Lessons Learned

by Sandrine Gasq-Dion

  He had tried everything to get through to Jude, and nothing was working. He really didn’t have anything to lose at this point.

  Hayden looked down at his cock. He wasn’t getting anywhere, and his mind was wandering. Thinking about a project involving two teenagers probably hadn’t been a good idea if he wanted to get off.

  Hayden let go of his cock and concentrated on the two songs he’d learned. He was going to try singing one of them tonight at Cuffs and Stuff. It was karaoke night, so why not? No one really knew him there besides his friends. They’d be surprised and he might get some shit for it, but who cared?

  Hayden hummed a few bars of one of the songs. The lyrics played in his head and he began singing. The shower had great acoustics.

  Ice cold water splashed him from above and Hayden let out a yelp.

  He looked up to see Ross grinning at him.

  “What the hell?” he sputtered.

  Ross stood on the toilet seat, peering over the shower stall. “Were you singing?”

  “Maybe. Why?” Hayden covered his dick.

  Ross rolled his eyes. “Please, I’ve seen your dick a thousand times. Why were you singing?”

  “Did I sound bad?”

  Ross tilted his head. “No, you actually sounded good. I thought you couldn’t sing?” Ross noticed the flush of red creeping up Hayden’s neck and spreading to his face. “What did you do?”

  “I’ve been taking singing lessons from Skylar and Ryder.”

  Ross smiled wide. “Really? How come?”

  Hayden shut the water off, opened the shower door and grabbed his towel. He wrapped it around his waist and pushed past Ross to get to the sink.

  “I plan on singing to Jude.”

  Ross’ jaw dropped.

  Hayden smacked him in the chest. “Stop looking at me like that.”

  “So, flying twenty feet in the air and landing on your ass in Devin and Andrei’s wedding cake wasn’t enough public humiliation? Why are you still pursuing him?”

  “Because of Valentine’s Day. You yourself said Jude was watching us and he was jealous.” Hayden sighed and looked at Ross in the mirror’s reflection. “I’m never going to get over him, so I’m pulling out all the big guns.”

  Ross clapped Hayden on the back. “I’ll help as much as I can.” Ross waggled his eyebrows. “It’s really not a hardship fawning all over you.”

  Hayden chuckled. He grew serious and his eyes met Ross’ in the mirror. “I’m glad you forgave me for everything I did to Jude back then. I know you and Noah wanted to kick me across the state.”

  “And we would have, had it not been for Jude. Even then, he wanted to protect you.”

  Hayden ran his hands through his hair. “And how did I act? I bullied him, made fun of him. God I wish I could go back and change it all.”

  “But you can’t.” Ross turned Hayden around to face him. “The only thing you can do now is make him see you’ve changed. Noah and I see it; you haven’t been that Hayden Cox in a long time.”

  “This would be so much easier if we were mated,” Hayden sighed.

  “That’s not always true; being mated doesn’t automatically mean true love. Look at Tristan and Scott,” Ross chuckled.

  Hayden had to laugh at that one. Tristan Miles and Scott Delange were two alpha males who clashed from their first meeting. Finding out they were mated made it even worse. They fought the bond tooth and nail, but finally fell in love.

  “True. I was sure they’d rip each other apart.”

  “Oh they do,” Ross laughed. “Just in the bedroom.”

  Hayden chuckled and smiled at his friend. “So, Cole from the club, huh?”

  “Yeah, I asked Nikolai about him. He’s a firefighter.” Ross shuddered thinking about how the man must look in uniform. “God, that’s so sexy. Too bad he opened his mouth,” Ross chuckled.

  “What’s’ his last name?”

  “Ryker.”

  “Like on ‘Star Trek’?”

  “Dude.” Ross shook his head. “You are such a nerd.”

  “You like Captain Picard,” Hayden pointed out smugly.

  Ross’ cheeks flushed. “He’s got that sexy bald head.”

  Hayden laughed.

  “So, club tonight?” Ross checked his reflection in the mirror. “I really hope Cole is there. I want to fuck with him some more.”

  “I hope he is, too. Even though you say he’s a man-whore.”

