Chapter 54: Jean Broody vs. Bradley Jackson ~ When suppressed desires explode… Rescue!

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Dinner went well. Jean kept his eyes on Bradley the entire time. He wanted to know immediately Bradley’s demeanor changed. He would mouth ‘are you okay?’ to Bradley whenever their eyes met. His interest in Bradley was so obvious that at a point, Lucy looked at her son, followed his gaze to Bradley, and then asked with concern whether Bradley was okay. Bradley responded that he was and then resumed conversing with Kayla, who was sitting beside him.

After the meal, everyone gathered around the Christmas tree in the garden to open presents, which was the Broody tradition. There were lots of squealing and shouts of delight as people opened their presents. Bradley was pleasantly surprised when he received presents from Michael and Lucy, Dean and Kayla, and then Jean. The elderly couple gave him an expensive-looking Louis Vuitton Mirage belt and a Crocodile Bi-Fold Wallet. Dean and Kayla gave him a spy sunglasses, spy pen, and spy cigarette lighter, all with built-in hidden cameras.

“His idea, not mine.” Kayla pointed to her husband, making everyone laugh.

When Bradley picked up Jean’s neatly wrapped gift, his heart began to pound. He was both excited and scared to see what was inside the box. With bated breath, he unwrapped it as everyone watched. He finally opened the box, dipped his hand in, and brought out a grenade-shaped, army-green coloured mug. Everyone burst into laughter. The mug, which looked exactly like a hand grenade, had a tag around the pin that read, ‘B.J. the Badass’. And inside the mug was an army-green grenade zippered key chain.

“Thank you all. Sorry I couldn’t get you anything.” Bradley apologized.

“You’re under house arrest, dude. Of course, you couldn’t have.” Dean murmured, earning himself the finger from Jean and a grin from Bradley.

The presents were so many that it was almost midnight by the time they were done unwrapping each. Everyone jumped to their feet and started heading inside immediately the last gift was unwrapped.

“Where’s everyone going?” Bradley asked when Jean gestured for him to stand.

“To the roof. Come on.”

Some, like Bradley and Jean, took the stairs whilst others got on the elevators. The rooftop, which obviously doubled as a helipad, was so beautifully decorated Bradley wondered why they hadn’t had dinner up there instead. There were lights all over and other tall buildings around. Bradley realized that the windows of most of the buildings around were filled with people, looking at where they stood on top of the roof. Most of the staff and some of the brothers had bottles of champagne in their hands. Jean didn’t go for a bottle but rather stood beside Bradley.

“What’s going on?” Bradley asked Jean but he only gave a mysterious smile.

“Wait for it…”

Bradley heard the loud whistling sound a split second before the skies lit up in brilliant colours. He gasped at the beauty of it all. “Oh my god…fireworks.” He couldn’t help the excitement within and the smile on his face. He felt like a kid on Christmas morning. He thought it was absolutely spectacular.

“Mum does it every year.” Jean grinned, loving the excitement on Bradley’s face.

Sounds of champagne popping mingled with the sounds of fireworks. And there were shouts of Merry Christmas and hugs all around. But through it all, Jean didn’t look at the fireworks. His eyes remained on Bradley. He couldn’t tear his eyes off the soldier’s face.

“I want to kiss you so bad right now,” Jean said loud enough for Bradley to hear. And when Bradley took his eyes off the fireworks to look at him, he asked softly; “May I?”

Bradley’s breath hitched in his throat at the blatant look of longing and something else he couldn’t put his finger on, in Jean’s eyes. He shifted his eyes to glance at all the couples hugging and kissing each other openly and felt a pang inside his chest. He wished he could openly show affection to Jean too. But he knew it wouldn’t be appropriate. His eyes briefly met and held Dean’s before settling back on Jean’s face.

Apart from Dean who’d seen them kissing earlier that evening, no one even knew Jean had a thing for him or vice versa. He couldn’t allow Jean to spring what was between them on his family by kissing him openly. Jean obviously didn’t give a fuck but he couldn’t watch the guy do that to his family. Bradley licked his lips which had suddenly gone dry.

“I…”

“Hey guys, come and help me bring out more champagne.” Dean appeared beside them, draped an arm around each man’s neck, and then propelled them towards a corner on the rooftop.

“There are lots of full bottles around, Dean.” Jean groaned. “We don’t have to go for more.”

“Take a good look around pal. Some people are not even using champagne glasses.” Dean drawled. “Greedy pigs like Ron and Tyler are drinking out of the bottles. I say we need more…” Dean stopped walking when they found themselves in an obscure corner. “All right, here will do. Now, do your thing.” Dean released Bradley and pressed a kiss to Jean’s forehead. “No one will come here.” With that, he started to walk off.

“Thanks.” Jean choked. He’d never loved his twin more. He turned to face Bradley. “Still waiting for an answer.” He said quietly.

Bradley didn’t speak. He simply pushed Jean against a pillar and started devouring his mouth right there on the rooftop with over thirty people not too far from where they stood. Neither could suppress his moans as the kiss turned hot and fierce. They were completely lost in each other and utterly drunk on the sweet feeling they aroused in each other. Their lips only parted when there was the need for air.

“What are you doing to me, Jean?” Bradley gasped against Jean’s kiss-swollen mouth. He bumped his foreheads against Jean’s as he tried to bring his breathing under control. He’d never wanted another human being as much as he wanted the man in his arms that very moment. “You’re driving me crazy.” He moaned brokenly. “I don’t know what to think, what to feel…I’m just…” He groaned.

“Don’t think.” Jean breathed, flicking the tip of his tongue against Bradley’s lips. “Just go with it.” His lips moved to Bradley’s neck.”

“Oh hell…” Bradley moaned shakily as he shivered with pleasure. The feel of Jean’s lips on his neck was creating a whole lot of havoc with his senses. “Jean please stop before I lose control.” But even as he tried to stop Jean with his words, Bradley tilted his head to the side to give Jean better access to his sensitive flesh, totally contradicting himself. “I want you so much right now.” He whimpered.

“You can have me…” Jean’s hand went to Bradley’s zipper but the soldier stopped him before he could unzip him. “Why?” Jean groaned.

“Because there are kids around. Any of them can wander over here and see what they shouldn’t.” Bradley explained between kisses.

“You’re right.” Jean sighed. “But this is not right. We shouldn’t be hiding in order to kiss each other. I had a feeling you weren’t going to kiss me earlier when I asked.” He murmured.

“I didn’t want you to shock your family. Especially your parents. You need to prepare them before you put on any PDA.” At Jean’s snort, Bradley chuckled. “You know deep within that I’m right. The Jean I know wouldn’t have asked permission to kiss me back there. You would have just gone ahead and devoured me till I became a quivering mess. But you asked because deep down, you knew that it wasn’t the right place or time. You were unconsciously hoping I’d say no.”