A Frosty Tail

by Dawn Sister

  Jack shrugged, looking a bit defensive as he continued to rub over the spot on the floor with his foot. “Same way I carried you from the track to your den. I’m stronger than I look?”

  “You must be.” Liam gaped, and then was distracted by the movement of Jack’s foot. “What are you doing?” He asked.

  Jack stopped, looking a little startled. Liam hadn’t meant to sound so irritated.

  “Nothing.” Jack swallowed, his eyes wide and innocent.

  He bent down, and retrieved something from the floor, never taking his eyes off Liam as he did so.

  This man had said some unfathomable things the night before. Now he was doing unfathomable things as well. Liam also reminded himself that without Jack’s help, things could have gone a whole lot worse, so he decided he was willing to forgive and forget any amount of oddness. He let the matter go. Whatever Jack had dropped on the floor was no business of Liam’s anyway.

  “Thank you, for everything you did for me last night.” Liam changed the subject, realising he’d sounded just a little bit ungracious at first. “And for staying when you really didn’t have to. Sorry if I seemed a bit grumpy just now. I’m not at my best first thing in the morning.”

  “Och, think nothin’ of it, Big Feller.” Jack’s smile was warm, as he took a few steps towards Liam, pushing his hands into his pockets. “You’re not exactly seeing me at my best either.” He glanced down at his worn clothes and bare feet.

  “Did something happen to you?” Liam asked.

  He felt as if he was waking from daze. How could he have forgotten that Jack had just appeared from nowhere on the track, wearing nothing but jeans and a t shirt on one of the coldest winter nights?

  Jack tipped his head to one side, regarding Liam with one raised eyebrow.

  “What do you mean, Big Feller?” He asked.

  “I mean—” Liam waved his hands up and down to indicate Jack’s clothes and lack of shoes. “Last night, you weren’t exactly dressed for the weather, were you?”

  “No.” Jack frowned. “Although, I did tell you I had to change in rather a hurry when I saw you fall. Did I get something wrong?” He glanced down at his clothes and then his hands went up to his hair with a gasp. “It’s the hair, isn’t it? I knew I hadn’t got it right.”

  “No, not your hair.” Liam wanted to laugh except it was all a bit too weird really. “Your hair’s perfect. It’s just that….” He hesitated. He’d told himself he was willing to forgive any amount of oddness in gratitude for the help Jack had given him, but there was odd and there was really odd.

  “Just what?” Jack asked, his hands now on his hips, his blue eyes narrowed.

  “Well, people don’t usually galivant about outside in the winter in just a t shirt and jeans with no shoes on, do they?”

  “They don’t?” Jack continued to look a little confused. He tipped his head to one side. “I told you last night, I never wear shoes.”

  “Yeah, but don’t you feel the cold?” Liam didn’t want to push the subject, but he couldn’t drop it either. Jack might insist he never wore shoes, but what had happened to the rest of his clothes? For all his sass and confidence there was a vulnerability about the man that Liam couldn’t ignore. Liam wanted to help and not just to repay Jack’s kindness to him. There was something about Jack that made Liam want to protect him.

  “I don’t feel the cold, Liam. Stop worrying about me, when you’re the one that needs the help.” Jack’s smile continued although there was an uncertainty in his eyes now. “Well, you needed the help last night. You seem a lot better this morning. I should be getting away now. I’ve got work tae do, y’know? Some things can only be put off so long.”

  Liam hadn’t wanted to drive Jack away with questions. He felt bad for asking so many.

  “Look,” He rubbed his hand over his hair and gave a frustrated grunt. “I’m sorry if I seem a bit too nosey, I’m just concerned, and you can’t go without some breakfast. You must think I’m an ungrateful sod. I could cook you something. Make you some coffee.”

  “I don’t think you’re an ungrateful sod at all.” Jack reassured him. He bit his lip, looking indecisive as he glanced from Liam, to the door and back again. “Breakfast is tempting, but I really do have tae go, I’m sorry, Liam, and it’s no’ your questions that have driven me off. I do have tae get back tae work.”

  “Forgive me.” Liam nodded, his shoulders drooping in defeat. “I shouldn’t keep you any longer. I’m just thinking of some way to say thank you.”

  “Och, think nothin’ of it, big feller.” Jack waved his hand in dismissal, holding Liam’s gaze. “It was my pleasure, and I’m just glad I was there to help you. There’s nothing to repay, really.” He glanced down at his feet, looking a little awkward. “Well, I suppose I should get a move on. The season turns, and the world won’t wait forever.” He looked up, meeting Liam’s eyes, his crystal-clear gaze doing all sorts of things to Liam’s insides.

