10. Chapter Ten
Chapter Ten
Jax
“Goodnight, gentlemen.” Kincade kissed Jax and Ford before flitting across the hall.
They’d had pizza from Jax’s favorite place, and the three of them had talked for a couple of hours. Jax was exhausted but he didn’t want the night to end because it had been amazing.
Ford closed the door and turned to look at Jax with hunger in his eyes. The two men came together and devoured each other. They’d missed being together, but the kiss had been ignited by the new possibility of having Kincade Hayes in their lives… in their relationship as an equal partner to them. As Ford kissed him so aggressively, Jax returned it, confirming he was as committed to their relationship as Ford.
“I want to hear everything about your time with him, but I’m exhausted right now. You wanna share a shower?” Jax asked Ford, who owned half of his heart. The little brunet who’d just left was coming to own the other half, and Jax wasn’t sure how to tell Ford the truth about the depth of his feelings without demeaning all they’d meant to each other over the years.
“Of course, love. You played brilliantly today,” Ford responded as the two men walked to their bedroom. They stripped and both stepped into the huge marble shower, kissing each other as the water from the rainfall showerhead gently caressed their bodies.
“I honestly can’t pinpoint how it happened, but everything seemed to click. It was like I could feel the two of you in the stands cheering for me, and I made one of the pages go find your seats so I could look up at you when I needed a little push. I’m so glad you two came. Why didn’t you tell me you came to my games? It would have been amazing to know you were there supporting me. I thought you didn’t care about football,” Jax told him as he washed the short hair that had begun to regrow on his head.
Ford chuckled. “I thought it would make me look weak… like I couldn’t stay away from you. I mean, football is your job, but you never asked me to come to the games. I knew it was because you didn’t want anyone to know about us, but I’ve bought tickets to every home game since I could afford them. How could I not support you?
“I understand why you don’t come into Fairytails. It’s too risky for you to get caught coming or going from a gay bar by a random cell phone camera. You’re famous, and people post shit on social media. Then, it goes viral, and there’s no way to outrun it. I guess that was the draw for me to go watch you play. In a big stadium, nobody knows who I am or that I’m there to watch the Ragin’ Cajun kick some ass. I’m just another fan.”
Jax took the shampoo from the ledge and squeezed a fair amount into his hands. He gently worked the shampoo through Ford’s blond hair, washing it for the first time in their relationship. Ford didn’t protest, which surprised Jax, so he didn’t hesitate to massage the gorgeous waves of gold atop the beautiful head of the first man he’d ever loved.
After Ford’s hair was rinsed, the two men stood under the showerhead and allowed the water to cascade down their bodies. “Why does it take someone like Kincade to give us permission to be loving toward each other? Over the ten years we’ve been together, I can tell you we’ve only showered together maybe a handful of times, and you’ve never washed my hair, Jackson,” Ford reminded him.
Jax felt ashamed he hadn’t been able to show his lover that side of himself, but he didn’t think it was what Ford wanted from him. “I didn’t know you’d like it. I thought I had to be the tough guy who would beat the shit out of anyone who gave you grief.”
“I can fight my own battles, love.” Ford placed his hand on Jax’s cheek.
Jax thought about it and saw the handwriting on the wall. “That’s exactly right, Branford. You can fight your own battles. I know Cade believes he can fight his own as well, but I just feel like he needs us to watch over him as much as we need to feel needed by him. I love you, but I see what you meant about Kincade. He’d shit a goose if he knew we felt so protective over him, but I swear when I saw the marks around his neck… how did you not see them?” Ford turned off the water in the shower.
“I don’t know. First off, he hadn’t told me about Marcus Drury. He only mentioned a shitty ex-boyfriend, but he made it sound as if it was well in the past. I had no idea the man was still stalking him. Cade tries to take care of himself without depending on anyone, but I had no idea there was a possibility he’d be in any danger from his ex.” Ford handed Jax a huge bath towel before wrapping one around himself.
“Look, we’ll remedy the situation as soon as we can. You guys will get to spend more time together while I’m at practice or on the road. I don’t want you to think I love you less, okay? I love you more because you saw an option where we could make our relationship work and the three of us would flourish. He’s the softness we need, baby.” Jax gently kissed Ford on the lips.
Whatever Kincade Hayes brought to their relationship, Jax believed it would only enhance the love he had for Ford. He hoped, eventually, the three of them would meld together and there wouldn’t be a degree of love felt more for one than the other.
