Embracing His Syn, page 28
Syn couldn’t hold his chuckle anymore.
“What’s so funny?” Furi said in his sexy morning voice, not bothering to open his eyes.
“You. Aren’t you still fucked-out?” Syn asked, his voice just as froggy.
“Well, my dick has a mind of its own.” Furi finally opened his eye and Syn immediately got lost in their depths. He couldn’t think of a comeback. Syn’s eyes roamed over the gorgeous man in front of him. Even with sleep in his eyes and his hair in an unruly heap, he was still the most beautiful sight in the world. Syn’s face must’ve revealed his thoughts because he felt Furi’s palm cup his cheek.
“I know,” Furi whispered.
Fuck. He knows. Wait. Knows what? How? Furi couldn’t possibly know. Syn buried his face in Furi’s chest and let the man stroke his tense back. He couldn’t let Furi have all the power. If he put his heart out there too fast there was no telling what the man would do with it. Furi had never indicated that he was ready for a full-on relationship, especially with his divorce not being final yet. He was sure Furi didn’t want to fuck around but that didn’t mean he was ready to pick out China patterns with Syn either.
“Don’t hide from me.” Furi gripped Syn’s short hair at the nape of his neck. “It’s okay.”
Syn squeezed Furi’s shoulders, holding him close.
“Not until you’re ready, okay? I’ll be right here when you are,” Furi told him softly.
Syn was thankful that Furi didn’t press the issue. He wasn’t ready for a heart-to-heart and he didn’t want to be considered a sap falling for a man after only knowing him for three weeks.
“What are your plans for today?” Furi changed the subject
Thank goodness.
“Nothing. I’m off today, unless I get called in.” Syn rolled back and settled onto his side of the bed. My side.
“Oh. Cool. I gotta go to the shop and accept a delivery at four,” Furi informed him. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and ran his fingers through his hair.
Syn cleared his throat, hoping Furi was giving him this opening. “You wanna get some breakfast, maybe catch that new action flick that came out last week? I was gonna go by myself today but if you’re not busy.”
Furi turned slowly and revealed his shit-eating grin. “Awww. Are you asking me on a day date, Syn? That’s so sweet.”
Syn flipped Furi off and sat up in bed grabbing the remote so he had an excuse to ignore Furi’s teasing.
Furi sauntered around to Syn’s side of the bed and yanked the remote out of his hand. “Don’t try to ignore me.” He mock glared at Syn.
Syn moved fast, grabbed Furi around his narrow waist and twisted, throwing him back on the bed. Furi grunted loudly and Syn dove right in, biting and making loud snarling sounds against his neck.
Furi laughed uncontrollably and Syn realized that he was laughing just as hard as Furi tried unsuccessfully to get out of his grip. “Okay! Okay! I’ll go with you,” Furi yelled.
Syn stopped gnawing at Furi and got off the bed, walking into his closet. “That’s all you had to say in the first place,” Syn said easily.
“You asshole.” Furi propped himself up on an elbow and watched Syn across the room. Syn noticed Furi didn’t start to get dressed until Syn was completely finished. Those dark eyes tracked his every move.
By the time they’d finally stopped playing around, it was after noon. Syn took Furi to a nice bar that was situated on Lake Sinclair. When Syn told Ruxs that he loved any kind of seafood. The man had quickly recommended it. Syn was biased coming from up North; it just seemed natural that they had the best seafood. But Ruxs had been right. The atmosphere was laid back since they were serving the lunch crowd, and the service was friendly. After six the restaurant turned into the locals' favorite dive and karaoke bar. Syn didn’t sing but he and his day date sure as hell enjoyed the wonderful fried crabs.
After the movie, Syn walked around Savannah with Furi on his arm. When he wanted to hold his hand he did. When he wanted to wrap his arm around his waist he did. When he wanted to kiss him he did it like his life depended on it. Syn enjoyed every minute of it, but he did it partially because he needed to show Furi that he was proud to be seen with him in public. Syn ignored some of the uncomfortable stares and instead focused on the most wonderful man he’d ever known.
Walking through the streets of Savannah was like something out of a movie set. Cobblestone roads, historical landscapes, three-hundred year-old architecture and shops of all kinds lined the streets. Fall colors and hundred-year-old weeping willow trees shaded the park they strolled through. Furi stopped suddenly and leaned against a massive tree trunk to watch a large riverboat dock.
