Chapter Fourteen
Sawyer
For the past week, the mood between Chad and AJ has been different. When I told them about the hearing date, they were both relieved that things were moving along so quickly, but then they both became somber and quiet. It’s like they were pulling back from the easy friendship we’d all developed during our first week together.
Of course, maybe my definition of friendship is a little skewed. I didn’t have a lot of friends growing up. I was home schooled until high school. Once in public school, I mostly kept to myself and tried not to be noticed.
College might have been different if I’d gone out of town and lived in dorms, but I stayed at my parents’ house to save them money and graduated in three years. That didn’t leave much time or opportunity for a social life.
And even though I thought I might do some sexual exploration once I was out of college, that still hasn’t worked out for me. Chad was the first man to really catch my attention, and AJ closely followed him in the fantasy department. But just because I consider them to be my friends doesn’t mean they think the same about me or each other, for that matter.
“Jonathan said he has a long list of written references for you, Chad. That should help during the hearing.” I give him a smile that I hope looks genuine.
“Yeah, people have been really supportive.” He turns to AJ then taps his shoe with his foot when AJ doesn’t make eye contact. “What about you? Do you have your lawyer working on your references?”
AJ shakes his head then leans back on the sofa. “No, I told him not to bother.”
“Why not?” I rest my elbows on my thighs and clasp my hands together. “It might help. We need to do everything we can to keep your parents from getting the children. One of you guys needs to win.” I shouldn’t be saying these things as a public servant for the state, but as the social worker for these two kids, my job is to ensure their welfare. And this is the only way I can do that right now.
To my surprise, AJ holds out his left hand and reaches for me. I slowly drop my palm against his and watch as he reaches for Chad with his right. Chad shifts Austin from one shoulder to the other and takes AJ’s hand, looking just as nervous as I’m feeling.
We both stare at AJ in silence, waiting for him to say whatever’s on his mind. “I’m going to withdraw my petition for custody.”
“What?” Chad and I say in unison, both scooting a little closer to AJ without letting go of his hands.
AJ winks at me then looks Chad dead in the eyes. “They belong with you. It’s what Britney wanted, and it’s what’s best for them. I know you’ll be a great dad.”
Chad’s eyes are glistening as he pulls their joined hands up to his chest. “You’d be a great dad too. You’re already a great uncle.”
AJ smiles and shifts his attention to the sleeping infant curled up on Chad’s wide chest. “But my parents will always have some influence over them if I get custody. I want to know they’re safe and totally isolated from my toxic family…and that means they need to be with you.”
A tear slips out the corner of Chad’s eye as he leans forward and pulls AJ into his side. “Thank you.”
AJ buries his face against Chad’s bicep and just nods, unable to say anything else.
“Does that mean…” I don’t even want to voice the question on the tip of my tongue. I can’t bear to hear the answer.
“What?” Chad asks softly, lasering those warm eyes directly on me. “Does it mean what?”
I take a deep breath and steel my nerves for whatever comes next. “AJ, does that mean you’ll be going back home?”
Chad’s eyes get wide, and his sharp intake of breath makes AJ pull away. When he sees the fear in Chad’s eyes, he smiles and moves his hand up to Chad’s neck. “Not anytime soon. I already arranged to have my partner take over my business, and he’ll be staying in my condo.”
The fear in Chad’s eyes instantly changes to anger…and maybe a little jealousy. “You have a partner?”
I’m not even aware that my free arm is wrapped around my stomach and I’m rocking forward, trying to relieve the sudden discomfort radiating from there. My eyes are cast down to the floor, focused on a stray Cheerio, when I feel AJ tug me out of my seat and directly against his side.
My eyes are wide, and I pray the moisture I feel building on them is only in my mind.
AJ’s knowing smile doesn’t make me feel better. Not this time. His grip on my hand relaxes, and he lets go. Just when I feel humiliation creep up into my cheeks, AJ’s arm wraps around my back and he pulls me tighter against his body. With my leg, thigh, and arm pressed to his side, I release a breath and lean fully into him.
I’m still staring up into AJ’s face when he turns to Chad and tugs him onto his knees between his legs. Chad falls gracefully to the ground, and I finally glance at him. He still appears to be pissed, but now he’s also curious.
“My business partner is taking over the shop there.” AJ holds Chad’s stare, not even blinking. “And I told him I needed to stay here.”
