More Than Friends And Brothers, ch. 15 (Jason/Tommy)
Okay, LJ works for me again (YAY!!!), so once more without the link!
Title: More Than Friends And Brothers 15.1: A Fun Day In Silver Hills
Author: germankitty
Relationship: Jason/Tommy
Rating: NC-17
Warning: None beyond the rating. :)
Disclaimer: The characters/settings in here do not belong to me but to BVE/MMPR Productions; no profit is being made.
Note: In response the LiveJournal PRSW 22 challenge; theme: play (original)
Note II: The character of Lina Monroe was created by Cmar and is used with her permission. Same goes for background details of the Eric/Wes relationship. Thanks for letting me play in your sandbox (and the beta), lady - once again, you rock!
Note III: Okay, in essence I'm reprising the themes of the previous three chapters. The main story arc in them is finished, but as there are a few loose ends and angles I still needed/wanted to explore, I decided to add this chapter as a kind of conclusion, or interlude, before going on with the main story. Originally, I had planned this to be about the big coming out towards my boys' friends, but quite frankly, the thing got out of hand length-wise (now there's a new development for me *snerk*) and it got divided into two separate chapters. So enjoy, I hope, and please pass by the feedback box on your way out?
More Than Friends And Brothers
Chapter 12: A Fun Day In Silver Hills
Jason was breathing hard as he faced Eric on the mats. The noise around them was deafening - nearly every Silver Guardian not on duty this early Saturday afternoon appeared to be in the gym, watching their match. And every single one of them was cheering for Eric.
It had been a long time since he'd been the underdog in any karate match, but he didn't let it faze him; if anything, it spurred him on even more to give his best.
*No way am I gonna lose!*
He'd taken the first bout easily - Eric undoubtedly had greater experience in practical, day-to-day fighting, but he was thrown off a little by the formal rules of their match at first. Soon enough he adjusted, though, so the next two bouts went to him, but Jason had come back to take the fourth with a spectacular roundhouse kick that would've made Chuck Norris green with envy. Now they were in their final bout; Eric needed only one more point to win overall, and time was running out rapidly.
Ringside, both Tommy and Wes were at the edge of their seats, both white-knuckled with suspense and excitement, but knowing better than to break either competitor's concentration with shouts or comments.
In a flurry of lightning-fast moves, Eric went on the offensive again, but Jason countered them easily - after all, he was used to spar with Tommy who also possessed greater speed than himself. He focused on detecting that small uncertainty, that tiny little opening he'd need to get under Eric's defense.
*There!*
Eric's kick was a fraction of an inch off, not quite connecting with his intended target, and Jason seized the moment. Applying a grappling move, he used Eric's own momentum against him, managed to throw him off-balance, and struck with an open-edge blade hand strike against his jugular, blocking the force of impact just at the right instant. After all, they were sparring, not trying to kill each other! Immediately, the referee raised his arm.
"Point Scott!"
The two danced apart, but before either could assume a starting stance again, the match bell rang.
"Time over; two bouts each, third ends in a draw!" the judge announced, then gestured both men to the center of the mat. "Two options - either call it a draw overall, or you can now go to sudden death - next point takes the match," he told them once they were in range to hear his quiet suggestion.
For a second, Jason was tempted to go on, to score the victory, and he could read in Eric's eyes that he certainly was spoiling for the chance. But only one point to win … that might come down to blind luck more than skill, and could definitely go either way. Still, just to concede the match to Eric went strongly against Jason's nature.
*I'm not a quitter!*
He was already opening his mouth to agree to the judge's proposal when an unexpected thought made him stop.
*Do I really need to prove that I'm better than him? Am I?*
They were certainly quite evenly matched - and while that said a lot about their capabilities as fighters, it said absolutely nothing about them as men. Suddenly, the need to win dissolved, and Jason shook his head.
"No."
"You're giving up?" Eric panted incredulously.
Equally breathless, Jason smiled, all at once sure about his decision. "Nope. I just don't have anything to prove."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means that if I had to, I probably could beat you on a good day. I just don't need to. Not anymore."
It was on the tip of Eric's tongue to demand Jason continue the fight anyway, but one look into the dark, serene eyes made him hesitate. His life-long ambition and drive wanted him to win, to come out on top no matter what, but would it be worth it? Jason had proved today that he was a formidable opponent; he'd matched Eric skill for skill, strength for speed, style for experience, and made the match one of the most exhilarating Eric had ever fought.
Eric knew chances were even that he might lose - in front of Wes, Tommy, and the Guardians under his command. Suddenly, strangely, the thought wasn't as unpalatable as it should've been; what was unthinkable, however, was to defeat an opponent who didn't think it worthwhile. On the heels of that came another thought - did he have something to prove?
*Why would I need to beat him?*
He didn't - unless he wanted to satisfy his ego at all cost. And that wasn't something worth fighting over.
*Jason has got nothing that I haven't achieved myself - an interesting and fulfilling job, respect from my colleagues and my boss, as well as a partner who loves him. I … I don't envy him - for anything.*
That realization, arrived at in mere seconds, enabled Eric to relax, nod and grin back easily.
"Neither do I. Let's leave it as is."
The judge nodded approvingly. "An honorable choice by both of you. Very good." He then grasped a hand of either man and raised them up over their heads, pitching his voice loud enough to carry over the cheering crowd. "The contestants have decided not to continue. Match ends in a draw, no winner!"
Jason and Eric bowed to each other as the gym erupted into noisy applause. While most of the Guardians wanted to see their commander win, they acknowledged that today he'd faced an equal - and that neither man deserved to lose.
Wes and Tommy came towards their partners with towels and water bottles.
"I disagree with the judge," Wes murmured. "You're both winners!"
"I think you're prejudiced, but thanks," Eric grinned, drinking thirstily.
"No, Wes is right," Tommy smiled. "That was one of the best karate matches I've ever seen; you were fantastic, both of you."
"Thanks," Jason replied, mopping his sweat-streaked face. "I had fun."
"Me, too," Eric agreed, then couldn't resist adding sotto voce, "and on a good day I could so beat you!"
"Dream on," Jason laughed, recognizing the comment for what it was - ego, bravado, it didn't matter. They had taken each other's measure, and had both come out on top.
"Stop it already, you two," Wes chided. "Or we'll let you starve tonight! Speaking of which … Dad has invited all four of us to dinner at the house," he said, snickering at Eric's instant groan. "Don't worry, it's informal. I think Philips mentioned the word 'barbecue'."
"Hmph." Eric grumbled a little, but more out of habit than any real reluctance. The Collins' butler could be relied on to put out a terrific spread - and a barbecue where he didn't have to struggle with charring meat sounded rather good. "What are we supposed to do all afternoon, though? It's too early for dinner yet."
"I'm sure we can come up with something," his partner shrugged. "So how about it, Tommy, Jason? Are you game?"
"I really don't know; it does sound nice, but Jase and I hadn't exactly planned on staying much longer." Tommy was tempted, but hesitated nonetheless. "It's a long drive home; what with the weekend and everything, there's no telling if we could even find a room at short notice …"
"Hey, we have more than enough guest rooms; you're welcome to spend the night. Call it payback for last time when we stayed at your place."