If it was going to work, there couldn’t be any jealousy. Only honesty would produce a loving, nurturing relationship for the three of them. That was something even Jax could understand.
Jax smelled something heavenly as he stretched his toes before he opened his eyes, glancing to his left to see Ford was still next to him, asleep on his back. His blond hair was all over the place, and his gorgeous pouty lips were formed into a pucker Jax couldn’t resist. The blue-gray eyes popped open in surprise before the delectable mouth formed a smile under the tender kiss.
“I’m glad I’m not dreaming. I missed you while you were away at training camp.” Ford turned into Jax’s body, making both of them gasp at the sensation.
Jax’s cock hardened instantly at the feel of his lover next to him, but for once in his life, the smells of bacon and coffee wafting into the bedroom took the place of chasing his sexual release.
“If you’re here in bed with me, baby, who’s cooking breakfast?” Jax chuckled as Ford sniffed the aroma-filled air.
“It has to be our Cade because I gave him a key yesterday before we left for the stadium. I’d bet he’s making you a welcome-home breakfast. He wanted to make sure you were included last night.”
Jax glanced at the clock. “It’s six in the morning.” Jax adjusted his morning wood, truly torn about whether to get up or not. There were two equally tempting options before him.
Ford kissed his neck, swiping his tongue over the sensitive skin and Jax shivered with desire before he spoke. “Go get him and bring him back here. Bacon will keep and today would be a good day to stay in bed. What time do you need to get to the stadium?”
Jax smirked. “Not till noon.”
“Then we’ve got six hours of unfettered snuggling with a hot guy. Jackson, don’t act like you don’t want it as much as I do. Go get him, but don’t scare him, love. You tend to scare the shit outta people without trying.”
Jax quickly remembered a room service waiter in Cabo who had probably been the person to alert the photographer to their whereabouts after Jax yelled at the guy about their breakfast being cold—two days in a row.
“That dumb fuck deserved it. He worked at the resort as a room service waiter. He knew the food was hot when he left the kitchen with it. It’s not like he didn’t know the quickest way to our room. I’d bet money he fucked with the food, and you’ll never convince me he didn’t go through our shit while we were out on that fishing trip,” Jax swore. He chuckled as Ford rolled his eyes as he always did when Jax made the accusation.
“Anyway, I’ll see if Cade will come along amiably . See, I do use my college degree.” Jax kissed Ford on the mouth before he went to the dresser and found a pair of shorts. He stepped into the master bathroom and took his morning piss before brushing his teeth, so he didn’t kill the kid with his dragon breath.
Jax noticed his hair was coming in pretty well, but he was still grateful he’d shaved it. It made wearing that hot fucking helmet a lot more palatable. He cleaned up the goatee a little and reminded himself to ask Ford… and Cade… what they thought about it. He didn’t hate it. Maybe they wouldn’t either.
When Jax walked into the kitchen, he saw the brown-haired hottie dancing to the music in his ears as he fried bacon, occasionally sipping a cup of coffee. Something inside Jax made his heart skip a beat—like it did when he saw Ford doing things around their home.
As he watched Cade’s gorgeous ass, Jax was pretty sure Cade was where he needed to be… right there with them. It gave him immense comfort to know Ford would have a companion while he was busy with the season.
Jax walked into the kitchen and gently pulled out an earbud as he slipped his arms around Cade’s waist. “Good morning, chère. You’ve found my most profound weakness.”
A kiss to Cade’s cheek by way of his neck and then his ear, brought forth Cade’s wonderful giggle that Jax had the pleasure of hearing a time or two.
“Bacon is truly the way to a man’s heart. Where’s the blond bombshell?” Cade’s comment made Jax laugh.
“Is the bacon done?”
Cade moved the last pieces from the skillet and turned off the burner. “It is.” Jax walked over to the coffeemaker and poured three cups, one for Ford, one for Cade, and one for himself.
“Let’s go have coffee in bed. We need to make some plans.” Jax was pleased when Cade followed him down the hall to their bedroom... which would someday become their bedroom.
Without a second thought, Jax had jumped into loving another man with both feet the same way he’d done when he met Branford Thomas years ago. Jax was sure it wouldn’t be easy navigating a triad. As he’d learned since he was a boy in Louisiana, most good things didn’t come easy.
