Excerpt of Devastated by Fire
Devastated by Fire
Check out the first chapter of Devastated by Fire, a sexy MM fireman novella.
CHAPTER ONE: LIAM
Walking into the firehouse, I spotted Aiden and Blaire holding hands and staring into each other’s eyes like some lovesick couple. I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at them. They were still in the sickly sweet, lovey-dovey beginning phase of their relationship as they gazed lovingly into each other’s eyes.
Aiden was my best friend. I trusted him more than anyone else but he was now—as they called it—under the thumb. I was happy to see him and Blaire so settled but sometimes I missed my friend. I’d never be that asshole and attempt to come between him and his girl—fiancé now. I wasn’t that needy.
Before I could enter the building, I was knocked aside a step as someone slung an arm across my shoulders.
“Why didn’t you wait for me?” Aiden grinned at me.
“I didn’t want to interrupt the love-fest.” I let a chuckle escape. “I was afraid I might vomit.”
“Whatever.” He opened the door and gave me a push, gently shoving me through it before he slung his bag over his shoulder. “You’ll meet the right girl one day.”
“Yeah.” I pasted a fake grin on my face. “Maybe.”
I hated lying to my best friend. Fuck, I hated lying to my entire team but I just wasn’t ready to tell them all my biggest secret. I was gay. Well, bisexual if I had to assign a label to it but I wasn’t one hundred percent straight like the rest of my team. Being a volunteer firefighter/EMT was everything to me. I wanted so badly to become a full-time member of the team but I was afraid. I gave off the impression to the world that I was a cocky person but inside… Inside was a whole different story.
Inside I was just a scared little boy that was terrified about his truth coming out. Inside I was a wreck, scared that I would lose everything and everyone I cared about when they all found out about my biggest and darkest secret.
I entered the changing room and went straight to my locker and after a quick change, I made my way to the kitchen. I grinned when I saw the usual members of my team littered around the room, sitting on the sofas and relaxing at the table. Down-time between calls didn’t happen often and when we were lucky to have time in between, you’d either catch us doing equipment checks, vehicle clean-downs, exercising in the gym or hanging out in the kitchen.
“Liam!” Freddie called. “Fancy a game?” He held a pack of cards up and waved them at me before he gestured to Tobias that was sat at his side. Tobias was the driver of the truck and a damn good one at that. Freddie was also a volunteer firefighter and he and I had started here at the same time.
“Sure.” I walked toward them but froze when Chief Cooper entered the room.
“Liam.” He pointed his thumb over his shoulder. “A police officer is here for you. I told him that you’ll meet him in one of the family rooms.”
“Thanks Chief.” I nodded my head politely at him before I left the kitchen. I looked over my shoulder as I walked down the hallway, making sure I had the all-clear before I entered the room and closed us in.
“What’s going on?” I asked. “Is everything okay?”
Greg Bristow was a police officer for Armstrong Police Department. He was a couple of years older than me and after seeing each other at a few too many jobs and bumping into each other off the job, I had given into his charms after seeing him at a club just outside of town.
We had spent one night together and I had thought that it would just be that one night but after three months, it had progressed to more and we had now progressed to sneaking around. Well, I was sneaking. He was being his patient self.
“You left this at my place last night.” He placed my Firehouse logo hoodie down on the table before he stepped closer to me.
“You look very sexy in your uniform,” I complimented. He was in a pair of grey suit trousers, black belt, blue shirt, black tie and the police hat that topped off the whole ‘sexy man in unform’ look. “You didn’t need to bring it here. I could have picked it up later.” I reached for his hand and entwined our fingers. “I’m sorry that we still have to meet like this. I just…”
“Stop it.” He reached up and placed his pointer finger over my lips. “I told you. I can be patient for you.” His blue eyes stared into mine. “I know you need to tell Aiden first. There’s no rush.”
I blew out a frustrated breath. “I want to tell him. I’m going to tell him. I just…”
“Relax,” he said firmly. “You’re putting too much thought into it. Just go with what feels right. You have enough pressure on your shoulders as it is.”
