Rescue Me - part 4

Long Days, Hard Nights

Rated M for slash.

Thanks to my beta, mxpi1970.

All characters created and owned by Stephenie Meyer.

~xxXxx~

Emmett’s POV

Jasper had turned in early and I had gone for a walk. The air was electric, the smell of rain heavy around me in the cooling air. I walked long enough to clear my head, no longer; I couldn’t leave him for long. The first clap of thunder came as I made my way back to the motel, closely followed by another, lightning forking the sky. I hurried, eager to be inside before the rain started and I almost made it before a deluge had me soaked in seconds. Sighing, I made my way upstairs to dry off.

In the darkened room, Jas was still sleeping as I had left him, but clearly dreaming. An arm lashed out followed by a cry of pain. It was his tender ribs protesting that woke him at the same time as his panicked dream.

“Emmett! Help me!”

The words left him just before his eye opened, full of fear and pain. I was by his side immediately.

“I’m here, Jas.” I touched his hand, unsure of his reaction. “I’m here.” His gaze locked on to mine in panic.

“Hold me?”

His voice was small and lost. In that instant I forgot about everything that had happened, wanting nothing more than to be close to him again. Shedding my damp outer clothes and rubbing the raindrops from my hair, I gingerly climbed on to the bed. Not sure what to do, I lay on my side and let him shuffle over to press against my chest, his arm resting across me, unable to comfortably lift it any higher. I rubbed light circles on his shoulder as we lay in the darkening room. His head turned to look at me.

“Emmett?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m sorry. You’ve been so amazin’, comin’ here to help me and I’ve been so awful to you. I don’t deserve you - I wouldn’t have blamed you if you’d left me to it.”

I closed my eyes, hearing the sadness in his voice.

“I couldn’t do that, Jas. I stayed because I wanted to, not out of some misplaced sense of duty.”

My hand found his hair, my nails scratching across his scalp, tugging at the strands. His whimpers of pleasure were erotic as hell, so much so that I felt my body respond to that most basic stimulus. Jasper was almost purring at my actions, his head against my chest to place warm kisses wherever he could reach.

I knew I should stop him. He wasn’t in any fit state to continue with this seduction, but a selfish part of me craved it, needing to be with him again after so long. I felt a warm hand deliberately brush my groin through my underwear and inhaled sharply, stunned by the urgency of my response. I covered his hand with mine.

“Jas, don’t. Let me make you feel good.”

When he looked at me I wondered if he would be angry. Instead I saw something else – a plea for understanding.

His voice was husky.

“I need more, Emmett. I need you. It’s been weeks and you’re right here - I can’t just lie here and not touch you, not taste you. Help me? Please?”

I leaned in and brushed his lips with a kiss that betrayed my need for him. His tongue met mine and I allowed the kiss to deepen, emotion and need radiating from us in palpable waves. Dragging my lips from his, I looked at him and nodded, helpless to refuse.

“Stay still and let me do the work. You have to tell me if I hurt you, Jas.”

“I will, I promise.”

I turned around, gingerly lifting my leg over his prone form to position my cock where his lips could reach it without effort or pain. With a contented groan, his lips claimed and caressed the tip whilst I tried not to thrust. The feel of his soft lips made me forget everything else; the world outside went away, only Jas and I existed now. Leaning down his body, I rested on my elbows and took his rosy flesh into my mouth as deeply as I could. All I wanted was to make Jasper happy, and judging by his guttural moans it seemed to be working just fine. Unable to suck me, he made full use of his tongue and lips, trying to draw more of my erection into his mouth. Sensing his frustration, I lowered my hips a fraction and was rewarded with the warmth of his mouth engulfing me. The only sounds in the room were our muffled gasps and moans of pleasure; Jasper’s deep groans vibrated deliciously around my eager, stiff flesh.

