Chapter Five
Jack grinned as Ianto placed an artfully arranged basket of freshly baked croissants down on the table. Despite having already consumed a glazed custard doughnut, an apple and cinnamon roll, and three cups of coffee, he still had to resist the urge to reach forward and grab one of the mouth-watering pastries. His waistline was definitely starting to feel the strain of the last few days.
He gave Ianto an appreciative up and down glance, noting the Welshman's lean hips and perfectly flat stomach. "Tell me, how is it that you're not even the tiniest bit fat? Don't you ever get tempted? Or are you one of those annoying people who can eat anything they like and never put on an ounce of weight?"
Ianto shrugged. "I enjoy the occasional cake or pastry, but I'm not really much of a sweet-tooth." Despite his apparent nonchalance, there was a definite glint of amusement in his blue eyes. "I'm quite partial to chocolate, though. Preferably dark."
Jack added that little insight to his mental list of fun facts about Ianto Jones as Rhys came over to join them, having just finished serving a customer. The big Welshman flashed Ianto a smile that appeared to be a mixture of fondness and exasperation. "Eats like a sparrow, this one. He'd starve if I wasn't always shovelling food into him. He practically lives on coffee."
Ianto rolled his eyes. "I eat. Sometimes I get distracted and forget, that's all."
Jack chuckled at what was obviously a familiar argument. He'd learnt from Rhys that the two Welshmen were long-time friends, having known each other since high school. They seemed an unlikely pair, being almost polar opposites in both looks and personality, but they were clearly close and shared a bond akin to brotherly affection. Jack liked Rhys. He was down-to-earth, spoke his mind, had a good sense of humour, and possessed the easygoing nature of someone at peace with themselves and their little corner of the world.
Rhys was a startling contrast to Ianto, who was far more reserved and guarded. Ianto seemed to be a deep and perhaps obsessive thinker, with, Jack suspected, a fiery reservoir of emotion hidden beneath his placid exterior. Ianto was an enigma and a challenge, and Jack had always loved a challenge. Being told he couldn't have something he wanted only strengthened his resolve to overcome whatever obstacles stood in his way.
He'd also met Ianto's sister, Rhiannon, and had gotten to know her a little over the last couple of weeks. Rhiannon was two years older than Ianto and seemed to share her brother's entrepreneurial spirit – having worked in retail sales and administrative jobs in the past, she'd recently began operating an eBay store specialising in aromatherapy products. She also worked part-time at the bakery and, much to Jack's chagrin, was engaged and in the process of planning her wedding. Rhiannon was also a notable contrast to her brother. Although they shared some basic physical characteristics such as complexion, hair and eye colours, she was more like Rhys in temperament, being both forthright and plainly-spoken. She wasn't unattractive, but being of average height and more heavily built, she didn't share the striking appearance of her brother. Jack liked her too, even though she talked about little else except her upcoming nuptials.
He turned his attention back to his work, making a few minor adjustments to the arrangement on the table before moving back behind the camera. They'd staged a table at the rear part of the shop for photographing the bakery's products, decorating it with a deep red table cloth and some props to add ambiance to the shots. It was now Friday, and Jack had been at the bakery for a few hours a day all week. He'd amassed hundreds of photographs, showcasing not only Myfanwy's range of products, but the bakery itself, including the interior, exterior and kitchen, along with shots of Ianto, Rhys and Rhiannon.
He'd had an enjoyable week and was sorry to see it come to an end, although he was eagerly looking forward to some one-on-one time with Ianto while they worked on putting together the website. And Rhys's comments about Ianto's eating habits had given him a fantastic idea.
He looked over to where Ianto was now watching him from a discreet distance. Their eyes met, and he gave the Welshman his best wide, dimpled smile before returning his attention to the camera.
