Deadline on Love 7b/?
Three days. It had been three days since he’d last seen Jensen. That didn’t include the times late at night when he’d seen the amber glow of a cigarette deep in the trees while Chad talked his ear off and refused to go to his own room.
Three days, Chad had stayed hanging out in Jared’s room, until Jared inevitably fell asleep and more often than not woke up with Chad snoring on the other end of his bed.
He couldn’t deny that he’d had a good time, he had laughed loudly and joked light-heartedly, but there had always been an ache deep down and his eyes were inevitably drawn to the thicket, longing to go out there and see if Jensen was waiting for him.
It was nearly one in the morning, everyone else was asleep and Jared and Chad were lounging on Jared’s bed, talking about what they thought school next term was going to be like.
Suddenly, Chad announced, “Fuck, man. I figgin’ stink. I’m gonna take a shower.”
Jared frowned and checked the clock. “It can’t wait till morning?”
“Nah, man. Anyway, you look like you’re about to nod off and I’m not tired, so might as well do it now. Anything’s better than listening to you snore.”
Chad got up and headed to the door, dodging as Jared threw a pillow at him and grumbled that he didn’t snore.
“Just keep it down, yeah? No singing in the shower and waking the whole house up,” Jared ordered and Chad left with a mock salute.
Jared waited about ten seconds, listening to Chad make his way upstairs before he leapt off the bed and rushed to the screen door. He pulled it open and stared out into the night, eyes searching for that familiar glow.
His heart sunk when he couldn’t see it. It didn’t look like Jensen was here. Jared had been checking all night, but he hadn’t seen any sign of Jensen. Guess he’d given up waiting for Jared to get free.
Slumping his shoulders, Jared walked slowly into the trees anyway. If he couldn’t be close to Jensen, at least he could stand under his tree and just make-believe for a while.
Jared had only taken about three steps passed the tree line when he was physically pinned to a tree trunk and his mouth attacked.
It only took a second to get with the programme and then Jared was kissing Jensen back with equal desperation. Hands roamed over bodies as their tongues tackled.
“I didn’t think you were ever going to get away,” Jensen breathed into his mouth, before going right back to kissing him.
“I thought you’d given up waiting,” Jared admitted, gasping for as much oxygen as he could get in the space of one second.
“You let him sleep on your bed,” Jensen growled, pushing Jared harder against the tree and Jared grinned at the possessive action.
“Were you spying on me?”
Jensen snarled something that sounded like, “Shut up.” Then they were kissing like their lives depended on it.
“God, I fucking missed you.” Surprisingly it was Jensen who spoke the words; even though they had been on the tip of Jared’s tongue, he just couldn’t breathe long enough to voice them.
“Tell me about it,” Jared gasped. “You any idea how hard it was to know you were her but not be able to come to you?”
They kissed like mad, rutting against each other like the horny teenagers they were.
“Well, I knew there was something interesting out in these trees but this wasn’t quite what I expected.”
Jensen and Jared sprung apart as Chad’s voice drifted through their lustful actions.
“Chad.” Jared stared at his friend as he stood there gaping at them. “I thought you were taking a shower.”
“Well I wasn’t going to use the upstairs one was I? But what the fuck, Jay?”
“I can explain,” Jared tried, glancing at Jensen who was looking very pissed off at Chad’s intrusion.
“You think so?” Chad asked, his eyes wide. “Who the fuck is this?”
Jensen growled lowly and stepped closer to Jared, an almost protective action.
“Um, this is Jensen?” Jared told him, a question in his statement.
“Jensen, huh?” Chad glared at Jensen, who glowered right back at him, that dangerous glint sparking in his eyes once again. “And who the fuck is Jensen and why the hell were you letting him suck your face?”
Jared started shaking with fear. Was this it? Was this when his world started to fall apart?
“M-my… he’s my boyfriend.” Jared held his breath and waited, unconsciously moving closer to Jensen and was beyond grateful when he felt a hand against the small of his back, thumb rubbing in small, reassuring circles.
“I kind of gathered that.”
Chad stood with his arms crossed, leaning against a tree as he regarded them. His relaxed stance looked very out of place in the tense atmosphere. Jared felt ill; his hands were trembling so badly he could feel the vibrations jerking into his heart.
He couldn’t take his eyes off Chad, waiting with bated breath for some reaction, anything that wasn’t “what the fuck?”