I had dreamed of Jasper on many an occasion since Christmas. Waking up in the night in an excited state after dreaming of him touching me, loving me, I had almost believed he was there with me. On more than one night I had reached for him in my sleepy haze to find only an untouched pillow beside me. To be so close to him these last weeks and to have so little contact was every bit as bad as not having him at all, and now my body was aching for him, craving his touch.

It took remarkably little effort to bring Jasper to the pinnacle of pleasure. After weeks denied of any sexual release, his body was wired tighter than his guitar strings. With my tongue, I played a melody on his straining flesh that his body could not resist. Hearing his breathing shorten, I lifted my hips, extricating myself from his mouth, and allowed him to simply feel. Within seconds, he was panting and crying out, splattering my neck and chest in warm streams, his breathing harsh. When I turned to make sure he was okay, I could tell right away that his chest was hurting from the exertion.

“Jas, I’m so sorry - I didn’t think how much strain that would put on your chest.”

I placed a warm hand on his injured ribs, allowing my heat to sink into his skin. Leaning in, I gently kissed him, enabling him to focus and regulate his laboured breathing, easing his discomfort a fraction.

His eye fluttered open, his voice somewhat raspy.

“That was amazing, just what I needed so don’t worry about me.  What about you though?”

To be honest, I was trying to ignore my throbbing erection. I hadn’t expected to get off from this encounter and I had no intention of slipping away to the bathroom to beat off in silence. I couldn’t hurt his feelings like that. No – I was willing to try and sleep and hope that it subsided enough to prevent me dry humping the sheets during my predicable, colourful dreams. When I lay down beside him once again, he turned to me.

“Emm - do one more thing for me?”

Anything at all.

“Sure. What can I do?”

 “Can I watch you? I’d really like to – if you’ll let me.”

I swallowed. I’d never done that before in front of anyone. But then, Jasper wasn’t just anyone. He was...

I cut off that thought.

“I, ah... I guess so. Don’t think it will take long, your tongue felt incredible.”

I looked at him, fighting back my embarrassment, feeling like a schoolboy fearing his momma was going to walk in on him. Jasper’s gaze flicked from my face to my groin and back again, waiting. My hand found my cock and took a firm grip; I didn’t feel the need to tease myself. I needed release from those past weeks of abstinence and so my hand jerked my length forcefully and with purpose. Gasping, I felt warm fingers cup my balls, delivering a gentle squeeze. Jasper’s gaze was fixed on my cock and I could see how badly he wanted to be the one to stroke me. Soon. The heat coiling deep in my groin was undeniable and, with a couple more pulls, I covered my stomach in white splashes, my cock jerking and spilling for far longer than usual.

“Fuck, Emm - that was hot.”

Jasper pressed kisses to my shoulder. Turning my head, I kissed him again, my breathing harsh and noisy. He grinned at me.

“You’re a mess.”

I nodded, feeling sleepy now. Forcing myself to get out of bed, I cleaned myself off in the bathroom, squinting at the brief flash of bright light that hurt my eyes.

“Come back to bed?”

His deep voice floated across the darkened room, and I made my way back to his bed where I belonged.

With his warm breath against my skin as he drifted off to sleep, I slept soundly for the first time since I arrived.

~xxXxx~

After a couple of weeks, the swelling on his eye and cheek began to recede, the laceration healing well.  His poor face was turning all the colours of the rainbow, but when the morning came that he woke and discovered he could see out of both eyes, we both wept tears of joy.

Finally able to have a rational conversation with him, I asked about his family. He told me about them, his love for them so clear. It was only when he mentioned his hometown that I realised how close we were. I knew he wouldn’t agree to fly at the moment, but we could hire a car. All I had to do was persuade him to ring them and let me take him home.

As always with Jas, it wasn’t that straightforward. He was ashamed of the attack, and unwilling to have to explain it to his mother, fearing he looked weak in his family’s eyes. With time I convinced him that a family that loved him so much would never apportion blame where there was none. As an added sweetener, I reminded him that his mom and sister had asked for a picture of me – why not let them meet me? Where was the harm?

