I hate dressing up!

The freaking ball is tomorrow night. I love visiting my cousins house but I hate that they throw a stupid fucking ball each year.

I'd prefer to be in front a big wide flat tv screen watching football.

I'd prefer throwing back a few beers at the local bar.

I'd prefer being wrapped up in Jayes or Promises arms.

But Nope! No! Zip! No way! Instead of being places I much rather prefer.

I get to go to a stupid fucking ball!

Did I mention I hate balls!?

We're all getting fitted for our monkey suits. Stuck in Dino's room all six of us had a tailor at each at our feet. Looking down at them on a pedestal. I feel fucking foolish!

The door swings open and in walks some maids with trays upon trays of food and drinks.

About time!

The tailors left us promptly as the six of us changed out of our monkey suits to sit, eat, and finally relax.

There were all types of goodies. From finger sandwiches to fruit slices and even beer. Man I love Ophelia. She sure knows how to treat us right.

Plopping my ass in one of the folded chairs, I dig right in, sitting in between Dawson and Jaye.

"Can I talk to you guys about something rather personal?" I stop mid-chew assessing Tan. His question makes us all pause. With him being the new found mate to Promise I'm pretty sure his question involves her.

"Sure, ask away." Dawson assures him, while chomping down on his turkey and cheese sandwich bite.

"I really don't understand everything that has to do with this mate thing. I have a couple of questions actually," he pauses looking around the room to each us, "I know a few things already about all of your relationships with Promise. My first question is, and please don't take this personal, but have any of you not been faithful to Promise?" That's an odd question. Why would that even cross his mind?

"You're asking if we cheated on her?" Jaye looks at Tan with a curious gaze. His eyes flash to me for just a second. I know what he's thinking about instantly. My time with Marley and Lola, when I was even questioning my own mate bond. I feel like a complete and utter asswipe for doing that to her and to him. Hopefully one day he can truly forgive me. I see the hurt in his eyes still to this day. Sighing, I look to Tan as his eyes search the room looking for an answer. I guess I'm the one that has to oblige since I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who has ever remotely came close to cheating.

"I have in a way. Remember when Jaye and I told you about Marley?" He nods his waiting for me continue. This shit is hard to talk about with anybody. Especially with Tan. I don't want anyone looking down on me. "Well there's was also another girl named Lola. I never had actual sex with them. But I did go to far." Peeking over at Jaye, I see him visibly flinch. Fuck! I know this is hard for him to hear.

"Look, I've been with men and women. When I found out that Promise was my mate that shit hit me hard. I was in love with Jaye for a long time before I even meet her. I'm still in love Jaye. When Promise came into the picture it basically freaked me out. I didn't want to lose Jaye. Not that I ever really had him then but if I got completely with Promise I knew I wouldn't have a chance with him. So...I lashed out in a way. It was a stupid mistake and one that will never be repeated." The entire room stays silent as I turn my head to Jaye. He graces me with one of his beautiful smiles. Seeing that he's not upset over this makes me cast a smile of my own to him. Thank Fuck!

"Ok I get that. But what I meant was have any of you cheated on her after..well you know...after you bonded with her?"

"No!" We all say in unison. Tan scowls at each of us. Looking angry at our answers. What's up with that with this guy?

"After your bonded it changes everything. That thought would never even cross your mind." Dino assures him. Jaye looks at Dino frowning. I wish those guys would kiss and make up already.

"Well if that's the case then I don't ever want to bond with her." Now we all scowl deeply at Tan. Hearing this confession has us all growling out at him.

"Why not? You're her mate also the bonding will bring you closer." Dex growls at him. Clearly getting furious.

"Because, my dear friend, I enjoy having sex. Period. I enjoy having sex with men and women and anything in between. I'm just not the one woman type of man. Don't get me wrong I do like Promise. She's fucking majorly hot as hell and that body is to die for. But I can't settle down with her. I'm not built that way." That confession irritates the hell out of all of us. What the hell does he mean? I had no idea that Tan was even remotely interested in men and women. Does that mean that he's bi!? I guess I didn't know him as well as I thought I did. None of us did.

"Are you serious? You never told me you were bi!" Jaye looks just as shocked as I am.

"I didn't say that. I don't classify myself as bi Jaye. I love all types of people. As long as I can fuck it. I'm in for all of it. Why the hell did you think I got into the sex industry?" Well fuck me backwards. I hadn't had a clue!

"Wow. I never realized. Not that it's a bad thing but why would that stop you from bonding to Promise?" I agree with Dino, it doesn't matter what you're into, since she is his mate the bonding will only bring their souls closer together. It's a marvelous feeling. Why would you deny yourself that?

"Because I don't want to give my lifestyle up. I don't see why I even have to. Knox and Jaye have a relationship together and their not mates. What's the difference with me being with someone else and being mated her?" He had to bring us up into his sorted thinking. I don't think he's understanding the demographics of our relationship.

