Bram has changed.

It's a good change and it's not something big, it's just something little.

I could see it in the way he stormed into the police station while I tried to keep up. The Bram that was my friend a year ago, would never come in here. He never liked police stations but here he is, angry and storming in. If I squint hard enough I would see the steam coming out of his ears and if I pay attention I'd hear ominous music played on a pipe organ to match his level of anger.

J had been the one to call us so I knew he was already here.

Bram, though, Bram didn't wait. He walked right up to the closest detective and slammed his hands on the table.

"Taking my boyfriend, arresting my boyfriend without a warrant has to be the stupidest thing you cops have ever done." he snarled, hair falling around his face like a mane. My friend that was always a fluffy kitten, now looked like a lion.

"We have enough evidence to lock him up."

This time I sighed. I stepped right up to Bram and stared at the police officer who was trying to be cocky. He actually thinks he caught Xander. It had to be the best joke I have ever heard.

"You had no warrant and yet you barged into our home, you brought him straight here and I am pretty sure he's being interrogated without a lawyer. Once your 48 hours is up, you're gonna regret it." I warned because none of them were going to let it go and by them I meant, the men and women in the Lupo crime family.

This time there was a brief look of fear on the police officer's face.

"You blue shirt people have pulled a lot of stunts but this takes the cake." Bram said, leaning back to run his fingers through his hair. "I really really hope he doesn't have a scratch on his body because you and your entire precinct will suffer."

It wasn't an empty threat. Bram may be a nice, curly haired man who had a daddy of a boyfriend, can fix computers and servers and what not but he was fucking brilliant at coding, something he never talks about. Hacking into the servers here would be a piece of cake and corrupt all the computers with a virus that becomes even more deadly the more you try to stop it.

"I'll take it from here, gentlemen."

I and Bram turned around to see who it was. It was a familiar face and man was I happy to see it. It was Mal Mackintosh, the older man who J introduced me to in the past and someone Bram favours out of all Xander's work friends.

I looked over Mal's shoulder to see J walking towards me. He was in all black, black hoodie and sweapants while Bram and I still had on our work clothes because we were coming right from MS Holdings.

J reached out for me first, his hand going around my waist and pressing a kiss to my cheek. He whispers... "It's so lovely to see you, darling." in my ear, pressing another kiss to my cheek before stepping back. He doesn't let go of me as he turns to Bram, smiling softly at him and giving his shoulder a quick squeeze.

"He's gonna be alright." J said, looking right at Bram. "He's gonna be out very soon. Mal is a lawyer. His lawyer and a good friend." J said and for the first time since we got the news, Bram relaxed. We all knew Mal wasn't just Xander's 'business' partner.

"I'm gonna get some coffee. Do not even think about following me. I just... need to breathe." Bram said and without giving us an opportunity, he walks away. I take a step towards him but J pulls me back and shakes his head at me.

"Let him go. He needs to calm down." J said and I sighed.

I turned back towards my boyfriend and looked at him. He didn't even look bothered, he looked okay. The only difference in his look was the twitch in his brow. I stepped closer to him, going up on my toes to wrap my arms around him. He might try to look aloof with his unbothered expression but I knew he was still a little bit worried.

"He's gonna be fine." I said.

-

Xander was released within thirty minutes and Bram launched at him before the cop could fully get the iron bars open. His arms were around Xander's neck and legs around his waist. To be honest, I don't think they noticed J and I. They looked equally worried about themselves and I could see it in the way they held on to each other.

Xander chose to drive himself and Bram home while J and I decided to take the other car, heading for my apartment. But in this case, it's truly, J and I's apartment.

"Feeling relieved now?" I asked once we stepped into the apartment. J took off his hoodie and shoes, standing in the sitting room with just a white vest and sweatpants.

"Yeah. I knew they didn't have solid evidence but it's still worrying when they say ballsy things like that." J said. I took off my jacket and moved closer to him, sliding my hand up his neck to cup his face.

J looked absolutely gorgeous. As gorgeous as the first time I saw him. Same dark hair, same dark eyes, same pretty lips. My boyfriend. Being around him like this, being this close to him never fails to make me feel like we were the only one in the world. I was happy being held by him, happy being with him, happy holding him.

"Those blue bloods always bluff. I watch a lot of movies, so I know." I replied and he laughed, his body shaking with his laughter. He moves closer to me, still laughing at what I had said. I liked his laugh. Loved it in fact. It always made me happy that I could make him laugh like this. Open and unguarded. Like what I said was the funniest thing in this world.

"I love you." he said, leaning to press his nose against the side of my head.

"I love you too." I said, smiling at his words. "Why don't you shower while I order us dinner. Is Thai okay? What do you feel like eating?" I asked. Most of the time, J was the one who asks me this question, other times it's like he just knows and shows up with what I need.

