Part 94
Link to Slida's Graham Simmons Website
The light was fading in the sky as Jack steered his black truck into the drive and eased on the brakes. Philip's car was where it had been since the accident, up against the wall of the house, right beside the street hockey goals. For a moment Jack wondered how he would have gotten to his house, all he could remember was Philip telling him that he'd meet him at his place. Jack had told him it would be a while still, but Philip had given his deep-throated chuckle and told him that he'd be waiting for him, no matter how long it took. After his initial excitement Jack had to suffer through the endless debrief and while Daniel went on and on about their danger, the hopelessness of the situation and how he'd tried to provide food and water for the two of them Jack's mind had wandered onto the man waiting for him at home.
This was it. For some absurd reason it 'finally' hit him that this was it, for the two of them. No more reasons. No more excuses. No more waiting. What started as excited flurries within his stomach at the prospect of finally getting to make love with the man he'd loved for over a year soon became nauseating churning of anxious nervousness.
Of course, all of this really came to a head when it was his turn to give his report - not a moment before, and, regrettably for Jack, not a moment after. And it stalled the words in his throat, which made everyone around the table question if he was feeling ill. He gave a soft cough, held his hand up to silently request a few moments then he reached over and poured a glass of chilled water. He gulped it in one mouthful then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and put the glass down. He apologized then went on with his account of the situation.
Never one to dwell on situations though Jack had set the thoughts aside whilst he wrote up his report later in his office. When Daniel had called by before leaving he'd asked him what the hell he was doing still there and not at home with Philip at that moment? Jack had joked that he intended to file the report now so that he didn't have to get out of bed for the next week! Laughing, Daniel had bided him goodnight and left him alone in his office.
Jack's mind wandered as he wrote his report. Recalling what had happened on that planet also made him recall dreams that he'd had whilst suffering with the fever. The dreams were brutal. Not the kind of things Jack would normally have but with the fever and stress, his subconscious really let loose with his insecurities, it seemed. In the dreams Jack had returned to earth to discover that the healing had changed Philip. That, during his absence, the artist had gone out and discovered that not only was he young enough but still very good-looking enough to have any man he wanted in Colorado Springs and he didn't need Jack, a man old enough to be his father, with him anymore.
As he signed off on his report, though, Jack dismissed those bad dreams as just that. Bad dreams. He knew that Philip loved him and once he'd dropped the report onto Hammond's desk, he smiled at his C.O., told him not to bother to contact him for at least a week and then gave a sloppy salute before leaving.
Now he sat in his drive. He took his hand off the steering wheel and saw the way it trembled ever so slightly and that was when he realized he was as nervous right now as he had been on his wedding night with Sara.
He took a moment to catch his breath and to remind himself that this was nothing to be nervous nor anxious about. This was Philip. HIS Philip. The man he'd shared his life with, on and off, for over a year. On the long trek from the mountain to the city he'd allowed his mind to wonder about how this would play out. Would Philip greet him like any other night? Would he be angry with him for disappearing, without a word, for three days, and not being around for one of the most important times of his life? Nah, Jack certainly didn’t sense that from the phone call. So, would he ravish him the second he entered the house, in a hurry to finally quench two years of thirst? Or would he feel as nervous about all this as he did?
As Jack stepped along the stone pavement to his front door he involuntarily swallowed - again. Through the thick, paneled door he heard the strains of Simply Red's c.d., and smiled to himself. Maybe things wouldn't be so different after all he pondered as he pushed on the door and went inside.
The aroma of food met him as he came into the house and he looked at the dining room table, seeing at once the romantic setting. His best china, his crystal goblets and his good silverware were set up on his nicest tablecloth. The squat purple candle that he'd given to Philip many months ago burned with a small flame in the midst of the finery. However, there was no sign of the man of the moment.
"Hello?" Jack called as he reached up and hooked the neck of his coat onto the coat rack. He heard a thump down the hall and had started to go that way when he stopped in his tracks.
