SWNOVELS Complicated Love: Chapter 14
Jaxson watched from the far side of the room as Chase and Emma sat at the dining table with Connor as he led them through the huge stack of paperwork in front of each of them. He understood why the lawyer wasn’t crazy about his idea, but that was too fucking bad. Once they’d made the plan, he couldn’t wait to make it a reality.
He didn’t really believe in divine intervention, but there was no denying there was some higher power at work these last few days as solutions to all of his problems seemed to present themselves like magic. Things were falling into place even better than he could have hoped.
With each page signed, Jaxson relaxed for many valid reasons — and tensed for a whole different purpose. He reached in to touch the contents of his left pocket for the hundredth time that day. Feeling the small objects brought him comfort in a way he never thought would be possible.
“Okay, that about does it.” Connor straightened the packets of paperwork, placing a clip on each stack before reaching to put them into his briefcase and pushing to stand. “I’m heading over to get this all filed before the office closes for the day. Please give me a call if anything changes after…” he paused looking up at Jaxson who threw him his best ‘keep your fucking mouth shut’ look. “After you get back on dry land,” their lawyer finished.
“Will do. And you give me a call tomorrow if you run into problems.”
“The only problem is that it’s the weekend so I’m having to pull in a lot of extra favors. You’re absolutely sure about the timeline?”
Jaxson wanted to wring his neck. “No,” he blurted. Connor had started to smile when Jax added, “Can you make things go any faster?”
Connor didn’t bother answering. Instead he stalked past the trio towards the door leading to the aft deck.
“I’ll expect a call tomorrow when you’re back, sooner if there is a problem.” He threw his right hand up in a short wave and was gone.
Emma asked quietly. “We’re going to be gone overnight? I didn’t pack a bag.”
Jaxson turned towards the loves of his life, relieved they were finally alone. It happened so rarely these days, especially with Emma’s parents staying with them.
“Don’t worry about it. I brought everything we’ll need. It’s just one night.”
Then he remembered the small crew was still onboard. He pushed the button to call for assistance and the Burrows rejoined them right away.
“Mr. Lambert has left. We’re ready to shove off.”
“Very well, sir. It will only take us about five minutes to finish our final departure checklist. My wife and I will stay on the bridge until you call her down to prepare dinner. Is that satisfactory?”
Jaxson was relieved. His instructions were being followed to a T. “That would be perfect.” He made one deviation from his previous instructions. “Just one thing before you go. I’d like to open a bottle of champagne for our departure.”
“Of course,” Mrs. Burrows assured him. “I have several bottles already chilling.”
“Excellent.” He glanced at Emma as he asked. “We’ll need that apple juice I requested as well.”
“Yes, sir.”
The trio stood silent, watching as the elderly lady bustled around gathering the supplies she needed. She was about to open the bottle of bubbly when Jaxson stopped her. “Go join your husband. I’ll take care of that.”
“Of course, sir.”
Once they were alone, Jaxson crossed to the table to grab the champagne and begin peeling the foil and muselet away from the bottle. He filled all three flutes before turning and carrying two to his lovers who were watching him curiously.
“Wait. You’re letting me drink alcohol?” Emma asked incredulously as he handed her a glass.
“Just one. I didn’t fill it very full.”
“Okay, what the hell is going on? I went along with the whole signing my life away without much of a problem, but since when do we let the mother of our children drink alcohol while pregnant?” Chase complained.
Jaxson had returned for his own glass. He turned, taking in the sight of the two people that he loved more than anything else in the world.
A foreign wave of insecurity invaded. It wasn’t often that Jaxson Davidson was unsure of himself, but in that moment as Chase and Emma looked at him expectantly, he felt a vulnerability that humbled him. He may be their dominant, but at the core of their relationship, he knew they held all of the power in their partnership. Their submission was a gift that he wasn’t entirely sure he deserved. Their happiness was more important to him than all the money in his considerable bank account.
Chase smiled the impish smirk that Jaxson loved so damn much. “I love seeing you nervous. It happens so rarely.”
“I’m not nervous,” he protested defensively.
“Yeah. Right. That’s why you look like you want to run to the railing to puke overboard.”
