Becoming our Own, Part 1 (A and B)
Title: Becoming Our Own, Part 1B
Author: Caera1996
Rating for this Part: NC-17
W/C: 10,767 (total)
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Timeline Notes: A third anchor story (novel-length) in TBoPE/LAWG verse. Set five years after the end of Learning As We Go.
Summary: Leonard, Jim, and Joanna have settled into the family they created. Changes and challenges are coming, though, for all of them. Moving, switching schools, issues with work, dealing with past issues that show up in the present, and an expanding extended family, are on the horizon. Through it all, as Jim and Leonard’s bond is tested, family is what holds them together.
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<-- BACK TO PART 1A
Now, as Jo wandered off into her room, faithful Jack following, Jim and Leonard settled on the couch together. Leonard put his feet up on the ottoman and Jim leaned against him, bringing the laptop with him.
“So, Bones,” Jim said, happiness in his voice. “You want to buy a house with me?” He looked over at Leonard as the computer went through its start-up mode.
“Yeah, Darlin’,” Leonard replied, a smile on his face. He kissed Jim, one hand coming up to cup his jaw. “I want to buy a house with you.”
“That’s so awesome. Where do we start? I’ve never bought a house before.”
“I did…once,” Leonard replied, and Jim nodded. He knew that he’d bought a house with his ex-wife before she was his ex. He’d sold that house, too, when he’d made the decision to move out to California. “First things we should do are find a realtor, and get all the funding in place…see how much we can afford, what our rate will be…things like that.” He paused, a thought coming to him for the first time. “Jim…do you think we’ll have any trouble finding someone who will work with us?”
Jim looked over at him. “You mean working with a gay couple?” Leonard nodded, and Jim shrugged. “It’s possible. I don’t think it’s very likely, though. There’s such a stigma attached to that now. I think it would be more likely that we may run in to people not wanting to sell their house to us."
“Hm…I hadn’t thought of that,” Leonard admitted.
“Well, don’t worry about it Bones. There’s so many houses on the market right now…I just know we’ll find the perfect one. When do you want to tell Jo?”
Leonard hesitated, thinking about that for a moment. “Oh, let’s wait until we have something for sure to tell her.”
“You don’t want to have her be part of the process?” Jim asked.
“No, I do…but…I don’t know. I don’t want to worry her. And with the possibility of moving, and now maybe trying to find a new school…I feel like she’s finally comfortable. She’s in a school she likes, she has friends, she has relatives…she has everything I’ve ever wanted for her. We’ve been in a good steady state for a while, and I just feel like we’re going to slide backwards if we throw too much at her too soon.”
Jim understood. He remembered, vividly, what those first few days of school had been like for her, and how stressful it’d been on Bones, to see his little girl go through that. And he’d seen how every milestone - making a friend, reading to the class, starting a new year without tears, taking part in a school play, participating in group projects, actively looking for community service activities, and getting her friends involved, instead of just following along quietly in the background - was just as much a triumph for Bones as it was for Joanna.
Jim smiled gently, reaching a hand up to card through his hair. “You’re such a good father, Bones. I wish every kid had the opportunity to have a dad like you. I get it. I get why you’re concerned, but change is a part of life. Protecting her from everything isn’t going to help for long, because those changes will occur. And instead of giving her time to come to grips with it, they’ll just be there. All of a sudden. She’s done so well over these last five years…but that’s because you and I push her. Kids need those pushes, or they’ll never learn to adapt.”
Bones sighed, hearing and recognizing the truth in those words. “You’re a good father, too, Jim. Joanna is lucky to have you. You’re right…we should at least give her a head’s up. Let’s talk to her about moving, but let’s not say anything about the school situation yet. One thing at a time.”
“Sounds good, Bones,” Jim said. He stretched for a kiss, then settled back down, resting his head on Bones’ strong shoulder. “Thank God it’s the weekend. What a day.”
“Did something happen today?” Bones asked, remembering the way Jim had held on to him when they’d met in the bedroom earlier that afternoon.
“Yeah, but I don’t want to talk about it now. Let’s wait till later, when everyone’s in bed,” Jim said.
Translation, Bones thought. Touchy subject, not for little ears.
“Are you okay?” he asked, a little concerned by Jim’s tone.
“Oh, yeah. I’m fine. It’s just a situation I came across at work today.” He hesitated, and for a moment Bones thought he was going to go into more detail, but Jim changed the subject. “Now…where do you think we should start looking?”
For a few minutes, Leonard and Jim focused on the laptop, going through various realtor listings for single-family homes in the different neighborhoods in the area. They easily agreed that it would be best to try to find something between the University and hospital, where Leonard worked, and the school board building. Jim was, more often than not, actually in the field visiting different schools, but his office was at the main district building, and he was there at least twice a week.
“Ooh, look at this one, Bones,” Jim said, enlarging a nice-looking two-story. “I really like this one.”
“Yeah?” Leonard asked, looking between the online picture and Jim. It was a very…traditional-looking house…and not one he’d really thought would be Jim’s style. Leonard liked it too…and it wasn’t a row house, which Leonard appreciated. However, it was priced much higher than he’d had in mind. Not completely un-doable, but still more than he’d originally thought he’d be comfortable with.
“Yeah,” Jim said, with a little shrug. He looked up at Leonard with a sweet smile. “I can picture our family being really happy there.”
Leonard felt warmed through at that thought and he bent to kiss Jim as he cupped his strong jaw. And he knew he’d buy Jim that house exactly if it made him smile like that all the time.
A few minutes later, the sound of little feet coming down the hall prompted Jim to close the laptop and set it gently down on the floor, sliding it out of the way.
“Dad, Uncle Jim,” Joanna said a moment later, coming around the couch to stand in front of them. “Can we play a game?”
Jim opened his arms to her, and with a smile, she joined them on the couch, snuggling down with them.
“What do you want to play?” Leonard asked.
“Umm…Monopoly?”
“Ugh,” Leonard said. “You two are just going to beat the pants off me again.”
Jim and Joanna chuckled, and Jim slapped her a high-five.
“How about Scrabble?” Jim suggested.
“Yeah, okay!” Jo said. “We haven’t played that game in a while. I’ll…let me go and I’ll get it.”
She tried to push herself up, but Jim held her in place and her father reached around him to tickle her sides. She struggled and laughed, drumming her little feet against the couch as she wriggled out of Jim’s grip.
“Ha! I got free!” she exclaimed, flipping her messy hair out of her face. “Ok, I’ll go get it. Be right back.”
With that, she skipped out of the room, and Jim and Leonard exchanged looks.
“You ready for a night of exciting word play?” Leonard asked drily.
Jim smiled. “Always. Let’s make some cocoa and tea.”
Once everyone had their drinks, they settled themselves on the floor around the Scrabble board, and Jim felt himself relaxing as he took in the quiet, comforting scene. He loved this. He loved Bones for giving him this. He couldn’t imagine needing anything else in his life to feel as complete as he did. Leonard looked up and caught Jim staring at him over the game board. Jim’s eyes smiled happily, and Leonard quirked a smile in return.
