Keeping Up Appearance -- 2
Title: Keepin Up Appearances: Chapter 2
Author: Isabelle (sophieernie)
Rating: will be NC-17
Disclaimer: Not mine, no profit, all hail AP, LM, DO, etc.
Genre: AU/AU? -- Circa 1980.
AN: I have always thought that both Jack and Ennis were shocked at their immediate connection. I mention this because this won't be one of those stories where it takes 25 chapters or something for their to be some action (not that those don't have their purpose; there are many I dearly love), but this is not one of those. Just FYI.
edited: Warning (thanks Camillar) for HetSex. It is just a plot device and as you'll see, his mind isn't really in it.
Chapter 2
Cassie wasn’t ever one to renege on her promises and he for sure was getting his special favor now. He knew his wife was a beauty, riding him like he liked best, showing off her nice titties. Most men would kill to be in his position, Cassie not usually the one to say no. She loved to tell him that one of the nice things about not having babies was getting to screw whenever they wanted. Ennis sometimes wondered who she was trying to convince.
She’d been teasin him, getting him nice and riled up for a while now, going slow and not letting him take charge. She knew he’d had enough of her wiles when his fingers gripped into her hips, pulling her down and holding her there while he thrust.
“Easy, honey, no bruises,” she cooed, she was letting him get a little rough tonight, rewarding her man for going to the party. He paid her little mind, but did move one hand down between her legs to help her along. He knew this path well finishing her off quickly before he groaned and shuddered out his completion.
“Damn, Ennis, you need to make new friends more often. Seems more like I got the reward tonight,” she gasped, collapsing on top of him. Ennis just grunted, her comment strangely bringing Jack’s face, lit by the cigarette lighter, to mind.
“Why, you sweet on him?” Ennis teased, poking her in the ribs, “talking about another man right after we-.”
“He is damn good-looking, but I got my hands full with you. First thing Lureen told me about him was he sure knows how to fill a pair of jeans… I would love to get you in some of those blue jeans.”
“Hell no,” he snorted, “I ain’t wearing no movie stars jeans so all your friends can talk about how I fill em.”
“Come on, honey, I want Lureen to see how sexy my husband is. She goes on and on about how manly Jack looked on those bulls, telling me about his muscles in his thighs and how you could bounce a quarter off his ass.”
“Jesus Christ, what the hell do you women talk about? What do you tell them about me?” Ennis demanded, his blood suddenly rushing.
“Well,” she teased unfazed by his flaring temper, “next time I’ll be telling them you are hard again, not 5 minutes later.” She reached down and squeezed his erection and he let his head fall back as she worked him over.
In flash he had her flipped over, and was behind her and inside of her. She giggled and whispered easy, honey then shit, whats gotten into you tonight when he thrust into her roughly. He lay himself over her back, stroking fast. Her moans and wiggling dimmed as he neared the rise, her words echoing through his mind … how manly he looked on those bulls… And then he was coming again for the second time in 15 minutes, visions of Jack intermingled with the noises and smells of his wife’s climax.
* * *
Jack lay awake long after Lureen was sleeping, staring at the ceiling. They’d had sex, just as he had predicted and just as he had predicted, he was thinking of that long, tall rancher the entire time. No one man had ever taken over his thoughts like this after one meeting, even Randall. He tried to tell himself he was just missing a man, missing Randall, but he had gone longer spells without male company before, it usually didn’t make him crazy over some unattainable redneck. Lureen was already talking about Cassie inviting them out to the ranch for dinner on Friday. The idea of it both thrilled him and scared the shit out of him; he practically got hard when they had just shook hands. Now they were going out to their ranch in two days, and he would get to see that man in his element. Jesus, he needed to snap out of this.
Trying not to wake Lureen, he swung his legs out the bed and silently pulled on his shorts and undershirt, sneaking out of their bedroom. On the way out to the back porch, he grabbed his smokes and his nearest stash of whiskey; knowing Lureen would wake-up if he started smoking in the house.
He had taken drastic measures in the past, but only right after Randall had just up and left. Driven down to Mexico, picked up some quiet, tall thing and fuckin paid the man, asking in broken Spanish for what he wanted. It wasn’t the thing he was proudest of, but it had helped take the edge off. Now he was desperate for some release valve, something to let him get through Friday night with out doing something stupid and dangerous.
Hadn’t always been this way, when he and Lureen first got married, he had been a good husband, promising himself he would forget about his sexual peculiarities. He landed himself a gorgeous one too. Wild as well; hell bent on doing exactly what her Daddy said not too. He had been a good man, kept his promises to himself and her for a while, but then her Daddy started sending him on sales trips. He wasn’t exactly sure how he did it, but men like him could always find each other. Since then, it was like he was spiraling downward into an addiction. Like the whiskey, he would try to fight it and would do well for a time, but that basest carnal desire was always right beneath surface.
