Light My Fire

ONE YEAR LATER

Luke

“Hey, Chief!”

I turn and see one of our new hires, Tristan, holding a puppy to his chest. “Yeah?”

“Can we keep this one for the station? Just look at this face.” Tristan turns the puppy and lifts him so they’re cheek to cheek. “The station needs a mascot.”

“You’re our station mascot,” I tell him with a grin and shake my head. “No.”

Tristan grumbles, but he doesn't seem surprised or particularly disappointed. He sets the puppy back down in an area gated off for a dozen dogs, ready for adoption.

"This is incredible," Jackson says, clapping me on the shoulder as he stops beside me. He gives a hearty sigh of satisfaction. Thanks for letting us have this event here."

Our fire station is hosting an adoption event for Jackson’s rescue shelter. “Of course.”

It's a beautiful spring day in the city, and dozens of people have already attended the event, which started only thirty minutes earlier. Some were drawn here by social media, which Jackson excels at, and others were just wandering by.

“It pays to have a girlfriend whose brother is a hockey goalie who brought this city a championship,” I say, gesturing to where Blake Wilder and Racketeers star player Crew McNeill are signing autographs and chatting with fans.

Luna McNeill has donated baked goods for the event. She's talking to Elise, who is dressed in a skirt with poodles on it and is draped over Aidan Burke.

“It definitely does,” Wyatt says, strolling up to us and overhearing my comment. “For more than one reason. I love our seats at the games. Blake is not my favorite thing about Brooke, though.” He gives us a grin.

I snort. “Not even fucking close.”

The last year has been incredible.

Loving Brooke and having a relationship with Wyatt and Jackson has brought me fulfillment that I didn't even know I was missing. Or maybe I did, but I was too stubborn to seek it out. Or maybe—and this seems most likely in my mind—I just needed to meet Brooke.

"Where is our gorgeous girl?" Jackson asks his head on swivel.

We all do that—seek out Brooke.

I was friends with these guys before and trusted Wyatt with my life, but we've gotten even closer over the past twelve months because we share Brooke in common. We love her—separately and together. Some people might think she's the glue that holds us together, but Brooke is more of a gravitational pull for us guys.

The reality is, at this point, we're all a unit—a family.

It's something I'd never expected to have, and I fucking love it.

“She’s got a line over there,” Wyatt says.

He gestures to where Brooke is behind a table on the side of the station. She has what looks like a chihuahua on the table, shaking like a leaf, while an older woman stands anxiously hovering.

Jackson's non-profit is footing the bill for her to be here giving free health screenings for pet owners who can't afford a vet visit. Brooke is donating her time, but Jackson has arranged a voucher for a neighboring clinic if more extensive medical attention is needed. It makes me damn proud of both of them.

“I guess we won’t see her for a while,” Jackson says. “I might as well go eat some nachos. I don’t want to interrupt her.”

Aidan Burke is manning a grill for hot dogs, and several other guys are passing out nachos to the attendees. Kids are getting balloon animals and their faces painted at various tables around the parking lot, and I'm just enjoying taking it all in.

A little boy around six or seven runs up to me, juggling his nachos. “Hi, how do you become a firefighter?”

I kneel and tell him, "You work hard in school, listen to your parents, and make sure you run lots of laps in gym class. You have to be physically fit."

“Do I have to have a beard?” he asks.

That makes me laugh. “No. You do not have to have a beard.”

"Cool. I can run fast." As if to prove it, he runs away, spilling half his basket of nachos.

When Jackson walks away, Wyatt glances over at me, the corners of his mouth turning up. He’s trying not to smirk.

"What?" I ask, crossing my arms over my chest. I'm wearing our casual black pants and T-shirt, with a logo sweatshirt over it. The sun is shining, and I'm determined not to let Wyatt get a dig in on me or goad me into something stupid like a hot dog-eating competition.

“You’ll be a good dad.”

It's an unexpected compliment. "Thanks," I say gruffly.

It's something the four of us have talked about down the road once Brooke feels firmly established in her career. But only Wyatt knows I have an appointment to see a doctor about getting my vasectomy reversed. I don't want Brooke to feel pressured to have a baby before I even know if it's possible with me.

I told Wyatt because I trust him and he can't stand being out of the loop. He's the family fucking cruise director, who has to be involved in everything.

I've also learned that the mark of a real man is understanding that you can't keep everything inside you all the time.

You have to share yourself with those you love.

“I can go to the doctor with you, if you want.”

“No.” I draw the line hard at that. “I’m not ten.”

Wyatt grins. “Hardly.”

"Go mingle," I tell him, glaring at him because he expects it and, frankly, enjoys it. "This is a community event. Be friendly. You're good at talking shit."

Wyatt laughs. “Sure thing, Chief.”

Two hours later, the nachos are gone, and Aidan has shut the grill off. Ten of the twelve dogs on site have been adopted, and the remaining two have good prospects for forever homes. Brooke has only had to refer two animals to the clinic. The others had minor ailments that only required her to give some advice to the concerned fur parents.

Wyatt already has Brooke in his arms, and is kissing her.

“You’re still at work,” I tell him. “I’m not paying you to make out with my girlfriend.”

