~ ~ Josh ~ ~

Tossing my keys onto the side cabinet, I called out, "Alex?"

"Kitchen!" he yelled back as I headed that way.

We'd both been out today. Me with Cam. Him with Finn and Trix to Customer sites.

Stepping inside the kitchen first thing I noticed was he was still wearing his suit, minus the jacket with his shirt cuffs rolled up to his elbows. He didn't turn around and the tension in his body was telling enough. Second thing I noticed, the mess. On every surface, there were pots, pans, and utensils like he'd emptied every cupboard.

Tugging at my tie to loosen it. "Do you need any help?"

Tonight was the night Ivy's family was coming to dinner.

Alex grumbled something I didn't catch. Closing the distance between us in two long strides, I trapped him between me and the kitchen counter, forcing him to flip around.

"F-F-F-fuck Josh. Quit it. N-nuh-no t-t-time for this. I need to cc-c-crack on."

Yeah, he was stressed as fuck. Time to intervene. "So noted, but I need you to do something for me." Alex's throat worked as he swallowed. "Breathe."

I framed his jaw with my hand, my grip a tad firmer as I moved closer, with a feather-light touch of my lips to his. "Let me help you."

Beads of sweat broke out under Alex's bottom lip, wetting his short stubble and I didn't even try to stop myself from tasting it with the tip of my tongue whilst I loosed his tie, flipping a button on his shirt and then lowered to taste the skin on his throat, to tease his racing pulse. "Relax. I've got you."

"Yeah," he slowly exhaled. His words came out a little gruff and breathless. "Better, I got this."

With a satisfied smile, easing back. "No. We've got this." I challenged. "Now tell me what you need me to do."

His chest inflated. "Chop vegetables?"

I smiled, slipping off my jacket. "My speciality."

And still dressed in our suits, Alex pulled out his laptop and loaded a video of some bloke talking about Italian food. And we got to work prepping tonight's meal and just as we'd finished, there was an incoming alert on Alex's laptop.

"Ivy," Alex said, grabbing a towel to wipe over his hands and then quitting the tutorial video he hit the call connect and moved the laptop to the counter so we could both see her.

Her smiley face filled the screen, but it quickly dropped as her eyes ran over us. "Shit. You're both wearing shirts with ties?" Shaking her head. "You both hate wearing suits."

True, and we both grinned. "Don't worry, we've just not had time to change. Been out on meetings all day." Ivy's shoulders relaxed. "But do you have any preference for what we should wear?"

First impressions were important, and none more so when meeting Ivy's family for the first time. She'd already said her mum was ultra-traditional and maybe god's number one fan.

Ivy shook her head. "Just be yourselves and wear what you feel comfortable in. You're not on display." She bit her lip. "But I have some shitty news—about tonight."

My stomach dropped and Alex tensed beside me. "Hit us with it."

"My grams isn't feeling well." Ivy winced. " She won't be coming tonight."

Fuck. Her grams was supposedly far more laid-back and easier to impress.

Ivy smiled, waving it off. "But don't stress. It will be fine, but just in case, I will apologise now for the crazy shit my mom might do or say."

"It's good. I'm sure she'll like us—both." I smiled, but honestly, I didn't know what to expect from tonight.

"Ugh." Ivy pouted dramatically. "You're gonna have to gimme something. Distract me, because I'm going batshit here."

It was a pain in the arse not being able to see Ivy, well technically we had seen her—via webcam. Which had been a fucking great idea, especially with Ivy being the sexy exhibitionist she was and loved playing up to the camera and I'd either wanked or blown Alex as he instructed us both what to do.

Smiling, loosening my tie a little more and flipping the top few buttons on my shirt, I shifted closer to Alex, leaning in to run my lips up his earlobe and sucked it gently.

Ivy hummed her appreciation, and I asked him. "You up for giving our girl a distraction?"

Alex turned toward me, a wolfish grin on his face as he took hold of the end of my tie and wrapped it around his fist. He jerked on it to bring me flush against him. "Your on," he said, claiming my lips in a fierce kiss, licking into my mouth. But that was only the start. Breaking apart, he turned me to face Ivy, who was watching with greedy eyes and lips slightly parted as Alex moved to stand right behind me as his hands came around front and worked my belt off. Undoing my pants, he pushed them down and then shifted my boxers to just below my balls as his hand fisted around my dick and his hot lips pressed against my ear.

