More Than Friends And Brothers, by germankitty (Jason/Tommy)
Title: More Than Friends And Brothers
Chapter 7: Chilled And Ready
Author: germankitty
Relationship: Jason/Tommy
Rating: NC-17
Warning: explicit sex, language
Disclaimer: I'm playing in someone else's sandbox, and unfortunately am not getting paid for it. Damn.
Note: In response to the LJ PRSW 22 challenge, themes #5, dream and #22, watermelon My boys get to have fun in the woods -- or don't they? Read and find out ... and please tell me how I'm doing?
More Than Friends And Brothers
Chapter 7: Chilled and Ready
by Germankitty
Jason shivered as he was watching Tommy - and for once the goosebumps covering his body owed nothing to desire, but everything to the chill in the early morning air. Once again, they'd gone camping on one of their weekends together, as Tommy still was reluctant for them to spend the night together at either of their homes. Personally, Jason thought it was faintly ridiculous, but if that was what Tommy wanted …
*I'd rather freeze my ass off in a tent in the mountains with him than be warm and comfortable all by myself at my apartment.*
They were still living and working in different towns, so in order to be together at all, they'd worked out a schedule of alternating, usually bi-weekly visits. It wasn't always easy to make it, though, as Jason was coaching several teams at Angel Grove High and often had to attend games on weekends. But, they managed, and in the intervals kept in touch via regular phone calls and the internet.
Which was all nice and well, but meeting in a chat room was a far cry from actually being together, to talk, to play … to make love. All through summer they had met whenever they could, either near Reefside or Angel Grove, more often than not somewhere equidistant for both of them. A few times, they'd opted for a hotel room, but while they both earned adequate salaries they couldn't afford really nice places on a regular basis. Consequently, Jason and Tommy felt that they'd prefer a certain amount of discomfort over getting knowing smirks from bored hotel clerks, having to put up with run-down facilities and feeling generally tawdry. So, camping it was - and they had invested in a roomy-enough tent and good-quality gear - but with October well underway, it was becoming increasingly obvious that even the temperate West Coast climate wouldn't hold on forever.
*We've got to think of something else,* Jason thought as he reached into the tent behind him to snag a blanket. *No matter what Tommy says, I'm not gonna camp out in the snow!* He draped the plaid around his shoulders, grateful for the warmth. Summer had been fine, but only to a degree; they'd generally avoided the bigger, more popular campgrounds with more amenities because there were too many tourists around to always give them the privacy they wanted. And the more Spartan places often had definite drawbacks.
Take this weekend; they were once more staying on a campground in one of the National Parks the western mountain range was so rich in. Private it certainly was, but on the other hand it lacked a lot of basic comforts.
*Like, electricity, plumbing and hot running water …*
The lack of same was why Jason had the chance to observe his lover washing himself at the small creek running through the meadow where they'd pitched their tent. Tommy was stripped to the waist, his lower body clad only in faded sweatpants, and he was kneeling on the creek's bank as he threw water into his face. His position made Jason's mouth go dry as that nice, tight butt he loved to hold and fondle was bobbing up and down before his eyes only a short distance away.
How he would love to sidle up behind Tommy for some serious fooling around! He'd take hold of his ass and rub himself against the firm muscles, feel his cock swell and lengthen until he could barely constrain himself … he would then grasp the waistband of Tommy's pants and pull them down, freeing that tempting backside from its cotton covering, fit himself inside the hot crack and reach around for Tommy's own cock which would be hard and waiting …
A gust of wind dispelled the fantasy and made Jason shiver again. He pulled his blanket tighter around his shoulders, sighing wistfully. He might dream all he want, but he was pretty certain that scenario was not coming to pass today.
He let his mind wander into an area that was becoming more and more familiar as he continued to watch his lover. In his imagination, the woodsy area where they'd pitched their tent morphed into a lush, tropical glade … and Tommy was no longer hunkering on the bank of a cold mountain creek, splashing water over his head, but standing waist-deep in a clear lagoon complete with waterfall.
Jason smiled to himself as his daydream took a firmer hold.
The air is balmy and filled with the scent of tropical flowers. Birds and other small animals chirp and chitter softly over the sound of cascading water as Tommy runs his hands through his long locks.
"Come join me," he calls to me, and I follow the invitation gladly, striding naked and already aroused to the lagoon. The water's temperature is just right, neither too warm nor too cold as I join my lover. Those wonderful chocolate eyes survey my body heatedly as I approach without shame, my erection leading the way, and through the clear water I can see Tommy's cock fill and rise on its own until he is as hard as I.
"Want me to wash your back?" I ask playfully as we stand only inches apart. I ache to reach for Tommy, hunger to feel his hands and mouth on me. But I force myself to wait; I want Tommy desperately, but will not coerce him into intimacy unless I'm freely given what we both desire. The atmosphere between us hums and crackles with anticipation as Tommy smiles and shakes his head.
"No. I want you to fuck me."
It's what I've been waiting for. My breath catches at the bold statement, and I can feel my cock jump. I smile provocatively, and I know that my eyes have lit up with a bright flame. Then I close the small distance between us and draw Tommy into my arms, plundering his mouth in a long, sensual kiss.
"I will. Soon."
Tommy's pleased moan reverberates all the way through my body as I thrust my tongue between the willing lips, drawing its counterpart into a wetly exciting dance of passion. I let one hand glide down his back to the tight ass, shifting my feet on the lagoon's sandy bottom until our cocks touch and are trapped side by side between our bellies. With my other hand, I seek and find Tommy's nipples. I tease the sensitive nubs gently at first until they stiffen, then pinch and twist first one, then the other. Tommy groans; as I've known it would the rougher stimulation is driving him wild, and he bucks against me.
"Take me, Jase," he gasps between kisses.
"Soon," I repeat, loving the way Tommy clings to me and writhes in my arms. I reluctantly let go of the hardened peaks, but my fingers soon find something even harder to play with - Tommy's straining shaft and drawn-up balls. I stroke and squeeze both gently with one hand, making Tommy sigh with pleasure, and reach around the trim hips to trail my other hand down the crack of Tommy's ass.
"Mmm, yes," Tommy purrs, beginning his own exploration of my body. I allow him to roam wherever he wants, but concentrate on reaching the opening between Tommy's buttcheeks. Once I find it, I place a finger against the tight ring of muscle.
"I can't wait until I'm inside of you," I murmur, probing gently until Tommy's sphincter relaxes and my fingertip slips into the hot channel. "Just a few minutes; as soon as I have you ready, I'll fuck you until you beg me to stop."
"Won't happen," Tommy moans, caught between the twin pleasures of having his cock pumped and his ass opened by my hands. His eyes close in bliss. "I'll never get enough of you!"
That deserves another hard, passionate kiss. "Then prove it," I dare him and slowly release my panting lover. Tommy's lids rise to reveal eyes gone smoky with passion.
"How?"
"Let's get back on land and I'll show you."
I give a pleased chuckle as Tommy pouts with disappointment at losing my touch, but he quickly regroups and sloshes towards shore as fast as possible, telling me to follow with an inviting smile and smoldering look over his shoulder.
"Hurry up!"
"I bet you're not gonna say that again once I'm in your ass," I tease, but make my own way back to shore just as quickly.
As soon as we are both out of the water and reach our bed of moss and blankets, Tommy comes back into my arms, kissing me until we're both breathing heavily. Before I can utter a single word, Tommy sinks to his knees and swallows my cock, sucking the hard length until I think I might burst any minute. Because it's too tempting not to, I take Tommy's head between my hands and hold him still, then start to fuck the willing mouth. Tommy's teeth scrape slightly against my sensitive cockhead, but he immediately soothes the tiny abrasion with his agile tongue.
I groan with pleasure even as I have to smile. Who would have thought that until-recently-straight Tommy would get so into blow jobs - or that he would prove so skilled at giving them?
Gradually, I deepen my thrusts. Tommy's throat muscles relax the longer he is sucking me, and at last I'm buried to the hilt in his mouth. I only stop when my balls rest against Tommy's chin and shift my grip on the damp locks to tilt Tommy's face upwards. The brown eyes have drifted shut, but a gentle brush across the lids opens them again … and I shudder as I read the trust, shrouded in a haze of desire, in their depths. Tommy's lips are stretched wide and wrapped tightly around the base of my cock; he's reaching up and is playing with my balls in their tightly-drawn sac while his tongue tip is doing incredible things to my shaft filling his mouth so completely.
I can't wait any longer; I have to have him now!
I thrust a few more times, fighting the urge to cut loose and come into the hot cavern, then slowly draw back over Tommy's inarticulate protest. As if by magic, a tube of lubricant appears in my hand, and I kneel down next to Tommy. I pull him into my arms, kiss him long and hard - tasting myself on the pliant lips - then give him a gentle push.
"On your knees," I order with a possessive smile. "I'm gonna fuck you from behind."
