Dear Readers,

I just finished up this chapter and am writing to you now from the airport in Taipei, Taiwan. I hope you're enjoying the story so far! I've been quite busy over the past few weeks, and I apologize for not keeping up with my usual weekly updates. I'll do my best to return to a regular posting schedule.

Just a heads-up: this chapter includes some sexual content. I've adjusted the novel's rating to mature to ensure it reaches the appropriate audience.

On a different note, today is November 5th in the U.S., and if you're an American who's eligible to vote, I hope you'll get out there and cast your vote today.

If you're feeling unsure about voting due to a lack of enthusiasm for the candidates, let me offer some perspective. Many people have heard the phrase "the Great American Experiment," but not everyone fully grasps its significance.

The concept of democracy as we know it today—liberal democracy—was a direct outcome of the Enlightenment movement in 18th-century Europe. Before that, democracy often meant mob rule or the tyranny of the majority. Thinkers like John Locke advocated for natural rights and individual freedom; Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Thomas Hobbes developed the idea of the social contract; Montesquieu proposed separating government powers into different branches; and Voltaire championed free speech and press. These philosophers bestowed upon us the understanding that democracy is not sustainable without liberalism.

While the rest of the world was ruled by dictators and monarchs, it was the founding fathers of the United States who put liberal democracy to the test. When the U.S. declared independence in 1776 and established its Constitution in 1787, the founding fathers created a democratic republic with elected representatives and codified individual rights. This was the earliest example of modern democracy and the embodiment of Enlightenment ideals.

France didn't achieve a stable democratic government until almost a hundred years later, during the Third Republic in 1870, following the collapse of Napoleon III's Second Empire. The UK's reform process was slow, with much happening during the 19th and early 20th centuries, as a series of Reform Acts gradually expanded voting rights, ultimately including most adult men by 1918. We are all heirs to the Enlightenment and the American Experiment.

When you cast your vote, you honor the legacy of those Enlightenment thinkers who believed that everyone deserves a voice in their government. So, please vote!

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"Cowards die many times before their deaths;

The valiant never taste of death but once.

Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,

It seems to me most strange that men should fear;

Seeing that death, a necessary end,

Will come when it will come."

The lines from Julius Caesar echoed in Jaden's ears, but they felt like they belonged to someone else. Shakespeare's brave warrior seemed impossibly far away—and Jaden? He was no valiant. Barely an adult at nineteen, and this—falling from the shattered heights of the Van Boxtel Technologies building—was how it would end? Fear ensnared him, but the verses from Shakespeare provided a strange comfort, like a tether to something familiar in the chaos. He never saw himself as a hero, yet time and time again, he found himself thrust into danger. Was it some hard wiring of his J.A.D.E.N. programming that drew him into these situations? He couldn't be sure.

It hadn't always been this way. His powers hadn't come as a revelation but as an accident—an embarrassment, really. He still remembered the startled expressions of his classmates when the stars burst into life in that dull-lit Latin classroom. Reading a passage he barely understood, he had unintentionally summoned constellations into the air. It had felt more like stumbling than fate. After that, curiosity led him to The Key of Solomon—just another medieval book in the school library, he'd thought. That was another misstep. Spirits swarmed the halls after he'd carelessly pronounced a line or two from the Renaissance grimoire.

Then came Master Ling Fen. She had found him when no one else even knew what to look for. The paranormal disturbances at school—all of them—traced back to him. She saw something in his reckless attempts at magic that no one else had, and instead of turning away, she took him under her wing, training him as an apprentice exorcist at MagiCleanse Co. She helped him discover his rare aptitude for heavenly body magic and showed him how to repurpose it for exorcisms. With her guidance, he learned to cast protection spells, make intangible beings corporeal, and even wield offensive starlight magic against evil spirits.

Still, though, Jaden had joined Master Fen, partly to understand himself better, and partly because he was glad to do his part in keeping Washington, D.C. safe—his parents lived there, after all. He had never signed up for this—falling to his demise from a Van Boxtel Technologies skyscraper.

The world was a dull hum in Jaden's ears as he drifted in and out of consciousness. Wind whipped around him, tugging at his clothes and hair as his body plummeted through the open sky. There was no sense of up or down—only the overwhelming pull of gravity, dragging him into the abyss below.

Would it really be so terrible to die here, now? To surrender to the darkness and let go of the endless fight? At least then, he would no longer have to risk becoming a machine designed to annihilate ultra-tellurians and thaumaturges alike. He'd be free.

"Jaden!"

A voice penetrated through the howl of the wind, rough but edged with determination, rousing Jaden from the darkness obscuring his mind. He struggled to open his eyes, squinting against the onslaught of air. Somewhere far below—or above, it was hard to tell—Adam was rocketing headed for him.

The Winter Wolf's hands radiated with azure cryokinetic energy, one arm propelling him forward with jets of power, the other forging the icy trail that soared toward the heavens, a silver-blue ribbon unfurling into the clouds. The ice coruscated in the neon lights, glistening like frost-kissed glass, corkscrewing higher.

Every muscle in Adam's body was taut with effort, every line of his face etched with steely focus. His eyes—those deep, storm-blue eyes—were locked on Jaden, suffused with a desperate, unshakable resolve. He wasn't just barreling toward the boy. He was racing against time itself, willing the universe to give him just one more second, one more breath to close the distance.

The wind scoured Adam's skin, biting with cruel force, but he didn't flinch. His gaze never wavered from Jaden, as if nothing else mattered—not the turbulent storm around them, nor the city far below. Jaden's silver hair streamed wildly as he tumbled, and for a heartbeat, they were like two stars falling in opposite directions—until Adam defied gravity itself.

With a final surge, he launched from the ice like a bolt of frozen lightning, cutting clean through the night. His arm wrapped around Jaden's waist, pulling him against his chest securely, their bodies colliding with an intensity that left Jaden awestruck. The world fell away, and in that moment, there was nothing but the fervid chill of Adam's power mingling with the erratic thrum of his heartbeat against Jaden's back.

"I've got you," Adam rasped against the boy's ear, his tone charged with an unfiltered emotion that crackled through the numbness surrounding Jaden, electrifying him back to life with a feeling far more resonant than fear, more consuming than relief.

Adam's free hand thrust out, releasing a torrent of glacial energy toward the ground. Instantly, a new ice trail rose upward, meeting them halfway. They landed with a thud, Adam falling back onto the crystalline surface, with Jaden plopping squarely in his lap.

Despite what was happening around him, Jaden couldn't ignore how close they were—Adam's arms embraced him, solid and protective, as the world streaked past in a blur of colors. The sensation was impossible to dismiss, his body betraying him with a flush creeping up his cheeks. He cursed silently. What was wrong with him? Minutes ago, he had been ready to let go, to fall into the abyss. Now, with Adam's body pressed against his, why did he suddenly feel so... alive?

