Title: Eyes To See
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: John Reese/Jordan Hester
Fandom: Person of Interest
Rating: PG-13
Table: 1, stories_a_z
Prompt: E
Disclaimer: This is entirely a product of my own imagination, and I make no profit from it. I do not own the lovely John Reese or Jordan Hester, just borrowing them for a while. Please do not sue.

***

John lay back against the pillows, his hands behind his head, his gaze sweeping over Jordan's body as his lover pushed back the covers and got out of bed. He never tired of looking at the man he loved; seeing Jordan naked was the most beautiful sight he'd ever beheld.

All he wanted to do was lie here and stare at Jordan -- until his boyfriend got back into their bed, of course. Then he intended to take Jordan into his arms, lie him down on the cool sheets, and make love to him for the rest of the night, until the sun came up in the morning.

These nights that he was able to spend with Jordan were too few lately, he told himself with a soft sigh. The last two people who he and Harold had helped had led their lives primarily at night, and following them had taken away from much of his time with Jordan.

His boyfriend hadn't complained about that at all, but John knew that Jordan worried about him. He had made sure to call his lover, to let Jordan know that he was all right; it was the least he could do to alleviate the stress that he knew his boyfriend must be dealing with.

Jordan turned around to face him, tilting his head to the side and resting one hand on his hip. "Like what you see?" he asked, a teasing note in his voice. "I"m surprised you're not tired of looking at me. You seem to do that a lot. You'll get bored with the view sooner or later."

John shook his head, propping himself up on one elbow as he met Jordan's direct gaze. "No, I won't," he said softly, his gaze not wavering from the other man's. "I could never get tired of looking at you, Jordan. You're the most magnificent sight I've ever laid eyes on."

Was it his imagination, or was Jordan actually blushing? He could swear that his boyfriend's cheeks were pinkening; Jordan dropped his gaze, looking down at the floor, unable to meet John's eyes any longer. The idea of him being so embarrassed by a compliment made John smile.

"It's true, you know," he said, his tone soft and loving. "You're an extraordinarily beautiful man, Jordan. If nobody's ever told you that before, then you were seeing the wrong kind of people before you met me. You should be told that every day of your life."

Jordan laughed softly, sounding a little nervous. "I've been told that I look good, but that's not something I want to rely on," he said, finally raising his gaze to John's again. "I don't want to be appreciated just for how I look, John. I want you to care about me for .... who I am."

"I do," John told him, a little surprised that Jordan would think otherwise. "Do you think I'd be with somebody just because of how they look? Give me a little more credit, Jordan. I'm not that shallow. Yes, I love how you look -- but I love you, not just your face or your body."

Jordan blinked, looking dazed for a moment. "I think that's the first time you've told me that you loved me without being all hesitant abuot it," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's always so hard for you to say those words. I understand why, but --"

"I do love you," John interrupted him, holding out his arms to Jordan. Why was it that saying those words made him want to have Jordan in his arms, to be holding him and kissing him and touching him even as he said the words over and over again?

"Come here," he whispered, his gaze never wavering from Jordan's as his lips curved into a smile. "I want to hold you, Jordan. I want you in my arms. I don't want to just look at you. I want to touch you and kiss you and love you. I want to show you exactly how I feel."

Jordan didn't hesitate; he moved towards the bed, leaning down and reaching for John. John didn't wait for Jordan to lie down next to him; he pulled the other man into his arms, rolling over until Jordan was on his back under him and he was gazing down into those dark eyes.

He still found it incredible that Jordan hadn't been in a relationship when they'd met, that no one had been able to see what an amazing man his boyfriend was. Anyone who hadn't looked deeper than what they could see on the surface when they met this man had to be insane.

And yet, hadn't he done just that? John asked himself. When he and Harold had first encountered Jordan, he himself had been willing to think that Jordan was the villain he'd pretended to be; he had let appearances color what he'd thought of Jordan until he'd discovered the truth.

"Anyone who has eyes to see should know that you're so much more than what you might seem to be on the surface," he murmured, closing his eyes as he buried his face against Jordan's bare shoulder. "I love you for who you are, Jordan. Not just what I see."