Fleetingly, disappointment crosses Tommy's face. "I'd hoped to see you," he murmurs even as he eagerly moves into position.
I kiss his spine and apply a generous amount of lube to my prick and the waiting ass. "You will, don't worry," I promise. "Next time, right after this."
"Oh," Tommy gasps, excited by the prospect and bucks his hips once as I slide my finger into his hot, tight passage. "You think you can?"
"Definitely. You're too hot to fuck just once."
Tommy laughs, pleased, and relaxes, allowing me to add more fingers and lube. He rests his head on his arms before him, spreads his knees and raises his hips invitingly. "Then do it. Do me, Jase."
"With pleasure," I tell him and move into position behind him. Tommy is open and ready, and so am I. Spreading the cheeks as wide as I can, I place my cockhead right against the puckered hole. The heat radiating from there beckons to draw me in, where I want to be, and unable to wait one more second I brace myself. I inhale deeply once, start to press forward and -
"Achoo!"
---
The sneeze shattered his daydream into a million tiny pieces, and Jason groaned - both out of frustration, and because he couldn't stop sneezing. Blindly, he groped for his bag and the pack of tissues he'd stowed somewhere.
"Dammit," he groused, blowing his nose after he'd finally unearthed the tissues. Judging by the sudden chills running down his spine it seemed likely that he wasn't just reacting to a momentary irritation of his nasal passages, but was developing a full-blown cold. "I was afraid this was gonna happen!"
The sound drew Tommy from his ablutions back to the tent. "You okay, Bro?" he asked as he toweled himself dry. Jason peered up at his friend with suddenly watery eyes.
"Dunno," he sighed. "I think I may have caught something." Another sneeze.
"Aw, man," Tommy commiserated. "Weren't you feeling fine just yesterday?"
"Sure, but it is damn cold out here; couldn't really get warm all night …"
"All night?" Tommy interrupted him with a small grin and raised eyebrow, and despite his rapidly-growing discomfort Jason had to chuckle.
"Smartass. Okay, so I wasn't cold when we were making love, but before and after? Maybe it wasn't such a hot idea after all to spread the sleeping bag."
"If we hadn't, we couldn't have held each other," Tommy pointed out. Rather than bundle up separately, they'd chosen to lie on one sleeping bag and use the other as a blanket.
"Sure - but if we hadn't, maybe I wouldn't be coming down with a cold now," Jason grumbled, fumbling for a fresh tissue. "Not that I didn't like sleeping with you like we did, but if I hadn't wanted to be close to you so much, I'd've been tempted to stick my feet right into the fire, they felt that icy!" He sneezed again.
"I noticed," Tommy said with a wry smile, then sobered. "I guess this means we better head home right away."
"Uh huh. Sorry," Jason sniffled, rubbing his burning eyes and beginning-to-ache forehead.
Tommy sighed. It wasn't Jason's fault that he'd caught cold, but they got to spend precious little time together as it was, and to have to cut the day short, even for a few hours …
*Stop feeling sorry for yourself,* he admonished himself. *Be thankful you didn't get sick as well - and if you don't want Jase's cold to turn into flu or pneumonia, haul ass and get him someplace warmer.*
"Not your fault," was all he said, though. "We can always spend the rest of the day hanging out at your place before I need to go home."
"I'd like that," Jason replied, brightening a little. He, too, had dreaded giving up part of their weekend. But as he was rapidly beginning to feel really miserable, he realized getting out of the woods and back to civilization - and some cold remedy - was the best option.
"Okay then," Tommy said. "So, why don't you clean up, we have breakfast and then go back?"
"Sounds like a plan," Jason agreed and scrambled slowly to his feet. He made quick work of washing himself, got dressed and returned to the fire just in time to receive a hot mug of instant coffee from his lover. "Thanks." Gratefully, he took a sip of the scalding liquid, feeling the warmth slowly creep into his limbs. Instant wasn't his favorite, but out here in the wilderness the only alternative was tea - and he needed his early-morning caffeine fix. He sat back against a moss-covered boulder and watched as Tommy quickly fixed a couple of sandwiches for both. They talked idly as they ate their simple breakfast, and as food and coffee took effect on his system, Jason began to feel a little better.
"Hey, we still have some fruit," he remembered as Tommy started packing up their leftovers. "Hand me that yellow plastic container, will you?"
"Sure." Tommy reached for the square box with one hand and nearly dropped it into the fire. "Man, that's heavy - what have you got in there, rocks?"
"Nah, just some melon," Jason replied absently as he pried open the lid, unfolded his Swiss Army knife and began to cut the watermelon half into slices. "Lots of vitamins, just what I need. Easy to swallow, too. Here, have some." He held out a few pieces to his best friend. The red pulp glistened moistly in the morning sun, and the sweet smell of fresh melon filled the air. Tommy accepted them gingerly and began to eat, mindful not to drip juice onto his shirt and spitting seeds to the side. Jason followed suit, then grinned suddenly. "Hey, I never realized - if Rangers had signature fruit, watermelon should have been yours!"
"Huh?"
"Just look at it - it has all your colors," Jason chuckled, holding up the last slice to demonstrate. "Green and white rind, red pulp and black seeds."
Tommy groaned and gave him a mock-disgusted look. "Yeah, right. By that same logic, what would your signature fruit be, huh? A half-rotten banana?"
"Only when I was the Gold Ranger," Jason deadpanned. "No red in there."
"An apple, then. That's red and gold, sorta, and has black seeds."
"But white meat. And I never wore white," Jason replied smugly.
"Hmph." Then, a twinkle entered Tommy's eyes. "How about a blood orange, or pink grapefruit? They're red and gold-ish, plus both juicy and tart … would fit you to a T." He laughed at the outraged glare Jason directed at him. "Never mind. I don't think either of us needs to have a 'signature fruit', anyway; it's enough that we had to deal with the color compulsion while we still were Rangers."
Jason laughed as well, swallowing his last bite. "Yeah. What a pain that was! Mom went crazy when I wouldn't wear anything but red for over a year, and when I came home from Geneva, nicely normal again, I suddenly had to have everything in black!"
"Heh. Just be grateful it was black and not gold; I would've liked to have seen Bulk and Skull's faces if you'd showed up at school wearing lamé, or sequins!" Both snickered. "Besides, you should've heard my mother complain," Tommy continued dryly. "Starting with green, changing to all white within a day, then finally switching to red … thank God she didn't catch me going all black later!"
Jason winked at his friend. "Maybe you should start calling yourself the Technicolor Ranger."
"Bite your tongue!"
"Why don't you?" Jason leered, then ruined the effect by sneezing. Again.
Tommy shook his head, torn between amusement and exasperation as he got to his feet and began gathering their dishes. "Why don't you shut up and start packing?"
"Spoilsport." Jason pretended to sulk, but followed the suggestion anyway. Bantering with Tommy like this was fun, but he was feeling worse, and going home sounded more attractive by the minute. He was putting the biodegradable debris into a separate bag to compost at home when he noticed Tommy staring at the melon rinds, a strange expression on his face. "What?"
"You know … I don't really like watermelon all that much," Tommy murmured.
"Sorry, I didn't know, but why did you eat it, then?" Jason wondered. "You didn't have to; it would've kept on the ride home."
"Oh, I like the taste just fine; I just don't like looking at 'em."
"How come?"
Tommy grimaced. "Remember my last fight as the Green Ranger? Just before my Powers gave out for the last time?"
Jason thought for a minute. "Sure; wasn't that when you went into the Otherworld and shattered the crystal Zedd had been draining your Powers into?"
"After that. The monster's name was Turbanshell, I think … anyway, Billy had built this special weapon, remember, and we somehow had to get one of us close to use it on him? And I …"
"… hid in a truck full of humongous watermelons. Of course!" Jason snapped his fingers as the memory resurfaced. "What's bothering you about that? They were bright green; perfect camouflage for your uniform!"
To his surprise, Tommy blushed. "Well … it was kind of embarrassing," he mumbled. "I mean, how heroic is it to hide in a pile of fruit?"
With an effort, Jason stifled the bubble of laughter rising in his throat. "Hey, I thought you were plenty heroic," he soothed his lover. "At least you didn't get swallowed by a butt-ugly toad once, like me, Billy, Zack and Trini. And it worked, so I'd say no matter how embarrassing it may have seemed, it was the perfect hiding place. Just think if we'd had to hide Kim, or Trini!"
Tommy had to grin as their earlier banter came back to him. "Don't get started on those idiotic 'signature fruit' again," he warned. "Or I'll tell the girls!"
"Anything but that!" Jason pretended to shudder in horror, then was thrown into another sneezing fit - this time accompanied by a few coughs. It was bad enough to worry Tommy and propel him into action.
"That's it - go and sit over there in the sun while I finish," he ordered, grabbing the trash bag out of Jason's hands.
"I can help," Jason protested, but was glared into silence.