He’d carried on with Randall for 2 years, meeting one or twice a week. Towards the end, it was more than the sex, which scared Jack shitless; he had never had those sorts of feelings for any of the others. I was always just the sex, but seeing each other so often had turned Randall into that word he couldn’t utter. That was how they got caught; missing each other. His face colored with shame now, thinking back on it. Poor woman walked in on her husband fuckin another man in her bed. Jack wasn’t sure what she saw, only heard her screaming and crying, he had felt the threats she had thrown at his naked back as he ran out of the house. He never fuckin saw or heard from Randall again.
Lureen always knew when he got up. She would ask why in the earlier days, but Jack’d just say “can’t sleep.” Hadn’t never been much of a sleeper, nighttime brought on too many thoughts he could bear less and less as the years rolled past.
* * *
Ennis found himself not actually dreading Friday night. Actually looked forward to showing his land off to someone could appreciate all the hard work. He had a nice bit of property here, with cattle and a few horses he trained and stabled for other folks. Would be nice to talk to someone knew ranchin, someone he could stand for longer than a few minutes. Cassie had noticed too; teasin him to no end, asking what he’d done with her husband. Finally, the teasin chased him out to the barn before their guests had even arrived.
He heard the pick-up coming up the gravel drive and thought hard about whether or not he should go up to the house to greet them. Knew Cassie’d want him to, but he hestitated, not liking Jack might see him as Cassie’s lapdog. He took to brushing his favorite horse, letting himself get lost in the monotony of the task.
Didn’t even notice Jack was there at first. Hummin tunelessly as Alice snorted and sighed into his touches. When he did move around to the other side of the horse, he saw Jack before Jack realized he’d been seen. Those big blue eyes shone with something so peculiar; Ennis almost thought he saw pride showing out of those soft doe eyes. Something like pride, couldn’t quite place it, though it ghosted through his mind.
And just like that, the look vanished, and Jack let out a low whistle, “sweet life you got here, Del Mar.”
“You ain’t even seen the place.”
“Well, start the tour then!”
“This here’s Alice, she’s my best horse,” Ennis gestured, his hands still absently rubbing and patting the horse.
Jack walked right up and put his hand on her velvet muzzle, but she didn’t tense. As Jack continued to rub her nose, she stepped forward into his touch, her eyes closing.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” it was Ennis turn to whistle low, “Alice don’t usually like strangers, she’s a shy one.”
“I’ve always had a way with the ladies,” the bravado was back, even as Jack added, talking low to the horse, “I’ve always had a soft spot for the shy ones, though.”
Alice snorted contentedly even though Ennis had stopped grooming her completely; her only touch was Jack’s hand scratching her nose as he whispered to her things Ennis could just barely make out.
“You got a way with all horses like this?” Ennis asked, his astonishment evident on his face.
“And dogs, Lureen always saying if there’s a stray whatever within 50 miles I’ll wanna take it in.”
“So you got dogs?” Ennis was still shocked by Alice’s reaction.
“Nah, Lureen hates dogs, scared of em or something.”
At that, Ennis let out one quick burst of a whistle and within a few seconds, a old dog came rambling around the barn door, “this is Skeeter, getting up there in years, but still a damn good dog.”
“Like I said, a sweet fuckin’ life.” Jack beamed as he squatted down to rub Skeeter behind the ears.
Ennis stood and watched, glad those eye’s weren’t taking his measure for a brief moment. “Know Cassie won’t have dinner done for about 45 minutes, you want to take a quick ride around?”
Jack’s smile was in his eyes before it made it to his mouth, “Hell yes, Ennis Del Mar, was hoping you’d ask.” Ennis felt a small thrill at making this man smile, never seen anyone this enthusiastic about his ranch.
Jack insisted on saddling his own horse, wantin to prove to Ennis he could. Ennis brought Red out of his stall and stood him in front of Jack. He stabled Red for a local family, horse belonged to their boy but he’d gone off to college and hadn’t been out to see him in 6 months. Not that the horse wanted anything to do with anyone but that kid, could be an ornery son of a bitch. Now he’d see if that big man’s big talk was true. Ennis waited, for some reason, it seemed real important whether or not Jack could saddle Red.
Jack slid his hand up Red’s muzzle and the horse whinnied a bit, but Jack just talked to the horse, rubbin his nose, soothing him with words Ennis couldn’t make out. Before Ennis knew it, the saddle was on the horse and he was eating some oats outta Jack’s palm like they was old friends. Damn, he ain’t kiddin. Ain’t never seen someone like that with the horses.