His face had blanched at that suggestion. When I calmly asked him why the idea scared him, he finally said that he didn’t want them to become attached. I was stunned. He saw my face and backtracked a little, saying that the chances were that he’d be away a lot with the band which meant we’d only see each other now and then. Clearly whatever we had meant more to me than it did to him.

My feelings for him were growing ever stronger, despite recent events, and I wanted nothing more than to become more than an occasional sex partner. I wanted to be with him as much as possible, even if that meant staying home while he went round the world on tour. During the long nights in that motel, lying awake in my bed next to his, I had reasoned that I could get a webcam and we could Skype whilst we were apart.

I had to try and make him see that I wasn’t going anywhere, that I wanted to be wherever he was, side by side. He had to know that I was his - that I would wait for him.

I needed to be with him, no matter what.

Of course, he needed to want that too.

First up was the phone call. I left him to it and went to make some lunch. When I returned with our plates, he was smiling and talking to his sister, sounding so happy that I had strong hopes that my plan would work. In the end it had to be his idea or else it simply wouldn’t happen. I wondered if he had told them what had happened; showing up without warning, his face a myriad of colours, would freak the hell out of any parent.

When he finally agreed to go home and see his family, I knew it was the right move. We told Paul what was going on and said we’d be in touch with the boys as soon as Jasper was ready to get back on the road. Next up was a trip to the hospital for a check up. He grumbled but I was dead set - no matter what, he was getting checked over before we left.

The hospital checkups confirmed that he had no eye damage and that his cheek was healing well. His ribs were going to take a little longer to fully mend, but he was able to both walk without pain and wash without needing my help, although he still managed to lure me into the shower with hopeful eyes and a dirty grin that I couldn’t refuse.

When we checked out of the motel a couple of days later, I took the time to thank the staff, especially Darla, for their leniency in letting me use their facilities. I had already taken the time to clean the room and bundle up the laundry before we left, and I think this had endeared me to them in a way that other patrons never accomplished.

Jasper wore his Stetson pulled low, dark glasses hiding the worst of his bruising. I carried the cases, not willing to aggravate his healing ribs, and we made our way out to my rental car, a rather small compact that felt claustrophobic compared to my truck. I was relieved that the drive would only take a couple of days.

To pass the time we sang to the radio, we talked, Jasper slept a little, and more than once when we pulled over for gas, we kissed when I got back in the car. It felt right, it felt good; I just prayed I wasn’t building this up to be more than it was. Looking over at him as he slept, I knew that I had more invested in this fledgling relationship than I cared to admit; I could only hope that Jasper would realise it too.

Four hours later, give or take, I pulled over to the side of the empty road to take a leak and took a moment to enjoy the tranquillity of the wide open space. The heat haze shimmered on the asphalt and I was thankful for the functional air con in the rental. Hearing the door open, a sharp intake of breath announced that Jasper was awake. I turned to help, but found him already on his feet, fumbling with his fly with some urgency before hearing his groan of relief as water pattered against the dirt.

“Sorry, I should have woken you, but you looked so peaceful.”

Glancing at me with a wry smile, he tucked himself back in.

“Yeah, you should’ve. My bladder almost ruptured there – all that gas station coffee.”

I grinned. “Yeah; my bad.”

He looked around. “We’re makin’ good time. We’ll be half way there by the time we stop for the night.”

I searched his face for any sign of discomfort, of nerves, but saw none. Now we were actually on the way he seemed excited about seeing his folks, despite the explanations that awaited him on our arrival. I hoped that my presence would distract the attention from him just enough to allow him to settle in before the inquisition began; Jasper had told me how close knit they were and no doubt fiercely protective. It was the best place for him to recuperate.

I didn’t know how I felt about all this. I was doing right by Jasper, but sacrificing the one thing I wanted in return. I guessed I would fly home and carry on with my small little life, living in my empty house and wondering every day how he was and what he was doing.

But, by doing the right thing for him it meant my own pain had to be hidden away; I would not guilt him into being with me. If this was all we were meant to be then I would be grateful for this time together and leave with my head held high.

