The Island: Jackson

An Interlude

By Nelson

Jackson opened the overnight bag setting on the bed and did a quick check inside for about the fifth time.  He moved his change of clothes out of the way, double-checked for sleepwear, and saw his toothbrush lying in its case at the bottom of the bag.  Jackson slipped his hand into the zippered pocket and pulled out a fistful of condoms.  Probably more than he needed because they would have them, too, he was certain.  But still…

This was it. Their first full night together as a threesome.  He smiled to himself and shoved the packets back into the pocket and zipped it tight.

“Ah, there you are,” Brad said as he entered Jackson’s bedroom.  Brad’s eyes went to the overnight bag and he asked, “Did you remember everything?”

“Yeah, I got it all.”

“Toothbrush?”

“Yeah.”

“Something to sleep in?”

“Yes.”

“Clean underwear?”

“Yes, Brad,” Jackson said with an irritated scowl. 

Unheeding of the glower Jackson sent his way, Brad asked, “Condoms?”

“Brad!” Jackson said with a roll of his eyes.  “Jeez!”

Brad raised his eyebrows and crossed his arms.  “Condoms?”

“Yes, Dad,” Jackson hissed. 

Brad smiled at him and threw an arm around Jackson’s shoulders to give him an encouraging hug.  “Good.  Then you’re all set.  They should be here in a few minutes.”

“I know.”  Jackson was so anxious for the evening to get underway, the few minutes might have well been hours.

“Grab your bag so you’ll be ready when they get here.”

Jackson closed the bag and carried it with him to the living room to await Jonas and Taggert.  He almost groaned out loud when he saw the all of cottage 8A hanging out in the living room.  Great.  Just what he needed.  Why was everyone so interested in his relationship? 

“Don’t you guys have somewhere to be?  Something to do?” Jackson asked.

“Nope, not a thing,” Ashton said with a sweet smile. 

William said, “Got everything, Jackson?”

“Yes, Brad,” Jackson shot back sarcastically.

“He’s ready to go,” Brad said, ignoring Jackson’s comment.

“I’ll bet he is,” Ashton said, a half-grin pulling at his lips.  “Big night, huh?”

Jackson felt a stir of nervous excitement at the thought but said, “No big deal.”

“One of you?  Two of them?” William asked incredulously, holding one finger up on one hand

and two on the other.  He slid his fingers between each other in a thrusting motion and added,

“No, that’s not a big deal at all.”  William’s eyes rolled in disbelief. 

“Don’t you worry about it,” Jackson said irritably.

“I’m not worried about it.”

Ashton said laughing, “No, he’s not worried.  He’s jealous.”

William fired a pillow from the sofa beside at Ashton playfully.  “Like you’re not.”

“Ok, that’s enough,” Brad said. 

“*Thank* you,” Jackson shot at Brad.  It was about time someone in the room acted like an Alpha and put an end to his torment.  It was bad enough to have to wait but to wait while being teased was torture.

“You’ll have a nice time,” Tom interjected.  “Are you going to the movies tonight?”

“They’re going to bed tonight,” William teased.

“Much more interesting than old movies,” Ashton said.

“God!” Jackson snapped.  “Why can’t you guys grow up?”

“They’re just teasing,” Brad said.

“Whose side are you on, anyway?” Jackson asked.

Brad sat on the loveseat and pulled Jackson down to sit next to him.  “I’m always on your side, babe.  You should know that by now.”

“’Beside me’ and ‘on my side’ are two different things,” Jackson announced as Brad wrapped an arm around him.  Jackson took a deep breath and gazed across the room out the front window.  No sign of them anywhere.  “I wish they’d hurry up.”

“They’ll be here,” Brad said.

William asked, “Anxious for dinner, Jackson?”

“He wants dessert,” Ashton said, causing William to erupt with laughter.  Tom pulled him close and kissed the side of his head trying unsuccessfully to shush him.

“Real mature, William,” Jackson snapped. 

Tom said, “That’s enough sex jokes, you two.  Leave him alone.”

“Yeah, leave him alone,” Jackson parroted.  His heart quickened when he saw two men on the path headed toward the cottage.  It was them!

