The Power of Love
Chapter 9
That evening, the weather softened. A beautiful, warm night was created amongst the dying embers of the miserable morning and afternoon and a moon, bright and bold, rose into the dark, vaulted sky, bringing along with her millions of twinkling, golden stars. Ennis returned back to the main campsite after Jack and found a fire softly burning, orange flames licking at the cosy atmosphere around. He knew Jack was already in the tent but he couldn't bring himself to go to him yet, still feeling nervous and uncomfortable following the times he had just experienced.
After their very brief talk earlier that day though, he felt a little calmer. The anger and rage had well and truly disappeared from his body and he now was feeling exhausted because of it all. Thoughts had been swarming around his head like angry bees for hours on end and his mind was sick of them. Emotions had been mixed and smashed together but as he sat on the log by the flickering fire, there was a sense of emptiness hanging over him. It was as if everything he had gone through in the day had already built to a giant climax and now withered away, leaving him alone to mull over his true self. Except he didn't know who or what that was anymore. Being up on this mountain had brought out sides to him he didn't know even existed and that scared him immensely. All he'd wanted was to come up here and earn some money. He hadn't prepared to have his life turned completely over.
He knew he'd hurt Jack. He had been unnaturally quiet and closed up when he had talked to him very shortly earlier and he had briefly seen the pain in his indigo eyes. It spoke volumes, without actually saying anything, and Ennis had even felt a little guilty at it. He had felt ripped apart himself from the previous night and had wished Jack experienced the same emotions but now, as he sat by the fire, he found himself taking all that back. He knew this was a scary moment for him yet he hadn't really bothered to stop and think whether it was frightening for Jack. He couldn't believe how selfish he'd been.
But, now, when he turned to see Jack taking his shirt off through the small gap in the tent canvas, he didn't have a clue what to do. There was a choice between going back up to the sheep or staying with Jack in the main camp yet he was terribly confused. He usually hated tending to those animals, though now, he was so nervous. Jack was waiting for him just a few feet away and he didn't know whether he should go in to sit with him or just perch down out here for the night. He was terrified but he was very much aware he wasn't that good at controlling his emotions. If he went in to see Jack, he was scared he would lash out at him or walk out again, leaving him alone. As much as he tried to deny it, he really didn't want to hurt him for the second time in one day.
Ennis sighed a little and glanced again over at the tent. Jack was half naked now, lying back on the bedroll and staring up at the thin shelter around him. He was mesmerised by the sight of Jack's bare skin, velvety and vulnerably soft. He was so frightened but he knew this must be done. If he didn't do it, a heavy cloud of guilt would just be hanging over him and he knew he couldn't take that another day.
Trembling a bit, he gradually stood up from the fire and nervously fumbling with his hands, shuffled over to the tent. Jack glanced at him as he entered and sat up, looking into his dark eyes. Ennis didn't return the gaze, instead staring at the floor below them and placing his hat as a barrier between their bodies. Jack removed it and touched his arm, trying to comfort him into a safer place. He let their eyes meet for a mere second but then it was gone.
No words were said between them, though Ennis could feel the weight of what needed to be told sinking onto his jumbled mind. His heart was beating faster than it had ever done before and he could hear it pounding in his ears, mixing with his heavy breathing. Jack was so close now and he could feel the warmth coming off his body. He wasn't scared anymore, Ennis could tell that, and the way he was holding his arm spoke the truth.
Gently, Jack moved slightly in front of him and Ennis sensed a cool hand stroke against his cheek. Fingers touched his messy hair and he thought he might collapse under their light pressure. Jack was being so calm and serene with him – he had treated him so badly today that he was being very affected by his tranquillity. Forgiveness seeped between them, without actually being spoken, but he knew its power was being overshadowed by something else. Something even more influencing, something neither could control.
Jack's eyes were almost closed now, the blue colours sparkling beneath the long, dark lashes. His breath washed across his skin and he felt his legs trembling. Even though the need and desire to was coursing through his veins, he still couldn't look up at his companion so he quickly shut his own eyes, sensing them getting hotter behind the lids. He thought he might choke on his emotions if he let himself go.
But, as he tried to stop tears from falling, Jack just got closer and closer. He slid a comforting, gentle arm around Ennis's neck and drew him in, parting his soft lips. Ennis turned his head a little, unable to take this approach, and pulled back slightly. Yet Jack had him held too strongly, even though his touch was tender. He tried to move in time and time again and finally Ennis got tired of withdrawing. Jack's outdoorsy, calming scent eventually became too much for him and he could feel the atmosphere pulsing with bottled up emotions that needed to be let out. It was no use attempting to hide his true feelings anymore. Denial and the desire to prove himself as a tough outer shelled cowboy withered away and he reached out to touch Jack, placing an unsure hand on his arm.
And at last, he responded to Jack's approaches. Shaking with the amount of thoughts in his mind that had suddenly become completely unimportant to him, he opened his mouth and felt Jack take him in. Their lips touched in a confused but emotional kiss and Ennis trembled at the feeling. Memories and thoughts and visions and sensations span in a poignant whirlwind around him but he found himself shying away from it, falling into Jack's care to protect him. Nothing else seemed to matter anymore.
Eternity appeared to soar around them but finally, the contact ended and Ennis pulled back a little, looking down at the bedroll they were kneeling on. A strange feeling was throbbing through his veins and he couldn't ignore it. It was eating away at everything he had previously thought and believed in and he had lost all control. What he wanted to do, what he needed to do and what he should do had all mingled and mixed up into one sole desire. And it was stronger than anything he had ever felt before.
