Where Clover Whitens (Jalex)

Rondeau

"I count no more my wasted tears;

They left no echo of their fall;

I mourn no more my lonesome years;

This blessed hour atones for all."

-Elizabeth Akers Allen, "At Last"

Waking up the next morning was a bit disorienting for Alex. For one, he wasn't in his own bedroom. For two, he wasn't alone. There was a body tangled around his own, spooning him and holding him in strong, hairy arms. He blinked a couple of times and then rubbed his eyes. Where was he? Had he really drunk that much? He'd had several whiskeys, but he didn't remember drinking enough to completely forget where he was. Sleepily, Alex retraced his steps from the night before in his head.

Jack chose Caitlin over me, he remembered with a pant to his chest. I boohooed during the ceremony like a fucking toddler. I took pictures without completely losing it, and then I went to the bar where I met...

Beau.

That's who he was with. He really hadn't been that drunk, after all. Beau had offered to take him home and Alex had nothing to lose, so he left. He'd expected Beau to either be gone or immediately kick him out the next morning; maybe that's why he'd awakened so confusedly. Jack had let him down. Why wouldn't a complete stranger?

And yet, he was still here with him, holding him tightly, like he was afraid Alex might leave him. It was curious. The night before, Alex had let Beau fuck him more than once and it was pretty good. His dick wasn't as long as Jack's, but it was thicker and it was a nice change. Not that Alex was accustomed to Jack's dick or anything, but he was the last dude who had fucked him. Begrudgingly, Alex had enjoyed the night with Jack more than Beau, but that probably had way more to do with his feelings for Jack than anything else.

Still, he'd had a great time with Beau and it felt nice to have someone holding him after he'd been desolate and alone the past week. Beau was strong and muscular and Alex felt weirdly safe. He wasn't completely sure that Beau wouldn't kick him out once he woke up, but for now, Alex was fairly content.

Since Alex couldn't move without waking Beau, he decided to close his eyes and get some more sleep. He didn't see any harm in resting until the other man inevitably threw him out. He was just starting to drift off when he felt the soft breaths from the lips against his ear stutter. But instead of jerking away as Alex expected, Beau simply yawned and rested his chin on Alex's shoulder.

"Morning," Beau whispered in a sleepy voice that made Alex grin.

"Morning," Alex said back, shivering as he felt a soft kiss being pressed against the back of his neck.

"You sleep okay?"

"Yeah," Alex replied, surprised that Beau seemed so calm and lackadaisical. Did he really want Alex to stay? "Did you?"

Beau chuckled softly, kissing Alex's shoulder. His lips sent a pleasant shiver down Alex's spine. "Much better than usual. Not often I get to wake up to someone this gorgeous."

Alex blushed, the redness blossoming from his face to his neck and even down to his chest. He'd been called gorgeous quite a bit in his life, mainly by fans. A few girls, a few guys. But no one had said it with this much conviction. Jack hadn't called him gorgeous. He'd said cute, hot, but not gorgeous. And while it felt awesome to hear it from Beau, the hole in his heart was screaming for Jack.

Beau chuckled, shaking Alex from his reverie. "Wow, that might have been the cheesiest thing I've ever fucking said. Sorry."

"S'fine," Alex replied, shyly. He'd been tipsy the night before when he'd come back here — wherever here was — with Beau, so sex hadn't embarrassed him. Now, it was morning and he was sober. Feelings were hard, especially when Alex had already been caught in a typhoon of them the last week or so. "You're sweet," he said finally, teeth digging into his bottom lip.