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archetTitle: Angels Ain’t Easy
Author: Archet
Pairing: OMC Jody McKinnon/Matt Hawkes
Fandom: High Mountain Rangers
Summary: a story of falling in love, figuring things out and just holding on.
Disclaimer: I did not create the High Mountain Ranger character/s, only this fic and the Original Male Character, Jody McKinnon, and any other original characters in supporting roles. No copyright infringement is intended.
Notes: this fic is set in 1989, approximately a year and a half after the events of the final episode of High Mountain Rangers. There will be no acknowledgment of the events of the spin-off show Jesse Hawkes.
Note: this fic takes place a little over four months after Bad Luck, Bad Guys and High Mountain Rangers and is a sequel to that fic, so reading that first is recommended.
Additional: this fic will depict same sex relationships. If this ain’t your thing, venture no further.
Warnings this chapter: none
Summary this chapter: it's the morning after, Jody decides to trust in his realizations, does some light exploring, has breakfast and confirms some things with his boy.
****Additional notes at end of chapter****
~*~
Chapter 8: Dreams, Boys and Breakfast
Jody dreamed. He dreamed of blonde hair wrapped around his fingers, and laughing sea-green eyes. He tasted sweetness on his tongue, the likes of which he’d never known and that he couldn’t immediately name, though he searched for its name. He dreamed of eagles in a blue sky, imprints of wide-winged silhouettes. He dreamed of the glint of sunlight on snow, and of a dancing flame held in his hands, imbuing him with heat, warming him as the hidden springs deep in a mountain had done, once upon a time. He had a notion that it was all connected, the green eyes and the warm springs, the mountain, the snow and the flame, and even the soaring eagles.
Jody opened his eyes to sunlight streaming in between the blinds of Matt’s bedroom windows, casting slats of gold over him. He stretched, a long, drawn out extension of well used muscles, and sighed as soft, smooth sheets shifted against his skin. He could hear the chatter and chirp of songbirds going about their morning routines outside, and Matt’s soft, regular breathing beside him.
Blinking sleep from his eyes Jody felt the veiled touch of his dream already fading, but vivid memory quickly took its place.
Jesus, what a night.
The pleasure of imagining being with Matt had paled in comparison of actually having him, and Jody felt changed by the experience, as if Matt’s smile and sweet surrender to Jody’s desire had stamped that fact inside him, indelibly. Warm and comfortable, he lay still and let the feeling settle into him. He turned the things he was feeling over in his mind, turned them backwards and forwards, but could find no flaw, no ripple of doubt or sense of false expectation.
We fit.
Maybe it was presumptuous, arrogant even, but Jody felt the sureness of the idea. Of course, Matt had a say in the matter, too, and they’d need to talk, make sure they were on the same page. Jody tapped into the deep running current of certainty in him, as real in the light of morning as it had been in the night, and he knew, now, that this was why he’d returned to Bear Valley, to make a home, and find someone to share it.
Scrubbing a hand over his face, he laughed quietly, a little helplessly. It was too much to contemplate upon just waking. Glancing at the green digital display of the clock on Matt’s nightstand, Jody saw that it was still early, barely half past seven. He and Matt had slept tangled together for a few hours during the night, before each had finally stretched out on each side of the bed, unfolding their bodies. Turning onto his side, Jody looked at his lover.
Deeply asleep, Matt lay on his belly, a beautiful sprawl, face pressed into his pillow, and hair a wild tumble. The navy blue sheet pooled around his waist, just above the sweet swell of his ass. Smile deepening, Jody reached out and pulled the sheet down further, his lips parting on a soft breath as he revealed more smooth skin, and bruises. Just smudges really, echoes of Jody’s fingerprints a couple shades darker than Matt’s lightly tanned skin. They decorated his hips, and were scattered over his ass.
Jody gently stroked each one, and something in his chest tightened. A sense of appropriateness filled him as his fingertips traced warm skin. Matt likely wouldn’t even feel the bruises, and they’d fade, most likely disappearing in a day or so, but they’d been laid down, pressed into Matt’s body by Jody’s hand. Just looking at them, Jody felt bruised himself. Pulling his hand away he sat back, counting out a string of Matt’s deep, even breaths. There should be another bruise on Matt’s shoulder, left by Jody’s mouth, and he looked forward to seeing that one, too, but he wouldn’t disturb Matt now, while he was sleeping so soundly.
Fuck. This boy has got me.
Jody grinned, then, a lightness suffusing him. It flowed through his body, a welcomed, warm eddy of desire, and patience. Whatever this was between them was strong. He felt sure, suddenly, it was only going to get stronger.
The lamp on the nightstand still stood sentinel, bulb burning. Stretching out his arm, Jody reached under the cream colored shade, and clicked it off. The morning sun bathed the room in warmth as Jody looked around the bedroom, really registering it for the first time. He hardly recognized it.
A wooden rocking chair stood off one side of the bed, faced a small wood burning stove, tucked into the corner of the room. A couple tastefully framed black and white photos decorated the walls, scenes of craggy mountain peaks, and thick sunbeams filtering through the arms of an old growth oak tree. A six drawer dresser sat on the opposite side of the room, and Jody spotted his leather jacket draped haphazardly across its top. Beside the dresser stood a narrow, wooden door with a curling, wrought iron handle, probably a closet.
Matt made a soft noise, sleepy nonsense snuffled into his pillow that drew Jody’s attention, but he did not stir. Jody drew his hand up the line of Matt’s spine, smoothing over the silky skin, over his nape and into his hair. He stroked the blonde tangle gently.
