Page 96 of Sunshine

The space was made up of a huge sectional couch in the shape of an L and with more couches to the side. A big TV stretched across one wall, and there were several gaming systems set up. The couches were covered in a cozy blue flannel fabric, and the same hardwood linoleum continued out from the kitchen.

The whole effect was surprisingly homey, even with all the ventilation that was included both to make sure the harmful smoke never made its way from the apparatus bay and laundry room, and also to make sure no one got too squirrely from other people’s scents. One of the many duties we had when we weren’t on a call was making sure everything stayed clean.

“This looks like a college dorm,” Sunshine said, tucking the same stray hair. She seemed a bit nervous, and I wondered if it was the unfamiliar environment or if there was something else on her mind.

“You’re right. And you’ll think it even more true when you check out the bedrooms.” I led her further down the hallway, to the bedrooms. Most of the doors were closed, which I explained meant that crew members were catching some sleep. I showed her into one with an open door. It was set up in a classic dorm style with two beds one on either side of a light wooden dresser, using the same blue flannel pattern.

“Just like sleep away camp,” Sunshine laughed. “This is so cozy.”

“Very much,” I said, even if it was only half true. I didn’t mind sleeping at the fire station, but it wasn’t the same as in my own bed, with my alphas and beta.

Sunshine insisted she was interested in every part of the station, so I showed her the personal laundry room, and thenback outside to the small building we housed our equipment, heavy turnout gear, and the laundry room attached for use after attending a fire.

There had been multiple studies about the long-term effects of breathing in the residue smoke on our protective equipment, so when the fire department decided they had to build a new station, they’d made it as state of the art as they could.

“And last, but not least…” I walked to the back of the living quarters. I almost didn’t want to go in, because Chloe had said the rest of the crew were in there, and they’d want to stop and talk to Sunshine. They were like a second family, but I wanted to be selfish and spend all my time with Sunshine while she was here.

I opened the door and walked inside. Chuck and Bill were lifting weights and Roger was on the exercise bike.

“Food’s here,” I announced.

Bill nodded. “Thanks, man.”

Chuck gave me the stink eye. “I see you brought your beta.”

“I did.”

Bill rolled his eyes at Chuck. “And what was the name of the firebunny you had here last week, when you were trying to score brownie points with her?”

Chuck huffed, and I left the gym before we could get pulled into a pointless conversation.

“What’s a ‘firebunny’?” Sunshine asked as we walked back inside.

At her question, heat zipped through me at the thought of having my beta here. I could show her what a firebunny was, just by letting her strip me out of my uniform. I could make my bed smell like her, so tonight I’d sleep with her scent all over me.

I shot that down as a bad idea. There was no guaranteeing I wouldn’t get a call between now and sleeping time, and it was rude to scent mark beds.

I could still steal some of her scent. I pressed her against the wall. “Someone who finds this whole firefighting thing sexy. A turn on.”

“Oh.” She sighed against me, her whole body melting into mine. I wasn’t trying to start anything serious, but she was making it tempting. Other people had had sex in the beds, careful to clear the space out of scent after they were done, but I’d never been tempted. I had to be extra careful with my omega pheromones and I’d never be able to risk that.

I nuzzled into her neck and she whimpered. “Does that sound familiar at all?”

“You know it does,” she breathed. “You’re so sexy in your uniform.”

My skin prickled, feeling too tight, while my instincts were screaming to drag her back to my bed. If I did, I could be inside her in minutes, coating myself with her scent.

I dragged my mouth over hers, kissing her hard like I could seal our bodies together. She tasted sweet, like honey and citrus, and the freshness of her scent rose up to mingle with mine, the aroma reminiscent of a day at the beach.

I ran my hands down her sides, and I could feel her hips flex against me as I ground my pelvis into her. I wanted her. More than that, I craved her. Every fiber, every cell called out for her.

It had only been three weeks since we’d started dating, but I wanted this beta to be mine.Mine mine mine, the voice in my head chanted. I wanted my alphas to bite her, right now.

The outside door opened, and I jumped. I gave Sunshine a sheepish look. Her eyes were glazed over and her lips were swollen.

“Jeez, Kahele, your perfume is all over the place.” Chuck snapped. “We just cleaned this morning.”

“It’s fine,” Bill said, walking past me and Sunshine to the hallway leading to the kitchen. “No worse than the last time Chloe brought her alpha around.”

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