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Chapter Fifteen

Ford

Ford sat at the end of the Fairytails bar watching the jubilant festivities to celebrate the ending of one year and the beginning of another. Everyone was having a great time, he could tell, but he just wanted to be home with Cade.

With Jax being gone, Ford felt awful leaving Kincade at home alone. Unfortunately, they had guests, and someone needed to ensure things didn’t get out of hand with the boys, so Cade stayed at the Greystone. The boys hadn’t given them any trouble yet, but it was New Year’s Eve, and he’d hate for something to happen. Ashton was there, after all.

Cade’s mother was attending a party at Mitsy Someone’s condo in the high-rent district. As far as Ford knew, Cade’s father was due to be arrested at any time. It was another reason he hated to leave Kincade home alone. His younger lover might despise his father’s actions, but there was still the parental bond.

It had taken Ford a while to cut his own ties, not that he’d had any choice in the matter. His father had cut him off in any way he possibly could after he’d told his mother he liked boys instead of girls the summer before he started college at Tulane.

“ Branford, don’t slouch,” Alicia Hammond Thomas ordered. His mother ran a designer gift shop in Great Neck. His father was a partner in a brokerage house in Manhattan, spending little time with the family at their home in Nassau County.

Ford, himself, had attended boarding school in Connecticut since being in the middle grades and those trips home were awful. He’d grown to be his own man away at school and being back at home in Great Neck was wearing on him already. He’d only been home for two days since he’d graduated.

His older sister, Sela, was in France at the Sorbonne. His younger twin brothers, Garrett and Grant, were out with friends that night, though his dislike for the brats wasn’t something he hid well. They reminded him too much of his parents in that their pretense and position in the social hierarchy of their peers was the most important thing in the world to them.

“ Why are we having a dinner party in the middle of the week?” Ford adjusted his sports coat. It was new, and he didn’t like having to wear it.

He’d had to wear a school jacket for the past four years. He certainly didn’t want to have to wear one in the summer when he’d rather be out in the pool. The less amount of time spent with his family, the better.

“ I told you, Abigail Mellon is home from her year abroad. I invited Charles and Sophia for dinner so you could reacquaint yourself with Abby. You two were such good friends, Branford, remember?” his mother prompted.

He remembered Abby Mellon from middle school, all buck teeth, glasses, and nasty attitude. She’d called him girly because he didn’t like to play kickball and preferred to sit under the large elm tree at the end of the playground and read instead of participating in activities with the other children.

Abby was a bully back then and based on the summers he’d seen her when he was home from boarding school, she hadn’t changed. He had no intention of getting reacquainted with the girl whatsoever.

The painful trip down memory lane was cut short by the ringing of his cell. Ford glanced at the screen seeing it was Jax. The clock showed it was just after eleven.

Ford thought he’d be able to conference Jax and Cade at twelve. They couldn’t be together to celebrate the New Year, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t say “I love you” at midnight.

“Hello, Cajun.” Ford hoped his tone was teasing.

He hurried upstairs to the quiet of his office. He, much like Kincade, hated that Jax needed to go to Minnesota with the team, but he knew better than anyone how loyal the man was to those he cared for.

Ford wasn’t too surprised when Jax made the decision to go, even though he’d said he was happy not to go when the boys asked about it. He was the ultimate team player.

“Hey, baby. How’s my guy? Things hoppin’ at the club?” Jax chuckled.

“Full house. There’s a line around the corner waiting to get in. I feel bad for them because it’s snowing and fucking cold but they won’t leave, God bless ‘em. I sent Brady and one of the dancers to hand out coffee earlier. I plan to send them back out with champagne at midnight. How about you? How was the flight?” Ford asked.

“Fine. I had a chance to talk to Denny Walker and pumped him to lead out there tomorrow. He’ll be captain next year and I’m glad for the kid. He can go back in and renegotiate his contract and squeeze some more money out of the cheap bastards. Anyway, I talked with Cade earlier. He sounds kinda lonely, and I was thinking if you could get away before midnight…” Jax began his explanation.

For seven minutes, Jax told him exactly what he wanted him to do to Cade and by the time the description ended, they were both breathing heavily. “Let go, love.” Ford knew exactly what Jax had been doing while he was laying out his elaborate plans, and Ford was about to spill in his suit slacks but wanted to save it for when he got home.

“ Fuuuuck! Oh, god, baby.” Jax was gulping deep breaths that made Ford grin.

Phone sex was how the two of them got through the away games before they’d met Cade. He was glad that time was coming to an end. He wanted Jax home, too.

“Hang on.” Ford could hear Jax moving around and then when he settled back to the phone, he heard a loud yawn which wasn’t a surprise.

“Okay?” Ford heard Jax exhale loudly.

“Better than okay, baby. Anyway, send me pictures of the two of you together in bed, please? I’ll be home tomorrow night but I just need a little something to get me through tomorrow,” the big guy told him with a low chuckle.

