Twin Ties 2: Twin Affairs (27 page)

“
Two
. It’s not the end of the world.”

Every word cranked the dial up another notch, increasing the tension that much more. There was only so much higher it could go before something snapped.

Clearly angry, Alek said, “Do you really not care about this at all? Because that’s what it sounds like.”

“Alek, maybe now is not the time to—” Luka tried.

“You seriously aren’t upset by this? That he’s sucking tar again because of a
bad day
and doesn’t even regret it?” Alek countered to his brother.

“Alek,” Luka growled quietly, shaking his head tightly once back and forth.

“
I’m
upset by it,” Brennan offered.

“Thank you, Brennan,” Alek grunted, squinting at Evan.

Oh, that’s fantastic
, Evan thought.
Now they’re both ganging up on me. That’s just perfect. Brennan and Alek, making rules for my well-being once again. Telling me what I need to do for my own good.

“Jesus
Christ
,” Evan groaned. Enough was enough. He stood up and walked away, weaving among the tables and heading out through the entrance to the café, away from prying eyes. Alek got to his feet and followed him.

“Lover’s quarrel,” Luka smiled awkwardly at Charlie.

“They do that a lot?” Charlie asked, stubbing out his own cigarette and tucking the pack away.

“No, Alek’s just…” Luka sighed. “Let’s just say their history gives him good reason to worry about Evan. It got worse after the attack. Alek gets so afraid of Evan getting hurt or sick, he watches over Evan pretty closely. But he does it because he loves him, and because he feels kind of responsible for what happened at the bar. When he and I were growing up, he always felt it was his job to keep me safe, too, and when things didn’t go so great, he always took it to heart like it was all on him. Now with Evan, it’s the same thing all over again. Everything bad that happens to Evan is Alek’s fault. I mean, it’s not, obviously
.

“But, Alek and I, being twins, we’re built the same way. So, before, when Alek would get upset, he’d vent to me because he knew I’d understand and it’d be done.”

He’d push all of that turmoil at me,
Luka thought, but didn’t say.
Through violence, sex, words, or screaming.

“And I’d let him,” Luka continued. “I’d invite it, because the stress would be effectively dealt with. But he can’t do that with Evan. They don’t have that twin connection for Alek to use to get his frustrations out. The last thing he’d ever want to do is hurt Evan, so he treats Evan with such care. But then his emotions just build up.”

For a quiet moment, he watched the spaces Alek and Evan had filled at the table, afraid for them. Luka realized, suddenly, horribly, how possible it was that it might never work out between his brother and Evan. Left on their own, there was nowhere for the fear to go.

Trying to tell himself he was wrong, wanting to be wrong, Luka at first couldn’t speak. Brennan took his hand. Charlie was listening attentively, giving Luka time to finish what he was trying to say.

Slowly, stumbling, Luka concluded with, “He doesn’t… you know… want to lose him.”

Trying to push his worries away, to focus on what was right in front of him rather than what he was afraid of, Luka let it go as much as he could. Luckily, he was good at that.

“I just don’t think Evan’s used to the scrutiny, either. No offense, sir.”

“Hmm,” Charlie grunted thoughtfully.

Luka paused, then said to Charlie, “Can I ask you a question?”

“Shoot.”

“How does Evan seem to you? Compared to the last time you saw him?”

“Hmm. I guess he seems stronger. Changed. A lot more confident. But yeah, very much changed. And a hell of a lot more like his mother.” Turning to Brennan, he added, “Is that your doing?”

Brennan shrugged. “Hadn’t really noticed,” he murmured, picking at the edge of his napkin. Lifting his gaze to the café’s entrance, Brennan seemed to be reaching out for them, their other halves. Luka knew the feeling. More and more, it just wasn’t the same when the four of them were separated.

“I’m sure they’ll just be a minute,” Luka murmured to Brennan.

“Yeah,” Brennan sighed, still watching.

Out by the parking lot, Evan walked around the café and the adjoining pharmacy’s main building, heading for the shelter of the alley between it and a large, sprawling office complex. With his hands shoved in his pockets, he stepped into the shadows and waited there.

