Chapter four of L&L
Author’s Note: Thank you so very much for my friend Kathy (kittie8571) who is the Beta of this story!
Thank you everybody for the reviews! Especially to joetheone, senseofpeace, vesperlynd, Jada91, haljbg, sytle, gres1, Debra, ramona4jake, bbmjack324 and WCUGirl.
Chapter Four: This is the first day of the rest of our lives
There was no light in the room and he was tangled in the sheets. He heard the same sound that had awoken him and he slowly opened his eyes to see Ennis sitting on the edge of the bed. He looked tired and sweaty and Jack wondered how long he had been asleep.
They'd had a peaceful dinner last night, and the conversation lasted into the wee hours of the morning. They had talked about the firm and the events of the last two months. It had been almost a therapy section. He didn’t remember falling asleep, but Ennis had obviously stripped him of his clothes and put him to bed.
“Did I wake you up?” Ennis asked, taking off his socks.
Jack noticed that he was wearing his gym clothes and looking all flushed from the exercise.
“Don’t worry, I guess it was time. Where have you been?” Jack asked lazily.
“The usual -- jogging. You were sleeply so soundly that I didn’t wake you up.” Ennis took off his shirt and Jack couldn’t help but stare.
“I’ve only just now woke up. How you can jog in this area is beyond me. One of these days you’re going to get mugged.” Jack mumbled, a little worried, but lost his train of thought as he appreciated the results of said exercise.
Ennis had the physique of an athlete; defined muscles in all the right places and yet not enough to look overbuilt. Jack forced himself not to look too long at Ennis’s defined pectorals because Ennis was still trying to speak with him.
“I just take my mp3 and nothing more. I bought it in China Town for a couple of bucks, so they wouldn't get much.” Ennis took his gym pants and searched for something on the other side of the room. “I developed this need to jog every morning during the last couple of months, so I usually wake up this early.”
Jack looked at the alarm clock and blinked twice. It wasn’t possible.
“7 am? Are you insane?” Jack was almost laughing. “That’s why you don’t get robbed! The thieves are still asleep.”
“It’s the best time of the day. And you know that I need to be at the firm at 8 am. Not to mention when Mr. Hoz decides to wake me up in the middle of the night because his house is on fire.” Ennis stripped off his boxers and grabbed his clean clothes.
“I can’t believe some of the stories you told me about him last night.” Jack said, wetting his lips, watching appreciatively while Ennis moved to the bathroom, giving him a good view of his naked back side.
“All true, believe me. Now go back to sleep. I’ll wake you up by 9 or 10 to go pick Sophie up at the Manor.” Ennis said from the bathroom, but Jack’s mind was thinking in completely different things.
“In your dreams…” Jack murmured to the empty room.
He moved slowly out of bed, a smile on his face. He walked out of the bedroom looking at the couch on the hallway. Neve was still sleeping. The water was already running, he could clearly hear the sound. Ennis didn’t usually sing in the shower but he liked his water terribly hot. So much so that it would almost hurt to stand under the spray. It was quite unusual. So when he opened the door, he wasn’t surprised to see a little fog coming out of the door.
He didn’t make a sound and soon he was facing the dimmed mirror. Jack looked at Ennis’s careful placed clothes on the sink. He turned away and faced the shower curtain. Ennis was under the hot spray of water, totally unaware of his presence. But he could distinguish the shape of Ennis’s body.
Jack thought about surprising Ennis by entering the shower with him, but the place was small and he would notice him before he entered. He had a different idea then.
“Ready to drop the soap?” He said smiling, although Ennis couldn’t actually see it. Ennis jumped inside the small shower stall.
“Damn it, Jack! You scared me. What are you doing here? Go back to sleep.”
“I couldn’t sleep. You didn’t help… walking around naked.” Jack didn’t know why he wasn’t inside of that shower already but he was taking pleasure in watching Ennis’s reaction on the other side of the curtain.
“Baby, what am I going to do with you?” Jack noticed that Ennis shook his head.