Chad’s eyes narrowed when Jensen’s arm slipped around Jared’s waist, pulling back against him and making shushing sounds only Jared could hear in his ear. Jared knew he was only trying to calm him down, give him some reassurance, but honestly? Only Chad could do that at this point.
“So… are you gay or is this some summer experimental crap?” Chad asked deceptively calm, but Jared couldn’t deny the hint of hope in his voice.
Jensen stiffened behind him, holding Jared closer like he expected Jared to suddenly admit that he’d only been messing around, that he wasn’t really gay.
Jared gripped the hand on his stomach and squeezed. He took a deep breath and said to Chad, “I’m gay.”
Shoulders dropping, Chad asked, “For sure?”
“Yes, for sure.”
“And there was no girl?” Jared shook his head. “So you and… he…?” Jared gulped and nodded.
Chad ran his eyes over Jensen, taking in the way they were touching, how close they were standing. “When the hell were you going to tell me, dude?” Chad asked, throwing his hands in the air.
Jared almost relaxed; hope building in his chest at the fact that Chad wasn’t shouting his disgust to the world.
“I didn’t really know how to.” Chad raised his eyebrows and Jared shrugged, shrinking back into his boyfriend a little. “I was scared, man.”
“Always knew you were a big girl,” Chad said, his lips slipping into a lopsided grin.
Jared heard Jensen growl and whispered to him that it was okay, before turning back to his friend. “So, we’re okay? You’re okay with this?”
Looking thoughtful Chad tipped his head to the side in a move that reminded Jared so much of Jensen. Jared’s heart lifted when Chad gave him a big grin and took a step forward.
“You’re still you, right?” Jared nodded eagerly. “And hey, more chicks for me. Come on, Jay-man, you think that little of me, you think I’d turn on you?”
Jared wanted to leap for joy, but he settled for extracting himself from Jensen’s embrace to give Chad a huge hug.
“Thank you,” he breathed in his friend’s ear. Chad spluttered and pushed Jared away.
“Yeah, yeah, enough of the PDA, you’ve got him for that.”
Jared turned to Jensen, his face split with a large smile and he launched himself at his boyfriend, holding him close and practically vibrating with happiness. Jensen held him back, letting Jared have his moment.
“Right, so, I’m gonna go have that shower and leave you two to… do what ever it is that you do that I don’t want to hear about.” Chad chuckled to himself and backed away; leaving Jared to wave him off before kissing Jensen eagerly.
“I can’t believe it, this is so awesome,” Jared started to babble excitedly. “Now you can hang out with us, we don’t have to hide anymore.”
Jensen smiled indulgently, waiting for Jared to wind down a little, but Jared seemed to be on a roll. “You do want to hang with us, right? I mean, I know it won’t be the same as if we’re alone but-”
“At least we’ll be together,” Jensen finished and Jared beamed at him.
Chad didn’t come back outside and Jared spent a long time exchanging lazy kisses with Jensen, leant back against Jensen’s tree, with Jensen pushing against him. It really had to be Jared’s favourite position.
He loved being locked in by Jensen, so that he could only get out if Jensen let him. Since he trusted Jensen completely he was a hundred percent comfortable and loved the thrill it gave him to fully submit to the larger boy.
Finally sleep demanded its own time with Jared and they said goodnight with a deep kiss. When Jared lay his head down on his pillow, he smiled happily and gave a contented sigh. This summer really rocked.
***
“Why can’t we just hang out in front of the house? It’s not like your parents are home, they’re not going to see anything,” Chad complained as he lounged back in the sand.
Jared had explained that he didn’t want to go to the surfer’s beach as neither he nor Jensen were really accepted there, and he didn’t want his relationship with Jensen getting back to his parents. Chad had been grumbling about it all morning. Then Jared had led him along the beach, further and further away from the row of beach houses where they’d met up with Jensen.
The night before Jensen and Jared had thought for a moment about taking Chad to their horseshoe beach, but Jared had quickly vetoed that idea, wanting to keep the place just between them. Jensen had looked very relieved, but it had warmed Jared’s heart that he would have allowed it if that had been what Jared had wanted.
“Because you never know when they’re going to turn up,” Jared explained patiently to Chad, closing his eyes to the hot sunshine and wishing he’d brought his shades.
“So what if they do? We’ll just be three guys hanging out. No harm in that.”
Jared sighed, sitting up and staring at a small collection of pebbles he’d gathered. “Well, they don’t exactly approve of me being friends with Jensen.”
