Burn Zone, page 15
part #1 of Hotshots Series
“Yup. But you don’t want to spend all week miserable.” Leaning down, Garrick clapped him on the shoulder. “You need to rest up. Lingering dehydration is no joke, and there’s always the chance you picked up a bug on the weekend.”
Weekend. Fuck. Was this Linc’s fault? Too many late nights? Too little sleep? Had Jacob drunk enough during the building? Had the sex worn him out too much? His own gut churned, guilt and concern bubbling up like toxic sludge. He knew how much Jacob wanted this. He had to be truly hurting to tap out like this.
Garrick helped Jacob to his feet, steadying him when his legs wobbled, and the urge to reach for him was so strong that Linc had to clench his fists and plant his feet to keep from moving.
“Reid. You guys need to finish.” Sims gestured at him and Ray. “We’ve got this.”
The last thing he wanted to do was leave Jacob hurting and unhappy, but an order was an order. He trusted Garrick and McKenna to take care of the rookies, but that didn’t cancel out the urge to be the one hovering.
“They’re right. You both need rest.” He didn’t let his eyes linger on Jacob too much, not wanting to risk giving too much away. “You take care. You don’t want to miss out on the jumps later in the week.”
“Exactly.” Garrick dropped his voice, saying something to Jacob in low tones that Linc couldn’t make out.
“Let’s go.” Ray sounded as resigned as Linc felt, but he didn’t want to give Sims reason to repeat her order either.
Reluctantly, he finished the course, mind churning. Not long after they finished, an ATV pulling a small cart came by loaded down with Jacob, Kelley and their gear.
“He says he’s good to drive back to his place,” Garrick reported. He’d apparently finished the course himself before doubling back to check on the rookies, and the extra mileage showed in the tight lines around his face and sweat dripping down his neck. “One of us should maybe check on him after work.”
“I will.” Linc kept his voice firm, not too eager, but not allowing Garrick to talk him out of it either. He’d already been planning on that himself, distracting himself on the finish to the course with thoughts of electrolyte beverages and soup for Jacob.
“Good.” Garrick shook his head. “Never thought I’d see you as the mother hen, but you looked almost as sick as him out there.”
“It’s not that.” Linc made a dismissive gesture. “More that I know how much he wants this. Failing training would gut him.”
“He’s not gonna fail.” Garrick sounded a lot surer than Linc currently felt. “He’s in good shape. Just had a bad morning.”
Because of me. Shit. Maybe he’d have had an easier time of it had he gone to Portland. Again the guilt took hold of Linc, made it hard to breathe.
“He’ll get it.” He tried to make himself believe the words.
“Tell him we’re all pulling for him,” Ray added. “And it’s good to see you guys friendly again. Nice work on that play structure. You make a good team.”
Yeah, we do. Linc’s throat tightened. He liked them better as friends too, liked being a team more than he should. And as much as he didn’t want to care, didn’t want to be this concerned, he was. He wasn’t going to rest easy until he saw for himself that Jacob was okay.
Chapter Thirteen
A loaded cement truck had nothing on the weight bearing down on Jacob’s shoulders. His head felt like a wrecking ball had smashed into all his logic centers, making the world fuzzy. After protesting that he didn’t need rest, he’d slept most of the afternoon, first time napping since he’d had the flu several years back. But he wasn’t sick. Just stupid.
He’d fucked up. Hadn’t modulated his fluid intake right. Had pushed too hard, wanting to show off with one of the best times, hadn’t calculated for the effect of all the excess weight of the gear. And hell, Kelley at least had the excuse of being slightly hungover from her weekend fun. He was simply a dumbass. And her getting ill was at least partly his fault as well—he’d set too brutal of a pace for both of them. And now look at what had happened. Everything riding on the retake. Fuck.
A knocking at his trailer’s door cut through his still half-asleep brain. And somehow he knew even before he stumbled to the door who it was.
Linc.
His breath hitched as he opened the door to reveal the man himself standing there, two grocery bags in his arms.
“What are you doing here?” His voice came out all croaky.
“Checking on you. And from the way you sound, you need it.”
