The Christmas Gift - Part 6
Slowly the grip on Jack's jacket slackened and Daniel pressed his hands against his chest, pushing him back slightly to check to see that he was okay with this. Their soft, panting breaths vaporized between them in a misty cloud as they stared into each other's eyes. When Jack gave no signs of protest anymore, Daniel slipped his hand around to the back of his head and, after a quick look from the mouth to the dark misty pools, he closed the gap between them once more.
Tentative lips met this time, trembling slightly from the cold and the pent up adrenaline that surged through both of them now. Lips, tacky from the cold air outside and warm blood pulsing within them, peeled open slowly as the two men shifted closer together. Daniel's fingers dug into the back of Jack's short hair, holding him where he wanted him to be as he lolled his eyes closed and allowed the sensation of kissing Jack to wash over him. Almost reverently he slipped his tongue into the warm, moist mouth, the feeling of heat surprising him as he bathed in the juices beyond the other man's lips.
Jack's tongue touched his lightly; making Daniel shiver enough to be felt even through the thick coat he was still wearing. The reaction encouraged Jack, giving him the confidence he needed to take this one step further. He wrapped his arms as tightly around him as he could and pulled him closer, both of them moaning softly as they delved deeper into each other's mouth.
Daniel's fingers combed through Jack's hair, tugging him closer as he gripped up the luxurious soft pelt. Suddenly the frames of his glasses pinched his nose and he pulled back abruptly, hearing the sounds of Jack's soft gasps as he gathered his bearings after the rude interruption. Daniel smiled as he reached around him and put his glasses into the top of the boat beside them. Jack took the interval to gather Daniel's face into his hands once more, his smile as bright as the glare off the snow outside.
"Sorry," Daniel murmured as he enjoyed the sensation of Jack's fingers lightly brushing his lips. "My glasses were getting in the way."
"That's okay," Jack told him in a voice just as low and husky, "I needed to breathe anyway." Daniel smiled shyly then dipped his face but Jack brought it up once more and stared directly into his eyes. "And I wanted to say thanks, for starting something I've been wanting to start for ... ages.."
Daniel shrugged then he jostled him within his arms, the thick coats not allowing for much intimacy. "You've got to promise me, you'll stop worrying!"
Jack sighed breathlessly, his lips brushing the full bottom lip of his soon-to-be-lover as he said, "If you keep kissing me like that I'm not going to have any brain cells left with which to worry with anyway!"
Daniel gave a lopsided smile and his laughter puffed into Jack's mouth gently. "I can take care of myself Jack."
"I'll have to learn to trust that.."
"Ah, yeah, trust," Daniel said, pulling back even further so that he could look into Jack's dark eyes.
"Yeah. The big 'T' word! We're so going to have to trust each other and let the other get on with the job as they see fit.."
"Agree. And on that topic, I guess I really should, ugh, well, confess isn't really the right word as I technically didn't do anything.."
"Spit it out, Daniel," Jack tilted his head back even further and looked quickly from Daniel's mouth to his eyes.
Wetting his lips, Daniel said, "I.. ugh.. don't really know how to tell you this Jack, but.." The colonel's brow twitched nervously. "I hold several trophies for Golf.. actually.." Daniel gnawed on his bottom lip and watched the slow dawning of realization creep across Jack's face.
"You what?"
"Club Champion - two years running.." He said, grimacing as he tilted his head to the side slightly.
Jack stared at him in disbelief then he clapped his hand over his eyes making Daniel burst out loudly with laughter.
"You didn't?" He bemoaned.
"Actually-" Daniel groaned as he laughed. "I did - apparently.."
Shaking his head now Jack started to laugh as well. He reached out and cupped Daniel's face in both hands and said, "I don't believe you did that to me!"
"Hey!" Daniel laughed. "I don't believe *I* did that, but it goes to show you, Jack. I'm not as innocent as I look..." He arched his brow on that statement and the gesture peaked Jack's interest.
Stepping against the unyielding body, Jack lowered his voice as he asked, suggestively, "What other areas am I going to find you're no innocent in?"
Holding the intense gaze, Daniel didn't even blink. Slowly he smiled though and Jack rolled his head back and gave a gleeful moan. Before they could say anything more there was a sound outside the boatshed and Susan's voice assailed them from a short distance as she shouted while nearing the boatshed, "Jack! Dad told me to tell you that you had better not have a beer bottle in your hands when I get in there!"
The two men looked at each other momentarily then around to see how they could put a little distance between them. Before Daniel could even think to head to the other end of the room, passing the door and hoping to make it before Susan entered the shed, Jack had leapt up, grabbing the metal rafters for the roofing. He quickly made his way to the other side of the shed then dropped to the ground - thereby putting the whole rowboat between himself and Daniel - just at the moment that the door opened with a loud scrape.
