“Here,” Ben said, setting the bag of donuts next to him. “Would you like a drink?”
“I’ll get it,” Dom said. He met Jesse’s eyes, his gaze dark. Jesse’s heart skipped.
Gods, this wasn’t over, not by a long shot.
Dom grabbed a permanent marker and a paper cup. Then he wandered over, pausing before he wrote JESSE in large letters across the side.
It always felt so strange when Dom used that name.
“What do you want to drink?” Dom scooped some ice into the cup.
You wasn’t the correct answer. Not right now, anyway. So Jesse pulled out one of the sodas he’d brought along, cracking it open. He had half a mind to take his cup from Dom, too—he didn’t need Dom waiting on him.
Except Dom came up to his side, smelling deliciously like blackwood. He eased his fingers between Jesse’s hand and the soda bottle. Tingles shot all the way up Jesse’s spine.
“I can pour it myself,” he muttered.
“Allow me.” Dom tickled his palm. “Release the bottle, Sinclair.”
And now Dom was speaking to Jesse, and Jesse alone. Jesse tried awfully hard not to smile.
“You like this,” Dom whispered, his sharp gaze missing nothing. Then he leaned in and pressed a kiss to the corner of Jesse’s lips, and Jesse’s entire head went up in flames.
“Oh,” York said.
“Seriously? You didn’t know?” Alec elbowed him.
Jesse wanted to burrow into the ground like an ostrich. “Nothing happened!”
But Dom only growled, sliding his arm around Jesse’s waist in a smooth, possessive gesture. “Anyone hits on him, you answer to me.”
York gave a catcall. Alec winked. Ben beamed so brightly, Jesse felt even more embarrassed.
“Gods.” Jesse wanted to go home. He was done here. Then Dom pressed the paper cup into his hand, full of fizzy soda.
“Sorry.” Dom met his eyes. “Should I not have?”
“I don’t know.” Despite how awkward he felt, none of the other guys had actually judged them. They’d gone back to chasing the kids, or tending to the barbecue, or... not minding him and Dom at all. Like this was a normal thing.
Dom pulled him closer, his touch warm and sturdy against Jesse’s back. It was... comfortable. Good. Jesse had been curious about being held like this back when he’d seen it happen with Gareth and Flores, except the reality of it was so much better. Dom was holding Jesse, his touch a very visible claim.
Dom kissed him full on the lips, a firm slide of skin on skin, his breath brushing across Jesse’s cheek. Jesse leaned into him, needing more. He’d been missing their kisses for weeks.
“About time, Dom,” Gareth said behind them.
Startled, Jesse shoved Dom away, spilling soda all over the table. Dom scowled. “Leave us alone.”
But Gareth only rolled his eyes. “Yeah, tell me that the next time you treat everyone to a show.”
Jesse groaned, grabbing some napkins to soak up the spill. Gareth’s omega, Flores, came up to help. Then Dom joined in, and they had the table dry in seconds.
Dom still had his arm around Jesse’s waist, like he didn’t want to let go.
“So,” Gareth said speculatively, looking between Dom and Jesse.
“Stick your nose elsewhere,” Dom told him.
“Worried I’d steal yours?” Gareth laughed. “I’ve already got my own boy, Dom.”
Flores blushed, digging his elbow into Gareth’s ribs. But Gareth’s observation made sense. It seemed that both Gareth and Dom had a thing for younger partners.
Or does he just like me because I’m young and he thinks he can boss me around?
Jesse wasn’t sure what he thought about that.
“Mine,” Dom growled, tightening his arm around Jesse. Despite his thoughts, Jesse’s heart tumbled. Another flush threatened to crawl up his face.
“I’m going to cook some food,” Jesse muttered. So he could duck under the radar for a bit. He slipped away from Dom, heading over to where Perry, York’s omega, was poking at the charcoal. At least, it was quiet there.
Some time later, when they’d gotten the hot dogs lightly grilled, Jesse searched out Dom again. The rest of the team had shown up; Dom was in the middle of all the adults and children, sitting at the tables with some foam project boards.
Someone had drawn a giant snake across the boards; the older kids were painting it with vivid colors.
“Oh, no,” Perry said next to Jesse. “I thought Caleb was making things up when he told us about the snake truck.”
“Harris gave Alec the go-ahead,” Jesse said. York and Perry’s son, Caleb, was something of a snake aficionado. Then he’d gotten his best friend, Izzy, in on the obsession. Somehow, the trouser snake innuendo had become an inside joke at the station. “So Alec’s taking a snake truck to their school next week.”
Perry groaned, covering his face.
“It’s just snakes,” Jesse said.
“If all the alphas at the fire station have snakes, then does that mean you can build a giant snake house in there?” Caleb asked, pushing his large glasses up his nose. “So all your snakes can come out and play together?”
Perry started choking. Jesse wasn’t sure if he should help thump Perry’s back.
“But we’ll need to see pictures!” Izzy added. “Or do you go to each other’s houses to show off your snakes?”
“I’m sure the snakes have a great time together,” Alec said, clearing his throat. Perry just coughed harder. Jesse finally gave in, thumping on Perry’s back so at least he was helping.
In his excitement, Caleb’s paintbrush flew through the air and hit Dom square in the face.
Yellow paint splattered all over Dom’s nose and cheeks. Jesse thought Dom would grumble. Instead, Dom handed the paintbrush back with a grin, wiping the paint off his face.
That was... unexpected.
Soon after, a toddler raced around and crashed into Dom’s back. Flores ran after the child, sheepish. But Dom just turned the kid around, nudging him back. And the look on his face... it was soft. Friendly. Maybe a bit wistful.
With a jolt, Jesse realized that Dom did actually want a child. He’d seen Dom with kids at the various station open houses, but he hadn’t paid
