Chapter 8 #2
“The associates,” Gray answered and then realized Jack’s expression had been a positive reaction to his body, not a negative response to his words.
“Did you stop listening to me when I got naked?” Pressing a soft kiss to Jack’s lips, he said, “I’m flattered.
” He dragged his palms and his gaze down Jack’s bare chest. “This is a great view.” He tucked his fingers under Jack’s waistband and then pushed his pants and briefs down, exposing a long, thick, and hard cock. “Mmm. It got even better.”
“Gray,” Jack moaned.
“Uh huh?” He licked his lips as he took in the sight of a naked, highly aroused Jack Storm. “God damn, Jack, you are beyond sexy.”
“Me?” Jack dragged his gaze down Gray’s body. “Have you come across a mirror lately?”
“We better get into that shower right now if you actually want to go to the party. Otherwise, I’m taking you to bed.”
Jack sighed and stepped away, looking like it was the last thing he wanted to do. “We have to go.” He opened the glass door, walked into the large, marble-tiled shower, and turned on the water. “It’s the right thing to do.”
Gray followed and didn’t complain because Jack’s kindness and generosity were two of the many qualities he admired about him.
“You know, I’m thinking.” He dipped his gaze to Jack’s hard cock.
“Based on the way you look.” He stepped closer and his erection slid against Jack’s.
“And the way I feel.” He curled his hand around their dicks.
“I doubt it’ll take us long to get some relief. ”
Jack trembled. “You have a deal.” He reached into the tiled nook and picked up the tube of conditioner. “And it’s okay if we’re a little late.”
“Late? Since when is the always punctual Mr. Storm willing to be late?” he teased.
“There’s a first time for everything.”
“I’m flattered.” Gray cupped the side of Jack’s face with his free hand and leaned forward, brushing their lips together.
“Mmm.” He slid his tongue over Jack’s bottom lip and then slipped it into his mouth.
Jack tilted his head to the left as Gray’s went to the right, slotting them together perfectly.
Rolling his tongue with Jack’s, he moaned.
“You taste so good,” he whispered, lowering his gaze between their bodies.
“And you’re so damn thick.” His left hand barely reached halfway around them.
Gray had never bottomed with a man as endowed as Jack and he was really looking forward to it.
“Can I?” Jack moved the conditioner into his line of sight.
“Yes.” Gray nodded.
Jack pressed his forehead to Gray’s, both of them watching as the cool liquid slid over their heated skin.
“Fuck,” Gray grunted, chest heaving. He moved his right hand down too, curling it around the other side of their cocks, and then moved both hands up and down in tandem.
“Gray.” Jack’s chest heaved, breaths bursting fast and loud. “Oh my God.” He clutched Gray’s shoulders, pulled him close, and then walked forward until Gray’s back slammed against the tile. “Don’t stop.” His cheeks were heated, blue eyes wide, and nostrils flared. “Please don’t stop.”
“I won’t.” Gray promised, quickening his double-handed strokes.
Droplets shimmering on his creamy skin and long eyelashes, Jack cradled both of his cheeks, gaze locked on his. “This feels amazing.”
That wasn’t technically a question, but Gray heard it anyway. “It does,” he confirmed.
With a cry, Jack slammed his mouth over Gray’s, fingers digging into his scalp as he licked his lips and then sucked on his tongue.
This was the passion buried under the pain and insecurity. He would have been relieved that Jack was finally letting it out, but he was too busy losing his mind.
“Damn, Jack.” Gray thrust his hips forward as he twisted his palm over their cockheads. He bit Jack’s chin, grazed his lips across Jack’s jaw, and kissed his neck, right under his ear. “I’m going to lose it.”
“Ahhh,” Jack moaned. Forehead creased and lips parted, Jack stared at him. “I…” His breathing quickened. “I…”
“Me too.” Gray nodded. “Me too.”
He leaned forward and Jack met him for another kiss. Lips pressed against his, Jack cried out his pleasure, Gray immediately following. He kept his hands moving as his body trembled and his balls emptied.
“God. Gray.” Jack dropped his forehead onto Gray’s shoulder. His hands gripped the sides of Gray’s neck. “I’ve never…” He drew in a shaky breath and kissed Gray’s chest. “I’ve never.”
Heart so full it ached, Gray wrapped his arms around Jack and held him tightly. “I haven’t either.”
***
Sitting in Kevin’s cozy living room, surrounded by his friends, Gray at his side, and a glass of scotch in his hand, was a familiar scene. Jack had been in this situation dozens of times. But that night, something felt different.
“I know what you mean!” Kevin was seemingly responding to something someone said, but Jack wasn’t sure who or what because he had lost track of the conversation.
He hadn’t had that many drinks, but his body was drained from the long day.
And the two orgasms. His cheeks hurt and he realized he was smiling.
Still talking, Kevin said, “It’s ruining my post nut glow because every time I jerk off, I have to check my phone to make sure I wasn’t on Facebook Live the whole time.”
Jack blinked, his attention back on his friends.
“How are you going to accidentally go live?” Kevin’s friend Jeffrey asked. “I don’t even know where that feature is on the app.”
Jeffrey had been quiet all night. It made sense because he was surrounded by people who had known each other for years so he likely felt like the odd man out.
Normally, Jack was the person in the group who would have paid him extra attention, welcoming him, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it.