Ford laughed. “You’re incorrigible, Jackson. I love you. We’ll watch tomorrow. Make sure they kick ass, okay?”

“Nothin’ but a win. Make sure you kick ass tonight—well, maybe not kick, but kiss. I’m there in spirit, Branford.” Jax hung up.

It was an odd call to get from Jax but Ford was more than ready to oblige. If it was what Jax wanted, Ford would give it to him.

He went downstairs and headed straight to the bar. Griff and the dancers were on stage having a great time as the customers grooved along with them.

Ford knew Cade would have loved to be in the thick of it, so he vowed he’d make certain Cade was there next year. Hopefully, along with Jax. They could both make him hard just watching them dance. It was something to shoot for, definitely.

Tapping Cleveland on the shoulder as the bar manager was making drinks, Ford waited for him to turn around. There were four bartenders behind the main bar and a portable bar set up at the back of the club. Waiters were circling with hats and noisemakers, so Ford glanced at his watch to see it was 11:30.

When Ford motioned to the end of the bar, Cleveland followed. “You guys okay to handle this? Security’s fine, right?”

Cleveland laughed. “Tobin and Deon are at the door. The other guys are stationed around the place. It’s fine. You takin’ off?”

“I’d like to if everything’s under control. Cade’s home with those kids, and Jax is in Minnesota. I’d like to at least have one of ’em to kiss at midnight.” Ford grinned.

The bar manager held up his fist, which Ford bumped. “Take off, man. We’ve got this. We still good with that sparkling wine at midnight?”

“Sure. Take some glasses out to those poor die-hard kids in line. If there are less than fifteen of them after midnight, go ahead and let them in, but make sure things don’t get outta hand. I’ve had enough of the cops lately.” Ford had told Cleveland about the shit that happened at Clark Street Shelter, so the man was familiar with his reference.

“Oh, I saw on BuzzFeed that three more of those shelters were shut down today and tonight. Somethin’ ain’t right about that shit.” Cleveland shook his head.

Ford nodded in agreement before he hugged the man and kissed his cheek. “Happy New Year, Cleve. Kiss your mom tomorrow.”

Ford made his way out the back door to his car that he’d retrieved from the impound lot. He couldn’t wait for that entire incident to be cleared up and Cade’s name to be cleared. Something didn’t sit well in his gut about what went down, but he couldn’t figure it out. Anyway, he had a more important agenda that night. No time to dwell on unhappy thoughts.

At 11:55, Ford ran into the house, having stopped on the way home at a liquor store to pick up a few bottles of sparkling cider and champagne. “I’m home.” He hoped no one was sleeping because he was excited to ring in the new year with Cade and the boys.

Cade breezed into the kitchen in his stocking feet with a look of surprise on his face. “You’re early. We’re just watching the countdown at Times Square. You lived in New York, right? Did you ever go there for New Year’s Eve?” Cade helped him out of his overcoat.

“A couple of times with Sela when I was home for the holidays from boarding school. Anyway, where are the boys?” Ford was not in the mood to dwell on his familial issues.

“In the great room.”

Ford pulled the bottles out of the bags and started gathering cups. They didn’t have champagne glasses, though he remembered Kincade had his grandmother’s stemware somewhere. They’d rescue his things from the storage area after the holiday. It was time for the three of them to settle into their new life. No arguments.

Popping open the cider, Ford poured six glasses before he popped open the Veuve Clicquot Rosé and poured glasses for the two of them. “Grab some,” He hurried into the living room.

“Everybody gets a cup. How much more time?” Ford’s excitement was evident in his voice. The boys scrambled up and started taking plastic cups from him and Cade when he joined them.

“Before we get to the countdown, I’d like to say it’s been incredible getting to know all of you. We’ll always be here for you, just remember.” The words came from Ford’s heart, and they brought a lump to his throat as the countdown on the television began.

“Ten.”

He pulled Cade under his arm and held up his glass to the boys.

“Nine.”

“Eight.”

The boys moved closer together to form a circle in the family room.

“Seven.”

“Six.”

“Five.”

“Thank you for letting us stay,” Kevin said. The other boys nodded in agreement.

“Four… three… two.”

“I love you so very much.” Ford nuzzled into Cade’s ear to whisper the words.

“ One! ” They all yelled together and clinked glasses. They drank and Ford took Cade into his arms and kissed him, hearing the boys cheering. It was an amazing celebration.

Cade stepped back and Ford noticed the boys kissing each other. When Kevin Ngu pulled Ashton into his arms and chastely kissed the boy on his lips, Ford could see poor Ash would never be the same.

After they cleaned up the toasting cups, the boys retired to the media room. Ford grabbed the champagne and placed it in the silver ice bucket. He went into the living room to see Cade watching the after-party in Times Square.

“We’ll go sometime. In fact, after Jax gets rid of his cast we can go for a long weekend if you’d like. There’s a lot to see and do, as I’m sure you could guess. I’d love to show you around.” Ford led Cade up to the bedroom.