Philip was at the end of the corridor, dressed in his signature black - well fitting pants hung off the narrow waist and held up by a wide black leather belt with a pewter buckle. He wore a long-sleeved shirt that was buttoned all the way up and tied around the neck with a silvery-gray tie. His dark, wavy hair was pulled back from his face and held in a band at the nape of his neck.
As he stepped towards Jack a slow smile split Philip's face, revealing his white teeth. He held his hands out and Jack took them in his once he was close enough. Almost immediately Philip wrapped his arms around Jack's shoulders and hugged him tightly.
"Thank God you're home!" He whispered soulfully into his lover's chilled ear. Jack squeezed his eyes tightly as he gripped the slight but firm body within his arms. He couldn't speak for a moment, overcome by the emotion of getting to hold Philip again - both men now completely healthy. As he pulled back he cupped the almost-too-pretty face in his hands and searched every inch of the honey-brown skin before he finally settled to gaze into the dark eyes.
"You have no idea how good it is to see you again!" Jack whispered, his voice hoarse from suppressed emotions. Philip smiled and touched his fingertips lightly across Jack's freshly shaven face. He looked into the chocolate-brown eyes before he closed the gap and kissed his lover passionately.
After a long, deep exploration Philip eased back only enough so that his lips skimmed Jack's as he spoke. "I started to wonder where you'd run off to!" He said huskily, partly a joke, partly real. He inched back far enough to look into Jack's eyes now. "You just disappeared."
The gray head nodded slightly. "Maybe one day I'll tell you about it."
Philip blinked then licked his pink lips before he said, "One day, I'm sure you will."
Jack started to smile then he reached down and kissed Philip's mouth tenderly. "I love you Philip," he whispered against the wet lips.
"I love you too, Jonathan. Welcome home," the young paramour returned as he wrapped his arms around Jack's neck and widened his mouth to accept Jack's tongue deep within him.
They parted reluctantly then Philip turned and held his hand out towards the dining room table. "As you can see, I've tried to make things a little special for us tonight."
Jack nodded and rested his arm across his lover's shoulders. "Every night will be special for us."
Philip gazed up at him then he inhaled a deep breath and said, "None more special than tonight though."
Jack cupped his hand around Phil's jaw line and he tilted the face a little more to fit his mouth over his lover's willing mouth. They wrapped themselves in each other's arms tightly and gave in to the deep exploration of tongues.
Jack pulled back and pressed small, closed-lip kisses against Phil's mouth before he gave him up completely. "You look fantastic, by the way."
With pretend coyness Philip chuckled and said, "Oh, this old thing?"
Jack smiled but was still serious as he traced the backs of his fingers down the smooth, sharp jaw line. "So handsome."
The younger man grew serious to match his lover's intensity. "So do you!" He reached up and nibbled Jack's jaw as he huskily whispered, "Did you conveniently forget how hot it makes me when you wear your fatigues, or..?" He traced his finger down the center of Jack's chest and down to the webbed belt around his waist.
Jack was wearing fatigue green pants and a black t-shirt, replacement garments for the clothes he had been wearing and which were destroyed on the mission.
"Long story," he said with a sigh.
"Another one of those things you *might* get to tell me one day?"
The older man smoothed his hand over the soft cheek. "One day."
Philip cooed and closed his eyes. "But right now, it's not important." He took Jack's hand and said, "Come," before he led him towards the bedroom. "I want to show you what else I have planned for us tonight.." He stopped and turned back to his lover. "That is, if you're okay with it."
Jack's hand cupped Phil's forearm and rubbed along it as he said, "Show me what it is and I'll let you know if I'm up for it."
The younger man smiled. "Hope so," he said as he stopped at the bedroom door.
Jack weaved his fingers into the black hair and turned Phil's face back towards him. Phil smiled, fluttered his lashes a little shyly then pushed on the door. Jack looked at his room. On the pillow was a single, long-stemmed white rose. Next to the bed, on a side table, was the coal bucket Jack used to clean out the charcoal from the fireplace after winter. It was shiny and silver now, filled to the top with glistening ice cubes and a green bottle nestled inside. Jack slipped himself from his lover's side and went over to the bed to lift the bottle from the ice.
"Not the most romantically presented champagne," Phil gave a soft, unsure laugh as he scratched at the back of his head.