“You did?” Chad’s husky voice changes that tugging in my belly to something else entirely.
“For how long?” I still feel like an intruder in their intimate moment, but AJ’s grip on me hasn’t loosened at all.
AJ tilts his head, resting it against mine. “Long term. Forever. I don’t know. I just know there are some people I can’t leave behind.”
My eyes immediately travel to the sleeping baby in Chad’s arms.
“Yes, Austin and Harper.” AJ gives my side a little shake.
I look up to nod my understanding, but my breath catches when I see the look he’s giving me. “But not just them.”
“No?” I think I understand what he’s saying. I want to understand. But I’m just not good at this. Is he talking about Chad?
“No, Sawyer.” AJ’s words are almost inaudible, and when he leans forward and gently brushes his lips against mine, I have to force myself not to whimper at the contact. “I mean you guys too.”
I can’t form words. I can’t fully comprehend what he means until he leans toward Chad and offers the same soft kiss. But Chad is better prepared, and when AJ tries to pull away, Chad wraps his big hand around AJ’s neck and holds him in place, fully kissing him while my dick threatens to release on the spot.
When Chad finally lets AJ up for air, his head rolls back and a huge grin spreads across his face. “God, I’ve wanted to do that since you first walked in the door.”
My jaw drops and I straighten my spine, trying to give them some space. When I try to scoot away from AJ, his grip tightens, and he turns to me with furrowed brows. “Where do you think you’re going?”
I shrug and glance down at Chad, trying to explain my actions without saying any words. Chad is staring right at me with questioning eyes. He turns to AJ and carefully lifts Austin off his shoulder. “Can you take him?”
AJ eagerly accepts his nephew, as if he knows exactly what Chad has in mind. I just watch the two men move in sync before Chad scoots over until he’s kneeling between my legs. His hands slide up the outside of my thighs, not stopping until they’re cupping my ass. Then he slides me to the edge of the couch so I’m basically straddling his stomach.
Chad has a nervous smile as my eyes get big, and a little squeak comes out of my mouth. “Is this okay?”
“Yes.” I spare a quick glance to AJ, but he’s just watching us with a smile of contentment on his face.
“Can I kiss you, Sawyer?”
I don’t totally understand what’s happening, but I don’t want it to stop. “Okay.”
His grin becomes wider as his mouth presses against mine and holds for a moment. He pulls away but comes right back, licking my bottom lip before sucking it into his mouth. I’ve never kissed anyone before, so I don’t make any sudden movements. I follow his lead as his mouth closes gently over mine, urging me to open up.
When I finally get the hint, my lips part wide enough for him to enter, sliding his tongue against mine in a way that makes me want to come. I hear a whimper escape my mouth, and I know what’s coming.
“Shit.” I pull back and reach for my balls, squeezing them hard enough to get me off the edge. “Sorry.”
“I feel the same way, Sawyer.” Chad’s gaze lingers on my hand on my balls before hugging me tightly.
From his position between my legs, I can feel his erection press on my leg, and I have to squeeze even tighter. “This is so embarrassing.”
AJ’s tongue slides down the shell of my ear before he whispers, “Don’t be embarrassed, baby. My shorts are sticky from just watching you two.”
“Really?” I look at him in shock, wondering if he’s serious or just trying to make me feel better.
His grin widens as he stands up and carefully places Austin in the bouncer seat. When he’s back, he sits sideways next to me and leans forward. “Can I try that?”
I turn to Chad for an approval or disgust or something. What I see makes another drop of precome seep from my cock. His eyes are heavily lidded, and he’s staring at my mouth as if he wants to climb inside me. Just the thought sends a shiver racing down my spine. Since Chad doesn’t seem to have a problem with the idea, I tilt my head toward AJ and close my eyes.
His touch starts out soft, like before, but he quickly slides his tongue between my lips. I think the purring sound filling the room is coming from me, but everything is so foreign that I’m not sure. Instead of thinking about what is happening or why, I just let myself feel. Curling my tongue around AJ’s is such a strange but intimate sensation. His breath is hot as he breathes into my mouth, and when he slides even closer to me, I know the hard length pressed against my hip is his dick. Fuck, it’s too much. I squeeze the base of my dick as well as I can through my slacks and pull back, not wanting to stop but more concerned about embarrassing myself.
