L&L Chapter Thrity Five
Author's Note: Thank you so very much for my friend Kathy (kittie8571) who is the Beta of this story!
Chapter Thirty Five: (Always changing) Relationships
"You need to help me Beth!" Jack pleaded.
"Jack, I'm really busy with the Christmas crises. Christmas is a bad time of the year for me! My clients like to file for divorce, commit suicide or simply drive me crazy during this season!"
"One of your clients killed himself during Christmas? When was this?" Jack asked surprised. "Why was I not informed?"
"He wanted to kill his wife." Elizabeth paused dramatically. "But he ended up just filing for divorce."
"You need to calm down." Jack sat in front of Elizabeth's desk. "And what better way to do that than an afternoon of shopping?"
"Jack, honestly, what happened?" Elizabeth ceased her work and looked him in the eye. "You've been bothering me about this since breakfast."
"I lied to Ennis." Jack admitted. "Not about anything serious or anything. I just told him that I had a great present for him and I haven't bought it yet. Actually I have no idea what to give him. And that's why I need you to come shopping with me …"
"Let me see if I understand. You lied to Ennis about his Christmas present?" Elizabeth's eyebrows stood up.
Jack only nodded.
"Why would you do that?" The blond attorney asked, confused.
"I just… It came out of my mouth without warning." Jack sighed. "I guess I thought it was time for me to be one step ahead."
"Since when did buying gifts turn into a competition?" Elizabeth almost sounded amused.
"Since Ennis is kicking my ass in that department."
"Jack." Elizabeth sighed, but her hand moved to her purse. "You don't have to buy him elaborate gifts to show him you care."
"I just… I feel like… it's my turn." Jack admitted.
"I see." Elizabeth leaned back against her chair, with a complacent tone of voice. "You know there's nothing wrong about being on the receiving end of loving attention."
"Are you going to tell me about the flower and the gardener? Because I may be desperate… but I'm not that desperate!"
"Of course you're not." Elizabeth chuckled darkly. "You're the sweet little sun flower, basking in the love and attention of Ennis the Texan gardener."
"I'm beginning to think you're just jealous." Jack murmured, silencing Elizabeth's laughs.
"You're wrong. Mary can be attentive and caring when she wants to be. She just doesn't like to do it in public and neither do I." Elizabeth's tone made Jack feel uncomfortable.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it." Jack knew he had hit a nerve and felt bad for his lack of sense.
"No need for that. I know that some details of my relationship with Mary have always bothered you, to say the least." Elizabeth exhaled loudly after her admission.
"It's just…" Jack measured his words, afraid of hurting his best friend's feelings. "Jessica was… She was completely different from Mary. And it's not that I don't like Mary. I do. I've grown to respect her, especially in this last year and I can understand why you love her. She's determined and intelligent, and she demands the best of you. You're genuinely a better person around her. But…"
Jack paused, waiting for Elizabeth's gaze to move from the window to his face again.
"As silly as it sounds, I guess I'm still faithful to the memory of Jessica. She was peaceful, kind and loved you with no restraint. She wasn't afraid of standing by your side no matter what, she was the one who held your hand in front of your mother…" Jack grew silent as he noticed the tears sparkling in Elizabeth's eyes. "I don't question Mary's love for you, I just wished she was a bit more demonstrative. I think you deserve someone who stands by you, not someone who stands in your shadow."
"Jessica was a completely different person, Jack. She didn't force me to come out, but she didn't go back in the closet because of me. She needed to let everyone know she was gay and proud of it. You're a bit like her when it comes to that. I'm different and so is Mary." Elizabeth smiled. "It's a different relationship and it suits me just fine. I needed stability, but I also needed someone to push me forward emotionally. Mary is nothing but perfect for me. She's not ashamed of being gay or afraid of being my partner, she just likes to keep her personal life personal."
"You're right. Sorry I mentioned it." Jack apologized.
"I know you loved Jessica." Elizabeth had a sad smile on her face. "She loved you too but you can't blame Mary for not being her. I did it for far too long during our relationship and it only brought me pain."
"I'm sorry for bringing this up." Jack sighed.
"It's ok. We've been dancing around this topic for too long." Elizabeth stood up and grabbed her bag again.
"Where are you going?" Jack asked surprised to see Elizabeth stand up so abruptly.
"Well, aren't we going shopping? You need my help to find that perfect present." Elizabeth raised an eyebrow and smiled. "I just remembered that I haven't bought a present for Mary yet."
