Feel the Fire (Hotshots)

by Annabeth Albert

  “Oh, fuck. Warn a guy, won’t you?” Tucker’s eyes fluttered shut as his head tipped back against the pillows.

  “Good?” Knowing this was new to Tucker made Luis’s pulse thrum, a heady mix of power and discovery. The lower Luis moved, the better Tucker’s broad cock felt. Like his chest and hands, his cock was thick, a fun challenge to relax around and the perfect pressure against all Luis’s favorite places.

  “So good.” Tucker’s groan seemed to come from his toes as Luis took him all in and started to rock his hips.

  “Yeah.” It didn’t take much for Luis to find a rhythm that felt amazing, shallow movements that were possibly more devastating than athletic bouncing. He loved keeping the pressure steady, adding little licks of friction that sent sparks of pleasure radiating out from his ass, up his spine, over his abs, taking over his whole body. “That’s it.”

  And he loved that he didn’t have to ask whether Tucker was liking this. His eyes, now open again, were glassy and dark, while his face was pink with a flush that started on his chest. And it wasn’t merely his expression that said he was loving the fuck, but also the way his body naturally found Luis’s rhythm, hips rocking, hands finding Luis’s ass, urging him on.

  “Fuck. No way...can’t last.” Tucker stilled, body going tense under Luis, hands dropping to clench at the sheets. Face grimacing, he released the bedding to fumble for the lube. He slicked up his palm and reached for Luis’s cock. “Want to get you there first though. Tell me how.”

  “Like that.” Damn, but he loved how Tucker already knew how to touch him. “Harder.”

  Tucker complied, but his body bowed as Luis moved faster. “Fuck. Fuck.”

  He wasn’t lying about being close and watching him hold back was the best kind of power trip.

  “Love making you curse. You feel so good.”

  “Yeah, you do.” Even Tucker’s neck was tense, every corded muscle visible. He’d stopped moving, but his breath came in harsh panting. Sexy as fuck.

  “More.” Luis moved into his grip, fucking his fist even as he rode Tucker’s cock faster. Tucker tightened his grip, thumb sweeping over Luis’s cockhead. “Damn. Damn.”

  Tucker echoed each of Luis’s moans, barely restrained need etching his features. “Want...need to come. But want...you...”

  “I will. Come, Tucker. Want to feel it. Let go.” He honestly couldn’t tell how close his own orgasm was because his whole body seemed attuned to Tucker, all his energy and focus on shattering Tucker’s control. Having this sort of power over him was almost better than climax.

  “Fuck.” Something snapped in Tucker, his body moving again, hips bucking, free hand coming back to Luis’s ass, fingers digging in. “Luis.”

  “Yes. Fuck. That’s it. That’s it.” Luis rejoiced in Tucker’s orgasm, urging him on, even as his own climax hit, light-speed train appearing out of nowhere. It was more of that awe-inspiring synergy. Tucker needed and he could give, and the giving was so damn good that it brought him off, spurting all over Tucker’s abs.

  All the tension left Tucker’s body in a big whoosh as he exhaled hard and slumped against the bed. “Damn. Wow. That was...”

  “Good?” Luis tried to hide his wince as he slid off Tucker’s cock and stretched out next to him. It had been a long time since he’d been fucked, and his body was using the lull in the action to remind him of that. Still, though, he liked the well-fucked feeling very much, and he loved the satisfied expression on Tucker’s face.

  “You’re underselling it. Never felt that intense before.” Tucker’s voice was dreamy, almost like he’d been the one getting fucked. Feeling strangely protective, Luis rubbed his arms.

  “I know. Same here.”

  “Really?” Tucker’s eyes had drifted shut, but he opened them to peer intently at Luis.

  “Really.” It was true. He wasn’t merely flattering Tucker. He’d had a lot of sex in his life, but none that had moved him quite that much, been that emotional, or that closely in sync with the other person.

  “Good.” Seemingly satisfied at what he saw in Luis’s face, Tucker snuggled back into him.

