Time of Your Life, Epilogue, NC-17, RPS, AU, Jensen/Jared

[sandymg]

Jensen fell back onto his bed with a satisfied sigh that would have embarrassed him, except he didn’t have enough brain cells left for that. They’d pretty much just all been sucked right out of him. Jared climbed up and half on top of him and Jensen lifted his head to meet his lips in a slow kiss.

He chased Jay’s tongue with his own, tasting himself and Jared and deciding on the spot this was an addiction he’d never be cured of. “Mmm,” he murmured. Best he could do. He was working on refilling his lungs with air, reoxygenating his body toward functionality. Because as soon as he could move he was so returning the favor.

Jared smiled into his mouth. “Tell me again, Jen, how you managed to keep your hands off jailbait me?”

Jensen turned his head and rolled his eyes. “You were a child.”

“You said I was sixteen.”

Some motor functions were now returning and Jensen was taking full advantage as his lips started exploring the miles of decidedly not-jailbait-Jared. “Exactly.”

“When we were sixteen we did some pretty grown up things, if I remember correctly.”

Jensen nodded as he sucked on Jared’s collarbone. Then his lips latched onto a nipple and really he would have nodded at anything. He was pretty distracted.

“Jen?”

“Mmm?”

“I don’t know if I would have been able to be so noble.”

That got through. Jensen lifted up and looked at Jared. His lover’s eyes were smiling and Jensen knew that all of this was just teasing … hell, it hadn’t actually happened. But still … “Jay? I know a long time has passed. And I guess I am a lot older. Is it … “

A hand on his chest stopped him. “Oh shit. Jen, you can’t think … holy fuck, look at you. You’re so hot now I practically jumped you when you were in a coma.” Jensen had let his eyes drift down but a finger pointed him back up until he was captive. “You were always pretty. But now? God, Jen you’re … “ Jared ran out of words and leaned in to capture his lips again. Jensen sank into the kiss, the taste and sweet pressure, the silky press of Jared’s lips. Unexpectedly, he tasted salt and pulled back to wipe at Jared’s suddenly damp cheeks.

“Jay?” he asked alarmed.

Jensen had been released from the hospital after a week as Jared had predicted. In the interim he’d learned that Jared had only recently returned to America and had only been on the job for one day when his mother had phoned him saying that Donna called and said that Jensen had been in an accident. Jensen had further been confused to learn that Jay worked and lived in Dallas and not in Austin. Not that he was complaining.

They’d spoken some in the hospital. Catching up of sorts. But there were always folks around. Jensen’s family and nurses and other doctors.

Jensen was supposed to continue recuperating at home. Three days after settling in the thought of going one more day without seeing Jared just wasn’t going to cut it. He invited Jared over. Really he thought they should take it slow. Talk. Get to know each other. It hadn’t exactly worked out that way. Within fifteen minutes of Jay stepping through his door they were making out on Jensen’s sofa. At the first combustible touch Jensen felt like he was filling this huge gaping hole. God, he’d missed him.

They frantically worked their way to Jensen’s bedroom and Jared had him naked and prone, watching through hooded lids as Jared worked him in and out of his gorgeous mouth and all good intentions about talking and slowness just vanished.

Only now it felt like everything was suddenly catching up to them.

“Jared?” Jensen asked again bringing his arms closer around his long-lost love.

“I’m sorry … I thought … I mean, I had weeks of looking at you to get used to it. To think maybe … I knew you’d come back to me. Knew it.”

“Yeah. Thanks for never giving up on me.”

“I just … I can’t believe I’m here. That you’re here. That we are here.”

Jensen pushed Jared’s head down until he rested on Jensen’s chest. “Jay … Not that that wasn’t the best orgasm in like ever. And definitely not like I’m not going to be sure you feel as good as I just did. But … we should talk.”

He felt Jared’s steady breath against his chest. Warm and soft. He pulled the blanket up a little higher over both of them. This was so achingly familiar. Laying naked together and baring their souls.

It didn’t surprise Jensen that Jared started first. It usually went that way. “When I moved back … I thought I’d see you. I was working my way up to it. Thinking of whether you’d be willing to see me. And then my momma called. She told me that you were badly hurt and I just … The thought of losing you … “

Jensen held Jared tighter. “I know … I told you about my dream. You … left me again.”

“It was like dying, leaving you. Was the worst time of my life. Momma … she told me, she’s part of the reason I moved back.”