Leaning down Jody pressed a kiss to Matt’s hair before throwing back the sheet, and swinging his legs over the side of the bed. He stood, groaning softly as he stretched, as muscles unfurled. Their clothes lay scattered all over the floor. Jody picked up each garment, folding and stacking it all neatly together and placing the pile on top of the dresser.
Turning around he spotted Matt’s black wristwatch lying just off the round maroon throw rug that lay in the middle of the floor. Jody had no memory of the rug, but he definitely remembered the watch strapped around Matt’s wrist. Picking it up, he studied it a second, and then tossed it on top of the pile of clothes before turning to the half-closed bedroom door.
A long, black and white plaid robe hung on a hook on the back of the door. Jody grabbed it and it slipped on, lips twitching a little in amusement as the sleeves landed a couple inches short of his wrists. It wrapped around his middle well enough, so he belted it, and slipped out of the bedroom.
The bathroom was simple to find, a couple steps down the hallway. Jody sighed in relief as he pissed, relieving the pressure on his bladder. Finished, he shook his dick, flushed the toilet and wrapped the robe back around himself, tying it closed. Washing his hands at the porcelain pedestal sink, he peered at his reflection in the mirror. Hair mused; he pushed it back from his face, wishing he had a tie to hold it. The hint of a smile curved back at him from the glass.
He felt pretty fucking good. Better than he had in a long time. He felt settled.
Jody took a look around the room, brows rising at the sight of the largest claw-footed tub he’d ever seen, set against the wall. The bathroom was pretty narrow, but somehow, the tub had been wedged in, and a tiled shower stall had been neatly tucked into the end of the bathroom. Already, visions of soaking in the behemoth tub with his boy flowed through his imagination, and Jody’s smile widened.
Jesus, he was smiling a lot this morning.
Shaking his head ruefully, he left the bathroom, and started exploring. The hallway led to the kitchen. He remembered it only vaguely. Pretty standard as kitchens went, a sink sat under a window next to an electric stove, and a butcher block counter ran down the span of the back wall of the cabin, bracketed above and below by a bank of pinewood cabinets. A refrigerator sat at the end of the counter. Curling, wrought iron handles were set against the wood of each cabinet door, and Jody sensed a theme.
In the middle of the open floor space stood a long, rectangular, sturdy oak table with thick, curved pedestal legs. Jody ran his fingertips along the careworn tabletop. It looked handmade, the kind of piece that’d be handed down through the generations. His fingers encountered a disturbance on the smooth plane of wood, and he bent down to discover the reason for it. The names ‘Matt’ and ‘Cody’ were carved into the tabletop. By the wobbly shape of the letters, Jody figured the inscription had happened many years ago. Jody traced Matt’s name, chuckling, imagining a towhead blonde boy with mischief in his bright green eyes
In the center of the table sat a wicker basket filled with fruit, a couple oranges, apples and oddly, a pair of climbing gloves. Jody grabbed an apple, polished it against Matt’s robe, and bit into it. Now that he was fully awake, he was hungry. He typically ate breakfast early, and they’d never gotten around to ordering that pizza last night; he figured Matt wouldn’t mind him having a snack. He didn’t want to wake the kid, it was his day off, and he deserved to sleep in.
Despite himself, Jody grinned, thinking of the other reason Matt needed a good, long rest.
Off of the kitchen stood the living room, and really the two areas were all one big room, but Jody could tell that hadn’t always been the case. Someone had removed the wall separating the living room and kitchen, and had framed out the space with heavy oak beams that ran up from the floor and across the ceiling. Stepping into the living room, Jody munched on his apple and took in the wide, stone fireplace that took up a good portion of one wall. The hearth was empty now, but had been recently used, soot and charred embers lay in the cradle of the stone and leaning down, Jody considered the black folding hook mounted into the wall of the hearth.
The hook was folded back against the stone at the moment, but Jody could see how it could be levered back and forth, how a heavy pot could be placed upon it and maneuvered inside the hearth for cooking. Standing back, he ran a hand along the fireplace’s thick, wooden mantelpiece. It matched the beam overhead. A pair of framed pictures sat on the mantle, one was of Matt and a younger dark-haired boy that Jody assumed was Cody. The other picture was a group shot, the brothers standing between a man and woman. The parents, Jody guessed, and he looked at the pair curiously.
The woman was blonde, attractive, and looking at the man beside her with a crooked smile. Jody’s eyes widened, realizing that Matt had his mom’s smile. Jesse Hawkes was surprisingly short, but his blue eyes leapt out from the color photograph as he smiled at the camera. Tanned and square jawed, Matt looked nothing like him at first glance, but there was something around the eyes, a certain slant that Jody recognized.
Across from the fireplace sat a large, well-worn leather couch pushed against the wall. Long enough to accommodate even his long body, Jody mused that it looked like a perfect spot for napping. A blue throw blanket lay draped over one arm, seeming to imply just that idea. A chair sat under the window that matched the couch, leather and comfortable looking.
Next to the fireplace sat a stand with glass doors supporting a large television, VCR and stereo equipment. Jody knelt, opened one of the doors and rooted around the jumbled stacks of vinyl records and cassette tapes. A couple of the newer compact discs were scattered throughout, and he took a few out, turning them over. He found some Skid Row and Guns N’ Roses, but also some Willie Nelson, Kenny Rodgers and Dolly Parton, among other artists.
“Can’t go wrong with Dolly,” Jody observed, and took another bite of apple. He would’ve like to have seen some B.B. King, but figured you couldn’t have everything.
The lamp on the table next to the front door was still on, so Jody turned it off, and also flipped the switch next to the door to put out the outside porch light. No sense in wasting electricity. Pulling open the front door, he stepped out onto the porch, toes curling against the smooth wood underfoot, dick twitching as he remembered curling around Matt last night, as he struggled to get the door open for them.
