Chapter Twenty-Six

 

 

THOUGH JACKSON had made a start in making his condo look like a place where real people lived, it still needed work before Leo agreed to move in full-time. Jackson had gotten as far as a new couch, new bed, office furniture… and that was about it. Some rooms were totally unfurnished, others had boxes stashed in them, and it had been weeks since Jackson moved in.

On a cold Saturday in March, Leo decided to take charge.

“Come on, we’re going shopping.”

He’d just arrived at the condo, letting himself in—Jackson had given him a key, apparently they weren’t making a big deal of it—and Jackson was eating cereal while sitting on the couch in his underwear. Playing video games. It was a wonder this man was considered an adult by some societies. There was an open can of Mountain Dew at his elbow.

Jackson paused with his spoon halfway to his mouth. “What?”

Leo continued to glare. “Jackson Lewis. We have discussed this.”

“What?” Jackson stuck the spoon in his mouth, like it could save him.

“Mountain Dew is not a breakfast food!” Leo yelled.

“Um, okay,” Jackson said. He drank the rest of the milk from the cereal bowl, slurping it.

Leo bit his cheek to stop himself from making the sort of barbed comment Mitch would be proud of.

After Jackson dumped the bowl on the coffee table, he looked up at Leo again. “What? Where are we going? What are we going shopping for?”

“For furniture, Jackson,” Leo said. “Furniture.”

Jackson looked around. “I have furniture.”

Leo counted to ten in his head. “Not enough.”

Jackson scratched his belly. “Oh. Okay.”

“Go get dressed.”

When Jackson passed Leo in the doorway, he leaned down, squeezed Leo’s ass, and gave him a smacking kiss on the cheek.

“Yeah, yeah,” Leo muttered, and went to put Jackson’s dirty dishes in the dishwasher. He wasn’t going to make a habit of clearing up after Jackson. Some things he just couldn’t ignore, though.

They headed to one of the nicer malls with the independent furniture stores, as well as Sears and a Pottery Barn. Jackson seemed content to wander around, offering an opinion when he was asked for one.

“Do you have a dining table?”

“I did. But a couple of the legs broke when I was moving up here. So I donated it to that place that fixes up old furniture and gives it to low-income families.”

Leo sighed. Despite his grumpy hermit attitude, Jackson was a total softie underneath. It made it difficult to get mad at him.

“Okay. You need a new dining table.”

“Yeah, I know. I just haven’t found one I like yet.”

“Have you looked?”

Jackson made a face. “No,” he said petulantly.

Leo slipped his hand into Jackson’s and squeezed. “Do you want to buy one or get your dad to make one for you?”

“He’s doing a lot of work for the bar at the moment. I don’t really think he’s got time to take on another project.”

“Will he get upset if you buy something?”

“No. He’s not like that. They want you to come over for dinner one night, by the way. They’ve actually been nagging me about it for ages.”

Leo’s jaw dropped a little, and then he laughed. “My parents want to meet you too.”

“Maybe, when I have a nice dining table, we could invite them all over for dinner. Everyone can meet everyone else at the same time.”

“You have to be kidding.” Leo’s eyes widened, horrified at the idea of throwing his parents into a dinner with three werewolves. It would be carnage.

“Of course I’m kidding,” Jackson laughed and nudged his shoulder against Leo’s. “We’ll work out something more casual, hmm?”

“Don’t scare me like that.”

Jackson laughed again and squeezed Leo’s hand.

The first table Jackson picked out was a glossy black deal, with matching chairs in silver upholstery. Leo rolled his shoulders and found the inner calm he used when working with difficult young children.

“This isn’t going to match your apartment,” he said gently.

“It’s black.” Jackson frowned at him. “Black matches everything.”

“Not the color, the style. Think about it.”

“Black matches everything,” Jackson repeated stubbornly, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Everything in your place is raw. Bare brick walls, wood floors, all that industrial lighting. This doesn’t match.”

Jackson blinked. “Really?”