“Can’t imagine why,” Chad muttered under his breath.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Jared turned to face his friend.
“Look at him.” Chad pointed to where Jensen was cooling off in the sea, drops of water trailing down his naked torso. Jared’s heart skipped a beat and his dick stirred at the sight. He looked pretty perfect to Jared. “I mean, he looks like he’s about to start a fight any second. Even I can see he’s dangerous, man.”
“Don’t judge a book, Chad,” Jared warned, annoyed at his friend. Why did everyone always try to put Jensen down? It wasn’t fair.
“Dude, I can see his bruises. The guy obviously isn’t afraid to throw a punch.”
“Yeah, and he got in a fight defending me,” Jared snapped, glaring at Chad a little.
“What? Why the fuck would you need defending?” Chad asked, his eyes only leaving Jared’s boyfriend for a moment. It was like he was trying to figure the guy out.
Jared sighed; he hadn’t wanted to bring this up… ever again. “You remember Jeff’s friend, Tom?” Chad nodded. “Well, my mom set me up and I had to go hang out with him and his friends at the beginning of the summer. Figgin’ play date, like I’m five. Anyway, Tom tried to set me up with this girl, but I wasn’t interested. When I told him so, he got really pissed and shoved me over. Jensen turned up and stepped in, gave me the chance to get out of there. You should have seen him after, man; they really did a number on him. Not that he didn’t do well himself. Tom had an awesome shiner.”
He chuckled at the memory and looked fondly over at Jensen as he started out of the water towards them, shaking himself like a dog.
“He barely even knew me and he still stood up for me. So don’t knock him for fighting, he’s had a rough life.”
Chad didn’t get the chance to reply as Jensen approached, sitting himself behind Jared and pulling Jared back against him.
“Ah, Jen. You’re all wet,” Jared complained half-heartedly, but laughed as Jensen rubbed his dripping hair against his neck.
“You’ll dry,” Jensen said in his deep voice and the shivers Jared experienced had nothing to do with the cold water dripping down his back.
They spent the next two days doing the same thing, hanging out at the beach. Despite the calculating looks Jared caught Chad giving his boyfriend when he thought no one was looking, they had a lot of fun.
Jared had to admit that it was really nice being able to be with Jensen when someone else was there. It was like they weren’t really hiding at all.
They were walking home one day but this time when Jensen stopped just before the houses started to day goodbye like he did everyday, he pulled Jared aside.
“Hey, um. Do you think maybe you could come to the beach tonight?” he asked quietly, a hopeful look in his eyes.
Jared got it immediately. Jensen meant their beach, without Chad. Jared wanted to, he really wanted to, but he felt bad about ditching Chad.
Jensen obviously noticed his indecision, but didn’t appear hurt by it. “It’s just that I have to work tomorrow, so I’m not going to see you and I just wanted… It’s okay if you can’t.” Jensen shrugged and looked down.
Jared smiled. He loved it when Jensen got shy almost as much as when he got possessive.
“I think we can sort something out. Chad won’t mind,” Jared said softly, looking up at Jensen’s through the hair that fell in his eyes.
“Yeah?” Jensen grinned widely.
“Yeah. I’ll talk to him.”
“Awesome. I’ll meet you there after supper?” Jensen suggested, slipping his arms around Jared’s waist and pulling him in.
“Yeah, okay.”
Jensen lowered his lips to Jared’s, kissing him so deeply it took Jared’s breath away. Jared closed his eyes and opened his mouth, accepting Jensen’s tongue and greeting it with his own. The kiss was exhilarating and full of promise for later.
When Jensen let him go, he melted into the shadows of the trees that lined the beach, giving Jared a cheeky wink to see him go.
Turning around, Jared saw Chad standing uncomfortably, trying to look at anything but the show they’d been putting on. He walked up to his friend and bumped shoulders to get his attention.
“That was gross, dude. Do you have to do that around me?” Chad groused, pulling a face.
“Like I’ve never had to put up with you sucking face,” Jared retorted, chuckling to see that instead of looking embarrassed like he would have done, Chad looked proud of his accomplishments. “Anyway, you won’t have to put up with it tomorrow, Jensen has to work.”
“Yeah? So I get the whole day without having to watch you making goo-goo eyes at him? It’s seriously degrading, man,” Chad said, rolling his eyes.
“I do not make goo-goo eyes.” Jared punched Chad in the arm for good measure and they started back towards home.