“That’s the question, really.”
Ennis looked from behind the curtain, his eyes resting on the tent of Jack’s boxers.
“Come on in, you can shower with me.” Ennis quickly disappeared behind the curtain again.
Jack smiled as he took off his boxers. He was too happy to worry about the future. And a few minutes later when he was pressed against the wall breathing hard, he couldn’t even remember his name. But if, at that exact moment, he could choose a topic for his thoughts, it would have been why people who loved each other stick together. Because he was convinced he'd found the answer.
What Jack Twist realized was that in the end of all things, true love is the only thing that matters. And if you really want it, you've got to fight for it.
Ennis looked at his reflection on the mirror. He looked tired. But the small smile on his face was a new addition from the previous days. And it wasn’t faked, nope, not at all. Ennis Del Mar was genuinely happy. He was buttoning his shirt up and occasionally glancing at the other man in the room. Jack was already dressed and was lying on top of the bed looking at the ceiling. Ennis wondered if he would fall asleep. Jack liked to pretend to be strong but it was clear that he had lost a lot of weight in the past two months. So much so that he in fact looked fragile. But worse was that he was clearly weak. Yet Ennis couldn’t seem to be able to deny him anything, especially sex.
It had been late morning, almost lunch time, when Ennis and Jack had finally decided to get dressed and pick up Sophie. Matilda had promised them one of her amazing meals and Jack had seemed more than pleased with the invitation. Ennis, on the other hand, hadn’t been so happy about it.
The Twist manor was still a place that still reminded him of Enrique. The old lawyer had misjudged him almost until theday he died, and Ennis was uncomfortable facing his memories. He kept feeling that he had failed in his promise to Enrique Twist that day he'd left Jack alone in the middle of all the emotional turbulance of death and pain. He wondered if somehow Enrique had always known that he wouldn’t be strong enough to help Jack when the time came and the idea was gnawing at him.
“Why are you looking so serious?” Jack asked, holding him from behind, his eyes focused on his in the reflection of the mirror.
“Nothing really, baby. Just feeling nervous about returning to your father’s place.” The confession was only half true, but he looked at Jack, worried.
“It’smy place now. My house.” Jack’s tone was completely neutral.
“I know. I guess it will take me some time to get used to the idea.” One of Ennis’s hands came to caress Jack’s arm.
“It’s still difficult for me sometimes.” Jack’s eyes shone in a peculiar way and Ennis knew he was about to cry, but he said nothing, for Jack was rather sensitive about crying these days.
“What about your apartment?” Ennis asked continuing to button his shirt.
“I don’t really know. But I see that you kept the keys with you.” Jack moved over to the dresser where the two keys were placed.
Ennis said nothing and Jack looked up at the mirror. Ennis wasn’t good at hiding things from him and the slight blush on his face was a clue to something else. He watched Ennis for a few more seconds until the answer rushed to him.
“You went there, didn’t you?” Jack asked smiling.
“Hmm… Yeah.” Ennis said without looking at him and Jack laughed.
“Sorry. It’s just the way you’re acting about it, it’s funny.” Jack said apologetically when Ennis sent him a death glare.
“Well, I went there, as ridiculous as it sounds, because I had nothing else left. And more than once, if you really want to know.” Ennis said quietly, turning to face him.
“Sorry, Ennis . . . I didn’t want to…” Jack was interrupted by Ennis’s hand on his shoulder.
“It’s ok.” Ennis smiled and brushed his lips against Jack’s. “I went there to sniff your pillows.”
“You remembered that.” Jack whispered, kissing him back.
“These past two months I kept reliving every single conversation we ever had. There’s little I don’t remember.”
“So, how about my sex toys?” Jack said laughing.
“Left head table, third drawer.” And Ennis joined Jack in a happy giggle.
Ennis felt a shiver down his spine. It was a hot summer day but he felt rather cold. The house was exactly as he remembered it, exactly as it was the first time he had seen it. He vividly remembered that day. He was picking Jack up for their surprise visit to the ranch on their two month anniversary when he had seen the mansion for the very first time.
