Chapter Ten

The raid of the Lee barn took place two days later and involved police and agents from several counties as well as the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. It was enough of a big deal that it made the local news in Denver, and Jensen was a little unnerved to find out that they obtained the footage he’d filmed inside the barn, complete with his voice. He wasn’t exactly sure where Eric was now, or if he was still looking for him, but he hoped that enough time had passed that Eric had forgotten what he sounded like. Blake had been concerned and had insisted that Jensen stay with him as long as he liked, on the assumption that it would be that much harder to locate Jensen at a house he had no financial connection to.

Jensen had agreed, partly out of worry and paranoia, and partly because he really, really liked being around Blake, and he suspected that his house would feel a lot emptier and lonelier than it had before. And, really, he kind of wanted to see if Blake fucking him felt as good as it had the other way around. He strongly suspected it might be the best sex of his life.

Most of the animals removed from the Lee property needed immediate veterinary attention, so huge vans drove back and forth to Ft. Collins all day, and veterinary students and volunteer veterinarians from all over the Denver-metro area came to help. It was pandemonium, but the end result was as satisfying as it could be.

They found a lot of dead birds, mainly budgies and cockatiels, and Jensen could only wish that he had gone earlier. It probably wouldn’t have made much difference, according to Blake, but they would never know.

That evening found the two of them in town, finally having a normal date and dinner at an Italian bistro, when Jensen’s phone began to ring. He ignored it at first, then sighed and pulled it out when Blake raised his eyebrows.

“I’m sure it’s just another political robocall or something,” Jensen glanced at the display and froze for a moment.

“What, it isn’t Eric is it?” Blake asked.

“No, he’s blocked on this number. It’s Sophia. Do you mind if I answer?”

“No, no go ahead.” Blake nodded encouragingly.

Jensen had explained the entire situation with his best friends the day before. He’d mentioned wanting to go down and see them in Denver, and asked if Blake would be willing to come along. Blake agreed, despite his discomfort. They wouldn’t be in downtown Denver, and he recognized that maybe it was time to start pushing his own boundaries more. Jensen had also asked, rather pointedly, if Blake wanted him along next time he visited a specialist about his leg. Blake had been briefly annoyed and ready to argue, but a spasm of pain in his hip had hit and even he had to acknowledge that he couldn’t go on like this forever.

Jensen answered the phone, grateful that they were in a quiet corner away from any of the other diners. “Hey, Soph.”

“Jensen, why the fuck were you undercover buying a cockatoo?” Her voice was both amused and exasperated. “Manny and I recognized your voice the second we heard it. What the hell?”

Jensen laughed and put his head in his hand. “Uh, well, that’s kind of a long story.”

“Uh huh, well I hope you realize we’re driving up there tomorrow and you’re going to tell us the whole thing.” Her tone left no room for argument.

He laughed again. “Okay, that’s fair. I can meet you in town when you get in.”

“You don’t live in town?” Now she was suspicious. “Did you go off and become an actual hermit?”

“No! No, I’m just staying with someone who lives further out and it’s not an easy place to find. I’ll text you the address of the place I’m renting and meet you there.”

She paused. “Are you worried about Eric? Is that why you’re not staying at your house?”

“A bit…but that’s not the only reason.” He glanced up at Blake, who was sipping his glass of red wine with an innocent expression.

“Oh, so the person you’re staying with is the guy you started dating, then.”

“Yeah…though I’m just using him for his real estate.”

“He’s there with you?”

“Yeah, we’re having a nice dinner.”

“Oh well, fuck, then hang up on me. I’ll text you in the morning when we get on the road. Enjoy your dinner and say hi to whoever this guy is.” She hung up.

Jensen dropped the phone back in his pocket, snorting.

“I heard most of what she said. She sounds…interesting.”

“Intense and a bit much. That’s how people usually describe her.” Jensen took a sip of his own martini, and spotted the server coming over with their food. She set down a plate of mussels in cream sauce in front of Blake, and penne con vodka in front of Jensen. “But she’s always, always had my back. And she didn’t blink when I called her out of the blue a few days ago. Not many people would handle what happened as gracefully as she did…and I know she and Manny both desperately want to say ‘I told you so’ about Eric.”

“You think so?” Blake asked, taking a bite of his food.