“I worry about you,” Leo said, reaching up to touch his cheek. “I really do.”

“Shut up,” Jackson said with a little laugh. “I like buying furniture. I’m good at it.”

“How about,” Leo said, taking Jackson’s hand and leading him over to a different section of the store while resolutely ignoring that last comment, “something like this.”

It was a wide square table, unusual for its shape. Leo thought it might be oak or some other light wood, and the legs were dark brushed metal.

“Oh,” Jackson said. Then, “I like that.”

“Me too. It’s cheaper than the black one too.”

“Okay. We’ll get this.”

With some more gentle coaxing, Leo managed to get Jackson to pick a couple of low, comfy armchairs upholstered in gray tartan and a wide bookcase for the living room, as well as a standing lamp and a few table lamps in bright colors. It was a good start. All the big pieces of furniture would be delivered the following week.

In Pottery Barn, Leo convinced Jackson to buy a set of copper pans that would look really awesome hung up in the kitchen. He also bought a sofa bed for the spare bedroom in case anyone wanted to come stay. He didn’t quite have the same amount of space for friends to sleep over as he did before, but the sofa bed was a good start.

“Coffee break,” Jackson whined when they were done packing all the first round of stuff back into the car. “This is hard.”

“You’re such a kid.”

Leo was surprised and pleased when Jackson took his hand to walk back through the mall. He was seldom affectionate in public, but the little touches and affectionate smiles were enough. Leo wasn’t big on PDA himself. He could get used to holding hands, though.

In the center of the mall was a baby grand piano, there to advertise a new music store that was opening up. Jackson stopped in his tracks, and a wicked smile spread over his face.

“You should play something,” he said, elbowing Leo in the ribs.

“I don’t think so.”

“I’ve never heard you play anything. Not even your guitar.”

“I’m not a big fan of performing in public,” Leo said. He squirmed at the thought. “I’ll bring the guitar over, I promise.”

“Just a little thing,” Jackson said, wheedling. “For me. Please.”

“Okay. Fine.”

Leo cracked his knuckles and stepped up to the piano. At least it wasn’t on a podium.

There was sheet music for different pieces stacked on the music stand, and Leo flicked through them quickly, not finding anything he liked.

“Any requests?” he asked Jackson.

“Anything.”

Leo thought for a few moments, testing out a few chords, then started one of his favorite pieces. This was one of the last things his old piano teacher had taught him before he moved away to college and time for things like piano lessons completely disappeared. He was still in touch with Ms. Jameson, whose fingers were now so crippled with arthritis she couldn’t play anymore.

He was aware of Jackson watching him as he closed his eyes and gently rocked with the music, pleased with the acoustics of this part of the mall and the way the music filled the domed ceiling. A few people had stopped to listen, and he turned his attention away from them and back to the keys. He wasn’t being humble when he said he didn’t like playing in front of people. He’d really never been much of a performer.

When he was done, the little audience broke into a smattering of applause and Leo nodded, feeling his cheeks heat.

Jackson threw his arm around Leo’s shoulders and leaned in close to kiss his ear. “You’re amazing,” he murmured softly, too quiet for anyone else to hear.

“Eh. I’m okay.”

They found Starbucks, and Jackson went to get a table while Leo ordered their drinks. When he got back, Jackson was flicking through a magazine and frowning.

“Do you want a piano?”

“What?” Leo put their coffees down on the little table and blinked at Jackson.

“A piano,” Jackson said. He was reading Good Housekeeping with an enthusiasm Leo would never have bet on. Leo kicked his ankle lightly under the table.

“I don’t need a piano,” he said.

“That wasn’t what I asked,” Jackson said mildly. “I asked if you wanted one.”

“I… I’ve never thought about it.”

“There’s space in the entrance hall for one.” He lifted the magazine to show Leo. “Like this.”

“That’s… wow. Dramatic.”

Jackson’s face split into one of those Cheshire-cat grins. “Do you think it’s all a bit Elton John?”

