12. Chapter Twelve
Chapter Twelve
Ford
Ford placed the large black garment boxes in the trunk of his white BMW and hopped into the car. It was sweltering hot, and he longed to be at home in the coolness of the air conditioning, but he’d promised Cade he’d pick up the custom costumes for the staff working the fundraiser before the tailor closed on Sunday afternoon since Kincade had a previous engagement.
Cade hadn’t told Ford what he was doing, but he wouldn’t meet Ford’s gaze when he’d asked, saying it was just an errand. Jax had gone to the stadium early that morning to work out and meet with his defensive line and the coaches, so Ford knew Cade wasn’t with him. He couldn’t help but worry about where things stood between the three of them after Jax’s blowup over the costume.
Since Jax had blown his top on Tuesday night because of Cade’s request to dress in a funky green flannel costume, complete with pipe and shillelagh walking stick, things among the three of them had been all business.
Ford knew for a fact Jax was a gregarious guy in a lot of instances, except when it came to making himself the brunt of the joke, especially since the Cabo debacle. It just wasn’t something the redhead would ever agree to do, Ford was certain. He needed to speak with Cade and explain things, but the guy had immersed himself in the party planning and was busy around the club all week, not making an appearance in the office at all.
Ford had given him a credit card and told Cade he didn’t care how much the party would cost because he could write it off, but he was a little nervous about the type of party Cade was planning. Ford prayed it didn’t suck because it wouldn’t look good for the club, but he wasn’t about to step in and take over. He’d tasked Cade with seeing to the arrangements and he wanted the young man to have a win, especially after the fiasco with his Triad job. Ford had faith in Kincade Hayes and wanted the man to succeed in everything he undertook.
His phone buzzed so Ford hit a button on the steering wheel and the mechanical voice relayed Jax’s text message over his sound system. “ Babe I’m home. Where are you? Have you heard from Cade? ”
Ford was a few blocks from their building, so he didn’t respond. He parked in his spot next to Jax’s behemoth Hummer and opted to leave the garment boxes in the trunk to take to the office in the morning. Cade had posted a detailed schedule, which Ford had on his phone but had only given a cursory glance, but it sounded like the costumes would be needed at the club, not at the apartment.
He rode the elevator to the lobby level to check the mailbox because he hadn’t picked it up the day before and Jax never checked it. Ford speculated he’d lost the key a long time ago and wouldn’t come clean about it, which made perfect sense.
Once he was back on the elevator to the second floor, he realized he’d left his phone connected to the car, so he decided to go upstairs to see what Jax wanted to do about dinner before they hunted down Cade.
As he approached 2D, he could hear laughter—female laughter—from inside. He wondered what the hell Jax was watching because the man had horrible taste in television and movies… and music. That country bullshit he listened to wasn’t Ford’s bag, but neither was his own love of disco music to Jax’s liking. It was another thing they agreed to disagree on without trying to find a compromise. Like everything else up until they met Cade. What did it say about the two of them and their relationship?
Ford unlocked the front door and slipped off his loafers, placing them in the tray near the hall tree. He walked into the apartment to see the formal living room was full of women… and Jax. “Uh, hello?” Ford wasn’t exactly sure who they were or why they were there.
A hand on his shoulder made Ford turn to find Cade stood behind him with an adorable smile. “Could you help me carry? That group of cougars has him cornered, and it’ll take me two trips.
“I’ll, uh, excuse me.” Ford followed Cade to the kitchen where he had glasses of wine and a bottle of light beer on the counter.
“Who are they?” Ford asked, his voice quiet.
Cade giggled. “Cash cows. Come on. I’ll introduce you.”
Ford grabbed a bunch of glasses and followed Cade into the living room where the two of them handed out wine to the five ladies in attendance. Cade passed Jax the beer and smiled at the group.
“Ladies, this is Branford Thomas. He and Jackson are roommates. Ford owns the club where the fundraiser is being held tomorrow night. Ford, this is my mother, Katrina Seiler-Hayes, and these are her friends. I took them to Rainbow House this afternoon after brunch, and they wanted to ‘meet the man who is putting together such a wonderful party to help those sweet young people who need someone to care . ’ That’s a direct quote from my mom.” Cade gave him a beaming smile.