"Sure you can - if you want to get really sick when you overexert yourself," Tommy scolded him. "I've taken down a tent by myself before, and it won't take me that much longer, either. When I'm done, you can help load up the car, but until then - sit!"
With a mutinous glance, but secretly relieved and grateful, Jason sat.
---
The drive down the mountain back to Angel Grove was done mostly in silence; Tommy was concentrating on the road and didn't want to strain his best friend's voice with unnecessary talk. The hoarseness he heard was definitely not sexy.
*More than time enough for that when we're at Jason's home and I can fix him a hot toddy or something, with lots of honey in it.*
Tommy smothered a small groan as his imagination provided a scenario of Jason lying naked in bed, honey dribbled on strategic places all over his body, and himself, equally nude, enthusiastically licking it off.
*Better not go there. Jase is likely too sick to be thinking of sex anyway, and besides, I don't want to make love at his or my place. Or do I?*
Tommy had to admit, his reservations about that were beginning to sound rather stupid. They'd been lovers for months now, frequent separations notwithstanding, and any intimacy issues he used to have were becoming rather moot by now. There simply was no logic in going to hotels, a tent or even the outdoors to make love, but refusing to do the same in the comfort and safety of their own homes. What was more, winter was right around the corner … and he too was getting fed up with the inconveniences of wilderness camping.
*What I wouldn't have given for a nice, hot shower this morning! Preferably together with Jase,* he mused. *And sleeping with Jase in a real bed, on a comfortable mattress like we did that first time at my uncle's cabin, would be way better than the ground.* He slanted a glance to his side, where Jason sat quietly, his head leaning against the window. He looked slightly paler than usual and his cheekbones were flushed, but thankfully there hadn't been a repetition of the sneezing and coughing fit he'd suffered earlier. *We can't go on camping this year, or one of us could get seriously ill with something worse than a cold - and I don't want that. Bad enough Jason isn't feeling well; I think he'd prefer being warm and comfy too. In fact, if I hadn't had that weird hang-up about not spending nights at his or my home, we could be making love again today. Shit.*
The forest grew thinner as they left the mountains, and Tommy sped up as he entered the highway. With any luck, they'd be in Angel Grove by lunchtime, they could get some chicken soup from the deli two blocks from Jason's apartment and spend another couple of hours in each other's company before Tommy had to return to Reefside. He cursed himself mentally for the waste of time caused by his insistence on going camping yet again.
*Summer's over, so camping's out, period. And we can't afford to go to a hotel each weekend either. I don't want to give up what little time we manage to be together, being lovers … and I sure don't want to give that up until spring. I'd miss it - miss Jase - way too much.* Which really left them with only one choice, and Tommy accepted it with very little hesitation or regret.
*I can change my mind, can't I? Even if Jase laughs at me and says 'I told you so' …*
Suddenly impatient to tell Jason of his resolve to no longer avoid intimacy in their homes, Tommy had to force himself not to speed as he drove towards Angel Grove and Jason's apartment.
---
Jason was content to spend the drive home mostly silent; for one thing, he was beginning to feel the lethargy and general 'just-let-me-die-in-peace' sensation that usually was one of the first symptoms of a cold, and for another … he couldn't get his early-morning fantasy out of his mind.
Or had it been a dream? He couldn't really say.
Sure, he'd been awake, so he'd have to properly call it a fantasy, but his imagination had definitely provided dream-like elements. Tommy's hair, for example - it'd been ages since he'd shorn off his shoulder-length locks, and while it had come as quite a surprise at the time, Jason couldn't blame him for cutting it. Long hair was impractical for the scientist Tommy had become, and adulthood had likely motivated him to say a more visible farewell to the habits of his teenage years.
*Now that I've gotten used to it, he looks pretty damn hot with the spiky 'do and his bit of a beard. Guess it's because I fell in love with him when his hair was long - and it would be nice to have a little more to hold on to, to run my fingers through when he's sucking me off.*
Which led directly to the more significant part of his little mental scenario.
*The sex part. Whoa.*
Jason suppressed a shiver as he recalled the mixture of sheer lust and sensuality of his daydream. Yes, he was uninhibited, but had never been as … well, 'forceful' was one way to put it … as his fantasy-self. Not with any of his partners. Especially not with Tommy, who was still adjusting to his bisexuality.
*Okay; in reality, I can see myself walking around naked, even with a hard-on, and trying to seduce Tommy. But to just tell him I'm gonna fuck him - and expect him not only to say yes right away, but to actively want it? Not bloody likely. Not until we've been lovers for years and both learned to enjoy taking each other up the ass. We don't even know yet if we will.*
The idea was exciting, though. A definite turn-on even. So far, they hadn't progressed beyond oral sex in their lovemaking, but the couple of times Tommy had cautiously slid a finger into Jason's ass while giving him a blow-job had been incredibly pleasurable, and Jason was not at all reluctant to experiment further.
*He seemed to enjoy it, too, when I fingered him last month.* He thought it boded well for his hopes to eventually try anal intercourse. Besides, he loved and trusted Tommy. *Enough to want to do it with him, on top or bottom. That's something I could never give to any of my previous partners; shit, I've never even had anal sex with a girl. It just … just didn't seem right, somehow. But with Tommy? Hell, yeah.*
And in a peculiar way, Jason was glad that he still had something unique to give to his best friend and lover, something each person could only give once in a lifetime - his virginity with a man.
*Crap, that sounds so … I dunno. Sappy? Saccharine? Something like that. It's true, though,* he reflected. *Sure, I never minded trying out something new when I was still kind of screwing around, but taking someone up my ass? Or do it to them? No. I've had sex with guys who wanted that from me, and yeah, I've been tempted a time or two, but in the end there was always something holding me back. And I never regretted saying no, either.*
Oral sex was different. Jason had been both on the giving and receiving end with most of his erstwhile partners, male and female, and while his experience with men wasn't terribly extensive, he still knew more than Tommy in that area. Not that he was complaining - introducing him to the pleasures of gay sex was fun, and Tommy had proved a fast and talented learner. And after he'd shed his initial inhibitions he was just as eager as Jason to try or invent new things to do with his lips and tongue. In fact, at times Jason had wondered where his lover got some of his ideas.
*Probably from that 'research' of his,* Jason thought wryly. *One of these days I'll have to ask him if he still has those blue movies and stuff.*
He stifled a moan. Normally, he didn't get an awful lot out of pornography, but for some reason the idea of reading or watching it together with Tommy - and then maybe act out some of the things they'd seen or read - sent darts of sheer lust directly into his groin.
*Stop it. I don't even know if Tommy would like that - both the reading and watching, or the doing - and I'm not gonna badger him into stuff he doesn't want to do.*
Of course not. But Jason couldn't deny that he longed to get even more intimate with Tommy - and that included a whole range of activities aside from getting turned on by smut.
*I'd like to spend more time with Tommy, in and out of bed; I'd love to spend whole days and nights with him at his or my home; and when we're both ready, I want him to be the first to take me up the ass and do the same to him.*
His cock throbbed and began to fill. Unobtrusively, Jason shifted in his seat to ease the growing pressure in his groin, wishing he dared adjust himself inside his pants. But that would only alert Tommy to the fact that the words 'feverish mind', when applied to Jason just now, had very little to do with his cold and everything with his suddenly-rampant sex drive.
*Germs. Think germs,* he admonished himself. *All those nasty little buggers crawling in your sinuses that you'd be giving Tommy if we made love now.*
It didn't help much - and all the rest of the way to his place in Angel Grove Jason was forced to suffer not only from his incipient cold, but also from the discomfort of frustrated desire.
---
By the time they reached Jason's street shortly after lunch, Jason was heartily glad to get out of the car. He dragged himself up the stairs to his attic apartment and all but collapsed on the old futon serving as his couch.
"Man, I'm beat," he groaned, watching through bleary eyes as Tommy entered behind him and made quick work of stowing the camping gear in a convenient closet and deposited Jason's backpack in the bedroom. "I can do that later," he protested feebly, coughing, but Tommy waved him off.
"Sure you can, but as long as I'm here anyway, why should you?"
"I just feel stupid, letting you do all of the work," Jason grumbled. Tommy laughed.
"Wish some of my students had more of that attitude! Well, you can unpack your stuff by yourself - no way am I handling your smelly socks! - and go take a shower while I go to the market," he said.
"Why'd you wanna go there?"
"Pharmacy," Tommy replied. "Knowing you, you don't have any meds but liniment and maybe an aspirin; that won't help you deal with your cold."
"Ibuprofen, and you know I hate taking chemicals," Jason muttered.
"Whatever. And I'm not planning on getting you 'chemicals', as you call them. Just some natural stuff that'll make you feel better. I'll also pick up some chicken soup for you on the way. Trust me?"
There was no way Jason could refuse that offer. And he was seriously hankering for a hot shower and clean, warm clothes. He still glared half-heartedly at his friend from his slouch on the futon. "I do. But you're not my mother, you know."