He thought he'd gotten over this stupid crush after what he'd seen between Adam and Izzy this morning. But there was something about being saved at the last second, about Adam charging in like some gallant knight—it left him smitten and head over heels.

The slide eventually brought them to a stop, the two of them still tangled together. Adam's grip lingered for a moment longer before loosening, though he didn't fully let go. His forehead came to rest against the back of Jaden's neck, and his frigid sigh sent goosebumps over the boy's skin as he uttered, "I wasn't going to let you fall."

Jaden's blush tinged even redder, and he stayed perfectly still, terrified that the feeling of Adam's arms around him would vanish like a dream if he moved. The ground was solid beneath him again, but all he could concentrate on was the coolness seeping from Adam's body, the rhythm of the older man's heartbeat syncing with his own.

And then, ruining the moment entirely, Adam's voice came, playfully low. "Puffball, you smell so good."

Jaden's eyes flew open, dilating in disbelief. A strangled sound fled from his throat, and before he could stop himself, he jerked Adam's arms away like they burned, scrambling out of his embrace. "What the heck? Perv!"

Adam's lips curled into a smirk, clearly amused by Jaden's reaction. "What? No 'thank you' for saving your life?" He stood, dusting off his pants like he hadn't just lunged himself off an ice trail mid-air.

Jaden sprang to his feet, annoyance and embarrassment blending in his expression as he glared at Adam. "What are you even doing here?"

Adam shrugged. "I went by your dorm, and your roommate said you took off to look for Skylar. Figured this is where you'd be." His eyes flicked upward to the shattered floor of the Van Boxtel skyscraper, where smoke was still wafting from the broken glass. The entire section looked like it had been contorted and fractured by some violent force. "What the hell went down up there? Did Skylar do this?"

Jaden followed Adam's gaze to the damaged building, the adrenaline of the fall ebbing away, replaced by the sting of reality crashing back in. He swallowed hard. "No, I think I did."

Adam's smirk faded as his expression morphed into something more serious. He studied Jaden, trying to make sense of what he was hearing. "What do you mean you did that? How?"

Words escaped Jaden; his mentalscape was too jumbled, too disjointed. Fragments of memory slipped through his grasp like sand. He couldn't piece it together—everything after Wilton's remarks was a blur. The man's voice had drilled into his brain, taunting him with the idea that he was nothing more than a weapon. That he was destined for destruction. Then everything went dark. It was like he had blacked out, only to wake to the searing pain of the electric shock from the wires Wilton had used to attack him.

Wilton had said it was only a matter of time before the J.A.D.E.N. programming took over. Had that just happened? He swallowed hard again. A massive asteroid, summoned inside an enclosed building—how else could he explain that?

But Jaden suppressed the rising panic, shoving those thoughts aside. He couldn't afford to deal with that right now—not while Skylar was still up there. "It's nothing," he said, his voice a little too flat, too controlled. He gave a dismissive wave, as if batting away a stray dog. "Now, shoo, shoo! Go back to your townhouse and... I don't know, hook up some more with your ex. I am certain that is way better for your Friday night than being here."

The harshness in his tone landed like a slap, and Adam's eyes sobered, a trace of hurt evident, though he didn't move. "You really think that's where my head's at right now?"

Jaden turned his back to him, shrugging as he started walking toward the Van Boxtel Technologies headquarters. "Maybe. Who knows? It's not like I really know you."

"Oh, come on!" Adam jogged after him, exasperation clear in his cadence. "I don't get why you're trippin'. It was just sex. You're acting like I cheated or something. Cheating means I'd have to be into Izzy, and I'm not. Plus, you and I ain't even a thing, so what's the deal?"

Jaden stopped in his tracks abruptly before he whirled around to face Adam, his eyes simmering with anger he couldn't conceal. "No," he countered. "You're right, we're not. Why did you kiss me then?"

Adam was momentarily thrown by the question. His cocky, devil-may-care attitude waned. He shifted, running a hand through his hair, looking for the right thing to say. But there were no easy answers here. "I..." he floundered for a reason, but there was none. "I don't know. It just... happened."

Jaden let out a sigh. He spun away from Adam, his gaze fixed on the towering building ahead. "Okay," he mumbled and began to walk again.

"Jaden, hold on!" Adam called, quickening his pace to catch up.

Jaden tuned out the voice behind him, his steps growing faster as he veered toward the side of the Van Boxtel Technologies building. His hand grazed the concrete, rough under his fingertips, as he came to a halt just long enough to focus. "Luce stellarum," he chanted. A sphere of starlight formed in his palm before he hurled it at the wall. The blast pulverized the reinforced surface like an eggshell. Jaden gave it no second thought as he strode through the fractured opening.

Adam followed close behind, his eyes darting between the destruction Jaden had caused and the grim conviction on the younger boy's face. "Where are you going?" Adam demanded.

"Upstairs," Jaden replied curtly, not bothering to look back. "Skylar is in trouble."

"Skylar?" Adam's brow furrowed in confusion, and before Jaden could slip away again, Adam latched onto his arm, refusing to let him go. "Can you chill for a sec and just tell me what's going on here? I'm still with the Iron Phalanx, Jaden. If you're breaking laws or roping me into some shady stuff, I gotta know."

Jaden wrenched his arm free with a scowl, refusing to meet Adam's eyes as he kept walking. "I'm not roping you into anything. You're the one following me right now."

"Don't give me that smartass attitude!" Adam grumbled. "What's your problem? I rescued you out of the sky when you were about to be a smear on the pavement. That's gotta balance out whatever you're salty about."

"Oh, sure. Saving my life means you get a free pass to be an emotional dumpster fire. Newsflash, Adam: I didn't ask for a knight in shining leather."

Adam groaned, massaging his temples. "Look, if this is about me kissing you this morning and fooling around, I'm sorry, alright? It's not even that serious. Remember back in D.C.? You kissed me, and I didn't lose it. Why are you acting like I committed some crime now?"

Jaden arrived at the elevator and jabbed the button harder than necessary. "That was completely different, and you know it. I was trying to keep my parents from asking a million questions about why you were in my house. You were basically my cover story. What's your excuse? Some kind of recreational confusion?"

Adam stiffened, eyes narrowing. "Maybe I didn't need an excuse, Puffball. Maybe I just wanted to kiss you because you are so obnoxiously cute, and I couldn't help myself."

Jaden turned around, incredulous, facing the Winter Wolf. "Let me get this straight. You kissed me because you thought I was cute, then stormed off like some angsty brooding hero, only to head straight back to your place and screwed your ex for some sort of... what? Bi-curiosity cleanse? And then, this morning, you kissed me again like we were in some screwed-up rom-com where you don't know who the love interest is!" He threw his hands up in agitation. "You are so effed up in the head!"

