Chapter Seven #3
“Take two steps back.” Jackson did it instantly.
The sultry sound of Henry’s voice would have him walking through hell if that had been the order.
Water flowed over his shoulders, rinsing the soap away.
“Now take two steps to the left.” He moved into a part of the shower where very little water fell.
Henry walked over to him then raised up on his tiptoes so that he could press their lips together.
When the kiss ended, Henry put his lips to Jackson’s ear. “Can I?”
“You can do anything you want, baby.” Jackson had no idea what he’d agreed to, but it didn’t really matter.
Henry kissed down his neck to the center of his chest. His hands drifted over Jackson’s shoulder as he continued to kiss downward.
Henry slipped down onto his knees then kissed his stomach.
Jackson ran his fingers through Henry’s hair, causing Henry to look up at him.
“Turn around.” Henry’s voice was low and sexy.
Jackson did as he asked, bracing his good arm against the wall then resting his head against it.
Henry kissed the small of his back while running his hands lightly over his ass. His lips trailed downward.
“Fuck,” he gasped when Henry traced his crack with his tongue, and his breath caught when it circled his rim.
“Damn, that feels good.” Henry’s tongue alternated between soft and fluttery, and firm pressure.
His moans filled the shower. Even though they just had sex, he could feel himself getting hard.
“Fuck, Henry.” Jackson’s breath was coming hard and fast. He let it go on until he absolutely couldn’t take it anymore.
“Can we go to your bed?” A swipe of Henry’s tongue caused a shiver to roll through his body.
“Yes,” Henry answered. But instead of standing, he went back to driving Jackson crazy.
“Please, baby.” The words surprised Jackson. No one had ever turned him on enough to make him beg. One last swipe over his rim, then Henry pulled back. Jackson turned around then helped him to his feet. They dried quickly so that they could go back to Henry’s bed.
“I told you my shower was amazing.” Henry’s voice was sultry.
Jackson was so turned on that his body was trembling. He pulled Henry to him. “I need you so bad, right now.”
Henry snuggled closer, kissing Jackson’s neck. It caused him to breathe heavily. “Did I turn you on, baby?” he whispered, causing him to whimper.
“I’ve never been this turned on in my life,” Jackson admitted.
Henry kissed him deeply, hands trailing down his side to grasp his rigid cock. “Let me make it better, baby.”
“Please.” Henry stroked them together, but it just wasn’t enough.
“Faster.” Thankfully the man complied. Jackson pressed their lips together, kissing him deeply.
It didn’t take long for him to get right to the edge.
“Make me come,” he begged Henry. Henry sped his stroke up even more causing Jackson to spill all over his hand.
Henry came seconds later. “Fuck, Henry,” Jackson panted, trying to catch his breath.
“Yeah.” Henry flopped over onto his back. “That was amazing.”
Jackson grabbed a towel from the floor so they could both clean off. He pulled Henry onto his bare chest, still feeling very exposed and vulnerable. “This really doesn’t bother you?” Jackson gestured to his shoulder.
“Should it?” Henry looked up at him to ask.
“It’s pretty awful.”
“It could be worse,” Henry whispered with a slight shrug.
“Yeah, but…” Jackson trailed off, shaking his head.
Henry fixed him with an intense stare. “Do you really think something like that could change my attraction to you?”
“Does it?” Rarely in his life had he ever felt insecure, and never as much as he did in that moment.
Henry looked directly into Jackson’s eyes for a few seconds, then he smiled before pressing their lips together. “No.”
Jackson stroked his bottom lip. “Spend the day with me tomorrow.”
“I wish I could, but I’m busy tomorrow.” Henry sighed, sitting up. “I’m going to have to call it a night soon. I have to be up at six.”
“What happens at six?” Jackson asked.
“I volunteer at a charity assisting with the transition from military to civilian life. For the next few weekends, my friends and I are building a house. Then after that, I’m going to see my cousin Sam.”
“Do you mind if I tag along?” Jackson pulled him back down onto his chest. Henry relaxed against him.
“You want to build a house?” He looked up at the man.
“What I want is to spend the day with you.” Jackson’s fingers glided up and down his back. “If that means building a house, then I guess I’m building a house. Besides, it’s for a good cause, right?”
Henry’s smile was brilliant. “I guess I’ll let you go with me, then,” he joked.
“That’s very gracious of you,” Jackson returned in a teasing tone before claiming his mouth in a deep possessive kiss and pulling him as close as he could get him.
