Chapter Twenty-Six

Jack propped himself up on one elbow and smiled as he studied Ianto's relaxed features in the soft morning light. With his face half smooshed into the pillow, lips slightly parted, hair tousled and dark stubble shadowing the curve of his jaw, Ianto was a gorgeous sight. As he'd done before, Jack marvelled at how peaceful Ianto looked when he slept, his innocent, almost angelic appearance belying the fastidious, reserved, dry-witted and often enigmatic man whom Jack had grown to know and love so deeply.

The sheer intensity of his feelings for Ianto still managed to catch him by surprise. He'd never thought that he could feel this way about another person, but he'd never imagined finding someone as unique and captivating as Ianto Jones either. With his quiet and unassuming demeanour, Ianto had turned Jack's world upside down and then given it a thorough shake for good measure. Estelle had been right, of course – in the end, he was no more immune to the vagaries of love as anyone else. It had just taken Ianto to come into his life for him to realise it.

Their night together was one that he would never forget. Dancing with Ianto, the fantastic sex that followed, falling asleep in each other's arms and waking to find Ianto still sleeping soundly beside him... it had been everything he'd hoped for since they'd first met. Looking back, it almost seemed like a different lifetime. They'd come a long way with each other, and more than ever, he felt confident that their journey would continue. This was just the beginning for them, but it was the beginning of what he hoped would be a long and lasting partnership.

He lightly kissed Ianto's forehead and adjusted the bed covers around the younger man's bare shoulders. As much as he wanted to stay with Ianto until he woke, his throat was dry and his bladder was in need of relief. Reluctantly, he eased himself out of the bed and glanced at Ianto's bedside clock, noting that it was just after nine a.m. He didn't want to disturb Ianto's rest, especially after the stress of the day before and their late night together. Being Sunday, this was the one day of the week when Ianto could enjoy a well-deserved lie-in.

Closing the bedroom door softly behind him, he padded into the bathroom and took care of business, then washed his hands and splashed some water on his face when he was finished. He was studying his reflection in the mirror when he heard movement in the kitchen and belatedly remembered that they weren't alone.

Following the sound into the adjacent room, he grinned as he found himself staring at the rear view of a naked Rhys, who was standing in front of the open refrigerator and retrieving a carton of juice. "Morning, Rhys. Sleep well?"

Rhys turned around, juice carton in hand. His eyes widened as he took in Jack's equally naked form, his gaze dropping to Jack's crotch before hastily lifting upwards again. "Er... hiya, Jack." After an abashed glance down at himself, he looked back at Jack and laughed self-consciously. "This is a bit awkward, isn't it?"

Jack was trying to hide his own amusement. "It's fine, Rhys. We're both adults. Nothing to be embarrassed about."

Although Rhys wasn't really his physical type, Jack couldn't resist giving the Welshman a thorough once over. He was only human after all, and he had a healthy appreciation of the human form in all its various shapes and sizes. Solidly built and naturally burly, Rhys was a little soft around the edges and heavy in the waist and chest, but he was a good-looking man nonetheless. Rhys wasn't a stereotypical bear since he possessed only a light smattering of brownish hair on the upper region of his chest, but an appealing trail began just above his navel and joined with the untamed expanse at his crotch. Uncut and presently soft, he was thick, perhaps a little above average in length, and in proportion with his large frame. Jack had never met Rhys's unappreciative ex-girlfriend, but her loss would undoubtedly be someone else's gain. From what he'd observed the night before, Johnny's friend Jake had already taken a definite interest.

Regardless of his physical attributes, Rhys was a dependable, warm-hearted guy, and Jack genuinely liked him and considered him a friend. Apart from anything else, the way that Rhys always looked out for Ianto put the down-to-earth Welshman on Jack's short-list of favourite people.

He retrieved a pair of glasses from one of the cupboards, handed one to Rhys and filled his own from the tap, swallowing the water in greedy gulps before accepting some juice from Rhys and drinking that too. Then, stifling a yawn, he busied himself with putting Ianto's coffee machine into action.

"Bloody hell, Jack. Those photos don't do you justice."