Tommy just smiled. "Right. I bet your mom would never do this." He bent over the back of the couch, took hold of Jason's head and kissed him thoroughly. "Now be a good boy and do as you're told," he grinned and beat a strategic retreat before Jason regained his breath. "Go shower, I'll take your keys!" And the door closed behind him with a muted 'bang'.
"Oh great," Jason groaned, but couldn't help a smile. While he hated the mothering, and the reason for it, he also felt pleased and grateful that Tommy was so caring and solicitous. *I more or less did the same for him last year when he was depressed. Fed him, cheered him up … healed him in a way. We're more than just friends, or even brothers; it's what we do.* Slightly cheered by the thought, Jason heaved himself to his feet with a sigh and trudged into the bathroom. He made quick work of unpacking and putting his dirty laundry into the hamper, then stripped and stepped into the shower. The jets of hot water not only cleaned him, but also managed to warm him at last, and by the time he was done and dressed in clean sweats and thick woolen socks Jason was beginning to feel halfway human again.
*Except for the damn sniffles. Shit.* Sneezing violently, Jason went to his small kitchenette to search for more tissues.
The sneezing fit had given way to coughing once more when Tommy returned with a bag full of things, and he unceremoniously bundled his lover back into the living room and onto the futon. He quickly retrieved a blanket from the bedroom, threw it over Jason, then pulled two items from his shopping bag. "Here. Mentholated cream to rub on your chest - it'll help you breathe - and a 1% saline nasal drip to reduce the swelling of your sinuses. Let it work for a few minutes, and I'll give you something for that cough." Before Jason could protest, Tommy disappeared into the kitchen.
Jason grinned bemusedly and followed his orders, listening to Tommy rummage around in the other room as he applied the cool cream to his chest. The sharp scent of menthol and eucalyptus was slightly overpowering as it warmed on his skin, but gradually Jason felt his nose clear just a little. It was a relief to breathe more easily again, and he made a mental note to thank Tommy later. *If he ever gets done with whatever he's doing, that is!*
"What the hell are you doing in there?" he called after a few minutes. "Mixing Love Potion Number Nine?"
"Not quite," Tommy replied in a normal voice, startling Jason who hadn't noticed him coming back into the living room. He held out a large mug. "Here, Sam's special cold remedy." Knowing that whatever Tommy had cooked up came from his shaman great-uncle was reassuring, but Jason was still skeptical as accepted the container. He yelped as he nearly scalded his fingertips.
"Hey, that's hot!"
"It works better that way. Drink up."
Suspiciously, Jason peered into the cup. It was brim-full with a murky yellowish liquid, and smelled definitely medicinal. "What's in it? It looks vile!"
"Lemon juice and hot water, honey, and just a spoonful of an antitussive cough syrup," Tommy explained, sitting down next to his friend. "In other words, vitamin C, minerals and carbs for energy, plus something to stop you from hacking your lungs out." He too was holding a steaming mug and took a careful sip.
"My cough's not that bad," Jason muttered. "What're you having?"
"Same stuff I made for you, minus the cough syrup. Look, I know you said you don't like meds, but you'll have to be at school tomorrow again, same as me, and all the natural remedies I can get hold of won't be quite as effective - or at least not as fast-acting. The only real chemical is the DXM, and when you're feeling better, you can replace it with this." He tossed a bar of chocolate at Jason.
"70% cocoa, and Swiss? Are you mad? That must've cost a fortune, and besides, I don't even like dark chocolate," Jason complained.
Tommy grinned smugly. "I'm a scientist, remember? Chemistry isn't exactly my forte, but I had to take enough to know that cocoa contains theobromine - a cough suppressant even more effective than codeine, which is prescription-only. Dark chocolate has up to ten times as much than milk chocolate, so … Anyway, half that bar should be enough per day."
"Hmph."
"Would you prefer I make you an onion and rock sugar decoction?" Tommy asked innocently. "It's another of Sam's recipes."
"Onions and sugar? Euw," Jason shuddered. "That sounds even worse than this stuff smells. Which, in a word, is disgusting."
"Helps, though."
"Thanks, but no thanks. And no, I don't want to know all the science behind the medicine man stuff."
"Then drink your hot lemon. Please?"
The brown eyes looked at him with so much concern and affection that Jason didn't have the heart to refuse. Sighing, he lifted his mug. "Are you sure this'll help?"
"Yeah."
"Oh, all right already." Grudgingly, Jason took a cautious sip and found to his surprise that the taste wasn't as bad as he'd feared. Soon, he was done and set the empty mug on the coffee table with a sigh of relief. "Finished, Mommy," he announced cheekily in a little-boy voice that made Tommy laugh.
"So'm I," Tommy said and reluctantly got to his feet. "Hate to say it, but I still have a couple of papers on my desk that need to be dealt with by tomorrow."
A quick glance at his watch showed Jason what that meant. "And if you don't leave soon, you won't be able to, is that what you're saying?"
"Yeah," his friend sighed. "I wish I could stay here with you longer, but …"
"… it's a long drive to Reefside, I know," Jason finished unhappily. "Damn. If I hadn't gotten sick, we could still be together."
"Not that much longer, you didn't catch cold intentionally and besides, there's always next time. Two weeks from now as usual, right?"
"Sure. But …" Jason hesitated, but decided that there was no sense in lying about how he felt. They'd agreed right at the start of their relationship to be as honest with each other as possible, to tell when either of them felt uncomfortable about something - and why shouldn't that also include physical discomfort? "Tommy, I hate bringing it up, but … would you mind much if we didn't go camping anymore? At least not until spring? I was really freezing last night, and it's only going to grow colder …"
"No problem," Tommy agreed at once. "Actually, I've thought the same thing - and not just when you started sneezing." He smiled. "Camping's definitely out in the near future."
Relieved, Jason smiled back. "Thanks." Which of course raised the question where they would go instead. With only a little over two months to go until Christmas, Jason knew it would be tight financially, but offered anyway - seeing as it was his fault they had to cut this weekend short. "Um, how about I spring for the hotel then?"
Tommy caught his breath and for a moment was tempted to accept the offer. Then he shook himself inwardly. No, he'd made a different decision earlier, and he was going to stick by it. It was one thing he could do not only for Jason, but for himself as well.
"How about you come to Reefside instead?" he asked quietly.
He saw the midnight-dark eyes widen as Jason realized what he was implying. "And stay where?"
"My house."
Slowly, Jason got up and walked over to his lover. He placed both hands on Tommy's shoulders and looked at him very intently. "Are you sure about this?"
"Yes," Tommy murmured, and felt the chill of their impending separation being dispelled by the warmth of Jason's smile. A large hand gently cupped his cheek.
"I'd kiss you for that if I weren't such a virus mothership right now," Jason whispered huskily. "Thanks, Tom; I know this decision can't have been easy for you."
"Easier than I thought it'd be," Tommy admitted and placed a kiss into Jason's palm. "Whatever reasons against spending nights with you here or at my home I once had simply aren't there anymore, your health is too important to risk, and anyway … it's time to move forward. I'm ready."
"So am I."
"Good." Before Jason could protest, Tommy drew him into his arms and kissed him. It wasn't just a quick peck, either; no, Tommy took his sweet time. His tongue slid easily between Jason's lips, seeking out its counterpart to tangle with and coaxed a response that was willingly given until Jason moaned throatily into Tommy's mouth. The sound reverberated all the way into Tommy's groin, and he knew he'd better stop before they were both left frustrated and aching with need they didn't have time to deal with.
"Hold that thought, Bro," Tommy breathed before he reluctantly released his lover and stepped back. "Until next time."
"You bet," Jason nodded with a rueful smile. "Go, before I decide to jump you on the spot."
"Right. Call you later tonight?"
"Please."
"Don't forget to eat your soup."
"Yes, mother," Jason rolled his eyes and sighed good-naturedly. "I promise. Now, if you don't mind exposing yourself to my germs one last time, kiss me good-bye?"
"I thought you'd never ask."
Another long, gentle kiss, and Tommy left, leaving Jason standing at his window to watch the jeep's taillights disappear into the fast-approaching dusk. "Drive safely, Bro," he murmured and went to lie on the couch. That last kiss good-bye had stirred more than his heart, but Jason resisted the temptation to take matters into his own hands, so to speak.
*Not tonight. I can wait if I have to.*
Maybe not the full two weeks until he was going to see Tommy again, but tonight he could bask in the knowledge that their willingness to be intimate with each other was still growing. Tommy was finally ready for them to sleep and make love in their very own beds, to get a step closer in sharing their lives. And his daydream had shown Jason that he was ready to progress to anal sex in their lovemaking - another step towards sharing their bodies fully at last. A small chill skittered down his spine that had nothing to do with his cold and everything with his love and desire for Tommy.
*It'll be my dream come true when he is as ready for that as I am …*
Hopefully, it wouldn't take long … and as Jason stared out into the darkening sky, his ever-fertile imagination started weaving yet another fantasy.
