Love is Blind Chapter 31

[happy_never_after]

Ennis had just refilled Jack's coffee when Nina barked. Hearing her happy feet bounce on the tile never failed ta get a smile outta Jack.

"Not again-- just took ya fer a walk," Ennis moaned out as her toenails scratched the door. "Ya could at least wait fer me ta finish my coffee."

"She's not askin' ta go outside," Jack said, warmin' his hands on his mug. "She's tellin' us someone's here."

Jack heard chairs scrape the floor as Linden and Ennis both got up ta join Nina at the back door. 

"I expect it's someone we know," Jack said, leanin' back in his chair, listenin' to Nina's tail bang out her welcome on the kitchen cabinets. 

"Yeah," Linden said, "it's Jorge and a nun."

"Sister Sarita?" Jack put down his coffee and arranged himself for the occasion. Somethin' about the sister always done that to him-- made him sit up straight, plant his feet squarely on the floor, fold his hands neatly in his lap. Felt like a schoolboy all neat and proper waitin' for the schoolmarm. 'Course there was times when Jack weren't too polite ta her, and he was right sorry for his behavior now-- best he made for them times.

"Yep, it's the sister," Ennis said, swingin' the door wide open, "and looks like they got us supplies."

"Nothin' changes," Jack said. "She was always tryin' ta feed me-- now she's got three of us ta fatten up."

Jack stood up, back straight, like one of them guards at Buckingham Palace, exceptin' Jack smiled big with teeth gleamin'. He brushed off his jeans as they came through the door, sacks rustled exchangin' hands. The aroma slammed Jack right in his innards, got rumbles of hunger answerin' the call of them homemade tortillas, limes, chili peppers and chimis. Food was a welcome Jack loved along with Sister Sarita's joyous laughter. Jack had ta admit to himself, he missed her sorely. Was a time when he resented her, but she never gave up on Jack-- not fer one moment. Jack returned her sunny laughter as her small body lit into his and wrapped her arms tight around him. The little nun hugged him good, then kissed both his cheeks. Jack laughed clean down to his toes, and he hugged her back just as tightly, then lifted her off her shoes and swung her 'round and 'round. Nina followed her feet, barkin' happy. 

"Put me down, Señor Twist!" she giggled like a school girl.

"Ya think you could call me Jack?" he said, lettin' her down lightly.

"I think that if you know me well enough to swing me like a rag doll, I may call you Señor Jack."

"How 'bout droppin' the señor, too?" Jack suggested.

"That I cannot do," she laughed.

"What? Do nuns have some written code that they gotta address people all formal?"

"No," Jorge cut in. "That is our parents-- how you say?-- our upbringing?"

"Well, that makes sense," Ennis added, then smacked Jack on the back with the flat of his hand. "Sign of respect, but since when you gotta show respect ta bull ridin' combine salesmen?" 

"Señor Ennis!" she said. "Señor Jack, or Jack-- you both could use a lesson in manners. Introduce me to this nice young man!"

Jack heard Linden shufflin' his feet around. "Oh, sorry, sister," Jack said. "This here is Wesley Linden-- Linden, this here is Sister Sarita, Jorge's sister-- real sister. Um, he's her brother."

"I remember you telling me about Jorge's sister," Linden said as he cleared his throat. "Nice to meet you, sister. I've heard so many stories about you from Jack and Ennis that I feel I know you already."

Jack wondered about Linden sometimes. Fer a man who could handle himself 'round sticky situations, he had a hard time with small pleasantries like right now, way his voice was crackin' like a teenage boy when he addressed Sarita and Jorge. Made Jack consider there might be something else goin' on with him. Knew he had crush on Ennis. Wondered if this Jorge was goodlookin'. 