Adam winced but didn't deny it. "Yeah, I am fucked up in the head. I told you that."

"And I should've believed you," Jaden retorted, rolling his eyes dramatically. "I mean, when you said you were just a horny guy trying to scratch an itch, I thought, 'Nah, he cannot possibly be that emotionally constipated.' But nope. I should've known better. You are like a stray dog—kissing everyone for snacks, wagging your tail for belly rubs—"

Adam gritted his teeth, his patience wearing thin. The only thing he could think of to shut Jaden up was... well, something drastic. Before Jaden could finish his sentence, Adam snatched him by the waist and pulled him in, smashing his lips onto Jaden's in a prurient kiss. It wasn't gentle—it was intoxicating, a collision of frustration and something more profound that Adam couldn't quite admit. He couldn't figure out why someone as infuriating and acerbic as Jaden could be so irresistible.

Jaden's eyes widened, his snarky quips dissolving into a muffled yelp. His mind went blank, engulfed by the thrill of Adam's mouth on his. The featherlight nibble on his bottom lip caused an unexpected flutter through his stomach. Heat swept over his face, and he could feel his skin turning red like a cherry.

Adam's hand roamed lower to his butt and gave in a squeeze, drawing a moan from Jaden. His body gave in for just a second before he pushed against Adam's chest, trying to shove him away. However, Adam wasn't letting go that easily. He drew Jaden back in, lips melding against his again, this time gliding his tongue past Jaden's defenses, exploring the inside of his mouth with a fervor that left Jaden reeling.

By the time Adam finally broke away, Jaden was stunned, panting slightly, with a thin string of saliva still connecting their mouths. Adam looked down at him with a smug gloat like he'd just won some kind of prize. He casually wiped the saliva of Jaden's parted lips with his thumb as his eyes mischievously twinkled as if daring Jaden to react.

Jaden blinked, his heart thundering in his chest while his brain worked frantically to process what had just happened. On impulse, his hand shot up to slap Adam—just as he had this morning for kissing him without permission.

But Adam was quicker this time. He caught Jaden's wrist in mid-air. "You really need to stop slapping me," he said with a low chuckle. "Unless you're into something a little... kinkier. 'Cause I gotta be honest, if you keep this up, I might do more than just kiss you."

Jaden's jaw dropped as Adam's provocation sank in. He stared at him before muttering, "My gosh! It's like I am dealing with a horny labrador."

Adam leaned in closer and prodded, "How about a wolf in heat? That's a better analogy, don't you think?"

Jaden's usual quick wit failed him. For once, he was utterly speechless, his cheeks still burning as he fought to find his balance in the nebula of emotions. Adam's closeness, the tension between them—it was all too much.

But then, in the silence, the elevator dinged.

In an instant, everything changed. Adam looked up, his playful expression vanishing. Something primal took over, his posture protective. Before Jaden could even react, Adam clutched him by the arm and yanked the boy behind him, positioning himself between Jaden and the oncoming threat.

A shrill, metallic whirr emanated from inside the elevator, followed by a sickening sound—shhkt! A blade from a robotic sentinel impaled Adam's chest, the sharp tip emerging from his back, glistening with crimson.

Adam's face contorted with agony. "Stay behind me," he rasped, blood staining his lips as he stood firm, the robotic sentinel still locked in its killing blow.

Terror deluged Jaden, overpowering him as the warmth of Adam's blood soaked into his clothes. He wanted to scream, to cry out—but all he could do was gawk, helpless, while Adam still tried to protect him.

"Adam!" Jaden yelled as he reached for him, desperation flooding his every movement.

"I said—stay behind me, Jaden!" Adam growled through clenched teeth. His hands moved up, clasping the blade embedded in his chest. When his fingers touched the steel, frost bloomed from his skin, writhing along the blade, turning the metal to ice.

The temperature around them plummeted, the chill clawing into Jaden's skin. He watched as the frost overtook the sentinel's body inch by inch. Soon, the ice invaded the robot's core, and jagged icicles speared out from inside the machine, piercing through its metallic shell in all directions. The sentinel disintegrated, collapsing into a pile of frozen shards at their feet, though the blade remained lodged in Adam's chest.

Adam staggered, his knees buckling beneath him, but Jaden lunged forward, catching him before he hit the ground.

"Are you okay?" Jaden asked, the weight of the Winter Wolf heavy in his arms.

Before Jaden could assess the extent of Adam's injury, a mechanical whir signaled the arrival of two more sentinels coming out of the elevator, their glowing eyes zeroing in on them. They unleashed a barrage of laser fire—cobalt beams streaking toward Jaden and Adam in rapid succession.

Jaden barely had time to gasp, but Adam, fighting the haze of pain threatening to consume him, flicked his wrist weakly. A cluster of hexagonal ice shields materialized in front of them, snapping together just in time. The lasers bounced off the crystalline barrier, deflecting harmlessly into the walls and ceiling.

Seizing the brief moment of reprieve, Jaden knew they had no time to waste. He hoisted Adam up with all the strength he could muster, dragging them both away from the elevator. The sentinels recalibrated, but Jaden wasn't about to let them get another chance. He shoved open a nearby door, hauling Adam with him into a cavernous cafeteria, its long rows of tables sprawling like abandoned soldiers. Overhead, ventilation ducts and exposed pipes crisscrossed the ceiling, adding an industrial edge to the otherwise sterile space.

Jaden kicked the door shut, their hurried footfalls echoing off the walls, amplifying the vast emptiness around them. Frozen in place, plastic chairs and scattered trays were remnants of the day's routine, now surreal against the life-or-death urgency unfolding.

Chest heaving, Jaden eased Adam onto a table. His hands shook as he peeled off Adam's leather jacket, the fabric torn by a jagged hole where the blade had punctured it. Tossing the ruined jacket aside, Jaden grabbed the collar of Adam's sleeveless Henley and ripped it open, revealing the severity of the injury.

His stomach churned at the sight. The metal tip of the blade protruded just below Adam's collarbone. The wound was brutal—a clean, straight cut that had pierced through flesh, muscle, and likely bone with precision. Cold sweat glistened on Adam's muscular torso, and every shallow breath he took caused fresh rivulets of red fluid to trickle from the gash, mixing with the snowflake that clung to his skin.

Around them, the fluorescent lights were dimmed for after-hours, casting elongated shadows across the tiled floor and lending an eerie, desolate feel to the room. Stainless steel countertops and vending machines glinted faintly, catching the azure shimmer of frost worming its way from Adam's wound. His cryokinetic abilities were doing what they could—slowing the bleeding by freezing the edges into a sticky, half-frozen crust. But it wasn't enough. The oozing from the core of the injury was still heavy, dangerous.