Sunlight flooded the brief front yard, the freshly cut grass stretching out a short distance to meet a border of tangled brambles, what Jody thought might be wild blackberry and honeysuckle vines, before melding into a wall of soaring trees. Evergreens stretched up into a sapphire sky, interspersed with birch and wild mountain laurel. The forest ringed the cabin, giving the protective illusion that civilization was far away. The gravel track he’d driven up the night before stretched away, winding out of sight into the trees. His truck was parked right where he’d left it, in front of the cabin.
Jody took a deep breath, savoring the quiet beauty of the place.
“Hey, you.”
Turning at the voice, Jody tilted his head, and smiled, yet again. Matt stood leaning against the doorframe, one bare foot propped against the other, a pair of grey half-length jogging pants clinging to his narrow hips and pushed up around his calves. He’d pulled on a threadbare San Francisco 49ers t-shirt, and was watching Jody with a warm expression and a gentle curve to his lips. His gaze tracked slowly up and down Jody’s body, brows slightly raised.
“Whatcha doin’?”
Jody shrugged, and stepping close, wound his arms around Matt’s waist, drawing him in tight. Matt’s arms looped around his neck and Jody brought them together, lips brushing sweetly once, twice, in welcome, before Matt opened to him and Jody pushed his tongue inside. He tightened his arms around his boy, lifting Matt against him, tonguing him lazily, as if he had all the time in the world.
With a last lick, Jody pulled back, savoring the flush sitting high on Matt’s cheekbones, and the heavy, unguarded look in his eyes.
“Just been waiting on you to wake up and feed me.”
Matt grinned, fingers tangling into Jody’s long hair. “You mean you didn’t get enough last night?”
A bolt of heat pacing through him, Jody dipped his head, brushing his lips against Matt’s.
“Don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you, angel.”
Jody enjoyed the little intake of breath, and then licked his way back into Matt’s mouth, one hand gliding up his back to sink fingers into blonde hair, the half eaten apple held in his other hand, forgotten. They tasted one another, there in the doorway of Matt’s home, before Jody pulled gently away, but not before making Matt jump in his arms with a playful, but pointed, nip to his bottom lip.
“As good as you taste, I have to admit, I’m gonna need some actual food soon.”
Matt smirked. “Never let it be said I’m a bad host.” Stepping away, he grabbed Jody’s hand and tugged. “And by the way, that’s a nice robe you’ve got there.”
Obediently following, Jody laughed as he allowed Matt to lead him into the kitchen.
“Best I could do at the moment. You like?”
Matt tossed another smirk at him, waggling his eyebrows.
They left the front door open, a rectangle of brightness opening out on the shaded porch. Birdsong floated in, and a fresh breeze that was cool but not uncomfortable, carrying the hint of cedar. The mornings were still a little on the chilly side, but by midday it’d be nice and warm.
“What’s your pleasure?” Matt asked, opening the fridge and poking around inside. “I got stuff for eggs, toast and hash browns. That okay?”
“More than okay,” Jody said, setting his apple down on the table. He settled against the kitchen table, leaning and watching as Matt pulled ingredients out and set them on the counter.
“I can cook about four things well,” Matt was saying, pacing back to the fridge to draw out a small tub of butter. “And breakfast is one of those things, so you’re in luck.”
Watching him move, the jogging pants snug around the curve of his ass, and the t-shirt stretched tight over his back and wide shoulders, Jody said, “Oh, I already know I’m a very lucky man, baby.”
Matt’s smile flashed warm and bright, but it was the sweet way his gaze dropped briefly, before lifting again, almost shyly, that drew Jody away from the table. He stepped in close behind Matt, hands going to rest on his hips as Matt turned on the oven’s burner and moved a cast iron pan onto the glowing element. Jody buried his nose in the darker hair at the nape of Matt’s neck, and inhaled. Matt stilled, sighed and leaned back against Jody, turning his face against Jody’s neck.
They just stood in silence for a long string of moments, bodies fitting together, Jody’s hands slipping under the waistband of Matt’s joggers to caresses smooth skin.
“If you keep this up, you’re gonna ruin your breakfast,” Matt mumbled against his neck, nuzzling the sensitive skin under Jody’s jaw.
A thrill shot through him and settled in his dick, a response to his boy’s soft lips brushing his skin, and Matt’s teasing voice.
“I wouldn’t give a damn,” Jody rasped, but slowly drew back.
Letting his hands fall away, he moved back to the table and pulled out a chair. Matt tossed him a sweet smile over one shoulder, before blowing out a breath and getting back to work on their breakfast. Minutes slipped by as Matt worked, and then he tasked Jody with getting the coffee maker started and the toaster loaded as he finished scrambling the eggs.
Quickly the rich aroma of fresh coffee wafted through the air as Matt guided Jody to the plates, stored in the upper cabinet. Jody dutifully organized a pair of plates, forks and coffee mugs, and after another minute Matt spooned out a hearty helping of scrambled eggs and hash browns for them both. The toaster snapped, bread popping up and he gingerly grabbed the toasted bread, adding a slice to each plate.
Sitting down at the table, chairs close together, Matt grinned as he sat a bowl of fresh blackberries down next to Jody’s plate, procured most likely from his own front yard. They each scraped butter over the warm toast, and stirred their coffee. Jody tucked into his breakfast, moaning in appreciation at the fluffy eggs and crispy hash browns. A strange sense of familiarity washed over him, as if he and Matt had shared home cooked meals before, though they never had. Soon enough, their plates emptied and Jody sat back, patting his belly and looking at his boy with a new appreciation.
“Jesus, baby, that was delicious. Thank you,” he said, licking butter from his lips.