Leo laughed at that; he couldn’t help himself. “If you want to get a baby grand, darling, you should get a baby grand.”

“I’m not sure if there’s any point. I wouldn’t know how to play it. It would only be worthwhile if you wanted one, really.”

“I’m good with my guitar.”

“I couldn’t say. You’ve never played for me.”

“When I finish getting moved in, you’ll hear it all the time. You’ll probably get bored of the sound of it.”

“I can’t imagine that. Are you and Mitch still free next weekend? We can load up my truck with your stuff to bring it over.”

“That sounds good,” Leo said, offering Jackson a small smile.

“Do you ever perform in public?” Jackson asked. He was working up to something, but Leo couldn’t figure out what.

“I’m really not much of a performer,” Leo said. “I can entertain children… but children are fairly easily entertained.”

“I’ve heard they can be the harshest critics.”

“Nah,” Leo said. “A good rendition of ‘Old Macdonald Had a Farm’ and they’re happy. Adults are a much harder audience.”

“You don’t want to play at the bar, then?”

Leo stared at him. “Erm… no?”

“Okay. I thought I’d offer. I’m thinking of having a stage built. But in the corner above the bar, so it doesn’t take up any floor space.”

“A suspended stage?”

“Yeah. Doesn’t that sound cool?”

“That sounds like I’m glad I’m not your architect.”

“Ha-ha.”

Work was underway on what would soon be Jackson’s brewery, and Leo knew he was itching to get back to brewing again. The builders had been taking deliveries for all of the ingredients for Jackson’s beer and the new equipment. Jackson had been sending excited pictures of it to Leo as it arrived. It was super cute.

Leo thought reevaluating the business had probably been good for Jackson. Lone Wolf had become an established brand in the Washington craft beer community, and hearing how they’d rallied around Jackson to help him after the brewery fire had restored a little of Leo’s faith in humanity. Changing up his business model now was allowing him to be creative again, to go back to doing what he loved instead of working to fill orders.

“Are you done?” Jackson asked, startling Leo out of his thoughts.

“Huh?”

“We still have lots and lots more shopping to do.”

Leo laughed. “Yes, we do.”

 

 

THE NEXT morning, Leo arrived early and let himself into the apartment while Jackson was still in bed. He’d texted Jackson to say he was on his way over, so it wasn’t going to be a surprise when he showed up. Jackson had said he was still in bed and not moving. Which was fine. Leo had half a plan to go and join him in it.

“Jackson!” Leo yelled from the bottom of the stairs.

“I’m asleep!” he yelled back.

Leo let himself smile as he went into the kitchen to fix breakfast. It was just bagels; he’d toast them and load them up with toppings and call it a job well done. They had done their own things the night before, Jackson helping out at the bar with Adam and Grant since they were short-staffed, and Leo spending a night at Flair, which had recently reopened. It was good, that they could still do these things alone, then come back together to share the lazy morning after.

He piled a plate with the bagels and trudged up the stairs, not entirely sure what state he was going to find Jackson in.

“It’s almost eleven, lazy pants,” he said, leaning against the doorframe.

“I didn’t get in till past four. I helped clean after we closed.”

“Well, in that case… move over.”

“You’re the best,” Jackson said as he made room for Leo.

“Mm-hmm.”

Leo leaned over and kissed Jackson’s jaw, nuzzling at the morning stubble, then put the plate between them.

“Did you have a good night?” Jackson asked before taking a big bite of his cream cheese bagel.

“Yeah, it was okay.” Leo pulled off a burnt crust and nibbled on it. “I was so tired, though. I went home early.”

“Yeah, I saw your text. Were you out with that guy you work with… Enzo?”

“Yeah.”

“He’s cool, right?”

Leo shoulder-checked him gently. “Are you jealous?”

“What? No.” That wasn’t very convincing.

“You’re so cute. We’re colleagues, Jackson. He works in pediatric oncology.”

“I get that. I just wanted to make sure he’s cool.”

Leo leaned over and kissed him again.