As he closed the door of his car, Ennis looked at the palm trees and the paths of white granite. It was really eccentric to have palm trees in this part of the state and he had to wonder how they had managed to survive the winter in New York. Actually the whole house was a bit eccentric, from the color to the architecture. But then all the Twists he knew were a bit unconventional too and that included Jack. His relationship with him was only one of the many proofs. Who would date him, being as rich and good looking as Jack was?
Ennis had felt more comfortable when the money was still technically Enrique’s, but now that Jack had inherited everything, it was a bit more complicated. He was in love with a very rich man and he was also certain that in time Jack would turn into a very powerful man. He had the connections and the position to do whatever he wants. And sometimes he didn’t know how he would fit in Jack’s life when that time came.
“It’s odd isn’t it?” Jack asked leaning against him.
Ennis realized he was still holding the door of the car. He shook his head and used his arm to rest around Jack’s shoulders. Ennis observed Jack silently. The simple white shirt and the jeans that were too big for his frame. He was wearing Ennis’s clothes and he hadn't shaved that morning. He looked like a regular guy, only much better looking. No one would tell that he was a millionaire. And maybe that was the small detail as to why they seemed destined to be with each other.
“Let’s go.” Jack said sighing. “Matilda and Edward must be cursing the moment they decided to keep Sophie for the night. She’s turning into one hell of a little devil.”
“Jack, she’s only a baby.” Ennis scolded.
“She’s Mary’s biological daughter.”
“You keep talking about Mary, but I think you two are not really that different.”
“That makes absolutely no sense. We’re completely different. Mary believes that justice should be done no matter what. She likes to break rules and take risks. I’m a defender of the law. She sees me as the rich boy who had everything and I see her as the rebellious girl who’ll always be frustrated.”
“That’s quite a speech.” Ennis knocked on the main door. “Still think you’re similar. Fighters are always fighters.”
“Well I’m a different fighter. A better fighter.” Ennis laughed at the very moment Matilda opened the door.
She looked at Jack, who seemed to be pouting and Ennis, who was still laughing.
“I see that someone had a good day.” She smiled gently.
Jack moved to hug her and then whispered something that made her laugh.
“When will you grow up, my dear?” She said to Jack.
“So you think he’s right.” Matilda made an exasperated face and hugged Ennis.
“Thank you for bringing him back.” She whispered in his ear.
“I’m still working on that.” He said when they parted.
“Now you keep secrets behind my back?” Jack asked looking at them. “Very well. I see I’m not welcome here. I’ll go find my goddaughter.”
Matilda smiled at Ennis and he gave her his arm. Matilda was having problems walking again. As soon as Jack was out of the hall, she spoke in a quiet voice to Ennis.
“Did everything go well?” It was the look of a mother and Ennis felt a warm feeling spreading through his chest.
Matilda had been a good friend during the last two months. She and Ennis had developed a secret relationship almost no one knew about. Ennis had grown to see why Jack loved her so much and why Edward, a confirmed bachelor for half his life, had changed his mind when he met her. She was a sweet woman and yet determined enough to defend her beliefs. She would speak her mind and nothing else. Ennis owed her a lot and he had yet to find a way to repay her.
It all started a few days after Enrique’s funeral. Matilda received one of Ennis’s desperate calls. He didn’t know why he kept calling the mansion. Jack would never answer and the maids were getting angrier with each call, until one specific call when Matilda answered the phone. Ennis recognized her voice immediately, bombarding her with all types of questions. She listened to him, answering most of his questions. She shared with him her concerns and fears. They both cried together on the phone and after half an hour, Matilda had convinced Ennis that all was not lost. He just needed to be a bit more patient. It took him a bit more time to understand the meaning of everything she told him that day, but Ennis slept much better that night. He kept calling every week. Even when Elizabeth would visit him with news, he would still call. Matilda had turned out to be his personal confidant.
“As well as possible.” Ennis whispered to her.
“Good, good.”
