Page 104 of The Finding Series: Vol. 1

“Luke, come sit. You’re making me nervous,” Gray said quietly.

Luke returned to his seat but didn’t even notice he was tapping his foot incessantly until Gray reached over to put his hand on Luke’s fist where it was resting on his thigh.

“It’s going to be okay,” Gray said as he gave Luke a reassuring squeeze. Before Gray could draw his hand away, Luke snagged it in his and then shifted in his seat so he was facing Gray. He couldn’t stop himself from extending his free arm and cupping his hand around the back of Gray’s neck and drawing him closer until their foreheads were touching.

“No matter what happens, I’m here,” Luke said firmly, even though he had no idea how he could follow through with the promise.

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” Gray whispered. Their mouths were so close that Luke could feel Gray’s warm breath fanning over his lips. Gray’s eyes had closed at some point but the way his hand was clenching Luke’s told Luke everything he needed to know. Gray was scared to death.

“I’m here,” Luke repeated, his tone almost harsh. God, it would be so easy to draw Gray’s lips to his. He was actually doing it before he could stop himself but the door opening behind them had him releasing Gray instead.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Gray,” the doctor said as he closed the door behind him and went to his desk. Gray had released Luke’s hand so Luke had no choice but to clench his fists again in an effort to gain enough control to keep himself from leaping across the desk and demanding that the doctor tell them what they wanted to hear…no,neededto hear.

* * *

Gray’s hand was shaking violently as he pushed the down button for the elevator. He had no idea if Luke noticed or not because the man hadn’t looked at him even once after they’d left the doctor’s office. In fact, he hadn’t said a word. Of course, Gray hadn’t fared any better. Even now, he was having trouble wrapping his head around it.

Remission.

It had taken several long seconds after the doctor had said the word for it to actually register in Gray’s muddled brain. He’d spent so much time planning how to deal with the news that he’d need more treatment or surgery that he hadn’t given much thought to what it would mean if the doctor said that word. At his lowest point when he’d been too tired to crawl out of bed, he’d asked Luke to bring him his laptop and he’d started researching charities that he’d leave the majority of his estate to. Never in his wildest dreams would he have thought it would be such a struggle to hear the one word he’d hoped and prayed he’d hear.

The elevator door slid open and he stepped inside and leaned back against the wall and put his hands on the rail to make sure he stayed upright since he couldn’t trust his shaky legs to do the job. Luke’s body brushed his briefly as he reached to press the button for right parking level. Luke was so quiet that a moment of panic went through Gray and he whispered, “You heard it too, right?”

Luke finally looked at him and the turbulent emotion in the man’s stormy eyes caught Gray off guard. “He said I was in remission, right?” Gray managed to get out.

Luke nodded and then just stared at him for a pregnant moment. It was on the tip of Gray’s tongue to ask him what was wrong when Luke suddenly closed the distance between them. His large body pressed against Gray’s as his hands encircled Gray’s neck. He used his thumbs to tilt Gray’s head up and Gray didn’t even have time to let out his gasp of surprise before Luke’s mouth closed over his.

The kiss was so gentle and so sweet that Gray actually felt tears burning his eyes. Instead of accepting Gray’s parted lips for the invitation they were, Luke brushed his lips over Gray’s lower lip first. His mouth was firm and warm and his breath mingled with Gray’s as he hung there for just a split second before kissing Gray’s upper lip. And then he was skimming over Gray’s entire mouth once more before pulling back.

Gray wasn’t even aware he’d closed his eyes until he actually opened them and saw Luke’s hungry ones staring right back at him. Luke’s hands were still cupping his jaw, his thumbs stroking back and forth over his now too hot skin. Gray was about to beg Luke to kiss him again when the elevator dinged. Luke dropped his hands and stepped back as several people got into the car with them. As soon as Luke tore his eyes away and focused on the backs of the people standing in front of them, Gray sucked in a deep breath that left him light-headed. Fortunately, the elevator had several more stops to make before he needed to force himself to move and follow Luke to the truck. Luke didn’t say anything as he went around to the driver’s side and Gray tried to use the moment to recover from what had been the simplest and most devastating kiss of his entire life.

* * *

It had been a thousand times better than he ever could have expected. And he didn’t regret it for even one second.

Luke kept his attention on the winding road that led up the mountain. It was a shitty excuse to not talk to Gray but even the hour long drive from Missoula had done nothing to ease the knot of emotion that had taken hold deep inside his chest when the doctor had said that one magic word. One word that meant Gray could go back to his life. One word that meant Luke would have to try to figure out his.

Leaving Gray was the only logical option, but just because it was logical didn’t mean it would be easy. So he’d made himself a promise in that elevator as Gray had looked to him to confirm that the doctor really had said the tumors were gone. One taste of Gray – it should have been enough to keep his promise to walk away. It should have been but God forgive him, it wasn’t.

Darkness was just starting to fall as Luke pulled the truck into Gray’s driveway. He reached the front door before Gray did and opened the door to let Ripley out. The dog circled him several times in excitement and then ran to Gray. Gray’s hands stroked over the big animal as he said something unintelligible in a low voice. The silky, smooth timbre had Luke’s dick swelling even more in his tight jeans and he stepped in the cabin in the hopes of getting himself under control before Gray came in. He heard the door click closed behind him but didn’t turn around.

The lack of movement told him Gray was still by the door but Luke couldn’t make himself face the other man. He also didn’t hear Ripley’s nails clicking over the wooden floor so he guessed the dog had stayed outside to explore the yard.

“It was an intense moment, Luke. Emotions were running high…it’s just one of those things. It didn’t mean anything – I get that. Nothing’s changed.”

Luke wanted to laugh. Gray actually thought he was regretting the kiss? “For you, Gray?”

“What?”

“Nothing’s changed for you?” Luke asked as he finally turned around. “Because everything’s changed for me.”

Gray was standing just inside the door, his arms wrapped protectively around himself. “I don’t know what you want me to say, Luke,” he whispered.

“I want you to say that we shouldn’t do this…that it will just complicate the fuck out of things.”

Gray shook his head. “Not gonna say that.”

Luke’s insides twisted even as his heart sank because he knew there was no way he was going to be able to keep his promise. He was moving before he could rethink his decision and Gray met him halfway. Their second kiss was the exact opposite of the first and Luke finally gave in as Gray’s tongue dueled with his for control. It was a battle he gladly lost because the feel of Gray’s tongue sinking into his mouth had Luke moaning deep in his throat as he jammed his hips against the other man’s. Gray’s long fingers were twisted in his hair to keep him still for his sensual assault but that didn’t keep Luke’s hands from roaming up and down Gray’s back. Even in his weakened state, the feel of Gray’s hard body had Luke yearning to explore every inch of him. He managed to get his fingers on the skin at the small of Gray’s back and relished how soft it was. But his exploration was cut short when a hand rubbed over his dick and he let out a hoarse groan that Gray immediately swallowed as he continued to plunder Luke’s mouth.

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