Chapter 224

That night, Jeremiah stood shirtless on his balcony, looking out to the quiet side of the beach, enjoying the night's breeze.

His mind was occupied with thoughts of Jasper, recalling that by that time the previous night, he had gone knocking on Jasper's door. Truthfully, he never planned to seduce Jasper at first, he had the thought now and then, but he never knew it would be that night. The alcohol helped his confidence and he doesn't regret it one bit.

He wasn't one to force connections, he wasn't adverse to love either, but he also understood when someone stated that they didn't want something more after sex. This wasn't the first time he was in this type of situation, but the difference right now was that he wasn't the one pushing feelings aside.

He was a playboy, always had been, he thought Zeno would have been the one to change him, but after he didn't get with Zeno, he went back to his promiscuous ways, having fun with whoever agreed to his terms. 

However, now, he was the one who was being pushed aside. He thought Jasper would at least let them stay friends with benefits, but the guy just turned him down cold. He had no option but to accept his fate because he knew how annoying it could get when your one-night stand starts to ask to become more.

Jasper was a great guy, unfortunately, he wanted nothing to do with him; Jeremiah just had to keep his feelings to himself and act normal around Jasper so he wouldn't get awkward and completely avoid him.

He sighed, stretching his body and grunting quietly. His eyes caught his wrist and he smiled.

"Damn... who knew the quiet Jasper would be that hot?" He murmured. 

Jasper showed his daddy vibes when he was with Jeremiah and Jeremiah realised that night that he had no problems being daddied by Jasper... If only Jasper would let him be his princess, he wouldn't mind.

The guy was low-key hotter than the sun and Jeremiah was going to have trouble keeping his distance, but he would try, he would try.

He looked into his room and frowned, he needed to find company again tonight. He always had trouble sleeping in new environments, unless he had someone familiar beside him.

This time, he was genuinely seeking human company, he wasn't planning on having sex with anyone; he might be a playboy boy but he wasn't the kind to jump from one person to another in the space of a day. 

He wasn't going to Jasper tonight, maybe he'd head to the beach bar and see if there were people he could speak to; Pole wasn't that bad, he could sit a while with him, that is, if he was even there.

He walked over to a chair in his room and picked up his white shirt, putting it on. He grabbed his phone from the bed and headed out; he wasn't coming back till sunrise.

He pulled his door open and gasped in surprise. His pulse raced as Jasper stood there, hand raised mid-air as if he was about to knock on the door.

This was the person he'd been thinking about, he wasn't prepared to see that handsome face tonight, he was internally forcing himself not to let his feelings show through his actions. He gripped his hand on the side of the door as he felt his heart pounding faster in his chest.

He watched as Jasper slowly lowered his hand to his side, taking a step back from the door.

"What's up, Jasper?" Jeremiah asked casually as he stepped out of the room and shut his door, keeping his usual teasing smile on his face, but deep down, he wanted to ask Jasper to take him to his room and just cuddle him up for the night.

Jasper cleared his throat, "Hey, heading out?" He asked calmly, glancing at Jeremiah's face.

For three minutes, Jasper's been standing in front of Jeremiah's door, contemplating whether to knock or not, and the moment he decided to knock, Jeremiah pulled his door open.

"Yeah. I can't sleep... just like last night. I find it hard to fall asleep in new environments. But, hey, don't worry, I'm not disturbing tonight," Jeremiah winked at Jasper.

Jasper slowly nodded, "I see. So, where are you going? Who are you meeting tonight?" He questioned.

Jeremiah wanted to answer but he saw something like judgment in Jasper's eyes and sighed, "Come on, brother, what do you take me for? You think I'm about to find someone else to seduce? You think little of me. I'm not that bad." He defended.

Jasper didn't smile, "Then... where are you heading?" He questioned.

He wanted to ask Jeremiah to go to the beach bar with him, but if Jeremiah already had somewhere he was going, he wouldn't mind going with him.