"We wouldn't want to impose …"
"You're not," Wes replied promptly. "In fact, I think Dad kind of expects that you're staying; he certainly won't mind."
"That's very generous of you and your father," Jason hedged as well, "but are you sure?"
"Very." A persuasive argument came to Wes' mind. "We happen to have this big pool back at the house," he coaxed. "It's private, and the four of us could have some fun before dinner. Swimming, or water polo maybe. Come on, say you'll stay; watching the two of you go at it has made me itch for some exercise as well. Don't you agree, Tommy?"
"Well …" The chocolate-brown eyes began to gleam at the thought of getting Jason out of his clothes, into the tight black spandex trunks he favored, and wet all over - with the added bonus of being able to touch him where he wanted, practically in public, without anyone able to raise an eyebrow.
Jason laughed, recognizing his lover's sudden shift in mood … and guessing accurately at the reason for it. Truth be told, the idea of spending some more time with friends was appealing to him as well. His move to Reefside and getting settled at Tommy's house had tended to isolate them a lot recently. *Not that I mind being alone with Tommy, but … he was right, we should socialize more, and this sounds exactly like what we were thinking of back in spring. So why not?*
"You just want to see whether you can beat Eric and me after today. Let me tell you something, guys - match or no match, we can take you on anytime and win! Right, Eric?"
"You betcha," Eric drawled, grinning suddenly. He looked Tommy and Wes up and down, a familiar challenging light coming back into his eyes. "Water polo, you said?"
"Help us, Lord," Tommy groaned comically. "If you two start ganging up on us - Wes, I think we've created a monster!"
***
The water polo game was still in full swing when Mr. Collins, who found even just watching the four younger men's antics fairly exhausting, was informed by Philips that he had a visitor of his own waiting on the first-floor balcony. Quickly, he made his way into the house.
"Hello, Lina," he greeted his lady friend, pleasantly surprised. "I thought you were busy tonight?"
She gave him a welcoming smile. "I managed to switch shifts," she explained. "And I must say, I don't regret it - I wouldn't have wanted to miss the spectacular view from here!" She gestured towards the grounds across the stone balustrade.
"Thanks, but didn't you say you preferred the vista from the living room, over the rose garden?"
"Not right now, I don't," Lina Monroe replied. "Your roses, pretty as they are this time of year, have nothing compared to this kind of scenery!"
Puzzled, Alan Collins moved to stand beside her to follow her gaze. The view from the balcony showed him the patio, the pool … Wes, Eric and their guests cavorting noisily in the water … suddenly, the penny dropped. "Lina!" he exclaimed, slightly shocked.
"What?" she asked innocently, attempting in vain to hide her grin. "I'm a healthy, red-blooded woman - as you very well know. And the day I can't appreciate the sight of four gorgeous studs in nothing but tight swim trunks might as well be the day they put me six feet under!"
"Uh …" Alan swallowed. He had always prided himself on being suave in any situation; now he found himself at a loss for words.
"Don't be such a prude, Alan," she chided gently, patting his shoulder.
"I'm not … or am I?"
Recognizing that her teasing made him uncomfortable, she took pity on him. "Not usually, no. But honey, speaking from a purely aesthetic point I couldn't care less that one of them is your son, one his lover and that the other two are probably a couple as well - as Philips informed me, Wes asked him to prepare just one guest room for Dr. Oliver and his friend. I don't have to be a rocket scientist to put two and two together and come up with the right answer."
"Well, Wes didn't explicitly say so, but it's the impression I had of them, too," he admitted. Once, that fact would have caused him some consternation; now, he was able to take it more or less in stride. "If you know that … what's the point in your appreciation of the, um, 'scenery'?"
Lina gave him an arch look. "Beauty is beauty - no matter whether it's attainable or not. Those boys are a sight for sore eyes. And what a waste for the female half of the population, too!" *If I were but twenty-five years younger … and twenty-five pounds lighter, dammit … I wouldn't care whether they're gay, bi or whatever. I'd run down there tripping all over myself to get them to notice me! But there's no need to tell that to Alan …* She grinned naughtily. "Things being what they are, though, I have to be content with just drooling a little from a safe distance. I can look, can't I? I promise to keep it at that."
"If that's what you want," Alan replied just a little stiffly. He was surprised when Lina laughed and kissed him on the cheek.
"Alan, dear - just imagine that instead of four hunky young guys there were four bikini-clad babes playing in your pool like that. And then tell me your tongue wouldn't be hanging halfway to your knees!"
He had to laugh as well. Lina's no-nonsense attitude and slight earthiness definitely were among the things that attracted him to her. "I guess you're right."
"Of course I am," Lina said smugly and slipped a hand through his arm. "Besides, as those boys aren't the only ones around here blessed with good looks, give me maturity and style over youth and muscles any day!" The warm, genuinely admiring look she swept over Alan from head to foot made her meaning quite clear, and he found himself blushing with pleasure.
"Thanks, I think," Mr. Collins mock-grumbled.
"You're welcome. Now, let's go tell Philips to fire up the barbecue; it's been a long day at the precinct, I'm starving, and I'm dying to meet Wes and Eric's friends. Preferably clothed, though," she added with an obviously fake regretful sigh. "I don't want them to catch me drooling!"
***
Night was falling over Silver Hills when Wes, Jason and Tommy sat on the terrace at the Collins mansion after a sumptuous meal, drinks in hand. Eric had been called away by Guardian business a little earlier, and after seeing Lina home Mr. Collins had retired to his office to take a call from one of his suppliers in Europe.
"Will Eric come back once he's done?" Jason asked idly, relaxing in the warmth of good company and a late-summer evening.
"Afraid not," Wes replied. "They've arrested the perpetrators, but we don't know how long it'll take to clear things up at the crime scene …" His voice trailed off a little sadly, or so Jason thought.
"But surely he has a key? It's not as if he'd expect anyone to wait up for him, does he?"
"It's not that," Wes sighed.
"Then what is?" Tommy inquired quietly, sensing, like Jason, that there was more. The night seemed made for confidences, and after the help and support he and Jason had received from the other couple it seemed only fair to reciprocate.
"Eric has … reservations about staying here with me," Wes explained reluctantly. "Dad wouldn't mind - not much, anyway - and I've told Eric so, but … he says it doesn't feel right, and to be honest, I don't entirely blame him. To think that my father would know, or at least guess when we, uh, were together …"
"Er, right," Tommy murmured, squirming at the idea of sharing a room with Jason at his parents' house now that they knew they were lovers. *To worry about getting overheard, or to see their faces in the morning whether we did something or not … ew, no. Good thing I only have a single bed in my old room; perfect excuse to stay at a hotel!*
He looked back at Wes, trying to frame his next question as tactfully as possible. "So you're only, um, spending time together at his place?"
"Most of the time, yeah."
"Then why don't you move in with Eric?" Jason asked reasonably. "Tommy told me he has his own house; it seems like the obvious solution. Or do you mind that his home isn't as grand as this?" He gestured vaguely towards the mansion.
"I don't care about grand, but somehow we never really talked about it." Wes pondered the question for a few moments, then sighed. "I think Eric has issues with us living together, no matter where. He accepts - grudgingly - that I had to tell Dad about us, but otherwise prefers to keep it a secret."