  “Damn. You’re making me torn between sleeping messy and the smarter choice of getting reacquainted with your shower.”

  “Can you stay?” Sleep apparently forgotten, Tucker sat up. “I should feed you something. You missed dinner.”

  “Yeah, I can stay. Blaze has the automatic feeder, and I checked levels just this morning.”

  “Excellent. Shower then. I’ll clean up too. And then I’m going to rustle up something for that dinner you missed.”

  “You think Wade left food? That’s some serious optimism.”

  “Trying.” Turning back to Luis, Tucker grabbed his hand tightly. “Trying to believe in everything.”

  His eyes said that he meant far more than whether or not there were leftovers for them to forage. And Luis got it, this weird mental space of trying to believe in a future for them, despite all the hurdles standing in the way still.

  “Me too. Too easy to assume the worst,” he admitted, looking away. He wanted to share Tucker’s optimism, but it was hard.

  “Hey.” Tucker gently turned Luis’s face back toward him, blessed him with a soft kiss. “Let’s pray for the best instead.”

  “I can do that.” And he would. If Tucker could trust so deeply, then so could he. Tucker was right about the who mattering far more than the where.

  There would be time enough later for talking, and that attitude carried him through a shower and an impromptu late-night picnic of sandwiches and sweet, cuddly, sleepy play before drifting off together. All the way until the early morning buzzing of both their phones when he knew they were screwed. No more time.

  * * *

  Tucker knew as soon as both their phones went off that it was bad. Dawn was peeking in through his blinds, soft light that invited another hour of sleep, but that wasn’t to be.

  “Let me call in first,” he said to Luis, who was already scrambling into clothes. His message was from Garrick.

  “I’m on the way,” he told Garrick as soon as he had coordinates for the fire. Another early-morning blaze near a hiking trail had to mean the chance of it being their arsonist was high. However, whatever the cause, Tucker needed to get crews on the ground and get Luis to the scene so he could do what he did best and predict the spread of the fire. “And I’ll...uh...pick up Rivera along the way since I’ve got the better vehicle for those dirt roads.”

  “Uh-huh.” Garrick chuckled. “I’m not going to tell if he’s right there now. Your sleeping arrangements are your business.”

  “Thanks.” He pulled on a work shirt and dug out his good boots. His hard hats and other gear was still in the SUV from the last callout. “I’ll contact my crew chiefs while you call everyone else in.”

  “Get me the plans as soon as you have them.”

  After some logistics talk, Tucker ended the call and went to search out Luis, finding him already pouring coffee into travel mugs.

  “Thanks. We make an efficient team.” He accepted the cup, noticing that Luis had hit the perfect milk-sugar-caffeine ratio for him. “Told Garrick I was picking you up on the way.”

  “Technically true.” Luis offered him a sleepy grin. “And I did warn—”

  “I’m not caring who figures out that we’re more than coworkers. Trying to keep it professional for both our sakes, but I’d give that advice to anyone else regardless of gender. Ready to hit the road?”

  “Yup. Let’s do it.”

  The site was something of a drive, and as Tucker navigated the back roads there, they took turns making the calls they needed. Tucker made sure he had ground crews on the way to dig fireline and coordinated with the interagency folks and hotshot crew chiefs. Meanwhile, Luis got the latest data and an update from the investigation.

  “They’ve detained a s
uspect,” he reported during a break between calls. “This was one of the areas we were closely watching, and law enforcement was able to quickly move in at the trailhead.”

  “Your theory was right.” Tucker hadn’t expected anything less because Luis was that brilliant. “Are you jealous that you don’t get to make the arrest and do the questioning?”

  “Maybe a little.” Luis shrugged. “I enjoy the hands-on firework, but you never know. Maybe someday. And maybe if I stay—”

  “I wasn’t hinting at that. I meant what I said last night. I’m willing to be the one to move, so don’t go job hunting yet.”

  Luis made a dismissive gesture. “Right now, we have a fire to fight. And an arsonist to catch. And then we can go back to worrying about the where part of our future.”

