Page 36 of Memories with Fire

Even Luke. While I’ve still deemed him dangerous territory, we’ve settled into this weird friendship, and I don’t think either of us knows what to do to get to the other side. At least I don’t. Maybe there isn’t another side. Maybe this is it.

I was a little surprised that the next shift we were on, he kept his distance and gave me space, but then I suppose I never told him differently. Just because we were forced to work together at Tree Toppers didn’t change what I’d said, and I chalked it up to him trying to respect that. To keep those boundaries between us that I had erected.

And still wanted.

Right?

It would be the smart move. And by keeping me at arm’s length, he’s made it easy. I don’t recall the last time we were in a room, or a hallway, alone together. Which is what I asked for—so why the hell do I find myself trying to include him somehow every time we’re all together in the station?

I have an entire shift ahead of me to analyze it. For now, Quinn and I decided to come in early and get in a good, uninterrupted workout. There’s a gym inside the firehouse, and I sit on a bench, warmed up and ready to conquer a fresh set on the bench press, but I need her assistance. I think I can hit a new personal record, but I won’t try without her spotting me, just in case I can’t do it.

Quinn, unfortunately, has been in the washroom the last ten minutes, and I’m starting to wonder if she got lost or found some new firefighter from another shift to make out with.

Antsy to get this going, I get up from the bench and head to the door, pulling it open just as someone is pushing through it. Not expecting it, I stumble backwards with a yip of surprise, but then a strong arm is around my waist, stopping most of my momentum. Grabbing onto a set of biceps, my fingers curl into flesh as we both take a couple of steps before we’re steady on our feet.

When we stop, I find green-blue eyes staring down at me, a grin forming on familiar lips that have dimples popping on either side of his face.

“Mornin’,” Luke drawls in a slow, easy manner that brings out his Texan accent. There are times when it’s more pronounced than others, and this is one of them. It’s enough to throw my stomach for a loop as it swoops like I’m on a roller coaster.

I curse the breathiness in my voice when I reply, “Hi.”

“You all finished for the day?” he asks, glancing over my shoulder to the empty gym.

Neither of us has removed our hands from the other. I do now, taking a step back so his arm drops from around my waist where it was leaving a warm imprint. Luke’s emotional withdrawal from me the past few shifts feels nonexistent this morning, and I suck in a deep breath to calm this sudden nervous energy inside of me.

“No, I…” I bite down on my lip and look over his shoulder, peering through the window beside the door to see the hallway deserted. Quinn is nowhere in sight. “I, uhm, I was actually going to go look for Quinn.” I bring my eyes back to find him watching me intently. “I need a spotter.”

Those damn dimples. They deepen as his smile spreads wider. The man from Tree Toppers is back. “I can spot you.”

I swallow roughly, my mouth dry. “Okay. Sure. That would be great.”

Jitters are suddenly skittering through my body, making my hands shaky and my knees wobbly. For weeks we haven’t been alone, and now, when I want to lift a bar heavier than I’ve ever lifted, with him standing over me, he decides it’s a great idea.

Turning towards the bench where the rack is already loaded, I feel his eyes on my backside. Given that we’re all a big family, no one ever checks me out in here, but I know his eyes are taking in the black shorts that cling to thighs too big, and an ass that I hope is semi covered by my dark blue Santa Rosé fire t-shirt.

Warmth spreads from within, starting in my chest and blooming outwards. Heat creeps into my cheeks when I sit down and then lay back on the bench as he comes around behind it. Unable to take my eyes off him, I watch him set his water bottle on the ground, and then get situated near my head.

Fuck.

My eyes drift from his face, down the length of his hard, muscular body, to his shorts, and I realize just how close he is to me. How close his crotch is to me. Which means his dick is right there. A dick that I remember very well, despite all the years between it and me.

In my limited—non-existent—experience back then, it was incredible. To this day, I’ve never had anything like it. But I suppose that’s because I’ve never had a connection with someone the way I did with Luke. He was so caring, concerned mostly for me, making sure it was me who was okay, furthering the bond between us. And as time went on, it only got better as we both learned what the other liked.

By the end of the summer, Luke had taken me in so many different ways, in so many different places, since we were both living with family. It makes me wonder what he would be like as a lover now, with more years of experience under his belt, and in a place where interruptions weren’t a worry.

“Hailey,” he says, his voice tight. My eyes snap to his face, and I see he’s gritting his teeth, his face pained. “You gonna lift that bar anytime soon, or just keep staring?”

He doesn’t need to add what I was gawking at. We both know. I feel my entire body flush anew, but before I can feel too embarrassed, a voice comes from the door.

“Jesus Christ. You two look like you’re primed for a porno,” Quinn says. We both look over at her, and a fresh wave of mortification washes through me. There isn’t time to respond to her before she’s grabbing at her stomach and shaking her head. “Nope. Thought I was okay, but I’m not. Gotta go.” Then she’s gone, presumably running back to the toilets.

Looking back to Luke, his face this time, I grimace. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to… you know… look.”

The pained expression is gone, but I’m pretty sure he’s a little red in the cheeks as he grins at me. “Well, I know how remarkable it is to look at, so I’ll forgive you. Now lift the bar.” Taking a second, he looks at the plates on it and gives an impressed nod. “One-thirty-five. Nice.”

It’s nothing compared to what he can bench, or what Quinn can do, but it’s great for me.

“I’ve never benched this heavy before, and I want to do four reps,” I explain. “Hence the spotter.”

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