As soon as I’m out of the way, Chad grabs AJ by the back of his neck and slams him against his mouth, kissing him hard and fast. It looks rough but hot as hell. I want him to kiss me like that, but then I remember my situation and am glad to sit this one out. Watching these two beautiful men together is almost as good as having them touch me. Although that’s pretty damn good.
AJ slides his hand inside the front of Chad’s loose pants, and I gently rub myself from outside my pants. Just before any skin is actually exposed, a tiny voice fills the room and the TV turns on.
“Is it princess time?” Chad and AJ practically fly apart as they both turn to Harper. She’s sitting in front of the TV, completely unaware of what was about to happen right behind her.
“Uh, yeah. I think so, sweetheart.” Chad adjusts his hard-on and stands up. It’s sticking straight out of his pants, and my eyes are glued to it. “Did you go potty already?”
She finally turns to him and shakes her head. “I don’t have to go.”
“Well, why don’t you try, and I’ll find the princess, okay?”
She huffs out an annoyed breath but gets up and disappears down the hall. Chad grabs the remote and sets up the show to start as soon as she returns.
Once Harper is engaged in her cartoon, Chad comes back and sits down on the coffee table in front of AJ and me.
“Soooo…” He drags out the word, and I wonder if he’s as confused about everything as I am.
AJ busts up laughing, burying his head in my shoulder. “Oh my god! If she had walked out two minutes later…”
Chad laughs too, squeezing my knee. “Yeah, we’ll need to get better about timing that stuff.”
Get better? Does that mean they expect this to happen again? I can’t wonder any longer. I need to know what we’re doing. “So, that wasn’t a one-time thing?”
Both Chad and AJ sober up and share a long glance with each other. It’s as if they’re having a nonverbal conversation that only they understand.
Chad is the first to turn to me, lifting his hand off my knee as he slides back on the table. “I’m so sorry, Sawyer. We thought you wanted this too. If you didn’t, I’m so sorry for making that assumption. It’ll never—”
I hold up my hand to stop him before he says something that’ll devastate me. “No, I did want it.” I hold my breath and look at AJ, speaking to him as well. “I do want it. I just… Well, I don’t have a lot of experience, and I’m not sure how these things work. Is this normal?”
AJ leans his forehead on my shoulder and blows out a long breath. “Define normal.”
Chad smiles at that. “I don’t know what’s normal, but I know I’ve been attracted to both of you since we met, and since it seemed like you both felt the same way, I’ve been hoping we could give this a try.”
Looking at AJ, I raise an eyebrow. “You want to do this too? With both of us?”
“Fuc— I mean, heck yeah. I’ve almost bent you over your car at least three times when we were leaving here.” His heated stare turns to Chad. “And I’ve been praying you’d do exactly what you did earlier since the first time I saw you holding my niece. You’re the sexiest dad I’ve ever seen, and… I don’t know.” His arm wraps around my waist, but this time, he cups my ass in the process. “It feels right, doesn’t it?”
I nod because they’ve both said everything I’ve been feeling. I don’t know what I could add that wouldn’t ruin the moment. And then I realize there is one thing I do have to say, and it can’t wait any longer.
“I do want this. And I’ve never felt anything like I’ve felt with you guys. Even simple touches make me… well, you know.” I clear my throat as my cheeks fill with heat. “But while this case is active, I could get in a lot of trouble for, uh, fraternizing with parties in a custody dispute.”
Chad and AJ have another silent conversation, looking intently at each other and nodding. “Okay, we can wait. It’s just a few weeks anyway.”
I can’t believe they’d wait for me. “Well, you guys don’t have to wait. I just have to be careful, but…that shouldn’t stop you from, you know...”
AJ kisses my cheek, holding his lips there as he smiles. “You’re so fucking adorable,” he whispers so only Chad and I can hear him. “We’ll wait. If we’re going to do this, we should do this together. I don’t want you to ever feel like a third-wheel or the odd man out. You’re the one who brought us together.”
“Really?” Moisture is building in my eyes, but I’m so moved by what he’s said that I don’t even care. “You’d want to wait?” I look at Chad to confirm he feels the same way. “For me?”
Chad leans forward and plants a soft kiss on my lips. “Of course we will. I want to see where this goes with both of you… Besides, it’ll be a good opportunity for us to get to know each other better.”
I smile as a few tears slip past my lashes and down my cheeks. Both men reach out to stop them, causing my breath to hitch at their kindness.
Is this really happening?