  Jack turned towards the front door and Liam wracked his brain for something else to say. He didn’t want things to end like this. If he wasn’t careful this man was going to walk out of his life and Liam would never see him again. He didn’t want that to happen. He had a sudden inspiration. Jack had to leave for work, so he couldn’t stay for breakfast, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t come back.

  “Jack.” Liam called.

  Jack’s hand hesitated as it reached towards the door handle. He turned to face Liam once more.

  “Yes?” He asked, in anticipation perhaps? Did he even look a little hopeful?

  “Y-you could come back, after work?” Liam made it into a question but realised it had sounded more like a demand than a request. “I mean, could you? Come back here? I’ll make you dinner. As a proper thank you for last night.”

  Jack’s expression changed from hopeful to joyful, as if Liam had just suggested the best thing he could ever have wanted.

  “Do you really want to make me dinner?” Jack asked, sounding incredulous.

  “Of course I do.” Liam chuckled, unable to hide his amusement. Jack’s raw, vulnerable, honest reaction had touched Liam to his very core.

  “I’d like that, Liam. Very much.” Jack nodded as he took a few steps closer. “I will come back. That’s an amazing idea. I can do my work today and come back tonight. Thank you.”

  Liam couldn’t recall a time when he’d smiled so much. Jack’s acceptance felt like he’d been given a lifetime of Christmas presents all in one go.

  “Great.” Liam took a step closer to Jack. “What sort of food do you like?”

  “Och, I’ll eat anything.” Jack shrugged, making no move to leave just yet. “I’m sure it’ll be great if you’ve prepared it.”

  Liam snorted, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment. “Reserve your judgement until you’ve actually tasted my cooking.” He said, feeling his cheeks heat up and hoping they hadn’t turned bright pink.

  Jack took two more steps to stand right in front of him, placing a finger beneath Liam’s chin to lift his head a little and meet his gaze.

  “I’m sure whatever you make will be amazing.” He whispered, smiling softly.

  “Th-thank you.” Liam whispered back, his voice gone, along with any ability to breathe, or think straight.

  He swallowed hard, and then looked away when he realised he’d been staring at Jack’s very tempting lips for too long. Jack moved his hand away but did not step back. Liam could still feel the man’s cool presence.

  “Erm, what time, do you think you’ll be able to come over?” Liam asked, trying to get his breathing back under control.

  He chanced a look at Jack’s face and wished he hadn’t, because the man was smirking, the tip of his tongue just visible as it touched the tips of his sharp eye teeth.

  “What time?” Jack repeated the question, his brow furrowed slightly as he pondered the question. “Time, eh? Something else I have tae get used to. Hmm.” He rubbed his chin, supporting his arm at the elbow with his other h
and. “How about full dark?” He said.

  Liam frowned. It wasn’t that he didn’t understand what Jack meant, it was just such an odd way of telling the time. No, it wasn’t odd, it was unusual, like everything else this man did and said. Instead of questioning, he nodded his head.

  “Full dark it is then.” He smiled, hoping it hid any doubt or confusion from his expression.

  Jack smiled back, his hand moving to brush some hair from Liam’s face. Jack’s fingers were cool, and the touch sent a shiver down Liam’s spine that wasn’t unpleasant, just—again; unusual. The way he was looking at Liam right now though, that wasn’t unusual, or odd, it was very intense. Liam had no doubt what Jack’s intention was as he pressed closer.

  “Oh.” Liam’s hesitation halted Jack’s momentum.

  He tipped his head to one side and regarded Liam with a curious expression.

  “What’s up, big feller?” He asked.

  “N-nothing, it’s just….” Liam grimaced. “I’m not very good at…you know…this.” He waved his hand between them, indicating his mouth and Jack’s. “It’s been a while since, y’know.”.

  Jack smiled. “I don’t care.” He whispered, leaning close again. “I just want you to kiss me, Liam.”

  “Right.” Liam breathed, before closing the gap.

  Jack’s lips were as cool as the rest of him, or his fingers at least. Liam would very much have liked to explore the rest of him, but he was painfully aware that the man had to leave for work, and he’d already kept him longer than he should. The kiss didn’t last very long, but it was long enough for Jack’s tongue to push against Liam’s lips, searching his mouth with cool confidence.

  Liam wrapped his arms around Jack and pulled him tight, their bodies fitting together in all the right places. Jack moaned into the kiss, threading his cool fingers through Liam’s hair. Their lips parted slowly, and Liam opened his eyes to see Jack’s were still closed.

  Jack licked his lips, as if savouring the taste.

  “Oh my.” He whispered, opening his eyes and smiling. “I am definitely coming back now.” He added. “Not that I hadn’t intended to come anyway, but food and kisses, that’s an added bonus.”

  Liam chuckled. He hadn’t ever thought of himself as a particularly good kisser, but Jack certainly wasn’t complaining, so it can’t have been that bad.