He didn’t have to wait long. Alek grabbed him from behind, spinning him and backing him up against the brick wall. Immediately, he started to pat Evan down, feeling his pockets for more cigarettes. When he found none, he planted his hands on either side of Evan’s head and bore down on him.

Evan’s breath was quickened. His gaze was fixed on Alek’s mouth and he wondered if Alek would lash out at him like he did with Luka. Maybe Alek would grab him by the throat, throw a punch or two. Just as he thought these things, though, Evan knew how ridiculous they were. Alek was too wrapped up in protecting him to ever lay hands on him like that.

“What the fuck is this? This little streak of self-destruction?”

“M-maybe I didn’t think you’d care,” Evan stuttered softly.

“Well, you were wrong.”

“I guess I was.”

“Do you need a demonstration of how serious I am about this? You need to think about your choices. That’s the shit that gets you into trouble. We’re going to have a little lesson, you and me,” Alek growled.

His mouth hovered above Evan’s. Evan’s breath caught, his mouth working silently for a second, parting around his soundless gasp. He knew it was quite apparent how much this was turning him on. Alek reacted in kind, letting Evan bait him. It made Evan feel steadier the more control Alek took of the situation. It was a plea for distraction. Evan needed it to get through the stress of dealing with his father. And Alek seemed more than happy to comply.

“L-like a punishment?”

“Just like that,” Alek said in a raspy, low voice, thick with promise. “You want to be hard on your body? You need something to suck on to keep your mind off your troubles? I can help with both of those things, no cigarettes, inevitable emphysema or lung cancer required.”

“Wha-what’re you…” Evan stammered, then choked off a brittle moan when Alek grabbed a handful of his cock and squeezed it through his jeans. Hips canting forward into Alek, Evan gasped and writhed.

“Jesus. You’re fucking hard,” Alek marveled, victorious. “You get off on this, huh—the thought of being punished, and some big, strong man putting your ass in line when it needs it? Sure you do…
Jailbait
. You’ve been acting out for years and no one’s ever bothered to spank you for it.”

“
Alek
,” Evan moaned. God, it was true. Alek had no idea how true it was.

“Get back inside and if I see you so much as
think
about having a smoke, I’ll personally spank your sweet ass raw right in front of Daddy instead of waiting ‘til our little meet and greet is over like I intend to do. You got me?”

“I-I…” Evan stammered.

Alek squeezed tighter. Evan twisted helplessly, whimpering, “
Fuck
.”

“You got me, Jailbait?”

“Y-yes. I’m sorry.”

“Not as sorry as you’re gonna be. What do you want, hmm? The hand or the belt? You ever gotten it good and hard, ‘til your ass feels like it’s fucking on fire and you can’t help but cry out with each smack?”

Evan shuddered, thrusting in a steady rhythm against Alek’s open hand, holding on to the front of Alek’s shirt, clawing at him. He was flushed with lust and couldn’t meet Alek’s eyes directly.

Glancing around them, Alek pulled his hand away and pinned Evan’s arms to his sides. “Stop,” he growled. “You really think I’m gonna let you get off right now? You think you deserve that? You don’t get to come until I let you. Get yourself under control. Now.”

Evan gulped. With a deep, unsteady breath, he willed his flesh to soften and his brain to jump-start. After a few long moments he chuckled, asking with a cocky smirk, “What’re you gonna do, Aleksy? Bend me over your knee? You’re bullshitting me, right? This is some kind of scheme to distract me from smoking.”

“Do I look like I’m bullshitting you?” Alek stared, seriously. “Obviously you respond best to a firm hand, so that’s what you’ll get. Now, we’re going back in there, so unless you want Daddy to see your dick tenting your pants…”

“Oh
god
.” He groaned. “Stop talking about spanking me then!”

“Stop
asking
about it.”

Alek backed up a few steps, folding his arms, prepared to wait.

After a few long, silent, tense minutes, Evan seemed more composed and muttered, “Okay, let’s go back. They probably think we’re screwing out here or something.”

