Jag collapsed to the floor, deflated. While he could get away with challenging Shane, Rosen, or Dex, Frank was their leader, and the man who’d shown Jag kindness when his own father would have rather seen him dead. He’d have hated to be a disappointment to him.
“Don’t. I just wanted some books with colorful pictures,” he mumbled in the end.
Shane scoffed and stood up before adjusting the rug that ended up crooked during their fight, as if such things mattered. “Then why do you lie?”
Rosen exhaled and approached Jag with both hands on his hips. “You could have just asked.”
Jag huffed, but when he realized Shane still eyed him like a hawk, he asked, “would you like to barter?”
Rosen’s face was so symmetrical it reminded him of the fake ancient statue Frank used as a stand for his sunglasses. “First, show me what you took. Then we can talk.”
“Are you sure you want to negotiate with him, babe? You know he’ll bite the hand that feeds him,” Shane complained but didn’t fight his mate and just watched from the sofa.
Jag reluctantly opened his backpack and pulled out the three chunky books with hard covers, which all featured colorful characters. “I want these,” he said, ready to drive a hard bargain. “Here’s a selection of things I can offer in return.”
He pulled out the items he’d usually present to Frank—a sparkly watch that didn’t tick, a bill Jag had dried in the sun, and a stuffed squirrel painted blue and adorned with crystals.
The last one was a wild card, but Ros liked unusual sculptures, so maybe he’d find this one appealing.
“Three for three,” he said. If need be, he could throw in another item or two, but he hadn’t been born yesterday.
Shane frowned and leaned down to grab the watch off the floor. “Where’d you get this?” He likely hadn’t planned to reveal his true feelings, but his face told Jag that he was interested in the broken timepiece.
Ros was even more obvious when he picked up the squirrel with eyes and mouth wide open. “Oh… okay,” he uttered as he looked under its stand, checking a series of letters written there. “Are you set on those comics, or is it all the same to you? Because I won’t part with the one on the right,” he said, meeting Jag’s gaze.
Shane cleared his throat. “I mean, if he brought us more… watches with this symbol—”
One glare from Ros shut him up.
Jag lifted his chin high. “I’m a reasonable man. You may keep this one, but you have to give me two others. So that I get four,” he clarified.
Ros scowled but approached one of the bookshelves with a tense expression. His elegant hands moved back and forth over the spines, but in the end, he picked up two books from the bottom shelf.
“Fine. Let me know when you want to trade again,” he said, presenting Jag with... a cover featuring Captain America!
“Yes! I win!” Jag roared, holding his fists up high, but he didn’t give Ros time to change his mind and pulled the books out of his hands.
Shane rolled his eyes. “But if you break in again, I don’t care how many watches you bring me, I’m gonna kick your ass.”
Jag stuffed the books into his bag and shrugged. He was above such petty threats. If push came to shove, they’d find out who was tougher the hard way. But while Shane lived in his comfy home heated in the winter and cooled in the summer, Jag was out there, grappling with the forces of nature. It was obvious who’d end up on top.
He dashed toward the window and leapt outside despite Rosen shouting something about cake. He didn’t need such things, especially that he didn’t trust those two enough to accept their food.
With a smile spreading his mouth, he was quick to desert the road where Shane could have easily traced his steps and crawled through a passage that took him to a path only he used before hiding behind a chunk of concrete. Moments passed, but once he decided he wasn’t being followed, he rose to his feet and walked home in peace.
He had a spring to his step when he thought of the treasures he’d bring Dane, and of all the delicious kisses he’d get in return. It had only been a week since the collapse of the old home, but what a week it had been! Filled with so much touching and grabbing at each other that Jag was surprised how much work they managed to do despite it. The building works went so much faster when two strong men put in effort instead of one.
Jag’s heart leapt every time Dane smiled at him, so he did everything in his power to get as many smiles, as often as humanly possible. Now that they’d become mates for life, it was of greatest priority for Dane to feel comfortable in his new home. It was Dane who had to adjust to a new lifestyle, so anything to make the transition easier on him was worth doing.