Caught Running (18 page)

Jake's body convulsed violently as he emptied himself into the man, his teeth sinking lightly into Brandon's shoulder while he rode out the waves. He stayed like that for a long moment as his ears buzzed and head swam, until he pushed up and carefully pulled out of Brandon's body. He flopped to his side with a groan and sprawled.

Once Jake moved, Brandon collapsed in place and fell to his side, curled up facing Jake and breathing hard. He was still seeing stars and he could still feel where Jake's cock had been inside him. He moaned, stretched, and shifted his hips, feeling wet warmth trickle out, and he turned his face into the sheets to moan again, fingers clutching in the quilt.
Fuck
if that wasn't the sexiest result of an incredibly hot fucking. It was nearly enough to get him hard again.

Jake lay next to him, breathing hard and utterly spent even though his mind was telling him to get up and do something. Preferably that, again. Eventually he turned his head to look at Brandon, chest rising and falling heavily as he tried to recapture his breath. “Fuck,” he groaned, raking his eyes over his partner. God, Brandon looked incredible; stretched out and glistening with sweat, face pressed into the sheets, hair loose and a mess, practically writhing from their fucking. “Fuck,” Jake offered again, this time a little more reverently.

Brandon opened hooded, dazed eyes to see Jake next to him, and the hunger that swamped him anew was inhuman. How was it possible for him to be so intensely attracted to this man? He lifted a shaky hand and reached out to touch Jake's chest with his fingertips, just to make sure. He didn't think there was any way this was a dream, not with his ass aching, his head spinning, and slick, warm come leaking between his thighs.

Jake folded his hand over Brandon's and closed his eyes as he tried to slow his breathing. “Fuck,” he repeated for a third time. “God, you're incredible,” he murmured without opening his eyes.

Brandon's pulse slowly ratcheted down, and he gazed at the other man in wonder, a slightly amused smile tilting his lips at the continued profanity. He didn't know what he'd done to catch Jake's attention, but he hoped like hell he could keep doing it. He felt Jake's heart beating under his fingers, and the time seemed to stretch as he lifted that hand, taking Jake's with it, to lightly trace the other man's cheekbone and jaw. The tenderness almost seemed out of place, but he couldn't help himself. It occurred to Brandon that he'd really like to be held right about now, but he didn't know if Jake would go for it after the rough, frenzied, and mind-blowing sex.

Jake's eyes opened as Brandon began to move, and he turned his head to the side to meet Brandon's eyes as the man's warm hand slid over the lines of his face. He gripped Brandon's wrist hard, stopping the motion, and he gave the arm a little tug instead. “C'mere,” he growled, stretching his other arm out to the side and under Brandon's neck.

Startling when Jake's hand tightened, Brandon wondered if Jake was reading his mind. He scooted over close to Jake's chest, curling his arm over his waist, laying his head on Jake's shoulder and sighing. Jake rested his chin on top of Brandon's head, wrapping his arms around the man as if they had done this a thousand times before. His thumb slowly slid back and forth over the side of Brandon's wrist as he held it, and he wedged his foot in between Brandon's ankles, burrowing his toes under the warmth of the other man. The fingers of his other hand slowly stroked up and down Brandon's shoulder.

The warmth of Jake's body lulled Brandon into a doze. He felt very safe and very comfortable, and he was sure he didn't want to move anytime soon. Although he knew he had things he could—even should—be doing, none of them held any appeal. He sleepily mused that they had not only tonight, but tomorrow, and it seemed too good to be true.

Jake lowered his head slightly to breathe in the scent of sex and dirt and shampoo. Finally adjusted and comfortable, he sighed heavily and opened his eyes again.

Sitting unobtrusively on the corner of the mattress was the little box of condoms.

Jake lay there staring at the box for a long while, too comfortable to actually move anything to reach for them. He wasn't all too concerned, if he were honest with himself. He should be, he knew. Jake had truly forgotten them, overcome by lust that had apparently sucked his brains out of his ears. But Brandon had forgotten them, too, and Jake didn't want to cut this short by pointing it out and sending the other man into a panic. Panic could come later, maybe. Along with the other panics that their little tryst would no doubt produce in them both. Until then, Jake closed his eyes and rubbed his cheek against Brandon's forehead, practically purring as he held the man.