"Try not to shoot all over my screen, yeah?"

I heard the smile in his words as he pumped my cock at a languorous pace and his other hand gripped my shoulder to hold me in place. "This what our girl wanted, huh?" he asked over my shoulder.

"Fuck, yeah... don't stop," said Ivy, denting her bottom lip with her teeth.

"Spread those legs, Ivy. Let me see that pussy."

Ivy hiked up her skirt and bonus, she was wearing black crotchless panties as her fingers slid up her smooth brown thighs and then made a V, spreading wide her pussy to have my mouth watering and Alex groaning behind me.

"Dirty little slut, aren't you?" said Alex, his voice a little deeper. "Are you wet for us?"

She dipped a finger inside her pussy and brought it up to her lips and sucked. "Hmm, very."

"Good, but no playing, just stay that way, I like pussy on display for us. Teasing our boy here."

Our boy.

"Ah-huh, and if my mom starts one of her rants." Wiggling her eyebrows. "Just remember what I'm wearing under my skirt, just for you boys."

And that had us both groaning.

Keeping my eyes on Ivy, pleasure tightened in my groin and had my back arching as and electric current zipped down my spine. A low growl rumbled in my chest, and I almost missed Alex's question.

"You want to shoot off in my hand or my mouth, pretty boy?"

"Fuck." This was a first for us—him offering his mouth for me to get off.

"Josh?" His teeth grazed my ear. "Choose before I do." His hand gripped me a little tighter, working me a little faster.

Door number two! "Mouth. Mouth. I want your mouth." And Ivy's smile got wider.

I had to swallow because my mouth was suddenly bone dry at the thought of scraping the back of Alex's throat with my dick, which almost tipped me over the edge as I tried to hold back from unloading too soon.

Alex stepped back and moved to the side and I turned to my side, facing him, but making sure Ivy still had a clear view. He didn't hesitate shifting to his knees. Something I wasn't sure I'd ever see and it had me gawping in awe.

"Feed me that dick, pretty boy."

"Fuck, yeah," I heard Ivy mutter, but I couldn't tear my eyes from Alex.

With fucking pleasure.

I gripped my dick, stepping closer. Eyes on me, his mouth opened and there was no quitting my stupid grin as I watched Alex's lips wrap around the head.

Fucking. Hell.

I wanted to grunt—yell—whatever, but holding my breath, I kept dead still and let him explore because up to this very moment, he'd only taken a quick lick, well two, but who was counting... oh yeah, me.

"Jesus. That looks so freaking hot," said Ivy.

Shit. Fuck. Shit. I hadn't even touched the back of his throat when I unloaded.

Mentally slapping myself. Talk about my shortcomings... ugh. Un-fucking-believable. But, hey—it was another thing ticked off my bucket-list. And I prayed it wasn't the last time he got on his knees for me.

Watching Alex rise, wiping his hand across his mouth, I turned to Ivy who said. "Baby-boy, I can see I'm gonna have to work on your control."

There was a tease in her voice and a little dominance too, which fuck me, it had my dick stirring again.

Damn if only we had the time. "Yes, Ivy," I answered with a smile.

~ ~

Later, having showered and dressed. I found Alex downstairs, he looked hot in a black Henley and dark jeans. He then dished out strict instructions on how he wanted the dinner table setting. We were dining in the 'official' dining room.

We never sat in here to eat.

But tonight, Alex was going all out to impress.

The doorbell rang out, and I smirked knowing Ivy had her own key but had chosen not to use it. "I got it," I shouted out to Alex. On the way to the door, I couldn't miss how my insides felt like they were being twisted by a fork.

Opening it, I didn't have to fake a smile when Ivy's smile met mine. "Hey," she greeted, holding up a bottle of white wine.

I had to curl my toes not to reach out and pull her in for a kiss. "Hi," my eyes shifted to her mum, who was standing stiffly with a practised smile which wasn't exactly warm but not unfriendly either.

