More Than Forever, page 29
“And you wouldn’t mind?” The words stick in Nick’s throat.
Jack smiles at him, his crooked smile, and shakes his head. “Why would I mind?”
Nick doesn’t know, but twists with the guilt and the tension in his chest. Jack places a hand on Nick’s jaw and leans forward to kiss him. Their noses are cold and a little damp, and Nick can’t stop looking at Jack, at the small icicles forming on his eyelashes.
“I love you,” he says, and Jack smiles.
“I love you too. This is your life, Nick. You can do whatever you want.”
The thought is terrifying and thrilling, and Nick has no idea what to do with it, so he doesn’t do anything. He just stands there, watching Jack stare at him. Eventually, Jack sighs and turns towards the cave, giving Nick a little tug. Nick relaxes into it, the decision taken completely out of his hands, just for now, just for today, when he’s already making too many, and he follows Jack through the gap into his cave.
JACK
Nick is still asleep. He’s in Jack’s bed, their bed, snoring lightly. It’s boxing day. Jack’s chest is tight, his eyes stinging. He stands next to the bed, a mug of coffee in his hand. He knows it’s probably a little creepy that he’s staring at Nick. But he honestly doesn’t care. Nick is here, in their bed. The pain and tension gone from his face. He’s here. The happiness is overwhelming. Jack doesn’t want to move, but he feels itchy. He wants Nick to wake up. He hoped that the smell of coffee would wake him, but it hasn’t. He steps from one foot to the other. He wants to start the rest of his life.
But Nick is still asleep.
Sighing, he puts his coffee on his bedside table and slides back into bed. Nick snuffles, but doesn’t wake up. Jack scowls. This is impossible. He wiggles down, his legs running against Nick’s. It’s warm and comforting. Jack smiles to himself, the hairs of Nick’s legs rough. He loves it. He slides his hands over Nick’s back, his fingers tracing the lines of muscles there. Nick is sleeping naked. It’s wonderful. Jack’s hands start to wander. His fingers stroke lightly up Nick’s thighs. He leans closer. He's naked too, and his cock starts to swell as he brushes against Nick’s bum. Nick groans, rolling over. He has a soft grin on his lips. Jack looks down to find Nick is hard, his cock thick and heavy against his stomach. He’s gorgeous.
“What time is it?” Nick mumbles.
Jack presses his erection against Nick’s hip as he drapes himself over his boyfriend. “Nearly midday.”
“What time is Felicity coming over?”
“Later.”
Nick’s eyes crack open and his grin grows. “Excellent.”
Jack doesn’t have time to think, before Nick is moving, his thick arms wrapping around Jack and spinning them so that Jack is on his back. Nick hovers over him, settled between Jack’s legs. Their cocks press together and Jack moans. It’s so hot, and he loves it. Nick chuckles, pressing soft kisses to Jack’s throat.
“How are you feeling?” Jack breathes. He should ask. He wants to be a good boyfriend, and it was a big thing that Nick did. But then Nick nips at his collar bone, and he doesn’t care what the answer is. His body is on fire, desire crackling through him. His cock strains, hard and aching, and the feeling of Nick’s against his is driving him wild.
“Horny,” Nick mumbles. His lips sear against Jack’s skin, his breath hot and tickling, and Jack arches his back. He needs to be closer. He needs more.
“Excellent,” he says, his hands running along Nick’s back. Nick starts to roll his hips, the delicious friction sending jolts up Jack’s back. He runs his fingers through Nick’s hair, pulling his face to Jack’s and pressing a hard kiss to Nick’s lips. Nick growls into it, his mouth opening, their tongues twisting together. Nick tastes like heat and cinnamon, and Jack wants nothing more. He presses hard, trying to get some friction on his cock.
Nick smiles into his mouth, shifting his hips slightly, and then his cock is there, sliding against Jack’s perfectly. Jack gasps. Their breaths mingle together, their chests pressed tight. Jack is closer to Nick than he has ever been before, and he needs more.
“I need…” he whines, and Nick nods.
“Tell me,” Nick says, his voice gruff and needy. Jack doesn’t know. They haven’t talked about it. He doesn’t know what he wants.
“More,” he says, because it’s the only thing he can think of.