“No question. You can’t even imagine how much they both hated him. And Sophia really loves to be right. That she’s keeping all of that under wraps and being understanding is…a lot. I know that makes her sound horrible, but I swear she isn’t. Manny is the same way. They’re both very good at reading people, which is why I was especially dumb to ignore their concerns about Eric.”

“Would she know if Eric recognized your voice? I actually don’t even know how you met him…if you had mutual friends or what.” Blake moved his good leg so he was brushing knees with Jensen.

Jens shook his head. “No, I met him through some other friends. Different crowd. I don’t really talk to any of them anymore because I mostly knew them through work. I’ve known Sophia and Manny since middle school.”

“I have an alarm system. I’ll turn it on from now on. I had it installed after someone broke in and stole a bunch of ketamine from the clinic a few years ago, but I got sloppy about turning it on whenever I’m home. I don’t actually keep any controlled substances at my home clinic anymore, and I doubt Eric will figure out where you are, but I don’t want to run that risk.”

Jensen nodded. “Thank you, Blake. I really appreciate it.”

“You’re worth it.” Blake reached across the table and squeezed Jensen’s hand.

Jensen just blushed and downed the rest of his martini.

***

They fell into bed almost immediately when they got home, and Blake had Jensen’s cock in his mouth within seconds. He had not deep-throated anyone in a very long time, but he was doing his level best to get as much of his cock in his mouth as he possibly could. Jensen had his fingers in Blake’s hair, obviously resisting the urge to grip harder. Blake was fairly sure that he could come from just listening to Jensen moaning.

“Blake…oh fuck…Blake, I’m going to come…”

Blake hummed and swallowed, going down as far as he could. Jensen was moaning louder now and shaking slightly. He collapsed backwards onto the bed after a few moments, laughing.

“Oh fuck, you’re going to kill me.” He looked over at Blake, who wiped his face off with a t-shirt from the floor. “Are you up to fucking me? Because I really, really want to feel your dick in my ass.”

Blake grinned and carefully got up off the floor. “Your wish is my command.”

Before he could get his jeans and underwear off, Jensen had the lube out and was already shoving two fingers into his ass and scissoring them. His cock was still spent from having come in Blake’s mouth, but that didn’t seem to deter Jensen at all. Blake just stood, watching, as Jensen moved to three fingers for just a moment, and then pulled his fingers out. He threw a condom at Blake to snap him out of his reverie. “Hurry up…”

“You don’t want to prep a bit more…?”

“No, I like the stretch. And I want your dick in my ass now.” Jensen stroked his cock a few times, and it was already starting to get hard again.

Blake laughed, retrieved the condom, and climbed onto the bed, kissing Jensen slowly. “You’re so perfect. Even when you’re being impatient.”

“Patience is only a virtue if you’re immortal.” Jensen grinned up at him. “Let me flip on my stomach…I want to feel you pound me.”

“Okay…okay. We might have to change positions if my hip seizes up, though.”

Jensen rolled over onto his stomach, then reached behind to pull Blake down again. “Of course. Just tell me and we’ll switch. You don’t ever need to be uncomfortable on my account.”

Blake kissed him behind his ear and quickly pulled the condom on. “You’re worth a little discomfort. But I’ll tell you, I promise.”

He leaned down and maneuvered so that he was lined up, then began to slowly push in. Jensen let out a hiccupping moan, and Blake continued on steadily until he bottomed out. He froze, breathing slowly, trying not to come. Jensen was tight and the noises he made were almost more than Blake could handle. He’d been moaning while he topped, but the sounds he was making now were going straight to Blake’s dick. He ran a hand up Jensen’s side, though whether he was trying to ground himself or sooth Jensen, he had no idea.

“Move, please…I need it.” Jensen had grabbed a pillow and had his face buried in it, ass thrust in the air. “Please, Blake.”

Blake began to pull back, then thrust in, going as rough as he dared, careful to keep his weight on his good side. He could tell he would need to take another muscle relaxer before the fell asleep, but this was worth it. Jensen crying and moaning on his cock was worth it. He picked up the pace, hoping that he would get Jensen off before he lost the remainder of his control. It would be close. He shifted so his angle was better, ignoring the twinge in his thigh. Jensen practically wailed as Blake found his prostate and began to do his best to hit it with every thrust.

“So good, fuck,” Blake murmured. “Going to record the sounds you make. I’ve never heard anything so sexy.”