“What’s the secret?” Jo asked suddenly.
“Secret?” Leonard replied. “What makes you think there’s a secret, Baby?”
“I don’t know…you and Uncle Jim were smiling like you have a secret. That’s…nine points for this word. Your turn Uncle Jim.”
“Good job Jo!” Jim said, turning his attention to his tiles, leaving Bones to deal with the “secret”.
“No secret, Jo. We’re just happy. Are you happy?”
“Yeah, Daddy, I’m very happy,” she said, smiling to show her dimples.
Leonard couldn’t help but smile back, as always completely charmed. He nodded, and then asked, “Do you think you’d be happy if we maybe started looking around for a new house?”
Jim froze as he was lining tiles up on the board for a double point word, looking up at Bones in surprise. He caught his eye, and Bones shrugged slightly. Jim shook his head. He should have known. It wasn’t like Bones to beat around the bush after a decision was made.
“A new house?” Joanna repeated. “Like, not live in an apartment?”
“Yeah,” Bones said. “Move out of this apartment into a house instead.”
As was her custom, Joanna was quiet for a moment, contemplating the possibility and what it could mean. “Are we going to move far?” she asked.
“No, not far,” Jim replied. “Your dad and I still want to be kinda close to where we work.”
“And I don’t want to be too far from my school, too, right?” Joanna said, looking up at them with intelligent eyes. Jim and Leonard carefully did not look at each other, knowing very well what Jo was fishing for, and knowing that that discussion was still a way off.
“We’re only going to look for houses that are close to where you’re going to school,” Leonard replied, exchanging a quick look Jim.
“Then I think that’s good!” Jo replied. “I like that we would have our own house. When are we going to move?”
“Well, it depends, Jo,” Jim replied. “We have to find someplace first.”
“Okay, well, can I help you look?”
Happy that the idea of moving had gone over so well, everyone refocused their attention on the game. They played by the rules and didn’t give Jo any slack. She didn’t win…and nobody expected her to…but she had fun and managed to put up some pretty high-point words.
The rest of the night passed quietly, and a short while later Jo decided she was going to go read in bed, and then go to sleep. They pretty much let Jo decide her own bedtime schedule on weekends, and she was fairly consistent. She’d stay up till nine or ten, then read for a while. It was a privilege she’d gradually earned by being good about bedtime and waking up in the morning for school, and it worked for everyone. She got to do what she wanted, for the most part, and Jim and Leonard got some time to themselves every night.
Tonight, after doing his customary rounds of checking the windows, doors, and making sure the alarm was engaged, Leonard turned off lights throughout the apartment as he made his way back to his bedroom. He stopped at Jo’s door, pushing it open a little more to peek in on her, and he had to smile at what he saw. Her bedside light was on, she was propped up on her pillows, and a book rested page-side down on her chest as she slept, Jack curled up beside her. Pushing the door open the rest of the way, he came into her room and roused her enough to settle comfortably in the bed, closing the book and leaving it on her bedside table. He snapped off the light and leaned down to kiss her, brushing his lips on her forehead.
“Mmph, g’night Daddy,” she mumbled, barely opening her eyes.
“Goodnight Baby,” Leonard whispered. “Sweet dreams.”
He left her room, closing the door quietly behind him. He continued to his bedroom, catching Jim as he was taking off his clothes, leaving himself just in boxers.
“Jo good?”
“Already asleep.”
Jim smiled. “I knew she wouldn’t last long when she misspelled valiant. The news about moving went over well.”
“Yeah,” Leonard said, as he pulled his shirt over his head. “I know that was a surprise, but I figured may as well get it out there.”
“I hope she takes any news about changing schools as well,” Jim said.
“Hm. Well, let’s not worry about that yet,” Leonard replied. He dropped his clothes in the hamper and turned back to Jim, all of his attention on him. “Come here.” They wrapped their arms around each other and just held on. Leonard tightened his arms around him as Jim rested his head on his shoulder. After a few moments they separated, and Leonard looked into Jim’s eyes. “I want to hear about your day. Tell me what’s up.”
Taking his hand, Leonard led Jim to the bed, and they settled down, making themselves comfortable sitting so they could see each other as they talked.
“Were you in a school today?” Leonard asked, giving Jim an opening to get started.
“Yeah,” Jim replied with a sigh. “A middle school. I was actually there to do a workshop with a group of girls, but a staff member asked me to talk to a sixth grade boy. Apparently, he’s always a problem, but over the last few weeks seemed to be getting worse. Argumentative, angry all the time, antagonistic…you know.” Leonard nodded, and Jim continued. “But he wasn’t really lashing out at other students, for the most part. Usually he’s belligerent towards adults. So, I spent a few minutes with him, and he wouldn’t talk to me very much, but Bones…I got a really bad vibe.”
“What kind of bad vibe?” Leonard asked.
“I just got the sense that he’s dealing with something bad,” Jim said. “Not from anything he said, or did, or even anything anyone was able to tell me. It’s just…a gut feeling.”
Leonard nodded. He knew what it was like to have nothing but a gut feeling influencing your perceptions. It’s happened to him as a doctor, and in his own life. Listening to it, Leonard had learned, was important. It was often what separated good doctors from great doctors. He didn’t see any reason why it would be different for someone in Jim’s position.
But that wasn’t everything. Jim dealt with stuff like this all the time. This kid seemed to have touched a deeper nerve.
“So what about him made such an impression on you?” Leonard asked.
Jim kept his eyes focused somewhere on the bed between them, and was quiet for a few seconds. Leonard gently grasped his foot and gave it a squeeze, just to touch, and connect. And Jim responded to that, looking up at him.
“He reminded me a lot of me. Of what I was like at that age. Except I had Sam, and Chrissy, to keep me from getting too bad. I just…I have the feeling that he doesn’t have anyone, and the people, or person, who are in his life, is - at the very least, are extremely neglectful and at the worst, are abusive. It just…hurt to see a kid going through something like that. And I don’t feel like anyone at the school notices him. Every class is overcrowded, every teacher is overworked, and everyone is just too willing to write him off as ‘problem student’ without bothering to find out why…what’s causing him to be a problem.”
Leonard nodded, understanding the situation, and why Jim had seemed so out of sorts about it, better now.
“What are you going to do about it?” Leonard asked, knowing very well there was no way Jim was going to leave a situation that he felt that strongly about unresolved.
Jim sighed, shaking his head. “I don’t really know, Bones. I need more time with him, to try to get him to talk to me, to maybe talk to a couple of his teachers, and definitely the staff member who pointed him out to me in the first place.”
“Can you make that happen?”
“Yeah, for a few days. And then what, though? Get some actionable information out of him then call CPS? They’re so overrun that if they do anything at all it’ll just be to take him out of his home, put him in the foster system, and then God knows what.”
Leonard heard the exasperation in Jim’s voice and sympathized with him. It sucked to feel like your hands are tied, or that the solution could almost be worse than the problem.