Jack turned in time to catch Rhys staring at where his bare backside had been a moment earlier. Never one not to enjoy receiving an appreciative once over and amused that Rhys had been checking him out online, he grinned at the other man. "Well, as they say, the camera adds ten pounds. And studio lighting can be pretty unforgiving. But thanks for the compliment, Rhys. Nice to know the hard work pays off. It's not easy when I can't resist gorging myself on all those delicious treats you and Ianto bake up."

Rhys sighed and gave his own stomach a rueful pat. "Yeah, I know what you mean. I really need to cut back now that I'm on the market again." He downed a mouthful of juice from his glass. "You and Ianto had a good night, then?"

Jack nodded, smiling at the memory. "Yeah, we did. Hope we didn't disturb you?"

Rhys shook his head. "Nope. No need to worry about me, I sleep like a log. I heard you come in, but I was out like a light again ten seconds later." Scratching absently at his chest, he studied Jack for a moment. "It's brilliant to see things going well with the two of you. I know Ianto can be difficult to figure out sometimes – he can be an inscrutable bugger when he wants to be – but he's one in a million, and he thinks the world of you, mate."

Touched by Rhys's words, Jack nonetheless had to stifle a laugh at his description of Ianto. The Welshman was frequently the very definition of inscrutable. Still, with each passing day, he was learning to understand Ianto a little better. In fact, he liked that Ianto wasn't an open book and that he had to work to get to know him. He liked that Ianto challenged him and made him strive to be a better person.

He was grateful for Rhys's approval of their relationship, and given how close Rhys and Ianto were, he suspected that he owed Rhys a debt of gratitude. He hoped that Rhys was right and Ianto felt for him at least some of what he felt for Ianto, especially after their memorable night together. "Trust me, Rhys, the feeling's entirely mutual. Meeting Ianto was the best thing that's happened to me in a long time."

Smiling at the Welshman again, Jack spotted the pair of bananas in the nearby fruit bowl – Rhys was a big banana fan – and after checking in the cupboard for the bag of dark chocolate chips he'd seen on a previous visit, he had the inspiration for breakfast. After getting out some coffee mugs, he turned his attention back to Rhys. "So... I noticed that you and Jake seem to be getting along well. Am I sensing a budding romance?"

Rhys chuckled, a hint of colour tinting his unshaven face. "Not sure about that, but we'll see what happens. Actually, I'm meeting him tonight down at Mermaid Quay... a drink, maybe something to eat... we'll play it by ear. He seems like a really nice bloke." He frowned for a moment, but then shrugged. "Maybe it's a bit soon, but I figure I'm single again... might as well enjoy myself and try something different. Can't let you and Ianto have all the fun."

Jack gave Rhys a hearty clap on the back. "That's the spirit. Good for you, Rhys. And Jake seems like a great guy. He's hot too. He's got that whole sexy, boy-next-door look about him." He gave Rhys a playful wink. "And trust me, he's definitely interested. I saw the way he was looking at you last night."

Just as he was about to turn back to make the coffee, he spotted a sleep-rumpled Ianto standing at the doorway, dressed in pyjama bottoms and a t-shirt, and rubbing blearily at his eyes. "There he is." He strolled over to Ianto, giving him a quick kiss and ruffling his hair. "Hey, tiger. Sleep well?"

Ianto peered at Jack, looking him up and down, blinked, then stared at Rhys, blinking again. His eyes widened as his mouth opened and closed several times. Finally, he managed to speak. "Please tell me I'm still asleep and that this is a nightmare."

Jack rolled his eyes. "You've got two good-looking guys naked in your kitchen. This should be a dream come true." Unable to help himself, he gave Ianto a salacious grin. "Actually, when you think about it, it's quite homoerotic." He pinched Ianto's bicep. "There, see? You're wide awake."

"Ow!" Ianto rubbed at his abused arm, narrowing his eyes at Jack.

Rhys laughed, refilling his glass and returning the carton to the refrigerator. He moved towards them and patted Ianto's shoulder on his way past. "Don't mind me, mate. I'm heading back to bed for a bit." With a departing grin, he disappeared down the hall and into his bedroom.

"I'm going out and buying you both bathrobes." Still glaring at Jack, Ianto raised a questioning eyebrow. "I'm surprised that you didn't get out the measuring tape."

"Damn!" Jack affected a look of exaggerated disappointment. "Why didn't I think of that? Maybe Rhys wouldn't mind coming back for a minute..."

"Don't even think about it, Jack." Ianto's tone broached no room for argument.

