Chapter Eight
KISSING Jax Foster was unlike anything Matthew had ever experienced.
Their kiss was a far cry from the chaste kisses they'd shared all those years ago. The minute their lips touched, a scorching heat flared through Matthew, and he was pretty sure Jax felt it too, if the ravenous way he was returning Matthew's onslaught was anything to go by. Matthew couldn't get enough of Jax, of his lips, his taste, his scent, the feel of his hard body beneath Matthew. He wanted to go slow, bask in the moment, but having Jax here, touching him, needing him, was more than Matthew could handle. They'd already wasted so much time. Matthew was determined to take whatever Jax offered him, the hell with everything else.
Jax thrust his hips up, the hard bulge in his jeans pressing against Matthew's erection straining against his pants, drawing a moan from him. God, he was so hard. Matthew had never wanted anyone so bad in his life. He closed his fingers around fistfuls of Jax's hair--he loved the man's hair--and thrust his hips down against Jax, trembling at the moan that rumbled up from Jax's throat. Matthew had never heard anything so hot and decadent.
Jax's large strong hands tugged at Matthew's shirt, pulling it out from the waistband of his pants. When his fingers slipped beneath the silk shirt onto Matthew's skin, Matthew gasped, letting his head fall back and exposing his neck. Jax took full advantage, licking, sucking, and nipping at Matthew's skin, leaving his mark. The thought thrilled Matthew, and he writhed on Jax's lap, wanting more, needing more. He slipped his hands underneath Jax's jacket and pushed it off his shoulders. Jax pulled his arms out, and Matthew didn't waste any time divesting Jax of his shirt. He let it drop to the rug, his lips on Jax's, tongue inside Jax's mouth before Jax unbuttoned the collar of Matthew's shirt so he could pull it off Matthew. The cool breeze against his heated skin felt heavenly, but there was something else he was certain would feel even better.
Matthew got up off Jax's lap, chuckling at the pout Jax gave him when he stood. With a wicked grin, Matthew lowered himself to his knees, resting his hands on Jax's inner thighs before he slid them out and pushed his legs open wide, his eyes never leaving Jax's. The way Jax's pupils widened, the lust in those blue-green pools all for Matthew had Matthew feeling bold. Jax wanted him. Bad.
"Matthew...."
His name was a whisper on Jax's lips as Matthew unbuttoned Jax's jeans and unzipped him. Jax lifted his hips so Matthew could pull down his jeans and boxer briefs to just below his ass, revealing a huge, gorgeous cock that had Matthew salivating.
"You're so beautiful."
Jax shook his head, but Matthew wasn't having any of it. He needed to show Jax how stunning he was. Had to make him understand that his worth as a man had nothing to do with how much money he had. Before Jax could mutter a word, Matthew pulled the rock-hard shaft into his mouth, humming when Jax bucked beneath him, a litany of curses leaving his mouth.
Matthew wasn't one to give blow jobs. Usually he was on the receiving end, and as much as he would love to feel Jax's mouth on him, he'd been desperate to taste Jax. His mouth was stretched over the thick length, his hand wrapped around the base to keep himself from choking. Jax's cock was as beautiful as the rest of him--cut, with a rosy head leaking precome, the salty taste against Matthew's tongue making him moan. Jax fisted Matthew's hair, and Matthew opened his eyes, meeting Jax's gaze. The intensity he found there sent a shiver through him, and he picked up his pace, hollowing his cheeks and sucking hard.
"Fuck, Matty," Jax hissed, his hips bucking up. Matthew held him down, his fingers caressing the muscles of Jax's hard, sculpted body. His chest and torso had tiny nicks, scars, and what looked like burn marks in a few places. It hurt Matthew's heart and angered him that he hadn't been there with Jax. A fierce sense of possessiveness flooded through him, a need to protect this beautiful, vulnerable man. Matthew closed his eyes to keep the tears at bay. Instead he transferred all his emotions into giving Jax pleasure.
"Matty," Jax warned hoarsely.
Matthew pulled off Jax, replacing his mouth with his hand and jacking Jax off so he could ask, "Have you been tested?"
Jax nodded quickly. "Couple of months ago. Negative. I'm always careful, Matty. I swear."