Susan stood in the doorway, her face flushed from the cold outside, and vapors poured from her mouth. She looked at Daniel, standing on one side of the boatshed opening then at Jack, who was casually leaning against the other side of the opening.
"You tell Dad that I didn't have a bottle in my hand when you came in here!" Jack said, triumphantly, then he looked at Daniel and said, "and neither does Danny." The anthropologist lifted his brow at the juvenile name but he made no other comment as he turned to look at Susan. She laughed as she shut the door and stepped into the darkening room further.
"Aw, I think he was just joking," she dismissed it. Jack quirked his brow then shot a quick look over at Daniel. On the faces of both men was the truth. Jon had made her call that out to announce her arrival - to do exactly what it did do - give them time to break apart before being discovered. Daniel rolled his eyes at Jack and in response, the older man screwed his nose up as he gave a little 'I know!' shrug.
"So what are you two doing down here..?"
"Drinking Dad's beer," Jack said flippantly and when Susan didn't look like she believed him, he pointed to the two chairs and the bottles beneath them. His sister laughed heartily.
"Oh, boy! Doesn't Dad know you well then!"
Jack's eyes met Daniel's once more then he smirked as he said, "Better than I'd ever have imagined!"
Susan, happy with that answer, rounded the boat and went to her brother's side. Slipping her arms around him, she leaned her chin onto his shoulder, as she said, "Isn't it a beautiful sunset?"
Jack looked straight past her to the slightly flushed face on the other landing. He gave a small smile as he said, "Yes. It is."
Daniel smiled and bowed his head, bringing his hand up to quickly adjust his glasses, which were now back in place.
Susan sighed and squeezed Jack's waist. "Come inside. The two of you! We're missing you!"
Jack quirked his head in question and Daniel gave a reluctant nod in response. Stopping to pick up their beer, the two men walked either side of Susan as they made their way around the lake and back to the cabin.
*
When the three of them returned to the cabin Claude called to them, "Hey, were you two trying to duck the dishes?"
Jack threw his arms wide and shrugged. "Ya got me! That's exactly what we were doing. Wasn't it, Daniel!"
"Agh.. yeah," Daniel said hesitantly. Jack frowned at him and a small smile crept over Daniel's face. "Well, that and stealing your Dad's beer!"
The family laughed uproariously as Jack's mouth fell open. "Daniel!" He said in a pretend groan. "You're not meant to tell them that!"
"Oops," Daniel said, going along with the joke, "Sorry!"
Jon walked up to Jack and stood chest to chest with his son. "What's this about you stealing my beer?"
Jack lifted his chin, meeting the older man eye to eye. "I did. I stole your beer and it was the best damn beer I've ever tasted. Isn't that right, Daniel?"
"I wouldn't know," Daniel said, and then shrugged when Jack and Jon looked at him. "How would I know if it was the best beer you've ever tasted...?"
A wry smile tugged Jack's lips now as he said, purposefully, "Believe me, it was!"
Daniel wanted to smile but instead he shrugged nonchalantly. "That's good to know," he said then tilted his face to look at Jon, "Isn't it?"
The older O'Neill looked between the two of them then threw his hands in the air. "How would I know? Every time I go down there to drink it, it's gone!"
Jack laughed and patted his father's shoulder. "Trust me on this one, Dad," he said before moving into the kitchen to assist with the washing up. Daniel followed him through, pushing the sleeves of his sweater up his forearms as he went. Susan tossed a cloth to dry the dishes with at Daniel as she said, "You can both take over from here!" At the same time, Claude turned and passed the scrubbing brush to his brother.
"Yeah. That's fair. You two can finish up."
"What ever happen to making the kids do it?" Jack grumbled as he started rolling the sleeves of his sweater up to past his elbows.
Claude patted Jack's shoulder and said, with a laugh, "We grew up."
"Stop your grumbling. Most of the really dirty ones are done. You've got mostly cutlery!"
"I hate cutlery," Jack groused as he refilled the sink with fresh hot water.
"We know," Susan and Claude both said at the same time, laughing at an old family joke. Jack shot them a playful glare before dunking the copious amount of cutlery into the foaming water. Susan went across to pour herself another coffee while Claude headed straight on into the family room. Before leaving, Susan glanced across at her brother and his friend. "When you're done, we thought we might play a game of Pictionary."
"Pictionary?" Daniel said, sounding a little uncomfortable at the thought of participating in the game. "The game where you have to .. draw..?"
"Great well, I want Danny on my team!" Jack said instantly, not hearing his friend's weak protests beside him.
Susan smiled at the younger man, "Of course! We've already divvied up the teams anyway. Bill and me, Dad and Claude and you and Daniel."