“You so do,” Chad retorted, sticking his fingers in his throat and pretending to gag. “I swear you’re falling head over heels for that guy.”
Jared flushed. It wasn’t like he hadn’t thought it himself. What he felt for Jensen was getting stronger and stronger with every day that passed, he hated when they were apart and couldn’t wait to see him again and he never wanted Jensen to leave when they were together.
“Oh no,” Chad interrupted his musings. “I told you, Jay, what did I tell you? Don’t go falling in fucking love, it leads to no good.”
“I’m not falling-”
“Yes you are. I know you, Jay, and that look in your eye is clearly screaming love, and I know it’s not for me.”
“Well, so what if I was,” Jared said defiantly. “What’s so bad about it?”
Chad stopped and faced Jared, his face stormy and serious. “Jay-man. Do you really think that Jensen feels the same way about you?”
“Well, I dunno, he might.”
Jared pushed passed Chad, walking briskly. He so didn’t want to have this conversation. He knew what Chad was going to say and he didn’t want to hear it. So what if it was a fantasy. It was his and he didn’t want his friend to ruin it for him.
Chad obviously didn’t get the memo. “Come on, dude. You’re setting yourself up for a fall. You’re the one that’s going to get hurt in this, not Jensen.” He spat Jensen’s name as though it left a bad taste in his mouth.
“I thought you like Jensen.”
“I don’t know Jensen, and you don’t really know him either,” Chad pointed out, but Jared wasn’t having it.
“I do know him. I know him a hell of a lot better than you do,” Jared argued, getting angry. Why did Chad have to try and ruin things, everything was going so well and now it was like he was dragging a black cloud over their heads.
“Jay-”
“No, I don’t want to talk about this anymore, so just drop it, okay?”
They reached the house and Jared rushed down the side and into his room. He didn’t think Chad was following him, but it didn’t matter as he shut himself in his bathroom and started the shower.
His mind was whirling as he stepped under the hot spray. Did he love Jensen? He thought he might, but it didn’t scare him, just like nothing about Jensen scared him.
He smiled to himself. He wondered what Jensen would say if he told him, imagining him saying the words back to him. Suddenly, Jared couldn’t wait to see his boyfriend again. He washed quickly, knowing supper would be ready soon and then he would be on his way to their beach.
Chapter Eight
Three days, Chad had stayed hanging out in Jared’s room, until Jared inevitably fell asleep and more often than not woke up with Chad snoring on the other end of his bed.
He couldn’t deny that he’d had a good time, he had laughed loudly and joked light-heartedly, but there had always been an ache deep down and his eyes were inevitably drawn to the thicket, longing to go out there and see if Jensen was waiting for him.
It was nearly one in the morning, everyone else was asleep and Jared and Chad were lounging on Jared’s bed, talking about what they thought school next term was going to be like.
Suddenly, Chad announced, “Fuck, man. I figgin’ stink. I’m gonna take a shower.”
Jared frowned and checked the clock. “It can’t wait till morning?”
“Nah, man. Anyway, you look like you’re about to nod off and I’m not tired, so might as well do it now. Anything’s better than listening to you snore.”
Chad got up and headed to the door, dodging as Jared threw a pillow at him and grumbled that he didn’t snore.
“Just keep it down, yeah? No singing in the shower and waking the whole house up,” Jared ordered and Chad left with a mock salute.
Jared waited about ten seconds, listening to Chad make his way upstairs before he leapt off the bed and rushed to the screen door. He pulled it open and stared out into the night, eyes searching for that familiar glow.
His heart sunk when he couldn’t see it. It didn’t look like Jensen was here. Jared had been checking all night, but he hadn’t seen any sign of Jensen. Guess he’d given up waiting for Jared to get free.
Slumping his shoulders, Jared walked slowly into the trees anyway. If he couldn’t be close to Jensen, at least he could stand under his tree and just make-believe for a while.
Jared had only taken about three steps passed the tree line when he was physically pinned to a tree trunk and his mouth attacked.
It only took a second to get with the programme and then Jared was kissing Jensen back with equal desperation. Hands roamed over bodies as their tongues tackled.
“I didn’t think you were ever going to get away,” Jensen breathed into his mouth, before going right back to kissing him.
“I thought you’d given up waiting,” Jared admitted, gasping for as much oxygen as he could get in the space of one second.