Matt’s green eyes zeroed in on the dart of Jody’s tongue, and then he tilted his head down, eyes dropping as his long fingers fiddled with the handle of his coffee mug.
Jody gave him a few moments, and then asked, “What are you thinking about? You got quiet on me.”
Pulling his chin up, Matt gave him a crooked smile, an echo of his mothers’ from the photograph on the mantel. “Just thinking about how amazing the last few hours have been.”
As ever, his sweetness and honesty moved Jody. “For me too, baby.”
Matt leaned back in his chair, a lazy sprawl. Jody watched him, savoring the loveliness in him, and not just the physical, but the inner essence of the man. Jody savored the fact that Matt was his, now, or rather, Jody dearly wished him to be. He supposed it would depend on how the next few minutes went.
“We should talk about a couple things.”
Jody could see the tension enter Matt’s frame, and he added, “Nothing to worry about, I promise. Just want to let you know where I’m at, see where you’re at.”
Matt bit his bottom lip, nodded, and waited.
Jody took a steadying breath. “As far as I’m concerned, after last night, you’re mine, now.”
Jody paused, waiting for the words to sink in. Matt’s eyes widened, and he looked away, down at the table, at his fingers slowly rotating his mug on the tabletop. Jody studied him, his long lashes curling against his cheeks, the bitten lip as it was released.
Come on, angel. Don’t leave me hanging.
Matt didn’t disappoint, and Jody wondered why he’d worried. Looking up, Matt met his eyes steadily.
“That’s where I’m at too,” he admitted quietly.
Relief, and pleasure, soared through Jody. He pushed back from the table. He let his legs fall open and tipped his head back a bit.
“Come here.”
There was a breathless beat where they just stared at one another, and then Matt stood from his chair, and stepped between Jody’s legs. Jody sat up, wrapping his arms around Matt’s waist, and pressed his face into Matt’s belly. He smiled, feeling fingers stroking his hair, Matt’s hand cradling the back of his head, then Jody drew back, his hands bracketing Matt’s waist as he looked up into his boy’s darkened eyes.
“Come here, baby,”
Matt straddled him, long legs folding over Jody’s, settling into Jody’s lap, his hands landing on Jody’s shoulders.
Jody looked into Matt’s eyes, made sure he was listening.
“If you’re mine, then there are three things you need to know about me.”
Matt waited, solemn faced, and attentive.
Jody drew his hands up Matt’s sides under his t-shirt, palms resting against his ribs.
“First, I don’t play games.”
Matt nodded.
“Second, I say what I mean.”
The corner of Matt’s mouth twitched up, and Jody tightened his hold.
“And third, I do not share.”
Brows rising, Matt’s lips parted slightly, the meaning of Jody’s words registering. Jody waited, letting his meaning settle between them.
“Do you understand, angel?”
Jody felt the fingers on his shoulders tighten, curling in. “I understand, Jody. I’m in total agreement.”
Jody smiled at the formality. What a sweet boy he had. The flame of desire curled through him, an endless heat it seemed.
“Good boy.”
Jody watched the pleasure pass over Matt’s face, the subtle blush, the tilt of his head as he looked at Jody through his lashes.
“And that means you’re mine too,” Matt said.
It wasn’t a question. It was Jody’s turn to nod. “It does,” he confirmed, placing all the certainty he felt in his voice, and then added, “Ditto.”
Matt laughed, head thrown back. Lifting a hand, he pushed a lock of hair back from Jody’s temple, tucking it behind his ear, delight shining in his green eyes.
“This gonna be a thing between us? Ditto?”
Jody chuckled. “Yep. Looks like.”
Curling his body around Jody, Matt tilted his head down. “I got no problem with that.”
They kissed, Jody’s grip on Matt going tight, insistent. Matt moaned into his mouth, and Jody’s pleasure, always just a heartbeat away when he was with his boy, was pulled to the surface by Matt’s openness to him, in the giving of his mouth. Jody felt his cock filling, stiffening between them. He pulled his mouth away, almost panting.
Placing one hand against the table, Jody gathered his strength and pushed up, his free arm going around Matt who yelped in surprise.
“Fuck! How much can you bench press, anyway?” Matt blurted.
Jody chuckled, hefting Matt’s not insubstantial weight in his arms, both hands gripping Matt’s ass.
“More then you weigh, obviously.”
Matt shook with laughter, and tipping his face down, close to Jody's, said, “I want you inside me as soon as fucking possible.”
Turning, heading for the hallway, Jody felt the need cresting inside him at Matt’s husky demand.
“Baby, you ain’t kiddin’,” he replied, and passing over the threshold of the bedroom, Jody hooked his heel around the bottom of the door, slamming it shut behind them.
*****Additional Notes******
Another indulgent chapter on my part, I tend to get lost in details, probably the kind that few find interesting except myself, so I tried to restrain myself when it came to describing Matt's cabin, though since it's my fic I can pretty much do what I want, and that's the beauty of being the author. Heh! The first half of this chapter was written pretty fast, but the second half went through several revisions. At first there was going to be no declarations, and then there were going to be some pretty serious declarations, so I landed someplace in the middle, with Matt and Jody recognizing they got it bad for one another and both are willing, nay, eager to explore their relationship more. There were several things I wanted to 'see' in the chapter, and most made it in, though a few things got cut that will probably appear later...or not...who knows!
Next up, we're back to Matt, and I *think* maybe he's going to be confronted by a concerned individual whose worried he and Jody are moving way too fast....time will tell.
I occurs to me I haven't been putting a summary for each chapter, didn't really think of it before now...maybe I'll start doing one specific to each chapter.
As usual, share thoughts/ideas in comments as desired. Thanks!
Author: Archet
Pairing: OMC Jody McKinnon/Matt Hawkes
Fandom: High Mountain Rangers
Summary: a story of falling in love, figuring things out and just holding on.
