Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 93096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 465(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 465(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
“Thanks. I meant more... I didn’t take advantage?” That was the other question that had plagued him the past two days. He wasn’t exactly sure what Tucker’s boundaries were. Kissing him had been like pounding shots, a heady burn that pushed out good sense. “I’d hate to push you into something.”
“You didn’t push.” Tucker frowned as he navigated a rocky outcropping. The terrain was getting steeper, not unlike this conversation. “I was right there with you.”
“I noticed.” And how. Tucker’s active participation and needy sounds had been on constant replay in Luis’s overheated thoughts all weekend. “I more meant...”
“The demisexual thing?”
“Yeah.” Luis had had his share of boyfriends and casual partners, but no one who’d identified as demi or ace. He wanted to be careful to not misstep or misread Tucker’s signals.
“It’s...hard to explain.” Adjusting his backpack, Tucker surveyed the terrain, lowering his voice despite their isolation. “It’s not that I dislike sex at all, but I can go long stretches without it. Then along comes someone I connect with, and it’s like a furnace turning on. It’s all about deep, emotional connection for me, I guess. And there’s your compliment for you. Not saying that you’ve got like some sort of magic touch, but there’s...something there.”
“Yeah, there is.” Luis couldn’t deny it, same as he couldn’t deny the thrill coursing through him at Tucker’s words. He liked being different for him. Special. And there was a connection, one that seemed to go beyond their shared past even. He’d be attracted to Tucker even if they didn’t have that—he was competent and funny and sexy as fuck. He was Luis’s type and the past simply underscored that fact. “But I’d be lying if I didn’t admit it would be easier if there weren’t.”
“Amen to that.” Tucker nimbly climbed past more rocks.
The rugged terrain reminded Luis of some of the more challenging wildfires he’d been a part of, the delicate balance between wanting to reach a spot quickly and not wanting to lose his footing. And it was similar to how he felt about Tucker right then too.
“We probably should avoid more...entanglements. I don’t want to lead you on.”
“Entanglements? It was a kiss. Not a marriage proposal.” Tucker laughed, but Luis couldn’t join him, couldn’t ignore the way his pulse pounded at the very suggestion. “I don’t have any illusions here—you’re leaving first chance you get, and I know it.”
“Yeah.” Luis’s voice was weak in a way that had nothing to do with the altitude.
“But I’m also not ruling out more. Bad idea or not. I want—”
Voices up ahead made Tucker abruptly stop and they turned their attention back to work and examining the fire site. I’m also not ruling out more. Damn Tucker for that little proclamation, which burrowed under Luis’s skin, made his senses hum even as he forced himself to focus on work and uncovering signs of arson.
As with the other sites, there were no obvious signs of human intervention—no gas cans or other debris—so he had to look for more subtle calling cards, like a similar seemingly deliberate arrangement of branches near the suspected ignition location. No matches or other ignition device, but he still looked for other physical evidence that they could use to establish a pattern later. This was the sort of puzzle he’d always excelled at, looking for clues, examining how things worked together.
While he worked, he was cautious, knowing full well that arsonists often hid nearby a fire to see the fire suppression efforts, an added layer of danger even after the immediate fire situation had been handled. His eyes kept scanning the tree line, looking for unusual movements or possible hiding spots. However, the culprit was good, with no obvious missteps that might make apprehension easier. But Luis was determined. He’d get them, one way or another.
Between his own investigation and questions from the personnel on site, he kept busy but not so busy that he forgot about his unfinished conversation with Tucker. However, they weren’t alone on the trek back to the parking area. Surrounded by sweaty, sooty workers climbing over rocks and scampering down the trail was hardly the place for even thinking about kissing let alone a serious talk.
“Damn. That was a trek.” Back at the SUV, Tucker removed his hard hat and wiped off his forehead with a bandanna from his pocket. “I’m going to need a shower as soon as I’m home.”
“Yeah. Same.” It was the perfect opportunity for Luis to suggest that they share said shower, and the flirty response rose in his throat only to die as one of the workers came over to ask Tucker a question. Just as well. Sex would be foolish.
Even knowing that, he still wanted it, his body buzzing the whole ride back. His brain might be debating the wisdom of starting something with Tucker, but his cock knew exactly what he wanted. And as for his heart...well, it knew his brain was in denial. There was already something going on, whether they got naked or not.