"The two of you being a couple, or being gay in general?"
"Both. He's had a few bad experiences in the past."
"During his time in the military, you mean?"
"That, and elsewhere. He never told me much about it, but I know it happened. I may not like keeping things under wraps indefinitely, but Eric doesn't want to lose the respect he's worked so hard for. That is one reservation I've got to accept. So … except for Dad and Lina, we're still very much in the closet."
"That must suck," Jason commented.
"It does." Wes shrugged wryly. He'd learned to live with Eric's reasons, even if he didn't always fully agree with them.
"I'm sorry, man," Tommy murmured. At least he and Jason weren't hiding from the rest of the world anymore. "As you know, it wasn't all easy for us to come out, but on the whole I'd have to say it's the best decision we ever made."
"There were no repercussions or anything at work?" Wes asked, genuinely curious.
"Well … we informed our respective principals and their opinion was, since we're not working at the same school and as long as we don't flaunt our relationship, out of consideration for parents who may have objections on moral or religious grounds, it's okay with them. After all, a same-sex lifestyle isn't catching," Jason said. "I'd say most people we've told so far seem okay with it - and if they're not, they at least don't show it."
"Even if they did, they better be careful or I'll slap them with a discrimination suit faster than they can say 'gay agenda'," Tommy added darkly, only half joking. Both his companions had to grin at that.
"What about your friends?" Wes wanted to know next.
"We'll find out on Thanksgiving," Tommy said. "It's really the kind of thing you want to tell someone in person yourself, not by phone or a written message. Or let someone else do it for you; in retrospect, I shouldn't have let Trent spread the news to his father and the Dino Rangers. So we've planned the big reveal for when we meet all of the gang in November at our bi-annual get-together."
"Good luck."
"Thanks," Jason replied, only the barest quiver in his voice. He was apprehensive about telling their former teammates about his relationship with Tommy after the way his parents reacted, but he hoped that at least some of their friends would understand and wish them happy. He smiled gratefully when Tommy reached for his hand to give it a reassuring squeeze.
"It'll be all right, Bro."
"Yeah, sure." He sounded less sure than he would've liked, though.
Changing the subject - he didn't want to remind Jason more than he already had of his parents' attitude and was feeling too mellow to burden his guests with his, or rather Eric's, problems besides - Wes strove for a more cheerful tone. "So how's living together working out for you guys anyway?" He and Eric had offered to help Jason move, but a small crisis in Silver Hills at the last minute had prevented them from coming.
Jason grinned. "Pretty well so far. We're still shifting furniture around every other week, though."
"I never imagined how much stuff you've managed to pack in that two-room apartment of yours," Tommy grumbled with a smile. "Or that your desk would take up so much room in the den!"
"If I could set it up at right angles to yours, it would use much less space."
"Yeah - but it would block my access to the Lair."
"Unfortunately. Anyway, it'll be better once we get a wireless system set up throughout the house and I can have an office or something in the spare room," Jason shrugged. "As long as that isn't done, I'll need my computer near the modem."
"We'll think of a solution eventually."
"Sure." Both men shared a fondly amused look. These little domestic squabbles and adjustments were new to them, but it was all part and parcel of creating their life together, and as such taken in stride - the happiness they'd found more than made up for any minor temporary inconvenience. Wes watched and listened to the byplay a little enviously, wishing that he and his partner could bicker amicably over something as simple as where to put a piece of furniture, too. But that was a problem which couldn't be resolved tonight - and certainly not in Eric's absence.
Seeing that Tommy had drained his glass, he leaned forward, reached for the bottle chilling in a silver ice-bucket and raised it with a questioning glance. "Can I pour you a refill?"
Tommy considered briefly, then shook his head. "Thanks, but no. It's late; we'd better call it a night. Unless you want us to sleep the whole morning away?" he added, grinning.
Jason got to his feet. "Better not, Tom. We've taken up enough of Wes and Eric's time as it is, and you guys probably have plans together anyway, right?" he guessed astutely.
Wes shrugged and deftly placed their glasses onto a tray. He'd carry it into the kitchen on his way to his room; Philips would see to everything else in the morning. "Well, kinda," he said with a small grin and wink. "But hey, it was good to see you again - even though I still think you're nuts to have challenged Eric, Jason."
"I agree, but it was worth it. I've rarely seen you spar so well, Bro," Tommy said, remembering the earlier karate match.
"Oh yeah. I'm sure your match with Eric will be all the talk in the Guardians' locker room come Monday," Wes chuckled, then yawned suddenly. "Sorry. I guess it really is bedtime."
"Definitely," Jason smiled, yawning as well. "It's been a long day for all of us." He followed Wes and Tommy inside. "Fun, though."
"Strange notion of 'fun' you have," Tommy muttered good-naturedly. They paused before the guest room Wes had shown them earlier. "Well, see you in the morning, I guess."
"Uh huh. Sleep well."
"You, too. Good night!"
Wes watched the door close behind Jason and Tommy, then slowly went towards his own suite of rooms. Seeing them today, hearing about how they were building their life together, had given him a lot to think about … and made him wonder whether Eric's objections to coming out were really as relevant as his partner thought they were. This was the twenty-first century; would it really be so bad if they stopped hiding their relationship from the world and started living together as well?
*I don't think so. And I'd love being with him every day, not just on weekends and in stolen moments during the week.*
It would be nice - and much more than that, really - if he knew Eric would be coming home from a late-night mission like tonight's and just slip into their bed, spoon against him and ... whatever. Wes was reasonably sure that his lover would find the possibility as appealing as he did.
*At least I hope he would.*
All he had to do was to convince Eric.
***
As they were getting ready for the night in the sumptuous guest room, Tommy noticed that Jason couldn't seem to stop smiling.
"What's that Cheshire Cat grin for?" he asked idly, squeezing toothpaste onto his brush.
"Nothing in particular," Jason replied, pulled his shirt over his head and folded it haphazardly onto a chair before following Tommy into the ensuite bathroom. "I was just thinking how much fun I had today."
Tommy laughed and rinsed. "I think I know what you mean. Felt almost like high school, didn't it?"
"You think so?"
"Sure - didn't you notice the parallels? Karate match in the morning, water games in the afternoon, then pigging out over a barbecue with friends in the evening. How many Saturdays did we spend like that with the gang?"
"Too many to count," Jason agreed. "Only, back in school it was burgers, chips and sodas, not gourmet salads, marinated steaks and a wine that probably cost more than my weekly food allowance back in college!"
"Well, yeah. Still fun, though."
"Uh huh. Only, that's not all I thought was fun." He hugged Tommy from behind and briefly nuzzled his neck before giving him a small shove to make room for himself at the sink. He reached for the toothpaste as well and quickly finished his nightly hygiene, then gave Tommy a brief kiss. His lips tasted of mint and herbs, Tommy couldn't help notice. He decided he liked it. But Jason's slightly pensive expression recalled his wandering mind as he continued.
"What I liked most about today … everything felt so, well, natural, I guess. Being around people who know exactly what we mean to each other, who accept us without comment or question … I didn't once feel the need to hide, to keep myself in check. I could look at you whenever I wanted, smile, even touch you - and never had to stop to consider what anyone else was thinking, or if they were judging us. It was just great."