"C'mon in," I stepped aside, and they both came in and I closed the door. "Its great to meet you Mrs Simcox," offering my hand as I heard Alex coming down the hall from the kitchen.

"Mrs S-S-Simcox," greeted Alex standing beside me now, offering his hand as she moved from shaking mine to his.

"Mom," Ivy turned to me. "This is Josh." Lifting a finger in Alex's direction. "And that's Alex."

"No need for formalities," she said, much to my surprise.

Maybe this would not be so bad? But I'd spoken too soon.

"I mean, I'm right in assuming you both know my daughter in the biblical sense, so I think you can call me Cora."

I gulped.

"Mom, honestly?" Ivy's eyes flitted nervously between me and Alex.

It was kinda cute; her being embarrassed... but, it also pointed to the fact it was going to be a long night—maybe even a little painful, and not in a good way.

And her mom battled on regardless of her daughter's unease. "And I might be naïve in how this relationship between you all works," she snipped. "But I'm not stupid, Ivy."

"D-d-d-drinks anyone?" interrupted Alex. "Du-d-d-d-dinner's almost ready."

"Thank you. Water for me," replied Cora.

Ivy rolled her eyes, saying. "Here. I brought this." Holding up the bottle of wine. She walked past me, letting her fingers brush across my hand as she followed Alex back into the kitchen, leaving me with her mum. "Can I take your coat? And then we can sit in the back room until dinner is ready."

"Thank you, Josh." She shrugged off her coat, and I hung it up.

"Great—this way."

Leading her into the spotless living room at the back of the house, she might not have said the words, but she seemed suitably impressed.

At least that was something, right?

Ivy came through with two glasses, handing one to her mum. There was no hiding the sparkle in her eyes or her lips looking thoroughly kissed.

Damn. Lucky Alex.

And whilst her mum looked at Alex's family pictures, Ivy moved to me and raised on her tiptoes, pressing her lips to my ears so only I could hear her. "I'm so wet, right now, baby-boy..."

Fuuuuck.

Was she trying to kill me? My dick stirred. Christ-almighty. Last thing I needed was an erection and damn uncomfortable in these jeans, not to mention it would freak her mum out.

Dropping down, Ivy smothered her giggle with her hand, whilst still looking at me with a decidedly wicked grin.

My eyes dropped on her skirt. Bad move. Yeah, I remembered what she'd said earlier and I cleared my throat and prayed Alex wouldn't be long, and thankfully ten minutes later he was calling us through to eat.

Ivy gasped, walking around the table. "Alex. This looks amazing—doesn't it, Mom?"

Seeing all his hard work lay before us in serving dishes. He'd gone to town, dining etiquette at its finest and I felt a flush of pride.

Alex held out a chair. "P-p-puh-please, sit." Cora walked around the table to take her seat and Ivy sat beside her with me and set to sit opposite. Taking my seat, it felt like I was sitting down for an interview rather than a relaxing, delicious meal.

He filled everyone's glasses before taking his seat, expelling a breath, and I moved my hand under the table and squeezed his thigh.

"Shall we offer our thanks?" asked Cora.

A quick glance at Ivy, she rolled her eyes before lowering her head and me and Alex did the same whilst her mom said grace with clasped hands.

After the amen, we lifted our heads and Alex spoke up. "I-I-I hu-hope I've done it justice. Ivy said this was one of y-y-your favourites."

He'd made us Skillet Chicken Cacciatore with freshly made garlic bread and buttered mashed potatoes.

Cora merely offered a tight smile before lifting her fork and tasting the tiniest amount as if we might try to poison her.

Ivy, however, tucked in. "Hmm. This is to die-for Alex." Ivy turned to her mum. "Isn't it Mom?"

Cora hummed a reply—which I think was a yes?

"Th-t-t-thank y-y-you."

"Ivy's right. This is amazing," I added, humming. Alex was pretty damn good in the kitchen.

And the next half hour we pretty much ate with polite conversation passing between us, but I could see Ivy's face become fraught with worry as the night moved along and as Alex served up Tiramisu for dessert, Cora weighed in with what was on her mind.

