GirlNextDoor Page 2
“If you’re about to tell me,” Garcia said, “that you took a pity pass, I’m going to have to punch you in the kidneys.”
Krulak grinned. “Like you could even find my kidneys. It wasn’t pity, exactly. But there I am with this woman who keeps saying how much she wants to fuck a fireman, and I tell her I’m a paramedic like fifteen times and she keeps going back to wanting a fireman.”
“I am not seeing your point,” Lawson said.
The shed door opened and Nolan Crane came in. He looked, as always, bright-eyed and freshly washed and much too clean for the job. He waved his greeting and went to stow his lunch.
“The thing is,” John went on, “the whole time she’s talking, I keep thinking I know her from somewhere. Her face is familiar, you know? And then she shows me her cleavage and it hits me. Remember last week when Gossip Tonight had that story about Crush Segura having another mistress?”
“Hey,” Garcia protested, “the man’s the heavyweight champion of the world. He can afford as many mistresses as he wants.”
“He could,” Lawson answered, “until his last wife took every dime he had because she found out about it.”
“I thought they were in marriage counseling,” Nolan added as an aside. His tone said he wasn’t very interested.
“They were,” Garcia confirmed. “And then this story came out, he’s got a new one on the side.”
John grinned. “Right, right. Anyhow, I’m looking at this woman, and she’s giving me all the right signs, and all I can think about is how much she looks like Crush Segura’s new mistress.”
The two firemen paused, looked at each other. “He was in town last week,” Lawson admitted slowly.
“Yeah. That fight promo,” Garcia agreed.
Lawson turned back to Krulak. “So wait. You had a chance to bang the mistress of the heavyweight champion of the world and you took a pass? Man, that had to be some quality ass there.”
“Yeah, I’m sure it was,” John agreed. “But I’ve seen Crush Segura hit. And I am telling you, it was not quality enough to risk that kind of beating.”
“You’re sure it was her?” Garcia insisted.
“Not positive, no. But sure enough that I wasn’t going to touch her. And besides, she really, really wanted a fireman.” He threw his hands up. “So of course I had to send her over to Twenty-One’s table.”
The firemen burst out laughing. “You are such a bastard!” Garcia said.
“Hey, you guys are always saying how tough you are. If one of them wants to take a beat-down from Crush, I am not going to stand in his way.”
“I wonder if it was really her,” Lawson mused.
“Call Twenty-One and ask them.”
“Shit.”
“You had us worried,” Garcia said. “We were afraid you were off the skirt. And if John Krulak goes off the skirt, there’s just no hope for the rest of us.” He glanced at the other paramedic. “Right, Nolan?”
Crane shook his head. “No hope for me anyhow,” he answered dryly.
“Coffee’s done,” John said. He got down a mug for himself and another for Nolan. Lawson pushed past him and got down two more. “What the hell, guys? You just come over here to get fresh coffee?”
“Yeah,” Garcia answered. “And to bust your balls a little.”
“Damn shame,” Nolan offered. “That big fancy firehouse with those recliner chairs and that wide-screen TV, and they have to come out to the medic shed to get a decent cup of coffee.”
“Just goes to show you,” John agreed. “It’s all about your priorities.”
Armed with fresh coffee, the firemen finally went away. John sat down at the small table. The linoleum top had been white once. Now it was stained and yellow and looked as if it belonged in the little shed. “How was your day off?” Krulak had picked up an extra shift the day before, partnered with a part-timer named Neibecker.
Nolan shrugged. “Same old same old.”
He sounded just a little defeated, a little sad. John knew his partner had spent his day off alone, missing his longtime lover. “You should get out more, Nolan.” His partner just shrugged. “See people. Make new friends.”
“Yeah.”
“He’s been gone for six months, Nolan.”
Crane flinched and looked away. “It’s not him, John. It’s not Kevin anymore. It’s just…figuring out where I want to be now. Who I want to be.” He shrugged. “We were together a long time. Even when I don’t miss the cheating bastard, it’s still hard starting over.”
John stood and refilled his mug with the last of the fresh coffee. He immediately went through the routine of starting a new pot. Coffee was the lifeblood of first responders. He wished he could say something intelligent or comforting to his friend. They had been together, Kevin and Nolan, for ten years. Last fall, Nolan had stopped by their house in the middle of a shift to get a clean shirt and found Kevin in bed with another man.
“This,” John said, “is why I don’t get into long-term relationships. Love ’em and leave ’em. No complications. No rebuilding to do.”
Nolan smiled tightly. “Yeah, I know.”
“No, you don’t. You’re already looking for your next true love.”
“Maybe.” Nolan sat down at the far side of the table. “So, what’s the real story with the woman in the bar?”
John shook his head. “I told her I wasn’t a fireman. She didn’t care.”
“Why do you care that she didn’t care?”
“What, you think I want to be lumped in with those knuckleheads across the yard?” John gestured with his mug. “Those guys’ll hump anything that doesn’t run away.”
“Oh yeah,” Nolan nodded. “Whereas you have higher standards.”
“Well maybe I’m working to develop higher standards.”
“Riiight.”
“And maybe I’m just getting too old to tag every doe that crosses my path.”
