Life For Rent

Chapter 13 : Meeting

Author's Notes :

- Don't own Jamison, Coke, Sam Adams, Bergin's or Guinness. Or the Queen of England.
- Sorry that this took so long to get out. I've started a new job and I work 8-9 hours a day, leaving no time to write. =/ Hopefully it will speed back up after the holidays are over.
- Thanks to Fantasy Forest for the holiday party suggestion. I appreciate any and all suggestions a reader might have. =)

Special thanks too all my readers. You guys are awesome.

"Will you relax?"

G shot him a look before returning his eyes to the road ahead of them, "I am relaxed."

Jared snorted, "If you're relaxed than I'm the Queen of England."

"You know I've actually met--"

"G," Jared said soothingly. He reached out the hand that had been settled on the gearshift to gently take G's hand in his. Jared kept his eyes on the road as he drove them to Bergin's, but gave in to occasional glances towards his… non-boyfriend. Someday soon Jared was really going to change that. Once he figured out how, that is. "You don't have anything to worry about, this'll be great."

"Great, sure," G muttered. "What could possibly go wrong?"

"Exactly."

"I was being sarcastic."

"I know and I chose to ignore that."

G sighed, "I mean what are you even going to talk about? You're a chef… he's an ex-Navy SEAL…"

"Well, we have at least one thing in common," Jared glanced over to see a mortified expression cross G's face before quickly disappearing. Jared squeezed the hand in his gently, "I'm kidding, G."

"Uh-huh."

"Besides, how do you know we don't have more in common?"

"I know the two of you. Unless you're hiding a deep seated love for origami making…"

"I've made a few paper swans in my day," Jared told him with a grin.

"Why did I agree to this again?" G asked, ignoring Jared's previous comment.

"Because you can't say no to Sam?" Jared suggested.

G shook his head. "No, that's not it."

"Because you want to spread the awesomeness that is me?"

G shook his head again. "That's definitely not it."

Jared squeezed the older man's hand. "Because you want two people who care about you to finally meet?"

G squeezed back, and to Jared it felt like he was holding on for dear life. "Maybe," he said softly.

"Sam Adams," Sam requested. "Whichever you've got on tap."

"Coming right up."

Sam stood at the bar and tapped his fingers on the wooden counter as he waited for his drink. He was early, partly because he'd come there straight from work and partly because he didn't like to be the last to arrive to anything.

"Here you go," The bartender said with a smile. "Do you want to pay now or keep a tab open?"

"Tab." Sam told her, handing his credit card over. "Thanks."

"No problem," She said, accepting the card. "Anything else I can get for you?"

"Yeah, can I get some potato wedges and an order of chicken wings?"

"Sure thing. Will you be eating at the bar?"

"Nah. I'll be over there," Sam said pointing to an empty booth in the corner.

"I'll put the order in now."

"Thanks," Sam picked up his beer and headed for the booth. He sat with his back to the wall, making sure he could see the whole pub as well as the entrance. A glance at his watch told him that G still had ten minutes before he'd get there. Although, if Sam knew G, which he did, then he knew the other man would probably be late.

Sure enough, twelve minutes later the food had arrived, Sam had ordered a second Sam Adams and there was no sign of his partner. The ex-Navy SEAL snacked on a chicken wing as he waited.

Seven minutes past the time they were supposed to meet, G came in, followed closely by a taller, shaggy blonde haired guy. Sam recognized him as Jared Dassagne from the background check he'd run on the dude, just to make sure he wasn't some criminal using G for whatever reason.

Sam didn't let any surprise show at the fact that the two men were holding hands. It wasn't quite in an affectionate way, it was more casual than that. G was using his hand to tug the other man along behind him towards Sam.

"Hey," G greeted.

"G," Sam acknowledged, standing up. He reached a hand out towards the man standing next to G, "Sam Hanna."

The blonde took his hand, dropping G's in the process, "Jared Dassagne."