The woman extended her hand, and as Ford held it, he saw she had the same mesmerizing eyes as her handsome son. “Mrs. Hayes, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Kincade’s a remarkable young man. I’m lucky to have him working with me.” Katrina Hayes was one of those old money society people easily identified by the smell of her Chanel No. 5.
“Yes, well, it was quite the scandal what happened at Triad, wasn’t it? I’m grateful Kincade hadn’t started before that mess materialized. Anyway, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Thomas. Mr. Delacroix has been entertaining the girls and me with his football experiences. It’s quite colorful, the things taking place in locker rooms.” She introduced Ford to the rest of the bunch.
He could see Jax was relaxed as he sat on the rarely used sofa, grinning at him and then Cade in equal measure. The big man did love attention on his own terms.
There were too many hyphenated names for him to remember, but Ford recognized Prada, Hermes, Givenchy, von Furstenberg, and Gucci when he saw it. It reminded him too much of his mother who he’d given up missing years prior. He was the family embarrassment, and once he was cut off, he was out for good. There were no do-overs in the Thomas family.
After an hour of sharing the latest gossip about New York society types, the women decided they needed to get back to their hotel on the Magnificent Mile. They had dinner reservations with friends that evening at a private club, and they wanted to rest before going out.
“We look forward to the party tomorrow night, Mr. Thomas. Kincade has told us it will be lots of fun. We old gals could use some fun,” Mitzie Someone told Ford.
“Speak for yourself, Mits. I’m ten years younger than all of you old crows,” Veronica Styles-Something replied.
“Puh-lease! How much did it cost you to bribe a judge to change your birth year, Ronnie?” one of the other ladies—with hair a shade of red Ford had never seen in nature—chastised.
After they were out of the apartment and on the elevator, Ford plopped down next to Jax on the couch while Cade scurried around to clean up the mess, which wasn’t much, seeming to avoid speaking.
He came back into the living room and stood at the entrance, fumbling with the cuff of his blue dress shirt. “I’m sorry about that. I was telling them about my apartment and about meeting two such great neighbors on the way from Rainbow House, and they just sorta took over.” Cade’s explanation was rushed, his voice shaky with nerves.
Ford glanced at Jax who winked. Jax held out his hand as he wrapped his other arm around Ford’s shoulder and pulled him closer. “Chère, c’mere.”
Ford could see Cade was hesitant, so he held out his hand as well, and when Cade rounded the coffee table, they both pulled him down between them. Ford kissed the side of Cade’s temple, bumping foreheads with Jax as he did the same thing. They smiled at each other, and Ford knew things were going to be okay.
“It was nice to meet your mother, sweetheart. She’s personable, which must be where you get it.” Ford wasn’t upset Cade had brought his mother and her friends to their home. He was happy the younger man had felt comfortable doing so. It was a good sign.
“Yeah, some of those broads are out for tail, I’ll tell ya. Oh, not your mother, but that Veronica chick with the red fingernails? She kept eyein’ me like a fine steak.” Jax gave them a smug smile, and Ford knew Jax was flattered.
Cade laughed. “Those women are truly members of the First Wives Club . None of their husbands were smart enough to get prenups back in the day because they didn’t have a pot to piss in. Now, those women have loads of divorce cash, and they’re looking to pick up younger escorts, as they told me at lunch. Mother’s only just starting to unwind Hudson’s empire, and I believe she needs some sort of help to do it. It’s going to be ugly, but she won’t back down from a fight.”
Jax laughed. “Yeah, like her son. Anyway, let’s go out for dinner. I’ve got a week to get fat before I gotta report, and I’d like to have fond memories while I’m getting bitched at and sweatin’ my ass off in practice.”
Cade smiled and leaned in to kiss Jax on the cheek before he turned to Ford and did the same. “Let’s learn how to constructively handle conflict, please? I don’t like us not talking.” Ford could amen that sentiment completely. He didn’t like it either.
