Jack woke up to find that he was spooned up against Ianto's back, the Welshman sleeping peacefully in his arms. He smiled contentedly. He could definitely get used to this.

Reluctantly pulling away to turn over and look at the alarm clock, Jack sighed as he realised that it was 6am and he'd have to wake Ianto up soon.

Propping himself up on his elbow, Jack looked down at his sleeping lover. He felt his heart soar with a rush of affection for the younger man. It felt so right having him in his bed; in his arms. Jack's previous relationships had only ever been casual; predominantly one night stands. His need for secrecy had made anything more serious virtually impossible; but now with Ianto...

Ianto was beautiful, funny, intelligent and an incredible lover – Jack smiled at the pleasant ache that he felt in his muscles caused by their activities in bed the previous day – but it wasn't just that. He felt an incredibly intense connection with Ianto that he had never felt with any of his previous lovers and it had only been one day.

Jack sighed at the thought that Ianto might be the one that it was worth taking the risk for; coming out and telling Alice. How ironic was it that the one who was worth the risk was the one that would probably cause the most trouble between him and Alice? He must be a glutton for punishment.

'Stop thinking so hard,' Ianto said sleepily, his eyes still closed.

Jack smiled. 'I thought you were asleep.'

'I was but you're thinking so loud,' Ianto replied opening his eyes and wriggling round so that he was lying on his back. 'Morning,' he smiled.

'Morning beautiful,' Jack whispered, leaning in for a kiss.

'Mmm,' Ianto sighed as they broke apart and he snuggled into Jack, burying his head in his neck. 'Your bed's comfy.'

'Yeah,' Jack replied. His fingers were caressing the bare skin of Ianto's lower back, moving gradually lower. 'Does that mean you want to stay over again?'

Ianto pretended to consider for a moment before replying. 'I think I could cope with that. Although if you don't stop what you're doing I'm not sure I'll be leaving the bed at all.'

Jack pouted. 'I can't help it. What do you expect me to do? I wake up and find a gorgeous naked Welshman in my bed; it would be rude not to take advantage.'

Ianto grinned. 'So I was put here to tempt you?'

'Definitely,' Jack agreed, rolling them over so that he was lying on top of Ianto. 'And don't tell me you aren't enjoying it.'

Ianto couldn't deny it. The evidence of his enjoyment was currently pressing hard into Jack's thigh but he knew they didn't have much time.

'Jack, what about Alice?'

Jack looked at the clock again, 06:14. He sighed, knowing that Ianto was right, but not wanting to stop.

'Why don't we see how quickly I can get you off,' Jack suggested, 'then see if you can do better?'

'Okay then,' Ianto grinned. 'Your time starts now.'

Eighteen minutes later, Jack and Ianto were lying next to each other on the bed both utterly spent.

'You cheated,' Ianto said indignantly.

'I did not,' Jack replied. 'I won fair and square.'

'You must have cheated,' Ianto said. 'You held off two whole minutes longer than me.'

'So much for the young having more stamina,' Jack teased.

'Oi,' Ianto retorted by shoving Jack playfully. 'Are you complaining about my stamina?'

'No,' Jack shook his head and looked straight into Ianto's eyes. 'I've got no complaints at all.'

Ianto grinned. 'Want to share a shower?'

'Only if you promise to behave.'

Ianto did behave for the most part, restricting himself to only stealing a few kisses while they showered and dressed. It was a few minutes before seven when Ianto was ready to leave.

'I had a really amazing day yesterday,' Jack said he walked Ianto to the door.

'Me too,' Ianto replied. 'When can I see you again?'

'Are you busy tomorrow night?'

Ianto shook his head. 'Do you want to come round to my place?'

'Yeah,' Jack replied. 'I'd like that.'

'Great. I'll call you later – if that's alright?' Ianto hesitated.

'Of course it is Ianto,' Jack replied. 'You don't have to ask permission.'

'I know – I just didn't want you to think I was being pushy. I know how difficult it is for you.'

