Operation Fake Relationship

“Fuck!” Jackson groaned, but it sounded like a good groan so Nick carried on.

He rocked into Jackson with a steady rhythm and soon they were both making sounds of pleasure. Luckily there was nobody to overhear them—except maybe the people in the flat below, but only if they really went for it.

Jackson started jerking himself off, and Nick watched as his hand moved faster and faster until it was a blur. “Fuck me harder,” Jackson gasped. “Oh yeah, don’t stop. Gonna come. Fuck, Nick….” He tensed as the first spurt of come splashed over his abs.

Nick had been so focused on making sure Jackson was having a good time that he hadn’t realised how turned on he was, but the sight of Jackson coming all over himself and the sound of his moans pulled Nick over the edge too. He thrust in one last time and his whole body shook as pleasure tore through him, making the room fade out for a moment.

He collapsed into Jackson’s arms and lay there until he’d got his breath back.

“Wow,” he said.

“Yeah. That was pretty awesome.” Jackson’s voice was warm.

“Well yes… that too. But also, I’d forgotten what hard work topping is. I’m knackered.”

Jackson chuckled. “It is pretty good exercise. But like any exercise, the more you do it, the easier it gets.”

“Well I’d better try and get plenty of practice in then, because my topping muscles are clearly a bit feeble.”

“I volunteer to help with that training.”

“I should hope so. Seeing as you’re my boyfriend.” Nick raised his head to look into Jackson’s eyes. “You are my boyfriend now, right? For real?”

“Yeah. No more pretending. This is the real thing.”

They smiled at each other, and warm happiness rose in Nick’s chest, tightening his throat and making his eyes wet. What could be better than falling in love with your best friend and finding out he loved you back?

“I feel so lucky.” His voice came out hoarse around the lump in his throat.

Jackson kissed him softly on the lips and whispered, “Me too.”

Epilogue

Six months later

“Ouch!” Jackson exclaimed as he bashed his elbow. “I swear this tree’s shrunk, or I’ve grown.”

“You okay?”

“Yeah. I just knocked a bit of skin off my elbow. This was safer in the winter with more layers for protection.”

“Yeah. It is a bit rough in places,” Nick agreed.

“I’m nearly there…. Oof!” With a final surge of effort Jackson heaved himself up onto the wooden platform. “Okay,” he called back to Nick. “I’m up.”

“Well done.” Nick scrambled up after Jackson.

“You could at least try and make it look like a challenge,” Jackson said. “My ego is bruised now as well as my elbow.”

“Sorry.” Nick grinned. “But I’ve done this hundreds of times, remember? So I definitely have an advantage. Anyway. You were the one who insisted we climb up!”

“True.” Jackson leant back to admire the view. It was very different from how he remembered it. With the morning sun already high in a cloudless blue sky, he was grateful for the partial shade of the leaves. Through the branches, the trees surrounding them were all decked in varying shades of green, many of them still in blossom. “It’s so beautiful here.”

“Isn’t it?” Nick agreed, moving to sit beside him.

Jackson put his arm around Nick and they sat like that for a little while, soaking up the sounds and scents of the woods around them.

Despite the calm beauty of the setting, Jackson couldn’t relax and enjoy it, because his heart was racing and his muscles were tight with anticipation. There was a reason he’d persuaded Nick they should visit his parents that weekend, and there was a reason he’d made Nick climb the Pirate Tree with him that morning.

It’s going to be okay, he told himself.

But what if it isn’t?

He couldn’t bear to wait any longer, so he took a shaky breath and moved to kneel on the plank by Nick’s feet. It was a little tight, but there was just enough space.

“What are you doing?” Nick asked, and then his face split into a knowing grin. “Oh I get it! That’s why you wanted to come here. Awesome.” He started to undo the button on his shorts. “I’m down for another round of tree blow jobs. Bring it on.”

“No!” Jackson said quickly. “That’s not… Nick. Stop!” He batted Nick’s hand away from his fly.

“What’s going on?” Nick’s expression was a mix of disappointed and bewildered.

Jackson reached into his pocket and drew out a small black box. He opened the lid and held it out on his palm. The silver ring shone against dark green silk.

“Oh, shit!” Nick clapped his hand over his mouth, eyes wide as he stared wildly at the ring, then at Jackson, then back at the ring again.

Jackson had had a whole speech planned but it had flown out of his head at the unexpected turn this had taken. Instead, he simply asked the all-important question, “So…. Will you marry me?”