At Year's End (The 12 Olympians) (6 page)

~*~

Jaxon pulled up to the curb by the school with two minutes to spare. He reclined back on the seat and propped his foot up
. The football team was practicing on the field to the right and Jaxon noticed the player who had been messing with Elijah. He waved casually as the kid met his eyes. The player’s eyes widened and he moved behind another athlete. Jaxon chuckled and turned his attention back to the front of the school.

A man in a suit noticed him and
made his way across the street toward him. Jaxon crossed his arms and fixed the man with a surprisingly polite ‘don’t-fuck-with-me’ look.

“Can I help you?
” the man asked.

“I don’t think so. I’m waiting to pick someone up.”

“Are you on the approved list?”

Jaxon pulled out his badge and flipped it open. “You tell me.”

The man’s eyes widened as he looked at the skull and crossbones. The name registered immediately. His eyes flicked up and he locked eyes with Jaxon.

“I’m sorry, sir. I’m headmaster Windsor
,” he said, as he extended his hand.

Jaxon pocketed his badge and smiled
, gripping the extended hand. Firm, but not too rough.

“No prob
lem. I’m glad you’re taking the safety of these kids seriously. I’d like to talk to you about the bullying, however.”

“We have a strict
no-bullying policy at this school.”

“Well, it’s lacking. So unless you want to see my boss in your office, I suggest you make some
amendments.”

The sound of the bell
ringing cut off Jaxon’s next words. He watched the front door closely for Elijah.

“I’m going to as
sume you make the rules, you have that look about you. I can tell you right now that Caden Fournier will be here next week for college days with Elijah Newman. He’s going to ask you a ton of questions about your rules as well as your academics. I know you don’t want to make an enemy of him,” Jaxon grinned. “Do you?”

“No, no, of course not.
Mr. Fournier makes sizeable donations every year.”

“
As do Riley Flynn-Esposito and Wayne Maccon, isn’t that right?” Riley, Wayne and Caden were billionaires who were beyond generous with their money, and devoted much of their time to founding outreach centers for at-risk gay youth.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“I suggest you do some homework, then, and talk to a few of your students. I can assure you there are some kids here who are bullying others.” Jaxon caught sight of Elijah coming out of the building and whistled loudly. The blue eyes widened in surprise as Elijah saw him. He turned back to the headmaster with a wry grin.

“You’ll excuse me now?”

“Oh, of course.”

Jaxon had to laugh as the man practically ran back across the street. James Pruitt-Jacobs had met with all the heads of the department
s at the school, so Jaxon knew the headmaster had met his boss. Windsor knew exactly what the badge meant, and what came with it.

Elijah looked both ways before crossing the busy street. He trotted up to the bike with a wide grin.

“Hi!”

“Hey,”
Jaxon took Elijah’s backpack from his shoulder. “Good day?”

“Not that I’m complaining, because believe me, I’m not, but why are you here again?”

“Remember when Skylar told you about your silent bodyguards?”

Elijah nodded.

Jaxon grinned.

Elijah’s eyes widened
. “You’re mine?”

Jaxon winked.

“But, Skylar said you guys would be unseen and not interfere.”

“Well, I’m here to be seen and I plan to interfere. If that’s okay with you?”

“Are you joking right now?” Elijah let loose a hearty laugh.

“You may change your mind after I tell you what I need from you.”

Elijah’s brows furrowed. “Like what?”

“First things first
— I need your phone.”

“Why?”

“Let’s just say you’re getting a brand new one, whichever one you want, and a new number. You can’t give it out either.”

“But what about the guys?”

“They can have it, but absolutely no one else. Got it?”

Elijah contemplated the offer. “Any phone I want?”

Jaxon nodded. “Any phone you want.”

Elijah snorted. “I think I can deal with that.”

Jaxon patted the seat. Elijah climbed on and wrapped his arms around Jaxon’s waist. “Oh, and we’re moving you out of your house.”

“What?!”

Jaxon roared the engine to life and pulled out of the parking lot. Elijah was talking up a storm behind him, but Jaxon had more important things on his mind. First off, getting Elijah’s phone out of his hands and giving him a new one. Elijah was still talking and Jaxon laughed.

“
Do you have a watch?” he asked.

“No. I have a phone!”
Elijah shouted over the Harley’s engine. “What about my stuff?”

“Don’t worry about it!”

~*~

Jaxon stood in front of the cell phone
showcase. Elijah was looking over all of them carefully. God, but he looked so damn edible. The tight jeans accentuated a firm ass and Elijah’s shirt stretched across a nicely defined chest. The new leather jacket hung on him like a second skin. He wasn’t bulging in the muscles department, but he wasn’t scrawny either. They were standing close to each other, close enough for Jaxon to feel the heat of Elijah’s body on his own. Elijah was asking about data usage and texting.

“Caden’s covering the bill, so get whatever you want.”
Jaxon pulled his own phone out. “You should get one like mine, and then we can share pictures.”

Elijah chuckled. “You take pictures with your phone?”

“I do know how to use it.” Jaxon narrowed his eyes.

Elijah looked back in the case. “I’ll take that one.”

“It’s purple.” Jaxon eyed the phone.

“I like purple.” Elijah turned to face Jaxon and put his hands on his hips. “What’s wrong with purple? It represents royalty.”

“Ah, so now you’re royalty?” Jaxon cocked a brow.

“I
’m the king of texting.” Elijah waggled his brows.

Jaxon leaned into Elijah’s face. “You never text
me
.”

“I did
, too. This morning.”

