by Carol Lynne
Lark looked at Sam for a few brief moments before giving his head a small shake. “Sorry, but I’m not going to be much help to you. My existence is narrowed to this room and my classrooms. Okay, maybe I do stop in at the library occasionally.” Lark grinned.
“I’m not sure what it would be like to have a life outside of class and studying.” Lark gazed out the window the grin still present. “I think it would be worth the trade of a few bad grades.”
“So why do you do it, study all the time?” Sam asked.
“What else do I have? I don’t fit in, never have.” Sam would swear he heard a catch in Lark’s voice.
Damn. He realised at that moment he hadn’t been a very good roommate. “Would you be interested in going to Jace’s Friday? We’re having a few couples over as part of our ‘Get to know people’ campaign.”
Lark’s teeth bit his bottom lip. Sam had seen the same habit many times when Lark was studying.
“I’d like to, but I’ve never really been to a dinner party. What do people talk about?”
“I don’t know,” Sam replied. “But you’ll know me and you kind of know Jace. Kade will be there as well.”
Lark nodded. “Yeah, they seem like nice people.”
“They are. Come on, it’ll be fun.”
“Okay.” Sam couldn’t help notice the blush on Lark’s face when he said it. Hmmm…
“So how’s the student teaching going?” Demitri asked.
“Good, real good. In fact, I have an interview next week with a junior high over in Longston.”
“That would be handy. It would only take you what, twenty minutes to get there?”
“Yeah, of course I’d have to get a car first.” Bear laughed.
Sam was snuggled against Jace’s side listening to the different conversations in the room. With everyone’s belly full, they were just lounging around talking.
Jace had been so cute earlier before their guests had arrived. Sam thought it was probably the first time he’d ever seen his man nervous. They’d only invited a few couples over besides Kade and Lark. Liam and Bear were there, of course, as well as Demitri and Aaron and Tony and Daniel. They’d invited Joe and Rocco, but unfortunately Rocco had come down with something at the last moment.
Sam grinned when he recalled Jace’s blush when Aaron had commented on the choice of pies they had for dessert. Jace had coughed into his hand and admitted that a friend of his owned a bakery in Wyoming and he’d had Kyle ship them overnight to him.
Everyone at the table had insisted on getting Kyle’s number before they left.
Sam listened to Demitri’s smooth voice as he talked to Bear. Aaron seemed to hang on every word out of his lover’s mouth. He couldn’t help but watch his brother. He wanted to see a resemblance, but there simply wasn’t one.
Feeling a set of lips kiss the top of his head, Sam looked up into Jace’s brown eyes and smiled. “It’s going good, yeah?”
“Real good,” Jace answered and gave him a soft kiss on the lips.
Snuggling back in, Sam’s eyes wandered to the only two single people in the room. Lark and Kade were both sitting on the floor, both looking a little uncomfortable. “Hey, Kade,” Sam said. “Did I tell you Lark’s never seen a Lethal Weapon movie?”
Kade turned to Lark. “You gotta be shittin’ me?”
Lark’s face turned an adorable shade of scarlet. “We didn’t have televisions where I grew up. Every time Sam mentions the movie I don’t know what he’s talking about.”
Sam noticed the looks that passed between the various couples in the room. No one knew Lark well enough to question him as to why he hadn’t grown up with a TV.
Kade stood and held his hand out. “I can fix that. You have a couple of hours to kill? I’ve got all of them on DVD. We can go to the media room and I’ll educate you on Mel Gibson.”
Lark looked from Kade over to Sam. “What time did you want to leave?”
“Not for a while. Go on.”
Lark took Kade’s hand and stood. “Just let me know when you’re ready,” Lark said as he let Kade lead him from the room.
Jace gave Sam a squeeze. “You’re not matchmaking are you? Because Kade won’t get involved with anyone, and I don’t want to see Lark get hurt.”
Sam shrugged. “They both looked uncomfortable and bored. I was trying to help.” He couldn’t help but feel like he’d been scolded.