“Do you want to fuck me?” Nick murmurs, his words wisping across Jack’s jaw as Nick kisses lower. Jack whines, his hands moving everywhere he can touch Nick. Pulling him closer. Needing more. Nick licks and sucks at Jack’s neck, at the pulse point, at the join between Jack’s neck and shoulder. “Do you want me to fuck you?” he says, and Jack would be embarrassed at the sound that comes from him, if he cared.
Nick chuckles. “I want…” Jack tries again, but he can’t. He can’t make the words. The thought of Nick, wrapped around him, sliding into him. It’s more than he ever thought he could have and it sings in his chest.
“I can suck your cock, work you open with my fingers, until you’re a writhing, shaking mess,” Nick is saying, the words like lava in Jack’s veins. His arms are heavy with desire, his pulse hard. He nods, because words aren’t enough. Nick continues down his body, his tongue leaving scorching trails down Jack’s chest. “And then, when you’re ready, begging for it, I can sink into you, fuck you hard and fast, until you see stars.”
“Yes,” Jack mewls. He needs it. “Now. Please.”
“Impatient,” Nick laughs. And then his tongue is swirling around Jack’s nipples, and Jack cries out, sobbing at the pangs of pleasure that run through him.
“Now, please Nick!” he cries. Nick nips at his nipple instead, and Jack’s hands scramble to hold onto something.
“I’ve wanted this for years, Jack. To be able to touch you without worrying. I’m not about to rush anything.”
And that’s what Jack has wanted too. For them to have this. Hot and heavy and without having to think about how overheated Jack is. To be this close to Nick and for it to feel nothing less than amazing. He nods again, his breath ragged, as Nick carries on his exploration. His mouth feels so good against Jack’s skin, his lips soft and his teeth sharp. He nips at Jack’s hip bone, and Jack's cock throbs. He wiggles his hips, but Nick’s hands are on them, keeping him still as Nick licks over him, avoiding Jack’s cock completely. Jack groans, his fists clenching the sheets.
“Do you have lube?” Nick asks as he nuzzles the crease at the top of Jack’s thigh. His beard scratches lightly against Jack’s balls, and Jack can’t think for a moment. His head is fuzzy, his eyes closed tight as the onslaught of feeling drives him wild. And then Nick’s words register, and he lets go of the sheet to rummage in his bedside table. He grabs a bottle of lube and a condom and chucks them next to Nick. Nick laughs, leaning up to press a harsh kiss to Jack’s lips that ends far too quickly.
“Nick,” Jack says. Whispers. Breathes. He grabs for Nick again, wanting him closer, but Nick shakes his head, picking up the lube and squirting a generous amount onto his fingers.
“Soon, Jack, soon.” And then he’s swallowing Jack down, his mouth torturous, his tongue running along the thick vein in Jack’s cock, and Jack shouts in pleasure. Nick continues to lick and suck, his head bobbing as his fingers move along Jack’s crease. Jack tries to press against Nick’s finger, to press his cock up into Nick’s mouth, but Nick keeps one firm hand on Jack’s stomach.
“It’s too much…” Jack moans, and Nick pulls off him.
“Are you okay?” he asks.
Jack opens his eyes and sees Nick frowning in concern. “Yes! No! You stopped.”
“You said it was too much.”
Jack shakes his head. “No, it’s perfect. It feels perfect. My head…I can’t think straight.”
“You want me to continue?” Nick asks with a smirk, his fingers returning to Jack’s arse, brushing against Jack’s hole. Jack nods, grabbing at Nick and pulling him in for a kiss that wipes the smug smile off Nick’s face. And it’s like that, pressed together and breathing into each other’s mouths, that Nick slides a finger into him, and Jack stops thinking altogether.
Nick continues kissing him as he moves his fingers inside Jack, closer than they’ve ever been able to be. One finger becomes two, and then three, and soon Jack is wriggling under Nick. They’re so close, but he wants more.
“Now, Nick.” He pushes up, and Nick nods. He sits up for a moment, ripping open the condom wrapper and sliding it onto his cock. And then the spongy head is slipping past Jack’s rim, and Jack can do nothing but breathe. Nick is still for a moment before pushing in further, until, finally, he’s fully seated, and Jack is overwhelmed. Nick bends down, wrapping his arms around Jack. He’s completely surrounding him, and Jack feels impossibly full and completely perfect. He’s as close to Nick as he could possibly be, his skin buzzing with excitement, the heat between them making him sticky with sweat.
