Ianto walked Mills to the door and her waiting cab, she kissed him on the cheek.

'I'll be here tomorrow at about ten, I have a few things to do first. Just, don't forget what I said Toes, he likes you, it would be a shame to let that go just, think about it.'

Ianto sighed. 'Oh I do think about it.'

She grinned. 'You've kissed him.' She watched her friend nod. 'Wow, that's what I call going for it Toes. What's he like? He looks like he sure can kiss.'

'Oh yeah.' He sounded almost wistful. 'But I'm just not sure what happens next, not any more.'

'Well you kiss, you take all your clothes off and I'm pretty sure he knows what happens next, he seems a capable sort of chap.'

'Not physically you idiot.'

'There are no rules you can learn here Toes, you have to trust your gut and take it on a little faith that it will work out.' She looked at her cab driver. 'Look, I'll see you tomorrow and we can talk before I fly out. I like him Toes, he is a man of principle and honour, and he likes you.'

Ianto waved her off and thoughtfully climbed the stairs to Jack's flat, they were alone, the dishes done and Tosh and Owen were heading out the office door, locking it behind them. Jack had the lights on dim and jazz music playing softly in the background.

'I like her, she seems like a good friend, and a hell of an accountant.'

Ianto nodded as he looked around the room. 'She's that alright.'

Jack closed the distance between them. 'You nervous? Being alone with me, here...' He desperately wanted to ask Ianto if he was going to run away again but he didn't want to encourage him to leave either.

'I. Yes.'

'Yes?'

Ianto reached out to Jack and grabbed his hand. 'Did I mention that I'm really rusty at this sort of thing.'

'You might have said something.' Jack led them to the sofa and pulled Ianto down to sit beside him. 'I'm hardly an expert when it comes to relationships, you've met John.'

Ianto closed his eyes a moment, opening them to Jack's blue gaze. 'I just don't know if I'm ready...' He trailed off as Jack kissed him on the corner of his mouth. He felt his heart rate increase as the kiss moved from gentle seduction to demanding need. Tongues danced as they held on to each other and tried not to fall. Until Ianto gave himself up into Jack's hands and let go. Tomorrow he could be damned but right now he wanted Jack. His hands moved up Jack's back and pulled the man closer, wanting to loose himself.

Jack groaned, he didn't want to rush Ianto but if he didn't have the man soon he was going to explode. He wasn't sure who was more surprised, Ianto or himself as he pulled back from their kiss.

'Jack?' Ianto sat back confused, they had kissed a number of times now and the passion between them was electrifying, so why had the man stopped.

'I'm sorry Ianto, it's been a crazy day all round really.'

'Do you want me to leave?' His voice quiet as he watched Jack shake his head.

'No, but I don't know if I should ask you to stay either.'

Ianto reached out for Jack's hand, folding it in his as he sat next to him and let the music fill the spaces between heartbeats while he just waited.

Jack cupped Ianto's cheek with his free hand and pulled him closer as lips brushed against his. 'You spin me around you do.'

Ianto sighed. 'Is that a good thing?'

'I hope so.' Jack caught his breath, kissing Ianto was addictive and electrifying so why had he pulled away when he wanted to pull closer. He ran a hand though his hair, trying to find the point of hesitation. Catching a whisper of doubt leaving him wondering who Ianto was actually responding to when he kissed him back. He worried that seeing an old friend who had known him when he'd fallen in love with Dylan might have reminded him of the man. But did you ask someone who they were thinking about when you kissed them, and did he really want to know.

Ianto watched Jack struggle and wanted to tell him he wasn't thinking about anyone else but he hesitated, wondering if he should leave. Being ready to take a chance on Jack didn't mean he was ready for a more physical intimacy. Was that what made Jack pull back, had he felt a hesitancy on his behalf. He blushed slightly as he thought about how he'd responded to Jack. He let his breath out slowly before he leaned in and brushed his own gentle kiss over Jack's lips. He felt Jack soften as he opened to the kiss, kissing back as he pushed Ianto back on the sofa and hands began moving over his body.

Jack's voice was raw with a need that left him physically aching. 'What am I going to do with you.'

Ianto reached up and held Jack's face with the palm of his hand. 'Anything you want Jack. Anything you want.' He kissed Jack as he felt the man's weight settle over him, loosing himself in the sensations Jack was awakening in his body. He felt like Snow White waking up in the arms of the Prince, coming back to life at kisses that drugged his soul. He had fasted for too long and forgotten the pleasure that could be found in another man's arms.

Jack considered what Ianto had said, what he had offered him, and he faltered. What did 'anything' mean? Was he ready for the everything that anything implied.

Ianto groaned softly as Jack pulled back, again. This was going to be the death of him if Jack kept doing this, it couldn't be legal for anyone to kiss like that and then stop. He sat up as Jack pulled back, unsure if he should push the man on what was bothering him. He watched Jack hesitate and made his mind up. 'I'll go.' He rose to his feet and smiled at Jack. 'Tomorrow? Dinner, I'll cook.'

'You cooked tonight.' His body screaming at him to stop Ianto leaving, to ask him to stay.

Ianto brushed his lips against Jack's cheek. 'I know, but I think I should go all the same.'

Jack sighed softly as he melted against Ianto, pulling him into his arms and kissed him, properly. 'You could stay.'

Ianto considered it before shaking his head. 'I will see you tomorrow morning.'

Jack watched as Ianto pulled away. This was not going according to plan but at least Ianto was talking about tomorrow, and dinner. He could work with that, maybe take the man out dancing. 'Dinner tomorrow, your flat?'