Jack chuckled to himself recallin' Linden this mornin'-- although at the time Jack felt downright bad for him-- Linden got all tongue-tied when Jack ran into Linden bringin' down the sheets. Jack fergot that Ennis 'n him had mussed the sheets up--  smelled like sex and Jack knew that fer sure because Jack got a good whiff when Linden bumped into him with his arms full of them. Christ. Linden started ta stutter. Mumbled something about horny cowboys and practically ran to the washin' machine. Jack had a feelin' that it wasn't just his and Ennis' spunk on them sheets. Now Linden was actin' all squirrelly around this Jorge.  

Christ. Poor Jorge.

"Nice to meet you, Wesley," Sarita said. 

Jack wondered immediately why the sister called him Wesley, not Señor Linden? Or Señor Wesley? Decided it must be 'cause he looked like a kid.

"Jorge, could you get us some chairs, and we can have some of those fruit chimis I made?"

"I'll help you," Linden offered. 

Help Jorge git chairs? Jack knew he was right. 

Soon they were all huddled around the table, indulgin' in Sister Sarita's fried chimis filled with gooey, sweet bits of apple and cherry. Jack recalled the sister makin' these one other time fer him durin' his first days in that old shack. Jack pretended not ta want em or care at the time but as soon as the sister left, he wolfed em down and licked his fingers when he was done. Didn't have an appetite fer much, but them chimis was like heaven-- almost as good as his mama's apple pie.

They commenced ta fillin' the sister and Jorge in on what happened with the feds the day before, and Jack listened fer the most part while Linden did the talkin' with Ennis addin' some here and there. Jack was surprised to learn that the sister and Jorge knew some revolutionaries-- even had contact with em. Jorge said they was called the ZNLA or the Zapatista National Liberation Army. Said they weren't too widespread here in the north, but in the south they had a strong following. 

"The group formed from two differing factions: one pacifist and the other violent," Sarita explained. "We've had a few seek refuge at Santo Domingo de Guzman in Chiapas. At first they were seeking changes in the Mexican Constitution, not political upheaval. I have heard that the group has become heavily armed. There was some talk of people being killed. I have only heard rumors, no news of this."

Made Jack nervous, talkin' about all this. Knew he needed ta know more ta get prepared. Knowledge is power as his mama used ta say. Well, he needed a hell of a lot more knowledge if he was gonna get out of this in one piece. Still, it scared the shit outta him.

The sister told them that these ZNLA revolutionaries might not be the group the feds was talkin' about, but made Jack surprised nonetheless that there was such goings-on and that the sister knew about em.

Jack was on his fourth chimi when Linden got to the part of the story where Jack had volunteered ta be a guinea pig fer the feds. 

"I don't like the idea," Linden said, "but Jack's mind is made up on this. I'd like some kind of backup plan in case the feds don't come through."

"Don't know. I was thinkin' I'd let the chips fall where they may," Jack said, but from the way Ennis grunted after, Jack knew Ennis didn't like his joke none. 

"I don't think that is wise, Jack. I agree with Wesley," Jorge said. "We need some sort of plan."

"Can't make a plan until we know what their plan is--" Jack said, frownin'. More he thought on this, more he didn't like Ennis gettin' in on a second plan. Not that Jack wasn't gonna have one, but he didn't want Ennis or anyone else riskin' their lives ta save his. 

"Besides," Jack said, "what if they see you nosin' around? That'll put the whole plan at risk. Can't take a chance on that. I think all of you should just stay out it-- best leave it up to the professionals."

"Them professionals, as you call them, are the ones who got ya in this fix ta begin with!" Ennis pointed out. 

"You're right, Ennis," Linden said. "I don't trust them. But Jack does have a point-- if we're anywhere near here, they won't chance taking him. We'll have to stay clear."

Linden delivered that last part so convincin' that Jack almost believed it. Almost. Jack knew better. No way Ennis would have let it drop. Or Linden. Jack played along-- fer now. 

-------------------

Linden winked. Ennis saw it. Jorge did. Knew the sister did too. Ennis reckoned that Jack'd catch on, but he wasn't sure-- way Jack told them after he was glad that they was steppin' back, and it was best that they didn't interfere-- maybe Jack did believe they was gonna stay out of it.