“That thing is huge,” Syn remarked, leaning into Furi’s side.
“Yeah they have dinner cruises.”
“Really? You wanna go on one?” Syn said before he even thought about it.
Furi looked at him in shock, before the look quickly turned to appreciation. “Yes,” he grinned. “When?”
“Tonight, if they have one.” Syn gave Furi a fast kiss and yanked on his arm, pulling him along behind him. They ran across the park, both of them grinning like lovesick fools. Syn strode up to the ticket booth and looked up at the board displaying the cruise times. Syn pulled Furi into his chest and crooned in his ear. “Ohhh, they have a twilight cruise at seven. How’s that sound? A riverboat ride at sunset, dinner on the water, then you in my arms on the top deck under the stars.”
Furi wrapped his arm around Syn’s neck and let his head fall to the side so Syn could keep whispering.
“Then back to my place for dessert.”
“Have you always been this romantic?” Furi breathed heavily against the side of Syn’s face.
“Absolutely not,” Syn answered honestly and turned to purchase their tickets.
Syn drove Furi to the shop so he could sign for his delivery. He didn’t want to be away from him even for a second, which was a crazy new feeling to him. But he wouldn’t crowd him. Furi needed to handle some business so he would give the man his space.
Syn had to take his hand off Furi’s thigh so he could answer his cell phone. He saw it was Day and put it on speakerphone.
“Yeah, Day. What’s the word?” Syn greeted, cutting right to chase on the decision of Furi’s protective order.
“It’s done and I had Ruxs and Green serve it this afternoon.” Day’s grin could be heard through the phone.
Syn and Furi turned and smiled at each other, remembering how intimidating those two detectives looked. There was no way Patrick and Brenden would want to go up against them. They were the muscle of the taskforce so Syn could only imagine how they served that order. Surely Furi’s ex was on the first thing smoking back to Charlotte.
“Ask Furi if he's gotten any phone calls from asshat today.”
“Wait how’d you know he was even with me?” Syn glanced a look at the phone.
Day pfftd. “Yeah right, just ask him.”
Furi spoke up, his deep voice filling the small space of Syn’s truck. “No I haven’t. Thank you very much Day, I really appreciate your help man.”
Day’s voice dropped a couple octaves and rumbled back through the speaker. “Call me Leo, darlin. And just how appreciative are you willing to be, Furious?”
Click.
Syn disconnected the call and tossed the phone into the console. Furi laughed so hard he had tears coming down his cheeks.
“I’m glad you think he’s funny. I think I’m going to give him a chop to his fucking throat when I see him,” Syn grumbled. He pulled into the parking lot of Furi’s shop and stopped right in front of the first auto bay door.
“I have about a half-hour before the delivery is supposed to arrive and then I’m going to hang around for Doug. Why don’t leave you truck here and I’ll tune it up for you? Is there someone close who can pick you up?”
Syn smiled. “Alright. There’s always someone close. I’ll have Ronowski pick me up. I got some files to look over in the office before we do the ecstasy bust tomorrow.”
After Furi unlocked the garage-style door, Syn pulled his truck in. He got out and followed Furi into the shop and was awed at how much they’d gotten done in the past week. “Baby, it looks great in here. I love the checker board floors.”
“Thank you. My dad’s bike will be here soon. I can’t fuckin’ wait. It’s tricked out real cherry.” Furi’s face was full of pride and Syn basked in it. He loved that Furi was finally going to have what he wanted out of life. Syn just hoped he could be a part of it too.
Furi tied his hair into a ponytail and pulled on some well-used, dark blue coveralls. He pulled his sweater over his head, revealing the tight wife beater underneath. All that lickable ink for Syn to feast his eyes on. Furi tied the arms of his jumpsuit around his waist, letting them hang low on his narrow hips. Syn had to keep from salivating on his shirt. Damn. Furi was sexy as fuck. What man could make a dingy pair of coveralls look so good? He’d never seen one until now.
“You keep staring at me like that and I’m going to show you what I can do with some of these tools.” Furi smirked at him.