The three of them went to Suh Waa BBQ for duck and then walked over by the lake to watch the sunset. They sat on a bench and held hands with Cade in the middle, and Ford didn’t think he’d ever experienced a more perfectly content moment in his life. Jax was leaning his head against the top of Cade’s and even with the Oakleys and baseball cap obscuring Ford’s view, he could tell the man was content as well. It was beautiful.
When the three men got off the elevator on their floor, they continued to walk arm in arm down the hallway to their front doors. “Thanks for dinner, guys. It was great. If Raney comes to visit before he moves to New York, we’ll have to take him there because he loves duck. So, we’re all good?” Cade’s eyes scanned one of them then the other.
Jax knew the blowup was his fault as he’d been the one to upset the balance the three of them were trying to figure out as part of how to move forward. He believed they were on the same page about most things, but the variables of personalities made it difficult to predict how any of them would act in any given situation, much less begin to talk it out. Well, he’d never shied away from taking the lead in anything.
“How about you brush your teeth and change into your jammies and come have a sleepover with us? We can watch a movie and snuggle in bed. What do ya say?” Jax saw the surprise on Ford’s face at the word “snuggle” coming out of his mouth, but he’d address it with his lover at a later date.
Cade looked between them and when Ford nodded his head, Jax saw the young brunet’s beautiful eyes light up. “I’ll be over in a few minutes, and I have the perfect movie if I can find the old DVD. This will be fun.” Cade rushed into his apartment.
Jax unlocked 2D and opened the door for Ford to enter first. “Are we all good?” Ford was always direct, which Jackson respected.
“I’m trying to make up for being a prick, Branford. I’m sorry my shitty mood has rubbed off on the two of you, and I’m trying to set things to rights. By the way, there will be ten of the Chicago players at your party tomorrow, and five of us have donated items to the silent auction. The Club actually donated a box experience for the live auction. I gave Cade the contact information, and he was persuasive with the guy to get more than just free tickets. Our young man might have found his calling.”
“I think you’re right, love. I guess in a few months we should start looking for a house?” Ford suggested with a grin.
“Yeah, but I want to stay in the area, don’t you? It’s close to the club for you two and not that far from the stadium for me. I sure wouldn’t mind a hot tub. Winters get awful cold around here.” Jax took Ford’s hand, pulling him down the hall to the bedroom.
The two men went to the master bathroom and turned on the water together. Ford laughed. “I guess we better look for a place with a large master bedroom and a three-sink vanity along with a large shower and huge tub in the en suite. Maybe we can find an old place and remodel it? There are a few huge houses over in the historic district that might work for us. I can start making some calls. If we buy an old place and need to do some upgrades, we’d need time for the remodel and I’d like to be in by Christmas, if possible.”
Jax brushed his teeth as he listened to Ford, nodding in agreement. Once he was finished, he rinsed with mouthwash and then grabbed the floss. Ford stopped him as he started pulling out the minty wax-coated string. “Don’t leave gunk on the mirror. We’re trying to make a good impression, and you, my love, can be a slob with the best of them. Let’s not turn the guy off right away. There’s plenty of time for him to realize he’s tied himself to two Neanderthals.”
“ If he’ll agree to tie himself to us,” Jax responded.
“Don’t you think he’s coming to care for us? I mean, he was upset when he pissed you off. I didn’t say anything because I thought the two of you should work it out for yourselves, but maybe I should have forced the issue,” Ford said.
Jax held the smile, knowing they’d both kept Ford in the dark to surprise him. He was happy he and Cade had reached an agreement, and he felt bad for keeping it from his lover, but in the end, the three of them would be much stronger, he was sure.
“We have to figure it out together, babe. I love you, and you love me, and I believe Cade’s coming to love us as well. I know it takes time, and I’m not the most patient man, but things are coming along.” Jax turned back to the mirror and flossed, but after, he took a washcloth to wipe the mirror before he dried it.