"Yes." Jack stood up and smiled. "We have some serious shopping to do."
Jack put his arm around Elizabeth and they both left her office in friendly confidence.
"Believe me, he has some kind of perfect present." Jack complained for the millionth time that evening.
Ennis and Veronica were walking around Louis Vuitton. They had spent part of the day visiting some of New York's best stores on Fifth Avenue. Ennis had bought gifts for almost everyone he knew, but hadn't been able to find a good present for Jack.
"Ennis, how can you possibly know?" Veronica asked laughing.
"He told me." Ennis complained. "He was all smug about it."
"What could it possibly be?" Veronica raised a gray suit in Ennis direction.
"Obviously, I've no idea." Ennis pointed at the suit. "Nope. He bought the whole collection with prepayment at the beginning of the Season."
"I should have known." Veronica sighed. "Maybe he's going to buy you one of those apartments in that… palm tree island. Or maybe he's going to buy you a whole island!"
"What do I need an island for?" Ennis frowned. "It's probably some great romantic gesture."
Ennis knew that Veronica was trying not to chuckle at his sudden embarrassment. He was still not comfortable about sharing details of his relationship, even if it was with Veronica, his new best friend.
"Maybe he's going to propose." Veronica finally let out a chuckle, but her voice was full with excitement.
"You think so?" Ennis hadn't thought about that possibility.
"Would it be the perfect present for you?"
"I've… I've no idea." Ennis was struggling with the words.
"This is an interesting development! You don't know what your reaction would be?" Veronica's curiosity was peaked.
"I've just… I always imagined that I would be the one asking him." Ennis explained.
"Maybe you thought wrong." Veronica smiled. "I'm picturing it already. Sun… probably a tropical beach. I'm guessing, Barbados. It's expensive enough for Jack's tastes! Everybody would have to be dressed in white, of course. Reception in some crazy five star hotel, with candles floating on water, a chocolate fountain, ice sculptures of angels and at the very end, both of you under a rose petal shower…"
"Are we still talking about my upcoming wedding or yours?" Ennis teased. "Rose petal shower… We're gay, but we're not that gay."
"Speak for yourself." As a point, Veronica raised a pink silk scarf that Ennis had considered an appropriate Christmas gift for Nicholas.
"This silliness is over. Jack's not going to propose any time soon. I know him. I would have noticed if he was planning to do something like that. And most of all, he would never do it without being one hundred percent sure that my answer would be yes." Ennis stated firmly.
"And wouldn't it be yes?" Veronica asked curious.
"Shit." When realization hit him, Ennis cursed out loud.
Shocked faces around the selective shop turned to Ennis and he couldn't find the words to apologize.
"Please forgive him." Veronica stated with a naughty smile. "He just found out that he might become engaged this Christmas."
Ennis repressed the urge to kill Veronica, as he received a couple of confused congratulations from the people surrounding them.
Ennis couldn't help but wonder about Veronica's words for the rest of the day. The realization that he might be ready for a life time commitment surprised him, even if it was with Jack. Her words kept echoing in his head and he had been unable to focus on work or Jack's attempts at conversation.
"Ennis?" Jack's voice brought him back to reality.
"Yes." Ennis replied, focusing back on dinner table and their surroundings.
"Is it that bad?" Jack asked worried.
Ennis stared at Jack, confused for a few seconds, until he realized that Jack was talking about the food. The same food that Jack had nervously cooked for dinner and that he was eating very little of.
"It's delicious, baby." Ennis smiled in a way he hoped was reassuring.
"Don't 'baby' me." Jack dropped his fork and frowned. "You're a terrible liar. I can see that you hate it."
"Jack, honestly, it's good." Ennis took another bite, ignoring Jack's reaction.
"You can't even look me in the eye and say it." Jack pointed out.
"That's not about the food." Ennis sighed and placed the cutlery silently on the table.
"Then what is it?" Jack asked unconvinced.
"Veronica and I had a conversation this morning and her words are still bothering me …" Ennis tried to be vague about the details.
Jack looked surprised for a few seconds and then his eyes moved to his plate.
"Of course, you went shopping with Veronica this morning. You had to find out." Jack sighed loudly. "I told Robert that you wouldn't like the idea, but he asked me to keep it a secret. That's why I didn't tell you."
"What?" Ennis asked confused.
