by Livia Grant
The click of cameras shuttering greeted them just before reporters shouted out questions, hoping they might stop for an impromptu interview. She plastered on a smile as they moved towards the waiting stretch limousine in slow motion, unable to cut through the pressing crowd quickly. Emma dreaded arriving at the gala if this was how insane the coverage was at Jaxson's home.
Chase pressed in close to make sure no one could ambush her and Jaxson from behind. Men in suits with earpieces stepped up from the limousine to escort them the final steps through the crowd. Still, in spite of all of the men surrounding her to keep her safe, Emma felt more than one hand groping at her, daring to touch her. She fought down the panic.
Only once they were safely ensconced in the back of the limo along with the two armed-guards she suspected might be secret service agents did she take a calming breath.
"Well, that was fun. I can't believe you guys live like this."
Chase grabbed her hand. "This was worse than normal. It won't be like this when we get out of DC. At least I hope not."
Jaxson was on her other side. She suspected he didn't realize he was squeezing her hand so hard it was starting to hurt. He'd been unusually quiet the last twenty-four hours since they’d all debated back and forth the pros and cons of them all attending the gala tonight. Truth be told, Emma wouldn't be surprised if he changed his mind yet again before they exited the limousine, and sent his lovers back to the loft to wait for him.
The summer evening was warm, drawing out tourists and residents alike. The driver took them past the White House on their way across town to the Grand Hyatt Washington DC. With each block they drove, Emma's dread grew. The words were on the tip of her tongue. She didn't really want to do this. Had she made the right decision when she and Chase had insisted on attending to support Jaxson?
Jaxson picked up on her hesitation. "It's not too late, you know. I can send you two back to the loft. I'll just stay until after the announcement and then be done with it."
He wasn't talking to Chase. He was talking to her. Giving her the option to hightail it out of danger.
Oh how she wanted to leave, but as she glanced back and forth between her handsome lovers, her heart expanded with love. She loved them with all her heart. She'd known when she agreed to follow them as they'd left Wisconsin that there would be days like this. Days where she'd feel inadequate. Out of her element. She'd promised herself she wouldn't hide away, too afraid to be seen for fear of negative gossip.
Four hands massaged her, gently knocking out the kinks brought on by tension. Emma closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling of being taken care of by her lovers.
When the car stopped, she knew she was out of time. She opened her eyes to look between her men, greeting them with a smile.
"Where you go, we all go," she replied.
She’d made the right decision when she recognized the relief on her Dom’s face. "Yes, ma'am," Jaxson teased back.
The driver had come to open the door nearest their seat. They let one secret service guard out first, followed by Chase. They could make out clapping by the crowd surrounding the red carpet lining the path from the carport to the grand lobby. Jaxson kissed her nose, careful not to mess up her lipstick and then stepped out next.
The men spent a minute waving and posing for the paparazzi like the celebrities they were. Only after the hubbub died down did Jaxson lean back in the car, offering her his outstretched hand like an olive branch. Emma grabbed on, hanging on for dear life as she allowed herself to be pulled from the safety of the car. The last guard brought up the rear as their small entourage made their way through the clicking cameras and press of fans trying to get photos and autographs.
Emma went through the motions, floating through the scene like an outside observer, watching the spectacle as a bystander instead of the co-star of Jaxson's life. It was the only way she got through the crowd without feeling claustrophobic.
Things got marginally better once they were in the lobby of the upscale hotel. Bonnie met them as they crossed the space.
"Thank you for coming, Jaxson. Your father was very pleased to hear you and Emma had arrived." She glanced nervously at Chase standing next to Emma. "I didn't inform him that Chase had come against his express wishes. I thought I made that clear yesterday when we were shopping. I hope he doesn't decide to make it an issue."
Jaxson tensed, ready to fight to keep them together, but Chase disarmed the problem, flashing his signature smile that brought out his dimples. "No offense taken, Bonnie. And here I thought I was your favorite.”
The professional woman in her forties actually blushed like a schoolgirl, "Don't be such a flirt. You know I love having you around, but I do work for Senator Davidson and so what he wants, he gets."
Jaxson groused, "That's why we're here. Mind if we get out of the main thoroughfare here?"
Bonnie and the security guards escorted them past the line of political supporters who had undoubtedly paid an exorbitant amount per plate for the privilege of attending the grand event. The irony was not lost on Emma that she'd have paid just as much to stay at the loft.
Just inside the ballroom, Jaxson's parents stood to the side in a receiving line of sorts, greeting guests as they arrived, thanking contributors for their support. Emma had seen pictures of the senator and his wife of course, but they seemed so much larger than life in person. Mr. Davidson was every bit as tall and even handsome as his son while his wife looked positively regal.
Emma glanced around the room realizing there were hundreds of people just like them, dressed to the nines, putting on a show of wealth and power meant to impress. No wonder Jaxson had left home at an early age and didn't want to return. If these were the people he'd been surrounded by throughout his childhood, no wonder he appreciated the real relationship he had with her and Chase.
They were almost to the front of the line, ready to be introduced when Jaxson leaned in to whisper to her, "Last chance. Do you want to leave?"