Jensen leaned down to look at Jay. He’d wondered about this but was unsure about asking. He knew that Sheri still lived in England like Megan. “You said you came back for the job opportunity.”

Jared ducked his head, gave Jensen’s chest a feather soft kiss right above his heart. “That, too.”

Jensen absorbed this and then asked the other question that had been burning inside. “Jay? You never met anyone there? You know, was there someone special?”

The bed shifted as Jared lifted up and rested on his elbow, eyes locking with Jensen’s. “I dated. The longest went nearly a year before he broke it off.”

That certainly sounded familiar. Except, of course, he didn’t know how Jared felt about this other man. Jensen fought back the instant jealousy. “You say he broke it off? Did you want to stay with him?”

“It was comfortable. Bill wanted more than I had to give. I knew that so I didn’t really fight it when he left.” Jared looked at Jensen. “What about you?”

“I was the world’s shittiest boyfriend. I’d try for a few months and then … I don’t know … I’d get bored or something. “

Jared nodded. Jensen wasn’t sure exactly what that agreement meant. Then Jared asked softly, “Ever think of calling me, finding me?”

“I couldn’t. Hurt so much I’d shoved it all away. When I let it in … not that I did much … I’d hear you pounding on my door.” Jensen’s eyes clouded. “I’m sorry, Jay.”

“I wanted to hate you after that. Told myself I did for a while. Only one I hated more was myself. It was an impossible decision, Jen. You called it that. A choice. Never felt like that for me.”

“I get that now. I was just so young then. It just … “

Jared’s finger rubbed his cheek gently. “I know. But we’re here now.”

“You said your mom urged you to move back?”

Jared spoke softly, like silk over glass. “She said I was a good son. Said she loved me. I’d come out to her and the rest of my family shortly after I started university. But I never told them about us. Didn’t see the point. But Momma sat me down about two months ago. Nothing special was going on, just a regular Sunday afternoon visit. We’re sitting there drinking tea and she says that it’s time. I didn’t know what she meant so I asked. And she said for me to go home.

“I didn’t get it just then. I thought she meant America. Texas. But then … at the airport saying goodbye she said it again, how I needed to go home. And then she said, ‘To Jensen.’ And I asked her how long she’d known. She said always and asked if I was mad at her.” Jared turned pleading eyes toward Jensen’s. “I told her ‘no’, couldn’t make her feel guilty over doing something she had to do at the time. Do you … are you still angry over it?”

Part of Jensen wanted to shout yes. Still felt the knife ripping out his heart and taking it away across an ocean. But other words came out instead. “You came back for me.”

Jared smiled, lighting up the room. “And that’s before I knew you’d turned into the hottest man on the planet.”

“Second.”

Jared started to ask what but Jensen’s lips met Jay’s chest again and the only thing that penetrated was the taste on his tongue and the skin against his lips. He worked his way down inch by inch, savoring every crevice and curve and ripped abdominal muscle along the way. By the time he drew Jared’s dick into his mouth Jensen had decided that as cute as jailbait Jared had been he wouldn’t trade the man under him for anything.

A hand touched his head a few moments later, surprising him. “Want more,” Jared moaned. “Wanna feel you inside me.”

So much for slow. “You sure?” Jensen asked.

Jared sat up and took Jensen’s hand, placing it directly over his heart. Jensen felt like his own heart was stopping because that was exactly what Jared had done the first time they’d ever had sex, when Jensen had also asked if he was sure. Sucking in air he reached for his nightstand, pulling out a small bottle and a condom.

Jensen went as slow as if it had been their first time. In a way it felt like it was all over again. He pressed against Jared slowly, letting the heat swallow him up and fighting for control against the mind blowing pleasure. “Fuck … you’re tight,” he uttered.

Jared spit out, “Been a while” and Jensen seared at the spark of satisfaction that gave him. His possessiveness took over and he started fucking into Jared harder. Jay wrapped his legs tighter around Jensen’s hips and thrust back with all he had. They established a rhythm as if they’d been doing this forever. Sweat dripped from his temples, down his back as he worked to maximize Jared’s pleasure by aiming his strokes just so every time. He remembered the sounds, the moans and breathy sighs, like they’d been just yesterday. Yet the body beneath his was firm and strong and new.

