Torchwood: Divergence
Book Three: Rheoleiddiad

Chapter 57

They moved into the sitting room, where Jack stoked the fire and Ianto found a good channel on the radio. Their evening of love and romance was only just beginning.

The two immortals danced in one another's arms to several Big Band tunes, discussed whether the team deserved souvenirs when they returned to work, and really talked in detail about their long-term relationship. When the music changed to more Swing type songs, the radio went off and they had a good laugh over some of the stories in the book they'd bought that morning. They spent some time simply cuddled up on the couch kissing after a quick "garlic subduing" round with toothbrushes in the small downstairs bathroom, finally deciding just before 10:00 pm that it was time to retire for the night. Ianto scattered the ashes on of the fire and put the heavy, fine-screened wrought iron shield over the mouth of the fireplace, while his partner hurried upstairs to get the fire stoked and really burning in their room. A big bundle of dried rosemary, sage, and lavender went in last to scent the air.

So, when the young Welshman came in from downstairs, he found the area primarily lit by crackling firelight, fresh linens and covers on the bed, and a new dove grey microsuede throw over part of the rug near the hearth. Their pillows were sprinkled with red rose petals, white ones spotting the waiting blanket, and a re-worked light net had been secured to the ceiling over the bed, similar to but definitely different from the one in their room at the Hub. The whole set up won Jack a tight hug and very promising kiss.

"You really went all out," Ianto breathed, more than willing to play the undressing game his companion started. "I don't have a gift for you though."

"All I want," Harkness said firmly, squarely meeting his beloved Archivist's gaze. "All I need, is you, Ianto Jones. Honestly. I want you happy and healthy, and able to believe that you are the only one I love, the only reason I'm here and sane. I've been a 'pansexual' playboy for a long time, so it's hard to break some habits. But I will do it. My eyes may still wander once in a while, but my heart and soul know the uncrossable line that separates selfish fantasy from absolute reality. You are my reality, and I'll do whatever it takes to help you feel secure with that. I don't ever want to see that Pledge Blade, unless it's at a ten-year anniversary and going through my heart. I was stupid and careless, and lost you once. I will not lose you again. Not after everything you went through to come back to me, and how empty my life was without you."

They were very close to being completely naked by that time, and Ianto answered him with an incredibly powerful kiss.

"I trust you, Jack," he stated with unshakeable certainty and soul deep conviction when they finally parted for air. "You, if no-one else."

"That is so good to know," the Captain half panted, getting them both out of their pants and drawing the younger man over to the blanket atop the rug in front of the fire. "Because I trust you more than I've trusted anyone in more than a century. And there's still some ugly stuff in my past I need to share with someone at some point… you've already listened to so many horrors I've been a part of and haven't turned away from me. That means more than you can imagine. I know I need to get those secrets out, and no-one has more of a right to share them than you. You're the only person I've ever loved who won't disappear in a couple of decades or fall victim to something the Rift spits out. I can give you my heart without being afraid of having it broken, because you loved me enough to endure two years of torture so you could stay with me forever."

"I'll always be here to listen, to do whatever you need me to," Ianto promised solemnly, settling to the microsuede throw among the rose petals with his lover snuggling close. "Just tell me what you want."

"Right now," Jack murmured, nuzzling the younger immortal's neck and easing him back to lie on the blanket. "I just want you to be mine… and we'll see what comes up after that."

"I can tell you exactly what, if you leave your left hand where it is right now," the young Welshman observed with a gasping breath, his companion grinning ferally and shifting that hand ever so slightly to teasingly curl his fingers around the rapidly hardening member in question and give it a teasing stroke. "Yep… that would be it."

"All in good time," Harkness chuckled, moving in for a couple of light kisses. "Because I intend to make this little Valentine celebration last as long as possible."

"Yes, sir," Ianto managed breathlessly, surrendering completely to the much more heated kiss that followed.

With slow deliberation, Jack used his hands, lips, teeth, and tongue, as well as achingly slow penetration, to make the twenty-six-year-old beneath him come completely undone with pleasure. And after a comfortable lull, Ianto happily returned the favour.

This was one holiday neither of them were likely to forget anytime soon… and with all eternity ahead, memories meant just as much as the still untapped opportunities waiting in the years to come.

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AN: Bit of soft smut to finish off the holiday.

One more chapter after this to end Book Three.

Thank you to those reading the story. And thank you to those who have followed, favourited, and reviewed. NM