With Caution

good-natured and able to handle himself. Which was a good thing in this place.
    After that the introductions came pretty quickly. There were four other men, all Native American. Tank was a big guy, like Jake and Rhys, but not nearly as intimidating.
    He had very bright, almost sparkling eyes, complete with laugh lines at the corners.
    Gadget was a short, stout man who seemed preoccupied. According to Jake, Gadget was a hell of a mechanic and fixed all their bikes when the need arose. Nick had waist-length hair and was tall and lean. Zack was the loud, outgoing type. All the men welcomed Remi and he was fairly certain all of them were wolves. He’d have to ask Jake about it later.
    Jake’s friends dispersed, some getting pitchers of beer and others claiming a pool table. Jake was hailed, leaving Remi alone with Rhys. Unsure what to say to the man, Remi instead soaked in his surroundings.
    There were more men than women, and most everyone appeared to be wearing denim and leather, specifically black leather. Most of the women were either skimpily clad or dressed like the men. Neon beer signs decorated the place along with a jukebox 80
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    With Caution
    and a stage. And no chicken wire enclosed the stage. Remi took that as a good sign.
    Maybe this place wasn’t quite as rough as he first suspected.
    Someone stepped right next to Remi. “Jesus, is that what I think it is?”
    “Excuse me?” Remi asked.
    “That jacket.” The man was a little shorter than Remi, with light brown hair. He was a mousy-looking guy. “I’m Chance, by the way. What did you do to get it?”
    “Remi.” Remi offered his hand and Chance shook it. “And what do you mean? It was given to me.”
    Chance’s mouth dropped open then snapped shut. “Oh, come on, man. Jake does not hand out leather to wannabe submissives. Him giving you a jacket of his means you impressed him.”
    Submissive? Remi blinked.
    Chance focused on something over Remi’s left shoulder, then shook his head. “Jake and I were good together but he never allowed me to earn my leathers.” A wistful look crossed his face, and he made eye contact with Remi again. “Good luck. You’re one lucky son of a bitch.”
    Remi suppressed a growl, but didn’t quite rein in his snarl. The image of Jake with this guy, in whatever capacity, did not sit well with Remi. And how crazy was that? The relationship was likely before he and Jake had even met.
    Glancing over his shoulder, Remi spotted Jake, a little further away but still in conversation with the man who’d stopped him earlier. Remi turned back to Chance. He could barely get his mouth to work, so he settled for, “Thanks.”
    Chance started to say something else but another guy pulled him away toward the back of the bar. “It was nice to meet you.”
    Remi waved.
    Rhys turned from the bar and crooked his finger at Remi. “Remi, what do you want to drink?”
    Jake came over and touched Remi’s arm. He leaned close, his breath fanning across Remi’s cheek. “Get me a scotch?” Then Jake went back to talking.

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    He was just getting used to being Jake’s mate and now this? Did Jake expect him to be a submissive? He didn’t know if he could. He stared at Jake’s back, feeling like he’d been punched in the stomach. He should be mad or something, but he wasn’t…only confused. Why hadn’t Jake said anything? Remi rolled his eyes at himself. Oh yeah, that would have gone over well. Like Remi hadn’t freaked enough over the mate thing. But still…
    Rhys called him again. “Remi.”
    In a daze, Remi stepped up to the battered old bar, next to Rhys.
    “What will it be?” the bartender asked Remi.
    “I’ll have a Jake and Coke—uh, Jack and Cock, uh—” Oh fuck . Remi stopped talking. He could actually feel his face heat with a blush. Someone shoot me.
    Rhys burst out laughing. “Get him a Jack and Coke. I’ll take a Crown and Coke and a scotch for Jake.” Rhys smiled at Remi and reached toward his face. “Talk about your Freudian sl—”
    Remi stiffened, flinching away, and waited for the blow.
    It never came.
    Goddamn, he was batting a thousand tonight. What else could he do to embarrass himself?
    Rhys dropped his hand and the grin melted from his face. “Sorry.” He came across even more grim.
    “No, I’m sorry. Bad habit.”
    The bartender came back, setting all three drinks on the bar.
    Rhys took the glasses and handed Remi’s