Chapter Twenty-Two

Jack placed the box of cigars he’d brought on the table. “Can we smoke inside?”

Rush nodded. “I smoke all the time. It’s one of my vices.”

From Rush’s quick glance at Brian, Jack had the notion that Brian was one of his other vices.

Brian shrugged. “I don’t mind. I’ve gotten used to it.” He shot Rush an equally hot stare. Jack knew he didn’t mean the smell. Maybe he meant the taste of it in Rush’s mouth, on his tongue. Shit. He had to stop thinking like this. It had to be from being around so much blatant sexual energy. Between Mitchell and Sammi, Rush and Brian, Jack had a hard time not getting hard. And Edward, don’t forget Edward.

Rush laid out the table with chips and cards as the others sat.

“I’ll deal. Texas Hold ’Em. Five-dollar limit. You know the rules.” He dealt the cards like a pro. Each of the men tossed a five on the table and Rush pushed them their chips.

Jack’s eyebrows rose at Rush’s skill as a dealer. “Hope I brought enough cash.”

“I’ll take a marker, Chief.” Rush grinned as he lit up a cigar. He passed the box and clipper to Brian, who took one.

“Might as well.” He shrugged.

Jack took the box from him, chose a cigar, clipped the end and lit it up. He passed the box to Mitchell, who followed his lead.

“I’ve never smoked cigars,” Mitchell confessed. He inhaled, choked and laughed.

“Cigar virgin,” Rush proclaimed and Mitchell blushed.

“You’ll get used to it.” Jack motioned with his cigar. “Just don’t inhale too deeply the first time.”

“Okay.” Mitchell tried again, this time without choking. “Nice.”

“Good smokes,” Rush said. “Now that we’ve got our cards, our cigars and our drinks, let’s play.”

The game started and for a while, lost in the play and the camaraderie, Jack forgot about Edward.

 

* * * *

 

Edward sat at the kitchen table with Sammi and picked at a place mat. They’d rinsed the dishes, put them in the dishwasher and put away the leftovers. He didn’t want to go in the den where the others were. Where Jack was.

He should think about something else. Like healing his grandmother.

Sammi stared at him—then his eyebrows rose. “You’ve got a power.”

“What?” Edward straightened. Where did that come from?

“The power.” Sammi paused, his head tilted as if he were listening to something. “To heal. You can heal people.” He smiled.

“How did you know that?” Edward stood, knocking his chair over.

Sammi came to him and took his hand. “Don’t be scared. I have a power too. I can hear people’s thoughts.”

Edward’s mouth dropped open and he stared at Sammi. “You can hear my thoughts?”

“Yes, if I concentrate.”

“Can you hear Jack’s thoughts?” Edward had no idea why his mind flew to that. Well, he did, he just didn’t want to admit it.

“Yes.” Sammi leaned close, his lips brushing Edward’s ear as he whispered, “You make him crazy.”

“Crazy good or crazy bad?” Edward whispered.

Sammi’s tongue flicked Edward’s earlobe, sending a shot of arousal through Edward. “Crazy good. As in, you make his dick very, very hard.” Sammi slid his hand over Edward’s arm and Edward shivered at the caress. If he didn’t step away, he’d be in big trouble, but hell and damnation, it was as if he was rooted to the spot. Hypnotized.

“Do you think Mitchell would like what you’re doing?”

“I’m not worried about Mitchell.” Sammi nuzzled his neck.

“Oh?” Edward’s brain was shorting out, his eyes closing as he fell under Sammi’s spell. He couldn’t take much more of this before he gave in.

“I’m worried about you.”

Sammi licked his ear and turned Edward’s face to him. Edward closed his eyes as soft lips cushioned his and he leaned in to the kiss.

“What the fuck?”

Edward jerked away. Jack stood in the doorway, glaring at him. Fire ignited in Edward’s cheeks and flamed up to the roots of his hair. His heart hammered as a rush of adrenaline swept over him.

Sammi slung his arm around Edward’s waist, pulled him back and nuzzled Edward’s cheek.

Jack’s eyes widened, then narrowed. Edward didn’t need Sammi’s power to feel the fury pouring off Jack. Confused, Edward didn’t know what to do or why he felt as if he’d just betrayed Jack. With Sammi. And there was Mitchell. And…hell, he didn’t understand anything, except he’d never seen Jack so mad.

“Sorry for interrupting,” Jack spat out, spun and disappeared.

Edward pulled out a chair and slumped into it. “What just happened?”

Sammi sat next to him. “Well, from what I can tell, you just made Jack insane with jealousy.” He crossed his arms and smiled.

“You did that on purpose.” Edward ran his hand through his hair. Jack insane? He could believe that. Insane with jealousy? No way.

“I’m sorry. But Jack needed a wake-up call.” Sammi looked unrepentant.

Brian, Rush and Mitchell appeared in the doorway, all of them trying to enter at the same time.

“What happened? Jack just lit out of here like his boots were on fire.” Rush squeezed past the others into the kitchen.

Edward jerked his head at Sammi. “Ask him.”

“I kissed Edward. Jack saw it.”

Mitchell shook his head. “Perfectly timed, no doubt.”

Edward stared at him. Why wasn’t he upset? His lover had just kissed someone else. A stranger. If it had been Edward, he’d have thrown a fit.

Sammi gave Mitchell a soft smile, went to him and wrapped his arms around Mitchell’s neck. Mitchell bit Sammi’s jaw, then devoured his mouth with a kiss. Edward’s toes curled just watching it, so he was sure it had wiped away any memory Sammi had of kissing him.

“Why is it I feel like I’m coming in at the middle of a play and I don’t have the script?” Edward gaped at each of the men.

Brian cleared his throat. “We thought that maybe Jack needed a little push.”

“Oh fuck.” Edward put his head in his hands. Could this be any worse?

“I know, we meddled.” Mitchell sighed. “And we’re so sorry if we messed things up between you and Jack.”

Edward uncovered his face. “I keep trying to tell you. There is no me and Jack. Look, I know you were trying to help. But honestly, this was the worst possible thing you could have done.” He stood and shrugged. “I think I’d better go now. I’m sorry if my drama screwed up the evening.”

“Don’t go.” Sammi reached for him, but Edward stepped away.

“I have to, really. And please, for God’s sake, don’t spread any rumors about Jack. For the official record, Jack’s not gay.” Fuck, he was getting so tired of repeating himself. “I need to be alone.” Edward needed to curl into a ball, hug Winston and forget the expression on Jack’s face. All the denying Edward had done, all his adamant cries of “Jack’s not gay,” everything he’d done to protect Jack, had blown up in his face.

Brian went with Edward to the front door to see him out.

“Edward. I’m so sorry.” Brian grimaced.

“I know. And thanks for caring enough to try something so stupid.” Edward stretched up and kissed Brian on the cheek. “Jack’s lucky to have you guys for friends. I wish I had such good friends back in Atlanta.” Maybe if he had, they would have warned him about Derek instead of just watching and waiting for Edward to crash and burn.

Edward went down the steps to his car and got in.

It was going to be a long drive back to the motel.