The Banker and the Hooligan, Part Three
Jensen had the contract in hand when he arrived at Jay’s door Wednesday night. The fair workers were busy packing everything up and loading it into trucks and trailers, getting ready to move on to wherever their next stop was.
Jay answered the door quickly, dimples out, and it didn’t take long for them to go over the contract as it was pretty cut and dry, just the way Jensen liked it. The interest rate was lower than what the bank usually charged, but he saw no reason to tell Jay that.
"If you agree to the terms, then just sign on the last page," Jensen instructed with a pen in hand, while they were sitting across from each other in the dinette.
"I thought the average banking interest rate was around five percent in Texas? This is only three."
Jensen's eyes widened. Jay was certainly full of surprises. "With such a small loan, the bank doesn’t charge as much," he lied.
Jay did the thing again, where he just looked at Jensen for awhile, and then blurted out, "Come with me."
"What?"
"Come with me," he repeated. "Just for a couple weeks. We can go hiking, it’s so beautiful this time of year. You’ll see all the flowers just starting to bloom and maybe a baby deer or two. I can teach you how to fish. Heck, if you’re up for it, we can go white water rafting."
"Jay, I-I don’t know."
Jay grinned. "That isn’t a no."
Helpless to do anything but smile back himself, Jensen said, "Isn’t a yes either."
"But you want to; I can see it in your eyes. Come on, what’s stopping you? You don’t need to do anything, just pack some clothes."
"Work-"
"Will still be here when you get back," Jay replied smoothly. "I need to be back in Dallas in two weeks anyway. Just give me two weeks."
"You have another booking?" Jensen asked, ears perking up.
"Something like that," Jay said, tugging at the collar of his god-awful threadbare striped shirt. "What do you say?"
"What the hell?!" Tom roared across his spacious penthouse apartment, nostrils flaring and body taking up twice the space it usually did. "No, absolutely not. I forbid it."
"You forbid it?" Jensen’s mouth hit the floor, he was so stunned. And pissed. What gave him the right? "You aren’t the boss of me. If I want to go, I can. And I will."
Tom narrowed his eyes at Jensen. "Oh, and I’m just supposed to be okay with my boyfriend spending two weeks with a man I don’t know. Who the fuck is he?"
"Just a guy from the bank."
"From the bank?!" Tom threw his arms out. Jensen had never seen him like this, usually he was so calm and composed. "I've met all the guys from the bank, and Jay is not one of them. Now you're lying to me, too?"
"No!" Jensen yelled, suddenly aware of how loud this was getting and taking a deep breath. "No, I mean he came in for a loan, but I couldn’t give him one-"
"And you want to go on a trip with this guy," Tom said incredulously. "A guy you couldn't give a loan to?"
"No, he’s-" Jensen stopped, taking an unconscious step back because Jay wasn’t just some guy from the bank, not just a guy he couldn’t give a loan to. He was so much more. Jensen wanted to go on this trip, yes, but even more so, he wanted to go with Jay.
"I'm going," Jensen said quietly. "And you have no say in the matter."
"The hell I don't," Tom said. "You're my boyfriend and I am not going to let you -"
"Not anymore." Suddenly every cutting remark Tom had ever said about his Gramms came flooding in, every time he blithely ignored what was important to Jensen to talk about his day and his worries and his life -
"Not anymore?" Tom fumed, stalking over to stand menacingly close. "What, you're breaking up with me?"
"Gramms was right about you," Jensen realized aloud, thinking of all the little jabs she'd made about him over the years.
"That woman is two hundred years old and senile!" Tom shouted, right in Jensen's face. "She needs to be put in a home!"
That was the final straw. Jensen had known this was coming but couldn't look it in the face. It was the storm cloud over the relationship that'd been developing since Jay came into his life. He should have done this weeks ago. Years ago, he thought, images of Jay and Gramms laughing raucously over dinner together in his mind.
"Bye, Tommy," he said, backing away from him before turning around to head for the door. As he stood in the doorway, he glanced over his shoulder to see Tom open-mouthed and disbelieving. Jensen smiled wryly. "Good luck finding a man without a care in the world but you."
When Jensen finally agreed to go, Jay stayed in Dallas an extra day to let Jensen work six hours on Friday, but that didn't keep him from arriving at Gramms' door at exactly three o’clock.
"You’re early," Jensen complained but was quickly pushed away from the door by Gramms.
"Welcome, sweetie! Don’t you mind Jensen, he’s almost ready, just needs to pack a few sweaters in case it gets chilly." She waved Jay in. "Come inside and have a cup of tea with me, you can tell me about the wonderful places you’re taking my grandbaby to."
"I would love to, Betty," Jay replied, beaming.
Jensen left the two of the alone as he went upstairs, making it two steps before Jay called out, "And no sneaking your laptop in your bag, this is a vacation, no work allowed."
That stopped Jensen in his tracks. "What do you mean ‘no work’? I can’t-"
"Jay has a point, what fun is a vacation if you spend it working? We won’t allow it."
Jensen looked back and forth from Gramms to Jay, gaping. They stood strong together, resolute. "Fine. No laptop."
This time he managed three steps up before Jay called, "And no smart phone."
Dammit, how had he known? "I can’t not bring a phone, what if something happens?"
"He has a point," Gramms said to Jay. "Perhaps he could bring it along for emergencies?"