“Yeah, two words
: “I’m fine.”

“Well
, I was.” Elijah backed up a few inches. Jaxon was extremely close to him. His lower body was firing up again and the heat seemed to be rising around them. “So, um, where are we going now?”

“Skyla
r’s place.”

“I’m moving in with them?”

Jaxon grinned at the look of sheer excitement on Elijah’s face. God, how he wanted to hold him and kiss him. Jaxon took a deep breath and reeled in his inner wolf.

“Yes. You are.”

“Awesome!”

After buying Elijah’s phone, Jaxon took h
im out to eat at the Salvatore brother’s favorite sandwich shop on the piers. It was as close as they could get to the sandwiches served at eegee’s in Tucson.

Jaxon stood and eyed the menu board. Elijah stood next to him, contemplating his own sandwich.
He heard a soft chuckle and glanced over at Elijah.

“What is it?”

“The Baconalia?”

“Yes, and I’ll be ordering it.”

“Oooh! Make it two.”

“Fries or onion rings?”

“That depends.”

Jaxon turned to eye Elijah
, who was smirking.

“Onion rings
,” Jaxon grinned widely.

Elijah pouted.

Jaxon placed their order and they waited for their number to be called.

“
Next Friday is your birthday. What do you plan to do?” Jaxon asked, steering the conversation away from kissing.

“What are you guys planning for me?”

“What makes you think we’re planning anything?”

“Pfft. Whatever.” Elijah grabbed for his wallet,
but a warm hand enveloped his.

“I’ve got this.”

“So, are you hanging out with me again, bodyguard?”

“If you want me to. I can stay around the house if not.”

“Oh hell no! You have to watch the next episode of the show.”

Jaxon sighed in frustration. “Fine. I suppose I could hang out and watch it.”

Elijah narrowed his eyes at Jaxon. “You liked it!”

“What? No I didn’t!”

“Yes, you did.”

Their number was called and
Elijah grabbed his sandwich and started walking back to the bike. “Yeah, you did.”

Jaxon had to laugh as Elijah swung his hips back and forth while pouting. God, could the time go any slower?

When they arrived back at Skylar’s, the boys were singing around the dining room table. Elijah joined them and Jaxon sat on the couch with Justice, just listening. Each of them was totally in tune with the other; it was as if they were meant to come together. Now Jaxon knew they were.

Even as a werewolf, it was hard to imagine that he was sitting in the same room as children of gods. He’d been aware of the supernatural from birth, but it didn’t help when he met Wayne, or Chance for that matter. Growing up, hearing stories of such things did not make such stories true. Now he knew all of it was.

Elijah’s voice slid down his spine and curled around his testicles. Damn but the kid could sing!

“Okay, let’s rest up our voices for tomorrow.”

“Wait, you guys aren’t going to the club tonight?” Jaxon asked.

“Nah. We’re leaving the drunks to sing. Our friend Olivia Stetson is there taking care of the karaoke machine. Some of these guys have homework that needs to be done before Monday. So we’re taking tonight to finish some of that up.” Skylar smiled at the group and went into the kitchen. Elijah followed him.

“Hey, Skylar?”

“Yes?”

“Um, do you
feel weird or anything?”

“Weird like how?”

“Well, you can move water right? Does something happen to you right before you do it?”

“Well, the first time
, I was scared you were about to get hurt — so I made the wave that pushed you out of the way of that boat. I didn’t know I’d done it then, but looking back on that day, I know now that I did. Most of the time if I’m scared or angry, it’s more powerful. I just get this weird sensation in my fingers, like they’re tingling.”

“When you’re close to water?”

Skylar nodded. “Pretty much.” Skylar eyed Elijah. “I don’t freak you out, right?” Skylar was almost bowled over when Elijah jumped on him, hugging him tightly.

“No way! I think it is
so
cool!”

Skylar chuckled. “I’m getting that impression.” He sobered and focused on Jaxon sitting in the living room. “How’s it going with your bodyguard?”

“I swear he was flirting with me at the mall,” Elijah whispered in a conspiratorial tone.

“Yeah?” Skylar’s brows rose.

Elijah nodded. “And we like all the same stuff! I mean, it’s freaky.”

“Well, maybe you’ll get a lot more for your birthday than you bargained for.”

“God, I hope so! Jaxon popping out of a birthday cake in his jock strap would be cool!”

A loud snort came from the living room and Skylar leaned
forward to lock eyes with Justice on the couch. Jaxon’s face was fifty shades of red. It was obvious they had heard the conversation — werewolf hearing was supersensitive. Skylar narrowed his eyes and moved back into the kitchen.

“What was that?” Elijah asked.

“Justice making a joke.”

“Justice jokes?” Elijah grinned.

“Yes, he does.” Skylar had to laugh as a low growl came from the living room.

“He just looks so serious all the time.”

“He has his moments.” Skylar winked as he grabbed a glass from the cupboard.

“So
you’re cool with me staying here? Like, permanently?”

“Hell
, yes I am!” Skylar pulled Elijah into a hug. “I’ve always wanted all of us together in one happy house.” He broke from the hug and eyed Elijah. “You hungry?”

“No,
Jaxon took me out to eat, but thank you.”

“Like a date?” Skylar raised his brows.

“I wish.”

Skylar furrowed his brows. “I thought you had a boyfriend?”

“Why does everyone keep asking me that? I don’t have one. I think I’d know if I did.”

“What about Cal?”

“Oh, he’s just a friend. A boy and a friend. Does that make him my boyfriend?”