“Well, Darlin’, I don’t have any advice for you, except to take it one step at a time. Maybe, as you spend more time at the school, you’ll find someone who can be this kid’s advocate. Or maybe, whatever it is that’s causing him to act out is just something temporary. Maybe he just needs someone to talk to. But, Jim…whatever the problem is…he’s lucky to have you on his side, whether he ever knows it or not.”
Jim smiled tiredly, feeling some of the tension melt off of him. As usual, Bones knew what to say to help him put things in perspective. Despite what his personal feelings, the situation with this kid wasn’t all that different from any of the hundreds of kids he saw every year, and Bones was right. He just needed to take it one step at a time, as he would with any other situation.
He sighed. “Thanks, Bones. And you’re right…a step at a time is the way to go. It’s just hard to keep things in perspective when it touches so close to home.”
“I know, Darlin’. I wish there was something I could say or do to make it easier for you.”
Jim didn’t doubt that for a second, and to hear Bones say it warmed him through. Wanting more, he shifted so that he could sit with Bones and be held. Attuned to Jim as he was, Bones just seemed to know what he needed and wrapped him in his arms, slumping down on the bed comfortably. Tucked against his side, Jim rested his head on Bones’ shoulder and closed his eyes and sighed, so easily comforted by the physical and emotional closeness they shared.
He slid a hand across the firm plane of Bones’ stomach, and felt Bones take hold of that wrist, gently running his fingers over the silver bracelet Jim almost never took off. Bones wore the matching one, a Christmas present from Jim to both of them their first Christmas together. Originally, he’d given it, and they’d worn them, as a promise to each other. Now, it was also a symbol of their commitment, to their relationship and to their family. And Jim wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Despite his worry and concern over the things he came up against every day at work, he could hardly remember a time when he wasn’t this happy and content. He couldn’t even imagine going back to a time in his life when he’d have to deal with things like this on his own. He could, for sure, if he had to. But it was so much…better…to have someone to share it with. It didn’t feel too big, or too much. Having Bones in his corner, knowing that he was there, and wanted to be there, made a difference that he just hadn’t expected.
Leonard traced his hand up and down Jim’s arm, and let his head rest against him. Despite the early hour, he was drowsy and it was so comfortable laying here like this. Jim was a warm weight beside and over him, and Leonard could feel that he had relaxed, letting go of the tension of the day. He couldn’t see Jim’s face in this position, but the even, quiet breathing indicated that Jim had already dozed off, or was close to it. He looked down at the arm across his belly, as his fingers rubbed over the bracelet, and then moved the gentle touch to Jim’s palm. His fingers closed on Bones’ with a squeeze. After a few more minutes of lying quietly together, he roused when Jim shifted, and they both stretched, yawning.
“I feel like an old fart, Bones,” Jim complained. “It’s not even 10:30 on a Friday night and I feel like I could sleep for ten hours.”
Leonard smiled, rubbing his eyes. “Felt like a long week, didn’t it? But you know what we have in front of us Darlin’?”
Jim thought for a moment, trying to remember if there was something going on this weekend. “What?” he asked finally.
“Nothin’,” Leonard replied. “Nothin’ that has to be done. And, Jo is going to Ella’s tomorrow to work on a school project…the ‘Around the World’ one with the penpals. And you know what that means, don’tcha?”
Jim smiled, and reached to kiss Bones, sliding his hands into the thick, dark hair and pulling gently. Bones made a little sound at the back of his throat and opened for Jim, holding him and pulling him closer. They separated to breathe, and shifted further down in the bed. Leonard used the leverage he had to roll them, so that he could support himself over Jim and look into his eyes. They kissed again, softly, then Leonard gently nuzzled his jaw and kissed his neck, smiling as Jim writhed in ticklishness, his knees coming up to bracket Leonard’s body as he clutched at his shoulders and his toes clenched in the bedsheets. Leonard chuckled softly, the vibrations going straight down Jim’s spine to his toes.
“Bones!” Jim gasped. “It tickles!”
Chuckling again, Leonard let up and caught Jim’s lips in another kiss, pressing their lower bodies together, making them both gasp at the sensations as he moved.
“Still tired?” Leonard asked, looking down into Jim’s eyes as he threaded their fingers together, holding Jim’s hands against the mattress.
“Mmm…suddenly I’m wide awake,” Jim replied, his eyes dark with lust. He raised his head to kiss Leonard again, and he obliged. Leonard’s eyes slipped closed Jim explored his mouth, his soft lips a counterpoint to the slight roughness of a day’s worth of stubble. Jim freed a hand and gently stroked up and down Leonard’s bare back, then reached down further to slip his fingers under the waistband of his boxers.
Leonard could kiss Jim like this forever, that seemingly simple intimacy such a turn-on to him. He loved the strength and gentleness, the firm touch and soft strokes…the closeness. Especially the closeness. But there were other things he loved to do, too, and he could feel that Jim agreed. He used his legs to both hold himself over Jim’s body and move against him, pressing and rubbing their bodies together. The material of their boxers intensified the feelings as sensitive skin rubbed against the fabric, teasing them so perfectly.
Moving against each other, little groans and gasps falling from their lips in between kisses, Jim’s hand clenched tightly on Bones’, just holding on. They both hardened, and Leonard lowered his head and breathed hard against Jim’s shoulder, resisting the urge to reach down and give himself more of what he was craving…more friction, and ultimately relief from the deliciously tantalizing feel as they thrust against each other, still separated by layers of fabric.
Leonard stroked up and down Jim’s body with his free hand, fingers finding a nipple. He gently pinched and rubbed, and Jim shivered. Loving how responsive Jim was to such a simple touch, Leonard lowered his head and tongued nipple, sucking and licking as Jim moaned continuously.
“Oh, god…oh…” Jim let his head fall back, eyes rolling back as he jerked each time Leonard gently squeezed that sensitive nub between his teeth. “Feels so good…so…Bones, please….” Jim moved and strained under him, desperate for more of everything. “You’re going to make me come in my shorts.”
Leonard chuckled against his chest, then looked up, meeting the fiercely blue eyes that were dark with lust. “Well, let’s fix that real quick, Darlin’,” he replied. Jim lifted his hips for him, and Leonard tugged the boxers down his legs and off, dropping them to the floor.
“You too,” Jim said, his voice low and urgent. “Need you now, Bones.”
Leonard did as he was told, pulling back enough to push them down and off, and that gave Jim room to twist under him, reaching towards the bedside table. He found the small bottle he was looking for, and lay back down, meeting Bones for another kiss.
“Give that here,” Leonard said, and Jim handed the lube over, a small smile on his face.
“You look like a man with a mission,” Jim said teasingly, propping himself up on his elbows. He watched as Leonard poured a bit into his hand. Leonard had, to Jim’s absolute delight, developed a very playful streak in the bedroom. And tonight…after a week of being exhausted and just falling in to bed together to curl up and sleep…was the perfect time to indulge.
