9. Chapter 9 #2
“I like your sense of style.” The path was wide enough for them to walk side by side; thankfully, it wasn’t paved with small stones, just good old dirt and packed-down grass.
“Thank you,” Jax winked at him as Tristan’s phone buzzed, but since he ignored it, Jax did too. “So, every green space in fifty miles?”
“Yep.” Tristan smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “That’s another reason I had to do the trail, I ran out of options around here. But I wanted to show you a place that doesn’t require anything strenuous for a reward.”
Jax blinked, stunned at how Tristan had put thought into Jax’s limitations and choices, coming up with something perfect. Gratitude welled up in Jax’s chest, keeping his pounding heart company.
As they made their way to the view, Tristan had them step aside several times for other hikers, gave a younger couple directions back to their car, and scritched every dog. The trail seemed to amplify his serenity, and Jax basked in it, wondering if he could siphon some off and save it for later.
All of a sudden, the path opened up to a rock outcropping with a view. Farmland stretched out like a quilt before them, and a small mountain range loomed in the distance.
“Whoa, you weren’t lying!” Jax took a few pictures with his phone. “I see why this is one of your faves.”
“I’m happy you like it.” Tristan beamed, and Jax’s heart thumped even louder.
“C-mere!” He walked over, pressing against Tristan’s side and enjoying those firm, lean muscles.
Reaching out, he angled his arm until the view was aligned behind them, snapping a bunch of photos.
For the last few, he tilted his head against Tristan’s shoulder and captured his surprised expression along with a tempting blush.
Once he was done, he noticed a bench on one of the overlooks.
“That was built by a local Boy Scout troop. I have no idea how they secured it into the rock.” Tristan walked over with him, checking around the metal base.
“I think I can actually sit on this.” Jax’s eyebrows rose in pleased shock.
The bench looked as hard as the wood it was made out of, which was perfect for him, and when he gingerly sat, he realized that his legs dangled.
He couldn’t have his knees higher than his hips, and with the seating being tall and the ground dipping in front of him, he was able to get off his feet somewhere other than his bed, his car, or his special-order chair.
“Really? That’s great!” Tristan sat beside him, close enough that their shoulders touched, and Jax smiled. A seat, a view, and a gorgeous man beside him? This was already a top-tier date.
Tristan’s phone buzzed again, and this time they both looked at his pocket.
“Is that That Pointe? I don’t mind if you answer,” Jax’s gaze went back to a farm below. Were those little white puffs sheep? Or cows?
“No, it’s something I can handle later.” Taking out his phone, Tristan swiped the message away, but Jax could tell that something was off.
“Is that your ex?” Jax couldn’t help his curiosity, knowing that he was right.
Tristan let out a long breath, his eyes drifting to the view.
“Yeah, she’s giving me problems. Wants to see Rain. But I’m handling it.”
Jax’s shoulders relaxed when he heard that love wasn’t in the picture. As Ollie had said, her main focus was Rain, who’d cut contact with her, so Tristan had clearly been the better parent. That wasn’t surprising, because Tristan was kind, gentle, and a little too nice.
“ Are you handling it?” Jax pushed with a smirk. “Because you’re sweet. I can’t see you telling anyone no.”
“Rain says that too. I’ve been working on my boundaries.” He held up his index finger. “But there’s also nothing wrong with pleasing people. It’s part of my job.”
“There are levels. I want to make sure you’re closer to firm than doormat.” Their back and forth had ease and levity, like they were old friends, and Jax reveled in talking so openly with someone.
“I’m trying. Honestly, I admired how you told off the groom's cousin. I could never do that. But there needs to be a balance. Lashing out too often isn’t good for you either, not for your back or your health.”
“You’re right,” Jax said after a moment, Tristan’s serenity keeping him honest. “I like being able to stand up for myself, but there is a dark side. It ruins things. I’m living with Finn and Ollie right now because I lost it on my landlord.”
“And I stayed with someone for ten years because I was too afraid to break it off,” Tristan added, letting silence reign for a couple of seconds. “You know what? I think we could learn a lot from each other.”
“You are very calming.” Jax looked into Tristan’s sandy-brown eyes, which shone, reflecting the sun.
“I’ve been told that I have that effect,” Tristan grinned, wrapping his arm around Jax’s shoulders.
“That’s because you’re a good person.” Jax focused, trying not to react to Tristan’s body heat. “And if I’m around, I’ll be the angry friend. I’ll send back your food. I’ll have those difficult conversations. And I can help you be more…”
Tristan’s eyebrows rose in anticipation.
