A/N: WELP. It's about that time. Let's see how it goes.


Seth was understandably perplexed when Edward showed up on the job the next day. The kid had been walking around all puffed-up with importance since Edward had given him the task of overseeing the job site. He reminded him of a little puppy, always at his heels, barking somewhat anxiously.

"Boss, if you had any reason to doubt—"

Edward held up his hand to stop Seth's babble. "Take it easy. I swear, I'm not here because I'm unhappy with your performance. You've done a great job here."

Seth straightened up. "It's just that you've never shown interest in being on site before."

"Well, I had a chance to talk a few things over with Garrett. Mostly, I'm here to see him, but I did want to get a look at the site myself while I was here."

"What did you want to see me for?"

Edward and Seth both turned to see Garrett approaching. His enigmatic smile made Edward's breath catch, much to his annoyance. It was a beautiful smile he hadn't had much cause to see to that point.

Clearing his throat, Edward angled his body away from Seth toward Garrett. "I came to see if you've had lunch yet. I know it's late, but—"

"No. Not late. Well..." Garrett laughed, shifting from foot to foot. "It is late, but I could eat. Sure."

His answer pleased Edward, and he fought a wide smile. "Good. That's good."

They both nodded at each other. Edward didn't notice how prolonged the moment had gotten until Seth shuffled, reminding him he was still there. "Okay, then," he said, looking some combination of disappointed and amused. "I've got a thing, so…" He waved a hand and headed off in a random direction.

"You know, he has the most adorable school boy crush on you," Garrett said, his eyes following Seth down the road.

Edward huffed. "Funny. I was about to say the same thing about you."

There was that grin again. "Poor kid," Garrett said. "I'm not going to lie and say I didn't think about it. He's very sweet, and not hard on the eyes."

"Plus the body."

"Oh, I know. Does he bench press motorcycles? What's going on?"

"Did you know he's one of those people who can do a backflip right where he stands?"

Garrett gave himself a full body shake. "Damn. That kind of flexibility gives me ideas."

"Lucky is the man who ends up with that one."

"Hmm." Garrett glanced at him, his tone nonchalant. "But you're not interested."

Edward bit the inside of his lip. "No, ah… This is going to sound strange, but he's a bit too sweet, if that makes any sense. I tend to be more attracted to rough around the edges. Not the bad boy per se, but not a positive puppy either."

"Someone with a gentle bite?" Garrett suggested.

There was a teasing yet cautious glint in Garrett's eyes as he spoke, and Edward felt a thrill go down his spine. He licked his lips, meeting Garrett's gaze. "Yeah. Exactly."

Garrett hummed an acknowledgment, his eyes on Edward's lips. After a beat, he swept his hand out. "Late lunch. Early dinner. I'm ready if you are."

"Sure. Let's head out."

~0~

They settled in a chain restaurant with a colorful drink menu. Garrett declared that work was done for the day, so surely a fruity drink wouldn't go amiss.

"That's what makes drinking at three in the afternoon okay, you know. If it's got more sugar than alcohol," Garrett said after they'd ordered.

"Alcohol is sugar. Technically."

"You know what I mean. Insert a different bullshit excuse why drinking this early, before work is done, is acceptable."

Edward smirked. "I'm going to go with the fact we want to and we can are good enough reasons."

Garrett tipped his imaginary glass at him. "I'll drink to that. Ya know...in a minute." He looked eagerly to where their waiter was returning with their drinks.

"Here's a question for you," Edward said.

Garrett looked at him over his drink. He set it down, his smile cautious, as though he knew this was probably a conversation he didn't want to have. "Shoot," he said.

"We've gone over the good reasons I have not to want to hang out with you, but we haven't talked about why you'd want to hang out with me. Not for nothing, Garrett, but all you've really seen is my anger."

Garrett laughed and looked down at his drink. "That's not true," he said in a surprisingly soft voice. Then he laughed, the sound wry. "I don't know, Edward. You throw me for a loop." He took a long drink and lifted his eyes to Edward's, leaning over the table. "You want to know the truth? I don't know what to do with this guy you bring out in me. I'm smooth and charming."

"If you do say so yourself."

