Chapter 12
“How hungry are you?” Gray asked.
Rushing around the kitchen and fretting over his doomed meal had wiped out Jack’s appetite. “Not that hungry, honestly, but you must be so we can go out.”
“I had a late lunch. I don’t need anything heavy for dinner.” Gray brushed his hand through Jack’s hair.
“You probably don’t want to do that. I’m sure I’m gross and sweaty from the”—he waved his hand around the kitchen—“failed effort at seduction through the power of my cooking.”
Green eyes sparkling, Gray grinned. “You were very successful in your seduction efforts.” He gave Jack a gentle kiss. “Not that you need to make any sort of effort with me. You existing is enough.”
“I should take a shower so I can exist cleaner.” He looked around the kitchen. It had never been as messy. Then again, he hadn’t ever tried to cook a real meal in it. “I just need to clean up first.”
“Do you have a bunch of work to catch up on since you left the office early?”
“Probably.” Jack sighed. “But I’m too drained to do it tonight.”
“Good. Then I have a plan.”
Gray was happy and smiling, and Jack couldn’t help but smile back, his mood lightening in reaction. “What’s your plan?”
“You go take a long, relaxing shower while I clean up the kitchen and figure out something we can eat from the fridge and pantry. Then we’ll go to bed early.”
“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.
But he 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.
This was 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.
Jack always tried so hard. With his staff, with his company, with his friends, and Gray was relieved to see that, for once, Jack was trying hard for himself.
“That’s a great idea.” He stepped back into the bathroom, hung up the towel, and then went back to the bed and crawled toward Jack.
“I’m much hungrier for you than I am for food.
” When he reached Jack’s face, he brushed their mouths together and gently kissed Jack’s lips open.
“Mmm.” He sucked on Jack’s tongue, enjoying his taste.
They separated for air and Gray licked his lips. “Delicious.”
Jack looked at him searchingly, and Gray kept his gaze steady, hoping he would find what he was looking for.
“You’re beautiful.” Jack traced one fingertip along Gray’s jaw. “Strong.” Across his cheekbone. “Sharp.” Under his eye. “Warm.” Over his lips. “Plush.”
He leaned forward, and Gray met him, mouths slotting together again. Tangling his fingers in Jack’s hair, he held onto him and parted his lips to let Jack’s tongue in. The kiss started out hot and somehow ramped up higher.
“Jesus, Jack,” he said breathlessly when they finally pulled apart.
“Uh huh.” Jack kissed his way down Gray’s neck and started sucking.
Arms wrapped around Jack’s back, he held on tightly and flipped them, placing Jack spread on top of him. Then he held onto Jack’s hips and drove his own up, giving them both pressure where they needed it.
“You feel incredible.” Jack rolled his hips, dragging his erection against Gray’s.
“Off.” Gray clasped Jack’s underwear and tugged them over his ass and down his thighs. “Need to feel you against me.”
Nodding, Jack wiggled out of his underwear and then yanked off Gray’s. Once they were both naked, Jack looked between them. “Seriously, you are extraordinarily beautiful.”
“Come here.” Gray surged up, pressed his lips to Jack’s, and tugged him down until he was flush against him again.
They thrust against each other again, tongues tangling and hands roaming over every inch of bare skin.
“God damn, your cock.” Gray reached between them and wrapped his hand around the thick, long shaft that had been sliding against him. He had been fantasizing about how it would feel inside him since he’d gone down on Jack. “Do you want to top me?”
Jack’s breathing was so rapid, Gray worried he’d hyperventilate, but he gathered himself and nodded. “Yes.”
He slid his hand up and down Jack’s erection.
“Oh God.” Jack cupped his cheeks and kissed him again. “I need to taste you first.” He looked into Gray’s eyes. “Will you let me?”
“I’ll let you do anything you want to me and I’ll love every moment of it.”
“Okay.” Jack nodded, his forehead on Gray’s. “Okay.” After a few seconds, he did as he promised and licked his way down Gray’s neck, across his pecs, and over to his nipple. “Are they sensitive?” He didn’t wait for an answer before taking it into his mouth and suckling.
“Yes,” Gray hissed. He clutched Jack’s head and held him in place, not letting up until he was sore and almost certainly swollen. Then Jack moved on to his other nipple and left it in the same condition. “That’s wonderful, sweetheart. Don’t stop.”
“I won’t,” Jack promised, continuing his downward trajectory with his tongue.
He traced the muscles on his stomach, dipped his tongue into his belly button, and dragged his lips down his hips to his groin.
When he got to Gray’s dick, he rubbed it against his face, expression delighted.
“Mmm,” he moaned and then focused on Gray’s balls, licking, gently nibbling, and eventually sucking on them.
“You’re amazing.” Gray had never been more turned on. Experienced or not, Jack was unraveling him. He tugged Jack’s hair so he looked up. “Fuck me.”
“Soon.” Jack turned his head to the side and kissed Gray’s palm. “Just need to do this one thing first.” He reached under Gray’s thighs and pushed out and up. “Dying to taste you here.”