Jackson ordered a bottle of red wine and looked over the menu. “Everything looks good. I love Italian food.”
“Me, too. I’ve always loved the spices and flavor mixes.”
“I just like the cheese,” Jackson replied absently, keeping his nose buried in the menu. He heard a soft snort and peeked over the top. “What?”
Jonas covered his mouth, containing his chuckle. “Really? The cheese?”
“I love cheese. You should see me when I’m in Paris.” Jackson waggled his eyebrows.
“I love Paris — all the cafés lining the streets, the pastries. I could spend months there and never get bored. I should get Caden to loan me his house in the French countryside for a vacation.”
“When was the last time you were there?”
“Oh, wow, maybe ten years or more? I had taken a side trip to China —”
“Oh? What part?”
Jonas sipped his wine and shifted in the chair. He hadn’t meant to mention China. That would lead to other questions and — admittedly it was a stretch — but he didn’t want Jackson to know he had two shifting forms.
“Um, Fuzhou? Have you heard of it?”
Jackson nodded. “I have, actually. Off the beaten path a bit, isn’t it?”
“Yes. But it’s beautiful.”
“What were you doing that far east?”
“Oh, grab the waiter, please; I know what I want,” Jonas blurted.
Jackson raised a brow, but signaled the waiter. Jonas seemed uneasy, even nervous, for some reason. Anxiety was rolling off in waves.
“Is this okay?” Jackson lowered his voice. “If you’re not comfortable with me —”
“No, no, it’s all right; really it is.” Jonas tried to smile.
They ordered and Jonas tried to steer the conversation way from himself.
“So, Italy? What were you doing there?”
“Going over some surveillance for James. Lucas Cain has gone off the grid. Vince Markov and I were trying to catch his scent, track his movements. It was more of a vacation than anything else. I got to fish. And Vince has an excellent cook. Of course, Keegan’s mother lives in the villa now and she’s spoiled rotten.”
“You didn’t cook?” Jonas’ eyebrow rose with the question.
“No. I think Vince wanted his villa intact.”
“You don’t cook?” Jonas tilted his head.
“Not unless I have to. I can’t even boil water — wait, strike that. I can, but it usually boils over or into nothing.”
Jonas sat back in his chair, flabbergasted. “I thought you were a cook in the Navy?”
Jackson’s jaw dropped. “Who told you that?”
“Jude.”
Jackson grinned and sat back, crossing his arms. “Oh he did, did he?”
“You weren’t a cook?”
“No.” Jackson sat forward and leaned as close as he could to Jonas. “I’m a former SEAL, Jonas.”
Jonas’ cock hardened to steel and goose flesh broke out all over his body. Jackson was a SEAL? How fucking hot was that? He swore his mouth filled with saliva as he pictured a naked, sweaty, muscle-packed Jackson.
Jackson resumed a relaxed position and smiled. Arousal permeated the air around them and Jonas looked like he was having an orgasm.
“You really thought I was a cook?”
Jonas stared at Jackson’s broad chest and the massive biceps hiding under his gray, long-sleeved dress shirt.
“I tend to believe my son when he tells me things.” Jonas lowered his voice. “That little shit,” he mumbled.
“What was that?” Jackson pursed his lips to keep from laughing.
“Nothing.” Jonas almost stood up to grab the plate the waiter was bringing. “Food! Oh good.”
Jackson chuckled inwardly. Jonas was falling apart at the seams. He contemplated being an ass and flexing his biceps as he reached for his glass of wine, but Jonas seemed off-balance already. They ate quietly, keeping chatter to a minimum. Jackson wiped his mouth and drank what was left of his wine.
“So, how is the real estate market these days?” he asked. “You’re learning pretty fast, aren’t you?”
“Yep, I’m a fast learner.” Jonas tried to hide his smile. He knew real estate backwards and forwards. But he wouldn’t have had the pleasure of Jackson’s company while house hunting if he hadn’t lied when Jackson asked if he needed his help.
“It’s good. I’ve been finding properties for Caden, Wayne and Riley for the centers and the displaced teens. So I’ve been busy with that, as well as with other clients.”
