Free Kelan's Pursuit by Lavinia Lewis Page B

have to trust him.”
    “Wow, that’s mature of you, Kelan . I never thought I’d see the day.”
    “Shut up,” Kelan mumbled.
    “I gotta say, being with Jake is changing you for the better,” Stefan said with a trace of amusement on his lips.
    Cody giggled. “So who is this ex he’s meeting up with?”
    “A friend he’s known for about ten years, apparently. Jake didn’t say it was his ex, but that’s the impression I got when he talked about him.”
    “Why didn’t you just ask him?” Stefan said. “I’m sure he would have told you.”
    Kelan shrugged. “Because I don’t think I’d have liked the answer.”
    “Man, you’ve got it bad,” Stefan said.
    “And you haven’t?” Kelan said defensively. “Please. You forget I’ve seen the way you walk around the place like a lovesick puppy.”
    Stefan chuckled, pulled Cody onto his lap and planted a sloppy kiss on his lips, much to Kelan’s embarrassment.
    “I never professed otherwise.”
    “Is it safe for Jake to be going around on his own right now?” Cody asked. “I mean, the person that’s been leaving him notes and broke into his apartment could be anyone, right? And didn’t Jake say he thought someone was following him home last night?”
    “Yeah. I told him I didn’t like him going there on his own, but he thought I was being jealous. Told me I had nothing to worry about.”
    “How do you know this Tony guy isn’t the one sending the notes?” Stefan asked. “Could be he’s jealous that Jake is seeing someone else.”
    Kelan’s eyes darkened.
    “Shit, I hadn’t thought of that. Now that you mention it, I think Jake was with Tony the night I met him.”
    “You don’t remember his scent?” Cody asked his brother.
    “No. Don’t think I even caught it. You know what it’s like, Cody. I was so shocked to have found my mate, I wasn’t paying attention to anything else around me.”
    “I think you should go to the bar, Kelan . Make sure he’s all right.”
    “How the hell am I going to do that, Cody? If I show up at Liberties, Jake’s gonna be pissed. He’ll definitely think I’m being a jealous boyfriend. And I gotta say , he’d only be half wrong.”
    Cody sighed and leant back against Stefan’s chest.
    “I’m sure Jake will forgive you, but right now his safety is more important, isn’t it?”
    Kelan nodded and got up from the sofa.
    “Yeah, you’re right. I couldn’t stand it if something were to happen to him. I’d rather he was pissed at me and safe than the alternative. I’ll see you both later.”
    “Okay, call us if you need us,” Stefan said.
    “Will do.”
     
    * * * *
     
    Jake pushed open the heavy wooden door and stepped into his favourite bar.
    Liberties was located in the old meatpacking district of New York. It had once been a haven for sex clubs and the BDSM subculture, but in the nineties it had been transformed into a fashionable neighbourhood for young professionals.
    It was only Monday night, but the bar was buzzing. Loud music bounced off the walls and all around him men of every age and description gyrated their hips to the beat.
    Snaking his way through the throng, Jake made his way to the bar and stood in line. While he waited to be served, he scanned the faces in the crowd. The busy bar was full of people he recognised, but none of them were Tony. Jake checked his watch—he was a few minutes late, but that didn’t mean anything. Tony often got held up at work.
    “What can I get you?” the bald, good-looking bartender asked, pulling Jake out of his musings.
    “Uh, I’ll take a Coors, thanks, Andre.”
    Andre nodded and turned to get the drink. Jake had known Andre for about five years. He’d never fucked him, but only because he knew Andre was big into the Dom scene and was a regular at some of the leather clubs in town. Although Jake had nothing against it, the scene had never floated his boat. Although maybe with Kelan …
    Jake paid for his drink, tossed a couple of dollars