In between bites of bagel, Jackson talked Leo through the progress on the brewery and the revised plans he’d come up with, with Linh’s help, to try to maximize space in both the brewery and the bar. He was going for a different feel to Adam and Grant’s place, more warm and homey than harsh and industrial, more leather and wood, a sort of hunting lodge vibe. They were looking for permission to get a wood-burning fireplace installed.

When they were done with breakfast, Jackson moved the plate to his nightstand and shuffled back down on the bed, throwing one arm open so Leo could snuggle in.

“You don’t want to, you know, get up and have a shower?”

“Not just yet. Come here.”

Leo made a big deal of fussing as he scooted down the bed, but tucked himself into Jackson’s side and let his head rest on Jackson’s shoulder.

“This is nice,” Jackson said softly as he ran his fingers through Leo’s hair.

“Mmm.”

“Is everything okay?”

“Huh?”

“With us,” Jackson ventured. He kept his hand in Leo’s hair. Soft and perfect. “Are you okay with everything?”

“Yeah, of course.”

Leo shifted to put his chin on Jackson’s chest, looking up at him. “Are you okay?”

“Just wondering if I’d fucked up again recently,” Jackson mumbled.

“Hey, no.” Leo reached up and cupped Jackson’s jaw in his palm. “Don’t think like that. We’re taking it slow, right? There’s no rush to get it all figured out already.”

“Okay.”

Leo gave him another hard look, then put his cheek back down on Jackson’s shoulder. Jackson sighed deeply and squeezed Leo a little tighter.

“I like holding you.” Jackson said it like he was admitting a secret. He pressed a kiss to the top of Leo’s head.

“When I met you, I thought you were a dick.”

“Thanks,” Jackson said drily.

“I don’t think that anymore. Mostly. You can still be dickish, but actually you’re a total sweetheart.”

“That’s slander.”

“Not if it’s true.”

“I can’t let this get out,” Jackson said, digging his fingers into Leo’s side in a hard tickle. “It would ruin my reputation.”

Leo squealed. “Jackson!”

“I’m going to have to silence you.” He wrestled Leo onto his back, and Leo fought him, even as he knew Jackson was definitely the stronger one. Jackson was laughing, and somehow, that was everything.

“Fine,” Leo said, murmuring against Jackson’s lips. “I accept the terms of your bribery. Your secret’s safe with me.”

“Good.”

He rolled over and pulled Leo back into their previous position.

“Are you going back to sleep?” Leo demanded, poking Jackson in the side.

“Not sleep. Snooze.”

“Oh.” Leo yawned. “Maybe that’s okay.”

“Wanna make it better?”

“Hmm?”

“You could take your clothes off.”

Leo broke into a delighted laugh. “I will if you will.”

Jackson was only wearing pajama shorts over his boxer-briefs, so that wasn’t difficult. Leo snorted with amusement as he pulled off his sweater and wriggled out of his jeans.

“Socks off,” Jackson insisted.

“Bossy.”

But he did as he was told.

“Snooze now.”

Leo kissed Jackson’s chest, right over his heart.

“Okay. Snooze now.”

 

 

“JACKSON. PSST. Jackson.”

“What?” Jackson mumbled, not opening his eyes.

“Are you awake?”

“You’re awful,” he groaned. Leo was still sprawled on his chest, fingers lightly playing with Jackson’s sparse chest hair.

“I’m not.”

Jackson trailed his hand down Leo’s back and gently, but intentionally, squeezed Leo’s ass.

“What are you doing?” Leo asked, amused.

“Waking up with a naked man in my bed,” Jackson said, his voice a little rough. He hummed low in his throat. “Seems like the sort of thing I should take advantage of.”

Leo laughed. “Yeah?”

Jackson thumbed Leo’s nipple. His cock gave an enthusiastic throb in response.

“You ever given a guy a blowjob before?” Leo asked, pitching his voice low.

“Nuh-uh.”

“Wanna try?”

“I might be bad at it.”

