Jack planted his feet and tried to throw Mark off him with his hips. It didn't work. Mark was nestled perfectly over him. Against his neck, Mark whispered to him with a deep chuckle. "Relax. I'll do all the work." Jack tilted his head back, staring at the way Mark's wrists held his own down above his head. Mark's grip wasn't too tight, but tight enough to keep his slender wrists from slipping out. Mark began to kiss a trail from his neck to his chest. The kisses were so gentle and loving that Jack blushed. He was so torn between enjoying this and resisting it. Listening to the fake fireplace crackle beneath the TV as it warmed the room, Jack reluctantly let himself relax. Looking down at Mark, his breathing hitched. Mark's long dark damp bangs kept his eyes hidden as his warm lips kissed his exposed skin. Mark's lips were so warm and in the dim light, Mark's tan wet skin practically glowed with a golden light. Jack bit his lip watching him. He felt like over the years he had taken Mark's handsome features for granted. He felt like he had become blind to how gorgeous he was. Or had forgotten as the stress and chaos of daily life took his attention away.

Seeing him liked this though, Jack's heart ached. When had he stopped paying attention to the little things Mark did for him? Staring at him now, Jack exhaled lightly with regret. He had been so selfish over the years. Taking Mark for granted because... Mark never complained. Mark always acted like nothing ever bothered him. It had been so long since he had seen Mark breakdown like he had in the tub. He couldn't help feeling responsible for Mark's behavior lately. He'd made Mark out to be a superhuman... Someone that could do it all. Mark lifted his head away from his chest when had he peered through his bangs to see him staring. Tensing a bit, Mark asked him a little worried. "Jack? You ok? Something wrong?" Mark's wrists released his, sliding them down the mattress to either side of Jack's ribs. Jack kept his arms above his head, upon replying softly. "I'm alright. Just thinking..." Mark brushed his bangs away from his eyes, asking in a light curious voice. "Thinking about what? I'm not boring you, am I?" Chuckling softly, Jack moved his hands to rest them on Mark's broad shoulders. Rubbing his shoulders, Jack shook his head and answered honestly. "No. Mark... I'm so sorry."

Mark furrowed his brow, shrugging out. "Why are you sorry?" Jack coaxed Mark to lay over his body more. Once Mark was laying over him better, Jack cupped his face and told him in a pained voice. "I've neglected you so much... I've gotten so used to having you there for me that... I don't know when I stopped looking at you and all the little things you do for me without complaint. I told you that you couldn't fill the shoes of a man you see as a superhuman... and yet... I made you think you had too." Bringing his lips to his, Jack whispered over his lips as he tried to hold back tears. "Mark, I'm so sorry... It's my fault that you take on so much..." Mark pressed his forehead to his, whispering back to him in a deep loving tone. "Maybe a little bit. But most of it I did to myself. I wanted to be someone you could depend on. I wanted you to be happy... Jack?" Jack hummed, brushing his cheek against Mark's as Mark turned his head to bring his lips to his ear. Against his ear, Mark told him in a slightly pained voice. "Jack... I wanted you to stay." Jack closed his eyes, feeling a tear roll down his cheek. Wrapping his arms around Mark's shoulders, he held him close.

He wanted to tell him that he wanted to be with him to too. However, he couldn't bring himself to do it. It always brought up the issue of where they'd live... and both of them were so stubborn on that little detail. He didn't want to fight with him over it. Burying his face against Mark's neck, he told him affectionately. "I know." Jack began to savor the way Mark kissed his neck, while Mark's warm hands slid along his sides. Without thinking, Jack slid his ankles up Mark's legs until his thighs could grip Mark's bare hips better. Mark nibbled on the tip of his ear, growling playfully as he grinded his hips against him. Jack ran his hands down Mark's back, feeling his every muscular curve and dragging his nails lightly across his skin on the way back. Arching his back with a moan, Jack only snapped out of it when his phone started to go off on the dresser. Jerking with sudden surprise, Jack managed to surprise Mark by flipping him over on the bed. Mark chuckled, wrapping his arms around him as he purred out. "If you wanted to top, you could have just said so. Or do you like the idea of knocking me on my ass?"