There was still some wariness in Ianto's demeanour around him, as if he was trying to figure Jack out and waiting for the other shoe to drop. Still, they'd been getting along pretty well all week and slowly getting to know each other a little better. At least, Jack hoped that was the case as he found himself wanting to learn everything there was to know about the quiet, inscrutable man. They'd had several conversations about the design and content of the website and had spent some time looking at sites of similar businesses for ideas and inspiration. Jack was confident that he had a good idea of what Ianto was wanting for the website.
As the days passed, Jack couldn't deny that he was becoming increasingly enamoured, his thoughts never far from the captivating and talented man. He'd been smitten from the moment they'd met, but those initial lustful feelings had begun to transform into something deeper and less familiar. One problem remained, however – he didn't know if there was even a remote chance of any reciprocal interest on Ianto's part.
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Ianto stood hesitantly at the front door of Jack's flat. Rolling his shoulders in a vain attempt to ease some of his tension, he tried to ignore the unaccountable nervousness at the prospect of spending a few hours alone with the other man. He would have preferred for them to work on the website at the bakery, but Jack had said it would be easier at his flat since he had everything set up on his desktop computer. Given the amount of time Jack had put in all week and the fact that he was doing him a huge favour in the first place, he hadn't been in a position to argue.
The door swung open, revealing Jack, complete with dazzling, full-faced smile and a happy sparkle in his eyes. "Hey, Ianto. Right on time. Come in."
Jack had changed his attire from earlier in the day, swapping his stylish casual street clothes to the dressed-down comfort of well-worn jeans, a dark blue t-shirt and grey socks. The t-shirt was a snug fit, highlighting Jack's impressively toned arms, broad shoulders, well-defined chest and flat stomach. His dark hair was a little wilder than usual, as if he'd been running his hands through it repeatedly during the day. Jack looked good – he always looked good – and Ianto again found himself thinking that Jack was a striking and exceptionally handsome man.
"Hi, Jack." He managed a smile in return as he crossed the threshold and Jack closed the door behind them.
"Here, let me take your coat." Before Ianto could protest, Jack was tugging at his long woollen coat, forcing him to shift his hold on his laptop case to his other hand so that Jack could pull the coat free from his arms. "How was the rest of your day?"
He watched as Jack neatly hung the coat on the elegant metal coat stand beside the door. "Eh...good. Fairly busy."
Compared to Jack, he felt conspicuously over-dressed in his charcoal pinstripe trousers, shirt, tie and smart leather shoes, having driven directly to Jack's flat after closing up the bakery. The bakery was open until five p.m. on Fridays, meaning that it was rare for him to finish up the day much before seven. He unknotted his tie and slipped it off, rolling it up and tucking it carefully into one of the pockets of his coat.
"Didn't have time to go home and change." Self-consciously, he unfastened his shirt collar as Jack watched him with a soft smile on his lips.
"Feel free to take off as much as you like. You won't hear any complaints from me." Jack's smile turned into what could only be described as a lewd grin.
Ianto only managed an indignant glare before he was distracted by the appearance of a sleek, grey cat at his feet. The feline looked up at him with golden eyes and rubbed against his leg, giving a plaintive meow as he butted his head against Ianto's ankle.
"Oh... hello." Ianto grinned and knelt down, scratching gently on the top of the cat's head. The cat meowed again and nuzzled Ianto's hand, obviously enjoying the attention. Ianto stroked under his chin. "Aren't you a gorgeous little fellow?" He looked up at Jack. "What's his name?"
"Moses. Mo for short." Jack had an oddly puzzled look on his face. "He doesn't usually like strangers. He can be kind of skittish. He hates Owen. But then Owen's not really an animal person." He chuckled softly. "He's not much of a people person either, for that matter."
Ianto continued to stroke the cat's soft fur as Jack knelt down beside them. "Wow. He really likes you."
"Maybe it's my aftershave." Ianto smiled down at Moses, giving him a bit more attention before standing upright again.