  Jack leaned in again, stretching up on his tiptoes to plant an almost icy kiss on Liam’s cheek.

  “You should go back to bed, get some more rest. You had a nasty fall last night. You don’t want to over do it today.” He advised, before turning, opening the door and stepping through.

  “Wait.” Liam stretched out a hand to stop him in a sudden panic that he couldn’t let Jack go just yet. He wasn’t dressed for the weather at all. “I know you said you don’t wear shoes, but don’t you at least want to borrow a coat?”

  Jack looked down at himself, with a slightly puzzled expression. “A coat?” He asked. “I already have a—oh!” He rolled his lovely eyes. “I see what you mean, and no, thank you, big feller. I’ll be fine.” He looked back up into Liam’s eyes. “They’re a lovely shade of green, by the way, your eyes.”

  Liam didn’t quite know how to respond, because the compliment, although it had sounded genuine, had obviously been made to distract him.

  Like every other odd thing about this man, Liam dropped the subject. Jack was coming back that evening. There would be plenty of time to ask questions then.

  “Okay, thank you, and I only asked about the coat and shoes out of concern.” Liam couldn’t resist combing his fingers through Jack’s hair, the strange, ever present coolness making his fingers tingle. He met Jack’s gaze and fought hard not to scoop the man into his arms and carry him off to bed right there and then. “Take care today.” He whispered. “Come back safe.”

  “I will, Liam.” Jack leaned in for a last kiss. “I knew I was right about you.” He whispered against Liam’s lips before he turned and walked out of the house. “See you later, big feller.” He waved as he skipped off down the lane.

  For a few moments after Jack had skipped out of sight, Liam leaned against his front door frame, his fingers gently touching his lips. He could still feel the tingle of cold that had accompanied the kiss, or anything that Jack did. Was the man never warm? Although that was hardly surprising if he insisted on walking about with no shoes and no coat. It was a cold morning, but at least it wasn’t as cold as it had been the night before. Liam certainly didn’t feel cold as he stood there in his pyjamas.

  “Pyjamas?” He exclaimed, staring down at himself. “How the hell did I get into my pyjamas?” He gasped as the only explanation came to mind. “Jack carried me to bed and undressed me?” He could feel his cheeks heating up again and this time he knew he was turning bright pink. Jack had to have helped him get changed. He didn’t know whether to feel sorry for the guy, or to feel a bit outraged that he’d done it while Liam was sleeping.

  In the end he decided it didn’t really matter, because the thought of Jack, five foot four, struggling to get him, six foot, to his room, undress him and settle him into bed was really quite funny.

  “Poor bloke.” Liam chuckled, touching his fingers to his lips again. “I’ll have to make him a cake as well as dinner, to make up for him hauling my ugly arse all the way up the track and to bed.”

  As he walked back into his living room something caught Liam’s eye. Down on the carpet beside the sofa, was a patch of white fur.

  “Mrs Appleby’s bloody cat.” Liam hissed as he scraped the fur up with his fingers and remembered Jack’s strange actions that morning. Had he been trying to get rid of the fur as well? “I bet Jack let the damn creature in thinking it lived here.”

  On his way back to bed, he put the fur in the bin, wondering why it felt so cold.

  ****

  Frosty Evenings

  Liam slept most of the rest of the day. When he woke the sun was already low in the sky. With a gasp he jumped out of bed. If Jack was coming at full dark, then Liam would have to start thinking about what he was going to cook for dinner. He checked his bedside clock. He had a couple of hours.

  His sleep had been filled with more dreams of the mysterious Jack, interspersed with the equally mysterious white fox. At one point it had been as if the fox and Jack had shared the same space. Liam shook his head.

  “Weird. Must be the head injury.” He muttered to himself. His head felt surprisingly clear, though.

  He took a quick shower and dressed in something a little less “gardener” and a lot more “casual dinner date”. Not that he thought Jack would mind. In fact, after that goodbye kiss, there was a possibility, or at least Liam hoped there was, that clothes might become surplus to requirements.

  At the thought of Jack and that kiss, Liam’s fingers moved to his lips, where he could still feel a cool tingle. His heartbeat quickened just thinking about it. Remembering just how amazing it had felt to hold Jack in his arms filled his stomach with butterflies that he found difficult to ignore. He hadn’t felt such a sense of anticipation since he’d been a small child.

  He wanted more. He hoped Jack did too. He hoped that was why the dinner invitation had been accepted.

  Liam had little time to think once he was busy in the kitchen, and by the time everything was ready, the sky had grown dark.

  “Full dark.” Jack had said.

  Liam frowned. Was Jack going to show? What was keeping him? Liam walked over to his front door. Would it seem desperate if he waited out on the porch? He pulled the door open only to be confronted with Jack’s fist as he was about to knock.