He swallowed, trying to get the cottony feel out of his throat. “I’m fine.”
“Yeah, right.” Linc shook his head, apparently not buying it. He held up the bags. “Can I come in? I brought you some stuff that might help.”
“Yeah. Okay.” He stepped aside so that Linc could come into the small space. The trailer had never felt as small as it did with Linc standing in the entryway. “Aren’t you worried about being seen here? People talk.”
“Eh.” After he set the bags on the narrow counter, Linc made a dismissive gesture. “Garrick told me to come. And Sims told me what brand of electrolyte beverage to get for you.”
“Oh, well, if you got permission, by all means.” Making a sweeping arm movement, he pointed at his small built-in couch at the rear of the trailer. “Make yourself at home. We wouldn’t want to waste your Get Out of Jail Free card.”
“It’s not like that,” Linc protested as he unloaded the bags, ignoring Jacob’s unspoken order to sit. “I would have come anyway. I just meant we don’t have to worry. Which I would think you’d want. Thought you were all about convenient excuses.”
“Only when they don’t backfire.” Stretching, he groaned. And even if Linc wasn’t going to sit, he was. He sank onto the bench seat in the tiny eating nook opposite the kitchen area.
“So, it was the work this weekend? Overdid it, you think?” Sounding defeated, Linc uncapped a bottle of a popular sports drink and passed it over.
“You don’t need to go blaming yourself. Honestly, I think it was my stupid ego. Pushed too hard, too fast. Forgot to pace myself and to drink water slowly. The sun this weekend probably didn’t help, but if you’re thinking it was the sex, you’re nuts.”
“I kept you up late.” Apparently intent on making himself at home, Linc rustled around in Jacob’s limited kitchen until he came up with a pot.
“And I loved every minute.” The beverage was helping him feel more human and put more oomph in his voice. “Real talk, I wouldn’t change a thing about the weekend.”
“Good.” The tips of Linc’s ears turned pink, and he looked away. “Me too.”
“So what are you cooking me?” Still feeling foolish for earlier, he probably wasn’t the best company, but he also wasn’t turning down Linc’s cooking. Or him.
“Soup. The canned stuff is crap—full of sodium and other stuff you don’t need. This will sit right with your stomach.”
That Linc cared enough to make him something from scratch was better than any pain reliever at removing some of the weight from his shoulders.
“Thanks. Can I help?”
“You can take a shower.” Linc’s nose wrinkled. “I’m betting you just came back and collapsed?”
“Something like that.” Jacob gave a self-conscious laugh. “And I’d invite you to join me, but it’s barely big enough for me. Your master shower has spoiled me.”
“Well, I’m glad someone appreciates it. Tiling in there was a bitch.” As usual, Linc shrugged off the praise. “Go. Shower. And we’ll see what you’re up to after the food.”
“Is that a proposition? Please?” He grinned at Linc as he grabbed a towel.
“We don’t want you worn out for tomorrow...”
“Then you can do all the work.” Winking, he headed for the shower before Linc could come up with more reasons why they shouldn’t fuck. Now that Linc was here, he was feeling way better, and sex sounded like the perfect distraction from all the ways he’d screwed up.
Despite the cramped quarters, he took his time in the shower, not jacking off, but doing plenty of thinking about what they could do after dinner.
“Are the dogs going to be okay?” he asked Linc when he emerged, not bothering with clothes beyond a pair of briefs. If his lack of dress bothered Linc, so much the better.
“Yeah, I stopped off there for some herbs for your soup and fed them early, checked the water, and made sure they had access to their run. They’re fine.” Linc dished up the soup into the only two bowls Jacob owned, both castoffs from his mom, one with snowflakes and one with superheroes. “Eat slow, okay? I don’t want you puking up my hard work.”
“I won’t. You really brought herbs for me?” Somehow that touched him even more than the rest of it.
“Didn’t trust you to have dried stuff on hand.” Linc shrugged. “And it’s nothing that special—chicken breast, couple of vegetables, a little rice for body.”