“Assertive?” Biting his lip, Jax tried not to laugh.
“Well, if you want to help me be more assertive ,” Tristan leaned heavily on the last word. “Then how about I teach you some calming techniques?”
“Do I need to be calmer?” Jax asked, knowing full well that he did.
“I’d like to keep you from punching more walls.” Tristan’s eyes flicked down to Jax’s hand.
“Point.” Jax huffed out a laugh. “Okay, yes. Deal.”
“To be fair,” Tristan said as Jax watched a flock of geese fly by.
“I came to the same conclusions about myself on my thru. Most hikers are given a trail name by others, something that you earn over time. Mine was Breezy because of my outlook, but in reality? I let too much roll off me. I have to learn how to say no and stand up for myself, but it’s a work in progress. It goes against my better nature.”
“Were you always like this?” Jax’s gaze snapped back to Tristan. “Like, super kind?’
“My parents raised me that way. They’re pacifists who are a little…
crunchy?” A sweet chuckle escaped him. “I believe that’s the word.
I grew up in the middle of nowhere, left to go to college, and didn’t move back.
Don’t get me wrong, they’re good people who smothered me with love, and I visit when I can, but they’ve always been off grid. ”
“Off grid? Like, they grow their own food?”
“I learned what a compost pile was when I was three years old. We never had a television.”
Jax puffed out his cheeks. “Damn. You’re like, a country-hippie boy?”
“We didn’t have cows or anything, but yes, my childhood home was surrounded by farms and woods. This town feels like a city to me.” That certainly explained why Tristan liked the outdoors.
“We’ve had very different childhoods.” The breeze stirred Jax’s hair. “My mother is the opposite of your parents. She’s a hairdresser who loves reality TV and could destroy someone with a glance.”
Tristan laughed. “I’d love to meet her.” Then he quickly sobered, looking at the ground. “How old is she?”
“Fifty-four.” Jax knew Tristan was doing the math in his head. “Don’t worry, you’re closer to my age.”
“Not by much.” Tristan’s brow furrowed.
“My sperm donor was way older than my mom, so she can’t come at me about this.” But she probably still would.
“Sperm donor?” Tristan repeated with a comical look on his face.
“That’s what Finn calls him. The father I’ve never seen is a loser in a rock band who traveled around this part of the country, leaving kids behind but not caring for them.”
“That’s terrible,” Tristan made a face.
“Finn’s met him, says I’m better off, and I believe him. Besides, my Ma was more than enough.”
“She sounds like a wonderful woman,” Tristan stated, both of them looking toward the trail as another couple walked up.
“She is.” Jax stood, along with Tristan. “It was nice to be able to sit. I’m definitely coming back here.”
With a quick nod to the other hikers, they headed into the forest again, and Jax stopped once they got past the tree line.
“Is there someplace private here?” Looking up at Tristan through his lashes, Jax tried not to grin when comprehension finally sank in, and Tristan started.
“U-Um,” Jax could see his brain whirring. “Yes. That way.”
Grabbing Jax’s hand, he led them about three hundred feet to a barely- there side trail that was overgrown but still usable. Taking the right, they walked until they were out of sight, and then Jax gently pushed Tristan against the nearest oak, standing on his toes and kissing him senseless.
Jax hadn’t made out with anyone since high school, but ever since that first kiss, he yearned for Tristan, craving his taste, his tongue, and he wanted to feel that soft beard against his skin again.
While Tristan’s energy was serene, his kisses were not; he gave as good as he got, as if he had a demon inside that only came out when Jax was in his arms, and Jax wanted to see how far he could push.
Traveling across Tristan’s cheek to his ear, Jax traced the lobe with his tongue, nibbling on it, enjoying how Tristan shivered, his hands fisting in the top of Jax’s sweater.
Brazen as always, Jax continued his trail down the side of Tristan’s throat, just under the line of his beard.
He smelled divine up close, like the trees around him, and pine-laced air filled Jax’s nostrils.
“J-Jax,” Tristan gasped in a ragged tone, and Jax needed to hear more of that because his cock was instantly hard.
Unspooling Tristan seemed to be Jax’s new kink, and he grinned, very slowly sinking to his knees. If he was careful, he could do this and still walk back to the car without his back freaking out.
“W-Wait. What are you doing?” Tristan’s eyes went wide.
“I’m giving you a blowjob in the woods.” Reaching up, he unbuttoned Tristan’s pants, noting the size of the bulge. It seemed that what they said about big hands was true.
“B-But…”