Chapter 2

"How was your flight home?" Jak asked.

He sat in the indoor pool of Damian and Tay's building. Damian had flown in the night before but had stayed with his parents because Tay had been out of town.

In the nearly two years since his life had been turned upside down, Damian Marquette had bounced back. He'd had to postpone his graduation plans because of extensive injuries, but he'd made the best of it. He'd worked hard to get back to his life with two main differences. He was a warier than he had been before, and he'd been claimed by Tay Mariano.

Their lives had all changed after that. Tay had started working with his father-in-law immediately after graduation. Damian had taken the summer off then took minimum hours to get his degree. When he'd graduated, he'd gone to work with his family's international department.

Damian had been the one to mention Jak should go to graduate school and get his master's degree in criminal justice. Jak had never wanted to study electrical engineering. His father had wanted him to do it so he'd obliged. When Damian's attack had happened, Jak had helped Reaux investigate and he'd fallen in love with it.

With a recommendation from David Marquette, Jak had been accepted into the masters program. He's thrown himself into it and had nearly fast tracked to finish his degree. He'd given up a lot of personal time to do it.

Damian moved his hands under the water, watching the ripples on the top "I had a four hour layover in Dallas. Dad was frustrated about it. He claimed it would have been faster had I chartered a plane."

"He's not wrong, but you don't want preferential treatment." His friend nodded absently. "When does Tay come home?"

"Sometime today. When I spoke to him last night, he sounded weird. His voice was strained."

Jak looked at his friend sharply. "Be careful. I don't know when his last rut was. And knowing him, he will try to keep it from you."

"I know how dangerous it can be. I don't think he'll hurt me though."

"Regardless, alphas are stupid when it comes to our ruts. I had one several months ago and I thought I was going to die."

Damian turned and propped his arms on the edge of the pool. He rested his head on them and looked at his friend. "What happened?"

"Reaux happened."

Jak told him what happened. He'd been out shopping when he'd felt the first niggle of heat rush through his body. He was suddenly able to smell a hell of a lot better than he usually did. He'd barely had time to pay for his items before an intense wave of desire made his knees weak.

Somehow he'd gotten home. After managing to put the perishables away, he'd gotten into a cold shower. He hoped to ease the fire that had threatened to consume him, but he'd refused to touch himself. So he'd sat there motionless for a long while.

Reaux had come home early and had instantly known something was wrong. He'd found out later he let out a small dose of pheromones when he was happy, but Reauxhad smelled them when he'd come in.

He'd found Jak in the shower. One quick whiff had told him exactly what had happened. He'd turned the water off and had lifted Jak from the tile. He hadn't flinshed when Jak had latched onto his ear, sucking gently.

Jak still rememebered that night. Reaux had shown just how different he was. He'd made Jak promise to let him know if he hurt him, to which the young man had agreed. Had he known what would happen, he never would have, not at that particular time.

Reaux had undressed him and had bound him with a soft cord followed by a blindfold. What followed had been a mild version of '50 Shades of Gray.'

Jak's code word had been 'Judas' because that was a song he liked by the band Fozzy. He hadn't had to use it at first. With his body on fire, he'd been able to take a lot from his Alpha. Reaux had used something soft to run down his body, making goose flesh pop up everywhere. He'd sucked hickies everywhere that could be covered, even biting some. He'd edged Jak until he'd seen white behind his covered eyes.

One thing Jak couldn't stand was being hit. One of his exes had been abusive, and she'd hit hime when she'd get mad or drunk. That had been one of his hard lines with everyone, even Reaux.

He'd been fine when Reaux had asked about a bamboo cane. He'd merely run the length of it against Jak's skin, making his skin sizzle with new feelings. He'd toyed with his nipples and erection until Jak felt he couldn't take much more.

Then he'd been struck on the meaty portion of his thigh. Jak had come off the table as 'Judas' had erupted from his mouth. It had taken Reaux several attempts to calm him down so he could unbind him. Once he had, Jak had shoved the Alpha violently then retreated to the bathroom. He had relieved himself in the showerr even though he'd desperately craved Reaux's touch.

"When I finally came out, he'd made dinner and had set it on the bed. He spent the night in his office," Jak finished. His gaze was faraway and tired. He was reliving it again.

Damian felt bad for his friend. "Kayla really screwed you up, didn't she?"

"Much like Evers did to you."

After Damian's attack, he refused to go out alone. Even now, there were some days when he'd call for Jak to accompany him. He wasn't afraid of his shadow as he used to be, but he didn't trust people anymore. His small circle was all he was comfortable with.

"You know," his friend said, "you only ever said that you slept with Reaux and he claimed you. You never really said how it happened. You just told me the bare minimum. One night on your Christmas break while bar hopping. That's really all you said."

Jak's good mood became sullen. "I was completely drunk and hit on what I thought was a woman. It wasn't until I sobered up did I realize who it was. By that point, Reaux had already come inside me. I counted the condoms in the wastebasket. There were seven full ones and I'm uncertain when we stopped. But I know I was the instigator."

Damian's laugh was amused. "And you happened to pick someone with such exquisite tastes."

"Oh, come off it. You chose Tay! That's just as bad!" He paused. "Actually, not really. He's probably the one who brings you out of your shell."

"Whether you know it or not, Reaux brings out the best in you." Jak tilted his head in confusion. "Your temper isn't as bad, and you're more serious. You have something to live for."

Without thinking, Jak pushed forward and wrapped an arm around his friend's shoulder. He popped his forehead against his, and they both laughed.