Jack shrugged. "Probably for the best. We all know who would win and I wouldn't want to damage his ego."

It was Ianto's turn to roll his eyes. "What about my ego?"

Jack smirked and held out his arms. "Look at this gorgeous specimen of manhood you had in your bed all night, naked and at your mercy. And here I am, still naked and at your service. Your ego should be through the roof today."

Ianto huffed. "Your ego's big enough for both of us." Shaking his head, he sighed and scrubbed a hand over his face. "I'm not used to dealing with you before I've had coffee."

"You're kind of grumpy in the mornings, aren't you?" Amused to no end by his adorably sleep-dishevelled and cranky Welshman, Jack gave him a gleeful grin, then pulled him into his arms and set about kissing him senseless.

###

A cup of coffee and an orgasm later, Ianto's mood was much improved. Even so, after Jack had gone to the trouble of getting Ianto back into the bedroom and undressed again, Ianto had then insisted that he put on some clothes before returning to the kitchen to make breakfast. Grudgingly, he'd conceded defeat.

He was wearing his t-shirt from the night before and a spare pair of Ianto's pyjama bottoms as they relaxed on the sofa, eating banana and chocolate chip pancakes and enjoying a second cup of coffee. It wasn't his typical healthy breakfast, but he'd decided that their first morning together was a special occasion and deserving of a little indulgence.

Finishing up the last of the pancakes, he wiped his mouth and put his plate down on the coffee table. "Do you want more? There should be enough ingredients left to whip up another batch."

Ianto shook his head. "No, but thanks, they were delicious." He patted his stomach and gave Jack a sheepish smile before taking a sip of his coffee. "I don't usually eat much for breakfast. Just a bowl of cereal or porridge. Or some toast."

"Fair enough." Jack chuckled. "I need to watch my waistline too. Especially now that I've got a gorgeous boyfriend to keep interested."

Ianto gave him a startled look, but then he eyed Jack's flat stomach with an expression somewhere between amusement and disbelief. "I don't know how you manage it, but there's hardly an ounce of fat on you." His eyes narrowed as they met Jack's. "You're just fishing for a compliment."

Jack shrugged. "Maybe." He grinned disarmingly at Ianto, who rolled his eyes, but then smirked back.

Giving Ianto a kiss on the cheek, he sprawled back on the sofa and rested his head on the Welshman's shoulder. Relaxed and happy, he again found himself marvelling at how much his life had changed... specifically, how much he had changed. He was spending a lazy Sunday morning with the man he'd fallen madly in love with, had just enjoyed making them breakfast, and wanted nothing more than to stay exactly where he was, making the most of the simple pleasure of Ianto's comfortable, undemanding companionship. It was domestic and mundane and pretty much everything that he'd always thought would never be for him. And yet here he was, and it was nice... more than nice... actually, a hell of a lot more than nice.

He also thought about Ianto, who was probably equally amazed at the unexpected turn his life had taken. Neither of them could have ever imagined being where they now found themselves, together, right at this moment. It was one of the many wonders of life, he supposed – the strange, unpredictable, ironic twists and turns it could take – adding up to something so perfect that it almost seemed too good to be true.

Neither of them spoke for several minutes, the silence comfortable rather than awkward. It was something else that he appreciated about being with Ianto. While most people who knew him would probably say that he was too fond of the sound of his own voice, he could also be quiet and introspective when it suited him. The fact that he and Ianto could be together without feeling the need to fill the air with meaningless chatter seemed to bode well for their relationship.

Ianto put down his coffee mug and shifted a little, and Jack smiled as he felt the press of warm lips just above his temple. A few more moments passed, but then the silence was broken by the sound of Ianto clearing his throat. "Jack... um... about sex..."

Jack lifted his head and grinned. "You want more already?"

Ianto rolled his eyes, but then, looking ill-at-ease, he lowered his gaze. "No. Look... I know that we've only scratched the surface so far. But if we're doing this... if I'm going to be gay..."

"You're not gay, Ianto." The words came out more harshly than Jack intended, a result of his long held contempt for arbitrary and meaningless labels. He softened his voice before continuing. "If that's how you want to define yourself, that's fine, but..."