Tommy nodded slowly. "Hmm, yeah. Quite a change from that one time when I nearly freaked over giving us away - remember when we met Trini, Billy, Rocky and Adam in the park, right after we became lovers?"
"Sure I do. You were so paranoid, I thought you were breaking up with me," Jason grumbled. "Wasn't anything 'nearly' about it - you freaked good!"
"Sorry. Again. Anyway, you're right; compared to then, today felt terrific."
"Think we'll ever be as comfortable around the gang as we are with Wes and Eric now?" Jason's voice shook the tiniest bit as he looked pleadingly at Tommy for reassurance. Tommy didn't hesitate to give it - despite their happiness, there still was an occasional moment, like now, when Jason couldn't help thinking of his parents' disapproval.
"I hope so. No - I'm pretty sure we will be," he said, drawing his lover into a warm hug. "It's only a couple months until Thanksgiving; then we'll know. Until then, let's take each day as it comes, okay?"
Reluctantly, Jason nodded and rested his forehead against Tommy's shoulder, forcing himself not to cling to the lean body. "Right."
"Good. - Are you done here?"
"Uh huh."
Tommy kissed Jason's hair. "Then let's go to bed; it's getting late."
Together, they went back into the bedroom and finished undressing. Nude, they slipped under the covers from opposite sides of the king-size bed. Jason sighed with pleasure as the mattress proved to have just the right mixture of firm and soft.
"Man, this place is something else," he smiled as he lay on his side, head propped up on one hand and faced his lover. "I've stayed at hotels that weren't as luxurious."
"Uh huh," Tommy commented, pleased to see that Jason's maudlin mood had vanished as quickly as it had come. "Must be nice to be able to live like that."
"Maybe. But I prefer your house."
"Our house, you mean," Tommy corrected, rolling onto his side as well to look at Jason. "I know we haven't drawn up any papers, but I hope you know that what's mine is yours now, too."
Jason chuckled and touched Tommy's cheek. The skin was slightly rough against his palm with a day's growth of beard. "I know; thanks. Ditto. I'll get used to it eventually," he murmured. "Right now, it's still so new to be with you every day - man, sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night with the urge to go check that all of my stuff really is in the closet, that my desk is next to yours …"
"Is that why we've been making love morning, night and evening on some days lately?"
"Well … it's very reassuring to me," Jason replied innocently, letting his fingers trail downwards, tracing Tommy's collarbone and shoulder. "Sometimes, I'm feeling very insecure and have to make sure you're really there."
"Yeah, right," Tommy snorted, recognizing the glint in the midnight eyes. He could feel his pulse quicken. "Personally, I think you're just feeling super horny. Making up for all the nights we haven't spent together in the last five years, or something."
"That, too," Jason murmured and scratched lightly across the leanly-muscled chest with blunt nails. "Got any objections?" He circled one nipple, then took the brown nub between thumb and forefinger and pinched gently, making Tommy gasp.
"N-not at all." Blood rushed into his groin and Tommy could feel himself grow erect with astonishing speed.
"Good. Then you won't mind if I try to get rid of some more insecurities?"
"Is that what we're calling it now?" Tommy grinned, starting his own exploration of the strong naked body lying next to him. His hand stayed only briefly at the well-defined pecs and abs before it wandered from Jason's hipbone to the tight muscled ass. Tommy teased the cleft, eliciting a muted growl of approval from Jason, then slowly moved back towards the thatch of hair between Jason's thighs. His grin widened when he encountered a column of silk-skinned steel already waiting for him. "You must be very insecure."
"Terribly," Jason murmured and thrust his erection against the maddening fingers until they closed around him. He did the same to the hard pole jutting out from his lover's groin and started to pump. "But I'll be feeling better by the second if you keep this up."
"Mmm," Tommy moaned. He was beginning to feel very good himself - and 'keeping it up' would soon no longer be an option. *It'd be downright counterproductive, really,* he thought woozily as waves of lust washed through his system. But he was far too glad that Jason had regained enough confidence to be the initiator for their lovemaking once more - a process that had started as soon as they'd moved in together. This was the first time, though, that he was doing so outside the safe haven of their home in Reefside. And what better place than this, a luxurious guest bedroom in a friend's house?
*Oh, shit!*
Tommy's eyes, which had already drifted shut in sensual bliss, snapped open. "Jase, wait!"
"What? Why?"
"We're at the Collins mansion - they have staff! What if someone hears us?"
Jason never stopped stroking his lover's cock. "It's the middle of the night; I'm sure everybody is asleep by now. And if they aren't - well, we'll just have to make sure not to be too noisy, right?"
"And how exactly do you think we're going to manage that?" Despite his earlier quasi-objection, Tommy also continued to fondle the heavy balls. He just couldn't resist the fire in his lover's eyes.
"Easy." Pressing Tommy into the pillow, Jason bent forward and thrust his tongue deeply between the narrow lips, silencing him effectively with a demanding kiss. Tommy moaned again as he responded, but the sound was indeed muffled, swallowed up by the hot mouth. When they parted at last for some much-needed air, both men were breathing hard and raring to go.
"Whoa," Tommy panted, squeezing the thick shaft throbbing in his palm. Jason reciprocated by circling the pad of his thumb across Tommy's glans, slicking the few drops of pre-come all over the smooth skin. "Okay, that worked. Now what?"
"Now - we do this." As a trained athlete, Jason could move very quickly. Before Tommy fully realized what he was doing, he'd turned around and was now lying head-to-foot with him, his mouth at exactly the right position to -
"Ahh!" Tommy barely stifled his ecstatic cry as he felt Jason swallow him whole. Nearly the full length of his cock was instantly buried in wet heat, and the agile tongue started doing incredible things to hyper-sensitive nerves.
Tommy knew that he wouldn't be able to suppress his voice for long, but the perfect solution was bobbing right before his eyes. Blindly, he grabbed a firm asscheek and hauled Jason's hips close. He wrapped his own lips around the purplish-brown head, sucked briefly until Jason started to thrust, then relaxed his throat. Seconds later, all that could be heard in the room was the soft creaking of the mattress and muted groans of two men engaged in a passionate sixty-nine.
***
They climaxed within seconds of each other. Sated and more than tired now, Jason reversed his position once more and rested his head on Tommy's shoulder, relishing the feel of smooth, slick skin against his own as he yawned. Tommy grinned.
"Still feel insecure?"
"Mmmnno. You're very good at reassuring me."
"Thanks. Now can we sleep, please?"
"Mmm." Jason shifted until his lips were within easy reach for Tommy. The invitation was obvious, and irresistible.
Tommy angled his head and kissed Jason, feeling the same thrill as always when he tasted himself on the pliant mouth. "Good night, Bro."
"'Night." He mumbled something unintelligible and let his lids droop shut, so Tommy nudged him until the dark eyes opened sleepily once more.
"What was that you just said?"
Jason sighed and snuggled deeper into his lover's embrace. "I was just thinking … I wish Wes could have the same thing we do right now."
Tommy smiled. How like Jason to think of his friends, even half-asleep. "Yeah. But you know what? I have a feeling someday he will. All he needs to do is convince Eric."
"Eric can be such an idiot."
"Yes. And so can you sometimes, but I love you anyway. Now go to sleep!"
