DESIRE ME IF YOU CAN [EN] - Chapter 37 - 37

In the meantime, the house continued to collapse. Just when they thought time had run out, firefighters placed a ladder where Dane stood.

Absurdly, Dane handed the dog over first. Only after another firefighter received the animal from below did he step down the rungs one by one. The moment his foot touched the ground, the building collapsed completely. Firefighters rushed him, cheering.

“Dane! Daaaaane!”

“You bastard, do you know how worried we were? You're unbelievable!”

“Classic Dane! I knew you'd make it!”

“Charlie, Charlieeee...! Sob...”

“Alright, Dane. Rest now. We'll handle the rest.”

“Someone give Dane some oxygen, hurry!”

The figures of his colleagues—patting his shoulders, hugging him, pouring out words of worry and relief—blurred before Dane's eyes. Someone grabbed his arm; another slapped his back hard, repeating, “Are you okay?” Their faces were a mix of relief, excitement, and lingering tension.

Amidst all that attention and commotion, however, Dane simply said:

“Anyone got water?”

At the nonchalant words spoken while sweeping back his tangled red hair, everyone scrambled to offer him water bottles.

Only after inhaling fresh oxygen and hydrating sufficiently did Dane regain his senses. The fire was almost extinguished; firefighters wandered around, handling the remaining tasks.

That was when he met the gaze watching him. As Dane turned his head, his eyes locked with Grayson's immediately. Staring at him for a moment, Dane finished his water. Putting down the empty bottle, he spoke first.

“What? You got something to say?”

No provocation in the question. Rather, the annoyance in his tone was likely genuine. He had just crossed the line between life and death moments ago.

Grayson, who had only stared at Dane silently, wore a faint smile. Is this the time to smile? Dane wondered briefly, not dwelling on it. While he waited silently for an answer, Grayson spoke slowly.

“Aren't you gonna tell me I'm not cut out for this, or that I should try something else?”

Those were the words Grayson had been hearing until just moments ago. Of course, it wasn't the first time he'd heard such criticism. A guy who acts however he wants without considering others, you don't belong here, this job doesn't suit you. Here, one more would likely be added.

Something like, ‘It makes no sense for a guy like you to work as a firefighter out of a sense of duty.’

Thinking this guy would say the same, Grayson waited. Is it time to listen to some self-righteous lecture now?

“Why would I?”

At the indifferent reply, Grayson paused. To Grayson, staring at him motionless, Dane spoke with the same weary face.

“It's your life. How you live it is up to you.”

Saying that, Dane grabbed a new water bottle. Opening the cap, he guzzled it down. Grayson just stared at him, eyes wide with surprise.

...What is this guy?

They say when the platypus was first discovered, no one believed in its existence. Grayson was now tasting the feeling of the person who first discovered one. What did that guy think when he first saw that absurd creature? Just like me right now.

What the hell is that bastard?

Grayson looked at Dane with a confused face. Dane, looking tired as if he had absolutely no interest in others anymore, just sat on the sidewalk in front of an unburnt house, gulping down water.

Found the Best Boobs

1

Naomi Parker, an Oscar-winning actress, was memorizing a new movie script while holding her precious puppy. Just as she put a biscuit in her mouth, picking up freshly brewed coffee, the phone rang out of nowhere. Curious about the late-night call, she checked the number and soon brightened. It was a fellow actor she had been close with since her debut.

“Yeah, it's me. What's up? Sure, of course. Why? What is it?”

Answering the phone happily, Naomi nodded along, saying yeah, yeah, before starting in surprise.

“What?”

She shot up from her seat without thinking; the script on her lap fell to the floor. She didn't care. The news was that shocking. Holding her puppy preciously under one arm, unlike the script, Naomi continued the call.

“Grayson Miller became a firefighter? What does that mean?”

“I don't know either. How it happened.”

A bewildered voice continued from the other side.

“I saw it by chance; Grayson Miller was wearing a firefighter uniform! I looked again several times too. I'm 99% sure. I called you just in case. You're close with Grayson Miller.”

“Very close.”

Naomi said through gritted teeth, smiling.

“Close enough to want a front-row seat at his funeral.”

“Really? Anyway... check it out. The search term is…”

Her friend, unaware of Naomi's deep inner thoughts, told her how to search. As soon as she hung up, Naomi opened YouTube, searching as instructed. The video showed a fire in a certain village. In the footage filming several burning houses, numerous firefighters moved busily. Except for one person.

“Oh my god! It's true!”

Naomi shouted inadvertently, hurriedly pausing the screen. Fingers trembling from shock, she rewound, paused, and played it again. No matter how many times she watched, it was the same. There couldn't be another face like this with this physique in the world.

As her friend said, the person caught on camera was undeniably Grayson Miller. A tall stature well over two meters, an overwhelming silhouette created by long limbs. Above all, those striking purple eyes.

Jesus. A firefighter? Him?

She couldn't believe it even seeing it with her own eyes. Grayson Miller and a firefighter—could there be a more mismatched combination? That must be why everyone was surprised, filming it.

“Oh my god, wow, oh my god.”

Repeating exclamations while looking at the screen, looking up, then looking back, she stroked her chest, barely organizing her thoughts. If this man was doing something so unbecoming, there was only one reason.

To find that fated mate.

“People never change.”

Naomi was so dumbfounded that only laughter came out. Disgusting bastard. She cursed Grayson inwardly. She could never forget the insult he had given her.

Naomi got to know Grayson during the period she had a contract with his friend, Keith. Keith Pittman was an Extreme Alpha, too; single at the time, he relieved his pheromones by changing partners periodically. That was when Naomi signed a new contract with him.

Unfortunately, the period wasn't long. No, on the contrary, the duration was much longer than other partners, yet they barely did that deed a few times. After being together a few times in the beginning, Keith didn't seek her out; the days just passed by vaguely. On paper, she was Keith's pheromone partner; in reality, she did almost nothing.

In the meantime, Naomi got to know Keith's friend, Grayson, naturally sleeping with him. Boasting a colorful history with men herself, she didn't hesitate to sleep with someone if she liked them. In that sense, she and Grayson were on the same wavelength.

Besides that, Grayson was a decent partner. Knowing how to say the right sweet things and being quick-witted, he never offended her. It wasn't serious, yet she maintained a friendship, thinking he was a good guy. Until one day, that illusion was shattered.