Chapter 66: Jean Broody vs. Bradley Jackson ~ When suppressed desires explode… Time to act!
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The pain in Jean’s whispered question was all the confirmation Dean needed. His brother wasn’t the one in control of the situation. Bradley was. He’d obviously called things off. But why? Was it because he wanted to remain in the closet for his career? Was that even a problem anymore? Didn’t he care at all about how other people felt? Dean knew his brother wasn’t the problem because on Christmas day, Jean had made it crystal clear to both him and Tyler that he didn’t care what anyone said, he was going to be with the soldier. The problem was, therefore, Bradley.
“I need to talk to him.” Dean breathed.
“Please,” Jean whispered shakily. “I will tell you everything. But are you sure he’s going on a mission tomorrow?” Wide, pained blue eyes stared into Dean’s.
“That’s what Ty said. They leave in the morning.” Dean watched the pain in his brother’s eyes and felt an answering pain within. “Jay…”
“It was just sex for him, Dean,” Jean said quietly. “And the way he said it… I knew but it still hurt to hear it. It shouldn’t have hurt.” He gave a humourless laughter. “One would think I should be happy with meaningless sex.”
“That’s the understanding between you and all those women, Jay.” Dean breathed. “This is different. The two of you didn’t have any such understanding. You got in too deep obviously, pun definitely intended.”
Jean didn’t even acknowledge the joke. Hearing that Bradley was going away on a mission only added worry to his heartache. Bradley should have told him. But then, it wasn’t as if they were in a relationship. The soldier, therefore, didn’t owe him any such courtesy.
“I can’t force him to be with me when he doesn’t want to,” Jean said softly. “I just…”
“Somehow Jackson doesn’t strike me as someone who would trivialize intimacy,” Dean said. “Maybe he just doesn’t want to risk the military finding out.”
“That’s just it, Dean. The Bradley I’ve come to know wouldn’t care who knows. Hell, if he’d asked me to do this with him in secret, I would. I don’t care how complicated this gets. I still want him.”
“Sex with the right person can be addictive as fuck.” Dean murmured.
“This is not my cock talking, Dean.” Jean groaned. “There’s just something about him that I’m scared to lose because I know I won’t find it in anyone else.”
“Damn, that’s deep, man.”
“I could have sworn he liked me.”
“Have you spoken to him since that day you last saw him?”
“No.”
“Maybe you should. Be sure he really doesn’t want this. Then move on. As you said, you can’t force…” He trailed off when the door opened to reveal a concerned-looking Kayla.
“You guys okay?” She asked as she came closer to the bed. “Jean?” She kicked off her flip-flops, got into the bed, and spooned her husband, her chin on Dean’s shoulder and her eyes trained on Jean. “Has he talked yet?” Kayla’s eyes remained on Jean but her question was directed at her husband.
“He got his heartbroken.” Dean murmured.
“Jean Broody?” Kayla gasped. “Wow! What woman in her right mind wouldn’t want him? Hell, even I would leave you in a heartbeat for him.”
“Not possible.” Dean chuckled. “You’re addicted to cuddling. This idiot wouldn’t give you that.”
“Aw,” Kayla said in a voice so comical Jean laughed. “How boring. Who’s the chic?”
“Will you two stop discussing me as if I’m not here?” Jean groaned. “And it’s not a chic. It’s a guy.”
“Shut. Up.” Kayla screeched. “Are you serious?” Jean rolled his eyes, making his brother laugh. “Oh my god!” Kayla gasped. “Dad’s going to kill you.”
“Who cares what he thinks?” Dean snorted.
“What happened between you and your…man?” Kayla reached out to comb her fingers through Jean’s hair.
“I said the guy broke his heart.” Dean drawled. “Said everything was just sex and nothing more.” He ignored Jean’s groan.
“Oh no, he didn’t,” Kayla growled. “Who’s the asshole?” She watched as a quick look passed between the brothers. She was used to them. Those two didn’t need to speak to understand each other. “Hello…third person in the room.”
“It’s Jackson,” Dean said, getting on his back and drawing Kayla on top of him.
“What?” At Kayla’s shocked whisper, Dean burst into laughter.
“I wanted to see your face when you heard that.” Dean laughed, closing the gap between their lips and kissing her softly.
“I didn’t know Jackson was into guys. But then, neither is…Have you always been bi?” Kayla asked Jean.
“No,” Jean said softly. “Bradley turned me bi.” He added with a funny look that made his brother laugh.
“Well, I can tell you this. Jackson is not an asshole.” Kayla said, still dazed. “I don’t see Jackson saying something that cruel and actually meaning it. That’s just not him.”
“Ya think?” Dean tried to kiss Kayla again but she sat up.
“The more I think about it, the more convinced I become,” Kayla said. “He must have had another reason for not wanting to be with you. He obviously doesn’t want you to know.”
“Well, he’s already told me.” Jean rolled onto his back, thinking about Bradley’s fucked up childhood. “But I thought we were past that. We were doing so well. His attitude certainly doesn’t make sense.”
“I think you need to have a serious talk with him,” Kayla said. “Get him to tell you what the real problem is.”
“He’s going on a mission.” Jean sighed.
“Tonight?” Kayla asked.
“Your husband says they leave tomorrow.”
“So go see him tonight.”
“Can’t. Too drunk.” Jean groaned.
“First thing tomorrow morning then.” Kayla’s voice brooked no argument.
“All right, all right.” Jean drew a pillow over his face. “Now will you two just leave me alone? Go fuck each other’s brains out or something.” His voice was muffled by the pillow. “I need some sleep.”
Kayla pushed the pillow away from Jean’s face and leaned down to kiss him on both cheeks. “Everything will be just fine. Just be calm and talk to him, okay?”
Jean nodded. “For the record, I’d cuddle with you if you were mine.”
“Well, she’s not so fuck off,” Dean muttered as he got off the bed, making Kayla burst into laughter.
“Goodnight you two.” Jean laughed.
“Goodnight.” Dean and Kayla responded in unison.
Jean smiled as he watched them go. He felt better because he’d been given some hope. His mood was definitely better than when Dean had initially entered the room. But then he loved his brother and he loved Kayla as well and always felt some joy within whenever the three of them got together. He would always be thankful that Dean hadn’t consented to a threesome between the three of them the first time he’d introduced Kayla to him. That had been the first time he’d seen his brother really crazy about a woman.
He’d understood Dean and chilled out. Jean was sure that threesome if it had happened, would have marred his and Kayla’s relationship. He still teased Kayla about that one time he’d watched her and Dean have sex though. He called it their personal threesome. There was no two ways about it…his brother had his soul mate. And Jean was happy for him. Who knew…maybe one day, he’d also meet his soulmate Jean told himself as he began to drift off. Hopefully, that soulmate was closer than he knew.