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Station Thirteen #2

Not Safe for Command

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He’s my lieutenant. I’m his rookie mistake. We’re not just a bad idea—we’re a violation of every rule in the book.

After a grueling wildfire training in the mountains, all I want is one drink, one night to breathe, and zero contact with Ellis Miller—my grumpy, infuriatingly hot lieutenant who’s been riding me harder than any of my past superiors.
But luck’s not on my side as I’m forced to share a room with him for the night.
He’s still pissed—because I threw myself into the flames without thinking. Because I scared him. And because—maybe—he wants me too...

TROPES /
🔥 Age gap (38/24)
🔥 Taboo romance (lieutenant/subordinate)
🔥 Bi-awakening (one MC)
🔥 Grumpy/sunshine
🔥 Forced proximity
🔥 High heat with sweet romance
🔥 Firefighters galore!

Not Safe for Command is a 40k-word, forbidden age-gap firefighter MM romance novella with HEA. This is the second installment in the Station Thirteen series, but it can be enjoyed as a standalone.

169 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 27, 2025

39 people are currently reading
52 people want to read

About the author

Jenny Pineapple

32 books55 followers

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5 stars
86 (44%)
4 stars
70 (36%)
3 stars
33 (17%)
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5 (2%)
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
Profile Image for Kati *☆・゚.
1,340 reviews730 followers
March 22, 2026
4.25**** stars
♡ Ellis Miller & Cain Dawson


DELICIOUS!! Two firefighters. One straight (-laced) lieutenant and an unruly rookie with a crush.

Hell, they were soooooo cute together and hot af.


This will not be the last I’ve seen of this author’s novellas!!

************
Station Thirteen

Book 1 - Bite Before You Kiss - 4.0 stars
Book 2 - Not Safe For Command - 4.25 stars
Book 3 - Just Like Friends - 4.25 stars
Book 4 - Only for the Camera - 4.5 stars
Profile Image for Drache.... (Angelika) .
1,575 reviews241 followers
Read
October 13, 2025
Dnf 43% no rating.
My advice: be sure to switch off all brain cells that usually ask for logic and probability before starting this.
I tried, but I failed.


Ok I can't not give examples (and yes I know it would be fun to occasionally be able to switch off my brain).
A fire fighter acts impulsively (it's a big part of his personality), and runs against orders during training in a fire to "save" a dummy. Lol. His lieutenant saves his life at the last second. Guess who the two love interests are?
Guess if the two MCs locked the door to the showers in the fire house full of their collegues, where fully clothed but obviously completely wet MC1 (the straight lieutenant) ate out the showering MC2's ass?
Profile Image for Renae Reads.
790 reviews796 followers
July 30, 2025
Ellis Miller and Cain Dawson have incredible chemistry, and I loved their story so much. They have the perfect elements to create a fantastic romance—shared attraction, forbidden aspects, and of course, forced proximity. These elements make the reveal of their attraction both sincere and intense.

Another aspect I loved about this story is the journey these two undertake. They both quickly realize they care for each other much more deeply than they anticipated, leading to some heartwarming moments that culminate in a powerful emotional scene toward the end.

Overall, I couldn't get enough of these two and adore this series so much.

*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.***
Profile Image for Cath.
46 reviews1 follower
March 20, 2026
5/5 ⭐️

UPDATE: Changing my rating from 4 to 5 stars, because I can’t stop thinking about this book.

I’m a sucker for Jenny Pineapple’s shorts. There’s just something about them that makes them so fun to read. Maybe it’s her ability to give the characters so much depth without needing to write a full-length story. It’s fascinating.

This was almost just as good as the second book in the series. It’s very steamy, a bit angsty, and has just the right amount of tension and drama. It’s also slightly longer than the rest of the shorts, but the length feels just right.

Highly recommend it if push-and-pull is a dynamic you enjoy!
Profile Image for Paige.
771 reviews13 followers
August 6, 2025
This one was longer than the first book in the series and I felt it was just right. I actually really enjoyed this. The push and pull between these two due to their forbidden interest. Cain is a firefight and Ellis is his supervisor/Lieutenant. Cain has been eyeing up Ellis for a while now since he started at their station. Ellis has never looked at a man that way before but something about Cain draws him in.