"You got chicken wings?" G asked as he gestured Jared into the booth.

"Yeah," Sam sat back down and his partner slid in next to Jared, "Help yourself."

G eyed the wings before selecting a rather meaty one towards the edge of the plate. Sam watched him take a huge bite of the chicken, smearing sauce across his face. He sighed and reached for a napkin to hand to G and his fingers met another warm hand and he looked over to see Jared with a hesitant look on his face. The blonde pulled his hand back and Sam grabbed a napkin pushing it over to G. "You eat like a pig."

"It's messy!" G protested, accepting the napkin, apparently unaware of the small… encounter that Jared and Sam just had.

"Sure, G, if you say so," Sam picked a potato wedge up off the other plate and gestured with it towards Jared. "Help yourself."

The other man hesitated before selecting a wedge like Sam had. He chewed slowly and Sam wondered if he was one of those people who chew all requisite thirty-two times before swallowing.

While he chewed his own food, Sam subtly observed both men. He'd seen Jared's photo before, but seeing a photo and seeing someone in person was completely different. He knew abstractly that Jared was taller than G, but it didn't mean it was any less weird to see G pulling along someone taller than him. Right now there was a good distance between them on their bench. Enough that anyone passing by would probably just think friends and nothing more.

A waitress sidled up to their table, "Can I get you gents anything to drink?" She asked G and Jared.

G shared a look with Jared, one Sam couldn't read, before ordering, "Just a Guinness, please."

She wrote that down, "And for you?"

"Jamison and Coke, please."

"Sure thing. Are you putting it on his tab?"

Before Sam could answer, Jared handed her a card, "You can put 'em on this."

"Got it."

"Thank you."

"I'll be right back with your drinks." Sam wondered if he imagined the small swish her hips had taken on as she left the table. Probably not, he decided, G seemed to get that wherever they went.

"So G tells me you work at La Bon Choix," Sam said, curling his fingers around his glass.

"Yep," Jared said with a nod. "Wednesday through Sunday."

"I've eaten there. Good food."

The other man smiled easily, "Thanks." He hiked a thumb towards G. "I get G to test most of the new food items."

"You preview 'em, G?"

His partner nodded, "Can't say 'no' to free food."

"Don't I know it," Sam said fondly. He turned his attention on Jared, "Did G tell you about our holiday party in a couple weeks?"

G choked on the chicken wing he was eating as Jared replied, "Nope." He glanced over a G with a questioning look.

"I didn't mention it?" G asked innocently.

"Definitely not."

"Oh, well, it's on the twentieth."

"You should come," Sam said. "Meet the gang."

Jared smiled, "I'll think about." He gave G a look that Sam couldn't really decipher. G, though, seemed to know it as his whole body relaxed afterwards. "G's coming to my holiday party."

It was Sam's turn to look questioning. "That right, G?"

"Yeah. I figure with all the cooks moseying about there has to be some good food there." His tone was casual but Sam knew this was a bit step for G and he wondered what Jared had done to get him to go.

Jared moved his hand soothingly up and down the top of G's thigh. The other man was tense, worried and nervous. Jared couldn't really blame him.

The waitress appeared with G's Guinness and Jared's whiskey and coke. He didn't mind as G reached over and took a sip from his drink, using the stronger alcohol to calm his nerves a bit. He pushed the glass back towards Jared and claimed his Guinness.

Jared wasn't without his own nerves either. G's friend and partner was obviously sizing him up. Sam had made no move to hide the fact that everything Jared did was being noted and examined. Jared wondered if anyone could measure up for G. His not-boyfriend was pretty special and Jared often felt like he fell short. G was amazing and he wanted Sam to like him, if only because he wanted to be around for a long time.

Jared leaned over to whisper into G's ear, "Why don't you go to the bathroom for a minute?"

The look G gave him was somewhere between terrified and embarrassed, but covered it quickly with an easygoing smile. He swallowed, "Okay."