Minutes later, they both did.
To Be Continued …
Title: More Than Friends And Brothers 15.1: A Fun Day In Silver Hills
Author: germankitty
Relationship: Jason/Tommy
Rating: NC-17
Warning: None beyond the rating. :)
Disclaimer: The characters/settings in here do not belong to me but to BVE/MMPR Productions; no profit is being made.
Note: In response the LiveJournal PRSW 22 challenge; theme: play (original)
Note II: The character of Lina Monroe was created by Cmar and is used with her permission. Same goes for background details of the Eric/Wes relationship. Thanks for letting me play in your sandbox (and the beta), lady - once again, you rock!
Note III: Okay, in essence I'm reprising the themes of the previous three chapters. The main story arc in them is finished, but as there are a few loose ends and angles I still needed/wanted to explore, I decided to add this chapter as a kind of conclusion, or interlude, before going on with the main story. Originally, I had planned this to be about the big coming out towards my boys' friends, but quite frankly, the thing got out of hand length-wise (now there's a new development for me *snerk*) and it got divided into two separate chapters. So enjoy, I hope, and please pass by the feedback box on your way out?
More Than Friends And Brothers
Chapter 12: A Fun Day In Silver Hills
Jason was breathing hard as he faced Eric on the mats. The noise around them was deafening - nearly every Silver Guardian not on duty this early Saturday afternoon appeared to be in the gym, watching their match. And every single one of them was cheering for Eric.
It had been a long time since he'd been the underdog in any karate match, but he didn't let it faze him; if anything, it spurred him on even more to give his best.
*No way am I gonna lose!*
He'd taken the first bout easily - Eric undoubtedly had greater experience in practical, day-to-day fighting, but he was thrown off a little by the formal rules of their match at first. Soon enough he adjusted, though, so the next two bouts went to him, but Jason had come back to take the fourth with a spectacular roundhouse kick that would've made Chuck Norris green with envy. Now they were in their final bout; Eric needed only one more point to win overall, and time was running out rapidly.
Ringside, both Tommy and Wes were at the edge of their seats, both white-knuckled with suspense and excitement, but knowing better than to break either competitor's concentration with shouts or comments.
In a flurry of lightning-fast moves, Eric went on the offensive again, but Jason countered them easily - after all, he was used to spar with Tommy who also possessed greater speed than himself. He focused on detecting that small uncertainty, that tiny little opening he'd need to get under Eric's defense.
*There!*
Eric's kick was a fraction of an inch off, not quite connecting with his intended target, and Jason seized the moment. Applying a grappling move, he used Eric's own momentum against him, managed to throw him off-balance, and struck with an open-edge blade hand strike against his jugular, blocking the force of impact just at the right instant. After all, they were sparring, not trying to kill each other! Immediately, the referee raised his arm.
"Point Scott!"
The two danced apart, but before either could assume a starting stance again, the match bell rang.
"Time over; two bouts each, third ends in a draw!" the judge announced, then gestured both men to the center of the mat. "Two options - either call it a draw overall, or you can now go to sudden death - next point takes the match," he told them once they were in range to hear his quiet suggestion.
For a second, Jason was tempted to go on, to score the victory, and he could read in Eric's eyes that he certainly was spoiling for the chance. But only one point to win … that might come down to blind luck more than skill, and could definitely go either way. Still, just to concede the match to Eric went strongly against Jason's nature.
*I'm not a quitter!*
He was already opening his mouth to agree to the judge's proposal when an unexpected thought made him stop.
*Do I really need to prove that I'm better than him? Am I?*
They were certainly quite evenly matched - and while that said a lot about their capabilities as fighters, it said absolutely nothing about them as men. Suddenly, the need to win dissolved, and Jason shook his head.
"No."
"You're giving up?" Eric panted incredulously.
Equally breathless, Jason smiled, all at once sure about his decision. "Nope. I just don't have anything to prove."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means that if I had to, I probably could beat you on a good day. I just don't need to. Not anymore."
It was on the tip of Eric's tongue to demand Jason continue the fight anyway, but one look into the dark, serene eyes made him hesitate. His life-long ambition and drive wanted him to win, to come out on top no matter what, but would it be worth it? Jason had proved today that he was a formidable opponent; he'd matched Eric skill for skill, strength for speed, style for experience, and made the match one of the most exhilarating Eric had ever fought.
Eric knew chances were even that he might lose - in front of Wes, Tommy, and the Guardians under his command. Suddenly, strangely, the thought wasn't as unpalatable as it should've been; what was unthinkable, however, was to defeat an opponent who didn't think it worthwhile. On the heels of that came another thought - did he have something to prove?
*Why would I need to beat him?*
He didn't - unless he wanted to satisfy his ego at all cost. And that wasn't something worth fighting over.
*Jason has got nothing that I haven't achieved myself - an interesting and fulfilling job, respect from my colleagues and my boss, as well as a partner who loves him. I … I don't envy him - for anything.*
That realization, arrived at in mere seconds, enabled Eric to relax, nod and grin back easily.
"Neither do I. Let's leave it as is."
The judge nodded approvingly. "An honorable choice by both of you. Very good." He then grasped a hand of either man and raised them up over their heads, pitching his voice loud enough to carry over the cheering crowd. "The contestants have decided not to continue. Match ends in a draw, no winner!"
Jason and Eric bowed to each other as the gym erupted into noisy applause. While most of the Guardians wanted to see their commander win, they acknowledged that today he'd faced an equal - and that neither man deserved to lose.
Wes and Tommy came towards their partners with towels and water bottles.
"I disagree with the judge," Wes murmured. "You're both winners!"
"I think you're prejudiced, but thanks," Eric grinned, drinking thirstily.
"No, Wes is right," Tommy smiled. "That was one of the best karate matches I've ever seen; you were fantastic, both of you."
"Thanks," Jason replied, mopping his sweat-streaked face. "I had fun."
"Me, too," Eric agreed, then couldn't resist adding sotto voce, "and on a good day I could so beat you!"
"Dream on," Jason laughed, recognizing the comment for what it was - ego, bravado, it didn't matter. They had taken each other's measure, and had both come out on top.
"Stop it already, you two," Wes chided. "Or we'll let you starve tonight! Speaking of which … Dad has invited all four of us to dinner at the house," he said, snickering at Eric's instant groan. "Don't worry, it's informal. I think Philips mentioned the word 'barbecue'."
"Hmph." Eric grumbled a little, but more out of habit than any real reluctance. The Collins' butler could be relied on to put out a terrific spread - and a barbecue where he didn't have to struggle with charring meat sounded rather good. "What are we supposed to do all afternoon, though? It's too early for dinner yet."
"I'm sure we can come up with something," his partner shrugged. "So how about it, Tommy, Jason? Are you game?"
"I really don't know; it does sound nice, but Jase and I hadn't exactly planned on staying much longer." Tommy was tempted, but hesitated nonetheless. "It's a long drive home; what with the weekend and everything, there's no telling if we could even find a room at short notice …"
"Hey, we have more than enough guest rooms; you're welcome to spend the night. Call it payback for last time when we stayed at your place."
"We wouldn't want to impose …"
"You're not," Wes replied promptly. "In fact, I think Dad kind of expects that you're staying; he certainly won't mind."
