WHAT DID he do? The more Owen thought about it, the more he knew he really didn’t have any other choice. He had to involve the Marshals before something happened to Lucas or Mark. He wasn’t sure what he had been thinking. Or maybe he was being a little hard on himself. He had been going with the Marshals, twice now, but they’d been shot.
Owen rubbed the ache between his eyes. He was getting paranoid. But then, maybe he had good reason. He stood up. Bailey needed to go out, right? And then he could start the car, check the battery. Making some sort of decision, he picked up Mia. He needed her to be awake now, so that she would hopefully stay asleep if, no when, he left. He had no choice. The bubble he’d been living in for the last few days had to burst eventually. And he had to leave before anyone got caught in the blast.
It was quiet when he went into the living room. Mark looked up from the kitchen area where he was just putting a tray in the oven. “It’s vegetable rice with an avocado salad. I’m grilling chicken for Lucas.”
Owen looked over at Lucas, who was just standing up. He could manage fine now. “I think it’s time I tried out the shower,” Lucas said with conviction. Mark nodded.
“You can uncover the wound. I actually have some plastic shield stuff to stop it from getting wet,” Mark said, wheeling himself toward the bathroom.
Lucas walked steadily over to Owen. “How are you holding up?”
Owen shrugged. “Okay, I guess.” His mind was full of working out how to get him and Mia out of here.
“Uh-huh,” Lucas murmured, sounding unconvinced.
“I’m glad you’re talking to each other.” If there was one good thing to come out of this mess, it might be that Lucas and Mark could start to heal. Lucas caught his hand, and Owen finally met his eyes. It was so unfair. He had finally found this perfect guy, only to realize he couldn’t keep him. He took a step backward to the door, and Lucas let him go. “I’m going to take Bailey out.”
“Then we need a plan.”
Owen froze for a split second. “Yes,” he agreed.
“I think I’m okay to drive tomorrow.”
He nodded. He wouldn’t be here, so he had no need to argue. He called Bailey and grabbed Lucas’s jacket from the hook.
He went to the barn. Bailey peed almost immediately and kept close to him as he let himself into the large space that would easily have taken two cars, but only had the small SUV they had arrived in. He’d made sure the keys were in his pocket. The car hadn’t moved for a few days, and he needed to make sure it started. There was also the problem of gas, since he never looked to see how much there was. Lucas had driven for a few miles, and he seemed to remember them stopping for gas. He stilled as an awful thought occurred to him. “Credit cards,” he mumbled. Dear God, he hoped Lucas had used cash.
He took a step toward the car, debating what to do, when Lucas’s hand reached around and took the keys from him, making him jump.
Lucas gazed at Owen. “Were you waiting until I was in the shower, or were you going to take off once everyone was asleep?”
Owen stopped pretending. “I have no choice. You heard what Mark said about Damien. He won’t leave any stone unturned. We’ve been okay while we were snowed in, but I don’t dare leave it any longer.”
“I agree.” Lucas smiled for some completely insane reason and walked forward to eliminate the gap between them. Owen knew he should move, but his legs didn’t seem to be onboard with that decision.
“Shall I tell you how I knew what you were thinking about doing?” Lucas’s hands closed over Owen’s arms, and he felt his warmth seep into his skin. Owen shook his head, trying to pull back, and Lucas chuckled, ignoring him. “Because you didn’t react when I said I would be okay to drive tomorrow.”
“Exactly,” Owen said weakly, very aware of how close Lucas was standing. “That’s the reason why I need to go, and why you need to stay here.”
He knew he wasn’t making much sense, but it was hard to reason when he was scared all the time. “You make me forget,” Owen tried to explain. “You make me feel like I could have a normal life, and that’s really dangerous.”
“We will have a normal life,” Lucas soothed. “We just need to put a psychopath behind bars first. You’ll see.”
We. Lucas had said we. Did that mean he saw a future involving them both, or was Owen hearing what he wanted to hear? He paused. When had he made that decision? That he wanted a future involving Lucas?
“It’s not safe. I can’t put you at risk.” Owen tried to reason with him. “I’ve already gotten you hurt once.” He looked down to Lucas’s side as if to prove his point, but Lucas gently put two fingers under his chin and tilted Owen’s face up. Lucas’s warm breath ghosted over his skin.