"So. Tell me. Are you both serious about my daughter? You both picture a future with her?"

"Mom—" Ivy warned.

"It's just a question, Ivy."

We knew it was a big deal, Ivy admitting she saw an 'us', so neither of us would downplay how we felt. "Yes. We both really care for Ivy and I can only speak for myself, but I see a future."

Alex nodded, smiling as he used his napkin to wipe over his mouth before answering. "Yeah. Same."

Ivy smiled behind her wineglass from across the table and I wanted to reach over and touch her in some way.

"Ivy told me you both lacked father-figures growing up."

"Mom." She turned to glare at her mum. "I didn't—"

Cora held up her hand to shush Ivy without a glance in her direction.

She continued as Ivy's eyes batted apologetically between the two of us. "And maybe family values weren't a large part of your upbringing." It wasn't a question, so I waited for the punchline. "Are you familiar with the bible—either of you?"

The tension and anxiety became a real thing, tangible, swirling around like a witch's brew as I nodded, but Alex cleared his throat, shaking his head.

"Corinthians, seven—two," she started. "Because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband."

Fucking hell.  And I found myself heating two degrees.

The woman pulled no punches as I acknowledged her words with a slight incline before adding my own, "I think I prefer John, four—seven. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God and whoever loves has been born of God."

Cora actually cracked a smile, pulling back her shoulders. "I see you're familiar with the good Lord's words in a roundabout way."

Smiling. "Sunday school." My grandma insisted that me and my siblings went to church. It wasn't too bad.

The weight of Alex's and Ivy's surprise was a little bonus, but I kept my gaze on her mum but silently hoped she wouldn't throw anything else at us, because I was all out of scriptures.

Surprisingly, she picked up her spoon and plunged into her slice of tiramisu and hummed her appreciation as I heard Alex let out a relieved sigh.

"Alex..." She put her spoon down. "Ivy told me you lost your mother."

He nodded stiffly.

"I'm very sorry to hear that."

"Thank you and we're sorry, too." He shot me a quick glance.  "Ivy told us about her dad and what a great man he was."

"Ah, yes. My Thomas." She reached up to the delicate chain decorating her neck with small hanging golden cross. "A good man, taken too soon." Her eyes glanced up at the ceiling the way people do when they're looking up to heaven, I guessed? "But he's with the good Lord and my time will come soon enough and we'll be together again."

Well, this was a fun dinner conversation and had my heart beating to the steady drumming of a funeral march. 

"Can I get you some more dessert?" Alex offered, obviously trying to steer the conversation in a lighter direction.

Cora cocked her head to the side. "How did she die?" clarifying, "your mother, if you don't mind me asking?"

Fucking hell and fear beaded on my skin like icy droplets of water.

And across the table, Ivy adjusted herself uneasily in her seat as if she was trying to figure out an exit strategy. "What the—Mom!!" she squawked like a wounded bird.

Alex held up a hand. "It's fine Ivy," before turning his attention back to her mum. "Sh-sh-she took her own life, suicide," he answered flatly.

But from the look in her eyes, she already knew that and I waited for another quote from the bible.

"Mom, do you want to take some of this delicious dessert back for Grams?"

She waved off Ivy's suggestion with a flick of her hand. There was no stopping this freight train heading right for us. "You were saying Alex—she took her own life?"

Alex breathed in, sucking in all the air, but he didn't look away. "My mom suffered with her mental health. They diagnosed her with schizophrenia."

Her eyes softened and I believed her when she spoke gently and dare I think it with sympathy? "I'm so sorry to hear that. That must have been so difficult for her." A weighted pause followed, and I was about to let out a relieved breath when she asked. "Ivy's tells me it's just you and your sister now?"

"Yes," he replied. "Vanessa."

"Does she live here with you?"

He shook his head.

"Oh. That's a shame. Perhaps I can meet her next time?"

"You can meet my brothers and sisters—anytime." That might have come out a little harsher than intended, but she simply ignored me anyway.

My spoon landed on the plate when she delivered her next question.

"Is schizophrenia hereditary?"

Ivy slammed her glass down and it shocked me it didn't shatter. "Mom! Seriously? Are you hearing yourself?"