Matthew nodded. That was all he needed to hear. "Me too." He swallowed Jax's cock, causing him to jump.
"Holy fuck!"
Matthew chuckled. He loved that he caused such reactions in Jax. Doubling his efforts, he sucked Jax hard, fondling his balls with one hand while he pressed his tongue to Jax's slit, bringing forth more curses from the delicious man beneath him.
"Matty, I'm... I'm gonna come." Jax gasped, fisting Matthew's hair again. Matthew bobbed up and down, took Jax down to the root, then moved back up. He slipped a finger down Jax's crease to his hole, and that did it. Jax trembled beneath him as he emptied himself into Matthew's mouth, and Matthew moaned, taking every last drop. Jax was a hot, panting mess, and Matthew was thrilled he was the one who made the man look so debauched. Jax pulled Matthew up and kissed him hard, their tongues tangled, and Jax groaned, most likely at tasting himself on Matthew's tongue.
Jax threw an arm around Matthew and turned them, lowering Matthew onto his back on the loveseat cushions, his heavier frame pressing down onto Matthew in the most delicious way. His lips were intoxicating--their taste, how soft they were, how warm. Matthew was starving for Jax's kisses. He slipped his arms around Jax's neck, his breath unsteady as he moaned into Jax's mouth. He could feel Jax's cock rehardening against his thigh, and Matthew was so painfully hard. He thrust his hips up against Jax, a whimper escaping him.
"Jax," Matthew pleaded, needing to feel Jax's hands on him.
Jax slid down the length of his body and off the seat, kneeling beside him. He unzipped Matthew's slacks, and Matthew lifted his hips enough for Jax to get his pants down around his thighs, his leaking cock hitting his stomach. Jax ran his hands reverently over Matthew's torso, taking his time to caress, leaving small kisses in his wake.
"You're so beautiful, Matty."
"Jax...."
Jax took Matthew in his mouth, and Matthew arched his back. He clutched at the loveseat and cried out Jax's name, not caring who heard him. The sight of Jax swallowing Matthew down, his beautiful hair cascading around him, caressing Matthew's skin as Jax sucked and made a meal out Matthew was driving him out of his mind. Jax's eyes never left Matthew's, even when he placed two fingers to Matthew's lips. Matthew opened his mouth and sucked the digits in, rolling his tongue over them, getting them wet. The anticipation of what Jax was going to do with those fingers was going to kill Matthew.
Jax pulled his fingers out of Matthew's mouth and pressed one to Matthew's entrance.
"Oh hell," Matthew said with a groan. He sucked in a sharp breath at the delicious pleasure of feeling Jax's finger invading him, sinking deep inside him. Matthew moaned and writhed, his breath coming out in pants as Jax continued to suck him off, his finger curling and hitting Matthew's sweet spot. Matthew cried out, his toes curling and his body on the verge of spontaneously combusting.
"Oh God, Jax." That mouth was driving Matthew out of his mind.
Matthew fisted Jax's gorgeous long locks. It was like a lion's mane, golden and beautiful, falling over his shoulders. Matthew had never dated anyone with long hair. How could he still feel so much for this man? It was crazy. He might have known Jax when they were young, but so much time had passed.
Jax licked, sucked, and nipped at Matthew, his hands never stopping their exploration of Matthew's body, a second finger added into the mix that had Matthew writhing desperately. With one hand working Matthew's hole, Jax moved the other to his own now hard cock and tugged at it, stroking himself. Matthew moaned at the sight, and Jax hummed around Matthew's hard length. As if Matthew weren't turned-on enough. He watched as Jax jerked himself off, his hand moving in time with his mouth as he continued to suck Matthew off.
"Jax, please," Matthew groaned.
Jax pulled his fingers out of Matthew and took hold of Matth
ew's cock so he could pull his mouth away. "Come for me, Matty. I want to see your beautiful face when I make you come."
Matthew didn't have time to reply. Jax swallowed Matthew down to the root again, his fingers returning to Matthew's hole, finding that sweet spot as Jax sucked Matthew faster, harder. Releasing his cock, Jax tweaked one of Matthew's nipples, and Matthew's vision went white, his muscles straining as his orgasm barreled through him, a storm of pleasure and want exploding inside him. He came in Jax's mouth, his lips parted in a silent roar as Jax milked every last drop from Matthew before groaning around Matthew's length as Jax found his own release again, his body racked with shivers until he was completely spent.
