Chapter 33 #2
Jamie shifted closer, shimmying forward until their chests were almost flush. His nose brushed Caleb’s Adam’s apple before he pressed a soft kiss there. “Always.” His hands slid around Caleb’s ribs and across his back, pulling their bodies together. “Mmmm… you’re warm.”
“Yeah? Why are you so cold?”
“’S cold in here.” Jamie hooked his feet around Caleb’s ankles. They were freezing.
“Jesus.” Caleb flinched. “Let me go get you some socks—” He tried to pull back, but Jamie tightened his hold.
“No,” Jamie whined. “I want you to warm me up.”
Caleb blinked.
“Oh—” he started, then groaned quietly as Jamie rubbed up against him. “Damn, Jamie. Did you wake up horny?”
Jamie nodded shyly. “But we don’t have to if you don’t want—” Before he could finish, Caleb pushed the covers aside and rolled them both, pinning Jamie’s back against the mattress and burying his face in the soft curve of his neck.
“Want you so bad,” Caleb whispered against Jamie’s skin, his lips trailing lower along his collarbone.
Jamie’s skin smelled like his aftershave, and Caleb couldn’t get his boxers off fast enough before wrapping his lips around his cock.
In seconds, Jamie was arching off the bed, strangled words rumbling out of his chest. “I—didn’t mean—I want to make you—oh my God, yes Caleb.”
Bobbing his head down, Caleb took Jamie deeper into his throat. And when Jamie finished in his mouth, he swallowed eagerly and pulled away long enough to rid himself of his own boxers, reaching for the lube he’d thankfully packed in his bag.
He bent Jamie’s knees up toward his chest and prepared him carefully.
Sliding one finger past the tight ring of muscle, he couldn’t help but groan. “Yes, baby, that’s it.” Caleb worked him open patiently, drawing the most beautiful sounds from his lips. Jamie’s chest was still flushed from his orgasm, his breathing uneven as he rocked eagerly into Caleb’s fingers.
He was a vision.
A perfect, beautiful vision, and Caleb’s chest felt so full of emotion that he thought it might split open. He wanted to give this man every ounce of pleasure he could.
“I-I’m ready. Please, Caleb.” Jamie was a sweaty, panting mess, and Caleb would never tire of hearing him beg. Jamie’s long, pale cock was hard again, slapping against the muscles of his stomach, his eyes glazed over.
“Legs back,” Caleb growled as he opened Jamie’s knees wider with his palms. “God, Jamie.” He paused, lowering his head briefly to Jamie’s chest as he caught his breath. “I just can’t believe how fucking lucky I am.”
“I—please, Caleb. Need you. I—fuck.” His voice cracked as Caleb lined himself up and entered him.
As he worked up a steady pace, both of them grunting and moaning in unison, Caleb saw it so clearly. The difference in Jamie. The change that had come over the last few months of recovery from the accident.
Jamie didn’t hesitate anymore with him.
He grabbed Caleb’s biceps and held on tight as his cock slapped against his stomach. He said exactly what he needed, what he wanted, and chanted I love you without any trace of doubt.
As Jamie’s eyes fluttered closed, Caleb felt something in his chest break loose.
There you are, my Jamie.
His last bit of restraint broke, and his hips snapped forward harder, chasing the rush of pleasure building between them. Wrapping his hand around Jamie’s cock, he stroked until they were both coming.
He spilled inside Jamie, faintly hearing the echo of his partner’s yes, yes, yes as he collapsed forward. His forehead pressed to Jamie’s chest while Jamie’s fingers slid into his hair, stroking his head gently.
“I’ve got you,” Jamie murmured softly, his other hand rubbing his back. Caleb stayed there for a long moment, listening to Jamie’s heartbeat and the rhythm of his breathing as it slowly returned to normal. Eventually, and with great effort, he shifted enough to look up at him.
Jamie’s hair was a mess, his cheeks flushed. The sleepy, contented look on his face made Caleb’s breath catch.
At what point during this trip had Caleb started letting Jamie take care of him?
Jamie brushed a thumb along Caleb’s cheek. “Shower before dinner?”
