by Kit Fortier
“I’m gonna have to ask Ben to train us in some hand-to-hand combat, preferably with knives,” Jake mused.
“It wouldn’t be a bad idea. I didn’t pack any weapons. I didn’t want to give them an opening. What if they try to use the kind of glamours they used on those dead officers in the Vegas police department?”
The two sat in silence. The sounds from the other bedroom had quieted down.
“When they come out, don’t say anything, papa bear.”
Jake opened his mouth as if to say something, then closed it. He smiled at him.
“I don’t know if Taylor or Sarah ever had to deal with this.”
“From the sound of things, they probably didn’t.”
“How do you figure?”
“Remember what Ben said about that one dipshit he went to that formal dance with?”
“That the dipshit wanted a blowjob and stuck Ben with the limo tab, then dumped him?”
“Well, I am pretty sure that Ben hadn’t had any experience beforehand that was more than kissing and heavy petting. Especially if he was reluctant to give the guy head.”
“Maybe Ben has more class than that.”
“Could be. It’s awesome he didn’t give anything up to that punk. But still, it speaks to a tendency to be a prude around the people he loves.”
“That, or he’s my kid, and gets grossed out by the idea of his parents getting it on.”
“Parents?” Fox raised a smiling eyebrow at Jake.
“Me, the Samuelses. You by technicality.”
Jake smiled and sighed. “He’s your son, and that’s cool, papa bear. I won’t ever get between you and him like that.”
“We could have a kid between us,” Jake said. “Get a surrogate, do the… the thing…”
Fox smirked. His bright green eyes glinted with mischief. “The thing?” Jake wadded up a napkin and threw it in Fox’s face.
“The thing! You know what I’m saying, you goof.”
“You mean the part where we jerk off into a cup? We could make it a game, like whoever fills up their cup the most wins three rounds of whatever they want?”
Jake’s ears lit up with heat.
“You’ve said far worse things to me in bed, big guy. I know I’ve said more than that to you.”
“Yeah, but… It’s not like we’d be doing it in the clinic bathroom to get what they need. Get? Or give? You know what I mean.”
“Well, we could do it to each other. Just can’t use lube, because I hear it screws up the specimens. I could take you in my mouth. A little deep-throat action. And then when you’re ready, I’ll let you fire off into the cup, because I think spit would probably ruin the sample, too.”
Jake thumped his head against the table.
“Gets me all hot thinking about it. How hot you look when you’re about to come. Your dick hot and hard, hitting all the right spots in my ass. The way it tastes when I’m down to your balls. The way your neck tenses up, I’m hard right now just thinking about—”
“Foxy…”
“Papa bear?”
“Don’t make me carry you into the bedroom or fuck you on the kitchen counter.”
“Can’t. We have to check out in an hour, and we still have to pack, and the boys would definitely see us on the kitchen counter.” Fox smirked.
“Ten minutes?” Jake looked up at Fox hopefully.
“Why don’t we save it to christen our new bedroom?”
“Promise?” Jake growled.
“You know I won’t deny you, baby.”
Jake chuckled softly. “You’re denying me now.”
“It’s only practical. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but we tend to take some time with each other, know what I mean? Except that time at the Top of the World. I think that was fifteen minutes.”
Jake sighed. “You’re right.”
The door to the other bedroom opened. Ben and Eric stepped out with their bags in tow.
“Morning, boys,” Jake said, finishing off his coffee. “You guys want anything? Breakfast? Coffee? We’ll have to grab a bite on the road.”
“We’re good for now,” Ben said.
Fox smirked at Jake, prompting him to stand up and smack his husband on the back of the head as he took his cup to the kitchenette. Fox grinned at him as he came back in.
“Well, if you guys are all packed, go ahead and head to the truck. Wait, I almost forgot—just pack up in your new car. Could you bring a couple weights with you?”
Eric nodded. Ben followed suit. Ben took two sixty pound kettle bells in one hand, and the two fifty pound kettle bells in the other. Eric took the two twenty pound weights, following Ben out the door.
