Catalyst (Connectivity Book 2)

by Whitney Cannon

  “Showtime.” Travis grinned and pressed a kiss to Jersey’s lips.

  They opened the door to his parents and his mom and dad both immediately set to fussing over Jersey’s arm and his accident, drilling them both with questions as Jersey’s family came in moments later to offer their welcome as well. And though it took a few minutes, they eventually got everyone settled back in the sitting room and Travis and Jersey stood in front of the piano.

  “Alright, you two,” Travis’s mom spoke up. “You obviously have some news to share if getting us all gathered here so early on a Sunday mornin’ is any indication. Jersey should be in bed restin’ I’d say, so what’s all this about?”

  They shared a look and Jersey squeezed Travis’s hand. Even with everyone watching, Travis couldn’t resist pulling Jersey’s hand up and placing a kiss to the back of it. Jersey smiled and Travis made a mental note that no matter the situation if he could make Jersey smile, he’d do whatever he had to do to make his man happy.

  Turning back to their audience, Travis took a deep breath and began. “Mom and Dad, I’m going to start with you since you’ll understand and you can help us explain to Jersey’s family: Jersey is my Complement.” His parents both gasped and his mom’s hand flew up to her mouth.

  “Travis…” his mom said and their shocked expressions morphed into wide grins.

  “I know. We only realized it this morning. I guess his accident yesterday triggered it. He passed out, but since I was right there, we never had any idea. I didn’t leave his side at all yesterday and it was only this morning when I went to get him some ice that we both felt it for the first time.”

  “Oh, Travis, baby. Are you sure?” his mom asked at the same time that Susan chimed in asking, “What’s a Complement?” Travis nodded to his mother and they all turned to Susan, Herald, and Barbie.

  It was Travis’s dad that took over explanations as his mom came up to them and hugged them both. “Oh, you guys. I’m so happy for you both. I can hardly believe it. You guys have been together for a while now and then out of nowhere…” she trailed off but her expression was one of such happiness. “I know Travis has always been so worried that he wouldn’t be a Catalyst and he’d never have someone to share such an amazin’ Connection with. But mmm, mmm, look at you boys, findin’ each other. And right after Cory and Josh. We’ve never heard of such a thing, and twice now.” She hugged them both again and Travis could hear the question and answer session going on steadily between his dad and Jersey’s family.

  When his mom stepped back, his dad paused his explanations and came right up to them with hugs of his own and congratulations for their new Connection. Travis’s nerves eased off slightly as he and his parents all sat down with Jersey’s family, and they talked for what seemed like hours.

  Jersey sat on Travis’s lap, and he held his man close, as they listened and chimed in with their own story and feelings.

  “Michael?” Susan asked, looking at him a little worriedly. “All this sounds kind of crazy. How do you feel about all this?”

  Jersey smiled and wrapped his arm tighter around Travis’s neck. “Honestly?” Jersey asked looking between his mom and Travis. “I know it’s still sinking in and will likely take a few days to really register, but,” he paused and looked into Travis’s eyes, “I couldn’t be happier. I loved you before all this happened and now that it has, it’s like a fairy tale or something. After seeing Cory and Josh go through the same thing only weeks ago, I never in my entire life would have thought that I could be someone’s Complement. And not just anyone’s Complement, but yours. I really don’t even have the words yet to explain everything I’m feeling. But I know I’m totally and one million percent on board with it.” He leaned over and hugged Travis, burying his face in his neck and Travis returned the gesture, feeling almost exactly the same as Jersey. The only thing he would add was that he was the lucky one to have Jersey literally walk into his life.

  “Ah, Jersey?” Herald said, drawing their attention. “While we’re trying to understand what all this means, maybe you could show us what we’re dealing with here. I’m not saying we don’t believe you or get what the Williams are trying to explain, but maybe it would be easier for us to see this Connection so we know exactly what to expect.” Barbie had Herald’s hand in hers and looked on a little worriedly. Travis couldn’t necessarily blame them. If someone came to him saying what they were saying, he might need something more than just words to fully understand as well.

  Jersey looked at him with apprehension in his eyes.

