“Okay. Thanks, and tell Jack I said thanks.”

  “Will do. Watch your back. I don’t like any of this at all.”

  “Same.” Saint hung up with a sigh. He’d been hoping Jack would find something but wasn’t surprised he hadn’t. It would have been too easy.

  Time to get back to work. One of the issues Saint faced with being around Val all the time, was the fact that Saint was enjoying their time together far too much.

  When they went home to Val’s, they were usually exhausted, but it was nice, comfortable. And maybe that was the problem. No matter what they were doing, they seemed to gravitate toward each other, like their bodies couldn’t stand to be apart. Being so close to Val in the kitchen and not being able to wrap his arms around him, kiss him, feel him, was driving Saint nuts. Every night, they had dinner together, watched TV, and one of them usually fell asleep on the couch. A couple of days ago, Saint fell asleep in the recliner and woke up with a blanket draped over him. He never thought he’d get so used to having someone around this quickly.

  The second issue Saint faced, was his growing need to kiss and touch Val. He’d lost count of how often Val caught him staring. Saint usually blushed, which Val found amusing. If Val knew the kind of thoughts Saint had about him throughout the day, he’d be the one blushing.

  Saint couldn’t help it. He might have told Val they were good after their kiss, but that didn’t mean Saint could stop thinking about it and wanting more. He’d done pretty good at pretending it was no big deal because he didn’t want Val to regret having him here. Kissing Val had felt so, so right. Saint hadn’t known what Val would feel or taste like. He hadn’t known if he’d hesitate when the time came, but when Val pulled Saint into his arms, the world fell away, and all that was left was a feeling of belonging, of safety.

  Focus. Bricks. That’s what he needed to be thinking about. Not that there was much to think about there. Pick up brick, apply glue to brick, place brick in steel slot, repeat.

  While Saint placed the bricks, Val brought in boxes and put them in what was going to be his office. He’d set up a makeshift desk to have a place to put everything until the official desk arrived next month when the furniture started coming in. An hour later, he emerged from the room looking very grumpy.

  “You okay? I was about to go in there. Thought maybe you fell in a box.”

  Val’s lips quirked at the corners. “I hate paperwork. Always have.”

  “Maybe I can help.” Saint dusted his hands off on his jeans and walked into the office, where he reeled back at the sight before him. “Holy shit, what is this? Besides the place where trees go to die?” Saint shook his head in disbelief. He’d never seen anything like it. Apparently, Val’s tidiness did not extend to paperwork.

  The stacks of paper and folders were truly terrifying. Somewhere underneath it all was the desk; he was sure of it. “You do realize that not even Ace is this bad, and we’re talking about the guy who told King he couldn’t do his paperwork because he’d developed an allergy to short-fiber cellulose.”

  “What the hell is that?”

  “What our office printer paper is made of.”

  Val snorted. “What did King say?”

  “It’s King. He didn’t say anything. He walked away and returned two minutes later with a pair of gloves.”

  “Sounds about right.”

  Saint picked up the first stack of documents clipped together and looked through it. He picked up the one underneath. “Um, why haven’t you filed for your liquor and food licenses? That’s kind of important if you want to open a place that serves both alcohol and food.”

  “Funny. Because there are a few requirements I’m unsure of and haven’t had the chance—or patience—to look into it.”

  Saint arched an eyebrow at him. He tapped his lips and hummed. “Gee, if only you knew someone who owned an establishment that sold alcohol and food. Perhaps even a close friend you’ve known for decades.”

  “Yeah, all right, smartass,” Val grumbled as he poked at a stack of documents. “I’ll ask Frank. Did you have to say decades?”

  Saint held back a smile. “Well, I mean, you have known him for decades.”

  “I’ve known him for over twenty years, okay.”

  “Yeah, that’s over two decades.” Saint waggled two fingers at him. “Tell me something. Do you still think the eighties was twenty years ago?”

  Val laughed. “Kiss my ass.”

  Saint made kissing noises, making Val shake his head. “Also, you know you can file most of this stuff online, right?”

  “You know I don’t need any of your millennial crap, right?”