"Robert asked me to keep it a secret . . . about their dating. Veronica wanted to tell you at her own pace and he forced me to keep silent. I bet you were a bit surprised, hmm?" Jack asked concerned.
"I was." Ennis managed to reply.
"And you're annoyed because I didn't tell you." Jack held his hand from the other side of the table. "My best friend asked me and I was sure that, all things considered, it was the best action to take."
"Sure." Ennis tried to recover quickly from what he had just found out. "I guess I just needed to hear that from you."
"Ennis, there is nothing that I would keep from you. In all honestly, you have nothing to worry about. I can't even make a business decision without asking for your opinion anymore."
"I know. I was silly." Ennis smiled, feeling the weight of worry leaving his shoulders.
Jack wasn't going to make any decision without asking him. He wasn't going to force him into a situation where he could feel pressured. Jack knew him well enough and respected him far too much to compel him to take a step he wasn't ready for.
"Thanks, baby." Ennis smiled for the first time that evening.
"You're thanking me for lying to you? I guess you really didn't like to hear the news." Jack snorted.
"Veronica has relationship issues and Robert clearly has his own share too. I'm concerned. And I was a bit annoyed that you all decided to keep me in the dark." Ennis was wondering why Veronica hadn't told him about this before.
"You can be really protective of the people you like and you have no problem in voicing your opinion. Veronica and Robert just wanted to give you the news in the gentlest way possible." Jack resumed eating.
"It couldn't have been any gentler." Ennis sarcasm was lost to Jack.
"I, for one, am happy. Veronica is a determined woman, with a good heart. I'm sure she'll be good for Robert."
"Don't you think they moved a bit fast?" Ennis was growing concerned with this piece of news.
"Look whose talking! You jumped me the first time nobody was looking." Jack smirked, clearly amused.
"Jack." Ennis warned, uncomfortable with Jack's words. "That was different."
"It's always different, that's why you shouldn't be judging. Besides, they're just dating. It's not like they're going to get married any time soon."
"I guess you're right." Ennis conceded.
"Speaking of marriage. I found out that you and Mary have been very interested in Mr. Santos's married life." Jack raised an eyebrow.
"Just keeping an eye on his wife." Ennis stated.
"His very pregnant wife." Jack remembered. "I know, we know, everybody knows… that she's after his money. But it's not our obligation as his attorneys to make him realize that. So you and Mary better be careful about your extracurricular activities. I'm turning a blind eye for now, but if I hear a whisper of suspicion from Mr. Santos..."
"Yes, Mr. Twist." Ennis interrupted, reacting to Jack's tone of voice.
"You better remember whose signing those paychecks, Mr. Del Mar."
"Mr. Twist. How lovely to have you for dinner. Can we discuss a possible raise now? I think I deserve it." Ennis teased.
"No, we cannot. I heard you have been engaging in some inappropriate behavior during office hours." Jack's sexy smile told Ennis that he was talking about sex in Jack's office.
"In my defense, Mr. Twist, both parties were completely willing." Ennis took pleasure in Jack's reaction to his words.
"Nevertheless, you broke the rules, Mr. Del Mar." Jack sat on the edge of the table, watching as Ennis approached him. "And it's not the first time."
"I'm sure I can make it up to you, Mr. Twist." Ennis whispered in Jack's ear.
Ennis chuckled at Jack's soft whimper.
Lately he was taking serious pleasure from making his partner lose his composure. It all had begun that day at the office, seducing his partner during office hours, right under everyone's noses. Watching Jack scream with pleasure at the top of his lungs while the papers and files underneath him fell from the desk to the floor, had made him realize that he had been denying himself of having total control. It made him feel great to see the surprise in Jack's expression, to feel that the pleasure he was receiving was from his administrations only. It made him realize that he had, unconsciously perhaps, imposed self limits to this aspect of their relationship. And for the first time in their relationship, those limits felt wrong. So, when it was over, Ennis made a clever remark and ran home to where he could think clearly about it. He felt that the balance had shifted again and he was progressing further.
And things had increasingly become different between them. Jack hadn't verbally acknowledged it yet, but it was clear that he was letting Ennis experiment with whatever he wanted. So far, they had been having a lot more oral sex than usual and doing it a lot more outside their bed. Ennis was becoming more confident and bold about what he wanted sexually and Jack seemed fairly pleased and willing to accommodate to Ennis's every wish.
"Gonna take you right here." Ennis murmured against Jack's neck.