"Good!" Jack said. "Cos Daniel's a linguist, did I tell you that?" He gloated as all his sibling competitiveness began to rise within him once more.
Susan rolled her eyes. "No! I did 'not' know that!"
With a cocky grin on his face, Jack said, "Hah! See!"
Susan patted his shoulder before turning and walking out of the kitchen. Jon looked up to watch her enter the room and then allowed his eyes to drift through the opened kitchen door to where Jack and Daniel stood by the sink. He watched as Daniel leaned in closer to Jack and said something. Jack's head snapped around to look at him then he waved a sudsy hand in the air, obviously not happy with the news he'd just heard. Daniel pulled back laughing. It was the first time Jon had really seen him laugh and he automatically smiled as he watched them.
Daniel, nose crinkled with his laughter shook his head as he said, "I'm sorry Jack. I might be a linguist but I really am hopeless at drawing."
"Sheesh!" Jack said, returning his hand to the warm sudsy water. "Don't you have to draw in your field of work?"
"Sure, so if I do every answer in Egyptian hieroglyphs, we'll be fine.." Daniel said through a throaty chuckle.
Jack's head was bowed as a grin spread across his face. "We'll be fine anyway," he said, lifting his face and gazing over the smiling man beside him. "We're going to make a great team."
Daniel's smile softened, his eyes growing a little darker as he carefully scanned his gaze across Jack's face. "We already do, Jack."
Jon was still watching them and felt a hot prickle run up his back as he saw Daniel's head tilt towards Jack, and the smile on his face change slightly. Suddenly, whatever Jack had said made the boy blush because Daniel lowered his face and turned slightly away, placing a plate on the island cupboard before turning back towards Jack. Jon now lowered his eyes, realizing that something's shouldn't be watched.
As he turned towards the rest of his family he realized Susan asked, "What's up?"
"What?" He frowned.
"You've got a goofy smile on your face," she said, plopping herself into the seat beside him.
"I do?" He was genuinely surprised.
She frowned quickly then smiled as she nodded. "Yeah, you do."
"Maybe, I'm just happy, my girl!" He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her tightly.
"Good!" She said, patting his arms across her chest. "When are those two going to be finished in there?" She craned her neck to look into the kitchen.
Jokingly he wrestled her as he growled, "Oh, let them be!"
*
"So do you want to leave first thing in the morning?" Jack asked, wiping his hands dry on the hand towel. Daniel was placing the last plate onto the stack on the island bench.
"When's the flight?"
"Fourteen hundred."
"So why do we need to leave first thing?" Daniel frowned. Jack held his gaze and shrugged then the younger man lowered his face and said, "Oh," quietly.
"Or we could stay until lunch with the family then leave about twelve?"
"Or, you could call and change the flight time?" Daniel suggested, slowly blinking.
Nodding, Jack said, "Or, I could call and change the flight time. I think there's one at ten?"
"I think that's a great time to fly home. We'll be home earlier... Unpacked earlier..."
"In bed earlier," Jack whispered, reaching for the phone on the wall.
"You're a little sure of yourself there, Jack." Daniel said, folding his arms across his chest. The older man looked him up and down then held the intense gaze as he quickly changed their tickets for the earlier flight. As he hung up the phone, he stepped up to his friend and looked him straight in the eye. "This just begs the question now.."
Sounding a little breathless, Daniel asked, "What's that?"
"Your bed .. or mine..?"
Daniel closed his eyes slowly and lowered his face, bringing his hand up to touch the bridge of his glasses. "Whose is bigger?" He asked quietly.
The other man's brows arched high. "Are we still talking beds here, Danny?"
Blushing and chuckling slightly, Daniel muttered quietly, "oh, god, I hope so..."
"Hey!" Susan appeared in the doorway and flung her hand over her head, summoning the two of them into the living room. Jack held his hand out and Daniel silently obeyed the order, wishing he could be anywhere else right now!
*
After a few rounds Jack and Daniel were losing terribly.
"What the hell is that meant to be, Jackson?" Jack sighed as he pointed to a squiggle on the paper.
"It's meant to be a dog, Jack!" Daniel said patiently and tried to ignore the hoots of laughter around him.
"A dog?" Jack said flatly. "Where's its tail?"
"Tail?" Daniel tilted his head as he swung the sketch around to face him. "There!" He pointed to a faint line.
"THAT'S a tail?" Jack asked skeptically.
"Oh give the boy a break, Jack! It's a good dog.." Jon hollered over the laughter.
"What the hell is that?" Jack held up the picture to the others. "How the heck is it meant to be a damn dog!"
"Oh I see it!" Amy cried out from where she was sitting on a chair by the window reading. She got up and ran around the sofa to Jack's side where she promptly started naming parts of the dog. "See! Tail, head, legs and... what's that?" She looked at Daniel.