"Thai is good." he said, still not stepping away. Instead, he presses a kiss to my head and steps even closer. He was so affectionate. It used to startle me at the beginning, he was always so stoic in public that I didn't ever think he'd be this cute cuddly man. The only time I've seen J smile or laugh is in the presence of Xander and Bram but besides that, he's silent, imposing with his height and ... scary.

But he's still my cuddly bear.

My darling Jenesis.

"You know... you could join me in the shower. It would lighten my mood." J whispered, his hands slipping down to cup my ass. I bit my lip to hold back my moan but my body betrays me. It instantly arches into his body. I don't need to look at him to know he is smirking. The little bit-...

"If I join you in the shower, we're not gonna eat." I said, stepping away from his hold. He doesn't let go, he just pulls me closer to him, his hands still on my ass. I let out a gasp as our chest meet, lips parted. He doesn't give me time to catch my breath, he closes the space between us and pressed our lips together.

Kissing Jenesis always stole my breath away. The way he holds me, the brush of our lips, our tongues dancing and sliding against each other. I could feel ever tingle down to my toes. J slides one hand up my ass and underneath my shirt. The feeling of his cold fingers on my skin made me shiver.

When his fingers inch closer to my nipples, I used every strength I had left to take a step back. My legs were jelly and it felt like my skin was on fire. I felt hot and desperate. I needed more. More of J. I knew I could kiss him, I could drop to my knees here and now, fuck the food, and he would give me what I need.

But not today.

Today was a bit scary for everyone. As well as the police officers that dared to bring Xander in.

"Go and shower." I panted, taking another couple of steps away from J who was staring at him, his lips red and swollen. It took him a few seconds, dark eyes looking me over, to move. He takes off his shirt as he walked towards the bathroom and I held back a moan. He looked so good.

Focus, Ryan. Focus.

While J was in the shower, I placed our order. I got one large Spicy Shrimp Soup and Pad Thai for J. He eats like a warrior. For myself, I got one large Shrimp Fried Rice. We had some drinks in the fridge and J had bought wine the other day.

I have had boyfriends in the past but it always felt like my ex had planned to make my life miserable. I can imagine them having a meeting every Tuesday to ask each other how to make my life suck.

It was always something. I was too clingy, too chatty, a stick in the mud, not that great at sex. Something that hits my self esteem. But the wonderful about it, was the fact that I had Bram. He helped me through it even though I never really told him everything, just a summary, with some parts left out. It was why I had been scared to text J at the beginning.

I remember our first date, when I asked him why he never replied to my messages. He had said : you looked so precious at that lunch. So pure and so kind and I felt like I didn't deserve to be with someone like you. you're the first person to literally make my heart skip a beat.

With J, it felt right, like I didn't have to try too much. He loves me for me.

Even high school sucked for me, I didn't have friends and was the loner, the wallflower and it continued that way until I met Bram. And Bram.... Bram brought me J. I owed him a fucking lot. Before J, there were a lot of things I had never done, things I wanted to do and things I wanted to have. I wanted a boyfriend who would text me almost all the time, to call and check in on me, a boyfriend that could talk for hours or listen to me talk for hours, a boyfriend who would hold my hands in public, a boyfriend who is always beside me, a boyfriend who is always cheering me on, a boyfriend who likes taking me places, a boyfriend who loves me as much and as fiercely as I loved him. It what I wanted in a relationship. It's also how I am. How I... how do I put it, it's how I relate with my boyfriends. What I'm like and what I like.

Sex wise, J was incredible. He was so big, so thick, he always me feel full. Always hits the right spot. He always wants to hear my moans, my pleas, my whimpers. He said they turn him on.

He takes care of me. I take care of him.

We take care of each other.

Any time I'm with him I always want to tell him I love him. I always want to tell him that it feels like he's my soulmate. He's just... J is just so lovely.

I'm snapped out of my thoughts when I feel a hand on my shoulder. I turned my head to the side and snort out a laugh when J steals a kiss. He's so lovely and mine. He made me ridiculously happy.

"What are you thinking about?" J asked as he falls into the space beside me. He's shirtless and his lower half covered by plaid pajama bottoms.

"You. Always you."

"I'm right here."

"I know." I replied, smiling at him.

"Come here." he said, his voice somehow deeper. I didn't need to be told twice. I swung my leg over his waist, straddling him, my hands resting on his bare chest. "I love you, Ry."

I leaned down, nails scratching over his abs. Our nose brushed, lips so so close, it felt like we were silently breathing and this man... this man means everything to me. "I love you, J." I whispered. Words like a silent prayer, like a quiet promise. I love him. I love him. I love him so much.

—

I'm in my feels rn but I love them so much 🧡🤧