“Oh, I have a mission all right,” Leonard replied. He locked eyes with Jim and moved back up towards him. Jim lay back down, settling on the bed, waiting almost breathlessly to see what Bones had in mind. On his knees beside him, Leonard kissed Jim again, placing one hand in the center of his chest and pressing lightly.
Jim jerked at the feel of Bones curling his hand around his hard length. He inhaled sharply through his nose, then gasped and bit his lip when Bones ended the kiss. Jim groaned, pressing his head back and grasping the pillow under his head as Bones stroked him firmly and slowly. The slick, unrelenting up and down slide made him tense his stomach and legs, nearly completely overwhelmed by the incredible sensations. The feel of Bones’ large, strong hand holding him firmly, sliding up and down on him, was enough to make him shake. Tremors rippled through his body, and he felt his balls draw up tightly. His hips moved up and down, following the movement of the slow stroking, and he clenched his hands in the sheets desperately.
“Oh, fuck, Bones…please…” Jim groaned, breathing heavily and tensing his whole body when Leonard focused his attention and used his fingers to rub and tease just the sensitive tip Jim’s cock, spreading precum and lube with the pad of his thumb. Jim groaned again, arching as the sensations became too intense and he thought he couldn’t take it another second, and his hips jerked into the air uncontrollably. “Uh…ooohhh…feels so good! Bones, oh, god, I’m gonna come!”
Leonard looked down at Jim, drinking in the beautiful expression of intense pleasure on his face. He was flushed all the way down his chest, and he was practically vibrating with arousal and need, and Leonard wanted to slake that need so bad he could feel it through his whole body. Stopping the motion of his hand, and just holding Jim’s hard, hot length in his fist, Leonard leaned down, and kissed the panting breaths right out of Jim. He pulled away, then leaned down to whisper everything he intended to do against Jim’s ear, while resuming the long, slow strokes…not hard or fast enough to make Jim come, but more than enough to make him shiver and moan in encouragement.
“Yeah, Bones, god, please…want you. Want you now…” Jim begged. “Come here….where’s the lube?”
Focusing, Jim sat up slightly and made his shaking hands work to open the lube and get some on his fingers. Leonard straddled Jim, leaning over him to kiss him again, and Jim slipped his hands down between them. Reaching between Leonard’s spread thighs, he cupped his hard and leaking cock with one hand, stroking just slightly, and with the other gently worked Leonard open. First with one finger, then two, and then soon after three, Jim stretched Leonard as he rocked back and forth slightly, moaning every time Jim managed to brush over his prostate.
It wasn’t long before Leonard was pulling away, panting. “I’m ready, Jim. Need you now…”
Jim lay back and watched as Leonard crouched over him. He held the base of his penis with one hand, the other on Leonard’s hip, guiding him down. Jim slipped into Leonard easily, and he rocked slightly, urging him in deeper and deeper, until he was all the way in, Leonard’s legs tense as he rested on his knees on either side of Jim’s hips. Jim stroked the strong, lightly furred thighs, then took Leonard’s hands, holding him tightly and helping him balance.
Tremors shook both men, and their breath exploded out of them as they held still for as long as they could both stand it. Finally, with a strangled groan, Leonard raised himself slowly, and then let himself sink back down on Jim. He did it again, and again, shifting slightly so that Jim slid past that perfect spot in him each time, and he nearly sobbed with relief when Jim freed one of his hands to stroke his achingly hard cock, using not much more than the precum that dripped onto his belly.
The friction drove him to move harder and faster, and Jim grunted with each plunge, his body shaking and tensing as he felt his delayed orgasm rushing towards him. Jim gritted his teeth, trying to force it back. Leonard could see the struggle on Jim’s face, and he was feeling it too, between the stroking of his cock and the feel of Jim inside him. He came down on Jim again, then forced himself to hold still, using his muscles to squeeze Jim.
“Bones, gonna come!” Jim warned through clenched teeth.
“Come for me Darlin’,” Leonard said, panting. He wiped sweat out of his eyes, and moved his hips, almost making Jim cry out, but leaning down to cover his mouth with his own and keep it muffled as they kissed. Jim jerked beneath him, his fist tightening on Leonard’s cock, trying to stroke it and make him come, too. Jim arched in the grip of his climax, heels and shoulders pressing into the mattress, and Leonard felt it as he pulsed inside of him.
After endless moments, the tension released from Jim’s body, and Leonard allowed himself to move again, sliding up and down just a couple more times. Jim groaned with sensitivity, fighting the urge to cry out and only partially succeeding…but then Leonard froze in place, orgasm crashing over him with a power and swiftness that took his breath and his voice. Shaking and gasping, the contractions rolled through his body, and nothing else registered as he finally started to relax, slumping down as his muscles went lax.
Some time later, Leonard roused to the feeling of fingers being drawn through his hair, but he felt too worn out, too warm and too comfortable to move, so he settled for a questioning grunt.
“Hey,” Jim said softly. “Welcome back.”
“Mmm,” Leonard responded. Blearily, he raised his head from Jim’s shoulder and squinted in the low light of the bedroom, meeting Jim’s blue eyes that were smiling at him. “That was…”
“Really intense,” Jim said.
“You okay?” Leonard asked, making one arm work to bring his hand up and gently cup Jim’s head. It was simple gesture of love and concern, and as always, made Jim realize again just how much he was loved.
“I’m fantastic,” Jim replied earnestly. “You?”
“Never better. Could lie here forever. ‘S perfect,” Leonard mumbled. He smiled as he heard Jim chuckle in his chest.
“If we lie like this much longer, we’re going to be stuck together,” Jim said.
Leonard sighed deeply, tempted to just deal with the discomfort later.
Jim drew his fingers through Bones’ hair over and over, smiling a little at the dark head resting on his chest, just below his chin. He drew a leg up, gently rubbing his foot over Bones’ calf, and let himself drift for a while. Bones was right…this was pretty close to perfect.
Except…
“Bones, I really gotta pee,” Jim said, gently tapping him on the back.
Leonard heaved another sigh, and reluctantly pushed himself up on weak arms and legs. He felt Jim slip from his body as he shifted, and he gave Jim one more lingering kiss before rolling to the side.
Jim’s eyes traveled over Bones’ body, taking in the full length of the nicely muscled frame, and then met his eyes again, neither of them experiencing even a hint of self-consciousness.
“Be right back,” Jim said. “Should I bring a cloth?”
“Nah, I’m right behind you,” Leonard replied, though he’d yet to make a move to get up.
Jim cleaned himself up in the bathroom and Leonard eventually followed to do the same. They moved around each other easily, fingers trailing along bare backs as they passed, not wanting to keep their hands off each other.
Back in the bedroom, they rearranged the blankets and pillows then snapped off the light and settled down, the pull of sleep a strong and insistent force. Arms around each other, bodies pressed close together, they lay in the cool, quiet dark listening to each other breathe.
“I love you,” Jim whispered. “I don’t think I even had a second to say that today.”
Eyes closed, nearly asleep, Leonard smiled. “I hear you say it every time you look at me. I love you, too.”