"You better be glad I know and trust you."

They looked up at the man who strode towards them. Tay Marzano didn't wear suits often, but when he did, he looked the part of billionaire playboy. He wasn't either, but no one knew that unless they knew him.

Damian reached out a hand, and Tay pulled him from the water with ease. He wrapped a towel around him then drew him out of the water with ease. He wrapped a towel around him then drew him into his side and kissed him. Damian melted into his side, and the pool was filled with bergamot and vanilla.

"I don;t allow many people around him while he's half-naked," Tay said. Damian nestled into his side, not caring he was getting his suit wet.

Jak rolled his eyes and pulled himself out. "What? Do you think I'm going to steal him?"

"Only if you want to die." Tay grinned wise as Reaux's voice sounded behind him. He came around the other Alpha with a second towel. "Is this what your big day was about?"

"I sat in on his defense practice," Damian said. "I asked him for a swim afterwards."

The younger Alpha stuck out his tongue only for the older one to stepp into him and capture it with his teeth. He eased the sting with a swift kiss as his hands wrapped the towel around him.

"Why are you here?" Jak asked. He rubbed his tongue on the roof of his mouth. It still stung.

"I asked you over for dinner," Tay explained.

Jak glared at him. "That's suspicious."

Reaux popped his wet skin lightly. Jak still looked at him with an evil glare. "Stop. it's not everyday we're invited out. Your personality really kills the mood. Don't say it."

The younger man's mouth snapped closed with the click of his teeth. Jak had a nasty temper and had a hard time containing it when he didn't like something. He didn't take kindly to idle, idiotic banter. He said what he needed to say and went on about his day. Sometimes he isolated himself and by default Reaux. There was a reason he only had two best friends.

Tay led Damian from the pool with the other two following behind. Jak's wet feet slapped the tile floor as he dripped across it. Reaux wrapped the towel around his waist in hopes to curb the mess in the elevator. His partner glanced at him, but Jak didn't react. He was used to Reaux doing little things like that.

Reaux was used to seeing Jak naked and/or in various stages of undress. They lived and slept together so it was only natural he'd see him after showers and while he was dressing. That didn't mean he wasn't concerned about others seeing him as such.

Jak was in good shape. Just shy of six-feet-two, he was good-looking with dark hair and a deep set of blue eyes. He had a square jaw and a long neck that sat on wide shoulders. Every inch of him was sculpted. He watched him dress, pulling underwear then jeans up his lean legs. He would be lying if he said he didn't think about them being wrapped around his waist.

Despite their large age gap, they were well-matched. Reaux was secure in his job and finances. He could take care of Jak, but the young man refused. He'd grown up with a silver spoon in his mouth, and he wanted to do something with his life.

They didn't argue too often. When they did, it was usually important. Neither liked arguing with each other. Jak preferred to make Reaux laugh while the elder man liked to keep him well-fed. Reaux could count on one hand how many times they'd had a serious fight in the last two years.

"I was beginning to think you were making clothes," Tay quipped.

Jak pulled the door closed then sat in his usual spot opposite Damian. He pulled a face. "Well, I showered first so think what you want."

"At least you wore a shirt this time," Damian offered. "Last time, my mom spit her drink all over her new dress."

The man in question pointed the serving spoon at the last speaker. "In my defense, you didn't say it was a family dinner or that they were coming."

Reaux rolled his eyes as he poured beer into their glasses. "Normal people wear clothes, dear."

Jak's ears turned red at the endearment. Two years and he wasn't used to the pet names Reaux called him. Luckily it wasn't in front of his parents or in public. Right now, only Tay, Damian and Jak's sister knew the depth of their relationship. His parents could figure it out if they paid attention, but he wasn't going to tell them. They gave him plenty of space to be who he wanted to be.

Tay nudged him with his foot. Through it all, he'd been Jak's best friend and confidant. When he wasn't sure what the hell he was going to do, Tay was able to be his sounding board. He listened to all of his blubber, worries, anger, and confusion. He was even able to point Jak in the right direction and help him understand all the emotions that went with a bonding.

Jak smiled and nodded at the silent question. He covered Reaux's hand with his own. The older man gripped his knee after he saw his reaction to the endearment. He squeezed his fingers lightly.

"What are your plans for graduation, Jak?" Damian asked. He eased the tension by changing the topic.

"I'm not sure. My mom said something about throwing a party, but I'm not so sure I want one. It's just a master's degree. It's not a doctorate like my dad or David. I just did something I was interested in," he replied.

Tay hummed as he cut his chicken. "You almost didn't make it past freshman year. This is a big deal. You did something even you didn't think you'd do. Who would have guessed you would get an undergraduate with engineering but get a graduate in criminal justice? None of us, that's for sure."

His face was drawn at his friend's honest opinion. "Thanks."

"I didn't mean it as an insult. You've done a lot, and you should be proud of it."

"Jak?" Damian's gentle voice broke through the fog of emotions Tay had unleashed. "We've both done things no one thought we would. We've made major steps to make our lives better. Look where we're at, where you're at. You can do anything. Don't let your favorite jackass tear you down."

Tay ruffled his partner's hair. "Why do you always make me sound bad?"

"All you have to do is open your mouth. You don't need my help."

Reaux rubbed Jak's leg. "We'll probably do something small. I'll let you know what i decided."

Jak rolled his eyes with a smile. "Well, his majesty has spoken."

Their dinner continued on with more banter and more laughs. Damian's cheesecake was a hit, and they settled for wine at the end to round out the night. It was these moments Jak treasured the most