"Bucket was cleaned?"
"Scrupulously," the younger man assured him.
With a single shouldered shrug, Jack said, “Then what’s the problem?”
Philip smiled. “It was either that or the plastic bucket you use to wash the floors with. I thought this would clean up better.”
As Jack twisted the bottle back under the ice Philip wrapped his arms around him from behind and rested his chin on his shoulder. "I've got another bottle of champagne chilling in the fridge at the moment."
The graying brow arched. "Do you intend to get me drunk?"
A deep chuckle quivered the lips against Jack’s ear. "Maybe afterwards."
"After?" Jack turned and grinned at him as he held him by the waist delicately.
The younger man's face went blank, and then with an innocent look Philip said, "After dinner. You said you were hungry on the phone, didn't you?"
"I am." Jack laughed at the innocent act and nodded. "Sure, I am."
Phil winked then gripped his hand and took him through to the bathroom. More candles lined the edge of the bath, and a bottle of blueberry bubble bath sat beside the faucets.
"Bath?"
"In between," Philip said as he nuzzled Jack's cheek.
"Between dinner and the bedroom?" the older man inquired. Philip smiled against the smooth skin.
"Between bouts, my love," he whispered just before he nipped Jack's jaw lightly.
Both gray brows shot up this time and Jack's forehead crinkled. "Ah! Shouldn't we... pace ourselves?"
Philip chuckled. "I suppose that depends on how much time we have together."
The older man announced happily, "Actually, about a week."
Philip's mouth gaped in surprise. "A week? Wow!" As he slipped his finger down the front of Jack's body again then hooked it behind the belt buckle and tugged on it lightly he asked, in a suggestive voice, "What *could* we possibly do with all .. that.. time?"
"Well, there's a few tiles in the shower alcove that need fixing, and.."
The artist snorted as he scratched nonchalantly at his ebony eyebrow. "Like you'll have the energy!"
"You're sure of yourself there!" Jack grinned wantonly.
"Just out of practice," Philip said as he wrapped his arms around the sturdy waist. "I'll need lots” – he kissed Jack’s throat – “and lots” – he kissed under Jack’s chin – “of practice."
Jack chuckled and pressed their mouths together. "What about kissing?" He asked against Phil's lips. "Do you need practice with that?"
Phil's deep red lips split in a smile to reveal white teeth. "Never hurts to practice, Jack."
Again they kissed. Long and deep while hands explored over hard bodies. Arms unable to gather the other’s body close enough. Amidst soft pants Philip pulled back and rubbed his face against the tip of Jack’s nose as he huskily whispered, “You are so damn good at that!”
“Still got it, eh?”
With an appreciative hum Philip nuzzled him more as he murmured, “Still got and I want it.” He nipped Jack’s chin then along his jaw until he reached his ear. He whispered, “I can’t get enough of it,” before he traced the tip of his tongue around the folds in Jack’s ear then delved into the well.
Jack shied away from the excruciatingly sweet sensation and captured Phil’s chin in his hand. In a voice deepened slightly by arousal he told him, “Unless you want your plans for this evening to be ruined, we’d better stop that - right there!”
Philip chuckled wantonly then lisped, “You’re so masterful, Jonathan!”
Jack laughed too. “I have my moments!” He took Philip by the hand and led him through the bedroom and towards the hallway door.
“You’re really sexy when you try to keep your control, have I ever told you that?” Philip teased as Jack dragged him along.
“Control’s my middle name!” Jack declared in a comical voice.
“Really!” Philip laughed and stepped up to his side. As he poked at the dog-tags he said, “Strange, I thought Anthony was.”
The older man smiled. “That too! It’s my second-second name!”
Philip shook his head good-naturedly and wrapped his other hand around Jack’s bare forearm. He leaned his head against the taller man’s shoulder while they walked, silently, along the hall hand-in-hand.
“You know I love you, don’t you?” The voice seemed so small, so serious all of a sudden. Jack looked down at the handsome man and then Philip finally looked up.
With a smile, Jack nodded and said, “Absolutely.”
