In their adolescence, their infatuation had been such a whirlwind that it sometimes felt like they shared one soul.  Even then, Jasper had never felt like Jack could read his mindâso why did it feel like this now, hours after their reunion?  Had it been written somewhere across his face, that despite all the very logical reasons to not want a child, that innate need to swell  with the right manâs pups (with Jackâs pups) thumped deeply just under the surface?  How else could the other be playing him like a well-tuned piano?
âY-You and I both know you shouldnât have,â he managed to stammer out.  Only minutes prior heâd had the high ground, but now Jack had sufficiently stunned him out of his smart-mouthed state.  âYou wouldnât have, youâreâŚyouâre a gentlemanââ  Jasper faltered to a halt as he felt Jackâs warm palm rubbing over the flat plane of his stomach.  Was the Alpha picturing it in a rounder, taut state?  Oh god⌠He tried to fight past his urges with logic, voicing it aloud to distract himself.  âD-Donât you think weâre doing this all backwards?  M-Most people get engaged before pupsâŚâ
Jasper made the mistake of letting his gaze stumble downward to Jackâs cock, which was standing at strong attention, flushed and swollen with blood. Â Pre-cum was already oozing from the tip. Â The image made the Omega weak at the knees; he was only human after allâhow could he resist? Â His mind struggled to process even one intelligent thought. Â Unconsciously, without realizing he was even doing it, the Omega was licking his suddenly-dry lips.
Jasper pushed past his mortification to finally admit something heâd never felt safe sharing with anyoneâŚanyone but Jack.  âIâIâve never been able to try this with anyone else, I didnât feel like I could trust themâŚâ  His hands left Jackâs wrist to flutter nervously as he talked, betraying his insecurity.  Jasperâs eyes had long lost the bravery to continue keeping gaze with Jack, and they were fixed solidly on the shower floor now.  âIâŚIâve always wanted you to take me whileâŚwhile Iâm saying no.  Even if I mean yes.â  A silence trailed afterward where it was clear the man was alluding to a darker form of play that he could not name aloud. Â
Jasperâs dark eyes met Jackâs own, charged with his own mortification and his equal need.  He tried again, knowing he made no sense.  ââT-They say the pillâs, like, 99% effective.  If you want any chance ofâŚof your seed taking, youâll have toââ  His temperature rose as he attempted a tremulous proposal, trying to support his wants with logic instead.  âMake me your bitch.â
   There were many things in Jackâs life that he shouldnât have done. Chief among them was pursuing Jasper as aggressively as he had, taking without permission, and never accepting no as an answer. HIs former lover might have remembered it differently now. Years later, after they had fallen dangerously in love and heâd become blinded to the parts of Jack that should have made him recoil. Jasper wasnât stupid, he never had been, even he knew Jack was no saint and yet, he had still found some part of the boy that was worthy of love.Â
   That alone was reason enough for Jack to have claimed him in the woods. It didnât matter that he shouldnât have or that it was reckless. The consequences of his actions meant nothing if it allowed him to keep Jasper to himself. So what if there were other Alphas? They were inferior to him in every way. They could never be for Jasper what Jack was. They could never protect him as Jack could. He had known from the day they first met all those years ago that this man was meant to be his and no one elseâs. So why should he resist what they both knew was right?
   âI wanted to,â he confessed, ignoring Jasperâs protests and attempts at reason. Outward appearances could be deceiving and when it came to his feelings for Jasper nothing was what it seemed. Sanity and reason went out the window. Jackâs view of the world narrowed and the only thing that mattered was the Omega pressed against the wall of his shower. He was stumbling over words, heart racing, and all Jack could think about was how badly he wanted to mark him and claim Jasper for his own. âI still could.â The words bordered on threatening.Â
   Jack pulled away for a moment, hands still on Jasperâs form. but his own body wasnât nearly so close. He knew the Omega was trying to distract him by throwing around words like that but Jasper didnât realize the risk he was taking. They were meant to be a deterrent, or so he thought, but Jack only saw it as a challenge. Did he think the Alpha would say no? Jack had never been one for convention but to please Jasper heâd do anything. âIs that what you want then? A proposal? Do you want a pretty ring and a fancy wedding?â
   With his attention so entirely focused on Jasper it was impossible to miss the way he licked his lips. Even harder to ignore the shift in his demeanor. Above all else Jack was observant, it was what allowed him to play his games so fearlessly, and he knew what ever came next could change everything - more than the prospect of marriage or the promise of marking. Their relationship had been full of Jackâs dirty promises and sometimes surprisingly tender attention. This was different. He could count on one had the times Jasper had truly let him in. This was one of those moments and the Alpha was brimming with anticipation and longing.Â
   Those words were the last thing he should have said to Jack. Not because he couldnât trust the other male but because there was a part of him that always wanted Jasper. A deep primal need that would never stop if given the opportunity and here the Omega was giving Jack permission. Didnât he understand what he was doing? How risky it was to say such things when he was in this state? Reason would go out the window. Jack wouldnât stop to consider his actions and there would be no such thing as consequences. He would just take, relentlessly, until Jasper truly was filled with his pups and could be with no one but him.Â
   His lips pressed against the Omegaâs sweetly, not chaste but comforting, a silent admission that he understood what Jasper was asking for and that it hadnât been easy to say. He owed him that much, considering the filth that was running rampant through his mind. Even if this moment didnât call for a supportive lover Jack had matured. He could still be the terror Jasper inexplicably fell for and a good partner at the same time. The hand around his throat moved to cup his cheek and he held the Omegaâs gaze for a long moment. Searching his expression for any indication that he didnât really mean what heâd just said. If he was lying, Jack couldnât tell.Â
   âIf that is what you want my love. But first, you have to do something for me.â His hand moved over Jasperâs stomach again and then along the swell of his hips. He couldnât wait for all of this to be his. âAdmit that you are mine.â