When Love Takes You In

Author's Notes: This is a short chapter, but I wanted to keep this part kinda separate. I don't think you'll mind… I'm pretty sure that some of you have been waiting patiently (or not so patiently) for this part anyway.

Chapter Seven

Time passed by and Ennis and Jack grew into a comfortable routine as any other couple would. Ennis finally got around to fixing the bed and Jack got his stitches out. He was still self conscious about the scars on his face, but Ennis had no problem reminding him that he was still sexy in his eyes.

Today was the day that Jack finally got his cast off.

"Shit, that feels nice. I can feel the breeze on my leg and it don't itch like the devil no more." Jack said with a grin. Ennis smiled peacefully as he drove them both back home.

"Man, Ennis. Now I can finally get a good job on a ranch. Nobody wants to hire a man on crutches… not for ranch work. But now I'm as good as any man again." Jack practically bounced with excitement.

Ennis wasn't as excited. He liked coming home and seeing Jack there, but he knew they had bills to pay and it wasn't as if they had as much money as Jack had before he left Texas to be with Ennis. Jack didn't care about the downgrade in financial status, but Ennis still felt guilty for not being able to provide all the extras that Jack had grown accustomed to.

"Lureen called the other night too… said something about her father's will and a lawyer. Maybe we should go and get the trust and I'll see what she wants." Jack suggested.

"I can't take any time off work right now. I got as much as I could when you were in the hospital. Tell you what, though. I got a trailer hitch on the truck if'n ya wanna go down and tow yours back up behind ya." Ennis suggested.

"How will you get to work?"

"I've done fine when the truck was in the shop before. I'll get along fine for a few days again. Go ahead." Ennis urged as they pulled up to the house. Jack was going to try and make an excuse for not gong without Ennis, but he seemed to sense Jack's problem.

"Come with me." Ennis said. He got out of the truck and walked towards the cellar doors on the side of the house. Jack followed as Ennis opened the doors and walked down the stairs. It smelled like dust. He sheltered his eyes when Ennis pulled the cord and turned on a single light bulb, bathing the darkness in light.

"Take this with you." Ennis reached behind some jars and pulled out an old pistol. "Keep it so no one will mess with you. And if I so much as hear about those three assholes bothering you, they won't be so lucky next time." Ennis said. He handed the pistol to Jack. He kept his shotguns in the house, but his pistol he'd hidden away.

"Ennis… thanks. I'll go this weekend and then I can go job huntin' when I get back."

"No need for huntin'. They's desperate for more men over at the ranch and I've already talked to Jim about ya."

"Always thinkin' ahead," Jack leaned in and kissed Ennis lightly.

Ennis grabbed him before he pulled back and deepened the kiss. They both pulled apart and Ennis whispered, "How's about we continue this in the house?"

Jack nodded in agreement and they both hurried, groping each other and stumbling up the stairs to the house. They tugged and yanked at each other's clothing, ripping them off passionately and they fell into the bed together.

"You're mine, Jack fuckin' Twist." Ennis growled as he kissed Jack and flipped the man over on his stomach. He spit on his palms, coating his cock with lubricating saliva.

Jack panted with anticipation, having waited so long for this level of intimacy between Ennis and himself again. Ennis spread Jack's cheeks and urged his hardened member slowly into Jack's anus. He was barely in when Jack jerked and broke away, startling Ennis. Jack rolled onto his back, breathing hard.

"Jack?" Ennis asked, confused and a little hurt as if Jack didn't want him no more. Jack looked back at him with the same amount of confusion in his eyes.

"I don't know why… I… sorry, let's try this again. I want to face you." Jack thought maybe seeing Ennis's loving face would quell this ball of fear in the pit of his stomach. Ennis nodded with a small amount of concern for his partner.

He slowly stretched Jack's legs up over his shoulders and prepared himself again. He entered slowly, watching for Jack's reaction. Jack tensed up, making his ass hole even tighter on Ennis. If he hadn't been so worried about the expression on Jack's face, he would have thoroughly enjoyed it much more than he was.

He started thrusting, almost forgetting what he was to be concerned about as the pleasure got greater. His eyes slid shut with ecstasy and he got faster until Jack's gasp stopped all movement and Ennis's eyes flew open. He looked down at his lover and saw tear tracks.

"Stop!" Jack had finally yelled, pushing Ennis away. He rolled onto his side and cried into his pillow. Ennis sat up, stunned and confused.

"Darlin'… Jack… what's wrong?" He asked. He got no answer and looked over at him. "Is it me? Did I do something or do ya not-"

"No, it's not you. I don't know." Jack whimpered. "I just got scared and…"

"And what?" Ennis asked. He put a comforting hand on Jack's shoulder and leaned over, the warmth of Jack's bare skin radiating off. "Jack? Tell me what is goin' through that pretty little head o' yours."

Jack rolled onto his back and looked at Ennis carefully. He didn't see one hint of judgment or impatience and he relaxed a bit..

"I kept seein' them… Jared and Ned and Jake when they… and I just got scared." Jack admitted. Ennis stopped… stopped moving, stopped breathing, just stopped. And Jack took it the wrong way.

"It's stupid, Ennis. Yer nothing like them and Ennis, you're so caring and you give a shit about my needs and wants. Yer not like them… it ain't how I meant it." Jack defended without needing to. Ennis looked at him and remembered where he was. His gaze softened at Jack.

"It ain't stupid and I believe you. I also believe them bastards need to die… yer not going to Texas alone." Ennis gathered him in a tight and comforting embrace.

"Ennis, you can't quit your job. Forget about the truck… Lureen can give it to Bobby when he gets his license." Jack told him.

"Alright… no more Texas. And nobody's ever gonna hurt you again, Jack… I promise you this much." Ennis held onto the man he loved so much. They stayed in their embrace for the rest of the night, neither of them wanting to leave the other's side.

End Chapter