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“This isn’t how I thought I’d end up in your bed Roo.” Jake jokes as he stretches out across Bradley’s dark blue sheets. They’re surprisingly good quality (at least, it’s surprising to Jake), soft and cool against Jake’s bare chest and shins.
When Bradley had suggested Jake come over so Bradley could work the almost visible knots out of his back, he had hesitated at first. Though their relationship (such as it is) has improved exponentially, they’re still a little too different in the personality department not to be at least a little antagonistic (but also just enough alike to enjoy it). They haven’t had a proper fight in weeks though, and when Nat can’t shut up about how phenomenal Bradley’s back rubs are (and is backed up by Payback of all people), he figures it can’t do any harm. Bradley is certainly willing enough, even offers to order them pizza when Jake shows up the following afternoon after yet another turbulent night of tossing and turning, trying in vain to find a comfortable position for his knotted-up spine.
Bradley’s place is… cozy. it’s clearly lived in, clearly worn from years of love and use. There’s a wind chime on the tiny front porch that clinks cheerfully in the afternoon breeze. It makes Jake, who has always hopped from one Navy base to the next with little trouble and no regret, feel a little pang of homesickness. Not for his family residence back in the sprawling suburbs of Dallas, but for somewhere he felt he could call a home to be sick for.
“Ha Ha, Hangman.” Bradley replies. Jake can hear rather than see his eye roll, and his mouth curls around a smirk. it’s a testament to their reconciliation that that’s as far as Bradley’s annoyance takes him. Instead he stares at the strong line of Bradley’s back and admires how his tank top flatters the broad stretch of his shoulders.
Jake gets himself situated on the bed as he listens to Bradley move about the room on bare feet. There’s a smell in the air like salt and woodsmoke, and Jake wonders idly if Bradley likes scented candles, or if it’s the leftover traces of his cologne. He hears Bradley set a bottle of something on the bedside table and feels the mattress dip as he kneels and shuffles his way over. The sudden weight of Bradley sitting across his thighs is startling, and he can’t help the sharp inhale.
“Jesus you’re tense.” Bradley remarks, but not unkindly, there’s more sympathy in his tone than anything. Jake grunts in agreement.
“yeah well, that’s why I’m here, so...”
“yeah, I got you. just try to relax alright?”
Jake tries his best to do just that while behind him Bradley slicks his hands up with some kind of massage oil. It smells faintly of almonds, and it makes him think of some other times in his life an attractive man with nice hands has been perched behind him waiting to stretch him out. Jake immediately steers himself away from that trail of thought. handsome as Bradley is (and kind, and intelligent, and insightful) that is not what this is about. And Jake isn’t about to risk whatever tenuous friendship they’ve started to build because of an ill-timed boner in basketball shorts, of all things. Instead, he props his head up on his forearms and takes deep, calming breaths in through his nose and out through his mouth like his meditation app tells him too.
Jake’s good intentions last for the 1.8 seconds it takes for Bradley to get his hands on Jake’s shoulders and press into the tight muscles at the base of his neck.
It’s like he’s a puppet with his strings cut off. The tension floods out of Jake’s body and he fully relaxes into the plush mattress. he very vaguely hears Bradley chuckle quietly behind him but pays very little mind as that same man has just found a knot on the right side of his neck that’s been bothering him for months.
“Jesus fucking Christ.” Jake groans, his mouth muffled by the comforter below him. He hears Bradley properly laugh behind him and can’t even be mad because it feels like his spine is liquifying. The knot Bradley has been working on comes loose under his determined fingers and if Jake could trust himself to stand right now, he would offer to get down on his knees and thank Bradley properly.
Bradley starts to work his way slowly and thoroughly down Jake’s shoulders to the upper part of his back. His capable fingers dig into the knots that have been lingering in Jake’s muscles for longer than he cares to think about, kneading each one into supple submission. Even the weight on the back of Jake’s thighs is oddly reassuring, a solid pressure holding him down so he has no choice but to accept Bradley’s ministrations. It feels like a losing battle to not think about what else he would gladly lay down and accept from Bradley. It’s almost certainly not healthy to let his mind wander in that direction, he knows the friendly banter between them, as much as it may border on flirting at times, is just that, friendly. More than anything, it feels good to have that after the almost decade of emotional (and sometimes physical) antagonism.