  “Okay, Boomer.”

  “Fuck you,” Val said through a laugh. “I’m not a boomer.”

  “Oh, shit. That’s right. You’re Gen X.” Saint put a hand to his chest. “Sorry. In my defense, the rest of us kind of forget about you guys.”

  “Because you know we will fuck your shit up.”

  “What? Please.” Getting a rise out of Val was just too easy and too much fun.

  “If I took your phone away right now, you would not survive.” Val left the office, and Saint followed him.

  “Judgmental much? Also, I was a Navy SEAL. Surviving is what I do. I can be naked in the woods with nothing but a toothpick and survive. Can you?”

  “I survived playgrounds in the eighties, so I’m pretty confident I can.”

  Saint laughed. “Really?”

  “You have no idea how many injuries I sustained from playgrounds as a kid. I lost the majority of my baby teeth on playgrounds. When I was seven, I fell off the top of a metal jungle gym onto hard, solid ground, and my dad told me to walk it off. It wasn’t until my arm had swollen to twice its size that my parents realized I’d broken my arm. Don’t even get me started on the merry-go-round and the metal slides in the summer.”

  Saint blinked at him. “I forgot how terrifying the eighties were.”

  “We had great music, though.”

  “If you say so.”

  Val turned, eyes narrowed at him. “Mock the eighties all you want, but you say one word about my music and things are gonna get ugly.”

  “Is that so?” Saint calculated his chances of getting away from Val. They were pretty high. He eyed Val. “Bon Jovi’s overrated.”

  Val gasped so long and hard that Saint couldn’t stop himself from laughing, then he took off, Val on his heels.

  “You take that back, you little shit!”

  “’Livin’ On a Prayer’ sucked,” Saint shouted as he turned and jogged backward.

  “That’s it.” Val lunged at him, and with the manliest of screeches, Saint dodged him and took off again.

  The only obstacles Saint could use were the palettes of stacked bricks, but they weren’t exactly much of an obstacle, and the rest was just one big, empty floor. Running into the kitchen or bathroom area would ensure his immediate capture. He managed to evade Val’s grip for several more minutes, all while insulting the man’s music.

  Eventually, Saint was caught, pinned against the wall by Val, a hand on both sides of his head.

  “I was kidding! I’m kidding! Of course, Bon Jovi is awesome. Everyone knows that.”

  “Bon Jovi’s music was the soundtrack of my youth.”

  Saint dropped his gaze to Val’s lips and quickly caught himself. He moved his eyes back up to Val’s. “You ever have a mullet?”

  “No, I did not.”

  “Suspect. Long hair?”

  Pause.

  “Maybe.”

  “Have any pictures?”

  “Yes, and you will never see them,” Val whispered as he leaned in.

  “Oh, come on. Do you have a picture of you wearing a fanny pack?”

  “I never wore a fanny pack.”

  Saint hummed. “Out of curiosity. Are these photos stored somewhere in your home?” Damn the lack of digital evidence. “It’s unfair, really, that the majority of my life has been documented on some kind of digital device while you got away scot-free.”

  “Sorry bout ya luck.”

  “They’re in your closet, aren’t they.”

  Val narrowed his gaze, and Saint laughed. How did Val not see how easy it was for Saint to read him? He was an open book. If he didn’t bluntly come out and say something, his face did.

  “You think you’re funny?”

  “I think I’m hilarious.”

  “Maybe I’ll ask Ace to get me some videos of you. He knows your mom. Bet he can be very persuasive.”

  Saint gasped. “But it’s only funny when it happens to you!”

  “Oh, is it?” Val dropped his gaze to Saint’s mouth.

  Did he know he’d leaned in closer?

  “Hey,” Saint said softly as he placed his hand on Val’s hip, then crooked a finger into the loop of his jeans, giving it a little tug.

  “Hey.” Val let himself be pulled closer. “You like getting me all worked up, don’t you?”

  Saint nodded. “You make it too easy.”

  “Okay, yeah. Maybe I do.”