I could shed my tears when I was back at home, missing him so much it hurt to breathe.

The next few miles were quiet, mostly my fault. Each mile we travelled effectively took me further away from him in my head and I found myself lapsing into thoughts that weren’t helping. Feeling Jasper’s hand warm on mine, I turned over my palm and linked our fingers, loving the rightness of it. A sideways glance told me he was relaxed and comfortable, his eyes drifting closed, soothed by the gentle motion of the car on the unwinding roads. I didn’t want to wake him; his sleep had been sporadic and haunted by nightmares in the motel. Now, free of his self-imposed imprisonment, he was able to sleep soundly. I turned the radio on low, tapping my finger on the wheel as I drove.

This time he slept for two hours. When he woke again, we were travelling through New Mexico and I was starting to feel the tiredness of constant driving. Regular coffee stops were a necessity. It was a 13 hour drive in total, and I had to do it all.  It wouldn’t be too much longer before I needed to stop for a power nap at the very least if we wanted to continue much further – I couldn’t drive tired and my reflexes were starting to slow. Jasper looked over at me and saw I was struggling.

“Emm, let me drive a little. I’m rested and I’ll take it real careful. If I can’t manage very far then I’ll pull over, but one way or another, you need to get some rest.”

I wanted to argue but knew I would lose. Letting him out of his door and into the driver’s seat, I looked over worriedly.

“Take it slow and promise you’ll wake me in half an hour – no longer.”

His slow smile reassured me somewhat, but I still felt guilty allowing him to drive when his ribs hurt like they did. The one good thing was that the road was pretty quiet and he could go slower.

By the time he had eased out of the gas station and back onto the highway, I was out cold.

 ~xxXxx~

I woke to find we had made good progress. Jas looked okay, but I could tell he was starting to flag. Checking my watch, I saw that he had let me sleep for well over an hour; I rubbed my face.

“Oh, man, that’s better. Do you want to pull over at the next gas station? I could use a stop pretty urgently and then I’ll take over driving duty.” I turned to smile at him. “This thing isn’t as much fun to drive as your truck, I bet.”

His lips quirked into a grin.

“Far too reliable!” His lazy wink sent happy shivers running through me.

We pulled in at small motel a few miles down the road and grabbed ourselves a room. 

Managing to do little more than splash water on my face and knock back a cold drink, I collapsed onto the bed. Jas joined me and we fell asleep, our clothes in a muddle on the floor where they fell.

The next day followed the same pattern. We drove, Jas slept, we stopped for gas. What differed was that Jasper told me all about the boys in the Confederates, along with a few stories of his childhood, growing up in Texas.

Many hours later, with the sun low in the sky, we passed the small sign announcing our arrival in Dickinson, Texas. Jas directed me to some homes on the edge of town whilst pointing out the places where he used to hang out. Pulling up outside the last house on the block, I killed the engine and turned to face him.

“Do you want me to wait?”

He reached for my hand before he met my eyes.

“I can’t tell you how glad I am that you’re here. I need you with me. This is goin’ to be tough on momma – she’s goin’ to be mad I haven’t told her about this before now.”

Telling him to stay put, I extricated myself from the front seat and went around to his side, holding the heavy door open. When I extended my hand to help, he gripped my wrist for support, pulling himself up and out of the car. Leaning back against the door frame, he looked at me with a tight expression.

“Perhaps I should have called ahead...”

I looked at him sharply. This was news to me.

“What? Are you telling me you didn’t...?” I shook my head, somehow not entirely surprised at this admission. “Never mind that now – it’s too late to do anything about it. Ready?”

He nodded and walked up to the front porch. I followed and watched him knock. Expecting him to open the door, call out, and go on in, I was surprised that he waited for the knock to be answered. When the door opened, he stepped back a little.

Of course; they’ll rush to hug him, happy to have him home. He can’t risk the pain in his ribs.

