Bittersweet Irish Cream Ch. 19

Connor rolled his eyes at his brother berating him. "That's impossible, we can't just jump on the next plane to Rhode Island." Matty had some other words they couldn't hear but it made Connor said, "Fuck you, nobody gives a shit about your feelings you-"

But Ethan had had enough and yanked the phone from Connor's ear.

"Hey Matty, it's Ethan.... Yea... I know. I promise you Jack and I had no idea that he didn't have yours or Stephanie's permission. We're sorry about that, we should have asked better questions... yea... I hear you... yup... but we're here now, so... Friday around one..... I'll send you the flight information and I will personally drive Freddie home..... I appreciate it... okay... okay bye."

Ethan hung up and glared at Connor again. Connor shrugged nonchalantly. Jack shook his head at him in disbelief.

Finally Connor looked at Jamel, who said to him, "You're unbefuckinglievable." He turned around with his suitcase this time and walked toward the car rental section.

~~~

As the GMC Yukon XL approached the large home, the children began talking excessively and excitedly. AJ, Becky and Marilyn were on the front porch. Once the car stopped and the girls were let out, they ran up excitedly to the other young girl, as they had not seen each other since EJ's confirmation in January.

Marilyn yelled excitedly in Korean, "Nae jamaedeul!" (My sisters!)

Jackie and Susie yelled back, "Eonni!" (Big sister!)

They hugged tightly and quickly ran into the large home. The men unloaded the bags and Becky took Jamie from the car seat, saying, "This little guy is going to be with me this week!" She winked at her husband who smiled at her.

AJ shook his head and said to his brother, "Jesus, I'm getting a fourth kid too, aren't I?"

Ethan and Jack both laughed as they rolled their suitcases up onto the porch and into the house. AJ let them know where everyone was sleeping: "The boys have Al's old room since Al has a room on campus, and the girls will stay with Marilyn; Jack and Ethan, you have your room and Connor and Jamel can take the guest room on the first floor."

They settled into the kitchen to eat the lunch that Becky made: Korean BBQ, Korean fried chicken with gochujang sauce, noodles, dumplings and Korean lettuce salad. Jack liked it when they came to California. Because Becky spoke Korean, it helped Susie retain some of her native language. It also gave Susie a chance to stay connected with her ethnic roots when she was around Becky and Marilyn, with the language, food and shared culture.

As they finished up lunch AJ told them, "Tommy is staying in the dorms with Al for the week. They're meeting us at the pool on campus in an hour. Who wants to go swimming?"

The girls chorused, "Meeeeee!" They ran to get ready.

"Cool! We'll be ready in five minutes," said Freddie. He and EJ ran to the room that they were sharing.

Ethan leaned back, stuffed from the lunch. "Well, we've been up since 4am so Jack and I are going to take a nap." Jack did not look at Ethan but he knew they were going to do everything but nap after everyone else left.

"Jamel and I will go with the kids. You two get some rest," said Connor.

But Jamel said, "Actually I'm a little tired and going to get some rest too."

Connor looked at him, while the others realized it was the first time Jamel spoke a word since the airport. "You're not going swimming with us?"

Jamel gave him a hard look. "I'm tired, Connor."

Connor was unfazed. He said to everyone while looking at Jamel, "On second thought, I'm a little tired too. So I'm staying in to rest with Jamel." Jamel narrowed his eyes at his husband and looked away.

But again Connor was unfazed by Jamel's reaction and placed his chin onto his shoulder. He took Jamel's hand and pouted. Jamel looked over at him, still annoyed at his behavior but couldn't help it, his walls were slowly coming down as he stared into his husband's eyes.

"I'm sorry I made you mad," said Connor softly and smiled. Jamel scoffed but he smiled back and put his head on Connor's.

Ethan scoffed too, but in annoyance. "That's all he has to do, huh Mel? Bat them baby blues at you and all is forgiven?"

Jack and Jamel laughed out loud and Connor winked at Ethan.

~~~

The home had two master bedrooms on opposites sides of the second floor. Jack and Ethan occupied the other one when they were at AJ's house. Ethan opened the doors into the spacious bedroom that had a fireplace in front of the bed, a sitting area set to the side where the TV was, and a spa like bathroom with a shower, a large jet tub, two sinks and a walk-in closet.

Jack kicked off his shoes and laid on the bed sideways above the comforter. Ethan followed him and they laid next to each other. He reached out his hand and found Jack's, and they held hands in silence for a while, staring at the tray ceiling above them.