Wyatt breaks free of her and wrinkles his nose at me. “Can I leave early?”

“No.”

He grumbles and steps away from Brooke.

I promptly go to her and pull her into my arms. “Hi. I missed you. I feel like I’ve barely seen you today.”

Brooke smiles at me. “I missed you too. But this was a good day.”

“It was.” I bend and give her soft lips a gentle kiss.

It immediately turns into something more, and her arms snake around my neck.

I always have the best intentions to be gentle and tender with Brooke, but then we always turn up the heat. It's just how we are together. I don't question it anymore. She likes getting it rough from me.

“Hey!” Wyatt protests. “You’re at work too.”

I haven’t forgotten he’s standing there. I just don’t care. “I’m the boss.”

“Mm,” Brooke says. “I love being with the boss.”

She's kissing my neck now, which is driving me fucking crazy. I set her firmly away from me before I take her into the station and fuck her in the hose bed of a truck. I've only done it once, but it was worth the risk. I'd had to clamp my hand over her mouth while she was coming. Thank god we had Wyatt to keep watch for us—yet another perk of a poly relationship.

The second I step away from her, she goes right back to Wyatt, which doesn’t shock me. She goes up on tiptoes and kisses him lightly. “I’ll see you at home.”

Home. The word has even more meaning now.

About a month ago, we all decided that we were ready to live together full-time. But instead of leaping into buying some big-ass house in the country, like Jackson had tried to do before, we all agreed it was wise to rent a house and see how the space works for us individually and together as a foursome. It's right around the corner from the firehouse and just three blocks from Jackson's new shelter. It's also an easy commute for Brooke to the clinic.

Jackson returns to my side as Wyatt grips Brooke's ass. The jeans are loose-fitting to make working with the animals comfortable, and Brooke is wearing an oversized sweatshirt, but I still get hard watching Wyatt caress her ass.

When he finally releases her, she turns to Jackson. “I’m so proud of you,” she tells him. “This event was amazing.”

“It really was,” I echo.

“The best,” Wyatt agrees. “And we were lucky—it was a light day call-wise.”

We had an extra crew on site, but it was still an easy day.

Jackson gives us a big grin. “Thanks.” He cups Brooke’s cheek and kisses her forehead. “Ready to head out?”

But Brooke pulls back and gives him a stern look. “Jackson Hill, do you have a puppy in your hoodie?”

I start. What the hell? I look at Jackson closer, and yes, his hoodie pocket is wriggling, and a tiny black head has popped out, and the puppy yips.

Wyatt laughs.

“I can explain. I’m just bringing him home until he gets adopted, which I’m sure will be tomorrow. Monday at the latest.”

“Jesus fucking Christ,” I say. “Don’t we have enough dogs already?”

“We only have Henley, Nugget, and Angel,” Jackson protests. “That’s hardly any.”

Tank went to his parents. Aidan took Henry, and one of Brooke’s cousins took Licorice.

“That feels like plenty,” Brooke tells him. But her expression is soft. “But I love how much you love all these animals.”

“What breed is this?” Wyatt asks, reaching out and petting the puppy in Jackson’s sweatshirt. “My parents have been looking for a puppy but they couldn’t be here today since they’re in Florida for a week.”

“It’s a labradoodle. We can just keep him until your parents get back. That’s perfect.” Jackson beams.

It's also been incredible to watch our families accept our unique relationship. None of our friends or family have had an issue, and Brooke's grandmother is probably our biggest champion.

Speaking of, Heidi Wilder appears out of nowhere. “Sorry to interrupt, but Blake and Elise are taking me home now and I want to say goodbye.”

She presents her cheek to each of us for a kiss before hugging Brooke. "Let me know when I can come over and see the new rental house."

“Of course, Gran. Probably next week.”

Heidi eyes all of us. “You’re welcome.”

We don't even ask what she's talking about. She takes credit for our relationship, and she's not wrong. She did put the whole thing in motion by having us arrive at the cabin early. Hell, she probably arranged for the blizzard. She's a force of nature herself.

Heidi walks back to Blake and Elise.

Brooke reaches out and squeezes my hand. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

She pats Wyatt on the butt, which makes him grin. “And I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“Jackson, I love you and I better not fall in love with this puppy or I’m going to be upset with you.”

“I love you too. And you know you will and you know you’ll forgive me.” He pets the puppy tenderly. “We’re both very cute.”

She shakes her head. “You are.”

It always amazes me how she makes each of us feel special and loved.

That doesn't mean I'm not aware that tonight, she and Jackson will be at home alone, naked, while Wyatt and I are on shift. I'm good at compartmentalizing, but we've established a good routine. On my Mondays off, I get Brooke's pussy first. Tuesday is Wyatt's day. Jackson has Saturday's solo, so he gets no say in our group sex.

Which suits him just fine.

It works. It all just fucking works.

I lean over and murmur, “I’m going to fuck you so hard Monday, just to show my appreciation for what a great woman you are.”

She shivers and drags her tongue across her bottom lip. “I’m going to get down on my knees for you to show you my appreciation for what a great man you are.”

I growl a little. “Damn, woman. Is it Monday yet?”

But while I look forward to Monday, the truth is, I enjoy every day.