Page 79 of Jump

“So very considerate,” I drawl. “What, with the pushing me around and getting jealous at dinner in front of every single person we know.”

“Don’t entertain other fools, and we won’t have this problem.” He nips my jaw, and laughs when I squeal in surprise. “Seriously, though… Axel’s gonna lose his shit when we’re back on shift.”

“Perhaps.” I push up to my elbows with a grunt once I’ve summoned an iota of strength, and tap his shoulder to get him moving. “But that’s your problem. Now let’s go home.”

“Mm, home…” A pleasure-filled rumble rolls along his throat as he pulls away and kneels to drag my jeans back up my legs.

Never mind the semen dribbling along my thighs. Forget the broad shoulders between my legs. The gentle kiss he presses to the side of my knee.

“I like that we already share a home.” Straightening out, he takes my hands and brings me to my feet to finish dressing me. “Saves me from having to ask you to move in with me and stop freaking out about how official that seems.”

“Aw. Considerate to my comfort and my feelings,” I tease. “You’re a real catch, Matteo Ruiz.”

“Yeah, I am.” He yanks my jeans up to cover my ass and fixes the button, all in the dark. Then he works on his own clothes, finishing in a matter of seconds. “Let’s go home. I’m on shift at seven tomorrow morning, and I kinda wanna spend my time between now and then with you.”

“You are with me.” My knees shake as he takes my hand and steps away from the machine that I still, even after having sex on it, haven’t seen. “We’re together right now.”

“But I want our safe space.” He drops my hand and tugs me under his arm instead, guiding us toward the tiniest sliver of light across the room—too small to illuminate the space, but big enough to stand out in the oppressive darkness. When he slides the door open, the night sky that greets us feels like daylight. “Home is where we can just be us.” He leads me to his truck and helps me up through his door, following right behind as I scoot across.

My core hums from use, slick with our combined passion, and sensitive when I sit down and fix my seatbelt.

“Everything’s gonna work out for us.” He shoves his key into the ignition and starts the truck so it rumbles in the frozen night air, and when the warmth from the inside of the mill leaves my bones and an icy shiver overtakes me, he turns up the heater and aims all the vents my way. “I’m gonna make damn sure we’re always this happy.”

Ruiz

PROMISES NOT HONORED

I walk toward the firehouse the next morning with my duffel bag slung over my shoulder and across my chest, and my hands tucked in my pockets. My head is down, and my eyes are on my boots as I trudge through the thin layer of snow coating the driveway.

My ears sting from the cold, and my breath comes out on a white fog, but life is good, really. Life is fucking fantastic. And before I met Vivian, I wasn’t sure it ever would feel that way again.

So I wander with a smile on my face and memories of our night together replaying in my mind.

“You!” Axel skids to a stop at the bay doors and thrusts a finger in my direction, like he thinks a little pointing will intimidate me. “What the fuck?”

“That’s your lieutenant,” a familiar voice cuts in.

Axel and I both look up as Chief Rosa strolls to the doorway inside the bays that lead into the office, and rests his shoulder against the doorframe.

Nixon lifts his chin. “Respect the rank, kid. Especially when you’re in this house.”

“What the fuck… Lieutenant Ruiz,” Feeney grits out between clenched teeth. “You have a lot of explaining to do.”

“Do I?” I amble past him and into the firehouse, but I lift my chin for the chief and chuckle under my breath. News of last night’s events will have traveled already. That’s the beauty of small towns and big noses. “Chief. How’s it going?”

“Heard you had a run-in with Detective Sluts-a-Lot.” He turns on his heels and lazily follows as I meander deeper inside the station—my home for the next twenty-four hours. “You aren’t the first. Pretty sure he gets off on flirting with other dudes’ ladies.”

“I didn’t hit him, if that’s what you mean.” I slide open the glass door to my office and toss my bag to the floor just inside. “Which required herculean restraint, to be honest.” Standing upright again, I cross my arms, since it’s still a little chilly, even indoors. “You know Drake?”

“Mm. Had a run-in of my own once.” He clears his throat and works to mask his words, if only fractionally. “Hit him. He tried to charm my girl.”

“Seems to be his modus operandi,” I snort. “It’s almost like he doesn’t mind getting smacked around, if he gets to fuck with people in the process.”

“He’s a sadist,” Axel asserts, like he’s part of our friendly chatter. “Probably gets off on the power. Now what the fuck is up with you and Viv… Lieutenant?”

“We live together. Remember? Hers was the apartment you kicked me to when you wanted me out of your place.”

“Yeah, I said you could rent her spare room. I didn’t say you could,” he opens his eyes comically wide, “rent her spare room.”

---