Ethan said, "Actually I do feel a little tired. I'm going to take a nap." He closed his eyes.

Jack turned his body to the side and moved closer to him. "Sure. Right after I fuck you on the shower floor."

Ethan chuckled with his eyes closed. "Not the tub this time?"

Jack pretended to be thoughtful. "Hmm...maybe round two?"

Ethan let out a low growl and turned over, pushing Jack onto his back and began to kiss his neck. After their lips met a couple of times, Ethan stood up and took Jack's hands, pulling Jack up with him. "Let's go."

The shower had three showerheads, one on the front, one on the side and a rain shower above. They started out with the two main ones, kissing, touching, rinsing each other off. Then Ethan put Jack against the shower door and kissed his body nice and slow.

He started at his neck and left a small purple mark there from sucking too hard. Ethan kissed down his chest, licked on his pink nubs, chest and hairy belly until he was completely on his knees.

Ethan ignored his cock at first that was already beginning to leak. Instead he kissed his thighs, motioned for him to turn around and spread his cheeks wide. Jack instinctively arched his back in anticipation.

Ethan did not keep him waiting, putting his lips over his pucker and sticking his tongue in. Jack let out a loud moan and put both hands flat on the glass. Ethan continued to lick his bottom as the entire bathroom steamed up.

When Ethan gently inserted a finger, Jack turned around quickly, panting and wide eyed. Ethan looked up at him innocently, then stuck his tongue out and licked his pre-cum. Jack grabbed the oil based lube they brought into the shower with them as Ethan continued to lick him.

He switched the shower heads off and turned on the one directly above them. Ethan leaned his head back, closed his eyes and let the water fall all around him. Jack watched him for a moment.

"You're beautiful," he said to his husband.

Ethan opened his eyes and looked up at him with love and admiration. They stared at each other, Jack's green eyes into Ethan's light brown ones, as Jack slowly added lube to his cock and stroked himself. He went down on his knees and moved behind Ethan. Ethan did not resist when Jack pushed on his back to bend him over onto all fours, letting the rain water run down his back.

Jack took his time in adding the lubricant to Ethan, massaging Ethan's pucker with the pad of his thumb, using two finger in and out of him slowly, adding lube to his large dark pink testicles and Ethan's seven inch fist size cock.

He slapped Ethan's wet ass hard. Ethan yelled, "Fuck!" Jack slapped the other cheek just as hard. "Uuuugh," Ethan let out a growl but did not stop him. Jack smiled at Ethan's submission for him.

He held onto his own throbbing cock and slid inside, and Ethan let him all the way in. Jack put his hands on Ethan's waist and began to move slowly at first, gradually picking up speed. He closed his eyes and lifted his head to catch the rain water on his face, listening to the sounds of Ethan's grunting and the clapping sound of his thighs crashing into Ethan's bottom.

All too soon it was over as Jack felt his orgasm build up in his center. He put his face in Ethan's neck and bit him there as he began to cum. Ethan let out another "Fuck!" and released onto the shower floor unassisted. It quickly washed away into the silver drain. Neither moved for a moment, Jack's breath still on Ethan's neck, Ethan still on his knees on the marble tile of the shower, the water hitting them both.

Jack slowly slid out and sat against the wall. Ethan moved in the opposite direction and sat against the glass wall. Jack smiled first, his dimples deeply indented, making Ethan's stomach do a butterfly flip. Suddenly Ethan stood up and left the shower, taking the lube with him.

Jack watched him go over to the tub, choose the bubble bath he wanted and turn on the faucet. All the windows and mirrors fogged up with the shower and the tub going at the same time. When it was ready, Ethan slid his body all the way in. Only then did Jack turn off the shower and join him in the tub.

He sat down in Ethan's lap and moved back and forth on his groin. Ethan closed his eyes and reached around Jack to play with his nipples to stimulate him again, kissing his neck. Once Ethan was hard again, Jack stood up and handed Ethan the lube.

Ethan added it to Jack's anus, and he slowly sat back into the water, this time sliding Ethan's cock inside of him. He held onto the sides of the tub, lifted up and sat back down in Ethan's lap.

Ethan let Jack do all the work, rubbing up and down his husband's back with one hand, holding onto his waist with the other hand. Jack started moaning the moans that Ethan loved so much, "Hhhhhooooo.... Hhhhooooo..."