Jack stood up again as well after rubbing the feline's neck with obvious affection. "Maybe it is. You always smell amazing." He startled Ianto by placing a large, strong hand on his shoulder and giving it a quick squeeze. "Come on, I'll give you the grand tour."
Ianto stared open-mouthed at Jack's retreating back, then glanced down at Moses, who was gazing up at him expectantly. Then Moses trotted off after Jack, apparently giving up on his appeal for more of Ianto's attention.
Slipping off his shoes, Ianto left his laptop bag by the coat stand and followed after the cat and his owner.
Jack's flat was on the sixth floor in a modern, luxury development on the south-west edge of Cardiff Bay. It was actually only a few miles south of where Ianto's flat was located in the more affordable suburb of Grangetown. A hallway ran off the entrance in both directions such that the majority of the interior wasn't immediately visible. But just a few steps around to the right revealed a spacious open-plan living, dining and kitchen space, the sight of which left Ianto momentarily dumbstruck.
Tall windows provided sweeping, panoramic views over the surrounding areas and out across the water, the height and viewpoint giving the illusion that the bay almost reached up to the foundations of the building. A set of glass doors led out to a timber-decked balcony, its length traversing the width of the room. Sunset was still a couple of hours away, and the sky was a dull grey with low, dark clouds suggesting that rain was imminent, but the view was nonetheless spectacular. Ianto doubted that the market value of the flat would leave much change out of half-a-million quid.
Shifting his gaze from the windows, he noted that the interior was stylish and contemporary, with honey-coloured hardwood floors, crisp neutral walls and modern, unfussy furniture in warm muted tones. The kitchen directly on his right was generously proportioned and consisted of glossy cabinetry, stainless steel appliances and granite work surfaces. A long, deep island allowed for unrestricted movement around the space and the adjoining dining area contained an oblong glass-topped table with chairs upholstered in earthy-toned leather. A sprawling, plush sofa in a similar shade of muted brown occupied the centre of the living area, accented with a number of big, plump cushions in various shades of blue. Adjoining it were a pair of armchairs, a glass-topped coffee table scattered with magazines, books and remote controls, and a wide entertainment unit with a vast flat-screen television and accompanying audio/visual equipment.
Shelving units along the wall to the left contained an enormous DVD and Blu-Ray collection, along with books and various other odds and ends. A couple of floor lamps, smaller tables and several thick rugs completed the furnishings. What captured the eye, however, were the numerous framed photographs of various sizes that dotted the walls and added random splashes of colour to the otherwise muted palette. The subjects variedly wildly from vivid landscapes and images from nature to more mundane and man-made objects to surprisingly tasteful partial nudes, both male and female.
While he found it a little shocking to see expanses of bare flesh openly on display in someone's living room, he couldn't deny that they were beautiful images. Managing to be both erotic and sensual without crossing the line into vulgarity, they seemed to draw the eye and encourage closer examination. A trio of images on the wall of the dining area of chiselled male torsos was particularly striking. Ianto didn't doubt that every one of the photographs had been taken by Jack, and the man clearly had a talent for capturing beauty from all manner of subjects.
None of this was anything like what Ianto might have imagined given Jack's exuberant personality, and yet somehow it seemed to suit him perfectly. After all, Jack obviously took pride in his appearance, so it only made sense that he'd take similar care with the furnishing and presentation of his home. He just hadn't expected it to be quite so understated and tasteful, even with the scattering of erotic artwork.
"Do you like the photographs?" Jack picked up Moses and cuddled him against his chest before moving to deposit him on the sofa.
"Yes, very much." Ianto was still looking around and taking it all in. "You're very talented."
"What about those ones?" Jack gestured towards the trio of partial male bodies. "What do you think of them?"
Ianto wondered what Jack was getting at with the pointed question. He wasn't so narrow-minded that he couldn't appreciate the beauty of the male form, regardless of his sexual orientation. He nodded. "They're stunning."