Nolan still looked skeptical. “Crush Segura’s mistress, huh?”
John sighed. He couldn’t tell Nolan the truth. Not after Kevin, the way he’d been hurt. Hell, he couldn’t even tell himself the truth.
The motor that raised the overhead door beeped twice in warning and then slowly opened the door. “Night shift’s home,” John said in relief.
“Oh hell,” Nolan muttered, “Bennett was on last night.”
John growled. Bennett was a pig. The squad would be trashed whether they’d had any runs or not. He could think of better ways to start a morning than by throwing away someone else’s greasy fast-food trash.
He could think of a lot better ways.
*
Lucy Bellino said, “Let’s go out. Let’s go to a club or something.”
“Ehh,” her lover answered, “I don’t feel like it tonight.”
“You didn’t feel like it last night.”
“But I worked all day,” Alex complained. “You know how it is. Besides, the game’s on. I thought you liked baseball.”
“I like baseball,” Lucy answered. “But not every night.”
Alex smirked. “Yeah, honey, I know what you like every night.”
“True enough.” Lucy gazed at the TV, not really paying attention to the game. Two weeks ago Alex couldn’t get enough of her. Now she was just a distraction. “So is that why you asked me to come over?”
He grinned without looking away from the screen. “For the hot sex? Hell yeah.”
Lucy unbuttoned the top three buttons of her blouse. “Then let’s get to it.”
“Uhhh…” Alex finally glanced at her. He grinned even wider. “God, you’re gorgeous,” he said. “Just, uh, just one more inning, okay? We’re tied in the ninth.”
“Oh. Okay.” She slid to her feet and buttoned her blouse. “I’m just going to go then.”
She was at the door and slipping her shoes on before he reacted. “Baby, don’t be that way. C’mon, come back here. Just watch the end of the game with me, and then we’ll play some games of our own.”
“I’ll call you, okay?”
“Don’t call me.” She let herself out, closed the door softly behind her. She didn’t wait to see if he’d come after her. She knew he wouldn’t. And honestly, she didn’t care. She was as tired of Alex as he was of her.
She walked to the end of the hall and pressed the call button for the elevator. While she waited, she tugged her skirt down. It was a little too short, a little too tight. Just the way she liked it. Just the way Alex had liked it, two weeks ago.
There was a time when I would have driven myself crazy wondering what was wrong with me. Why can’t I meet a nice guy? Why do they get tired of me so fast? But not anymore. They’re all alike. All on the look-out for the next thing. And I’m just like them.
It’s all about the thrill of the hunt.
The elevator came and she stepped on, pressed the lobby button. As expected, Alex hadn’t come after her. Most of her lovers lasted a little longer than this. Usually a whole month passed before they got bored with each other. She’d known this was shallow from the word go. But he had the biggest blue eyes she’d ever seen.
Maybe if you stopped picking men based on their eye color or the size of their hands, you’d find one that’s worth more than one calendar page.
She shook her head as she walked across the lobby. No point in a man that lasts more than that, is there? Even if he wasn’t tired of me, I’d be tired of him.
The only man I wasn’t completely bored with at the end of a year was gay.
Thinking about Nolan made her smile, shook off some of her funk. She hadn’t heard from him in a while. She should check up on him.
But first, she decided, she was going out dancing.
*
One minute they were sitting at the little table, drinking coffee, and the next they were on their feet and John’s hand was on the back of Nolan’s head and he was drawing him closer. His eyes were warm and intense, and in them Crane could see his own desire reflected.
“John…” he said warningly.
“Shhh,” his partner whispered. His lips were very close now. Nolan could feel his breath on his face. He smelled like coffee, like good fresh coffee, but also like John—delicious, strong, passionate. Nolan’s heart lurched. Finally, finally. He closed his eyes and felt John’s lips on his. They were gentler than he expected. Soft. He wanted more.
“John,” he said again. And then, though it was the last thing in the world he wanted to do, he leaned away from his partner’s kiss. He opened his eyes and looked into John’s. “Not here,” he said regretfully.
“Okay,” John answered, and leaned to kiss him again.
It was dangerous. Foolish. Anyone could walk in, anyone could catch them. Nolan closed his eyes and gave himself to the kiss. John’s hand drew him closer. The kiss deepened. Nolan’s lips parted and John’s tongue slipped between his teeth, exploring eagerly. But there was still no demand in the kiss.
He’s letting it be my choice.
He wrapped his arms around John’s waist, slid one upward to his shoulders to pull his closer. The kiss deepened as he’d hoped. He felt John’s fingers stroke through his hair. Felt his other arm on his shoulders. Their lips and tongues fought gently to be closer still. Nolan’s skin felt alive, alert, his whole body aroused, aching for this man. Finally, finally.
John disengaged just a little. “C’mere,” he murmured, drawing him toward the couch.
The couch. Nolan glanced around. They weren’t in the shed anymore. They were in his living room. It didn’t matter. He sank onto the couch, into John’s embrace again, and their lips joined. His arousal grew more intense. He slid one hand under his partner’s shirt. Splayed his palm over John’s delicious warm abs. He groaned in pleasure, and John groaned back.