He found himself grunting and moaning with him, moving toward orgasm quicker than what he wanted. He held Jack's waist firmly. "Turn around," he said softly. "I want to see your face."

Jack turned his whole body around and Ethan immediately kissed his face and ran his fingers through his wet hair. He licked soap and water off Jack's neck and said, "I think you're beautiful too."

Jack moaned out his name in appreciation. "Eeeeeethaaan..."

He moved closer until he was back in Ethan's lap straddling him. Ethan held himself steady and reinserted himself inside Jack. Jack held onto Ethan's neck and Ethan held onto Jack's hips, moved his waist back, then pushed into Jack. He did it again and again, slowly, intentionally making love to his husband, moving the water back and forth, making a mess on the tile floor.

They stared into each other's eyes absentmindedly moving faster against each other until Jack said first, "Oh God!" He reached down into the water and grabbed his cock, stroked it a few times and moaned as he released his Irish cream into the water.             

Ethan watched Jack lean his head back, open up his mouth and moan as he came. Ethan felt his body tense up and also released his Irish cream inside of Jack.

Jack fell forward, his head on Ethan's shoulder. "We really need a bigger tub," he said breathlessly.

"When we buy a house, I'll make sure we have a jacuzzi put in," Ethan replied.

They held each other until their breathing returned to normal. When Jack was able to, he lifted his head up and they kissed softly, sweetly, until Ethan grew soft and slid out. Only then did they rise, rinse themselves off in the shower and clean up the trail of water and bubbles they left all over the bathroom floor.

When they were done, Jack said, "I feel like going to that bar down the street. AJ doesn't keep alcohol in the house."

"C'mon, let's see if Mel and Con want to have drinks with us," Ethan said.

"Okay," Jack agreed.

They got dressed and went downstairs. But as they got closer to their friends' bedroom door Jack stopped walking first. Ethan raised his hand to knock and Jack said, "Wait! That's Connor. They're... busy."

Ethan looked at him confused then started listening. At first he thought they were in conversation but then he heard Connor say, "Yea... Fuck me Big Daddy... Don't stop..."

Ethan jumped back from the door whispering, "Gaaah!" Jack started laughing softly. But then Ethan turned to Jack and said in astonishment, "How the fuck... You know what Connor sounds like in bed!?"

Jack slowly opened his mouth. "He's a shit talker. Apparently that hasn't changed in 16 years."

Ethan growled and ran up to Jack, pretending to attack him and Jack laughed, allowing Ethan to wrap him up in a bear hug. He slapped Jack's ass hard and said, "I swear to God you better never remind me of your relationship with him again."

