Page 43 of Fire Me Up
“Trust me, Dylan talks a big game about not caring, but he gets possessive as fuck. Cash thinks so too.”
Cash didn’t confirm or deny this, but his expression was thoughtful.
“You’ll come in your hottest underwear, looking like a whole snack,” Aiden continued, gesturing at my body. “Let some other guys flirt with you. Dance with a few. Nothing serious, just enough to light a fire under Dylan’s ass.”
“I don’t know, Aiden. That seems like playing games.” I frowned. “I want him to be honest about his feelings, not manipulate him into a jealous rage.”
“It’s not manipulation, it’s strategy.” Aiden waved away my concern. “Sometimes guys like Dylan need a kick in the pants to realize what’s right in front of them.”
Cash gently squeezed Aiden’s shoulder, and something passed between them—one of those wordless exchanges that made me ache with envy.
“Fine, Cash is right. Maybe the jealousy angle is a bit much,” Aiden conceded. “But underwear night is still a good idea. You can have some fun together.”
I couldn’t deny I was intrigued. “I’ve never been to an underwear night.”
“It’s a blast! Everyone’s in the same boat—literally in their underwear—so there’s this weird sense of community.” Aiden grinned. “Plus, the eye candy is spectacular.”
Cash cleared his throat, and Aiden laughed, wrapping an arp around him. “Don’t worry, babe. You know you’re the only eyecandy I need.” He turned back to me. “Cash is fucking stacked in his boxer briefs. Arms, chest, thighs—the whole package. Literally.”
I couldn’t help but smile at their interaction—the ease between them, the obvious affection. It gave me hope. If these two had found their way to each other, maybe there was a chance for me and Dylan too.
“Okay,” I said. “I’m in for underwear night. But no scheming to make Dylan jealous.”
“Deal!” Aiden beamed, then added in a stage whisper, “But if some hot guy asks you to dance, you should definitely say yes. For science.”
Cash rolled his eyes, but there was unmistakable fondness in his expression.
“Just text me the details,” I said, pushing off from my truck. “I should get going. Need to pack up my stuff at Liv’s, get ready to head back to the Springs.”
As I got back in my truck, I watched Aiden and Cash head toward the FRMC entrance, Aiden’s hand tucked into Cash’s back pocket. Such a small gesture, but so intimate. So certain.
I wanted that certainty. That confidence. The knowledge that whatever happened, we’d figure it out together. And I wanted it with Dylan.
Chapter 14
Dylan
The music hit me like a physical force as we stepped into Under Colfax, the bass vibrating through my chest in a way that usually centered me. Underwear night had the place packed with guys in various states of undress, bodies glistening under strobing lights. Gael stood beside me in nothing but black boxer briefs that hugged his thick thighs and perfect ass, looking simultaneously nervous and exhilarated.
I kept my eyes on his face, fighting the urge to stare at his body, to drag him back home and show him exactly how fucking beautiful he was, to claim him. But I’d been doing too much of that lately—touching him, tasting him, memorizing every inch of his skin like I had some right to it. Like he was mine to keep.
“You sure I don’t look ridiculous?” Gael leaned close to be heard over the music, his breath tickling my ear and sending a shiver down my spine.
“Trust me, you look hot as fuck,” I said, allowing myself one quick glance at his chest, at the scar that marked where he’d nearly died. That scar did things to me—made me want toprotect him, which was fucking stupid because Gael was built like a superhero and ran into burning buildings for a living.
And he wasn’t mine. I didn’t want him to be mine. I couldn’t possibly let him see the reality of who I was. That’s when everything always went to shit.
He grinned down at me, oblivious to my turmoil. “I still can’t believe I let Aiden and Cash talk me into this.”
“It’ll be a fully educational experience.” I winked, forcing lightness into my tone, keeping it casual.
We pushed through the crowd toward the bar where Cash and Aiden had grabbed a high-top table. Cash wore simple black boxer briefs that showed off his tattooed body, while Aiden rocked purple briefs with little cartoon eggplants all over them. They looked ridiculous and perfect together.
“There you guys are!” Aiden waved us over, practically bouncing with excitement. “Isn’t this fun? Cash was nervous but I told him his body is way too hot to hide.” He slid his arm around Cash’s waist, looking up at him with naked adoration.
Cash just rolled his eyes, but his lips quirked in that smile he reserved solely for Aiden. He’d opened up a lot since Aiden had crashed into his life, and seeing the change in my friend made me ache for something I didn’t want to think too hard about.
“Drinks?” I asked.
