He leaned in to lay a soft peck on Jared's lips, but then remembered where they were and stopped. Clearing his throat, Carson started to straighten.
Jared growled and moved the hand from his shoulder to the back of Carson's neck. "If I'm going to do something, I do it all the way," he hissed before plastering his mouth over Carson's.
The kiss was brief, hard and way too short. By the time they sat back down, the rest of the table was sitting and discussing the stripper, a redhead this time. On a conversation lull, Terry leaned over and said, "Thanks for taking that hit. I owe you one, man. Can you imagine how angry Brandy would be if I showed up tomorrow evening with a black eye?" Terry shuddered.
Carson shook his head. "If it weren't for me, that wouldn't have even happened."
"Phil has always been an ass, but he's always had my back when I needed him." Terry grimaced. "I don't condone his behavior, but I do hope he comes around."
"He may just yet," Carson murmured, though he didn't have much hope for that. Most bigots didn't.
After a nod, Terry leaned toward Jared. "Hey, man! Since you're involved with Carson, are you really moving out here in the summer?"
Carson froze, his beer halfway to his lips. Jared smiled faintly and Carson finished lifting his drink and taking a sip. From the corner of his eye, he watched Jared shrug. "It's something I'm entertaining. I travel a lot, so should be able to base my business out of anywhere."
"Oh, yeah? I thought you did commodities."
Jared shook his head. "Not any more. I'm into security. People pay me to break into their buildings."
Terry frowned. "Really? People do that?"
Jared laughed. "Oh, yes. It's not real lucrative, but I'm good at it."
"Breaking into secured buildings?" Lance asked incredulously, the brunet leaning across the table toward them.
Jared just laughed harder. Carson shook his head. "He did a job this afternoon," he said. "He's excellent."
"Really? Amazing!" Tom whispered.
Suddenly, Carson didn't like the way Tom was looking at his mate. Now it made sense why the man had paled and looked away at the mention of being gay. He was in the closet. When he caught Tom's gaze, the man swallowed hard and tried to hide the look. Apparently, Tom was very deep in the closet.
He tried to dismiss the man, since Jared had obviously come out to his family for him, but it was difficult. They hadn't really made any commitments to each other. He realized they'd have to have a chat about that and soon. "I'm surprised the bouncers didn't try to kick us out," Carson muttered, leaning close to Jared.
Hearing the comment, Lance snickered. "They were on their way over, but since you were defending Terry's good name here, Larry and I greased their palms, as it were."
Carson's brows shot up. "Really? You bribed them?"
"Sure," Larry replied with a shrug. "We knew you'd calm your man and I gotta say, if someone had hit my girlfriend, I wouldn't have been nearly as kind as Jared." Realizing what he'd said, Larry sputtered, "Not that I'm calling you a girl, man." He blushed. "Sorry."
Snorting, Carson reached for his beer. "Not a problem. It was an apt analogy." He lifted his drink in salute. "Thank you."
Larry waved away his words and turned back to the show.
Two hours later, a slight buzz singing through his system, Carson realized the group was preparing to leave. He couldn't say what any of the dancing girls had looked like, having been too focused on keeping up with the conversation and not exploding as Jared massaged his thigh under the table, occasionally brushing his rock hard cock.
"Well, I guess you pass muster," Jared stated, holding out a hand to Terry. "Welcome to the family."
Terry laughed. "I better, after you used me the way you did. Damn, your family really had no idea," the drunk man chuckled, waving a hand between the two men. "But it's obvious you care for each other. I'm sure once the shock wears off, they'll be fine with it."
"What do you mean?" Jared said, cocking his head. Terry blushed. "Fuck, I shouldn't have said that."
"Well, you better tell me everything," Jared ordered, his tone firm. Looking at his mate, Carson realized he hadn't seen his human refill his beer glass all evening and it was still a quarter full. Interesting, did the man not drink?
"Shit," Terry slurred. "Your mom nearly passed out. She dropped onto the couch and your little sister had to get a cloth for her head. Your dad called me a liar and threatened to send the wedding bills to me if I didn't stop spreading rumors about you being gay." He blushed. "Sorry, man."
Carson paled at Terry's words and he turned to see how Jared took the news of his parent's not-so-accepting attitude. Jared let out a breath slowly and stood, then he smiled. "Don't worry about it, Terry. Tomorrow's the rehearsal dinner. I'll set them straight." Helping the groom to his feet, he said, "I apologize for putting you in that position." Terry nodded and Jared wrapped an arm around his waist. "In the meantime, let's get you home."
He turned to Carson and handed him a keycard. "I'm in room three-oh-one. Just let me make certain he gets home and I'll be there in thirty minutes." Then to Carson's shock, Jared leaned toward him and placed a quick peck on his lips … right in front of everyone … again.
One thing could be said for his mate. He told the truth about when he decided to do something. He really did do it all the way.
Chapter Nine
"H
ot damn, you really are gay," Terry whispered as Jared helped him from the strip club. "Guess so," he replied, grinning. His future brother-inlaw wasn't the only person he'd shocked by his little displays of affection. After settling the man into the car, he paused and cocked his head. "Thanks for not making it a big deal. I know I put you in a tight spot by sharing that tidbit. It didn't occur to me until afterward that you'd probably end up telling my sister."
Terry chuckled sleepily. "Don't worry about it. I couldn't give a shit either way and if people were fucking smart, they'd realize sexual orientation isn't what makes a man."
Jared nodded and headed around the car, surprised to find an ally in Terry. "Saddle up, boys," he called to the others as he settled behind the wheel of Lance's SUV. Most of the men planned to sleep at Terry's place and since he didn't drink much anyway, he'd volunteered to drive. It gave Terry and his crew one last night to act like bachelors without worrying about one of them DDing.
Ten minutes later, he pulled into the driveway and cut the engine. "Wake up, you bums," he ordered. Many of the men grumbled and started moving, but Terry didn't even stir. Jared chuckled at the passed out man. Shaking his head, he rounded the vehicle and hauled the guy out in a fireman's carry.
Lance took his keys, Larry dug the groom's keys out of the man's pocket and led the way into the house. Following them through the rooms, he dropped Terry unceremoniously onto a bed and grinned. "You all get the honor of undressing the groom. I have my own man waiting for me," he added with a wink.
Good-natured ribbing followed him out of the room and Jared had to admit, he liked those guys. He locked the door behind him and headed to his Porsche. He wasn't certain what caught his attention, but suddenly all his senses went on alert. Slipping into the shadows near the driver's side door, he scanned the area.
To his surprise, Brandy got out of a car parked on the street and headed toward the house. She paused at the back bumper of the Porsche, twisting her hands in clear agitation as she tried to peer into the shadows. "Jared?"
"Good god, Brandy," he scolded, stepping into the light of the streetlamp. "It's after three in the morning. What the hell are you doing here?"
"I had to talk to you before the rehearsal dinner tonight," she said. Her big brown eyes, so like their mother's, conveyed her worry. "Is it true?"