James and Theo were out on another mission and James had been grazed by a bullet. Theo was cleaning out the wound and he hadn’t said a word in fifteen minutes.

“Theo —”

“I don’t want to talk.”

“Theo, come on. It barely grazed me.”

“I don’t give a shit, James! What the fuck were you thinking jumping in front of me? It’s my job to protect you!”

“No, it’s not, Theo! Not anymore. I’m a grown man now!”

“I almost lost you once! It can’t happen again.” Theo turned and looked out over the valley. He had almost lost James again and he knew if he did lose James he wouldn’t survive.

James went over and turned him around. “I’m not eighteen anymore, Theo. You have to stop treating me like a child.”

“I’m not. I’m —” Theo shut his mouth. “Please don’t do that again. If anything happens to you, I won’t recover.”

James grabbed him by the back of the neck and crushed their lips together; his other hand grabbed Theo’s ass, pulling their bodies flush.

“I’m fine.” James bit his bottom lip.

Theo caressed his face and picked him up, walking them to their tent. James was all over him and his shirt was coming off. James kissed up to his neck and over to his ear, biting it softly.

Theo put him on the bed and took his pants off.

James watched as Theo undressed in front of him and shifted to the end of the bed before he ran his hands up Theo’s thighs and around to his ass, squeezing.

“Damn, you are sexy,” James growled.

“I want you.”

“Then take me.”

James let out a loud cry as Theo entered him swiftly. Theo stopped immediately, and then he softly bit James’ lower lip before sliding his tongue in. James’ met with his and they fenced erotically with one another.

“James.”

James opened his eyes to see Theo looking at him. The way Theo felt inside him was one James would never get tired of. The mission before this one had separated them for a month and James thought he would die. He had become accustomed to working with Theo, and although they had talked by phone James had missed him terribly.

“I missed you so much.”

“I missed you too.” Theo let his lips brush James’ softly as he thrust in slowly. James was relaxing and the pleasure was setting in.

James moved with him now, thrusting his hips to meet Theo’s. The kissing was slow and sensual and Theo took his time; he wanted to feel every part of him and taste every little inch.

“Theo.” James’ orgasm crept up quickly and he gripped Theo’s hair.

“God, I know!” Theo felt the wetness against his stomach and then his own orgasm hit, and he cried out.

“Are you all right?” Theo asked.

“Yes.” James was trying to catch his breath when it hit him. He was falling in love.

“What is it?”

“Nothing.” James closed his eyes and felt Theo pull out; he was shifted into Theo’s arms and he nestled close to him.

“James?” Theo kissed his forehead.

“Yes.”

“Please don’t do that again, if I ever lost you…” Theo struggled to find the words. “I won’t make it.”

“I know what you mean.”

Jaime’s party was in full swing and Landon and Josh stood off to the side watching the girls play volleyball in the pool. Conner joined them and smirked.

“Look at all the boobs bouncing.”

“I know,” Landon agreed. “It’s mesmerizing.”

“Landon Reynolds.”

Landon turned to see one of his classmates. To say she was wearing a bathing suit was stretching it; she’d have more coverage with a Band-aid.

“Hey, Britt.” Landon smiled.

“What are you doing over the summer?” Britt asked.

“Working in my uncle’s firm.” Landon tried to keep his erection in check as she rubbed up against him.

“What about you, Joshua?”

“Same.” Britt was comical. She and Damon were the biggest flirts in the class.

“So, how old is your sister now?” Conner asked.

“Jaime’s a bitch.”

“Well, we knew that.” Conner chuckled.

Katiana was watching Britt and Landon from across the pool and she nudged Katarina who nudged Lily.

“She’s just like her sister.” Lily narrowed her eyes.

“Damon Youngblood,” Britt cooed.

“Yes, dear.” Damon smiled.

“Where’s your sexy cousin?” Britt waggled her eyebrows.

“With Phoebe.”

Stefan was getting a drink when Jaime approached him; she looked for Phoebe and found her walking over with Tanner. She was going to have to pull out the big guns if she wanted Stefan for herself.

“Aren’t you going to wish me a happy birthday, Stefan?” she simpered.

“Happy birthday,” Stefan said.

“I want a present.” Jaime grabbed him and kissed him.