Without another word, G got up, leaving Jared alone with Sam. The other man watched G go before returning his full attention to Jared. "If you hurt him," Sam began. "I have ways of hiding you're body so that it will never be found."

Trying not to look as nervous as he felt, Jared replied, "I have no intention of hurting him."

"G is happy," Sam admitted gruffly. "And it's you who makes him happy. Just don't forget that it's me you will have to deal with if he's unhappy."

"Okay," Jared answered, wrapping a hand around his drink.

Sam stared at Jared, "Don't break his heart."

Jared met Sam's gaze, "I'm way more worried about him breaking mine."

"You shouldn't be," The other man said. "G's not like that."

"Okay," Jared said, nodding.

Sam looked away and made a gesture with his hand. A few seconds later Jared felt G settle back down next to him. He reached under the table to give G's hand a reassuring squeeze. Conversation started back up, and G flashed Jared a smile before launching into a recent work story.

"I think tonight went well," Callen said.

"Definitely," Jared pulled his shirt off over his head and through it in the direction of the hamper. "Sam seems like a cool guy."

Callen laughed. "I don't think he liked you at all."

Jared dropped his jeans, stepping out of them to walk over and wrap his arms around Callen from behind. "What's not to like? I'm awesome." His hands slid down Callen's bare stomach into the front of his jeans and proceeded to keep moving down before coming into contact with sensitive flesh.

Callen leaned back into him and sighed contentedly, "What did you think of him?"

"He has huge muscles," Jared murmured into Callen's ears.

"Yup."

Jared's hands slid back up to unbutton and unzip Callen's jeans. A few seconds later they were falling to the ground, along with Callen's boxers that Jared had pushed down, "And he's very protective of you."

"Did he say something to you?"

"Only that he could hide my body where no one would ever find it."

"Ah," Callen relaxed back into Jared's arms. "The scary thing is--he probably could."

Jared chuckled and the laugh vibrated against the skin of Callen's back, "I'm sure he could." He moved one hand up Callen's stomach to brush his fingers over a nipple. Callen shivered and pressed back further against the taller man.

"I hope he didn't scare you too much, though."

"He didn't."

"Good."

Jared's hands met again on Callen's stomach, resting there as Jared hugged him close. "G?"

"Hmm?"

"I know… I know you don't feel the same way, but I need you to know something," Jared said in a quiet, hesitant, almost scared voice.

"Yeah?" Callen asked softly.

"This is serious for me," Jared said quietly. "I--I really like you, G, a lot. I… there's something I want to… ask you."

Callen waited a beat, "Yeah?"

"I…" Jared stepped back a little and Callen hated that he already missed the feeling of the other man pressed against his back. Warm hands urged him to turn around and Callen did. He met Jared's anxious eyes. "I want us to be monogamous."

Callen blinked. That was definitely not what he was expecting the other man to say. "I--"

Jared cut him off, pressing ahead. "It doesn't mean you have to call me your boyfriend, although I, uh, want to be able to call you mine, but when you're not here… all I can think about is what you're doing, if maybe you've decided that I wasn't worth it or girls are easier." Jared looked away and Callen caught a brief, pained look on the other man's face. "I'm not saying you have to be here all the time--not that I don't want you here--I just," He swallowed, still looking away. Jared exhaled loudly, "Fuck. I'm being such a girl, I'm sorry. I… your time is yours and I don't have any right--"

"Jared," Callen said quietly. He reached up and placed his palm flat against the side of Jared's face, turning it back to face him. Jared's expression was pained and embarrassed as he ducked his head. There was a delicateness to the other man that Callen had rarely seen. "I haven't been with anyone else since I met you."

Rule number three: never admit to anything.

Jared smiled shyly, "Really?"

"Really," Callen confirmed gently. "I'm a one person kind of guy."

"Oh," Jared flushed. "I didn't… I mean, I don't… I didn't mean to imply you were a slut."