“Don’t be melodramatic,” he groused. “Let’s go out on deck and watch as we pull out of the marina.”
Jaxson followed them out into the Southern California sunlight. It was getting late enough that the sun was lowering in the western sky casting gorgeous streaks of reds, yellows, and oranges across the blue horizon. It was the perfect backdrop for their special night.
The trio stood silently at the railing as the captain expertly navigated the large yacht through the congested marina. As soon as they cleared the final port markings about fifteen minutes later the captain increased their speed and they headed out into the Pacific Ocean.
He felt Chase’s gaze turn towards him instead of the majestic scenic view. It was time. Jaxson took a deep breath and stood tall, turning towards Emma and Chase who were both watching him with intense interest.
Jax opened his mouth to speak, but he was suddenly parched. He self-consciously threw back his glass of expensive French wine like it was a shot, in part to whet his whistle, but more to give him a bit of liquid courage.
He finally got his first words out. “Let’s sit.” He waved his arm in a grand gesture towards the white leather couches that formed a half circle across the middle of the aft deck. As the boat picked up speed, the wake behind them grew. He turned his back on it to sit in the middle between his lovers, but quickly hated the position because he couldn’t see both of their faces at the same time.
Jaxson shot back to his feet like a Jack-in-the-box within seconds after sitting, drawing a chuckle from Chase. So far the only thing he was succeeding in was making a fool of himself.
Unlike Chase, Emma was beaming up at him, her lavender eyes bright with love… or pity. He wasn’t sure which.
“You two sit closer together,” he instructed, recognizing he was stalling.
Once they were close and holding hands, Jaxson took a deep breath and barged ahead before he did anything else foolish.
“So… you know I’ve been working with Connor to try to figure out a way to setup our holdings in the best way to ensure financial security, not only for each of us, but for the kids after they are born.”
Emma’s smile dimmed. “You mean that’s what all of this is about? Business? Money?”
Anyone who had ever met her would have been able to pick up on the disappointment in her voice. Jax pushed down his panic. He’d known this was how she’d react… at least at first.
“It’s part of what this is about, yes. A big part, I guess.” He paused before throwing her a bone. “But it’s not everything.”
Chase had been sitting on the edge of the couch, looking excited. As Jaxson’s words sunk in, he slumped back. Jaxson bit the inside of his cheek to keep from smiling at the petulant move. He hadn’t expected this reaction, but he had an idea of how to make it work in his favor.
Chase sipped at the champagne before he complained. “We could have just stayed at the club for this conversation. I thought you told us it was personal.”
Jaxson explained. “I disagree. There are too many nosey people hanging around there. And while I adore your parents, Em, we don’t have much privacy at the rental. The new house isn’t ready. When I mentioned to Lambert I was going to book us into a suite at a downtown hotel, he was the one that mentioned us using the yacht.”
Emma took a tiny sip of her drink, no doubt trying to make it last as long as possible. Then she asked, “So, whose boat is this, really?”
“It belongs to one of the silent investors he hooked us up with. An investor I’ll be introducing you to properly soon.”
It was Chase that started putting things together first. “Properly? I know all of the investors. Mrs. Burrows mentioned Judge McDonald.” He paused, looking as if he were trying to remember something. “We met him once in D.C., right? If I remember he was…” He paused again, this time a grin coming to his face that lit up his caramel brown eyes with mischief. “He was Naughty Boy the night of Roulette.”
Jaxson lifted his empty glass in a silent toast to their absent host. “The very same. Seems the judge has done well for himself both politically and financially. He was so impressed with Black Light after that night that he begged to become a minority partner in the west coast club. He’s a federal judge in the Southern California district. That’s where the connection with Lambert, Urbanski, and Reed comes in.”
“Okay, so that makes sense I guess.” Chase pinned Jaxson with a pointed glare as he added, “It still doesn’t explain why we needed to set sail just to get some privacy.”
“No, it doesn’t,” Jaxson agreed, wishing he’d brought the rest of the bottle of booze out with him. He could use a refill.
He’d planned out what he wanted to say, so the fact that he was feeling tongue-tied made Jaxson feel uncharacteristically vulnerable.
