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SIX
"You got the keys?"
"I got the keys."
"Mr. Ages has his account closed up for the month?"
"He does."
"Did you put Viper's invoice in the mail? Bastard's gonna throw a fit if I don't get them to him in time."
"Overnighted them yesterday myself. Receipt's on your desk."
"Mrs. Riley?"
"I'm gonna take a cut off my pay and fix it for her tomorrow when she comes in."
Jensen scrubbed a hand through his hair, looking a tad stressed but relieved that Chris had taken care of everything he'd asked for and more. It was the first time he'd be out of the shop for any extended period of time and to say he was freaking out was the understatement of the year.
"Okay. Anything else I'm forgetting?" He looked around, patting down his plaid button-down as if trying to find his keys.
"Just your suitcase." Jared came up behind him, grinning as he rolled the bag next to Jensen.
It had been nearly a month since that night after the Jerk Shack and Jared had settled in nicely to life in Goodsprings. Impressing his parole officer, the judge on his case, and nearly every resident he came across during work, Jared had unofficially become Goodsprings poster boy as he greeted each and every person that walked through the door with a smile and an attentive manner. Business had always been good, but Jensen hadn't failed to notice more than a few new faces pulling into the lot, a credit to their customer service, and more importantly, to Jared.
Though they had tried taking things slower than they had the first night, the two had been inseparable. Jensen had gotten Jared into a routine that had given him the stability he'd been sorely lacking. Each day began with kisses and sleep-soft words of caring. Once both parties were fully aware, they did a little exploring; finding a new way to make the other come nearly every time. With their bodies sated for the morning, they'd hop in the shower, quick and efficient, and then head down for coffee. After that, it was work, maybe a quick hop by the Jerk Shack or Milly's, and then home for more of the intimacy Jensen couldn't get enough of.
It wasn't always sex when their day was done. Sometimes, intimacy involved stretching out on the back deck, beer in one hand, their fingers entwined in the other. Other times, it meant making dinner and trying not to have a food fight when the one-upmanship started moving into razzing territory. There were times when intimacy just meant curling up in each other's arms after a quick shower; both too tired to do much more than kiss goodnight.
No matter how the evening panned out for them, Jensen was simply happy enough to be spending his time with Jared. After a few days of sleeping in the spare room, Jared had wordlessly moved his meager belongings into Jensen's room. Jensen had spent the entire day grinning like an idiot then, simply shaking his head and beaming at whoever asked him what he was so happy about. There had been no discussion, no argument, just a silent agreement that this was what they both wanted. Jensen couldn't have been more thrilled.
Giving the shop one last look, Jensen finally managed a confident smile, clapping Chris on the back in thanks as he grabbed the handle of his suitcase.
“You boys have fun while we're gone, but I want the shop in one piece when I come back,” he instructed, getting laughs and mock-salutes from both of his friends. Gazing up at Jared, Jensen gave him a nod and the two headed out to the car for the short trip into the Nevada hot spot.
The trip had been Jared's idea from beginning to end. While half his paycheck went to practical things-especially the first two which had been used solely for paying Jensen back and for buying enough clothes to last him a week-the other half he'd saved up, never telling a soul that he was doing so. It paid off and within three weeks, Jared had enough for the hotel room, food, and some fun money on the side. He'd gotten a good deal on a nice room close to the strip with a big bed and none of the cheesy '70's accessories so many of the other places off the main drag still had. He was all for being kinky, but seeing his own reflection on the ceiling first thing in the morning wasn't exactly top of his must-do list.
Once they were in the car, Jared reached into the back seat with a grin. It was time for the first surprise of the trip, and as Jensen pulled out onto the highway with the windows rolled down, he produced the items excitedly.
“What-” Jensen started, laughing warmly as he watched Jared put on the black Stetson. An identical one was set on his own head moments later.
“I figured since we're both from Texas, and since we're going out tonight, we should at least look the part.” Jared grinned, his face regressing in age to that of a five year old and causing Jensen to pull over slowly so he could kiss him.
“Thanks, Jay. I love it,” he whispered once he'd pulled away enough to talk; Jensen pausing for a mere second before pressing another tender kiss to Jared's lips.
Jared just grinned and pulled the brim of the hat down a little lower. He had to admit that while he wasn't a huge fan of the cowboy stereotype, there was a reason guys still wore the hats, and Jensen was a prime example.
“Hot,” was all he said as Jensen merged back onto the two-lane blacktop, his boyfriend's laughter echoing softly in the car.
It seemed like only minutes before they were in Vegas, and soon enough they were pulling up in front of the hotel. Jared was eager to get out and stretch his legs. Thankfully, the place looked like the pictures Jared had seen online and it was in a good part of town. The less trouble available for him to get into, the better.
