Chapter 6
“This is going to be my favorite of the classes.”
Chuckling, Gray said, “You made that same prediction after they handed us the recipe in the other two classes.” He moved closer to Jack and looked at the paper he was holding.
“That doesn’t look too difficult. We’re pretty much mixing everything together and then pouring it into a pan and baking it.
The lava part of chocolate lava cake made me think it’d be more complicated. ”
“I’m here still fixating on the chocolate portion of the title, and you’ve already read through all the steps?”
“You do love chocolate.” Gray squeezed Jack’s hip and chuckled. “If you had to choose between a month with bread and cheese but no chocolate or a month with chocolate but no bread or cheese, which would you choose?”
Gasping, Jack reared back and pressed his palm to his chest. “Why would you even suggest something that horrible? Who hurt you?”
Gray burst out laughing. “I take it back.” He circled his arm around Jack’s waist and pulled him into a hug. “I’m sorry.” He kissed Jack’s forehead. “Hopefully I didn’t cause you too much trauma with that hypothetical.”
“I’m going to have nightmares tonight.” Jack uncrossed his arms, hesitated, and hovered his palms over Gray’s pecs. “I’m going to blame you when I don’t get any sleep and can’t wake up in time for my run.”
Over the decades he had known Jack, Gray thought he had seen every part of him.
Clearly, he had been wrong because the slightly awkward, definitely nervous glimpses he had been spying over the last couple of weeks were new.
By paying close attention, he had narrowed Jack’s nerves to situations when the two of them were getting physical, but he hadn’t yet figured out the reason.
Gray had no idea who Jack had slept with since his breakup with Jaime because he hadn’t asked.
Jack was just buttoned up enough to keep his sex life to himself, so Gray knew that unless he broached the topic, it would never arise.
That wouldn’t happen because Gray didn’t want to hear any details about Jack having sex with someone else and he didn’t want to tell Jack about his own hookups.
He wished he had a little more information in order to understand Jack’s nervousness, but he was still too jealous to handle specifics so, in lieu of asking questions that could result in answers he wasn’t ready to hear, he was giving Jack time to get comfortable with him and taking the physical part of their relationship slowly.
In the meantime, he was enjoying the hell out of the extra time and extra closeness they were already sharing.
With that in mind, he suggested something he thought they’d both appreciate.
“I don’t know why you’ve decided to take up early morning running, but I’m happy to keep you company tonight.
” Carefully watching Jack’s facial expressions, he tugged him a little closer, causing Jack’s hands to land on his chest. “I probably won’t be awake at the crack of dawn, so I can’t motivate you to get on the treadmill, but I’ll cook you breakfast after to make up for it.
Plus, I can cuddle you and keep the scary food nightmares away. ”
“Cuddle?” Jack asked breathlessly. “Like on the couch or”—he licked his lips—“in bed?”
“Whatever you want. I’m all yours anytime, anywhere, any way.”
Eyes wide and lips parted, Jack stared at him.
“I’ll be a perfect gentleman,” Gray promised before winking and adding, “well, maybe not perfect, but as much of a gentleman as you want me to be.”
“I…” Jack’s normally smooth voice cracked and he cleared his throat. “I don’t—” Before he could finish his sentence, the instructor spoke.
“Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome back to Baking for Beginners. This is our last class: Elegant Desserts. Let’s get started!”
An hour later, they were both bent over their workstation counter, staring at what looked like a round brownie.
“How much longer?” Jack asked.
Gray glanced at his phone. “We’re halfway there.”
“So thirty more seconds?” Jack adjusted his oven mitts. “You put the plate on top and I’ll flip it over.”
Laughing at Jack’s exuberance, Gray set his phone face up on the counter, picked up the white plate, and hovered it over the cake. “Ready.”
“Okay good. We don’t want to wait too long or the lava will dry.”
“I’m pretty sure that instruction isn’t warning about a delta of point five seconds.”
“Grayson McClellan, take this seriously. I’m hungry.”
“We need to remember to feed you snacks before this class. That metabolism of yours is something else.”
“It has to have been a minute by now.”
“Go time!” Gray said, playing along. He placed the round plate on top of the cake and held both hands up. “Make sure you don’t drop it when you do the flip.”
One hand on the side of the baking dish and the other pressing on the plate, Jack shifted his gaze up to Gray’s. “Why would you say that? Now I’m worried about dropping it.” He glanced down at the plate and bit the side of his lower lip. “Let’s switch jobs.”