To Be Continued …
List of 22: #05, Dream and #22, Watermelon
Chapter 7: Chilled And Ready
Author: germankitty
Relationship: Jason/Tommy
Rating: NC-17
Warning: explicit sex, language
Disclaimer: I'm playing in someone else's sandbox, and unfortunately am not getting paid for it. Damn.
Note: In response to the LJ PRSW 22 challenge, themes #5, dream and #22, watermelon My boys get to have fun in the woods -- or don't they? Read and find out ... and please tell me how I'm doing?
More Than Friends And Brothers
Chapter 7: Chilled and Ready
by Germankitty
Jason shivered as he was watching Tommy - and for once the goosebumps covering his body owed nothing to desire, but everything to the chill in the early morning air. Once again, they'd gone camping on one of their weekends together, as Tommy still was reluctant for them to spend the night together at either of their homes. Personally, Jason thought it was faintly ridiculous, but if that was what Tommy wanted …
*I'd rather freeze my ass off in a tent in the mountains with him than be warm and comfortable all by myself at my apartment.*
They were still living and working in different towns, so in order to be together at all, they'd worked out a schedule of alternating, usually bi-weekly visits. It wasn't always easy to make it, though, as Jason was coaching several teams at Angel Grove High and often had to attend games on weekends. But, they managed, and in the intervals kept in touch via regular phone calls and the internet.
Which was all nice and well, but meeting in a chat room was a far cry from actually being together, to talk, to play … to make love. All through summer they had met whenever they could, either near Reefside or Angel Grove, more often than not somewhere equidistant for both of them. A few times, they'd opted for a hotel room, but while they both earned adequate salaries they couldn't afford really nice places on a regular basis. Consequently, Jason and Tommy felt that they'd prefer a certain amount of discomfort over getting knowing smirks from bored hotel clerks, having to put up with run-down facilities and feeling generally tawdry. So, camping it was - and they had invested in a roomy-enough tent and good-quality gear - but with October well underway, it was becoming increasingly obvious that even the temperate West Coast climate wouldn't hold on forever.
*We've got to think of something else,* Jason thought as he reached into the tent behind him to snag a blanket. *No matter what Tommy says, I'm not gonna camp out in the snow!* He draped the plaid around his shoulders, grateful for the warmth. Summer had been fine, but only to a degree; they'd generally avoided the bigger, more popular campgrounds with more amenities because there were too many tourists around to always give them the privacy they wanted. And the more Spartan places often had definite drawbacks.
Take this weekend; they were once more staying on a campground in one of the National Parks the western mountain range was so rich in. Private it certainly was, but on the other hand it lacked a lot of basic comforts.
*Like, electricity, plumbing and hot running water …*
The lack of same was why Jason had the chance to observe his lover washing himself at the small creek running through the meadow where they'd pitched their tent. Tommy was stripped to the waist, his lower body clad only in faded sweatpants, and he was kneeling on the creek's bank as he threw water into his face. His position made Jason's mouth go dry as that nice, tight butt he loved to hold and fondle was bobbing up and down before his eyes only a short distance away.
How he would love to sidle up behind Tommy for some serious fooling around! He'd take hold of his ass and rub himself against the firm muscles, feel his cock swell and lengthen until he could barely constrain himself … he would then grasp the waistband of Tommy's pants and pull them down, freeing that tempting backside from its cotton covering, fit himself inside the hot crack and reach around for Tommy's own cock which would be hard and waiting …
A gust of wind dispelled the fantasy and made Jason shiver again. He pulled his blanket tighter around his shoulders, sighing wistfully. He might dream all he want, but he was pretty certain that scenario was not coming to pass today.
He let his mind wander into an area that was becoming more and more familiar as he continued to watch his lover. In his imagination, the woodsy area where they'd pitched their tent morphed into a lush, tropical glade … and Tommy was no longer hunkering on the bank of a cold mountain creek, splashing water over his head, but standing waist-deep in a clear lagoon complete with waterfall.
Jason smiled to himself as his daydream took a firmer hold.
The air is balmy and filled with the scent of tropical flowers. Birds and other small animals chirp and chitter softly over the sound of cascading water as Tommy runs his hands through his long locks.
"Come join me," he calls to me, and I follow the invitation gladly, striding naked and already aroused to the lagoon. The water's temperature is just right, neither too warm nor too cold as I join my lover. Those wonderful chocolate eyes survey my body heatedly as I approach without shame, my erection leading the way, and through the clear water I can see Tommy's cock fill and rise on its own until he is as hard as I.
"Want me to wash your back?" I ask playfully as we stand only inches apart. I ache to reach for Tommy, hunger to feel his hands and mouth on me. But I force myself to wait; I want Tommy desperately, but will not coerce him into intimacy unless I'm freely given what we both desire. The atmosphere between us hums and crackles with anticipation as Tommy smiles and shakes his head.
"No. I want you to fuck me."
It's what I've been waiting for. My breath catches at the bold statement, and I can feel my cock jump. I smile provocatively, and I know that my eyes have lit up with a bright flame. Then I close the small distance between us and draw Tommy into my arms, plundering his mouth in a long, sensual kiss.
"I will. Soon."
Tommy's pleased moan reverberates all the way through my body as I thrust my tongue between the willing lips, drawing its counterpart into a wetly exciting dance of passion. I let one hand glide down his back to the tight ass, shifting my feet on the lagoon's sandy bottom until our cocks touch and are trapped side by side between our bellies. With my other hand, I seek and find Tommy's nipples. I tease the sensitive nubs gently at first until they stiffen, then pinch and twist first one, then the other. Tommy groans; as I've known it would the rougher stimulation is driving him wild, and he bucks against me.
"Take me, Jase," he gasps between kisses.
"Soon," I repeat, loving the way Tommy clings to me and writhes in my arms. I reluctantly let go of the hardened peaks, but my fingers soon find something even harder to play with - Tommy's straining shaft and drawn-up balls. I stroke and squeeze both gently with one hand, making Tommy sigh with pleasure, and reach around the trim hips to trail my other hand down the crack of Tommy's ass.
"Mmm, yes," Tommy purrs, beginning his own exploration of my body. I allow him to roam wherever he wants, but concentrate on reaching the opening between Tommy's buttcheeks. Once I find it, I place a finger against the tight ring of muscle.
"I can't wait until I'm inside of you," I murmur, probing gently until Tommy's sphincter relaxes and my fingertip slips into the hot channel. "Just a few minutes; as soon as I have you ready, I'll fuck you until you beg me to stop."
"Won't happen," Tommy moans, caught between the twin pleasures of having his cock pumped and his ass opened by my hands. His eyes close in bliss. "I'll never get enough of you!"
That deserves another hard, passionate kiss. "Then prove it," I dare him and slowly release my panting lover. Tommy's lids rise to reveal eyes gone smoky with passion.
"How?"
"Let's get back on land and I'll show you."
I give a pleased chuckle as Tommy pouts with disappointment at losing my touch, but he quickly regroups and sloshes towards shore as fast as possible, telling me to follow with an inviting smile and smoldering look over his shoulder.
"Hurry up!"
"I bet you're not gonna say that again once I'm in your ass," I tease, but make my own way back to shore just as quickly.
As soon as we are both out of the water and reach our bed of moss and blankets, Tommy comes back into my arms, kissing me until we're both breathing heavily. Before I can utter a single word, Tommy sinks to his knees and swallows my cock, sucking the hard length until I think I might burst any minute. Because it's too tempting not to, I take Tommy's head between my hands and hold him still, then start to fuck the willing mouth. Tommy's teeth scrape slightly against my sensitive cockhead, but he immediately soothes the tiny abrasion with his agile tongue.
I groan with pleasure even as I have to smile. Who would have thought that until-recently-straight Tommy would get so into blow jobs - or that he would prove so skilled at giving them?
Gradually, I deepen my thrusts. Tommy's throat muscles relax the longer he is sucking me, and at last I'm buried to the hilt in his mouth. I only stop when my balls rest against Tommy's chin and shift my grip on the damp locks to tilt Tommy's face upwards. The brown eyes have drifted shut, but a gentle brush across the lids opens them again … and I shudder as I read the trust, shrouded in a haze of desire, in their depths. Tommy's lips are stretched wide and wrapped tightly around the base of my cock; he's reaching up and is playing with my balls in their tightly-drawn sac while his tongue tip is doing incredible things to my shaft filling his mouth so completely.
I can't wait any longer; I have to have him now!
I thrust a few more times, fighting the urge to cut loose and come into the hot cavern, then slowly draw back over Tommy's inarticulate protest. As if by magic, a tube of lubricant appears in my hand, and I kneel down next to Tommy. I pull him into my arms, kiss him long and hard - tasting myself on the pliant lips - then give him a gentle push.
"On your knees," I order with a possessive smile. "I'm gonna fuck you from behind."
Fleetingly, disappointment crosses Tommy's face. "I'd hoped to see you," he murmurs even as he eagerly moves into position.