  “Oh, he is,” Ross grinned. “But when has that ever stopped me? The thrill of the chase, my friend. I’m going to make sure he’s fucking tired of running by the time he catches me.”

  “You deserve to be with someone, Ross.”

  After the wedding in Russia, Ross had been a bit removed. Stuart Macavoie had started a relationship with Sabine Derchan — a woman who swore up and down she’d never be in a relationship. Sabine had been a flight attendant for Alaska Airlines before going to work for Riley Flynn-Esposito, Wayne and Caden on their corporate jets.

  She’d come on to Hayden at one point and Lord knows he’d tried, but Jude occupied his thoughts twenty-four hours a day. It was frustrating. Ross had a friendship with Stuart, a rogue wolf who had been cured by Wayne, and Ross had thought maybe they could have a go at a relationship. But Stuart had been married before, to a woman, and was not going the gay route.

  Which left Ross alone — again.

  The apartment walls shook as the front door slammed open, making Hayden look over his shoulder. Noah was stalking through the living room.

  They’d all moved to Seattle not too long ago to be closer to the other packs, and Noah was now in the same state as Jesse Salvatore, a human with werewolf brothers. For all the good it did him. Jesse’s older brother, Justice, had forbidden Noah to see Jesse.

  It was seriously fucking with his roommate.

  “Noah?” Ross called out.

  “What!” Noah snapped.

  ‘Wow,’ Hayden mouthed to Ross.

  “Um, everything okay?” Ross offered.

  “No! It’s not okay! I just want to spend five minutes with the man I love and I keep getting cock-blocked by his brother!” Noah thundered.

  Ross and Hayden’s jaw’s dropped.

  “You’re in love?” Hayden said slowly.

  “Of course I love Jesse!” Noah stomped into the bathroom. “This isn’t some one-night stand,” Noah spat. “Or, excuse me, a non-one-night non-stand! I can’t even get close enough to kiss him!”

  “Justice still not letting up, huh?” Ross dropped a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, Noah.”

  “I’m going out on a mission for a few weeks,” Noah sighed sadly. “I need to get away from here.”

  “What about Jesse?” Hayden asked.

  “I’ll call him when I can.” Noah sat down on the edge of the tub. “I hate this, I seriously do. I finally found someone I can see spending the rest of my life with and the only time I got to touch him was in Russia at Devin and Andrei’s wedding.” Noah smiled thinking about that day. “I almost got to kiss him.”

  “But?” Ross and Hayden asked in unison.

  “Justice showed up and I had to back off,” Noah muttered.

  “Look, Hayden and I are going to Cuffs and Stuff tonight. Why don’t you swing by and we’ll run interference so you can say bye to Jesse?”

  “Yeah?” Noah’s face brightened.

  “Sure.” Hayden shrugged. “Why not? I’ve never seen you like this over a guy. In fact, I’ve never seen you like this over anyone.”

  Noah sighed, thinking about Jesse. “God he’s just so…gorgeous and smart and sweet. The fact that he’s a former SEAL is sexy, too. He’s muscular and tattooed…” he faded off.

  Hayden elbowed Ross at the lovesick look on Noah’s face.

  “Oh yeah; you’ve got it real bad,” Hayden winked.

  “So do you!” Noah pointed at Hayden.

  “He’s going to sing tonight,” Ross provided.

  Noah’s jaw dropped. “You
? Sing? Dude, I’ve heard you sing; it’s like the first round of American Idol.” Noah shivered.

  “He’s been taking singing lessons from Skylar Foxx and Ryder Winters.” Ross crossed his arms with a smirk.

  Noah’s brows shot up to his hairline.

  “Oh, stop it! If Nikolai Markov can sing, then so can I!” Hayden stomped out of the bathroom and went to his room.

  “Yeah? But Markov’s actually good!” Ross chuckled.

  “Shut up!” Hayden snapped.

  “This should be good,” Noah laughed.

  “So, you coming with?”

  “Oh, I wouldn’t miss this for anything,” Noah grinned.

  ~*Chapter Three*~

  Jesse sighed in frustration. The DJ had called in sick and they were going to have a full house. He could pull DJ duty, but then he’d need to bring in more bouncers.

