Chapter Twenty-Five
With a weary sigh, Ianto reclined on the sofa and closed his eyes as he breathed in the aroma of his freshly brewed cup of coffee. It had been a stressful and exhausting day, but the wedding had been a success and life could hopefully now return to some semblance of normality. Not that his life seemed particularly normal these days, especially when it included a charismatic and ridiculously handsome boyfriend, but he supposed it was all relative. Besides, Jack would probably tell him that normal was overrated.
Rhiannon and Johnny were spending their wedding night at the country hotel, then heading to the seaside town of Tenby for a few days for their honeymoon. Jack, Rhys and himself had all travelled home separately, having each driven to the wedding in their own vehicles. Rhys was already tucked up in bed, having declared himself knackered as soon as they'd arrived back at the flat. Presumably Jack was also in bed by now and sleeping peacefully. The thought of Jack asleep, features relaxed and hair rumpled, perhaps with Moses curled up beside him, brought an affectionate smile to his face.
He slowly sipped his coffee and savoured the still silence of the flat. Between Rhys moving in, spending time with Jack and helping Rhiannon with the wedding preparations, solitude had been in short supply of late. Rhys had started looking for a new place to live, so their brief time together as flatmates would likely soon be at an end. He wasn't sure how he felt about that, and he'd miss having Rhys around, having become accustomed to his company in the evenings that he didn't spend with Jack. The one thing he wouldn't miss was the way that Rhys tended to wander naked between bedroom, kitchen and bathroom in the mornings before getting dressed or sometimes late at night. Although he admired that Rhys was so comfortable with himself, he'd literally seen more of his best friend in the last few weeks than he ever had before or ever wanted to again.
He wondered if Jack was right about Rhys dipping his toes into the turbulent waters of homosexuality. Now that he stopped to think about it, he supposed it wasn't as surprising or unexpected as it seemed. After all, Rhys had expressed curiosity in recent times and had taken particular interest in his and Jack's relationship right from the beginning – so perhaps he'd decided that it was the perfect opportunity to dabble in a bit of sexual experimentation of his own. Of course, he was in no position to judge – besides, he just wanted Rhys to be happy and find someone who appreciated him, regardless of their gender – but the notion of both of them in same-sex relationships was bizarre, to say the least. Life could be very strange, he decided with no small amount of irony.
Finishing off his coffee, he tilted his head back and stared up at the ceiling. It was well after one in the morning, but he was too wired from the events of the day to sleep, and since it was Sunday, he could indulge in a rare lie-in when he finally did get to bed. After the last few days, he decided that he'd earned it.
He was debating whether to turn on the telly for a bit, perhaps put on one of his favourite Bond films or watch some Star Trek from the set that Jack had given him for his birthday, when he was startled by the muted sound of his phone announcing the arrival of a text message. With a frown, he climbed to his feet and retrieved the phone from where he'd left it on his bedside table after changing out of his wedding suit. He wasn't particularly surprised to see that the message was from Jack – with the wedding dramas now over, he couldn't think of anyone else who would be texting him at this time of night.
Still awake? Can I come up? I'm downstairs. J.
Eyebrows lifting in astonishment, Ianto returned to the living room and parted the blinds to look down onto the deserted street. Sure enough, Jack was standing on the footpath, dressed in casual attire and waving up at him. He texted Jack back and buzzed him inside.
A few moments later he was ushering Jack into the living room and closing the door behind them so as not to disturb Rhys. "Jack? What are you doing here? It's almost two in the morning."
Jack answered by grasping hold of his face with both hands and kissing him thoroughly. Jack grinned as he pulled back. "Well, that for starters. I've been wanting to kiss you all day."
"Oh. Well, that was nice." Ianto began to lean back in for a second kiss.
Jack, however, held him back, resting his hands on both of Ianto's shoulders. He lightly caressed Ianto's cheek, his eyes steady and intent. "The other reason is that we couldn't dance together at the wedding, and I didn't want the night to be over before we did."
