What's His Passion 2 - Climbing the Savage Mountain (15 page)

It wasn’t long before he caught up with Jigger and Cat, who seemed to have slowed down some. He patted Cat on the back, recognizing her bright blue climbing suit. She stopped and he unclipped his rope to go around her. He did the same thing as he reached Jigger. His friend grinned at him, giving him a thumbs up.

Jensen had been following Rodney, but suddenly the guide stopped. Rodney looked over his shoulder at him then with a smile, he motioned Jensen forward. After taking three of the most exhausting steps of his life, Jensen was there. He stood at the top of the world. At that moment, no one was higher than him, unless they were in an airplane.

The summit was clear and he glanced around at all the other peaks in the Himalayan range. He saw Annapurna I—the one some considered the deadliest of the eight thousand meter mountains. For every two people who summitted it, one died. Jensen had never considered climbing that one. The risk was too high. Makalu was visible as well, while the rest were wreathed with clouds.

He put one of his feet on the Chinese side of Everest, just for a second to be able to say he was there. After tugging out his camera, he snapped a quick picture of the scenery. Rodney tapped him on the shoulder, gesturing toward the camera. Nodding, Jensen pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket while Rodney got it ready. He held it up and Rodney snapped the photo.

Jensen took one of Rodney striking a summit pose then he stuffed it away before he started back down the mountain. It was time to get the hell out of Dodge and down to Base camp. Now that he had reached his goal, Jensen was ready to go home. Plus he was getting low on oxygen. It was time to get down to the South Summit and pick up his third oxygen canister.

He wanted to get to back to Camp Four and crash for a while. Hopefully by the time he’d gotten some rest, the others would be done. As he went past Jigger and Cat, who were still working their way up, he waved then struggled on. He crouched out of the way at the top of the Hillary Step while a line of climbers moved along the ropes. Jensen figured he was running low on oxygen, but he still had enough to get him where he could resupply.

Coleman was the last one up the rope and he stopped to grin at Jensen. “Congratulations, man. The Step is clear, so you can keep going. High’s bringing up the rear with Hubert and the rest.”

They had a definite turnaround time of two o’clock and when Jensen checked his watch, he saw there was still a good hour and half left. He hoped the others were climbing at a fast enough pace to get them up to the top.

“Thanks. Go on up. It was clear and sunny when I left,” Jensen told Coleman before clipping on to the line that would keep him safe—or as safe as he could be this high on Everest.

Working his way down, Jensen wiggled his fingers, not liking how he was losing sensation in them. Yet he still had a long time to get to his tent and some tea from the Sherpas High had ordered to stay behind.

After getting through the Step without incident, Jensen ran into High and the others a few yards away from the base. Hubert and the others seemed to be moving well, if a little slower than the rest. Jensen really hoped that Hubert would be able to realize a far bigger dream than he’d ever planned on.

“How are you doing?” High asked, yelling over the suddenly blowing wind.

“Struggling a little, but I’ll be okay. The rest are still going strong. Left Rodney at the summit. Assume he was waiting for Jigger and Cat, who were right behind us.” Each word was a struggle to get out.

“Good. I’ll see them farther up the mountain then.” High grinned at him. “You did it, Schwartzel. You climbed Everest.”

“Yeah.” Jensen patted Hubert’s arm before going around them.

Elation hit him when he got to the stash of extra oxygen and got a new one hooked up to his regulator before he stumbled away toward the Balcony. Taking his time, Jensen got to Camp Four just fine. He fell into his tent with a deep sigh, accepting the tea one of the Sherpas had boiled for the climbers. They gave him several cups and he slowly began to warm up a little. Hell, he figured he wasn’t going to get back to his normal body temperature for several weeks after he got home.

Snuggling in his sleeping bag, he dug out his notebook and wrote a quick note to Toby before his eyes drifted shut. Maybe he should be worried about the others as the wind began to blow even harder, but Jensen couldn’t bring himself to fret at the moment. All he could think about was closing his eyes and trying to regain some of the energy he’d used up during the push to the top.

* * * *

Jensen staggered off the plane. His head pounded from jet lag, lack of sleep and, of course, oxygen deprivation. He hadn’t given his body enough time to recover before he flew home.