The quiet rumbling made Brandon smile, and he turned his chin slightly to press his lips against Jake's throat. He floated in a pleasant haze he knew would end, but for now he would soak up as much of it as he could get, just in case. Jake tilted his head and rolled slightly, catching Brandon's lips with his own and kissing him gently. Brandon sighed against warm lips, the languid kiss pushing away the wakefulness that approached. It was so easy to just push everything away while he was in Jake's arms. His chest began to tighten as he had the thought that this might be it. One time to get it out of their systems. Brandon already knew once wouldn't be enough for him.

Jake fought with himself over whether to bring the issue up now or to leave it until they weren't happily tangled together in bed. He wished his better senses would have told him to speak out with it as soon as possible, but Jake didn't really have better senses. He pulled Brandon closer to him and kissed him harder before murmuring a teasing, “Wake up, Sleeping Beauty.” Brandon mock-whined in protest. Jake kissed him again and rolled until he was on top of the man once more. He pushed up onto his elbows to look down at him.

Brandon opened his eyes as he rolled and looked up at Jake, the last of the lassitude draining away. Time to face the music, he thought regretfully.

Jake smiled slightly and settled back down, his thumb gliding over Brandon's lower lip as he slid his other fingers into his hair. “Hi,” he offered softly.

Brandon blinked. That wasn't what he'd expected. He smiled tentatively. “Hi,” he whispered back, placing his hands along the small of Jake's back.

Jake bent his head to kiss Brandon slowly, one last time, and nuzzled his nose against his cheek briefly before whispering, “We have a small problem."

Tensing, Brandon wished, wished,
wished
this didn't have to happen. “We do?” he murmured.

Jake nodded and lifted his head, looking up at the corner of the bed and reaching slowly to snag the edge of the box. He settled back onto his elbows, Brandon still securely beneath him, and waved the box through the air with a little flick of his wrist.

Brandon frowned as Jake shifted, and he followed the other man's movement until he could focus on the box. He stared at it for a moment, connected it with the stickiness between his legs, and his brows shot up. He pressed his lips together to stifle a laugh. “Um,” he offered. “Some health teacher I am."

"I've found that you laugh at rather inappropriate times,” Jake observed with some amusement. He chucked the box over the edge of the bed and bent to press a kiss to the side of Brandon's neck before flopping to his side again.

The science teacher chuckled and covered his face with both hands before groaning in resignation. “Do I need to be worried?” he asked calmly after pulling his hands away. He really didn't think so, but you never knew. He also wondered how the hell he'd keep a straight face when he gave the standard safe sex lecture at school.

"No,” Jake answered immediately, not asking the question in return. If the answer had been a yes then Brandon wouldn't be quite so calm, he reasoned. “I'm sorry,” he offered sincerely. “I don't usually get carried away like that."

Brandon smiled. “Well, I'm rather glad I inspired it, actually. You don't need to worry, either,” he added. It had been far too long and too many standard checkups ago to even think about, he added silently.

Jake couldn't help but smirk slightly as he snaked his arm across Brandon's waist. “So, Mr. Health Teacher,” he teased in a low voice. “Practice what we preach, huh?” he snickered, pulling himself closer to nuzzle Brandon's neck. The relief over it not being a big deal was enough to make him a little giddy.

Brandon rolled his eyes and groaned, but he still hugged Jake close. “I'm going to hear about this for awhile, aren't I?” he drawled before thinking. He stiffened. What if there wasn't awhile?

"Oh yeah,” Jake laughed gleefully. “If I'm still Thundercat after fifteen years, you'll be hearing about this for at least as long."

Brandon's pulse raced again at the implication, and he just looked at Jake's smile until he couldn't resist kissing it.

Jake groaned in surprise and tightened his hand in Brandon's hair. They kissed for a long moment that stretched on and on, and Jake found himself in serious danger of enjoying it just a little too much. “Stay here tonight,” he requested impulsively.