“Where on Earth would they get that idea?” Alek countered sarcastically. “Ready when you are, princess.”

Evan rolled his eyes, scoffing, and tried adamantly not to show how a secret part of himself enjoyed that nickname. He started walking and got all the way to the entrance of the café, within sight of Brennan, Luka, and Charlie, but not within earshot. He paused there and said quietly without facing Alek, who he knew was right behind him, “Jimmy knows. That’s the real reason why I was smoking. Well, that and Brennan’s breakdown which majorly fucked up my willpower. Jimmy knows everything—that I’m fucking you
and
Luka
and
Brennan. He tricked me into admitting it and he threw it in my face before trying to pretend like he didn’t hate me for it.”

“Shit,” Alek groaned.

“I’m not letting him get in my head,” Evan said defiantly. Alek moved around to face him, holding Evan’s shoulders. “I told him it wasn’t his business, and it’s not. It… oh, hell.” He sighed and braced a hand against Alek’s jaw, stretching up. Alek met him halfway. They kissed. Evan’s lips parted easily for Alek’s tongue when Alek pressed in a little deeper, frowning with concentration and anguish.

They stood there on the sidewalk together, in sight of everyone, and Evan kissed Alek—out of defiance to Jimmy, to Charlie, to the world in general, not caring anymore who saw or what they thought. It scared him to death to do it, but the victory of his boldness outweighed his trepidation by far.

“You’re incredible. You know that, right?” Alek said before pulling away.

Taking Evan’s hand, Alek led the way back to the table as the three awaiting them watched on.

With the taste and feel of Alek’s kiss lingering, reinvigorating him, Evan took his seat and spread his cloth napkin over his lap as their food had already been brought to the table. Clearing his throat, he glanced around the table and said quietly to Brennan, “I’m sorry I upset you. It won’t happen again—the smoking. I promise.”

Then Evan turned to his father, his jaw clenched and his will renewed. Somewhat startled at the gentle affection in Charlie’s eyes, Evan said, “Dad, I should have been honest with you about a lot of things, but I should have told you I quit. I’m sorry.”

“You don’t have to apologize, son. I don’t blame you for being stressed. Especially since a good amount of that stress is because of me, so I’m sorry too, for what it’s worth.” Evan looked at him with real gratitude. Charlie clapped him on the shoulder, adding, “And I see you two have had your chance to kiss and make up so what do you say we have some food?”

“
Dad
,” Evan groaned.

“So, Alek,” Charlie started. “Brennan was telling me how he plans to study to be a nurse beginning next semester, and hopes to work at Mercy Gen when he graduates. He mentioned you work for them?”

“Yes, sir. I work in their corporate offices downtown, in the finance department. It’s an entry-level position, but a lot of room for growth, which is important to me. Plus, I get full benefits now.”

“I thought you worked at the bar? That’s where Evan was jumped, right? I’m still trying to piece all of this out from what you’ve told me over the phone and now finding out the nature of your relationship with Evan.”

The questions were like a sucker punch, and Evan winced. All of the good his chat with Alek did melted away. Alek’s self-recrimination came right back at the implication of his job being the cause of Evan’s attack. Evan saw it in Alek’s expression, and the way he pressed his lips together like he was doing so to hold in the things he
really
wanted to say.

Sounding like he was chewing on the words, Alek responded with, “Yes, sir, I did work there, pulling double-duty as security and short-order cook. But I quit months ago after what happened. I would have quit earlier if I knew what the risk to Evan was. The last thing I want is to put your sons in any danger.”

“I appreciate your consideration,” Charlie told him. “Sounds like you made a good move, career-wise. A desk job has a lot of benefits the HR departments don’t list for ya, like not beating your body to hell with manual labor, getting to stay close to home, not coming home at the end of the night covered in engine or cooking grease. That’s why I’m so glad Brennan is planning to go to school. Evan, I know you care a hell of a lot about what you do. That’s why I never tried to dissuade you from that path, but man… Changing in that blue collar for a white one’s usually a good move.”