Jack froze over Mark on all fours, caught off guard by his statement. Jack's cheeks burned a bright pink, before he mumbled out. "I... It's my phone. Just... stay here." Jack tried to climb off Mark, but Mark held his legs in place at his sides. Leaning back as far as he could, he snatched his phone. He was thankful for having long arms at times like this. He never would have reached it otherwise. Sitting up on Mark's hips, he unlocked his phone to check his messages. It was hard to focus when Mark's hands kept stroking his spread thighs and abs. Pulling up the messages, he was reduced to reading it out loud because his mind was too distracted with Mark's hands. Grabbing one of Mark's hands to keep it still against his stomach, he read aloud softly. "Hey boys, just wanted to know if you're still up and wanted to come over? I don't want you to feel like I'm isolating you from your kids." Jack chuckled, trying to bring up the keyboard. He released Mark's hand to type but found it hard to type because Mark sat up and wrapped his arms around his waist. Pulling him closer, Mark grazed his teeth on his shoulder upon replying devilishly. "Don't answer it."

Jack rolled his eyes, trying to lean back away from Mark as he grumbled out defensively. "That's not very nice... She's just worried. Besides, a few minutes ago you were dying to go check on the kids..." Mark kissed his chest, while his hands grabbed Jack's legs to pull them out until Jack was forced to sit completely on his lap. Holding him close, Mark hefted Jack up enough that he could lay him back and adjust overtop of him again. Jack tried to resist being laid back, but Mark manhandled him carefully. Laying back over him, Mark told him coolly as he grabbed Jack's phone. "Weren't you the one who told me that I needed to relax? It's late. She'll understand if we don't answer." Jack tried to wrestle his phone from Mark, but Mark twisted it from his grip and tossed it out of his reach on the bed. Frustrated, Jack grumbled out. "I've been talking to her all day. What will she think if I don't answer?!" Mark brought his lips to Jack's, purring smugly over them. "She'll think you fell asleep... or I woke up."

Jack narrowed his eyes on Mark, his brain running a mile a minute to think of a way to cool Mark down. Which resorted to him blurting out without thinking. "Why would you waking up make her understand? Mark, stop!" Mark's hand slid up between them to cup Jack's cock over his pajama pants, giving it a teasing squeeze. Leaning over him more to pant into his ear, Mark answered with a confident smirk. "Because she's not as innocent as she'd have you believe. She planned this... and she's checking to see if we are getting along. You reply... and she'll demand we come over to see WHY we aren't... having fun." Jack put a hand to his collarbone, nervously rubbing himself as he mumbled out. "No... She wouldn't do that. She's-" Mark lifted his head to lock eyes with him, grinning out as he cut in. "Manipulative. Where do you think I get it from? Trust me. She did this to Jason and I growing up. Every sleepover that went wrong. Every party that we didn't enjoy. She'd do this same thing. Because if you were having fun... you wouldn't answer. You'd be having fun." Jack opened his mouth but didn't know what to say to that. Mark would knew her better than himself.

Mark captured his lips in a tender lusty kiss, before whispering huskily to him. "Are you not having fun being alone with me, Jack?" Jack swallowed, struggling to answer as he scooted back inch by inch. "I am... but Mark. We can't... have fun right now." Jack yelped as his hand slipped off the edge of the bed. Before he hit the floor, Mark snatched ahold of his arm and pulled him up close to him. Staring into his eyes, Mark told him seriously. "Did I do something? Why are you scared of me?" Jack shook his head, holding onto Mark's arm tight to keep himself from falling as he rushed out. "No. I'm not scared of you. I'm scared of the potion that has ahold of you. Mark, if we make love... I'll lose you." For a brief second, Jack saw fear in Mark's eyes, until a glint of pink reflected across his eyes. Whatever fear Mark had was gone. Pulling him closer to him, Mark stated over his lips in a buttery deep voice. "You worry too much. You're not going to lose me. I love you. I want to make you feel good."

