Page 46 of Finally
“It’s what?” Jack turned Gray’s wrist and looked at his watch. “Not even six thirty. There’s no way we’ll fall asleep in the next few hours, no matter how worn out I am.”
Gray tugged Jack against him. “That’s what I’m counting on,” he said, his already deep voice lower and huskier.
As close together as they were standing, Gray surely could hear Jack’s breaths huffing out quicker and feel his chest heaving, but he didn’t call him on it.
“You shouldn’t have to clean up my mess.”
“It’s not that bad and you made it cooking for me.” Gray rubbed his thumb across Jack’s jaw. “You really are beautiful, you know that?”
He hadn’t thought much about his appearance. It wasn’t important for his work and it wasn’t something anyone had commented on. No one other than Gray. “You make me feel that way,” he confessed.
“Good.” Gray gazed at him, his smile gentle. “Since we’ve agreed not to work tonight and you don’t have a TV in your bedroom, we’ll have to come up with a way to pass the time and get you nice and tired so you can fall asleep.” He skated his hand down Jack’s back and caressed his ass.
Jack blinked, licked his lips, and tried to say something but his voice broke.
“I have an idea for that too.”
“What…” Jack cleared his throat and tried to school his features. “What’s your idea?”
“You seduced me with your cooking efforts, remember? I need to collect on the implied promise.”
“How are you going to collect?”
“I think we should make out.” He grinned and winked.
Jack snorted and pressed his face into Gray’s neck. He laughed and sniffled at the same time, fragile from admitting his feelings and overcome by emotion. “Okay, Gray. I’d love to spend the evening making out with you.” He wrapped his arms around Gray’s chest, rested his head on his shoulder, and held on tightly. “I just need a minute.”
“Take your time.” Gray kissed the top of his head.
“Thank you,” he whispered and hoped Gray understood it wasn’t only for giving him time to gather himself.
“I’m spending the night with a gorgeous man. I should be thanking you.” He cradled Jack’s face in his palms and gently raised it until he could look into his eyes. “Thank you.”
After another kiss, Jack walked to his bedroom and took a shower. His mind was hazy, overwhelmed by a mix of powerful emotions. Stress from work was always there, but he was used to it after so many years so it was a light hum underlying his everyday life. The feelings surrounding Gray though were new.
He knew Gray as well as he knew himself, trusted him implicitly, felt safer with him than with anyone in his life, enjoyed his company more than other people’s and even more than being alone. Those things were constant and long standing. But over the past month, they had morphed into something else, something he hadn’t ever experienced or imagined. Something profound.
His thoughts must have distracted him enough to lose track of time because he was just coming out of the shower when Gray walked into the bathroom.
“Feeling better?” he asked.
Jack nodded, too caught up in his mind to form words.
“Good.” Gray walked over with his towel and draped it around him. “Kitchen’s clean. I’m going to wash up quickly, then we can eat. I found some fruit, olives, and cheese. Will that be enough food for you?”
“Uh huh.”
As he watched, Gray got undressed and stepped into the shower. He was truly the most stunning man Jack had ever seen. His face and his body were works of art.
He had thought he was in love with Jaime, which was why he had stuck things out even when they weren’t working. Buthe was coming to realize that he had been mistaken. Jaime had never taken his breath away with a smile, he hadn’t made him feel light as a feather with just a look, he hadn’t curled his toes with a kiss, and he hadn’t made his heart feel too big for his chest.
Thiswas what it was supposed to feel like, what he had always longed for. There was a past version of him that had dreamed of the life he was now living, all because of Gray. And Jack would do anything he could to keep it, to keep him. Starting with making sure Gray felt as cherished as he deserved.
***
Toweling off his hair, Gray stepped into the bedroom to find Jack sitting on the bed wearing only his briefs.
“I’m not quite hungry yet so I was thinking we could get started with your plan and then eat in here later.” He pointed his chin toward the nightstand where he had placed the food Gray had organized and left in the kitchen. “If that’s okay,” he added.
