Page 86 of From the Ashes
“Game room.”
“Walker?” Phoenix’s raspy voice rings out a second later and I jump to my feet.Stay cool. Stay cool.
“In here, Phoe.” He turns the corner and I’m so relieved to see him I almost miss the fact that his entire face is covered in soot, and the whites of his eyes are red from smoke irritation. He still has on his steel-toed boots and flame resistant, uniform pants. On his top half he’s wearing a station t-shirt and his suspenders. If he didn’t look like he could fall over from exhaustion at any second, I’d strip him right here and ride his cock until I was as dirty as he is. Instead, I find my voice and try to offer an apology. “I’m really sorry for showing up like thi?—”
I don’t get to finish my sentence before his arms are around my torso, lifting me off the ground. My legs wrap around his waist as my arms fly around his neck, and his lips find mine. I guess I don’t have to worry about figuring out how to act because Phoenix clearly doesn’t care if these guys know he’s dating a man.
One of his dirty hands moves to my ass as his tongue dives deeper into my mouth while one ofmyhands threads itself in his sweaty hair, thankful to have him safe in my arms. Phoenix is still making love to my bottom lip when someone else enters the room and lets out a low whistle.
“Damn,Harding, if that’s how you kiss, I got next.” The man chuckles, causing a possessive growl to rip from my throat.
My boyfriend is fucking stunning. I know it. This guy knows it. Everyone knows it. But he’smine,and I don’t plan on that ever changing.
Before I can say anything, Phoenix pulls his mouth away from mine and whispers, “Down, baby. I’m all yours. I’ve only ever been yours. That’s just Dixon’s way of telling me he’s cool with it.”
Then he lets me slide slowly down his body until my feet return to the floor and he turns around to face the guy.
“Dixon, I’ve got standards, and unless your face looks like this one right here, I’m not getting anywhere near it.”
Dixon’s eyes swing to me, paying extra attention to my face like he’s trying to figure out what makes me so special, and then he laughs. “Christ, what’d you guys do? Meet on an app for models?”
Phoenix takes my hand and walks over to the guy.
“Not quite. Dixon, this is my boyfriend, Walker DeVille. Walker, Frank Dixon.”
I shake hands with Frank, but I can’t stop staring at Phoenix. It’s the first time he’s introduced me as his boyfriend to someone outside of Hudson, Knox, and Jake, and fuck it feels good.
“Nice to meet you,” I say politely, finally making eye contact with the man.
“You too. Hey! Aren’t you the guy who got injured at the rodeo this year?” he asks.
“One and the same,” I reply, holding up my wrist in its brace, wishing he’d leave us alone so I can crawl onto Phoenix’s lap.
“DeVille…DeV…holy shit! You’re the kid who took Phoe’s title all those years ago.”
Phoenix and I share a look, but I stay quiet, choosing to let Phoenix answer however he wants.
With a clenched jaw, he says, “Didn’t know you paid attention to the circuit, Frank.”
“I don’t, but you were a helluva rider, Phoenix. It’s hard not to know your story whether a person’s a fan of the rodeo or not.”
“Thanks, I think,” Phoenix replies.
“Sure thing. Nice to meet you, Walker and uh, Phoenix, feel free to bring him around any time you want.” The man winks at Phoenix which makes Phoenix grip me tighter.
“Stop hitting on my boyfriend,” Phoenix grits out before muttering under his breath. “Geez, this must be how Jake feels. Mental note, I’m never saying shit about Dylan’s body ever again.”
This makes me pause and poke Phoenix in the side. “And what exactly do you say about his body?” I tease.
Before Phoenix can answer me, another guy comes over to Phoenix, his face still black with soot and streaked with sweat, just like Phoe’s. He doesn’t even glance my way when he pulls Phoenix into a hug.
“Just heard from Langley’s wife. He’s gonna make it. His lungs are a mess and he has to have reconstructive surgery on his right leg, but he’s alive thanks to you.”
“And Knox,” Phoenix replies automatically. “We both would’ve been dead if it hadn’t been for Knox.”
I try to hold it in until we’re left alone again, but the way tonight is going, that may never happen and the words erupt from my body.
“Excuseme? You almost fuckingdiedtonight and I’m just now hearing about it?”
