On Duty

by A. R. Barley

  “You’ve got to be freaking kidding me.”

  “Nah. After med school getting certified as a paramedic was a cakewalk. I still help people. Maybe it’s not what I’d originally planned, but I like what I’m doing.”

  “I know you didn’t pay for this apartment on a city salary.”

  “When my grandmother died she left me the down payment. Besides, it’s only four hundred and fifty square feet. They started chopping up the building back before the financial crisis. There was a dip in the market. The developer didn’t have the money to finish all the units, so they sold for cheap. I had to do the work myself. You noticed the hot and the cold faucets are switched around in the bathroom? That’s because Connie helped me with the plumbing. It took every penny I owned, and I’ll be paying off the mortgage for the rest of my life.” He grinned. “Your rent’s going to help with that. Maybe I’ll only be paying the bank for half my life.”

  “A guy can dream.” Troy frowned. “Daniel’s still an asshole. You should have let your sisters have his balls.” He reached up to smooth away one of Alex’s flyaway curls. “Want me to light his car on fire?”

  “Yeah, because that won’t be suspicious at all.” Alex leaned into his touch. Sparks turned into a wildfire. He grinned. “It’s not necessary. I’ve got family all over this city. There are more than a dozen different restaurants where he’ll never get a table and shops that reserve the right to refuse service to him. One of my cousins sells terrariums at the Brooklyn Flea. Daniel can’t even walk through the gate.”

  Troy’s hands fell away and he took a half step backward. Less than twelve inches of space separated them, but it felt like the Grand Canyon. “Nice to know you’re taken care of.”

  “Yeah, well...” Alex took another long drag on his tea. “I told you. I know what it’s like to be betrayed by someone you thought you trusted.”

  “You’re the one on the rebound.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “You said that guys on the rebound are only interested in fucking around until they get over their broken hearts or go back to their old boyfriends.” Troy’s words didn’t leave any room for the million arguments spiraling through Alex’s head. “That’s not me. Ian and I were friends, bed buddies, but we were never lovers. Not like that. Getting kicked out was a pain in the ass, but it was a clean break. You got worked over like a kid who stumbled into a no-limits boxing ring. You’re the one with the broken heart.”

  “I wouldn’t go back to Daniel if he got down on his knees and begged me.”

  “He still broke your heart. Hell, he stomped on your dreams and ground them into dirt. You’re the one on the rebound.”

  Troy reached down to adjust his waistband. Denim shifted. His zipper strained against his bulge.

  Alex tried to look away and failed.

  Blood roared in his ears. It was so loud, he almost didn’t hear the next words out of Troy’s mouth: “If you want to fuck someone, I’m right here.”

  Oh... Oh! Alex swallowed hard. His teeth connected awkwardly with his tongue. Pain flared. “Very noble of you, but I’ve had sex since Daniel. Lots of it.”

  “I bet they were all nice guys, but none of them got your motor going.”

  “Because you know exactly what does it for me?”

  “I bet Daniel didn’t grind your engines either, not really. A guy like that is going to need to be in control, and that doesn’t work for you.”

  “I’m not into leather or whips.”

  “No, but you’d make a suck-ass soldier.”

  “You keep saying that.” What did being a soldier have to do with sex? “You ever going to tell me what it means?”

  “It means you’re a general. You don’t follow orders. You give them. You say how high and expect people to jump. You might not be into whips and chains, but you’re a bossy little top.” Troy winked. “Good for you, I was a fantastic fucking soldier.” His heels slammed together. His spine straightened. He let off a cheerful salute. “What are your orders?”

  The tea cup clattered. Hot liquid burned Alex’s fingertips as he slid off the stool.

  “Anything?” A million depraved fantasies raced through Alex’s mind. None of them were new. He’d been fantasizing about Troy forever, different positions, situations, toys.

  Of course, all that changed when he moved in and they started spending real time together. Over the last few days his interests had narrowed.

  In his dreams...

  In the shower...

