7. Chapter Seven #2
Jack stepped into the stall. The water stung and his muscles ached.
Damn, he was tired. He hadn’t realized how worn out he’d become until he stood under the spray.
He lathered the washcloth and scrubbed his torso.
The hours he’d put in at the shop were catching up to him.
He hadn’t been able to get a run in for the last three days.
He needed a good run to stretch and rejuvenate himself.
A few moments later, Henry strode into the bathroom. Jack watched him through the glass door. Henry moved with no finesse. He simply stripped. His muscles tightened as he moved and the tension was evident in his back. When he faced Jack, his eyebrows furrowed.
Henry pushed the door aside and joined Jack. “Sorry.”
“No problem.” Well, not really. Knowing Henry had put him off rather irked him, but he couldn’t say that. He moved aside and scrubbed Henry. He soaped his lover’s body and admired the way the suds defined Henry’s muscles.
Henry groaned. “Feels good.”
“Looks good,” Jack said. He nipped Henry’s throat. When Henry groaned again, Jack slid his palms over Henry’s chest, cleaning him and touching him from behind.
Henry rested his head on Jack’s shoulder. “You’re dangerous.”
“Am I?” He moved his hands down Henry’s torso to his groin and stroked Henry’s cock.
“Yes.” Henry rubbed against Jack, sliding Jack’s cock between the globes of Henry’s ass.
Jack raked his teeth along Henry’s pulse. He loved tasting his boyfriend.
“Damn. Yeah.” Henry wriggled free and turned around. He knelt at Jack’s feet and pressed his face to Jack’s groin.
“Yes.” Jack wanted to say more but the words were gone.
He threaded his fingers into Henry’s hair.
Henry licked his way along Jack’s shaft to his balls.
His touch seared Jack to his soul. Jack closed his eyes.
He didn’t feel the slide of the soap over his body or the sting of the hot water on his skin. All he experienced was Henry.
Henry flattened his hands on Jack’s hips. He swallowed Jack deep, burying his nose in Jack’s curls.
A cry built in Jack’s throat. He couldn’t think or breathe.
All he saw was Henry and all he experienced was his lover’s treatment.
The rhythmic bob of Henry’s head and velvet of his tongue both lulled and excited Jack.
The tingles engulfed him. He rocked his hips, pushing more of his dick into Henry’s mouth.
Henry hummed, adding another dimension to the act. Jack tightened his hold on Henry’s hair, guiding him. He pushed deeper and moved faster as his need increased. He wanted Henry too much. “Fuck.”
Henry fondled Jack’s balls, urging him on. When he slid one finger between Jack’s ass cheeks, Jack’s tenuous grasp on his restraint broke. He rammed his dick into Henry’s mouth and came. The tingles in his groin spread through his body and he groaned.
Henry didn’t stop. Instead, he continued to bob his head. He swallowed everything Jack had to offer.
“Fuck.” Jack let go. Henry had wrung him out. He knew how to make Jack come apart in so many ways. Jack sank to the floor.
“Now who is dangerous?” Henry grinned. “Better turn the water off or we’ll both freeze when it turns cold.”
He didn’t try to move. Why? He needed to get his head screwed on straight first.
Henry stood. He used the wand to rinse Jack, then himself before he turned the water off. He held his hand out to Jack. “I’ll help you.”
When Jack stood, Henry dried him.
“Stretch out while I dry off,” Henry said. “If I knew I’d blow your mind this well, I might have done it a hundred times before now to ensure you’d think I’m great.”
“I do already.” Jack wandered into the bedroom and flopped onto the bed. Happy and sated—that was him. He could sleep—once Henry joined him.
Henry stretched out beside him. “Sleeping? Already?”
“No.” He tangled up with Henry. He wanted more than anything to ask about the call, but tried to forget he wanted to know.
God, he was too nosy for his own good. “We sold out of chili today. I’ll have to get the next batch out of the cooler and make more this weekend.
I should restock the foil wraps and the wax paper while I’m at it.
We had a rush of to-go orders today, and I’ll bet we have a bunch more tomorrow. ”
“Jack.” Henry flattened his palm on Jack’s chest.
“I need to refill the condiment bottles, too.” God. He’d say anything right now to keep his mouth engaged.
“Jack, you’re rambling.” Henry pressed his index finger to Jack’s mouth. “What do you really want to ask? About why I stepped out?”
He kept his mouth shut but tensed. Yes, he wanted to know, but he couldn’t be so blunt.
“Remy emailed, and I called him back.”
“Oh.” Shit. He’d given Remy Nicholas an earful about Charlie. “And?”
“He wants to interview me about that column-writing thing Charlie mentioned.” Henry shrugged. “It’ll be a quick meeting. I’ll let him tell me about the column he wants and let him offer it to me, then I’ll turn him down.”
“You will?” He thought for sure Henry would end up taking the job.
“I’m not writing gossip.” Henry dragged the sheet over them. “I write travel pieces. He can have his offer and his lurid tales—if that’s what he really wants. I’m not that kind of guy.”
Jack nodded to hide his relief. He really needed to stop tensing up over things he couldn’t control and stop jumping to conclusions over things he could.
“I’ll handle the situation with Remy and the paper. Don’t worry about it.” Henry snuggled up to him. “I’m not easily bullied.”
“I know.” He closed his eyes. He couldn’t sleep, but he’d bask in his time with Henry.
He understood now why some of his other boyfriends had left him.
He got too emotional and impulsive. The guys were probably tired of his rollercoaster emotions.
But Henry balanced him more than anyone else.
He managed to allay his fears while making him worry more.
He cared the most about Henry, too. So much it scared him to his core.
He had to get a hold of himself or he’d ruin things with the best guy to ever happen to him. Just breathe. Everything is fine. You’ve got the one and it’s time you proved it to him and yourself.