“You let him sleep on your bed,” Jensen growled, pushing Jared harder against the tree and Jared grinned at the possessive action.
“Were you spying on me?”
Jensen snarled something that sounded like, “Shut up.” Then they were kissing like their lives depended on it.
“God, I fucking missed you.” Surprisingly it was Jensen who spoke the words; even though they had been on the tip of Jared’s tongue, he just couldn’t breathe long enough to voice them.
“Tell me about it,” Jared gasped. “You any idea how hard it was to know you were her but not be able to come to you?”
They kissed like mad, rutting against each other like the horny teenagers they were.
“Well, I knew there was something interesting out in these trees but this wasn’t quite what I expected.”
Jensen and Jared sprung apart as Chad’s voice drifted through their lustful actions.
“Chad.” Jared stared at his friend as he stood there gaping at them. “I thought you were taking a shower.”
“Well I wasn’t going to use the upstairs one was I? But what the fuck, Jay?”
“I can explain,” Jared tried, glancing at Jensen who was looking very pissed off at Chad’s intrusion.
“You think so?” Chad asked, his eyes wide. “Who the fuck is this?”
Jensen growled lowly and stepped closer to Jared, an almost protective action.
“Um, this is Jensen?” Jared told him, a question in his statement.
“Jensen, huh?” Chad glared at Jensen, who glowered right back at him, that dangerous glint sparking in his eyes once again. “And who the fuck is Jensen and why the hell were you letting him suck your face?”
Jared started shaking with fear. Was this it? Was this when his world started to fall apart?
“M-my… he’s my boyfriend.” Jared held his breath and waited, unconsciously moving closer to Jensen and was beyond grateful when he felt a hand against the small of his back, thumb rubbing in small, reassuring circles.
“I kind of gathered that.”
Chad stood with his arms crossed, leaning against a tree as he regarded them. His relaxed stance looked very out of place in the tense atmosphere. Jared felt ill; his hands were trembling so badly he could feel the vibrations jerking into his heart.
He couldn’t take his eyes off Chad, waiting with bated breath for some reaction, anything that wasn’t “what the fuck?”
Chad’s eyes narrowed when Jensen’s arm slipped around Jared’s waist, pulling back against him and making shushing sounds only Jared could hear in his ear. Jared knew he was only trying to calm him down, give him some reassurance, but honestly? Only Chad could do that at this point.
“So… are you gay or is this some summer experimental crap?” Chad asked deceptively calm, but Jared couldn’t deny the hint of hope in his voice.
Jensen stiffened behind him, holding Jared closer like he expected Jared to suddenly admit that he’d only been messing around, that he wasn’t really gay.
Jared gripped the hand on his stomach and squeezed. He took a deep breath and said to Chad, “I’m gay.”
Shoulders dropping, Chad asked, “For sure?”
“Yes, for sure.”
“And there was no girl?” Jared shook his head. “So you and… he…?” Jared gulped and nodded.
Chad ran his eyes over Jensen, taking in the way they were touching, how close they were standing. “When the hell were you going to tell me, dude?” Chad asked, throwing his hands in the air.
Jared almost relaxed; hope building in his chest at the fact that Chad wasn’t shouting his disgust to the world.
“I didn’t really know how to.” Chad raised his eyebrows and Jared shrugged, shrinking back into his boyfriend a little. “I was scared, man.”
“Always knew you were a big girl,” Chad said, his lips slipping into a lopsided grin.
Jared heard Jensen growl and whispered to him that it was okay, before turning back to his friend. “So, we’re okay? You’re okay with this?”
Looking thoughtful Chad tipped his head to the side in a move that reminded Jared so much of Jensen. Jared’s heart lifted when Chad gave him a big grin and took a step forward.
“You’re still you, right?” Jared nodded eagerly. “And hey, more chicks for me. Come on, Jay-man, you think that little of me, you think I’d turn on you?”
Jared wanted to leap for joy, but he settled for extracting himself from Jensen’s embrace to give Chad a huge hug.
“Thank you,” he breathed in his friend’s ear. Chad spluttered and pushed Jared away.
“Yeah, yeah, enough of the PDA, you’ve got him for that.”
Jared turned to Jensen, his face split with a large smile and he launched himself at his boyfriend, holding him close and practically vibrating with happiness. Jensen held him back, letting Jared have his moment.
“Right, so, I’m gonna go have that shower and leave you two to… do what ever it is that you do that I don’t want to hear about.” Chad chuckled to himself and backed away; leaving Jared to wave him off before kissing Jensen eagerly.