  Jacking off in his bedroom late at night with only the thin wall between them...

  It was always the same.

  Something wild flickered in Troy’s green eyes. “Anything at all.”

  “Good.”

  Troy was taller, more muscular, but that didn’t stop Alex from shoving him back against the nearest wall. They fit together like two pieces in a puzzle, like they had when they were tearing up the dance floor at Moon River. Fuck. That’d been hot.

  If things had gone a little differently—and Daniel hadn’t shown up—they might have ended up together anyway, fumbling in the bedroom with the lights off.

  There’d have been alcohol and laughter and Alex wouldn’t feel like his heart had been ripped out of his chest.

  This was better. Alex might be raw inside, but he didn’t have any secrets left.

  Troy knew it all.

  And now this...

  All he needed to do was give the order. Excitement burned through his veins stronger than any whiskey.

  Troy was right. He’d make a sucky soldier.

  “I’m only going to say this once.” Alex purred against his skin. “You’re going to need to listen carefully.”

  Massive pectorals flexed against his palm, but Troy didn’t move an inch. Not even when Alex used his free hand to unzip his jeans.

  He palmed Troy’s erection. He wasn’t a size queen, but d-aaaamn.

  “Put your hands on my shoulders.”

  There was a short pause and—

  Troy did exactly as he was told. At first his touch was as light as butterfly wings, but eventually his fingers curled tight against Alex’s collarbone.

  “Good,” Alex grinned. “Leave them there.”

  “Don’t you want me to—”

  “Nope. I don’t want you to do anything.” His fingertips moved up and down, playing Troy’s dick like a musical instrument. “Your fingers hurt. Your hands cramp. You don’t do anything, or I stop.”

  Then he went to his knees.

  The wooden floors were hard through the lightweight denim of his jeans. It had been a long day and his legs twinged as he settled down into position. He tugged at Troy’s waistband.

  The angle was awkward. It took him a full minute to get the pants down over Troy’s ass. The boxer briefs underneath came down a hell of a lot faster.

  Troy’s erection bobbed up against his belly like a flagpole. An earthy scent permeated the air. Alex’s tongue darted out to moisten his bottom lip.

  “Oh, hell.” Troy squirmed, trying to get closer to Alex’s waiting mouth. His breath was audible overhead. His hands never moved from their position.

  They really shouldn’t be doing this.

  He leaned forward, nuzzling against the delicate skin of Troy’s underbelly the same way he’d leaned into his palm a few minutes earlier. This was better. He kissed his way across Troy’s hip bone, wrapped a hand around his hard cock, and swallowed him whole.

  Forget a decent blow job.

  Troy’s cock filled Alex’s mouth and pressed against his soft palate. He gagged once. Twice. His free hand swung up to steady himself against the wall. His lungs gasped for air. He shifted forward, searching for the right angle.

  “Oh, God,” Troy moaned.

  Bingo.

&n
bsp; Alex shifted back and forth on his knees, dragging Troy between his lips. His jeans were like a straitjacket around his own iron dick. The rocking motion didn’t provide much give. The tight denim held him in place, but the faster he moved the more heat and friction sparked against his erection.

  Long fingers gripped his shoulders. Troy’s moaning was incoherent. His hips were thrusting hard against Alex’s lips.

  Alex’s tongue danced against hot flesh.

  Troy gasped, shuddered, and came.

  Salty fluid filled Alex’s mouth. He swallowed fast and pulled away. His fingers dropped to fumble open his own zipper. He gave his cock one hard tug then another. With Troy’s taste fresh in his mouth and his hands still tight on his shoulders it only took him a moment to come.

  “Got any other orders?” Troy rasped.

  “Yeah.” Alex grinned up at him. “Take your clothes off. It’s time to go to bed.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Troy woke up sated and happy, awash in a sea of blankets and afterglow. This time he recognized the cream walls and framed painting. He was back in Alex’s bed and the mattress was still warm beside him. He hadn’t slept alone.