He’d done his part, making sure Cat and Jigger made it back to Wyoming without issue, then caught the first flight he could to La Guardia. All Jensen wanted to do was wrap Toby in his arms for an hour—or until Toby made him let go. Then he wanted to burrow under the blankets of their bed and sleep for a day or two. After that, he might begin to feel human again.

When he got to the right baggage claim carousel, he glanced around to see if he could spot Toby.

“You look like hammered shit, man.”

Jensen jumped when Simpson spoke from right behind him. Whirling, he glared at the man and hated the fact Simpson had to grab his arm to keep him from falling over.

“That’s what happens when you climb Mount fucking Everest, jackass. Where’s Toby?”

He wasn’t in the mood to deal with Simpson, who had never made any bones about how he was pretty sure Jensen would just forget to come home after one of his trips. So far Toby hadn’t believed him and Jensen loved him even more for that. Though he had the feeling that one more time might be the straw that broke the camel’s back.

“He’s been working himself to death since you flew out to Wyoming five months ago. I’m not sure he’s been home for more than a few days at a time.” Simpson frowned at him.

“Well, let’s grab my bag and go get him out of there. Once home, he and I can curl up in bed for a couple of days and just sleep. Simpson, I know you care about Toby and I really appreciate all the shit you do for him when I’m gone, but I can’t deal with you right now. I can’t even think straight.” Jensen closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Simpson encircled his waist, holding him close. “All right, man. You need to get home then I’m sure Toby’s going to take you to a doctor. He’s going to want to make sure you’re okay.”

Jensen didn’t really care what happened later. All he wanted was Toby and his bed. “Whatever.”

He lost track of time as they stood waiting for the bags to come. When his appeared, he pointed at it.

“That’s mine.”

“You only packed one bag? Doesn’t seem like nearly enough shit to be gone for five months.” Simpson frowned as he yanked the duffle off the belt.

“Cat’s shipping the rest back to me sometime next week. I didn’t want to pay for extra luggage plus I didn’t want to take more time getting back here.” Jensen shuffled in the direction of the exit. “How far away is your car?”

Simpson laughed. “We don’t need to discuss that. Just keep close and try not to wander off. I don’t want to tell Toby I lost you in the airport because you were too tired to see straight.”

“You might want to tie me to you. I’m not entirely sure I’ll be able to walk straight for much longer.” He was only half joking.

“I need one of those leashes you see parents put on their kids,” Simpson muttered as he took Jensen’s elbow with his hand to direct him through the crowds out to the parking garages.

At some point, Jensen checked out, trusting Simpson to get him to the car. It wasn’t until he woke up with Simpson shaking his shoulder that he realized they had left the airport and driven through the city to the building where Toby worked.

“While I go get you some coffee and something to eat, you can run up and get Toby from his office. They won’t have a problem with him leaving early. Hell, with as much overtime as he’s worked the last couple of months, he could take a week or two off without any difficulty.”

Rubbing his dry eyes, Jensen grunted his agreement as he climbed out of the car. He strolled into the building and nodded at the security guard sitting at the desk.

“Hey Thomas, how are you doing?”

Thomas grinned. “Jensen. It’s good to see you, dude. Toby said you were going to be home soon.”

“Just got in. Going to remove Toby from his office and take him home.” Jensen managed to wink at Thomas as he walked past to the elevators.

“Great. He’s looking a lot like you are. Definitely get some rest. Both of you.”

Jensen waved as he stepped into the elevator then punched the button for Toby’s floor. He propped himself up against the wall, letting his eyes drift shut for the ride up. When it dinged, he checked to see if it was the right one, but it stopped two floors below Toby’s.

He didn’t pay any attention to who got on with him until he heard a gasp and he shot up.

“You’re here.”

Toby stood staring at him and Jensen didn’t think. After reaching out, he grabbed him then jerked him into his arms. Toby dropped the papers he was carrying before embracing him. Their mouths smashed together and Jensen tasted a hint of blood, but he didn’t care about his cracked lips. All he cared about was relearning everything about the man he loved.