Brandon gazed at him, recognizing the fact he wanted nothing more. He was already in so, so deep. There wasn't going to be any way to save himself anyway. “Okay,” he agreed quietly.

[Back to Table of Contents]

It was a long while before Jake decided he was too sticky. A shower and some more groping later, he stood in front of the refrigerator staring at the meager offerings within. He held his pills in his hand, and his eyes strayed to the beer on the top shelf.

Brandon padded into the kitchen, dressed in more of Jake's clothes. He stopped next to the other man, glancing into the fridge and raising an eyebrow. “I'm guessing you didn't find anything.” It was certainly different from his own fridge. While he didn't cook, Brandon ate a lot of fresh food, and he kept the larder stocked.

"I need to go to the store,” Jake grumbled as he reached in for a soda and popped the pills into his mouth while opening the can.

Brandon rolled his eyes and pushed the fridge door shut. “Ya think?” he asked sarcastically. “So are we ordering in or do you want to go to Publix?” He glanced to the clock; it was late, but not too much so for a Saturday night.

"Store, I think,” Jake answered after downing the pills. “What are you wanting? Anything specific?” he asked as he set the can down on the counter and reached for Brandon's hips, pulling and turning him just a little to put Brandon between him and the refrigerator with a smirk.

Brandon smiled as he allowed Jake to maneuver him where he wanted him, and he settled his hands behind Jake's elbows. “I mostly eat sandwiches, fruit, fresh vegetables, things that don't require cooking.” He narrowed his eyes and looked pointedly at the other man. “I've eaten more pizza in the last month than in my entire life, I think.” His face scrunched in distaste.

Jake pressed himself closer and bit his lip to stop his smile. “Well, we order it with vegetables on it,” he reasoned.

"Only after I threaten Jonathan within an inch of his life,” Brandon retorted.

"You were quite sexy doing it, though,” Jake purred teasingly, leaning in to brush his lips over Brandon's. “I've got some pasta,” he offered. “I accidentally made this shrimp scampi with alfredo sauce once and it was really good,” he admitted with a small laugh.

Brandon shrugged slightly, still smiling, warmed by the continuing affectionate gestures. How so much had changed in a single day. “If you're brave enough to cook, I'm brave enough to eat it,” he said. “But the store is fine, too."

"I'd rather brave the cooking than the store,” Jake declared with another kiss. “Mainly because of the whole getting-dressed thing,” he growled before pushing away from the refrigerator. “But I bet you want like fruit and stuff, though, huh?” he laughed with a grin. “You want to come with me or stay here and snoop through my things while I'm gone?” he asked playfully, his hands drifting down Brandon's sides before taking another step back.

Eyes bright, Brandon chuckled. “No preference. Unless there's something really interesting I'll find if I ‘snoop',” he teased. “Besides, you don't know what kind of ‘fruit and stuff’ I like,” he pointed out.

"Point,” Jake conceded with a grin. “Let me get my shoes,” he huffed as he turned away and headed for the hall closet. “You'll have to drive!” he called over his shoulder as he climbed the stairs.

Brandon looked down at the running shorts and T-shirt he was wearing and figured they were fine for the store. He headed back upstairs to the bedroom where his shoes had been tossed two different ways. He sat on the edge of the mussed bed to pull them on, pausing after to look at the sheets where he'd laid in Jake's arms.

Jake rummaged through the upstairs hall closet and found his flip flops, thwapping them down onto the floor noisily and sliding into them. He peered down the hall and saw Brandon sitting on the end of the bed, glancing over his shoulder. “You okay?” he asked lightly, not letting the sudden flash of worry show through.

Brandon turned to look at him, unaware of the soft, endearing smile on his face. He'd been thinking about how he couldn't have asked for a better first time with Jake. Followed by hoping it wasn't the last, although he was feeling pretty damn good about that. Jake was being amazingly affectionate and it made Brandon happier than he had expected. Just that simple affection
meant
more, although he certainly wouldn't want to give up the incredibly passionate sex. “Yeah, I'm good,” he said softly.

Jake raised an eyebrow and closed the hallway door. “You're not going all mushy on me are you?” he asked teasingly as he flip-flopped down the hallway toward the bedroom. He leaned against the doorway, and his lips twitched in amusement. “I don't wanna talk about my feelings,” he told Brandon sternly with a wag of his finger.