Jensen was all smiles as he unloaded the trunk, looking as excited about the prospect of a vacation as Jared was. They'd packed light since they'd only be gone three days; A few outfits, their toiletry bags, and a some other odds and ends. When all the packing was said and done, they'd managed to fit everything into one rolling suitcase; both men having triumphantly shown off the feat to Cam and Chris, who merely laughed and called them an old married couple.
The receptionist was bubbly, young, and eager to show off her knowledge of the hotel's perks, even going so far as to suggest the fruit and champagne platter much to the couple's embarrassment and amusement. Jared paid for the three nights up front with no problems; his brand new credit card legally embossed with his full name. The limit was low on purpose, Jared not wanting to be able to rack up a sky high bill. Financially, he was still taking baby steps and he wanted to stay on the straight and narrow when it came to money as much as possible.
“Holy...” Jensen gawked as he walked into the room, eyes wide and taking in the space from top to bottom. Though he'd scored on the price tag, Jared hadn't scrimped on the amenities.
Dark chocolate walls made a stunning contrast to the big white bed, touches of green accenting everything tastefully. The window on the far side gave a stunning 12th floor view of the strip and the flat screen TV was so discreet Jared barely noticed it was there at first. The look on Jensen's face after he'd turned back around was so profoundly joyful that Jared couldn't help but be proud of having chosen the spot himself.
“This is incredible. I don't know how you did it, but it's awesome.” With a cheek-splitting smile, he wrapped his arms around Jared and kissed him deeply, Jared's toes practically curling in his shoes at the intensely affectionate display.
“I scoured the internet for places that didn't have strip poles or mirrored ceilings,” Jared joked as he picked his boyfriend up in a big hug before setting Jensen on his feet and walking them towards the window, his front pressed to Jensen's back.
“Just you and me, babe,” he whispered sweetly into Jensen's ear before pressing a kiss to the older man's cheek, resting his chin on his boyfriend's shoulder.
“Just you and me.” Jensen echoed, tipping his head back and to the left for a slow, sweet kiss.
Whatever Jensen had been expecting in terms of Jared's nightlife plans, it hadn't been the literal hole-in-the-wall they were standing in front of. When his boyfriend had told him exactly what he'd wanted Jensen to wear, he'd been okay with it. It was a simple enough outfit; plaid shirt, jeans, boots and the Stetson. What Jensen didn't know was that it was picked so he'd deliberately fit in at the bar they were going to.
He let out a bark of laughter when he saw the words 'Badlands Saloon' on the sign above the door, the font emphasized by the wagon wheels hanging just below it. Looking lower, he noticed the gay pride flag hanging vibrantly off the right side of the door and suddenly it all clicked. Jared wanted to go to a bar where he could actually kiss Jensen in public and not get dirty looks. The Jerk Shack was a lot of things, but liberal wasn't one of them and two men kissing there was a no-go; had been from day one.
“You're incredible, you know that?” he beamed as he held the door open for Jared, Jensen shaking his head in awe as he stepped in after.
“Why? 'Cause I managed to find us a bar that won't lynch us for kissing?” Jared laughed, tugging Jensen towards the bar to get the drinks going.
Inside was just as western as outside. Cattle seemed to be the decorating theme of choice and behind the bar was every kind of liquor imaginable. The music was a mix of old 60's rock and country hits, most of it streaming steadily from an old-fashioned jukebox that took up one corner of the bar. The dance floor was dotted with couples line-dancing, and the hunting game had a few people watching to see if the guy currently behind the plastic shotgun would beat the high score. All in all, the place felt like one of the watering holes back in Texas and Jensen couldn't have been happier.
“Two beers, please,” Jared ordered for them, his smile just as bright as he wrapped one arm around Jensen's shoulders, bringing him in close.
“You like?” he asked softly, the words spoken close to Jensen's ear so he'd be able to make it out over the music.
“I love it.” Jensen nodded, one hand coming around Jared's waist as he met his boyfriend's lips for a kiss.
A slow song filtered in through the speakers, all slide guitar and soft drums and it took only a second for Jensen to recognize the tune. His parents had danced to it several times during his youth and probably still did if the LP was still in their record collection. An easy smile came over his face as he gave Jared's hip a bump.
“Let's dance,” he said with a jerk of his head towards the dance floor.
“I got two left feet,” Jared protested weakly, the smile on his face a contradiction that Jensen didn't misread. Taking his hand, he led the way towards the small square of faux-wood linoleum, a few other couples already taking a cue from the music and doing the same.
Jensen turned once he reached the middle of the floor, taking one of Jared's hands in his and placing it on his waist. Lifting the other into something of a proper position, Jensen began shuffling them slowly side to side, back and forth, his face mirroring just how much he was enjoying the whole thing.
