Jon sighed. “I was on enforced bed rest for the first month, and then I couldn’t find the telepath who locked away my memories—it’s always very risky to use another. It took me another month to find him.”
“Why didn’t you at least call?” Liam said softly.
Jon stroked his back. “I thought about it. But it’s not exactly a phone conversation. I wanted to be able to look you in the eye when I explained myself. It didn’t help that my superiors didn’t want to let me leave the job without putting dozens of NDAs on me. I couldn’t allow it—I didn’t want to be restricted when I explained myself to you.”
“How did you convince them?” Ant cut in.
Liam flinched, having completely forgotten that he was in the room with them.
“I didn’t,” Jon said with a rueful smile. “In the end, I had to resort to some old-fashioned blackmail. The dirt that I found two years ago during the Gerviso mission was pretty useful.”
“You didn’t.” Ant was looking at Jon as if he were crazy. “Do you have a death wish?”
Jon shrugged, looking largely unconcerned. “I had little choice. I couldn’t wait anymore. It’s fine. They’re pissed off, but they’re unlikely to eliminate me. Any top secrets that I knew of are still under NDA.”
“You’ve lost your mind,” Anthony said, shaking his head with a harsh chuckle. “Never thought I’d see the day you’d stop using your brain because of an omega.”
Jon looked at him and said flatly, “Mind your words. They’re disrespectful toward your brother. I’d do anything for Liam, because he’s worth it.”
Liam probably had hearts in his eyes. He probably looked like the lovesick fool he was. But, gods, Jon was—he had no words.
His heart warm, he kissed Jon on his stubbled cheek. You’re my world, he thought, breathing him in. I love you so much. So much.
As if hearing his thoughts, Jon smiled at him, his expression softening.
Ant stared at them. “Fuck, this is so weird,” he muttered, shaking his head, looking genuinely baffled.
It was almost funny.
“Do we have your approval, then?” Liam said.
Ant snorted bitterly. “It doesn’t seem like you need it.”
“We don’t,” Jon said, his voice as steady as his gaze. “But I’d like it. You’re my brother, Ant.”
Ant looked back at him, his face hard. “You’re mine, too. Which is why this is weird as fuck. You’re the last person I expected to…” He looked at Liam. “If you can unglue yourself from him for a moment, go talk to Terlaine. The man deserves to find out in private that you won’t accept his suit.”
He was right. Liam didn’t want to subject Michael to the same public humiliation and ridicule Westcliff had subjected him to. Michael deserved to be told in private before everyone found out about Liam’s affections.
Liam pulled away with great reluctance, even though all he wanted was to stay in Jon’s arms, and never, ever be parted from him.
Jon seemed as reluctant to let go, their hands lingering on each other.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Ant said, rolling his eyes. “Go. I need to talk to Jon for a moment.”
Liam narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “Don’t hurt him.”
“As if he could,” Jon said with a chuckle, earning a scowl from his best friend. “Don’t worry, love. Go. I’ll be right behind you. Save your first dance for me. And second, too. I want to dance with you.”
Smiling, Liam darted forward for a quick, greedy kiss, making Ant groan in exasperation, and strode out of the room.
He felt like he was flying through the air. Everything felt light and bright.
Was that what happiness felt like?
Chapter 24
Jonathan Marsden didn’t feel guilty often. His years in the service had desensitized him to a lot of things and his moral compass had become pretty skewed, if he were honest.
But as he looked at his old friend and felt the strained air between them, the shame and guilt were back. He didn’t want to lose their friendship. Anthony was a brother to him, the only family he’d had after his parents’ deaths.
Jon sighed. “If you want to punch me, just get it over with.” He glanced at the door Liam had just left through and tried not to show his impatience. That wouldn’t help his case if Ant noticed how badly he wanted to follow his little brother and put his paws all over him.
“It’s nowhere near as satisfying when I know you’re just letting me do it,” Ant said.
Jon smiled ruefully. That was true enough. Although Ant was slightly broader and heavier than him, Jon had always been better at hand-to-hand combat. Ant was the better shot.
Silence fell again, strained and thick.
At last, Ant said, “You mentioned the telepath. Did you know that you weren’t me when you first touched Li?”
Jon felt his ears become hot. “I recognized the signs—I could tell my memories weren’t genuine.”