Ianto blinked in surprise, but then he narrowed his eyes. "You said I'm a terrible dancer."
"You just need some practice. Anyway, I'm an excellent dancer." Jack grinned again. "I can compensate for your deficiencies." His grin then turned into something softer and so warm with affection that Ianto doubted his ability to deny the man anything. "Actually, I like that there's something you're not particularly good at. You might not realise it, but you can be an intimidating guy sometimes."
Ianto almost wanted to laugh at the irony of that statement, but something about the earnest way in which Jack was looking at him held him back. "What about you? What aren't you good at?"
"Oh, I'm amazing at everything." Jack's expression was smug before turning amusingly sheepish. "Okay, I admit I'm rubbish at doing my taxes. But that's what accountants are for, so I don't consider that to be a shortcoming."
Ianto rolled his eyes, but he laughed all the same.
"So, will you do me the honour of dancing with me, Mr. Jones?" Jack gave him a beseeching look that wouldn't have been out of place on a newborn puppy.
Ianto feigned a sigh of defeat. "All right, but we'll need to be quiet so we don't wake up Rhys."
Pulling out his phone, Jack tapped on the screen, then set it down on the coffee table. A soft, instrumental melody began playing from the phone's tiny speaker. Ianto looked at Jack dubiously, but he allowed himself to be pulled into the other man's arms.
"Just relax. Nothing difficult, I promise." Jack positioned Ianto's left hand on his shoulder and placed his right hand on Ianto's back. Pulling Ianto closer, he entwined the fingers of their other hands together and rested them against his chest. Jack then smiled and took the lead, guiding Ianto to follow his steps as he moved them in time to the music's leisurely rhythm.
After a stumble or two and almost treading on Jack's toes more than once, Ianto managed to settle into the simple patterns of steps, albeit with less grace and coordination than his partner. Exuding his usual easy confidence, Jack was patient and attentive as he guided their movements. When Jack spun him around in an outside turn before pulling him close again, Ianto almost laughed at the absurdity of the situation. Here he was, dancing intimately with another man – the man he was dating no less – in his living room at two o'clock in the morning. It was without question one of the most bizarre things that he'd ever done.
But then Jack pressed a tender kiss to his lips before pulling him closer against his body, and an unexpected sense of peace and utter rightness washed over him. He rested his cheek against Jack's, enjoying the sensation of the warm, stubbled skin against his own and closed his eyes. Not so long ago, being the focus of Jack's attention had unnerved and even intimidated him, but now he found himself relishing every moment. Held against that strong, masculine body, surrounded by the warmth and comfort of Jack, he'd found where he wanted to be... where it felt like he belonged.
And without any warning, in a moment of perfect clarity, he knew that he loved this man. He was in love with Jack. More surprising, however, was the realisation that Jack loved him in return. In retrospect, the signs had been obvious. He just hadn't been willing to acknowledge them until now.
Their dancing slowed to little more than a gentle swaying back and forth, but Jack didn't seem to mind as he continued to hold them close, chest-to-chest. Jack's lips brushed the edge of Ianto's jawline, just below his ear. Then their mouths found each other again, joining in a deep and passionate kiss, and several moments passed before Ianto realised that the music had ended.
Jack was smiling as they eased apart to look at each other. "Thanks for dancing with me."
"Actually, I enjoyed it." Smiling in return, Ianto reached up and stroked Jack's cheek, tracing his fingertips along the strong jawline. Then, as he stared into Jack's eyes, he made a decision. "You could stay tonight... if you want to?"
The expression on Jack's face seemed part surprise and part hope. "Are you sure?"
Ianto nodded, confident that he was ready to take this next step. "I'm sure, Jack."
Linking hands, they moved out to the hallway and into the bedroom, Ianto switching off the lights behind them. He turned on the lamp on his bedside table as Jack silently closed the door, and the room was bathed in a soft, muted glow. Turning away from Jack, he fussed with folding down the bed covers, a sudden fluttering of nerves taking hold in his stomach.
