Dash’s cheeks turned pink. “I wasn’t implying anything.”
“Oh, no,” Emerson murmured, sneaking a little closer. “Youwere.”
Dash rolled his eyes. Emerson usually hated when someone did that, but for some reason he found Dash’s bad habit rather charming. He did it more when he was flustered, it seemed.
Emerson liked Dash flustered.
“You have questions? I’ve got answers. I’m a fraction over seven feet and about two-seventy-five of solid muscle. I love all kinds of music, but hard rock is my go-to. I like to fish, read, watch porn, and masturbate way too often. My favorite color is…” He grinned, closing the gap between them and staring down into Dash’s eyes.“Gray.Especially when there’s little flecks of blue in there, too.”
Dash’s cheeks grew redder.
“And Ireallylike it when you blush.”
“I’m not blushing,” Dash stated, lifting his chin arrogantly.
“Agree to disagree,” Emerson said.
Dash stared at his lips, looking awfully damned thirsty.
Emerson leaned in to quench that.
Before he landed one, Dash slipped away and leaned his bottom against the kitchen counter.
Emerson scowled. He crossed to the built-in couch. Glancing over a shoulder, he caught Dash lifting a hand to touch his cheek. To check the warmth?
Chuckling, Emerson took a seat, setting his water on the ledge beside him. He allowed his gaze to roam up and down Dash’s body before settling on those gray eyes he enjoyed so much. “You can sit, if you want.” He patted a spot beside him. “Or you’re welcome to use my lap again.”
“I’m good,” Dash said, taking another long sip of water.
Emerson eyed him. He was too far away. He fought the urge to drag Dash closer. Instead, he put those socks on to give his hands something else to do.
“To answer your question, I used to sleep at the fire station three days on, four days off, three days on—and so on. It seemedstupid to pay for an apartment when I’d only use it half the time. Especially when I had my uncle’s old boat readily available for a few nights of sleep. Now that I’m in Investigations, there’s no more bunk life for me.” He took another swig of water, glancing around. The boat was supposed to have been a short-term hideaway, not a home. “Maybe it’s time to consider getting an actual place. Somewhere with a big, giant bed where I canreallyspread out.” He sighed. “Oh gods, that would beamazing.”He smiled. “Though close quarters have their merit, too.”
Dash’s cheeks darkened again. “I wasn’t sure if we’d both fit in your bed.”
Emerson grinned. “We fitjust fine.”
Dash’s cheeks grew even redder. Emerson liked seeing him that way. The other cheeks down below would be enjoyable in the same shade.
Another time.
“Though, to be honest, I don’t know if I’m where I’m supposed to be. It might be premature to look for another place. I might end up back at another station.”
Dash frowned. “You don’t like working with Harrison?”
Emerson shrugged. “It was great when we had an arsonist to hunt down. It’s been a bit…boringever since.”
“The only man in the province who’s upset the arsonist was caught.”
“It’s not that,” Emerson said. “Charles needed to be stopped and held accountable. But now there’s not much to do. I’m used to being in the thick of things, fighting fires and helping people. I feel pretty useless these days.”
“You’re not useless. You and your brother caught Charles.”
“I came in at the tail end of it and got more credit than I deserved. It was all Harry.”
“So, you want to go back to three days on, four days off? Long shifts and dangerous work?”
“I don’t know,” Emerson said. “It’s hard on the body and the mind to work those kinds of shifts, but what else can I do? I went straight into the Academy at seventeen. I’ve done nothing else for the last seventeen years since but fight fires. Minus the last few months, of course.”
