Chapter 6

Jakob

Finding the brothers chatting in the woods behind my cabin came as a surprise when I'd decided to take a walk. I couldn't sleep, and stumbling upon Hansel and Rhett was the last thing I'd expected.

They didn't notice me at first, discussing whether Rhett was pretty—the answer to which was a resounding yes, Rhett was a very pretty man—until Hansel spotted me and took a picture with his phone. It would probably look like I was a creeper, looming in the background where Rhett couldn't see me.

When he did finally spot me, his cheeks pinkened and I couldn't help enjoying his reaction.

"Oh, hi." Rhett's quiet voice carried to me in the almost-silent woods.

It felt like we were alone in the world, eyes locked, until Hansel passed me and called back, "Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

Rubbing at my mouth to hide a smirk as Rhett walked toward me, I found myself teasing him. "Your brother is funny."

"He's a traitor, is what he is." Rhett glared at Hansel's back as he disappeared around the edge of my house.

We were alone for real, with only the squirrels and other nocturnal animals likely to see us then.

It also meant Rhett and I were alone in the dark woods, without the threat of Helga walking out to interrupt with her annoying flirtation and rudeness. She had an uncanny ability to show up when I was training Rhett, and insist he was needed at home.

"What brings you out?" Rhett asked, joining me in leaning against the large spruce beside us.

"Couldn't sleep," I answered. "I go for walks to clear my head sometimes. What about you guys?"

"Guess we couldn't sleep, either."

Rhett's answer left me sure there was more to his story.

"Want to talk about it?"

"Not really." Rhett sighed, kicking at a dirt clod and avoiding eye-contact.

"You don't have to tell me, I just wanted you to know it was an option. It doesn't feel like you have a lot of people to talk to."

Rhett nodded, bit his lip, and finally looked at me. "My stepmother said I have to work, even if it's at night while caring for my father during the day."

"Helga is an idiot."

My blunt words made Rhett laugh, and I reveled in the tinkling sound. He rarely smiled when she was around.

"That's not all." Rhett bit his lip, unsure for a moment before continuing. "I think she's getting some money for Father's care, and hasn't told us about it."

"Shit, that's terrible." I reached out to squeeze his upper arm, wanting to offer comfort.

Rhett pulled in a breath at the contact and I tried to pull away, but he covered my hand with his to hold me there. We didn't speak as Rhett swallowed. He wasn't done telling me about how Helga had hurt him.

"She also joked about leaving us in the woods and making us fend for ourselves."

His words were whispered, and I could tell they made him the rawest, emotionally. Telling Rhett to work and complaining about money wasn't new. Her wanting to abandon the brothers was a step further.

"I won't let that happen." I swallowed the lump forming in my throat, and watched Rhett's eyes trace the movement of my Adam's apple.

We had a strong attraction to each other, that much was obvious, but whether or not there was real chemistry hadn't been tested. I got the impression Rhett was sheltered, and I didn't want to come on too strong.

"You won't?"

Rhett licked his lips, and I took in his bedhead. He had no sweater on over striped pajamas. The brothers truly looked like they crawled out of bed and hadn't thought to properly bundle up. It was no wonder I'd heard Rhett complaining it was cold out when it wasn't even close to freezing. At least he was wearing shoes.

"No."

Moving my hand up to touch the soft skin of his neck above the fabric, Rhett shivered and gripped at my wrist.

"Sorry. I should have asked." I tried to pull away, but he didn't let me go.

"Please, don't." Rhett's words conflicted with his actions, stepping closer until our bodies were a breath apart.

"Don't what, Rhett?"

Rhett looked up at me through his lashes, pupils almost engulfing the blue of his eyes and reflecting the moonlight before he answered, "Don't stop."

Smirking, I finally understood. Rhett wasn't telling me to stop touching him. He wanted more as much as I did. He was giving me permission.

Running my thumb along his jaw, I felt the stubble there. I wanted to feel it, taste him, and embrace the beautiful young man until he cried out in pleasure. Baby steps, Jakob.

Helga had made a big deal about Rhett being trans, even insinuating I was only interested in "younger women," but Rhett was all man to me.

"Can I kiss you?" I whispered, my full voice feeling like it would be too loud for the moment.

Rhett nodded eagerly, licking his lips again before whispering back, "Yes, please."

Using my other hand, I cupped Rhett's face, tilting it up as I bent down until I was only a few inches away. Rhett's hands went to my waist in that awkward way of not knowing where to put them.

My lips twitched in an effort to hide my amused smile. "Is this your first kiss, Rhett?"

Rhett chewed on his lower lip and I used my tongue to free the sensitive skin I wanted to be nibbling on myself. His cheeks warmed and darkened under my touch, and I felt a little bad about embarrassing him.

Still, I needed to know.

Finally, he huffed out an admission. "Yes."

The innocence of it, and trust in me to be his first… Something about the fact that Rhett's lips had never been touched by another turned me on in a way I'd never been before.

"Good," I replied, not giving him time to feel uncomfortable.

Holding him in place, I pressed forward until we met, closing my eyes along the way, despite not wanting to stop looking at him. He was stiff at first, then yielded to my lead. I suckled his upper lip between mine, before switching to his lower, swallowing his whimper.

A warmth spread from my mouth to my head and through my entire body, lighting on fire when Rhett pressed his body against mine. Swiping my tongue against the crease, Rhett opened for me.

He tasted clean and heady and I wanted more.

Threading my fingers into his hair, I heard a deep groan and realized it had come from me. Using my other hand, I slid it down his neck, over his shoulder and down his back until I could press him more firmly against me.

Rhett gasped when he felt my hardness through the thin layers of our clothes, since I hadn't put on anything under my sweats. I wanted to grind myself against him, learn how to make him come… But it was too soon.

We panted against each other's mouths, bodies still aligned as we came back down to earth.

"So," I managed once we'd both opened our eyes again, "was it everything you imagined?"

Rhett licked his lips again, but this time it was as if he wanted to savor my taste. I held back a growl of possessiveness.

"Yeah. All that and more."

"I'm glad." I bussed his forehead, unable to keep my lips away for long. "And I meant what I said before. I will look out for you and Hansel."

Rhett met my gaze and grew pensive. I hoped he knew he could trust me. He must have seen something in my face that convinced him, because Rhett nodded. "I believe you."

Even if Rhett and I didn't have this thing—whatever this thing between us was—I couldn't stand by and watch Helga treat them like crap. I would be keeping an eye out. They deserved to be treated as worthy to make their own decisions in life.

Little did I know their entire world would be rocked the next day.