Pride

Part 11

While Aaron had been in the shower Jackson had readied the bed in his spare room, it rarely got any use, and he only made it up when required. He hadn't expected to be doing so at that unearthly hour of the morning. But Paddy had said to expect the unexpected where Aaron was concerned and he'd been right.

That done he'd gone to the kitchen, and was nursing a mug of tea in his hands when Aaron appeared by the door. He had a towel wrapped around his waist and another draped around his shoulders, held securely in place by his hand. Tucked under his free arm were his clothes.

Jackson watched him walk over to the large swing bin that stood in the corner and throw the clothing in. He then turned to face him as if expecting his actions to be questioned, but Jackson just said, "I'm sure I can find something that will fit you." Aaron had simply nodded then sat down at the table with him.

"Help yourself to sugar," Jackson said as he pushed a mug of tea towards the younger man.

"Thanks."

Aaron added three spoonfuls into the mug and stirred it. One hand still holding on tightly to the towel. Jackson knew he was trying to hide the extent of the violence inflicted on him. Didn't he know he didn't have to hide it from him? That he didn't have to hide anything from him? No of course he didn't. Why should he? He'd not let on how much he liked him, how much he cared about him. It hurt to see him like this now and the need to protect him was suddenly overwhelming.

His gaze was locked on the younger man, who once again seemed to be hiding his face. Slowly his head tilted upwards and the troubled blue eyes met his.

"I should have listened to you."

"Some things are easier said than done, Davies is manipulative..."

"I thought he liked me. He made me feel good about myself but all the time he was laughing at me, using me."

Jackson bit back on his reply; he shouldn't be interrupting Aaron now, not when he was finally talking about Davies.

"I couldn't believe someone like him would look at me twice let alone want to be with me. He seemed so keen, so I thought well I can't be all that bad. He made me laugh and he was so laid back. He reminded me of you.

"In one week, less than a week, I'd turned my back on everything I had just so I could be with him. You, Paddy, Cain. You all warned me. Cain had had him checked out but I still wouldn't have it. I'd messed up with you and I didn't want to mess up again with Chris."

Jackson reached out to squeeze Aaron's hand reassuringly but the younger man flinched and pulled away.

'This', Jackson thought 'has to be sorted now,' "What happened tonight?"

"What you want all the details? You sicko!" Aaron spat.

"Be angry at me if it helps." Jackson said calmly.

The anger ebbed as quickly as it had appeared and Aaron shook his head, why was he lashing out at Jackson? "I'm sorry!"

"I know you're hurting inside," Aaron's emotions were all over the place so just how honest should he be? The answer was easy, Aaron had been deceived enough. "Right now I just want to hold you, make everything alright. But you're not going to let me are you? You won't let me near you. That's because of what Davies did tonight.

"Other men are going to want to touch you, hold you. They're going to want to love you. They can't do that from a distance! Are you going to let Davies come between you and someone who really does care about you?

Aaron snorted bitterly, "He said he couldn't keep his hands off me, he made it clear he wanted to sleep with me. He knew I hadn't...that I was scared and I thought he understood. Knowing someone wanted me in that way...I wanted to and with him. If he'd given me a bit more time I...well I would've done anything for him. For the man I thought he was. But that wasn't the real Chris was it?

"No."

"The real Chris had me up against a wall, slamming my head against it one minute, forcing his tongue down my throat the next. The real Chris wanted me anyway he could get me and if that meant knocking me senseless then fine by him.

"If I hadn't got away he would've...I trusted him and look what he did...what he tried to do. I'm not going to let anyone get that close to me again, not in anyway."

"Not even me?" When his question went unanswered, Jackson got to his feet and moved to stand beside Aaron. Catching hold of his hands he gently pulled him to his feet, feeling him tense but not pull away from him this time. Easing the towel from Aaron's shoulders he leant in and dropped gently kisses on the bruising there. He felt Aaron tremble as his lips moved higher and gently brushed against the broken and so very tender skin on his neck.

Finally he kissed Aaron on the mouth then whispered against his lips, "I'll never hurt you, not in anyway."

TBC