Continue to Part 2A --->
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Author: Caera1996
Rating for this Part: NC-17
W/C: 10,767 (total)
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Timeline Notes: A third anchor story (novel-length) in TBoPE/LAWG verse. Set five years after the end of Learning As We Go.
Summary: Leonard, Jim, and Joanna have settled into the family they created. Changes and challenges are coming, though, for all of them. Moving, switching schools, issues with work, dealing with past issues that show up in the present, and an expanding extended family, are on the horizon. Through it all, as Jim and Leonard’s bond is tested, family is what holds them together.
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<-- BACK TO PART 1A
Now, as Jo wandered off into her room, faithful Jack following, Jim and Leonard settled on the couch together. Leonard put his feet up on the ottoman and Jim leaned against him, bringing the laptop with him.
“So, Bones,” Jim said, happiness in his voice. “You want to buy a house with me?” He looked over at Leonard as the computer went through its start-up mode.
“Yeah, Darlin’,” Leonard replied, a smile on his face. He kissed Jim, one hand coming up to cup his jaw. “I want to buy a house with you.”
“That’s so awesome. Where do we start? I’ve never bought a house before.”
“I did…once,” Leonard replied, and Jim nodded. He knew that he’d bought a house with his ex-wife before she was his ex. He’d sold that house, too, when he’d made the decision to move out to California. “First things we should do are find a realtor, and get all the funding in place…see how much we can afford, what our rate will be…things like that.” He paused, a thought coming to him for the first time. “Jim…do you think we’ll have any trouble finding someone who will work with us?”
Jim looked over at him. “You mean working with a gay couple?” Leonard nodded, and Jim shrugged. “It’s possible. I don’t think it’s very likely, though. There’s such a stigma attached to that now. I think it would be more likely that we may run in to people not wanting to sell their house to us."
“Hm…I hadn’t thought of that,” Leonard admitted.
“Well, don’t worry about it Bones. There’s so many houses on the market right now…I just know we’ll find the perfect one. When do you want to tell Jo?”
Leonard hesitated, thinking about that for a moment. “Oh, let’s wait until we have something for sure to tell her.”
“You don’t want to have her be part of the process?” Jim asked.
“No, I do…but…I don’t know. I don’t want to worry her. And with the possibility of moving, and now maybe trying to find a new school…I feel like she’s finally comfortable. She’s in a school she likes, she has friends, she has relatives…she has everything I’ve ever wanted for her. We’ve been in a good steady state for a while, and I just feel like we’re going to slide backwards if we throw too much at her too soon.”
Jim understood. He remembered, vividly, what those first few days of school had been like for her, and how stressful it’d been on Bones, to see his little girl go through that. And he’d seen how every milestone - making a friend, reading to the class, starting a new year without tears, taking part in a school play, participating in group projects, actively looking for community service activities, and getting her friends involved, instead of just following along quietly in the background - was just as much a triumph for Bones as it was for Joanna.
Jim smiled gently, reaching a hand up to card through his hair. “You’re such a good father, Bones. I wish every kid had the opportunity to have a dad like you. I get it. I get why you’re concerned, but change is a part of life. Protecting her from everything isn’t going to help for long, because those changes will occur. And instead of giving her time to come to grips with it, they’ll just be there. All of a sudden. She’s done so well over these last five years…but that’s because you and I push her. Kids need those pushes, or they’ll never learn to adapt.”
Bones sighed, hearing and recognizing the truth in those words. “You’re a good father, too, Jim. Joanna is lucky to have you. You’re right…we should at least give her a head’s up. Let’s talk to her about moving, but let’s not say anything about the school situation yet. One thing at a time.”
“Sounds good, Bones,” Jim said. He stretched for a kiss, then settled back down, resting his head on Bones’ strong shoulder. “Thank God it’s the weekend. What a day.”
“Did something happen today?” Bones asked, remembering the way Jim had held on to him when they’d met in the bedroom earlier that afternoon.
“Yeah, but I don’t want to talk about it now. Let’s wait till later, when everyone’s in bed,” Jim said.
Translation, Bones thought. Touchy subject, not for little ears.
“Are you okay?” he asked, a little concerned by Jim’s tone.
“Oh, yeah. I’m fine. It’s just a situation I came across at work today.” He hesitated, and for a moment Bones thought he was going to go into more detail, but Jim changed the subject. “Now…where do you think we should start looking?”
For a few minutes, Leonard and Jim focused on the laptop, going through various realtor listings for single-family homes in the different neighborhoods in the area. They easily agreed that it would be best to try to find something between the University and hospital, where Leonard worked, and the school board building. Jim was, more often than not, actually in the field visiting different schools, but his office was at the main district building, and he was there at least twice a week.
“Ooh, look at this one, Bones,” Jim said, enlarging a nice-looking two-story. “I really like this one.”
“Yeah?” Leonard asked, looking between the online picture and Jim. It was a very…traditional-looking house…and not one he’d really thought would be Jim’s style. Leonard liked it too…and it wasn’t a row house, which Leonard appreciated. However, it was priced much higher than he’d had in mind. Not completely un-doable, but still more than he’d originally thought he’d be comfortable with.
“Yeah,” Jim said, with a little shrug. He looked up at Leonard with a sweet smile. “I can picture our family being really happy there.”
Leonard felt warmed through at that thought and he bent to kiss Jim as he cupped his strong jaw. And he knew he’d buy Jim that house exactly if it made him smile like that all the time.
A few minutes later, the sound of little feet coming down the hall prompted Jim to close the laptop and set it gently down on the floor, sliding it out of the way.
“Dad, Uncle Jim,” Joanna said a moment later, coming around the couch to stand in front of them. “Can we play a game?”
Jim opened his arms to her, and with a smile, she joined them on the couch, snuggling down with them.
“What do you want to play?” Leonard asked.
“Umm…Monopoly?”
“Ugh,” Leonard said. “You two are just going to beat the pants off me again.”
Jim and Joanna chuckled, and Jim slapped her a high-five.
“How about Scrabble?” Jim suggested.
“Yeah, okay!” Jo said. “We haven’t played that game in a while. I’ll…let me go and I’ll get it.”
She tried to push herself up, but Jim held her in place and her father reached around him to tickle her sides. She struggled and laughed, drumming her little feet against the couch as she wriggled out of Jim’s grip.
“Ha! I got free!” she exclaimed, flipping her messy hair out of her face. “Ok, I’ll go get it. Be right back.”
With that, she skipped out of the room, and Jim and Leonard exchanged looks.
“You ready for a night of exciting word play?” Leonard asked drily.
Jim smiled. “Always. Let’s make some cocoa and tea.”
Once everyone had their drinks, they settled themselves on the floor around the Scrabble board, and Jim felt himself relaxing as he took in the quiet, comforting scene. He loved this. He loved Bones for giving him this. He couldn’t imagine needing anything else in his life to feel as complete as he did. Leonard looked up and caught Jim staring at him over the game board. Jim’s eyes smiled happily, and Leonard quirked a smile in return.