“Well, it smells great.” He took the seat opposite Linc at the table. “I’d praise you for figuring out my kitchen setup, but this probably wasn’t your first time cooking here, right? Is it too weird being here?”
He hated bringing up Wyatt, but he didn’t like dancing around the fact that this was his old place either.
“I probably made a hangover cure here a couple of times. Not sure. We didn’t hang out here a ton—I was gone a lot back then. And it’s cramped. Wyatt was always one for having his whole crowd together. Can’t really fit more than two in here.”
“Not comfortably at least. I’ve tried.” Jacob laughed before tasting the soup. Linc was right—it was simple, but good. Creamy with the rice, subtly seasoned with rosemary and onion, and soothing on his stomach.
“Don’t tell me that.” Linc made a sound that might as well have come from a prissy maiden aunt for all its self-righteousness.
“I didn’t mean an orgy. God. Just friends hanging out.” He took another bite, then added, “Honestly, you’re the first date I’ve had over in a long time. I’m not nearly as wild as you seem to think I am.”
“This isn’t—”
“A date. Yeah, you tell yourself that, but generally a guy shows up to cook for me, brings a beverage and doesn’t mind me being in my underwear, it’s a date.”
“A sports drink is hardly the same as wine.”
“That’s your defense? You brought me four flavors. Come on. Admit it. This is a booty call with a side of you wanting to check up on me.”
Linc cared, Jacob knew he did, and with his eyes, he tried to dare him to admit it.
“I told you. Everyone was worried about you. Me included. We can’t afford to be down a person, not this late into training.”
“Oh, come off it. You’d be relieved if I dropped out, and you know it.” Now he was back to the same exasperation, knowing full well that Linc wouldn’t shed any tears if he couldn’t pass the test on a second try.
Huffing out a breath, Linc took his time answering. “That’s not fair. Yeah, I’d rather you not put yourself in danger, especially when your mom’s been through so much. That hasn’t changed. But I also know how much this means to you. I get it now. You’re not simply being a reckless kid here. You want this. And I respect that. Not saying I like it, but I respect it.”
“You do?” Jacob’s chest pinched, Linc’s respect even more satisfying than his praise, soothing a need he hadn’t even known he’d had.
“Yeah. And I’d be lying if I didn’t admit you’re good at the job, today notwithstanding, and you’re hardly the first rookie to tap out on their first pack-out test. Like you said, puking with extreme exercise isn’t that uncommon. I’ve done it myself and battled heat exhaustion more than a couple of times.”
“I’m going to pass the next time,” he said firmly.
“Yeah, you are,” Linc agreed with a sigh. “And so I’m trying to make my peace with you being on the job. I didn’t come here to gloat or to try again to change your mind.”
“Then why’d you come? Really?” He kept his voice soft, wanting to coax out a real answer.
Groaning, Linc set down his spoon and pushed his bowl aside. “Fine. I needed to see for myself that you were all right. I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep until I saw how you were doing. That okay?”
“Yeah.” Jacob liked knowing Linc was there for his own reasons, not just because the others at work were worried or because he felt responsible. But he cared. And maybe Jacob wasn’t ever getting him to admit that, but he did. “I’m glad you came.”
“You just like my cooking.”
“That and I want to get laid.” Jacob let himself make light. He knew the truth, and that was enough for now.
“I noticed.” Linc dropped his eyes to Jacob’s lap and his red briefs, desire clear even if he refused to say it.
“You like it and you know it.”
“Maybe. Finish your soup.”
“Yes, sir.” Jacob gave him a mock salute before digging back into the soup. “I promise I’m feeling better. More than up for work tomorrow. And you tonight.”
“Don’t wear those to work.” Linc’s eyes still hadn’t left his briefs.
“You like them.” He preened and let his legs fall open as he took the last bite of his soup.
“You look ready to accept tips at some Portland go-go bar.”
“Ah. You’re worried if I wear them to work, people might start slipping fives in my waistband?”
“Fine. I like them. Happy?”
“Thrilled.” He grinned up at him as Linc stood, collecting both their empty bowls.
“You go lie on your bed while I wash up.” He gave him a purposeful look, but Jacob didn’t move.