Brandon again quashed a laugh. Despite his tough words, Jake's actions didn't back them up at all. “Oh, heaven forbid,” he said drolly as he stood up. “C'mon. Food so you can feed me after you used me so mercilessly."

"You know you liked it,” Jake shot back with a cocky jerk of his head. The little rush of heat that shot through him at the thought said that he had liked it too. A lot.

Brandon stopped right up against Jake's chest rather than continuing into the hall. “Yeah,” he rasped. “I did."

The heat billowed, and Jake's smile faded as he met Brandon's eyes. “Me too,” he whispered in a low voice.

Brandon leaned forward to kiss him gently on the lips, then his cheekbone, then the very corner of his eyes. “Offsets the mush, then,” he murmured. Jake growled softly and enjoyed the kisses like a puppy being petted by his master, his eyes closed and a small smile on his face. Pulling back to look over Jake's face, Brandon whispered, “You really are gorgeous."

Jake opened his eyes and cocked his head. He had heard such things before. Coming from Brandon, though, he wondered why they sounded more sincere. He smiled softly and shook his head. “I thought I told you to stop talking to yourself,” he murmured teasingly as he pulled him closer and kissed his chin.

Brandon's eyes fell mostly closed and he rubbed his cheek against Jake's chin. “Would you rather hear that you really are addictive?” he asked, sliding his hands around Jake's thighs to grope his ass. “Can't keep my hands off you now."

"That might be a problem come Monday,” Jake drawled with a little laugh.

Brandon pulled back, eyes wide. He cleared his throat. “Ah, well. I guess I'll have to figure out how to rein myself in,” he said, wondering how in the world he had become the subtle aggressor between them.

"You do that,” Jake responded sternly. “I'll just stay close to the showers myself."

Narrowing his eyes, Brandon poked Jake in the ribs. “I'd hope I have the same effect on you that you have on me. Certainly seems like it anyway,” he said.

Jake grabbed Brandon in a lightning-quick movement as soon as his ribs were jabbed, and he slammed the man against the wall and kissed him brutally. Brandon barely had time to get in a breath before he was gasping into Jake's mouth, going achingly hard as Jake manhandled him. He'd never have thought he'd be so turned on by being thrown around, but God help him ... He tried to kiss Jake back just as firmly, grinding against his thigh. At this rate they'd never get dinner, and Brandon just didn't care.

Jake grinned as Brandon responded to him, and he nipped once more at his lip before pulling back. “Like that?” he asked innocently.

Sucking in breaths, color high on his cheeks, Brandon paused, then nodded quickly. “
Jesus
,” he hissed, eyes dilating with desire.

Jake's eyebrows shot up. “Yeah?” he asked with a smirk as he slid his hands down Brandon's ribs. Trying to get in enough air to calm down, Brandon gave Jake a helpless look. “You're so cute when you're flustered,” Jake laughed impulsively, taking Brandon's face in both hands and kissing him.

Brandon's “Cute?” came out muffled, but he really didn't mind. He slid his arms around Jake's neck and held close, distantly amused that they were standing in the doorway necking like kids. He smiled against the kiss. Yeah. Jake was
very
affectionate.

It was another moment of languid kisses before Jake pulled back and licked his lips, fingers trailing through Brandon's hair. “Dinner?” he suggested a little breathlessly.

"Yeah,” Brandon agreed. “Store?"

Jake let his eyes rake over Brandon's body as if he were considering getting dinner
there
instead, but then he smirked and looked up to meet Brandon's eyes again with a mischievous little glint. “Yeah,” he answered. “You're driving.” Brandon nodded and started down the hallway. Jake watched him go before following him, hopping a little as he walked to catch up to the other man.

Brandon snagged his keys off the hall table where he'd thrown them earlier. “We ought to pick up your truck while we're out,” he said as they walked down the front steps.

"Good idea,” Jake answered and spun on his heel toward the kitchen and the hook where his keys lived. He'd put them there after picking them up off the living room floor just a while ago. “We're going to have to be careful,” he warned seriously. “You know how rumors make it around a high school.” He practically groaned.