“They’re coming!” William announced seeing the same thing Jackson did.

“Ok, everyone on your best behavior,” Tom warned.  “No kidding around.”

“We’ll be angels, Tom,” Ashton said innocently.

“Mmmhmm,” Tom muttered, unconvinced.  “See that you are.”

“You’d better not say anything to embarrass me,” Jackson warned.  “Either of you.”

“Quit fussing and go open the door,” Brad said.

Jackson went to the door after giving both William and Ashton a warning glare.  The sight of his two men approaching washed all other thoughts away.  The men caught sight of Jackson at the door and waved to him and he waved back.

They were both wearing shorts, Jonas’ legs showing tailored definition despite Taggert’s accusations that he didn’t exercise enough.  He was the fairer of the two but still tanned to a golden brown.  Jackson remembered having those legs around him, the soft downy covering of blond hair rubbing against him.  Later, Jackson thought with a smile. 

Then there was Taggert.  His build was more bulky in contrast to Jonas’ body; bulky enough to toss Jackson over his shoulder if he wanted to, claiming Jackson as his own.  Jackson thought about spooning against Taggert, how it felt to have his strong arms enveloping him, pulling him against the strong, smooth chest.

“Hi, Jackson,” Jonas said with a smile as they got closer. 

“Hi.  Hi, Tag.”

They stepped onto the porch and Taggert said, “Hi, Jackson.”

He slipped his arms around Jackson and pulled him close for a kiss.  “You look nice,” he said.

“Thanks, so do you.”  Jackson’s eyes roamed over Jonas’ body purposefully and he added, “Both of you do.”

“Thank you,” Jonas said as he stole a kiss of his own.

“Ready for some pizza?” Jonas asked.

“Yeah.  Should I bring my bag now?”

“No, we’ll come back for it,” Taggert said.  “Let’s say bye to Brad and then we can get going.”

Jackson groaned.  “Do we have to go back in there?  William and Ashton are being immature asses.”

“Don’t let them get to you,” Jonas said.  “Laugh at them and it will take their fun away.  Trust me.”

“I’ll try,” Jackson said wearily.  “Let’s get it over with.”

 “That was good,” Jonas said.

 Jackson took a deep breath and sighed when Taggert slipped his hand in Jackson’s.  “It really was,” Taggert said.  “Did you enjoy it, Jackson?”

 “It was ok,” Jackson said noncommittally.  “It gets old though.”

 “I’ve never had pizza with pineapple on it,” Jonas said.

 “It’s a house specialty,” Jackson said, “but I’ve been eating at the same house for two years.  Old.”

 “Just a little while longer,” Taggert said.

 Jonas said, “We’ll take you out for some of the best seafood in the country when we get you home.”

 Jackson felt a familiar flutter in his stomach at the comment.  Home.  He was torn between anxious and nervous.  They were slated to leave The Island right before Christmas, which was a mere three months away. 

 “Do you like seafood?” Taggert asked.

 “Pretty much.  Not all of it, but a lot of it.  I don’t like it if it’s too strong.”

 “Crab?”

 “I love crab,” Jackson said.

 “There are a couple of higher-end restaurants in Annapolis we’ll have to take you to that we enjoy.  We don’t go often because of the price, but they’re worth it,” Jonas said.  “We do go to O’Leary’s pretty often.  They aren’t as high as Lewnes’.”

 “Yeah, Lewnes’ we save for special occasions,” Taggert said.  “Like bringing our partner home.”

 He pulled Jackson to him for a quick kiss to the temple and Jackson felt warm all over.  As they neared the cottage, Jackson saw the porch light burning that someone had left on for them, probably Brad.  He was going to miss Brad when he left The Island, he thought solemnly. 

 Jackson asked, “Will we be coming back for visits?”

 “I’m sure we will,” Taggert said.  “They have so many activities for alumni, there has to be something we’d like to do.”

 “Not to mention classes,” Jonas said.  “Plus we’ll be working closely with Admin and Brad on our transition.”

 Jackson felt a surge of relief and smiled.  “I’m glad.  I’ve been here a long time and I’ve got friends here.  And enemies,” he added.