“You cooked, so I should help.”
“Nope. You said you wanted me to do all the work.”
“I meant—”
“Yeah, and if you want that, you’ll rest up.”
“Fine. Evil taskmaster.” He headed for the bedroom that was essentially only a bed, a door and some built-ins. Pausing at the door, he turned. “Linc?”
“Yeah?” Linc looked braced for more argument from him.
“Thank you. For coming. And for cooking. And for...just...thanks. That’s all.”
“Anytime.” Linc’s expression softened and he looked like he wanted to say more, but then he sighed. Making a shooing motion, he returned to the dishes, leaving Jacob to ponder what he’d been about to say while he arranged himself on his bed.
He didn’t bother with the TV on the wall—no sense in pretending they were going to do anything other than fuck. And he’d barely had time to scroll through his phone messages before Linc was kicking off his shoes and joining him on the bed.
“Kelley says she’s feeling better,” he reported as Linc plucked the phone from his hand.
“Good.” Linc set his phone back on the shelf, crawling toward Jacob.
“I feel bad. I pushed the pace too hard on her. And it’s my fault she had to do all the driving on her own this weekend.”
“A very wise guy once told me that guilt is pointless. It’s not your fault, but if it makes you feel better to apologize...” He held Jacob’s phone back out.
“I did.” God, he certainly didn’t deserve either Kelley’s forgiveness or Linc’s kindness, but he’d do his best to be grateful for both. “Right now I just want to forget about my own stupidity for a while, you know?”
“Been there. And you’re not stupid.” Linc rubbed his shoulder, voice reassuring before his touch turned more seductive, trailing down his arm. “But I’m happy to help. Roll over.”
“Yes, sir.” He loved how Linc’s eyes turned feral. Hungry. And Jacob was only too happy to be dessert.
Pulling off his shirt, Linc stripped down to his black boxer briefs. “You got stuff?”
“Drawer next to you. Expiration date is good—”
“I’m sure.” Linc’s arrogance was going to land him out on the steps, neither of them getting what they wanted.
“Because I just bought them. Last week. After we started fucking around.”
“Sorry.” At least he had the grace to look contrite. And instead of yanking off Jacob’s underwear as he’d expected, Linc straddled his hips, thumbs digging into Jacob’s neck.
“What are you doing?”
“Work. As requested, I believe.” He kept up the firm massage, strong hands loosening long-held knots in Jacob’s neck.
“Ass. You know what I mean. This isn’t fucking.”
“Nope. It’s not. Good that you noticed.” Still moving with maddening slowness, he worked over Jacob’s shoulders and biceps next, all the muscles that still ached from hauling the heavy gear that morning. “Settle down. You’d think you’d never had a massage.”
“Not from you.” And if he was honest, not one in a bed like this. Sports medicine ones, sure. But not a lover. Felt...strange. Intimate. Especially coming from Linc, who was usually so careful about keeping his distance on all levels.
“First time for everything.” Linc gave his ass a gentle slap, and a snippet of an old fantasy flashed in Jacob’s brain. Not that his actual first time had been that traumatic or anything, but there was something about the notion of it being Linc, not Tyler, that was particularly seductive. Linc wouldn’t have made him flip for who was bottoming and then made him feel bad for “losing.” And Linc would have lasted more than two minutes. But mainly, Linc would have been Linc.
“Oomph.” He couldn’t hold back a groan as Linc worked a particularly tense muscle around his shoulder blade. “Okay, you’re good at this.”
“Good.” Linc laughed. “Kinda winging it, to be honest.”
His humbleness was endearing to the point that Jacob had to turn his face into the pillow, reluctant to reveal how this gesture made his insides all gushy. But then Linc leaned forward, adding kisses to the mix, and Jacob’s inner marshmallow roasted as lust replaced sentiment. He already had plenty of evidence to say that Linc was almost as oral as he was, and the guy was definitely obsessed with Jacob’s neck. But tonight, he took it to another level, raining kisses down Jacob’s spine, licking over his shoulder blades, tongue even more devastating than his hands had been.