“Your boy—he, uh, took two hundred and twenty pounds out the door. Like it was nothing.”
Jake puffed up with pride. Fox put his pack on and walked out the door with the thirty pound weights. He left the gold disguised as a weight rack for Jake. With a tug of a strap, Jake donned his pack, took the weight rack, and headed down to the truck.
*** Eric
The drive to the new house only took fifteen minutes from the hotel. Ben pulled up next to the garage, both aware that they were inside the first barrier Jake had set up. Ben’s dads pulled up right behind them. Shelly stepped out of the house to meet everyone.
“Good morning, guys! Just checking to make sure everything’s all squared away before we finish up the paperwork.” Shelly’s cheery demeanor spoke of professionalism and scoring a huge commission check. The guys couldn't fault her for that. The men unloaded their packs and bags of clothes, along with the gold disguised as weights. “You boys like working out, huh?”
Fox and Jake snickered. Ben spoke up. “Gotta keep my Dad in shape so he can keep up with me,” Ben grinned. He won a playful punch in the arm from his Dad.
“He’s gotta keep up with me, too,” Fox smiled. The elder Hughes nudged his husband.
“Let’s get this over with. We’ve a few rounds of catch-up to get to.”
“Dad,” Ben groaned. Eric sighed at his boyfriend.
“B, remember what we did this morn—” Before Eric could finish, Ben dropped his bags and slapped a hand over the little guy’s mouth. Eric looked Ben in the eyes. From ear to ear, the telltale glow of embarrassment lit up the tips in a bright red.
“He’s perfect for your son. Ow!” Fox cried. Eric could only guess that Ben’s dad either jabbed or punched his man playfully.
“Alright, guys, come on in,” Shelly waved the men in.
I am so getting back at you tonight, Ben growled in Eric’s head. Eric just smiled.
If there would be a tonight for him, he didn’t know, and he didn’t want to bring his gentle giant down. They walked into the house, and into the bedroom they chose. It was a first floor master bedroom with a window facing the watery horizon. The moment the weights in Eric’s hand and the bag off Eric’s shoulder hit the floor, he was swept up in a warm embrace from behind. Ben’s breath was warm in his ear.
“You’re coming back, baby.”
Eric held Ben’s arms close. He would know, wouldn’t he?
“I could wake up to this every morning,” Eric whispered.
“The ocean?”
“No, this.” Eric kissed one of Ben’s arms.
“You mean these?” Ben squeezed him playfully as he flexed his arms.
“No, you big dork. I mean you,” Eric laughed.
“I think waking up to me could be arranged.” Eric watched the floor slip away as Ben lifted him up and back. The two landed on the queen sized bed behind them. He smiled as Ben’s hand came to rest on his chest, seeking out his heartbeat.
“Will you be getting a dorm room on campus?” Eric tried to play down the hopefulness in his voice. The only answer that his heart would accept was that Ben would…
That he would be there.
“I could save a lot of money just commuting. I wouldn’t have to pay for the dorm room and all that.”
“So, you’ll drive home?”<
br />
Ben’s smile was as radiant as the sunrise. “Of course.”
“I don’t want to be needy,” Eric stammered. “I’ve never… I’ve never had this before. I don’t know what I’m going to do that isn’t struggling every day, or worrying about food, or even if—”
A large hand covered Eric’s mouth. “Baby, my dads want to help you. I’ll help you. Don’t think you have to do anything right now, okay? We’ll all figure it out. Together.”
The little guy nodded. Of course, they would.
A knock at the opened bedroom door pulled both Ben and Eric’s attention. The older Hughes man stood in the archway and gave a little wave. “Hey there, boys.”
“What’s up, Dad?”
“Just saw Shelly out. We officially own the place. Follow me.”
Ben got to his feet, helping Eric up. The three walked outside to a set of stairs leading to a second floor landing. The landing connected to two doors. One door opened onto the top of the inside staircase, and the other door opened into a kitchen.