“He keeps thinking that this has somehow changed him into a completely new person.”
“I know, Edward and I had heard such nonsense before.” Matilda made a small sign to a young maid that was cleaning the invisible dust on the corridor. The young brunette woman moved away quickly.
“He’s a bit more sensitive and far too thin for his own good. But I see no big difference.”
“Even if there were, you certainly wouldn’t see them. You’re in love Ennis.”
“I guess you’re right.” Ennis murmured feeling awkward for telling her personally what he had only confessed during their phone conversations.
“He needs love and rest. It’s what the psychiatrist, Dr. something, said to me.”
“Also, I think we need to be careful with what we say to him. He keeps having these mood swings.”
“Yes, you’re right. And the most important thing Ennis.” She looked him in the eye. “Don’t ever leave him alone. The depression he suffered…” She didn’t finish the sentence and yet Ennis understood her completely. They had talked about this many times before.
“Let’s go. Jack is probably wondering about us.” She said struggling to walk a bit faster.
He had never worked up the courage to ask herwhy her right leg was shorter than her left one. There were so many reasons and none was a good enough answer to make polite conversation. Ennis kept his curiosity to himself.
As soon as they arrived at the living room, Ennis spotted Jack. He was carrying Sophie around the room while waving in his left hand what looked like a pink wand. A magic pink wand. Edward was seated on a long pastel couch, reading a huge old book, which he was holding with his right hand, while his left one was rearranging the position of his reading glasses. He had crossed his legs and looked exactly as a respectable English gentleman should look.
“Finally! If it wasn’t for Matilda I would have thought you had gottenlost, honey.” Jack quickly closed his mouth, realizing what he had called Ennis in front of Matilda and Edward.
Matilda looked at a blushing Ennis and a quiet Jack and shook her head, moving to sit on the couch too.
“As if it was a surprise for any of us.” Matilda said seriously and Edward raised his eyes from the book, looking surprised at them. Apparently he had totally missed what happened.
“What seems to be the matter, darling?” Edward asked Matilda.
“I was wondering when you would give us the pleasure of your company.” She said in a humorous tone.
“I’m sorry, my love.” He said closing the book. “It’s a pleasure to see you again, Mr. Del Mar.” He said and Ennis, feeling less flushed, smiled back at the British man.
“So, Matilda . . . how was she?” Jack said giving the pink wand to Sophie.
“An angel.”
“Really? I’ve seen her with Elizabeth and Mary a couple of times and she looked like no angel to me.”
“Yes, she has energy and she’s quite demanding, but I was your nanny dear. During many years I knew a lot worse than Sophie.” She smiled and Edward let out a small chuckle.
“How was he as a child?” Ennis asked interested.
“The sweetest devil. He would go behind my back to do the most unexpected pranks and then return as if nothing had happened. A look at his innocent blue eyes and no one could resist him. He always got away without punishment."
“I should have expected it.” Ennis looked at Jack, who glared at him.
“He had this naughty smile. I always knew when he was speaking the truth or when he was planning to do something.”
“Master Jack once ate all my menthol candy and then when I confront him about it he told me he had given it to the poor.”
“A very reasonable thing to say.” Ennis leaned against the unused fireplace.
“Hey, I had to save my neck. Back then, Matilda kept telling me that we should give to the poor, so I said the first thing that came into my mind.” Jack said, sitting on the couch with Matilda and Edward, Sophie on his lap, pointing her wand against Edward's reading glasses.
“By the way, Mr. Smith called this mourning.” Edward said while looking closely at Sophie. He looked as if he was daring the baby girl to do something. “He was very happy to know you hadn’t spent the night at the mansion, master Jack.”
“I bet he was. Did he say if he was going to call back?”
“No, but he probably will.” Edward stood up gracefully from the couch. “Now, if you will all excuse me, I must go see if lunch is ready. This delay is outrageous.”
“Yes. Heads are going to roll.” Matilda said teasingly.
“It’s not every day that they serve lunch for the master and his «honey».” Edward blinked at Jack and made a strange nod to a very flushed Ennis.
