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T-shirt and wiped at himself before handing it to Jax. Jax used it and threw it to the side, feeling
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a little empty and let down now that it was over. Then Cade leaned up and kissed him, sweeping
his tongue back into Jax s mouth, making him breathless again with fresh need. He bit his wrist
and held it to Jax s lips. While he drank, Cade rubbed his hand down Jax s stomach to his
softened cock, not demanding, just petting and soothing, spreading heat. He patted it, murmuring
in Jax s ear. Night baby. Sleep tight.
Jax sighed and nodded, pulling his mouth away for Cade to lick the wound.
You too, he said softly. He let Cade pull him around and settle his ass against him. I love
you, Jax said softly over his shoulder, but Cade was already breathing slow and steady, already
sunk deeply in sleep. I love you, Jax whispered again in the dark.
* * * *
Breakfast was almost over the next morning by the time Gabe leaned back against Zack and
looked speculatively over at Jax. Jax could tell he was burning with questions and sure enough,
he smiled lazily at Jax when he caught his eye. So what s your story, Jax? Where did you and
Cade meet up anyway?
Zack squeezed Gabe s shoulder. None of your business. We ve been through this before.
Gabe pulled away and smiled an apology at Jax. I didn t mean to be nosy. He stopped to
give Nicky a sideways glare as he snorted into his coffee. But as a fellow Alabama boy, I just
wondered how you and your little brother got out to Louisiana.
Well, Jax glanced over at Cade who didn t seem to even be paying much attention to the
conversation among the boys. I didn t make it all the way to Louisiana, actually. I met Cade in
Mississippi. My little brother and I were at a roadside diner getting breakfast. He glanced over
at Cade who was now staring steadily at him. Um& Cade& spoke to me, and&
And we just hit it off, right babe? Cade broke in with a little smile. Jax flushed, glad that
Cade had spared him the embarrassment of the little tip-stealing episode.
Yes, that s right, he said gratefully. We just hit it off.
But how come you were in Mississippi, anyway? Gabe said, leaning forward again.
School s still in session for Mason, isn t it? Were you traveling for some reason?
Gabe& , Zack said warningly. He smiled at Cade. Sorry. He s nosy as hell.
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I m offended by that remark, Gabe said.
Doesn t make it any less true, Zack said smoothly.
It s all right, Jax broke in, seeing Gabe turn toward Zack with a clenched fist. I was
running away, actually, he said, glancing over at Cade. This was a part of the story he hadn t
told even Cade yet. My stepfather& he was abusing Mason, and I had to get him away.
A silence fell over the group and Jax felt Cade s hand on his back, quietly soothing him. He
could sense the questions tumbling around in Cade s head because of what he d said. They still
didn t have a really clear connection, but sometimes now he could get a sense of Cade s
thoughts. It was disturbingly intimate.
Gabe and Nicky looked at each other, and Cade leaned up to murmur in his ear. It s okay.
You don t have to say any more. We ll discuss it later.
No, I really don t mind. Jax was almost surprised to find that it was true. For so many
years, he d had to hide who he was from everyone around him, along with what was happening
in his own home, and it had eaten him up inside. For the first time in his life, he wasn t ashamed
to be in love with another man and to show that love openly, like Nicky and Gabe did, without
fear. It was kind of a heady feeling.
My-my mom left us when Mason was a baby. I just came home from school one day and
she d left a note. He looked down into the campfire. I was in the sixth grade. He looked back
up at Gabe. I think my stepfather wanted to get rid of us too, but he was a coach at the high
school, and he didn t want people to know how much of a burden he really thought we were, me
and Mason.
Cade must have been sensing something, because he stirred restlessly beside Jax. Really,
Jax, you don t have to talk about this.
Gabe shook his head. No, Jax. Zack s right, much as I hate to admit it. I was only being
nosy. I know what it s like to lose your mom, and you really don t have to get into it.
Jax looked up quickly, his eyes bitter and hard. My mother was a heartless bitch. She knew
what he was and she left us with him anyway. She just left us with that& that monster. He
broke off as tears sprang to his eyes. A shocked, uneasy silence fell over the men. Jax swiped
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angrily at the tears in his eyes. God, he said, his voice shaky. I m sorry. Didn t mean to do
that.
Cade put his arm around Jax s waist and pulled his head into his chest. It s fine, baby. I just
don t want you upset. What do you say we look around and pick out where to put the house.
Sound good?
Marco stood up quickly too and started gathering up the cooking utensils to rinse off in the
stream. Cade rose to help him, while Zack also sprang up and rambled through his pack to find
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