“Two kitchens?” Ben asked.
“Fox wanted it. He didn’t want to disturb you guys if he could help it.”
“You mean you two just want to—”
“Ben, I swear, I might ground your ass,” Ben’s father said with a playful smirk. “Besides, I know you’re a bit of a jaybird yourself. Remember that chair in the Bellagio?”
Eric laughed when Ben’s face flushed with embarrassment.
“I’ll be in shorts,” Eric offered. He was surprised when Jake pulled him in with an arm over his shoulder.
“You two can do whatever you like, buddy.” Jake indicated the next flight of stairs. “Head up that way.”
Ben took Eric’s hand and climbed up. Eric held a breath as he took in an incredible vista from the roof deck. A view of the beach sprawled before them, as well as the ocean. With the house at the end of a cul de sac, it was a lucky find for the view alone.
“We thought you might like that,” Fox said as he followed Jake onto the deck. “We’re probably going to have to put a bench or something up here.”
“A rooftop flame pit?” Jake asked.
“Not a bad idea,” Fox looked around. “It looks we’re the only ones with a deck in the neighborhood this high up, so we’re not getting in anyone’s way.”
A gentle breeze swept over the men.
“I’m gonna stay here, Dad,” Ben said.
“What do you mean?”
“I won’t get a dorm room. I’ll just drive.”
Eric watched Jake and Fox share a look and a smile.
“We figured that was a foregone conclusion, big guy,” Fox grinned.
“Yep. We’re pretty sure a certain little guy would be a lonely without you.”
Eric watched Ben kick at an imaginary rock rather bashfully. He laughed inwardly at how adorable it made the big guy look.
“Thank you, guys. All of you,” Eric said, his voice as even as he could muster.
“We’re happy to help, Eric. When all is said and done, we want you to live with us,” Jake said.
The four stood in silence, staring out over the landscape of their new home.
“Let’s go back inside,” Jake said.
They convened at the second floor kitchen.
“What’s the plan for tonight?” Ben asked as he sat next to Eric at a countertop table ledge.
“We’ll all go out well before sunset,” Jake replied. “The three of us will hide out, keeping you in sight at all times. Meanwhile, you’ll set up the fire and get the pack ready.”
“When she comes, she’ll probably have that other man with her,” Fox murmured.
“Try to find out how she found you,” Jake added. “It would definitely be helpful for us to know.”
Eric nodded.
“Be ready for anything they say. It’s likely they’ll tell you things or show you things you think could be real—but aren’t. Remember, we’re nearby, no matter what they say,” Fox put an arm around Eric’s shoulder. “Don’t let them make you think otherwise, okay?”
A hand slid under Eric’s on his lap. Ben’s hand—warm, firm, insistent.
“You know I’m there, E.”
Eric lifted Ben’s hand to his mouth and kissed it. “I know, B.”
Ben’s father came up behind Fox and held him close from behind. A comfortable silence filled the kitchen.
“You boys want anything from the grocery store? We were just going to get two of everything and split the food between the kitchens,” Jake said. “You two can unpack and check the place out.”
Ben and Eric shared a look. “Sounds great, Dad. Whatever you guys get should be fine.”
“Here,” Fox handed Ben a small clicker. “That’ll open up one of the garage doors. And here’s a couple of keys—one for the main door, and one for the upstairs kitchen door.”
Jake chimed in. “We were thinking we’d use the kitchen door if we, uh…” Eric watched as Jake’s face lit up a bright red. “We just don’t want to interrupt you boys.”
Fox grinned. Eric couldn’t help the grin spreading as he saw Ben’s ears change the same color as his father’s face.
“Let’s go, papa bear,” Fox chuckled. “Lemme put you out of your self-inflicted misery.” The younger husband dragged the older husband down the stairs.
“Love ya, Ben!” Jake called out.
“Love you too, Dad,” Ben replied. The downstairs front door slammed.
Eric leaned over and kissed Ben on the cheek. “You and your dad are adorkable.”
Ben made a face.
