Title: "Afternoon D-Light" (1/1)
Author: FatJoey
Email address: fatjsteel@ureach.com
Rating:   R for some sexual contact
Fandom:   O-Town
Pairings:  Ashley Angel/Jacob Underwood
Date:     August 30, 2001
Archive:  Yes, but let me know. Hosted at http://www.boybandfic.org
Series:   No
Category: Slash, RPS
Disclaimer: Okay, this is just my own little fantasy and not meant to offend; it may not even have happened, but it should have  . . .
Summary:  This story was written in answer to Jack's challenge on the SlashChallenges list about a favorite slash pair going on a picnic and communing with nature -- or just letting nature take its course.
Dedication: To the boys of O-Town, who gave a damn good show last night in Salem, Oregon. Hey, they really can sing (or move their mouths in time to the music, anyway).
Warnings:  Pretty tame for a FatJoey fic. Just a tiny bit of boyband angst.

Jacob tossed a cheeseburger to Ashley before stuffing three french fries in his mouth. "I'm hungry," he said unnecessarily. "Man."

Ashley pulled off the yellow wrapper and tore the small burger in half. "I hear that," he commented. "I thought we'd never stop for food."

"Dan wanted a shower, and I think Trevor needed to take a crap. Everybody wanted off the bus," Jacob said between mouthfuls.

Ashley nodded. "It's such a nice day. I'm glad we got away for a little while." He glanced at his watch. 3:00 p.m. They didn't have to be at the Oregon State

Fairgrounds until close to 7:00, and there were no appearances planned prior to the performance. They had phoned in a radio interview that morning to Portland's Z100 affiliate, and Dan and Erik were planning on talking with a local music critic later. Now the two sat on a wooden bench, enjoying the sunshine of the late August afternoon, while the bus-driver sat reading the newspaper not far away.

Ashley looked around them at the large park. It was located in the central part of Oregon's state capital, Salem, named after someone called "Bush." He wondered vaguely if it was some relative of Anheuser-Busch, the people with the beer and Clydesdales, but he thought it was spelled different. The park was very green and well-kept.

There were no young girls anywhere in sight; their closest recreating neighbors were families with children far too little to recognize two members of O-Town -- and the bus, parked just down the street, gave nothing away. Ashley sighed and reached for his Coke.

"Want some fries?" Jacob asked.

Ashley shook his head. He felt vaguely unfulfilled by the food, but he recognized the empty feeling as loneliness, not hunger.

"You okay, man?"

Ashley glanced over at Jacob and tried to smile. "Sometimes it's harder after having a little time off, you know?"

"You're not trying to hook up with Shelli again, are you?"

Ashley shook his head. "No. But I miss my family, even my dad. And I really miss my grandpa."

The loss of Ashley's grandfather had been difficult, coming at a time when he was far from his California home. The man had been so supportive of him, so much more understanding than his own father. He was only glad it hadn't been a topic of the T.V. cameras that had followed the group around for months of their lives.

"Jeez, man, I know it's tough. But look what losing his grandmother did to A.J. of Backstreet. You don't want to start getting eff-ed up about it."

Ashley blinked, frustrated by how easy it was for him to come close to tears. "I know. He was sick, and we knew he was going to die, Jake. But it's still hard."

"Yeah." Jacob stared at him, the grey-blue eyes very intense. "I don't know what to say."

Ashley nodded, gratefully. "That's cool."

"It's too bad to feel so lousy when things are going so well," Jacob said. "I mean, four weeks at #1! I just couldn't stop thinking about it, and I can't tell you how many people called me when I was home. We held off NSYNC and Jessica Simpson and LifeHouse! It's better than I ever imagined."

Ashley smiled. "Remember the first time we heard ourselves on the radio in Orlando?"

Jacob grinned back. "You kidding? I'll never forget it!"

"Who'da thunk it?"

Jacob downed the last fry. "Not me, man. Not this soon!"

"Next year we won't be playing fairs," Ashley said wistfully.

"Damn straight! This year it's Salem, next year it's Portland! Then on to Madison Square Garden and HBO!"

They both laughed at the absurdity of the thought, but Ashley wondered if Jacob believed it more than a little, as he did. By that time, there would actually be money and decent hotels . . .

Jacob stretched out his arms and reached forward.

"How's your back?" Ashley asked. Jacob's back injury had healed, but it was a chronic problem that would probably always give him some pain. It was amazing how fit Jacob was, considering.

"It's okay. I just have to stretch as much as I can and do my exercises. And no humping the stage, man."