“It’s probably not a good idea for you to go with me to Sam’s though.”
“Why not? Are you embarrassed to introduce me to your family?” he joked.
Henry laughed and rolled his eyes, before turning serious. “Sam hasn’t been in a good place since he was discharged. He can be a little hard to handle.”
“Why was he discharged?” Jackson wondered.
“He was injured,” Henry said quietly.
“I see.” Was Sam the reason his injuries didn’t bother Henry? “Is he one of the cousins that talked you out of joining?”
“Kind of.” Henry’s hand rubbed his chest. “Most of it came from a couple cousins on my dad’s side. Sam would always stick up for me and console me. But when I was finally old enough to enlist, he convinced me that it wasn’t a good idea.”
“What were his reasons?”
“One was my distaste for being told what to do.” Henry chuckled.
“He and I have always been close, and he was just trying to look out for me. After his first year in, he didn’t think I’d do well.
In the end, he was probably right.” Henry sighed.
“I’m incredibly worried about him, but I’m not sure what more I can do. ”
“What’s going on with him?”
“In my opinion, depression is probably his biggest issue. It’s like he’s completely given up on life. He just sits at home feeling sorry for himself, and I can’t get through to him.” Henry let out a heavy breath and shook his head.
“Maybe I should go with you.” Where the hell did that come from? He wasn’t sure that he was in the right frame of mind to help a fellow wounded soldier, but everything in Jackson demanded that he try to fix this for Henry.
“Really?”
Jackson nodded. “Maybe I can talk to him.”
“That would really mean a lot to me.” Henry yawned.
“You need sleep.” Jackson stroked his cheek.
“So do you.” Henry smiled at him sweetly, and Jackson couldn’t resist claiming his mouth.
“Can we negotiate me sleeping here into everything else we have going on?” Jackson whispered when the kiss broke. He didn’t want to be alone tonight.
“I’ve never slept with anyone.” Henry stared at him for a few seconds, then a shy smile appeared. Damn, Henry’s smile was swoon worthy. “Yes.”
Jackson pulled Henry into a deep passionate kiss that stole his breath. When it ended, he pulled the blankets over them, arranging Henry in a comfortable position on his chest. “Sleep well, baby.” Jackson kissed his forehead then closed his eyes as the world faded away into peaceful darkness.
What a day! Working on the Welcome Home project had been exhausting but a lot of fun.
He loved seeing Henry in his element. Even though he wasn’t technically the one calling the shots, Jackson noticed that even the charity director deferred to Henry to make decisions.
And damn if it wasn’t a turn-on to know that this incredibly take-charge and commanding man submitted so beautifully to him in the bedroom.
It was hot as hell to watch Henry boss men around knowing that later he could have the man tied to his bed, begging him for release.
Henry’s group of friends were there as well.
The more time he spent with them, the more he realized why Henry was friends with them.
Due to the laughter and jokes that filled the time, the work went quickly.
Jackson had even gotten asked to help on another project.
It seemed that a minivan had somehow managed to run into the back of a small local coffee shop, all but destroying one wall.
The owner, who just happened to be a friend of Emmanuel’s, decided that this was a good excuse to proceed with the expansion he’d been thinking about.
Squeezing in an emergency had stretched the completely booked schedule to its limits, and Maddox had been extremely grateful when Jackson offered his services.
When they had reached a stopping point, he and Henry said goodbye to his friends and got into his Jeep.
He followed Henry’s directions to a small brown house about ten minutes from where they were.
Jackson was fine until, holding hands, they climbed the three steps to the front porch.
He suddenly felt uneasy and like he’d rather be anywhere else.
He wasn’t ready to talk to another angry injured vet.
Maybe he should just wait for Henry outside.
Henry stopped at the door, turning toward him. “Thank you for coming with me.”
Fuck! Jackson would walk over hot coals or through broken glass for the smile that Henry gave him. No way was he not meeting Sam after that. “No problem, baby.”
Henry knocked, waited for about a minute, then unlocked the door. “Aunt Grace,” he called as he opened it. When no answer came, they went inside. Henry led him over to a wooden door on the left side of the room. He again knocked.
“What?” a gruff voice yelled from behind the door. Henry opened it, and they walked into the dimly lit room.
“Hello, Sam,” Henry said to a sandy-haired man about his age sitting in a wheelchair in the corner of the room. It appeared that Sam’s right leg had been amputated just below the knee.