"That's very generous of you and your father," Jason hedged as well, "but are you sure?"
"Very." A persuasive argument came to Wes' mind. "We happen to have this big pool back at the house," he coaxed. "It's private, and the four of us could have some fun before dinner. Swimming, or water polo maybe. Come on, say you'll stay; watching the two of you go at it has made me itch for some exercise as well. Don't you agree, Tommy?"
"Well …" The chocolate-brown eyes began to gleam at the thought of getting Jason out of his clothes, into the tight black spandex trunks he favored, and wet all over - with the added bonus of being able to touch him where he wanted, practically in public, without anyone able to raise an eyebrow.
Jason laughed, recognizing his lover's sudden shift in mood … and guessing accurately at the reason for it. Truth be told, the idea of spending some more time with friends was appealing to him as well. His move to Reefside and getting settled at Tommy's house had tended to isolate them a lot recently. *Not that I mind being alone with Tommy, but … he was right, we should socialize more, and this sounds exactly like what we were thinking of back in spring. So why not?*
"You just want to see whether you can beat Eric and me after today. Let me tell you something, guys - match or no match, we can take you on anytime and win! Right, Eric?"
"You betcha," Eric drawled, grinning suddenly. He looked Tommy and Wes up and down, a familiar challenging light coming back into his eyes. "Water polo, you said?"
"Help us, Lord," Tommy groaned comically. "If you two start ganging up on us - Wes, I think we've created a monster!"
***
The water polo game was still in full swing when Mr. Collins, who found even just watching the four younger men's antics fairly exhausting, was informed by Philips that he had a visitor of his own waiting on the first-floor balcony. Quickly, he made his way into the house.
"Hello, Lina," he greeted his lady friend, pleasantly surprised. "I thought you were busy tonight?"
She gave him a welcoming smile. "I managed to switch shifts," she explained. "And I must say, I don't regret it - I wouldn't have wanted to miss the spectacular view from here!" She gestured towards the grounds across the stone balustrade.
"Thanks, but didn't you say you preferred the vista from the living room, over the rose garden?"
"Not right now, I don't," Lina Monroe replied. "Your roses, pretty as they are this time of year, have nothing compared to this kind of scenery!"
Puzzled, Alan Collins moved to stand beside her to follow her gaze. The view from the balcony showed him the patio, the pool … Wes, Eric and their guests cavorting noisily in the water … suddenly, the penny dropped. "Lina!" he exclaimed, slightly shocked.
"What?" she asked innocently, attempting in vain to hide her grin. "I'm a healthy, red-blooded woman - as you very well know. And the day I can't appreciate the sight of four gorgeous studs in nothing but tight swim trunks might as well be the day they put me six feet under!"
"Uh …" Alan swallowed. He had always prided himself on being suave in any situation; now he found himself at a loss for words.
"Don't be such a prude, Alan," she chided gently, patting his shoulder.
"I'm not … or am I?"
Recognizing that her teasing made him uncomfortable, she took pity on him. "Not usually, no. But honey, speaking from a purely aesthetic point I couldn't care less that one of them is your son, one his lover and that the other two are probably a couple as well - as Philips informed me, Wes asked him to prepare just one guest room for Dr. Oliver and his friend. I don't have to be a rocket scientist to put two and two together and come up with the right answer."
"Well, Wes didn't explicitly say so, but it's the impression I had of them, too," he admitted. Once, that fact would have caused him some consternation; now, he was able to take it more or less in stride. "If you know that … what's the point in your appreciation of the, um, 'scenery'?"
Lina gave him an arch look. "Beauty is beauty - no matter whether it's attainable or not. Those boys are a sight for sore eyes. And what a waste for the female half of the population, too!" *If I were but twenty-five years younger … and twenty-five pounds lighter, dammit … I wouldn't care whether they're gay, bi or whatever. I'd run down there tripping all over myself to get them to notice me! But there's no need to tell that to Alan …* She grinned naughtily. "Things being what they are, though, I have to be content with just drooling a little from a safe distance. I can look, can't I? I promise to keep it at that."
"If that's what you want," Alan replied just a little stiffly. He was surprised when Lina laughed and kissed him on the cheek.
"Alan, dear - just imagine that instead of four hunky young guys there were four bikini-clad babes playing in your pool like that. And then tell me your tongue wouldn't be hanging halfway to your knees!"
He had to laugh as well. Lina's no-nonsense attitude and slight earthiness definitely were among the things that attracted him to her. "I guess you're right."
"Of course I am," Lina said smugly and slipped a hand through his arm. "Besides, as those boys aren't the only ones around here blessed with good looks, give me maturity and style over youth and muscles any day!" The warm, genuinely admiring look she swept over Alan from head to foot made her meaning quite clear, and he found himself blushing with pleasure.
"Thanks, I think," Mr. Collins mock-grumbled.
"You're welcome. Now, let's go tell Philips to fire up the barbecue; it's been a long day at the precinct, I'm starving, and I'm dying to meet Wes and Eric's friends. Preferably clothed, though," she added with an obviously fake regretful sigh. "I don't want them to catch me drooling!"
***
Night was falling over Silver Hills when Wes, Jason and Tommy sat on the terrace at the Collins mansion after a sumptuous meal, drinks in hand. Eric had been called away by Guardian business a little earlier, and after seeing Lina home Mr. Collins had retired to his office to take a call from one of his suppliers in Europe.
"Will Eric come back once he's done?" Jason asked idly, relaxing in the warmth of good company and a late-summer evening.
"Afraid not," Wes replied. "They've arrested the perpetrators, but we don't know how long it'll take to clear things up at the crime scene …" His voice trailed off a little sadly, or so Jason thought.
"But surely he has a key? It's not as if he'd expect anyone to wait up for him, does he?"
"It's not that," Wes sighed.
"Then what is?" Tommy inquired quietly, sensing, like Jason, that there was more. The night seemed made for confidences, and after the help and support he and Jason had received from the other couple it seemed only fair to reciprocate.
"Eric has … reservations about staying here with me," Wes explained reluctantly. "Dad wouldn't mind - not much, anyway - and I've told Eric so, but … he says it doesn't feel right, and to be honest, I don't entirely blame him. To think that my father would know, or at least guess when we, uh, were together …"
"Er, right," Tommy murmured, squirming at the idea of sharing a room with Jason at his parents' house now that they knew they were lovers. *To worry about getting overheard, or to see their faces in the morning whether we did something or not … ew, no. Good thing I only have a single bed in my old room; perfect excuse to stay at a hotel!*
He looked back at Wes, trying to frame his next question as tactfully as possible. "So you're only, um, spending time together at his place?"
"Most of the time, yeah."
"Then why don't you move in with Eric?" Jason asked reasonably. "Tommy told me he has his own house; it seems like the obvious solution. Or do you mind that his home isn't as grand as this?" He gestured vaguely towards the mansion.
"I don't care about grand, but somehow we never really talked about it." Wes pondered the question for a few moments, then sighed. "I think Eric has issues with us living together, no matter where. He accepts - grudgingly - that I had to tell Dad about us, but otherwise prefers to keep it a secret."
"The two of you being a couple, or being gay in general?"
"Both. He's had a few bad experiences in the past."