He frowned and studied the picture then blinked as he adjusted his glasses. "I think that's his back leg."
"No, that's his back leg, isn't it?" She asked hopefully.
"No, that's just where my pencil slipped. That's his back leg!" Daniel pointed to an odd shaped line. Amy gave him a strange look then half-heartedly laughed as she got back up to her feet.
"O-kay.." She said, moving away in long, sideways steps, making everyone laugh again. Jack couldn't help himself, he was laughing with the rest of them. Daniel just looked so damn cute with his pink cheeks and red ears!
"Don't worry Daniel," Julian offered from where he laid on the beanbag. "No matter who Uncle Jack plays with, he always loses."
Daniel looked at the youth gratefully and smiled. "Thank you." He said, and then shot Jack a dirty look. "So it's not my lack of drawing skills, but rather your lack of lateral thinking that's letting this team down?"
Again the room erupted in laughter.
"Hey!" Jack said, trying to sound indignant. "I can laterally think with the best of them!"
Daniel rolled his eyes then pointed to the dice on the board. "Whose turn is it?" He muttered, shooting Jack sideways glances and trying to stave off his own laughter.
*
Susan raised her hands above her head and triumphantly punched the air. "We won!"
"You weren't working with a handicap!" Jack grumbled under his breath. Daniel looked at him while the others all laughed.
"Come on Jack. Your lack of ability to see what's right in front of you is annoying at times, but I wouldn't go so far as to call it a handicap."
Susan cackled with laughter as she clapped her hands together. Claude grinned at his brother.
"He's got your number, Jacko!"
The colonel grumbled. "Yeah, and about twenty more push-ups during training next week!"
"Oh no fair!" Daniel laughed, bowing his head as he removed his glasses. "Using rank against me!" He lifted his eyes and peered out from under golden lashes as he blinked rapidly.
Jack looked and was suddenly stunned by the unshielded, bright blue eyes staring at him. Opening his mouth like a guppy he took a moment before saying, "yeah, sure, ya betcha!"
Daniel smiled sweetly and replaced his glasses. His trick had had the right affect on the older man.
Jon yawned loudly then stretched. "Well, I'll be calling this one!" He said, rising from his place on the sofa.
Jack tilted his face up to look at him as he said, "Our flight's been changed. We have to go first thing in the morning."
The patriarch frowned and turned to look at Daniel. "When did this happen?"
Jack answered with a shrug as he said, "Earlier. We're booked on the ten-hundred flight. We'll be leaving around eight."
There was a definite sigh of disappointment around the room and the two men looked at each other, suddenly both feeling like heels for being too eager to be alone.
"Well in case I don't see you in the morning!" Amy said, throwing herself into Jack's arms. The colonel caught her and returned the hug. The rest of the family milled around him to give him a hug, and in Susan's case, a kiss on the cheek. The men shook Daniel's hand and the teenagers bided him a goodbye but Susan also reached over and kissed his hot cheek lightly. Even surrounded by the other people Daniel was acutely aware that Jack had left the room, following his father into the den once more.
PART 6b
"So you're off home tomorrow morning?" Jon asked, stepping behind the high backed leather chair and picking up a book from the shelf at the back of the room.
"Yeah. We've decided to head back a little earlier. Daniel's got fish..."
"And a few hours will make all the difference, to the fish," the older man said, sitting at the desk with the book in front of him.
Scratching his brow, Jack shrugged. "Will for Daniel."
Jon nodded. "So, things are still alright between the two of you? You didn't seem to talk a lot this morning."
"I think he just felt a little awkward, you know. Being the guest at Christmas time."
"So, if he's nothing more than your best friend, Jack, why did he spend this holiday with you here?"
"He's got no one else. He was orphaned at 8 so he's grown up pretty much alone. His wife died recently..."
"I didn't realize he'd been married."
Jack shrugged but said nothing.
"But then, so were you - once upon a time.."
With a soft sigh Jack mumbled something beneath his breath that Jon couldn't hear then shrugged.
"What was that?" Jon asked.
"I said, yes I was... once."
Jon nodded then squinted his eyes as he looked up at his son before him, patiently waiting for something. Finally Jack sighed and said, "Well, I just wanted to say thanks. It's been a good weekend and I think Mom would have been proud of us all."
Jon nodded, lowering his gaze to his hands clasped on the table. "Yeah, she would have."
Jack rolled his eyes when the conversation grounded to a halt again then said, "Well, I should really ..." He said, pointing over his shoulder as he stepped back towards the door.
Jon nodded then asked, as Jack turned to open the door. "You just can't say it, can you?"
"Say what?" Jack frowned as he looked at his father.
Lifting his head, Jon stared right into his son's brown eyes. "That I was right. About you and him."
Dropping his head back Jack shifted his footing and stood with his hands on his hips.
