There was only one reason that Jem could tolerate the heat.
Will.
But by the Angel, he almost made it unbearable.
"William."
"Yes?"
"Get. Off."
"But why?" Will drawled, rolling over and nuzzling his head into Jem's cheek, a catlike grin on his face.
"It is hot. Off."
"Don't you love me?" Will sat up, pouting, still on top of Jem.
Jem rolled his eyes, annoyance flashing across his face. "Off. Now."
Will sighed and rolled away, an uncharacteristic pout on his face. "You are absolutely no fun."
"And you are just like a cat."
"Meow." Will rolled his eyes, then slid top Jem again. "Bored."
Jem close his eyes. Had they been open, he would have seen just how catlike Will was in that instant-curls falling in his glinting eyes, a playful smile-smirk flirting with his lips.
"What do you want me to do about it."
"Mn...you really can't guess?"
Jem fought a smile as Will's fingers danced up and down his stomach and sides. "Stop it, you know that tickles!"
"Oh? Maybe if you do what I want, I'll stop."
"But it is too hot."
"Fine."
Jem sighed in relief as Will rolled away, but a yelp of protest escaped his lips as the other boy scooped him up. "William! Will! Put me down this instant or I swear-"
Jem's words were swallowed by Will's mouth and after a long moment, the latter finally pulled away, licking his lips, a smirk etched on his lips. For that moment, Jem was glad Will was carrying him; he would have fallen otherwise with his limbs turned to jelly.
And then Will dropped him and a gasp flew from Jem's mouth as he was soaked to the bone in blessedly cold water.
He surfaced to Will's low laughter and scowled, swiping water from his eyes. "You...you…"
All complaints faded from his mind as Will slid into the marble tub as well, shivering, his eyes fluttering shut as a moan slipped from his mouth from the cold. And then his eyes opened and they were gleaming dark, shining playfulness. "Better?"
Jem raised his eyebrows as his parabatai dipped under. He didn't answer, instead, watched as Will scrubbed water from his hair and eyes.
"Marvelous! Am I not simply brilliant?"
"Of course, William." Said dryly. "As always. Your plans never fail."
"You mock me?"
"No, of course not. Perfectly serious." Jem leaned forward and captured Will's lips with his own.
The other raised a cold hand to Jem's now wet hair, keeping him close. Jem felt a shudder pass through Will's body as Jem flushed himself close and hesitantly swept his tongue against Will's. The sensation made Jem's lips curl up and Will huffed, blowing warm air onto Jem's face. And then he pulled away and bit down gently on Jem's lower lip and Jem frowned at him as he he smirked and let go to bend down to Jem's neck.
A low gasp fell from Jem's lips as Will bit down hard. "Will, someone...will see!"
"Let them. Everyone already thinks we are in some sort of relationship anyway."
"But-"
Will suddenly moved up and kissed the complaint from his parabatai's lips and pulled away quickly, reaching up to tug on Jem's shirt collar. "Off."
"No. We are not-"
"Then would you rather not at all?"
"...It will be messy…"
"So? Someone will clean it up. Charlotte, or Sophie." Will shrugged and glared at the shirt plastered to Jem's body. "Off."
"Fine." Jem sighed, unbuttoning the wet shirt, placing it gently (after wringing out the water, of course) on the floor next to the tub.
Cold fingers on his chest made him jump and Jem gazed up at Will indignantly as the younger boy peeled his shirt over his head and tossed it aside, forgotten at once. And then Will just stared at Jem.
His angel had his back against the tub and was staring up at him with such a tender love in his eyes that Will nearly blanched from the depth of it. His eyes were lidded, glazed over slightly as he scanned Will's form; he reached out and his fingers danced lightly over the contours of his now bare chest, coming to rest for mere seconds on his shoulders before darting up to thick wettened curls to jerk Will down as his hips rolled up and it was so hot and it felt so good and hell, he loved it all.
"Pants off." Jem gasped out from in between kisses, cheeks flushed dark.
Will didn't even bother a reply (couldn't speak for the heat overwhelming him) just tried to peel Jem's pants from his body as the other boy jerked his hips up again, straining for that heady friction.
"James. Jem, stop, I can't-" It was all Will could manage to get out before he finally got the annoying fabric off and then Jem was on top of him, kissing him hungrily. His fingers dug into Will's shoulders, the nails in so deep Will knew there'd be bruises, but he didn't care. The pain made the pleasure all the more electric.
Their fingers both fumbled with the button on Will's pants, and Will growled in impatience; their hands kept brushing him there and
"Stop being such a tease…!"
Jem smirked down at him and gripped him hard, sending a shiver of want up and down Will's body.
"A tease, am I?" Jem inquired, voice low, husky.
"Of course."
"Mn." A low groan slipped from Jem's lips as Will stroked him, soft, teasing. Jem jerked his hips forward, straining for more contact, but Will drew his hand away with a soft smirk, and held his fingers to Jem's mouth.
The latter pouted adorably before taking in Will's fingers, his tongue warm against them, swirling, sucking hard. And Will was again reminded what a tease Jem was with his bedroom eyes. Which soon slipped closed as Will's fingers left his mouth and instead dragged down his back to the space between his legs and Jem pressed into them, a low keen coming from his lips as Will's fingers just brushed him in that spot that would make him scream.
And then they were gone.
"Will, you-" his voice broke and Jem buried his face in Will's neck to keep a wail in as Will's fingers were replaced with something much bigger.
It hurt, it hurt so good and Jem only wanted more, more pain, more pleasure, more Will. A groan from behind him and Jem smirked. Obviously Will was feeling the same way. As they began the rhythm they'd long ago established-Jem riding at his own pace, Will's fingers dancing on every inch of available skin-something changed. Something more than just need was coursing through him...something like love.
He hadn't felt this before.
Jem managed to gasp out, "Will...I love...you…"
To which Will laughed brokenly, and murmured back, "I do too."
Surprisingly, it wasn't the feelings that made Jem finally release, it was that one, harsh bite on his shoulder. It shocked him, made him want more, made him scream.
And as he counted the stars in his vision, he heard Will's low voice, murmuring softly in Welsh. "Rwy'n caru byddwch, fy seren, fy angel yn."
I love you, my star, my angel.
It made Jem smile.