“Okay.” I blew out a breath before I leaned forward and pressed my lips chastely to his. “Am I seeing you tonight or are you working?”
“I’m working a little late but I want to see you.” He slipped a key into my hand. “You can warm my bed up for me.”
I laughed when he said that before I quickly sobered up at the monumental step we had just taken. “A key,” I muttered. “This is kind of a big deal.” We hadn’t had an ‘I love you’ moment but this felt really close to being one.
“Don’t overthink it.” Another peck to my lips. “I’ll see you later tonight. Don’t eat all the peanut butter.”
I laughed as I watched him walk out of the room. I waited a few minutes before I followed and headed in the opposite direction toward the changing rooms.
“There you are.” I looked up and saw Aiden entering in from the opposite side. “I’ve been looking for you.”
“What’s up?” I quickly stashed my hoodie in my locker, feeling nervous that he would realize I didn’t enter the building with the hoodie and that my sexy police officer secret boyfriend had brought it to me.
“You and I are on EMT duty today,” he answered.
I groaned and hung my head back. “Are you kidding me? Why?” I was whining but I couldn’t help it. I may have been only a volunteer member but I would much rather be on fire duty than be stuck in an ambulance for the shift.
“Stop whining and let’s do a stock check. We can swing by the hospital if we need any extra supplies.” He turned around and led the way to where the trucks were parked.
“Shouldn’t that be the previous shift’s job?” I muttered sullenly.
We walked past the kitchen and the smell of bacon was enough to get me to stop. Unfortunately, Aidan would only have something to say if I stopped so I continued on.
I headed to the back of the truck and he went to the front, most likely to check if the keys and paperwork pad was there. That was the part I didn’t like about working on the ambulance. There was always so much paperwork to fill in.
I began sorting through the cupboards in the truck, determining what we needed. Apart from being low on some bandages and chest pads, the ambulance was quite well stocked.
“How are we doing?” Aidan called from the front.
“Pretty good,” I said. “Except for some bandages and chest pads, I think we are…” I stopped talking when the shrill siren went off, announcing an incoming call for either the ambulance or fire trucks.
“Ambulance call,” the voice from the emergency call center called out through the speakers. “Car accident on Main Street. Suspected head injury. Please report.”
“Never mind,” I muttered. I quickly climbed out of the back and closed the doors before running for the passenger seat. Aiden was pulling away the second I was in, sending us toward our emergency call.
“You did good today,” Aidan complimented from behind me.
“Thanks.” I closed my locker and turned to look at him. “We had more calls than normal today, didn’t we?”
“Yeah.” We quickly fell into sync as we left the locker room. “You want to come by and have dinner with me and Blaire?” he asked.
“No thanks, I’ll pass,” I said while shaking my head. “Being third wheel is not exactly my idea of a good night.” I rolled my eyes at the thought of watching them make lovey-dovey faces at each other all night.
“You could always bring someone some time, you know?” he asked sarcastically. He looked at me out of the corner of his eye. “I swear, you get more ass than a toilet seat.”
So he thinks, I selfishly thought to myself. If he really knew how I spent my evenings after he leaves the bar and goes home to Blaire, he’d probably have a meltdown.
“I plan to settle down one day,” I teased with a grin on my face.
We exited the firehouse and I was stopped from going any further when he placed his hand on my chest, halting me. “Is there anything you want to tell me?” he asked. He raised an eyebrow and waited for my response. “If there’s anything you want to talk about, you know you can come to me. Right?”
I made sure to keep my cocky, playboy mask in place. He was just being a good friend. I shared a hell of a lot with Aidan but there were some secrets that could not even be shared with a best friend. At least, not yet.
“I’m good.” I clapped him on the arm and hoisted my bag over my shoulder. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” I raised my hand and gave him a two-fingered salute before I walked away. “Tell Blaire I said hey,” I called back to him before I climbed into the car and drove to the only place that felt like home these days.
Greg’s.