  Val’s smile was stunning, sending the butterflies in Saint’s stomach fluttering wildly. Man, he smelled so good. Why was he so damned gorgeous? His T-shirt stretched across his broad shoulders, and his jeans encased his long legs and perfect ass. It was sinful. Everything about Val was so damned enticing.

  Saint wanted to rub his face against Val’s stubbled jaw and purr like a cat. He wanted to run his fingers through Val’s hair, grab a fistful of it, and kiss the fuck out of him. No one had ever made him feel this desperate.

  Just when he thought that maybe he might be able to stop thinking about their kiss, they ended up mere inches from each other again. And again. And again.

  “We should go,” Val said, voice rough.

  Saint hummed. “Sure thing, Chief.”

  “Why do you have to say it like that?”

  “Like what?”

  “You know like what. Like sex.”

  Saint couldn’t help his smile. Knowing how much Val wanted him was both a blessing and a curse. Considering they shouldn’t do anything about it, probably more of a curse.

  “We should go,” Val repeated.

  “You’re probably right.”

  Neither of them moved.

  Saint dropped his gaze back to Val’s lips. If one of them didn’t move in the next five seconds….

  Fuck it. Saint kissed Val, melting against him when Val closed his eyes with a groan and parted his lips. This time there was more urgency behind their kiss. Saint wanted more. Fuck, he wanted so much more he could barely stand it, and Val wanted the same. Saint could feel Val’s barely restrained desire, and he wished Val would just let go.

  Saint wrapped his arms around Val’s neck, their bodies pressed together as they kissed hungrily. This time, Saint took the lead, their kiss wet and sloppy as he did his best to show Val just how badly he wanted this, wanted him. He thrust his hips forward, his hard erection rubbing against his jeans and Val’s leg. Fuck he was hard. That was until Val slid his hands around Saint’s waist and down to his ass to grab it just as he punched his hips forward.

  “Fuck,” Saint groaned into Val’s mouth. Their erections rubbed together, and Saint was dangerously close to coming in his pants. It should have scared the shit out of him, but it didn’t because he’d never wanted anything so badly in his life.

  Val shook his head and pulled away, his breath panting. “Saint. We have to stop doing this.”

  “Or we can do more of it,” Saint suggested hopefully as he brought a hand around and slid it down Val’s chest. Val took hold of it and held it over his heart, a heavy sigh leaving him.

  “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

  “Why can’t we just see where it goes? You want me, and fuck, Chief, I want you.”

  “Saint….”

  The rejection hurt. Even if Saint knew why Val was doing it, it still stung.

  “You don’t trust me to know what I want, except I know what I want, and that’s you, Val. Not for a fling, not for a fuck, for more. But you aren’t willing to give me a chance.”

  “Saint, please. You have to understand, it’s not that simple.”

  “It’s fine,” Saint said, pulling away. “I get it. You’re afraid of getting hurt, and I’ve never been in this position before, so who am I to say it won’t happen? You’re the last person I’d want to hurt.” He shook his head and shrugged as he averted his gaze, his heart aching. “So, yeah. I guess I just need to accept that it is what it is. You deserve better.”

  Val rubbed a hand over his face and growled. What did it say about Saint and how deep he’d gotten himself into with Val that he found Val’s growl endearing? Man, he was such a sucker.

  “Let’s go,” Val grumbled, heading for the door.

  “Go?”

  “Home.”

  “Oh.” Hopefully, he hadn’t sounded as disappointed as he felt. Despite his words, Saint remained hopeful. Maybe it was time he stopped kidding himself. Nothing was going to happen between them.

  Saint made sure to check the SUV over before they climbed in. The car ride to Val’s house was quiet, neither of them saying a word. Saint could feel the tension in the air and did his best to keep his focus outside the passenger side window. He remained alert when they pulled into the driveway and did his usual perimeter check before heading inside and closing the garage door. Val had disappeared inside, and Saint didn’t blame him.

  Closing the door that led from the garage to the house, Saint walked inside, surprised to find Val in the living room pacing.