A sudden sharp pain from just below his ribs makes Jake hiss in pain and fight his body’s reaction to tense up and undo all of Bradley’s hard work.
“Fuck,” Jake curses under his breath, behind him, Bradley immediately backs off the pressure of his hands.
“Too hard?” he asks, his voice sounding far away and laced with concern, tracing around the offending knot with the tip of his thumb as if trying to find the right position to attack from. It’s soothing, hypnotic almost, and it lulls Jake almost back to that blissful headspace he had been in before. He feels Bradley’s fingers prod at the knot again, cautious not to go too hard too fast and hurt the clearly sensitive spot. The obvious care that Bradley uses to handle him makes something in Jake’s chest feel very warm in a way that’s unfamiliar and addicting.
“I’m gonna try something ok?”
The deep rumble in Bradley’s voice only strengthens the feeling, like taking the first sip of hot coffee in the morning.
Jake doesn’t trust his voice, but he nods, and feels Bradley reposition himself.
“Take a deep breath for me.” He requests, and Jake doesn’t even consider doing anything else. His lungs fill and deflate, and when Bradley makes an approving noise, he can feel the tips of his ears turn a traitorous shade of pink. The press of Bradley’s fingers is there again, but spread out now, coiling in a tight circle around the troublesome area, and increasing in pressure as he reaches the center. The pain starts to sneak up again, but there’s no worry that accompanies it, no tension, its almost startling how safe he feels in Bradley’s hands. The moment draws out, syrupy and slow, so that Bradley’s voice is a surprise when it pops back in to his ear.
“You’re doing great, almost got it.”
In his vulnerable state, the praise curls around the more tender parts of Jake’s psyche and makes a home there. He sighs, comforted despite himself, and again Bradley makes that little sound of satisfaction, like he’s proud of Jake for letting Bradley take care of him. And isn’t that a thought.
Bradley has almost entirely worked out the problem spot when Jake feels it; a tingling, stirring feeling deep in his gut oddly reminiscent of the first few times he took off a runway in a jet. It’s good, really good, and Jake doesn’t want it to end but if Bradley keeps going, he knows it will turn into something he’ll have no chance at hiding.
“Bradshaw- “he mumbles, starting the shift up to his elbows in an attempt to get a little distance between them. Bradley isn’t having it; his grip is like iron around Jake’s waist.
“Shhh, it’s ok, I’ve got you. Just relax, Jake.”
Jake is about two seconds away from just telling Bradley to stop, that he’s had enough and feeling much better now thank you, when Bradley digs his thumbs into the small of his back and arches them up and over, sending a shock of pleasure so sudden and intense that every single one of Jake’s nerve endings sing out with the need for Bradley to do that again. It’s quick enough that Jake can’t stop the choked sound in the back of his throat or the subtle arch of his hips upwards into Bradley’s grip.
Everything goes very still, and very quiet. Jake can hear Bradley breathing behind him, and his own heart pounding so hard he’s sure Bradley can hear that too.
Bradley’s voice breaks through the rush of blood in his ears.
“Jake?”
Jake tries to speak, opens his mouth even to make some sounds, give an explanation, something, but nothing comes out. Before he can try again, Bradley is there, breath hot against the side of his face.
“It’s ok.”
“Wha-? fuck”
Its like electricity, like a shock straight to his spine, his hips twitch into the bed beneath him and that’s how Jake realizes he’s already more than halfway hard and only getting harder. Even with Bradley’s reassurance, it’s mortifying, Bradley has barely touched him at all, and no one has ever, it’s never been like-
Jake moans long and loud, hands clenching in the sheets so hard it feels like he might rip them.