Brandon was composed and appropriately sober. “Yeah,” he said, stopping at the bottom of the porch stairs. Each time Jake said something like that, he felt like it meant Jake was going to be interested in something more than the occasional fuck. But he figured Jake's tease about not talking about feelings was grounded in fact. Hell, he didn't know how he felt himself, other than mushily swept off his feet.

"What?” Jake asked as he came back into the entryway. “You keep looking like I kicked your puppy,” he observed with a slightly worried smile. He took a step closer and looked Brandon over carefully. “I didn't hurt you, did I?” he asked suddenly, horror creeping into his tone.

"No!” Brandon exclaimed, startling himself with the vehemence of his answer. “No,” he repeated in a modulated tone. He actually shuffled in place, wishing he could hide, even a little bit, and expressively he closed up. “I just don't know what to expect,” he said, unable to look up at Jake in case he saw annoyance or amusement.

"Expect?” Jake echoed in confusion. “Out of what?” he asked a little tentatively. “Going out in public?” he asked with a little smile.

Sighing, Brandon shook his head. “No. In public, in school, I get it. I understand and appreciate discretion. I mean...” he fumbled for words. “I don't know what you want out of this,” he admitted. “It's disconcerting."

Jake blinked at him and inclined his head a little, taken by surprise. “Oh,” he responded stupidly. “Well, I hadn't really gotten further in the thought process than wanting to get you naked, so I guess I'm a little behind,” he told Brandon with a slight blush and a smile to ease the tension he felt creeping back in.

"Yeah, well,” Brandon tried a smile, hoping to defuse the sudden edginess between them. “I'm always overthinking things, brain in overdrive, that sort of thing,” he offered, hoping to play it off, starting to walk toward the car. While he appreciated Jake's comment about wanting him, he hadn't gotten a reply to his admission. How could he have said something like that, anyway? Wanting to know what was happening next when they'd only kissed for the first time about ten hours ago?

Jake watched him go down the walk with a frown, but smiled slightly as he had an idea. He reached down, took off his flip flop, and chucked it at Brandon as he walked away, hitting him right on the back of the head.

Brandon's eyes bugged out, and he whipped around to look at Jake in amazement. “Did you just do what I think you did?” he exclaimed.

"Depends on what you think I did,” Jake shot back with a signature grin as he thumped down the front steps and strolled forward to retrieve his flip flop. “That's what we do. You think and I throw things,” he explained. “So I'll make you a deal. You stop thinking,” he drawled, bending to pick up the shoe and wave it around threateningly, “and I'll stop throwing things."

The laughter was unstoppable. Brandon bent over for balance he laughed so hard, and when he looked up at Jake's fake angry face, he just pealed into near giggles until he got short of breath and had to brace himself against the car. “Oh God. Are we total opposites or what?” he asked, calming down enough to get in the driver's seat.

"Hmph,” Jake offered good-naturedly as he flopped into the passenger side. “Since we're opening up with our feelings and all, I feel the need to tell you that this is the gayest car I've ever been in,” he told Brandon.

Brandon looked at Jake in surprise. “It's a green Jetta. Why is that gay?” Jake threw his head back and laughed merrily in response. Brandon looked even more confused as he started the engine.

"It'll be okay,” Jake chuckled, reaching over to pat Brandon's knee.

"What the hell are you on about? Or are those pills finally kicking in?” Brandon asked suspiciously as he started driving to the Publix he knew was a few miles away.

"Yeah, they are,” Jake admitted with a content nod. “Sorry,” he offered as he looked over at Brandon with a smile.

Brandon chuckled. “Well, I guess I'll have to make an allowance for that,” he said. Then he glared at Jake. “My car is not gay,” he asserted. “It's practical."

"It's practically rainbow-colored!” Jake giggled.

Looking at the hunter green paint, Brandon shook his head in exasperation. “What kind of pills are those?"

"Good ones,” Jake practically purred as he slouched down in the seat. He glanced over at Brandon and laughed softly. “Your car's not gay, Brandon,” he cooed, “I just like to see you get all ruffled."