A/N: Hello again and thank you to all who've been reading. Things are finally starting to get steamier this chapter and I hope it is enjoyable. I almost feel a little bad about the slow build up going on at the moment, but I still am trying to keep with three movements to a chap and this one while all being part of the same big scene manages three due to POV change, but there's so little but so much going on and I couldn't write it all from one side. I promise more sexy and exciting things in the next chapter. We still don't know what Jimmy's mystery item he needed to go to town for is yet. Gyah how did I make so little into so many words?! I don't know... Thank you once again for reading and with the upcoming series just around the corner I'm hoping it will continue to fuel me wanting to get this written out much more quickly so that it's a definite post CS 2012 pre S4 written fic.
'Almost there,' Thomas said.
The two had been walking for nearly an hour as Jimmy had been consistently been asking Thomas for the time. Along the way Jimmy had removed his suit coat and carried it slung over his shoulder. Thomas had done the same not too long after Jimmy.
No wonder he said there wouldn't be time if I went to town. This better be worth it.
From their last two encounters getting to spend time with each other alone Jimmy had come to realize exactly what Thomas was doing. He was waiting. He was letting Jimmy make the move to initiate contact. Jimmy admired him for it, for being a proper gentleman about it. He also was very frustrated about it because it made him feel immensely embarrassed that he might have to ask for or about the next advancement, or come up with it on his own unsure of if he would be quite right.
They came upon a lake near the edge of the wood when Thomas announced they were finally, 'Here.' Thomas put the hamper down and produced a blanket which he and Jimmy spread out in an area just under the shade of the trees. Thomas smiled as he sat on the blanket and began removing the contents of the hamper.
Jimmy joined Thomas on the ground and began helping remove the contents. 'So we have sandwiches, apples – what's in here?' Jimmy pulled out a napkin that had been tied up and removed the knot. 'Oh! Strawberries!' Jimmy smiled widely up at Thomas.
Thomas had remembered. Some time ago they got to talking late one night in the servants' hall about some of the deserts for the upstairs and things they wish they could have some of, or that the other had nicked some of. Jimmy had commented about a very delicious looking pudding that he'd carried up topped with so many strawberries he'd had to stop himself from drooling on it before he got it up the stairs. The guests had eaten every last bit of it and he'd failed miserably to even get a slice or bit of the left-over strawberries from either Daisy or Ivy.
Being a maid in the kitchens must have its perks.
Strawberries were Jimmy's favorite. He didn't get to have them often, at least not anymore. Lady Anstruther had been extremely keen on them and they were a regular stock item in the kitchens at his last job, which had far fewer servants and the cook adored Jimmy. As a child they'd been a treat no more than twice while they were in season, in Anstruther's house they'd been a weekly delight, but since coming to Downton he'd only had a few once when Alfred took pity on him and gave him some he'd managed to get from Daisy after having watched Jimmy fail trying to do the same for himself.
'You may have mentioned them being your favorite once or twice,' Thomas replied with a smug grin.
'I'm surprised you remembered. If there's some in the stores that must mean we'll be serving something with them again soon.' Jimmy scowled. 'It's like torture.'
'Of course I remembered.' Thomas removed the final item from the hamper; a bottle of wine.
Jimmy looked up as Thomas produced the wine bottle from the hamper 'Wooo, how'd you manage that then? I've seen Mr. Carson decanting that stuff for the upstairs lot before.'
'Well, I didn't steal it if that's what you're thinking,' Thomas said quickly. Thomas had told him about how he once had stolen several bottles of wine from Downton's cellar over time in his younger days as a footman. 'Not exactly anyway,' he muttered.
Jimmy raised a questioning eyebrow. 'What was that? Not exactly?'
'It was extra,' Thomas explained. 'Delivery man made a cock up. I did the inventory when we got the last shipment myself and this wasn't supposed to be there. Saw no harm. Not exactly stealing when his lordship never had to pay for it either.'
Jimmy laughed and lay down on his side, now looking up at Thomas. 'You don't have to defend yourself to me. Would still drink it even if you had stolen it. I suppose technically all the food is stolen from the kitchen.'
'Meals are a part of our room and board.'
'Meals as decided by the cook,' Jimmy retorted.
'I could have flirted this out of Patmore for all you know,' Thomas said with a smirk.
'Then I'd have to assume you're a far better flirt when it comes to women.' Jimmy watched as Thomas rolled his eyes. 'She does seem to like you though. Her and Mrs. Hughes.'
'I know what you mean. And I don't deserve it. I've tried both their nerves on more than on occasion. So, whatever reason for their kindness, I'm truly grateful for it.' Jimmy smiled softly as Thomas spoke with such sincerity and reached for a sandwich while Thomas produced a corkscrew to open the wine.
They ate their sandwiches and drank the wine from the bottle passing it back and forth. Jimmy was really quite grateful for the wine. He knew if he was going to have to make the next move to push Thomas forward in the physical part of this relationship he'd need the false sense of courage he knew the buzz would give him and an excuse for in case he embarrassed himself would be nice. Once they'd started eating they found they had been quite hungrier than either of them realized and didn't speak much while they ate. When Thomas has finished his sandwich he pulled out a pocket knife and began peeling and cutting one of the apples into wedges.
'Do you like apples much?' Jimmy asked.
'Love them,' He replied. 'I suppose I knew your favorite was strawberries, but I don't guess you knew mine was apples.'
'I didn't, no,' the blond replied. Jimmy sat up once he'd finished his sandwich and pulled out his handkerchief to wipe his hands on. He grabbed the wine bottle and took a deep long chug.