“What’s the secret?” Jo asked suddenly.
“Secret?” Leonard replied. “What makes you think there’s a secret, Baby?”
“I don’t know…you and Uncle Jim were smiling like you have a secret. That’s…nine points for this word. Your turn Uncle Jim.”
“Good job Jo!” Jim said, turning his attention to his tiles, leaving Bones to deal with the “secret”.
“No secret, Jo. We’re just happy. Are you happy?”
“Yeah, Daddy, I’m very happy,” she said, smiling to show her dimples.
Leonard couldn’t help but smile back, as always completely charmed. He nodded, and then asked, “Do you think you’d be happy if we maybe started looking around for a new house?”
Jim froze as he was lining tiles up on the board for a double point word, looking up at Bones in surprise. He caught his eye, and Bones shrugged slightly. Jim shook his head. He should have known. It wasn’t like Bones to beat around the bush after a decision was made.
“A new house?” Joanna repeated. “Like, not live in an apartment?”
“Yeah,” Bones said. “Move out of this apartment into a house instead.”
As was her custom, Joanna was quiet for a moment, contemplating the possibility and what it could mean. “Are we going to move far?” she asked.
“No, not far,” Jim replied. “Your dad and I still want to be kinda close to where we work.”
“And I don’t want to be too far from my school, too, right?” Joanna said, looking up at them with intelligent eyes. Jim and Leonard carefully did not look at each other, knowing very well what Jo was fishing for, and knowing that that discussion was still a way off.
“We’re only going to look for houses that are close to where you’re going to school,” Leonard replied, exchanging a quick look Jim.
“Then I think that’s good!” Jo replied. “I like that we would have our own house. When are we going to move?”
“Well, it depends, Jo,” Jim replied. “We have to find someplace first.”
“Okay, well, can I help you look?”
Happy that the idea of moving had gone over so well, everyone refocused their attention on the game. They played by the rules and didn’t give Jo any slack. She didn’t win…and nobody expected her to…but she had fun and managed to put up some pretty high-point words.
The rest of the night passed quietly, and a short while later Jo decided she was going to go read in bed, and then go to sleep. They pretty much let Jo decide her own bedtime schedule on weekends, and she was fairly consistent. She’d stay up till nine or ten, then read for a while. It was a privilege she’d gradually earned by being good about bedtime and waking up in the morning for school, and it worked for everyone. She got to do what she wanted, for the most part, and Jim and Leonard got some time to themselves every night.
Tonight, after doing his customary rounds of checking the windows, doors, and making sure the alarm was engaged, Leonard turned off lights throughout the apartment as he made his way back to his bedroom. He stopped at Jo’s door, pushing it open a little more to peek in on her, and he had to smile at what he saw. Her bedside light was on, she was propped up on her pillows, and a book rested page-side down on her chest as she slept, Jack curled up beside her. Pushing the door open the rest of the way, he came into her room and roused her enough to settle comfortably in the bed, closing the book and leaving it on her bedside table. He snapped off the light and leaned down to kiss her, brushing his lips on her forehead.
“Mmph, g’night Daddy,” she mumbled, barely opening her eyes.
“Goodnight Baby,” Leonard whispered. “Sweet dreams.”
He left her room, closing the door quietly behind him. He continued to his bedroom, catching Jim as he was taking off his clothes, leaving himself just in boxers.
“Jo good?”
“Already asleep.”
Jim smiled. “I knew she wouldn’t last long when she misspelled valiant. The news about moving went over well.”
“Yeah,” Leonard said, as he pulled his shirt over his head. “I know that was a surprise, but I figured may as well get it out there.”
“I hope she takes any news about changing schools as well,” Jim said.
“Hm. Well, let’s not worry about that yet,” Leonard replied. He dropped his clothes in the hamper and turned back to Jim, all of his attention on him. “Come here.” They wrapped their arms around each other and just held on. Leonard tightened his arms around him as Jim rested his head on his shoulder. After a few moments they separated, and Leonard looked into Jim’s eyes. “I want to hear about your day. Tell me what’s up.”
Taking his hand, Leonard led Jim to the bed, and they settled down, making themselves comfortable sitting so they could see each other as they talked.
“Were you in a school today?” Leonard asked, giving Jim an opening to get started.
“Yeah,” Jim replied with a sigh. “A middle school. I was actually there to do a workshop with a group of girls, but a staff member asked me to talk to a sixth grade boy. Apparently, he’s always a problem, but over the last few weeks seemed to be getting worse. Argumentative, angry all the time, antagonistic…you know.” Leonard nodded, and Jim continued. “But he wasn’t really lashing out at other students, for the most part. Usually he’s belligerent towards adults. So, I spent a few minutes with him, and he wouldn’t talk to me very much, but Bones…I got a really bad vibe.”
“What kind of bad vibe?” Leonard asked.
“I just got the sense that he’s dealing with something bad,” Jim said. “Not from anything he said, or did, or even anything anyone was able to tell me. It’s just…a gut feeling.”
Leonard nodded. He knew what it was like to have nothing but a gut feeling influencing your perceptions. It’s happened to him as a doctor, and in his own life. Listening to it, Leonard had learned, was important. It was often what separated good doctors from great doctors. He didn’t see any reason why it would be different for someone in Jim’s position.
But that wasn’t everything. Jim dealt with stuff like this all the time. This kid seemed to have touched a deeper nerve.
“So what about him made such an impression on you?” Leonard asked.
Jim kept his eyes focused somewhere on the bed between them, and was quiet for a few seconds. Leonard gently grasped his foot and gave it a squeeze, just to touch, and connect. And Jim responded to that, looking up at him.
“He reminded me a lot of me. Of what I was like at that age. Except I had Sam, and Chrissy, to keep me from getting too bad. I just…I have the feeling that he doesn’t have anyone, and the people, or person, who are in his life, is - at the very least, are extremely neglectful and at the worst, are abusive. It just…hurt to see a kid going through something like that. And I don’t feel like anyone at the school notices him. Every class is overcrowded, every teacher is overworked, and everyone is just too willing to write him off as ‘problem student’ without bothering to find out why…what’s causing him to be a problem.”
Leonard nodded, understanding the situation, and why Jim had seemed so out of sorts about it, better now.
“What are you going to do about it?” Leonard asked, knowing very well there was no way Jim was going to leave a situation that he felt that strongly about unresolved.
Jim sighed, shaking his head. “I don’t really know, Bones. I need more time with him, to try to get him to talk to me, to maybe talk to a couple of his teachers, and definitely the staff member who pointed him out to me in the first place.”
“Can you make that happen?”
“Yeah, for a few days. And then what, though? Get some actionable information out of him then call CPS? They’re so overrun that if they do anything at all it’ll just be to take him out of his home, put him in the foster system, and then God knows what.”
Leonard heard the exasperation in Jim’s voice and sympathized with him. It sucked to feel like your hands are tied, or that the solution could almost be worse than the problem.