“So many years and yet he still manages to surprise me.” Matilda said after a minute of silence, shaking her head in dismissal.
“I felt a little awkward when you told them you were going to sleep here again.” Ennis said when they entered the apartment at the end of the day.
“I noticed. It’s not as if they don’t know.” Jack said holding Sophie closer to his chest. The small baby was sleeping and sucking on her thumb.
“Yeah. Still, it was embarrassing.”
Neve jumped off of the couch and stretched his legs looking at both of them. Ennis knelled down and petted him slightly.
“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Were back together, it’s natural that we spend more time with each other.” Jack said walking to the living room.
“I don’t know.”
“Would you rather spend the night there?” Jack asked placing his bag on the couch and holding Sophie next to him.
“At the mansion?” He dropped Sophie’s pink bags near the door and Jack nodded as an answer. “That would have been even more awkward.”
“I live there now. Sooner or later you’ll have to.” Ennis frowned but said nothing. “By the way, where is Sophie going to sleep?”
“Shit.” Ennis said shaking his head. “I should have put together the crib Elizabeth brought me last week.”
“How long does it take for you to do it now?”
“I have no idea.” Ennis said searching for said crib. “Maybe she can sleep with us tonight and then we deal with that tomorrow.”
“Ennis! I’m not going to sleep with her in our bed. What about… you know?” Jack said annoyed.
“It’s only for one night.”
“No way! Just put it together before dinner. In the meanwhile she takes a nap in our bed.” Jack said moving to the bedroom.
“And who’s going to make dinner?” Ennis asked looking at the box.
“I’ll order something.” Jack whispered from the bedroom.
“For a moment I thought you would cook for us.” Ennis said with a smile when Jack returned from the bedroom.
“Scared you eh?” Jack said giving him a peck on the lips.
“Yeah.”
Ennis returned his attention to the crib. He had no idea how to make piece 1 come together with piece b2. He just hated this type of work, although must people would say he was skilled at it. It always seemed like there were too many pieces left or there were pieces missing. It was a stressful thing to do.
“Can I use your laptop? I need to send an e-mail to Elizabeth. She’s probably worried by now.”
“It’s in my bedroom inside my suitcase.” He looked at the screw-driver and at the crib. “Tell her that I’m driving myself crazy with the damn crib.”
Ennis heard the sound of Jack’s natural laugh and he return to the task in hand. He had almost finished his job when the bell rang. He looked up and Jack appeared from the bedroom, closing the door.
“Go open the door or Sophie will wake up. And you know how she gets when she doesn’t sleep enough.”
“I’m going, master Jack.” Ennis said smiling and throwing the screwdriver in Jack’s direction. Jack caught it easily and shook his head as Ennis moved to the door.
The bell wasn’t ringing anymore when Ennis lazily opened the door of his apartment. A smile came to his face when he realized that Veronica was standing in front of him.
“I came as soon as my triple shift ended. How was it? Did you talk with him?” She was looking very tired and the tone of voice was typical of someone who had drunk way too much coffee. “Last night I thought you weren’t home but then I saw a light when I was driving to the hospital. Sorry I didn’t show up to talk.”
“Calm down! I’m getting nervous just from looking at you.” Ennis said forcing her to enter.
“How can you be so calm? Did he dump you again? Are you going to try talk with him again?” Veronica kept asking while they moved to the living room.
“Everything went fine.” Ennis said, just as Veronica faced Jack working on the crib.
“Hi.” Jack said smiling, offering his hand and a smile. “How have you been?”
“Sorry, I’m kind of confused.” She said shaking Jack’s hand and sitting abruptly at the couch. “I’m sorry, Ennis, but how did this happen?”
“Hmm. Well… We talked and we…” Ennis was trying to find the right words.
“We came to the conclusion that we were both acting like fools. We love each other and we belong together.” Jack said looking seriously to Veronica, while holding the instruction manual of the crib.
“Awww.” Veronica said looking curiously at Jack. “Hum… I always knew I liked you for some reason.”
