“Fuck you, and Lorenzo’s it is,” I replied.
I called back to the station and had the rookie we left there order two pies from Lorenzo’s, one plain and one filled with sausage and pepperoni. By the time we got back and took off and stored all our gear, the food was delivered, and we sat down at the table to eat. The rookie who was left behind was made to restock the equipment in the truck while we ate. We spent the next forty-five minutes recounting tales of the last six months to Carter to catch him up on what he missed. By the time we were done, I was stuffed and ready to call it a night. I was working the overnight shift, which meant another night on the bed that could barely be described as a cot on the second floor of the station.
“Hey, can I talk with you?” Carter asked, catching up with me in the hallway.
“What’s up?”
“Thanks for letting me go on that run today. I know it wasn’t protocol.”
“Don’t sweat it. The rookie fucked up, and I knew you’d be in position.”
Carter looked at me before lowering his head, not wanting to reveal too much emotion. At the station, telling a man he was “in position” is one of the biggest compliments you can give. It said that he was reliable because he was always where he needed to be. It was akin to telling a man you trusted him with your life.
“I know the last time we spoke, I was really fucked up. You were telling me what I needed to hear at the time and I didn’t want to listen. I said some shit…” He broke off.
“I’ve only got two questions for you.”
He waited.
“Are you clean now?”
“Hundred percent.”
“You plan on having my back and every other man’s back like you did today?”
“Every single time.”
“That’s all I need to know.” I clapped him on the shoulder. “You and I are good.”
No hard feelings. We yelled and cursed at each other, and on the rare occasion even fought?it was what brothers did?but at the end of the day, I’d walk into a burning building knowing these men stood shoulder to shoulder with me.
Chapter Five
Eric
“Did you lose another bet?” Angela’s smiling face asked.
I’d just stepped into the spin class with a few others who were now positioning themselves on their bikes. I made a beeline for Angela as she prepped the music on her phone for class.
“I don’t consider it a loss since I got a chance to see you again.” I grinned at the bashful face she made.
“I’m starting to think you have a crush on me.” She placed her hand on her hip.
“More than a crush, Angel.”
Her eyelids fluttered and the partial smile she wore expanded. I had to clamp my hands into fists to keep from grabbing her face and tasting those lips again.
“I signed up at the gym here,” I told her. It was the first thing I did when I got off my shift that morning. I’ve been working crazy hours since our date the previous week, and save for a few phone calls, we haven’t gone out again. I made time to see her today.
“That’s great! You’re in for a treat today. I just made a new playlist last night. This one’s even more intense and high energy.”
“Oh yeah? I’m looking forward to it.” I admired the view as she walked over to her bike and climbed on. She wore a pair of grey biker shorts, sports bra, and a black tank top with the words “Shut Up and Train” written on the front of it. My eyes panned down her smooth, shapely legs. I grinned when an image of those legs wrapped around my waist came to mind.
“All right! Let’s warm up those legs. You should be pedaling. Make sure your feet are secured onto the pedals. No accidents today!” her voice boomed into the microphone, interrupting my thoughts.
I did as told and began pedaling, but my mind was on memorizing every inch of her exposed pecan-colored skin. I already knew how soft her skin was, and now my body was screaming at me to feel it again, this time totally skin-to-skin.Patience,I told myself.
By the time we were on our first round of standing up on the bikes, her skin held a light sheen of moisture. I ran my tongue along my bottom lip, imagining it was her soft skin. I followed along with the instructions she threw out, standing and sitting when told, pedaling faster and harder when encouraged. And increasing the resistance when ordered to do so. Angela was a tough instructor. The workout was grueling, just the way I liked it. But the best part of the workout was when Angela stood up on her bike and leaned over, giving us a peek of her cleavage. I didn’t even care if I was being blatant. My need and desire for her were growing by the minute.