Turning his head to the side, Caleb kissed Jamie’s palm. “Yeah.”
Dinner went smoothly, even though Caleb could feel the jet lag hitting him harder by the minute. He was starving, though, and Jamie, bless him, insisted they order more food than they could possibly eat so they’d have leftovers for tomorrow.
Mike was actually…really chill.
Not that Caleb thought Bri would date an asshole, but she had always been so low-key. Quiet and reserved, a little like their father. Mike was like a walking ray of sunshine with endless energy.
Most of his attention had shifted to Jamie, peppering him with questions about growing up in Britain. Jamie talked about himself far more than usual, probably to carry the social burden of the outing so Caleb didn’t have to.
Mike popped a garlic knot into his mouth and chewed. “Have y’all been out to California at all? To visit Tay?”
Jamie glanced nervously at Caleb and shook his head. “No, but I’d rather like to. This is my first time in the States. I want to meet Caleb’s whole family eventually.”
He squeezed Caleb’s thigh under the table.
“Me too,” Bri said softly, earning surprised looks from all three men. “I’d like to visit… her.”
Caleb’s hand tightened slightly on his water glass at the word her. He’d never heard Bri use Tay’s correct pronouns before.
While Jamie carried most of the conversation, now enthusiastically describing his own hoard of siblings, Caleb found himself watching his sister more carefully. And Mike.
When Bri asked the waiter a dozen questions about the wine list, Mike leaned back and smiled at her.
When she asked what kind he wanted, he shrugged and said, “Whatever you’re having, babe.
” All the while, his arm stayed slung leisurely around Bri’s shoulders or his hand resting over hers on the table.
Caleb hadn’t realized how much he was studying them until Bri laughed at something Jamie said, startling him from his thoughts.
Bri had been a pretty uptight kid growing up, always trailing behind Tay and trying to do every single activity she did. Dance, choir, softball—whatever Tay signed up for, Bri followed.
When Tay came out as trans and announced she was moving away, Bri became lost. And while Caleb hadn’t agreed with the way she reacted back then, he suddenly felt like a pretty shitty brother for never checking in afterward.
After they finished dinner, with Jamie and Mike fighting over the bill, they said their goodbyes with a round of hugs. In the parking lot, Caleb pulled Bri aside and tugged her into his chest.
“Mike’s not so bad,” he joked, earning a small smile and a quick glance over her shoulder at her boyfriend.
“I don’t know why he hangs out with me,” she said with a shrug. “But yeah… he’s pretty great.”
“Are you kidding me? He’s lucky you let him near you.”
Caleb tucked a loose strand of her dark hair behind her ear. She looked so much like their mom.
“I’m… I promise I’ll visit more than I have.” A small frown appeared between her eyebrows as he added quietly, “I miss you, Bri.”
She blinked back tears and kissed his cheek before stepping away. Bri hated crying in front of people.
“Miss you too. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay? Ten still good?”
“Yeah. Ten’s good.”
She looked down at her hands.
“Caleb, the doctor told me today that it’s not looking good. I… I think it’s a matter of weeks.”
Bri squeezed his arm once before turning and jogging toward the car, where Mike held the door open for her. Caleb watched them for a moment before Jamie appeared beside him.
Caleb pulled his phone from his pocket and opened up his email.
“Y’alright?” Jamie asked, sliding his hand into Caleb’s.
“Just sending off an email to Halcombe,” Caleb muttered, trying not to sound as upset as he felt. “Telling him I won’t be back for the Arsenal match.”
“Oh. Okay. That’s, erm… yeah. That makes sense.”
“It’s fine.” Caleb hit send and stuffed his phone back into his pocket before turning to Jamie with his best attempt at a smile. “Really. I want to be here for my dad and… Bri.”
“Yeah.” Jamie’s lip twitched slightly, adjusting the takeout bag in his grip. “Me too.”
“Ya know,” Caleb said, leading Jamie back down the street to the house. “Getting through my mom’s service without you was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I’m...” Caleb swallowed. “I don’t know how I’d be doing any of this without you, J.”
Jamie squeezed his hand.
“And you’ll never have to.”