She hugged him closer, going on tiptoe to whisper in his ear, "Where you go, we all go."
She swore she saw tears in his eyes as he whispered back, "Christ, I love you."
Absolutely nothing that happened that night could possibly ruin the joy she felt in that moment, surrounded by the love of not one, but the two men whom she adored.
Chapter 20
"Father, Mother, I'd like to introduce you to Emma Fischer, and of course, you remember Chase."
The smile on the senior Mr. Davidson's face never wavered as he leaned in to shake his son's hand and speak into his ear. "I thought we agreed you'd be coming without your hanger-on crowd tonight." The tone of his voice was like ice.
Jaxson felt Emma flinch as if she'd been physically hurt by his father's words. Jaxson watched as she reflexively reached out to link her free arm through Chase's arm to show her support for their lover. God, he was so proud of her for not shrinking with fear before the asshole that was his father.
He kept his cool. "I assumed you’d want as much free publicity as possible, Father. Having Chase here to endorse you is a coup, not to mention, the paparazzi is used to seeing us together."
"That's the damn problem," he groused. "You two need to stop being joined at the hip. There are rumors all over town that you two are queer, doing all kinds of unnatural things. I can't have false accusations flying around. Having Emma with you was going to put those rumors to bed." He glanced sideways, "I'm sure you understand, Chase. Perhaps you can say you've developed a headache and need to leave."
God how Jaxson hated this man, yet he knew he needed to restrain himself. This wasn't the time for this discussion.
Chase didn't seem bothered in the least, reminding Jaxson of what a talented actor his best friend was when he needed to be. "Oh, I certainly do understand, Mr. Davidson. I was just excited to come and help kick your candidacy off with a bang. I'm sure I can dance with a few supporter's wives... maybe have my picture taken with a few babies... you know. Anything for the cause
to help draw attention to your candidacy."
Jaxson shot a look at Chase to cool it. He was pouring it on too thick, yet his father was so conceited, Chase's over-the-top rhetoric went over his head. "Well, thank you Chase. I wish my son would take this opportunity as seriously as you are."
His mother stepped forward, anxious to greet her son. "Enough hogging Jaxson, Gregory. I'd like a kiss from both of these handsome young men."
Ever the reserved politician's wife, his mother's version of a public motherly kiss was a small French peck on each of his cheeks, her lips barely touching his skin.
After her kisses to Chase, she turned to Emma. It was only then that he noticed a crack in his mother's solid veneer. He detected tears in her eyes as she smiled the biggest smile he could remember her delivering. "You can't know how very happy I am to meet you, Emma. I've been waiting a long time for this son of mine to finish sewing his wild oats and settle down. I'm hoping you can convince him to move back home where I can maybe see him more than once a year."
Emma hesitated, unsure how to answer his mother's plea. He was about to rescue her when she replied, "I'm not so sure he's ready to settle down just yet since we leave for London tomorrow, but my parents are hoping we'll be spending time stateside as well. For now, I'm excited to see the world and spend as much time with him and Chase as I can."
Jaxson noted his mother clung to Emma's hands as if she needed the physical touch to believe she was actually there.
"You're adorable. Your eyes are beautiful and your smile... well... I can see what my son sees in you. I want to thank you. When I saw him yesterday, he looked happier, more relaxed, than I ever remember seeing him. I'm pretty sure you have something to do with that."
Emma blushed at his mother's unexpected praise, sneaking a quick glance up at him.
Of course his father had to ruin the moment. "Enough of the family reunion. We need to be mingling with paying guests. Bonnie will let you know when it's time to go on stage for the big announcement."
And just like that they were dismissed, which suited Jaxson just fine. "I'll see you later, Mother."
The three of them followed Bonnie deeper into the ballroom, weaving their way through tables of women in designer gowns and men in expensive tuxedos. Top-shelf champagne flowed freely as waiters mingled passing out caviar and oyster appetizers. The opulence turned Jaxson's stomach as he realized they could feed the homeless in the capital city for a year on the money being dumped on this one event.
He grabbed three flutes of champagne from a passing waiter as soon as they arrived at their assigned table. They were only a few tables from the front of the room, just to the stage left.
All thoughts of attempting to fade into the background were lost when Bonnie steered over several photographers and journalists. He could tell they were attached to his father's campaign. Jaxson tried to keep them away from Chase and Emma, but was unsuccessful. The fact that Jaxson had never brought a date to one of his father's events in the past was working against him. The press smelled blood in the water, knowing Emma had to be someone important to be on his arm. Little did they know that Chase was just as important to Jaxson.
Thankfully, they'd arrived late enough that they didn't have to wait long for dinner to be announced. They settled into their table to eat, grateful Bonnie and two other couples who were high on his father's election committee were at their table and not his parents. The least amount of time they spent in his father’s presence the better.
The closer they came to the big announcement, the deeper Jaxson's doubts became. He'd come with a plan, but now that they were here, he wasn't sure he could go through with it. He should have insisted on Chase and Emma staying at the loft.
His parents were making the rounds, greeting each table personally as they made their way to the stage. With each step they took closer to Jaxson's table, the tighter his stress wound.