The two men stepped into the large shower and began washing each other as they kissed voraciously. “God, you feel so good,” Ford whispered to him as he took Jax’s large cock in hand, stroking it with a gentle touch just to tease Jax.
Jax in turn grabbed Ford’s cock and began stroking him at the same time. They stepped together and pushed their hard, leaking erections closer. Jax wrapped his larger fist around both of them as they continued to kiss.
The front door opened and closed, but he didn’t make a move to stop. He hoped Cade came into the bathroom because Jax wanted to see the guy’s reaction to seeing them naked as much as he wanted to see the younger man naked himself.
Moving from Ford’s mouth to his ear, Jax continued stroking the two of them as he whispered, “Cade just came in. How about we pretend we don’t know he’s here and keep this up. We need to find out how he feels about sex, don’t you think?” He licked the side of Ford’s neck, hearing him whimper a bit.
They both heard a gasp, but they didn’t acknowledge it. Instead, Ford soaped up his hand and took over stroking the two of them, making Jax feel like he was on the road to heaven. “Feels fuckin’ incredible. I can’t wait until the three of us shower together.”
“Yes, love, I’m about ready to… ah… I want him here as well,” Ford groaned as he stroked the two large cocks faster. Jax glanced out of his peripheral to see Cade standing in the doorway, eyes glued to Ford’s hand as it moved up and down their thick shafts. When Ford’s other hand found Jax’s large, hairy balls, he couldn’t hold back any longer.
“ Fuuuck… I’m… gahhh! ” Jax gasped as he shot off between them. He reached down and fondled Ford’s hairless balls as cum covered both of their stomachs. He slid a slick finger behind Ford’s balls and teased his taint, pressing aggressively on it before he slid his slick finger to his man’s entrance and the tip slipped inside.
“Fucking… goddammit!” Ford cursed as he let go, coating them with his seed as Jax had done. Ford flexed on Jax’s finger as he rode out his orgasm. He bit Jax’s neck, which was a total turn on.
Once the fountain of cum ceased, Jax kissed his way back to Ford’s lips and gently brushed over them, sliding his tongue inside to taste Ford’s cinnamon toothpaste. He’d used it since Jax knew him in college.
“Love, that was a great idea. When we get a new place, remind me to get a bottomless hot water tank. Is he still there?” Ford licked the place where he’d bitten Jax’s neck.
Jax glanced over to see the door was closed and the young brunet was nowhere in sight. “I hope we didn’t scare him away. You have a big cock even when it’s not hard, baby. That hard, nine-inch monster scared me the first time I saw it.”
Ford looked down and fondled Jax’s soft dick before he kissed him on the lips. “Yeah, like that snake is friendly. We’ll have to be gentle with him, Jackson, or we’ll rip him in half.”
He opened the shower door, stepped onto the bathmat and handed Jax a towel as he began drying himself. Ford reached in to turn off the water before closing the door.
“I guess I better start watching porn again. You still have those things on your laptop we used to watch back in college?” Jax snickered.
Ford laughed. “Those things didn’t teach us shit or we’d have been fucking each other for years. I’d say we invest in some new porn, love.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right, but we’ve tried to fuck for years and neither of us liked it. We just don’t—” A hard knock on the bedroom door interrupted Jax.
“Sorry to bother you. I’ll go back home and see you tomorrow.” The voice was muffled, but it was definitely Cade.
Jax walked into the bedroom and pulled the door open, taking the young man’s hands in his, having wrapped the towel around his waist. “You’re never a bother, chère. I wish you’d have come into the shower with us. Please tell me you’re not embarrassed. It’s a natural part of a relationship, Cade. We want you in our relationship. We need—” Cade gazed between the two of them. The glowing smile he gave them warmed Jax’s heart.
“Yeah, I need the two of you as well. I want to be in this relationship with you both. I’m not exactly sure how we do it, but I’m game to try to figure it out if you are,” Cade said.
Jax pulled the younger man into his arms and reached for Ford at the same time. The possibilities for the three of them in a relationship were endless.