"Do it." Jack murmured breathless.
Ennis's hands moved to push up the grey jumper Jack was wearing over his head, forcing Jack to lean a bit further against the table. He moved to open Jack's shirt, slowly kissing every inch of revealed skin. His tongue played with Jack's nipples, biting and pulling just enough to make Jack rut against him. And when the shirt was gone, Ennis moved to the trousers. By that time, Jack was trying to get him remove some of his clothing too, but Ennis was having none of that.
"You should lay back and enjoy, Mr. Twist." This time Ennis actually chuckled against Jack's ear.
He finally opened the button of Jack's tailored trousers and managed to push both the trousers and the boxers to ankle level. He stepped aside and took a minute to appreciate the view. Jack's eyes were covered by his forearm, his mouth partially opened. Jack's hard breathing was forcing his abdomen muscles to contract and relax at high speed, making the dark path of his belly undulate slightly.
Ennis traced the line from the belly button to the base of the penis. Of all the details on Jack's body, he loved this one the most. The black soft hair against the shining white skin made a contrast that took Ennis's breath away.
"You're so beautiful, Jack." He murmured against Jack's skin, momentarily forgetting about their foreplay.
And Ennis meant every word. He kissed each thigh with reverence and traced a path between them with his mouth. Soft kisses that moved south and made Jack tremble. He finally took Jack's engorged member in his mouth and sucked it expertly, eliciting another loud moan from the black haired attorney. He added a bit of tongue to the equation and Jack's reaction forced a few crystal cups to fall onto the floor.
Ennis was enjoying the mess Jack was making far too much, but he had a plan and intended to stick to it. He let go of Jack's penis with a loud pop, but kept his tongue in contact with skin. Jack complained weakly but Ennis ignored him. He moved forward to suck Jack's hairless balls, silencing any more complaints.
Ennis took a minute to wonder why he had never truly enjoyed this before.
The angle wasn't right, so Ennis asked Jack to turn around and bend against the table. His hands touched the white skin of Jack's back and it reminded him that he was painfully aroused. His cock was still trapped inside his jeans, but this was not about Ennis. This was not about his pleasure. No, tonight was about Jack and all the things he never asked but still deserved. All the things he was willing to give up being with Ennis.
Ennis knelt on the floor and kissed the nearest ass cheek, feeling Jack tense at the unexpected touch. He spread Jack's cheeks and sent his tongue further.
"Oh God." Jack cried with surprised.
Ennis had collected all his courage and was indeed tongue fucking his boyfriend against their dinner table. And the best part about it? He felt great. Powerful, invigorated by the sounds and expressions coming from Jack. He took his time to appreciate it and used every single technique in the book. He wanted to know what exactly worked with Jack.
"Ennis…" Jack sounded completely out of breath. "Please…"
Ennis understood Jack's plea. He craved for something more too. He was at his limit of restraint and needed relief as much as Jack. He stripped and prepared Jack quickly with some lube and turned him around. He moved both of them into the nearest chair, just like the first time they made love after Madrid.
They rocked together on top of the chair, neither capable of lasting much longer. After they came, Ennis felt boneless, but enjoyed the feeling of having Jack in his arms. That closeness he had never found with anyone else.
"Was it just me, or has Christmas come early this year?" Jack finally managed to find his voice again. "God, I haven't come so hard in years."
"Such lovely compliments to my talents." Ennis tried to sound smug, but he was still out of breath.
"Best ever." Jack moved closer, finally feeling the chill against his body.
"I'm glad you appreciated it." Ennis sighed contently.
"Wanna share what brought that up?" Jack's chin rested against his shoulder.
"Just felt like it." Ennis wasn't sure he could really explain.
"I'm glad." Jack murmured.
Ennis tried not to reflect too hard on his actions. He smacked Jack's ass lightly and tried to stand up.
"Let's have a shower and reheat dinner." He stood and stretched his limbs.
"Who's the boss here?" Jack looked offended and squeezed Ennis's butt as he moved to the stairs.
Ennis soon followed him to the bathroom, smiling to himself all the way.
Author: Thank you for everybody who wrote me asking about this fic. I'm hoping there will be more updates this upcoming month!
On the next chapter: Christmas is the time of the year to be with friends and family. Jack wants everything to be perfect, specially because Matilda and Edward are back! In the meanwhile new details on the Hanna Olson's case open new and unexpected possibilities!