  Travis hurried to reassure him. “It’ll be fine, love. We need to show them. You knew they were going to want to see it with their own eyes. My parents are right here and they know how much this sucks. It’s still early for me, so I won’t be nearly as affected as you, but it’ll only be for a couple of minutes.”

  “But we just found out. I don’t want to be apart yet,” Jersey said almost pleading with him.

  Travis pulled him down and pressed their foreheads together for a moment, then spoke softly into his ear. “I don’t want to be apart either, but we need everyone on our side. Can you even imagine if your family thought we were all crazy and tried to keep us apart? What if they think we’re two love-sick teenagers just going through some weird codependent stage? They need to see this is real and that both of us will be affected if we’re not together. I know we’re adults and can do what we want without their permission, but with everything you’ve already been through regarding family, let’s do this and keep your family in our lives. It’s only once and then we can move forward. I love you and I‘m not going anywhere, except maybe out to your backyard.”

  Jersey squeezed him again and the room was quiet for a minute. When he finally pulled back, Travis noticed his eyes were wet with unshed tears. “Oh, babe. You’re killing me with those big crocodile tears.” Jersey tried for a small smile, but Travis could see he wasn’t feeling it.

  “I know how hard this is,” Travis’s dad chimed in. “Especially since you’re Connection is so new, but we’re right here supporting you. How about we get it over with and then maybe we can all go out to lunch to celebrate?”

  Jersey looked from Mark back to him and nodded. Travis tried for an encouraging smile but he knew his was fairly flat too.

  Jersey stood up and Travis followed suit. Everyone else shuffled about as Jersey moved over and sat down in one of the unoccupied armchairs. Travis knelt at his feet.

  “I’ll be right back. You know I don’t want to be apart either, but we need to do this.”

  Jersey threw his arm around Travis’s neck. “What if it’s not real? We didn’t test it out earlier and I’ll just die if it’s not real.”

  “Is that what you’re worried about?” Travis asked into his neck.

  Jersey nodded. “We didn’t test it. Maybe I was wrong and we got our hopes up for nothing. I don’t want to lose you if it’s not real.”

  Travis pulled back. He searched Jersey’s face and saw the real concern and desperation in his wet eyes. “Come on, up you get,” he said and nudged Jersey to his feet. “We’ll be right back,” he said over his shoulder to the room at large. His man needed him and everyone else could just wait.

  Taking Jersey by the hand, he led him down the hall and into the small powder room across from the library. He needed someplace small and more intimate than the large room across the hall. When the door closed behind them, Travis spun around and pressed Jersey right up against it, taking his mouth in a blistering kiss. Jersey made a surprised sound but then moaned a little and clutched the fabric of Travis’s shirt in his left hand. Travis tried to convey all his love and desire and need in that one kiss, showing Jersey, that even if they didn’t have a Connection, which he knew they did, he wasn’t going anywhere. He loved him and had no intention of leaving him.

  Their tongues tangled, sliding and searching, exploring every corner of each other's mouths. If there was any place left in Jersey’s mouth that he hadn’t yet been, he
made damn sure he covered every inch of it then. He wanted there to be no doubt in Jersey’s mind, who had claimed him. And maybe that was too primal a way of thinking about it, but Jersey seemed to need constant reassurance that they belonged together, so Travis would give it to him; he would stake his claim and ownership over his man.

  “You’re mine, Jersey,” Travis rumbled as he moved his ministrations to Jersey’s neck. “We have a Connection that no one can deny, and I’m not leaving this room until you know who you belong to.” Travis spun Jersey around and mindful of his injured arm, pressed his front against the door with his body right behind him, blocking Jersey in. He brought his left hand up and wrapped it around Jersey’s neck, applying pressure, as his right hand worked open Jersey’s shorts.

  He shoved Jersey’s tiny little briefs down his thighs and took him in hand as Jersey panted. With his left palm plastered against the door, he moaned as Travis worked him and whimpered when Travis released him to undo his own shorts. When he was free and his own shorts were around his ankles, he dropped to his knees behind Jersey and proceeded to work his man with his mouth. Jersey gasped and pleaded and made sounds Travis had never heard from him before, but once he was good and wet, Travis kicked off his own shorts and snugged himself right into Jersey’s crease. He spit and took Jersey back in hand then replaced his left hand on Jersey’s neck.