“Well, Darlin’, I don’t have any advice for you, except to take it one step at a time. Maybe, as you spend more time at the school, you’ll find someone who can be this kid’s advocate. Or maybe, whatever it is that’s causing him to act out is just something temporary. Maybe he just needs someone to talk to. But, Jim…whatever the problem is…he’s lucky to have you on his side, whether he ever knows it or not.”
Jim smiled tiredly, feeling some of the tension melt off of him. As usual, Bones knew what to say to help him put things in perspective. Despite what his personal feelings, the situation with this kid wasn’t all that different from any of the hundreds of kids he saw every year, and Bones was right. He just needed to take it one step at a time, as he would with any other situation.
He sighed. “Thanks, Bones. And you’re right…a step at a time is the way to go. It’s just hard to keep things in perspective when it touches so close to home.”
“I know, Darlin’. I wish there was something I could say or do to make it easier for you.”
Jim didn’t doubt that for a second, and to hear Bones say it warmed him through. Wanting more, he shifted so that he could sit with Bones and be held. Attuned to Jim as he was, Bones just seemed to know what he needed and wrapped him in his arms, slumping down on the bed comfortably. Tucked against his side, Jim rested his head on Bones’ shoulder and closed his eyes and sighed, so easily comforted by the physical and emotional closeness they shared.
He slid a hand across the firm plane of Bones’ stomach, and felt Bones take hold of that wrist, gently running his fingers over the silver bracelet Jim almost never took off. Bones wore the matching one, a Christmas present from Jim to both of them their first Christmas together. Originally, he’d given it, and they’d worn them, as a promise to each other. Now, it was also a symbol of their commitment, to their relationship and to their family. And Jim wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Despite his worry and concern over the things he came up against every day at work, he could hardly remember a time when he wasn’t this happy and content. He couldn’t even imagine going back to a time in his life when he’d have to deal with things like this on his own. He could, for sure, if he had to. But it was so much…better…to have someone to share it with. It didn’t feel too big, or too much. Having Bones in his corner, knowing that he was there, and wanted to be there, made a difference that he just hadn’t expected.
Leonard traced his hand up and down Jim’s arm, and let his head rest against him. Despite the early hour, he was drowsy and it was so comfortable laying here like this. Jim was a warm weight beside and over him, and Leonard could feel that he had relaxed, letting go of the tension of the day. He couldn’t see Jim’s face in this position, but the even, quiet breathing indicated that Jim had already dozed off, or was close to it. He looked down at the arm across his belly, as his fingers rubbed over the bracelet, and then moved the gentle touch to Jim’s palm. His fingers closed on Bones’ with a squeeze. After a few more minutes of lying quietly together, he roused when Jim shifted, and they both stretched, yawning.
“I feel like an old fart, Bones,” Jim complained. “It’s not even 10:30 on a Friday night and I feel like I could sleep for ten hours.”
Leonard smiled, rubbing his eyes. “Felt like a long week, didn’t it? But you know what we have in front of us Darlin’?”
Jim thought for a moment, trying to remember if there was something going on this weekend. “What?” he asked finally.
“Nothin’,” Leonard replied. “Nothin’ that has to be done. And, Jo is going to Ella’s tomorrow to work on a school project…the ‘Around the World’ one with the penpals. And you know what that means, don’tcha?”
Jim smiled, and reached to kiss Bones, sliding his hands into the thick, dark hair and pulling gently. Bones made a little sound at the back of his throat and opened for Jim, holding him and pulling him closer. They separated to breathe, and shifted further down in the bed. Leonard used the leverage he had to roll them, so that he could support himself over Jim and look into his eyes. They kissed again, softly, then Leonard gently nuzzled his jaw and kissed his neck, smiling as Jim writhed in ticklishness, his knees coming up to bracket Leonard’s body as he clutched at his shoulders and his toes clenched in the bedsheets. Leonard chuckled softly, the vibrations going straight down Jim’s spine to his toes.
“Bones!” Jim gasped. “It tickles!”
Chuckling again, Leonard let up and caught Jim’s lips in another kiss, pressing their lower bodies together, making them both gasp at the sensations as he moved.
“Still tired?” Leonard asked, looking down into Jim’s eyes as he threaded their fingers together, holding Jim’s hands against the mattress.
“Mmm…suddenly I’m wide awake,” Jim replied, his eyes dark with lust. He raised his head to kiss Leonard again, and he obliged. Leonard’s eyes slipped closed Jim explored his mouth, his soft lips a counterpoint to the slight roughness of a day’s worth of stubble. Jim freed a hand and gently stroked up and down Leonard’s bare back, then reached down further to slip his fingers under the waistband of his boxers.
Leonard could kiss Jim like this forever, that seemingly simple intimacy such a turn-on to him. He loved the strength and gentleness, the firm touch and soft strokes…the closeness. Especially the closeness. But there were other things he loved to do, too, and he could feel that Jim agreed. He used his legs to both hold himself over Jim’s body and move against him, pressing and rubbing their bodies together. The material of their boxers intensified the feelings as sensitive skin rubbed against the fabric, teasing them so perfectly.
Moving against each other, little groans and gasps falling from their lips in between kisses, Jim’s hand clenched tightly on Bones’, just holding on. They both hardened, and Leonard lowered his head and breathed hard against Jim’s shoulder, resisting the urge to reach down and give himself more of what he was craving…more friction, and ultimately relief from the deliciously tantalizing feel as they thrust against each other, still separated by layers of fabric.
Leonard stroked up and down Jim’s body with his free hand, fingers finding a nipple. He gently pinched and rubbed, and Jim shivered. Loving how responsive Jim was to such a simple touch, Leonard lowered his head and tongued nipple, sucking and licking as Jim moaned continuously.
“Oh, god…oh…” Jim let his head fall back, eyes rolling back as he jerked each time Leonard gently squeezed that sensitive nub between his teeth. “Feels so good…so…Bones, please….” Jim moved and strained under him, desperate for more of everything. “You’re going to make me come in my shorts.”
Leonard chuckled against his chest, then looked up, meeting the fiercely blue eyes that were dark with lust. “Well, let’s fix that real quick, Darlin’,” he replied. Jim lifted his hips for him, and Leonard tugged the boxers down his legs and off, dropping them to the floor.
“You too,” Jim said, his voice low and urgent. “Need you now, Bones.”
Leonard did as he was told, pulling back enough to push them down and off, and that gave Jim room to twist under him, reaching towards the bedside table. He found the small bottle he was looking for, and lay back down, meeting Bones for another kiss.
“Give that here,” Leonard said, and Jim handed the lube over, a small smile on his face.
“You look like a man with a mission,” Jim said teasingly, propping himself up on his elbows. He watched as Leonard poured a bit into his hand. Leonard had, to Jim’s absolute delight, developed a very playful streak in the bedroom. And tonight…after a week of being exhausted and just falling in to bed together to curl up and sleep…was the perfect time to indulge.