 “Enemies, huh?” Jonas asked.

 “Just a few.  Do you know Ben?”

 “Ryan’s partner?”

 “Yeah.  We had a kind of rocky start.   We don’t try to kill each other when we’re in the same room anymore, but there was a time...”

 Taggert laughed.  “It’s good to hear you’re not doing that anymore.”

 “Here we are,” Jonas said as he led the way onto the porch of cottage 8A. 

 “I’ll just be a minute,” Jackson said.  He was back in record time, taking just long enough to say goodnight to Brad and grab his bag by the door.

 “Ready,” he said.

 Jackson tried to focus on their general small talk as they walked toward the guest cottage, but his thoughts kept turning to other things.  He wasn’t worried about having sex with the two men; he had had sex with them individually before, and he had had three-way sex in his wilder pre-TI days.  Three-way sex was like sex with two, just adding another body.

But what he hadn’t had was a relationship with three men, much less becoming the third in a well-established twosome.  He tried not to worry about it like Brad told him, but he kept getting hung up on his place in the relationship.  Lucky for him, he knew his role as a Cen, but what about with the two men at his side?  How would he fit in?  Jonas and Taggert had been together for five years, and that was a long time. 

“Is that ok with you?” Jonas asked.

“What?” Jackson answered, blinking his earlier thoughts away.

“You’re a million miles away,” Taggert said.  “Penny for your thoughts.”

“I’m just thinking about us, how happy I am to be with you,” Jackson said, conveniently storing away the uneasy thoughts. 

“We’re happy, too,” Jonas said.  “We had a good thing before, but now it’s better with you.”

“I didn’t think it could get much better, but it’s at a whole new level - far and above what it was before,” Taggert added.

They were quiet the rest of the way, Jackson lost in his thoughts with only the sound of the gravel crunching underfoot. 

They entered the cottage and Jonas said, “Well.”

“Well,” Jackson said.

“What do you guys want to do?” Jonas asked.  “It’s only 8:30.”

Jackson felt a stirring in his groin.  He could think of something to do, no problem.  He opened his mouth to make a suggestive suggestion but Taggert spoke first.

“Why don’t we get showers out of the way and get comfortable?”

Jackson’s mouth continued to gape.  Showers?  Plural.  It didn’t sound like they’d be taking one together, unless he was to shower alone and they were to shower as a couple.

“Sounds good to me,” Jonas said.  “Who wants to go first?”

“Jackson?” Taggert asked.  “Were you going to say something?”

Jackson snapped his mouth closed and shook his head quickly as he rebounded.  “Uh, no, just that I’ll go first if you don’t mind.”

“No problem,” Jonas said.

Jackson could hear the two talking behind him as he traveled down the hall to the bathroom.  A frown creased his brow as he turned the water on to heat up and he sat on the toilet lid and toed his shoes off.  Shower alone?  Not at all what he was expecting.  Sex with Jonas and Taggert individually had been great and Jackson had fantasized about sex with both of them since before he knew it was going to happen.  It didn’t seem like they were as anxious.

Damn.  Maybe they were planning to take it slow.  He shook his head and peeled his polo off.  Perplexed, he stripped off his remaining clothes and stepped under the water, letting it wash over him.  Even though he was much more comfortable with Jonas and Taggert than he had been at the beginning, he still didn’t feel comfortable making the first move or asking about their plans. 

Jackson finished his shower and toweled off, fingering his wet locks into place.  He wondered

again if they would bathe together.  Jackson had just assumed the three of them would shower together, never guessing they might leave him out and take one as a twosome.  He didn’t know why he was surprised. They had been together so long, it was probably habit to do things like that jointly.  Still trying to sort out his place in the relationship, Jackson pulled on his sleep shorts and a t-shirt and headed back to the living room.

“The bathroom’s all yours,” he said as he sat between them on the sofa.  “You guys can go shower, now.”                  

Jackson carefully watched their expressions as the words left his mouth.

“Together?” Taggert asked.  “This shower is a little small or we would have suggested all three of us get in there.”

Oh!  Jackson mentally smacked his forehead.  “It is kind of small, isn’t it?”