"Jaxson." Of course Chase noticed. His heart raced. Could he follow-through on his plan? He couldn't bear to look into Chase's eyes.
Chase reached across Emma's lap between them to grasp his hand. The reassuring squeeze brought tears to his eyes. He lifted his napkin to swish the damn things away before a reporter snapped a picture.
Chase leaned in to whisper across Emma, "It's okay, baby. I understand. He's your father."
"I don't understand. Why can't I do it?" Jaxson's doubts surprised himself.
Emma leaned against him, linking her hand silently with the two men. Despite the huge ballroom crowd, his lovers had succeeded in grounding him. In reminding him that he wasn’t alone. He would never be alone again.
His heart raced as he weighed the options ahead of him. There had always only been a fifty-fifty chance he'd go through with his plan for the night.
Chase reassured him, signaling he understood Jax well. "If it was just him, you'd drop him in a cold second. But you don't want to hurt your mom. She has to live with him."
As always, Chase knew him better than he knew himself.
Had his father bypassed their table on the way to the podium the night would have ended very differently. Maybe it was fate that made his father stop. Maybe just dumb luck.
His father approached their table, leaning in to talk with the election staffers next to Jax, his angry voice carrying. "I thought I told you not to allow any damn terrorists in tonight. There is a whole table of fucking towel-heads back there sitting next to a table of damn fags who have the nerve to hold hands in public. Do not let this happen again, got it?"
His father didn't give his paid staffer a chance to answer. He straightened, putting a fake smile back on his face before announcing to them all that it was time to go to the stage. "It's time the next president makes his candidacy official."
Jaxson's stomach rolled, the expensive food they'd eaten falling like lead into the pit of his gut. Emma was squeezing his hand under the table so hard it now hurt.
He was her Dom. Chase's Dom. He needed to make a decision that would be best not only for the people of the USA, but more importantly for the two people he loved more than anything else in the entire world. They’d pledged their support for whatever decision he made. Could he put them in danger, making them a national target?
One look at Chase's calm face and Jaxson had his answer. He may be their Dom, but he was also their lover. They loved him. They were in this together.
Bonnie and the staffers had already stood and were waiting impatiently for him to join them.
Jaxson pushed to his feet, nodding to Chase before pulling Emma up as well. He wrapped his arm around her protectively as they fell in line behind his parents and the other staffers that were climbing the stairs to the stage where dozens of red, white and blue balloons and flags decorated the space.
Jaxson didn't need to glance backwards to know that Chase was following them onto the stage. They would stand back far enough that his father would hopefully be in the middle of his speech before he realized Chase had joined them.
Bonnie was still too distracted by his father's outburst to be paying any attention. He almost felt sorry for her having to work so closely with his father, yet she did it by choice. She was talented. She could have found a job with any number of other political figures. In fact, he suspected she would need to do just that after tonight.
He forced himself to listen to the condescending and offensive rhetoric spewing from his father's mouth. Never did the man share a positive idea or a kind word about his constituents. His father's entire speech was meant to divide people, pitting poor against rich, white against black, and oppress any demographic that wasn't exactly like his father — rich... white... privileged.
Jaxson felt light headed as his father got to the heart of his platform, spewing hate against immigrants, blacks, gays, lesbians, Muslims, even the poor who took advantage of government aid. That he had to stand on the same stage and even be associated loosely with this man galled him. He couldn't take it anymore.
Jax turned pleading eyes at Ch
ase who smiled, adding a supportive nod.
"And I couldn't have considered taking this historic step if it weren't for the support of my loving family. My wife, Miranda, and son Jaxson along with his girlfriend, Emma Fischer." It was only then his dad glanced behind where Jax stood and saw Chase standing on the other side of Emma.
The time had come. The room was quiet as his father's speech stalled. All eyes were on them as his father shot daggers at his son for allowing Chase to be on the stage with them.
Jaxson turned to Emma then, pulling her into an embrace before capturing her lips in a heated kiss. The second he released her, Chase was there to turn her towards him, hugging her close and planting an even hotter kiss on her open lips. There would be absolutely no misunderstanding by anyone witnessing their passion.
As his lovers broke from their kiss, his father left the podium, stalking towards them in anger. For a second Jaxson thought his father might punch him right then and there. Perhaps that would have turned out better for the senator.
"You sonofabitch, you just couldn't follow-through with your promise. I asked for only one fucking night to get some press from my family." His voice was low, but in his anger it carried far enough that Jaxson could hear the shocked exclamations at the tables close enough to hear the candidate's cussing.
Jaxson stepped closer to his father, their chests almost bumping. "What's the matter, Dad? You asked for me to help you get the national media's attention. Didn't that make a big enough splash for you? If you hated watching Chase and Emma kiss, you're really gonna hate this."
Jaxson stepped back, his knees weak under the stress of the moment. His lover was there to catch him in his arms. They embraced for a few seconds before Chase took control, pulling Jaxson into an open mouth lover's kiss.
Emma snuggled closer, reaching out to hug both men, making it clear she was not with one, but both of them as the three lovers embraced. The room erupted with shouts, boos and even a few rounds of applause just before his father's fist connected with his jaw, ripping Jaxson apart from Chase.