Page 32 of Subtracting the Heart

Kisses were peppered over Jax’s neck. He was in the bed he shared with Ford and Kincade, and when he opened his eyes, he was most assuredly all smiles. He was going to the doctor to get his first cast, and it would be a relief.

The stupid bubble thing around his leg had driven him crazy. He was ready for a real cast so he could get to the stadium to be there in support of his team.

So far, Cade’s attempts at being a badass and getting arrested had been kept out of the papers, but it was Christmas weekend. The next week wasn’t so full of Christmas cheer.

“Love, how about you wake up and let Cade and me give you a sponge bath before you go to the doctor?” Ford’s soft voice in his ear was sexy as hell.

“I’m awake, right? You quit giving me those pain pills like I told you?” A wet tongue slinked along Jax’s abs. It didn’t stop, circling his navel and then tracing his abs on the other side until it slid down the cum trench between his pelvis and leg. It circled his balls and nearly made him lose his shit.

When a hot mouth covered the top of his cock, he had to take deep breaths so as not to let go. It was Ford’s mouth on his hard member, but Cade was sucking on his balls. “You’re fuckin’ killin’ me.” Jax gasped as a nip of teeth teased his left ball sac. It was remarkable.

He couldn’t help fucking up into the mouth around his cock, trying to hold himself together. One hot mouth was enough to make him lose control. When another was working him as well, it was more than he ever thought he could handle. It was more mind-blowing than any sensation he’d experienced in months.

After he released inside Cade’s mouth—he was guessing—Jax sighed at the contentment rolling through his body. Ford and Cade kissed, and when they swallowed, he chuckled. He couldn’t wait for his turn to share the load.

“I’ll be right back.” Ford stepped away and returned with a crutch. “Can you get up?”

Jax started to move before Cade was next to him. “Go slow. You might be a little lightheaded. That blood hasn’t recirculated yet.” Cade hopped off the bed in a pair of green bikini briefs. Jax wanted to put his mouth all over them, but there would be time for it later, or so he hoped.

Ford and Katrina had brought Cade home at ten on Christmas morning, and their young guests had been happy to have everyone where they belonged. The gifts from the garage had been carried inside, and the boys didn’t care that it was mostly Chicago gear. The games and gift certificates were more than enough.

In return, they made a Christmas lunch for the family, and when Cade and his mom went off to discuss personal matters, the boys had helped Jax up to the theater where they had a Madden NFL tournament. He might not play in the post-season games, but he took his avatar team to the Super Bowl that Christmas Day. It was a great time.

Jax was interrupted from his sexy daydreams when Denny Walker flopped down next to him. “So, how was your holiday?” Denny fastened his seatbelt.

Jax couldn’t hold the laugh. “Kincade got arrested for breaking and entering at the shelter—the Clark Street Shelter we all contributed to. The cops closed it down, saying it was a brothel. Of course,our little engine that couldhad to go get the boys’ clothes and was picked up for burglary.”

He gave Denny the synopsis and then turned the tide to all things football. “Look, you need to be the leader, Denny. You’ve been there for me every step, and now, I’m turning this shit over to you. You lead them on the field, man. I’d say don’t worry about the home team, but we can’t go into the playoffs on a loss, so you need to pump them up and fuck up the snow kings at every opportunity. Oh, and remind Hans the Viking that he plays for us now. No mercy.” Jax gave his little speech and then turned to look out the window as they soared through the clouds on the way to Minnesota.

Jax wished he could be on the field with them when the action began, but he would be there in spirit and on the sidelines insupport. They were his teammates, and nobody won on their own. It was the way they played the game… as a team.

The two men didn’t talk again as both relaxed into their seats. When the plane landed at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, Denny helped Jax maneuver the passenger boarding bridge, and Hans Linder helped him with his luggage and onto the bus for the Hilton Minneapolis Hotel which was close to the U.S. Bank Stadium. Jax had been to Minneapolis before, and it totally sucked because it was so fucking cold every time.

The front office had arranged a meal for them in a conference room at the hotel because it was snowing like a motherfucker, but they made the best of it. There was a big screen TV showing the college bowl games in the room, and Jax saw the Irish playing their hearts out.

He remembered the nurse from when he’d been in the hospital in Chicago, and he cheered for the team from South Bend. They won, seventeen to nothing. At least someone was having a good season.

When they went back to their rooms, Jax hopped into his, happy to find it was a single. He didn’t mind sharing, but it was New Year’s Eve, and he was without his two loves. His duffle was in the room, so he dropped a crutch against the desk and turned on the television.

He went to the bathroom and relieved himself. After he finished, he dropped his jeans and shorts on the bathroom floor, snagging them with his crutch to toss them onto the ugly green couch in his room. He brushed his teeth and looked into the mirror. His hair was finally to his liking, but the goatee? It needed to go. He hadn’t been able to keep up with it, and he wanted it gone.

He grabbed his toiletry kit and opened it, seeing a small can of shaving cream and a fresh razor, thanks to Ford and Cade—or maybe it was a subtle nudge for the facial hair to go? He was about to spray the gel onto his hand when the bell at his door rang.

He hobbled out to see it was just after nine, according to the cable box, so he assumed it was Tony O’Brien. He almost didn’t open the door because why the hell did he need to be accounted for, but he didn’t want to be rude. He pulled a towel around his waist and hobbled to the door on one crutch, opening it with a smile.

Hans Linder stood there with a look of panic on his face. “Come in or leave. My balls are gettin’ cold.” Jax pointed to the towel.

Linder was a good-looking, blond kid with bright blue eyes and a sense of innocence about him, even after playing in the NFL for three years. Jax pointed to the green sofa.

“Have a seat. I need to pull on some shorts. I’ll be back. Get a water or something.” He had no idea what the kid wanted.

Once he was in the bathroom, he realized his clothes were on the couch where the Viking was sitting. He crutched out to his suitcase to snag a pair of shorts to take back with him to the bathroom. Before he closed the door, he glanced toward the couch to see the guy was still as a statue. He appeared to be in shock.

After he was dressed, Jax crutched back to the sitting area of the room. “Viking, speak or sleep.” Jax checked the clock because he needed to call home. He knew they were having a small party at the house, and Ford had planned a party at the Club, both of which he was missing because he’d traveled with his team to show support.

“I had sex with a guy on Wednesday night. I’ve never had sex with a guy before, and I’m still not sure why I did it except he was the most amazing man I’ve ever met. How do I tell my girlfriendI’d rather be with a guy than her?” The young man’s expression was complete bewilderment.

Jax wanted to laugh, god knew he did. It wasn’t funny, really, but it had some humor about it. He wasn’t so crass as to belittle his teammate and friend. He remembered the same epiphany once upon a time, and it had rocked him to his core.

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