Page 4 of Greater than the Heart
Jax laughed. Since Ford’s sister and niece had moved to Chicago, there was a new light in their lives, and her name was Carlotta. The girl had quickly grown to be their world.
Carlie made every day more incredible than Jax had ever imagined it could be, and the three of them had spoiled the child so much, her mother wanted to brain them on a good day. Fortunately, Sela loved the three of them and even though they might make the girl precocious in the future, Sela didn’t keep the child from visiting.
Jax sent a response, knowing the brunet was working at the club with Branford.
I’ll be home at four to swim with Carlie one last time before she goes home. How’s our husband today? He seems to be a little listless, don’t you think? Is he still taking meds? Lucky
He returned his phone to the charger, worried about his husband. Well, one of his husbands. Ford just hadn’t been himself of late, and Jax was ready to storm the gates and ask what the fuck was wrong, but he was trying to be patient.
Ford had said he was taking meds,“… some fucking vitamin deficiency. Give me a break, okay? I’ve had this fucking virus,”he’d complained.
Of course, the immediate concern was a worst-case scenario, but they’d been to the doctor together, the three of them, and they were all negative so it couldn’t be HIV. Ford would tell them if it was something so serious, not that they’d love him any less.
Jackson kept his mouth closed and stewed on things when he was alone, but he also paid close attention to Branford. The man had been showering alone, which wasn’t the norm.
They all started their days at the same time, so they usually showered together in the huge stall of their ensuite bathroom. They were conserving water, or so they told themselves, but the fun was amazing. As he thought about it, Jax remembered the last time he’d tried to start anything sexual between Ford and him.
Jax had tried to initiate a blow job one night when Cade was working at the club. He assumed it was Cade’s way of giving the two of them time alone, so he walked into the home office and moved over to the desk, pulling Ford’s chair away from it.
Jax knelt in front of him and kissed the man gently as he reached for the zipper of his trousers. Much to his surprise, Ford grabbed his hand and smiled. “Sorry, love, but I have some accounting issues to deal with before tomorrow. How about a rain check?”
Jax nodded and left the office, feeling a little embarrassed by his advances and the stinging rejection. As he thought about it, he remembered Ford had never cashed in.
The knock on the door brought him from his thoughts. “Yeah,” he called as he turned to see Janelle Crow walk into his office. She was the fitness center’s lead personal trainer, and she was on his scent for certain.
It didn’t matter that he was married. She didn’t seem to believe men were totally gay, and she thought she could “cure” him of his evil curse based on the beliefs of her indigenous heritage. He’d have fired her, but she was really fucking good as a trainer, and she brought a hefty book of clients with her.
“So, you feel like sparring a little and then going for dinner?” the woman suggested, her voice sexy and low.
Jax chuckled. “It just kills you to consider I’d rather fuck two men than you, doesn’t it?” he stated with a smirk.
Janelle laughed. “If it takes two men to fill the shoes of one good woman, I’d say you’ve made bad choices, Jackson.” She crossed her long, tan legs.
Why she couldn’t understand he was a six out of six on the Kinsey scale was a worry, but she seemed as if she wasn’t one to give up when she had a target in mind.
Jax stood from his desk and closed the lid of his laptop. “Janelle, dear, I’m very sure you can put straight men on their heads if you offer them your attention. I, however, enjoy cock. We’re more alike than you’d guess, huh?” he told her as he grabbed his duffel to head home.
“You’ll come crawling back to me, Jackson,” she called after him. No, he wouldn’t, but if she needed to believe it to do her job, then he wouldn’t contradict her.
He checked in with his employees before he went home, happy to be in the bosom of sanity. With Kincade and Branford, he had solace, which was everything he wanted. His life made sense.
Jackson walked into the house after parking his new SUV, having sold the Hummer. It was as big as the other vehicle, and it was loaded with extras, but it was not as easily recognizable as the Hummer had been. The new vehicle was platinum, and even Cade didn’t bitch about driving it. Ford still clung to his BMW, which made Jax smile.
“Hello?” he hollered as he took off his trainers in the laundry room. He didn’t hear anything, so he walked into the house to find Ford asleep on the sectional in the great room. They’d finally purchased more furniture to fill their home, but they kept the sectional in the great room for sentimental purposes.
He knelt next to the chaise and kissed his husband on the forehead. When Ford’s eyes sprang open, Jax saw fear. “Baby, did you have a bad dream? Do you still feel sick?”
“I, uh, I need to have a procedure. I’m having the surgery on Thursday. Can you take me and pick me up? You don’t have to stay. I’d rather not tell Kincade because he worries too much about shit like this.”
Jax thought it through. “A procedure? Like what? How serious is it?”
“It’s one of those non-serious things. It’s likely nothing, so there’s no need to worry about it. I’ve been with this guy for a long time, and I trust him. So? Will you take me?” Ford asked.
Of course, Jackson would do anything either of his husbands ever asked of him. “Sure. I’ll arrange for Wes to take over my training appointments.”
Wesley Martin had been Jax’s physical therapist when he was recovering from his broken leg, and he’d been the first person Jax hired when he started his business. The guy was great at his job, and Jax respected him. Jax had several clients he trained himself, and he knew they’d be in good hands with Wes.
“And, Branford, of course, I’m going to stay with you. I love you, baby,” he stated, brushing the blond hair off his husband’s brow.