“You didn’t get me hurt. Your finger wasn’t on the trigger, and you didn’t take bribes.” He was so close. Owen really ought to step back, but then Lucas’s hand slid from his chin around the back of his neck to hold him still. The only thing in danger of giving way were his knees.
“But…,” Owen protested, but Lucas’s tongue flicked out and licked his lips. That small action seemed to drive all thought from his brain, and suddenly, Owen couldn’t remember what he was objecting to.
“You kissed me before,” Lucas said.
Yes. Yes, he had.
“I really enjoyed it.”
Owen’s mouth went dry.
“It feels right. You feel right.” That hadn’t sounded like a question. It had sounded more like an answer.
“I have people after me. Bad people,” Owen replied, wondering why he was trying to think of objections when all he wanted was to wrap his arms around Lucas and kiss him until he forgot why he should think it was a problem in the first place. Then, of course, because he was trying to forget his problems, everything came rushing back. “I have a daughter.”
Lucas nodded. “Really? About two feet tall? Throws veggies at the dog? Poops nuclear waste? That daughter?”
Owen couldn’t help a smile.
“And a dog,” Lucas added.
Owen frowned. “No, it’s you who has the dog.”
“Nope, you can’t possibly separate them.”
Owen sagged. “I may have to,” he whispered.
“Then think of it this way. If they knew where you were, they know you were with me. At least if I’m with you, I get protection.” He huffed. “It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever for us to be apart.”
Owen searched Lucas’s expression for any hint that he wasn’t 100 percent set on this, or that he wasn’t completely suicidal even, but Lucas just stayed still and let him look. Owen took a step to close the distance, as if making a decision, and Lucas opened his arms as if agreeing with it.
“You feel good.”
Owen rested his head on Lucas’s shoulder. It hadn’t been what he’d expected Lucas to say, but he wasn’t complaining. “So do you.”
“I can’t call Jacko until the morning because he’s on his twenty-four,” Lucas murmured.
Owen gazed at him. “So we can’t go anywhere tonight.” He said it like he hoped for it. So Lucas would know it wasn’t a question or just a compromise, but maybe even a promise. Lucas smiled, murmured something that sounded an awful lot like “exactly,” and then he cupped Owen’s chin and tilted his head up to angle it with his own. They had a second. A second of complete awareness that felt more right than anything Owen had felt in a really long time. And then, just as quickly, it was gone because Lucas’s lips were on his, and the ability to be aware of anything except what Lucas tasted like was beyond him. Owen moaned into the kiss and felt Lucas let go of his chin and slide his arms around Owen’s back.
Muscles strained under his hands even through the jacket, and for a brief second, he let go so he could slide his arms underneath all Lucas’s layers and feel skin. So good. Heat surrounded him. Prickles of desire danced on his skin and rushed through his veins, and he stood on tiptoes, wanting more.
Lucas moaned, and need overwhelmed Owen. “Lucas,” he pleaded and buried his head in the crook of Lucas’s neck. Lucas just stood and rubbed lazy circles on his back while their breathing calmed.
Owen eventually stepped back, and Lucas took both his hands and placed one over his heart. Owen could imagine the steady thud. He had lain next to it. He didn’t want to be a replacement for Niall. He didn’t want to be someone Lucas rescued. He wanted to be wanted for himself.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Lucas said, almost reading his mind. “I know you’re not Niall. And it’s true I may have a—” He paused and blushed. “—a hero complex, I think they call it. But….” He brushed a thumb along Owen’s jaw. “I rescue people a lot. Maybe not quite as dramatically as the way we met,” he admitted, “but I’ve had to get animals out of storm drains, trees, and abandoned buildings. I’ve pulled people out of wrecks, fires, and broken elevators.” He chuckled. “Even a boat once, but it was being towed by a car at the time.”
“I thought you fought forest fires?” Owen asked.