From where I stood I saw how his momma’s face lit up when she saw him standing there... and how it fell when he stepped backward out of reach. So slowly, head down, Jasper removed his sunglasses before looking up at her, standing on the steps. I heard her gasp of shock and recalled how he had looked when I first arrived.

Believe me, Mrs Whitlock, this is an improvement.

After what sounded like several ‘oh my Lord’ exclamations and chastisements, he turned and looked back at me, loitering a few steps behind him. I saw her face, kind and warm, the light of realisation washing over her when she realised who I was.

“Emmett? It’s Emmett, isn’t it! Come here, honey – don’t stand on ceremony! I’ve heard all about you from Jasper; come give me a hug, don’t be shy!”

I stepped forward and was immediately engulfed in a tight hug that belied the size and stature of the woman.

“I brought him home, Mrs Whitlock. He needs his momma, whether he’ll admit it or not.”

She kissed my cheek fondly and I smiled, feeling a childish blush threaten to heat my cheeks. 

She smiled.

“You’re a good boy, Emmett. And you call me Lucille, you hear?”

We were ushered inside into a warm and welcoming kitchen. Mrs Whitlock hovered around Jasper, clearly desperate to know what was going on. Jasper sat carefully and nodded to a chair for me. I hesitated.

“Jas, do you and your momma want to talk properly? I can get the bags from the car...” I was half way to the door when I heard him call me back.

“Emm, no - stay, please?”

I sat down without another word and took the hand offered to me across the tabletop. He turned to his momma.

“The reason I didn’t tell you was that I was ashamed. I thought that if I could get better and sign that record deal then you never had to find out. You wouldn’t see the downside of this life. I wanted to make you proud, not disappointed.”

I could feel how hard this was for him. Mrs Whitlock’s face was full of confusion and hurt. He had tried so hard to do the right thing, but it had backfired.

She took a breath.

“How bad, Jasper? How badly are you hurt?”

I saw my beautiful man crumple before my eyes, unable to find the words. I squeezed his hand and spoke up.

“He has broken ribs and a fractured cheekbone, Mrs Whit- Lucille. The swelling over his eye has gone down a lot and the hospital checkups showed how well he’s healing. He has a lot of bruising and pain in his chest area, but he assures me that it’s improving day to day.”

I felt my hand squeezed in return. Checking the clock, I remembered.

“Jas – I’ll go get your meds from the car. You must be feeling it now.”

His face was pale under the bruising, and I knew the pain in his ribs was making itself heard. He nodded and I stepped outside. Barely a couple of steps down the path brought me face to face with a pretty, dark-haired girl. Her eyes widened, checking me over.

“Hi!” Her bright voice matched her smile.

“Hi. Umm, yeah – I’m just getting Jas’ bags from the car.”

She squealed.

“He’s home? I didn’t know he was coming home!”

I smiled at her enthusiasm.

“You have to be Alice.” Lifting the bags from the trunk, I flashed her a grin that made her blush.

“Well, sir, it appears you have the advantage here.”

I held out my hand.

“My name’s Emmett.”

Her eyes grew round. “The Emmett? Jas’s boyfriend?”

Not sure how to answer that, I made non committal noises, but needn’t have worried. A second later, Alice launched herself at me, hugging me every bit as tightly as her momma had.

“Oh my goodness - we’ve heard all about you! Jas is so happy when he talks about you. You have to tell us how you two met – I need details! Oh, this is so wonderful!”

Stunned to the core, I hefted the bags and followed her back inside to where Jas sat talking to his momma. Luckily he heard Alice approaching in time to avert the imminent hug. Just like her mother, she too gasped when she saw his colourful face, her hands flying to her mouth in distress. Her voice wobbled.

“Jas? What happened?”

Her eyes welled with tears, and in that moment I felt like an intruder in their family home. That was until Jasper turned in an awkward fashion and reached for me, needing my strength to keep himself together. I sat down in the empty chair by his side, my fingers meshing with his, offering comfort the best way I could.

He turned to Alice.

“Sit down, sugar; I’ll explain everythin’.”

~xxXxx~