The younger man smiled nervously then whispered, “Good,” before he put his head back against Jack’s shoulder. They reached the dining room and Philip said, “Before we eat..” And continued to guide Jack towards the living room.
In front of the fireplace, which was burning and hissing away, was a bottle of cognac and two glasses. Jack was impressed by the details Philip had gone to for this evening. Then he noticed a box on the coffee table. With a frown he went down the four steps and over to the box. Philip came to stand behind him as he watched Jack inspect his hand painted box with a gray wolf and a black bear in the moonlight on it.
“What’s this?” Jack asked.
After a deep breath Philip stared at the box and told him, "This was something I'd made for you for our first anniversary.” He blinked and looked up into Jack’s inquisitive eyes. “I must have misplaced it in all my confusion of the last few months but the other day I was going through one of the boxes I’d packed for you..” He paused a moment.
Before he got too ill he’d started to gather items and put them into boxes with people’s names on them. Upon his death the boxes were to be given to the person they were meant for so that Philip felt like he’d left them something. He briefly met Jack’s dark eyes and diverted his gaze to the box once more. “This was inside one of them. I knew I wanted to give it to you so I don’t know why I packed it, other than the fact that I was slowly going.. you know..” He waved his hand around the side of his head, shrugged then bit his lips together.
Jack gathered the young man into a one-armed hug and pressed his lips to his temple.
With a deep breath Philip pushed back, looked into Jack’s eyes once more and said, with a smile, “But I can’t think of a better time to give it to you now.”
“Thank you, baby.”
Carefully Jack eased the lid off the box then he pushed the tissue paper inside aside. He caught his breath as he lifted the small bust of himself from the box. The bust was bronzed and a little larger than Jack's hand. It was a perfect representation of his face, complete with his elusive smile and slightly tousled hair. Proudly, Philip announced, "I did from memory.."
"It looks just like me!"
The artist's smile broadened as he spoke excitedly now, all previous sadness seemed to vanish as the pride and excitement of discussing his work over took him, like it used to in the olden days.
"I know!” He said breathless with happiness now. “And it was so easy to do! It was like I was guided." He touched his long, thin fingers to the bust, almost lovingly. "I didn't make a mistake the whole time. I just started this one afternoon while I was at work and had it done in a few hours. I took it to that store that bronzes things, you know the one?” Jack nodded. He did. Philip went on, “It was incredible! I think-" He paused and looked at the man that inspired him with a renewed love of art shining in his eyes- "I think it's my finest work, Jack."
"Baby, this is amazing! You didn't use photos?"
Shaking his head, Philip beamed happily. "I don't have a lot of photos of you, hun. No, I just closed my eyes and my hands created this from memory. It was incredible! It was like I was really touching you as I smoothed out your cheeks. I guess it goes to show how well I've come to know your face these past thirteen months."
Jack marveled at the talent of his lover. "You never cease to amaze me."
The younger man cupped Jack's cheek lightly. "I hope I never do."
Jack moved over to the mantel and set aside one of the frames of medals that he had up there to put the bust down. As Philip moved up to his side Jack draped an arm across his shoulders and said, “Thank you! It’s amazing!”
He turned and stared down at the handsome face. Cupping it almost reverently he whispered, “I love you, so much, Philip.”
“I know.” He smiled in return and they kissed once more. “Now we eat.”
*
After a candlelit meal of Jack’s favorite food from Shrivers the two men sat back and Jack finished off his champagne while Philip fondled the long stem of his flute with his fingertips.
“Can I ask you something Jack?”
The older man pushed the purple candle aside so that he could reach across the table and lean towards his lover. “Anything.”
“Why aren’t you nervous?”
“Nervous?” Jack asked with an arched brow.
“Since your call I’ve been so jittery, like a school kid who’s going to be laid for the first time in their life tonight.” He laughed at himself now.
“You’re nervous, too?”
In a flurry of rambled words Philip laughed and said, “I’m petrified, but why is that? It’s not like you and I haven’t…” He stopped, blinked and looked at Jack. “Too? Did you say – too?”