“We squeezed in there before, but it was a little tight for two men our size,” Jonas said.  “No way could we fit three in there.”

“But when we get home,” Taggert said, raising his eyebrows seductively, “we’ll have plenty of room.”

There was that word again.  Home. Jackson pictured the three of them in the shower together, petting and exploring each other’s bodies, tasting, savoring...

“Ours is definitely big enough for three,” Jonas agreed.  “But since we aren’t home, I’ll go next.”

He nuzzled Jackson’s ear before he left, sending a wave of tingles through Jackson’s body.  Taggert looped his arm across Jackson’s shoulders and pulled him close.

“You smell good,” he observed.  “Fresh.”

“Thanks.”  Jackson curled up close to Taggert and silently watched TV with him.

The flickering light from the television’s glow was mesmerizing and Jackson felt his eyelids getting heavier the longer he looked at it.  He stirred when Taggert slipped out from under him to take his turn in the shower, and Jackson easily switched partners, cuddling close to Jonas who sat on the other side of him.

“Someone’s sleepy,” Jonas said softly.

“No‘m not,” Jackson protested lazily, struggling to open his heavy lids. “I’m awake.”

His eyes slid closed again as Jonas gently stroked Jackson’s arm, holding him close.  “I see you are,” he said with a smile in his voice.

“I am,” Jackson said.  “I’m just resting my eyes.”

“You do that if you need to.”

Jackson didn’t hear another word until he felt Jonas begin to move beside him.

“Come on, Sleeping Beauty,” Jonas said as he shook Jackson awake.  Jackson opened his eyes to find Taggert showered and sitting next to him where he had been before.

“How long did I sleep?” Jackson asked, rubbing the cobwebs from his eyes.

“About an hour,” Taggert said as the credits rolled on the western they had been watching.  “Let’s get you to bed.”

No! Jackson awoke fully with the realization that sex was off the table and all because of him.

“No, I’m not tired,” he said quickly. 

“We aren’t negotiating this, Jackson.  Time for bed,” Taggert said.

“But what time is it?” Jackson asked.

“Time for bed,” Jonas said, rising from the sofa and tugging Jackson to his feet.

“But what time?” he persisted.

“It’s ten-thirty.  Let’s go,” Taggert said, pushing Jackson toward the bedroom.

“But I’m wide awake!” Jackson argued, turning to his partners in the hallway.  “See? I’m not sleepy at all.”

He held his breath as Jonas and Taggert exchanged a look, and Jackson hoped for an instant that he had won.

“We didn’t say you had to sleep, we said it’s time for bed,” Jonas said firmly and he turned Jackson back toward the bedroom. 

It was going to be hell to get his own way, Jackson realized as the two Alphas pushed him toward bed.  Not that he ever got his way with Brad, but he sensed right away with two, he’d never get a free pass.

“Is it always going to be two against one?” Jackson asked dejectedly.  “Because if it is, I want to go on record right now that it isn’t fair.”

“Noted,” Taggert said without changing his mind.

Jonas said, “Have you brushed your teeth?”

“Yeah,” he responded dully. 

Jackson stopped in front of the king-sized bed and realized with dismay that he had no idea where he should sleep.  Was he supposed to be in the middle?  On the outside?  If on the outside, who was going to sleep next to him?  Which side should he sleep on?  When he slept with Jonas, he was on the right, and when he slept with Taggert, he was on the left. 

“We thought you might be more comfortable in the middle,” Taggert said.

Jonas said, “That way, neither one of us can hog you.”

“And he’ll be less likely to steal the covers if you’re in the middle helping me hold onto them,” Taggert joked.

“I do not steal the covers.”

“Oh, you do so,” Taggert laughed.

“I do not.”

Jackson said, “Yeah, you do.”

“Now who’s got two against one?” Jonas said with a smile.  “At least I don’t snore.”

“I don’t snore,” Taggert contradicted.

“I’m recording it one day, I swear,” Jonas said as he pulled the covers back.

“Jackson, do I snore?”  Taggert demanded with his hands resting on his hips.

“I don’t know,” Jackson said.  “I sleep pretty soundly.”

