~Chapter Three~
Noah reclined the seat and stared at the ceiling of the plane. He’d been gone for almost three weeks. He missed Jesse more than words could say. They’d spoken now and then, but it was always brief. Noah closed his eyes. He wanted to tell Jesse how he felt, and it was not going to be over a phone line. He smiled as he remembered the kiss in the alley behind Cuffs and Stuff. It had been quick, but it had been explosive. The lights in the alley had blown out the moment their lips touched. That had to mean something, didn’t it?
“Dude, you’re smiling.”
Noah opened his eyes to see Nikolai grinning at him.
“Thinking about a certain human?” Nikolai handed Noah a beer and flopped down next to him.
Noah took a sip and nodded.
“Justice still forbidding you two to be together?” Nikolai sat back and threaded his fingers together.
“Yes. It’s seriously pissing me off. Especially now, since it looks like Justice may have feelings for Skylar Foxx. Why should Justice be happy if Jesse and I can’t be?”
Nikolai’s eyes widened. “No shit? I mean, I saw him talking to Skylar at the Halloween party, but really?”
Noah nodded. “Yeah; he gets this look on his face when he looks at Skylar.”
“Which look is that?”
“The same one you and I get when we look at the men we love.”
Nikolai rubbed his hands together. “This could work for you, as leverage or a change of heart.”
“Well, I’m taking it one step at a time. I’m going to see Jesse as soon as we get to Washington.” Noah lay back again and closed his eyes. He was going home to the man he loved.
~*~
Jesse gasped as Noah’s lips and tongue slid down his abdomen. Arching his back, he moaned and grabbed fistfuls of Noah’s coal-black hair. Heat slid down his spine as Noah made his way back up his torso, leaving a fiery trail in his wake.
“Noah…God please…”
“We can’t,” Noah breathed against his lips. “You know we can’t.”
“Want you to mark me.” Jesse gripped Noah’s hair tighter, pulling him into a carnal kiss. Noah’s tongue met his, sliding in perfect rhythm. Skin to skin, they moved fluidly, dicks wet with precome sliding against each other.
“Please,” Jesse begged.
“I can’t…God, I want you so much.” Noah bit Jesse’s lower lip, letting it slide slowly between his teeth.
Jesse’s orgasm was building, and his toes curled as Noah’s hot prick slid against his own. Head back, mouth open, Jesse readied himself for release.
“Noah, now; please do it now.”
An animalistic growl reverberated around the room. Jesse’s eyes opened to find Noah’s canines elongated.
“Love you,” Noah growled.
Jesse sprang into a sitting position as Justin Bieber’s “As Long as You Love Me” filled the room.
He scowled and leaned out of bed to hit the snooze button on his alarm. Damn Jaxon and his love for changing his radio station.
Jesse rolled out of bed and stomped into the bathroom. Turning the shower on, he waited for the water to heat. With the dream still fresh in his mind, Jesse looked down at his rock-hard dick. He sighed and leaned against the wall. God, he wanted Noah so badly. It wasn’t fair.
Jesse tested the water and stepped into the shower. He soaped up his body as he thought about his current love life — or lack thereof. He’d tried to understand Justice’s train of thought, but when it came to Noah, he didn’t really give a shit what Justice thought anymore. He wanted to be with Noah.
All his life, he’d been the little brother, the one Justice had to watch out for, protect. He was grateful that Justice had stepped in. Except for times like these. Being born the only human out of three boys had left him vulnerable.
Things had been perfect for a long time. He had a wonderful house and great friends. Then they’d moved. He’d never known the reason behind the move from Washington to Arizona until Justice had filled him in. The rogues had come close to finding them in Seattle, so their father had packed them up.
They moved to the foothills of Tucson, Arizona, and all attended the same school. They had been born in quick succession, with Justice being the oldest. He’d adjusted, made new friends.
His brothers had found girlfriends, sort of. Justice had a crush on the daughter of another werewolf family, but was not allowed to date her. Rogues had slaughtered Annabelle Richards, along with her parents, in the middle of the night. As their parents sacrificed their lives to save them from the yellow-eyed bastards, Justice had taken his younger brothers and fled to safety.
Jesse swiped at his eyes. It still affected him. The screams and the growls invaded his memory far too often.
Jesse shivered, even though the water was hot.
As soon as he turned eighteen, he joined the Navy and went straight to Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL school. Justice had almost had a coronary over his choice. Too bad. By then, Jesse was determined to get out from under his brothers’ control. Their parents had left them quite a bit of wealth, enough that none of them ever had to worry about earning a living.
He rinsed his hair and grabbed for the fluffy white towel on the rack. Stepping out, Jesse groaned as his alarm clock went off again.
“Turn that off!”