Jackson checked his watch. “Well, I’ve got a lot of intel to go over when I get home — piles and piles of maps, Lucas’ last known origins, stuff like that.”
“I can help,” Jonas blurted. What was with him? He couldn’t even control his mouth now?
“You’d want to?”
“Sounds interesting. Besides, another set of eyes couldn’t hurt.”
Jackson nodded. “True. So how about Friday night? We could do dinner while we look all the info over?”
Jonas gulped his wine and fought for control. “You could come to my place — I can cook.”
“Yeah? Stuff with cheese?” Jackson chuckled.
“I can make manicotti. How’s that sound? I’ll stuff it with mozzarella, parmesan, ricotta, and provolone —”
“Stop it, I’m getting an erection,” Jackson chuckled. Jonas started coughing and Jackson leaned across the table, patting his back. “Are you all right?”
Jonas nodded. His own erection was straining the fabric of his slacks.
“Yes, fine, thank you.” Jonas looked at his watch. “Oh wow; I didn’t realize it had gotten so late.”
Jackson checked his own watch. It had gotten late. He motioned the waiter over and pulled his wallet from his shirt pocket.
“Oh, I’ve got this.” Jonas removed his own wallet.
“No, please; let me get it. Next time, you can pay. How’s that sound?”
“Next time?” Jonas spluttered. What the hell? He was acting like a teenager with a crush.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Did I presume too much? I actually enjoyed our little ambush,” Jackson chuckled.
Jonas ducked his head to hide his blush. “No, I enjoyed it, too.”
Jackson put some money down for dinner and a tip. He slipped out of the chair and held his hand out to Jonas.
“Ready?”
Jonas looked around again to see if they were being watched. It was a friendly dinner, wasn’t it? It wasn’t as if they were on a real date. Just two men having dinner. He nodded and slid his hand into Jackson’s, trying to hide his gasp as their skin touched. His eyes immediately went to Jackson’s to see if he’d had the same reaction.
He had.
The desire that shone in those gray eyes said it all. Jonas swallowed hard and followed Jackson outside. They stopped at his car and Jonas smiled.
“Well, thank you for dinner. I’ll see you Friday then?”
Jackson leaned in, his lips inches from Jonas’. The other alpha’s breath hitched and Jackson smiled to himself. He hadn’t been the only one affected.
“Yes. Goodnight, Jonas.” Jackson stepped away.
“Night,” Jonas breathed.
~Chapter Two~
John Quinton stood on the shore as the tide rolled in quietly. His youngest son Wyatt, Wyatt’s husband, Preston, and another rescued child, Gage, were running along the water in wolf form, playing. He couldn’t help but smile. Gage had adjusted easily to life with his new parents. Given that his fathers were Seattle firefighters, he went to elementary school in the city. Wyatt and Preston were very close to their roots, though, and made sure Gage spent time on the Queets reservation as often as they could work it out. They wanted him to learn the history and tradition of their ways.
The reservation was still home to another Quinton son, Sawyer. His husband, Troy, and Nadine and Joe’s son, Sam, and his husband, Dakota, had stayed home while friends and family gr
avitated to the bright lights of the city. Wyatt’s absence was still hard to deal with, though. John was also missing his other sons, Grayson and Xander. Although they planned to come home for Christmas, he hadn’t seen them since Thanksgiving.
Kane had been the one saving point of his sanity. Sam and Dakota’s son was a constant source of amusement. It was still hard to process that, at some point, Kane would be the alpha of the created ones.
He sighed and ran a hand through his short hair. The fates had recently arranged most of the men to have visits from deceased loved ones. The visit from his late wife had occupied John’s thoughts for some time now. Isabelle wanted him to move on, find love again, but he just couldn’t imagine finding another woman who would accept him for who — and what — he was.
God knew that if the fates decided to send him a man, he would try his best to fulfill that bond. Many of the pack members were in love with men. But he’d never found another man attractive enough to even have those kinds of thoughts.