"Hey." Jack's arms wrapped around his waist and gently turned him around. "I'm glad I'm here. This means a lot to me, Ianto."
"Me too." Touched by the sincerity in Jack's features and in his voice, Ianto took a deep breath and managed a wry smile. "Although, I thought we'd be wearing less clothes by now."
Jack chuckled and placed a light kiss on Ianto's lips. "Let's see if we can do something about that."
Jack began unbuttoning his dark blue shirt, making a show of it as he released each button from its hole with excruciating slowness. Unable to deny his eagerness about seeing Jack naked again, Ianto watched, transfixed, his fingers itching to grab hold of the fabric, tear it apart and send buttons pinging around the room just to speed up the process. Tempting though it was, such wanton destruction of clothing – especially a nice and expensive shirt – was against his nature. Hands clenching restlessly at his sides, he swallowed and continued to watch.
Finally Jack released the last button and slipped off the shirt, tossing it aside. Flashing Ianto a teasing smile, he then – again, far too slowly – peeled off the snug white t-shirt he was wearing underneath. Jack's sleek, designer jeans sat low on his hips, showing off every inch of toned abdominal muscle and highlighting the contours leading from hip to groin. It was a captivating sight, and Ianto couldn't help but stare, his crotch growing tight as he remembered how good it felt to touch that smooth, sculpted torso. Even now, the sight of Jack's body thrilled and aroused him in ways that he never would have thought possible.
Jack began tugging at the bottom of Ianto's long-sleeved t-shirt, and Ianto obligingly lifted his arms, allowing Jack to remove it completely. Unable to wait any longer, he wrapped his arms around Jack, bringing their bare chests together and claiming Jack's lips in a hard, urgent kiss. With a deep moan, Jack kissed him back, and they continued kissing as they fumbled to remove the rest of their clothing. Jeans, socks and underwear were soon piled haphazardly by their feet, Jack's erection hot and hard as it moved against Ianto's, intensifying the rush of arousal coursing through his veins.
They stumbled back onto the bed, and Ianto groaned as Jack rocked against him, startled by how much he liked Jack's firm weight sprawled on top of him. All that strength and power in Jack's body was exciting, the idea of being at Jack's mercy thrilling rather than disconcerting. Besides, he knew that Jack would never try to use his strength and greater bulk against him. It was just the idea that they could be rough and physical with each other which held a certain appeal that he'd never considered before.
After sharing another hungry kiss, Jack began trailing kisses down his throat and across his chest. Jack's mouth latched onto a nipple, lavishing it with varying combinations of lips, teeth and tongue while stroking its partner with his fingers. Ianto's breath hitched from the sensual onslaught, and he struggled to hold back a needy moan of pleasure. Pausing to look up at him with a knowing grin, Jack then redoubled his efforts, eventually moving the attention of that talented, relentless mouth to the other side and starting all over again.
Jack worked downwards, kissing, licking and sucking. He swirled his tongue into the dip of Ianto's navel, causing Ianto to squirm and let out a choked laugh. Jack did it again, apparently delighted by his reaction. Pulling back, Jack stared down at Ianto's erection, then looked up at him. "Want to try something new?"
Ianto wasn't sure what Jack had in mind, but he was pretty sure that he would have agreed to anything if it meant getting Jack's mouth back in contact with his body. He nodded. "Okay."
Jack smiled and planted a tender kiss to the upper edge of his hip. "Scoot up and spread your legs out a bit."
Ianto complied, tugging a pillow behind his head. Jack sat back and stared at him for a long moment, the open expression of appreciation and desire on his face leaving no doubt that he liked what he saw. Despite being so exposed before Jack, Ianto realised that he wasn't in the least bit uncomfortable. On the contrary, he was enjoying his own view as he admired Jack in all his naked glory. The soft light accentuated the contours of Jack's extraordinary physique, while his impressive erection jutted proudly upwards, reaching well past the indentation of his navel. Their eyes met, and they shared an intimate smile.