"I saw you two in the kitchen Jack. If you can't see it in his eyes, then for Christ's sake, take an old man's word for it. It's in there -" He pointed to Jack's eyes then towards the living room - "and in his as well.."
Jack flung his arms around his head as he said, tetchily, "Okay! For crying out loud! YES!"
Jon shut up immediately. "YES!" Jack said again, laboring the point. "Yes, Daniel and I did 'discuss' things this weekend."
The other man's face softened into a sly smile. "So sending your sister down there with that message 'was' a good idea?" he said, his eyes twinkling now.
Jack bowed slightly, placing his hand on his heart. "Yes, it was - thank you!"
Holding his hand up in front of his face Jon added, "I don't want to know what she would have walked in on..."
"That's okay, Dad, I don't want to tell you.."
Jon lowered his hand slowly as he held his son's gaze. "Oh. Well, good."
Jack smiled then jutted his head towards the door. "I really should get some sleep. It's late."
Jon rose from his chair and went to his son. "Merry Christmas, Jack." He said, holding his arms wide and hugging Jack to him.
"Yes, Dad, it was. Merry Christmas!"
Jon pulled back, cupping the rugged face in his hands. ""No doubt I'll see you in the morning, but just in case!" He pulled him into another hug, which Jack returned heartily.
*
Jack quietly closed the door behind him as he exited the study. Turning he saw Daniel, standing by the fire, waiting for him.
"Everything okay?" The younger man asked cautiously. Jack shoved his hands into his pant's pockets and lifted his chin slightly.
"Yeah, think so."
Daniel smiled timorously then rolled his eyes. "Now what?"
The older man bit his lips together then suggested, "Wanna see the moonlight?"
A smile crept across Daniel's face. "Think we should?"
Jack shrugged then waved his hand in the air. "Why not?" He said as he headed towards the back door. "It's a beautiful night.."
Daniel followed him then questioned the sensibility of it as he tugged his boots on once more.
"Relax Danny," Jack said, patting him on the shoulder. "Everyone's asleep."
The blond man quickly glanced back towards the empty living room then he turned to look at Jack again.
"'Kay," he muttered. Jack winked then zipped up his jacket before opening the front door.
*
As promised, it was a beautiful night. Daniel marveled at how blue the snow looked in the moonlight as they crossed back towards the small boathouse. Jack shoved the door open and then scraped it close behind them as Daniel stepped into the shed. He took two steps from Jack before turning around to look at him. He placed his hand on the back of one of the wooden chairs they'd been sitting in earlier than as Jack took a step towards him he wordlessly passed over the chair to him. Jack frowned momentarily then took the chair and used it to jam against the door, preventing it from being opened. Turning around, he saw, in the reflection of moonlight on the water outside, that Daniel had approved of what he'd just done.
Stepping closer to him the colonel looked a little shy before reaching up and cupping the blond head in his gloved hands. Daniel stepped closer to him and they both carefully watched the other as they pulled together for a long, tender kiss. Their dry lips peeled apart slowly as Jack stepped back.
"That still .. seems strange."
"Well, get used to it, Jack. I *like* kissing.." Now it was Daniel who seemed a little shy as he adjusted his glasses slightly.
"You do?" The older man asked as he moved in front of him and went to the fridge. Bending to reach the beer inside Jack suddenly straightened up when he felt a hand glide over his rump.
"Amongst other things," Daniel told him, turning to lean back against the workbench.
Jack gave him a wry look then nodded as he passed over a can of beer. "So I see." Cracking his can open Jack held it up and waited for Daniel to tap his can against it. "Here's to your dog!" Jack mumbled and Daniel spat out the mouthful of beer he'd just swigged.
Wiping his gloved finger across his lips, Daniel said, "I told you I was lousy at drawing!"
Jack shrugged then passed his can to his friend before going to the cupboard in the corner. He unlocked the door then withdrew an armful of blankets. Crossing to the boat he flicked each of them out then laid three into the boat. Rolling up one for a pillow he stepped carefully into the boat. Daniel frowned as he watched him then he saw Jack beckon him into the rocking vessel.
"We're not going out in this boat though, are we?" He asked hesitantly then bit his bottom lip as he frowned.
Jack raised his brow then saw the steadfast look in Daniel's eyes. "For crying out loud! No, we are not going out in this damn boat. Now just get in, will ya!"
The younger man held his hand out and Jack sighed and took hold of it, thinking he wanted a hand into the boat. Daniel laughed.
"No Jack, just take your damn beer!"
"Oh!" He nodded and took the can from him.
Daniel carefully stepped down into the swaying boat. "Now what?" He asked.
