With Caution

hand out, glaring at Dago, who muttered, “Get your own.”
    Jake ignored his friends’ bickering and hefted himself off the top of the washing machine. Taking a swig from his bottle, he grimaced. The smell of laundry detergent didn’t really go with the flavor of his beer. “That’s just it, Dago, he seems to always be taking care of others and not himself. Like last night after the fight. Did you notice how he tried to take care of everyone when I was taking your oaths?”
    Rhys took one of the folding metal chairs from against the wall and sat in it. “What does that have to do with Remi being your mate?”
    It had everything to do with Remi being his mate. What if he couldn’t control his urge to dominate Remi? Remi would submit just to please Jake. Hell, Remi’d loved being claimed in front of the whole pack, he couldn’t fake that. Jake’s senses didn’t lie. Maybe Jake was worrying too much, but with Remi’s background it was kind of hard not to.
    Gadget’s hand slipped off the wrench and it went clanking to the ground. “Son of a bitch.”
    Rhys arched a brow.

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    “Jake, you’d never hurt him. If he says he wants it, then trust him to know what he wants. He obviously trusts you. Shouldn’t you give him the same respect?” Dago took a sip of his beer, then set it next to him and leaned back on his hands.
    Jake walked around Rhys’ bike. They were right. Remi did trust him, so much so that it made Jake crazy with wanting Remi. Which was part of the problem. “What if it’s instinct? What if he only trusts me like that because of our bond? Because he’s an omega?”
    Rhys shrugged. “Hell, Jake, if you don’t want him, I’ll take him.”
    He knew Rhys was fucking with him, but damned if it didn’t irritate the shit out of Jake anyway. Walking right to Rhys’ chair, Jake crowded him and growled.
    Rhys stood, snarling right back.
    “Whoa hey, guys, chill the fuck out.” Dago shoved his way in between them then turned toward Jake. “Who cares what the reason is. As long as you never break that trust, and Remi doesn’t freak about it, then it doesn’t matter.”
    “Are you so caught up in instinct that you can’t think for yourself?” Rhys grumbled as he sat.
    Jake snagged another one of the gray folding chairs away from the unfinished garage wall. “No, not usually.” Only when assholes say they’ll take my mate. He swung it around backward and straddled it.
    “Well, then why do you think Remi would be different?” Rhys took a drink.
    There was that little thing Remi did, where he was always rubbing the side of his face on Jake’s hand, but that was because he was an omega, wasn’t it? Jake scowled at his beer bottle, dangling it between his fingers. Rhys might be correct about need and instinct being the same thing.
    Who was Jake kidding? Even he questioned denying Remi the chance to submit or he’d have never packed those clamps in his saddlebags. He’d brought them with every intention of playing with his mate tonight.
    Jake took a sip. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. I need to be making sure he adapts rather than fighting him over it, huh?”
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    “Yes. ’Cause him turning out to be an omega just means it’s ingrained.” Gadget’s wrench slipped again. “Goddamn it. Dago, hand me a five sixteenths.”
    Going to the big red Craftsman toolbox along the wall, Dago opened a drawer and retrieved a wrench. He brought it to Gadget, holding it over Gadget’s shoulder until he took it. “You know, speaking of Remi being an omega. I was certain my ribs were broke last night, then after he touched them asking me if it hurt and all that doctoring shit, they felt better. Today—” He lifted his gray T-shirt and turned to the side, showing off his torso. It looked fine to Jake. “It’s completely healed, no bruises or anything. I’m pretty damn sure they were broken. It took days for them to heal last time I was in a bad fight.”
    Gadget raised his gaze from Rhys’ bike, giving the conversation his undivided attention, and grabbed Dago’s beer, taking a drink.
    Snagging his bottle back, Dago scowled at Gadget.
    Rhys nodded. “Yeah, like I was telling you yesterday, my leg is better too.”
    “Jake, can you and Remi come to my house for dinner this week, have him take a look at my youngest?” Gadget rubbed the back of his hand over his forehead, wiping away sweat and leaving a