He’d forgotten where they were until the sound of someone clearing their throat caused him to break their kiss. Looking up over Toby’s head, he saw Abramson, Toby’s supervisor, standing there, holding the elevator doors open.

“Toby, I think you should take the rest of the day off,” Abramson said.

Jensen chuckled when Toby hid his face in his shoulder. “He’s going to take you up on that suggestion.”

Abramson smiled. “Glad you made it home, Brockhoff. Congratulations.”

“It’s Schwartzel now. I changed my last name when we got married,” he explained when Abramson frowned.

“Ah. Right. I had forgotten that. Well, pick up those papers and leave them on Benson’s desk. He can take care of them. Why don’t you take the rest of the week off? I’m pretty sure you’ll be worthless for a little while.” Abramson winked before walking away.

Jensen let go of Toby then crouched, moaning at the ache in his knees. “Come on, honey. Get a move on. We don’t want him to change his mind.”

Toby didn’t say anything and Jensen glanced up to see Toby staring down at him with tears in his eyes. He surged up to wrap his arms around him again.

“What’s wrong? Are you okay? I didn’t hurt you, did I?” He leaned back a little to look at Toby.

Shaking his head, Toby inhaled sharply then said, “No. I’m just so happy that you’re home.”

“So am I,” he whispered. “But let’s go to our house so I can hold your naked body to mine and remember what it’s like to be warm.”

Toby nodded. Together, they gathered the papers then dropped them off with Benson. Toby grabbed his jacket and his messenger bag before Jensen took his hand and they rode the elevator down to the ground level. With a wave to Thomas, Jensen dragged Toby to where Simpson was still parked at the curb.

He got the back door open for Toby to slide in. After joining him, he tapped Simpson on the back of the head. “Take us home, James.”

“Shut up, asshole,” Simpson said, but put the car in drive before pulling into traffic.

Jensen pulled Toby into his side, resting his head on top of Toby’s. He breathed in the familiar spicy scent of his lover and sighed. He was home. It didn’t matter that he wasn’t in their house. Toby was his home—the rest was just sticks and nails.

Part Two

K2

“…just the bare bones of a name, all rock and ice and storm and abyss. It makes no attempt to sound human. It is atoms and stars. It has the nakedness of the world before the first man—or of the cindered planet after the last.”

—Fosco Maraini

Chapter Fourteen

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.

—Lao Tzu

Toby leaned on his elbow to stare down at Jensen, who was curled up as though he was still trying to get warm. The first week that Jensen had been home from Everest, he’d clung to Toby during the night, holding on to him as if he thought Toby was going to disappear. He ran his finger along the ridge of Jensen’s nose then rubbed his thumb over Jensen’s bottom lip.

It had taken that entire week for Jensen’s skin to heal from the dehydration and windburn he’d suffered while on the mountain. He was also finally putting back on the thirty-five pounds he’d lost.

Glancing over at the clock, Toby grinned. They still had time before they needed to get up and pack the car to head to his parents. This weekend was their second wedding and reception—both of which would take place in his parents’ backyard. His dad had insisted on it and Toby saw no reason to argue with him.

But that was for later. Right now, he had the perfect way to wake his husband up. Toby nudged Jensen softly to encourage him to lie on his back. When Jensen mumbled but didn’t seem to wake, Toby got him situated with his legs spread wide so Toby could settle between them.

Jensen’s cock slowly hardened as Toby teased and played with it. He licked along the underside before pressing the tip of his tongue to the slit. Pinning Jensen’s hips to the mattress, Toby got started with the blow job.

“Toby,” Jensen murmured, as he reached down to smooth his hand over Toby’s hair.

His mouth full, Toby couldn’t speak but he hummed and Jensen shuddered as the vibration surrounded his flesh. Toby bobbed his head up and down, applying as much suction as he could and drawing a low moan from Jensen.

Pre-cum coated his mouth as Toby swallowed down the thick column. He scrambled for the bottle of lube he’d grabbed from the bathroom when he woke earlier. After getting his fingers slick, Toby slipped them down behind Jensen’s balls to rub over his taint then to the puckered opening. Jensen wiggled and shifted, trying to get Toby to touch him harder.