'You can call me whenever you like,' Jack said with a smile. 'The only time my phone's switched off is when I'm at work.'

'Okay,' Ianto agreed. 'Now I've got to go or I'll be late for work.'

'See you tomorrow,' Jack said and leaned in to kiss Ianto goodbye.

Ten minutes after Ianto had left the building Jack heard his front door open and the harassed tones of his daughter floated down the hall and into his living room.

'Stephen you aren't ill. We go through this every Monday morning.'

'But I feel sick.'

'Hey Soldier,' Jack addressed his Grandson with a smile. 'What's up?'

'I feel sick,' Stephen said with the most miserable expression on his face.

'He doesn't feel sick,' Alice told her father. 'He just doesn't want to go to school. He thinks if he says he's ill he'll be able to stay here with you.'

'Aww Stephen I've got to go to work today,' Jack told him. 'But I tell you what – why don't you go to school and then after school I'll take you to the park. How does that sound?'

'Yeah,' Stephen replied immediately sounding a lot brighter and dashing off to switch the television on.

'Thanks Dad,' Alice said gratefully and then frowned as she looked at her father.

'I'll pick him up at five,' Jack replied with a smile, which dropped as he saw the look on his daughter's face.

'What's wrong?'

Alice quickly looked around the apartment for anything out of place before eyeing her father suspiciously.

'What's going on Dad?'

'What do you mean?' Jack asked, confused.

'Have you had someone over?'

Jack's eyes went wide. How could Alice have possibly figured it out?

'Um,' he stammered. 'I don't...'

'There are two wine glasses in the sink,' Alice explained.

'Oh,' Jack grimaced, remembering the glasses of wine that he and Ianto had shared before going to bed the previous evening. He'd meant to wash them up before Alice came over; he couldn't believe he'd forgotten.

'And you've got a love bite on your neck.'

'What?' Jack raced to the bathroom mirror. Alice was right; he brought his fingers up and touched the small, pink patch of skin just above his collarbone. It would be hidden, except for the fact that his top button was undone. He closed his eyes and tried to calm down; to not think about the way Ianto's teeth had nipped at his over- sensitised skin as they'd made love...

Goddamn it.

'You don't have to be embarrassed you know,' Alice said with a smile as she poked her head around the open bathroom door. 'I've been telling you for ages that you need a girlfriend. So who is she?'

'Erm...' Jack stammered. 'Nobody you know.'

'What's her name? Where did you meet her?'

'Alice – you'll be late for work.'

'What's with the secrecy Dad, is she really old and decrepit or something?'

Exactly the opposite actually, Jack thought.

'No, no. It's nothing like that. It's just – it's early days. I don't want to rush things y'know?'

Alice frowned; unconvinced Jack was telling her the truth but decided not to press the matter.

'Okay then fine. Have your secrets. But I hope it works out for you Dad. You deserve to be happy. I'm happy for you.'

'Thanks,' Jack replied although he couldn't help but think that if Alice knew the truth she wouldn't be nearly so happy for him.

At midday, Ianto was sitting at his desk in the IT office. He was supposed to be running an update of the anti-virus software but in reality he was thinking about Jack; remembering the way that Jack had kissed him; touched him so gently and passionately, like Ianto was something so precious; how he had fallen asleep with Jack's arms around him, how right it had felt.

Ianto was so lost in thought that he didn't hear the office door open or notice that Toshiko Sato had entered the room until she spoke.

'Is it time to go home yet?'

Ianto jumped out of his skin, causing Toshiko to laugh. 'Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you.'

Ianto laughed at himself as Tosh sat down in her own chair at the desk opposite his.

'I was miles away.'

'Thinking about your hot date last night?'

Ianto did a double take. 'How did you know?'

'Reasonable conclusion to make,' Toshiko replied. 'You don't normally dress so formally for work. I'm guessing you didn't get home last night.'

Ianto smiled slightly and Tosh knew that she was right.

'Who's the lucky guy?'

'His name's Jack,' Ianto said quietly, only too aware that the office gossip Gwen Cooper was within earshot and he had no desire to have the entire building knowing about his personal life.