Jensen laughed weakly. He had a hand on his own cock and was pulling fast and hard, face still buried in the pillow. “Oh God, I’m gonna cum…Blake!” Jensen moaned again and came hard all over his hand. Blake managed a few more thrusts and followed him over the edge, panting and thrusting weakly through the aftershocks.

As soon as he caught his breath, Blake carefully pulled out and tied off the condom. He stumbled into the bathroom to throw it away, and by the time he came back, Jensen was asleep, snoring softly.

***

The next morning found them both at Jensen’s house for the first time, so Jensen could actually change properly for once. Blake was already debating if it was too soon to ask the other man to move in, and he was plotting to figure out when Jensen’s lease was up. Mich had already asked if Jensen would do some consulting data work for the veterinary school, and he had agreed on the condition he didn’t have to drive down there very often.

Mich agreed readily, and Blake was glad to see that Jensen was getting back to the work he seemed to really love, though he insisted he was going to keep working at the coffee shop as well. He liked Angie and the town, and it was nice to have work he didn’t have to think about too hard.

Blake wandered around the small living room, noting how few photos there were of Jens and his family, and debating if he should start asking more questions about what was clearly a contentious relationship, when the doorbell rang.

“Fuck! They’re early! Blake, darling, can you answer the door?”

“Got it, Babe!” Blake laughed and opened the front door.

“Oh, goodness, you’re not Jens!” The woman blinked at him from under a thick wool hat and scarf set and thick, black-framed glasses.

“No, I’m Blake, Jensen is in the shower still. He’ll be out in a second.” He moved aside so the couple could come in.

They quickly shucked their boots and layers to reveal an attractive, well-dressed couple that Blake had no trouble believing grew up in the same wealth and privilege that Jensen had.

Sophia stuck out her hand and Blake shook it. “Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Blake. I’m Sophia, and this is my husband Emmanuel.”

“Manny, please. Nice to meet you.”

“Sorry! Sorry, sorry, sorry!” Jensen came scrambling into the room, and Sophia squeaked and practically threw herself at him. She was taller than him by almost four inches, and had a very sturdy build, so the two of them only barely avoided toppling over.

Manny waited until his wife had stopped trying to smother Jensen, then took his turn. All three of them were crying, and Blake knew it was time to make his exit. The three of them had a lot to talk about.

He rubbed Jensen’s back and gave him a quick kiss, made his excuse about needing to speak with Jeanie about a few things, and then slipped outside into the chilly, sunny morning. He was tempted to walk to the clinic, but even with his cane he was feeling unsteady this morning, so he got in his truck and drove the few blocks to the parking lot. He had texted Jeanie, and her cruiser was already parked out front of the building.

Inside, he found Jeanie, Angie, and Beth chatting merrily away in the waiting room, and a riot of Christmas decorations that he knew for a fact had not been there the day before.

“Beth, it isn’t even Thanksgiving yet…” he sighed, exasperated.

“Oh I know, but Jeanie came by with a few things and I was bored. It’s only a little early anyway, so quit complaining.” Beth waved him off.

“Jensen already sick of you?” Angie asked. “I took him off the schedule this week. He hasn’t taken a break since he started working for me anyway.”

“Two of his friends came up from Denver, and I didn’t want to get in the way.”

Angie’s eyebrows shot up. “Sophia and Manny?”

“Yeah, they saw the news story and wouldn’t take no for an answer about seeing him. He seemed pretty overwhelmed about all of it…”

“Oh I imagine so…he’s been dithering about contacting them for ages. So glad to hear he did. Or they contacted him. Whatever.” Angie shrugged. “I’m just glad things are looking up.”

“What will happen to the birds now?” Blake asked, changing the subject.

Jeanie sat back in her waiting room chair and sighed. “Well, the rarer species are heading to zoos, along with a few of the macaws. They’re keeping all the pair-bonded birds together. The spot on the local news apparently got some traction online, so we got plenty of donations to help the rescues that take the other birds. We had to have a few of the birds with severe illnesses put down, unfortunately. The vet students did what they could, but you said yourself that it’s often crueler to keep them alive than it is to let them go.”

Blake nodded sadly at that.

“But,” she brightened, “most of the other birds should be adoptable with a bit of work, and if that’s not a Christmas miracle, I don’t know what is.”

“Thanksgiving. It’s Thanksgiving, Jeanie,” Blake stated, exasperated. “If you had your way, we would start on Christmas in September.”

“The world is a dark place sometimes and we all need something to celebrate, so stop being such a Scrooge.”