If he'd had known this would happen, Jak would have refused to go out with Dante. Actually he had, but the younger man had refused to listen. He'd said he'd only wanted to thank him for helping him study. Instead he'd gotten him drunk.
He hadn't been that drunk since the night he'd first slept with Reaux. That had been very traumatic and he'd refrained from drinking more than two unless he knew who he was going home with beforehand. Every time he'd empty his glass, Dante was refilling it. By the time he'd realized it, it was too late. His head was fuzzy and his body hot.
Jak hadn't driven. He'd been with Damian and his friend had dropped him off at the library. When he'd finished partying with Dante, he'd taken a cab even though the man had offered to drive. He wasn't going to get yelled at by Reaux for having another drunk man drive him home. That was no-no 101.
He stumbled into the elevator and pushed the fifth floor button. He wasn't all too sure he was going to get yelled at to begin with. For some reason he was certain he'd forgotten something but couldn't remember what it was. He was sure he would figure it out at the worst possible moment. That was usually his luck.
The doors opened, and Jak held on to the wall to maneuver down the hall. If he moved too fast, he would fall down. People were sleeping and he would wake them up. Then they'd have a lot more to deal with.
He found his apartment door and fished out his key. Somehow he managed to insert it in one go. Turning it, he pushed the door open and fell through it. The impact made his stomach turn. He managed to keep from vomiting as he stood up.
Jak used the bar to keep from falling again. He saw Reaux sitting at the table, his head in his hands. Two plates were set with a scrumptious meal that was undoubtedly cold. Even though his brain was foggy, Jak knew those were his favorite foods on those plates but he couldn't figure out why.
Reaux looked up. Jak saw something in his eyes, but he couldn't pinpoint what it was. It was fleeting, there one moment and gone the next. He couldn't ask as he vomited all over himself. He started for the bathroom as his stomach roiled again. He hoped with each wobbly step he made it. He didn't want to make an even bigger mess.
He collapsed in front of the toilet just as his stomach roared to life again. He hugged the toilet bowl for several minutes until he was certain he was done. The porcelain was cool on his fevered skin. When he rolled over and sat against the vanity, Reaux walked into the bathroom and knelt down. He helped Jak out of his clothes and wiped him down.
"Are you mad?" Jak asked.
Reaux shook his head. "No, I'm not mad."
Jak's eyes became heavy. He leaned forward and rested his forehead against Reaux's shoulder. His Alpha rubbed his back soothingly with a sigh before picking him up and carrying him to bed. Gently, he made sure Jak was comfortable. Once he was sure he was sound asleep, Reaux went back to clean up.
~~~~~~~
The smells of food made Jak's stomach turn. He nearly vomited in bed after he just woke up. That was followed by the splitting headache.
Jak remembered he had gotten drunk the night before, groaning at the sick feeling that followed. He rummaged in his side table drawer until he found a bottle of aspirin. Popping two, he grimaced at the bitter taste then got up.
He was fully clothed so nothing had happened. He went to the bathroom to brush his teeth to rid his mouth of the foul taste. He figured he'd thrown up at some point last night. The taste of bile was worse than the grittiness of the pills. He hated throwing up, but he would rather do it than suffer.
Satisfied, Jak ventured into the living room. The smells made his stomach turn, and he fought to keep from puking again. He hadn't felt this bad in a very long time. What the hell had he drunk last night?
Reaux was making waffles as Jak rounded the island. He kissed his bare shoulder as he reached for the fridge. Pulling it open, he saw various containers stacked neatly on the second shelf. Each one was labeled with various foods that Jak loved. So he hadn't been dreaming when he'd seen all of this on the table last night.
He pulled a container out and popped the lid. Cheddar and broccoli wafted to him. It smelled good until his stomach roiled again. Cheese was clearly not the way to go right now.
"Reaux," he said. He looked at the fridge for a long time. "Did I miss something last night?"
"No."
Jak turned at the curt reply. No matter how many times they argued, Reaux rarely ever used that tone. It was cold and indifferent. He reserved it for when his feelings were hurt or he was disappointed. Jak wasn't sure which one he was dealing with at the moment.
He grabbed some juice then closed the fridge. Leaning against the counter, he watched Reaux make the perfect waffle. No matter how hard he tried, Jak always made a mess or poured too little batter. Reaux could make them perfectly every time. It didn't matter if they were squared or round; they were always perfect.
Jak ran his hand up his unoccupied arm slowly, nails grazing the muscles gently. "Hey? What is it? What's wrong?"
Reaux shook his head. "Nothing."
"It has to be something. You don't usually give me the silent treatment."
"Do you know what yesterday was?"
"April tenth. Why?" Jak looked at the calendar and grimaced. It was written in red in his own handwriting. "Shit. I'm sorry."
"What were you doing that you were so drunk last night?" Reaux's tone wasn't accusatory. It was devoid of emotion; completely flat. "Were you with Tay and Damian?"
Jak shook his head. "No."
"No, of course you weren't. I called them, and Damian said he dropped you off at the library about three."
"I dropped off some notes."
"To whom?"
The younger man sighed. "Dante." Reaux's gaze was lethal as he leveled it at him. "Dr. Reynolds suggested asking me for notes for her final. Dante also apologized and said he wanted to make it up to me. I figured it would be a good way to apologize to him as well."
"On your birthday?" Jak nodded guiltily. "We don't celebrate an anniversary, Jak. We don't have one, and we agreed to that. Birthdays are our thing. We celebrate birthdays, and you spent our time out getting drunk."
