With Caution: With or Without, Book 2 (13 page)

Nodding, Remi smiled but never made eye contact. “He wasn’t me.”

Jake grinned and pulled Remi up so he could take off his jacket and shirt. “Not even close.”

Remi chuckled and wrapped his arms around Jake’s neck. With a smug smirk on his face, he kissed Jake.

Oh, Jake could get used to this uninhibited show of affection. It was nice. Jake kissed Remi back, then unwrapped Remi’s arms from his neck and tugged the jacket free. He placed it on the back of Remi’s desk chair and drew Remi’s T-shirt over his head.

Remi fell back on the bed and ran his hand over his chest.

Reaching to unbutton Remi’s jeans, he almost swallowed his tongue. Remi was so fucking hard his cock was outlined perfectly in the thick denim.

Remi’s hand snaked down, dipping into the waistband of his jeans.

Jake didn’t wait to see what Remi would do. He unfastened Remi’s pants and took them and his jock off. After tossing them on the floor, he pulled back Remi’s covers. “Into bed.” He tapped Remi’s hip, trying to ignore Remi’s hand once again edging closer to Remi’s prick.

Moaning, Remi gripped his cock and squeezed. “This is what you do to me. You make me want to please you.” He held Jake’s gaze as his hand stroked up and back down, then his eyes closed.

Jake groaned. Shutting his eyes, he tried to get the image of Remi touching himself out of his head. But instead of banishing the thought, it turned more vivid.
He leaned over Remi, fucking him as Remi stroked himself. He kissed Remi and his mouth slid down Remi’s throat and—
Fuck. Jake’s fangs dropped so quickly it took his breath away.

Goddamn,
he had to get out of here. He wanted to bite Remi and make him submit, so badly. If he didn’t put distance between them, he was liable to do just that.

Jake opened his eyes and found Remi passed out, his hand still on his cock, his head turned to the side and his mouth hanging open.

Well damn.
Jake supposed he shouldn’t complain, he really didn’t want to think about this right now. He picked Remi up and deposited him in bed the right way. He covered Remi with the comforter and kissed his forehead. “See you tomorrow, pup.”

* * *

“I fucking love your mouth.” Remi dropped his head back to the pillow, his eyes closed, taking in every little sensation.

The suction on his cock increased as the clever tongue danced along the shaft.

“Oh, fuck. Gonna come. Stop. Not yet…” Winding his fingers through his lover’s hair, Remi fought the growing sensation. He tried to slow the inevitable by pulling those delectable lips off him.

A soft, seductive kiss tickled his stomach, making him loosen his grip. As soon as his hand fell to the mattress, his prick was once again engulfed.

Ass muscles clenching tight, he shivered. His balls drew closer to his body and his legs tensed. It was absolute torture. A tingle raced up his spine. No, not yet. “Oh God, oh—”

The wonderful warmth left his cock.

Remi half growled, half laughed. “You fucking tease.”

A snort answered him, then his dick was gripped, held upright and laved from tip to balls.

Fisting his hand in the thick hair again, Remi pulled his lover’s face closer to his groin. “Yessss, that feels good.”

His legs were shoved higher, exposing him more, and that wicked tongue laved his crease, snaking down.

Remi tried concentrating on the slick caress over his perineum and the breath across his balls. Suddenly, it stopped and saliva dripped through his crease.

Then more spit landed on Remi’s hole. A finger circled his anus, spreading it around.

“Tease!”

The finger pressed inside.

Remi moaned. “God…”

Bang, bang, bang.
“Remi, open up.”

Remi bolted upright in bed so quickly a wave of dizziness hit him.

The knock came again. “Remi, let me in already. Are you still asleep? You better not still be asleep.”

Sterling?
Remi blinked, trying to focus. “Coming.” He jumped out of bed, looking around. What the fuck was he looking for?
Oh, pants.

The knock came again.

“I’m coming.” He yanked his pants on over his boner. He groaned and tucked his boner in his pants and zipped them. He ran to the door and flung it open.

Sterling strolled inside. “You
were
still asleep.”

Remi stood there for a minute, the sunlight feeling like it was stabbing him in the head. There didn’t seem to be an emergency.
Damn
, he was wobbly from getting up so fast.

His mom waved from her car.

After waving back, Remi shut the door. What the fuck? He glanced at Sterling, who stood in the middle of the living room frowning. “What?”

“Do you realize it’s ten o’clock?”

Remi walked back into his bedroom and flopped on the bed. Holy shit. His heart was pounding. Remi buried his face in the mattress then turned his head to the side and took a deep breath. Damn, how much had he had to drink last night? He remembered Rhys bringing him home in his car and Jake—

“You forgot me.” Sterling came in and crawled onto the bed beside him. He lay on his side facing Remi.

“I didn’t forget you. I didn’t realize you were coming here. I was planning on going to get you when I got up.”

Sterling shrugged, flopping onto his back. “Mom was going to the store, I had her bring me. Why are you still asleep at this time a day?”

“I went out last night.”

Sterling rolled back onto his side. “You did? With Jake?” He smiled.

Remi groaned, turned over and sat up. Climbing off the bed, he headed to the bathroom. It was way too fucking early for this. He couldn’t remember all of what he’d said to Jake last night. Then there was that dream… He kept having it. Why?

“Hey. Where are you going?”

Crazy. I’m going crazy.
“To take a piss.”

* * *

Sterling snagged his helmet off Remi’s white laminate kitchen counter and, with the football under his arm, took off out the door.

Remi followed at a much slower pace. Goddamn he didn’t have the energy to keep up with Sterling today.

What all had he said to Jake last night? Remi winced thinking about it. When he was drunk he didn’t hold anything back, everything he thought just flew right out his mouth. It was why he never got drunk unless he was with someone he trusted completely. And while he did trust Jake, he hadn’t planned on getting drunk.