What if they think I’ve made a mistake?
Being in control was something Jaxson Davidson was very comfortable with, so the racing of his heart as he tried to say the most important words he may ever say felt foreign to him.
He was grateful for the patient smiles reflecting back at him from both Emma and Chase as they waited for him to pull his shit together. He grasped the contents of his left pocket in his closed fist and barged forward.
“Judge McDonald has agreed to make a special visit to the mansion next Wednesday. Technically, he won’t be there in any official capacity, but his presence is important to me.”
“Next Wednesday? Is he the person you agreed to host a party for the day before the official opening? I still can’t believe you agreed to anything that accelerated the opening deadlines,” Chase replied.
“The judge is actually just a guest. He’ll be officiating at the wedding that we will be hosting on the lawns near the pool.”
Emma’s face shined with excitement. “A wedding? Oh how fun! Who’s getting married?”
Just say it.
Jaxson stepped forward until he was just in front of his lovers sitting on the couch, and then he went down on one knee. Pulling his hand out of his left pocket, he held the contents out in front of him as he answered her question. “I’m hoping we are.”
He’d expected some confusion… maybe a few questions… crying… laughter… He hadn’t expected silence.
“Say something,” Jaxson urged, hating the warble he heard in his voice.
Emma and Chase looked nervously at each other before turning back towards him. Chase finally spoke. “Exactly which one of us are you asking to marry you?”
Duh.
“Neither. I mean both! All three of us.”
“But, that’s not legal,” Emma added, still confused.
“Of course not, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t have a commitment ceremony where we pledge our love to each other publicly in front of our closest friends and family. I know your father wants the real thing, but this is the next best thing.”
Emma looked uncomfortable. “We don’t need to do this just for my father. He will get over it eventually.”
This wasn’t going like he’d planned it in his head at all. Jaxson pushed down his insecurities as he tried to recover.
“I’m not just doing this for Robert. I’m not doing it for anyone really, other than ourselves.” Jaxson spoke from his heart as he finally got out the words he’d been planning. “You two are my life. My family. I want us all to spend the rest of our lives together. I know we don’t need a piece of paper to legitimize our family, but now that we’re going to bring the twins into this world, I want more than anything for us to stand in front of each other and those we love and pledge our lifetime commitment to each other and our children.”
It was tenderhearted Chase who started crying first, but Emma’s happy tears weren’t far behind. Jax had to close his fist quickly to avoid dropping the contents as Chase and Emma catapulted as one from the couch, knocking him on his back to the deck of the yacht as they pelted him with hugs and kisses through their laughter and tears.
Jaxson laughed. “Okay, this is a little closer to the response I was hoping for.”
Chase pushed up so he could peer down at Jaxson as he asked, “How long have you been planning this?”
“A few days.”
“So it’s our wedding that is the event next Wednesday?”
“If you’ll have me.”
Emma had collapsed against him, hugging him tight, her answer muffled against the shirt she was presently wetting with her tears, “Yes!”
Chase’s answer came in the form of an almost violent open-mouthed kiss. The triad lay sprawled on the back deck of the boat, letting their passion for each other weld them together as surely as any legal marriage could have.
By the time Chase came up for air, all three of them were short of breath, lying in a heap as the yacht rocked gently the farther and farther away they sailed from the coastline. No one spoke for a long time, just enjoying the promise of their future together.
It was Emma who finally broke the silence. “I get that it can’t be legal and that’s fine, but then what was all of that paperwork you had us sign?”
Jax patted each of them, silently signaling for them to all sit up. Despite being only a few feet away from the couch, the trio chose to stay seated on the deck where they could form a tight circle.
Only once they were settled where they could see each other again did Jaxson answer. “With Connor’s help, we’ve drawn up incorporation papers for our new official partnership. Up until now, Chase and I have been individual investors, in business together as half owners of the East Coast clubs. He’s helped us set things up to not only join our assets into our new family business, but he also made sure to do it in a way to help us minimize taxes and future inheritance concerns. I’ll let him answer any legal questions you have, but in short, we are now all equal partners. We are also starting a trust fund for each baby as soon as they are born that they will get control of when they turn twenty-five. This will make sure they are taken care of, no matter what else happens with our business.”
