Page 94 of The Long Way Found

He stared up at Luke—beautiful, golden, devastating—and finally that nagging crack in his chest burst open wide, like someone had uncaged his lungs, and he gasped for air.

This was it. This was exactly what he'd been so afraid of. And it was unspeakably wonderful.

Luke moving inside him, spreading warmth through his whole body, into his arms and legs and fingers. Luke's eyes on his, steady and sure.

Luke hit the spot inside Jack again, and Jack's whole body arched, a sound escaping his throat that he'd never made before, guttural and unintelligible.

It felt incredible, the fullness, the friction, the way Luke kept finding new depths until Jack's eyes rolled back in his head.

This is what he had always been missing, so intent on being in control during sex—always measuring, always timing his moves, keeping himself at a careful distance from too much sensation. He'd mistaken that for strength.

But now he felt more whole, more alive, more of a man than he had in years, maybe ever.

Luke's rhythm changed—deeper, more insistent—and Jack felt his control fraying fast. His hands found Luke's shoulders and gripped hard, not to slow him down but to anchor himself.

"Luke," he gasped. "I can't … I'm going to… "

"Yes," Luke whispered, lips at his ear. "I've got you."

Jack let go.

His whole body shook, his climax tearing through him in waves, Luke's name somewhere in his throat. He felt Luke follow. Heard him. Felt the warmth of it and pulled him down and held him there, not ready to let any space back in between them.

He lay there, Luke still inside him, and tried to bring his breath back to normal.

He'd given himself completely, and he hadn't disappeared. The physical pleasure, God, he hadn't expected that. Hadn't known his body could feel like that. So completely overwhelmed, so entirely present, so fucking good.

"You okay?" Luke whispered, kissing his forehead.

Jack nodded, not trusting his voice. Then: "That was..."

"Yeah?"

"I've never..." Jack took a shaky breath. "I've never let anyone take me like that."

Luke's hand cupped his face. "Thank you for trusting me."

"Thank you for catching me."

Later, after they'd showered and eaten and the day had softened around them, Jack found himself beside Luke on the couch, shoulder to shoulder, not quite sure how long they'd been sitting.

He reached for Luke's hand without looking. Their fingers fit together easily.

"We good?" Jack asked quietly.

Luke turned his head. His expression was open and steady, offering reassurance more than asking for it.

"Yeah," Luke said. "We are."

Jack squeezed once, firm and certain, and nestled his head on Luke’s shoulder.

CHAPTER 35

JACK

The knock came while Luke was pouring another cup of coffee, and Jack watched him pause mid-pour.

Luke frowned, then checked the clock.