Jesse grinned at Jaxon’s rough, sleep-filled voice. His brother had been volunteering as a bouncer at Cuffs and Stuff the last few months. Jesse knew it wasn’t because he needed any help; it was so Jaxon could keep an eye on a five-foot-ten, blue-eyed cutie. A cutie who was almost eighteen.
Elijah Newman had had a crush on Jaxon from the moment he laid eyes on him at Camp Pride. He had shamelessly flirted with the older man, setting Jaxon up for lots of teasing from his comrades.
Jesse grinned at his reflection in the mirror. His brother was slowly falling for the younger Elijah; he just didn’t know it yet.
“Stop changing my radio station!” Jesse shouted. He sighed as a chuckle floated into his room.
“You don’t like the Bieb?” Jaxon poked his head into the bathroom.
“I actually like that song,” Jesse smiled wide.
Jaxon’s brows furrowed. “Are you fucking with me?”
“Nope.” Jesse pushed past his brother and went to his closet. “You better get dressed. We have an hour and a half before we need to get to the club and make sure everything’s ready.”
Jaxon leaned against the bedroom wall and crossed his legs. “Another Friday and more karaoke.”
“Yep. Best decision PJ ever made.” Jesse tossed a sly look over his shoulder. “Elijah’s supposed to sing tonight with Skylar and Ryder. You know it’s going to get rowdy. They’re like candy on Halloween in that place, getting everybody all sugared up.”
Jaxon sighed and rubbed his face with his hands.
“I really wish PJ would change his mind about underage kids.”
Jesse threw a shirt at Jaxon. “You know he doesn’t let them anywhere near liquor. You’re just mad men try to touch his ass.”
Jaxon scowled and turned on his heel. “Shut up.”
Jesse chuckled. “That’s why we’re there, to keep them pure. So hurry up and get ready.”
Jesse checked the time — 8 p.m. The club would be rocking by ten. They had started napping during the day just to deal with the crazy nights. His sleep schedule was all fucked up. The sound of the coffeemaker percolating brought a smile to Jesse’s lips. He pulled his jeans on and looked in the mirror.
“Here we go.”
~*~
The music shook the walls of the club and Jesse moved to the beat, hands in the air, ass shaking. Skylar Foxx and Elijah Newman were rocking the karaoke machine with help from Ryder Winters, Dasan Black and Stone Marinos.
They made an interesting group. The club had never been so packed. Jesse shot a look at PJ, the club owner, and gave him a thumbs up. PJ had protested having underage kids in the club until the first night he’d counted the amount of money they’d made with the young entertainers present. Whether they were DJs or singing, the crowd loved them. And a happy crowd meant high drink sales.
The kids who were under twenty-one wore bracelets. The boys were adorable. At first, PJ had worried for their safety, but the club regulars helped the bouncers look out for them and made sure no one got out of line with them.
Jesse shot a look at his brother, Jaxon, who was playing bouncer again. His eyes, as always, were fixed on Elijah. Jesse glanced over his shoulder. Colin Greystone, Nikolai Markov’s significant other, was smiling at him.
“What?” Jesse grinned.
“I’m trying to figure out where all the awesome ink is that everyone raves about. I thought you were tattooed?”
Jesse lifted his shirt off his back.
Colin’s eyes widened as he took in Jesse’s impressive back tattoo. It was a skull with crossbones, along with a noose around its neck. It took up half his back.
Colin whistled. “Niiiice!”
Jesse winked. “Your man coming home?”
“He is! I just got a text from him. He’s with Noah, by the way.” Colin waggled his eyebrows knowingly.
Jesse’s body reacted immediately to the news. He hadn’t seen Noah since their erotic dinner on the beach, and that had been almost three weeks ago. He couldn’t wait to touch and kiss him. Being forbidden to see Noah only made it harder to stay away from the man.
“Maybe tonight’s the night, huh?” Colin dropped a sympathetic hand on Jesse’s shoulder.
“Let’s hope so.”
A squeal of the microphone brought his attention back to the stage. Skylar stood with Ryder and Elijah.
“We have a treat for you tonight!” Skylar shouted into the microphone. “It’s time for some Mickey Avalon!”
The crowd cheered and clapped as Elijah and Ryder grabbed microphones. The music started and the three of them walked back and forth across the stage as “My Dick” began.
Jesse glanced over at Jaxon, who was watching the crowd very carefully. He chuckled as Jaxon’s mouth dropped open at the lyrics.
“I fucking love this song!” Colin laughed beside him.
“Where is Justice when we need him?” Jesse cracked up.
“Oh. I bet he’d love to watch Skylar right now.” Colin doubled over laughing. Skylar was prancing back and forth across the stage, grabbing his junk.
Jesse jerked his thumb toward his brother, who seemed to be entranced by Elijah’s part in the song.
“I think Jaxon’s going to have some new memories of Elijah.”
“Well, he is growing up,” Colin winked.