The spark of anger in Emma’s violet eyes surprised him. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m thrilled to stand in front of our friends and family and declare our love and commitment, but I don’t need a piece of paper to prove anything, and I sure as hell am not in this for a slice of your money.”
Chase turned to her, grinning. “Which is just one of the million things we both love about you, but Jaxson is right to do this. It will help protect you and the kids just in case something happens to Jax or me, or God forbid, both.”
“Don’t say such a thing!” Emma cried out.
Jaxson stroked her arm gently trying to keep her calm. “Nothing is going to happen. We are just being cautious. It’s the responsible thing to do to make sure you and the babies are taken care of. I’d never even finalized a will before now for crying out loud! And since we can’t legally marry, the courts would get to decide what to do with my assets if I died today.” He paused before adding on his number one concern. “Don’t for one minute think that my father wouldn’t swoop in and try to make a grab for everything. He’d love nothing more than to get the last laugh over what he sees as our sinful way of life by stealing everything from both of you.”
The threat wasn’t some idle long shot. He knew with every fiber of his being that his father would love nothing more than stealing everything from Chase, and even Emma and the kids, should anything happen to him. It would have been bad enough before, but he would never let that happen to his children.
Chase nodded seriously. “I hadn’t even thought about him, but you’re absolutely right. He’d love to stick it to me after how we came out so publicly. And, I hate to say it, but he’ll never accept the babies.”
He could see Emma mulling their words over, still not convinced.
Jaxson reached for her hands and waited for her to look into his eyes to speak from his heart. “I love that you don’t want our money, baby, but like it or not, we need to make sure we do all we can to protect ourselves and the kids. If it were just two of the three of us, you wouldn’t be giving it another thought. Married couples combine assets all the time.”
“Or they have pre-nup agreements,” she answered quietly.
“Fuck that! You are an equal partner. I’m convinced that without you, Chase and I would still be on the road, unfocused and gallivanting from photo shoot to photo shoot. I’d have just kept getting more angry and distant. You and Chase together helped me focus on the important things in life. You’re the catalyst for me wanting to step up my game.”
Chase grinned. “Jax is right. You should have seen how surly he was getting before we met you.”
“Thanks for the help, Chase,” he deadpanned.
“Anytime, babe,” Chase teased.
The trio chuckled in unison. As usual, Chase provided the good-natured lightness that Jaxson loved so very much.
He thrust his left hand forward into the center of their intimate circle and waited until he had his lovers’ attention before turning his hand and opening his fist, palm up, to reveal his next surprise. He’d picked the contents up just that morning on the way into the mansion.
Chase and Emma leaned in to get a closer look, but neither of them dared to touch the rings now glittering in the late afternoon sunshine.
Jaxson picked up the smallest of the three identical rings, holding it up for their inspection.
“I had them specially designed. I hope you both like them. And aren’t disappointed that I didn’t buy you a big diamond, Emma. I wanted us to all wear the same rings though, since they are so symbolic of our relationship.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, they’re beautiful!” Fresh tears were streaming down Emma’s cheeks as she reverently reached to touch the ring he held up.
“Hold out your left hand, baby. Let’s see if I got the size right.”
Emma complied. Jax could see a slight tremble in her hand as he slowly placed the trinity ring on her left ring finger.
She glowed as she exclaimed, “It’s perfect! I love it so much.”
Jaxson turned to Chase next who already had his left hand out, waiting for his own ring. As he took Chase’s hand, he explained what was probably obvious to them. “I had the jeweler design the three smaller rings linked together into one wedding band. The black onyx band is for me since we all know I’m the darkest one of the three of us. Like in real life, the white gold band is for you Chase, because it’s lightness balances me. Dark and light.”
Tears glistened in Chase’s eyes as Jaxson seated the ring lovingly on Chase’s ring finger. Only then did he explain, “The diamond encrusted band in the middle is for you, Em, because you are the sparkle that lit up our lives. And we are all at our best when we are intertwined together.”
