Chapter 3

“L.D, you little fu—” Jamie choked back the rest of the curse as Noah came into the bedroom. Pointing to where the cat sat on the bed, licking his ass, Jamie distracted his husband from the near gaffe. “He used my leather pants as a scratch pot in the closet. I swear to God, I’m going to make him into a rug.” Holding out the pants, he displayed the pick-marked leathers that had once been a buttery smooth, hip hugging, butt cupping, wet dream. “I met you in these pants. I nearly died in these pants.”

Noah brushed his fingers over the marks. “We might be able to have these repaired. Set them aside and I’ll get someone to look at them. You have that other pair which fits you almost as nicely, but are easier to get off.”

Grinning, Jamie bumped his hip against Noah’s, loving how the woody spice of Jared’s cigar smoke clung to him. “Flirt.”

“Mhm.” Noah gave Jamie’s ass a little tap on his way by. “Hurry up or we’re going to end up having to pull rank to get a spot near the ring. Not that I mind, but it gets some members all up in their feelings.”

At the dresser mirror, Jamie put on his eyeliner, aware for the first time in a while that he was naked, while Noah was fully clothed. Being undressed in their bedroom had become more natural than the rare occasion he ran in and out to grab something while dressed. The wrongness of it always hit him, like an invisible tripwire at the door.

“Do you think I’m getting lines around my eyes?” Jamie widened his gaze, hoping to smooth away the more obvious ones. “I think I need to get a better moisturizer.”

Noah arched a brow at him, then looked over at the dresser. “Where in the world would you put it? And you don’t have lines, but you’ll get them eventually and you’ll still look hot, so stop fussing about it.”

“But I’ll never look rugged.” Capping the liner, Jamie tossed it into the holder haphazardly. The cap flew off, rolling across the floor, L.D. scrambling off the bed after it. “I’ll just get kind of…” He scrunched his nose. “Like a pruned up version of a kid who’s been left in the tub too long.”

This time, the smack on his ass was harder. “Don’t talk about my sub that way. I swear, you’re more self-conscious ever since Trevor was here. You could be truly cursed and look like him.”

Rubbing his ass, Jamie snagged some boxer briefs from a drawer with his free hand. “You’re an insensitive brute with no regard for how old I’m going to—” Thinking better of bringing up the subject of his upcoming birthday, he cut himself off mid-tease, sticking his head in the closet to change the subject. “Where are the other pants?”

“If they’re not there, Wren might’ve taken them to hand clean.” Noah clucked his tongue, expression thoughtful. “He’s made it so more of your clothes are in Jared’s closet. Not sure if he’s hinting at something, or he doesn’t trust you to take care of them.”

Pulling out a pair of custom acid washed jeans that he hadn’t worn for a few months, a rhinestone J on the back left pocket, a K on the right, Jamie snapped them straight, holding them up as he faced the mirror. “I think they’ll still fit.”

“They obviously still fit.” Noah shook his head, folding his arms over his chest and resting his shoulder against the closet door. “You’re still my sexy little cat. And you’ll continue to be for a long time. Tell me you believe me.”

“I do, sir.” Rubbing the back of his neck, Jamie stepped closer to Noah, tilting his head back. “I just know I’m not who people expected you to be with. Jacks and Shea…” His cheeks heated as he brought up the memory. “Never mind. It’s not important. Do you mind if I put my clothes on in here? I know I’m making us late. It’ll get me ready faster.”

Noah’s eyes narrowed as he stepped forward, tipping Jamie’s chin up with a finger. “Jacks and Shea what? I know we’re supposed to be nice because we were on the same side for a time, but that doesn’t mean it’s a permanent arrangement.”

No way would he pull attitude with Noah’s finger under his chin, but… Jamie repressed a smile, letting the light reach his eyes. “You’re so close, I can’t remember what I was gonna say.”

“Do I have to find out from someone else?”

A groan escaping him, Jamie followed up with a pout. “You’re either immune or oblivious. No wonder I think I’m getting old.” He rolled his eyes. “It was nothing. They were playing a drinking game. Every time someone you’d fu— Er… Slept with, came into the bar? They drank. I now know your type. I’m not it.”

“Ah.” Noah sighed, shaking his head. “They must not have been playing for very long.”

Jamie raised both brows.