Still, Ennis was gonna watch him close. Scared Ennis that Jack'd get some dumbass idea of his own and try bein' a hero. 

Ennis noticed Nina paw at Jack's leg.

"Think she needs ta go outside," Jack said, gettin' up. 

"Sit right there," Linden said. "I'll take her out. I need a smoke anyway."

"I'll come with you," Jorge said. "Sarita hates my cigars."

"Ennis complains about my cloves."

"Don't complain that much," Ennis said, but thinkin' on it, he had made plenty of cracks about them stinky, sweet things. 

Linden grabbed the leash by the door and snapped it on Nina. He stepped forward, not noticin' that Nina circled around him, windin' the leash around his legs. Before Ennis could spit it out, Linden tripped face first right into Jorge's arms. Linden's cheeks turned bright pink as he tried pushin' himself off Jorge like he'd touched fire, but Nina ran around his legs a second time. He was trapped, legs tied up and arms held tight to his sides by Jorge.

"Oops! Sorry!" was all Linden said, tryin' to avoid eye contact with everyone in the room. Jorge roared with laughter, shakin' Linden. 

Sister Sarita started, too. "I'm sorry," she said. "I have a weakness for slapstick comedy. People falling always makes me laugh."

"Glad I could entertain you," Linden came back.

Ennis joined in laughin', and Jack asked, "What?" and Ennis decided he'd better explain what was so funny. Told Jack the situation, gettin' a chuckle out of him too.

"I got an armful of private detective," Jorge said, makin' Linden more embarrassed-- his blush spread clean down his neck. Jorge had propped Linden's back against the kitchen counter, and Linden braced his arms against it as Nina tugged at his legs. 

"Here, pull your leg up," Jorge said, as he worked to untangle him. Ennis never recalled Nina doin' this ta him or Jack-- was almost like she was doin' it intentional the way she was weavin' around Linden. 

Jorge finally got on his knees and unsnapped her leash. 

Shit, Ennis looked away, pretendin' like he hadn't noticed that Jorge was eye level with Linden's crotch. No missin' what Jorge's close proximity was doin' ta Linden. Jorge had noticed too, and smirked. Ennis looked at Sister Sarita fer her reaction. Ennis reckoned she hadn't noticed since she was lookin' at Jack.

Ennis looked everywhere except at them, at Sister Sarita, at Jack, at the table cloth, his coffee. Jorge musta had him untangled 'cause Ennis heard him say, "There," like he'd accomplished some major task, then heard the leash snap back on Nina's collar. Ennis took a careful look-see over at them. Jorge stood up and asked Linden, "You coming?" 

"Ah, sure," said the PI quietly.

They went out the door with Nina. None too soon fer Ennis.

"I think your friend likes my brother."

Ennis felt himself blushin'. "I reckon yer right."

The rest of the day was lazy. Ennis was happy for that. Sister Sarita and Jorge stayed until after lunch, talkin' and laughin'. Was nice ta get his mind off this mess they was in. Ennis avoided talkin' about Jorge and how long they was gone takin' Nina for a walk. Linden was even more fidgety after comin' back-- but it was a different kind of fidgety. Later after they left, Ennis and Jack sat and talked with Linden-- got him to talk about some of his past cases. Found bein' a PI wasn't like on TV. Stakeouts took days-- sometimes months, and most times Linden was investigatin' such things as husbands cheatin' on wives or wives cheatin' on husbands not bad-ass criminals or murder cases. He did have an interestin' case where helped nail a serial killer. Told them some of  the grisly details of that. Also told them about the man who hired Linden to find his wife's killer. Ended up he'd hired Linden to cover his own tracks. "He was one of those people who think they're smarter than everyone else. All he wanted was the cool million in insurance money. Now he's spending his life in prison."

After Linden's stories, Ennis took Nina out for a walk without none of the antics from earlier that day. Made Ennis think that Nina was playin' games with Linden earlier.