Disclaimer: I did not create the High Mountain Ranger character/s, only this fic and the Original Male Character, Jody McKinnon, and any other original characters in supporting roles. No copyright infringement is intended.
Notes: this fic is set in 1989, approximately a year and a half after the events of the final episode of High Mountain Rangers. There will be no acknowledgment of the events of the spin-off show Jesse Hawkes.
Note: this fic takes place a little over four months after Bad Luck, Bad Guys and High Mountain Rangers and is a sequel to that fic, so reading that first is recommended.
Additional: this fic will depict same sex relationships. If this ain’t your thing, venture no further.
Warnings this chapter: none
Summary this chapter: it's the morning after, Jody decides to trust in his realizations, does some light exploring, has breakfast and confirms some things with his boy.
****Additional notes at end of chapter****
~*~
Chapter 8: Dreams, Boys and Breakfast
Jody dreamed. He dreamed of blonde hair wrapped around his fingers, and laughing sea-green eyes. He tasted sweetness on his tongue, the likes of which he’d never known and that he couldn’t immediately name, though he searched for its name. He dreamed of eagles in a blue sky, imprints of wide-winged silhouettes. He dreamed of the glint of sunlight on snow, and of a dancing flame held in his hands, imbuing him with heat, warming him as the hidden springs deep in a mountain had done, once upon a time. He had a notion that it was all connected, the green eyes and the warm springs, the mountain, the snow and the flame, and even the soaring eagles.
Jody opened his eyes to sunlight streaming in between the blinds of Matt’s bedroom windows, casting slats of gold over him. He stretched, a long, drawn out extension of well used muscles, and sighed as soft, smooth sheets shifted against his skin. He could hear the chatter and chirp of songbirds going about their morning routines outside, and Matt’s soft, regular breathing beside him.
Blinking sleep from his eyes Jody felt the veiled touch of his dream already fading, but vivid memory quickly took its place.
Jesus, what a night.
The pleasure of imagining being with Matt had paled in comparison of actually having him, and Jody felt changed by the experience, as if Matt’s smile and sweet surrender to Jody’s desire had stamped that fact inside him, indelibly. Warm and comfortable, he lay still and let the feeling settle into him. He turned the things he was feeling over in his mind, turned them backwards and forwards, but could find no flaw, no ripple of doubt or sense of false expectation.
We fit.
Maybe it was presumptuous, arrogant even, but Jody felt the sureness of the idea. Of course, Matt had a say in the matter, too, and they’d need to talk, make sure they were on the same page. Jody tapped into the deep running current of certainty in him, as real in the light of morning as it had been in the night, and he knew, now, that this was why he’d returned to Bear Valley, to make a home, and find someone to share it.
Scrubbing a hand over his face, he laughed quietly, a little helplessly. It was too much to contemplate upon just waking. Glancing at the green digital display of the clock on Matt’s nightstand, Jody saw that it was still early, barely half past seven. He and Matt had slept tangled together for a few hours during the night, before each had finally stretched out on each side of the bed, unfolding their bodies. Turning onto his side, Jody looked at his lover.
Deeply asleep, Matt lay on his belly, a beautiful sprawl, face pressed into his pillow, and hair a wild tumble. The navy blue sheet pooled around his waist, just above the sweet swell of his ass. Smile deepening, Jody reached out and pulled the sheet down further, his lips parting on a soft breath as he revealed more smooth skin, and bruises. Just smudges really, echoes of Jody’s fingerprints a couple shades darker than Matt’s lightly tanned skin. They decorated his hips, and were scattered over his ass.
Jody gently stroked each one, and something in his chest tightened. A sense of appropriateness filled him as his fingertips traced warm skin. Matt likely wouldn’t even feel the bruises, and they’d fade, most likely disappearing in a day or so, but they’d been laid down, pressed into Matt’s body by Jody’s hand. Just looking at them, Jody felt bruised himself. Pulling his hand away he sat back, counting out a string of Matt’s deep, even breaths. There should be another bruise on Matt’s shoulder, left by Jody’s mouth, and he looked forward to seeing that one, too, but he wouldn’t disturb Matt now, while he was sleeping so soundly.
Fuck. This boy has got me.
Jody grinned, then, a lightness suffusing him. It flowed through his body, a welcomed, warm eddy of desire, and patience. Whatever this was between them was strong. He felt sure, suddenly, it was only going to get stronger.
The lamp on the nightstand still stood sentinel, bulb burning. Stretching out his arm, Jody reached under the cream colored shade, and clicked it off. The morning sun bathed the room in warmth as Jody looked around the bedroom, really registering it for the first time. He hardly recognized it.
A wooden rocking chair stood off one side of the bed, faced a small wood burning stove, tucked into the corner of the room. A couple tastefully framed black and white photos decorated the walls, scenes of craggy mountain peaks, and thick sunbeams filtering through the arms of an old growth oak tree. A six drawer dresser sat on the opposite side of the room, and Jody spotted his leather jacket draped haphazardly across its top. Beside the dresser stood a narrow, wooden door with a curling, wrought iron handle, probably a closet.
Matt made a soft noise, sleepy nonsense snuffled into his pillow that drew Jody’s attention, but he did not stir. Jody drew his hand up the line of Matt’s spine, smoothing over the silky skin, over his nape and into his hair. He stroked the blonde tangle gently.
Leaning down Jody pressed a kiss to Matt’s hair before throwing back the sheet, and swinging his legs over the side of the bed. He stood, groaning softly as he stretched, as muscles unfurled. Their clothes lay scattered all over the floor. Jody picked up each garment, folding and stacking it all neatly together and placing the pile on top of the dresser.