'How did you meet him?'

'At a bar,' Ianto said not wanting to go into too much detail. 'He's a pilot.'

'Wow,' Toshiko replied excitedly. 'I love a man in uniform.'

'Don't let Tommy hear you say that he might get jealous,' Ianto said thinking about Toshiko's boyfriend who worked in the HR department.

'I'll have you know that Tommy looks a very attractive in an army uniform,' Tosh said innocently.

'Oh Tosh!' Ianto exclaimed. 'I so did not need that mental image.'

Toshiko just grinned.

'So are you seeing him again?' she asked changing the subject.

'Tomorrow night,' Ianto replied. 'I know it sounds daft but I'm missing him already.'

'Sounds like somebody's in love.'

'Don't be daft,' Ianto rolled his eyes. 'We've only had one date. It's too early to be in love.'

'It's never too early to be in love,' Toshiko replied. 'When you meet the right one you just know.'

Ianto frowned as he thought about Tosh's words. Did he love Jack? Was it possible that he could have fallen so hard, so fast? It had taken him over six months to realise that he was in love with Owen... but Jack was nothing like Owen. Jack made his heart beat quicken and his stomach flutter; he ached to just be near to him; to hold him, kiss him... was he in love with him?

Before Ianto could dissect the notion any further, his mobile phone began to ring. 'Jack calling' the caller display read.

'I'm going to lunch,' Ianto announced, jumping up from his desk and grabbing his phone.

'Give my love to Jack,' Toshiko called after him.

'Hello?' Ianto answered his phone as he left the office and headed for the canteen.

'Hey you,' Jack greeted him. 'Are you busy?'

'Not especially. I'm just going to lunch.'

'What a coincidence,' Jack replied. 'Me too, what are you having?'

'Hmm not sure,' Ianto replied, perusing the sandwich bar. 'There's a choice of chicken salad or BLT what do you think?'

'I know what I fancy,' Jack said, his voice thick with innuendo.

'I bet you do,' Ianto replied. 'I'm not sure you can be trusted though. You cheat.'

'Do not,' Jack laughed. 'Maybe we should have a rematch.'

'Yeah,' Ianto agreed. 'And this time I'll make sure I've got my stopwatch so you can't cheat.'

'Yeah, yeah,' Jack replied. 'Bring it on Jones.'

Ianto smiled at the sound of Jack's voice.

'I can't stop thinking about you,' Ianto admitted. He heard Jack gasp.

'Really?'

'Yeah.'

'God,' Jack replied. 'I can't stop thinking about you either.'

'What are you up to tonight?' Ianto asked.

'Taking Stephen to the park later,' Jack replied. 'I promised him this morning. What about you?'

'Oh I don't know, probably just watch a DVD or something. Are you still coming round tomorrow?'

'Of course,' Jack replied. 'I'm looking forward to it.'

'So am I.'

'Oh by the way,' Jack said suddenly. 'You gave me a love bite.'

'Did I?'

'Yeah,' Jack said with a smile. 'Alice saw it.'

'Oh God,' Ianto replied. 'I'm so sorry Jack.'

'It's okay,' Jack reassured him. 'I like it actually. I haven't had a love bite since I was a teenager.'

'What did Alice say?'

'She asked who my new girlfriend was.'

'Oh.'

'I will tell her Ianto,' Jack said his tone suddenly serious.

'I know you will Jack,' Ianto replied.

'It's just hard.'

'There's no rush. I'm not going anywhere.'

'Thank you.'

'It's okay.'

'Look I've got to go,' Jack said. 'I've got a class in ten minutes.'

'Okay,' Ianto replied. 'I'll speak to you tonight.'

'Okay,' Jack agreed. 'Bye Ianto.'

'Bye Jack.'

Ianto felt his heart swell with the urge to protect Jack. He'd sounded so insecure. Ianto wanted to go to him and hold him close, tell him that everything would be alright. It was at that moment that he knew that Toshiko had been right; that he was completely in love with Jack Harkness.