Jack gave him a somewhat cocky look as he settled himself onto the blankets on the floor of the rowboat. Daniel frowned but also lowered himself to the floor of the boat, and then he waited patiently while Jack made himself comfortable. As soon as he was, Jack held his arm out and Daniel cuddled into the side of him as best he could.
With a gloved hand caressing the short, blond hair, Jack sighed contentedly as he sipped his beer. Daniel pressed his cheek against the thick jacket his partner was wearing and then he sat up slightly, twisted, and retrieved the blankets that Jack had left on the edge of the deck. Shaking them out once more, he laid them across the two of them as he settled back against Jack's body. Frost vapors poured from the younger man's mouth as he said, "Why do I get the feeling you've done this before?"
"Ah," Jack said, then laughed softly.
Daniel rubbed his chin against the warm jacket and mumbled, "Forget it. I don't want to know."
"Oh, come on.." Jack chuckled. "It was with Sara.."
"Jack," Daniel said, actually sounding a little jealous.
"You're the only man I've done this with.." He said then watched as Daniel lifted his face to look at him. Growing serious, he said, "If that makes you feel any better?"
Daniel's gaze shifted between the dark eyes then he pressed his feet against the floor of the boat to shift himself up closer to Jack's face. He kissed his mouth lightly then pulled back. "I'm sorry."
"No," Jack whispered as his eyes searched the face so close to his. "I'm sorry. I'm still not defined on our edges yet. Stuff I would have told you as a friend.. well, some of it's not appropriate anymore, is it?"
"And some of it's more appropriate now," Daniel said, adjusting his arm to gather Jack closer. "Just not the past lovers." He reached for his beer then downed a mouthful before reaching across Jack and putting it down once more, followed by his glasses.
Jack went back to caressing the blond hair, including the small, lobeless ear. Daniel purred quietly at the stroking and them mumbled, "Keep doing that and I'll fall asleep."
"Ah, got one of your 'things', have I?" Jack grinned as he shifted his chin to look down at the top of Daniel's head.
Daniel snuggled against the chest then growled deeply, "Yes, most definitely."
They laid in quiet until Jack pressed his lips against the top of Daniel's head and said into the soft hair, "I'm looking forward to that."
"What?" Daniel asked sleepily.
"Finding out what turns you on-"
There was a pregnant pause then Daniel lifted his head and looked down at Jack. He bit his glove to pull it from his hand, and then, spitting it out, he touched Jack's cold cheek with his still-warm fingers. Jack lay there, looking a little concerned as Daniel concentrated on his intimate exploration of his face; a gentle smile on his lips.
"Everything about you does that, Jack."
With a low groan at the back of his throat, Jack raised his hand to brush his fingers through his hair. Tucking the hand under his head he smiled and Daniel returned it. With his other hand, the older man gripped the tag on the zipper of Daniel's jacket. He tugged it open slowly, then reached up and planted a soft kiss on Daniel's throat. Daniel gasped softly.
"You're so warm," Jack purred quietly.
"You're so cold," he returned with a slight laugh.
Jack pressed his lips against the cooling skin, this time rubbing his warm tongue onto the silken surface. Daniel moaned again and Jack knew it wasn't because of his cold nose. The younger man shifted his legs up Jack's legs, and then wrapped his booted foot around the limbs to pull Jack closer to him. Jack's tongue pressed more firmly against the warm throat, shifting down as he lowered the zipper to midway down Daniel's chest, ever aware that he didn't want to expose him too much to the cold night air.
After tugging his own glove off, Jack reached his hand in past the metal teeth and gripped the collar of Daniel's sweater. Pulling it aside he delved further down the younger man's throat and onto the top of his chest.
"Jack," Daniel hissed as his hands gripped the gray head firmly. Jack pulled his face away and rolled Daniel onto his back carefully so that he could thread his hand up inside the jacket and sweater and over the goose-fleshed skin to find a hardened nipple.
"Cold?' Jack asked.
"Turned on," Daniel hissed. Jack smiled then kissed the partially opened mouth quickly then as he pulled back he extracted his hand from the sweater.
Daniel wrapped his hand behind Jack's head and pulled him down once more. Their tongues bashed together, gently but firmly, throughout the long, languid kiss. Eventually Jack pulled back and almost lost sight of Daniel as the vapors pouring from both men's mouths clouded the air between them. Jack cupped the side of Daniel's head, his thumb brushing the little ear firmly. He smiled at the redness of Daniel's nose - partly from cold, partly from the pressure of both their faces pushed tightly together throughout the kiss. Shifting he cuddled against the side of Daniel and then tugged the blankets up to under his chin. Daniel grinned up at him then combed his fingertips through the slight fringe over Jack's eyes.
"If I promise to keep this blanket up here, can I undo you top some more?" Jack asked. Daniel blinked silently then he moved his hand and unzipped his top. Jack kept his word and made sure the blanket remained over them but he shifted so that he could see Daniel's chest now. The younger man unfastened the jacket completely and it fell open, revealing the pale blue sweater.