Ashley laughed. "Oh, well. You'll never get to be a big star, but maybe people will forgive your disability."

"Yeah, if only Janie could," Jacob said, nearly under his breath. Ashley heard the comment, but decided not to answer.

"You want to take a little walk?" Ashley asked. The park grounds were vast, and he was tired of sitting.

"Let's take a nap," Jacob suggested instead. "If we run the engine of the bus, the air conditioning will kick in."

"Won't that disturb people?" Ashley asked.

Jacob shrugged. "There's no law against sitting in a bus, is there?"

"You don't want to go to the motel?"

"No," Jacob said quickly. "Let's stay here for a while."

Ashley followed Jacob, who stopped and asked the driver, Sam, for the keys to the bus. "We're going to take a nap," he explained, "if you don't mind hanging around."

The large man indicated his paper and bag of burgers. "I'm happy right here. But we have to be back in an hour or so."

"Okay."

Jacob glanced back over his shoulder to be sure Ashley was following. Ashley nodded at his dreadlocked bandmate, struggling a little to keep up. Jacob's movements were energetic, but compact, like his dancing. He didn't seem like someone who needed or wanted a nap. His muscular shoulders poked out from a white tank top that hugged his tapering torso before tucking into greyish jeans. Ashley was vaguely surprised at himself for noticing all this as he walked behind.

"Let's crank this up," Jacob said, starting the engine. "Then let's crash in back."

"Okay."

Jacob made a point of securing the door to the bus before hopping down the narrow hallway. In the back of the bus a double-sided couch folded out into a bed, which Jacob managed like an expert. He then stretched out on top of the soft-but-firm surface and let out his breath in a rush. There was plenty of room for more than one on the ersatz bed.

Ashley stood uncertainly, looking down at his friend.

"Close the windows," Jacob instructed. "Then lie down, man."

Ashley shut out the refracted light of the summer day, glancing one last time at the nearby park and frolicking patrons before flicking the switch on the blinds. Then he kicked off his shoes and stretched out next to Jacob. He was close enough to smell the warmth of the sun on Jacob's bare arm, a scent that never failed to interest and arouse him -- usually when he was at the beach with a girl, of course.

"You can tell me anything," Jacob said. "After everything we've been through, you can trust me."

Ashley said nothing for a minute. Then he surprised himself by saying, "You're the most talented one in the group, Jake. You're really coming into yourself right now."

Jacob's brows went up; he didn't try to hide his reaction. "You kidding?"

Ashley shook his head and propped his chin on his left arm, staring over at Jacob. "No. I'm not. For a while I thought it was going to be Dan. Then it seemed like Trevor was getting all the attention. Lately I can see that it's you, man. You're the one who really shines on stage."

Jacob looked skeptical. "You're nuts, man. You're the Nick, the Justin -- hell, you're the fucking Ashley of the group! Everybody knows it!"

Ashley lowered his eyes, avoiding Jacob's intense stare for a moment. "I'm the pretty one, sure. But I don't have the voice, that's for sure."

"You don't need it," Jacob said, not immediately aware of the insult.

Ashley smiled again. "No, I guess if you're pretty, you don't need to be all that talented."

Jake sat up with a groan, maybe because of his back, maybe because of his faux pas. "I didn't mean you weren't talented, Ash! You're a great singer and dancer!"

Ashley closed his eyes. "Let's drop it. I didn't mean to start a drama. And you wanted a nap."

Ashley felt the mattress depress next to him as Jacob lay back down. Again, he could smell the young man very close to him, maybe closer than before.

"I didn't really want to sleep," Jacob said in a low voice.

Ashley opened his eyes to find Jacob's face just inches from his.

"Huh?"

"You look like a guy who could use more than a friend right now," Jacob said. "Maybe you'd like a back rub or a hug or something."

Ashley knew a come-on when he heard one. He might be young, but he was used to the entertainment world and the way men with his face and form were often perceived and treated. And, of course, if he hadn't known already, Lou Pearlman certainly would have served as a twisted tutor.

"I don't know, Jake. I don't know if that's a good idea."

"Why not? I wasn't going to kiss you or anything, Ash. Don't get nervous."

Ashley smiled. "Let me tell you a piece of advice my acting teacher gave me once. The world is full of people trying to fuck you over. Try to make sure you always get kissed before you get fucked."

Jacob looked surprised. "I wasn't going to fuck you, man. Really."

"Oh. Sorry. I thought you wanted to fool around."