I could have done without Ellis having both an ex wife and an ex gf. I felt like the ex gf didn’t add anything to the book, she wasn’t really needed. She does make an appearance to drop his shirt off that was left at her place but there’s no feelings left on either end. The ex wife shows up because they have two daughters together but she’s remarried and I liked how she silently encouraged Ellis and Cain’s relationship. They only wanted and looked at each other the entire book.

I will definitely be reading some more by this author.

NO CHEATING
NO OP DRAMA
NO THIRD ACT BREAK UP
AGE GAP 24/38
FIREFIGHTER/LIEUTENANT
BI AWAKENING
HFN (I love yous)
Profile Image for Nicole.
248 reviews16 followers
September 19, 2025
Review for Not Safe for Command by Jenny Pineapple

Another juicy, wonderful story by Jenny Pineapple. I started it late last night and couldn't go to sleep till I finished it lol. I just found Jenny Pineapple a short time ago, and all I can say is I need more. If you're looking for a great juicy story with a great plot, this is for you.

Nicole Harvey
Received an ARC for an honest review
Profile Image for Latecia Jennings.
2,373 reviews10 followers
July 31, 2025
OMG...this was good. The right amount of angst...nothing too sappy. The bi-awakening was real and the love that developed was sweet. The age difference wasn't a big issue but the level of command was the biggest hurdle to overcome and well that wasn't so bad and resolved itself towards the end. Ellis and Cain romance was wonderful and I give it 5 stars.

I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review
Profile Image for Tare.
380 reviews32 followers
November 30, 2025
This was fun. Age gap, bi-awakening, firefighters!
Profile Image for Sara Husser.
496 reviews7 followers
January 5, 2026
👨‍🚒 A Lieutenant And His Subordinate 🔥🌞

"Jesus Christ. I'm standing in the middle of a work function with a raging hard-on for my lieutenant and a butt pug pressing against my prostate. This has to be rock bottom."

"I want him to see me, to want me. I want to watch his face when he realizes just how desperately I need him."

"You dirty boy. No wonder you couldn't sit still. You've had this inside you the whole time we've been talking. Is why you're so distracted? Because you were full and aching?"

"Lieutenant Ellis Miller just ate me out like his life depended on it and walked away without a single word."

"Then he looks at me, and the warmth in his eyes steals my breath. It's something deeper. Gratitude. Understanding. A shared secret."

"I've been fighting this since that night in the hotel room. Trying to be the responsible one."
"And now?"
"Now I'm just a man who can't resist you anymore."

"I'm in love with Cain Dawson. With his recklessness and his courage. With the way he charmed my daughters. With how he looks at me, like I'm something worth fighting for. With how he risked everything tonight to save my child."

I don't know how I haven't read much from this author because everything I read now, I love so much. I was so happy this story was longer too. This had some great troupes like bi awakening, age gap, grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, and taboo romance (lieutenant/subordinate). The spice in this was hot af 🔥🔥🔥🔥. I loved the firefighting scenes and the side characters as well.

This story follows Ellis and Cain. Ellis is now the lieutenant at Cain's firestation and his boss. Cain has a huge crush on Ellis and tries hard to keep it a secret until they share a room 😏😉. Ellis thought he was straight until he sees all of Cain and realizes how he feels. Ellis tries to keep his distance as he's his lieutenant, but he is failing. Can these two continue to be in a relationship or will it become too much?

God I loved this couple so much. Both characters were fleshed out perfectly. I loved seeing the vulnerable side to Ellis when it came to his kids. I love how Cain supported him and how adorable he was with Ellis's kids. These two are complete opposites and work so good together. The spice was chef's kiss 🥵🥵. The ending of this story had me on the edge of my seat and I was worried for a minute, but these men got their HEA. I can't wait to read more of the firefighters' stories.
Profile Image for Kitchen Sink Books.
1,736 reviews41 followers
July 28, 2025
A firefighting team have to be a close knit group, at any time they are saving the lives of others and of one another. Anything can and does happen in their line of work so being level-headed is one of the most important qualities they can have.

Rookie firefighter on the Station Thirteen team, Cain, loves his job but he also loves to take the occasional risk, not for the thrill but because he's cocky, doesn't always think before he acts but is always doing it for the good of others, to save and protect. At a training weekend, during an exercise, he almost crosses a fire line, having to be pulled back by Ellis, his Lieutenant. In some ways that's not so bad. After all he does have a crush on the older man. The problem comes later that night when there are rooming issues.