“Jesus- fuck, Bradley- “
It just won’t stop, he can’t catch his breath at all, it’s like Bradley’s fingers are hardwired straight to his cock. The bed shifts as Bradley adjusts himself to bare down without putting stress on Jake’s spine. The sweet-smelling oil he applied keeps his hands from chaffing Jake’s back as he works his knuckles into the muscle, varying the pressure and placement as if he’s trying to see where will get the biggest reaction. Meanwhile Jake feels like his brain is slowly leaking out of his ears. There’s a growing patch on the sheets below him made damp by his sweat and humid breath, a corresponding spot in his shorts where his cock has starting to leak.
Bradley’s lips are loft on the side of his neck, and his voice a pleasant rumble in Jake’s ear.
“Are you going to cum?”
His voice is thick like velvet, soothing to Jake’s fraying nerves. Jake is starting to feel like a bug pinned down to a board for observation, helpless to do anything other than take Bradley’s treatment until the other man is satisfied. It’s only the knowledge that he could stop Bradley at any time, that one word from Jake and all this will stop, that grounds him in the moment and keeps him away from panic.
“I’m- “ it’s hard to think past the muddy fog in his head, but the tight coil of pleasure building in Jake’s gut says yes in fact he is going to cum, in probably the most embarrassing circumstances he could ever think of. That’s certainly not stopping his body from responding to Bradley’s touch however, and he hurdles closer to the finish line, Bradley’s hands guiding the movement of his hips and driving them down into the mattress. The friction isn’t the best thing he’s ever felt, but it’s definitely not the worst either. The head of his cock has gotten trapped in the waistband of his shorts and its rubbing in a frustrating but pleasant way.
“I want to see. Bradley pants in his ear and fuck. Jake can’t help the damning whine that works its way out of his throat. His body is flooded with urgency, a bone deep need to race towards release now that he’s been given a kind of permission. Jake gives in to his own need and grinds his cock so hard it makes his whole-body shudder.
“Fuck, yes.” Bradley gasps out behind him, his hips line up with Jake and suddenly he can feel it; Bradley’s very obviously hard cock lined up with his ass. If there was any doubt left in Jake’s mind that Bradley is enjoying himself, it’s dead and buried now.
“Come on baby, come on.”
It’s those words, and the feeling of Bradley’s teeth scraping the curve of his shoulder that finally sends him over the edge. He cums with a startled, strangled sound and the rush of all the air from his lungs, heart thundering so hard it feels like it might gallop right out of his chest. Everything atom of Jake’s body feels hot and electric in the seconds after, a livewire of sensitivity even as Bradley’s touch retreats.
The world spins, and Jake is on his back, Bradley maneuvering himself between his legs and covering Jake’s mouth with his own. Jake moans around the feeling of Bradley’s tongue against his. In the back of his mind he notes that Bradley tastes like Gatorade (the blue flavor) and something unidentifiable beyond being vaguely citrus. It’s not what he would have expected but it’s also delicious, and he’s still drunk off his orgasm enough that he never wants to taste anything else.
Unthinking, Jake’s legs wrap around the curve of Bradley’s hips and cling there, caging him in just as Jake is weighted down by Bradley’s heavy bulk. The hot line of Bradley’s erection throbs against Jake’s hip, and he grinds up into it. Bradley’s resulting moan spurs him on, thrusting up again and again until Bradley has to pull from his mouth just to pant into the damp side of Jake’s neck. They rock together like that for long, delirious moments, lost in the feel of their bodies pressed together. Even as Jake veers into oversensitivity, he can’t resist mouthing across the taut line of Bradley’s throat and whispering quiet, furtive words of encouragement in Bradley’s ear. He grins, filthy and pleased, when he feels Bradley’s cock twitch in response.
“God, Jake.” Bradley sighs, sounding a little broken, a little overwhelmed, his breath hot and close. He presses their sweaty foreheads together and cradles Jake’s face in one wide palm.
“Yeah,” Jake breaths back, almost a whine. The whole world could be burning down outside the door, and he couldn’t give a fuck as long as Bradley stays right where he is. They kiss again, wet and messy and perfect. Bradley’s movements becominf more erratic as Jake bites into the plushness of his bottom lip, worrying it between his teeth.