  “Yeah. I know.” And he did get it—they needed to focus on the present and work, not keep going around with questions they weren’t going to answer right then anyway. He tried to take some solace in the our that Luis had so easily tossed off there. Whatever the answer ended up being, they’d be together.

  However, those questions were still in the back of his head as they arrived on site and he got to work discussing with the various crew chiefs and Adams about whether they’d need a formal fire camp. The red danger level warning meant that rapid spread was possible, but early response was promising. Still, Tucker had crews out digging more line in case they needed to do a burn to remove fuel from the fire, and additional air support was on standby too.

  “We certainly moved fast.” As the frantic pace slowed, Adams strode over to Tucker. “Good job getting your crews here.”

  “Thanks.” Tucker accepted the praise, but his attention was over at a clearing where Luis was deep in discussion with some investigation personnel. Tucker was hopeful that Luis would get to see a culmination to the case before he had to depart in a few days.

  Adams didn’t seem in any hurry to move on, stretching his shoulders. “I’m getting too old for these early morning surprises.”

  “You? Old? Never,” Tucker teased. He’d known Adams for at least fifteen years, through grandkids and health crises and department changes, and considered him something of a friend and mentor in addition to his boss.

  “Ha. I don’t know how many more seasons I’ve got in these old bones. Soon enough it’ll be you in charge, I reckon.”

  “Me?” This wasn’t the first time that Adams had made an offhand remark like that, but the seriousness to his tone made Tucker’s back tense.

  “No one better suited to it,” Adams said firmly.

  Tucker squinted, trying to picture that future. Meetings. Lots of meetings. Agency politics. Further from the field. Was that what he wanted? All that routine makes you old before your time. Wasn’t that what Luis had said when they’d discussed how he’d had to give up his smoke jumper dream as a young man?

  He’d been thinking about a potential move as something he could give Luis and perhaps as an empty nest solution, but maybe it was something he could give himself, resurrect old dreams, try something new. Not that there was anything wrong with Adams’s job precisely, but Tucker had a restlessness to his soul as he pictured himself in the role. Just like he’d wonder what might have been if he let Luis go, the possibility was strong that he’d wonder what could have been professionally too, had he allowed himself to stretch his wings.

  “Thanks. I appreciate that. But...hard to say what the future holds.” His pulse galloped at the admission.

  “Ah. You craving something more exciting?” Adams didn’t sound terribly surprised, but then he always had joked about how Tucker would take any opportunity to get out of the office. “Always figured we might lose you to the interagency or smoke jumper folks. More action.”

  “Maybe. Not sure. This was the perfect job while the boys were young, and I’m not discounting how lucky I was to have it. But...might be time for me to chase some old dreams. Or find new ones.” There. That was exactly what he needed to tell Luis and again his gaze flitted to where Luis was standing. He couldn’t wait until this operation was a wrap and they could talk again.

  Adams laughed knowingly, but if he’d noticed where Tucker kept looking, he didn’t say anything about that. “You’re too young for a midlife crisis, but I hear you. You’re a damn good manager. You’d be an asset anywhere.”

  “Thanks.” Tucker’s attention was less on Adams’s praise and more on Luis walking toward them.

  “What’s the latest?” Luis asked as he joined them. “The data I’m seeing suggests that we’ve got it contained absent some hot spot and snag flare-ups. Looks like we’ve avoided the worst-case scenario at least.”

  “Yup. Good work on your projections.” Adams nodded. “And good work on the investigation. Because we were already monitoring this trail, we were able to get a faster response.”

  “Which let us catch a suspect. Authorities have a young man who fits the profile we’ve developed. Repeated applications for a smoke jumper position, but never made the grade. I’m really hopeful this will be an end to this rash of fires.”

  “All of us are.” Letting out a weary noise, Adams wiped at his forehead. “Of course, it would be nice for you to leave with the job done. We got word late yesterday that Angeles got their way—Friday will be your travel day, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they put you to work even before Monday.”

  Job done. Tucker had known from the day before that Luis was likely gone in a matter of days, but making it official still made his coffee slosh around in his stomach, acid rising.