“I can’t believe it, this is so awesome,” Jared started to babble excitedly. “Now you can hang out with us, we don’t have to hide anymore.”
Jensen smiled indulgently, waiting for Jared to wind down a little, but Jared seemed to be on a roll. “You do want to hang with us, right? I mean, I know it won’t be the same as if we’re alone but-”
“At least we’ll be together,” Jensen finished and Jared beamed at him.
Chad didn’t come back outside and Jared spent a long time exchanging lazy kisses with Jensen, leant back against Jensen’s tree, with Jensen pushing against him. It really had to be Jared’s favourite position.
He loved being locked in by Jensen, so that he could only get out if Jensen let him. Since he trusted Jensen completely he was a hundred percent comfortable and loved the thrill it gave him to fully submit to the larger boy.
Finally sleep demanded its own time with Jared and they said goodnight with a deep kiss. When Jared lay his head down on his pillow, he smiled happily and gave a contented sigh. This summer really rocked.
***
“Why can’t we just hang out in front of the house? It’s not like your parents are home, they’re not going to see anything,” Chad complained as he lounged back in the sand.
Jared had explained that he didn’t want to go to the surfer’s beach as neither he nor Jensen were really accepted there, and he didn’t want his relationship with Jensen getting back to his parents. Chad had been grumbling about it all morning. Then Jared had led him along the beach, further and further away from the row of beach houses where they’d met up with Jensen.
The night before Jensen and Jared had thought for a moment about taking Chad to their horseshoe beach, but Jared had quickly vetoed that idea, wanting to keep the place just between them. Jensen had looked very relieved, but it had warmed Jared’s heart that he would have allowed it if that had been what Jared had wanted.
“Because you never know when they’re going to turn up,” Jared explained patiently to Chad, closing his eyes to the hot sunshine and wishing he’d brought his shades.
“So what if they do? We’ll just be three guys hanging out. No harm in that.”
Jared sighed, sitting up and staring at a small collection of pebbles he’d gathered. “Well, they don’t exactly approve of me being friends with Jensen.”
“Can’t imagine why,” Chad muttered under his breath.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Jared turned to face his friend.
“Look at him.” Chad pointed to where Jensen was cooling off in the sea, drops of water trailing down his naked torso. Jared’s heart skipped a beat and his dick stirred at the sight. He looked pretty perfect to Jared. “I mean, he looks like he’s about to start a fight any second. Even I can see he’s dangerous, man.”
“Don’t judge a book, Chad,” Jared warned, annoyed at his friend. Why did everyone always try to put Jensen down? It wasn’t fair.
“Dude, I can see his bruises. The guy obviously isn’t afraid to throw a punch.”
“Yeah, and he got in a fight defending me,” Jared snapped, glaring at Chad a little.
“What? Why the fuck would you need defending?” Chad asked, his eyes only leaving Jared’s boyfriend for a moment. It was like he was trying to figure the guy out.
Jared sighed; he hadn’t wanted to bring this up… ever again. “You remember Jeff’s friend, Tom?” Chad nodded. “Well, my mom set me up and I had to go hang out with him and his friends at the beginning of the summer. Figgin’ play date, like I’m five. Anyway, Tom tried to set me up with this girl, but I wasn’t interested. When I told him so, he got really pissed and shoved me over. Jensen turned up and stepped in, gave me the chance to get out of there. You should have seen him after, man; they really did a number on him. Not that he didn’t do well himself. Tom had an awesome shiner.”
He chuckled at the memory and looked fondly over at Jensen as he started out of the water towards them, shaking himself like a dog.
“He barely even knew me and he still stood up for me. So don’t knock him for fighting, he’s had a rough life.”
Chad didn’t get the chance to reply as Jensen approached, sitting himself behind Jared and pulling Jared back against him.
“Ah, Jen. You’re all wet,” Jared complained half-heartedly, but laughed as Jensen rubbed his dripping hair against his neck.
“You’ll dry,” Jensen said in his deep voice and the shivers Jared experienced had nothing to do with the cold water dripping down his back.
They spent the next two days doing the same thing, hanging out at the beach. Despite the calculating looks Jared caught Chad giving his boyfriend when he thought no one was looking, they had a lot of fun.
Jared had to admit that it was really nice being able to be with Jensen when someone else was there. It was like they weren’t really hiding at all.