“Yes.” Jake practically growls, vicious with the need to see Bradley fall apart for him. He angles his pelvis up to meet Bradley, giving him more pressure to move against.
“Come on, give it to me.” he urges, demands, one hand clutched tight in Bradley’s curls, the other digging blunt nails down his back. He doesn’t let Bradley move an inch as he hurdles over the edge, keeps him locked in where Jake can see every minute expression and feel the shudder race up and down his skin. Bradley’s orgasm meets him with Jake’s name on his lips.
*
It’s minutes, or even hours later before one of them speaks a word.
“So,”
Jake’s voice is one of practiced nonchalance.
“is that one of those ‘happy endings’ I’ve heard so much about.”
Even squished beneath Bradley’s weight as he is, it’s hard for Jake to regret anything about his currant circumstances. He can’t seem to stop touching, carding his nails across Bradley’s scalp and tracing nonsense patterns in the soft skin of his back. From this close up, Bradley smells like almond oil, salt water, and fresh sweat. Under it all there’s the ever-present scent of jet fuel that on most people just smells dirty, but somehow Bradley is pulling it off. Its an oddly familiar and thoroughly comforting feeling.
Bradley groans quietly as he rises up onto his arms, looking down at Jake with an unreadable expression. Jake’s skin tingles with the sudden chill of his sweat after losing Bradley’s warmth and he has to fight not to pull him back down like his own personal heated blanket. The silence feels like a living, writhing thing around them, fills Jake with the need to offer some kind of explanation of himself, his reaction, something.
“That’s, uh, never happened before.” He explains, fighting the urge to wriggle his nerves out.
“I mean I didn’t, um,” god this is mortifying, he’s faced death before and now he can’t even talk to the man who just made him cum his brains out. “come here for that.”
It’s quiet again for a long moment.
“Tell you a secret?”
Bradley’s voice is rough, almost hoarse. Its sexy in the same way it is to hear how someone sounds first thing in the morning when they’re still vulnerable and shaking off the last tendrils of sleep.
“yeah, ok.” Jake replies, hushed. He has a feeling his voice has taken on a similar affect, but its hard to tell over the chorus of noise in his head telling him that he’s fucked up, that he’s done something irreparable to their friendship and disgusted Bradley to the point he won’t even get the chance to start from square one.
“I was already getting hard just from seeing you laying out on my bed.”
Ok, so maybe this hasn’t been a completed disaster.
“Are you serious?” Jake asks, a little choked.
Bradley nods, almost solemn, and sensing Jake’s lack of offense, begins to trace across the details of Jake’s face with his fingertips. He is very carefully not looking Jake in the eye’s as he caresses over Jake’s eyebrows, the bridge of his nose, the edge of his lips. His aura is deceptively calm, eyes already a little sad.
“Been wanting you there for a while.” He says, like its not somehow a revelation that Bradley would look at Jake with anything but a passive desire, anything but a pure acceptance of the fact that yes, Jake is objectively attractive, and no, nothing will be done about it.
“Oh,” says Jake, barely more than a sound. The feeling of Bradley’s attention makes his lashes flutter, warming him through to the core.
“Yeah,” Bradley murmurs. He finally looks Jake in the eye and his face is so open, everything right out there to see and Jake knows he couldn’t doubt Bradley even if he wanted to.
“I want you everywhere else too, Jake.” He says, voice sure and full of hope “here, and in the air, and anywhere else you want. I mean, if you want me- “
Jake lurches up to kiss him before he can finish the sentence. After a moment of surprise Bradley kisses him back with equal force and it makes his damn heart sing. He wants to relearn Bradley’s mouth from scratch, really take his time and spend long hours finding every spot that makes him dizzy with pleasure. When they finally break apart again, its only as far as it takes for Jake to murmur into the inch of space between them.
“Yes, yes.” He can’t help the slightly manic grin that takes over his face.
“I want that, all of it.” all of you goes unspoken, but the truth of it surrounds them both nonetheless. Very soon they’ll have to get up, get themselves a shower, probably order that pizza that Bradley mentioned. But until then, they’ll just enjoy the happy ending.