"Okay," Jay agreed. "You can bring it for non-work related phone calls and that’s it."
Jensen’s mouth hung open in disbelief. "No, no, no. What if something happens at work? I can’t go that long without at least checking my work email."
"Yes, you can," Jay wheedled. "The world does continue to turn when you're not around."
"No," Jensen says, putting his foot down. "I have to at least keep up on email."
Jay sighed extravagantly. "Fine. An hour a day for work emails on your iPhone."
"Three," Jensen shot back.
Jay’s eyes narrowed. "One hour, that’s all."
Jensen tapped his foot in irritation. "Two."
"One."
Seconds ticked by, the clock in the hallway marking them off impossibly loud while they looked each other squarely in the eye. Jay stood at his full height, looking at Jensen head on. It was like they were in some oddly formal staring contest.
Jensen rolled his eyes. "Fine." He turned away, marching up the stairs and breathing a sigh of relief once we made it into his room without Jay on his heels.
He finished packing quickly, then with an eye on the door, he got on his laptop, checking his email, answering the new ones and softly cursing when he heard Gramms calling out, asking what was taking so long.
He closed up his laptop, laying it on the small desk and grabbing his two duffel bags, swinging them over his shoulder and making his way downstairs.
Jay smiled when he saw Jensen. "Ready, man?"
"Yeah." He stepped up to his grandmother. "Are you sure you’ll be okay?"
"I’ll be fine, dear," she soothed. "My hip doesn’t hurt anymore and you’ll only be gone for two weeks."
"But if you need something-"
"Your parents will come - Richardson isn’t that far away. And Josh is only twenty minutes away, too. I’ll be fine."
Jensen wasn’t so sure. "But-"
"No buts. Now come and give your Gramms a hug." She opened his arms and Jensen was quick to step in, wrapping his arms around her tight. She stood up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. "Go on, dear. Go and have an adventure."
It only took forty minutes for Jensen to get tired of looking out the window. Jay refused to tell him where they were going, so with nothing much to do, Jensen went into the back of the RV, settled into one side of the dinette and took out his iPhone.
Hey, he still had today’s hour, right?
It worked out well, as about sixty minutes later, the Winnebago stopped and Jay called out, "We’re here!"
"Here" turned out to be a barren wasteland.
"It’s a desert," Jensen observed as they stepped outside.
"I know, isn’t it great?" Jay said happily.
Jensen eyed him dubiously. "There’s nothing here but dirt and dead patches of grass. I’m pretty sure a tumbleweed is going to roll by any second." And if to prove his point, one actually did. "See? There’s nothing here for miles."
"But that’s the best part! Nearest civilization is a good ten miles away, at least. It’s just you, me, and the land. And dinner," he added with a chuckle after his stomach grumbled. "C’mon, help me get the folding chairs and hibachi grill out."
"Grill?" Jensen asked, ears perking up. What man didn’t love food hot off the grill?
"Yep, bought two Texas-sized T-bones last night. Nothing but the best for you, Jenny."
"Call me Jenny again and I will end you," Jensen threatened. Josh had insistently called him that when there were kids. He hadn’t liked it then, and he certainly didn’t like it any better now.
Jay pouted. "You’re no fun."
"Stop your whining and make me dinner, sasquatch."
"Yes, sir," Jay replied with a mock salute, scurrying up the steps. Jensen took the opportunity to check out his ass, pert and slightly rounded.
Dinner was… interesting. The steaks Jay cooked were nothing like the ones in restaurants that Tom had always taken Jensen to. They were too rough and fatty and the baked potato was overcooked but the ice cold beer washed down easy and there was something to be said for eating outside. Fresh air all around, slight breeze weaving through their hair, both sitting back and relaxing in the Winnebago’s shadow while looking out at the world.
They cleaned their plates, burping loudly, and sharing a chuckle as they sat side by side with the cooler between them.
Somewhere along the way, the sun started setting and Jensen was taken aback at the sight before him. The sky was a deep, royal blue and the horizon a bright dark yellow that almost hurt Jensen’s eyes to look at it.
Soon, the land grew dark, to the point where all he could see was the neverending sky. Watching as it grew darker and darker until no yellow remained, and the blue turned to black as the moon began to rise.
"C’mon," Jay said, voice cutting through the quiet night as he stood up and offered Jensen his hand. He grabbed a blanket before showing Jensen how to climb to the top of the Winnebago.
They lay down on the roof, on top of the quilt, not saying much, just looking up at the stars.
Jensen pointed out Draco to Jay when he found the constellation, moving closer until their sides were pressed together.
"So," Jay said after a few minutes of silence, shifting even closer to Jensen. "Tommy was okay with you spending a couple weeks with me?"
Jensen turned his head toward Jay but Jay was still looking up. "Actually, we broke up."
Whatever Jensen had been hoping for Jay’s reaction to the break up, the immediate stiffening and sitting up wasn’t it.
"You broke up? When?"
"Yesterday," he answered, staring at Jay’s broad back suddenly stiff as a board.
"Why?" Jay twisted his body to face Jensen, his eyebrows knitted.
Jensen swallowed. Jay may have been the catalyst, but he wasn't the reason for the break-up. Jensen knew, somehow, that he shouldn't say it was because of the trip, or Jay, or anything to do with him. "It just wasn’t working out anymore."