“Consider yourself lucky,” Jonas said with a wink as he got under the covers.

“I’m really not sleepy,” Jackson tried once again rather than climbing into bed.

“Get in the bed,” Taggert urged with a pat to Jackson’s pajama bottoms. 

Jackson huffed a disgruntled sigh that went over the heads of the Alphas, neither of the two changing their positions.  Jackson relented and slipped in next to Jonas, leaving plenty of room for Taggert on the other side of him.

Taggert turned off the lamp beside the bed and leaned over to kiss Jackson goodnight.  “Love you,” he said.

“Love you, too,” Jackson said.

Jonas kissed Jackson and said the same thing before leaning across him to kiss Taggert goodnight.  “Love you.”

“Love you,” Taggert echoed then settled down beside Jackson.

“We sound like the Waltons,” Jonas joked.

“Goodnight, John Boy,” Taggert said with a chuckle.

“Goodnight, Jim Bob,” Jonas said.

“You guys are weird,” Jackson said. 

“Good weird?” Jonas asked.

“Yeah, good weird.  I love you.”

“We love you, too,” Taggert said.  “Goodnight.”

With the multiple “goodnights” and “love yous” out of the way, the room grew silent.  Jackson stared at the ceiling, angry with himself for falling asleep earlier.  He hadn’t slept well the night before, knowing Jonas and Taggert were coming.  He had tossed and turned for the better part of the night.  He never slept well before their visits, always having a mixture of anxiety and excitement fueled by musings of what they would do together.  Funny, falling asleep on the sofa then being sent to bed without sex never entered into the picture. 

He sighed dramatically but both Alphas ignored him. 

“I can’t sleep,” he announced.  “I told you I’m not tired.”

“Shhhh,” Jonas said next to him.

Damn it!  Jackson crossed his arms under the covers and tried to think of a way to convince the two men that he was raring to go.  How could they just sleep?  They might have had sex with each other since their last visit, but Jackson hadn’t!  He had been flying solo for too long.  Way too long.  If they couldn’t understand that then...

His thoughts came to an abrupt halt when he felt a hand slipping under his t-shirt.  Gentle fingers traced the middle of his belly, his stomach flinching with the tickle.  Taggert’s fingers stopped when they found his nipples, teasing them and fondling them to attention. 

“Thank God,” Jackson said breathlessly at Taggert’s touch.  “I thought we weren’t doing anything tonight.”

Before the words left his mouth, Jonas’ hand cupped the front of Jackson’s shorts while Taggert continued to pay attention to his nipples hidden under his shirt.

“Think again,” Jonas said, sliding his fingers under Jackson’s waistband.  Jackson felt the warmth in Jonas’ touch as he tenderly stroked between his legs.

“Oh,” Jackson said, his hands reaching for his waistband in a hurry to remove the cloth obstacle.

“No rush,” Jonas said, stilling Jackson’s hands.  “We have time.”

Jackson’s mind whirled as Taggert’s mouth covered his, kissing him deeply, tongue probing while Jackson’s tongue met his, encircling it.  Jackson cupped Taggert’s face in his hands, momentarily tracing his strong jawline with the tips of his thumbs while he concentrated on Jonas’ touch beneath the cover of his shorts.  

“God,” Jackson uttered, then he passionately returned the kiss Taggert had given him earlier. 

Taggert slid Jackson’s t-shirt up slowly then put his mouth to a nipple, suckling it with his lips and pinching the other between the tips of his fingers. Fiery energy coursed through Jackson with the twin sensations at his chest and in his groin, his erection growing as Jonas stroked between his legs.

His hands groped for the hem of Taggert’s t-shirt and Taggert pulled it over his head, taking the hint.  Jackson felt the covers yanked off just before Jonas’ fingers gently tugged Jackson’s shorts down, finally releasing his enlarged penis from the confines of his sleepwear.  Taggert was completely naked by the time Jackson got his own t-shirt off and he saw Jonas was as well.

“I want you, Jackson,” Jonas said, his voice thick with desire.  “Roll over.”

Jackson grinned seductively and immediately complied, offering his backside to Jonas, jutting his butt high in the air in invitation.  