Jack smiled slowly. “Damn but you’re cute when you’re puzzled.” He gave a short laugh then said, “I’m probably as nervous as you are.”
A myriad of emotions flittered across Phil’s face, making his lips move slightly as he tried to work through his thoughts. “Why is that? God, I can’t work that out.”
“It’s been a long time coming, babe, that’s all.”
Philip rolled his eyes at that understatement. “I’ve been wondering how it would begin. Stupid isn’t it?”
“No.”
“I just, first I thought we’d just attack each other like hungry wolves the minute you got here then I realized that that would be wrong. You’ve always been about gentleness..”
“Apart from that one time when you were tied up..” Jack reminded him of a mistake that left the side of Philip’s butt cheek red and raised for half an hour. Philip smiled.
“Yeah, but that was nice too, in a weird sort of way-” He sighed huskily then went back to the original topic. “Every time I thought about us getting it on tonight, it seemed so contrived. I don’t know, so awkward, or something. I just couldn’t come up with the right way to seduce you..”
Jack frowned, reached for the bottle and poured another half glass of champagne. He held the bottle up and Philip nodded, so he filled his flute as well.
“Don’t think about it. It’s gonna happen as it happens,” he said nonchalantly before he sat back in his chair. The young man sighed loudly.
“See that’s what I love about you. You’re so cool under pressure,” he mumbled and sipped his drink.
“There’s no pressure.”
Philip stared over the rim of his glass then put it down before nodding. “I guess you’re right about that.” He gave a sweet, almost shy, smile as he said, “I suck at seduction, I suppose..”
“Remember our first night?” Jack asked after a moment of quiet.
“Of course.”
“It started with a massage, if I recall.”
The young man gave a deep chuckle for a moment as he recollected that night again too. He tilted his head as he recalled, “I told you I wasn’t trying to come onto you..”
“But you were.”
“Majorly!” Philip nodded as he reached for Jack’s hand. “From the moment I saw you in Daniel’s place I was attracted to you. When we went to the coffee shop and you told me you liked Daniel I was both happy and disappointed. Happy because it meant you were gay, or at least bisexual, but disappointed because you were interested in Dan.”
Jack swirled the champagne around in his glass then lifted it to his lips as he met Phil’s eyes across the table. “Then you invited me back to your place…”
“I wanted to help you with your problem,” the dark eyes twinkled in the candlelight.
In a low, deep voice Jack reminded him, “And you offered me your bed..”
The younger man smiled then dipped his face, chuckled and said, “God, how much did I want to join you in there!”
Jack’s smile broadened. “And you offered to massage me...”
“I just had to touch you.”
The smile inched even larger. “And you played my favorite music..”
“I wanted to impress you..”
“And after we’d worked out that it wouldn’t work between us, you asked me for one final kiss..”
Philip inhaled deeply through his nose, squeezed the hand he was holding and said, “I didn’t want to let you go.”
Jack’s thumb brushed the warm palm. “And here we are, a year later..” He smiled and saluted to Philip with his drink. “Believe me, baby, you know a hell of a lot about seducing someone. I might not have been hooked at Daniel’s place or the coffee shop, but you got me while we were in your apartment.”
Philip closed his eyes as he reached down and brushed his lips over Jack’s fingers. Jack cupped the back of the raven head and got to his feet. Philip looked up at the man standing beside him then he too got to his feet. They were still holding hands. As Jack’s palm pressed against Phil’s smooth cheek the older man said, “Don’t be scared. I’m not going to hurt you and if you feel wrong about anything, just tell me, okay? We’ll stop.”
Philip gave a contented sigh as he stretched up and mumbled against Jack’s lips, “Thank you.”
They kissed fervently then Jack pulled back and nibbled down Phil’s throat. “Do I get dessert, by the way?” He murmured.
Philip laughed deeply and it vibrated in his arched throat. “I am dessert,” he said.
“Ooh, a healthy dessert,” Jack licked the slightly salty skin just under Philip’s chin.
“A very healthy dessert,” the young man assured him. As Jack worked his way back of the protruding Adam’s apple Philip tugged his tie loose then unfastened the top button of his shirt.