Syn’s eyes snapped back up to Furi’s face but he wasn’t the least bit embarrassed at being caught. Syn’s phone buzzed. Ronowski texted he’d be there in a couple minutes.
Furi had already jacked Syn’s truck up in the front and was lying on his creeper.
“Are you sure I need a tune-up? It sounds like it runs fine to me.” Syn leaned against a huge red toolbox talking to Furi’s bottom half while he clinked away under the truck.
“You would.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Syn frowned.
In a smooth motion Furi rolled from under the vehicle. “I mean you don’t know how to take care of your vehicle. This truck will be an antique in six years. Meaning it will be over twenty-five years old and it still runs. But it won’t for long if you don’t take care of it.”
“I do,” Syn grumbled.
Furi gave him a ‘whatever’ look before jumping up from the board. “Lie down and slide under, I want to show you something.”
“No.”
“Yes. Go on get under there,” Furi said gesturing at the board. “Unless you’re scared to get a little smudge on those pretty hands.”
That did it. Syn furrowed and clumsily dropped down on the creeper, almost falling off one side. “Fine, what now?”
Furi was clearly stifling a laugh at Syn’s expense but he wasn’t going to be a baby about it. He’d prove Furi wrong. He did not consider himself pretty at all. He could probably do whatever Furi asked him to do as long as he gave him clear instructions.
Syn rolled under the truck and surveyed the dirty parts. Furi had a light clipped to the bumper so he could see. “Alright. I think everything looks in order,” Syn called out.
“Oh yeah?” Furi called.
“Yeah.”
“Reach up and unscrew the drain cock right in front of you,” Furi instructed.
Syn didn’t want to ask, but what the fuck was a drain cock?
“Look up. It’s the largest bolt,” Furi clarified.
“I know that,” Syn lied. “I need a tool.”
“No you don’t. Just twist it off,” Furi said humor lacing his voice.
Syn started to unscrew the bolt when a nasty thick substance started to ooze out. “There’s a bunch of shit leaking out up there, Furi.”
“Oh no! Is it red or green?” Furi hurried.
What the fuck? “It’s red.”
“Fuck! Get out of there! Get out of there, now! Hurry!” Furi hollered.
“Shit, shit.” Syn scrambled from under his truck, awkwardly rolling off the board and running away from the truck. Syn looked back and saw Furi doubled over, dying with laughter.
“Oh you little bastard.” Syn ran full speed at his little prankster. Furi ran around the truck trying to get away from Syn while still laughing hysterically. Syn caught Furi easily and pulled him into a tight bear hug squeezing him. “You shithead.”
Furi huffed, trying to catch his breath. Syn didn’t want to laugh at being fooled but Furi’s laughter was contagious and Syn found himself laughing at the clever trick. “You should’ve seen your face,” Furi joked.
“I’m glad you're entertaining yourself at my expense, baby.” Syn spun Furi around to face him. The man was simply wonderful and such a breath of fresh air. Syn loved how fun Furi was with him. He hadn’t laughed like this in years. Actually, he couldn’t remember laughing like this in his life. Syn couldn’t help but be elated that he could make Furi so happy too.
Furi huffed against Syn’s cheek. “Forgive me. I couldn’t resist. You’re such an easy target.”
Syn sucked hard on Furi’s neck making him cry out at the stinging feeling. “You drive me crazy Furious but I love you anyway.”
Syn was still chuckling until he’d realized what he’d said and noticed the very quiet, stock-still man in his arms.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Syn didn’t want to show his face. He slowly lowered Furi back to the ground. He’d told Furi he loved him, after only a few weeks. The man was going to think he was crazy. Syn heard a horn honk and remembered that Ro was picking him up. Thank you Ro for impeccable timing. Syn needed to get the fuck out of there. He pulled back from Furi but couldn’t meet his eyes.
“Um. I um.” Syn thought of backtracking, but there was no point.
“Syn, it’s –”
Syn cut Furi off. He didn’t want to hear the rejection and he was ninety-nine percent sure that Furi wouldn’t reciprocate his feelings. “T-that’s my ride. I g-gotta go,” Syn stammered. Looking horrified he turned on his heels and hightailed it out of there. Syn got in the dark un-marked car and slammed the door shut. He could still see Furi standing at the garage door out of the corner of his eye.
“Drive, Ro,” Syn gritted out, his voice full of emotion.
