They didn't speak for a few days. Jack had so much work to catch up on that it was the middle of the week before he realized he hadn't spoken with Ianto since dinner the other night. He hoped that Ianto had been just as busy, and that he didn't regret the choice he had made about their date.

To be honest, he wasn't sure what the make of it himself. He hadn't really expected Ianto to take him up on his invitation the other night. While disappointed, he would have understood if Ianto would have wanted to continue their night as it had been going. Instead, the night had turned out much like he had hoped, and Jack found himself smiling at the thought of their date. The trepidation in Ianto's question about whether or not they really were on a date, his shaky fingers and nervous hesitance as they kissed the first time, the confidence he exuded in their goodnight kiss. . .

Impatient, he called Ianto during a respite at work, just wanting to hear the man's voice.

"Hi Jack."

"Hey stranger. Whatchya doing?"

"On my way to campus. I've got Lit in twenty minutes."

Jack could hear the slight huff in Ianto's voice, confirming the exertion. "What have you got going on later? Feel up to some dinner?" He tried to make it sound casual, but he was hoping to see the Welshman again soon.

"Dinner sounds good. I do have some work to do this evening, so I hope you don't mind if it is short?"

Jack shot up in his desk chair, ideas already forming in his head. "I actually have some research to do for my report. I'm going to stop by the library to get a few books on my way home, so why don't you come there? I'll cook up something and we can have a study date."

"Yeah, I guess that will be alright."

"Great! See you about six or so? I'll text you my address."

"See you then."

Jack hung up with a larger grin on his face.

That evening, he ushered Ianto into his flat with a quick hug around the shoulders. They settled on the floor of his living room, eating take out Chinese and spreading their work out around them. They conversed lightly between bites, Jack making notes in his notebook from the text he was pursuing. Ianto would reach over and pick bits of rice out from between the pages when his chopsticks failed to hold onto the large mouthfuls he shoveled. He also picked up tidbits about the man, such as that Ianto had a tendency to hog the egg rolls, and he would fold the corners of his book when he left off somewhere. He wrote in the margins of the pages instead of in a notebook, and tapped the pen he held against his lips as he processed each paragraph. He also graciously didn't mention Jack's lack of cooking skills.

Ianto also sprawled out. Jack tended to start on the floor in front of his coffee table, and he usually stayed there until he was too tired or sore to continue. Ianto seemed like he was constantly restless, starting with matching his position against the couch, but then moving to lay down on the floor, kicking his legs out in all directions and stuffing arm pillows under his chest to prop himself up. It wasn't long after that that he would shuffle to lay on his side, head propped against a hand, before coming back up to sit against the couch again.

They were mostly quiet, only trading words in order to pass food back and forth. Pages would rustle, and the soft scratching pen sounds were really the only other noises in the flat With his body finally protesting, Jack called a break for himself after a couple of hours. He offered a bottle of beer to Ianto, needing to stretch his legs a bit. Ianto seemed to agree, following after him into the kitchen, joints popping with the movement. They both took a long drink in silence before returning to the living room. Jack pulled his materials with him as he sank onto the couch, grateful for the comfortable cushions. He didn't start reading, instead shoving his notebook into the book and closing it, balancing it on the arm to his left. He took another draw, relishing in the cool taste down his throat. Ianto was slowly walking the living room, looking more and more tired as he continued to drink his beer. After surveying the room, he sank next to Jack on the couch, stifling a yawn. "It's been a long day," Jack observed.

Ianto nodded, closing his eyes. "I've got an exam Friday morning I haven't even begun to study for."

"What do you want to do after college? Do you want to be a lawyer?"

Ianto shrugged. "Maybe," he said, but Jack distinctly got the impression that practicing law was the last thing Ianto wanted to be doing.

"Why study it if you're not sure? Seems like a lot of extra stress."

"Tosh asks me that too," Ianto admitted. He didn't offer any more information, so Jack decided to leave it.

Jack leaned back into the seat, relaxing his body. Ianto remained sitting forward, sipping the dregs in his bottle. Jack admired the long line of his back, t-shirt stretched across wiry muscles. Dark hair spiked in different directions from wayward hands running through it. "I like you Ianto."

That got a chuckle out of the man as he fell back. "I should think so. It would be weird if you kissed someone you didn't like." Ianto leaned into Jack, accepting the arm that Jack put around his shoulders. "Can I ask you something?"

His turned to the Welshman as Ianto turned to face him more directly. He nodded in ascent.

"I don't want to presume, but you have been with other men, yes?"

He nodded again.

"It's just that... Well...Fuck," Ianto sighed, dropping his chin to his chest in frustration.