Jay nodded slowly. "You'd been dating a long time though…"
"Over two years," Jensen confirmed.
"And you just broke up," Jay muttered, picking at some dirt on the top of the RV. "Right before you were going to leave with me."
"What?" Jensen asked, not sure he'd heard Jay right. "The trip came up, but that wasn't it - I just realized-"
"Okay," Jay said, standing up quickly. "It’s late and we have to get up early to make it to Longview by mid-morning."
"Longview? I thought we were going to Lake Tawakoni tomorrow?" Jensen asked, staring up at him from where he was lying.
"I got a call for a booking. Chuck E. Cheese opening in Longview. Lake Tawakoni will have to wait." Jay offered him a hand and Jensen reluctantly let Jay pull him up.
"Oh," Jensen said, trying not to sound too disappointed. Jay was growing his business, after all. He needed to take all the bookings he could get. He followed Jay inside, wondering what he was supposed to be doing while Jay snapped pictures of pizza-smeared kids.
"You can take the overhead bed," Jay offered once he locked the door.
"What about you?" Jensen asked. He hadn't given any thought to their sleeping arrangements, but this was certainly not what he expected.
Jay looked down, avoiding Jensen's eyes. "I’ll take the floor."
"No, the floor’s too hard," Jensen insisted. "We can share or something."
Jay moved the drape covering the bed. "Two people aren’t going to fit in there. I barely fit."
"Then I’ll take the floor." Jensen tried not to sound exasperated, but things weren’t going the way they were supposed to. If there wasn't room for them to share - and a quick look around reminded him that there really wasn't - then he wasn't going to kick Jay out of his own bed.
"You’re my guest, Jensen. I’m not letting you sleep the floor. It’s fine," Jay said, opening up a cabinet that was filled with bedding. "See? I have lots of blankets and a sleeping bag. I’ll be fine."
Jensen looked doubtful and only agreed to take the bed after making Jay pile on twice as many blankets as he was going to.
"Good night," Jay said as Jensen climbed into the bunk.
"Good night," Jensen answered softly, wondering how everything had veered so far off course.
Five days into Jensen’s vacation, it wasn’t at all what he had thought it'd be. They had yet to visit any forests or go camping or hiking or any of the things Jay had said they would. Instead, they went from one of Jay’s bookings to the next.
Jay had an events pop up every day and the time inbetween was all spent driving or eating at local diners. Turned out Jay couldn’t cook to save his life and Jensen wasn’t much better.
They'd been in Austin and were supposed to stop at Hamilton Pool for a few hours but someone called Jay at the last minute, asking him to do a wedding the next day. The wedding was all the way in El Paso, and Jensen didn’t feel right nay-saying Jay's livelihood for his vacation, so Jay agreed to go, ruining their plans for a swim in the natural pool because they had to get on the road right away.
Jensen tried to be a good sport; the last minute bookings meant that Jay's business was taking off and Jensen was glad for him. He was just getting a little tired of watching Jay work birthday parties or being left for most of the day while Jay did a wedding. But when Jay had handed Jensen a cashier’s check for six hundred dollars, he seemed so proud, Jensen didn’t have the heart to complain.
They'd been getting along great, in the stolen moments around Jay's events. Normally people who were doggedly cheerful got on Jensen's nerves, but Jay didn't. His smile was too infectious. He wasn't affected by Jensen's pissy moods either (which were more and more frequent as nature park destinations were dropped off the itinerary for birthday parties and bar mitzvahs). Jay didn't avoid him like everyone at the bank. He stayed with Jensen, too close, until Jensen's mood broke. He couldn't stay annoyed when Jay's goofballness kept making him grin.
There was other stuff too. Jensen genuinely liked spending time with Jay. They both loved the Dallas Cowboys an unhealthy amount and because of that, Jensen was almost ready to forgive Jay’s love of the Spurs. Almost.
Sharing such a small space had them nearly on top of each other a lot, which wasn’t as unpleasant as Jensen would have thought. It was getting harder and harder for him to fall asleep though, Jay only a few feet away and all Jensen’s mind could think about was tracing Jay’s tattoo with his tongue, wondering if he was inked or pieced anywhere else, wondering what six and a half feet of solid muscle would feel like sliding against him.
It didn't help that every night they climbed up to the roof of the RV, shooting the shit as they watched the stars. Last night they had fallen asleep up there, awoken tangled together and Jensen had leaned in for a kiss, only centimeters away from touching their lips when Jay had jerked away.
"What?" Jensen asked, looking around for the bug or whatever it had been.
"Nothing," Jay answered, rolling to his feet in one smooth motion. "I'm… sorry. We shouldn't have fallen asleep out here."
"Why not?" Jensen asked, looking around. The sun was low in the sky and there was a dome of pale blue overhead that portended a gorgeous but hot day - perfect for Jim Beaver's sixtieth birthday party. He pushed the thought out of his mind, just wanting to get Jay back in his arms. "Didn't rain on us."
"No," Jay answered, offering his hand to help Jensen up. "But the dew probably got your clothes almost as wet."
Jensen took Jay's hand, trying to tip him back over, but the bastard was too well-balanced, and pulled Jensen up awkwardly instead. He ended up flailing and trying to find his feet. Once he started moving, he could feel how damp his clothes were.
"Come on," Jay said, sliding his hand out of Jensen's grip with a weirdly-practiced ease. "We're going to have to hit a laundromat this morning."
