Sempai Tyler flayed desperately to escape Jaime’s arms as they ensnared him. Jaime pulled Sempai Tyler against his chest and interlocked his arms at the elbows. When Jaime’s arm wrapped around Tyler’s throat, he knew Sempai Tyler would have to tap out. Yet Sempai Tyler still fought, possessed by some madness. He had never waited this long to tap out. Jaime prayed he would before he passed out because there was no way Jaime was going to let go. Sempai Tyler reached back and grasped at Jaime’s sweat-drenched hair, but Jaime’s temple trapped Tyler’s head as he tightened his chokehold. He counted the seconds, knowing he had about thirty before Sempai Tyler would blackout.
“Tap out.” Jaime breathed through his mouth guard.
Sempai Tyler bucked and twisted even as his airway constricted. He was losing but didn’t seem to want to admit it. Jaime felt every breath Sempai Tyler took as his own. It was more intimate than the nameless sex Jaime was used to. He’d never felt so connected to another man before. As much as it scared him, he knew he couldn’t let go until Sempai Tyler was ready to admit defeat.
* * * *
There was no denying it anymore. Jaime took him further than anyone else had. Simply acknowledging those facts deflated all of the anger Tyler had been possessed with. He realized how unfair it was to take out his confusion on Jaime. This was something Tyler had to deal with himself.
As darkness edged Tyler’s vision, he relaxed into Jaime’s hold and enjoyed the all-encompassing feeling of putting his life in Jaime’s hands. He could almost slip into unconsciousness in those arms, but that would probably scare Jaime. Tyler never wanted to see him scared or hurt. Just before Tyler passed out, he tapped Jaime’s arm.
Immediately, Jaime’s grip loosened. Jaime let out a heavy sigh but continued to hold Tyler. Tyler lay there as he struggled to clear his thoughts, unable and unwilling to lose this closeness.
They stayed that way until Tyler was aware his breathing was returning to normal. He would have stayed in Jaime’s arms all night if he didn’t fear someone might walk into the dojo and misinterpret what they saw. Jaime might have won, but he hadn’t forced Tyler into anything Tyler didn’t want.
“I think I owe you a drink,” Tyler said as he finally disentangled himself from Jaime, who looked at him with no small amount of concern. Tyler avoided Jaime’s gaze by offering the man his hand to get up.
“I could use a drink after that.” Jaime took his hand. His cheeks were red from exertion and a blush that even his long bangs couldn’t hide. “What’s gotten into you tonight? You’ve never fought that hard before. I’d hate to see what you’d do if you were actually trying to hurt someone.”
Tyler bowed but couldn’t bring himself to meet Jaime’s eyes.
“It’s been a long day.”
“Want to talk about it?”
Tyler nodded. “Yeah, but not here.”
Chapter 7
They changed in silence and Tyler tried not to think about anything but the moment. There was nothing quite like being pushed to your limits and no words could express that.
When they arrived at Chummy’s, Jaime and Tyler headed for one of the tables in the back where the music was low and the crowds were thin. It wasn’t until they’d downed a couple of quarts of water that they started in on the beers and the serious conversation.
“So what’s with the extra piss and vinegar tonight?” Jaime asked, finally turning their conversation from karate to more personal matters.
“Jenny dumped me.”
Jaime let out a long whistle. “Sorry, man, that’s gotta be rough. Not that I’d know from experience.”
Tyler chuckled. Somehow it didn’t surprise Tyler that Jaime wasn’t the one who got dumped.
“So you’re usually the dumper and not the dumpee?” Tyler asked as he traded his glass of water for something stronger.
“Actually, I never sleep with a guy more than once.” Jaime shrugged and took a sip of his beer. “It’s a policy that’s served me well for the most part.”
“Really?”
It hadn’t occurred to Tyler that Jaime was such a player. Although given his looks and manners, Tyler couldn’t imagine any guy refusing Jaime if the guy were inclined that way.
“Relationships are just not my thing,” Jaime admitted with a playful smile. “I have my fun and go home before anyone gets hurt.”
Suddenly the distant thumping of the dance music was replaced with the beating of Tyler’s heart. The questions he wanted answered lingered on the edge of his tongue but refused to go any farther.
“Don’t worry, I’m sure we can find some pretty thing to distract you.” Jaime looked around the bar. The idea of Jaime picking out a woman for him to sleep with was oddly arousing. Images of Jaime watching and joining the fun tumbled through Tyler’s brain. “You know what they say. The best way to get over someone is to get under someone else.”
The problem was, Tyler knew who he wanted to get under. He just didn’t know how to go about getting there. Even though Jaime sat across the table from him, more than just the distance between them seemed insurmountable. They attended the same dojo. Tyler outranked Jaime. Tyler was also nearly eight years older. Not to mention Tyler wasn’t sure if he was gay or just out of his mind.
“How did you know?” Tyler said while Jaime’s stare honed in on a busty brunette with long hair and a short skirt.
“She looked like your type.” Jaime looked pleased that Tyler approved of his selection. “And easy.”
“No.” Tyler shook his head. “I’m not talking about the girl at the bar.”
Jaime gave him a puzzled look while Tyler tried to summon the courage to cross the void between them. Once he opened up to Jaime about what he was going through, there would be no going back to the way things were. Tyler wasn’t sure if he wanted to risk losing a friend