  Hell. He reached down to stroke his morning wood. If he closed his eyes, he could still feel Alex’s mouth on him, hot and tight like a Grade-A All Natural miracle.

  Absolute perfection.

  He wouldn’t change a damn thing even if he could.

  There was a banging in the other room. His hand fell to his side. He’d change one thing. In a perfect world, he wouldn’t be alone the morning after. He’d be with Alex.

  But Alex was on the rebound and didn’t think he was capable of being in a relationship.

  It was enough to make his cock wilt. All those nights spent snuggling up on the couch, watching movies and eating popcorn? Visiting Sammy in their spare time and shooting pool at Smoke & Bullets? They were already in a relationship.

  Ending up in bed together just meant they’d taken things to the next level.

  Of course, that was what he’d thought about his relationship with Ian too.

  Crash. Metal connected with wood in the other room. Troy rolled out of bed and grabbed for the nearest pair of pajama pants. They were pink and gray plaid, but they fit well enough.

  He yanked open the door and stepped into the body of the apartment.

  “Nice abs,” Connie said, stealing a bite of bacon. She was wearing a white button-down shirt over a pair of tight black leggings. There was no mistaking them for twins this morning, not with her hair bouncing away in a ponytail and a thick rim of kohl around each eye. “Nice stitches too. Alex’s work?”

  “Some of it.” Troy frowned. What the hell was she doing in the apartment? He didn’t care. She needed to hit the streets so he could talk to Alex about the night before.

  He checked for other invaders. No one else, but that didn’t stop him from eyeing the duffel bag by the front door suspiciously. The duffel definitely hadn’t been there when they’d gone to bed the night before. They would have tripped over it.

  “Good job,” Connie said, completely oblivious to his frustration. She hip-checked her uncle. “I’m going to prom next month. Want to hem my dress?”

  “Not a chance in hell.”

  “If you don’t do it then mom will.”

  Alex flinched. “She improve any since your twelfth birthday?”

  “Nope.”

  “You can drop it off the next time you stop by.”

  “Thank you, kindly.” She kissed her uncle on the cheek and stole another piece of bacon from the frying pan cooking away on top of the stove. “You two make a cute couple.”

  “We’re not dating,” Alex said.

  “Thank you,” Troy said at the exact same time. Alex could run, but he couldn’t hide. Now, if he could just switch places with the girl in the kitchen. Things would be so much easier if he could touch Alex, putting a hand on his arm and leaning into the heat of his body while they talked things through.

  Unless Alex didn’t want to talk about things.

  Connie poured herself a cup of coffee. “You go out to dinner together. You’ve got a damn movie-watching schedule worked out for the next five years. You’re making him breakfast, and he’s wearing your pajamas.”

  Holy hell. The girl’s talents were clearly underused as a high school student. They’d be underused as anything other than a KGB agent. Troy frowned. “How do you know about the movies?”

  “I had lunch last week with Aunt Sheila.”

  “So the entire family knows?” Alex asked.

  “Pretty much.” Connie sipped her coffee. “They all wanted to come by and check him out—make sure he was good enough—but Mom laid down the law. No scaring off the new guy. Yet.”

  “We’re not dating,” Alex huffed.

  “He’s still getting used to it.” Troy scratched at his chest. “Let me grab a shirt.”

  Connie grinned. “Don’t hurry on my account.”

  Uh-huh. He hustled over to the daybed, yanking out one of the deep storage drawers underneath the mattress. He didn’t have an extensive wardrobe. His underwear was neatly folded in front. Then his shirts. Then his jeans. Sweatshirts were in the back. His drab winter coat was hanging off the hook by the back door.

  He grabbed the first shirt he came across—worn navy cotton with the fire department’s emblem painted across the chest—and tugged it on over his head. The T-shirt was a remnant from his first couple years in the department. He’d been hitting the gym more regularly since then. It stretched tight around his biceps, but at least it covered his chest.