Lucas shook his head and pulled Owen back into him. “Not exclusively. We respond first. There are different rules depending on whether the fire is on state or federal land. If we can’t handle it, we need to know where to get help—from federal resources for funding or for manpower. First and foremost, though, we are a local fire service. But that changes, depending on the time of year and on whatever else happens to be on fire at the time.”
Owen luxuriated in the feel of Lucas’s warm body and the heart thudding steadily next to his. For a few seconds, he dreamed of always having this. “How did you come across the boat?”
Lucas chuckled and dropped a kiss onto Owen’s hair, his hands running up and down Owen’s back. “Last summer, we had to evacuate a campground that was right in the path of a fire. This older couple were already leaving and had their boat hitched behind them. The road to get into the campground has a hell of a steep drop on the right and this idiot in an Audi decided they weren’t driving fast enough, so he decided to pass them, just as a truck was coming in the opposite direction.” Lucas shook his head. “We were literally five minutes behind them, and nearly saw it happen. The car pulling the boat skidded and tipped. The lady did her best, but the boat stopped just short of going over the cliff. It was just seconds away from dragging the car over with it. We couldn’t get close enough to the back to unhitch it. Peters managed to get the other door open and pulled out the guy, but the driver couldn’t get her door open.”
Owen’s heart thudded anxiously, even though Lucas was safe now.
“They were trying to stabilize the car with chains, but the front end was a mess. There was nothing to hook the chains to. Cassidy ordered me off. The car was slipping, and there was nothing we could do.”
“Oh God,” Owen said. “What did you do?”
“They had the sunroof open. It was one of those huge panoramic ones.” Lucas grinned. “I just reached down and pulled her out.”
“You what?”
“I mean she stood, and Martin helped, but yeah, we got her out and down seconds before the whole thing slid over the edge.”
“It’s like something out of a movie.” Owen was astounded. “I can’t believe it.”
He tightened his arms around Owen. “Yeah. But my point is, not once was I tempted to bring any of them home.”
“You didn’t exactly bring me home. I ambushed you,” Owen murmured and snuggled into Lucas’s warmth.
“There you go, then. This is all your fault.”
And Owen smiled, despite everything.
“We need to check the battery.” The regret in his voice was obvious. Lucas let go and opened the car door. “We should leave it running for a while,” he murmured, then bent down to the pocket in the door and pulled something out. Lucas froze and Owen glanced down to see what had him so transfixed. It was a key ring, except it was the sort you could put photographs in. As he held it up, Owen saw the picture of Lucas holding Stevie’s arm up to wave at whoever was taking the picture. Lucas—in full uniform—was laughing. His joy was obvious.
“Jacko took it.”
Owen glanced up in surprise at the stunned whisper. He’d expected him to say it had been Tory. “It was the station open house. They have one every year, and we raise money for different charities. Tory came the first year, but she didn’t really enjoy it. After that, she’d just drop him off and then take her mom out to lunch.” He smiled a little. “Jacko and I used to do this skit for the kids. We’d pretend there was a baddie—an arsonist—who crept around and had me by the throat. We’d shout fire—that was the signal for me to drop—and Jacko would get whoever was playing the baddy with the hose. The water pressure was so strong, it would nearly lift them off their feet and throw them backward. The kids always thought it was hysterical.” He glanced back down at the picture.
“He looks so happy,” Owen said, his throat tightening. Lucas nodded.
“My favorite was the one of him in my helmet. He was holding it up with both hands and shouting Daddy at the top of his voice.” Lucas paused, his voice cracking. “I think it was in one of the boxes that Tory took. I always had a crappy phone. The pics were awful, so I stopped bothering. It was Tory who took most of the photos.”
“Didn’t Stevie’s grandparents have some you could copy?”
Lucas shook his head and straightened up a little. “They visited me at home the day after the fire. They made it quite clear that Tory and Stevie’s deaths were my fault. That they died because I left them alone too much. They said that they were arranging the funerals and that I wasn’t welcome.”
“No,” Owen said in disbelief. “Are you saying you didn’t go to Stevie’s funeral?”
