While Beckett was enjoying winding Jack up, he heard the thread of genuine concern there. He went behind Jack to dry his big shoulders, once again admiring the stunning architecture of his body. “You still worried that you’ll try to take him like he was an alpha? Like he was me?”
“Yes.” Jack blew out a sharp breath. “Beckett, that would terrify him, and I can’t?—”
“Exactly,” Beckett interrupted before Jack got himself in a tizzy about it. “You reallycan’t. You can’t take him like you’dtake me. What, you think you’re going to have to hold him down? You think he’s going to fight you to be on top? Arden?”
Jack was silent.
Beckett wrapped his arms around Jack’s waist and rested his forehead briefly on the back of Jack’s shoulder. “Arden’s going to give you everything.”
“I know,” Jack said roughly. “I’ve always known. Why do you think I held back for so long even when—gods, I should have done this years ago. Taken him away from Lassit years ago.”
“No, you shouldn’t. You didn’t have me until now. And, sweetheart, you need me with you.”
“Sweetheart?” Jack’s voice trembled with amusement.
Beckett strolled around to face him with a cocky grin. He bit his lip and gave Jack a thoroughly appreciative once-over. “Yeah,” he said. “Sweetheart.”
There was that fight, that spark in the black eyes he loved so much.
“We’re going to play it by ear, you and me,” Beckett said. “All you got to worry about is pleasing Arden. If I think you’re pushing too hard and too fast, I’ll jump in and give you a tussle. Though I don’t reckon you’ll need it. With Arden, you can take and take and take. Can learn what it’s like to find pleasure without the fight. To have it freely given. You never wanted that from an alpha because you wanted the fight. When there’s no fight, all that’s left is pleasure. Is watching your pretty little husband come undone in your arms. You’re going to love it.” He tucked a hand between Jack’s legs and gave his balls a tweak. “Sound good?”
“It does indeed,” Jack said. “However…that’s not all. There’s a chance that I might not…when it comes down to it, if I can’t…well. I’d hate to disappoint Arden…” he trailed off and glanced briefly at the ceiling.
“Jack.” Beckett stared at him. “Are you worried that you won’t be able to perform?”
Gods. Hewas.
Beckett turned away quickly but not quickly enough; Jack saw his smile.
And his big, noble, mature lover went after him with a shove.
Beckett laughed, saying breathlessly, “Don’t be embarrassed, now. It’s very natural for a virgin to worry about whether or not he’ll be able to get it up, and?—”
Jack tried to get him in a headlock. Beckett slipped easily out of his grip.
“It’s not that,” Jack protested.
“Is it not, then?”
“No. I don’t want to disappoint him. I don’t want him to think less of himself if I don’t want him physically the way I want you. If he can tell.”
Beckett straightened. Enough funning. “You don’t, won’t, and can’t want him the way you want me. Should have talked about this before, p’raps. Being with an alpha who likes a good fight is nothing like being with an omega you want to shower with flowers and bees?—”
“It’sromantic,” Jack said aggrievedly.
“It is. You’re right romantic about Arden, you are. That’s going to be how you love him physically, too. There’s no challenge for you there. Just taking. Just coming together and accepting. It wouldn’t be enough for you if that’s all you got, because you’re a greedy domineering bastard. It’s why we’re going to work. The three of us. Trust me?”
“I do.”
“Then trust yourself. BecauseIdo.”
“You’re a wise man,” Jack said after a moment. “Sometimes.”
“Yeah,” Beckett said. “Think how fucking clever I’ll be when I’ve got the number of years behind me you have.”
“You little shit,” Jack said, and followed him out of the dressing room into the bedchamber.
Beckett stopped suddenly. Jack bumped into him.