At that, Garrett's smile curled up one side of his mouth, his eyes flashing with humor and heat. "Oh, sweetheart. You have no idea. I'm good at getting beautiful boys into my bed."

Edward bit the inside of his cheek. His heartbeat sped, but he held Garrett's stare, taking a long sip of his drink as though his words had no effect.

Garrett chuckled. "Let's just say you have my attention. I'm a go with the flow kind of guy, Edward. I don't need more of a reason than that."

"Go with the flow," Edward mused. Then he shrugged and polished off that first drink. "Oh, well. I'm already drinking in the middle of the afternoon. Why not?"

~0~

Lunch and two drinks later, Garrett had coaxed Edward down the street to a bar with pool tables. Edward was highly amused when the bartender greeted him by name.

"Regular, huh?"

Garrett shrugged, leading them over to the table closest to the jukebox. "They don't skimp on the alcohol. They make kick ass potato skins and the boys who come in here run in two varieties: cuties and hard asses."

"Cuties?" Edward quirked an eyebrow, bemused.

"Sure. You know the type. They pretend not to know how to play pool so you can show them. It's adorable." Garrett's smile wasn't condescending but fond as he returned to the table with his chosen stick.

"And the hard asses?"

"You know. The bad boys. Lots of leather. The ones who come in here fresh off a construction site, pretending they're not gay even though this may as well be a gay bar and everyone knows it." Garrett rolled his eyes. "Pretending that pool is the pinnacle of all that is manliness. They're fun, because they're not looking for a guy like me."

"They're looking for the cuties," Edward said, choosing a stick of his own and chalking up.

"Exactly. And vice versa, really. I mean, we all like a bad boy now and again."

"Mmhmm." Edward looked across the table at him. "Where do you fit in?"

"Me?" Garrett's grin turned wicked. "I'm just here to play pool." He set up the balls and waved his arm wide, indicating Edward should break.

Edward lined up his shot, wondering if he was really about to do what he thought he was about to do. He huffed, laughing at himself, and took his shot.

The cue ball barely did any damage. The balls remained packed together, only slightly less tight than they had been a moment before. He straightened up and met Garrett's eyes. He shrugged. "I'm a little rusty, I guess."

Garrett eyed him, his eyes going dark but uncertain. The look was fleeting. Then he smiled. "Hey, no problem. Whacking a ball with a stick is something you have to practice if you don't want to lose it." Garrett went to his side of the table and stepped purposefully into his bubble space.

Edward resisted the automatic urge to step away. Bad enough that he was playing this game instead of being straightforward. He knew what he wanted, but he didn't want to want it. As a result, he couldn't make his words work. So he was left to this—inviting the chase.

They played. Edward had to flub two more moves before Garrett made his. "No, babe. Look," he said, stepping up behind Edward. "You're not getting low enough," he said, his voice rough and low in his ear. He placed one hand at Edward's waist, the other on his back, pushing gently so he bent over. "And you do this twisty thing with your hips." He put both his hands on Edward's waist now, his grip firm. "Take your shot, babe. I'll keep you steady."

As Edward bent forward, his ass brushed up against Garrett's crotch. Garrett's thumbs pressed lightly into his back, but the pressure was enough to send electricity up his spine. This time, he messed up the shot because he was distracted and his head was cloudy. "Fuck," he mumbled under his breath.

When he straightened up, Garrett didn't step back right away. The man chuckled, his mouth so close Edward could feel his hot breath on his neck. He patted Edward's side, his hand lingering just a beat too long before he pulled away. "Don't worry." He picked up the chalk, holding his stick firm in one hand as he looked Edward in the eyes. "It'll come back to you."

And just like that, Edward was done playing games. He felt overheated and out of sorts. Whatever this tension was, he wanted to deal with it, better or worse. He stepped to Garrett's side, taking his wrist and putting his lips to his ear. "Do you want to get out of here?"

He held his breath. For the first time in his life, he dreaded being turned down. He'd never taken rejection personally. Attraction was chemicals, and if someone else wasn't feeling the pull, well, it was no skin off his back, really. But he didn't want to be rejected by Garrett, and he wasn't sure if it was only because of who the man was to him.