'You might ought to watch that,' Thomas warned. 'It's a bit stronger than all that cider you managed to down at the Thrisk fair and I'd prefer not to have to drag you back to the house.'
Jimmy grimaced at Thomas's comment. He was just starting to get a warm feeling knowing he wasn't nearly that close to being drunk, but it was enough to make him a little bold. The warmth of course was not so pleasant in the heat of the afternoon. 'It's a bit warm today. The breeze has been nice, but it would have been nice to know we were coming to a lake. I fancy a swim.'
'People say you shouldn't swim right after eating. Muscle cramps and such.'
'Bollocks! I've done it plenty of times.' Jimmy began unbuttoning his waistcoat, noticing out of the corner of his eyes Thomas's eyes widening curiously as the man ate a wedge of his apple of the tip of his knife.
Good. Got your attention did I?
'Would rather have a swimming costume and a towel to dry off on, but since someone didn't quite give me advance warning there's no helping it.' Jimmy smiled coyly and looked at Thomas as he pulled his braces from his shoulders and started to pull his shirt tails out. 'Do you fancy a swim Thomas?'
Thomas blinked a few times, mouth slightly agape.
If I'd thought bringing him to a lake would get him naked I'd have done this ages ago.
Thomas was at a loss for words as the gorgeous creature before him had begun disrobing. He put the apple bits and his knife down on the napkin with the strawberries and smiled attempting to contain his excitement as he answered, 'Sure. Why not?'
Jimmy's smiled widened as he loosened and pulled his tie free. Thomas began undressing himself, though his fingers trembled. He was shaking with excitement. He'd been moving slowly, letting Jimmy be the one to kiss him, to run his hands through his hair, to let him know what was okay and not going too fast for his comfort. This, to Thomas's pleasant surprise, was moving along more quickly than he'd anticipated. He felt giddy as he finally managed to unbutton and shrug off his waistcoat.
He hooked a finger in his tie and began to loosen it and stopped as Jimmy pulled his undershirt over his head exposing his golden skin. How the man's pigment was so glowing and anything but stark pale as most individuals in services Thomas could never fathom, but he certainly had no complaints.
Thomas was jostled back to the current, not realizing he'd gotten so lost in his gazing of Jimmy's chest and shoulders, by the younger man's undershirt hitting him square in the face. 'What was that for?' Thomas asked as he tossed the shirt back at Jimmy.
'When you stare at me like that, it's a little embrassing.' Jimmy continued, removing his shoes and socks.
'Sorry. You're just… Just gorgeous is all.' Thomas managed to remove his tie and slid his bracers from his shoulders.
'Thank you, I think.' Jimmy stood, faced a quarter turn away from Thomas, unfastened, dropped, and stepped out of his trousers and under pants.
As soon as the fabric revealed Jimmy's back side, Thomas quickly concentrated intensely with the buttons on his shirt.
Dear Lord, if you're out there, thank you for this day. Thank you for this truly torture filled, but blessed day.
This is it.
Jimmy had thought as he dropped his trousers and underpants.
No turning back now.
Jimmy had felt very embarrassed the way Thomas stared at him as he'd removed his shirt. He'd intentionally turned a bit to remove his bottoms to give him more time to brace himself again for the lust he'd seen in Thomas's gaze. When he turned his head to look over his shoulder he was almost surprised to see Thomas not starring. However the older man was very flush in the face and very slowly working to unbutton his shirt.
Jimmy was a bit annoyed. He'd somehow found it in himself (probably the wine) to strip down completely and Thomas was taking his time like some nervous wreck. 'C'mon, Thomas. We haven't got all day.'
'Sorry. It's just these… These damn buttons-' Thomas's eyes flicked very rabidly between Jimmy and back to his hands on the buttons.
Jimmy huffed then turned and got down on his knees at Thomas's feet and began removing the man's shoes.
Thomas's eyes widened in surprise. 'What are you-?'
'Helping!'
They both stared intensely into each other's eyes as Thomas managed to finish with the buttons on the shirt and had begun shrugging it off as Jimmy had managed to finish getting his socks off. As Thomas moved to pull at the hem of his undershirt, Jimmy maneuvered to straddle Thomas's waist and slid his hands up his sides, feeling the warm skin underneath, pushing the shirt up and over Thomas's head along the way. He then pushed the older man back to the ground and pinned his hands above his head still tangled in the shirt.
Thomas's eyes were wide with wonder. His hair hung in disarray across his forehead as he panted uncontrollably looking from the blonde's face down the length of his body taking him all in. 'Jimmy?'
'Thomas,' Jimmy breathed. 'Do you want to touch me?' Jimmy asked in a low, deep tone.
'Yes. Oh god, yes,' Thomas answered.
Jimmy captured Thomas's lips in an aggressive kiss full of hunger and fortitude. Jimmy felt that moment that the feeling that surged through his body was what books talked about when they spoke of passion: the need to be wanted, the thrill of the situation. As he pulled away Thomas was gasping for air.
'Then you'll have to catch me first.'
Jimmy pushed himself from the ground and ran to and down the small pier and jumped into the water.
As he brought his head back above the surface of the water Jimmy looked back over to their picnic site to see Thomas not far behind as he divested himself of his trousers and underpants. Though Thomas did not run as Jimmy had, and as he came closer to the water Jimmy could see why. Jimmy could tell Thomas was attempting to keep his calm composure as he walked the short length of the pier, but his body betrayed him all over from the bright red in his face to his engorged appendage standing at full attention between his legs as he stepped, rather than jumped off the pier.