“I love you,” Nick says, and Jack can’t talk, so instead he kisses Nick, pouring all his words into it.
They start to move, Nick’s hips rolling as Jack rocks against him. Jack’s cock is trapped wonderfully between them, and every so often Nick’s cock brushes against Jack’s prostate, sending intense jolts through him, dragging him closer and closer to the edge.
“I’m close,” he groans, and Nick nods.
“Me too.”
Jack holds on tighter, hands twisting in Nick’s hair, and then Nick changes the angle of his hips slightly, and Jack comes harder than he’s ever come in his life. White heat shoots through him and he screams silently, his eyes squeezed tightly shut, his body shuddering with the power of his orgasm. Nick stills above him and he holds on tight as they come down from their orgasm, slick with sweat and cum and breathing into each other’s mouths.
Eventually, Nick slides from Jack, getting rid of the condom and using a sock he finds on the floor to wipe cum off them. Jack lies there, unable to move. Nick kisses him gently and climbs back into bed. He flops onto his back, and Jack thinks about curling into him. But he can’t. He's sated and happy and he doesn’t want to move, ever.
“Well,” Nick says.
Jack laughs. “Are you okay?” he asks.
“Better than okay.” Nick rolls onto his side to look down at Jack. “Are you okay?”
“It’s the best morning of my entire life.”
“I fucking hope so.”
Jack laughs and turns so he can see the whole of Nick’s face. His eyes scan Nick’s features, looking for any signs that Nick is panicking. That he might, any minute, realise that this is the first Boxing Day he’s waking up somewhere other than the North Pole. Nick smiles softly at him and brushes one hand through Jack’s hair.
“I’m honestly fine, Jack. Yeah, I’m a little sad. It’s different, waking up here. But I don’t regret it for one single second.”
Jack nods, relief washing through him, and he shuffles closer to Nick, wanting his warmth.
They lie like that, wrapped in each other, for longer than they probably should. And as they lie there, Jack can’t help the deep satisfaction that settles in his chest. This is it. The start of the rest of his life. And Jack is really, really thankful that once, years ago, Pascal suggested that he meet Father Christmas.
epilogue
. . .
four years later
JACK
Jack loves meeting other immortals. It’s easy to meet them, especially since he owns a business that they want to use. Lee’s friend Imogen moved to Australia two years ago, after training Jack for a year, and he’s opened his own florist. Immortals love flowers. They love anything decorative, really. And they love parties, and often they want to have flowers at their parties, and often Jack is the one who provides those flowers. He loves it. He loves being part of something important. Something fun. People say ‘oh, you know Jack? He did the flowers’, and it’s a million times better than what they used to say about him. So, yeah, he loves his job. Most of the time.
“I know, I’m late,” Jack says as he bursts through their front door. He hears a soft chuckle from the kitchen. He dumps his messenger bag on the floor, not bothering to hang up his coat. They’re supposed to be going to Christmas Eve eve dinner at a new restaurant near to them, and they had to leave fifteen minutes ago if they wanted to get there on time. Jack isn’t too worried, he knows their friends won’t mind. He wanders through to the kitchen, and find Nick, topless, ironing a shirt. Their kitchen is busy, surfaces covered in letters from Alex and Chris—the new Santa—, dirty pots waiting to be cleaned, and vases of flowers that Jack has grown. Their life, littered around them, and Nick in the middle. His honey-blond hair shining in the low light, his beard fluffy from his shower. He’s absolutely stunning, the muscles in his arm flexing every time he moves the iron, and Jack forgets everything.
“How was work?” Nick says, without looking up.
Jack coughs. “We could skip tonight.” He moves into the room, leaning against the island, and letting his eyes wander up Nick’s torso. Nick chuckles again, the sound so warm Jack’s lips curl without his permission.
“You know we can’t. Felicity has been planning this dinner for three months,” Nick says, making a horribly good point.
“We could arrive late.”