“Pretty soon, Jaxon won’t have an excuse to stay away from him.”
That would suit Jesse just fine.
~*~
Jesse looked around the empty club and let out a long overdue breath. The weekends had gotten crazy ever since the introduction of karaoke night. PJ had even expanded the club to accommodate the overwhelming number of new people frequenting the place.
The bouncers and waiters had left for the night, which left him to do the books. Jaxon was driving a waitress home, but would be back to follow him home. He was never left alone for too long, what with him being a mere human and all. Jesse snorted.
It didn’t matter that he’d spent four years as a SEAL. His brothers still considered him weak.
Jesse walked to the back office and settled behind the desk. His phone blinked and he hit the button for voicemail.
“Hey, Jesse, it’s Noah. I just wanted to tell you that I’m coming home tonight and I was hoping to see you. I’ll stop by the club before I head home. I…missed you. Bye.”
Jesse grinned. As if he wouldn’t know that voice anywhere. The mere thought of Noah King made his dick sit up and take notice. Jesse stretched his arms out and locked his fingers at the nape of his neck. He’d finally gotten to kiss Noah — and damn what a kiss it had been!
He knew Noah was the man he was supposed to be with for life. The only problem? Justice. His older brother wouldn’t budge on the idea of his dating Noah, and it was seriously beginning to piss him off.
Being born the only human among werewolf brothers sucked.
Jesse eyed the overflowing trash in the corner and sighed. He pushed out of the chair and grabbed the trash bag. Making his way back out to the club, he pulled the trash out from behind the bar as well. He opened the hallway’s back door to the alley and walked to the dumpster.
The back alley was dark, except for the light above the door. But Jesse didn’t need light to know there was someone out there.
And it wasn’t Noah.
He felt for the gun in the waistband of his pants before turning to meet the presence head-on.
“Hello, sweetie.”
Jesse flew through the back door and landed on his ass. His jaw was on fire from the hit he’d just taken.
“Bet that stung, huh?”
Jesse’s head snapped up and his eyes locked with those of a rogue. The yellow-eyed bastard was laughing.
“Don’t you guys ever get tired of the same old lines?” Jesse felt carefully for the gun and realized it had flown out of his grip when he’d taken flight. Shit, fuck and damn. The rogue grabbed him by his hair and yanked his head back.
“Did you really think we’d forgotten about you? The human Salvatore? Petey wants you real bad, Jesse. I think it has something to do with your brothers killing all his men.”
“Yeah? Well, you assholes killed our parents. I say an eye for an eye, jackass.”
“Speaking of mommy and daddy, where is your little keepsake from them?” The rogue tilted his head with a smirk. “Oh, that’s right. They died before they could pass one on to you. So tragic. Some kind of little dog tag wasn’t it?”
“Fuck off!” Jesse growled.
“Oh yeah, that’s what it was. I think Petey wants to finish his collection. Justice and Jaxon each have one, too, don’t they?”
A loud noise in the alley distracted the shithead in front of him and Jesse made his move. He kicked his foot out, sending the rogue on his ass, and then scrambled for the gun. Jesse looked around in a panic as the rogue behind him let out a few curse words.
“You little motherfucker! You’re so lucky Petey wants you alive!”
Jesse grabbed the butt of the gun just as the rogue grabbed his hair again. A growl bounced around the hall and then the rogue flew past him, hitting the wall with a loud crack.
Jesse spun around to see Noah standing in the doorway, chest heaving, eyes shifted, claws extended.
“You sorry-assed son of a bitch!” Noah advanced on the rogue.
“Noah King. How nice it is to see you.” The rogue stood up and casually dusted off his ass.
“Yes, let’s see me, shall we?” Noah shifted in the blink of an eye.
Jesse backed up; Noah’s wolf form took up most of the hallway.
“You don’t fight in wolf form!” The rogue backed up again and looked for an escape route.
Jesse raised the gun and pointed it at the rogue. “Night-night.” The ketamine-laced dart flew out of the chamber and hit the rogue square in the chest.
“Assho—”
Jesse slumped against the wall as the rogue fell in a heap to the floor. Noah whined and rubbed up against his thigh.
“There are some clothes in the office. Why don’t you go change, okay?” Jesse bent down and cradled Noah’s face in his hands. “Thank you, by the way.”
Sad blue eyes regarded him and Jesse kissed Noah’s nose.
“Hey, I’m okay. Go on now; I’ll make sure I pump this guy a few more times.”
“Jesse!?”
“Jaxon?”
Jaxon flew in the back door and came to a sliding stop. His eyes went from his brother to Noah to the unconscious rogue on the floor.
“Are you okay?” Jaxon pulled Jesse to him and hugged him tightly.
Jesse stepped out of his brother’s embrace.
“I’m good, but I think this guy’s going to have one hell of a headache.” Jesse motioned to the rogue on the floor with the gun in his hand. He fired off two more rounds just to be sure the asshole was out for good.