“I feel like I'm at junior prom or something,” Jared chuckled, the tone low as he brought Jensen closer. Hand splayed on his boyfriend's back and head tipped down so the Stetson hid their faces, Jared let Jensen lead the slow dance; their bodies pressed close enough to be intimate, but not close enough to be lewd..
“I gotta say...junior prom was never this fun,” Jensen replied with a grin, green eyes flashing up to meet Jared's in a look that made it abundantly clear why this was so much better. Jared merely grinned, narrowed his gaze and replied with a one-up story.
“Yours can't be worse than mine. I spent mine trying to get away from Whitney O'Brien and her braces. Didn't even have time to spike the punch,” he challenged, getting a full blown laugh out of Jensen, head tipped back and everything.
“My junior prom was in the basement of the Foothills Baptist Church. The preacher's daughter kept groping me in front of her father, who didn't bat an eye. I think that's when I knew I didn't like girls. Everyone kept saying I was the luckiest sonofabitch alive for having gone with her, but all I kept thinking was 'I'd rather have gone with Bobby Hynes.'” Jensen shrugged, the easy smile back on his face as he tipped his head up to kiss Jared sweetly.
“In that case, I agree. This is much more fun,” Jared whispered as he pulled Jensen flush, wrapping both arms around his boyfriend as they spun slowly around the edge of the floor.
The song ended in cheering both from the crowd at the bar and the people on the background of the recording, the next song filtering in seamlessly. With one last kiss, they headed back to the bar to grab their beers.
They'd people-watched, danced their fill of slow songs, and had managed to get just a little drunk by the time the bartender had rung the cowbell signaling last call. Jared made Jensen walk in front of him as they ambled back to the hotel; Jensen's eyes at half-mast, his brain foggy from alcohol.
“You've got such a great ass,” Jared mused, making Jensen turn around to try and actually see it, which only made Jared laugh and clap his hands as if it were the funniest thing in the world.
Sharing in his partner's drunken happiness, Jensen took both of Jared's hands and placed them square on said ass, prompting a grunt from his boyfriend.
“Wanna bite it,” Jared said cutely, his face somewhat scrunched up as he looked down the strip, as though he were trying to see their hotel from where he stood.
“No biting in public,” Jensen laughed, sounding like he knew the law inch by inch as he waved down a cab to make the journey quicker.
“But, it's just staring at me. Daring me to bite it,” Jared countered with a full-on pout, his hands squeezing each cheek before rubbing them slowly to ease the pain.
“You can bite it all you want when we get back to the room.” Jensen grinned, all but stuffing Jared into the back seat of the car, the cab driver ignoring the shenanigans.
They made out the entire ride, Jared's hands sliding discreetly to Jensen's bulge while Jensen rubbed unabashedly at Jared's ass, both of them hot and ready to go by the time they'd reached the elevator.
“Gonna fuck you against the door the minute we get inside,” Jared growled as he nipped down the length of Jensen's jugular; the words illiciting a soft moan from Jensen at the promise of what was to come.
“Gonna push you against the door, spread those cheeks, and just go to town,” he added, all but dragging Jensen to their door, sliding the card into the slot and opening it with a bang.
As promised, Jensen was pressed face first against the fire map on the door not seconds later; Jared's big hands holding his cheeks apart as his mouth covered Jensen's hole, tongue pushing in deeply and making Jensen cry out in absolute arousal. Hungry grunts escaped Jared as he tugged his boyfriend's hips back, Jared getting every last inch of Jensen sloppy-wet with his spit.
When Jared pulled away to grab the condom and lube, Jensen stopped him with a surprisingly-sober gaze.
“Just the lube.” Jared didn't need to be told twice and within a matter of seconds, he was sinking into Jensen bare, his boyfriend's body going slack and his mouth locked in an O shape as Jared began thrusting up into him.
Jensen's fist beat against the door weakly as Jared fucked him hard and deep, getting every little spot that drove the man crazy. His own hips pressed flush against the door and he was only able to get a little friction from rubbing over the coated metal. It was enough, though, and just as Jared began coming inside him, Jensen shot out all over the door and carpet; eyes rolled back as pleasure overtook his whole body.
They made love well into the morning, of the next day, orgasm upon orgasm only serving to goad them on until they could barely pick up the phone to order room service. The afternoon was slept away and when nine o'clock rolled around, they finally seemed to be back to their normal selves.
Kisses and soft words of nonsense were whispered in the shower as Jared gently cleaned Jensen, making sure that he hadn't hurt him in any way. They had plans to go out again, and this time, Jensen was picking their spot.
EIGHT