Emma leaned forward to hug Jaxson. “It is the most beautiful piece of jewelry I’ve ever seen. I would have been so upset if you got me something different. It is absolutely perfect for us. Thank you.”
“So you’re going to wear a wedding band too?” Chase asked.
Jaxson pulled Emma to sit in his lap so they could look at Chase. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”
“I don’t know. Sometimes husbands don’t always wear a wedding ring.”
“Well this husband is going to. It never even occurred to me not to. I love that we will all share this.” Jaxson slid the last ring on his finger.
“I agree completely,” Emma added.
“That’s not all that I think we should all share.” Jaxson looked between them.
Chase grinned. “I think we are extremely good at sharing lots of things already, unless you’re trying to tell us you’re going to take your share of sleeping on the wet spot after all these years.”
They all chuckled. “Nope. I’m still your Dom and as such, I draw the line at sleeping in the wet spot.” He waited for the levity to pass before adding more seriously. “I was actually hoping we could all share the same last name, like most other married people.”
Emma squealed, agreeing easily. “Emma Davidson! It is a bit like a dream come true. I’ve never been one of those liberated women who insist on keeping their own last name.”
Chase was a bit slower to answer, just as Jaxson had expected. Chase Cartwright was a brand. It wasn’t just who he was as a man, but it was the name he’d got famous with… made his millions with. Only Jaxson could truly understand what he was asking of his lover and friend.
“Chase Davidson. It does have a nice ring to it and God knows I love the idea of sharing your name, Jax. Please don’t be angry, but it may take me a bit more time than Emma to get used to the idea since men don’t normally plan for changing their name.”
“I totally understand. In fact, the more I thought about it, I just couldn’t feel right about asking you to lose the Cartwright name… so that’s why I had Connor fill it out to have your legal name changed to Chase Michael Cartwright-Davidson.”
“That’s nice, but I’d rather just have the same last name as you and Emma.”
“Oh, you will. He is filing Emma’s legal name as Emma Nicole Cartwright-Davidson.”
It was Emma that complained. “No! I agree with Chase. We want to all three have the same last name. That’s important.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” He grinned before adding, “That’s why I’m changing my legal name to Jaxson Andrew Cartwright-Davidson.”
He had never seen Chase look more surprised. Not in the almost ten years they had known each other.
“You did WHAT?” Chase screeched.
“You heard me. I’m officially changing my last name, too.”
“But… you’re Jaxson Davidson,” Chase uttered with awe in his voice.
Jax chuckled. “Yep, and I’ll still be the same Jaxson, but as soon as Lambert gets the paperwork filed and approved, that will be Jaxson Cartwright-Davidson.” Jaxson turned to Emma in his lap and teased her. “I hope you understand why I didn’t make it Fischer-Cartwright-Davidson. That would have been ridiculously long.”
Emma hugged him so hard it almost hurt. “You are absolutely the most romantic man in the whole wide world. What an awesome surprise!”
Jax hugged her close as she wrapped her legs around him, clinging to him like a monkey. He was able to watch Chase over her shoulder. His heart swelled with the love he felt for the handsome blond with the sexy as fuck hair he loved to pull as he fucked him from behind. When Chase turned his expressive eyes to meet Jaxson’s, the love he felt shining back at him would have turned his knees weak if he’d been standing.
Jaxson reached out with his left hand, his own trinity ring shimmering in the sunlight as he silently beckoned his lover to join them. Chase leaned in reverently, sandwiching Emma between the men, exactly where she belonged.
Chase’s voice warbled when he spoke softly. “You don’t need to do this. I’ll happily change my name to Davidson.”
The men’s eyes locked as Jaxson reassured him. “I know you would, but it’s done. I love you, and in my heart I know this is the right thing for us.”
Chase leaned in, placing his forehead against Jaxson’s, intimately linking their trio as he repeated the mantra they had come up with years before. “Where you go, we all go.”
“Hell yes. And right now I think we should all go find our stateroom and do a bit of celebrating before we have Mrs. Burrows make us dinner.”
His heart warmed when Chase and Emma answered in unison, “Yes, sir.”
It was that moment he was absolutely certain he was the luckiest bastard on the planet.