Jacob cleared his throat and swept an errant dreadlock out of his eyes. "Did you want to?" he asked.

"This wasn't my idea," Ashley reminded him.

Jacob nodded. "But you thought about it?"

"I guess I misunderstood, Jake. I just seem to be a beat off today."

"Beat off?" Jacob repeated. "Now you're talking!" He laughed and Ashley joined in.

Jacob reached out and stroked Ashley's cheek with his fingers. "I just thought you might want to be touched, to be held. Sometimes I think I'd do anything just to feel somebody's arms around me. Does that sound totally fruity?"

Ashley shook his head, enjoying the sensation of Jacob's touch on his face. "It sounds right on to me." He waited a moment, then said, "I'd love to have your arms around me, Jake."

No sooner had he said the words than he felt Jacob's muscular arms surround him. He was pulled forward toward Jacob's chest and his cheek brushed against his friend's soft lips.

Ashley couldn't keep from sighing at the pleasure of the physical contact. Jacob was so right -- he really did want to be held and touched. He didn't care if it had anything at all to do with sex, even though he was aware of an immediate pressure in his pants. He enjoyed being close to his friends, and sometimes he had nearly come closer than that with Erik . . .

Jacob was whispering something against his face; he couldn't quite make it out, and he had to turn his head a little to free his ear from the tangled mass of Jacob's hair. "What?" he asked.

"You're just such a sweet guy, Ashley. You always seem like you're on a guy's side, even when I know you don't necessarily agree. And you're so eff-ing honest."

Ashley felt himself warming -- warming to Jacob's touch and Jacob's words, as well as to Jacob's own body heat. He was starting to get an erection.

"You'll ignore it if I sport a little wood, here?" he said sheepishly. "I'm not used to being held like this." He didn't want to try to hide his condition by pulling away.

"Whatever," Jacob said, seemingly oblivious. "Guys will be guys."

Ashley lifted his right arm and started to reach his hand up to Jacob's hair. He hesitated, thinking better of the idea. Instead he felt for the young man's strong neck. He curled his fingers around and kneaded the muscular flesh.

"Mmmmmm. That's nice," Jacob said into Ashley's ear.

"Yeah," Ashley agreed. "Nice."

Jacob's arms were tight around him, and one hand was rubbing the middle of his back, pressing the individual bumps of his spine. Ashley shivered and allowed his lower body to come into contact with Jacob's leg. He moaned.

"You really need this, man," Jacob said.

"You have no idea," Ashley answered breathlessly.

Jacob pulled him even closer; he couldn't be unaware of the lump between Ashley's legs now lodged firmly against his thigh. It felt suddenly huge to Ashley -- not to mention a slow throbbing sensation. Couldn't Jake feel that?

"Hey, man, do you want to neck?" Jacob asked innocently.

"God, yes!"

And with that the friendly hugging and rubbing turned into a backseat makeout session. Luckily the 'backseat' of the bus was roomy, allowing for a considerable amount of rolling and twisting around while the two healthy young bodies thrashed together. Their hands stroked one another's bodies without reaching below their waists; their crotches served as extra apendages seeking their own contact with legs and thighs. Jacob surprised Ashley by being quite a good kisser, at least of Ashley's sensitive neck. The full soft lips were warm and moist, and he occasionally licked and nipped at the sensitive spot under Ashley's ear.

"Kiss me," Ashley begged, finally. "I'm really close"

Jacob seemed to hesitate, but then complied, giving Ashley a somewhat chaste kiss on the mouth, his lips firm and neatly sealed. Ashley groaned against him, pressing his crotch forward enough to feel a final shudder of release -- and a sensation of great relief.

"Oh," Ashley said.

"Okay?" Jacob asked.

"Mmmmm. Okay."

"Jeez, that was really nice, Ash."

Ashley lay on his back, panting. "Okay," he repeated.

They lay side by side for a few minutes, completely silent. Then Jacob stirred. "Rest for a few minutes, man. I'd better get Sam." He started to get up.

Ashley reached out in protest. "Wait a second, Jake!"

"Huh?"

"Hug me again, will you?"

Jacob smiled and reached down and hugged Ashley tightly. Before he could turn away or protest, Ashley pressed a moist, open-mouthed kiss on his friend's unsuspecting lips. Jacob didn't really return Ashley's passion, but he didn't pull back either. When he finally broke contact to go and find the bus-driver, Ashley sighed and smiled to himself with a sense of satisfaction.

It had been such a nice afternoon.

The End