Chapter 4.1 — Jax

It had been nearly a week since I last laid eyes on Moon, and in these past few days, I found myself unable to focus or engage in anything fully.

It felt as though I had been ensnared in a spell from the very moment I saw him, peacefully reading in bed, oblivious to the world around him. He possessed an ability to make time stand still, carving out his own oasis in that corner of the room.

I couldn't help but notice a flicker of surprise in his eyes when he discovered me beside him. While I couldn't recall the details of the night that had entwined us, casual encounters were not unfamiliar territory for me.

Yet, ever since that day, the pleasure I had once found in the company of others had faded, replaced by a lingering sense of dissatisfaction. What was once a blessing had turned into a curse.

I desired him. It was as simple as that. To have his body beneath mine was an undeniable craving. But what surprised me even more was the inkling of a desire for something more, something beyond the physical connection we shared.

I pondered whether it was love at first sight, but how could it be? I hardly knew him well enough to fall head over heels, and I had never experienced such perplexing emotions before. It left me feeling lost, yearning for more encounters in the hopes of unraveling the enigma that had taken hold of me.

"-r? Sir," Drake's voice jolted me out of my reverie, pulling me back to the present moment. I realized I had been staring into space, neglecting the documents before me.

"Yes?" I looked up, attempting to mask my distraction.

"Jax," Drake sighed, shedding his professional demeanor. "What the fuck is going on with you? You haven't been pulling your weight for the past few days!"

"Personal matters, care to listen?" I responded, knowing full well what his reply would be.

"Will it affect me in any way?"

"No," I shook my head, mustering a smile. "Not really."

"Then keep it to yourself and leave it outside of work," he grumbled, pinching the bridge of his nose. "And where the hell is Simon?"

Drake's fondness for Simon was common knowledge among our colleagues. Simon himself was well aware of it, as was Drake. Their complicated dynamic had become too convoluted for me to keep up with, so I simply allowed them to navigate their own relationship as long as it didn't interfere with their professional duties.

"Do you really want to know?" I clicked my tongue. Drake was already aware of Simon's current whereabouts, so why bother asking? He was only subjecting himself to unnecessary torment.

"Getting lucky, I suppose," he replied with a bitter smile.

"That seems to be the only logical explanation," I sighed, shaking my head. Why cling to a feeling that only brought him pain?

I mean, I somewhat understood after encountering Moon, but I had never felt strongly enough about someone to willingly subject myself to torment for their sake. It simply defied all logic.

"I know I just reprimanded you, but..." Drake sighed, glancing at his phone. Even without seeing the screen, I knew he was checking Simon's location. "Can I leave early today?"

"You're a fool," I sighed, tilting my head back. This situation was giving me a headache. "But be my guest."

Drake exited the office, likely on his way to track down Simon and join him in their little escapade. From tidbits of information I had gathered from whispers and their own admissions, it seemed that Drake always caught Simon in the act, leading to impromptu threesomes.

Their situation made little sense to me, but it was not my place to judge. As long as they were content with their arrangement, I supposed it was their prerogative.

Yearning for a respite, I closed my eyes, willing the world to pause for a few precious moments. I longed to recapture the tranquility I had felt when lying beside Moon that day. Just a brief interlude...