The shock of Jaime’s lips on his and her tongue in his mouth dazed Stefan. He pushed her away and that’s when he heard the loud screams.

“Stefan!”

Stefan saw Phoebe looking at him, the tears already started rolling down her face. She turned and ran, with Tanner on her heels.

“Phoebe, wait!” Stefan ran after her and Jaime smirked.

“You bitch!” Katiana was right in her face.

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.” Jaime winked.

“This is not over by a long shot,” Katarina warned her.

“Oh, I’m so scared.” Jaime smiled.

“Good. You ought to be,” Lily snarled.

Jaime smiled as they left and Britt stood in front of her.

“You are fucking crazy. You don’t fuck with that family, Jaime, not ever.”

“Oh, please.” Jaime rolled her eyes. “It was a kiss.”

“Phoebe Greystone’s boyfriend? You have a death wish.”

“They’re not going to do anything to me,” she laughed.

“Yeah, well, when you least expect, expect it.” Britt shook her head.

 

Stefan had finally caught up to Phoebe as she was getting in her car.

“Phoebe, wait! Let me explain!”

“I hate you!” Phoebe cried. “I never kissed anyone but you!”

“Phoebe, please!” Stefan pleaded. “She kissed me!”

“Stay away from me, Stefan Youngblood!” Phoebe ripped her necklace off and threw it at him. “I hate you!”

Stefan watched her drive away and sank to the ground with his face in his hands. Phoebe’s necklace shone in the sunlight; he picked it up and rubbed it between his fingers.

“Oh God, what did I do?”

Tanner was praying just to make it back to his uncle’s house in one piece. Phoebe was crying so hard she was all over the road.

“This is going to be so bad.”

Phoebe ran into the house crying and Paul was the first one to see her. He immediately took her in his arms.

“Oh my God, what happened?” Paul held his daughter.

“Stefan kissed a girl!” Phoebe sobbed.

“What?” She was having problems breathing and Paul looked into her eyes. “Phoebe, you need to calm down.”

“It hurts so bad, Daddy. Can’t breathe —” Phoebe felt pain in her chest and bile rising in her throat.

Paul remembered that feeling and the panic rose in him. “Look at me. You need to take long, deep breaths.”

“He kissed someone else, Daddy.” Phoebe sobbed and Paul held her.

“What the hell?” Mark stood looking at them.

Conner and Colin walked in and Phoebe ran to them and hugged them hard. Conner turned and met his dad’s gaze and nodded. They took Phoebe to her room and Conner, Colin and Tanner stayed with her. Phoebe cuddled into her brothers and Tanner. She had finally stopped crying when the sun came up. Tanner smoothed her hair back and kissed her cheek.

“It will be okay.”

Nico had talked to his uncles about what happened. Jaime had found a way to split Stefan from Phoebe and it had worked like a charm without any fault on Stefan or Phoebe’s part. Stefan showed up minutes later and Mark stopped him.

“She doesn’t want to see you, Stefan,” Mark told him gently.

“I need to explain,” Stefan pleaded with his uncle.

“A girl kissed you.”

“She took me by surprise, Uncle Mark! I pushed her off as soon as I realized what was going on. I would never kiss another girl — especially this one!”

Mark could tell his nephew had been crying and knew he was sorry. If there was one thing he knew about Stefan Youngblood it was that he loved his daughter with his whole heart.

“I’m sorry, Stefan, but right now she doesn’t want to see you. I have to abide by her wishes.”

“Oh, God.” Stefan ran a hand through his hair. “I’m so sorry. Could you please tell her that?”

“I will.” Mark could tell Stefan was having a hard time and he hugged him.

“It hurts so much.” Stefan cried. He felt pressure on his chest and couldn’t breathe. “I love her. I don’t want anyone but Phoebe.”

Mark took his face in his hands. “Breathe, Stefan, slow breaths in and out.”

“She’s never going to forgive me.”

“It’s going to take time. Go home, Stefan.” Mark hugged him.

Stefan made it home and Heath and Caleb were waiting for him. Nico had called ahead.

“Dad.” Stefan cried and threw himself into his dad’s arms.

“It’s going to be okay.” Heath rocked his son in his arms.