“What the fuck?” Jaxon knelt down and grabbed the rogue by his hair, tipping his face back. “I’ve never seen this one.”
“He knew all about us, Jaxon.” Jesse sat down and propped against the wall. “Petey and his merry band of killers know everything about us.”
“What do you mean?”
“He knew about the necklaces.”
Jaxon jumped. “What?” he said slowly.
“Which means Petey was there when Mom and Dad were…” Jesse swallowed hard and squeezed his eyes shut. Jaxon had grabbed him and run that night, and Justice had been the one to lead them to safety.
“Fuck that piece of shit,” Jaxon spat. “I’m going to have fun torturing information out of him.”
“I want in on it.” Noah stood, fully dressed, by the office door.
“I’m taking him to headquarters. We’ll start in the morning. I don’t want my brother left alone.”
“I’m a grown man, thank you.” Jesse narrowed his eyes at his brother.
“Yes, you are. And you just got attacked on our territory,” Jaxon sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Justice is going to shit a fucking building.”
“Well, it turns out it wasn’t me who brought danger to your brother. It was you and Justice.” Noah crossed his arms over his chest and glared.
“I never wanted you kept away from him. Now I’m asking you to please watch out for my brother.” Jaxon stepped forward with his hand out.
Noah looked at it, and then gripped it firmly. “You have my word.”
“Oh, isn’t this all chivalrous? Jesus, you both act like I’m defenseless!” Jesse snorted, standing up. He shot a disgusted look at his brother as he stalked past him.
Jaxon smiled as Jesse mumbled under his breath as he walked. He eyed Noah with a sympathetic smile.
“I’ll call you tomorrow with the info on this asshole,” he assured him, motioning to the rogue.
Noah nodded. “I’ll take Jesse home with me. Ross is out on a mission, so it’s just me.”
“I still have to lock up!” Jesse called from the dance floor.
“Good luck.” Jaxon threw the unconscious rogue over his shoulder and walked out the back door.
“Jesse?” Noah called out.
“What!?”
“It’s just us now.”
Jesse came back down the hall and went to the office. “I have to do the books.”
“Bring them with us.” Noah stepped back as Jesse’s head snapped up and angry eyes met his. He put his hands up. “Please?”
Jesse sighed and leaned against the wall, closing his eyes. The adrenaline in his body was wearing off and pain was making its presence known. A warm hand swept up his cheek and he opened his eyes to see Noah with a troubled look on his face.
“He touched you?” Noah growled, running his fingertips over a bruise that was starting to form on Jesse’s chin.
“It’s nothing.” Jesse closed his eyes again as Noah’s hands cupped his face.
“Bullshit.” Noah leaned in and feathered a kiss across Jesse’s jaw. “You’re hurting; I can see it on your face.”
“I’ve had worse, Noah.” Jesse’s hands gripped Noah’s hips, as warm lips continued to kiss down and across his jaw.
“Do you know how scared I was? When I heard the voices coming from inside, when I heard him? I wanted to rip him apart piece by piece — and now to know that he laid his hands on you?”
Jesse tilted his head back as Noah’s lips caressed his throat.
“Noah,” he breathed.
“God, I missed you so much.” Noah’s hands slid up the flimsy T-shirt Jesse wore and caressed his soft skin.
“I missed you, too.” Jesse pulled Noah into his body.
“Let’s go to my house.” Noah peppered Jesse’s face with kisses.
Jesse opened his eyes and locked on Noah’s. “We’re alone together.”
Noah’s mouth crashed into his and Jesse gripped Noah’s ass, hauling him even closer to his body. Their tongues met in a fevered kiss as both of them tried to get more of the other.
“Oh God, I want you so much,” Jesse groaned against Noah’s lips.
“We need to go, like, now. I’m about to strip you right here.”
“Let me lock up. I’ll follow you.” Jesse righted his erection and stepped away from Noah. He walked towards the front door.
“Jesse?”
Jesse stopped and turned to face Noah. “Yes?”
“You still mad at me?”
“Did that seem like I was?” Jesse drawled, brow raised.
“Nope,” Noah grinned.
“Well I want a lot more of that. And some other stuff. So less talk and more move.”
“Yes, sir!”
They walked back into the alley and Noah whistled at Jesse’s Harley.
“Nice bike.” He ran his hand along the seat.
“I’ve seen yours.” Jesse straddled the bike with a wink. “It’s not so bad, either.”
Noah knelt down and inspected the work along the side. “Nice. Wolf paws and DNA strands.”
“We all have the same bike. My dad had them made for us.”
“Well,” Noah jumped on behind Jesse. “Let’s go.”
“What about your bike?”
“I hid it when I got here. I’ll get it tomorrow. Now move,” Noah chuckled.