  “Yeah.” Luis’s expression was guarded, but Tucker didn’t miss that brief moment when relief flashed in his eyes. He might be conflicted about leaving Tucker, but a big part of him did want to be back home. And Tucker wanted to give him that because he might be done with this job, but Tucker was far from done with him.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  “Ooof!” Luis had to stifle a curse as fifteen pounds landed in his lap out of nowhere.

  “Your cat is in your lap.” Tucker gestured at Blaze.

  Luis’s laugh rumbled through his chest, a welcome lightness after the heaviness of the day. “Yeah. She’s been doing that more lately.”

  She was heavier than she looked, a warm solid weight that somehow made hanging out on Tucker’s couch that much cozier. After Luis arrived with her in tow for dinner, she’d been busy exploring Tucker’s living room, seeking out all her favorite spots on his built-in shelves and investigating Walker’s room upstairs before deciding to plop herself on Luis’s lap.

  He’d been idly surfing the various streaming options on Tucker’s TV while Tucker checked his phone. The boys had eaten at Heidi’s house, so it had been only the two of them to cook some steaks and clean up afterward. Domestic perfection. Luis wanted a thousand more nights like this one, not simply two.

  “Maybe she’s happy to be back here.” Tucker was doing something on his phone, but he took a second to give Luis a playful smile.

  “She’s not the only one.” Luis’s chest lifted at getting to tease Tucker like this. “Are you jealous my lap is full? Because nice as it is that Blaze is tolerating me, I’d happily make room for you.”

  “I’ll wait until she moves. I do feel like I need to store up all the touches though. Two more nights.” Some of the lightness escaped Tucker as he frowned.

  “We’ll make it work.” Luis patted his thigh, hoping like hell he was right.

  “We will.” Tucker held up his phone. “See? I’m looking at flights for October right now.”

  “You’re doing what?” Luis had assumed there would be visits, but it was all very nebulous in his brain, no logistics sorted out, and it had felt more aspirational than anything else. But here was Tucker planning to visit him, not simply waiting for the court case to bring Luis back. That meant something and Luis had to swallow hard.

  “I can dwell on how
much Friday is going to suck or I can use this nifty fare-finding app. Getting leave while we close out fire season here will be tricky, but October should be safe.”

  “Yeah.” This was a little surreal and was perhaps the best evidence yet that they weren’t sixteen. They had bank accounts and credit cards and access to airline tickets and good jobs with paid leave. They could do this, fluttery feeling in Luis’s gut and all. “I’ve banked a ton of leave too. If we’re not in an emergency situation, I can probably come back for a weekend even apart from a possible trial. Especially if I’m interviewing—”

  “You’re not.” Tucker cut him off with a stern look.

  “I’m not?” While he did appreciate all Tucker’s offers, Luis had still been operating on the assumption that when it came down to it, he’d be the one packing up.

  “No. You’ve got to let me job hunt first. If you apply for the job here, you’ll get it, and then that will be the easy solution.” Tucker patted Luis’s hand, which was still on his thigh.

  “Exactly.”

  “Maybe I don’t want the easy way out. Especially if that’s not the most fair to you.” Tucker’s mouth twisted.

  Luis wasn’t entirely sure how to read his expression. “I’m less hung up on fair now. You’ve got a lot going on here—the house, the job, the kids...”

  “Yeah, I do.” Tucker made a startled noise as the cat left Luis’s lap to walk between them and wiggle into the space behind their joined hands. “Cat. Anyway, this is why I need us to be patient. I’ve got to get the boys settled and back at school, talk logistics with Heidi, job hunt... It’s not going to be fast.”

  “Which is why—”

  “Fast isn’t everything.” Tucker leaned back as the cat made her way to the other arm of the couch, abandoning them to their very human problems. “Anything worth doing is worth doing carefully. With consideration.”

  “You sound exactly like your dad.” That got a deeper frown and Luis immediately regretted bringing up Tucker’s family. “Sorry.”