His cock ached in the confines of his pants. He wanted to be naked. Naked and stretched out next to John, on the bed, with lots of room and lots of time. It was all going to be so good…
For him. But what the hell was John doing here? “John,” he murmured, “you don’t know what you’re doing.”
Krulak grinned crookedly. “Then you’ll just have to teach me.”
Yes.
John brought one hand around and pushed him gently back onto the bed, moved over him to kiss him again, pulled up his shirt…
They’d been in the living room an instant ago.
“Ah shit!” Nolan said.
And just that quickly he was wide awake.
He slapped his hand down on the firm futon mattress beneath him. His back began to ache, as it did every time he slept on the un-bed. Across the coffee table, the little portable TV flickered the replay of the baseball game in silence. Otherwise the room was dark.
His cock has been bone hard, but it began to soften as soon as he was fully awake.
John was not here with him. John was not about to become his lover. John never would be, because John was straight. And even if he had been gay, John wasn’t interested in a relationship. Any relationship.
Nolan closed his eyes. Did that matter? At the moment, he’d have settled for one night. And the friendship. One night and their friendship would be enough.
And of course, one night would likely destroy their friendship.
“Shit.” Nolan opened his eyes and sat up.
It was stupid to be fantasizing about his partner. Stupid and dangerous. John had always accepted him exactly the way he was, but there had always been boundaries—on both sides. Crossing those lines, even giving a hint that he’d considered it, would change their balance, their relationship. No. Even if it were remotely possible, it wasn’t worth the risk.
“Besides,” Nolan said, rolling to his feet, “it’s just a rebound crush. He was nice to you when Kevin left, and you’re crushing on him because it’s safe.”
He looked around the living room. The good couch was gone, the comfortable chair, the wide-screen TV. Kevin had taken all of them with him.
Nolan became acutely aware that he was talking to himself. “I need to get a cat,” he said, still aloud. “Then I could pretend I was talking to the cat.” He shook his head. “Of course, I’ve never been much for pussy before.”
He shook his head and walked to the kitchen for a glass of water.
Except for that one weekend, he remembered.
“And it’s his own damn fault,” he said. “If he hadn’t made me fix his computer, I never would have known where he was surfing.”
He could not think about computers without checking his email. He knew there wouldn’t be anything important, but he was awake anyhow. He opened his browser and smiled wryly. He’d never had an impure thought about John Krulak until he found out the man was looking at gay porn on the internet.
“Well, maybe one or two,” he admitted to his monitor. He sighed. “Damn. I really do need a cat.”
Men—and women, he presumed—would look at lots of things on the internet that they had no real interest in pursuing. Nolan knew better than to think that John was interested in any actual gay sex just because of what he’d found in his browser history. It was just his own fantasy. His own wishful thinking.
John did not want to be here with him, having wild sex on his crappy futon.
Kevin had taken the bed too.
“I have got to buy more furniture,” he said.
The idea of shopping alone for furniture filled him with dread.
He had one new message. The name of the sender made him smile. He’s just been thinking about her, though he’d barely acknowledged it. The only woman he’d ever slept with. The only woman he’d ever want to shop for furniture with.
The message was brief, and only five minutes old. She’d been thinking about him and just wanted to check in.
“Lucy, my love,” he murmured, “how do you always know?” Nolan smiled and reached for his phone.
*
Lucy’s phone rang and she eyed it balefully. It was probably Alex, wanting her
now that his precious baseball game was over. As if, jackass. Still, she was curious enough to pick it up and check caller ID. The name made her smile in relief and genuine pleasure. She pressed the green button. “Nolan!”
“Hey, Lucy. I’m sorry to call so late.”
“You knew I was up. I just sent you an email.”
He hesitated, and she could see his shy smile in her mind. “Yeah.”
“You okay?”
“Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine.”
Lucy frowned. She closed the lid of her laptop and settled back on her couch. “Nolan.”
“I am,” he said firmly. “I really am. I think I’m finally…over it.”
“Thank God. It took you…” Lucy stopped herself. This was Nolan. He was who he was. “I’m glad you’re feeling better.”
“I was wondering. Do you think you could come up some time?”
“I can come up tonight if you need me to. You know that.”
“No,” Nolan answered. “It’s not urgent. I’m fine, Lucy, I really am. I was just thinking I’d go buy some new furniture and I’d kinda like your advice.”
Lucy bit her lip, hard. In addition to breaking Nolan’s heart, that prick Kevin had taken most of his furniture. Fucking bastard. A string of additional expletives flew through her mind.
Only the fact that Nolan had loved the evil bastard kept the words behind her teeth. “Okay,” she said.
“Wow,” Nolan chuckled, “you really had to work at that, didn’t you?”
“You have no idea.”
“Thanks, Lucy.”
“For what?”
“For not telling me what you think of Kevin.”
“I told you once,” she reminded him.
“I know. And I said I loved him, and you never said another bad word about him.”
“Well, not to your face.”
“Yeah.”
Her control cracked. “Even though I was totally right about him.”
Nolan sighed, but he still sounded cheerful enough. “I know. So come help me refurnish.”