Page 55 of The Fireman and the Flirt

I was alive. Naked, but alive.

When I looked up, a familiar truck was parked on the curb. Derek stared at me from the driver’s seat understandably confused.

Adrenaline pumped through my veins as I gathered up my clothes.

“Is it cold in here?” I heard the agent say from inside the house.

I crouched down and ran to Derek’s truck with my ball of clothes over my crotch. The passenger door was unlocked. I hopped in and slouched down just as the family and agent looked out the window.

Derek gave them a confused wave.

“Drive,” I said in a desperate whisper.

My chest unclenched when the car began moving, an extra weight lifting off me when we turned off the street.

I laughed with full relief once we were out of the development, the kind of laugh that tumbled out of people when they escaped death. It took me a few moments to remember that I was still naked.

“Do I want to know?” Derek asked.

“I was trying to paint the picture?”

He pulled onto a wooded dead-end street that had a sign for the beginning of a rigorous hiking trail. Fortunately, all potential hikers were at work today.

“It was a nice house. We should get you in to see it later because I have a feeling that family is going to make an offer.” Unless of course their daughter believed it was haunted by a ghost.

“You’re actually trying to sell me on a house when you’re stark naked? Weirdo.”

“When I’m dressed, I’ll explain.”

I yanked my underwear from my pants pocket. Derek clamped my wrist with his strong hand.

He stared at me with fire and mischief in his eyes. “Now who says you need to get dressed?” he asked as he slid my ball of clothes off my lap.

17

DEREK

I’d had dreams before of hot, naked men coming up to me. Usually, it happened in someplace exotic, like a tropical beach or in some enchanted forest. Not in a suburban housing development.

But hey, I wasn’t complaining.

Cary and I had hooked up in heated, quick moments where there was no time to undress lest we get caught. And sure, someone could drive down this empty dead end, but that was a risk I was willing to take.

I finally had an opportunity to see him in his birthday suit, and well…happy birthday to me. The guy was hot. He was trim with a light dusting of chest hair across his pecs, a nice change from the sweater that was on my chest. His arms had a little definition, but he wasn’t one of those guys who did shit like watching their macros and lived at the gym. He looked like a natural man, one with perfect imperfections.

“You’re staring,” he said, crossing his legs in modesty.

“Is that a problem?”

“Is this a good stare or a bad one?”

I grabbed his leg and moved it out of the crossing position. I skimmed through his bush, up his stomach and chest. My dreams never got into this level of detail: the feel of another man’s warm skin on my fingertips, his natural, earthy scent coming through the layer of deodorant and cologne. My hand traveled up his neck, feeling the heat pulse off him as I tipped his chin to me and connected our lips in a passionate kiss.

I wanted to devour Cary, but I could stay here for a while, too. He was a good kisser, his tongue playing with mine, moaning into my lips. I leaned over the center console and let both of my hands traverse his body. I tugged at the slight bit of love handle at his waist and gave it a ravenous squeeze. I brushed over his armpit hair as I pulled him closer, intoxicated by the sensation. His nipples were hard jabs under the pads of my fingers. Even with a polished guy like Cary, there was a ruggedness to his body.

“Derek,” he gasped out.

“Is this okay?” I realized I was kind of taking advantage of him since he desperately ran into my car naked.

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