Page 8 of Tides of Love

Antonio stood in front of a stove, wearing nothing but boxers and an apron, while flipping what smelled like blueberry pancakes with ease. Lucky stared at Antonio’s back as he moved. The way the muscles rippled beneath his skin, rolling and flexing as he reached for something made Lucky’s mouth water. He looked soft in the morning light. Antonio’s hair was messy, sticking up at odd angles and there was a shadow of stubble on his cheeks.

He was certain his heart skipped a few beats when the man began to hum a soft tune.

“Morning…” He whispered, announcing his presence. Antonio’s shoulders tensed before he turned his head, a wide smile creasing his face.

“Morning to you, hermoso.” If Antonio kept calling him so sweetly, Lucky wasn’t sure what he would do…

Closing the distance between them, Lucky wrapped his arms around Antonio’s waist from behind. He pressed a kiss to Antonio’s spine. “Mm if those are really blueberry pancakes I’m smelling; this might be the best morning after I’ve ever had.”

“Oh? Then I’m pleased to not disappoint.” Antonio moved the pancake he was working on to a plate already stacked with four. “Come around here…”

Lucky peered under Antonio’s arm, squeezing him tightly before relinquishing his hold. He moved as requested, laughing when Antonio set the spatula aside to lift him by the waist. Antonio placed him on the counter beside the stove.

“Are you going to let me have a taste or do I have to beg?” Lucky swung his legs back and forth.

“I love hearing you beg, but not for food.” Antonio ripped off a piece of warm, fluffy pancake and held it to Lucky’s lips.

Taking the pancake into his mouth, Lucky flicked his tongue against Antonio’s fingers as he pulled away with a pleased moan. “Delicioso.” He liked the way Antonio’s eyes darkened, “Do you cook often?” He looked so comfortable in the kitchen.

Antonio nodded, “I enjoy it. Though I admit I’m more of a meal prep on my days off and then heat it up during the week type. Work makes it hard to cook every day.”

“Speaking of, do you have to go in soon?” He looped his arms around Antonio’s shoulders. He accepted another piece of pancake when it was offered. Lucky pressed a light kiss to Antonio’s lips, smiling as the man squeezed his hip.

“In…” Antonio tilted his head to peer at a digital clock on the stove. “Two hours.”

Lucky teased his fingers into the hair at the base of Antonio’s skull. “Then… Why don’t we make quick work of these pancakes and take a nice, relaxing shower. Together.”

“You are temptation incarnate.” Antonio groaned. Lucky laughed and ripped off a piece of pancake for Antonio to eat.

They didn’t make it to the shower.

6

Antonio

Antonio’s hair was still wet when he pulled up to the station. The shower ended up being a rushed affair after they decided to make better use of the kitchen. Antonio wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to cook again without imagining Lucky bent over the marble counter.

He took five minutes to sit in the car, going over the sudden turn. His phone had Lucky’s number. His car smelled like Lucky. With his schedule, he didn’t find a lot of time for trysts…

A knock on his window startled him. “You coming, Captain?”

Rubbing a hand over his damp hair, Antonio climbed out of the white Jeep. Unfortunately, there was little time for daydreaming. The station was already bustling with the shift change. Some of the crew headed to the bunks to get some shut eye for the double, others trudged out to the lot eager to get home. Others, like himself, were fresh faced from a full day of rest and ready to throw themselves back into the grind.

The station was small but comfortable. He spent a good amount of money refurbishing the place and it was certainly worth it. Every time he walked in, he could hardly believe his dream was a reality.

“Stop spacing out, Tonio!” A hand slapped his back roughly. His head was clearly trying to cling to poetic thoughts and Lucky’s thighs if Mateo got the jump on him.

“Mateo you were supposed to be gone by the time I got here.” He checked his watch, “I’m ten minutes late, why are you still here?” He raised a brow.

Mateo laughed, rubbing the back of neck. “Ah, had some paperwork to finish is all. There was a fire overnight… Normal kitchen fire, but we stepped in to bring water, food, you know.”

The island was flush with beauty, but its true treasure blossomed in the heart of her inhabitants. Search and Rescue was more than saving tourists from sprained ankles. It was about stepping in long past moonrise to make sure the permanent residents were taken care of after a tragedy. A fire might burn a house, but their job wasn’t done when the flames were doused.

“Good, good. Well, if your papers are done you’d best head home. I don’t want another complaint filed by Misha because I kept you late.” He snorted.

“Yeah… yeah.” Mateo sighed, then clapped him on the shoulder again to push him towards the locker room. “Which means we should get changed and complete hand-off.”

Their lockers stood beside each other. A very intentional desire to have his best friend close in the stressful environment they called a job. From young, adrenaline addicted twenty-somethings to the captain and vice-captain of the squad. With mindless ease born from years of the same, Antonio stripped his shirt off without a thought.