When he come back inside, Linden was camped out on the couch, and Jack was already up in the loft. Nina jumped in beside Linden and huddled in between his legs. Linden giggled and pulled the afghan over them both-- Ennis still couldn't get over the way that man giggled-- had a right girly laugh. Started him wonderin' on him and Jorge. They was both actin' strange when they come back from that walk. Ennis wondered what fool thing Linden did. Wasn't his place ta ask.

Ennis used the bathroom, then went up the ladder. The light was on next ta Jack-- by the way Jack lay on top of the quilt, clothes stripped off and sprawled out Ennis reckoned Jack put the light on fer effect. His eyes closed. Lazy. Amazin' that just one gander at that body could still make Ennis rock hard. 

Felt a rumble deep inside him. "Roll over, Rodeo, I'll give ya a back rub." 

The corners of Jack's mouth turned up and his tongue poked out before he turned over, leavin' that perfect ass stickin' up in the air. Ennis smiled as he stripped, then crawled across the bed, until his butt rested between Jack's legs. He'd straddled Jack, his knees on the outside rubbin' each thigh. Ennis bent over and started at Jack's neck and worked the tips of his fingers, loosenin' them muscles. Man was tense, muscles tight. Ran his thumbs down the middle of his back, movin' down slow and workin' up and out, soothin' that tension outta him. Found one big knot in his lower back, worked it easy with his palms and fingers. 

"Feels good," Jack groaned. "Harder-- yeah, right there." 

Ennis bent down and kissed that spot, then kissed higher. As his body slid up Jack, his dick wedged between them ass cheeks, and Jack pushed up against him and moaned. Was like a matin' call. Next thing Ennis knew he was lookin' down as his own cock slid into the cleft of Jack's ass, and he held his breath as he saw his foreskin pull back, exposin' the red skin of his glans. He commenced ta kissin' Jack's shoulders silently like sprinkles of rain, sneakin' looks down every so often.

"Fuck me." Jack's whisper was harsh, raw. Ennis looked down again, then moved his hand across the bed, sweepin' what he needed to make his entrance easier into his hand. He slathered it on himself, then aligned his heat, shiftin' Jack hips as he did. The lamp on the nightstand illuminated his cock, all furious red, and it exposed Jack's ass, wrigglin' deliberately like some cheap whore. Made Ennis want Jack bad. Pressed his cock against Jack's pucker, teasin' and tauntin'. 

"God, yes," Jack said, throat dry and rough.

Seein' himself slide inside Jack was somethin' deliciously dirty, somethin' wicked, somethin' Ennis gobbled down. A hum started inside his head as he watched, run through his whole body. Somethin' inside him, thick and taut, ached to see them joinin'. Was a time Ennis used ta close his eyes. No more. From now on  he would savor it. Loved watchin'. Took him a long time to admit to himself how much he loved watchin'. Knew Jack couldn't no more. And Jack loved ta watch. Had a fascination for it. Was Ennis who'd admire the sight now. 

With one hard snap of his hips, Jack'd buried Ennis inside. Made his balls tighten ta see it. He pulled his dick out slow and watched Jack's ass pucker holdin' on tight to his cock like it hated givin' it up. Shit.

Fucked him hard after that. Jack bit his pillow, and Ennis bit Jack. Leavin' a mark on Jack, liftin' up with his forearms just enough so's he could watch his cock disappear inside. Felt no shame. Ennis reckoned admittin' to himself that he was queer had done it. Was a freedom. He slammed Jack's ass hard. Loved hearin' his man moan. Jack came on that nice quilt, and Ennis pulled out as he was comin', just so's he could see his come splatter on Jack's ass. 

Damn, he liked bein' dirty. 

They both got under the messy covers and held each other, sayin' I love you's and kissin' deep. Fell asleep tellin' Jack, "Don't go doin' nothin' foolish, darlin'." 

Wasn't until mornin' Ennis realized Jack never answered him back.

TBC