  When he turned around, Alex was sliding eggs and bacon onto plates. Ceramic mugs clinked against the granite counter. He poured out two more cups of coffee and pushed one in Troy’s direction. “There’s orange juice in the fridge if you want it.”

  “This is good.” Troy grabbed the coffee and took the seat farthest from where Connie the bacon thief was standing. He picked up a fork and stabbed at the center of the eggs, making the yolks run into the bacon, before loading up a forkful and taking a bite.

  The eggs were sunny side up, fried in butter, and dusted with parsley flakes. The bacon was thick cut with a smoked applewood finish. The first slice practically melted in his mouth.

  He moaned. “This is really good bacon. The eggs are good too. I mean, you’re a good cook.” He took another bite. “Where do you get the bacon?”

  “One of the guys I went to high school with. His family owns a butcher shop in Brooklyn.” Alex grinned. “I like to keep it in the freezer for a special treat.”

  “You guys do something to deserve a treat?” Connie asked.

  Blood rushed to Alex’s cheeks. He stuffed a forkful of eggs into his own mouth, chewed, and swallowed. “Did you come here for a reason? Or, do you get your kicks harassing me?”

  “Both.” Her ponytail danced as her head bobbed up and down. “Definitely both.”

  “Why are you here, Connie?”

  “Aunt Tasha and I were talking about Sammy,” she surprised Troy by saying. “You said he was about Donny’s size. His grandparents on the other side visited last month. They gave him a whole bunch of clothes that he hates, and Tasha let me take most of it for Sammy. Mom let me go through Liam’s closet, and Aunt Sheila gave me a new jacket from her store. It’s got a stain on the cuff, but I don’t think anyone will notice. Jenny gave me some old hiking boots.”

  “Clothes.” Troy stilled. He almost felt bad about wanting her to leave, but not bad enough to let her steal the rest of his bacon. “You brought us clothes to take to Sammy.”

  “Heck, no. All the work I did? I’m delivering them myself. I would have gone straight there, but I didn’t know what hospital he was at and Uncle Alex didn’t return my text.”

 
“You texted me at five in the morning.” Alex pointed his fork in her direction. “What were you doing up?”

  “Nothing.” Connie’s flush was almost as deep as her uncle’s.

  “Maybe I should ask Sheila.”

  “I broke up with my boyfriend, okay?” Her face scrunched up in disgust, making her look so much like her uncle it had Troy’s next bit of egg going down the wrong pipe. He coughed and sputtered. Connie ignored him. “The scuzzball was cheating on me with Cindy-Lou Piper. It made it hard to sleep, so I finished washing and folding all the donations.” She nodded toward the duffel. “Who’s ready to go?”

  “Give me five minutes to shower.” Troy stacked his bacon strips up into a tower and shoved them in his mouth. “We can get something for Sammy on the way.”

  Alex stole his niece’s empty coffee mug and put it in the dishwasher. “Tell me about the scuzzball.”

  “He was a Gemini.”

  They both sighed like that actually meant something.

  Troy went to hop in the shower. The hot water was still pounding down across his back a few minutes later when the door to the bathroom popped open. “Goddamn it.” He grabbed wildly for his towel. “Alex?”

  “Don’t worry, big guy.” Alex chuckled. “I sent Connie over to the diner to put in a takeout order for Sammy. I figured you’d want to talk.”

  “I could do the strong silent thing if you want.”

  Clothes dropped to the ground with a swish-swish. The shower curtain rattled open. Bare feet hit the shower’s tile floor. A damp head came to rest against Troy’s back. “I don’t think strong and silent’s really your type.”

  He wasn’t a touchy-feely kind of guy, at least he’d never thought of himself that way before. “Feelings are for assholes,” Ian’s voice echoed.

  But Ian was a jerk, and Alex hadn’t thought twice before spilling his guts the night before.

  He grabbed for the shampoo bottle, squirting out a glop into his head and soaping up before turning to face Alex straight on. Damn, he was gorgeous with his pale hair slicked back and his skin damp from the steam.