Without Reservations by J. L. Langley Read Free Book Online Page B

drove by the store to get a couple six packs of beer and some water for Keaton, then straight to Chay’s friend’s house. Following a quick round of introductions they sat down to play poker. There were only five of them. Bobby, the only other wolf in attendance, Simon the guy who owned the house and Remi.
    Remi was, well, he was something else. He looked Apache, with his shoulder-length black hair, high cheekbones and beautiful tanned skin, but he had the lightest green eyes Keaton had ever seen. They reminded Keaton of peridots. And his body…he was about Chay’s size and build. Yum. In fact, the man could be Chay’s clone from the back. He was simply gorgeous. Unfortunately, he was one of the biggest assholes Keaton had ever met.
    They were playing Texas hold ‘em and talking sports when Remi put his poker chips on top of his cards, going out for the round, and leaned back in his chair. His attention zeroed in on Keaton. “So, Keaton, you ever date any of the college girls you teach?”
    He’d known it was coming, not that specifically, but a question regarding his sexuality or rather fishing for answers in a roundabout way. Remi had been sizing him up all evening, making snide remarks here and there. Keaton glanced at Chay.
    Chay shrugged and looked back at his cards.
    “No, I have not, nor will I. It’s unethical for a professor to date students. They can fire me for it.”
    Remi snorted. “Come on. All right, but you’ve thought about it right? I mean how could you not?”
    Keaton rolled his eyes. “Never. I like my job.”
    “I knew it. You’re a fag.”
    “Remi,” Chay, Bobby and Simon yelled at once.
    Keaton smiled. He’d known from the moment he agreed to come with Chay that this would be brought up. It wasn’t like he acted like some queen or something, but his size and youthful appearance always made macho straight guys think “gay”. Which he was, but…well, yeah he was, therefore it was a moot point. He had every intention of answering in the affirmative, but before he could the table rattled slightly.
    Remi jumped up, glaring at Chay. “What the fuck did you do that for?”
    Chay came to his feet, glaring right back. “Stop being a dick. You’ve been giving Keaton shit since we got here. First you called him a pussy for not drinking, now… Quit being a dickhead.”
    Simon tossed his cards on the table and cocked a brow at the two men. “Give it up, Chay, he’s been a dick since elementary school.” He looked over at Keaton. “Sorry, man. Just ignore him. Don’t take it too personal. Remi is an asshole to everyone.”
    Bobby shot Keaton an apologetic glance and cleared his throat. “Uh, Chay? Remi?”
    “What?” They both answered. Neither of them moved an inch. They continued trying to stare each other into the floor.
    “We gonna play or what?” Bobby asked.
    Chay sighed and sat. “Yeah.”
    “Hey, I was playing. Chay’s the one who assaulted my shin.” Remi took his seat. He gave Keaton one last good glare and took a swig of his beer.
    Things calmed down for about three more hands after that, then Remi started in again. He upped the ante a dollar and looked from Chay to Keaton. “Where did you meet Chay?”
    Keaton glanced at Chay, and back to Remi. “At his clinic. I brought a wounded, uh, dog in to him.”
    Bobby shifted a little in his seat. “You’re the wo—dog…I mean you’re the one who brought the dog in? My brother mentioned it the other night. He heard from the game warden that someone shot a dog and Chay patched it up. Glad he made it. The authorities need to look into that, we can’t have people going around shooting dogs.”
    Keaton nodded. First, Joe Winston, now Bobby. Apparently, Chay’s pack liked to gossip like his did. “That was me.”
    “Have you met Jasmine yet?” Remi asked with a smile.
    “Jasmine?” Keaton raised a brow.
    Chay cleared his throat and opened his mouth to speak, but Remi interrupted him. “Chay’s