If Jack was surprised by his response, he didn't show it. "I think so too."
Jack then led him back into the hallway, showing him the utility and storage rooms that connected with the kitchen. Further down the hallway, on the other side of the flat's entrance, Jack gestured at the first of several doorways. "This is one of the three bedrooms, but I use it as a studio and workout room."
Ianto moved to join Jack and peer inside the spacious room, where he saw a large white backdrop that extended up the wall and across the floor. A plethora of lighting equipment surrounded it along with several tripods. Cases, shelves and a long table were all filled with photography kit. There were a couple of chairs and a folding privacy screen at the end of the room closest to the door, which Ianto assumed models used for disrobing. Next to the screen was a treadmill, a weight bench and a rack of free weights.
Next was another bedroom which Jack had furnished as a home office. A computer and its associated hardware was set up on a large desk, along with a pair of expensive-looking desk chairs, bookcases, shelving and what appeared to be a sofa bed. There was a bathroom directly across from the bedroom/office, and beyond that was a spacious master bedroom with a walk-in wardrobe and its own bathroom. The bedroom was dominated by a king-size bed and otherwise simply furnished with a tall chest of drawers and a pair of bedside tables. The bedrooms were carpeted and more prints adorned the walls in each room, but the overall aesthetic was once again warm and understated. A navy blue duvet covered the bed and was topped by lighter blue pillows.
Having now viewed the entire flat, Ianto's overall impression was that Jack liked space, he liked everything to be on a large scale, he liked luxury and high quality, and he liked the colour blue.
He'd half expected Jack to make some inappropriate or innuendo-laced comment as they stood in the bedroom. Not wanting to linger, he retreated back into the hallway and waited for Jack to follow. They returned to the living area.
"It's a brilliant flat, Jack." Ianto couldn't help being a bit envious. He liked his own little abode well enough and it had everything he needed, but it seemed terribly modest in comparison and probably had little more than a third of the floor space of Jack's impressive flat.
"Do you really like it?" Jack looked at him with an odd intensity, as if his response was actually important.
Ianto nodded, puzzled as to why his opinion would matter to Jack one way or the other. "Yes, of course. I'd love to live somewhere like this one day. I'm renting at the moment. It's nothing special. Just an average flat. Nothing grand like this." He moved to the windows and looked out over the bay. "The view's spectacular."
"Yeah, once I saw that view, I knew I wanted to live here. Haven't regretted it yet. I've thought about getting a house, but this suits me." Jack came up to stand beside him, his shoulder bumping against Ianto's. "I'd like to see your place. If you'll invite me over for a visit sometime?"
Ianto turned his head to look at Jack in surprise. Something about the soft, almost hopeful expression on Jack's face and the look in his eyes completely disarmed him, despite his better judgement. "It's really nothing to see. But... um... all right."
"Great." Jack grinned. "So, are you hungry? I made us a pizza. It should be just about ready."
As if on cue, a beeping sound began emanating from the kitchen.
"Perfect timing!" Jack laughed and moved to the kitchen. "What would you like to drink? Beer? I've got Double Dragon, Brains SA and Brains Dark. Or we can open a bottle of wine if you like?"
Ianto was dumbstruck for the second time since arriving at Jack's flat. He followed Jack over to the kitchen. "You made us dinner?" He failed to hide the incredulity from his voice.
"Yup. Home-made pizza. Can't have you working on an empty stomach. You're in for a treat, if I do say so myself." Jack pulled open the oven door and reached for a pair of blue oven mitts. "Can you grab some drinks from the refrigerator while I slice up the pizza? Pick whatever you like. I'll have the same."
Ianto opened and closed his mouth several times, but no words came out. He wasn't sure whether to be irritated that Jack had sprung this little surprise on him or to admire the man's cunning tenacity. Either way, unless he made an undignified flee for the door, it seemed that Jack was about to get his wish. They were going to have dinner together.