“Well, lucky for you, I’m a very experienced and excellent teacher.”

Jackson licked his lips and gave Leo a sleepy grin. “Hang on.”

He reached over to the nightstand and took a big swig from the bottle of water he’d left there the night before.

“Okay.” Jackson rubbed his face. “Let’s do this.”

Leo broke out into delighted laughter. “Oh, darling,” he said, taking Jackson’s face in his hands and bringing him closer for a sweet, closed-mouthed kiss. “It’s oral sex. Not the battle of Yorktown.”

“For me, it’s just as revolutionary.”

“Did you just make a bad history joke?”

Jackson winked.

Leo fell a tiny bit more in love.

He leaned back and closed his eyes, playing a little with Jackson’s hair, since he knew Jackson liked that. Jackson nuzzled into the side of Leo’s neck, since he liked that too, and Leo tried not to think too hard about when they’d learned all these awesome things about each other.

Jackson worked slowly down Leo’s body, playing with his nipples on the way until Leo was squirming and definitely hard. Definitely. He wanted to cant his hips and rub off against Jackson’s thigh, but he was trying to go slow and let Jackson do things at his own pace.

A little sound slipped out of Leo’s mouth, though, when Jackson nuzzled at his belly, rubbing his cheek against Leo’s happy trail. Since his cock was hard, the action brought Jackson’s lips within breathing distance of where Leo really wanted them.

“First tip for a great oral sex experience,” Leo said, trying to force his voice to be steady and even. “It really helps when mouth and cock come in contact with each other.”

“Don’t rush me,” Jackson mock-scolded.

“Not rushing. Gently encouraging.”

Jackson chuckled. He gripped the base of Leo’s cock and stroked it a few times. That wasn’t entirely new, and definitely not unwelcome.

“Is this okay?”

“Fine. Great. Well done. Go you.”

Leo closed his eyes when Jackson brushed his lips over the head of Leo’s cock, all sweet and hesitant, figuring things out. He concentrated on not bucking his hips up or grabbing Jackson’s hair to direct him. Jackson needed to do this in his own time.

After a moment, Jackson started licking tentatively, then finally—oh God, finally—wrapped his lips around Leo’s cock and sucked.

“Fuck,” Leo groaned.

“Is that okay?”

“Yeah. Good.”

Jackson figured it out from there. Almost like once he’d gotten his first taste of cock, decided he didn’t mind it, he was free to go to town.

It was uncoordinated, and Jackson gripped a little too hard, and honestly, Leo had had a lot better blowjobs before. Jackson was so earnest, though; he wanted to do well, to please.

“Jackson, I’m gonna come.”

He hummed.

“No, shit, pull off.”

He didn’t.

Leo did grab his hair then, because the last thing he wanted was to come down Jackson’s throat, choke him, and put him off blowjobs forever. That would be tragic. Especially when he was just getting the hang of it.

Leo arched off the bed and came over Jackson’s fist, grunting hard as Jackson jerked him through it.

“Fuck, yeah,” Jackson growled.

With little aftershocks still zinging through his body, Leo slumped back against the pillow and threw his arm over his face. The sun-warmed room almost felt too hot now. There was a churning feeling in his belly and sweat on his skin and everything was too much.

He was all for more of these little teaching sessions if Jackson made him come like that every time.

Jackson kissed Leo’s hipbone. “Can I fuck you?”

Leo chuckled weakly. “Okay. Go gentle, though.”

“I can be gentle,” Jackson murmured, kissing Leo’s neck whisper-soft, as if to prove a point.

“Pass me the lube.”

“I can do it.”

Well, someone was clearly feeling emboldened. “Go on, then.”

Leo stretched out on the sheets and spread his legs. The messy blowjob/jerkoff had loosened him up and filled him with a lazy sense of well-being. He probably wouldn’t come again, but that wasn’t always necessary. He liked coming early sometimes. It took the edge off whatever happened next.

Jackson snicked the lid on the lube and poured a little on his fingers, rubbing the silky liquid around with his thumb. He was going to need more than that, but Leo figured he’d let Jackson discover that in his own time.