Jack twisted around, looking for something. Quickly he found it and turned back. In his hand was an oar. Daniel feared, for a split second, that Jack was about to push them out into the river, but instead Jack wedged the oar into the boat so that it formed some makeshift pole and then he draped the blankets over it like a woolen tent. Daniel's mouth parted slightly, like he was about to say something when Jack tapped his fingers onto the parted lips.
"Hold that thought!" He clambered out of the boat, grabbed two more beers then an oil lamp from the corner before returning. He lit the lamp, setting them in a warm yellow glow. Tugging the blankets up further he ensured they remained relatively well protected from the cold. Flexing his fingers, much like a professional pianist would before an important concert, Jack ventured his hand under the pale blue sweater once more.
Daniel's body arched to the touch. He squirmed as Jack found a nipple and worked it until it stood hard against his otherwise soft, silken skin. He kept his eyes on Jack's face, letting the image of his unguarded smile etch itself onto his brain. When the brown eyes ventured to look at him, Daniel felt his insides melt. He reached his hand up to cup Jack's cheek then he pulled him closer, bringing him down to where their lips could touch once again.
Instead of kissing though, Daniel licked Jack's slightly parted mouth. The colonel responded by getting in closer and Daniel licked him again. Jack's fingers tightened onto the nub, his nails digging into the hardened flesh. His reward was another lick, more tenacious than the others. This was quickly followed by a light nip on his lips then another lick. Jack's fingers curled and scraped down Daniel's smooth chest, onto his softened abdomen and collided with the tops of his pants. All the while Daniel licked, sucked then nipped at his mouth. The nails continued down the lean body and scraped across the cloth of the pants, making a sound like tearing, as they scratched up faint lines across the dark material. Daniel moaned and captured Jack's mouth a little more firmly between his teeth. As the fingers rode up the rise then over it Daniel plunged his tongue deep into Jack's mouth, rewarding him with a fierce kiss.
"Oh God, Jack," He pleaded desperately as Jack's fingers played over the covered shaft.
"Can I take it.." /out?/
"YES!" Daniel hissed then gripped Jack's head hard as he filled his mouth with his tongue once more. Jack's hands fumbled with the zipper and belt, not aided in any way by Daniel's wanton gyrating. He kept losing purchase on the material but he was soon done, and he returned his thoughts to the pillaging tongue duelling with his own and left his hands to instinctually peel the jeans back and release the hard cock inside.
As his hand clasped around the thick, uncircumcized shaft Jack whispered, "This is wrong.." against the hungry mouth.
Daniel's head lolled off the makeshift pillow to try to allow him to focus on the man beside him. "Huh?"
Jack looked at him. "You're still fully dressed. I'm still.."
"Jack!" Daniel warned, clenching his teeth and forcing a dimple to appear on his cheek.
"I just.. Do we want to rush this?" The older man asked earnestly.
Daniel slapped his hand over his face and mumbled something into his palm.
"What was that?" Jack asked, tilting his head in an effort to hear more easily.
"I said, we've known each other four years now - how's this rushing things?"
"Not like this we haven't," Jack argued.
"Oh, Please!" Daniel snorted and screwed his eyes shut tightly as the hand continued to hold but not pump him - the suspense was torturing Daniel. "Yes, okay? I wanted to rush this!" He lifted his hips, sliding his cock within the firm grasp to press home his point. With a moan he dropped his ass to the floor of the boat again, creating another wave of sensation through his groin. He stared up at Jack with a heated gaze. "Rush this!"
Slightly stunned by the licentious behavior of his usually 'meek' friend. He felt an overwhelming desire to fulfil every one of Daniel's sexual wants - starting with this one. He clasped his mouth forcefully over his mates and their tongues pressed and slipped together as Jack slowly pumped the rigid shaft in his hand.
Abandoning the mouthful in favor of air, Jack shifted his position so that Daniel was lying across his lap. Clasping his other hand around the cock now, he changed hands, shaking out his fingers of the fatigued hand while Daniel squirmed across him.
"Let me touch you," Daniel whispered. Jack dropped the dick and started grappling with his own pants, soon exposing his own hardened shaft to the cold night air.
"Oh Jesus!" he hissed at the coldness.
"Invigorating, isn't it?" Daniel smirked as he curled his fingers around Jack's cock - which, he noted, was wider and shorter than his own. He placed his hands on Jack's rump and guided him closer.
Jack moaned loudly as Daniel's mouth engulfed him. "Oh God Jesus baby.." the older man moaned as he felt the warm moistness of Daniel's mouth surround his chilled shaft.