There was nothing for Jensen to do during Jim Beaver's sixtieth birthday party. Certainly no one to talk to and the music was making his ears bleed. He couldn’t wait for it to end. Jay was finally event-free for the next two days and he’d told Jensen last night that with them being so close to San Antonio, they could spend the time camping along Cibolo Creek.
Jensen’d been looking forward to it since.
"He’s great with children, isn’t he?" a young, pretty woman remarked as she come to stand next to Jensen, her eyes on Jay.
Jensen hummed an agreement. There were two small kids, no older than five, treating Jay like a set of monkey bars, swinging off his arms, giggling delightedly as Jay made all kinds of funny faces and joined in the laughter.
"Does he do children’s birthdays?"
Something very similar to dread started brewing in Jensen’s belly, hoping their plans weren’t about to be ruined. "He’s done a few, yes."
"Is he free tomorrow night?" she asked and yup, there it went. Jensen’s stomach plummeted. "I know it’s short notice but my nephew is turning ten and his parents are going all out. Bouncy castle, balloons, piñatas, even a magician. They don’t have much money left for a photographer, so I’ve been trying to find one - to surprise them, you know? But well, everyone I called was so expensive and Jim mentioned how reasonable Jay’s rates are and-"
Jensen cut her off. "You’ll have to ask Jay yourself. And look, here he comes now."
Jay looked over at Jensen, silently asking for permission, appearing apologetic but obviously not enough to refuse the job. Jensen bit his lip, pushing up his glasses tiredly and finally gave a small nod.
"Oh, thank you so much!" the woman said, smiling brightly. "My sister owns a ranch with her husband about twenty miles from here. Here, let me draw you a map, it gets a little tricky once you leave the highway. You can drive there tonight and park near the house."
After scribbling on a piece of paper, she gave Jay a quick hug, thanking them again. "I’ll see you tomorrow and I’ll bring you a check then. Thank you again!"
Jay turned to Jensen, grinning full out. "Another booking, Jensen, isn’t that awesome?!"
"Yeah, wonderful," Jensen said, not able to keep the disappointment from creeping into his voice. "Let’s pack up and go get something to eat, okay? I’m starving."
Jay frowned. "You don’t sound excited."
Jensen sighed. He might as well admit it, he'd already been childish enough to pout about not getting his way. "What about Cibolo Creek?"
"We’ll still go there Friday, plenty of time," Jay said in a reassuring voice.
"Unless another person comes in with another booking," Jensen muttered, trying not to sound bitter and pretty much failing.
Jay tilted his head, studying Jensen. "Word of mouth is all I have - I can’t afford any advertisements. I thought you understood that?"
Jensen shrugged, he knew all too well. "Whatever. Let’s just leave, alright? We’re both tired and hungry. Let’s just get something to eat and then go to bed."
Jay looked at Jensen for a long moment before finally nodding and packing up his camera.
It just figured that by the time they got to the restaurant, it was raining steadily.
"Jim told me it’s only going to get worse," Jay said. "Maybe we should leave for the farm now before it gets too bad?"
"Fine, you start the Winnebago, I’ll go grab some jerky from the back or something."
Jensen cursed when he saw they were out of the jerky, he had just bought a bag yesterday. Jay must have eaten the whole thing earlier. Damn hooligan, always having the last of everything and never telling Jensen.
He filled his hands with granola bars and two cold cokes, placing the drinks in the cup holders and throwing a couple bars on Jay’s lap before slumping into the passenger seat.
They drove the highway in silence, the rain not stopping.
Eventually, Jay took an off-ramp and asked, "You’ve got the map, right? Where to now?"
Jensen squinted at the hastily made drawing. "I think it says take I-37 to Route 281."
"I did that, I need to know where to go next."
"I know," Jensen said, turning the map this way and that, trying to see in the dark. "I’m getting to that but I can only see the map when you pass under a street lamp. Give me a second."
"Okay, sorry," Jay apologized, turning on one of the interior car lights.
"Turn left at Farm to Market 791," Jensen directed after a few seconds.
"Crap, I think we just passed that," Jay whined, braking and looking both ways before turning the RV in a galumphing u-turn. They jounced in their seats as the RV went onto the shoulder and partway into the ditch before getting turned around.
Jensen squinted at the road sign to make sure they were on the right road, laying the paper on his lap, smoothing out the corners where he had unconsciously crinkled it.
Jay mumbled something under his breath that Jensen couldn’t make out with the rain pounding against the windows.
"If you have something to say to me, then just fucking say it."
Jay’s hands were turning white, they were clenching so hard. "How about you just tell me where the hell I turn next?"
"Fine." Jensen glanced down at the map. "Left on Emerson Drive."
It was hard to see much of anything with the darkness and downpour, the wipers blades working overtime, both Jay and Jensen straining to see the road coming up.
"There’s a sign coming up, but I can’t read it," Jensen said. "Go slow."
"I am going slow, I can’t exactly drive fast with all this rain."
Jensen rolled his eyes, choking down the urge to throttle Jay. "I didn’t say you were driving fast, only that you should slow down so I can read the sign that’s coming up."
Jay pressed the brake, stopping the RV. "Is this slow enough for you?" he asked, voice calm but when he turned to look at Jensen, his eyes were cold and annoyed.