“Nope.” Gray shook his head and smiled at an adorable Jack. “Too late. I’ve already done my part. It’s all on you to get us past the finish line. Don’t let us down.”
“Gray,” Jack said, his tone a warning.
“I don’t want to worry you, but I’m pretty sure we’re over by at least thirty seconds at this point. If you don’t get to it right now, we’ll be eating a rock.”
Jack glared at him.
“No pressure though.” Gray grinned.
“Fine.” Jack took a breath and then raised his hands, flipped the baking dish over, and set the plate on the counter. “Done!” he threw his arms up in a flourish.
“You have to take off the hot pan, otherwise it’ll keep cooking.” Gray picked up his phone and held it out to Jack, showing the timer. “Tick tock.”
“I’m going to retaliate for this harassment,” Jack warned.
“Doubtful. You’re sweeter than this lava cake.”
Jack carefully wrapped his mittened hands around the cake pan. “Don’t underestimate me, Grayson.”
“I’m the last person who’d ever do that. I know you way too well.”
“Uh huh. Likely story. You’re just trying to avoid my wrath.”
“Make sure you pull it straight up or the cake will crumble,” Gray said. “No pressure.”
“That’s it. You’re not getting any.” Jack peered down at the dessert and slowly wiggled and raised the baking dish.
“Are you talking about the dessert or…” Gray arched his eyebrows meaningfully.
“Gray, I swear to God.” The pan cleared the cake and Jack let out a relieved breath. “We did it.”
Only this man would share credit for a task he did himself while being harassed. “You really are you know.”
“I really am what?” Blue eyes landed on him.
“Sweet.” Gray leaned forward, picked up Jack’s hand, and kissed his wrist above the oven mitt.
“Okay, I’ll share the cake with you.”
Gray removed one mitt, then the other, and gently caressed Jack’s palms. “I know.” He kissed Jack’s knuckles and then released his hands.
“Let’s cut into it and see if the inside is runny like a volcano.
” He frowned. “Although, now that I think about it, lava is basically rock so it’s not particularly viscous. ”
“What does that mean?” Jack picked up the forks and handed one to him.
“I’m saying lava is thick and chunky, not liquidy like water so calling this a lava cake isn’t particularly accurate.”
“You can file a lawsuit against the namer of the cake later. Right now, I want to eat it.”
“I don’t practice litigation.”
Fork on top of the cake, Jack glared at him. “Apparently you don’t practice sarcasm either.”
Gray threw his head back and laughed. “I love you like this.”
“Hangry?”
“Sassy.” When he had first met Jack, his confidence and fiery nature had shone through in most interactions.
But over the years, those parts of him had dimmed, and the breakup with Jaime had nearly extinguished them.
Gray was thrilled to see Jack’s true personality returning in the form of his flirtatious teasing. “I’ve missed this side of you.”
“Uh huh. Likely story.” Jack slid the fork through the cake, cut out a piece, and held it up to Gray.
“I mean it.” Gray curled his fingers around Jack’s wrist, leaned forward, and slid his mouth over the cake. “Mmm. Delicious.”
Jack gulped and coughed. “Good.” He lowered his gaze and tipped his chin toward the plate. “It worked. The lava’s flowing.”
“That’s three for three in baking class successes. We make a great team.”
***
Jack had expected Gray to stop at his own house to get his things before coming over for the evening, so he was surprised to see Gray’s car in his driveway as he pulled up.
Even if Gray had hit every green light and risked a speeding ticket, he wouldn’t have had time to go to his place, pack a bag, and beat Jack home.
He tried not to feel disappointed that Gray had been bantering for fun and not making an actual plan to spend the night in his bed with him.
He opened the garage and drove in, waiting for Gray to pull into the empty spot before closing it.
“Hey, handsome,” Gray said as he opened Jack’s car door.
Jack looked over at him and smiled. Whether it was for a few hours or an entire night, he loved spending time with Gray and that would be his focus. “How did you get out of your car and to my door before I got my seatbelt off?”
“I ran. Need to make a good impression because I want to get lucky tonight.” Gray winked and then held his hand out. “Monsieur.”
“Did you pick up French when I wasn’t looking?” Jack said with a laugh. He unbuckled his seatbelt and put his hand in Gray’s.
“My skills are very limited.” Gray helped him out of the car but stayed close, so Jack’s chest pressed to his once he stood. “It’s pretty much monsieur, madame, and of course, voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir.” He sang the last one.
“‘Lady Marmalade’?” Jack asked, his heart pounding so hard he worried Gray would be able to feel it in his own chest.