Jack felt like his blood had turned to ice. Was this what Mark had to deal with when he was under the potions before? It was frightening to think that the potion was working against what he was telling Mark. Mark adjusted to help pull his ass back onto to the bed beneath him, causing Jack's breath to hitch. This was starting to scare him. Mark's hands went to his waist, pulling at the elastic to pull the hem down. Jack couldn't breathe as Mark pulled the hem down past his ass and was trying to work it down his thighs. Panicking, Jack raised his arm to brace it against the base of Mark's neck to push him back. Mark resisted being pushed back from kissing his cheek, until Jack unintentionally shouted a bit terrified. "Mark, stop!" Instantly, Mark leaned back from him and sat very still with a worried expression. Panting heavily, Jack fell across his side on the bed, his whole body shaking. Taking a few deep breaths to steady himself, Jack told him timidly. "Mark... Please. If you love me... You won't force yourself on me..." Mark sat down, looking a little hurt and confused as he told him. "I wasn't. I thought... Jack... I'm sorry. I thought this is what you wanted...?"

Feeling awful, Jack slowly sat up and huddled up against Mark's chest. Hugging him, Jack told him in a calmer voice. "I did... but... Mark can we take things... slower? I've been thinking... Let's just... start over." Jack buried his face against Mark's chest, hoping that he didn't catch him in his lie. He hadn't thought about any of this until just now. If the potion wanted to make him feel good and Mark was still allowed to be concerned for him, then this was the only excuse he had to stall him. Mark's hands rubbed his back, asking curiously. "What do you mean? We've known each other for years now." Jack slowly lifted his head, the words coming out strangely easy and honest as he answered. "We have... but a lot of that time was spent apart or dealing with... other things. Mark... When's the last time we did something... normal?" Mark blinked with confusion, upon uttering out. "You've lost me. Normal doesn't exist. Everyone does things differently." Jack smirked, cupping Mark's face with his gentle hands.

Staring into his eyes, Jack told him hopefully. "Call me crazy... but I want you to date me properly. No potions. No assuming how the other feels. Start over with me and when the year starts anew... We will be closer than we ever have been." Mark's hands stroked his bare sides lovingly, asking in a beautiful tone of voice. "Will that make you happy?" Jack nodded with a seriousness to his eyes, pleading to him. "We need this, Mark. Because I need you. I love you." Mark wrapped his arms around his waist, telling him in a warm voice. "Alright. If that is what you want... I'll make you mine all over again. No matter what it takes." Jack kissed Mark with as much passion as he could to seal the deal. Mark returned the kiss, matching his passion. Upon breaking their breathless kiss, Mark pulled away from him entirely. Jack's heart ached watching him get off the bed. Had he made a mistake? He didn't want Mark to neglect him again. Sitting by the edge of the bed, Jack hugged himself feeling like an emotional wreck. He felt so fragile. Would the potion just isolate Mark from him like before?

Jack was so lost in his own worried thoughts that he jumped when arms wrapped around his shoulders. Mark shifted back onto the bed behind him, resting his head on his shoulder when he asked curiously. "What's with the injured puppy look?" Jack twisted in his arms to look at him. He was going to ask what he had been doing, when he saw that Mark had gotten dressed in his pajamas. Staring at Mark in disbelief, he chuckled a little before mumbling out. "I do not look like an injured puppy..." Mark pointed to the reflection in the window as he replied coolly. "Sure, looked that way to me. If you didn't want me to get dressed, I can always take it all off again. As long as you watch." Jack blushed, shrugging Mark off from him as he mumbled out embarrassed. "No, thank you. I'm good. Keep your pants on." Kissing his shoulder, Mark chuckled, crawling over the bed to pull the food cart closer to the bedside. Jack shifted to sit better on the bed, watching Mark grab the pizza box before snuggling back across the bed.

Once he was snuggled comfortably under the blanket, Mark lifted his closest arm to him and beckoned Jack to him. Laying down beside him, Jack snuggled in against his side. Taking a piece of his pineapple pizza from the box, he nibbled on it as he watched Mark. Mark's attention was on the Christmas movie that was playing, but his free hand was messaging Jack's back in pleasant circles. It felt good to just sit and relax with Mark... but he wondered how long this would last. The other potions had been so forceful in their demands... At least that was how Mark described them. Yet, this potion had obeyed his desire without a second thought. Or had it? Shaking his head to dislodge his paranoia, he tried to enjoy the movie with him. He'd worry about the potion more in the morning. To Be Continued...