The guy seemed nice enough, but whenever Jack tried to make himself go talk to him, he remembered the story Jeffrey had shared about hooking up with Gray a few years earlier and giving him the nickname Mister Super.
Thinking about Gray with Jeffrey made Jack nauseous so he had kept his distance.
If it weren’t for Gray’s constant touches and nearly exclusive attention, Jack would have fallen into his normal spiral of self-doubt.
He covered Gray’s hand with his own and held on.
“I don’t either!” Kevin’s voice was a little loud and a lot sloppy, but he was having a good time, and he was in his own house, so Jack stopped himself from being a mother hen and suggesting he slow down on the drinks.
“Why do either of you have Facebook?” Oliver asked.
“Why are either of us here?” Gray whispered into his ear.
Jack swallowed down his laugh and bumped his shoulder against Gray’s, silently telling him to stop. He was happy. That’s what was different. Not a surface feeling that was little more than a respite from the ache he normally carried, but genuine happiness. He felt light.
“Because we’re old,” Thom responded to Oliver. “Oldies like Facebook.”
“You’re not old.” Oliver’s cheeks flushed. “That’s not what I meant.”
At almost thirty-one, Oliver was over a decade younger than the rest of the men in the room and there was a sweetness to him, a naivete, that often made him seem even younger.
Though Jack was struggling with Jeffrey’s attendance at the get-together, he’d never had any problem with his ex’s new husband.
Oliver was shy and sweet and came across as fragile, despite his sturdy size.
Seeing Jaime content with him made Jack relieved, not jealous. He had always wanted Jaime to find joy.
“Nobody’s offended.” Jack reached for Oliver, who was sitting in an armchair next to the couch and squeezed his shoulder. “Thom’s kidding around.”
“Speak for yourself,” Thom said. “Something new hurts every time I wake up. Unless I’ve taken up CrossFit in my sleep, I’m old.”
Looking up at his boyfriend from his perch on the floor, between Thom’s knees, Eric said, “Maybe it’s the wrestling you’re doing before bed? The way you give it your all at night has got to make your muscles sore in the morning.”
Thom bent down and kissed Eric’s head. “Worth it.” When he sat back up, both of them were smiling.
“I’m glad they made up,” Gray said, voice soft so only Jack could hear him.
He did that a lot, Jack realized. Even when they were with other people, Gray often limited his comments and conversations to Jack.
There was an intimacy to it, a sense of being alone despite being surrounded.
Turning to Gray, he said, “Me too. The universe seems off-kilter when Thom and Eric are bickering.”
“You’re really beautiful, you know that?” Gray whispered. He wove his fingers through Jack’s hair.
Heat moved up his neck and over his cheeks. “Did you hear what I said?” Jack asked and then, deciding that he didn’t care about the conversation they’d been having, he lowered his voice and asked a question that did matter to him. “Do you really mean that?”
“I really do.” Eyes warm, Gray leaned closer, their lips almost touching, breaths mingling.
“I’ve meant every word I’ve ever said to you.
” He cupped Jack’s cheek and kissed him gently.
It was relatively chaste, but it seemingly got everyone’s attention because when Jack got his bearings, he realized silence had fallen over the room.
“It’s weird seeing you two like that. Feels like I’m watching Lady and the Tramp in human form.”
Sighing, Gray turned to Kevin. “I’m a slut, not a romantic lead. Point made yet again. Feel free to go back to your fascinating story about not masturbating on camera.”
For a moment, Kevin pouted and then he crossed his arms over his chest, raised his chin, and narrowed his eyes. “It’s a joke not a dick, Gray, don’t take it so hard.”
Jack tensed, ready to step in and defend Gray while diffusing the situation, but Gray’s booming laugh stopped him. After a few seconds, his laughter leveled into a soft chuckle, and he smiled at Kevin. “Take it so hard.” He shook his head. “That first comment was annoying, but that one’s funny.”
Kevin could be a bit snarky and pushy, but he meant well. At least normally he meant well. His constant digs at Gray struck Jack as different from his usual MO; they were a little too frequent and more than a little too harsh. But true to form, they rolled off Gray’s back. He was unflappable.
Hand on Jack’s thigh, Gray reclined against the couch, looking completely unbothered. “Also, consider leaving your phone in another room if you’re honestly worried about broadcasting your solo sessions.”
“I would but I use my phone for, uh, inspiration material so…”
“Use your laptop instead,” Gray said, before turning to Jack and lowering his voice. “Why am I taking part in this conversation?”
Jack grinned and shrugged.
“I read that cyberthieves can turn on your laptop camera remotely,” Jeffrey said. “So you should be careful using that.”
“Put a Post-It over your camera,” Eric suggested. He pointed at his head. “Think smarter so you can come harder.”
“Why are we friends with them?” Gray asked, this time pitching his voice louder so everyone could hear.
“You’re the one who suggested the laptop,” Thom pointed out. “Keep your mouth shut if you want this ridiculous conversation to end.”
“Fair point,” Gray agreed.
“Who wants another drink?” Thom asked, likely in an effort to change the topic.
“I do,” Jack said.
“I’ll get it.” Gray raised Jack’s hand to his mouth, kissed the underside of his wrist, and took his glass. He rose from the couch and walked over to the liquor cart.
“Thank you.” Despite being at a last-minute get-together, listening to Kevin’s ridiculous anecdotes, and not avoiding but also definitely avoiding one of Gray’s past hookups, Jack was the happiest he had been in as long as he could remember.