Ianto nodded as he watched Jack's smile move away from uncertainty. 'I promise I wont cook any leaks.'

'I'll walk you down.'

Ianto shook his head. 'Na, I'm right. See you tomorrow.'

Jack watched him walk away, torn between wanting to ask him to stay again and relieved he was talking about tomorrow. Maybe Ianto was right to leave, he still needed time to come to terms with Ianto's past, and his own.

Ianto walked home as he considered everything that had happened since he'd started working for Jack. Kisses still burned on his lips as he let himself into his flat, locking the door behind him. His phone started ringing, he wasn't surprised to see Jack's name on the caller ID.

'Hello Jack.'

'Ianto, your home?'

'Ah ha, just walked in the door.' He felt Jack's grin over the phone.

'Good, I just wanted to make sure you got home okay.'

Ianto laughed softly. 'Cardiff isn't that dangerous Jack.'

'Says you.'

'Good night Jack.'

'Ianto?'

'Jack?' He heard him sigh as he waited for him to speak.

'Have breakfast with me.'

Ianto smiled. 'I'm going for a run in the morning, if you wanted to join me.'

'Outside?'

'Yep, alarms set for six if your interested.' He heard Jack mutter. 'What did you say?'

'I said, I'd rather set my alarm for sex.'

'It wasn't me that hesitated Jack.'

'I know.' He sighed, god did he know. 'Okay, I'll be at your front door just after six.' He needed the exercise, and if he got lucky, Ianto might wear tight running shorts. The more he thought about it the better he liked the idea. 'Well, good night then.'

'Night Jack.' He smiled as he went though the motions of getting ready for bed, reading for an hour before turning out his light. He was looking forward to his alarm going off as he fell into a dreamless sleep.

Jack was about to knock on the door when it opened. Hungry eyes travelled over Ianto's body, tight running shorts, check. This was looking like a fantastic idea. 'Morning.' He leaned in for a kiss and grinned as Ianto responded beneath his lips before breaking away to lock his door.

'Morning Jack, ready?'

He nodded as he watched Ianto grin and move into a gentle jog. 'I thought you said run.'

'Just warming up. I'm going to run down to the park and back, if you can keep up.'

'What's that supposed to mean?'

Ianto looked over his shoulder as he lengthened his stride and moved out ahead of Jack. 'You are older than me.'

Jack was torn between the enticing view of Ianto's arse running in front of him, and showing the younger man he still had it. The view won. 'Rather enjoy the view thank you.' He called after the Welshman as he found his own rhythm, keeping Ianto directly in front of him.

Ianto grinned, he'd worn the tightest shorts he could find, on purpose. Mills had been right, he was living a life that was far too monastic. And if Jack hadn't pulled back last night, he wasn't sure he would have and he didn't know that he'd really been ready for the reality of sex. It didn't mean he wasn't above tormenting Jack with his very cute, pert arse. He loved to run but he'd forgotten how much better it was running with someone. Quite the metaphor for life he realised.

But when he ran, the rest of the world ceased to exist, there was only his feet hitting the ground as he moved forward. Cutting though time and space with nothing to think about other than the rhythm of his shoes and the pounding of blood in his ears as his lungs expanded to keep him upright. Knowing there was a very sexy man following him, staring at his arse, it was hard to keep his cock in check. His shorts were definitely too tight to hide an erection, and he did not want to get arrested for indecent exposure. He reached the park and checked his time, he was three minutes faster today. He jogged on the spot as he waited for Jack to catch him up. 'Come on old man -.'

Jack leapt on Ianto and kissed him. 'I'll show you what an old man can do Ianto Jones.'

They heard a voice behind them. 'Ah hem, gentlemen.'

Ianto blushed as he saw a uniformed officer standing behind them. Jack was ginning.

'Morning Officer.' A shaking head was his response. 'Ah, we'll be moving along then.' He waved as he began jogging back towards the flat.

Ianto rolled his eyes as he followed Jack, the man had a certain grace as he ran, making him a pleasure to watch.

Jack looked back over his shoulder. 'Now whose staring at my arse?'

'Just returning the favour.'

'Oh yeah?'

They ran the rest of the distance in silence until Ianto let them into the flat, Jack pulling him into his arms and kissing him.

'Morning Ianto.'

He rolled his eyes. 'I need a shower.'

'Can I watch?'

Ianto nibbled Jack's ear lobe before whispering. 'Maybe next time.'

Jack sighed as he watched Ianto walk away.

'I wont be long, there's coffee in the kitchen, help yourself.'

'I should probably head home and grab a shower myself. Will you come over for breakfast?'

Ianto stood in the door of the bathroom and nodded. 'Okay, I'll be over soon.'

'Good thing you live so close.' Jack walked up to Ianto and kissed him, a soul invading kiss as his tongue stroked Ianto's, his lips hungry as they made promises he was determined to keep.

Ianto watched him walk away before turning back to his bathroom and the shower. It took a little longer than he'd anticipated as he found his cock staring up at him, desperate for attention. When he closed his eyes it was Jack's blue eyes he imagined looking back.

Black, white and grey. The colours of the flag he'd been flying since Dylan's death. Ianto sighed, Mills was right, his world lacked colour. He flicked past the black and white shirts and saw red. It matched one of his favourite suits, one he hadn't worn in a very long time. It was black, lined with red silk, the same red silk as the shirt he was now holding. Hanging neglected at the edge of his wardrobe. But was he ready to wear it now?