Jack couldn't stop laughing as Ethan held him tighter, lifting him off his feet and carrying him further away from Jamel and Connor's bedroom.

~~~~~~

Jack could sense there was someone behind him even before he opened up his eyes. He slowly turned around and saw that Jamie was sleeping happily between them in the snuggle nest. He managed to get his little arms out of the swaddle and they were raised straight over his head. Ethan was asleep on his stomach.

Jack had been trying to convince Ethan to no longer swaddle him at 4-months-old, but he suspected Ethan wanted to hold onto Jamie the infant for as long as possible. Jamie only woke up once a night for a feeding now, and went right back to sleep. But Ethan liked to bring him in the bed with them from time to time to keep him close.

Jack watched them for a moment, thinking about how attached Ethan had become to Jamison. Jamie seemed to mold right into his arms every time Ethan held him. There was definitely an unbreakable bond between them, and Ethan made the right decision bringing Jamie into their family.

Jack too had grown fond of the boy, who had such a calming presence. Jamie only cried when something was wrong, whether he was hungry or tired or needed to be changed, and he adapted to Jack's work and school schedule pleasantly.

And the children loved their new baby brother. He caught EJ a few times taking Jamison in his room with the floor mat for babies while he talked with him about everything from their mother to sports to reading him a made up story he wrote.

JC was a little rougher and they had to remind her that Jamie was not a doll that she could play with. But Susie was more gentle, and would sit calmly and bottle feed him, saying a few words in Korean to him such as calling him haengboghan agi, happy baby.

Jack thought about the upcoming hearing. Their attorney Cindy had walked them through what the first hearing would be about, basically a lot of motions being thrown around. The judge would agree to some, throw out others. But they had to be prepared for visitation being granted, because there was no solid reason for Jamie's grandparents not to have visitation. The idea upsetted Ethan but Jack said he would handle the transportation if it came to that.

Jack looked at the time. It was a little after 5am on the west coast and he was surprised he slept in that late. The three couples had been up the night before after all the children went to bed, drinking and hanging out until close to midnight, so he knew he would sleep past his east coast regular time.

He decided to go for a run, something he had not done in the last two days since they arrived in Berkeley. Since it was JC's birthday, the whole gang was taking a drive to the beach later on. Now would be the only time he had to himself.

He kissed the boy's head, then quietly rose from the bed. He put on a pair of shorts and a fresh t-shirt, then laced up his sneakers. He checked on Jamie and Ethan once more before he left the dark room and went downstairs.

Jamel was in the living room doing a series of exercises in stretch pants and a t-shirt. He paused upon seeing Jack. "Hey," he spoke first. "Good morning."

"Morning," Jack responded. "I thought I was the only one that liked to get up at the crack of dawn." He went to fill his water pouch in the kitchen sink and hooked it onto the loop of his shorts.

"Force of habit from my Army days. I'm usually up by 5am and at work by 7." He looked Jack over. "You look like you're about to do a run."

Jack nodded. "Yea, I run pretty much every morning, a 5k. Helps me feel balanced for the day. But I haven't done it in a couple of days so I was hoping to get out there."

"I hear that. And better to do it now because today is going to be a hot one."

"Yea." Jack walked two steps then asked, "Do you want to join me?"

Jamel smiled. "Sure. Let me get my shoes."

Jack waited as Jamel went to his room then came out a few minutes later. They walked out the door together and stretched on the porch. "Do you have a route here?" Jamel asked.

"Yea I do."

"Then lead the way."

Jack began to jog with Jamel right next to him. Jack took him onto the UCB campus where both Becky and AJ worked, her full time, him as an adjunct as he had a full time finance job. They ran in step and in silence. Halfway through Jack made a right and exited the campus into Claremont Canyon and onto the trail.

They continued to jog past the 3.2 miles he typically did, ending up doing more hiking than actual jogging, but it was a workout all the same.

As the sky began to lighten, Jack finally made his way to the Berkeley Overlook where he knew there were benches around. But Jamel tapped Jack's shoulder to head a little further down and they ended up on the rocks overlooking the city.

Jack opened up his pouch and drank, then passed it to Jamel who drank too. Jamel peeled off his shirt that was wet from sweat, revealing his broad chest with a lion paw tattoo holding onto his pec.

Jack glanced at him, then looked away laughing. "I feel scrawny next to you."

Jamel laughed back and passed him the pouch. "Don't feel bad. Most people feel scrawny next to me," he said as he flexed his huge bicep.

Jack laughed again. "That was probably the most conceited thing I've ever heard you say."

Jamel chuckled. "I say a lot of conceited shit, mostly in humor though. Connor is arrogant enough for the both of us."

Jack chuckled back. "Man, if you think Connor is arrogant now... This is him toned down. He just knew he was God's gift to Rockville. In high school he literally called himself King Connor and all his friends were in his Kingdom. I told him one time I refuse to be one of his serfs."

Jamel laughed. "Yup, I can see that."

They sat in silence catching the early morning breeze on the hilltop and watching the sun rise. Jack spoke first. "Why don't we talk, Jamel? I feel like everything I know about you is from Connor and Ethan."

Jamel nodded. "Same. Everything I know about you is from my husband and yours, even though we're always around each other."

"Well we should hang out more," said Jack. "Just you and me. Get to know each other on a personal level. Ethan met Connor when he moved here but it wasn't until Connor started working with Ethan that they really got to know each other. We should too."

"I'm down with that." Jamel let a moment pass, then said, "Tell me something about yourself that you don't normally tell people."

"Hmmm..." Jack was thoughtful then said, "You first."

"Okay." He was quiet for a little bit, then said, "I used to smoke cigarettes heavily and it caused atherosclerosis in my heart. Connor doesn't even know that."

"What's that?"

"It's a buildup of fat around your arteries. For me it caused heart arrhythmia and chest pain. If I would have kept smoking just another few years it would have killed me."

"Well I'm glad you stopped smoking then," said Jack. "What made you stop?"

"My dad had a heart attack in 2006. It was really life changing for all of us. My healthy father, an Army Major who drinks occasionally and never smoked, almost died from an underlying condition that we didn't even know he had. And that's when he told us we have a genetic, family history of heart disease, lying in the bed with wires in his chest."