"I'm just heading out to find someone to 'talk' to at the beach bar. How about you? Why are you here?" Jeremiah asked, leaning on the wall by the side of his door.

Jasper gently pushed his fingers through his hair and locked his gaze with Jeremiah's, "I wanted to ask you to go to the bar with me." He stated.

Jeremiah smiled, "Aww, a date?" He couldn't help teasing Jasper just once.

"No. Are you coming with me or not?" Jasper asked.

Jeremiah rolled his eyes. "Well, I was already heading there. So, why not? Let's go." He said and started to walk away towards the elevator.

Jasper turned and stared at Jeremiah, a small frown forming on his face as he once again thought that Jeremiah was cute.

Shaking his head, he followed Jeremiah behind.

On their way to the beach, they saw Ida, who was idly standing under a tree, arms folded in his chest and Cody sitting just a stone's throw away from Ida under an umbrella.

"Poor guys. Why can't they just make up already?" Jeremiah whispered as he got closer to them.

Jasper glanced at him, "It's not always easy to make up one's mind, Jeremiah." He said.

Jeremiah suddenly blocked Jasper's path, "That sounds deep. Have you ever tried making up your mind on someone?" He peered at his face, blinking in anticipation. 

"No," Jasper replied and pushed him out of the way to continue walking.

"Ugh, liar," Jeremiah groaned and hurried over to Jasper. 

"Hey, you go ahead, I'll just talk to Ida for a while," he informed Jasper and turned away from him.

"Let him be," Jasper pulled him back by the collar. 

Choking, Jeremiah had no choice but to return to Jasper, "Ouch, I'm here, I'm here, let go." He gently placed his hand over Jasper's which was still holding his collar.

Jasper realised he was carried away by the mark on Jeremiah's wrist and slowly released his collar, "Sorry. Just let them be. It's their choice to get back together, or not." He turned away from Jeremiah but his hand easily found Jeremiah's wrist and gently held him, leading him toward the beach bar.

Jeremiah stared at his wrist and smiled, he wasn't going to comment on it, Jasper would let him go if he did. 

They reached the bar but Jasper didn't take them in. 

"You okay sitting outside, yeah?" Jasper paused beside a table where they got a clear view of the ocean.

Jeremiah nodded, "Yes, babe. That's why I'm here, to sit out." He replied naturally. 

Jeremiah released his hand, "Don't call me that. Sit." He pointed to the chair beside Jeremiah and left, heading to the bar to get their drinks.

As Jeremiah lowered himself into the chair, he thought of what he had said that made Jasper ask him not to call him that way.

"Oh... damn. I did call him babe," he muttered, surprised at himself. 

He wasn't even aware that he had called Jasper 'babe'. He had let it slip through his lips. However, seeing how Jasper reacted made it fun.

He had been so gentle in telling him not to call him that way... almost shy.

Jeremiah smirked, "Maybe I'd just call you that, Jasper. Let's see how long you play cold." He said to himself as he watched Jeremiah return with two glasses of drinks. 

Jasper gently placed the drink in front of Jeremiah and sat beside him.

Jeremiah picked up his drink and sipped it, "Huh? Cocktail?" He asked, staring at Jasper.

Jasper nodded, "Yes."

Jeremiah sighed, "You know what I'm asking, this is fruit cocktail, where's the alcohol?" He questioned with a raised brow.

Jasper sighed, "No alcohol tonight, Jeremiah." He said.

Jeremiah frowned, "But why?" He blinked, looking from his drink to Jasper.

Jasper scoffed and gave him the 'seriously?' Look.

Jeremiah sighed, "Fine, I know why you don't want alcohol with me. But, come on, we're outside, surrounded by people, what could go wrong?" He asked.

Jasper shook his head, "No. I don't want another mistake." He replied.

"Damn... that hurts, bro. Really? A mistake? You're that heartless?" Jeremiah pushed his drink away and was about to stand up.