“We’re already going to arrive late.” Nick finishes ironing and slips the shirt on, covering his beautiful body. Jack watches as Nick buttons up the shirt, just like he does every time Nick wears a shirt. There’s something nice about watching Nick do everyday things, like getting dressed. Jack doesn’t think he’ll ever stop feeling lucky that he gets this life. Nick holds his arms out, the white shirt stretching across his pecs. “How does this shirt look?”
“I preferred it off.” Jack pouts.
“Jack.” Nick grins at him, and Jack rolls his eyes.
“You look great,” he says walking towards his partner. He runs his hands up Nick’s chest as Nick’s come to rest on his hip.
“Thanks,” Nick says, kissing Jack softly. “So how was work?”
Jack sags, leaning against Nick. “Ugh. Good? Bad? Who has a Christmas day wedding? And don’t say Ros, because clearly, she does. I worked all day on the bouquets, and I have nearly all the table centre pieces ready.”
“Nearly all?”
“I would have finished them, if we didn’t have to go to dinner.” Jack stands up and wiggles his eyebrows. Nick laughs, a proper fully bellied laugh, and moves away from Jack to put the iron away.
“You still have tomorrow,” Nick says. Jack knows he does, but he really hoped to be finished today. He doesn’t want to be working all day tomorrow, and he has probably four more hours’ worth of work to do, so it’ll be an early morning so that he can spend the afternoon with Nick.
“Are you going to see Chris this year?” he asks.
“Not this year.” Nick smirks as he puts away the ironing board.
Jack doesn’t say anything, not because he doesn’t know what to say, but because he knows he doesn’t have to. He watches as Nick moves around the kitchen, pretend tidying up. He’s been at work today, but Jack isn’t sure when he got home. Early enough to have a shower, if the lack of grease smears on his face and hands are anything to go by.
“You showered,” he says. It’s redundant, but he wants Nick’s attention. Nick smirks over his shoulder and comes closer.
“I did. I didn’t think Felicity would approve if I came all sweaty and oily.”
“She might like it.” Jack returns his smirk.
“Trust me, she definitely wouldn’t.” Nick pulls out his phone as Jack watches him. He doesn’t want to ask Nick how work went, because he doesn’t want to push. Nick’s relationship with work is better than it was, but he’s still Nick. Nick doesn’t look up when he speaks again. “I can feel you thinking, Jack. Work was good. I’m enjoying it. It’s fun, fixing cars, learning about how they work. I don’t need work to be anything more than fun at the moment. Now, I’ve called us a car. They’ll be here in ten, are you ready to go?” Nick looks up and Jack can’t stop the smile that stretches wide over his face.
“If you think I look okay?”
“Jack, you are stunning,” Nick says. Jack moans, pushing into Nick. Jack kisses him hard, their tongues immediately stroking together. The familiar smell of Nick floods Jack and he feels immediately settled. His body is heavy, his head light with happiness.
“Are you sure we need to go?” he mumbles into Nick’s mouth.
Nick huffs a small laugh. “Yes.”
Jack groans, and goes back to kissing Nick. He could kiss Nick every day for the rest of their lives, and never get bored of it. And he absolutely plans to. They kiss for a long moment, and Jack luxuriates in it, in the feel of Nick surrounding him. In the warmth and love and life that he gets from kissing this man. Eventually, too soon, Nick pulls back slightly.
“Tomorrow is twenty years,” he says.
“Huh?” Jack scowls, completely lost. He leans back, making sure he stays in the circle of Nick’s arms, so that he can see Nick’s face properly.
Nick snorts. “You look fucking adorable. Tomorrow night, it will be twenty years since you first visited me on the roof.”
Jack’s stomach swoops. Twenty years. Twenty years of knowing this man, and it feels like it was yesterday. Like they didn’t have to struggle through seemingly endless time not seeing each other to get to this moment. He studies Nick’s face, at the crinkles around his eyes, the glimmer in them, and he smiles. “You’ve planned something, haven’t you.”
“I am fucking terrible at planning things, you know that,” Nick says.
“Hmm, but you’ve still planned something.”
Nick just grins at him, dragging Jack back in for a kiss that could turn filthy if they wanted, or could stay sedate because they have the time for that now. Jack draws back to breathe, resting his forehead against Nick’s
“I love you,” Jack whispers.