Jaden's hands flew to his mouth. "Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. Your injury—it's really bad."

Despite the physical discomfort, Adam still managed a smile. "Well, if I'd known you'd be stripping me down like this, I might've gotten stabbed a little sooner."

"Stop joking, Adam," Jaden snapped. Tears welled up in his eyes as he fought to keep his composure. "You could die." He sniffled, his heart falling apart at the thought.

Adam's hand moved unsteadily, finding its way to Jaden's face, his cold fingers brushing his cheek. The touch was light but deliberate, almost like a reminder that he was still here, still fighting. "Hey... don't cry. I've got a healing factor, remember?" he asserted, the strain in his statement barely masked by his usual confidence. "My body regenerates. All you gotta do is pull this damn thing out."

"What? Pull it out?" Jaden's throat constricted, his gaze fixed on the piece of metal jutting from Adam's chest. "What if it makes things worse?"

"Trust me. Just get it out of me... then let my powers do the rest."

Their eyes locked, and the familiar teasing glint in Adam's gaze was gone, replaced by something raw, something that only exacerbated Jaden's fear. But even through the pain, Adam's grit shone through.

Jaden bit his lip and nodded as he wrapped his fingers around the hilt of the blade. His conscience orbited in a chaotic spiral of guilt—Wilton's obsession with control, Skylar's conflict-ridden home, and now Adam, bleeding out in front of him. No matter how much anger he'd felt, he wasn't ready to lose him. Every instinct screamed to stop, to find another way, but Adam's life was in his hands. Time was ticking away, and hesitation would only seal his fate.

"I am so sorry, Adam," Jaden lamented.

Adam gave a weak chuckle, though it quickly dissolved into a cough. "Nothing to be sorry about. Just yank it out."

Jaden inhaled sharply, steeling himself. With one swift motion, he extracted the blade. The gruesome scrape of metal sliding through flesh grated in his ears. Adam's body convulsed, and an animalistic groan ripped from his throat—a sound so guttural it made Jaden's skin crawl.

A wave of nausea washed over the boy as blood gushed from the wound, dark and viscous, smelling pungent with iron. It pooled too fast, a syrupy flood spilling over Adam's chest. Jaden's vision blurred, the room spinning as the blade clattered from his hand to the floor. For a brief moment, everything slowed—the air dense, oppressive, as if even time was recoiling from the horror of what had just transpired. All he could hear was the panicked drumming of his own heartbeat, and Adam's labored breaths, just before he slumped forward.

"Adam? Adam!" Jaden dashed in to catch Adam before he could collapse completely. The boy's hands pressed against the wound, trying to staunch the bleeding, but it was like trying to hold back a river with his bare hands. The crimson warmth soaked through, staining them both.

Adam's once sun-kissed complexion had drained to a ghostly pallor, his skin clammy to the touch. "G-Give me a second..." he croaked, his head lolling weakly against Jaden's shoulder. "My body... it's... regenerating..."

Jaden glanced down at the wound as he watched the sluggish, agonizingly slow healing process. "Are you certain?"

"Yeah." Adam leaned back, his fatigued eyes meeting Jaden's. The corners of his mouth twitched as if trying to form a smile. "Look at you, getting all worked up. Guess you do care about me after all."

Jaden's breath came in uneven gasps, as if each sob was fighting to stay inside. He blinked rapidly, but the tears escaped anyway, hot streams flowing down his cheeks. "What kind of moronic thing is that to say? Of course, I care about you."

"I just didn't know what to think anymore," Adam confessed.

"If anything happens to you, I will never forgive myself. All of this—everything—it's my fault. It's all because of me."

Adam tilted his head, bewilderment clouding his expression. "What are you talking about? None of this is on you." He hissed as the ache in his chest spiked but forced himself to continue. "I mean, yeah, you were kinda harsh earlier, but I had it coming for getting under your skin."

Jaden shook his head, more tears trickling down his face. "No, you don't understand. It is not just about us." He wiped his dampened face with the back of his hand, unknowingly smearing Adam's blood across his cheek, while his other hand stayed firmly over Adam's wound. "Everything Wilton has orchestrated—arming the warlord of Heng Qi Island, spying on the people of Veridian, trying to bring about a new world order—it is all because of me. I am the reason. The Justice-Activated Defender and Extraordinary Neutralizer... the programming... it is inside me."

Adam's smile dissipated entirely, confusion settling in as Jaden's babble spilled out in frantic disarray. His stab wound throbbed, frost already weaving through the torn flesh as his cryokinesis fought to seal it, though even the cold couldn't numb the gnawing dread coiling in his gut.

"Slow your roll, Jaden. Tell me what happened up there. What's J.A.D.E.N. got to do with Wilton and Skylar?" Adam asked.

"Wilton..." Jaden started. "He said the purpose of my genetic engineering was to be humanity's last line of defense against ultra-tellurians and thaumaturges. If the Cataclysm Federation ever fails to manage the supernatural, I will become J.A.D.E.N. and wipe out everyone. I am what fueled Wilton's fixation on his perverse big-brother agenda. I am the reason he supplied his tech to Xiong Jianpei. Everything he's done has been to prevent the day I get activated."

Adam's mouth went dry. His thoughts reeled back to their last talk about J.A.D.E.N., when he'd assured Jaden that ExoCellular Lab was a relic of the past, that the Spectral Defenders had wiped out their operations. Adam had said it with conviction—convinced himself, even—but at this instant, that certainty felt like a lie. A comforting story he'd told to keep the darkness at bay. The truth had always lingered at the outskirts, refusing to be ignored. He'd seen it that day when they fought the Inugami leader—caught a glimpse of something other in Jaden's eyes, a presence hardly held in check.

Now, the cracks were showing, widening before Adam's eyes. With each revelation Jaden shared, another layer of the truth was stripped away, revealing what Adam had dreaded all along. What he didn't want to believe was already inside Jaden, waiting, biding its time to break free.

"Maybe you shouldn't have saved me. Maybe I was better off dead," Jaden added quietly.

Adam's face hardened. Frigid fury flared inside him, slicing through the sadness that had embedded itself in his heart. This wasn't the Jaden he knew—the one who always found a glimmer of hope, even in the darkest moments. Hearing him say something so defeated, so self-destructive, felt like a shard of ice driving deep into Adam's being. He just couldn't bear the thought of losing someone like Jaden, especially not to his own despair.

"Don't you ever say that again," Adam growled.

"I'm just—"

Before Jaden could finish, Adam grabbed him by the shoulders and yanked him close, the ferocity of it causing Jaden to stumble, his hands falling uselessly from Adam's chest. The wound didn't matter anymore—none of it did. Adam's eyes bore into Jaden's, filled with glacial, seething anger that matched the ice in his veins. "I mean it," Adam bit out. "I don't give a damn how much you think this world's gone to hell. You aren't allowed to talk like that. You're not better off dead, you hear me?"