Garrett turned his head, looking Edward in the eyes. His expression was lust-dark and eager but with a hint of incredulity. He licked his lips. "You're sure?"

No. He wasn't sure, but Edward nodded anyway. Garrett instantly gathered up their sticks and took Edward's hand. Once they settled the tab, Garrett pulled him out into the parking lot. He wrapped an arm around Edward's waist, pulling him in close and claiming his mouth.

It was a thorough and consuming kiss. It was rare that Edward felt so claimed, owned. Garrett was only an inch taller than him and perhaps the slightest bit broader, but just then, Edward felt dwarfed. It was a disorienting sensation, but not terrible. No. The way Garrett's arms framed him, his hands alternately grabbing and caressing up and down his back, was more thrill than anything else. Part of Edward really liked how it seemed that he could tuck himself up against Garrett and be completely ensconced.

Yet, in some part of his mind, his skin crawled. He was too aware of how Garrett's strength could be used against him. It was silly in a way. Edward was no scrawny, fifteen-year-old boy anymore. Still, this kind of trust with this man didn't come easily.

Their ride from Uber pulled up, and Garrett didn't say anything when Edward interrupted to give the driver his address. He kept his hand on Edward's knee, stroking the inside of his thigh even as they exchanged small talk with the driver.

At his place, as he fumbled for the keys, Garrett wrapped his arms around Edward's waist, pulling him back against him. He kissed and nipped at his neck. Edward gasped, tilting his head and trying to remember how to unlock a door.

Inside, he turned and tangled his fingers in Garrett's long hair. He couldn't get enough. It was so soft, and he loved the way Garrett moaned into his mouth when he gave it a little tug.

Garrett walked Edward backward until he was pressed up against the wall. Edward hooked his leg up around the other man's waist, grinding up even as Garrett bore down. The friction was perfect. Desire and need coiled in Edward's gut, putting a frantic edge to the movement. He moaned when Garrett ran his hands down his chest and belly.

When he reached down to cup him between his legs, Edward let out a gasp. He splayed his hands wide on Garrett's chest and pushed him backward. Not away, just enough.

They stared at each other. Garrett's eyes were a storm of confusion and desire, but there was no malevolence. He pressed his lips together and swallowed hard. "Edward—"

Edward didn't let him finish. He surged forward again, taking control of the kiss, catching Garrett's startled yelp in his mouth. Hands at Garrett's sides, Edward spun him around so he was facing the wall. He took Garrett's hands and pressed them above his head. Swallowing the space between them, he pinned the other man to the wall with his weight, running his hands over his ass and up his sides. They both paused.

They weren't talking, which was both good and bad. Edward didn't think he could talk just then. He wanted action. He wanted to settle this ongoing war in his head, his dual desires to hate this man and to have this man. He didn't know if this was okay—the way he dominated Garrett just then. He would have asked; he should have. There had to be some part of Garrett that worried this was Edward taking his revenge, making him helpless. Edward knew he would stop if Garrett asked, but he wasn't saying it out loud.

Garrett turned his head to the side, resting his cheek on the wall and pressed his ass back against Edward. Permission granted, Edward pulled him back. He reached around, running his hands over the bulge in Garrett's jeans. Garrett arched back, his hair brushing Edward's cheek and his guttural groan driving him crazy.

They still didn't speak, yet they were communicating. Edward peeled Garrett off the wall and led him to his bedroom. He pushed Garrett face down. He wasn't gentle. He wasn't violent, but he didn't hold back, and he couldn't say his actions were without anger.

There was part of him that wanted to prove to Garrett that he was powerful—in charge. So long ago, when Edward was at his most vulnerable, Garrett had watched those other boys take a part of him. He'd watched them take his power, his trust, his pride. Now, all these years later, how could Edward help but take some of that back?

He remembered what it was like to be manhandled. He remembered the stark fear as those boys pushed him around, touched him, hurt him. He didn't hurt Garrett. He was better than that, but he was in control. He was saying, shouting, all the things he had no words for with every move he made—the way he pulled Garrett's clothes down. The bite mark he left on Garrett's shoulder—not enough to break the skin but enough to make Garrett cry out. The way he grabbed instead of caressed.