Jack reached for him, the slow, deliberate stroke causing his breath to hitch. As Jack's hand dipped lower and continued to explore, he shifted his legs further apart in encouragement. Then, without warning, Jack lowered his head, nuzzling Ianto's crotch before sliding his tongue slowly from root to tip. Ianto shuddered from the sensation, gasping as Jack took the slick crown into his mouth with a soft moan and caressed it with his tongue. Sliding a hand into Jack's hair, Ianto watched in amazement as Jack griped him around the base and took the rest of him into his mouth, slowly drawing back and sucking on the head, then engulfing him all over again.
Ianto had experienced oral sex before, but never like this, and never with someone so skilled or single-minded. And, judging from the sounds that Jack was making, not to mention his obvious enthusiasm, he was enjoying the experience every bit as much as Ianto. The awareness of Jack's pleasure heightened his own.
It was almost too good... too intense... and Ianto willed his body to last just a little longer, not ready for this to be over. But Jack soon had him teetering on the brink, the pressure in his groin warning him that he'd only last a few more moments. "Jack..."
Jack, however, didn't show any sign of relenting, and Ianto couldn't hold back any longer against that wickedly talented mouth. He arched upwards as he climaxed, flooding Jack's mouth. Jack groaned, swallowing as he continued to work his mouth up and down, clearly determined not to allow a single drop to escape. Taking deep, unsteady breaths, Ianto slumped back against the pillow as Jack finally eased back, lapping at the head and generating little aftershocks of pleasure before letting him go completely.
Sitting back, Jack smiled down at him, licking his lips as if he'd just finished dining on a favourite meal. He then crawled up Ianto's body, stopping just a few inches from his face.
Surprising himself, Ianto pulled Jack into a kiss, sliding his tongue into Jack's mouth, seeking out his taste and finding the act incredibly erotic. As they continued to kiss, he slid his hand between their bodies and took hold of Jack, stroking firmly as Jack worked his hips to thrust back against him. He could tell that Jack was close, and it was only a matter of moments before Jack groaned and shuddered, erupting in thick, hot gushes which splattered all over his chest and stomach.
Pulling back from their kiss, breathless and shaky, Jack lowered his head and dragged his mouth over Ianto's chest, lapping up his ejaculate and leaving a trail of slick, matted hair in his wake. Watching with wide eyes, Ianto could only nod as Jack looked back up at him with a silent request for permission. Cradling Jack's face in his hands, he met Jack's mouth with his own, kissing again and sharing their combined taste.
Jack stroked Ianto's cheek as they eased apart. His eyes were dilated and glazed, but the affection in them was unmistakeable. "Wow."
"Yeah." Ianto smiled, trailing a hand lazily along Jack's spine. He held Jack's gaze, hoping his own conveyed at least some of what he was feeling.
He was again struck by the sense of contentment and rightness of being with Jack. And although he was still enjoying the post-coital euphoria, he knew it was more than that. Sex with Jack was incredible – to put it mildly – and his fears about physical compatibility had clearly been unfounded. It was the emotional connection, however, which made it all the more intense. Friendship, respect, trust, acceptance, affection... love. They were all the things that he wanted in a partner and had failed to find in the past. He'd found each and every one of them, with Jack.
They grinned at each other, sharing their amusement at their mutual lack of eloquence. It was after three in the morning, and they'd both had a long and tiring day, so he supposed that they could be forgiven for being reduced to single word sentences. Jack grabbed some tissues from the box on the bedside table, cleaned them up, then pulled the bed covers over them as Ianto reached over and turned off the light.
Shrouded in darkness, they wrapped themselves around each other, clearly in silent agreement about wanting as much skin-to-skin contact as possible. Ianto had never been much of a cuddler, but he liked this... liked the warmth and reassurance of Jack's bare skin against his own... liked how their bodies seemed to fit together effortlessly, as if they'd been designed with exactly that purpose in mind.
He kissed Jack's shoulder before closing his eyes, the steady sound of Jack's breathing lulling him into a deep and contented sleep.