They were walking home one day but this time when Jensen stopped just before the houses started to day goodbye like he did everyday, he pulled Jared aside.
“Hey, um. Do you think maybe you could come to the beach tonight?” he asked quietly, a hopeful look in his eyes.
Jared got it immediately. Jensen meant their beach, without Chad. Jared wanted to, he really wanted to, but he felt bad about ditching Chad.
Jensen obviously noticed his indecision, but didn’t appear hurt by it. “It’s just that I have to work tomorrow, so I’m not going to see you and I just wanted… It’s okay if you can’t.” Jensen shrugged and looked down.
Jared smiled. He loved it when Jensen got shy almost as much as when he got possessive.
“I think we can sort something out. Chad won’t mind,” Jared said softly, looking up at Jensen’s through the hair that fell in his eyes.
“Yeah?” Jensen grinned widely.
“Yeah. I’ll talk to him.”
“Awesome. I’ll meet you there after supper?” Jensen suggested, slipping his arms around Jared’s waist and pulling him in.
“Yeah, okay.”
Jensen lowered his lips to Jared’s, kissing him so deeply it took Jared’s breath away. Jared closed his eyes and opened his mouth, accepting Jensen’s tongue and greeting it with his own. The kiss was exhilarating and full of promise for later.
When Jensen let him go, he melted into the shadows of the trees that lined the beach, giving Jared a cheeky wink to see him go.
Turning around, Jared saw Chad standing uncomfortably, trying to look at anything but the show they’d been putting on. He walked up to his friend and bumped shoulders to get his attention.
“That was gross, dude. Do you have to do that around me?” Chad groused, pulling a face.
“Like I’ve never had to put up with you sucking face,” Jared retorted, chuckling to see that instead of looking embarrassed like he would have done, Chad looked proud of his accomplishments. “Anyway, you won’t have to put up with it tomorrow, Jensen has to work.”
“Yeah? So I get the whole day without having to watch you making goo-goo eyes at him? It’s seriously degrading, man,” Chad said, rolling his eyes.
“I do not make goo-goo eyes.” Jared punched Chad in the arm for good measure and they started back towards home.
“You so do,” Chad retorted, sticking his fingers in his throat and pretending to gag. “I swear you’re falling head over heels for that guy.”
Jared flushed. It wasn’t like he hadn’t thought it himself. What he felt for Jensen was getting stronger and stronger with every day that passed, he hated when they were apart and couldn’t wait to see him again and he never wanted Jensen to leave when they were together.
“Oh no,” Chad interrupted his musings. “I told you, Jay, what did I tell you? Don’t go falling in fucking love, it leads to no good.”
“I’m not falling-”
“Yes you are. I know you, Jay, and that look in your eye is clearly screaming love, and I know it’s not for me.”
“Well, so what if I was,” Jared said defiantly. “What’s so bad about it?”
Chad stopped and faced Jared, his face stormy and serious. “Jay-man. Do you really think that Jensen feels the same way about you?”
“Well, I dunno, he might.”
Jared pushed passed Chad, walking briskly. He so didn’t want to have this conversation. He knew what Chad was going to say and he didn’t want to hear it. So what if it was a fantasy. It was his and he didn’t want his friend to ruin it for him.
Chad obviously didn’t get the memo. “Come on, dude. You’re setting yourself up for a fall. You’re the one that’s going to get hurt in this, not Jensen.” He spat Jensen’s name as though it left a bad taste in his mouth.
“I thought you like Jensen.”
“I don’t know Jensen, and you don’t really know him either,” Chad pointed out, but Jared wasn’t having it.
“I do know him. I know him a hell of a lot better than you do,” Jared argued, getting angry. Why did Chad have to try and ruin things, everything was going so well and now it was like he was dragging a black cloud over their heads.
“Jay-”
“No, I don’t want to talk about this anymore, so just drop it, okay?”
They reached the house and Jared rushed down the side and into his room. He didn’t think Chad was following him, but it didn’t matter as he shut himself in his bathroom and started the shower.
His mind was whirling as he stepped under the hot spray. Did he love Jensen? He thought he might, but it didn’t scare him, just like nothing about Jensen scared him.
He smiled to himself. He wondered what Jensen would say if he told him, imagining him saying the words back to him. Suddenly, Jared couldn’t wait to see his boyfriend again. He washed quickly, knowing supper would be ready soon and then he would be on his way to their beach.
Chapter Eight