Chapter 2
He entered the 1st floor hotel lobby and instantly wondered if he could convince Jack to relocate Torchwood to New York. The space lived up to its name – hardwood paneling and flooring, wide, spacious leather seating, fireplaces and flush bookshelves tastefully everywhere. He spied an elegant restaurant to the left of the front desk. The concierge however told them that the hotel had two other eateries, one rooftop bar and a lounge area on the 2nd floor that hosted a European continental breakfast in the morning then a wine and cheese reception in the early evening. Although the restaurant and bar were noisy, he was assured that the lounge was a spacious reading area "in the style of a gentleman's club". "How long are we here?" he asked Jack.
Jack was so busy pouting he didn't even notice the cute, blonde bellhop, "What?" he snapped back.
Ianto was going to repeat the question but decided he didn't want Jack to ruin the mood. Plus, the bellhop had just opened the door to the room.
Honestly, Ianto was not initially thrilled with the idea of being in a room filled with nothing but erotic literature – not something he was particularly interested in. However, Aliyah, as usual, was so psychic you could trust her to pick out your cologne. With this room, she had topped herself. It had the typical amenities found in most four star hotels - flat panel television, mini bar stocked with an array of the best liquors, king size bed with a down blanket covering 800 count Egyptian cotton linens and wireless Internet. But it was the stocked Brazilian walnut bookcases throughout the room that caught Ianto's breathe. The books ranged from the tawdry lady's romance novel to Jane Austin, the various versions of the Joy of Sex to scholarly works, instructional guides to Robert Crumb comics, and a video library with everything from the raunchiest bondage to When Harry Met Sally. The lighting was strategically placed for maximum reading relaxation. Even the terrace was relaxing, with a view down 41st Street toward the New York Public Library, employing some kind of sound reduction system controlling how much street noise you allowed in your rendition paradise.
Jack paid no attention. He absentmindedly tipped the bellhop, who looked disappointed that the $20 bill in his palm didn't have a cell phone number on it. Ianto helped Jack out of his coat then proceeded to unpack, clothes then Torchwood equipment. Meanwhile, Jack plopped himself on the bed, still saying nothing. Ianto opened one drawer and instead of finding a Gideon New Testament, he found a copy of the Torah with two set of tickets, one to Hair at the Al Hirschfield Theatre and another set for Nathan Lane and Bill Irwin in Waiting for Godot. "Aliyah must have something up her sleeve," thought Ianto. "She knows Jack hates Beckett and the musicals that don't star him."
"What are you looking at?" asked Jack.
"Nothing," Ianto returned the tickets to the drawer and started setting up the computers. "I'm assuming whatever is bothering you, you don't wanna talk about it."
"Good guess."
Jack was talking, which was always a sign he was coming out of whatever funk he was in. Ianto got the computers started and initiated the automatic message Tosh had programmed long ago to signal that the traveling Torchwood staff were "down and safe". He couldn't help thinking of her every time he access software he knew she created. She never knew how much she was appreciated and now missed. Ianto sighed. Right now he had to tend to the living.
Ianto removed his suit jacket carefully placing it over the desk chair, loosened his tie, and unbuttoned his shirt to his chest. After removing his shoes, he started to walk to the bed but stopped himself – chapped lips were highly imprudent so he applied lip balm. Jack was oblivious to all this as he had settled further into the bed, closing his eyes and interlacing his fingers behind his head. If he had started to smile, maybe Ianto would have paused and returned to setting up but Jack was still frowning and Ianto was not having it.
Ianto climbed into the bed and just as deftly, undid Jack's pants. "Ianto," grumbled Jack, "really now is not the time."
"Ah, huh," Ianto responded without missing a beat. He removed Jack's cock through the slit in his trousers, looking up briefly, noting Jack had not moved but a slight smile was slowly growing. "The lady does protest too much," he thought while bending over the already hardening member.