Ianto shook his head, looking up to meet Jack's eyes with obvious hesitation. "No, but the reality is that I might as well be... whatever I am now... we're in a same-sex relationship. People who know we're together will assume we're both gay." He paused as a hint of tension passed over his features. "When I tell Rhiannon and Johnny about us, they're going to think that I've turned gay... or that I've secretly been gay all along. I can't do anything about that, but I've come to terms with my sexuality being more complicated than I thought. At least, I'm getting there."

Jack took Ianto's hand in his own and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "I'm glad. And I know it hasn't been easy."

Ianto gave him a brief smile and took a deep breath before speaking again. "But what I'm trying to say is that I want to be good at it... us having sex, I mean... I want to learn everything there is to know." He looked at Jack curiously. "There must be things we haven't done yet that you like? I mean... there's... well, there's intercourse... anal sex..." He gave Jack an uncertain frown. "That's a big part of what two blokes do together, isn't it?"

Jack took a moment to consider his response. He didn't want to give Ianto the wrong idea or cause him to feel any undue pressure. It had taken time to get to where they were, but things were now going well on the sexual front – they were enjoying themselves and Ianto was clearly more comfortable – but he was happy for them to take things one step at a time and not rush anything. Besides, it was closeness and intimacy that he found himself craving with Ianto more than specific sexual acts. Naturally he wanted them to reach the point where they could enjoy the pleasures of intercourse, but he recognised that it could be an intimidating and even frightening undertaking for Ianto, despite his curiosity.

He tried to give Ianto a look that conveyed both understanding and reassurance. "It can be. Not always, but for a lot of men it is. I won't deny that it's something I enjoy, and it's definitely something I want us to share. But I don't want you to feel pressured to do anything you're not ready for yet. Intercourse isn't the be all and end all of sex between two men. I think we've proven that already."

Ianto seemed to consider that for a moment and then nodded slowly. "It's like you once said... I won't know if I'll enjoy something until I try it." A small furrow appeared between his eyebrows. "This might be a daft question, but how does it work with deciding who's on... well... the receiving end of things?"

"Who tops and who bottoms?" Jack had to hide his amusement at Ianto's tasteful choice of words. "Well, some men are one or the other, some might switch on occasion but have a definite preference, then there are men who are versatile and like both more or less equally." He shrugged. "I like both."

Ianto blinked. "You do?"

Jack nodded. "Yup. You seem surprised?"

"No. Well, yes. Maybe. A bit." Ianto's frown returned and was accompanied by a look of confusion. "I suppose I thought..." He paused and exhaled a deep sigh. "I don't know what I thought. Things seem more complicated when it's two men together."

"It's just new to you, that's all. And like anything new, there's a learning curve and it can be intimidating in the beginning." Jack searched Ianto's eyes, wondering if he was actually ready to take this step. "I think the best idea is for you to top first and get a feel for what it's like. Then, when you're ready, we can try switching around."

Ianto nodded again and appeared relieved, but then his curious expression returned. "Um... what's it feel like?"

Jack smiled, appreciating Ianto's curiosity. Ianto seemed intrigued rather than freaked out, which he took as a good sign. "It can feel amazing... mind-blowing even. All that stimulation can be incredibly intense. I won't lie to you, it can be uncomfortable when you're not used to it. Maybe even a bit painful at first, but that's where preparation is important. Plus, plenty of lube, of course." He chuckled and leaned into Ianto, taking him into his arms and kissing him tenderly. "It will be good, I promise... I'll make it good for us."

"I know you will. You always do." Ianto kissed him back. "I'd like to try soon, if that's all right?"

Humbled by Ianto's trust in him, Jack nodded in agreement. "Definitely soon." He didn't add that he suspected he'd be counting the days.

Ianto shifted closer into their embrace, nuzzling against Jack's neck and letting out a soft, contented sigh. He lifted his head to look into Jack's eyes. "So, what are we going to do today?"

Delighted that Ianto assumed they'd be spending the day together, Jack produced his best mischievous grin. "Oh, I can think of a few things. And I was going to ask you if you'd like to stay at my place tonight. I thought I could make us some dinner, we could watch a movie..."

Ianto smiled. "I'd like that." He stared at Jack, a lustful gleam darkening the blue in his eyes. "In the meantime..."

Jack didn't have a chance to respond before Ianto pushed him down onto the sofa and claimed his mouth in a hungry kiss.