After that eventful weekend the team are back to work as usual but something is off between Cain and Ellis, they both know it but Ellis is the one who is having the most trouble reconciling it all in his head. After all he is older, a grump, a dad to two teens, recently divorced, why would he be looking at Cain in an anything but friendly way? Cain is incredibly attracted to the other man but he tries to stay professional after their disastrous weekend, if only Ellis would stop sending him mixed signals.

The annual station party for local kids is what makes the difference, after that everything changes, some of it incredibly dramatically too. If you like your firefighters with a little extra steam and a bit of sparkle then you are going to love this second, stand alone title in the Station Thirteen series, hopefully as much as I have!
Profile Image for Nina Diab.
5,370 reviews50 followers
August 6, 2025
'He’s straight. He’s older. He’s my superior officer. He thinks I’m a reckless idiot who can’t follow orders.
And even if none of those things were true, he’s still Ellis Miller— composed, controlled, commanding. Everything I’m not. He wouldn’t look twice at someone like me— someone who acts first and thinks later, someone who’s too loud, too impulsive, too much.'

'Professional boundaries exist for a reason. I’ve spent sixteen years in the fire service without a single disciplinary mark on my record. One moment of weakness with Cain Dawson, and I’m questioning every principle I’ve built my career on.
I’m his commanding officer. Fourteen years his senior. Recently divorced with two daughters. I have no business looking at him that way.
But I can’t stop.'

I loved this book and happy it's longer than the usual books I've read from Jenny Pineapple. A sweet and steamy hurt/comfort romance. Great world building and wonderful characters. I loved both Cain and Ellis. The chemistry between them was scorching hot! I liked their dynamic, the way they connected, and their relationship developed. Cain was crushing so hard on Ellis, but for Ellis it was a surprising bi-awakening after a failed ten-year marriage and his tween daughters no longer interested and pulling away from him. I liked that he could acknowledge his attraction, but as Cain's lieutenant it's a big imbalance of power, and that weighs heavily on him. I got so invested in these two and didn't want their story to end. I was completely hooked! Firefighter action interspaced in the story also adds to the excitement. 5 stars
3,432 reviews29 followers
July 30, 2025
Delicious
I’ve got to say, I found this book jummy . You have got Cain who is the new rookie firefighter at station 13. He’s a happy go lucky chap who didn’t always think things through. He got pulled back by his lieutenant this morning because he was about to run through a fire line when they were training to get to a victim. Cain‘s problem was he had the biggest crush on his lieutenant Ellis Millar. And this made him show off and forget to take time to think things through.
Ellis Millar is a divorced father of two girls and he recently broke up with his girlfriend who if honest he had no feelings about. He’s only at the station covering, but he’s really taking a liking to station 13 and his team except for his rookie Cain. He couldn’t work out what it was, but he couldn’t take his eyes off him. When they are forced to share a room for the night at the training camp, it becomes obvious about the attraction. That’s all I’m telling you. You have to read it for yourself. I don’t wanna ruin this book for you, but all I’m gonna say is there are twist and turns. Life danger. And passion attraction it’s lush.
A great read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Raven || The Reader Identity.
1,978 reviews158 followers
February 16, 2026
☆☆☆.5

We return to Station Thirteen where this time around we've got the younger Cain Dawson obsessing over the decade plus older Lieutenant Ellis Miller.

I struggled with Ellis for half the book. He'd finally cave to the lust then he'd run away for days. I felt so bad for the confusion and hurt Cain experienced each time. AND Ellis admitted to it but he kept doing it.

And then that event happens and he's all in?

It's not unusual for me to need more from these books in the end BUT this one needed more throughout the whole story. Way too much push and pull. Way too heavy with kids involved. I definitely feel like Cain deserved s bit...MORE.

And the spice was okay. That whole "sir" bit could've been done so much more! More more more! I still love these books but this one just didn't hit.