  He could feel the vibration of Jersey’s moan, as only a few strokes later, his guy completely came apart in his arms. The guttural groan and sharp breathing coming from Jersey’s throat had Travis thrusting harder, pulling Jersey back into him, and within another few seconds, he came all over Jersey’s back, groaning out his own pleasure as little shudders wracked Jersey’s body and he rested heavily against the door.

  “Fuck,” Jersey sighed a little hoarsely, still trying to catch his breath. “I think you broke me.”

  Travis grunted and slowly removed his hands. He peeled himself off Jersey but bent down to place several soft kisses along his neck and shoulder. “I didn’t break you, I put you back together.” He moved over and grabbed up some tissues, then began the process of setting them both to rights again. Jersey watched silently, wearing that look that Travis knew made his heart beat faster, and when all was the best he could manage, Jersey pulled him down for the sweetest kiss he’d ever been given.

  “I love you,” Jersey sighed against his lips. “So damn much. I can’t even begin to put into words what you mean to me. You just get me. You know what I need and you’re so willing to give it to me. You’re my rock, my constant source of strength; I’ll never feel like enough for you but I’m going to try, every day, to give you what you give me.”

  Travis pressed another soft kiss to Jersey’s lips. “We should probably go back out there and get this over with and whatever happens, you know I’m right here.”

  Jersey nodded and after one final appearance check in the mirror, they returned to the sitting room, where everything played out exactly as Travis knew it would.

  -XV-

  During their family lunch, which included more question and answer time about Connectivity, it was explained that Travis and Jersey would need to move in together. Jersey reasoned that the best place for them to live right away would be the guest house above the garage. After a few rounds of other ideas, it was determined, based on size and the fact that the guest house was free, that it was indeed the best place for them to start out their living arrangement.

  So after lunch, Jersey texted Josh to see if he and Cory were home, and when Josh texted back that they were, Travis drove them over to their friends’ apartment.

  “Hey, you guys,” Cory welcomed after he opened the door. He ushered them inside and a few long hugs were passed around. “Jersey, how are you? Shouldn’t you be in bed or something?”

  “Yeah, man. After yesterday, we didn’t think we’d see you for a few days,” Josh chimed in. Cory and Josh pulled up two dining chairs and Jersey sat next to Travis on the only sofa in the small room.

  Travis hadn’t been to their apartment before but after a quick scan of the room, there wasn’t all that much to see. Two of the walls were painted a teal-blue color and the other two were painted some cool shade of lime-green that totally reminded him of a peacock. He imagined Cory was responsible for the color palette. The space was open and the only walls were for the bathroom, but it was absolutely perfect for the newlyweds. They already had lots of pictures up on the walls and a cool art piece that Travis knew Josh and Cory had done together on their wedding day. But, all in all, it looked like a cozy little nest that the two of them had created and were happy to call home.

  “I’m doing alright physically. I’m on my pain meds and I’ll get my hard cast on Tuesday. I could use a nap, but we kinda had something come up this morning that has changed our plans for the day,” Jersey said.

  Cory snickered. “I bet you had something come up.”

  Josh elbowed him with a laugh. “Would you be quiet? Jersey is trying to tell us he’s pregnant.”

  They all broke up into peals of laughter and when Jersey finally regained himself, he said, “Well, I hate to admit it, but you’re not far off, Josh.”

  That got their attention. They quieted and looked over at him.

  Jersey looked up at Travis and he grinned and nodded, Jersey pecked him on the lips and turned toward their friends. “It would seem that whatever you idiots have been drinking, we’ve apparently had some too. Travis and I learned this morning that my little bump on the head yesterday triggered our Connection. We’re a Connective couple, too.”

  “What?” Josh and Cory blurted in unison with their eyes bugging out and their mouths open.

  “You’re a Connective couple?” Josh continued still looking shocked.