“Well, what Jack meant to say was that we’re back together. Still working on some things but we’re finally together.” Ennis said trying to sound less embarrassed then he was.
“I see that you even bought a crib.” Veronica pointed to the almost finished crib in the middle of the room.
“Veronica, don't you remember? I told you I was going to keep Sophie for two weeks. The crib is, obviously, for her.” Ennis said, looking annoyed at her comment.
“Sorry, Ennis. I’m lacking sleep and I bet you both want me out of here.” She stood up, but was immediately surprised with Jack’s urgent tone of voice.
“No! Please stay. We never get to talk much and I would really like to change that.”
“I’m not very good company right now, Jack.”
“Just stay for dinner, we were about to order something. How about Italian? Or Chinese?” Jack looked at Ennis prudently. “I’m sure Ennis agrees with me.”
“Yeah, totally. Stay for a few more minutes, have dinner with us and we’ll tell you how things have been.” Ennis was surprised with Jack’s reaction.
“Ok. I can’t say no, can I?” She rested her hand on Jack’s shoulder and smiled at Ennis.
“Great. So come with me, I know where Ennis keeps the menus.” Jack looked back at Ennis. “Join us when you’ve finished with that.”
Ennis nodded and smiled, wondering if these were the small changes Jack had been so worried about.
Later, they were both cuddling in bed. Ennis looked up at the ceiling, while Jack used his chest as a pillow, his hands caressing Ennis’s belly, with no other intention than the need of touching. Ennis let his head rest against the black hair and smell the familiar scent of Jack’s shampoo. He sighed in contentment and glanced at the pink crib on his side of the bed, where Sophie was sleeping soundly.
“Why did you do it?” Ennis was surprised that he had actually verbalized his thoughts.
“What, honey?” Jack asked looking up at him.
“Ask Veronica to stay.” Ennis bit his lip struggling with the next question. “I know you like her, but… it was just unexpected.”
“Don’t get me wrong. I was more than happy.” Ennis added quickly.
“It’s stupid.” Ennis eyes locked with Jack’s. “I just felt that I needed her approval. I needed her to understand why you had given me another chance.”
There it was. The truth, Jack thought. No matter what he tried, no matter how hard he tried, he was never capable of lying to Ennis. Especially if he was asking about his feelings with those big brown eyes focused on him.
“That’s stupid Jack. She knew very well my position.” Ennis hugged him closer. “Actually, she was only worried you wouldn’t give me another chance. She always had the best opinion about you and she knows I’m not really good when it comes to expressing my feelings.”
“Was it too stupid?” Jack murmured to his chest.
“No. Only now, I’m going to have to listen to endless conversations about how fantastic Jack Twist is. How lucky I am for having him in my life. How much she wants to have a boyfriend like mine.” Jack laughed.
“Shh. Sophie is sleeping.” Ennis whispered.
Jack looked up and kissed him lazily. Ennis's other hand came to rest on Jack’s hip while their tongues rubbed together. Jack was almost on top of him and he didn’t feel uncomfortable at all. He had found out he could easily sleep in this position. Probably for the same reason why he would usually sleeping on the couch when he was alone.
“Are you happy?” Jack whispered to him.
“Very much.” Ennis smiled to the dark room. “Are you?”
“I’m deliriously happy.” Jack said caressing Ennis’s chest. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
And their lips connected in a hungry kiss that showed, more than words could, just how much they really loved each other.
Author: I’m leaving for a week of holidays on the north of Portugal! Snow, popular music, the killing of innocent animals and no internet! What a joy to be back with the family! Hopefully I’ll have a lot of fun with my many cousins and write a lot of chapters on my free time. I’ll return after Christmas! Have a wonderful time my friends!
On the next chapter: Ennis has a new secret fantasy! But work and the usual surprises are forcing his way to the small paradise that Jack and Ennis had created these last few days. Is there really a secret around Enrique’s will? Has Ennis ever been attracted to another man? Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the L&L suspense!