Daniel pulled back and touched his fingers to the small tuft of curls visible through the otherwise fastened jeans. It was an absurd thing – being here, with Jack O'Neill, a man he'd coveted for a year and was now finally consummating his passion for in the middle of Christmas night on a frozen lake somewhere near Minnesota. He looked up and saw the bulk of the body, still heavily shrouded in coat and jeans, then he returned his attention to the cock that jutted from the partly opened pants.
Rubbing his nose against the rosy tip he sighed and said, "Do you want me to get you off?"
Jack closed his eyes at the quietly bidded question. How could he possibly be this close to Daniel and NOT want him to get him off? He lowered his face and stared down into the unshielded eyes. "Yes."
Daniel smiled then parted his lips, licking at the tip of the cock while holding Jack's intense stare. "Baby.." Jack hissed as he cupped the back of Daniel's head.
With a quick scrunch of his nose and a grab at Jack's ass, Daniel swallowed the firm, fat rod deep to the back of his throat. Jack's cry seemed to echo off the water as he felt the heat surround his tip. Lost in the incredible sensation Jack began to climax, realizing that he'd let his thoughts go, let himself get swept away by the magnificent head job and hadn't concentrated on his partner at all. He tried to back-peddle, tried to stall the shivers that coursed through his body now, but it was too late. His fingers gripped the short hair and dug into the scalp as he grunted and thrust, spilling his load down into the sweet cavern that had seduced him. With a loud groan of contentment Jack collapsed onto his butt then grimaced as he tucked his flaccid shaft away from the sharpness of the metal teeth. Once he was safely away he turned his attention to his awaiting partner.
"You shouldn't have done that," he growled without sounding serious. He crawled onto his knees again and rubbed his face against the wilting shaft, bringing it to full attention once more. Daniel sighed and gripped the edge of the boat in one hand as he combed his fingers through Jack's hair.
"You're delicious!" Daniel declared. Jack looked up at him, brushing his chin over the slightly covered tip of the uncircumcised penis. With a laconic arch of his brow he tilted his face forward and kissed the hidden head. His hand came around, gripping the solid column in his fist and brushing his thumb up the side of it, feeling the veins with the pad on his thumb. Daniel moaned softly as Jack caressed him with his thumb and then slid the foreskin down, revealing the moist head. He inhaled deeply then sighed and reached down to lick the tip, tasting Daniel for the first time.
"Manna from heaven!" He sighed. Tilting his face he slid his lips up the side of the strengthening shaft harmonica style then, when he reached the top, he closed his lips around the tip then slowly, oh-so-slowly, lowered his head to take the shaft all the way to the back of his throat. Daniel squirmed, his feet kicking out from beneath him as he tried to thrust into Jack's mouth. The older man placed one hand at the base of Daniel's cock, pushing him back down onto the rug again.
"Oh, please.. Jack.." Daniel's words sizzled on his lips but the begging did not increase his partner's actions. Daniel thought that Jack would never bring him to the brink with such a slow tease, but he was wrong. Soon, much sooner than he'd ever expected, the older man lifted his lips away from the tender head and then released his tight grip on the base of the shaft, that Daniel hadn't even noticed, and as soon as he slipped his mouth down once more, Daniel came and, upon tasting the first drop Jack pulled his face back, allowing the sweet cream to fountain in the air, which Jack then intercepted with his face, mouth and tongue enjoying watching Daniel come down from the intense orgasm as he shivered and melted into the bottom of the boat, totally boneless. Jack licked his lips, tasting the bittersweet taste of his lover then he reached over and wiped his face on the corner of the blanket they laid on.
He took the time to carefully fold Daniel back into his pants and fasten him up, then he pulled the blankets over them to keep out the cold. He cuddled against the side of his new lover and smiled at the dopey look on Daniel's face.
"See, and you thought I didn't have a Christmas gift for you!"
Daniel snorted softly then shifted to get more comfortable.
"Ah uh!" Jack said, rolling the sleepy face back towards him. "Don't fall asleep on me Danny. We have to go back inside."
"No, I wanna stay out here,' Daniel murmured tiredly.
"I want nothing more than to fall asleep with you in my arms, but not here. We'll freeze our nuts off out here," Jack got to his feet then stepped out of the boat. Holding his hand down to Daniel he said, "I don't think either of us wants that – not at the start of something so beautiful!"
Daniel smiled, despite his sleepiness, and he climbed out of the boat, a lot less gracefully than Jack had. Wrapping his arms across Daniel's shoulders He escorted him back to the cabin, taking the opportunity to kiss the side of Daniel's face every few steps then stopping him, part way to the house, when Daniel worried if anyone could see them. Jack had gripped him by the thick-coated shoulders, turned him to face him then pulled him in for a passionate kiss. As they started back towards the house Jack told him he just wanted to give them a good show – if anyone was watching!
End of part 6