"This is perfect, thank you," he gritted out through his teeth. Damn sign was still too hard to read though and Jensen got out, running up to the sign then back inside again. "Emerson Drive. Go left."
Jay eyed Jensen’s wet clothes with disdain. "You could have at least waited for me to set a towel down before making the seat wet."
"You should've put one down while I was getting soaked in the rain," Jensen shot back. "Just drive."
Jay opened his mouth, as if he was going to say something, but didn’t, clamping his lips shut and gunning the RV, careening around the turn, He squinted his eyes, trying to maneuver the road. "Where did all the street lights go? I can’t see anything."
"We should be at the ranch soon."
"How do you know?"
Jensen waved around the drawing. "Because I have the map. It says this road should lead us to the ranch, just a few more miles."
"Miles?" Jay echoed, right as the Winnebago hit a huge pot hole and lurched.
Jensen grabbed the side of his seat. "Better go slow then or we’ll never make it."
"Ya think, Sherlock?"
Jensen bit back his annoyed answer and tensed all over, clinging to the seat for dear life. It took ten more minutes before they saw anything but rain and dark, but Jensen's squinting into the abyss finally paid off.
"Wait," Jensen said, cupping his hands around his face and pressing it to the window. "I think I see lights ahead. It must be the ranch house."
"Thank you, lord." Jay let out a long breath.
"Turn here," Jensen said, pointing to the right, "before you miss it."
Jay ducked down to look out Jensen's window. "I don’t see a road."
"We’re not too far from the ranch, just drive toward it."
Jay pressed the brake, staring at Jensen with the cold annoyance again. "What if I drive us into a ditch?"
"Fine," Jensen snapped. "I’ll find you a goddamned road." He jumped out, slamming the door behind him.
He took three steps before landing right in a huge puddle. Then another.
He closed his eyes, trying to relax enough to unclench his fists. What was a little more water when he was already drenched? A few more steps and he found a nice broad apron off the road they were on, one that was obviously the driveway. He waved Jay toward him and waited while the Winnebago bounced closer.
Suddenly the house lights went out, followed by the RV dipping alarmingly as it went down the apron and onto something that was most definitely not a road.
The RV stopped dead and Jay revved the engine, but the wheels just spun uselessly as they sunk deeper into the softening earth. Jay revved the engine again but Jensen knew stuck when he saw it. He went over to the driver's side window, Jay winding it down as he walked.
"Shit. Shit, shit, shit!" Jay smacked his hand against the wheel. "Okay, I’ll get out and push, you get in and steer."
Jensen snorted. "You’re going to push a Winnebago?"
Jay turned his narrowed eyes to Jensen. "You bet I am."
"You can’t-"
"Get in."
"But-"
"Just fucking do it, Jensen," he demanded, getting out and immediately getting soaked.
Jensen got in, but after a couple minutes of the most futile waste of gas he'd ever witnessed, he got out and went around the back to join Jay. He set his shoulder on the back of the RV, ready to push, and Jay frowned, but didn't tell him to go away.
Over and over they pushed but the car only sank deeper, while they slipped and skidded in the mud. Jensen’s arms shook from the strain and he knew he was going to wake-up with massive shoulder aches tomorrow. He gathered up all his annoyance and disappointment and put his hands on the damn RV to push it all the way to the house on the power of his frustration - and slipped, falling down into the thick mud. He twisted as he fell, ending up with his back against the RV's bumper and deciding to call it quits. He could drown in the rain for all he cared. Jay plopped down into the mud next to him, looking just as miserable, exhausted, and pissed off.
"What do we do now?" Jay asked.
"I have no idea," Jensen answered, one low, humorless chuckle wrenched out of him. "It's not going anywhere and the storm isn't ending anytime soon."
Jay knocked the back of his head against the car. "So we’re just stuck here, in the middle of a field that you led us to. Awesome."
Jensen gaped. "Led? I led?"
"Well, you were the navigator, I just followed you," Jay explained, shifting to stand, one hand on the RV for support.
"So, this is my fault?!" Jensen screeched, jumping up.
"I didn’t say that. Look we’re both tired-"
"Because if this is anyone’s fault, it’s yours."
Jay made no sound for a long moment, then, "Excuse me?" he said dangerously.
Jensen poked Jay hard on his chest. "I wasn’t the one who took a half-assed last minute booking in the middle of bum-fuck nowhere."
A long flash of lightning zinged overhead, revealing Jay standing at his full height, mouth set and eyes narrowed, blazing with anger as he stared at Jensen incredulously. "So, it’s my fault for accepting a job?"
"Yes!" Jensen roared. "We could have been halfway to Cibolo Creek by now, settling down for the night. I thought that’s what this trip was about, spending some time together. I didn’t know you wanted me to be your damn booking agent."
"My what?" The fierceness was gone, replaced by confusion or concern, or something that made Jay's face wrinkle up like that.
"I thought…" Jensen said, hesitating. "I thought this trip was about seeing nature, about spending time together." He backed up a step, muttering, "I thought you wanted me."
"I do," Jay said, moving closer and wrapping his hands around Jensen’s biceps. "Want you so fucking much, man."
"Bullshit." He shoved at Jay, pushing him away. "What about this morning, huh? You practically ran away when I tried to kiss you."