“Hey.” Jace tapped Sam’s nose.
When he looked at Jace, his lover kissed him. “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.”
“Okay.”
“Sam.” Demitri’s voice broke the tension between Sam and Jace.
“Yeah?”
“I was just wondering if Charlie and Jack were still going at it.”
Sam chuckled and nodded his head. “Only when they’re in the same room. I’ve never met two more stubborn men in my life.”
Demitri laughed. “That’s right. You haven’t met my brother Alec yet.”
“I don’t see how he could possibly be worse than Charlie or Jack.” Sam gave an exaggerated all over body shiver. “They scare me.”
“I have a feeling they’ll figure it out eventually. One of them just has to come off his high horse first. Then step back because BK might just go up in flames,” Demitri said with a chuckle.
By the time the last of their guests walked out the door, Jace was in need of a few serious kisses. It was hell sitting with Sam in his arms and not being able to touch or taste to his heart’s content.
He pulled Sam against him and dove in. He swept his tongue through the interior of Sam’s mouth, tasting the wine they’d sipped all evening.
Sam moaned and began rubbing against him. “I wish I could stay, but I promised Lark I’d ride home on the bus with him.”
Jace reached down and unzipped Sam’s jeans. Running his hand up the hard length of Sam’s cock, he groaned. “I can ask Kade to take him home. I need you. You’ve been doing far too much studying lately. I miss my boyfriend.”
Sam thrust against Jace’s hand. “I miss you, too. Go ask Kade and then prepare yourself for the blowjob of a lifetime.”
Chapter Eight
“Hey, baby.” Jace’s deep voice invaded his soul.
Sam smiled. “Hi. I was just thinking about you.” Man he missed Jace like crazy. He’d only been in London for three days, and already Sam didn’t know what to do with himself.
“Good thoughts, I hope?”
“Always,” Sam replied. “So tell me how you’re enjoying life in the big city.”
“It’s okay, but I’d be enjoying it a hell of a lot more if a certain grey-eyed man were with me.”
“I am, in spirit anyway.” Sam found a bench in the sunshine and sat down. He tilted his head back to feel the heat of the warm spring day on his face. “It’s nice here for a change. I think winter has officially moved on.”
“Not fair. It’s raining in London.”
“Sorry.” Sam smiled. He wasn’t really but it sounded convincing.
“I was wondering if you’d do me a favour? I’ve tried calling home for two days and I can’t reach Kade. Would you mind going over to check on him? Maybe take him out for dinner or something?”
“You mean I get to finally drive the Jag?”
“Of course. Why haven’t you been driving it? That’s why I left it with you.”
“I know, but I didn’t see any reason to get attached. You’ll be gone for two weeks. In that amount of time I could forget the bus schedule and then I’d be screwed,” he joked.
“Drive the damn car. Forget the bus schedule, just don’t forget about me.”
“Never. I’ll go by your place before I head to work.”
“Thanks.”
“Call me before you go to bed later. I might even be persuaded to talk dirty to you.”
Jace groaned. “With an offer like that, I may have to turn in early.”
“Not too early. I’m not about to have phone sex with you while sitting in
a restaurant.”
Sam heard Jace’s soft growl. “Point taken. You’d better be alone when I make you come.”
He wanted to tell Jace he loved him before he hung up, but he knew the first time should be face to face. “Miss you.”
“Me, too. Call you later, and thanks for checking on Kade for me.”
“No problem.” Sam hung up and walked back to BK.
Sam pounded on the door for what felt like twenty minutes. Giving up, he used the key Jace had given him. He knew Kade was there by the smoke-grey Harley parked in the driveway. He smiled to himself. He still remembered the argument Jace and Kade had gotten into about that bike. Jace tried to reason with Kade that it wasn’t practical in Idaho not to have a car for winter. Kade had fired back that he didn’t plan to stay that long.