“Oh fuck,” Jared groaned, “God … “ Jensen pressed in faster, deeper, heat racing through his veins, blossoming from his groin outward. So good, so strong, every upward push of Jared’s almost lifting Jensen and fuck that was hot. Lowering his head he sought out Jared’s mouth, tongue snaking inside to whirl and seek, teeth nibbling on Jared’s bottom lip, sucking it back and then releasing with a tiny snap.

Jared’s breathing got runner quick and Jensen brought his hand down to encircle Jared’s cock. Two swift strokes and the other man grunted and released, long hot ropes hitting Jensen’s belly. He met Jared’s pupil-filled gaze just as he was leaning in for another kiss. The words were whispered directly into Jensen’s mouth. “I love you.”

Jensen lost it then, shooting into the condom in erratic bursts, hips moving frantically to eke out the last seconds of pleasure. He sank into Jared, body melting like a popsicle in the sun. He wondered fleetingly if he was crushing his lover, but Jared was kissing the side of his neck and holding on like separation meant death.

Eventually, Jensen managed the strength to pull off and took care of the condom before wiping Jared off with a corner of his sheet. “Jay … “

“Mmm … too tired. Talk later.”

Jensen persevered and snuggled closer. “Jay … you said … “

Jared looked over at him. “If that’s not obvious by now then what is?”

Jensen tried to swallow past the ball-sized lump in his throat. “It’s just that it was the last thing you said to me in my dream. I didn’t think I’d ever hear it again.”

“Did you say it to me in your dream?”

“Yes. I did.” He made sure he could see Jared’s eyes. “I love you. Always have. Always will.”

“I never thought I’d hear it again either.”

“Guess neither one of us recognizes the bloody obvious when it hits us in the head.”

Jared laughed. A real laugh. Something else Jensen didn’t think he’d hear. Jared pressed him closer into his side. “Where’d you get the ‘bloody’ from?”

“Wanted you to feel at home.”

Still smiling but eyes intense, Jared leaned into another kiss. “There … now I feel at home.” He nipped at Jensen’s lower lip. “So … what do you have to play around here?”

~~~
The applause surprised him as he entered the offices. For a moment, Jensen stood stunned. Wasn’t like him to be speechless. Mike and Alona smiled hugely at him, Jim and Jeff approached and gave him half hugs each. And Katie leapt into his arms.

“Jensen. God, it’s good to see you.”

He spun her around, surprising himself. “Yeah. It’s good to be back.”

Jensen had spoken to Jim and Jeff and Katie had filled him in on most of what he’d missed. In his absence the second Johnston presentation had been postponed. But they all assured him that the old man was fine with waiting.

Jensen followed Jim to his office and asked Jeff, Mike and Katie to join him. Jim looked confused as he clearly wasn’t expecting a meeting.

“What’s up, Jen?” the older man asked. “Do you need more time off?”

“No. It’s about the Johnston account.” He took a deep breath.

Last night he’d shared this last part of his dream with Jared. Told him how the younger version of Jay kept criticizing the project. Injecting that it was wrong to export the work out of the country. That the conditions for labor were poor overseas.

Jared had laughed.

Jensen frowned. “It’s hardly funny.”

“No, you’re right. Nothing about what you described or you being in a coma is funny. But, Jensen, first, I have no idea what you’re talking about in terms of exporting manufacturing. It’s not something I think about. I guess, if I understood the details I’d form an opinion. But that’s not the point.” His lover stared at him. Jensen got the impression Jared was waiting for something. Finally, he continued. “Jen, it’s all you.”

“Huh?”

Jared took his hand, pressed Jensen’s palm to his lips and held it there a moment. Jensen tried to not get distracted by the instant heat this brought. “You were the one uncomfortable with all of it. You were telling yourself you didn’t like it. Don’t like it. And if that’s the case then all you have to do is listen to yourself.”

Jensen took a deep breath and faced his colleagues. He didn’t like it. And he wasn’t going to present it. “I’m re-doing the cost projections. They will be higher and we might lose this account. But I can’t accept the profit margin Johnston wants. Can’t accept the circumstances it’ll take to get him there.”

The office fell silent. Katie silently fist pumped. Mike looked shocked. Jim and Jeff locked eyes and communicated silently. Finally, Jensen saw Jim give a slight nod. Jeff was the one who spoke, “It’s your account, Jen. Do it your way.”

Jensen pictured a huge dimpled grin on a ten-year old’s face and smiled.

They split apart again but not before Jeff cornered him. “Jensen, Sam’s dying to see you. She needs to see with her own eyes that you’re okay I guess. Was awful seeing you lying there so still … anyway, I told her I’d get you to stop by the bakery at lunch. Will you, please? Say about twelve-thirty. I’ll ring and let her know you’re coming. Okay?”

“Sure. I’ll bring back some goodies for everyone. Tell her to get some cupcakes together.”

Jeff slapped his back and disappeared into his office.

Jensen stood outside his own office for several moments staring in before entering. Katie followed because they had a lot of work to do. He eyed his office chair. Before he could think too hard he approached and sat, moving it back a few inches to give himself some room before raising his feet off the floor and sending it on a good hard spin. His head swirled and his breath accelerated as he mumbled this is for you, Jay under his breath.

Katie watched him with a bemused questioning grin.

He shrugged his shoulders beneath his slight blush. “I’m playing, Katie.”

She beamed back at him. “Looks good on you.”

He and Katie got to work on new proposals. They would be close to where they’d started but he’d be able to bring unit costs down some from the original presentation. It just had to be enough. And if it wasn’t, well, there were other clients and other opportunities.

Katie flexed her neck and stretched. “Time for a coffee break. Gonna head to the Starbucks. What can I get ya?”

Jensen pursed his lips. “I’m off coffee for a while. It’s not agreeing with the headache medicine I’m still on.” Katie looked surprised. “You can get me some hot tea, though, if you don’t mind.”

She smiled. “Well that sounds easy enough. What kind do you like.”

Jensen thought about it. “Grande Awake tea. Only tell them to make it with a single bag instead of two. Oh, and they should leave room. Then add a splash of whole milk and half a sugar and a whole packet of Splenda. Wait … if you can, have them put the Splenda in first. Got it?”

Her eyes were big and suspiciously moist when she smiled and said, “It’s really good having you back.”