Want to read more? You can pre-order your copy here:
https://books2read.com/u/4jq1gk
Check out the first chapter of Devastated by Fire, a sexy MM fireman novella.
CHAPTER ONE: LIAM
Walking into the firehouse, I spotted Aiden and Blaire holding hands and staring into each other’s eyes like some lovesick couple. I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at them. They were still in the sickly sweet, lovey-dovey beginning phase of their relationship as they gazed lovingly into each other’s eyes.
Aiden was my best friend. I trusted him more than anyone else but he was now—as they called it—under the thumb. I was happy to see him and Blaire so settled but sometimes I missed my friend. I’d never be that asshole and attempt to come between him and his girl—fiancé now. I wasn’t that needy.
Before I could enter the building, I was knocked aside a step as someone slung an arm across my shoulders.
“Why didn’t you wait for me?” Aiden grinned at me.
“I didn’t want to interrupt the love-fest.” I let a chuckle escape. “I was afraid I might vomit.”
“Whatever.” He opened the door and gave me a push, gently shoving me through it before he slung his bag over his shoulder. “You’ll meet the right girl one day.”
“Yeah.” I pasted a fake grin on my face. “Maybe.”
I hated lying to my best friend. Fuck, I hated lying to my entire team but I just wasn’t ready to tell them all my biggest secret. I was gay. Well, bisexual if I had to assign a label to it but I wasn’t one hundred percent straight like the rest of my team. Being a volunteer firefighter/EMT was everything to me. I wanted so badly to become a full-time member of the team but I was afraid. I gave off the impression to the world that I was a cocky person but inside… Inside was a whole different story.
Inside I was just a scared little boy that was terrified about his truth coming out. Inside I was a wreck, scared that I would lose everything and everyone I cared about when they all found out about my biggest and darkest secret.
I entered the changing room and went straight to my locker and after a quick change, I made my way to the kitchen. I grinned when I saw the usual members of my team littered around the room, sitting on the sofas and relaxing at the table. Down-time between calls didn’t happen often and when we were lucky to have time in between, you’d either catch us doing equipment checks, vehicle clean-downs, exercising in the gym or hanging out in the kitchen.
“Liam!” Freddie called. “Fancy a game?” He held a pack of cards up and waved them at me before he gestured to Tobias that was sat at his side. Tobias was the driver of the truck and a damn good one at that. Freddie was also a volunteer firefighter and he and I had started here at the same time.
“Sure.” I walked toward them but froze when Chief Cooper entered the room.
“Liam.” He pointed his thumb over his shoulder. “A police officer is here for you. I told him that you’ll meet him in one of the family rooms.”
“Thanks Chief.” I nodded my head politely at him before I left the kitchen. I looked over my shoulder as I walked down the hallway, making sure I had the all-clear before I entered the room and closed us in.
“What’s going on?” I asked. “Is everything okay?”
Greg Bristow was a police officer for Armstrong Police Department. He was a couple of years older than me and after seeing each other at a few too many jobs and bumping into each other off the job, I had given into his charms after seeing him at a club just outside of town.
We had spent one night together and I had thought that it would just be that one night but after three months, it had progressed to more and we had now progressed to sneaking around. Well, I was sneaking. He was being his patient self.
“You left this at my place last night.” He placed my Firehouse logo hoodie down on the table before he stepped closer to me.
“You look very sexy in your uniform,” I complimented. He was in a pair of grey suit trousers, black belt, blue shirt, black tie and the police hat that topped off the whole ‘sexy man in unform’ look. “You didn’t need to bring it here. I could have picked it up later.” I reached for his hand and entwined our fingers. “I’m sorry that we still have to meet like this. I just…”
“Stop it.” He reached up and placed his pointer finger over my lips. “I told you. I can be patient for you.” His blue eyes stared into mine. “I know you need to tell Aiden first. There’s no rush.”
I blew out a frustrated breath. “I want to tell him. I’m going to tell him. I just…”
“Relax,” he said firmly. “You’re putting too much thought into it. Just go with what feels right. You have enough pressure on your shoulders as it is.”