I kiss his spine and apply a generous amount of lube to my prick and the waiting ass. "You will, don't worry," I promise. "Next time, right after this."
"Oh," Tommy gasps, excited by the prospect and bucks his hips once as I slide my finger into his hot, tight passage. "You think you can?"
"Definitely. You're too hot to fuck just once."
Tommy laughs, pleased, and relaxes, allowing me to add more fingers and lube. He rests his head on his arms before him, spreads his knees and raises his hips invitingly. "Then do it. Do me, Jase."
"With pleasure," I tell him and move into position behind him. Tommy is open and ready, and so am I. Spreading the cheeks as wide as I can, I place my cockhead right against the puckered hole. The heat radiating from there beckons to draw me in, where I want to be, and unable to wait one more second I brace myself. I inhale deeply once, start to press forward and -
"Achoo!"
---
The sneeze shattered his daydream into a million tiny pieces, and Jason groaned - both out of frustration, and because he couldn't stop sneezing. Blindly, he groped for his bag and the pack of tissues he'd stowed somewhere.
"Dammit," he groused, blowing his nose after he'd finally unearthed the tissues. Judging by the sudden chills running down his spine it seemed likely that he wasn't just reacting to a momentary irritation of his nasal passages, but was developing a full-blown cold. "I was afraid this was gonna happen!"
The sound drew Tommy from his ablutions back to the tent. "You okay, Bro?" he asked as he toweled himself dry. Jason peered up at his friend with suddenly watery eyes.
"Dunno," he sighed. "I think I may have caught something." Another sneeze.
"Aw, man," Tommy commiserated. "Weren't you feeling fine just yesterday?"
"Sure, but it is damn cold out here; couldn't really get warm all night …"
"All night?" Tommy interrupted him with a small grin and raised eyebrow, and despite his rapidly-growing discomfort Jason had to chuckle.
"Smartass. Okay, so I wasn't cold when we were making love, but before and after? Maybe it wasn't such a hot idea after all to spread the sleeping bag."
"If we hadn't, we couldn't have held each other," Tommy pointed out. Rather than bundle up separately, they'd chosen to lie on one sleeping bag and use the other as a blanket.
"Sure - but if we hadn't, maybe I wouldn't be coming down with a cold now," Jason grumbled, fumbling for a fresh tissue. "Not that I didn't like sleeping with you like we did, but if I hadn't wanted to be close to you so much, I'd've been tempted to stick my feet right into the fire, they felt that icy!" He sneezed again.
"I noticed," Tommy said with a wry smile, then sobered. "I guess this means we better head home right away."
"Uh huh. Sorry," Jason sniffled, rubbing his burning eyes and beginning-to-ache forehead.
Tommy sighed. It wasn't Jason's fault that he'd caught cold, but they got to spend precious little time together as it was, and to have to cut the day short, even for a few hours …
*Stop feeling sorry for yourself,* he admonished himself. *Be thankful you didn't get sick as well - and if you don't want Jase's cold to turn into flu or pneumonia, haul ass and get him someplace warmer.*
"Not your fault," was all he said, though. "We can always spend the rest of the day hanging out at your place before I need to go home."
"I'd like that," Jason replied, brightening a little. He, too, had dreaded giving up part of their weekend. But as he was rapidly beginning to feel really miserable, he realized getting out of the woods and back to civilization - and some cold remedy - was the best option.
"Okay then," Tommy said. "So, why don't you clean up, we have breakfast and then go back?"
"Sounds like a plan," Jason agreed and scrambled slowly to his feet. He made quick work of washing himself, got dressed and returned to the fire just in time to receive a hot mug of instant coffee from his lover. "Thanks." Gratefully, he took a sip of the scalding liquid, feeling the warmth slowly creep into his limbs. Instant wasn't his favorite, but out here in the wilderness the only alternative was tea - and he needed his early-morning caffeine fix. He sat back against a moss-covered boulder and watched as Tommy quickly fixed a couple of sandwiches for both. They talked idly as they ate their simple breakfast, and as food and coffee took effect on his system, Jason began to feel a little better.
"Hey, we still have some fruit," he remembered as Tommy started packing up their leftovers. "Hand me that yellow plastic container, will you?"
"Sure." Tommy reached for the square box with one hand and nearly dropped it into the fire. "Man, that's heavy - what have you got in there, rocks?"
"Nah, just some melon," Jason replied absently as he pried open the lid, unfolded his Swiss Army knife and began to cut the watermelon half into slices. "Lots of vitamins, just what I need. Easy to swallow, too. Here, have some." He held out a few pieces to his best friend. The red pulp glistened moistly in the morning sun, and the sweet smell of fresh melon filled the air. Tommy accepted them gingerly and began to eat, mindful not to drip juice onto his shirt and spitting seeds to the side. Jason followed suit, then grinned suddenly. "Hey, I never realized - if Rangers had signature fruit, watermelon should have been yours!"
"Huh?"
"Just look at it - it has all your colors," Jason chuckled, holding up the last slice to demonstrate. "Green and white rind, red pulp and black seeds."
Tommy groaned and gave him a mock-disgusted look. "Yeah, right. By that same logic, what would your signature fruit be, huh? A half-rotten banana?"
"Only when I was the Gold Ranger," Jason deadpanned. "No red in there."
"An apple, then. That's red and gold, sorta, and has black seeds."
"But white meat. And I never wore white," Jason replied smugly.
"Hmph." Then, a twinkle entered Tommy's eyes. "How about a blood orange, or pink grapefruit? They're red and gold-ish, plus both juicy and tart … would fit you to a T." He laughed at the outraged glare Jason directed at him. "Never mind. I don't think either of us needs to have a 'signature fruit', anyway; it's enough that we had to deal with the color compulsion while we still were Rangers."
Jason laughed as well, swallowing his last bite. "Yeah. What a pain that was! Mom went crazy when I wouldn't wear anything but red for over a year, and when I came home from Geneva, nicely normal again, I suddenly had to have everything in black!"
"Heh. Just be grateful it was black and not gold; I would've liked to have seen Bulk and Skull's faces if you'd showed up at school wearing lamé, or sequins!" Both snickered. "Besides, you should've heard my mother complain," Tommy continued dryly. "Starting with green, changing to all white within a day, then finally switching to red … thank God she didn't catch me going all black later!"
Jason winked at his friend. "Maybe you should start calling yourself the Technicolor Ranger."
"Bite your tongue!"
"Why don't you?" Jason leered, then ruined the effect by sneezing. Again.
Tommy shook his head, torn between amusement and exasperation as he got to his feet and began gathering their dishes. "Why don't you shut up and start packing?"
"Spoilsport." Jason pretended to sulk, but followed the suggestion anyway. Bantering with Tommy like this was fun, but he was feeling worse, and going home sounded more attractive by the minute. He was putting the biodegradable debris into a separate bag to compost at home when he noticed Tommy staring at the melon rinds, a strange expression on his face. "What?"
"You know … I don't really like watermelon all that much," Tommy murmured.
"Sorry, I didn't know, but why did you eat it, then?" Jason wondered. "You didn't have to; it would've kept on the ride home."
"Oh, I like the taste just fine; I just don't like looking at 'em."
"How come?"
Tommy grimaced. "Remember my last fight as the Green Ranger? Just before my Powers gave out for the last time?"
Jason thought for a minute. "Sure; wasn't that when you went into the Otherworld and shattered the crystal Zedd had been draining your Powers into?"
"After that. The monster's name was Turbanshell, I think … anyway, Billy had built this special weapon, remember, and we somehow had to get one of us close to use it on him? And I …"
"… hid in a truck full of humongous watermelons. Of course!" Jason snapped his fingers as the memory resurfaced. "What's bothering you about that? They were bright green; perfect camouflage for your uniform!"
To his surprise, Tommy blushed. "Well … it was kind of embarrassing," he mumbled. "I mean, how heroic is it to hide in a pile of fruit?"
With an effort, Jason stifled the bubble of laughter rising in his throat. "Hey, I thought you were plenty heroic," he soothed his lover. "At least you didn't get swallowed by a butt-ugly toad once, like me, Billy, Zack and Trini. And it worked, so I'd say no matter how embarrassing it may have seemed, it was the perfect hiding place. Just think if we'd had to hide Kim, or Trini!"
Tommy had to grin as their earlier banter came back to him. "Don't get started on those idiotic 'signature fruit' again," he warned. "Or I'll tell the girls!"
"Anything but that!" Jason pretended to shudder in horror, then was thrown into another sneezing fit - this time accompanied by a few coughs. It was bad enough to worry Tommy and propel him into action.
"That's it - go and sit over there in the sun while I finish," he ordered, grabbing the trash bag out of Jason's hands.
"I can help," Jason protested, but was glared into silence.
"Sure you can - if you want to get really sick when you overexert yourself," Tommy scolded him. "I've taken down a tent by myself before, and it won't take me that much longer, either. When I'm done, you can help load up the car, but until then - sit!"