Kane flew past him suddenly and right into Wyatt’s backside. John chuckled as Wyatt let out a yelp.
“He’s going to be a terror.”
John looked over his shoulder and found Sam smiling.
“He already is, but you can’t help but find that endearing,” John laughed.
“I can when he’s peeing on my stuff.”
John laughed again. “So it’s not just Matty then?” Matty was Mateo and Riley’s son, and a ball of furry energy who loved a good battle of wills with his dads, especially Mateo. Luckily, his twin, Maggie, was a human — and a complete sweetheart.
“Nope.” Sam stood next to John and watched his son play. “For some reason, Kane likes to push me. Ma said it’s because he’s testing to see how much he can get away with.”
“Sounds like Wyatt.” John cocked an eyebrow.
“The times he snuggles into bed with Dakota and me makes up for his constant territory marking, though,” Sam chuckled.
“He misses Matty, doesn’t he?”
Sam nodded. “Yeah. We can tell when they’re talking. Kane will actually sit still for more than five minutes.”
“Well, that’s a blessing. Wyatt couldn’t sit still for five seconds.”
“Did he eat all your rugs?”
John nodded. “And a pair of my shoes.”
John’s cell phone chimed and he looked at the caller ID. James Pruitt Jacobs. He hit ‘talk’.
“Well, good morning, Agent Jacobs.” John winked at Sam.
“Hello, John. How are you doing?”
“Well, I’ve still got my hair.”
James chuckled. “That’s always a plus. Look, the reason I’m calling is that we got an SOS from Dane Durov.”
John’s brows furrowed. Dane Durov was the alpha of the Siberian pack — well, what was left of it. Rogue leader Petey and his merry band of killers had executed most of the pack except for Lev Chirkoff and Dasan Black, who were now living in America. Dane had expelled Dasan from the pack to protect him from Petey; he told the rogue leader that Dasan had run away. He had stayed in Siberia to give the illusion that he was still looking for Dasan, to throw off the rogues who were after his inheritance.
“What do you need from me?” John asked.
“I’ve been in touch with Carson and he confirms that Petey and Carl have come back to Siberia, along with a few other rogues. If Dane is on the run, he’s going to need our help. Most of the guys are already out on missions, but should be returning within the next week. I need you to go out there now and throw Petey and Carl off the scent. Give them something else to pursue. The females are on high alert and are expecting you. Since you’ve been out there on more than one occasion, you know the lay of the land and exactly where to hide.”
“I’m on it,” John looked over at Sam with a grin. “I’m pretty sure Sam will be happy to stay here and wrangle Kane.”
Sam narrowed his eyes.
“Well, I figure he needs some more bonding time with his son. If worse comes to worse, I’ll send him out with Josh and Troy, along with Mateo.” James said.
“All of the Skull Blasters?” John whistled and smiled. “All right, text me the info. I’ll go pack up.” John hung up and found Sam staring at him with a raised brow. “What?”
“Isn’t Anya out there?”
John put his hands on his hips.
“And?”
Anya was a feral female wolf, as most females were, and one who hated men. But the last time he’d been in the Siberian enclosure, she’d protected him from Carson Drake. Why? He didn’t know. It wasn’t like Carson was a threat any more. Still…the color of her coat and the intensity of her green eyes had captured his attention.
“John?” Sam ran his hand in front of the man’s face.
John snapped his attention back to Sam. “What?”
“Lost you for a second. Were you thinking about a green-eyed female?” Sam smiled slyly.
John stiffened, and began walking back towards his house. “Don’t know what you mean.”
‘”Uh huh.” Sam grinned.
“Shut up, Waters,” John chuckled as he climbed the embankment.
“Didn’t say a word.”
~*~
Within two hours, John sat on a plane bound for Siberia. He rested his head against the comfortable seat and closed his eyes. Saying goodbye to Wyatt, Preston and Gage had been harder than he thought it would be. He’d become attached to his grandson, also to Kane. But Sam was like another son to him, so that probably wasn’t unusual.
