"That's beautiful," Jackson murmured, rubbing his thumb along the tree trunk and up towards the kite. "When did you get that done?"
"When I first left home." Chase twisted to glance over his opposite shoulder instead. "Thank you."
Jackson leaned in to press his lips against Chase's.
Chase moaned quietly and leaned back into Jackson, his body warm against Jackson's. He fit perfectly against him, all slender and firm where Jackson was muscled. The bright colors and black tattoos streaked across his skin were works of art on an already beautiful body.
"It's perfect," Jackson murmured, rubbing Chase's chest now.
"Can we shower together? I'd like that, after... today."
Jackson let out a quiet breath of relief and nodded. "Okay." He trusted Chase to know what he needed, and if that was warmth and closeness...
Jackson wrapped his hands around Chase's backside to pick him up and carry him the few steps towards the master bathroom. Chase laughed with surprise and Jackson winked, easing him to his feet on the bathroom tiles.
"What a romantic," Chase teased, his eyes aglow from the hours of dancing and flirting. Jackson wanted to show his... love.
Oh, it was way too soon for that. Jackson's heart thrummed with nerves, though he knew it was true.
"You're gonna make me wait to make love to me, right?" Chase murmured after a few moments, stepping into Jackson's shower.
"Patience is a virtue."
Chase snorted. "Thanks. I'll be the most virtuous little fag you've ever had."
That was an interesting word choice. Jackson flinched on pure instinct, glancing at Chase. He was grinning. Jackson brushed it aside for now and laughed. "You're a little demanding."
"I know what I want," Chase countered. He turned on the hot water and shivered, stepping out of the way until it warmed up. "But... yeah, maybe not tonight."
"Not tonight," Jackson echoed. He followed Chase into the shower, pressing a kiss to the back of Chase's neck.
Chase shifted and sighed with satisfaction, his body melting against Jackson's. "You could give me the old reach-around..." His tone sounded teasing, though. He was joking.
Jackson's laugh bubbled from his throat. "Oh, you," he murmured, flicking Chase's shoulder as the hot water streamed down their bodies.
"I'm glad you don't find me... too much."
"Never," Jackson promised, rubbing Chase's chest.
They were quiet for a minute before Jackson let go. "Here's the soap."
"I'm... I'm really happy," Chase admitted, taking the soap and scrubbing himself off. "Christ, you were right with what you said the other day. But this felt different. I'm choosing this. This isn't... proving anything, you know?"
Jackson smiled, ducking his head under the water to wet his hair. "I'm so proud of you," he murmured. He ran his hand across Chase's shoulder.
Chase was changing before his very eyes. Even that moment of self-awareness seemed to have made him conscious of his own boundaries.
This was a different Chase than the one who had seduced him in his workshop, but it was one Jackson loved no less.
"Thanks," Chase chuckled quietly.
He barely remembered drifting off a few minutes later, wrapping up the clean, soapy-smelling man in his arms and against his front. As he went to sleep, he had one image stuck in his head: Chase looking back with a smile as Jackson's soapy hands ran over the bright leaves at the top of the tattooed tree.
Chapter 32
Chase
Turn in notice.
Chase glanced at the alarm that flashed across his phone screen. He shut it off and sighed, glad he'd set it earlier that week. It was crunch time: if he wanted to break his lease, it was near the end of August. He'd have better luck if the landlord could quickly pick up a student around September first.
He rubbed a hand over his mouth, glancing out towards the workshop in the backyard. It was great to have Friday off, but Jackson had a project he had to finish by the end of the week. Chase was hanging out in the house while he smithed.
It was nearly noon. Chase was in the middle of making KD and spam – the only meal he knew how to make that wasn't out of the same package. He figured combining two packaged foods made it a little fancier, at least.
"Kraft Dinner?" was Jackson's greeting as he stepped through the back door, grinning at the distinctive bright blue box on the counter.
"Shh, don't ruin the surprise!" Chase scolded.
"Oh, and ham – nice one." Jackson beamed and came over to kiss him. "For me?"
"No, for me. All for me. I'll eat the whole pot... with a spoon."
Jackson's laugh boomed through the kitchen. He let go and grabbed bowls and forks for them. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." Chase drained the pasta and dumped it back in the pot, adding the butter, milk, and cheese packet. The ham was already cut up and went in next. "It's the only thing I really know how to make..."
"No..." Jackson groaned. "Really?"
"Really," Chase blushed. "I always lived off... um, this, and Hamburger Helper, and Sidekicks, and..."
"Jesus, no, no," Jackson held out a hand. "Not under my roof. I can teach you proper cooking."
Chase held his breath, dumping macaroni into each bowl. "Actually... I wanted to talk to you about that." He carried their bowls to the table and settled down opposite Jackson, trying to be casual and not anxious about the conversation. "I gotta turn in my notice soon if I'm moving out, so the landlord can find a good student..."
Jackson nodded. "Are you thinking about it?"
"Um. I don't know," Chase admitted. "It's weird with the way we haven't dated long..."
"Mmhmm?" Jackson was quite neutral as he listened, not showing what he thought yet.
"But now that we're living together, I really, really like this," Chase confessed. He laughed. "How long-term is this?"
"This meaning you living here, or us dating? Or both?"
Chase licked his lips. "Both." He hadn't even eaten a bite of KD yet. He realized he was still holding his fork in the air.
Jackson put down his fork and reached across the table to take Chase's hand. Chase quickly put his fork on the table, too. "Chase: if you would move in with me, I'd be delighted to have you," he said seriously.
Chase didn't have words for the way his heart nearly burst out of his chest. "Really?"
"Yeah," Jackson laughed quietly. "If you're worried about being independent, I can convert the walkout basement suite so it feels more like we're dating – whatever it takes. But it's your decision. We'll keep dating either way. I'm in this for the long-term if it works out and you want to be, too."
Chase let out a breath. "I was hoping you'd say that," he admitted. "I want to stay."
Jackson stood up and pulled him to his feet to kiss him. Chase was only too happy to lean into Jackson to enjoy the moment.
Then, Chase sat back down again. "Eat up."
Jackson chuckled fondly and settled down again for lunch. They didn't say much over their bowls of macaroni, but Chase caught Jackson giving him sneaky, affectionate glances.
Finally, Chase laughed when their bowls were clean. "I'll wash up," he told him, standing up and gathering their dishes. "You get back out to work."
Jackson looked surprised. "Not going to suggest a celebration of our news?"
"There's lots of time for sex later," Chase told Jackson. The moment the words left his lips, even his jaw dropped a little. Then, he shook his head. "Go on, get out. Sooner you finish work, sooner you're back inside, and then we'll see," he winked. "I'm going out shopping with Noah for barbecue food though."
"Right, that's tomorrow," Jackson groaned, plodding towards the back door. "I'll have to clean off the barbecue."
"You say that like it's a chore. I see you patting it on your way to the workshop."
Jackson turned red and pretended not to hear him as he stepped outside and slid the back door shut after him.
Chase laughed under his breath, leaning against the counter to have a good look around at his new home. He still had to deal with the landlord, but he was positive he could work something out. If all else failed, he could sublet.
He'd do whatever it took to stay with Jackson, but this time, not because he had nowhere else to go and he was afraid of being found. This time, he wasn't running away. Since confronting his uncle, Chase hadn't even had a crying attack in the shower, or a dark night with too much vodka. He was stunned at how easy it had been. He'd done his grieving a long time ago. Now, he was running into Jackson's arms, and Jackson was reaching out to pull him close at every turn.
Jackson was everything he wanted his home to be.
"So, what's the new exhibition about? And twenty hamburgers?"