~~~
Samantha’s bakery was close to Jensen’s office. That was how Jeff and she had met in the first place. The weather was warm and the air smelled fresh. Spring was almost here. He entered the small establishment and instantly was assaulted with the smell of fresh baked goods. Jeez, if he worked here he’d grow huge.

The bells on the door tinkled as he entered and within seconds he was smothered in Sam’s tight embrace. “Oh, you look fantastic.” She pulled back. “A little thin. But I can take care of that.” Her smile was warmer than the sun.

“How are you feeling?” she asked.

“Good. Really good.” He hadn’t told anyone yet about Jared. He didn’t know if anyone met him as his doctor. But he doubted they were aware of his previous relationship with Jensen. He was certain his parents wouldn’t have discussed it and knew that Jared hadn’t said anything.

“You look wonderful. Jeff said he didn’t think he’s ever seen you smiling more.”

“Yeah, well, coming back from a coma will do it to you, I guess. I feel … appreciative.”

She smiled. “Good, that’s so good. You have so much going for you.” She stopped and looked down and Jensen wondered instantly what was up. “Don’t be mad. I asked Jeff to get you here now because that customer I told you about comes around this time nearly every day and … “

“Sam, no. I … “ This wasn’t how he wanted to tell people but there was no way he was going to let himself be set up with anyone. Not now. “I’m sorta with someone.”

Her eyes grew huge. “What? But you never … “ The bells on the door sounded and her face slipped into disappointment. “Damn. He’s so handsome. And I just had a good feeling … “

“Hey Sam, watcha have for me to-Jensen?”

“Jay?”

Jensen forgot where he was as Jared’s presence filled the space. He put his hand on Jared’s arm. “Hey.”

“Hey yourself.”

“You two know each other?” Sam asked incredulously.

Jensen looked from Sam to Jared and it all clicked. “Jared was who you wanted me to meet?”

Jared looked confused. Jensen guessed he’d not quite been let in on Samantha’s yenta scheming. Grinning like a loon Jensen took a step back. “I think Sam here had some matchmaker ideas about you and I. But I explained to her I was seeing someone.”

“I am, too.”

“Yeah? You know the guy long?”

“All my life.”

All the teasing left Jensen at the look Jared gave him. He slipped into Jared’s arms and surrendered to a slow, sweet kiss.

Samantha gasped slightly and Jensen turned to look at her shocked expression before shifting back to the man he loved and letting it all blend.

Yesterday, today and a lifetime of tomorrows.

fin


art by apieceofcake

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