He turned his head and looked at Taggert.  “Come here,” he demanded eagerly.

Taggert moved directly in front of Jackson, knees bent as he leaned back against the pillows, his groin an open offering.  Jackson immediately took advantage of his position, sliding his arms under Taggert’s legs to reach his engorged cock.  Curling his lips over his teeth, Jackson slid his mouth down the length of Taggert’s erect penis slowly, his tongue feathering over the vein running along the underside.  Taggert moaned with delight and Jackson enjoyed a moment of victory at meeting his soon-to-be-partner’s needs. 

Just as he was pleasuring Taggert, Jackson breathed in sharply as a finger, slick with lube, entered and probed him.  He leaned into the intrusion, lusting for more, while he flicked his tongue over the tip of Taggert’s penis.  He felt Taggert’s fingers gently slide through his hair as Jackson dove forward, letting Taggert fill his mouth.

Jackson was vaguely aware of the tearing sound of a condom wrapper, and knew that Jonas was close to entering him.  Jonas’ hands caressed and squeezed Jackson’s hips then Jackson felt his cheeks being spread just before the head of Jonas’ cock pressed against him.  He willed himself to relax fully, preparing to be filled by his lover, impatient to be taken by him.  He wriggled his hips, pushing against Jonas, unwilling to ignore the desire raging through him.

When he was full-hilt inside, Jonas asked, “You ok?”

Jackson took a second to let his body adjust then he squeezed the muscles he had moments ago told to relax.  Jonas began moving in a steady rhythm, quickly sending Jackson perilously close to the edge after just a few strokes.  Jackson engaged every ounce of control he had to prolong the moment, not wanting the experience to end. 

“You feel so good,” Jonas said as he pushed back into Jackson.

Jonas leaned over Jackson and grasped his penis, working in time with the thrusting motion from behind.  Jackson fell into Jonas’ rhythm, concentrating his efforts on Taggert, moving his lips up and down the shaft in his mouth, devouring it.  Jackson’s body began to tense as the moment of climax neared, and he stroked Taggert faster.  Taggert’s fingers, formerly gentle and caressing, grasped Jackson’s shoulders tightly.

“God, Jackson,” Taggert moaned, and Jackson heard his lover’s breath coming in short, sharp gasps.

Jackson savored every drop of him, suckling at the salty-sweet fluid as it pulsed into his mouth. Jackson’s balls tightened, one more thrust sending him into ecstasy as shudders rippled through his body.  Jonas was moments behind him, gripping Jackson’s waist as he came inside him.

Jackson’s body relaxed and he fell against Taggert’s chest as Jonas pulled out, leaving a familiar empty feeling.  Yet Jackson felt full to overflowing on the inside, caught in the grip of his lovers with his head tucked under Taggert’s chin and Jonas’ arm around him.

“I love you guys,” Taggert said.

“Me, too,” Jackson managed, sated and secure.  The heat coming off the men under and beside him gave him a comfort and sense of surety he wasn’t used to. 

He suddenly rose up to kiss Taggert, then turned toward Jonas and did the same.  The rush of emotion following the physical was almost too much.  Jackson couldn’t believe his good fortune after feeling rejected so many times in his life.

“I love you both, too,” Jonas added.

Jackson said sleepily, “I can’t wait another three months.”

“We’ll get there,” Jonas said. 

He grabbed one of Jackson’s arms and pulled it with him as he rolled over, draping Jackson’s arm snugly around him.  Jackson slid a leg between Jonas’, and Taggert spooned tightly behind him.

This was good, he thought, wedged between his lovers.  This was right. He still wasn’t sure how it would all work out, but his Alphas were certain they could figure it out, and if they couldn’t, they knew where to go for advice and answers.  That was good enough for Jackson.

Jackson sighed contentedly and closed his eyes, lost in sated exhaustion.  He mumbled drowsily,

“Now, I’m sleepy.”

“Sleep well,” Jonas added.

“Goodnight, Jackson,” Taggert said.

And it was a good night. Jackson’s mind acknowledged the thought as he slipped into oblivion.

The End