"Why not? It's simple math. If my one life can save millions from J.A.D.E.N., then is it not worth it? It's not even a difficult decision to make." The words choked out of Jaden, his tone barely stable enough to hold the weight of his conviction. "You asked me what happened in Wilton's office. Here's the truth: I lost control. I blacked out, and when I came to, there was an asteroid crashing through the building with my magic all over it. Do you not see? I am a ticking time bomb. It is my destiny to destroy everything."

Adam's voice mellowed, but his intensity never waned. "You wanna talk about destiny?" He wrestled with himself, his jaw clenched, his entire being resisting every thought he wanted to say aloud. Men would rather drain their blood than drop their tears, right? He wasn't about to get soft, wasn't about to crack. That wasn't him. He'd lived his life in controlled silence, a void where emotions once were—a damn corpse—until Jaden walked into his life, leaving no room for his defenses.

Adam gulped down the knot in his throat, every word clawing to stay buried. He'd rather just shut up and freeze this mess over. What did he know about sharing feelings, anyway? Talking, opening up... that was uncharted territory. But Jaden was unraveling, slipping past his reach, and if speaking might help steady him, then maybe it was worth it, even if it chipped away at his own armor.

"Alright, let's talk about destiny," Adam eventually said, his voice coming out rough, almost bitter. "My whole life, I thought I knew mine. I was supposed to be the cold, detached guy—unfeeling, distant, exactly what everyone expected me to be. Alone. That was my destiny." He paused, his own words reverberating through him, heavier than he'd anticipated. "But then you came along, and now I feel everything." He gave Jaden a jerk, his eyes fierce, yet filled with a passion that made Jaden's heart skip a beat. "You ruined me, Jaden. I don't know how to shut it off anymore."

Jaden's sobs grew more ragged. "I am sorry for ruining you, for making everything worse."

Adam shook his head, a quiet laugh finding its way out. "Don't apologize. I didn't mean it in a bad way."

His fingers dug into Jaden's shoulders, rooting both of them in the moment. He hesitated again, feeling that familiar instinct to clamp down and let silence fall. But he couldn't. Not with Jaden looking at him like that.

"You wanna know why I kissed you? Why I keep kissing you?" Adam continued, his speech wavered, the vulnerability seeping through his tough facade. "I don't know why. I wish I had an answer, but I don't. All I know is, the thought of losing you scares the hell out of me."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying—fuck destiny. What I've picked up from you—your annoying idealism, your refusal to give up—is that you make life worth living. And my life? It doesn't mean a damn thing if you're not in it."

Jaden stood frozen, his crying tapering off into a series of awkward sniffles. Adam's confession hung there, leaving Jaden feeling out of his depth. His face heated up as Adam's stare intensified in its scrutiny, apparently waiting for some sort of response. But what was Jaden supposed to do? Hug Adam? Say something profound? Offer a high five?

None of it seemed appropriate, and the more he thought about it, the more paralyzed he felt. His emotions were so tangled, his brain so overworked, that he couldn't even remember how to cry anymore. It wasn't every day a guy told him he made life worth living—especially not when he was in the middle of a meltdown, juggling guilt and a full-blown identity crisis.

The silence between them stretched on, laden with rising suspense, until Jaden eventually let his gaze drop—anywhere but Adam's eyes—and that was when he noticed something.

"Uh... you're not bleeding anymore," Jaden squeaked, his voice so timid and apprehensive it was almost comical.

Adam creased his forehead, trying to process the sudden shift. He glanced down at his chest where the blade had been just minutes before. Sure enough, the wound was gone, sealed over with only a modest scar. But that wasn't the point, not even close. He looked back at Jaden, but the kid's eyes were glued to his chest, his cheeks reddening like wildfire.

"I mean, that's great, right? You're, like, Wolverine or something." Jaden kept going, like he hadn't just blurted out one of the most random things imaginable. And then, as if realizing it himself, he winced. The blush on his face spread all the way to his ears, and Adam swore he'd never seen anything so adorable in his life.

Adam sighed, attempting to steer the conversation back in. "Jaden..."

But Jaden, bless him, was on a categorically different wavelength. He was a bundle of fidgeting, shifting from foot to foot, looking like he wanted to crawl into a hole. His fingers twitched nervously by his sides, and the more he stood there, the more flustered he became. It was like he didn't know what to do with himself.

His sentences came out in an incoherent rush. "No, seriously, do you heal from everything? Like, if you chopped off your finger while cooking, would you grow back another finger? Or, like, could you just stick your finger back on and your cryokinesis would, I don't know, freeze it back together or something? Not that I think you'd actually chop your finger off or anything, because you're really good at cooking—I mean, your burger yesterday was really good—and, oh my god, I'm still talking, aren't I?"

Adam couldn't help but gawk, utterly baffled and strangely charmed. Jaden was so different from him—so unguarded, so awkward in his emotions. Where Adam buried everything deep down, Jaden wore it all on his sleeve, even if it came out in the form of babbling about healing powers.

When Adam opened his mouth to try and say something—anything to bring the conversation back to where it had been—Jaden suddenly pulled Adam's hands off his shoulders and mumbled, "I'll go get some napkins and water... you know, to clean off your blood." And with that, Jaden bolted, practically fleeing the cafeteria into the kitchen.

A moment later, he reappeared, his freshly washed hands free of bloodstains and holding a wad of napkins and a bottle of water. His strides were tentative like he was unsure of his next move. Still avoiding Adam's eye contact, he focused on unscrewing the bottle cap, the awkwardness between them tangible.

"You don't have to do this, you know. I'm healing up fine."

"I-I know," Jaden stammered. He poured a little water onto a napkin, soaking the paper until it dripped. "It's just... you're still covered in blood. And it's—well, it's gross."

Exhaling softly, Jaden stepped closer and crouched in front of Adam, carefully pressing the damp napkin to his chest where the wound had been. The blood had crusted, and Jaden wiped at it with uneven strokes, doing his best to avoid making a mess. His fingers trembled almost imperceptibly as they brushed over Adam's skin, cautious not to linger too long.

Adam's eyes drifted down to Jaden's face, taking in the persistent flush on his cheeks and the way his lips pursed in concentration. The sight was so endearing that Adam found himself grinning. The taunting comment lilted off his tongue, unbidden. "You know, you're not half-bad at this whole nurse thing."

Jaden cast him a quick glare. "Shut up. I am not a nurse—I just don't want you dripping blood everywhere like some... crime scene," he replied and dabbed harder at a stubborn streak of crimson. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm feeling kind of warm right now."