Matthew lay on his back, staring up at the canopy, his breath unsteady. He opened his arms, and without a word, Jax lay on him, his face tucked against Matthew's neck. He planted a soft kiss against Matthew's skin before releasing a contented sigh. Matthew couldn't help his smile as he wrapped his arms around Jax, his eyes closed. When they were young, Jax had looked after him, protected him, kept him safe. Matthew had cherished it. He'd looked to Jax for guidance, looked up to him, told himself that one day he wanted to be strong like Jax, and Jax was a strong man now, no doubt about it, but things felt... different now, and Matthew tightened his embrace around Jax. He wanted to keep Jax safe, protect him from a world that had been harsh and cruel, that had forced a sweet innocent boy to grow up far too quickly.
"What are you thinking?" Jax asked, his words thick and laced with sleep.
"I'm thinking, I wonder if he'll let me see him again, outside the job. Please, say yes."
There was a pause before Jax replied quietly, "Yes."
Matthew kissed the top of Jax's head and released the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.
"Did you really have to see a therapist because of me?" Jax asked, stroking Matthew's bare skin.
"For a while," Matthew admitted. "I was just a kid. I didn't understand why you'd gone."
"I'm so sorry."
Jax's voice was filled with remorse, and Matthew regretted his harsh words. It was true he'd seen a therapist because of Jax's sudden departure, but Jax's leaving had been out of his control.
"It wasn't your fault, Jax. You were just a kid too. You couldn't stay. And don't think that I don't feel touched by your protecting me." Even at that young age, Jax had understood. He'd seen what had almost happened to him and his father, and he'd protected Matthew.
Whatever either of them might think, or how much they might deny it to themselves, they belonged together. Matthew knew that now. After all these years, fate had brought Jax Foster back into his life, and Matthew had no intention of letting him go a second time.
Chapter Nine
"MATTHEW?"
Matthew blinked, aware suddenly that someone was talking to him. "I'm so sorry, Adam." He'd been so lost in his thoughts about Jax that he hadn't even realized Adam had come into his office.
When Matthew arrived at the office this morning, there had been a bright yellow box waiting for him on his desk. It was wrapped with a familiar white ribbon with pink polka dots. One of these days he was going to get Jax to reveal his source. The man was incredibly sneaky.
Adam studied him, and Matthew cleared his throat. He straightened, attempting to conduct himself like a grown-up and not some swoony teenager. At least until Adam's eyes went wide and he gasped.
"You slept with him!"
Matthew quickly hushed Adam. "Oh my God, keep it down!"
"I'm sorry." Adam covered his mouth with his hand before releasing a giggle. He was just too much. When he moved his hand away to speak, his voice was quiet. "Don't you dare for one minute think you're not going to tell me everything."
"We didn't sleep together. I mean, we kind of fell asleep after fooling around--"
Adam held a hand up, eyes narrow. "Define 'fooling around.'"
"Really?"
"This is you we're talking about. Fooling around might mean holding hands."
"Funny. I have done this before, you know."
Adam frowned. "That doesn't ease my mind."
"Thanks. In answer to your question, things got hot and heavy, and I, um, you know."
"I don't. That's why I'm asking."
"Jesus, okay. I gave him a blow job, all right?"
Adam's eyes lit up. He really was too excited about this. "And did he return the favor?"
Matthew cleared his throat. "Yes."
"And was it mind-blowing?"
"It was... better than mind-blowing."
Adam whimpered. "God, Matthew. The man is so freaking hot."
"I know." Did he sound swoony? Good God, he did.
"So what happened after?" If Adam leaned forward any more than he already was, he was going to topple over.
"I asked him if I could see him again, and he said yes."
Adam pumped his fist. "Nice! So when's your next date?"
"I don't know. I'm a little stuck. The whole money thing makes him a little--a lot--uncomfortable, but that's not going to go away." He told Adam about Jax having to bail his father out and losing ten thousand dollars. How angry Jax was when Matthew offered to help. "I just don't get it. It's just money."
