Page 49 of The Long Way Found

Jack returned with his laptop and a couple of bottles of water. They settled against the headboard, Luke’s head finding that spot on Jack’s shoulder where he fit perfectly.

The game played on, but Luke felt himself sinking into the warmth of Jack’s body, the steady rasp of his breathing, and the comfort of being here.

He looked over and saw Jack’s eyes were closed, his mouth slightly open, the softest snore emerging.

Luke smiled, closed the laptop quietly, and set it aside. He found his spot again between Jack’s shoulder and chest and let himself drift.

When Luke woke, the morning sun was filtering through the closed blinds, giving everything a honey glow.

Jack’s side of the bed was empty.

Luke heard movement in the kitchen—a cabinet opening, the coffee maker running. He got up, used the bathroom, and found his boxers from last night.

When he walked into the kitchen, Jack was already dressed—jeans and a T-shirt, his hair damp from a shower Luke hadn’t heard him take.

“Morning,” Luke said.

“Hey.” Jack looked up from his phone. “Coffee’s on.”

Luke poured himself a cup and leaned against the counter. Jack kept scrolling.

“Sleep okay?” Luke asked.

“Yeah. You?”

“Good.”

Silence. Not uncomfortable exactly, but not easy either.

Jack set his phone down. “I’ve got some stuff to do today. Errands. Boring stuff.”

“Oh. Yeah, sure.” Luke took another sip. “I should probably head out anyway. Need to check on a few things at The Ridge.”

“Cool.”

They stood there while Luke sipped his coffee.

“We’ve gotta talk about this coffee situation,” Luke said.

“Bad?”

“Not good.”

Luke set his cup in the sink, gathered his clothes from last night, and got dressed. He could feel Jack pulling away the same way he had on Sunday morning, the same way he always did after they were close. Luke recognized the pattern, but he didn’t know how to respond.

When he went back into the living room, Jack was at his desk, laptop open.

“See you later?” Luke said.

Jack stood, crossed to him, and gave him a quick kiss. “Yeah. Text me.”

“Will do.”

Luke called for Marley and headed to his car.

The drive home was quiet. He turned on the radio, turned it off again.

Last night had been good together, the blowjob the best he’d ever imagined—not only for the pleasure, but for the way Jack was so intent on giving it to him, as if Luke’s pleasure were his only goal. Or maybe he’d just been making a point, taking care of the evening to move through it.