“You can’t deny it, B,” Eric laughed.
“We’re not so alike, you know,” Ben grumbled.
“I don’t know, big guy. From what you told me, you two are only now learning about each other—and from what Fox said about your Dad…”
Ben threw up his arms, defeated. He stood up, pulling Eric to his feet and over his shoulder.
“Ben! Lemme down, you big oaf!”
“Nope. I’m gonna drag you down to our cave, and I’m gonna make you mine again and again until you forget your own name.”
*** Jake
Jake quietly stocked the downstairs fridge with the cold groceries he and Fox bought. Fox was upstairs, doing the same. Jake cringed at the sounds coming from the boys’ bedroom. He left the dry goods in the paper bags he brought down and silently darted up the stairs.
“They’re doing it down there!” Jake scream-hissed.
“Yeah. Looks like they beat us to the punch in christening this house,” Fox blithely murmured as he finished putting the dry goods away. “I think we’re gonna need to get a new knife set. These look a little dull.”
“Fox.”
“Jake.”
The big man sighed. “This wasn’t ever going to be easy, I know that.”
“Mm-hm.”
“I don’t know what to do here, baby.”
Fox gave Jake a long look, and with a sigh, he put the canned goods in his hands down. He crossed over to pull his husband in for a hug.
“I don’t know either, papa bear. Never been a dad. But I do remember being his age not too long ago. My dad gave me the freedom to be myself—as much as I could be in a place like Moorcroft. He shocked me when he gave me the apartment over the front office. But I figured out it was his way of giving me independence. The way I see it, that’s probably the best thing you can give him.
“He’s going to need help getting through college, so let’s do that. Step back. Let him come to you. Keep your nose out of his love life—don’t give me that look, baby—then this will probably go easier on you."
“On us,” Jake whispered.
“Sure. But I’m here for you. You can be here for Ben.”
Jake gently placed a hand on Fox’s face. “What about you?”
Fox smiled. “I guess we’ll have to be there for each other, huh?”
Jake leaned in and kissed his husband. “Done.”
The younger husban
d chuckled. “I know we just bought all this food, but I’m thinking we could have lunch delivered.”
“Spoiled from all the room service?” Jake smirked.
“Maybe. I didn’t have to do any real cooking for a while, so yeah.” Fox grinned.
“Okay. What did you have in mind?”
Jake texted his son on his new cell phone. Lunch would be arriving soon as Fox got off his phone call to a local pizzeria. A reply came back moments later saying Ben would get the door when it arrived.
Jake sat on a barstool underneath the counter ledge. The ledge separated the kitchen from the rest of the upstairs dining area. A round table with four seats occupied one corner. Windows with views to the beach were to the north and west walls, and a workstation with a large, comfortable office chair sat against the wall. A large, wall-mounted flat screen occupied the wall space above the workstation along the east side.
Fox sidled up next to Jake, putting his arm over his shoulders from where he sat. “This was a really lucky find. I’m surprised we got to it first.”
“The previous owners had just put it on the market apparently,” Jake said. “We happened to be the first ones to show up. So, it’s lucky that you wanted to leave Vegas a couple days sooner.”
“So, I’m good for something, then?” Fox asked playfully, pressing a kiss against Jake’s temple.
“I’d say you’re good for a lot of things, baby,” Jake said, wrapping his arm around his husband’s waist and pulling him close.
The first meal in the new house seemed to exhilarate everyone. When the doorbell rang, Jake heard Ben accept the pizzas. He then heard feet thundering up the stairs. Ben appeared at the top with Eric right behind him. They set up the food on the counter ledge and ate at the table, each man expressing their pleasure at their views.
“After we eat, I was going to go down to the beach with Eric to help him get set up,” Ben said.
Jake thought twice about warning his son. It was obvious he wanted to make sure Eric had a fighting chance, and clearly, he didn’t care if the enemy was watching. Instead, Jake nodded.
“Remember that when dark comes, you have to be out of sight,” Jake said. Ben nodded.