"Spoken like someone who's never had to go without any," Adam said, shaking his head. "Ten grand might be no big deal to you, Matthew, but not to Jax. Not to most people. From what we've learned, Jax spent his whole life on the run with little more than the clothes on his back and a few meager possessions. He's learned to survive without it. When you don't have money, you learn to appreciate every penny."
Matthew was stunned by Adam's defense of Jax, and a part of him wondered how Adam knew so much about being without. Now that he thought about it, Adam never wanted to talk about his past, and Matthew had no idea what he did before he came to work for Matthew's father when he was eighteen.
"You need to remember that for Jax, money means trouble. It means pain and heartache. Can you imagine how intimidated he must feel knowing what he does about you and who you are?"
Matthew hadn't thought of that. Adam was sort of right. Matthew never thought about money because there was no need for him to worry. He couldn't imagine living the way Jax had. Running from place to place with little more than a few belongings, not knowing where his next meal would come from. Matthew was certain there was still so much Jax hadn't shared with him. Jax was a smart man and a hard worker. He'd managed to get his studio open, and that couldn't have been easy.
"I have a great idea," Adam said cheerfully. "Why don't you invite him over to your place and cook for him?"
The thought terrified Matthew. "Me? Cook?"
"Yes, Matthew. Instead of having Michelle do it, you give her the night off, and you cook yourself. You know how to cook. I've seen you do it. It doesn't have to be anything fancy. In fact, I would suggest against extravagant. Just pick a simple dish and give it all you've got. Believe me, Jax will appreciate it. I'm not saying you have to tone back who you are, but you're trying to win his heart, not impress him."
"Wait, what?" That was news to Matthew. "Who said I was trying to win his heart? Jumping ahead of ourselves, aren't we?"
"Are you or are you not looking for a husband?"
"Well, yeah, but I mean...." Matthew shifted uncomfortably. He'd kind of forgotten about that whole Mr. Right thing since he'd run into Jax. "This is different."
"Why? Because you have something to lose? Because Jax isn't just some stranger you can walk away from if you screw it up?"
"Wow, your confidence in me is astounding."
Adam chuckled. "Matthew, I know you better than you know yourself. Don't stress about it. You know him, and he knows you. Just be yourself." Adam stood and gave him a pointed look. "Don't freak out. If you need me, you've got me on speed dial." He headed out, and not five seconds later, Bryce came wandering in.
Matthew plastered on a smile. "How can I help you, Bryce?"
"You need to stay away from Jax Foster."
Ma
tthew frowned at Bryce. "What?"
"The guy's bad news. His father's a con man, and Jax Foster is in debt up to his eyeballs. He's on the verge of losing his studio. If those two don't get you mixed up in something dangerous, they're going to con you into giving them money. I mean, for crying out loud, they already lost the money paid for the Esperanza commission and the guy hasn't even finished the job. You should never have paid him up front."
Matthew stared at him. "What the hell, Bryce? Did you...? Did you have Jax investigated?" Bryce didn't answer. He didn't have to. His expression said it all. "Jesus, Bryce. What the hell?" Matthew wasn't surprised. Bryce had used a private investigator on several other occasions. The man trusted no one. "You want to investigate your new chauffeur, you do that. You want to look up the new nanny? Fine. But how dare you pry into my life." Matthew was fuming.
"I ran into him after he came to see you. The second I saw him, I knew he was trouble."
"Why? Because he wasn't wearing a designer suit? Because he doesn't have an investment portfolio or didn't go to Harvard? Or is it because he doesn't have a country club membership?"
"I'm telling you, this guy is using you. Jesus, Matthew. Don't you think it's a little convenient that after all these years, he suddenly pops into your life?"
"He didn't pop into my life. Dad commissioned him for a job. A job he's excelling at, by the way. I was the one who walked into his shop."
"Doesn't explain why he's suddenly always around you. Don't you find that suspect?"
"No, I don't. He's around me because I want him to be," Matthew said through his teeth. "I don't see how this is any of your business."
"It's my business because if this guy fucks with you, it could mean trouble for all of us, and I'm not going to lose my job because of where you stick your dick."
"Nice. Thanks."
"It has nothing to do with you being gay. You know I don't care about that."
"Really? Because your wife never fails to bring up what a degenerate I am."
Finding Mr. Wrong Page 9