Her frustrations and anger mirrored my own.

Alex didn't even bat an eyelid. "That depends on who you speak with or r-r-read."

Ignoring Ivy's protests. "Oh. Interesting."

"Mom," Ivy pushed out her chair and stood. "Enough Mom. I don't know what you're trying to do here, but Alex has gone to a lot of trouble to make this amazing meal and welcome you into his home, and you're being downright offensive!"

Her mum looked affronted. "I'm simply trying to point out this little stunt you're pulling here won't work out for any of you because it's not normal that they will share you like a pack of dogs and when you mentioned Alex's moms had issues,  I thought he might..." Her eyes flicked to Alex.

"Stunt—what stunt, Mom?" Ivy's question was brushed aside.

"You thought I might what?" asked Alex, keeping his voice level and calm, like there was still hope of turning this around.

"If you have the same mental issues as your mother." Her voice was like a blade slicing through the air.

And I felt the air punched right out of Alex's lungs as he exhaled a breath soaked in hurt.

Ivy's eyes went as round as I'd ever seen them, her mouth slack, staring at her mum as I slammed both hands on the table making everyone flinch.

Enough of this bullshit.

"Respectfully Mrs Simcox. If this relationship doesn't work out between the three of us, then I can tell you right now, if Ivy chose Alex, then, she couldn't do any better than him. He's the best person I know." She tried to interrupt, but it was my turn to talk. "He's honest. Loving. Kind. Faithful and would give his last bit of cash to give Ivy anything she wanted." Punctuating each word. "And if you would drop this self-righteous attitude and quit looking down at us—then you would see him for who he is."

Ivy snatched up her phone. "We're done here. I'm calling for an Uber to take you back to the hotel. Because right now, Mom, I'm ashamed of your behaviour."

"How..." Cora spluttered. "No daughter of mine talks to me that way.  You listening Ivy!?"  She screeched, slashing a finger pointing right at me and then Alex.  "It's them! Look they're a bad influence. You would have never—"

"Mom!" Ivy butted in. "This is my fault because I've not been honest with you, about who I really am." She shook her head.  "I'm not perfect, Mom."  Ivy's words came out raw and a little sad and overwhelmed by her truth falling from her lips she shut her eyes for a moment.  "I'm sorry you can't accept the truth, Mom, but I'm not a little girl anymore."

Deep lines scarred her mum's forehead. "No. No it's them!"  But this time there was no weight behind her words.

Ivy cut in again, pressing a hand to her hip, leaning toward her mum. "—No Mom, you're wrong about that, and you don't get to come into their home and treat them with little to no respect!"

Her mum's eyes lowered and her breathing slowed before they lifted to address Alex. "I'm sorry if I caused offence or upset." She sighed out, shaking her head. "I just don't see how something like this could ever work. Not for the long haul."

"You raised an amazing daughter, Mrs Simcox. And both me and Alex care more for Ivy than you could ever understand, and I only hope one day you'll see that."

She chuckled, a humourless sound that came out flat. "Ivy is my only daughter, and I don't want this kind of life for her."

"Well," Ivy huffed. "You don't get to choose, Mom, and I'm sorry if you don't like my choices."  Ivy sighed out.  "You spout out all those bible verses, well, how's 'bout be ye kind to one another? Or Judge not, lest ye be judged?"

The room dropped into a cool silence and finally it seemed her mum had nothing left to say as she lay her palms flat on the table and pushed herself up. 

"Thank you for your hospitality, Alex, but I think I'd like to wait outside."

"Y-y-you're welcome and I know y-y-y-you won't believe me.  But It was nice to meet y-y-you."

I couldn't say the same and I think it was safe to say—she hated us.

But I was more worried where this left the three of us?

And as we watched Ivy and her mum leave the room, Alex leaned back in his chair, scraping a hand down his face. "Fuck. What a shit-show," he muttered.

He wasn't wrong.

~ ~

A/N: Honestly, not sure if I will manage an update next week, crazy busy at work and I'm behind on After Dark and Hard as Stone. So don't be surprised if it's the week after. As ever, thanks for reading!