"Hey! I didn't mean to get drunk!"
Reaux unplugged the waffle iron and turned to him. "Then why did you do it?"
"Dante kept pouring them even after. I said it was enough. I finally got up and left."
"Did he drive?"
Anger pierced Jak's chest hot and heavy. "I'm not stupid, Reaux. I know better than that. I called a cab." He rubbed a hand roughly over his face. "If you're disappointed, just say it. You know I hate the silent treatment."
The older Alpha carried two plates to the table. "I'm not mad or disappointed. I'm confused as to why you went with Dante."
Jak was suddenly tired. "You're the one who asked me to forgive him."
"I didn't mean like this."
"You can't have it both ways. Either I completely ignore him like I wanted, or I forgive him and talk to him when I see him."
Reaux looked at Jak for a long time. He had to remember how young he was. In the two years they'd been together, he'd given up a lot and had given just as much in return. He never flinched when Reaux used him as a submissive. Though he argue all the time, he was usually amiable.
He had never seen his jealousy this bad before. There had never been anyone to rouse his ire. All of his friends were taken, and Reaux's only friend was not interested in him at all. Their lives had been relatively quiet save the odd case here and there.
Jak wasn't as mature as Reaux either. Their twelve year age difference didn't seem like much since they were well-matched, but it was a big difference. Things Reaux could easily let slide off his back would raise Jak's hackles and start a fight. He wasn't a physically violent man, but his mouth was far worse than his fists. And he listened for more than anyone Reaux knew.
Asking him to make peace with someone he saw as a rival was probably not a good idea on Reaux's part. With Jak's personality, any peace he made would be tentative at best. Though he wasn't as dominant as Reaux or Tay, he could hold his own. It made him a very worthy ally.
Reaux put his hand on Jak's, stopping him from pushing his eggs around the plate. He stared at the sinewy appendage as he memorized every bump and ridge. Working out three times a week had made his hands like this. He could only imagine what more they could do.
"I don't like arguing," he whispered. His voice was pitched low, but Jak could hear him. "We've never had one this severe before. They're usually petty and done with easily."
"We've also never had anyone come between us before either," Jak groused. "When I walked through that door on my own volition, I knew this was going to be difficult. I'd never been with a man before, but you made me feel at ease."
The other Alpha rubbed his thumb over the back of the younger's hand. That was the main difference between them. Reaux had been with other men before and had had several male lovers for a long period of time. It was how he'd come to know the dominant/submissive lifestyle that he had tweaked to make his own. Until Jak, he hadn't had a serious partner for many years. The bonding had been an accident, but it was one he didn't regret.
"Did you know Andrew messaged you the other day?" Jak asked.
Reaux looked up. Andrew was one of his former lovers who had shown him how to use his natural dominance for play. "No, I didn't. I haven't been on the messenger app for a while."
"I know. He asked why he hasn't spoken to you in a while and wondered if you'd like to share." Jak met his pained gaze. "You used to share your former lovers?"
Reaux nodded. "Most of us ran in a selective group. Those of us who weren't bonded could share our submissives if we chose. It wasn't uncommon for one to have two or three dominants. When this happened," he rubbed his shoulder where his Alpha mark was, "I told them I couldn't do it anymore and walked away."
"So…" Jak pulled his hand from Reaux's and crossed it over his chest, "you don't want to share me but you'll let other people flirt with you, is that it?"
The older man sighed. "No, that's not it." They were speaking in circles and it was getting them nowhere. "I want you to have friends away from Damian and Tay, but I don't want to have to compete for your time or affection. I shouldn't have to. Last night showed me how foolish I was for asking you to forgive that boy."
Jak stood. "You're right; it was foolish. Now I have to tutor him for finals. So we're stuck for another two weeks."
He watched him walk to the other side of the room then grab his shoes. "Where are you going?"
"I'm going to Tay's. I told him I'd help him plan David and Antonia's anniversary party."
"Will you be home in time for dinner?"
The younger Alpha stopped at the bedroom door. "Why? Do you have plans?"
"Jak." It was a warning. He was starting to push Reaux's patience.
A tremor ran through Jak, but he didn't back down. "I'm not making any promises. Damian also comes home tonight. I may eat with them."
It was a reasonable plan. Damian's trip had been extended. Tay had returned two days ago, but Jak had been too busy to see him. They'd made plans last night before Dante had dragged him to the club.
Reaux nodded. "Just don't come home wasted."
"Yes, master."
The word was bitter to Reaux. It didn't sound right coming from Jak. out of all the times they'd played, he had never had him say the word master. It didn't suit him. He was too headstrong for it. If it had been anyone else, Reaux would have demanded it. But for hot-headed and high spirited Jak, all that was needed were his dirty mouth and honest reactions. Reaux could deal without the rest.
Reaux finished his breakfast and cleaned up Jak's untouched plate. The younger man wandered out with his shoes in hand and his phone pressed to his ear. A hateful slur of words left his mouth. He must be talking to Tay. he was the only one that would get cursed out with a smile.
Even though he was frustrated, Jak kissed Reaux goodbye, a long deep one that Reaux could hear Tay complaining about on the phone. Jak popped his ass in reprimand on the way out, waving as he disappeared out the door. Reaux knew how hard Jak had tried for him, but sometimes he wondered if it was enough. He wondered if Jak was truly happy.
Once dishes were done and the dining table was back in order, Reaux sat down to do some research. He had a niggling in the back of his mind that wouldn't go away. Pulling up a secure icon, he got to work.