“Kade,” Sam hollered as he stepped inside. All the blinds had been pulled and not a light was on. “Hey, Kade, it’s Sam. Are you busy?”
He spotted a big shadow moving down the hall. “What do you need, Sam?”
Sam turned to flip on the entry light, giving him enough illumination to at least see Kade’s face. The dark circles under the bigger man’s eyes and at least two days of growth on his face, attested to the fact that he was sliding back into a well of depression.
“I thought you might feel like going out to dinner later.”
“No thanks. Tell Jace I don’t need a babysitter.” Kade turned and started to walk back towards his bedroom.
“Wait. You can’t say something like that and just walk away.” Sam went further into the room to follow Kade.
Kade spun and towered over him. “You got that wrong, Little Sammy. I can say damn near anything I want. It’s what I can and can’t do that’s the problem. Now get out of here and leave me in peace.”
From somewhere deep inside of himself, Sam’s courage rose. Kade was a hell of a tough looking guy, but he was acting more like a child. “That attitude may work with Jace, but it doesn’t pull any weight with me. Who knows, maybe it’s because Jace loves you, but he gives into your emotions far too often.”
“You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about, kid. Run along back to college. Jace is out of town, maybe you can get that roommate of yours to give it up…”
That was as far as Kade got before Sam slapped him across the face. Kade reacted on instinct and reared back and punched Sam in the nose.
His head flew back as he heard the loud crunch. Fuck! That hurt. Sam covered his nose and ran to the bathroom for a washcloth. When he glanced in the mirror, he saw that his nose was definitely not where it was supposed to be. He only hoped his insurance would cover everything.
Walking back into the hall, he was surprised to see Kade on the floor with his face in his hands. By the shaking shoulders, Sam could tell he was crying. “No time for that. I need you to drive me to the emergency room,” Sam said. No way would he leave Kade here alone in this condition.
Kade looked up at him. “Huh? I fuckin’ broke your nose and you want me to drive you?”
“Yeah. I think you owe it to me. Go get some clean clothes on and let’s go.” Kade looked at him for several seconds before disappearing into his bedroom.
While Kade changed, Sam rinsed the washcloth and called Lark.
“Hello?”
“Hey. Is there any way you can meet me at the hospital? Kade and I got into it and he busted my nose.”
“Oh my god.”
“Yeah, well, the real problem is Kade. He’s depressed and I don’t think he needs to be alone right now. Can you catch the bus and sit with him while they fix me up?”
“Sure. I’ll leave now. It’ll take me longer to get there, but I’ll make it.”
“Thanks, Lark.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Rinsing the cloth once more he went and stood by the door. “Any day, Kade,” he yelled at the closed door.
“Coming.” Kade was tucking in a sleeveless red T-shirt into a pair of holey jeans. He grabbed his black leather jacket off the back of the sofa and didn’t stop until he was straddling his motorcycle.
“Um, I think it’d be better to take the car,” Sam said and pointed towards his nose.
Kade started the bike. “I don’t drive cars. If you want me to take you, hop on.”
“Fine,” Sam said. He climbed on the back of the bike and held on around Kade’s waist with one hand while holding the cloth to his nose with the other.
As Kade roared out of the drive, all Sam could think about was Jace. What would he tell him? No way could he tell him the truth. The really stupid part was Sam totally blamed himself. He knew Kade was on edge as soon as he saw him. He was the one who continued to push and yell until Kade snapped. Besides, he’d actually hit Kade first. His opponent was just better at it than he was.
Kade pulled the Harley under the awning of the emergency department. “I’ll get parked and be in,” he said.
“Okay.” Sam climbed off and started to head towards the automatic doors.
“Hey, Sam.”
He turned around and looked at Kade. “Yeah?”
“Sorry.”
Sam felt tears sting his eyes at the pain in the big man’s voice. Without thought, he walked over to Kade and hugged him. “It’s okay. I don’t blame you.”