Noah smirked, pulling him close and kissing the top of his head. “Me being a slut doesn’t say anything about what my ‘type’ is. My type was the biggest and baddest fuckers I could take down in the least amount of time possible. It eventually got boring and I ran out of good competitors. I obviously wasn’t beating on the little twinks, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy them too.”

Nestling his cheek against Noah’s black T-shirt, Jamie listened to his heart, the rhythm soothing and comforting as always. “I love you. Thanks for loving me even though I’m getting ancient.”

“I love you, too. And I’m eight years older than you, so stop that.” Noah gave Jamie’s hair a little tug. “I should’ve figured it was something like this when I heard you and Wren talking about how Danny’s exactly eleven months and three days younger than you. Wren is two years older. It’s not important.”

That’s not the way it works in L.A…

“But it is. You look better with age. I’ve got all the wrong angles to age well. And…” Panic crawling up his throat, Jamie tipped his head back. “I don’t want you to suddenly start sleeping with other guys five years from now when I can’t wear liner anymore because it emphasizes all the wrong things, and you decide you’re not interested. If you slept with other people now, I won’t notice when I turn twenty-five next year.”

Groaning, Noah pulled away. “Fine. I’ll sleep at Jared’s tonight. Better? Or do I need to be fucking someone younger? Older? You want to pick someone for me?”

Jamie’s lips parted. “No, sir. I’m sorry. That was out of line.” He snatched up his jeans and shoes and shirt, remembered his underwear and turned around to grab them. “I’ll just be a couple minutes. Do you want me to meet you down there?”

“No, I’m waiting for you. And don’t do that, Jamie.” Noah sighed, hooking his finger to Jamie’s collar. “I know we have an arrangement, and if it happens, it happens. I haven’t been interested in anyone else. You keep me plenty busy, as does Jared. And Wren...we’re working things out.” His lips curved suddenly as he leaned down to claim a slow kiss, whispering against Jamie’s lips. “How about for your birthday, you get to enjoy playing around a little? No one can say I’m unfair. I’d be curious to see who you’d pick, but I think I already know.”

Jamie snickered. “Rhodey would cut off my balls.”

“Really?” Noah cocked his head, seeming surprised. Then not. “Yes, that does make sense. I was going to say there’s only two men you’ve ever initiated anything with, but the way you flirt with Avery comes close.”

Arms wrapped around Noah’s waist, clothes and shoes dangling from his fingertips, Jamie leaned back a little, savoring the taste of Noah that lingered on his lips and tongue. “Who are the other two? I mean besides you and Jared and Wren?”

“You didn’t initiate with Jared—that would have been something else to see.” Noah chuckled. “You did with Wren. And you kissed Danny. It’s in the books, by the way. That it won’t be long before you fuck him. Not if, but how long it’ll take. The two of you have some interesting bets riding on you both. You’re dominating all the non-fight wagers.”

Jamie cocked his head, considering as an idea came to him. “Yeah? Can I give you insider information so we can make the tax escrow for the Center this month?”

Noah’s lips slanted. “I wouldn’t object to that.”

“Sleeping with Danny would be like sleeping with my brother or my best friend. I think he’s hot, but not in a way that makes me hard. I know him too well as a pre-teen.” He made a face. “I can still picture the spinach caught in his braces.”

“Well that’s not helpful.” Noah gave Jamie’s shoulder a playful nudge. “And you weren’t thinking of the braces when you kissed him. Maybe we need to work on you seeing him differently so I can rig the bets.”

Laughing, Jamie shook his head, enjoying the way Noah’s leathers caressed the length of his thighs, how his own erection slipped along the smooth coolness in a way that was guaranteed to leave a mark he’d have to clean off. Preferably with his tongue. “Can we just pretend my birthday never happens and keep celebrating Christmas? I don’t like my birthday. If I ever want to sleep with someone else, I’ll let you know, but I tend to be spontaneous. Like, yeah. Sometimes Danny is attractive, or Reed. But I don’t go there. Avery, I go there more.”

“Reed is off the table. Let’s pretend you didn’t mention him at all. Also, the bets are up to about twenty grand. If you can’t fuck Danny for fun, do it for your country or some shit.” Noah winked at him, smoothing his hand over Jamie’s ass. “You seem to find people sexier after I fuck them. Would that help?”

A gale of laughter burst from him. “Jesus, Noah. Don’t fuck Danny. That’d…” He couldn’t breathe. “No. No-no-no-no. No.”