"Because you just broke up with your boyfriend!" Jay shouted, throwing his arms up in exasperation. "I’ve been trying to be good this whole trip, to not push you. It kills me how bad I want to be with you but I should have never kissed you at the fair, no matter how much I wanted to. I had no right." He combed a hand threw his wet hair, shoulders sagging as he seemed to shrink into himself. "You’ve been with Tom for years, it wasn’t - I shouldn’t have -"
"Stop, please, stop," Jensen begged over the rain, blinking heavily to remove the moisture gathered on his eyelashes, and moved closer to Jay. "You had a part in the reason I broke it off, but I should have done it a long time ago. He wasn’t right for me."
Jensen stepped even closer to Jay, cupping his chin with both hands, forcing Jay to meet his eyes. "The kiss at the fair was the most wonderful thing I’ve ever felt, it was magic, Jay. So, please. Please don’t say you regret it or wish you hadn’t done it."
"Jensen-" Jay started.
"You’re the most remarkable person I have ever met." It was true, Jensen realized as a flash of lightning hit, revealing Jay’s eyes were storming, filled with a myriad of emotions. And suddenly it didn’t matter that he ached all over and was stuck in a downpour in the middle of nowhere.
There was no place else he rather be.
"Jensen," Jay breathed as if his name held the key to everything.
Jensen grabbed a fistful of Jay’s shirt to reel him in, pressing their lips together as another lightning bolt illuminated the sky.
Jay kissed like he was starving for it, like he wouldn’t be happy until he had consumed Jensen whole. "Been wanting to do this all week," he said against Jensen’s mouth. "Since the moment I saw you. Wanted to take you right there on your office desk, make you all messy."
Jensen moaned. "Why didn’t you?"
"Fuck, Jensen," Jay growled, crushing their mouths together again.
Despite the cold and wet, Jensen had never been hotter, burning up with his desire for Jay. His fingers couldn’t unbutton Jay’s shirt fast enough, clawing until the offending article was open and Jensen could touch skin.
Their bodies slid against each other, erections grinding together. The rain was pounding onto Jensen’s skin, drowning out the noises they were making but not the thundering of Jensen’s heart.
Jay was all hardness against him, muscles and sinews, and the large swell of his cock tempting Jensen to fall to his knees. The mud squelched at the impact, Jensen working his fingers and teeth to reveal his prize as the soggy jeans and boxers didn’t want to come off easy.
"Fucking knew you’d be huge," Jensen said, rubbing his check against the head before swallowing Jay in one go.
"Holy shit." Jay’s entire body vibrated and he fisted his hands in Jensen’s hair. He didn’t try to control Jensen, just kept his hands there as Jensen started bobbing his head up and down, losing himself in the feel of Jay in his mouth, in the smell and taste of him.
He gently cupped Jay’s balls, getting to know the shape and feel of them, before squeezing the base of Jay’s dick, loving all the little noises falling from Jay’s mouth.
Jensen shifted his legs further apart, getting more comfortable, ignoring his own aching cock pressing uncomfortably against the seam of his pants. He realized he could get addicted to this, could spend hours happily sucking Jay off, watching Jay fall apart for him.
"Jensen, god, you-please, I-I," Jay stuttered, legs trembling with the strain of holding himself up.
He heard Jay’s unspoken plea and went lax, opening his mouth wide, catching a glimpse of the look of amazement of Jay’s face before closing his eyes. Jay grabbed the back of Jensen's head and slammed his cock down Jensen’s throat.
Jensen felt his own dick leak through his shorts, his stomach curling tighter and tighter with each thrust of Jay’s hips, swallowing as best he could. When Jay climaxed, he didn’t get it all, semen smearing across his lips and down his chin when Jay pulled back.
Jay dropped to his knees, his hand caressed Jensen’s cheek softly, releasing a guttural noise when he touched the cooling come around Jensen’s mouth. His thumb slide through the wetness, gathering what the rain had yet to wash away and Jensen lowered his head, tongue sneaking out to hungrily lick the finger clean.
"Christ," Jay rasped. "Come here."
He pulled Jensen to him, claiming Jensen’s mouth in a greedy kiss as Jensen whined against him, tearing at his fly and releasing his cock. He fisted himself, pumping only once before Jay knocked his hand away, replacing it with Jay’s own.
God, Jay’s hand was freaking ginormous, nearly covering all of Jensen’s length and jerking him so damn good, flicking his wrist in a move that had Jensen moaning as loud as any porn star. It didn’t take him long to come, spurting messily between them, and slumping against Jay, burying his face in Jay’s neck.
He felt Jay shift, hiking his own pants up before gently tucking Jensen back in as he pressed kisses on Jensen’s ear, the side of his head, his hair, anywhere Jay’s mouth could reach.
They stayed together like that for a while - years, it felt like - before Jay said, "Um, Jensen?"
Jensen nodded. Suddenly the ache in his arms was unbelievable and he had one in his thighs to match. It was still pissing down rain and Jensen was thankful to hear Jay say, "I think we should get out of the rain. We're not going anywhere until it lets up anyway."
"Yeah," Jensen agreed, letting his forehead slide along the slick plane of Jared's neck as he nodded.
"Come on," Jay said, and Jensen could hear the grin in his voice. "Let's get out of these clothes."
They stripped outside the Winnebago, leaving the clothes in a heap in the mud. Jensen followed Jay straight into the tiny shower, where, despite their best efforts, it really was too tight to do anything but warm up and hope the water cleaned off any remaining mud.
