. “I was wrong. Dead wrong. I’ve never been in that situation before, and I reacted badly…” Bull clenched his teeth. “Fuck. That’s an excuse. Forget I said that.”

Fox got to his feet.

“I was wrong to yell at you like that. I’m… I’ll never do that shit again, swear it. I, um…” Damn, this accountability stuff was harder than it sounded. But he knew it was the right thing to do.

Fox’s light eyes caressed his face before lingering on his mouth. “Keep talking,” he ordered softly.

Bull licked his dry lips as Fox inched closer. “I should’ve thanked you properly for saving my friend’s life. Not what I did.”

Fox eased his hands up Bull’s chest until he’d linked his fingers behind his head.

“Forgive me,” Bull whispered.

Fox’s embrace was warm, strong as he pulled him in as close as he could. Bull ducked his head and touched his lips to the tip of Fox’s ear. “This place is different from the city… I promise. If you give me a chance to show you.” Bull cupped Fox’s chin and placed a chaste, remorseful kiss on his lips, keeping it brief but wanting so much more.

Fox’s smirk was more thoughtful than crafty. “I already see some of the differences.”

“Oh yeah.”

“Yeah. Another man has never apologized to me before, Dominic. In my life.” Fox looked on him in amazement, and Bull made a mental note to give Garvin an extra week’s paid vacation. “Thank you. And I accept your apology.”

“M’kay.” Bull released Fox slowly, realizing he’d almost blown his one opportunity. “I’m gonna go check on the staff and wait on the gaming officers to get here.”

Fox touched his shoulder to stop him. “I can make a couple calls, Bull, to ensure you—”

Bull took Fox’s hand from where it was searing his skin through his coat and kissed his knuckles, kissed the hand that’d just fired that powerful weapon. “No. What happened was unavoidable. If they don’t like the way we handled it, then they can speak with my lawyer.”

Fox tilted his lips. “That can work too, I guess.”

“I’ll see you at supper, then.” Bull tried not to make it sound like a question.

“Yeah. You will.”

Their palms lingered together, arms outstretched until their fingertips were out of reach.

Fox felt heat lick down his spine as he left the training ring with Bull, knowing he was watching him, his hungry gaze feasting greedily when he thought no one was watching. Fox had kept things light since their small misunderstanding a few days ago. Bull seemed a lot more comfortable with his presence now, but he still attempted to guard his expressions when Fox got close. However, he was trained to read through the subtle signs a person often worked to conceal, like their desires, their fears, and even their indecisions. If Bull still wasn’t convinced that Fox wasn’t a user, and only there for a little escape and a quick fuck, then it was about time he explained himself better.

His last riding lesson had been long, but Fox had a feeling that Bull wasn’t as thorough and detailed with all of his students as he’d been with him. He’d told Bull multiple times that he wasn’t that green. He’d been to his captain’s family’s ranch in Texas a few times, and he’d ridden a couple of quarter horses. But Fox wanted to be good; he wanted to be confident in the saddle like all the other men he’d seen around. He wanted to ride with Bull on his evening trips because they were obviously special to him.

“I want you to remember to stay sitting up tall and look straight ahead,” Bull said as they walked side by side back to the barn to groom the horses and get them bedded for the night. “I know Dolly’s a real beaut to look at, but you’ll need to keep your focus on the trail and what’s approaching.”

“I got it.” Fox nodded. “So when can I go on the trail rides?”

Bull chuckled, deep and sexy. He stopped and gazed down on him. “Soon.”