Ford heard the shuffle of bare feet on the wooden hallway floor, so he closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep. He’d done his morning ablutions, and he was still tired from a long fucking week filled with late nights at the club. He hoped Jax could talk Cade into crawling into their bed because he could use the extra warmth.
Ford knew in his heart that Jax and he would love to have cuddled over the years, but their insecurities when it came to their masculinity wouldn’t afford them the luxury. They slept in the same bed and never touched after they had their version of sex. Ford was sure it wasn’t that way for all gay couples.
“He’s playin’ possum,” Jax whispered as the bed dipped and then fingers dug into Ford’s side. He started squirming away from his attacker, only to hear the giggle he longed to hear every day.
Ford flipped over, exposing a bare hip and took Cade’s hands in his, pulling the gorgeous man down to kiss him. “Good morning, and what the fuck are you doing in the kitchen so early?” Ford sat up, keeping the sheet over his hard cock for the sake of modesty.
Cade pecked him on the lips and turned to take a cup of coffee from Jax, offering it to Ford. “So, the two of you reconnected last night?” Cade obviously noticed Ford’s state of undress.
Jax laughed. “Naw. I was too worn out to take care of Ford. I’m getting too old to play the game and perform my duties the same day. Can I get in with you?” Jax placed his coffee cup on the side table before he climbed in next to Cade, scooting him closer to Ford.
Ford wrapped his arms around Cade and snuggled him into his naked chest. “How’d you sleep, sweetheart?”
Cade took Jax’s large paw to hold between his smaller hands. “I slept okay, but not great. I’ve been up since four, and I just assumed you were used to getting up early. Didn’t you do twice-a-day practices while you were at training camp? I read that on the internet.” Cade examined Jax’s palm, tracing the lines in it as Ford kissed just below Cade’s ear.
Jax leaned forward and kissed Cade then Ford, gently on the lips. “Yes, we were doing two -a-days, but we didn’t hit the field until eight after a light breakfast. We ran drills until noon, broke for lunch, and then some weight training. We scrimmaged in the evenings before dinner, then we all passed out, basically. So, can we take a nap and come back for breakfast in a couple of hours?”
“I, uh, I need to put on some underwear so if you’d both politely close your eyes.”
Jax chuckled. “Babe, I’ve been seein’ your goodies for a long time. I’ll cover Cade’s eyes if you’ll feel better about it.”
Cade giggled. “It’s not like I don’t have the same equipment, Honeysuckle.”
Ford held the laugh. “Nope. That's not going to work either. You, Buttercup, haven’t seen my equipment, yet, and I’d like to keep a little mystery about me for now.”
Jax put his hands over Cade’s eyes, making both of them laugh. Jax kissed the side of the younger man’s head while Ford darted out of bed to the large dresser the two men shared.
They’d need to consider a change of bedroom suite because they’d need to make room to accommodate Kincade and his belongings. Of course, it wouldn’t need to be anytime soon, but it was worth mentioning to Jackson at some point.
Ford felt Jax’s eyes on him as he pulled on a pair of briefs with loose, nylon shorts over, forgoing the T-shirt. He climbed back into bed and picked up his coffee as Jax released Cade’s eyes, bringing another enticing giggle from the young brunet.
“So, do you wax or shave?” Ford asked as he looked at Cade’s smooth legs. Ford had a little hair on his legs, and he trimmed his bush. He wasn’t a hairy person, but Jackson was, and he loved it. He was anxious to see what was under Cade’s clothes, that was for damn sure.
Cade turned his lightly tanned legs a little and looked up at Ford with a smile. “Well, I shave my legs and arms because of the dancing thing. I’m not hairy, though I love a guy who is,” he offered as he turned to look at Jax over his shoulder, offering a sexy smile.
“Was that asshole Marcus hairy? He struck me as a pussy,” Jax snapped. Ford knew he was posturing, so he didn’t weigh in.
Cade pulled Jax closer and snuggled into the pillows, pulling the two of them down with him. “It’s too early to speak of unpleasant things, Lucky. Let’s take a nap. I’ve thought about this opportunity long enough, trust me.”
Ford snuggled into Cade as well, pulling Jax closer behind the younger guy. The three of them held onto each other and fell asleep without any further discussion. Ford opened his eyes a few times to see his guys sleeping next to him before he fell into a deep sleep with a happy grin on his face.