When Jay spread the blankets and sleeping back out on the floor, Jensen put his butt down right in the middle of it, despite all of Jay's protestations about the bunk going empty. He shut the lights off and they shuffled around on the floor until they fit together like a couple of jigsaw pieces. Jensen took a deep breath, letting Jay's scent settle into his brain. He still smelled like candy.
The sheer curtains on the RV's windows allowed tendrils of moonlight to slip in, the quiet sky signaling the end of the storm. Jensen's eyes adjusted to the dim light quickly and without thought, his fingers started tracing Jay’s tattoo. It covered nearly all of Jay’s bicep, all black ink with a turtle in the center, surrounded by various thin rectangles and half circles.
"Got it when I was twenty-one," Jay said, staring up at the ceiling. "I wanted to rebel against my parents. They don’t like tattoos and I wanted to show them I was my own man."
"So you got a tat of a turtle?" Because, yeah, that made perfect sense.
"Hey, turtles are cool," he said defensively, elbowing Jensen.
"You were drunk off your ass, weren’t you?"
"Totally wasted," Jay said, reaching over to press their lips together.
It went on and on, languid kiss after kiss, Jay shifting to his back as Jensen crawled on top, one leg between Jay’s. He couldn’t get enough of Jay’s mouth, dipping his tongue inside for a taste repeatedly, enjoying the slide of Jay’s big hands down his back.
All too soon for Jensen’s liking, the events of the day began to catch up with him, and the kisses slowed even more. He was too tired to take things further and it appeared that Jay was too, as they both yawned wide. "Good night," Jay said, leaning in for a last kiss and settling his head down next to Jensen's ear.
"Night," Jensen whispered. He tried to relax and go to sleep, but after a few minutes of restlessness, he gave up and asked what was on his mind. "We’re not going to Cibolo Creek tomorrow, are we?"
"What?" Jay said muzzily, blinking his eyes open. "Of course we are. I told-"
"Come on, Jay. We’re due in Corpus Christi on Saturday. It’s stupid, not to mention a complete waste of gas - which is getting ridiculously expensive - to go all the way to Kendall County tomorrow and then come all the way back here."
"Doesn’t matter," Jay said obstinately. "I told you I would take you see Cibolo Nature Center and I will."
Jensen sighed. "It’s dumb to go tomorrow, we’ll hardly have anytime there. We can go some other time, can’t we?"
Jay was quiet for a long moment. "So there's definitely going to be another time, then?"
"What?" Jensen asked desperately. "I thought - I mean, do you want -"
"Oh, I want, believe me, I want," Jay said, reaching over to kiss him again. The kiss was filled with so much promise and affection that it made Jensen’s toes curl.
"Okay, then," Jensen said breathlessly. "We've got plenty of time. Let's do it later. No bookings, next time."
He could feel Jay's grin in the darkness. "No bookings. Promise."
The next morning, Jensen woke up to the sound of someone banging on the door like they were being chased by lions.
"Anybody in there?" a man's voice asked. "And are you decent?"
Jensen sat bolt upright as he remembered the pile of clothes on the RV's doorstep. Jay got to his feet in a shot, opening a drawer and grabbing a pair of shorts to throw on. Jensen sat down at the dinette, huddled in the blankets.
"Hi," Jay said, opening the door with a loud creak. "We got stuck."
The guy laughed. "I figured," he said, peeking into the RV and waving at Jensen. "You're the photographer my sister-in-law called about?"
"Yeah," Jay said, holding out a hand. "Jay. Nice to meet you."
"You too," the man said, shaking firmly. "Name's JD. I suppose you need some help?"
"That'd be great," Jay said, and Jensen let his head drop to the table. He'd never been so embarrassed in his whole life.
"I'll get my tractor."
Jensen wasn’t all that sure how much fun a party for a ten-year-old was going to be but Jay cajoled him into hitting one of the piñatas, which was pretty sweet. Especially when the thing burst open at Jensen’s second swing, all the kids rushing to get the candy. Jensen tore off his blindfold and dive to grab the gummy bears first.
"Those are for the children," Jay pointed out, going for stern but failing miserably.
"Not my fault they ain’t fast enough," he replied, biting off the head of another bear.
He was happily munching down on a second piece of ice cream cake - who knew those things were so delicious? Jensen was definitely requesting ice cream cake for every birthday from now on - when he saw a hefty middle-aged man approach Jay.
"Hey, you the photographer?" Jensen overhead the guy ask, trying not to look like he was listening in.
"Yep," Jay answered and they started talking about prices.
Jensen scowled, looking away, already knowing what the man was getting at, not the least bit surprised when the guy apologized for the late notice and asked if Jay could do his daughter’s birthday party tomorrow.
When seconds passed and Jay didn’t answer, Jensen turned to find Jay’s eyes on him.
"I’m sorry, sir," Jay said, never taking his gaze off Jensen. "I’m afraid I can’t. I have other plans for tomorrow."
"Plans?" Jensen asked after the guy thanked Jay and trundled away, no longer pretending he wasn’t spying on the conversation.
"JD told me Choke Canyon State Park is only about twenty-five miles south-east from here. Heard they had some prime fishing."
Jensen shuffled closer. "Heard? You’ve never been?"
"Nope, it’ll be the first for both of us."