“I blame myself. You’d better get inside and get yourself looked at.”
Sam watched as Kade started the bike and pulled away. Hopefully Lark could help bring Kade out of his mood.
Once released, the nurse wheeled Sam out of the exam room to the lobby. He was surprised to see Jack and Charlie sitting with Lark. “Where’s Kade?”
Lark sighed. “He left about ten minutes ago after Charlie and Jack got here.”
“Why are you here?” Sam asked Charlie.
“The hospital called me. Said you’d need a ride home. You feel like talking about it?”
“Later.” Sam turned to Jack. “Right now I need you to take me over to Jace’s.”
“The hell I will. That guys a loose canon,” Jack grumbled.
“No he isn’t. He’s depressed and he needs a friend. His happens to be in London.” The nurse over his shoulder cleared her throat. “Oh, sorry.” He looked back to Jack. “Please take me to Jace’s?”
Lark stood up. “I’ll go in with him to make sure everything is okay.”
Sam looked at Lark and smiled. Oh, ow, well, tried to smile. “Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Just as he and Lark had suspected, Kade was packing his bags. Kade looked over his shoulder as they walked into the room. “You didn’t have to bring reinforcements. I’m not gonna hit you again.”
Sam started to say something, but Lark grabbed his arm. “Can I have a few minutes alone with Kade?”
“Sure,” Sam said and walked out.
Going into the kitchen he looked through the fridge for something to fix for dinner. With little else on hand, Sam decided to make bacon, eggs and pancakes, comfort food.
As he bent over to get a skillet from under the counter, stars lit up his vision. He put his hand out to steady himself and barely made it to one of the island stools. “Shit,” he said taking several deep breaths.
His cell phone buzzed and Sam closed his eyes. He knew it had to be Jace. Fumbling in his pocket, he pulled out his phone. “Hey.”
“Are you ready for me?” Jace asked in his sexiest voice.
“Actually, I’m not feeling well this evening. I’m sorry. I know you were looking forward to it, and so was I, but my heart just wouldn’t be in it.”
Sam heard Jace move around. “What’s wrong?”
He knew he’d have to tell him about his injury eventually, so he might as well get it over with. Of course he didn’t plan on telling him how he got it. He wasn’t that stupid. “I ran into a door and broke my nose.” Sam winced. It was a stupid lie but it was all he could think of.
“Broke your nose? Did you go to the doctor? Are you sure it’s broken?”
; Sam grinned at Jace’s apparent concern. “Definitely broken. It was kind of off to the right side of my face. I went to the emergency room and they reset it for me. The doctor said I should be fine, although I’ll probably have a small crook in it. Not that my face was perfect before.”
“Did they give you something for the pain?”
“Yeah, I was just getting ready to make me, Lark and Kade some bacon and eggs.”
“Bullshit! You go lie down on my bed and tell Kade to make dinner,” Jace said in a vehement tone Sam had never heard.
“I’ll ask him.”
“Put him on the phone and I’ll tell him. I don’t understand what he’s thinking having you cook for him in your condition.”
Sam sighed. “I can take care of it myself, Jace. I don’t need you to go all Alpha male on me right now.”
After several moments, Jace spoke. “I’m sorry. I just hate that I’m not there.”
“I know. Call me in the morning. I’ll probably skip class, so I should be available any time.”
“Okay. Take care of yourself and I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Bye.” Sam hung up. He looked at the clock and yawned. Standing, he went to the stove to start dinner.
Chapter Nine
Sam opened his eyes the following morning to the sun slipping through the blinds. He groaned and reached for the bottle of pain medicine on Jace’s bedside table. After fumbling for a tablet, he noticed his water glass was completely empty. “Shit.”
“You need something?”
Startled, Sam flipped over and quickly covered himself. “Morning, Kade. Would you get me a glass of water?”
Kade walked over and picked up the empty glass from the opposite side of the bed. “Jace is gonna kill me when he sees your face,” he mumbled.