Callen laughed quietly, "I didn't think you did." He paused, "There's something you have to know though, about my job. I go undercover a lot and there are times when I have to act a part--be interested in a girl--maybe kiss her or whatever, but none of it means anything to me. It's just a job, but because of that I can't… to me, you're the one I'm with."

"Thank you," Jared said softly, relief reflected in his eyes. "I'm sorry I'm so needy. I'm trying not to be."

For some reason those words struck a chord with Callen. Maybe it was the defeated posture that Jared had adopted or the slight self-loathing he could hear in Jared's voice. Like Callen was too good for him and Jared was trying everything he could to make himself worthy. Maybe you've decided that I wasn't worth it. Jared suddenly looked so young, unsure. Callen reached behind himself and grabbed Jared hands, pulling them in between their bodies. "You're not needy," Callen said firmly. "And if anyone's not worthy of anyone around here, it's definitely me," he said, addressing Jared's earlier statement. "I'm sorry I've made you feel so insecure about this, but I wouldn't be here if I didn't want to be. You like me? Well, I like you too. The attraction goes both ways."

Jared gaped at him, "How can you think you're not worthy? You're amazing, G. And handsome and smart and strong."

Callen felt his heart clench at the words. There had been very few people who'd ever said that to him and even less that he believed. But he believed Jared. He believed the softly spoken words and the emotion in Jared's eyes. "You, too," he murmured.

That seemed to be the end of the conversation as Jared walked them backwards to his bad. Seconds later the younger man's boxers were discarded on the floor and Jared's tongue was in his mouth. Callen moaned as he settled on top of the taller man. Jared's hands kneaded Callen's butt and their erections pressed together.

They were both panting as they separated and Callen started to move down the bed. "Wait," Jared said. Callen looked up at him. "Can I… Will you…" He paused and frowned. Callen waited for whatever Jared was about to ask of him. As it turned out he didn't have to wait too long, "Can I fuck you?" Jared asked gently, his tone belying the harshness of the phrase.

Callen slowly nodded. It wasn't something he'd done in a long, long time. He knew that Jared had topped a lot in his past and only really bottomed because he knew that Callen preferred to top. "It's been a while," Callen said softly.

"I'll be gentle," Jared promised. Callen believed him. "We'll go as slow as you need to."

And they did go slow. Slower than Callen was sure they'd ever gone. And Jared was gentle. He was careful. He was thoughtful. He was perfect.

The younger man spent a lot of time relaxing Callen, gently peppering kisses all over his body. He spent his time learning Callen's body. When Jared finally eased inside him, Callen knew he'd never felt as cared for. As the younger man worked him to the edge, the emotion in Jared's eyes twisted something in Callen's gut.

When Jared came, crying out Callen's name, Callen decided that he wanted to hold onto this feeling forever, whatever the feeling was. He felt peaceful, content and cherished.

"Thank you," Jared said softly, pressing a kiss to Callen's sweaty forehead. He pulled out gently and rubbed a hand over Callen's stomach. "Are you okay? Did I hurt you?" He asked, concerned.

"No," Callen said with a shake of his head. "No, you were perfect."

"No," Jared countered quietly. "You were."

Callen didn't know what to say to that. He was pretty sure that no one had ever called him perfect before but Jared had sounded so sincere, so honest that Callen was left speechless. Jared pressed another kiss to Callen's forehead as he grabbed some tissues and wiped them down. When he finished, the tissues were tossed aside and Callen turned onto his side.

He felt Jared tuck up behind him, wrapping an arm tightly around his waist. A soft kiss was pressed to the back of his neck and Callen felt Jared fall asleep as the body behind his relaxed. Callen shifted lightly, feeling a small twinge of pain as he moved. Jared had been gentle but it had been so long that there was no way to avoid the soreness that Callen felt now and knew he would feel tomorrow.

He fell asleep with a smile on his face and Jared's arm tucked around him, leaving him feeling safe and warm.