"I've never thought I was all that great-looking, anyway," Jordan told him, his voice soft and hesitant. "I'm not ugly, but I'm not anything special, either. There are times when I wonder just why I caught your eye. You're not the kind of guy who'll be with just anybody."

"Indeed I won't," John said with a soft laugh. "You have to be an incredibly special person to catch my eye -- and you've done a lot more than that, Jordan Hester." He pulled back slightly, taking Jordan's face between his hands and gazing into his lover's eyes. "You've stolen my heart."

He could see the change in Jordan's gaze; those fathomless dark eyes seemed to soften, to take on a new light that hadn't been there before. Jordan blinked rapidly, and John could sense that he was holding back tears, trying not to let his emotions get the better of him.

Anyone who had eyes to see would have treasured this man, snapped him up and never let him go, John told himself, pulling Jordan close against him and tightening his arms around his boyfriend's slender waist. He certainly didn't intend to let Jordan go, now that they'd found each other.

"It's so much more than just what you look like, Jordan," he murmured, wanting to reassure his boyfriend as to why he'd fallen so quickly and so hard. "There was a connection between us the first time we met -- even though I was a little hesitant to admit that at first."

"So was I," Jordan whispered, resting his forehead against John's shoulder. "I didn't think that someone like you could be interested in me. I thought we'd never see each other again after you .... helped me. But now, there's no way I could give you up."

"I'll never give you up, either," John told him, wondering even as he spoke if it was wise for him to make a promise like that. What if circumstances in the future forced the two of them to part -- not because he'd want to do so, but more for Jordan's safety than anything else?

That wasn't going to happen, he told himself firmly, pushing the thought away and slamming a mental door to trap it in the back of his mind. He wasn't going to let anything take Jordan away from him. He would find a way for them to be together, no matter what might happen.

He would have to let Jordan know exactly what he did at some point, too; that might be something that could tear them apart, a little voice piped up, a voice that he didn't want to hear. What if Jordan was the one who made the decision to walk away?

What would he do then? Would he simply stand by and let the love of his life walk away from him, disappear out of his life as though they'd never been together, never shared their hearts and their bodies? That had happened to him once; he'd sworn that he would never face that pain again.

No. He wouldn't let that happen, either. Even if Jordan didn't approve of what he did when he finally revealed all of his life to his boyfriend, he would find a way to make his lover understand just why he did what he did, and why he felt that he couldn't simply turn his back on it.

One hand moved down Jordan's back, over the curve of his back, his palm cupping one satiny buttock. He wanted to hold Jordan like this for the rest of their lives, to be assured that they would never have to be away from each other, even though he knew that wasn't possible.

He would take times like this when he could get them, and be grateful for them. And he would do his best to show Jordan that he was loved for who he was, and not for only how he looked -- even though John had to admit that he loved looking at the man he loved.

"Anyone who has eyes to see would lust after you for obvious reasons, Jordan," he said, keeping his voice soft and low, unaware that the tenderness he felt towards the man in his arms was coming out in his tone. "But I look deeper than that. I love you for .... well, for you."

"I love you for the same reasons," Jordan whispered, raising his head to meet John's gaze again. "I might not know everything about what you do, but I know you're a good man, John. And that's all that matters to me. You're beautiful on the inside -- and on the outside, too."

"I love you for what's inside of you," John told him, his voice almost breaking on the words. Taking a deep breath, he smiled, trying to lighten the serious moment. "Even though I have to admit that I like the outside, too. You're the whole package, and I couldn't ask for more."

"I know what I'd like to have inside me," Jordan murmured, a devilish smile curving his full lips. "And if you have to ask me what, then I just might roll over and go to sleep. But I've got a feeling that you might just be thinking along the same lines as I am."

"Your wish is my command," John told him with a laugh, sitting up and straddling Jordan's slim body, then leaning down to brush a gentle kiss across his boyfriend's parted lips. "But I think I'd rather have you on top of me this time -- just so I can enjoy the view."

Jordan smiled up at him, his dark eyes sparkling. "I think that can be arranged," he whispered, looping his arms around John's neck and pulling him down for a more intense kiss. As their passion began to spiral higher, John's heart began to beat faster with the anticipation of what he would be seeing.

***