Turning around he spotted Matt’s black wristwatch lying just off the round maroon throw rug that lay in the middle of the floor. Jody had no memory of the rug, but he definitely remembered the watch strapped around Matt’s wrist. Picking it up, he studied it a second, and then tossed it on top of the pile of clothes before turning to the half-closed bedroom door.
A long, black and white plaid robe hung on a hook on the back of the door. Jody grabbed it and it slipped on, lips twitching a little in amusement as the sleeves landed a couple inches short of his wrists. It wrapped around his middle well enough, so he belted it, and slipped out of the bedroom.
The bathroom was simple to find, a couple steps down the hallway. Jody sighed in relief as he pissed, relieving the pressure on his bladder. Finished, he shook his dick, flushed the toilet and wrapped the robe back around himself, tying it closed. Washing his hands at the porcelain pedestal sink, he peered at his reflection in the mirror. Hair mused; he pushed it back from his face, wishing he had a tie to hold it. The hint of a smile curved back at him from the glass.
He felt pretty fucking good. Better than he had in a long time. He felt settled.
Jody took a look around the room, brows rising at the sight of the largest claw-footed tub he’d ever seen, set against the wall. The bathroom was pretty narrow, but somehow, the tub had been wedged in, and a tiled shower stall had been neatly tucked into the end of the bathroom. Already, visions of soaking in the behemoth tub with his boy flowed through his imagination, and Jody’s smile widened.
Jesus, he was smiling a lot this morning.
Shaking his head ruefully, he left the bathroom, and started exploring. The hallway led to the kitchen. He remembered it only vaguely. Pretty standard as kitchens went, a sink sat under a window next to an electric stove, and a butcher block counter ran down the span of the back wall of the cabin, bracketed above and below by a bank of pinewood cabinets. A refrigerator sat at the end of the counter. Curling, wrought iron handles were set against the wood of each cabinet door, and Jody sensed a theme.
In the middle of the open floor space stood a long, rectangular, sturdy oak table with thick, curved pedestal legs. Jody ran his fingertips along the careworn tabletop. It looked handmade, the kind of piece that’d be handed down through the generations. His fingers encountered a disturbance on the smooth plane of wood, and he bent down to discover the reason for it. The names ‘Matt’ and ‘Cody’ were carved into the tabletop. By the wobbly shape of the letters, Jody figured the inscription had happened many years ago. Jody traced Matt’s name, chuckling, imagining a towhead blonde boy with mischief in his bright green eyes
In the center of the table sat a wicker basket filled with fruit, a couple oranges, apples and oddly, a pair of climbing gloves. Jody grabbed an apple, polished it against Matt’s robe, and bit into it. Now that he was fully awake, he was hungry. He typically ate breakfast early, and they’d never gotten around to ordering that pizza last night; he figured Matt wouldn’t mind him having a snack. He didn’t want to wake the kid, it was his day off, and he deserved to sleep in.
Despite himself, Jody grinned, thinking of the other reason Matt needed a good, long rest.
Off of the kitchen stood the living room, and really the two areas were all one big room, but Jody could tell that hadn’t always been the case. Someone had removed the wall separating the living room and kitchen, and had framed out the space with heavy oak beams that ran up from the floor and across the ceiling. Stepping into the living room, Jody munched on his apple and took in the wide, stone fireplace that took up a good portion of one wall. The hearth was empty now, but had been recently used, soot and charred embers lay in the cradle of the stone and leaning down, Jody considered the black folding hook mounted into the wall of the hearth.
The hook was folded back against the stone at the moment, but Jody could see how it could be levered back and forth, how a heavy pot could be placed upon it and maneuvered inside the hearth for cooking. Standing back, he ran a hand along the fireplace’s thick, wooden mantelpiece. It matched the beam overhead. A pair of framed pictures sat on the mantle, one was of Matt and a younger dark-haired boy that Jody assumed was Cody. The other picture was a group shot, the brothers standing between a man and woman. The parents, Jody guessed, and he looked at the pair curiously.
The woman was blonde, attractive, and looking at the man beside her with a crooked smile. Jody’s eyes widened, realizing that Matt had his mom’s smile. Jesse Hawkes was surprisingly short, but his blue eyes leapt out from the color photograph as he smiled at the camera. Tanned and square jawed, Matt looked nothing like him at first glance, but there was something around the eyes, a certain slant that Jody recognized.
Across from the fireplace sat a large, well-worn leather couch pushed against the wall. Long enough to accommodate even his long body, Jody mused that it looked like a perfect spot for napping. A blue throw blanket lay draped over one arm, seeming to imply just that idea. A chair sat under the window that matched the couch, leather and comfortable looking.
Next to the fireplace sat a stand with glass doors supporting a large television, VCR and stereo equipment. Jody knelt, opened one of the doors and rooted around the jumbled stacks of vinyl records and cassette tapes. A couple of the newer compact discs were scattered throughout, and he took a few out, turning them over. He found some Skid Row and Guns N’ Roses, but also some Willie Nelson, Kenny Rodgers and Dolly Parton, among other artists.
“Can’t go wrong with Dolly,” Jody observed, and took another bite of apple. He would’ve like to have seen some B.B. King, but figured you couldn’t have everything.
The lamp on the table next to the front door was still on, so Jody turned it off, and also flipped the switch next to the door to put out the outside porch light. No sense in wasting electricity. Pulling open the front door, he stepped out onto the porch, toes curling against the smooth wood underfoot, dick twitching as he remembered curling around Matt last night, as he struggled to get the door open for them.