"During his time in the military, you mean?"
"That, and elsewhere. He never told me much about it, but I know it happened. I may not like keeping things under wraps indefinitely, but Eric doesn't want to lose the respect he's worked so hard for. That is one reservation I've got to accept. So … except for Dad and Lina, we're still very much in the closet."
"That must suck," Jason commented.
"It does." Wes shrugged wryly. He'd learned to live with Eric's reasons, even if he didn't always fully agree with them.
"I'm sorry, man," Tommy murmured. At least he and Jason weren't hiding from the rest of the world anymore. "As you know, it wasn't all easy for us to come out, but on the whole I'd have to say it's the best decision we ever made."
"There were no repercussions or anything at work?" Wes asked, genuinely curious.
"Well … we informed our respective principals and their opinion was, since we're not working at the same school and as long as we don't flaunt our relationship, out of consideration for parents who may have objections on moral or religious grounds, it's okay with them. After all, a same-sex lifestyle isn't catching," Jason said. "I'd say most people we've told so far seem okay with it - and if they're not, they at least don't show it."
"Even if they did, they better be careful or I'll slap them with a discrimination suit faster than they can say 'gay agenda'," Tommy added darkly, only half joking. Both his companions had to grin at that.
"What about your friends?" Wes wanted to know next.
"We'll find out on Thanksgiving," Tommy said. "It's really the kind of thing you want to tell someone in person yourself, not by phone or a written message. Or let someone else do it for you; in retrospect, I shouldn't have let Trent spread the news to his father and the Dino Rangers. So we've planned the big reveal for when we meet all of the gang in November at our bi-annual get-together."
"Good luck."
"Thanks," Jason replied, only the barest quiver in his voice. He was apprehensive about telling their former teammates about his relationship with Tommy after the way his parents reacted, but he hoped that at least some of their friends would understand and wish them happy. He smiled gratefully when Tommy reached for his hand to give it a reassuring squeeze.
"It'll be all right, Bro."
"Yeah, sure." He sounded less sure than he would've liked, though.
Changing the subject - he didn't want to remind Jason more than he already had of his parents' attitude and was feeling too mellow to burden his guests with his, or rather Eric's, problems besides - Wes strove for a more cheerful tone. "So how's living together working out for you guys anyway?" He and Eric had offered to help Jason move, but a small crisis in Silver Hills at the last minute had prevented them from coming.
Jason grinned. "Pretty well so far. We're still shifting furniture around every other week, though."
"I never imagined how much stuff you've managed to pack in that two-room apartment of yours," Tommy grumbled with a smile. "Or that your desk would take up so much room in the den!"
"If I could set it up at right angles to yours, it would use much less space."
"Yeah - but it would block my access to the Lair."
"Unfortunately. Anyway, it'll be better once we get a wireless system set up throughout the house and I can have an office or something in the spare room," Jason shrugged. "As long as that isn't done, I'll need my computer near the modem."
"We'll think of a solution eventually."
"Sure." Both men shared a fondly amused look. These little domestic squabbles and adjustments were new to them, but it was all part and parcel of creating their life together, and as such taken in stride - the happiness they'd found more than made up for any minor temporary inconvenience. Wes watched and listened to the byplay a little enviously, wishing that he and his partner could bicker amicably over something as simple as where to put a piece of furniture, too. But that was a problem which couldn't be resolved tonight - and certainly not in Eric's absence.
Seeing that Tommy had drained his glass, he leaned forward, reached for the bottle chilling in a silver ice-bucket and raised it with a questioning glance. "Can I pour you a refill?"
Tommy considered briefly, then shook his head. "Thanks, but no. It's late; we'd better call it a night. Unless you want us to sleep the whole morning away?" he added, grinning.
Jason got to his feet. "Better not, Tom. We've taken up enough of Wes and Eric's time as it is, and you guys probably have plans together anyway, right?" he guessed astutely.
Wes shrugged and deftly placed their glasses onto a tray. He'd carry it into the kitchen on his way to his room; Philips would see to everything else in the morning. "Well, kinda," he said with a small grin and wink. "But hey, it was good to see you again - even though I still think you're nuts to have challenged Eric, Jason."
"I agree, but it was worth it. I've rarely seen you spar so well, Bro," Tommy said, remembering the earlier karate match.
"Oh yeah. I'm sure your match with Eric will be all the talk in the Guardians' locker room come Monday," Wes chuckled, then yawned suddenly. "Sorry. I guess it really is bedtime."
"Definitely," Jason smiled, yawning as well. "It's been a long day for all of us." He followed Wes and Tommy inside. "Fun, though."
"Strange notion of 'fun' you have," Tommy muttered good-naturedly. They paused before the guest room Wes had shown them earlier. "Well, see you in the morning, I guess."
"Uh huh. Sleep well."
"You, too. Good night!"
Wes watched the door close behind Jason and Tommy, then slowly went towards his own suite of rooms. Seeing them today, hearing about how they were building their life together, had given him a lot to think about … and made him wonder whether Eric's objections to coming out were really as relevant as his partner thought they were. This was the twenty-first century; would it really be so bad if they stopped hiding their relationship from the world and started living together as well?
*I don't think so. And I'd love being with him every day, not just on weekends and in stolen moments during the week.*
It would be nice - and much more than that, really - if he knew Eric would be coming home from a late-night mission like tonight's and just slip into their bed, spoon against him and ... whatever. Wes was reasonably sure that his lover would find the possibility as appealing as he did.
*At least I hope he would.*
All he had to do was to convince Eric.
***
As they were getting ready for the night in the sumptuous guest room, Tommy noticed that Jason couldn't seem to stop smiling.
"What's that Cheshire Cat grin for?" he asked idly, squeezing toothpaste onto his brush.
"Nothing in particular," Jason replied, pulled his shirt over his head and folded it haphazardly onto a chair before following Tommy into the ensuite bathroom. "I was just thinking how much fun I had today."
Tommy laughed and rinsed. "I think I know what you mean. Felt almost like high school, didn't it?"
"You think so?"
"Sure - didn't you notice the parallels? Karate match in the morning, water games in the afternoon, then pigging out over a barbecue with friends in the evening. How many Saturdays did we spend like that with the gang?"
"Too many to count," Jason agreed. "Only, back in school it was burgers, chips and sodas, not gourmet salads, marinated steaks and a wine that probably cost more than my weekly food allowance back in college!"
"Well, yeah. Still fun, though."
"Uh huh. Only, that's not all I thought was fun." He hugged Tommy from behind and briefly nuzzled his neck before giving him a small shove to make room for himself at the sink. He reached for the toothpaste as well and quickly finished his nightly hygiene, then gave Tommy a brief kiss. His lips tasted of mint and herbs, Tommy couldn't help notice. He decided he liked it. But Jason's slightly pensive expression recalled his wandering mind as he continued.
"What I liked most about today … everything felt so, well, natural, I guess. Being around people who know exactly what we mean to each other, who accept us without comment or question … I didn't once feel the need to hide, to keep myself in check. I could look at you whenever I wanted, smile, even touch you - and never had to stop to consider what anyone else was thinking, or if they were judging us. It was just great."