  PJ, the club’s owner had gone off for a vacation in the Bahamas and left him to run the place. Cuffs and Stuff was one of the more popular places in Seattle if you were gay. They were always packed and always in the black.

  Jesse checked the liquor and made sure the bar was stocked before moving off to the office.

  Sitting at PJ’s desk, he looked over all the orders that had been placed. Most of the shipments had arrived and more would be coming. Jesse pulled out the employee files and began looking for someone with DJ experience. Most of the guys were former military and worked as bouncers, the rest were bartenders. Jesse banged his head on the desk and grabbed his phone. He scrolled through the contacts until he found who he was looking for. The phone rang twice before being picked up.

  “Foxx. Talk to me.”

  Jesse grinned. “Hey, Skylar.”

  “Jesse Salvatore. My, my, what has you calling me on a Friday night?”

  “I need a DJ for the club and I’m in a bind. Can you help?”

  “No can do, but I know someone who can spin it for you.”

  Jesse sighed in relief. “You do?”

  “Yup, ’bout five-foot-ten, big blue peepers…”

  “Elijah?” Jesse spluttered. Elijah was one of the kids who had attended Camp Pride; he also had a massive crush on Jesse’s older brother, Jaxon.

  “Yup, best spinner we have.”

  “Is he available?”

  “Wow, you are hard up. You know he’s seventeen, right? You going to keep an eye on him in there?”

  “I’ll make sure he’s got the underage bracelet and no one fucks with him. Hey — I thought he was in kind of a funk these days?”

  “Yeah, he’s been better lately. We dragged his adorable ass out of that creepy house he lives in a couple of times. We can be very persuasive. I’ll send him over!” he sing-songed.

  “Thanks for this, Skylar. I owe you.”

  “No problem. Have fun.”

  Jesse hung up and ran a hand through his hair. Elijah would be candy in this place. There’s no way men wouldn’t come on to him. Jesse grinned and looked at his phone. He dialed Jaxon and waited.

  “What’s up, lil’ bro?”

  “Do you have plans tonight?”

  “Um.” Jaxon looked at the remote in his hand. “Not really, why?”

  “I need an extra bouncer at the club tonight. Can you fill in?”

  “Sure, what time do you need me there?”

  “Like, five minutes ago,” Jesse laughed.

  “On my way.”

  The phone clicked and Jesse smiled. Even if he couldn’t have the man he wanted, it didn’t hurt for Jaxon to see there was someone for him. Even if he was only seventeen right now.

  Jesse walked out into the club, which was just starting to fill. He went behind the bar and made sure all the glasses were clean. A short cough made him look up and he eyed the man standing there.

  “Yes?”

  “I’m looking for PJ. Is he here?” the man asked.

  “Nope, he’s on vacation. Can I help you?”

  Something about the guy sent warning flares off in Jesse’s head. He’d been a SEAL for four years and knew that when his gut said something was wrong — something was wrong.

  “You’re Jesse Salvatore, aren’t you?”

  Jesse narrowed his eyes. “Yeah, that’s me.” The man seemed to stiffen. He looked over his shoulder and stepped away from the bar.

  “I’ll be back.”

  Jesse watched the man go out the side door and frowned. “What the hell was that?”

  ~*~

  Hayden was a nervous wreck by the time they reached Cuffs and Stuff. What had possessed him to think he could sing in public? He took a deep breath and reeled in his anxiety. He had to do it. He had to practice somewhere other than Skylar’s apartment or his own shower. Ross pulled into a parking spot close to the entrance and shut the truck off. He turned in the driver’s seat.

  “You ready for this?”

  Hayden nodded and heard the snort from behind him. He looked over his shoulder at Noah and grinned.

  “You want to see Jesse or not?”

  Noah put his hands up in defense.

  “That’s what I thought. Come on, let’s go,” Hayden said, exiting the truck. The lights and sounds of the club filled the parking lot as they neared the entrance. Noah stopped mid-walk and sniffed the air. Ross also stopped and Hayden almost ran into his back. Hayden’s nose twitched.

  “Werewolf,” he observed, scanning the parking lot.

  “Jesse,” Noah whispered, running for the club.