Jack’s hand slid down over Phil’s shoulder and down the rise of chest muscles. He stopped when he felt an odd-shaped, hard lump under the material and leaned back to look into the darkened eyes. He unfastened the shirt and swept it aside to inspect the left half of Phil’s well-expanded chest. A silver heart-shaped ring, about the size of a quarter, pieced the nipple and lay, brightly shining, against the black hairs. A small section of the tubular metal was flattened and the name ‘Jack’ was engraved into it.
“I had it made yesterday. Janet got it engraved for me today.”
“Janet did?”
Philip nodded. “I could hardly walk in and ask for that, now could I?”
“Today, you say?”
The young man nodded again. “I had a quick appointment with her. Nothing big, just a finalization of a few things. She’s agreed to continue on as my personal doctor. Privately, so she can charge me like a wounded bull, I believe.”
“Does it hurt?”
“Strangely enough, no it doesn’t,” Philip said. “I thought the hole had closed over, but apparently not.”
Jack scraped his fingernail over the fine engraving then he looked up into the dark eyes. He stepped back and took a good look at the body within the opened shirt. The tails of the black shirt were still tucked in at the waist but it ballooned open to reveal a very toned, very tanned physique now.
“Wow!” Jack stammered.
“If you think this looks good,” Philip quipped seductively, “Wait until you see the rest of it.”
Jack’s smile turned hungry as he slipped his fingers inside the waist of the black pants and he gripped up the leather belt. He tugged the beautiful body towards him and hissed, “I’m lousy at waiting. Show me now!”
Philip stared into his dilated eyes, jutted his chin and said, dominantly, “If you want to look, you undress me. I don’t strip without music, Jack.”
Jack gripped the black hair in his available hand and stared deeply into Phil’s dewy eyes. Without a word he claimed the parted lips, forced his tongue into the willing mouth and pushed his hand down inside the pants, turning it to cup the hot, awakening cock inside. Philip latched his hands around the gray head and returned the fury within the passionate onslaught.
Breathlessly they parted and Jack removed his hand from the confines. He bent slightly, pressed his shoulder into Phil’s stomach and hoisted the younger man onto his shoulder as he straightened up.
“You could have asked me to walk to the bedroom,” Philip said as he hung upside down Jack’s back, his hands playing with Jack’s butt as walked them to the bedroom.
“Don’t interrupt me while I’m being a caveman!” Jack grunted and that made Philip laugh.
“Oooh, Mr. Caveman-” He squeaked in a femme-fatale voice as they burst through the bedroom door. Jack tossed him down onto the bed before he knelt over him while the young man squirmed in a fit of laughter. Phil pressed his hands against Jack’s chest and stopped him from reaching down for a kiss. In a pseudo seductive voice, and with wriggling eyebrows he chortled, “Show me your *big* club!”
“If you’re really lucky!” Jack chaffed and then Phil allowed him close enough so that they could kiss.
As they separated Philip cupped Jack’s face and said, in all seriousness again, “I’m the luckiest person alive, Jack. Thanks to you.”
Jack collapsed beside him, leaned up onto an elbow and pressed his hand against the hairs on Phil’s chest.
“Next to me,” the older man said. Philip smiled and lazily brushed at the short, gray hairs that fringed over Jack’s forehead.
“Yes, I am next to you, and I’m going to stay next to you – for the rest of my life!”
Jack smiled at him and then shook his head like he was speechless. Philip’s hand moved to cup around Jack’s head and he pulled him down for another kiss, this time it was slow, languid and deeply tender.
<End of part 94>
Stories on this page are the property of Nessessitee and Slida. Please do not copy these without the written permission of the Author. All Rights are acknowledged for MGM, Gekko and Stargate Productions as to the Copyrights of the characters within this story and no infringement on the copyrights are intended. For the Bombshells Series the character of Philip Simmons is entirely the creation and intellectual property of Nessessitee and Slida.
While the performances given by RDA and MS help to fuel the author's desire to write for their characters in a niche that she feels is present on the actual show, the portrayal of their characters in loving relationships in no way reflects the Author's opinion of the men's private life, nor should it be construed in that manner.