“Okay.” I blew out a breath before I leaned forward and pressed my lips chastely to his. “Am I seeing you tonight or are you working?”
“I’m working a little late but I want to see you.” He slipped a key into my hand. “You can warm my bed up for me.”
I laughed when he said that before I quickly sobered up at the monumental step we had just taken. “A key,” I muttered. “This is kind of a big deal.” We hadn’t had an ‘I love you’ moment but this felt really close to being one.
“Don’t overthink it.” Another peck to my lips. “I’ll see you later tonight. Don’t eat all the peanut butter.”
I laughed as I watched him walk out of the room. I waited a few minutes before I followed and headed in the opposite direction toward the changing rooms.
“There you are.” I looked up and saw Aiden entering in from the opposite side. “I’ve been looking for you.”
“What’s up?” I quickly stashed my hoodie in my locker, feeling nervous that he would realize I didn’t enter the building with the hoodie and that my sexy police officer secret boyfriend had brought it to me.
“You and I are on EMT duty today,” he answered.
I groaned and hung my head back. “Are you kidding me? Why?” I was whining but I couldn’t help it. I may have been only a volunteer member but I would much rather be on fire duty than be stuck in an ambulance for the shift.
“Stop whining and let’s do a stock check. We can swing by the hospital if we need any extra supplies.” He turned around and led the way to where the trucks were parked.
“Shouldn’t that be the previous shift’s job?” I muttered sullenly.
We walked past the kitchen and the smell of bacon was enough to get me to stop. Unfortunately, Aidan would only have something to say if I stopped so I continued on.
I headed to the back of the truck and he went to the front, most likely to check if the keys and paperwork pad was there. That was the part I didn’t like about working on the ambulance. There was always so much paperwork to fill in.
I began sorting through the cupboards in the truck, determining what we needed. Apart from being low on some bandages and chest pads, the ambulance was quite well stocked.
“How are we doing?” Aidan called from the front.
“Pretty good,” I said. “Except for some bandages and chest pads, I think we are…” I stopped talking when the shrill siren went off, announcing an incoming call for either the ambulance or fire trucks.
“Ambulance call,” the voice from the emergency call center called out through the speakers. “Car accident on Main Street. Suspected head injury. Please report.”
“Never mind,” I muttered. I quickly climbed out of the back and closed the doors before running for the passenger seat. Aiden was pulling away the second I was in, sending us toward our emergency call.
“You did good today,” Aidan complimented from behind me.
“Thanks.” I closed my locker and turned to look at him. “We had more calls than normal today, didn’t we?”
“Yeah.” We quickly fell into sync as we left the locker room. “You want to come by and have dinner with me and Blaire?” he asked.
“No thanks, I’ll pass,” I said while shaking my head. “Being third wheel is not exactly my idea of a good night.” I rolled my eyes at the thought of watching them make lovey-dovey faces at each other all night.
“You could always bring someone some time, you know?” he asked sarcastically. He looked at me out of the corner of his eye. “I swear, you get more ass than a toilet seat.”
So he thinks, I selfishly thought to myself. If he really knew how I spent my evenings after he leaves the bar and goes home to Blaire, he’d probably have a meltdown.
“I plan to settle down one day,” I teased with a grin on my face.
We exited the firehouse and I was stopped from going any further when he placed his hand on my chest, halting me. “Is there anything you want to tell me?” he asked. He raised an eyebrow and waited for my response. “If there’s anything you want to talk about, you know you can come to me. Right?”
I made sure to keep my cocky, playboy mask in place. He was just being a good friend. I shared a hell of a lot with Aidan but there were some secrets that could not even be shared with a best friend. At least, not yet.
“I’m good.” I clapped him on the arm and hoisted my bag over my shoulder. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” I raised my hand and gave him a two-fingered salute before I walked away. “Tell Blaire I said hey,” I called back to him before I climbed into the car and drove to the only place that felt like home these days.
Greg’s.
Want to read more? You can pre-order your copy here:
https://books2read.com/u/4jq1gk
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