"No, no... hold on," Jasper placed a hand on Jeremiah's thigh, holding him down to the chair.

Jeremiah stared at Jasper's face, "You said what you said, Jasper, I understand." He looked away from Jasper.

"No. I'm sorry, that's not how I meant it. I was just trying to say that I want no unplanned incidents between us. Do you understand?" He asked quietly. 

Jeremiah returned his eyes to Jasper, staring at his face for a few seconds. He placed his hand over Jasper's on his thigh.

"Tell me. Did you like what we did last night?" Jeremiah asked, his thumb running over the back of Jasper's hand. 

Jasper gulped, he didn't even want to lie, "I did, but -"

"Do you regret it?" Jeremiah continued. 

Jasper sighed quietly, "I don't, Jeremiah. Look I'm sorry for calling it a mistake. I just wanted to emphasise that even though we liked what we did, it was unplanned. Okay?" He asked calmly. 

"Okay. Do you want to do it again?" Jeremiah gently pulled Jasper's hand higher on his thigh, his eyes turning seductive. 

"Is that why you want no alcohol? You want to do it consciously? I'm down... If you are," Jeremiah slowly bit his lip.

Jasper's hand was almost reaching Jeremiah's crotch when he suddenly pulled his hand away and flicked Jeremiah's forehead, "Stop messing around, you're outside." He said and picked up his drink, looking away from Jeremiah. 

Jeremiah smiled, "Fine, then. I'll try again when we're alone." He promised.

Jasper said nothing to him, he simply stared at the beach and drank his cocktail.

"Fancy seeing you guys together," Pole walked over to them and settled across from them.

"Fancy seeing you alone, like always," Jeremiah replied.

Jasper slowly returned his face to the table, frowning, "Are you not supposed to be in there? Supervising?" He asked. 

Pole smiled, "Why? Is this a date?" He questioned with narrowed eyes.

"No, that's impossible," Jeremiah said, saving Jasper. 

"Then I'm free to sit with my guys," Pole crossed his legs. 

Jasper's demeanour suddenly turned cold, his face looked upset, and his eyes pinned on Jeremiah, his eyes boring holes into him.

"Yeah, before I forget, I saw that guy with a rune tattoo on the other side of the bar. Why is it here? Is he no longer a threat?" Pole questioned.

Jeremiah frowned, "Leon?" He asked.

Pole nodded, "Ah, yes, Leon. His name always skips my mind." He replied.

"Boss said he's clear; we just have to keep an eye on him," Jasper spoke up.

"Hmm, I'm just wondering... Why is he here, though? I don't seem to trust him still," Pole mentioned.

"That's why the boss said to keep an eye on him, dummy," Jeremiah replied. 

"Yeah... right," Pole rolled his eyes.

He looked at Jasper and smiled, "Well, looks like I'm off to get more drinks." Pole announced.

"Why?" Jeremiah questioned.

"Your not-date just got more visitors," he pointed to the side.

Jasper looked and cursed under his breath. 

Andre was leading Cross to them; truly, his night was ruined.

He wanted to be with Jeremiah... Just Jeremiah, turns out it would be a group night out, nothing special. 

"Hey, are you okay?" Jeremiah asked, placing his hand on Jasper's knees.

He sensed how uncomfortable Jasper was getting and wanted to know if everything was okay.

"I can switch to another chair if I'm making you uncomfortable, I know you don't want people to -"

"No, stay here... I'm fine," Jasper lowered his hand and held Jeremiah's hand on his knee, lacing their fingers together.

Jeremiah gulped, he suddenly couldn't breathe as he felt Jasper's warm fingers lacing into his, he pulled his chair closer and let Jasper hold his hand under the table, their thighs touching. 

It felt so right, the way both of them fit beside each other, their bodies warming each other against the cold night. 

They didn't acknowledge the sudden change, but they liked it, and none of them were ready to pull away any time soon.