Sunlight flooded the brief front yard, the freshly cut grass stretching out a short distance to meet a border of tangled brambles, what Jody thought might be wild blackberry and honeysuckle vines, before melding into a wall of soaring trees. Evergreens stretched up into a sapphire sky, interspersed with birch and wild mountain laurel. The forest ringed the cabin, giving the protective illusion that civilization was far away. The gravel track he’d driven up the night before stretched away, winding out of sight into the trees. His truck was parked right where he’d left it, in front of the cabin.
Jody took a deep breath, savoring the quiet beauty of the place.
“Hey, you.”
Turning at the voice, Jody tilted his head, and smiled, yet again. Matt stood leaning against the doorframe, one bare foot propped against the other, a pair of grey half-length jogging pants clinging to his narrow hips and pushed up around his calves. He’d pulled on a threadbare San Francisco 49ers t-shirt, and was watching Jody with a warm expression and a gentle curve to his lips. His gaze tracked slowly up and down Jody’s body, brows slightly raised.
“Whatcha doin’?”
Jody shrugged, and stepping close, wound his arms around Matt’s waist, drawing him in tight. Matt’s arms looped around his neck and Jody brought them together, lips brushing sweetly once, twice, in welcome, before Matt opened to him and Jody pushed his tongue inside. He tightened his arms around his boy, lifting Matt against him, tonguing him lazily, as if he had all the time in the world.
With a last lick, Jody pulled back, savoring the flush sitting high on Matt’s cheekbones, and the heavy, unguarded look in his eyes.
“Just been waiting on you to wake up and feed me.”
Matt grinned, fingers tangling into Jody’s long hair. “You mean you didn’t get enough last night?”
A bolt of heat pacing through him, Jody dipped his head, brushing his lips against Matt’s.
“Don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you, angel.”
Jody enjoyed the little intake of breath, and then licked his way back into Matt’s mouth, one hand gliding up his back to sink fingers into blonde hair, the half eaten apple held in his other hand, forgotten. They tasted one another, there in the doorway of Matt’s home, before Jody pulled gently away, but not before making Matt jump in his arms with a playful, but pointed, nip to his bottom lip.
“As good as you taste, I have to admit, I’m gonna need some actual food soon.”
Matt smirked. “Never let it be said I’m a bad host.” Stepping away, he grabbed Jody’s hand and tugged. “And by the way, that’s a nice robe you’ve got there.”
Obediently following, Jody laughed as he allowed Matt to lead him into the kitchen.
“Best I could do at the moment. You like?”
Matt tossed another smirk at him, waggling his eyebrows.
They left the front door open, a rectangle of brightness opening out on the shaded porch. Birdsong floated in, and a fresh breeze that was cool but not uncomfortable, carrying the hint of cedar. The mornings were still a little on the chilly side, but by midday it’d be nice and warm.
“What’s your pleasure?” Matt asked, opening the fridge and poking around inside. “I got stuff for eggs, toast and hash browns. That okay?”
“More than okay,” Jody said, setting his apple down on the table. He settled against the kitchen table, leaning and watching as Matt pulled ingredients out and set them on the counter.
“I can cook about four things well,” Matt was saying, pacing back to the fridge to draw out a small tub of butter. “And breakfast is one of those things, so you’re in luck.”
Watching him move, the jogging pants snug around the curve of his ass, and the t-shirt stretched tight over his back and wide shoulders, Jody said, “Oh, I already know I’m a very lucky man, baby.”
Matt’s smile flashed warm and bright, but it was the sweet way his gaze dropped briefly, before lifting again, almost shyly, that drew Jody away from the table. He stepped in close behind Matt, hands going to rest on his hips as Matt turned on the oven’s burner and moved a cast iron pan onto the glowing element. Jody buried his nose in the darker hair at the nape of Matt’s neck, and inhaled. Matt stilled, sighed and leaned back against Jody, turning his face against Jody’s neck.
They just stood in silence for a long string of moments, bodies fitting together, Jody’s hands slipping under the waistband of Matt’s joggers to caresses smooth skin.
“If you keep this up, you’re gonna ruin your breakfast,” Matt mumbled against his neck, nuzzling the sensitive skin under Jody’s jaw.
A thrill shot through him and settled in his dick, a response to his boy’s soft lips brushing his skin, and Matt’s teasing voice.
“I wouldn’t give a damn,” Jody rasped, but slowly drew back.
Letting his hands fall away, he moved back to the table and pulled out a chair. Matt tossed him a sweet smile over one shoulder, before blowing out a breath and getting back to work on their breakfast. Minutes slipped by as Matt worked, and then he tasked Jody with getting the coffee maker started and the toaster loaded as he finished scrambling the eggs.
Quickly the rich aroma of fresh coffee wafted through the air as Matt guided Jody to the plates, stored in the upper cabinet. Jody dutifully organized a pair of plates, forks and coffee mugs, and after another minute Matt spooned out a hearty helping of scrambled eggs and hash browns for them both. The toaster snapped, bread popping up and he gingerly grabbed the toasted bread, adding a slice to each plate.
Sitting down at the table, chairs close together, Matt grinned as he sat a bowl of fresh blackberries down next to Jody’s plate, procured most likely from his own front yard. They each scraped butter over the warm toast, and stirred their coffee. Jody tucked into his breakfast, moaning in appreciation at the fluffy eggs and crispy hash browns. A strange sense of familiarity washed over him, as if he and Matt had shared home cooked meals before, though they never had. Soon enough, their plates emptied and Jody sat back, patting his belly and looking at his boy with a new appreciation.
“Jesus, baby, that was delicious. Thank you,” he said, licking butter from his lips.
Matt’s green eyes zeroed in on the dart of Jody’s tongue, and then he tilted his head down, eyes dropping as his long fingers fiddled with the handle of his coffee mug.
Jody gave him a few moments, and then asked, “What are you thinking about? You got quiet on me.”