Jaden paused, his brows knitting together in concern as his bangs fell over his eyes. He straightened up and placed the back of his hand on Adam's forehead. "That's strange. You're actually cold," he noted with a scowl.

"Not there." Adam's grin broadened as he snatched Jaden's wrist, guiding the boy's hand lower to the left side of his chest, resting it just above his heart. "Here."

Underneath Jaden's fingertips, he could feel the rough texture of stubble grazing Adam's pec, the sturdiness of his muscle, and the steady beat of his heart. Jaden's own pulse accelerated in response as he sputtered, "Adam, we—we still have to get upstairs, and you—you are always messing around, and it is making me nervous, and—"

Before Jaden could say anything else, Adam's hand came up, his fingers tilting Jaden's chin upward. In one seamless motion, Adam closed the distance between them, capturing Jaden's lips in a kiss that was both sudden and electric. It was as if two forces from opposite ends of the cosmos had clashed—Adam's cryokinesis, forged in the frozen depths beyond the asteroid belt, meeting the radiant heat of Jaden's starlight. Like ice drifting for eons through the cold void of space, untouched by light, only to melt for the first time when encountering a distant star, their energies surged together in a perfect moment.

Soon enough, Adam's hands meandered down, strongly grasping Jaden's hips and then, with effortless strength, lifting him off the ground. Jaden gasped, the sound swallowed by their kiss as Adam deepened it, his tongue brushing teasingly against the silver-haired boy's in a way that coaxed him into surrender. Surprise transformed into something visceral, drawing Jaden in until he found himself repositioning onto Adam's lap, his legs wrapping around Adam's waist and his arms looping securely around Adam's neck.

The kiss morphed into a hungrier, more erotic exchange. Jaden's thoughts scattered like stardust across the vast expanse of his mind, unable to settle as sensations took over. He could feel Adam's chiseled chest and abs pressing against him, Adam's hands skimming his spine, pulling him closer still, and the unmistakable pressure of Adam's hardness against his inner thighs. Jaden's body responded in kind, a moan escaping him as Adam's hips rocked forward, grinding against him.

Without breaking the kiss, Adam stood and carried Jaden with ease, as if he weighed nothing. He turned and laid Jaden down on the cafeteria table, their breaths coming in ragged pants. Adam hovered inches away and reassured, "You don't have to be nervous with me."

"What is it with you and these... stolen kisses?" Jaden remarked coyly. His hands rested on Adam's pecs, fingers splayed as he felt the dense muscle beneath the abrasive scrape of scruff under his palms. He didn't push Adam away—just let himself feel the unrestrained masculinity of Adam's body.

"What can I say? I'm a bad boy." Adam replied as he conquered Jaden's mouth again. Shortly, his kisses crusaded lower, moving to the sensitive flesh of Jaden's neck, his caress turning rougher now, more possessive.

Jaden arched his back, his moans becoming louder as Adam found the delicate spot just below his ear, the one that made his body tingle. "Adam..." he whimpered.

Adam didn't stop. His lips continued downward, scudding over Jaden's collarbone before he tugged the collar of Jaden's sweater aside, unveiling his shoulder. He paused for a minute, tracing his thumb over Jaden's skin, marveling at the smoothness beneath his fingertip. The way Jaden's eyes watered from pleasure, the redness that colored his face—it was spellbinding. Adam couldn't deny how beautiful Jaden looked, more beautiful than any girl he'd ever been with.

A blizzard of turmoil swept through Adam's mind. Was he really bi-curious? Maybe. But in this moment, with Jaden underneath him, he knew there was no one else who could make him feel like this. He mentally cursed himself for the confusion, wondering why Jaden—despite being a guy—turned him on in ways he didn't fully understand. Maybe it wasn't about labels anymore. Maybe it was just Jaden.

Adam dipped closer, latching onto Jaden's shoulder, sucking hard on the skin, determined to leave his mark. Jaden's body shuddered as the Winter Wolf's teeth scaped his flesh before sinking in just enough to draw a gasp. Jaden's hands roved feverishly over the bare plane of Adam's back, his fingers digging into the muscles there, trying to anchor himself amidst the onslaught of ecstasy.

Adam thrust his hips forward again, harder this time, and Jaden could feel the full length of the Winter Wolf's arousal raking insistently against him through the fabric of their pants. The heat pooling in Jaden's own groin aggravated his senses, making the friction between them almost intolerable. His moan grew reedy with need as the pressure built between them, driving them closer to the brink.

Burying his nose against Jaden's neck as Adam chuffed, "You smell so good, Puffball." He inhaled, savoring the sweet scent—like burnt sugar, vanilla, and a faint hint of ozone. His tongue glided over the spot where he'd just bitten while he relished the honeyed taste of Jaden's skin. His hands tightened on the silver-haired boy's waist, pulling him in sync with each roll of his hips.

"Ahh... Adam..." Jaden mewled as Adam's movements drove him wild.

The Winter Wolf hummed in pleasure before he decided to tug Jaden's sweater up, exposing his torso—lean but soft, with graceful lines rather than chiseled definition. Something about Jaden's body, pale as porcelain and luminous like moonlight, stirred a primal surge in Adam—an urge to explore, taste, and coax out every last reaction. His hands coasted along Jaden's silky, slender stomach, lingering over each delicate contour. His nipples—small, pink, peaky, and irresistibly sensitive—drew Adam's attention. A smirk formed on his lips, his fingertips skimming over Jaden's chest. He watched with satisfaction as the boy shivered, the little buds stiffening further under his touch, each caress sending sparks racing through Jaden's abdomen and lighting his nerves on fire.

Bending down, the Winter Wolf claimed one of Jaden's nipples between his lips, sucking and indulging in each whimper as Jaden arched into the sensation. Adam knew exactly what he was doing. He understood just how sensitive Jaden was—how even the lightest touch could make him cry out, his fingers tangling in Adam's hair as though he couldn't bear even a second's break in contact.

Adam shifted to Jaden's other nipple while his thumb rubbed circles over the one he'd just left. A possessive thrill kindled within him, relishing how easily he could make Jaden squirm, leaving him utterly at his mercy. Flicking his tongue over the boy's nipple, Adam reveled in its pebbled, taut texture, feeling Jaden's body involuntarily respond as his legs wound firmer around Adam's waist, rocking his butt against the older man's length in desperation.

Eventually, Adam pulled back, a glistening thread of saliva connecting his lips to Jaden's erect nipple. The Winter Wolf's eyes were dark with passion while unbuckling his belt and letting his jeans fall to his knees. Jaden's breath hitched at the sight of the bulge straining against Adam's black boxers—hard, thick, and easily around nine inches, jutting prominently against the fabric. The look of surprise in Jaden's eyes, his parted lips, and rosy cheeks only stoked Adam's desire further. His cock engorged even harder, shifting and stretching the material as it quivered against the waistband.