With a mutinous glance, but secretly relieved and grateful, Jason sat.
---
The drive down the mountain back to Angel Grove was done mostly in silence; Tommy was concentrating on the road and didn't want to strain his best friend's voice with unnecessary talk. The hoarseness he heard was definitely not sexy.
*More than time enough for that when we're at Jason's home and I can fix him a hot toddy or something, with lots of honey in it.*
Tommy smothered a small groan as his imagination provided a scenario of Jason lying naked in bed, honey dribbled on strategic places all over his body, and himself, equally nude, enthusiastically licking it off.
*Better not go there. Jase is likely too sick to be thinking of sex anyway, and besides, I don't want to make love at his or my place. Or do I?*
Tommy had to admit, his reservations about that were beginning to sound rather stupid. They'd been lovers for months now, frequent separations notwithstanding, and any intimacy issues he used to have were becoming rather moot by now. There simply was no logic in going to hotels, a tent or even the outdoors to make love, but refusing to do the same in the comfort and safety of their own homes. What was more, winter was right around the corner … and he too was getting fed up with the inconveniences of wilderness camping.
*What I wouldn't have given for a nice, hot shower this morning! Preferably together with Jase,* he mused. *And sleeping with Jase in a real bed, on a comfortable mattress like we did that first time at my uncle's cabin, would be way better than the ground.* He slanted a glance to his side, where Jason sat quietly, his head leaning against the window. He looked slightly paler than usual and his cheekbones were flushed, but thankfully there hadn't been a repetition of the sneezing and coughing fit he'd suffered earlier. *We can't go on camping this year, or one of us could get seriously ill with something worse than a cold - and I don't want that. Bad enough Jason isn't feeling well; I think he'd prefer being warm and comfy too. In fact, if I hadn't had that weird hang-up about not spending nights at his or my home, we could be making love again today. Shit.*
The forest grew thinner as they left the mountains, and Tommy sped up as he entered the highway. With any luck, they'd be in Angel Grove by lunchtime, they could get some chicken soup from the deli two blocks from Jason's apartment and spend another couple of hours in each other's company before Tommy had to return to Reefside. He cursed himself mentally for the waste of time caused by his insistence on going camping yet again.
*Summer's over, so camping's out, period. And we can't afford to go to a hotel each weekend either. I don't want to give up what little time we manage to be together, being lovers … and I sure don't want to give that up until spring. I'd miss it - miss Jase - way too much.* Which really left them with only one choice, and Tommy accepted it with very little hesitation or regret.
*I can change my mind, can't I? Even if Jase laughs at me and says 'I told you so' …*
Suddenly impatient to tell Jason of his resolve to no longer avoid intimacy in their homes, Tommy had to force himself not to speed as he drove towards Angel Grove and Jason's apartment.
---
Jason was content to spend the drive home mostly silent; for one thing, he was beginning to feel the lethargy and general 'just-let-me-die-in-peace' sensation that usually was one of the first symptoms of a cold, and for another … he couldn't get his early-morning fantasy out of his mind.
Or had it been a dream? He couldn't really say.
Sure, he'd been awake, so he'd have to properly call it a fantasy, but his imagination had definitely provided dream-like elements. Tommy's hair, for example - it'd been ages since he'd shorn off his shoulder-length locks, and while it had come as quite a surprise at the time, Jason couldn't blame him for cutting it. Long hair was impractical for the scientist Tommy had become, and adulthood had likely motivated him to say a more visible farewell to the habits of his teenage years.
*Now that I've gotten used to it, he looks pretty damn hot with the spiky 'do and his bit of a beard. Guess it's because I fell in love with him when his hair was long - and it would be nice to have a little more to hold on to, to run my fingers through when he's sucking me off.*
Which led directly to the more significant part of his little mental scenario.
*The sex part. Whoa.*
Jason suppressed a shiver as he recalled the mixture of sheer lust and sensuality of his daydream. Yes, he was uninhibited, but had never been as … well, 'forceful' was one way to put it … as his fantasy-self. Not with any of his partners. Especially not with Tommy, who was still adjusting to his bisexuality.
*Okay; in reality, I can see myself walking around naked, even with a hard-on, and trying to seduce Tommy. But to just tell him I'm gonna fuck him - and expect him not only to say yes right away, but to actively want it? Not bloody likely. Not until we've been lovers for years and both learned to enjoy taking each other up the ass. We don't even know yet if we will.*
The idea was exciting, though. A definite turn-on even. So far, they hadn't progressed beyond oral sex in their lovemaking, but the couple of times Tommy had cautiously slid a finger into Jason's ass while giving him a blow-job had been incredibly pleasurable, and Jason was not at all reluctant to experiment further.
*He seemed to enjoy it, too, when I fingered him last month.* He thought it boded well for his hopes to eventually try anal intercourse. Besides, he loved and trusted Tommy. *Enough to want to do it with him, on top or bottom. That's something I could never give to any of my previous partners; shit, I've never even had anal sex with a girl. It just … just didn't seem right, somehow. But with Tommy? Hell, yeah.*
And in a peculiar way, Jason was glad that he still had something unique to give to his best friend and lover, something each person could only give once in a lifetime - his virginity with a man.
*Crap, that sounds so … I dunno. Sappy? Saccharine? Something like that. It's true, though,* he reflected. *Sure, I never minded trying out something new when I was still kind of screwing around, but taking someone up my ass? Or do it to them? No. I've had sex with guys who wanted that from me, and yeah, I've been tempted a time or two, but in the end there was always something holding me back. And I never regretted saying no, either.*
Oral sex was different. Jason had been both on the giving and receiving end with most of his erstwhile partners, male and female, and while his experience with men wasn't terribly extensive, he still knew more than Tommy in that area. Not that he was complaining - introducing him to the pleasures of gay sex was fun, and Tommy had proved a fast and talented learner. And after he'd shed his initial inhibitions he was just as eager as Jason to try or invent new things to do with his lips and tongue. In fact, at times Jason had wondered where his lover got some of his ideas.
*Probably from that 'research' of his,* Jason thought wryly. *One of these days I'll have to ask him if he still has those blue movies and stuff.*
He stifled a moan. Normally, he didn't get an awful lot out of pornography, but for some reason the idea of reading or watching it together with Tommy - and then maybe act out some of the things they'd seen or read - sent darts of sheer lust directly into his groin.
*Stop it. I don't even know if Tommy would like that - both the reading and watching, or the doing - and I'm not gonna badger him into stuff he doesn't want to do.*
Of course not. But Jason couldn't deny that he longed to get even more intimate with Tommy - and that included a whole range of activities aside from getting turned on by smut.
*I'd like to spend more time with Tommy, in and out of bed; I'd love to spend whole days and nights with him at his or my home; and when we're both ready, I want him to be the first to take me up the ass and do the same to him.*
His cock throbbed and began to fill. Unobtrusively, Jason shifted in his seat to ease the growing pressure in his groin, wishing he dared adjust himself inside his pants. But that would only alert Tommy to the fact that the words 'feverish mind', when applied to Jason just now, had very little to do with his cold and everything with his suddenly-rampant sex drive.
*Germs. Think germs,* he admonished himself. *All those nasty little buggers crawling in your sinuses that you'd be giving Tommy if we made love now.*
It didn't help much - and all the rest of the way to his place in Angel Grove Jason was forced to suffer not only from his incipient cold, but also from the discomfort of frustrated desire.
---
By the time they reached Jason's street shortly after lunch, Jason was heartily glad to get out of the car. He dragged himself up the stairs to his attic apartment and all but collapsed on the old futon serving as his couch.
"Man, I'm beat," he groaned, watching through bleary eyes as Tommy entered behind him and made quick work of stowing the camping gear in a convenient closet and deposited Jason's backpack in the bedroom. "I can do that later," he protested feebly, coughing, but Tommy waved him off.
"Sure you can, but as long as I'm here anyway, why should you?"
"I just feel stupid, letting you do all of the work," Jason grumbled. Tommy laughed.
"Wish some of my students had more of that attitude! Well, you can unpack your stuff by yourself - no way am I handling your smelly socks! - and go take a shower while I go to the market," he said.
"Why'd you wanna go there?"
"Pharmacy," Tommy replied. "Knowing you, you don't have any meds but liniment and maybe an aspirin; that won't help you deal with your cold."
"Ibuprofen, and you know I hate taking chemicals," Jason muttered.
"Whatever. And I'm not planning on getting you 'chemicals', as you call them. Just some natural stuff that'll make you feel better. I'll also pick up some chicken soup for you on the way. Trust me?"
There was no way Jason could refuse that offer. And he was seriously hankering for a hot shower and clean, warm clothes. He still glared half-heartedly at his friend from his slouch on the futon. "I do. But you're not my mother, you know."