Ford closed the door and locked it, not that he thought anyone would bother them, but he was taking no chances. He placed the silver bucket on the nightstand and gazed around the sparse room. “We need to do something about this, Kincade. After the first of the year, we need to buy furniture and decorate, sweetheart. It’s depressing around here.” He took off his charcoal suit jacket and tossed it on the floor near the closet door.

Cade wrapped his arms around Ford’s neck and kissed him. “Whatever you say.” His younger lover ground his body into Ford’s, not even attempting to hide his erection at all. With Jax’s seal of approval , Ford knew he was in for a magical night.

Ford laughed as Cade pulled him toward the bed. “Can we take a soak first? Maybe have some more of the champagne?” Ford had been studying like a Ph.D. candidate to know what it took to prepare a lover for intercourse. The three of them had engaged a few times, but Ford had never experienced love making with just himself and Cade as he’d hoped he could that night. Jax had been explicit… “ make him feel the love we feel for him, so he won’t ever leave us again .”

It would be easy to do such a thing, but Ford was nervous. The few times he and Jax had attempted it before they had Cade in their lives, it had gone badly. Ford definitely didn’t want a repeat.

He’d read that a warm bath was a good way to get a lover to relax, so between that and the champagne, Ford was pretty sure things would go well. Hopefully, he could relax, too.

They hadn’t branched out with the toys Ford had bought at Christmas because he’d chickened out on giving them to Jax and Cade. He didn’t want to come across as being crass, so he hid them in the large walk-in closet in one of his built-in dressers. He hoped someday to share them, but the relationship was too new to introduce those types of delights. Hopefully, spring would be more welcoming for sexual adventure.

“Sounds perfect.” Cade went into the bathroom and turned on the water for the large tub. Ford stripped down to his boxer briefs and walked into the bathroom with the two glasses and the ice bucket.

When he saw Cade standing by the tub in a pair of white bikini briefs with red snowflakes, he chuckled. “Those are the sexiest things I’ve ever seen.” Ford placed his offerings on the large vanity before he took Cade into his arms.

“God, I love you so much. Jax told me to make love to you tonight for both of us. Are you up for that? I’d be perfectly happy to have you make love to me if you’d prefer.” Ford said the words against Cade’s neck, nipping gently as he succumbed to the young man’s tempting scent.

“God, no. I want to feel you inside me, Bix. I love you, too. Please?” Cade pushed Ford’s boxer briefs to the floor and took him in hand. The feeling of his hands took away Ford’s breath.

“You have magic hands, but not yet, please. Let’s soak. I’ve studied a little.” Ford winked. Cade giggled and Ford was lost in a haze of love for a moment.

Something sparked in Ford’s mind. “Oh, wait!” He rushed into the bedroom and grabbed his phone.

“You’re not gonna video… I mean, are you ?” Cade asked when Ford returned with the phone in hand.

“I’m not gonna… Oh! No, sweetheart, I’m not videoing us. I promised Jackson a picture, and you in a bubble bath leaning against me would be perfect. We can hold up glasses toasting him a Happy New Year. He’ll love it.”

After Ford poured in some liquid soap to make bubbles, he and Cade posed at the end of the tub, Cade in his lap, with glasses raised. Cade took the picture, and they captioned it, Missing you. Next year, we’re all here together.

When Ford hit send, he dropped the phone on the floor, put the glasses next to it, and pulled Cade over his body to lie atop him.

The kisses were sweltering, and the friction was incredible. When Ford breached Cade’s entrance with an eager finger, the beautiful brunet pulled away. “I need to do a little prep work, Bix.”

Ford stared into his eyes. “What do you mean? You made love with me and Jax, and I know neither of us did any preparation ahead of time aside from what you did to get us ready. I was just trying to do the same with you by suggesting the bath.”

Cade’s face flushed. “You’re a lot bigger than me, and I need to clean myself. I’ll be back. Enjoy the water and keep the thought, please?”

Cade went to the vanity and reached under the middle cabinet, pulling out a small rubber thing before he slipped out of the bathroom and closed the door. Ford heard the hall bathroom door close, and the water turn on.

A while later, Cade rejoined him in the tub with a smile. Ford took the loofah and body wash from the ledge, squirting it on the gorgeous brunet before washing Cade’s chest. “What did you have to do, sweetheart?”

“I, uh, I had to clean myself out. You know…” he said, an emphatic look on his face and bright pink cheeks. The meaning dawned on Ford.

“Oh? I’m not trying to offend you, but is that necessary?” He had no idea.

Cade giggled. “Yes, because it will save me embarrassment. Look, there are bacteria that come with the territory, okay? If I clean myself first, then the chances of any sort of infection are lessened. I know we use condoms and we’re all negative, but it’s a practice I adhere to. Plus, it loosens me up inside. Stylish women all over the US are doing colonics on a weekly basis. Just think of it that way. So?”

So, indeed .