  Ross took off after Noah as did Hayden. They burst through the front of the club and Hayden checked the area. Noah made a beeline for the bar.

  “Where’s Jesse?” he shouted at the bartender.

  “He took the trash out.”

  Noah ran around the bar and straight to the back room. The back door was propped open and Noah slid out into the alley.

  “Jesse!” he shouted.

  “What?!” Jesse’s head popped out from behind the Dumpster.

  Noah exhaled. “Oh, thank God.”

  “Noah? What are you doing here?” Jesse shut the Dumpster lid and walked towards Noah, his skin tingling the closer he got.

  “I was worried. I smelled a werewolf in the lot, no one I know. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

  Noah let his eyes take in Jesse Salvatore. God, but the man was downright beautiful. Green eyes regarded him with mirth and Noah’s brows furrowed.

  “This is not funny.”

  “I’m well prepared.” Jesse took a gun out of the waistband of his pants.

  “Bullets don’t do shit unless you hit the heart.”

  “Ah, but they aren’t bullets.” Jesse showed the gun to Noah. “Darts full of ketamine. Did you forget I’m also an excellent sniper?” Jesse looked into Noah’s eyes. “I’ve missed you,” he whispered.

  “I’ve missed you, too.” Noah took Jesse’s hand.

  “How long can you stay?” Jesse put the gun back in his waistband and looked back at Noah.

  “I’m going out of town on a mission. I just had to see you first.”

  “You’re leaving again?” Jesse searched Noah’s eyes. “It’s because of Justice. Is he still giving you problems?”

  Noah palmed Jesse’s face. “I don’t have a lot of time and I don’t want to waste it talking about Justice.”

  “What do you want then?” Jesse moved closer to Noah.

  “This.” Noah leaned in and touched his lips to Jesse’s.

  A flash of electricity shot through him and the alley lights blew out. The wind picked up and Noah lifted his head as the air heated around them.

  “What is that?” Jesse whispered.

  “I don’t know.” Noah looked around the alley. It was pitch black. Every light that had been lining the building had blown out.

  Jesse looked up and smiled. “That was one hell of a kiss.”

  Noah tilted his head to the side, tuning in to the voices in his head. Tristan and Jacob were calling for him. “Shit, I have to go.”

  Jesse looked down
at his shoes as disappointment filled him. “Okay, I understand.”

  “I don’t think you do. I want you, Jesse.” Noah took a deep breath and braced himself. “I...”

  “Jesse!”

  Jesse sighed and looked up at Noah. “You better go.”

  Jaxon poked his head out the back door. “Justice is here.”

  Noah caressed Jesse’s cheek. “I’ll call you. I promise.” Noah couldn’t help himself; he leaned in and brushed his lips gently across Jesse’s. They were so soft; it took everything in his power not to taste him.

  “Bye,” Noah whispered.

  “Bye.” Jesse stood in the alley watching as Noah got further and further away from him. His fingers touched his lips where Noah had kissed him.

  “I’ll do what I can, Jesse. It’s obvious Noah has real feelings for you,” Jaxon sighed sadly. “You should be with the man.”

  “Jesse? Where are you?”

  Jesse sighed as Justice came out into the alley.

  “Was Noah here? That’s a stupid question isn’t it?” Justice glowered.

  “Not one word,” Jesse grimaced at his brother. “Or I swear I’ll pump you full of ketamine.” Jesse stalked back into the club.

  “Let it go, Justice. You’re going to lose him for good.” Jaxon walked back into the club.

  Justice ran his hands over his face.

  “Fuck.”

  ~*~

  Jude almost ran to the front of the club with Nikolai and Colin trying to keep up. He could hear the music blasting and the sounds of people having a good time. He needed this. Things were getting complicated. His anger at Hayden was deflating each and every time they were in the same room together.

  Damn that man for being so sexy.

  Jude scowled, scanning the club. He found Jesse and his brothers at the bar.

  “Excuse me.”

  Jude turned to see a teenager staring at him. He looked familiar.

  “I’ve seen you before.” Jude looked over the kid.

  “Yep, I’m Elijah, from the center.” Elijah grinned. “I’m here to see Jesse. Do you know where he is?”