"What... are you... doing?" Jaden murmured, his voice a blend of panic and longing. He sounded like he wanted to resist, but his body had already given in, wilting under Adam's dominance.

"Relax, Puffball. I'm not about to take your virginity here in the middle of an empty cafeteria. That would be a little... ungentlemanly." Adam paused, undoing the button of Jaden's shorts and peeling them off, leaving Jaden in his fitted red briefs that matched his sweater. "But that doesn't mean we can't enjoy ourselves."

With a deliberate motion, Adam adjusted Jaden's legs back around his waist, his erection bucking against Jaden's thinly clothed butt. Jaden could feel every detail—the swollen head, the throbbing vein that traced the length, each thick, textured ridge—all of it exacerbating the heat swelling deep in his belly.

Adam ground his hips forward, each motion magnifying the contact. The Winter Wolf pulled Jaden's sweater higher, letting it bunch behind his neck, uncovering more of his pale skin. His mouth found Jaden's nipple once more, sucking hard. His hands roamed possessively over Jaden's body, fingers tracing each curve and dip. The boy's smaller frame quaked beneath him, lost in bliss.

"You're so sensitive," Adam mumbled against Jaden's pinkened skin, biting down on the nipple, eliciting a hushed moan from Jaden's lips.

Jaden couldn't hold back any longer. His flesh felt feverish, each vibration of craving begging for release. He reached down his hand, hovering over the little bulge in his underwear, ready to touch himself. But Adam anticipated him perfectly, restraining Jaden's wrist and pulling it away, holding him in place. It would be so easy to let him go, to watch Jaden give in to his own lust, but something inside Adam refused to allow it. His pride wouldn't stand for it. He wasn't going to let Jaden find his release without him. No, Adam wanted every tremor, every gasp, every shiver to be because of him.

"Adam, please... I can't," Jaden begged. "This... this is way too erotic."

"Yeah? You need to cum?"

Jaden nodded, a hint of embarrassment flickering in his gaze, words failing him.

Without warning, Adam hauled him off the table, flipping him around until Jaden was bent over the edge, his chest flattened against the cool surface. Adam's larger body dwarfed him from behind as he spread the boy's legs wider, positioning him perfectly before driving his hips forward, grinding his big cock against Jaden's butt. The movement pushed Jaden's bulge into the edge of the table, the rough scraping wringing more helpless, timid sounds from him.

Adam pulled Jaden upright from where he'd been bent over the table, drawing the boy's back snug against his own chest and enclosing an arm around his torso to keep him steady. Jaden's head fell back onto Adam's shoulder. With each movement, the tip of Adam's cock pushed harder against Jaden's backside, and the damp warmth of his pre-cum soaked through his boxers, moistening the fabric of Jaden's briefs, which started to slip between his butt cheeks with every thrust.

Adam's gaze flitted to the small but eager bulge in Jaden's red underwear, the wet fabric clinging so closely that every inch of his modest arousal was visible. The drenched cloth left little to the imagination, framing the slight, flushed length—barely three and a half inches—trembling with each pulse.

The once-dormant wolf in Adam came alive, demanding he claim Jaden fully, to make sure that this boy knew exactly who he belonged to. The sweet, innocent boy had no idea what he was awakening in the Winter Wolf. Smirking, he crooned into Jaden's ear, "Look at that cute little bulge... already so wet for me. Are you close?"

Jaden's only response was a whimper. It wasn't enough for Adam. His smirk curdled into a challenging frown, his hips stilling to leave Jaden squirming. He wanted to hear Jaden's voice, to pry out the words he sensed the boy was holding back, layered under that innocent facade.

Noticing the pause, a pang of impatience lapped at Jaden. He turned his head, eyes half-lidded. "A-Adam? Please... move..." His hips rolled back, nestling against Adam's cock, chasing the hardness he yearned for.

Adam's hand settled with purpose, halting Jaden's attempt to move. "You didn't answer my question." He waited, basking in every minute of Jaden's bashful hesitation, watching as the boy's lips opened.

"Yes... I'm close."

"Yeah? Do you want me to fuck you until you cum?"

"Y-Yes," Jaden stammered.

"Yes what?" Adam taunted. He gave a thrust, just enough to drive Jaden wild, letting him feel every inch wedged against him. "Say it, Puffball. Say you want me to fuck you."

"You know, I don't like cursing like that..." Jaden's voice faltered with reluctance, though his hips kept shifting, fervent for more of Adam's touch.

Adam chuckled as he observed Jaden wrestle with himself. He wanted to hear Jaden admit it. Another slow, tantalizing thrust had Jaden crying, but Adam stopped again. "Well, if you can't say it, I can't help you."

"Adam... please!"

"Yeah, baby? I want to hear you say it."

"I... I..." Jaden bit down on his lip, struggling as his timidity warred with a thirst he couldn't quench. He knew exactly what Adam was waiting for. "I want you to fuck me," he ultimately yielded.

"Good boy," Adam growled. Wasting no time, he drove his hips forward, fitting his cock against Jaden's backside.

The fabric of Adam's boxers and Jaden's red briefs did little to blunt the sensation. Adam felt his own pre-cum slickening the barrier between them, spreading as he ground against Jaden. Each motion worked his cockhead deeper into the crease, sticky warmth gathering and seeping through, adding a heady charge to every thrust.

Jaden's briefs stretched tight, the fabric wedging deeper between his cheeks and catching on Adam's cock. It bordered on uncomfortable, but only served to heighten everything, each push making Jaden's own penis strain harder against the snug confines of his underwear.

"Ahh... Adam!" Jaden's hands gripped the edge of the table as the friction built. Whenever Adam slammed into him, it drove Jaden's bulge against the table, the chafing getting more abrasive. His knees weakened as Adam's relentless rhythm pounded him closer to the point of no return.

"Didn't think dry humping could be this hot," Adam grunted. He'd had plenty of experience before, but this felt different—intense in a way he hadn't expected, even with their clothes still on. "What else do you want, Puffball?"

Jaden, with his sweater bunched behind his neck, meekly guided Adam's hands from his hips to his torso. "I... I want you to touch... my chest," he managed.

Adam smirked, appreciating Jaden's boldness, and let his hands settle over Jaden's flat, pliant chest. His slender frame was unlike the solid builds Adam normally saw in a guy, but he didn't mind—he was actually attracted to that. Adam's hands squeezed Jaden's chest as if it were something else, his coarse palms cupping the boy like he was handling a woman. His thumbs and middle fingers closed around Jaden's pink nipples, giving them a pinch before his index fingers began rubbing the sensitive peaks in circular motions until they were hardened.