Tommy just smiled. "Right. I bet your mom would never do this." He bent over the back of the couch, took hold of Jason's head and kissed him thoroughly. "Now be a good boy and do as you're told," he grinned and beat a strategic retreat before Jason regained his breath. "Go shower, I'll take your keys!" And the door closed behind him with a muted 'bang'.
"Oh great," Jason groaned, but couldn't help a smile. While he hated the mothering, and the reason for it, he also felt pleased and grateful that Tommy was so caring and solicitous. *I more or less did the same for him last year when he was depressed. Fed him, cheered him up … healed him in a way. We're more than just friends, or even brothers; it's what we do.* Slightly cheered by the thought, Jason heaved himself to his feet with a sigh and trudged into the bathroom. He made quick work of unpacking and putting his dirty laundry into the hamper, then stripped and stepped into the shower. The jets of hot water not only cleaned him, but also managed to warm him at last, and by the time he was done and dressed in clean sweats and thick woolen socks Jason was beginning to feel halfway human again.
*Except for the damn sniffles. Shit.* Sneezing violently, Jason went to his small kitchenette to search for more tissues.
The sneezing fit had given way to coughing once more when Tommy returned with a bag full of things, and he unceremoniously bundled his lover back into the living room and onto the futon. He quickly retrieved a blanket from the bedroom, threw it over Jason, then pulled two items from his shopping bag. "Here. Mentholated cream to rub on your chest - it'll help you breathe - and a 1% saline nasal drip to reduce the swelling of your sinuses. Let it work for a few minutes, and I'll give you something for that cough." Before Jason could protest, Tommy disappeared into the kitchen.
Jason grinned bemusedly and followed his orders, listening to Tommy rummage around in the other room as he applied the cool cream to his chest. The sharp scent of menthol and eucalyptus was slightly overpowering as it warmed on his skin, but gradually Jason felt his nose clear just a little. It was a relief to breathe more easily again, and he made a mental note to thank Tommy later. *If he ever gets done with whatever he's doing, that is!*
"What the hell are you doing in there?" he called after a few minutes. "Mixing Love Potion Number Nine?"
"Not quite," Tommy replied in a normal voice, startling Jason who hadn't noticed him coming back into the living room. He held out a large mug. "Here, Sam's special cold remedy." Knowing that whatever Tommy had cooked up came from his shaman great-uncle was reassuring, but Jason was still skeptical as accepted the container. He yelped as he nearly scalded his fingertips.
"Hey, that's hot!"
"It works better that way. Drink up."
Suspiciously, Jason peered into the cup. It was brim-full with a murky yellowish liquid, and smelled definitely medicinal. "What's in it? It looks vile!"
"Lemon juice and hot water, honey, and just a spoonful of an antitussive cough syrup," Tommy explained, sitting down next to his friend. "In other words, vitamin C, minerals and carbs for energy, plus something to stop you from hacking your lungs out." He too was holding a steaming mug and took a careful sip.
"My cough's not that bad," Jason muttered. "What're you having?"
"Same stuff I made for you, minus the cough syrup. Look, I know you said you don't like meds, but you'll have to be at school tomorrow again, same as me, and all the natural remedies I can get hold of won't be quite as effective - or at least not as fast-acting. The only real chemical is the DXM, and when you're feeling better, you can replace it with this." He tossed a bar of chocolate at Jason.
"70% cocoa, and Swiss? Are you mad? That must've cost a fortune, and besides, I don't even like dark chocolate," Jason complained.
Tommy grinned smugly. "I'm a scientist, remember? Chemistry isn't exactly my forte, but I had to take enough to know that cocoa contains theobromine - a cough suppressant even more effective than codeine, which is prescription-only. Dark chocolate has up to ten times as much than milk chocolate, so … Anyway, half that bar should be enough per day."
"Hmph."
"Would you prefer I make you an onion and rock sugar decoction?" Tommy asked innocently. "It's another of Sam's recipes."
"Onions and sugar? Euw," Jason shuddered. "That sounds even worse than this stuff smells. Which, in a word, is disgusting."
"Helps, though."
"Thanks, but no thanks. And no, I don't want to know all the science behind the medicine man stuff."
"Then drink your hot lemon. Please?"
The brown eyes looked at him with so much concern and affection that Jason didn't have the heart to refuse. Sighing, he lifted his mug. "Are you sure this'll help?"
"Yeah."
"Oh, all right already." Grudgingly, Jason took a cautious sip and found to his surprise that the taste wasn't as bad as he'd feared. Soon, he was done and set the empty mug on the coffee table with a sigh of relief. "Finished, Mommy," he announced cheekily in a little-boy voice that made Tommy laugh.
"So'm I," Tommy said and reluctantly got to his feet. "Hate to say it, but I still have a couple of papers on my desk that need to be dealt with by tomorrow."
A quick glance at his watch showed Jason what that meant. "And if you don't leave soon, you won't be able to, is that what you're saying?"
"Yeah," his friend sighed. "I wish I could stay here with you longer, but …"
"… it's a long drive to Reefside, I know," Jason finished unhappily. "Damn. If I hadn't gotten sick, we could still be together."
"Not that much longer, you didn't catch cold intentionally and besides, there's always next time. Two weeks from now as usual, right?"
"Sure. But …" Jason hesitated, but decided that there was no sense in lying about how he felt. They'd agreed right at the start of their relationship to be as honest with each other as possible, to tell when either of them felt uncomfortable about something - and why shouldn't that also include physical discomfort? "Tommy, I hate bringing it up, but … would you mind much if we didn't go camping anymore? At least not until spring? I was really freezing last night, and it's only going to grow colder …"
"No problem," Tommy agreed at once. "Actually, I've thought the same thing - and not just when you started sneezing." He smiled. "Camping's definitely out in the near future."
Relieved, Jason smiled back. "Thanks." Which of course raised the question where they would go instead. With only a little over two months to go until Christmas, Jason knew it would be tight financially, but offered anyway - seeing as it was his fault they had to cut this weekend short. "Um, how about I spring for the hotel then?"
Tommy caught his breath and for a moment was tempted to accept the offer. Then he shook himself inwardly. No, he'd made a different decision earlier, and he was going to stick by it. It was one thing he could do not only for Jason, but for himself as well.
"How about you come to Reefside instead?" he asked quietly.
He saw the midnight-dark eyes widen as Jason realized what he was implying. "And stay where?"
"My house."
Slowly, Jason got up and walked over to his lover. He placed both hands on Tommy's shoulders and looked at him very intently. "Are you sure about this?"
"Yes," Tommy murmured, and felt the chill of their impending separation being dispelled by the warmth of Jason's smile. A large hand gently cupped his cheek.
"I'd kiss you for that if I weren't such a virus mothership right now," Jason whispered huskily. "Thanks, Tom; I know this decision can't have been easy for you."
"Easier than I thought it'd be," Tommy admitted and placed a kiss into Jason's palm. "Whatever reasons against spending nights with you here or at my home I once had simply aren't there anymore, your health is too important to risk, and anyway … it's time to move forward. I'm ready."
"So am I."
"Good." Before Jason could protest, Tommy drew him into his arms and kissed him. It wasn't just a quick peck, either; no, Tommy took his sweet time. His tongue slid easily between Jason's lips, seeking out its counterpart to tangle with and coaxed a response that was willingly given until Jason moaned throatily into Tommy's mouth. The sound reverberated all the way into Tommy's groin, and he knew he'd better stop before they were both left frustrated and aching with need they didn't have time to deal with.
"Hold that thought, Bro," Tommy breathed before he reluctantly released his lover and stepped back. "Until next time."
"You bet," Jason nodded with a rueful smile. "Go, before I decide to jump you on the spot."
"Right. Call you later tonight?"
"Please."
"Don't forget to eat your soup."
"Yes, mother," Jason rolled his eyes and sighed good-naturedly. "I promise. Now, if you don't mind exposing yourself to my germs one last time, kiss me good-bye?"
"I thought you'd never ask."
Another long, gentle kiss, and Tommy left, leaving Jason standing at his window to watch the jeep's taillights disappear into the fast-approaching dusk. "Drive safely, Bro," he murmured and went to lie on the couch. That last kiss good-bye had stirred more than his heart, but Jason resisted the temptation to take matters into his own hands, so to speak.
*Not tonight. I can wait if I have to.*
Maybe not the full two weeks until he was going to see Tommy again, but tonight he could bask in the knowledge that their willingness to be intimate with each other was still growing. Tommy was finally ready for them to sleep and make love in their very own beds, to get a step closer in sharing their lives. And his daydream had shown Jason that he was ready to progress to anal sex in their lovemaking - another step towards sharing their bodies fully at last. A small chill skittered down his spine that had nothing to do with his cold and everything with his love and desire for Tommy.
*It'll be my dream come true when he is as ready for that as I am …*
Hopefully, it wouldn't take long … and as Jason stared out into the darkening sky, his ever-fertile imagination started weaving yet another fantasy.
To Be Continued …
List of 22: #05, Dream and #22, Watermelon