Jack reached his hand out to bring the man's eyes to his. "Hey," he soothed. "It's okay; I get it that this is new for you. Please trust me when I say we can take this as slowly as you want." He tried to convey a reassuring look. It seemed to help as Ianto relaxed a little more into his embrace.

"I was in a relationship last year with this girl, Lisa. She was a friend from school that I had known for years. We tried to make a go of it, you know?" Ianto took a breath before continuing on. "Suffice it to say, things didn't end well. I haven't been with anyone since then, and this-" Ianto gestured between them, "adds another level to it for me."

"One step at a time then," Jack declared. He caressed the jaw he held, reveling in the stubble scratching at his palm. Ianto blushed easily, and the color rose high on his cheekbones. Jack bent and kissed one side, then another. His lips brushed the bridge of a pale nose before dropping down to Ianto's lips. He could feel the puff of air Ianto exhaled as their lips touched. Jack drew a bottom lip into his mouth slightly, and pressed it between his own, feeling more than hearing the slight noise Ianto made in the back of his throat.

Ianto sank into his arms more fully, arms braced against his chest. Jack maneuvered them until the man was laying on his back, with his body hovering just above, weight balanced on his knees and forearms. "This okay?" He lowered his head once he received a stuttered nod, and pressed his lips against Ianto's once more. He could feel hands bracing his hips, holding him in place, and their breathing became a little more ragged when Jack brushed his tongue against Ianto's upper lip, drawing out a small whimper. Jack pulled back and began to spread light kisses across the young man's face, delighting in the shiver when he found a sensitive spot behind the ear.

A hand grasped Jack's nape, pressing his face in when their lips met again. He took the encouragement to deepen their contact, brushing his tongue more firmly into Ianto's mouth, seeking him out. He tasted of chicken and broccoli and beer, plus something altogether special. Finally, Jack leaned their foreheads together to create some distance. Ianto had a slightly dazed look on his face, and Jack fought the urge to keep snogging him senseless. "I need you to guide me Ianto," he breathed. "I don't want to do something you're not ready for." He turned their bodies so He was more on his side, Ianto trapped between him and the back of the sofa. Jack's arm ran under Ianto's neck, the other bracing his shoulder. Their legs entwined, sock-clad feet brushing against each other. Jack could feel his own pulse racing, and tried to will his blood flow to return north a bit so he could think more clearly.

When there was no reply, Jack raised an eyebrow and repeated Ianto's name, wanting to be sure he was understood. At first he thought the man hadn't heard him, but then Ianto kissed his neck, nuzzling his pulse point. "This is good," came a rumble. Jack carded his fingers through the thick hair and inhaled the scent of shampoo and styling product. He felt his body calm into their position. Their caresses turned into something more soothing than arousing. They kissed over and over again, lazy connections between lips and tongue that did little more than allow them to explore. Eventually, Jack could feel sleep creeping along the vestiges of his mind. He had every intention of letting Ianto know that it was getting late, and give him the chance to leave if he so desired. Jack rubbed his hand up and down Ianto's back, eyes closing as he drifted off.

Jack wasn't sure what time it was when he woke up, but it was eerily quiet. His left arm was asleep, and he pulled himself off of the couch to shake the feeling back into it. He picked up their beer bottles and wandered into the kitchen to check the time, surprised to see that it was just after two in the morning. It was much too late to send Ianto home, and he would likely be too tired to drive anyway. He grimaced at the pins and needles shooting into his hand and angled his neck, hearing a satisfying crack. The couch wasn't overly big, and the cramped space did not lend itself to comfortable sleeping arrangements for two fully grown men.

He returned to the living room, reaching a hand out to shake Ianto's shoulder lightly. "Ianto," he whispered.

Ianto groaned before opening his eyes. "What time is it?" he asked, sitting up and rubbing his eyes.

"It's late," Jack said. He sat on the edge of the couch. "I have a pretty big bed. I'm willing to share if you want. I also make a good pancake breakfast, which I swear I can actually cook." He held out his hand, "Definitely more comfortable than here."

He led them into his bedroom, offering Ianto a spare set of running shorts to sleep in. They changed quickly, not bothering to observe modesty in favor of going back to sleep sooner. The sheets felt cold and welcoming against his skin when he climbed in. He made sure to set his alarm and plug his cell phone into the charger. Ianto settled next to him, falling asleep quickly and facing away from him. Jack made sure the blankets were around them both before pulling Ianto back against his chest and securing his arm around to hold him lightly. He inhaled the now familiar scent from Ianto's hair and fell back into a deep sleep.