Tenderly, as if Ennis was made of the most fragile glass, Jack brushed his fingers through his hair and held him close. '' It's alright...'' he whispered quietly. '' It's alright...''
And slowly, he pulled him down onto the bedroll with him, so they were lying together, touching and embracing. Ennis rested his head on Jack's chest and his yearning drove him onward. Closing his eyes again and relaxing a little, he ran his hands all over Jack's body, letting his head drop every now and then to kiss his skin. Jack returned the favour to him, gently holding his arms and stroking his hair while pressing his lips to his forehead over and over again, savouring the moment.
After a short, gentle while, Jack rocked Ennis a little in his embrace and then gradually turned him over onto his back, sliding on top of him. Their bodies pressed together and Ennis sighed at the warmth, sensing a thousand emotions slipping between them. He was slightly surprised that Jack wasn't as heavy as he had imagined and he allowed his hands to stroke up his arms, running his fingers and thumbs over his smooth, bare skin. Jack touched him in return, cupping his cheek and leaning down. Dizzy with desire, they kissed again, this time more confidentally and finding their mouths fitting perfectly together.
Gently, Ennis wrapped his arms around Jack and brought him closer, lacing his hands into his thick, dark hair. His heart beat fast in his chest and he was breathing heavy at the sensations pulsing through his body. He had never felt anything like this before. Jack was stirring such emotions in him.
They embraced tighter and Ennis found his lips being parted further. Jack's tongue darted into his mouth and he gave chase, deepening the kiss. He had only ever kissed Alma once before but it was nothing like this. The warmth between him and Jack was slowly turning into heat and the intimacy was increasing almost by the second.
Yet, at last, Jack broke the kiss and led his lips down Ennis's neck, putting a hand on his chest. Ennis entwined their fingers together and turned his head a little, sighing. This felt very good and that was one thing he couldn't deny.
But, after a bit, Jack pulled away again and moved his mouth from Ennis's skin. Ennis looked down at him with confused eyes yet he didn't say a word. Instead, he shifted off of him and knelt by his head, letting a hand drift over the cowboy's face. Ennis closed his eyes.
'' Jack, please don't go back ta the sheep...'' he whispered, suddenly scared he might leave him alone. Jack smiled.
'' Ah won't,'' he replied and then unbuckled his belt, causing Ennis to glance back up at him at the sound. He ignored his surprised gaze though and pulled it off, beginning to unzip his jeans. Ennis made him stop.
'' Wait...'' he said, barely audible and then knelt up before him, their faces inches apart. Jack placed a hand on his hip and ran it up his shirt, followed by his undershirt beneath. Ennis's eyes drifted shut again and his mouth opened to sigh Jack's name. In response, Jack embraced him and opened some of the buttons, slowly kissing his neck and jaw. His shirt came off in seconds and then Ennis lifted his arms to allow him to pull the other one over his head. When Ennis was half naked, Jack stopped and just looked at him. He felt like, with that simple movement of undressing him, he had broken through at least some of his outer shell and was now seeing him as he truly was, no barriers shielding him for once. That thought satisfied him so much.
Trembling a little, he reached out and ran his hands down Ennis's chest, caressing his soft skin. Ennis gasped as he kissed it, allowing him to reach downwards to fondle with his belt. He still couldn't think straight. His brain told him to pull away but his heart told him to stay. He didn't know which was right but right now, he didn't care about right or wrong. There was no difference between the two at that moment.
Finally, Jack got his belt open and chucked it into the growing pile of clothes in the corner of the tent. Still kissing all over Ennis's chest and neck, he reached down again and fully unzipped their jeans, finding both of them were already dripping wet. Gently, he got Ennis out of the rest of his clothes and then undressed himself, before they fell into each other's arms, kissing passionately. They pressed their bodies very close together as they embraced, discovering many things. Ennis had never, ever touched another man like this before and his heart was pounding with the excitement of doing so. Jack felt strong and masculine and well built and he was thrilled at the touch of his skin and muscles rubbing against his. They held each other tighter and tighter and soon, their hands were running everywhere, unable to stop.
Ennis tossed back his head as Jack nipped and kissed at his neck, hearing him moaning and breathing heavily against his body. His blood was rushing in his ears and he could see white lights spinning all around him, pulsing brighter when Jack's hands, now frantic with want, skimmed all over. He closed his eyes tighter and reached out for him, lacing their fingers firmer and firmer together. He couldn't control his emotions and he could feel wave after wave of pleasure crashing down onto him, sending him crazy.
Quietly, Jack gasped his name and rubbed their bodies together one last time. Ennis's head dropped onto his shoulder and he gripped his hand tenser, squirming against him. Opening his mouth to suck in a breath, he braced himself and wrapped his free arm around his waist.
'' Jack, Jack....'' he muttered thickly, not capable of keeping still. '' Ahh, ah!''
'' Ennis!!'' And, holding each other closer than ever, they climaxed simultaneously, climbing up the dizzy heights together. Ennis gasped and panted and Jack cuddled him warmly, the blossoms of pleasure flowing over them again and again. But, at last, it ended and they collapsed back onto the bedroll, exhausted. Jack drew the sheets over their shaking bodies and Ennis rested his head against his chest, in an echo of their position earlier.
So much had happened since then, physically and emotionally, for both of them but Ennis was too tired now to contemplate that. Within minutes, he had fallen asleep and Jack followed close after, allowing them to drift into the dream world together.
TBC