A small moan left Jaden as he arched his back into Adam's touch. Adam was transfixed, feeling a strange mixture of pride and fascination. He knew Jaden was inexperienced, but the boy's reactions, his sensitivity—Adam hadn't realized a man's body could respond so acutely. It was something he'd always associated with femininity, or maybe it stemmed from his own narrow ideas about "masculine" versus "feminine" qualities. And Jaden? He was nothing like the traditional Midwestern masculinity Adam was used to. He was so shy, and Adam couldn't resist the chance to make him even more flustered.

"You like that, baby?" Adam said. "You like feeling me touch your cute tiny nipples? You're such a girl."

Jaden's head tilted back, meeting Adam's blue gaze. "I'm not a girl," he retorted.

"Then why the hell are you so adorable?" Adam quipped, before devouring Jaden's mouth in a kiss as his thrusts picked up pace. The motion pushed Jaden closer to rapture while Adam's hands continued their teasing, tweaking and fiddling with his nipples.

Finally, the tension snapped. "Adam!" Jaden screamed into Adam's mouth, his breath stuttering as his small penis throbbed and twitched in his briefs, a sudden torrent of euphoria rippling through him.

Warmth flooded his underwear, his body convulsing with each jet of release. His cheeks felt scorched as he realized he'd climaxed so abruptly, his whole abdomen prickling with embarrassment even as the aftershocks left him trembling. He slumped against Adam's chest, feeling both exposed and oddly comforted as Adam held him close.

Adam tightened one arm around Jaden's shoulders, while his other hand found its way down, adjusting the part of Jaden's briefs that had wedged itself between his cheeks. Carefully, he pulled the fabric aside, and his fingertips skated along Jaden's bare skin, lingering near the soft, coral-pink pucker. He pressed forward, his cockhead nudging against Jaden's butthole, only the thin barrier of his boxers keeping them from even closer contact.

Jaden gasped, his body instinctively clenching, which only seemed to excite Adam more. The older man's control frayed, his cock swelling with each thrust, their bodies locked together in a rhythm that grew more zealous until he could no longer hold back.

"Fuck! Jaden! Ughh... Fuck!" Adam roared. "Oh, baby!" With a final, urgent push, he tipped over the edge, his release coming in powerful spurts. It was as if every hidden desire he'd harbored since first meeting Jaden in D.C. had ultimately surfaced. He could feel each spasm as his jizz shot through the fabric of his boxers, the sheer strength of it surprising even him. It quenched his longing—the unacknowledged ache he'd carried within now unleashed and undeniable—rendering him both spent and totally unshielded.

Jaden moaned, feeling Adam's cum coating his butthole. The unexpected wetness blurred the line between fabric and skin, making him unsure where the material ended and Adam's flesh began. Adam's hips continued to roll weakly, spreading that sticky warmth further across Jaden, the sensation leaving him hazy, wondering if this was still just dry humping or if they'd somehow crossed a boundary he hadn't anticipated.

Adam's unmistakable, musky scent filled the air—rich, heady, and purely masculine—overwhelming Jaden's senses and stirring a deep yearning to yield. It brought forth in him the urge to submit fully to the older man, to let this closeness consume him wholly.

Before long, they both lay sprawled across the table, faces pressed to the surface, Adam's weight slumped on top of Jaden. They panted in unison, staying in that quiet, shared exhaustion for a while until Jaden broke the silence. "Adam..."

"Yeah, Puffball?" Adam murmured against his ear.

"You're... so heavy."

"Oh! Sorry!" Adam snickered, rolling off to lie beside him on the table.

Jaden flipped onto his back, tugging his sweater down to cover his bare torso. He stared up at the ceiling, the reality of what just occurred washing over him. "I cannot believe that just happened," he said, half to himself.

Adam grinned, propping himself up on one elbow and gazing down at Jaden. "Which part?" he mocked. "The part where you begged me to fuck you? Or the part where you melted in my hands from just a little touch? Or maybe the part where I just came so hard, it practically soaked through?"

Jaden let out an exasperated groan, covering his face with one hand. "My gosh! Can you not embarrass me right now?"

As he tried to sit up, Adam quickly hooked an arm and leg around him, pulling him back down. "I'm just messing with you." He drew Jaden closer, his grin easing into something softer.

Jaden pouted, casting his gaze downward as he traced invisible circles on Adam's chest with a finger, still too shy to meet his eyes. "Why do you always do that? It is... confusing," he mused. "This morning, I was so mad at you. I didn't think I'd even want to talk to you again. And then you show up, save me like some hero and take a blade for me." He stopped mid-thought before going on, "Then you go and tell me all these feelings you have, and now... we did this—whatever this even was."

Adam laughed, reaching to sweep a stray strand of silver hair from Jaden's eyes. "It was dry humping. And, for real? It was fire."

Jaden rolled his eyes, attempting to wriggle free. "See? There you go again," he muttered, frustration clear as he tried to put some distance between them.

However, Adam held him close. "Listen," he noted, his expression turning serious. "You're not the only one who's confused here. I'm figuring this out, too. And yeah... maybe I am bi-curious, or maybe I'm just gay for you." He gave a small, lopsided smile. "'Cause after what just went down, I can't see myself wanting anybody else."

"I don't know what that means," Jaden uttered. "And I am terrified that, in a few days, you will regret this. That you will go back to your ex, just like yesterday."

"I get it. I don't blame you for worrying. But things with Izzy ended a while back, and last night... it didn't mean anything."

Adam took Jaden's hand. His thumb stroked the boy's knuckles. Jaden hesitated, his own doubts still hovering. But Adam's sincere gaze made it difficult not to believe him.

After a beat, Adam sat up. "You don't have to trust me right this second. But we should really find a bathroom, clean up a bit, and get upstairs so I can go handle my out-of-control friend and... arrest him."

Jaden sat up with him, grimacing. "Are you really going to arrest Skylar? Even after everything I've told you about Wilton?"

Adam's fingers found Jaden's cheek, giving it a playful pinch. "Let's just get cleaned up first, Puffball. Unless, of course, you want my cum drying in your ass."

"Adam!" Jaden exclaimed.

Adam shrugged. "What? I don't wanna argue with you about Skylar again. I have a job to do, and that means I have to bring him in. He'll get his day in court, I promise."

"Why do you have to be so rigid?"

Adam sighed, then without warning, scooped Jaden up and cradled him against his chest. "You want to help him? Have your mom take his case when he goes to trial," he remarked with a hint of sarcasm. "Now, I'll find you a bathroom so you can clean up. Otherwise..." He raised a teasing eyebrow, leaning in closer. "I might just slip my hand down there, and trust me, I won't stop at clean-up duty. We'd be here all night."

Jaden's face went scarlet, his mouth opening as if to respond—only to close again in silence.

"That's what I thought," Adam said.