Sabine moved through the cabin, bringing John a soda now and then and smiling at him. He found her attractive, but he wasn’t the type of man to have flings. He never had been. Isabelle had caught and kept his attention from the moment he’d laid eyes on her. For years, they’d been happy, and then he’d lost her.
John thought about all the wonderful times they’d shared, and the wonderful sons they had. She died giving birth to their youngest. He’d spoken to Wyatt about her recent visit, and had assured him that neither he, nor his mother, ever held any ill will toward him because of her death. He loved Wyatt with all his heart. He saw parts of Isabelle in all of his sons.
“Would you like anything to eat?”
Sabine’s voice startled him and he opened his eyes to see her standing beside him.
“What’s on the menu?”
“Well, it is Riley’s plane, so you have your pick.” Sabine pulled out a menu. She was a commercial stewardess before being hired away to work for Riley, Wayne and Caden on their personal jets.
John took the menu from her and opened it. Burgers, ribs and all other kinds of food filled the menu. He looked up at Sabine with a grin.
“A cheeseburger with all the fixings sounds good.”
“I will have it right away for you.” Sabine snapped her fingers and one of the other attendants came to her side.
“Mr. Quinton would like the cheeseburger, loaded.” Sabine sat down across from him as the other attendant left.
“How are you, Sabine?” John asked. “How is Stuart?”
Pierce Barnes, the lowest of all rogues, had kidnapped Stuart Macavoie and forced him to be the organization’s resident doctor and researcher. He’d also been the man’s top informant on all things magical. Pierce’s death prompted Stuart to go against the rogues. Ross had protected him when his life was in danger, and Wayne had bitten him to reverse the effects of a rogue bite.
Now cured, Stuart had been seen out with Sabine on more than one occasion. For a while, John had hoped Stuart would take an interest in Ross. The other werewolf had formed an attachment to the doctor, only to have his heart broken when Stuart told Ross he wasn’t the gay type.
Sabine waved her hand carelessly.
“We are not serious. I do not do serious.”
John blinked. “Does Stuart know that?”
“Oui. I have told him we are just having fun.” Sabine eyed John Quinton. The man was rough-looking, hair dark as night, eyes a deep brow
n. He was muscular as well, and taller than her. Much taller.
John squirmed as Sabine’s gaze lingered on his crotch. He coughed slightly then looked over his shoulder towards the galley.
“About how long will the food take?”
Sabine gave him a knowing grin and stood up, smoothing out her short skirt.
“I will go check for you.”
John let out a breath and slumped back in the seat. His cell chimed and he looked down.
‘Watch out for your jewels! Wyatt.’
John chuckled and sent back a frowning face.
The smell of food filled the cabin and he inhaled deeply. Sabine lowered the tray in front of him and John busied himself with the food.
“You do not find me attractive?”
John looked up. Sabine was staring at him.
“I think you’re a beautiful woman, but I’m not a man who takes a woman to bed for fun, Sabine. When I make love to a woman, there’s a commitment involved.”
Sabine sighed and rested back in the seat. “Justice and Jaxon Salvatore were flying to Washington from Arizona on the last flight I worked. I thought perhaps one of them was straight, but they did not seem interested.” Sabine crossed her legs. “I am wondering if maybe I am losing it.”
Several members of the Skull Blasters and James’ government team had fallen under Sabine’s spell.
John smiled as he bit into his burger. He chewed thoughtfully as he thought of what to say.
“Justice has recently discovered he has feelings for another man. Jaxon I think is coming to realize the same thing.”
Sabine snorted. “Are all the men in this group gay?”
“No, Stuart isn’t, obviously. What’s wrong with him?”
“There is nothing wrong with him at all. It just ran its course. I have no patience for relationships,” Sabine grinned. “I thought at one point I would have a chance with Dr. Romasko.”
John almost choked on his burger in surprise. “You do know he’s with Evangeline?”
Sabine winked. “Oh yes, she was not pleasant when he told her I had hit on him.” Sabine shrugged. “It was worth a shot. He is a very good-looking man.”
“So, you really don’t discriminate, do you?”
Broken Bonds Page 2