Immediately aware of the tightness in Fallon’s shoulders, I strode to the top of the bed and laid my palm on the back of his neck, massaging.
Dr. O’Halloran came in holding the screen they’d been talking about while the firefighters introduced themselves, but I wasn’t interested in their names, only if they knew how to do their job. I watched someone cut a hole in a thick disposable white pad, and I knew they were going to slip Fallon’s cock through it.
The introductions got to the boss. “I’m Colin Brickwood, but you can call me Brick. Everyone else does.” He gave Fallon that smile that resembled a small smirk, which I thought was unintentional.
The old Fallon would’ve flirted, maybe even made a joke about Brick wanting to see his cock, but this Fallon merely held his hand out to Vail, who quickly slid his fingers between Fallon’s.
Vail’s gaze jumped between the firefighters, as if he wasn’t certain which one he was supposed to be looking at, which might have been amusing if the situation wasn’t so shite. Aspen would kill me when he got home, I was sure of it.
“We’re going to explain this as gently as we can, all right? We don’t want to scare you.” Brick’s voice lowered into a calming tone that I had to commend him for because it seemed to work. Fallon took slow, even breaths. Brick pointed at the screen in Dr. O’Halloran’s hands. “We’re going to put this over your waist. If there’s any sparks, it’ll protect your body. Though we’re not expecting many because the ring is small and we’re doing this very slowly. The lube we use might be cold, so expect it. This’ll be messy.”
Fallon paled as he glanced at me, and I moved on an impulse, grabbing his other hand and threading my fingers with his. I raised his hand to my mouth and laid a kiss on his knuckles.
“You can’t move, buddy. Like I said, we’re doing this slowly. Bay—” He waved at his sister. “—has done this before. I get that you’re probably feeling like hell, but we’re here to get you out of it with the promise you’ll never use a titanium cock ring again.”
“Never again,” Fallon blurted immediately, his cheeks flushing a deep crimson. “Never ever.” He ran his finger in anXover his heart.
“Silicone is best,” one of the firefighters behind Brick said. He was shorter than his boss, but not by much, and his complexion was a deep bronze. He had chestnut curls and a genuine kindness to his face. Overall, he reminded me of Dwayne Johnson.
Fallon chuckled weakly. “I’ll remember that next time.”
“Hey, as long as thereisa next time,” Brick said, winking. “Because, kid, it’s fun if you do it right.”
They managed to get Fallon laughing harder, and I appreciated that they weren’t making this awkward for him. With the help of Dr. O’Halloran, they got the screen erected—poor choice of words?—with two poles on either side of Fallon’s hips and a strong sheet of a thick material hanging over his waist.
Fallon’s eyes fluttered closed, and I gripped his hand tighter. What would Aspen do? It didn’t matter. I wasn’t him, and I wasn’t Cillian. I was Rowen Shaughnessy. I rested my forehead against Fallon’s temple. “I never thought I would think someone was as beautiful as Vail, but ye are, ye know?”
Fallon tilted his head, listening.
“When we get through this together, I’ll take ye somewhere I’ve only taken Vail. Not even Cillian or Aspen know about it.”
I hadn’t anticipated taking anyonebutVail to the nice, quiet spot along the beach that barely anyone visited. It was a secluded cove, surrounded by carved-out land that eroded from years of crashing waves at high tide. I enjoyed the inlet because no one ever visited but me, far as I knew, and now Vail, and it gave the feeling that we were alone in the big world surrounding us. Any noise that echoed from the roads or houses was blocked. It was calm. Peaceful. It helped Vail’s mind settle, too, and every time I went on a run with him, we stopped there for half an hour to sit in silence, letting his brain enjoy the minimal distractions.
“Where?” he asked, focusing on me.
Vail smiled over Fallon’s shoulder. “You’ll really like it, Fal. It’s quiet, and if you want, we could have sex there when it’s warmer.”
I snorted, and Vail’s grin widened. He shrugged apologetically. We hadn’t gotten to that point, but I’d never really been into exploring the idea, either. I didn’t want sand in my crack, though I was sure Fallon wouldn’t mind.
“Fuck yeah, I’m in.” Fallon’s mouth stretched wide.
“Tell him about it, Vail,” I murmured, glancing at the firefighters out of the corner of my eye. They were working hard, and Fallon didn’t seem to notice that they’d started to use the saw—or maybe he was ignoring the high-pitched whir. The loudness seemed to fade into the background for him as Vail leaned in and began to whisper in his ear.
Brick gave me a wink, and I took that confidence and ran with it. I trusted the fire crew, and if they said they’d done this before, I was sure they had. Bay was focused. At some point she’d put on a helmet and the visor was down, protecting her eyes from sparks, though I didn’t see any from where I stood.
Vail seemed to understand what I was doing because whatever he was telling Fallon about the secluded cove we enjoyed went on for a long time. I wouldn’t’ve been surprised if he’d jumped to another sexy topic because Fallon moaned, and Brick actuallydidsmirk this time, which meant Fallon’s cock might’ve also reacted to Vail’s little whisperings.
A strange sensation swelled in my chest, a bitterness at seeing Brick and Bay and the other firefighters staring down at Fallon’s cock. I was certain they’d seen many cocks, and the same as with doctors, it was just another one to add to the list, but I still didn’t like it, and that wasn’t something I wanted to think about, either. Not liking them peeking meant I was jealous.
Being jealous meant I wasfeelingemotions I shouldn’t.
“Nearly there,” Bay said, loud enough to hear her over the saw. “Just a tad more.”
I held my breath.
“And—” Bay made a triumphant sound. “—done!”
It all happened so fast.
