Page 36 of The Long Way Found

Release would have to wait. Again.

Jack drove past the hotel toward Luke's place.

"Oh, are you taking us home?" Luke asked.

"I'm taking him home," Jack said, nodding toward Marley in the back seat. "You can take care of him and meet me at the hotel."

Luke turned toward the passenger window and smiled, saying, "Yes, sir."

"I mean, if that's acceptable."

"Yes, Sir," he said. "Very acceptable, Sir."

"And bring the lube," Jack added as Luke and Marley got out. "I don't have any."

Jack drove back to the hotel, grateful for the break and eager to see Luke arrive. They'd had sex only a few times, and his body was already learning what it meant to be around Luke. Plus, there were so many things left to do, including one in particular that Jack was almost obsessed with.

In his room, Jack showered slowly, enjoying the hot water on his muscles. He shaved, brushed his teeth, and put on Levi's and a black T-shirt.

He scrolled through the hotel TV channels until he found a light jazz channel and turned the volume down low.

A knock at the door.

"Who is it?"

"Open the door, Jack."

He did. Luke stood there, somehow transformed from running-around-all-day grunge to effortlessly put-together in joggers and a Ridge T-shirt.

Jack let his gaze travel. Slow. Deliberate.

Luke noticed. "Can I come in?"

"I was taking in the view," Jack said, gesturing to Luke from head to toe.

"You like what you see?"

"Get in here."

Luke walked to him, and Jack caught the scent of his shampoo, something expensive that definitely didn't come from the grocery store.

"I can offer you bottled water or instant decaf," Jack said. "Sorry. I need to go to the market."

"What I want right now is NOT in the market," Luke said, grabbing the bulge in Jack's jeans.

"Same."

Luke smiled with a wicked gleam in his eye, kissed Jack wet and slow, and sank to his knees.

"I haven't had the chance to properly address this guy since you've been back in town," Luke said as he unbuttoned Jack's jeans and pulled them down, along with his boxer-briefs. "You're always so quick to get him inside me."

Luke kissed the head, beginning the slow, selfish procedure he'd waited decades to administer.

"Which I do appreciate," he said.

He kissed it again. And again.

"But I have other needs right now," Luke continued softly, maneuvering Jack toward the bed.