He chuckled at the image of higher gates; it was a baby jail.
Ford took a seat beside Sawyer and rested his head on his shoulder.
“Do you think she’ll be back?” He looked up at Sawyer, but didn’t move from where he rested.
Sawyer drew circles on his leg. He was quiet for a moment before answering. “I don’t know, but we can’t keep hiding or living in fear. We protect the kids, be vigilant, but we keep living our lives. When she is transported back to New York, she will probably be put in jail this time since she fled from rehab.”
His breathing sped up. “It’s just…” his hand stopped moving on Ford’s leg, “I keep wondering what would have happened if Cynthia had got away with them. What if she just...” Sawyer’s hand on his thigh tightened, a shudder racking his body, “What if we couldn’t find them?”
He covered Sawyer’s hand with his. “They know that you’ll do everything to protect them.” Ford moved so he could see Sawyer as he spoke. He cupped Sawyer’s cheek, “You’re right, we can’t let it control our lives.
Sawyer nodded, “You’re right. You’re right.”
“Of course I’m right.” Ford’s voice was teasing.
Sawyer leaned in, and they kissed.
“We should probably get some work done,” Ford said. He made to move, but Sawyer stopped him.
“I'll get our laptops.” He pecked Ford’s lips. “I want some Ford time even if it’s spent working side by side.”
Ford’s skin flushed at his words, “I’d like that.” He murmured, cupping Sawyer’s face and pressing a slow, gentle kiss to his lips. Ford took his time to savor Sawyer’s mouth against his. God, he loved this man so much that he wanted to drown in him.
Ford deepened the kiss, groaning as their tongues matched stroke for stroke.
He loved the scratchy feeling of Sawyer’s beard against his face and the way his arms wrapped around his body with promises to never let him go.
They finally broke apart when breathing became necessary, and he saw Sawyer had lifted him onto his lap.
“I should go get our laptops before this goes any further.”
Desire radiated between them, almost like a living thing. He felt the hardness of Sawyer’s cock pressed between them.
Ford scrambled off Sawyer. “Go.” He pointed in the general direction of the office. “Before we…”
Sawyer stared at him, and Ford could see him weighing up the decision, and Ford wasn’t even sure which one he wanted him to make.
When Sawyer finally got on his feet, there was a pang of disappointment.
“Later.” Sawyer leaned down for a swift kiss. “Maybe you can slip into something pretty for me.”
Ford watched him walk away, his body heating at the thought of slipping into his pretty things. He’d mostly been in cute boy shorts recently. Way more functional.
Still, the thought of a night slipping into something just for Sawyer to take off gave Ford a smile he couldn’t wipe off his face.
The better part of the morning was spent with the two of them on their laptops working, taking turns to distract Callum when he got bored of his toys. Ford stopped briefly to get Callum a snack, but at about eleven, he started to get fussy, the iPad and toys no longer holding his interest.
Usually Ford’s mom would have picked Callum up for the day, but he’d told her they were having some bonding time with the kids.
Ford smiled at Callum, and he stopped fussing. He put his hand on his eyes and then took it off, “Peekaboo.” Callum laughed and clapped, so he did it again a few times before focusing back to the screen. From his periphery, he caught Sawyer putting his laptop to the side, getting to his feet, and going over and swooping Callum into his arms.
He swished him in the air like an airplane, making the sounds, and Callum’s raucous laughter filled the room. When Sawyer got tired, he plopped down beside him, but Ford knew from experience that Callum would keep going if given the chance. Ford had to hold back the chuckle at the look on Sawyer’s face when Callum reached out to him with his arms, and he took the toddler from Sawyer.
“I am not going to take that personally”— Sawyer mock pouted—“because my arms feel like it was doing bi’s and tri’s at the gym.”
Ford snorted. “Mmm, maybe someone needs to double up on their arm days.”
Sawyer let out a gasp and looked at Callum. “Ford is mean. He says awful things to your brother.”
Callum said “Mean,” and Ford couldn’t stop the smile that appeared on his face. They had realized that Callum seemed slightly delayed in his speaking ability and already decided this would be brought up with the pediatrician again to see what more they could do. He had already told them that the mother’s addictions could have led to some developmental delays. It still made him angry because it meant Cynthia had been using while pregnant.
“We’ll be fine,” Sawyer said.
Ford brushed a kiss on Sawyer’s lips. “Yeah. Yes we will.”
Ford could tell that even though they’d stopped talking about Cynthia and the past week, it still weighed on Sawyer’s mind. Maybe he needed a distraction.
“How about we drop Callum off with my mom and go to the site today, get out of the house. I want to check on the progress, and I would love the company.”
“Look at you… now who’s the boss?” Sawyer teased. He kissed Ford, and Ford chuckled against his lips. When they parted, Sawyer went to grab the bag they kept packed for Callum.
Getting his mom to watch Callum with no notice was easy, and he never had to call ahead. They got to his parents’ house quickly, then, when Cal was settled, Ford stood and grabbed his keys.
“We’re gonna take off, Mom,” Ford said.
“You two have a good day at work.” She smiled at them from her position on the living room floor with Callum, the two of them working on a beginner’s