Ro looked at him a second before he took off. Syn refused to look in the side mirror, not wanting to see a look of repulsion on Furi’s face. “Fuck,” Syn groaned.
“Now what’d you do?” Ro cut his eyes at him.
“I fucked up man.” Syn rubbed his eyes tiredly.
“Let’s go to my place. Fuck the office. I think you could use a stiff one.”
Syn looked up in annoyance.
“I mean a drink,” Ro laughed
Everyone was full of jokes today. But Syn didn’t really feel like laughing right now.
Furi stood there stunned as Syn jumped in the black Lexus and disappeared. He turned to go back into his garage, running his hands through his hair and pulling at the ends. Love. He said he loved me. “Love,” Furi whispered to himself. He didn’t know if it had been a slip-up, like someone said they love pie. Or if he really meant love and freaked because he didn’t want it out yet. Kind of like Furi. He felt it was too soon to say the words. But Furi would give Syn some time and then he’d tell the man it was okay, because he loved him right back. He didn’t care about a goddamn timetable.
‘Love Never Felt So Good’
After a couple hours Furi called Syn but he got no answer. No sooner had he hung up, when Ronowski called him right back.
“Hey, everything alright?”
Furi frowned at the receiver before finally responding with a drawn-out, "Yeeeeees." It registered a few seconds later that though Syn didn’t answer, he made sure that one of his men did, just in case Furi was calling because he was in trouble. “I’m fine. I want to speak to Syn.”
“He’s in the bathroom,” Ronowski replied too fast.
“Seriously,” Furi scoffed. “Put him on the goddamn phone.”
There was some shuffling and muffled curses before Furi finally heard Syn’s voice. “Yeah?”
“We have a date in an hour and a half,” Furi said softly, his anger gone as soon as he heard the man’s voice. Syn was scared and Furi couldn’t blame him. He was too. But sticking your head in the sand didn’t make shit disappear.
“I have to cancel. I have a ton of work to do. I’ll call you,” Syn said in a pained voice.
“Syn, wait. It’s okay, I feel like–”
“I’ll call you soon,” Syn cut him off. Furi heard the call disconnect and looked at his phone in utter shock that Syn had fucking hung up on him.
Furi was not going to let Syn run from him. He must’ve thought Furi didn’t feel the same way, but he’d bolted before he could reply. Otherwise he would’ve known that he felt exactly the same.
Furi called Syn’s phone back but it went to voicemail again. “Stubborn bastard,” Furi muttered. He’d finished the tune up on Syn’s truck and even managed to change all the fluids. The deliveries were all locked up and Doug had left thirty minutes ago. Furi was glad his friend had stayed in the office most of the afternoon because he would’ve easily noticed Furi’s distress. He wiped a few smudges off the hood and tidied up his workspace. Furi realized he was smiling while he locked up his shop. Syn loved him. Furi looked at his phone and saw he only had an hour to get home and cleaned up and then to Savannah for their cruise. He was gonna have to call a cab, he wouldn’t have time to wait for the bus. “Wait a minute. I have a perfectly fine truck right here.” Furi grinned. He raised the bay door and jumped in the driver seat to back the truck out. As he drove off he wished his new apartment over the shop was finished so he could simply go up there and shower but he still had quite a bit of renovating to do before that loft would be livable. Furi was buzzing with excitement. New shop, new home, new love. Everything was finally coming together nicely for him. Out with the old, in with the new, was Furi’s new mantra.
Furi called Syn again when he pulled up to his small basement apartment. No answer. Damn you for making me do it this way. Furi would have to text him.
I’ll be on the dock in Savannah by 7:15. Hopefully the man I love too is there to join me, since he promised to hold me in his arms under the stars.
Furi made sure to use extra conditioner in his hair and blew it dry so it was extra soft just the way Syn liked it. He was dressed in the only pair of khaki’s that he owned and a soft, black cashmere sweater his Aunt Susan got him for his birthday. He dripped on an expensive fragrance sample that he’d picked up at a department store and was back in Syn’s truck flying down the interstate. He had eight minutes to get there on time. Last thing he wanted was Syn to get there and not see him. Although Syn didn’t reply to his text, he was certain the man wouldn’t stand him up after reading it.