"Let me break it down for you clearly. Both Knox and Jaye are mates to Promise. What they do together doesn't change Promises feeling toward them. Because they are both are bonded to her. They share the same love. As long as it stays within the bonded circle then it's ok with them." We keep staring at Tan. Our food long forgotten. As we watch him digest the information.

"So you're saying if I bonded with Promise I can only fuck the people that's in our bonded circle?" Well sort of. If you love that person and don't outright cheat beyond our bonding formation. Then all should be good in Promise land.

"In a way yes. If you truly love the other person then Promise would fully understand." Dawson tells him, but Tan only gets frustrated at his explanation.

"That's why I won't bond with her. I want to fuck who I want to fuck without someone getting jealous over it in the process. So this bonding thing isn't for me. Hell, maybe this entire mating thing isn't for me?" He leans his elbows on his knees with his hands under chin, deeply concentrating.

"In time you will want too. I thought the same way. I could never picture bonding with Promise either but she definitely changed my mind on that." Dino and Promises relationship is definitely one for the books in my opinion. But I'm truly glad they found their way to each other finally.

"What changed your mind?" Tan eyes Dino as Dino leans in closer to us.

"She did. I had some past trauma that caused me to basically push her away. I treated her like shit. Demeaned her. Pushed her away. But some how she saw through my broken facade. She didn't judge me when I told her about what happened to me. She didn't push me away like I did her. She accepted me unconditionally. She knew I was fucked up and still she didn't think any less of me. She made my walls come tumbling down and for that I will forever be grateful to her." Dino whispers the last sentence out, with heartfelt emotion. I glance to Jaye to his reaction. He surprises me with the look he's giving Dino. The look purely shows that he finally understands Dinos dilemma. A look of forgiveness. Thank fuck for that!

"So she healed you? That's good. But I'm sorry I still can't see myself being tied down to just one person. It's not who I am." Exasperated beyond belief with Tans thinking, I stand up from my chair grabbing each one of us a drink. The conversation continues behind me.

"You'll change your mind about that I'm sure of it." Dawson tells him, but I'm not as sure as he is. Tan seems like he's got his mind made up already. Handing out the drinks to the others I sit back down, pushing my hair out of face, I look to Tan. He looks like he wants to argue with Dawson but thinks better of it.

"What other questions do you want to ask?" Dex is staring at Tan like he's a demon in disguise. We thought we knew him so much about him but apparently we were all wrong on that assumption.

"Has Promise ever cheated on any of you?" With wide eyes we all stare him down. Why would he even think she would?

"No." Dex.

"Never." Dino.

"She wouldn't do that!"Dawson.

"Your kidding right?" Jaye.

I just laughed.

"Why would you even ask that question?" Dawson complains to Tan. I like to know that myself.

"Well her ex showed up here and they clearly still have the hots for each other. Not mention the guy named Chaz." Yep! He's delusional. Promise would never cheat on us.

"Jacob is her ex and she does not have the hots for him as for Chaz he use to be her best friend. No sexual activity happened between them." Dawson replies defensively. On that statement I totally agree with him. I'm amazed I'm agreeing with all of them.

"But she said that she lived with Chaz right? How can you live with a man and not have sex with them? I can't see that not happening and with Jacob I saw how they both acted around each other. There's something there I'm telling you guys either he loves her or wants her badly." Well no shit Sherlock! Jacob has been fawning over her since he lost mate. But in my opinion I think it's only because he's lonely without Shasta.

"She would never cheat on us. She loves us. Don't start putting things into our heads that's just not there!" Jaye is pissed. His face is turning to red over Tans accusations. Tan raises both his hands up in mock surrender.

"I'm just telling you what I think nephew I don't mean to step on anyones toes here."

"I think you're deflecting your problem onto Promise instead of facing your dilemmas on your own. Just because you would cheat on her doesn't mean she would do the same thing. Stop being a complete and total ass!" Yep! Jaye is definitely pissed. I reach over. And place my hand on his shoulder. Trying to calm him down. He leans back in his chair sighing out in aggravation.

"Sorry nephew I didn't mean to get you upset." Jaye just ignores him, scowling at him.

"I think that's enough questions for today." Dawson tells him trying to diffuse the situation.

"Just one more." Tan is pushing it with all of us. I really like Tan but I've never seen this side of him. A side I clearly don't like at all.

"What?" I ask him, I just want this answer and question game over with already.

"Do all of you love her?" It doesn't take second for us to answer.

"Yes." Dawson.

"So much." Dino.

"Hell yes." Dex.

"More than you will ever know." Jaye.

"Definitely." Me!

"I can definitely tell! I'll shut up with questions now. I'm sorry if I offended any of you. I'll guess I'll have to figure this out myself." He sighs, leaning back in his chair as we all keep staring him down.

So he doesn't think that he could faithful to her. He doesn't want to bond with to her. He wants to be free to fuck who he wants to without jealousy or judgment. He asked all these questions now I have a question for him.

"I have a question for you." I get everyone in the rooms attention. They all stare at me waiting patiently. I lean my body closer to Tan to make sure he definitely hears me.

"How does it feel to be only guy that Promise will definitely reject?"

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