Page 22 of Mouth to Mouth

Josh grunted. “You fit. I wasn’t sure at first since you and Luca can’t stand to be in the same room with each other for more than a few minutes. Except, I trust you. I didn’t realize that until today.”

“What do you mean?” Brad questioned.

“You’ve seen how we bring in guys from other departments to get us through this weekend. This is the first year we’ve had them fill in at the station, allowing our crew with you and James to be out here. I’ve always had to do my job protecting those in the water and whoever I was partnered with since they aren’t used to the heat, sun, and crowd. It was different today. I could focus on what I should, knowing that you wouldn’t miss something important. It…it’s nice having you here.”

Brad’s throat tightened. Acceptance. That was what this felt like. “Thanks.”

“Yeah.” Josh pushed off the side of the ATV. “No problem. I’m going to walk around.”

Since Josh looked a little embarrassed, Brad didn’t stop him. He was still reeling at what Josh had said. Brad knew he was filling a hole that their department had but Josh wanted him to stay. No one ever wanted him to stay. Okay, that wasn’t true. Brad’s supervisors always had kind words for him when Brad decided it was time to move on. He had friends, guys he’d worked with, hung out with, yet none of them had ever asked Brad to stay.

Not that Josh had actually asked. Just said that he wanted Brad to stay. Did Brad want that? He hadn’t put an application in anywhere else, knowing that he had options. Would always have options. Even the five-year plan that Brad was working off didn’t rely on any particular location. Just the goals that Brad wanted to accomplish.

Peering around at the beach, the people, all the way out to the crystal blue ocean, Brad searched his heart. Surf City. Was this where Brad was meant to be?

He caught sight of familiar black hair and a toned body strolling through the crowd. Luca. Turning, Brad followed the younger man’s progress as Luca was most likely headed to one of the tents sent up for the surfers.

Luca, like always, waved and called out to people he knew. A sharp reminder that Surf City already belonged to someone. Luca was a fixture in the city. Someone who the residents and tourists loved.

Brad watched Luca until he disappeared out of sight.

He licked his lips.

The urge to go, to move, to track down Luca rode Brad hard.

They just needed to talk. That was all. No big deal. Brad had possibly blurred the line between them the night before. He confessed his previous relationship to Luca, which he hadn’t shared with anyone else yet. Then like an idiot Brad hadn’t been able to help himself from touching Luca. Sucking him. Kissing him. It wasn’t fair to Luca. Not after Brad had told him moments before that they couldn’t be anything.

Striding forward, Brad dodged through the crowd as he kept his eyes on the tent to make sure that Luca didn’t slip away. A buzzer sounded for another round and Brad had to pause to allow a group of surfers to head out of the tent. Luca wasn’t one of them.

Brad waited until most of the crowd that had been hanging around the entrance followed behind the surfers before quietly slipping between the two thick flaps into the dark coolness the tent provided.

“I said to back off,” Luca growled.

Brad froze as he went on high alert. Luca sat on one of the massage tables with his legs dangling down while a tall, slim blond man was leaning over him.

“Come on, baby,” the blond said. “I’ll make it good for you. Just get on your knees. Or better yet bend over that table. I’ll hurry.”

Fury roared through Brad. His protective instincts pushed to the surface when someone harassed his boy.

Luca’s entire body was stiff, clearly uncomfortable with the blond in his personal space.

“I said no, Todd. Get the fuck away from me,” Luca ordered, low and dangerously.

Brad had never heard that tone from Luca. This was different than the sharp barbs Luca had used with Brad.

Todd, the blond man, scoffed. “Don’t play hard to get. I’ve seen you at the club. Strutting around in those shorts. You want someone to play Daddy with you? I don’t mind your little freaky side.”

That was it! Brad strode forward with the intent of putting that blond asshole in his place. Being a little didn’t make Luca a freak. The Daddy and little dynamic was precious and serious. Important to those that indulged. Nothing to be sneered about.

Brad was halfway across the room when Luca moved.

Luca shoved the blond away then jumped off the table. Luca grabbed the hand that Todd had put on Luca’s chest, twisting it behind Todd’s back. Todd dropped to his knees while a rough grunt escaped.

“I said to back the fuck off,” Luca said threateningly. “No means no.”

Brad stopped and grinned. He’d been ready and eager to step in and protect Luca and it turned out that Luca hadn’t needed it. At all. Damn, Luca was even more sexy like this.

“If I hear from anyone that you pull this shit with them, I’ll break you into pieces. And if I can’t, I know someone who would be perfectly happy to make you disappear permanently,” Luca warned. He yanked Todd’s arm up higher, causing Todd to cry out. “Got it?”