What the fuck happened? Oddly, he wasn’t really hung over. He’d had a bit of a headache when he first got up, but it was gone now.

He tucked his helmet under his arm, put his sunglasses on, turned the lock on the front door and shut it. He checked to make sure it locked and descended the steps. No telling what Sterling was getting into while he was up here trying to figure out what all he’d said and done last night.

The apartment door downstairs and across from Remi’s opened. Mr. Morris stuck his head out. “Morning, Remi.” Mr. Morris dipped his gray head toward the parking lot, where Sterling was already sitting on Remi’s bike. “Looks like you have a big day planned.”

“Yeah, he’s going to make the team next year or kill us both trying.”

Mr. Morris chuckled. “Well, he’s a good kid. If anyone can teach him how to play, it’s you.”

“I’m sure going to try.”

Mr. Morris nodded. “You’ll do fine. Listen, have you noticed any bums hanging around here lately?”

Remi shook his head. “No, I haven’t really noticed.”

“Well, I’m going to talk to the super this morning. I swear the neighborhood is going to hell.”

“Remi,” Sterling called from the parking lot.

“Thanks, Mr. Morris. I better get before the kid takes off without me.”

“Have fun playing ball.” He waved and went back in his apartment.

Bums?
Remi surveyed the lot, but didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary. Wait
.
There was a homeless person, across the sidewalk where the next apartment building began. Interesting.

“What’s up?”

Remi jumped at Sterling’s voice. “Nothing.” He glanced at his brother and put his own helmet on and fastened it. “Let’s go.”

* * *

Smiling, Sterling ran the ball back. “Did you go home alone?”

Remi snagged the ball and growled. “Would you stop?”

“No. I wanna know.”

“You are too young to know.”

Sterling’s eyes widened. “Holy shit, something happened.”

Remi groaned. “Nothing happened. We went out for a few drinks and I met Jake’s friends there.” Jesus, the kid had a one-track mind. And why the hell did he seem to want something to happen?
“Where did you go? Was Jake there? Did you have fun?”
And why did his questions sound so…suspicious?

“Hi, Jake.” Sterling waved, looking over Remi’s shoulder.

Jake? Remi turned and, sure enough, there was Jake. Not only Jake, but Tank, Dago, Gadget, Zack, Nick and Rhys. Remi smiled, feeling a warmth spread through him that had nothing to do with the heat of the summer day.

A gasp sounded from beside him. Sterling’s mouth was hanging open, his eyes wide. Then he whispered, “Oh. My. God.”

Remi followed Sterling’s gaze all the way to Rhys.

Rhys stood right behind Jake, in a pair of cutoffs and a tank top. He had a cooler on his shoulder, carrying it like it weighed nothing. He was limping slightly.

“I know, scary as hell, ain’t he?” Remi asked.

Mute for the first time in his life, Sterling simply nodded.

Remi knew how the kid felt since he’d had the same reaction.

Stepping up to them, Jake furrowed his brow at Sterling, then met Remi’s gaze.

Remi shrugged. “Rhys.”

Jake nodded. “Ah.”

Gadget walked up to Remi holding out his hand. “Hey, man, how’s it going?”

“Good.” Remi slapped Gadget’s hand, then made a fist and hit Gadget’s.

Nick did the same thing. Tank and Zack slapped him on the back.

Dago looked a little green as he grabbed Remi’s hand and pounded him on the back. “Hey.” His voice sounded rusty.

Remi’d had as much alcohol as Dago, but apparently he’d fared better this morning. “Hey.” Remi squeezed Dago’s hand and slapped his arm. “How’s your head?”

Dago groaned. “Oh fuck. Hurts like a son of a bitch. How’s yours?”

“Actually, it’s fine.”

“Lucky bastard,” Dago grumbled.

Remi chuckled.

“Jake, where the fuck do you want this?” Rhys asked, dipping his head toward the ice chest on his shoulder.

“Bend over and we’ll show ya, Rhys,” Gadget murmured.

Jake pointed to a tree. “Stick it over there in the shade.”

“Fuck you, Gadget. Just for that, you stay the fuck outta the ice chest.” Rhys walked past. “Hey, Remi.”

Remi grinned. “Hey, Rhys.” He turned around and raised a brow at Gadget. “You got a death wish?”

“Shit, Gadget would do anything to get away from all those damn kids of his.” Zack flopped onto the grass and stretched his legs out.

Dago laughed, then clutched his head and groaned.

Remi fought back a laugh. He could imagine. He’d learned last night that Gadget was married and had nine kids. “All right, guys, play nice.”

Tank went to Sterling, who was standing next to Remi with a blank look on his face, and offered his hand. “Hey, pup. Sterling, right? Remi’s told us a lot about you. Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you too.” Sterling shook Nick’s hand and became his normal chatty self, introducing himself to the rest of the gang. If Remi wasn’t mistaken he heard the little shit mention his name a couple of times, asking about last night.

Jake sidled up next to Remi and bumped his shoulder. “Kid is as protective over you as you are him. How do you feel this morning?”

“Good. No hangover. What the fuck did I do last night? And what are all of you doing here?” Not that Remi was complaining. He and Jake were beginning to get back the easy camaraderie they’d shared before the night Remi’d discovered they were mates. Actually, now it was better. Remi didn’t have to try and hide his attraction.

Jake took the ball from him, answering the second question and ignoring the first. “Thought the kid could use some group practice.” He glanced at his friends. “We’re almost a team, only two short.”

“We’re like thirteen short, Jake,” Sterling corrected.

“I said
a
team, not two teams,” Jake countered.

“A team is one whole side. Did you mean we’re all going to play offense?” Sterling raised a brow.