Tommy nodded slowly. "Hmm, yeah. Quite a change from that one time when I nearly freaked over giving us away - remember when we met Trini, Billy, Rocky and Adam in the park, right after we became lovers?"
"Sure I do. You were so paranoid, I thought you were breaking up with me," Jason grumbled. "Wasn't anything 'nearly' about it - you freaked good!"
"Sorry. Again. Anyway, you're right; compared to then, today felt terrific."
"Think we'll ever be as comfortable around the gang as we are with Wes and Eric now?" Jason's voice shook the tiniest bit as he looked pleadingly at Tommy for reassurance. Tommy didn't hesitate to give it - despite their happiness, there still was an occasional moment, like now, when Jason couldn't help thinking of his parents' disapproval.
"I hope so. No - I'm pretty sure we will be," he said, drawing his lover into a warm hug. "It's only a couple months until Thanksgiving; then we'll know. Until then, let's take each day as it comes, okay?"
Reluctantly, Jason nodded and rested his forehead against Tommy's shoulder, forcing himself not to cling to the lean body. "Right."
"Good. - Are you done here?"
"Uh huh."
Tommy kissed Jason's hair. "Then let's go to bed; it's getting late."
Together, they went back into the bedroom and finished undressing. Nude, they slipped under the covers from opposite sides of the king-size bed. Jason sighed with pleasure as the mattress proved to have just the right mixture of firm and soft.
"Man, this place is something else," he smiled as he lay on his side, head propped up on one hand and faced his lover. "I've stayed at hotels that weren't as luxurious."
"Uh huh," Tommy commented, pleased to see that Jason's maudlin mood had vanished as quickly as it had come. "Must be nice to be able to live like that."
"Maybe. But I prefer your house."
"Our house, you mean," Tommy corrected, rolling onto his side as well to look at Jason. "I know we haven't drawn up any papers, but I hope you know that what's mine is yours now, too."
Jason chuckled and touched Tommy's cheek. The skin was slightly rough against his palm with a day's growth of beard. "I know; thanks. Ditto. I'll get used to it eventually," he murmured. "Right now, it's still so new to be with you every day - man, sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night with the urge to go check that all of my stuff really is in the closet, that my desk is next to yours …"
"Is that why we've been making love morning, night and evening on some days lately?"
"Well … it's very reassuring to me," Jason replied innocently, letting his fingers trail downwards, tracing Tommy's collarbone and shoulder. "Sometimes, I'm feeling very insecure and have to make sure you're really there."
"Yeah, right," Tommy snorted, recognizing the glint in the midnight eyes. He could feel his pulse quicken. "Personally, I think you're just feeling super horny. Making up for all the nights we haven't spent together in the last five years, or something."
"That, too," Jason murmured and scratched lightly across the leanly-muscled chest with blunt nails. "Got any objections?" He circled one nipple, then took the brown nub between thumb and forefinger and pinched gently, making Tommy gasp.
"N-not at all." Blood rushed into his groin and Tommy could feel himself grow erect with astonishing speed.
"Good. Then you won't mind if I try to get rid of some more insecurities?"
"Is that what we're calling it now?" Tommy grinned, starting his own exploration of the strong naked body lying next to him. His hand stayed only briefly at the well-defined pecs and abs before it wandered from Jason's hipbone to the tight muscled ass. Tommy teased the cleft, eliciting a muted growl of approval from Jason, then slowly moved back towards the thatch of hair between Jason's thighs. His grin widened when he encountered a column of silk-skinned steel already waiting for him. "You must be very insecure."
"Terribly," Jason murmured and thrust his erection against the maddening fingers until they closed around him. He did the same to the hard pole jutting out from his lover's groin and started to pump. "But I'll be feeling better by the second if you keep this up."
"Mmm," Tommy moaned. He was beginning to feel very good himself - and 'keeping it up' would soon no longer be an option. *It'd be downright counterproductive, really,* he thought woozily as waves of lust washed through his system. But he was far too glad that Jason had regained enough confidence to be the initiator for their lovemaking once more - a process that had started as soon as they'd moved in together. This was the first time, though, that he was doing so outside the safe haven of their home in Reefside. And what better place than this, a luxurious guest bedroom in a friend's house?
*Oh, shit!*
Tommy's eyes, which had already drifted shut in sensual bliss, snapped open. "Jase, wait!"
"What? Why?"
"We're at the Collins mansion - they have staff! What if someone hears us?"
Jason never stopped stroking his lover's cock. "It's the middle of the night; I'm sure everybody is asleep by now. And if they aren't - well, we'll just have to make sure not to be too noisy, right?"
"And how exactly do you think we're going to manage that?" Despite his earlier quasi-objection, Tommy also continued to fondle the heavy balls. He just couldn't resist the fire in his lover's eyes.
"Easy." Pressing Tommy into the pillow, Jason bent forward and thrust his tongue deeply between the narrow lips, silencing him effectively with a demanding kiss. Tommy moaned again as he responded, but the sound was indeed muffled, swallowed up by the hot mouth. When they parted at last for some much-needed air, both men were breathing hard and raring to go.
"Whoa," Tommy panted, squeezing the thick shaft throbbing in his palm. Jason reciprocated by circling the pad of his thumb across Tommy's glans, slicking the few drops of pre-come all over the smooth skin. "Okay, that worked. Now what?"
"Now - we do this." As a trained athlete, Jason could move very quickly. Before Tommy fully realized what he was doing, he'd turned around and was now lying head-to-foot with him, his mouth at exactly the right position to -
"Ahh!" Tommy barely stifled his ecstatic cry as he felt Jason swallow him whole. Nearly the full length of his cock was instantly buried in wet heat, and the agile tongue started doing incredible things to hyper-sensitive nerves.
Tommy knew that he wouldn't be able to suppress his voice for long, but the perfect solution was bobbing right before his eyes. Blindly, he grabbed a firm asscheek and hauled Jason's hips close. He wrapped his own lips around the purplish-brown head, sucked briefly until Jason started to thrust, then relaxed his throat. Seconds later, all that could be heard in the room was the soft creaking of the mattress and muted groans of two men engaged in a passionate sixty-nine.
***
They climaxed within seconds of each other. Sated and more than tired now, Jason reversed his position once more and rested his head on Tommy's shoulder, relishing the feel of smooth, slick skin against his own as he yawned. Tommy grinned.
"Still feel insecure?"
"Mmmnno. You're very good at reassuring me."
"Thanks. Now can we sleep, please?"
"Mmm." Jason shifted until his lips were within easy reach for Tommy. The invitation was obvious, and irresistible.
Tommy angled his head and kissed Jason, feeling the same thrill as always when he tasted himself on the pliant mouth. "Good night, Bro."
"'Night." He mumbled something unintelligible and let his lids droop shut, so Tommy nudged him until the dark eyes opened sleepily once more.
"What was that you just said?"
Jason sighed and snuggled deeper into his lover's embrace. "I was just thinking … I wish Wes could have the same thing we do right now."
Tommy smiled. How like Jason to think of his friends, even half-asleep. "Yeah. But you know what? I have a feeling someday he will. All he needs to do is convince Eric."
"Eric can be such an idiot."
"Yes. And so can you sometimes, but I love you anyway. Now go to sleep!"
Minutes later, they both did.
To Be Continued …