Page 92 of Packed in the Fire house

Walker scooped him up gently, and Luka didn’t even stir. He handled him with such care as he exited the room, rubbing his back and humming lightly.

It took a moment for me to move. I had been sitting in the same position for so long, my legs had gone numb. As soon as the feeling returned, I padded into the kitchen, where Rune was unpacking the groceries. He was wearing his classic LAFD T-shirt that showed off just how muscular he was, jeans, and a backward baseball cap. I would bet my final chocolate chip cookie that was also a LAFD baseball cap.

“This looks like enough food to feed an army. I know there’s a lot of us, but this feels excessive.”

Rune chuckled as Blaze helped unpack. “Meal prep. One of the guys at Station Six had a nasty fall on a job, and he's got a lotof kids. His poor wife is stressed, looking after her husband and the babies. So, I decided to prep a few meals for them. It’s the least I could do.”

“You just got off a twenty-four-hour shift.” I frowned. It was so sweet that he wanted to help, and my heart swelled with pride at his actions, but I was also concerned by his lack of sleep.

Technically, Rune and Blaze weren’t on duty for the next day or so. The guys never really left the station for that long, though, or at least they hadn’t since I joined. Soon enough, we would be looking at moving into the new pack house Walker had procured.

There was probably food at their old apartment growing their own life forms, given how much they’d neglected that place.

Rune simply shrugged. “It should only take me a few hours. I would have help, but the others are terrible at cooking.”

“In that case, I guess I better help.” I smiled, taking my ponytail holder off my wrist and throwing my hair into a messy bun so it was out of my face.

“You don’t need to do that, Cher, it’s late,” he said, pulling out a pack of chicken thighs.

“It will take half the time if we do it together,” I insisted. “I had a long nap today, and you know damn well I'm a far better assistant than Blaze.”

From the corner of the kitchen, Blaze chuckled. “I'm not even going to try and defend myself.”

Rune threw a warm smile my way that made my insides tingle. “In that case, I would appreciate the help, Cher.”

Two hours later, we already had six meals prepped and had a seventh going.

“I think we should start on the cheese sauce for the mac and cheese next,” I murmured as I closed the oven door. The entire room smelled like freshly baked bread and graham crackers.

Rune leaned against the counter, smiling at me. “Yeah, that sounds like a good plan.”

I stretched, standing up on my tiptoes, not missing the way Rune’s eyes narrowed in on the sliver of skin that was exposed on my stomach as I did so.

“You’re too sweet, doing all this, you know?” I said as I padded over to him, sliding an arm around his waist.

Wrapping his arms around me, enveloping me in that sweet cracker scent, he kissed the top of my head.

“It’s the least I can do. A fellow firefighter is a brother to me.”

I gazed up at him, memorizing every line of his face, the way the corners of his eyes crinkled as he smiled, how his facial hair had a few red strands dotted throughout.

“Family… it’s a lovely thing, isn’t it?” I hummed thoughtfully.

“It is.”

As I stood on my tiptoes, he leaned down, his lips meeting mine. The taste of him made my insides turn to goo. One of his large hands cupped the side of my head, the other on my hip. He dwarfed me, but instead of feeling intimidated, I felt insanely safe.

Pushed together, I could feel every ridge of his overly muscular body—he could have been part Hulk. Not a single line of his body was soft.

Including his cock.

Rune pulled away, a grimace on his face.

“Am I that bad a kisser?” I laughed. I knew it was bullshit because hisveryhard cock was pressing into my abdomen.

The look Rune gave me could only be described as pained. “It’s not that! Not at all! I want to take this slow…”

I snorted, unable to stop the giggles. “Rune, we live together, I am bonded to your pack mate, you’ve claimed my son as your own, Walker just purchased that insanely large house for us… I hate to break it to you, but I think we are past going slow.”

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