  “Hey, everything okay?” Saint asked, hating that he was most likely the cause of Val’s distress. “Look, I’m sorry—”

  “No.” Val crossed the distance between them, and before Saint could figure out what the hell was going on, Val cupped his face and kissed him, and holy fuck, what a kiss! The heat that poured out of Val was enough to set Saint on fire, and he didn’t bother to think—couldn’t think—just returned Val’s kiss with all the ardent desire exploding through him.

  Saint couldn’t get enough, so he gave in to the scorching desire and let Val take the lead. His skin felt too tight, and he was so fucking hard. He grabbed the hem of Val’s T-shirt and shoved it up his torso, grateful when Val reached up and finished pulling it off, dropping it to the floor.

  “Damn, Chief.” Saint ran a hand up Val’s stomach to his pecs, his skin smooth and his muscles defined. He slipped his fingers into the soft hair on Val’s chest, a new sensation for Saint, and he moaned. “You’re so fucking sexy.”

  Val groaned. He took hold of Saint’s shirt and pulled it off him, then kissed him again, leading him back to the couch where he turned them. The back of Saint’s legs hit the couch, and a gentle nudge had him falling back onto it. He lifted his gaze to Val, his dick twitching in his pants at seeing those gorgeous eyes filled with so much want. His pupils were dilated, leaving only slivers of that gorgeous liquid silver.

  Val stepped up to Saint and dropped to his knees.

  “Fuck.”

  With a wicked grin, Val spread Saint’s legs and moved between them. He kept his gaze locked on Saint as he unfastened the button of Saint’s jeans.

  “Lift,” Val ordered.

  Saint didn’t hesitate. He lifted his hips, his face growing heated as Val jerked down his jeans and boxer briefs, his hard cock springing from beneath his clothes, the head of which was leaking with precome. Saint wrapped his hand around his cock and slowly stroked himself, his smile cocky.

  “Still think I don’t know what I want?”

  Val dropped his gaze to Saint’s dick, and when he licked his lips, Saint thought he’d come right then and there. Then Val moved Saint’s hand away and swallowed him whole.

  “Oh fuck!” Saint jumped, his hips thrusting before he could stop himself, but Val didn’t falter. He moaned and started sucking Saint off. “Holy shit. Oh fuck.” Saint threw one arm out, but with nothing to hold on to, he put his hands on Val’s head. He let his head fall back, his eyes all but rolling into the back of his head while he received the best fucking blow job of his life.

  This was next level. Was it always like this? Why the fuck had he waited so long? The pressure and wet heat from Val’s mouth were unlike anything he’d ever experienced, and he never wanted it to end. Val moaned, and Saint cursed under his breath. He was not going to last.

  “Val,” Saint pleaded. He had no idea what he was begging for, but he needed more, needed everything. Nothing had ever felt this right, and for the first time, he understood Val’s fear because Saint was on the verge of falling hard and fast for the hot as fuck fire chief.

  CHAPTER TEN

  This wasn’t how he’d intended the evening to go, but now that he was on his knees, sucking Saint’s dick, seeing how close Saint was to losing it, Val wanted nothing more. This was a far cry from just friends, but the more Saint pleaded, the harder he tightened his grip on Val’s hair, and the more he writhed beneath Val, the more Val let himself fall. He popped off, smiling when Saint begged him not to stop.

  “Easy there, Sailor.” Val pulled Saint’s boots off, then pulled his jeans and boxer briefs the rest of the way down and off. “Lie down.”

  Saint quickly lay down, and Val climbed onto the couch between Saint’s legs. He was even more grateful now that he’d gone with the plusher, wider seating option. There was just enough space for both of them.

  “You are so damned beautiful,” Val murmured, loving how Saint’s face flushed pink. It was another reminder for Val to take it slow. It was easy for them to get lost in the moment and let their desire take them where it wanted. Val took in Saint’s toned, sleek form. His tanned skin was soft and smooth, with faint scars peppering his body here and there.

  “Val, if you don’t suck my dick in the next five seconds, I will finish myself off.”

  “So bossy,” Val chuckled.

  Saint arched an eyebrow and moved to grab his cock, but Val caught his wrist.