Page 3 of Not the Punk

Then Kay’s guitar screeched, loud and unapologetic. I added my part, and the music circled around us, chasing each other note for note. We were laying it down like our souls were flying from the strings and mingling with each note.

Chapter two

Colten Alone in LA

I jumped off the truck and stripped out of my turnout gear. I’m sure it had saved my life on many occasions, it was hot as hell, and I’d probably lost five or six pounds in water weight on this last call.

“I’m getting that chili going. I’m fucking starving.” Chuck hung his helmet on the hook above his locker space.

“No lie.” I could probably eat a horse and drink a river. All of this was so much harder without Saxon here to help, both at our calls and to commiserate afterward. I missed the hell out of my friend. We’d been partners forever. We were friends before we worked together to become firefighters, and nothing had been better than getting stationed in the same house. For years we were inseparable. We even tag-teamed a Little together. We did everything together.

Until he landed himself a pair of Littles that he wasn’t sharing with anyone.

I didn’t hate him for it, and actually, I couldn’t blame him. Hell, we were so much alike. We were both such caretakers. No wonder we both wanted Littles. But I would settle for only one. What must it be like to have two? I mentally shook myself, unable to even imagine something like that. It was hard enough to think about one. I wasn’t judging. If it made Saxon happy, that was all I cared about. Up until he met them, I hadn’t cared about relationships, happy to take on a Little part-time or even one time. I certainly hadn’t had anything long-term. But seeing them together and hearing Saxon talk about them had slowly started changing my mind on the matter.

It only intensified when I met Saxon’s Littles’ friend, Joe. Actually, he was Kay’s bandmate. There had been a spark between us that I couldn’t deny, but I sure as hell didn’t think he’d want someone taking care of him like that. No way was he a Little or even a Boy of any kind. He was more like a Daddy, if anything. He was rough and rugged and a cool as fuck musician. His hair was long and wild, and his stride was sexy as fuck. Plus, he didn’t play his guitar—he made it wail.

I was off shift soon, and then I’d really be missing Saxon when I had nothing else to do. I texted my friend to see what was going on with him.

Silly Little Kay. I could take time off to go. Hell, I wouldn’t miss a chance to visit my friend, and if I’m able to hang out with Joe some, that would be even better.

Chapter three

Joe at the BBQ

We’d finished recording, and now the album was with Cat and Wolf in post-production, so Kay was throwing a pre-tour party at his house. It was like a family barbeque, and I was excited to be there. What the fuck else was I going to do anyway? I didn’t even know anyone in Miami except the bands, both Bramble Punk and Soul Shred, our opening band, and they were all here. Most of them were outside, but a few lingered in the kitchen. Soul Shred’s lead singer, Drake, had a boyfriend who was a Little, and he was playing a game with Don in the living room. Apparently, he needed more supervision than Saxon’s Boys.

I helped bring food out to the back, handing over a tray of meat to Saxon who was slapping it all on the grill. As I headed back to the kitchen, my phone pinged. It was from my fucked-up ex-boyfriend. Mother fucker.

I promptly blocked the email. “Block, block, block. Asshole.”

“Hey, what’s up? You okay?” Kay bumped his shoulder against mine.

“Yeah, it’s nothing, just spam.” I shook my phone at him for good measure.

“Yeah, sucks, but guess what?”

“What?”

Kay whispered, “Colten’s coming. He’ll be here any minute.”

“What? Why didn’t you tell me?” How could he blindside me like that? I hadn’t prepared. My hair was a fucking mess. Was my shirt even clean?

“Shh…it was a surprise for Daddy but also for you.” He winked at me, and I couldn’t be mad.

“Rascal.”

“I know you like him.” He shrugged. “I don’t blame you. I love my hot fireman.”

“He’s not mine.” I could only wish. Maybe I could at least get a one-night stand out of him. What I wouldn’t give to have that sexy fireman rail me against the wall?

“Could be.”

I didn’t think so. Maybe the old one-and-done. But if Colten was anything like Saxon, which he seemed to be, then he was a Daddy and would want someone more like Kay and Don. That wasn’t me. Was it?

Chapter four

Colten at BBQ