Jack was looking at him now, hands on his hips, “Well, what you staring at, I thought you was gonna show me the place. Saddle up, cowboy.”
They rode out along the fence line. Jack couldn’t help but notice what a beautiful night it was, knew there was no place he would rather be than right here, right now. Sitting on a horse, beside this real cowboy. Damn, that man looked fine sitting on that horse. Jack rode behind him up one steep hillside and felt his mouth drying up watchin Ennis muscles flex to control Alice. His upper body barely moved, doing all the work in his hips and thighs; looked like he and that horse shared one mind. Bet he doesn’t even know he’s doing it, come so fuckin natural to him.
Ennis didn’t speak much as they rode, but he pointed things out and answered Jack’s questions. Jack saw how proud he was, even though a man like him wasn’t really prideful. Jack also knew Ennis liked him being there. Liked how he was with his horses and his dog, liked that Jack had taken an interest in his ranch, liked having someone to show this ranch to. Didn’t seem to Jack Cassie much cared for the ranch, the ranch Ennis apparently poured all his blood and sweat into. Ennis’ whole life and Jack knew he ain’t never really got to share it with anyone before.
His smile was so genuine and he seemed to hold Jack’s opinions in such high regard. Jack had apparently won this hard man’s respect and that thought sent a thrill straight through to his cock. No matter how much he told himself he was crazy and this was never gonna happen, not in a million fuckin years, he knew he was gone. This man had climbed into his brain and taken over; and he still could swear Ennis sensed something unique here. Cassie pretty much said Ennis ain’t got no friends, didn’t talk to no one but the animals, yet-here they were, out riding fence line, talkin like they’d know each other all their lives. Jack wasn’t used to being just friend’s with a man. He usually had no use for other men unless it was fuckin, but this man wanted to be his friend. This man with no friends it seemed, this man who found other people a nuisance most of the time, this man who barely spoke to his wife was riding next to Jack, casually going on about cattle and Wyoming.
Dinner was nice, nothing special. Cassie fancied herself a chef, but most of her cooking was simple. Not that anyone complained, tasted fine. They had all sat around after dinner, having some whiskey, Jack getting the ladies giggling with his tales of bull riding. Ennis wondered how much energy this man could expel just telling a story. He jumped around, all animated, like a little kid. Crazy fucking Jack Twist, Ennis thought, amused to no end by his antics.
Around 11:00 Lureen said they had to leave. Ennis smiling big when Jack protested loudly, saying he wanted one more drink. Lureen got her way, Ennis sensing that was usually how it went. Cassie stood and kissed Jack on the cheek, giggling some more like a teenager. She then hugged Lureen, both of them saying we gotta do this again real soon.
Lureen hugged onto Ennis, then excused herself to the powder room one more time before they left.
“I’m head out and get a smoke while I’m waitin,” Jack said, Ennis following him before the words were out of Jack’s mouth.
“Had a real nice evening, you wife can cook,” Jack said lighting his cigarette and handing the lighter to Ennis careful their fingers didn’t touch, “this is a mighty nice setup you got here.”
“Thanks…” Ennis didn’t know what to say, tongue-tied as usual.
“Maybe I can come out again some time, give you some help with all the work,” Jack asked, wishing he couldn’t hear the hope dripping from his words.
“I’d like that,” Ennis mumbled casting his eyes up for a brief second and catching Jack’s.
“You just let me know when…” Jack said, not letting Ennis’ eyes go, wanting to pin him down, needing to know he’d see him again.
“I’ll need some help on Sunday, 8:00 sharp.”
“Well, you got yourself a deal, Ennis,” Jack extended his hand to Ennis’, feeling the bear-trap grip before their hands actually met.
Jack knew he didn’t imagine it this time, saw Ennis head pop up when their hands met. The warm, strong grip and their palms sliding together creating some sort of friction that shot straight to Jack’s dick. Knew that sensation was shared by some part of Ennis same way he knew Randall wanted to jump him the first time they met. They both just stood their, shaking hands until the door opened and Lureen came out, invading the cocoon the darkness and smoke had created around them, expecting Jack to light her up a cigarette. The moment broke right along with the hand shake that was tethering them together, Lureen saying she was beat, needing Jack to get her home or she’d fall asleep in the truck.
“Well, I’ll see ya Sunday,” Jack said, trying to snag Ennis’ eyes, but Ennis was staring off into the night, smoking like the goddamn Marlboro Man, Jack though.
“Yeah, Sunday,” Ennis grunted, “drive safe.” And then he was turning around and walking back into the house, his cigarette not even half gone stomped out beneath his boot.
Chapter 1: http://sophieernie.livejournal.com