꧁𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁꧂
[pov]: 1st, dual
[spice level]: 🌶🌶🌶
[roles]: strict top/bottom
[om/ow drama]: kinda, but not REALLY
[3rd act breakup]: 🚫

♡ mm contemporary
♡ age gap
♡ taboo (lieutenant/subordinate)
♡ bi-awakening
♡ grumpy/sunshine
♡ forced proximity
Profile Image for Jenifer.
2,859 reviews6 followers
July 31, 2025
A gripping story that has you rooting for Ellis and Cain from their first on-page interaction straight through until the end and through all the obstacles they face in-between. It's haunting and a bit too realistic with the profession that these two engage in and I'm hoping that the scenes from part don't haunt my dreams tonight. I'd rather focus on the bi-awakening of Ellis, the slow burn tension that builds between them and the tangible tension that simmers off the pages when these two finally give into their urges. It's steamy and romantic and has a perfect ending for this couple.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
39 reviews
August 8, 2025
I love everything Jenny Pineapple writes. She has an amazing ability to create these deep characters in a shorter story. Even with this one being longer than her typical story, I could not get enough of these characters. I absolutely loved Ellis, he was so sweet, but so torn about how he felt about Cain. I love the way their relationship unfolded. The slow burn was killing me in a good way, but it was so hot when they finally got it together.

As always with anything this author writes, the spice was super hot and terrific.
Highly recommend.
3.5 🌶️. 5 ⭐️
Profile Image for Marty Hamrick.
604 reviews1 follower
August 12, 2025
safe enough

This is a well-written, emotional, and slightly angsty romance with enough plot to make it a complete, if limited story. The feelings are raw and engaging, and it could have been a longer, more complex tale which would have been very satisfying because there is a lot of depth to plum if the author had been interested, particularly around the family dynamics and the sudden attraction to a same-sex subordinate, but for what’s on the page, it is a good, solid, and interesting read which I would recommend.
Profile Image for Ariana  (mostly offline).
1,690 reviews104 followers
August 18, 2025

This was fun. A perfect ‘in-between’ novella, if you need something quick and spicy.

Add the age gap, a ‘forbidden’ romance between these two firefighters and the faintest touch of power play in the bedroom, and you have a rather enjoyable story.
I liked the spark, the sizzle, the slow burn (as slow as it can be in a novella) and the genuine heat not only in the plot, but also in the bedroom.

Great fun!


Profile Image for Debbie Benson.
10.2k reviews35 followers
July 28, 2025
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I liked the realism in the story and how the relationship developed between Ellis and Cain. Despite some awkward moments, I'm glad they got past it all to fall in love. How they come out was memorable but I'm glad they were accepted.
Profile Image for Ryan Moore.
Author 57 books73 followers
March 16, 2026
This story is a quick, chemistry-driven M/M romance that blends age-gap dynamics with a strong spark between the characters. The story moves quickly but still manages to deliver personality, tension, and emotional beats that make the connection believable. Perfect for readers looking for a short, spicy romance with confident storytelling.
1,555 reviews9 followers
August 2, 2025
Great story

Wow. I was expecting a spicy short story that was heavy on spice but not too much story. I was pleasantly shocked to find a fantastic story filled with wonderful characters and an amazing story line. I can’t wait for more.
Profile Image for Amanda Reeves.
3,822 reviews38 followers
August 6, 2025
Not Safe for Command is the second book in the Station 13 series, each can be read as a standalone. This is a grumpy/sunshine, sexual awakening, age gap, taboo romance about Ellis and Cain. I really enjoyed this story and the wonderful characters.
118 reviews
September 6, 2025
Excellent

This story was rhe perfect size for the angst and character development needed. I really liked how the characters were written and the ups and downs with their emotions.
Profile Image for Gyan ♥.
241 reviews8 followers
December 18, 2025
Oh, this was gooooood.
Short MM novella. A straight, single-dad lieutenant at the firehouse falling for his one of firefighters. It’s hot, and so cute!
Profile Image for Megan Key.
324 reviews10 followers
February 19, 2026
This was good, but I think I had such high hopes and it just didn't hit for me.
Profile Image for Brittany ⭑ Book lover.
321 reviews23 followers
March 16, 2026
5/5 ⭐️
4/5 🌶️

Do you love…
❥MM (Bi-awakening)
❥Firefighter romance
❥Workplace romance
❥Age gap
❥Boss X Employee
❥A little suspense
❥Sneaking around
❥Forced proximity
❥Grumpy X Sunshine

I have been obsessed with MM novellas the last few weeks and this has been one of my favorites! These two were absolutely perfect - they had the best chemistry and the tension was so good. This author was new to me this year and her writing was so good, I can’t wait for more!
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