Pulling his chin up, Matt gave him a crooked smile, an echo of his mothers’ from the photograph on the mantel. “Just thinking about how amazing the last few hours have been.”
As ever, his sweetness and honesty moved Jody. “For me too, baby.”
Matt leaned back in his chair, a lazy sprawl. Jody watched him, savoring the loveliness in him, and not just the physical, but the inner essence of the man. Jody savored the fact that Matt was his, now, or rather, Jody dearly wished him to be. He supposed it would depend on how the next few minutes went.
“We should talk about a couple things.”
Jody could see the tension enter Matt’s frame, and he added, “Nothing to worry about, I promise. Just want to let you know where I’m at, see where you’re at.”
Matt bit his bottom lip, nodded, and waited.
Jody took a steadying breath. “As far as I’m concerned, after last night, you’re mine, now.”
Jody paused, waiting for the words to sink in. Matt’s eyes widened, and he looked away, down at the table, at his fingers slowly rotating his mug on the tabletop. Jody studied him, his long lashes curling against his cheeks, the bitten lip as it was released.
Come on, angel. Don’t leave me hanging.
Matt didn’t disappoint, and Jody wondered why he’d worried. Looking up, Matt met his eyes steadily.
“That’s where I’m at too,” he admitted quietly.
Relief, and pleasure, soared through Jody. He pushed back from the table. He let his legs fall open and tipped his head back a bit.
“Come here.”
There was a breathless beat where they just stared at one another, and then Matt stood from his chair, and stepped between Jody’s legs. Jody sat up, wrapping his arms around Matt’s waist, and pressed his face into Matt’s belly. He smiled, feeling fingers stroking his hair, Matt’s hand cradling the back of his head, then Jody drew back, his hands bracketing Matt’s waist as he looked up into his boy’s darkened eyes.
“Come here, baby,”
Matt straddled him, long legs folding over Jody’s, settling into Jody’s lap, his hands landing on Jody’s shoulders.
Jody looked into Matt’s eyes, made sure he was listening.
“If you’re mine, then there are three things you need to know about me.”
Matt waited, solemn faced, and attentive.
Jody drew his hands up Matt’s sides under his t-shirt, palms resting against his ribs.
“First, I don’t play games.”
Matt nodded.
“Second, I say what I mean.”
The corner of Matt’s mouth twitched up, and Jody tightened his hold.
“And third, I do not share.”
Brows rising, Matt’s lips parted slightly, the meaning of Jody’s words registering. Jody waited, letting his meaning settle between them.
“Do you understand, angel?”
Jody felt the fingers on his shoulders tighten, curling in. “I understand, Jody. I’m in total agreement.”
Jody smiled at the formality. What a sweet boy he had. The flame of desire curled through him, an endless heat it seemed.
“Good boy.”
Jody watched the pleasure pass over Matt’s face, the subtle blush, the tilt of his head as he looked at Jody through his lashes.
“And that means you’re mine too,” Matt said.
It wasn’t a question. It was Jody’s turn to nod. “It does,” he confirmed, placing all the certainty he felt in his voice, and then added, “Ditto.”
Matt laughed, head thrown back. Lifting a hand, he pushed a lock of hair back from Jody’s temple, tucking it behind his ear, delight shining in his green eyes.
“This gonna be a thing between us? Ditto?”
Jody chuckled. “Yep. Looks like.”
Curling his body around Jody, Matt tilted his head down. “I got no problem with that.”
They kissed, Jody’s grip on Matt going tight, insistent. Matt moaned into his mouth, and Jody’s pleasure, always just a heartbeat away when he was with his boy, was pulled to the surface by Matt’s openness to him, in the giving of his mouth. Jody felt his cock filling, stiffening between them. He pulled his mouth away, almost panting.
Placing one hand against the table, Jody gathered his strength and pushed up, his free arm going around Matt who yelped in surprise.
“Fuck! How much can you bench press, anyway?” Matt blurted.
Jody chuckled, hefting Matt’s not insubstantial weight in his arms, both hands gripping Matt’s ass.
“More then you weigh, obviously.”
Matt shook with laughter, and tipping his face down, close to Jody's, said, “I want you inside me as soon as fucking possible.”
Turning, heading for the hallway, Jody felt the need cresting inside him at Matt’s husky demand.
“Baby, you ain’t kiddin’,” he replied, and passing over the threshold of the bedroom, Jody hooked his heel around the bottom of the door, slamming it shut behind them.
*****Additional Notes******
Another indulgent chapter on my part, I tend to get lost in details, probably the kind that few find interesting except myself, so I tried to restrain myself when it came to describing Matt's cabin, though since it's my fic I can pretty much do what I want, and that's the beauty of being the author. Heh! The first half of this chapter was written pretty fast, but the second half went through several revisions. At first there was going to be no declarations, and then there were going to be some pretty serious declarations, so I landed someplace in the middle, with Matt and Jody recognizing they got it bad for one another and both are willing, nay, eager to explore their relationship more. There were several things I wanted to 'see' in the chapter, and most made it in, though a few things got cut that will probably appear later...or not...who knows!
Next up, we're back to Matt, and I *think* maybe he's going to be confronted by a concerned individual whose worried he and Jody are moving way too fast....time will tell.
I occurs to me I haven't been putting a summary for each chapter, didn't really think of it before now...maybe I'll start doing one specific to each chapter.
As usual, share thoughts/ideas in comments as desired. Thanks!
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Date: 2022-09-04 06:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-09-04 08:55 pm (UTC)Been out of pocket a few days
Date: 2022-09-08 08:51 pm (UTC)Re: Been out of pocket a few days
Date: 2022-09-12 07:40 pm (UTC)