Page 56 of Subtracting the Heart

“Okay, Lucky and I have made up a dance for you. Your favorite dinner is in the oven, and just like you wanted, the three of us have fucked all day. So, get ready because we’reabout to entertain you.” Cade and Jax removed robes to reveal matching briefs.

They were tie-dyed in spring colors, and Ford laughed as the two of them, Jax still in his brace, danced to a Justin Bieber song. Jax tried hard to keep up, but his brace kept him less than light on his feet. Ford didn’t care. It was the best gift he’d ever received.

They’d bought him an expensive messenger bag to replace the one his parents had given him when he graduated from high school, and that night, they went out to the back patio and used the old bag as a base for a fire to roast marshmallows for s’mores instead of a cake. It was the best birthday Ford remembered having in his life.

“Please put your seat up, Mr. Thomas.” The flight attendant touched his shoulder to wake him. Ford scrubbed his hands over his face to shed the last vestiges of sleep because he was anxious to get back to Katrina Hayes’ new penthouse. He’d only been inside for an hour before he went to JFK for the short flight to Burlington. He was looking forward to the weekend for many, many reasons.

As Ford walked out of security, he saw a sign withS. Thomasprinted across it. He’d scheduled a car service, but he didn’t see another sign, so he decided to check in with the driver. “Are you looking forB.Thomas perhaps?”

The man glanced at his phone and then at Ford. “You’re not a woman, right?”

Ford laughed. “Not so far as I know.”

The man led him out of the airport. Ford hopped inside the waiting car and sent a text to Cade and Jax to let them know he’d be there within the hour. He hoped they hadn’t come to blows over the wedding arrangements. It was only the first step to the happy life they were planning, after all.

One in front and one in the back was the perfect way to dance in a hot Manhattan club. The three of them weren’t wearing shirts, and they were grinding into each other. It was their bachelors’ night, and a few of their friends from Chicago had flown up to party and support them.

There were no penis necklaces or straws or cakes. It was bottle service at the table and dancing like it was the last night of their freedom. Ford guessed that was true. He and Jackson would take the walk on Sunday afternoon in a loft in SoHo. A friend of Katrina’s was officiating, and Monday, the three of them would appear in family court in Chicago for the finalization of Kincade’s adoption. Ford prayed it went as smoothly as he’d imagined.

“Let’s get a drink,” Cade suggested as he led them off the floor. Ford and Jax didn’t hesitate to follow.

“Do you mind getting us a round?” Cade took Griff’s arm to head to the bathroom. Owen Hatch grabbed Griff’s other hand as the three of them danced off together toward the men’s room.

Ford ordered four tequila shots and beers, along with three strawberry daiquiris. He turned to Jax, Brady, and Cleveland. “Thanks for coming, guys. We appreciate it, don’t we, Cajun?”

Jax kissed his temple and reached for the tray of drinks as the twink walked up to their table. “I’ve got it, hot stuff. Thanks.”Jax handed the young guy a hundred-dollar tip. The boy’s face lit up, which wasn’t a surprise. Ford didn’t know if the kid knew of Jackson Delacroix, but he was damn happy to get that bill as a tip. In Ford’s drunken opinion, if the kid didn’t know Jackson, he was missing out on knowing someone incredible.

“Here’s to the men we love. The beautiful men who remind us how much we’d be missing if we didn’t know them. They might give us hell on occasion, but we’re better for having them in our lives. Here’s to love.” Jax held up his shot and they touched glasses before they downed the liquor and sucked the limes.

The three men laughed as Cade, Owen, and Griff returned to the table, each plopping onto their partner’s lap. Of course, Ford spread Cade over his lap and Jax’s. The rest of the night was incredibly fun, and when the seven of them stumbled out of the bar near sunup, they were giggling—every one of them.

Ford, Jax, and Cade fell asleep the minute they got to their hotel, having snuggled up to each other after Ford turned the A/C down to sixty. It would be much more comfortable for the three of them sleeping in a cool room after the fuel of all the alcohol they’d consumed started to burn off, he was certain.

Ford’s eyes sprung open at the feeling of his hard cock encased in a hot mouth. He looked down to see Jackson’s red head bobbing up and down on him as Cade was slowly fucking Jax from behind. He was still a little bleary-eyed, but the sensation told him he wasn’t sleeping.

“Fuck, yes!” Ford hissed as he ran his fingers through Jax’s longer hair. Jax was moaning, which meant Cade must be hitting his prostate, and the sensation was about to send Ford over theedge. He wondered how long they’d been at it, but it wasn’t the time to ask questions. It was time to ride the wave of pleasure, and he was going to take it to the end.

“Fuck, I’m coming,”Cade groaned as he stopped pumping. Jax didn’t stop sucking, but Ford knew he was coming as well because Jax’s efforts became more vigorous, which always ended well for Ford. He let himself go, pumping his hips into Jax’s mouth. Feeling himself let go in the mouth of one of the men he loved always made him happy.

Ford heard a smack on an ass, and it wasn’t his. “Showers, shaves, shits, and shampoos.’ Cade peeled off the condom, tying it off.

Ford laughed. “Is that in any particular order, sweetheart?”

As Cade was about to answer him, there was a knock on the door. “I’ll get it.” Jax hopped up from the bed and pulled on a robe. Cade pulled the covers over Ford before he scurried into the bathroom. Ford hated it had to be that way with Cade hiding, but until Jax was out of the public eye, it was necessary.

“Hi, may I help you?” Ford heard Jax ask.

“This is for Mr. Thomas,” the bellman told Jax as he handed over a fancy-wrapped box with a blue, satin ribbon tied into a bow. Jax reached over to the desk and took a bill out of Ford’s wallet, handing it to the man before he closed the door.

Jax strolled over to the bed, bowed, and handed Ford the box. “Mi’ Lord. I’ll be using the other bathroom to perform some of my maintenance responsibilities.” Jax walked out of the bedroom and into the sitting area of the suite, closing the bathroom door behind him.

Ford searched for a card but didn’t find one, so he hurriedly untied the bow and opened the box, which was filled with small, wrapped packages. He took them out one by one and lined them up on the bed. There were small tags attached to the bow of each package, so he picked up the first one. The small tag read,Old.

The package was soft as he squeezed it, so he hurriedly ripped off the bow and paper, discovering a champagne-colored silk handkerchief with an elaborate “T” embroidered on it in a beautiful, bronzed-taupe color. It must be from Cade because he was the only person Ford knew to be thoughtful enough to find something of the sort. He also guessed it made him the “blushing bride,” but he didn’t care.

He picked up the next package, which was a long, narrow box. The tag read,New. He hurriedly ripped off the paper to reveal a long, black velvet box. He opened it to see a beautiful watch. It had a rectangular face with a gold bezel and case body, and a mother-of-pearl face with a diamond at the twelve marker and sapphires at the three, six, and nine markers. The hands were gold as well, and there was a date wheel. The band was thin, brown leather, and the watch had a masculine, yet delicate, look to it. It was beautiful.

He held it, feeling some scratches on the back. He turned it over to see the date engraved on the case back. It was stunning. He put it back in the velvet box, picking up the next package, which was another box, but it was perfectly square.

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