“Oh, I have a mission all right,” Leonard replied. He locked eyes with Jim and moved back up towards him. Jim lay back down, settling on the bed, waiting almost breathlessly to see what Bones had in mind. On his knees beside him, Leonard kissed Jim again, placing one hand in the center of his chest and pressing lightly.
Jim jerked at the feel of Bones curling his hand around his hard length. He inhaled sharply through his nose, then gasped and bit his lip when Bones ended the kiss. Jim groaned, pressing his head back and grasping the pillow under his head as Bones stroked him firmly and slowly. The slick, unrelenting up and down slide made him tense his stomach and legs, nearly completely overwhelmed by the incredible sensations. The feel of Bones’ large, strong hand holding him firmly, sliding up and down on him, was enough to make him shake. Tremors rippled through his body, and he felt his balls draw up tightly. His hips moved up and down, following the movement of the slow stroking, and he clenched his hands in the sheets desperately.
“Oh, fuck, Bones…please…” Jim groaned, breathing heavily and tensing his whole body when Leonard focused his attention and used his fingers to rub and tease just the sensitive tip Jim’s cock, spreading precum and lube with the pad of his thumb. Jim groaned again, arching as the sensations became too intense and he thought he couldn’t take it another second, and his hips jerked into the air uncontrollably. “Uh…ooohhh…feels so good! Bones, oh, god, I’m gonna come!”
Leonard looked down at Jim, drinking in the beautiful expression of intense pleasure on his face. He was flushed all the way down his chest, and he was practically vibrating with arousal and need, and Leonard wanted to slake that need so bad he could feel it through his whole body. Stopping the motion of his hand, and just holding Jim’s hard, hot length in his fist, Leonard leaned down, and kissed the panting breaths right out of Jim. He pulled away, then leaned down to whisper everything he intended to do against Jim’s ear, while resuming the long, slow strokes…not hard or fast enough to make Jim come, but more than enough to make him shiver and moan in encouragement.
“Yeah, Bones, god, please…want you. Want you now…” Jim begged. “Come here….where’s the lube?”
Focusing, Jim sat up slightly and made his shaking hands work to open the lube and get some on his fingers. Leonard straddled Jim, leaning over him to kiss him again, and Jim slipped his hands down between them. Reaching between Leonard’s spread thighs, he cupped his hard and leaking cock with one hand, stroking just slightly, and with the other gently worked Leonard open. First with one finger, then two, and then soon after three, Jim stretched Leonard as he rocked back and forth slightly, moaning every time Jim managed to brush over his prostate.
It wasn’t long before Leonard was pulling away, panting. “I’m ready, Jim. Need you now…”
Jim lay back and watched as Leonard crouched over him. He held the base of his penis with one hand, the other on Leonard’s hip, guiding him down. Jim slipped into Leonard easily, and he rocked slightly, urging him in deeper and deeper, until he was all the way in, Leonard’s legs tense as he rested on his knees on either side of Jim’s hips. Jim stroked the strong, lightly furred thighs, then took Leonard’s hands, holding him tightly and helping him balance.
Tremors shook both men, and their breath exploded out of them as they held still for as long as they could both stand it. Finally, with a strangled groan, Leonard raised himself slowly, and then let himself sink back down on Jim. He did it again, and again, shifting slightly so that Jim slid past that perfect spot in him each time, and he nearly sobbed with relief when Jim freed one of his hands to stroke his achingly hard cock, using not much more than the precum that dripped onto his belly.
The friction drove him to move harder and faster, and Jim grunted with each plunge, his body shaking and tensing as he felt his delayed orgasm rushing towards him. Jim gritted his teeth, trying to force it back. Leonard could see the struggle on Jim’s face, and he was feeling it too, between the stroking of his cock and the feel of Jim inside him. He came down on Jim again, then forced himself to hold still, using his muscles to squeeze Jim.
“Bones, gonna come!” Jim warned through clenched teeth.
“Come for me Darlin’,” Leonard said, panting. He wiped sweat out of his eyes, and moved his hips, almost making Jim cry out, but leaning down to cover his mouth with his own and keep it muffled as they kissed. Jim jerked beneath him, his fist tightening on Leonard’s cock, trying to stroke it and make him come, too. Jim arched in the grip of his climax, heels and shoulders pressing into the mattress, and Leonard felt it as he pulsed inside of him.
After endless moments, the tension released from Jim’s body, and Leonard allowed himself to move again, sliding up and down just a couple more times. Jim groaned with sensitivity, fighting the urge to cry out and only partially succeeding…but then Leonard froze in place, orgasm crashing over him with a power and swiftness that took his breath and his voice. Shaking and gasping, the contractions rolled through his body, and nothing else registered as he finally started to relax, slumping down as his muscles went lax.
Some time later, Leonard roused to the feeling of fingers being drawn through his hair, but he felt too worn out, too warm and too comfortable to move, so he settled for a questioning grunt.
“Hey,” Jim said softly. “Welcome back.”
“Mmm,” Leonard responded. Blearily, he raised his head from Jim’s shoulder and squinted in the low light of the bedroom, meeting Jim’s blue eyes that were smiling at him. “That was…”
“Really intense,” Jim said.
“You okay?” Leonard asked, making one arm work to bring his hand up and gently cup Jim’s head. It was simple gesture of love and concern, and as always, made Jim realize again just how much he was loved.
“I’m fantastic,” Jim replied earnestly. “You?”
“Never better. Could lie here forever. ‘S perfect,” Leonard mumbled. He smiled as he heard Jim chuckle in his chest.
“If we lie like this much longer, we’re going to be stuck together,” Jim said.
Leonard sighed deeply, tempted to just deal with the discomfort later.
Jim drew his fingers through Bones’ hair over and over, smiling a little at the dark head resting on his chest, just below his chin. He drew a leg up, gently rubbing his foot over Bones’ calf, and let himself drift for a while. Bones was right…this was pretty close to perfect.
Except…
“Bones, I really gotta pee,” Jim said, gently tapping him on the back.
Leonard heaved another sigh, and reluctantly pushed himself up on weak arms and legs. He felt Jim slip from his body as he shifted, and he gave Jim one more lingering kiss before rolling to the side.
Jim’s eyes traveled over Bones’ body, taking in the full length of the nicely muscled frame, and then met his eyes again, neither of them experiencing even a hint of self-consciousness.
“Be right back,” Jim said. “Should I bring a cloth?”
“Nah, I’m right behind you,” Leonard replied, though he’d yet to make a move to get up.
Jim cleaned himself up in the bathroom and Leonard eventually followed to do the same. They moved around each other easily, fingers trailing along bare backs as they passed, not wanting to keep their hands off each other.
Back in the bedroom, they rearranged the blankets and pillows then snapped off the light and settled down, the pull of sleep a strong and insistent force. Arms around each other, bodies pressed close together, they lay in the cool, quiet dark listening to each other breathe.
“I love you,” Jim whispered. “I don’t think I even had a second to say that today.”
Eyes closed, nearly asleep, Leonard smiled. “I hear you say it every time you look at me. I love you, too.”
Continue to Part 2A --->
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