Lucas shrugged. “What was the point in causing them more pain? Going to the funeral wouldn’t have made my family’s deaths easier for me, so why should I make it harder for them? They were the religious ones, and if they took comfort in that….” Owen put his hand over Lucas’s, and Lucas made some noise in the back of his throat, a hurt sound of anger, of need, of confusion. Owen couldn’t stand it and stepped in closer, wrapping his arms around the back of Lucas’s neck. Lucas dropped his head onto Owen’s shoulder and gave him a little of his weight.
They stood in that position for a moment. Owen luxuriated in being able to offer even a tiny measure of comfort to the man who had given him so much. Lucas lifted his head but didn’t step away. Owen had heard countless times in movies, in books, of time standing still. It didn’t. It was just that all his attention was laser focused on the lips in front of him. He wasn’t a hero. He had only done what he had been forced to do. He didn’t run into burning buildings or even save cats. It was Lucas who did that, over and over again. But in this small second in time, Owen felt powerful. He knew what Lucas needed, what they both needed, and he spread his fingers through Lucas’s hair at the back of his neck to urge him closer. Owen’s heart beat steadily, and with a confidence that amazed him, his lips tilted into a smile.
He needed this kiss. They both did. Lucas’s eyes seemed to darken in acknowledgment of what was about to happen. He could see the pulse in Lucas’s neck, beating so hard that Owen could imagine it drowning out the sound of his own heartbeat. Lucas’s lips parted, so close that they were sharing the same breath. A ghost of it warmed Owen’s skin. They had kissed before—a moment ago, then two days ago in the bathroom, when it had been the promise of so much more, and then hurriedly, in stolen moments. Lips brushing, arms holding, sneaking moments of intimacy whenever they got the chance, between Mia needing them and Mark being present. This was different, and Owen moved the fraction he needed to close the gap.
He caught Lucas’s eyes fluttering shut before he closed his own, before Lucas’s lips touched his, and before strong arms dragged him closer. It was very different. Lucas was strong, but Owen found his own strength and matched every movement. Their lips brushed and need parted them, Owen’s tongue delving into Lucas’s warm and willing mouth. Sucking, licking as if he would never get enough. A small groan seemed to break free of Lucas’s chest, and Owen jerked back. “Did I hurt—” But his words were swallowed whole as Lucas took possession of Owen’s mouth again, his arms tightening, their hands cradling each other.
It was Owen’s turn to moan into the kiss as his body tightened in response, and only the need for oxygen pulled him back. He panted as Lucas turned his attention to the skin on his neck, gently nibbling. “Oh God.” Owen’s jeans were suddenly so much tighter than before.
Lucas straightened up and glanced toward the cabin. “Do you think there’s any chance my brother has gone to bed?”
Owen shook his head. “But don’t you need help to get in the shower?”
Lucas’s eyebrows rose, and he smiled wordlessly, holding out his hand. This time, Owen took it with no hesitation.
Mark smiled at them as they walked back inside. He had already started eating, with Mia sitting on his knee. He nodded to the small kitchen. “I put yours in to keep warm. I know you mentioned needing a shower.”
Owen bent down to give Mia a kiss. “Do you mind?” He looked at Lucas. “I think you’d be more comfortable.”
Lucas snorted and threw his head back in a deep throaty laugh, ignoring Owen’s blush and Mark’s grin, and simply snagged Owen’s hand and guided him to the bathroom.
“Lucas,” Owen hissed in admonition as they went into the bathroom and shut the door.
“He’s a doctor.” Lucas shrugged as if that explained everything. He turned to Owen. “Come here.”
Owen sidestepped him and turned on the shower. It wasn’t instant hot water. “I need—”
“To be in my arms,” Lucas finished for him and pulled him close. He smoothed a random hair off Owen’s face.
“If I’m in your arms, I can’t undress either of us.” That was all it took for Lucas to step back and hold out his arms invitingly. Owen immediately complied, easily ridding Lucas of his jeans, socks, and Mark’s sweatshirt until he stood in a T-shirt and shorts. Lucas quirked one brow as if to ask why he had stopped, and Owen daringly decided to complete the last items very slowly, pressing small kisses to every part of skin revealed.
When he’d finished, Lucas was breathing very heavily, his cock jutting out, hard and dripping already. Owen deftly removed the square of padding over his wound and used the spray Lucas handed him.