“So, do I just….”

He made a gesture that Leo emphatically disagreed with.

“No. You don’t ‘just.’ One finger. Then two. Then we’ll teach you how to find my prostate.”

Jackson waggled his eyebrows. “Talk dirty to me, baby.”

“You’re awful.”

Still, Leo pulled one of his legs up to his chest and hooked his elbow around his knee.

Sex hadn’t been like this before. It hadn’t been funny and lighthearted and exploratory. Sex had always been intense and serious. Leo liked intense and serious sex. Before, he’d always wanted to feel hot and desired and wanton.

“Like this?” Jackson asked, gently petting at Leo’s hole.

“Mm-hmm. That’s good.”

He hooked his finger, catching at the rim, then gently pushed it inside. Leo arched his back sinuously, inviting Jackson to push in farther.

“Okay?”

“Yeah. Kiss me.”

Something in Jackson’s expression softened then, as he leaned in and brushed his lips over Leo’s.

Their kisses were slow, lazy, licking at each other’s tongues as Jackson carefully worked his fingers inside. Leo’s stomach fluttered as his body started to perk up again, responding to Jackson’s curious touch. Jackson’s cock was hard against Leo’s thigh, and he was rocking his hips, just a little, back and forth. Humping Leo’s leg. He tried not to laugh.

“Inside me,” Leo murmured against Jackson’s mouth. “Want you inside me now.”

“Hmm.”

Jackson pulled away and reached for a condom, slicking it down his cock with hands that only trembled a little. It was good that he did that without prompting, Leo thought. He appreciated that.

Moments later Jackson was back, leaning in to kiss Leo again as he lined his cock up with Leo’s hole and started the slow, tortuous slide in.

“Oh wow,” Jackson breathed as he bottomed out.

Leo wrapped his arms around Jackson’s strong shoulders and held on, burying his face in Jackson’s neck as tears suddenly pricked his eyes. He wasn’t sure why they were both suddenly so gripped with emotion; it was sex, fun sex, good sex, and then it was more. This was so much more.

“Is this okay?” Jackson asked. His voice sounded wrecked. Leo kissed up and down his neck, over and over.

“Yeah.”

Jackson rocked his hips, just gently, and Leo cried out. “Oh fuck.”

“Leo. Leo.”

Leo found his hand and tangled their fingers together.

It was almost too much. Too intimate.

With his other hand tangled in Jackson’s hair, all Leo could do was cling and beg and move. His erection came rushing back to life in a way that just hadn’t happened before.

Jackson leaned down and brushed his lips over Leo’s, whisper-soft, and Leo sobbed.

He was… fuck… making love with his soul mate. So much love. The care and the need and everything that Leo had hoped this moment might be.

“You’re so beautiful,” Jackson said, his voice rough. “I’ve never seen anything as beautiful as you before in my whole life.”

“Kiss me,” Leo said again, and Jackson did.

The pace of Jackson’s thrusts picked up then, both of them too frantic to make it last. Leo could feel the sweat forming between his shoulders and the ache in his thighs and the sweet, burning stretch of his ass, and over all that, Jackson’s breath on his neck. The half-formed kisses on his skin.

“Jackson,” Leo gasped urgently, then dug his hands into Jackson’s strong biceps as he trembled through an intense second orgasm.

Jackson let out a pained noise, coming too with his face buried in the crook of Leo’s neck. They still clung to each other, a little desperate, chasing the aftershocks together. Leo could feel the rushing of Jackson’s heartbeat: in his throat, in his chest, in the ragged breaths hot against his skin.

A moment later Leo nudged him to pull out, wary of the condom, and kissed Jackson’s cheek.

“Hey,” he complained as Jackson neatly flipped them so Leo was sprawled on Jackson’s chest. “Oh.”

“That was….”

“I know.”

Jackson’s breath was warm against Leo’s neck as he caught his breath.