"I like that," he admitted, smiling, delighted that Jay refused the booking to spend the day with him. "I thought you couldn’t fish without a license though."
"Oh, believe me, I am fully licensed," Jay said lewdly, making hungry eyes at Jensen.
Jensen burst out laughing. He couldn’t wait.
Turned out Jensen was a pretty awesome fisherman, if his three good size catches to Jay’s one tiny, you-need-a-microscope-to-see-it fish was anything to go by.
"You do not need a microscope," Jay bristled, looking down at the bucket that held their would-be dinner. "It’s a fair size."
"It’s the size of your pinky. You should let me use it as bait. Let a real man handle dinner," he said, chest puffed out.
"Yeah, okay," Jay agreed easily.
"Really?" Jensen asked, looking suspiciously at Jay.
"Yep." He stood up, stretching those impossibly long arms. "And since you’re a real man," he added, bending down to Jensen’s ear, one corner of his mouth twitching, "You can be the one to gut and debone dinner."
Jensen could only sputter as Jay walked away.
Cleaning fish was about as fun as it sounded, and Jensen was sure no amount of soap was going to rid the smell from his hands any time soon, but afterward, when the fish was cooked and it was just the two of them sitting around a campfire nibbling on a trout Jensen had caught, well, he didn’t know how to describe it. He couldn’t remember the last time he felt so content.
It was nearly dusk, just enough time to do what he had been thinking about all day. Well, one of the things he had been thinking about all day. The other could wait, they had all night after all. And after the way Jay’d been eyeing him since he got dressed this morning - seriously what was up with his obsession with sweater vests? - he knew Jay was more than up for it.
But now was the time for something else.
"Hey, where are you going?" Jay called out to Jensen’s retreating back.
"Going to climb a tree," he threw over his shoulder.
"What?!" Jay asked, running after him. By the time Jay caught up, Jensen had already found the tree he wanted, tall with lots of thick, sturdy branches.
"You’re not serious," Jay said, reaching a hand for Jensen’s shoulder. Jensen shrugged it off and jumped up to the lowest branch, pulling himself up until he stood on it, glancing down at Jay, smiling.
"Totally serious," he said, and turned his attention to the next branch.
"What if a ranger comes by? You could get in trouble."
"It’s fine, what are the chances…." he trailed off, curving an arm around another branch and hoisting himself up.
"What if you fall and die?" Jay yelled loud enough for Jensen to hear.
Jensen looked down… which was a mistake. He didn’t handle heights too well, but he was determined and there was still lots of tree left. He kept going, one branch at a time, ignoring Jay's frantic shouting for him to get down - sheesh, you’d think the guy would learn to live a little.
Soon the branches were thin enough that he didn't dare go any further. His eyes looked down without his permission and he immediately had to close them. Who knew how high he was, but it felt like he was a hundred feet up, a hundred miles, touching the sky.
He tilted his head up, opening his eyes to the clouds above, taking a calming breath before looking out at the world around him and, wow, this was why he should have never stopped climbing trees.
That night they parked the RV along a deserted strip of land along the canyon, laying out a thick blanket on the ground and looking up at the stars.
They started talking a bit about their childhoods, Jay asking question after question as if he wanted to know everything about Jensen, as if he could listen to him talk for hours.
"You grew up in Dallas, then?" he asked, one hand folded beneath his head and the other holding Jensen’s.
"Yeah," Jensen said, "We lived in this pretty sweet apartment until I was sixteen. Then my parents decided to buy a house on the outskirts of Richardson - away from the city." He scoffed at the memory. "I didn’t want to go but Mac fell in love with the place and my parents could never deny her anything."
"She’s your younger sister right? The baby?" He squeezed Jensen’s hand softly, bringing it up to his lips and pressing a kissing to it. He had been doing stuff like that all day and during the party yesterday. Little touches and kisses, like he was reminding himself that he could, that he and Jensen were together now.
PDAs were never really Jensen’s thing but, for some reason, he didn’t mind. He liked having Jay’s attention.
"Yeah. She’s their baby girl, you know? Between work and her and Josh-" Jensen stopped, rubbing his nose just under his glasses.
"What?"
"Nothing." Jensen pulled his hand away. "I’ve talked nearly all night. Why don’t you tell me about yourself? Do you have any brothers or sisters?"
Jay rolled to his side, facing Jensen. "Between what? Tell me, please?" he said, bringing the damn puppy dog eyes out.
Jensen sighed and gave in, twisting to his side so he and Jay could look at each other. "It’s just sometimes it was hard to get my parents' attention. They were really busy, you know? Classic middle-child syndrome, I guess. It’s fine though. It’s what gave me my drive to excel, to really make something of myself."
"Make something of yourself?"
"Yeah, bank manager is only the first step. I want so much more."
Jay tilted his head, puzzled. "What do you want?"
Jensen sat up, peering out into the world. "I want to succeed. I want to make a name for myself in this business. To be respected."
When a full minute had passed and Jay hadn’t responded, Jensen looked back at him. Jay was sitting up, frowning and lost in thought.
"Jay," he asked and that seemed to snap Jay to attention, his face darting to Jensen’s.
"Sorry, man. That’s really want to you want? To be a big-name banker?" he asked quietly, looking down and pulling at the grass on the edge of the blanket, twirling it around his finger.
"Yes," Jensen answered, lost in his memories. "Yes, that's what I've always wanted."
PART FOUR