Yet, for all his roughness, Edward was cognizant of what he was doing, how easily he could cross a line. He watched Garrett like a hawk. The man never cowered, never hid his face, bit his lip or showed any signs of trepidation. He was speaking too, in silent body language. He submitted to Edward's dominance, let him take instead of give.

Which wasn't to say the man wasn't enjoying himself. He pushed back into Edward's hand when he touched him. He tilted his head of his own volition, inviting Edward's kisses. He spread his legs wider when he was slick and ready. And when Edward entered him, clasping his hands above both their heads, Garrett twined their fingers together, grasping hard.

Still no words as Edward drove into him hard and fast. No words, but grunts, groans, and cries sung to the rhythm of the slap of skin coming together.

When he knew he couldn't hold out much longer, Edward reared back, bringing Garrett with him onto his hands and knees. He reached around, taking the other man's hard cock in his hand and stroking him in time with his thrusts. When he felt the pulse of Garrett's release, he let out a long, low moan. He came hard—they both did—and then collapsed to the bed in a sweaty pile.

Edward groaned and rolled over, off of Garrett. He took off the condom, tieing it off and tossing it toward an open bag of trash near his bed. He slung his arm over his eyes, listening to Garrett's pants as he tried to catch his breath.

That was, Edward thought, the most primal experience of his life, and he wasn't sure how to feel about that. He was a giving lover, even with his one night stands. It had never been like that before—no hot words, no questions asked. He'd never done exactly as he pleased with no input from the man he was with.

And for all that, despite the curl of guilt and trepidation building in his stomach, Edward felt impossibly lighter. This was without a doubt the most unorthodox way to get closure he'd ever heard of, and yet, it had worked. For the first time since Garrett's name popped up on his phone, he was free of the torment of his memories. Absolved of his powerlessness. Jacob was long dead. Paul and Embry were non-entities. Garrett was forgiven, and Edward was free to feel something other than anger toward the man he was beginning to really, really like.

With a groan, Edward rolled over. Garrett was still face down, his head cradled in his arms, his shoulders rising and falling with each breath. Edward reached out a tentative hand, running shaking fingers through the other man's hair. When he didn't flinch, he let his hand rest on Garrett's back. "Are you okay?"

To his surprise, Garrett laughed. It was that deep chuckle that Edward enjoyed so much. He raised his head, and his eyes sparked with sleepy amusement as he looked back at him. "Jesus Christ, that's a stupid fucking question. Did you not hear me scream?"

"Uh, yeah, but screaming isn't generally a sign of you being okay."

Again Garrett laughed. He grunted as he made an effort to roll onto his side. He cupped Edward's cheek in a surprisingly tender motion. "That was hot, babe. I mean, don't get me wrong. It feels like I've been ridden hard and put away wet, but fuck, what a ride. I'm okay with being a little sore in the saddle."

At that, Edward couldn't help but laugh. He hid his face behind his arm, covering his chortle.

Garrett traced light patterns across Edward's stomach. "How are you doing?"

Edward peeked at him with one eye and smiled almost shyly. "What do you mean?"

Garrett shrugged. "I don't know. It was… You know, it was hot. It was really hot, but it was tense."

"Yeah," Edward agreed, looking down briefly, watching Garrett's lips.

"But it isn't now," Garrett said.

Edward looked up at him. "No."

"So what now?"

Edward tilted his head, letting his fingers come up to brush the underside of Garrett's chin. There was a lump in his throat he couldn't quite explain, and he had to swallow hard around it before he could speak. "Do you want to see me again?" he asked, meaning did Garrett want to see him like this.

Garrett rolled again, leaning over Edward. He watched him, held his gaze for a moment, before he leaned in and kissed him. It was a sweet kiss, slow and savoring. "Yeah, I do," he said when he pulled back.

Edward smiled. He leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to the bite mark he'd left on Garrett's shoulder—an apology. And then he kissed him again. A promise.

Whatever it was they were doing. It was only going to get better from here.


A/N: There will be an epilogue, but our tale is told.

So many thanks to songster, Packy, Mina, barburella, and MyOnlyHeroin for all their help.