“My turn,” Lucas said definitively, brooking no argument. Owen pulled in a steadying breath as Lucas took his time lavishing the same care on Owen as he’d received. Owen was dreaming. He must be. No one had ever taken their time to make Owen feel good. Sex as a teenager had been mutual fumbling in an effort to get off as quickly as possible. As an adult, Owen had either voluntarily been drawn to dominant men, or in the latter few years, the dominance had always been about control. In his innocence, Owen had gotten off in the early days on Damien getting off. Damien’s pleasure had fueled his own until it was too late to realize all his choices had been stripped away.
He had never had this, this give and take. Lucas was still guiding him where he wanted with small sounds of pleasure, his eyes closed in anticipation, but he took his time to discover what Owen liked as well. It had taken Lucas barely moments to realize the skin just below his ear was really sensitive.
Lucas moved back and clasped Owen’s hand, drawing him toward the shower.
“Are you okay?” Owen asked in concern. It was the most Lucas had moved since he had been injured.
“I won’t be unless you get in here,” Lucas said and stepped under the spray, pulling Owen in with him. The shower was amazingly large for the small cabin, and it looked recently remodeled. Then Owen—much to his embarrassment—realized why. Mark, of course. But he had stopped noticing the wheelchair after the first day. Mark was as large a personality, regardless of how he had to move around, and the wheels never affected his strength or capability.
“Turn around,” Owen urged, his fingers itching to wash Lucas all over. Lucas did, widening his legs and leaning forward against the wall with his fingers splayed. Owen started with the back of Lucas’s neck, then moved to his hair, his back, the wide strong muscles gracing his shoulders, and the long dip to his waist. His parted legs were an invitation Owen couldn’t possibly ignore, and the sounds Lucas made were all the encouragement he needed. He trailed his soapy fingers lower, pressing warm wet lips to Lucas’s spine, and cupped Lucas’s balls where they hung so temptingly.
“Fuck….” Lucas drawled out the word. “So fucking good,” he breathed. As much as he didn’t want to, Owen carried on lower and soaped Lucas’s wide thighs and calves.
“Turn back around,” he whispered, and Lucas did so. Owen took in the half-lidded stare, the flush on Lucas’s throat, the parted lips begging to be kissed, and started to sink down to his knees before Lucas caught him.
“No.” Lucas shook his head. “You never have to get on your knees for me.”
Owen smiled. “I know.” He cupped Lucas’s jaw, and Lucas brought his own hand under Owen’s, turning his head and kissing Owen’s palm. Owen felt the action much lower than Lucas had probably intended. “I want to.” Lucas’s pupils dilated in response to the admission, but in reality Owen loved this. He loved to be dominated. Loved to be in this position. When he was younger, he’d dreamed about doing this for someone who loved and respected him. He sank down unimpeded this time and licked his lips, focusing on Lucas’s cock. He bent his head, the spray beating down on his back, and took Lucas in one smooth movement.
Lucas arched in response, his hands resting gently on Owen’s head, and let loose a heartfelt groan. Owen tasted precum, and sucked and licked, grazing his teeth along the length, fondling Lucas’s balls as he felt him swell. Hands still soapy from Lucas’s skin, he felt underneath and fingered the skin along Lucas’s taint. The slight thrust of Lucas’s hips told Owen how good he felt.
“Owen,” Lucas growled warningly. “If you keep doing that, I won’t be able to stop.”
Good. He didn’t stop, but just increased his suction, and with the tip of his finger, found the rim of Lucas’s hole. He had a sudden realization that this was likely the first time someone had done this to Lucas, but the guttural groan and sudden pulse filling his mouth with cum effectively wiped away any doubt. Owen swallowed quickly and tongued Lucas until he felt the throbbing ease and drew back, suddenly shy. He felt Lucas cup his chin and raised his eyes to meet the hazel ones staring down at him.
“If I was back to full strength, I would lift you up, have you wrap both of those gorgeous legs around me, and fuck you until you didn’t even know your own name.”
Owen’s lips parted in shock, the dirty talk, the order, going straight to his own cock, and he stood on shaky legs.
Lucas smiled. “My turn.”