  They both nodded. “I guess we were attracted to each other from the beginning but obviously didn’t know why, so we just started dating.” Travis shrugged one shoulder. “Then yesterday after Jersey’s accident, I never left his side. I went downstairs to get him some ice this morning and he fell asleep. We didn’t even realize it right away until I made some joke about him falling asleep while I was all anxious and weird. We kinda both freaked out for a while and just talked, then had to test it out in front of our parents. We just finished with a family meeting and lunch out.”

  “Holy shit, you guys,” Cory said. “I kind of thought you were joking, but what the fuck? This has to be the weirdest thing in the history of weird things.”

  Josh nodded in agreement. “So you’re a Catalyst, Travis? I thought you weren’t sure because you were second born,” Josh said.

  “Yeah. I had no idea. I honestly didn’t think it would happen for me. I kept telling Jersey that I didn’t think I could be in a relationship because if I did have a Complement out there somewhere, I needed to save myself for them, but damn if this guy didn’t just go and turn all my plans to shit,” Travis responded and Jersey laughed.

  “So sorry to interfere with your plans to remain single and pine away for someone who actually turned out to be me.”

  Travis looked right into Jersey’s eyes and spoke from his heart. “It was always you. From the first moment I saw you, I felt something for you. My heart knew it was Connected to yours, it just took a while to make the Connection permanent. It wasn’t that I was happy being single, you just hadn’t walked into my life yet.”

  “Well, I’ll take the credit for that, then,” Josh spouted and the atmosphere in the room felt lighter after his small joke. “Wow, though, guys. This is huge. Really. I know we’re joking and stuff, but finding your Connection is absolutely the most amazing thing that will ever happen to you. I can’t even imagine my life without Cory in it and it will be exactly the same for you guys. Congratulations.”

  “Yeah. Congratulations, you guys. It’s so awesome and weird,” Cory stated. “I mean, what are the odds that two sets of best friends would end up being Connected to each other? And Jersey. You’re totally a Complement. I know how much you wanted what we
have. You both did. And now, we’re all perfectly matched and it’s like we have our brothers back. You guys, we’re so totally a little family, the four of us. Wait… Where are you guys going live? Have you even figured all that out yet? What did your families say?”

  “My parents were thrilled for us, obviously. Jersey’s family needed a bit of convincing and demonstrating,” Jersey squeezed Travis’s hand and he returned it, “but they’re on board now. We actually came by, not only to tell you guys what was up but to see if you’d be available to help us move. With Jersey’s arm and all, we’re going to need a little extra help. We’re going to move into the guest house over Jersey’s grandparents’ garage. His house is too huge for us to live in now.”

  “Of course we’ll help. We just have to plan it like we did yesterday,” Josh responded while Cory nodded along. “When were you guys thinking? I know it’s gotta be hard getting around in Jersey’s house.”

  Travis looked at Jersey. “Maybe tomorrow?” Jersey replied, turning back to Josh. “I’m about done with this day and it’s only lunchtime, or at least I need a serious nap. I think we’ll just head back to my place and chill for the rest of the day. I took my meds pretty early this morning and it’s probably time for another dose.”

  “Of course. It’s probably been really crazy for you guys since yesterday. Go home and rest. And major congratulations again, you guys. I’m still just like, wow. I knew nothing about Connectivity when it happened for Cory and me, and it took several days to sink in that this was our new reality. Even though you guys already knew about it, it’ll definitely be an adjustment to go from doing whatever you want whenever you want, to being Connected to another human twenty-four-seven. Even if that other human happens to be your favorite human of all time,” Josh said and wrapped his arm around Cory’s shoulders, pressing a kiss to his temple.

  Cory nodded. “Yeah. I mean, I never really want to be away from Josh, but just knowing that I can’t be away from him, even though I love him more than anything, just kind of cramps your mind. So please call us, or come over, or whatever. We’re still figuring out all the little limitations that come with a Connection and hanging out with people who don’t know about it is definitely going to be one of them. We love you guys like brothers and we’d definitely be glad of your company. But yeah, congratulations on finding each other. It’s so unbelievably amazing to have our two best friends Connected like we are.”