“Don’t let go,” Jackson murmured.

“I’m not,” Leo said. His heart clenched again. “I won’t.”

 

 

AFTER A reasonable amount of time basking in the afterglow, Leo nudged a recalcitrant Jackson out of bed and into a shower. This was part of their Sunday morning routine too, ever since the first weekend Leo had spent at the old house. Most Sunday mornings they jerked each other off, though Leo was definitely okay with adding the recent activities to the routine.

He dressed in last night’s jeans and one of Jackson’s shirts, and went downstairs to hunt up coffee.

“What’s up with you?” Jackson asked when he eventually followed Leo to the kitchen.

“Hmm?”

Leo was waiting for the coffee machine to finish brewing. His head was going to be a bit blurry until then.

“Oh, don’t you dare,” Jackson said. “No. We need to be honest with each other. You’ve been all weird since the sex. I’m a big boy, Leo. I can take it.” His facial expression suggested he was thinking hard. “Okay, that came out wrong.”

Leo snorted with laughter and pushed his hands through his hair. It was still damp from the shower.

“We’re in a relationship, right?”

“Yeah. Of course. I thought the amazing sex we just had kind of speaks for itself.”

Leo rolled his eyes. “You’re still attracted to women, though.”

“Well, yeah.”

“And men?”

“No.”

“Oh.”

“But I’m attracted to you.”

Leo didn’t let Jackson see his smile.

“It might be something to do with that thing you do with your tongue.”

Leo threw a plum at Jackson’s back; it hit his shoulder with a wet thud.

“Hey!”

“You deserved it,” Leo said mildly.

“Do I need to put a label on it?” Jackson asked. It wasn’t an unreasonable question, not really. “Can I be a straight man with a male soul mate?”

Leo wanted to say no.

Jackson brought the two mugs of coffee over to the table and passed one to Leo.

“Thanks,” he said softly.

Jackson leaned over and kissed his cheek.

“I’m into you, babe.”

“Ugh,” Leo groaned. “Don’t call me babe. It’s gross.”

“Sweetums? Love muffin? Honey cakes?”

“Drink your coffee.” Leo pushed his shoulder and laughed.

“I told people about us,” Jackson said when he’d almost finished. “You asked me to, and I did. I want people to know I’m with you.”

“I know,” Leo said softly. “I appreciate it.”

“You didn’t ask me for much, not really.” He still wasn’t looking at Leo. Just his nice mugs with the delicate pattern. “I’d do almost anything you asked me to. But I can’t change my sexuality. I don’t have any control over who I’m attracted to, and I can’t make myself be gay.”

“I think, after this morning, I believe it when you say you’re attracted to me.”

Jackson blushed. “Yeah, well…. Maybe I’m Leo-sexual.”

Leo closed his eyes and rested his forehead on Jackson’s bare shoulder. He kissed the smooth curve of Jackson’s bicep and let himself bask in just a moment of contentment.

“We might actually make this work,” he mumbled.

“I want that,” Jackson said. “I’m going to fuck up so much, babe. Sorry. Honey cakes.”

“Go back to babe,” Leo said.

“Hah. Okay. Trust me, calling you ‘babe’ is going to be the least of your worries. I haven’t been in a relationship for fucking ages. I’m a selfish bastard, as I’m pretty sure you’ve figured out for yourself already. I’m probably not a very good boyfriend.”

“You’re my boyfriend.”

“I’m your soul mate.”

Leo moved both their mugs to the coffee table, then grabbed Jackson’s arm and leaned back, pulling Jackson on top of him.

“Hi,” Jackson said softly.

Leo cupped Jackson’s face in his hands and kissed him soundly. Once, twice, then melted into the third.

He rubbed his thumbs back and forth over Jackson’s cheeks until Jackson looked at him. Big brown eyes, so soulful. He was trying so hard.

“I love you,” Leo said, still searching Jackson’s eyes. “Oh wow, I love you so much.”

Jackson’s breath caught, and he blinked. “Yeah. I love you too.”