Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Luke’s fingers drummed against the steering wheel as they drove home from Brew & Barrel. The evening had been perfect, with easy conversation, shared laughter, and lingering touches that promised more. But now, heading back to Noah’s empty house, anticipation thrummed through his veins.
“You’re quiet,” Noah observed, his voice soft in the darkness. His hand found Luke’s knee, stilling the nervous movement. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah.” Luke covered Noah’s hand with his own, lacing their fingers together. “Just…thinking about how different this feels. Being with you like this, knowing we have time.”
Noah’s thumb traced patterns against Luke’s palm. “Good different?”
“The best kind.” Luke’s breath caught as they pulled into the driveway. The house loomed before them, all its familiar angles and shadows holding new meaning. This wasn’t a job site anymore or even just Noah and Eli’s home. This was where everything had changed for him.
The porch light cast a warm glow as they made their way up the steps. Noah fumbled slightly with his keys, and Luke pressed closer, unable to resist trailing kisses along the back of his neck.
“Trying to open a door here,” Noah laughed, but he tilted his head to give Luke better access.
“Maybe I’m trying to distract you.” Luke’s hands found Noah’s hips, steadying them both. “Is it working?”
The door finally opened, and they stumbled inside. The house felt different without Eli’s presence—quieter, more intimate. Luke had barely kicked the door closed before Noah turned in his arms, pressing him against it.
“Hi,” Noah breathed, close enough that Luke could feel the word against his lips.
“Hi, yourself.” Luke’s hands found their way under Noah’s shirt, seeking warm skin. “Been wanting to kiss you all night.”
Noah’s smile was brief before their lips met. The kiss was different from their usual rushed encounters—slower, deeper, and full of promise. Luke lost himself in it, in the way Noah’s body fit against his, in how right everything felt.
“Upstairs?” Noah murmured against his mouth. “Or do you want to give my neighbors more of a show?”
Luke laughed, already following Noah toward the stairs. “Lead the way. Pretty sure we’ve scandalized Mrs. Patterson enough for one lifetime.”
As they climbed the stairs, trading kisses and touches, Luke felt something shift between them. This wasn’t just about physical release anymore. This was about connection, about choosing each other, about building something that could last.
Noah pulled Luke into his bedroom, both of them stumbling slightly in their eagerness. Moonlight spilled through windows Luke had repaired, casting everything in soft shadows. The sight of Noah’s bed—neatly made despite him saying he’d been rushed this morning—made Luke’s pulse race with memory and anticipation.
“You’re thinking too hard,” Noah murmured, drawing Luke back against his chest. His lips found that sensitive spot behind Luke’s ear. “Stay with me.”
Luke got the impression Noah wasn’t inviting him to spend the night. That much was a given. He needed to know Luke wasn’t going to get scared and run. That might have been a concern in the past, but he was hooked. There wasn’t a chance he was going anywhere.
“Always here with you.” Luke turned in Noah’s arms, needing to see his face. “I’m just processing how much has changed. How much I want this. Want you.”
Noah’s smile was soft in the darkness. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” Luke traced Noah’s jaw, memorizing the feel of stubble under his fingers. “You and Eli have changed everything for me. And that should terrify me, but it doesn’t anymore.”
“It doesn’t?” Noah’s hands settled on Luke’s hips, grounding him.
“No.” The admission felt like freedom. “For the first time in my life, I’m not scared of wanting more. Of letting myself have this. Part of what freaks me out so much is how easy it was to fall in love with you.”
Noah’s kiss was gentle, full of promise. “Good. Because I’m falling for you too. I want everything with you. And I get how you’re feeling because if anyone had told me you’d be the man I can’t imagine my life without, there’d have been no doubt they were a few fries short of a Happy Meal.”
“Hey now, what’s that supposed to mean?” Luke scoffed, even though he knew what Noah was saying. In many ways, they were polar opposites. Luke felt the same way. When they were teens, being with Noah was purely a fantasy, nothing that would ever come true.
Instead of answering, Noah curled his fingers around the back of Luke’s neck, pulling him in for a firm, claiming kiss.
Luke lost himself in the kiss, in the way Noah’s hands moved over him with increasing urgency. Each touch felt like coming home, like pieces clicking into place. And when Noah began backing them toward the bed, Luke went willingly, eagerly, ready for whatever came next.
Moonlight painted patterns across Noah’s skin as Luke helped him out of his shirt. Every revealed inch felt precious, worth savoring. Gone was their usual urgency, replaced by something deeper, more meaningful.
“You’re beautiful,” Luke whispered, pressing kisses along Noah’s collarbone. “Inside and out.”
Noah’s hands tangled in Luke’s hair, guiding him up for another kiss. “Look who’s talking.” His fingers made quick work of Luke’s buttons. “Been wanting to get you alone all night.”
“Yeah?” Luke smiled against Noah’s mouth. “Tell me what else you’ve been wanting.”
Instead of answering, Noah pulled him toward the bed. They fell together onto cool sheets, limbs tangling as they sought closer contact. Luke lost himself in the feel of Noah’s skin against his, in shared breaths and wandering hands.
“Want you,” Noah murmured between kisses. “Need to feel you.”
Luke’s heart raced at the raw honesty in Noah’s voice. This wasn’t just desire—this was trust, vulnerability, and choosing to be fully present with each other. And as Noah’s hands moved lower, stoking the fire building between them, Luke gave himself over to it completely. He pulled back slightly to meet Noah’s gaze, their eyes locked in a heated exchange.
“I want that too,” Luke whispered back. “Whatever it is you need.”
Noah’s hand found its way to Luke’s chest, gripping his shoulders tightly. “I need you.” He paused, his voice barely above a whisper. “To be inside me. I don’t know if that’s something you’d even be interested in, but I’d like to know what you feel when I’m making love to you.”
Luke felt a rush of excitement mixed with apprehension at the request. It wasn’t that Luke never topped, but it wasn’t something he usually preferred. Maybe that was selfish of him, but he loved the feeling of being stretched, of a strong body pinning him to the bed as they fucked. Because that’s what he did. Luke had never made love to anyone before.
Sex until this point had been about the release, but with Noah, it was the connection he craved. He nodded, his heart pounding. “I can do that,” he said, his voice steady despite the butterflies.
Noah’s eyes widened in surprise before his lips found Luke’s again, kissing him deeply. It wasn’t a question. It was a promise. A promise of trust and vulnerability that rocked Luke to his core. He slid his hands down to Noah’s hips, guiding him to position himself while their lips remained locked.
As Noah’s ass brushed against his growing erection, Luke bit back a moan. It felt right—perfect, even. “We’re overdressed.”
He reached around Noah’s body, fumbling with his belt. Noah groaned as Luke’s hand brushed over his erection. “If you keep that up, I’m going to come in my underwear.”
“We can’t have that, now can we?” Luke nibbled Noah’s neck, eliciting a hiss of pleasure. He shoved his partner’s pants and underwear down his thighs. He needed Noah on the brink of losing his mind with pleasure before he entered him. He wouldn’t be able to live with himself if he hurt him. Noah kicked his pants away from his feet as he worked the buttons on his shirt and pulled it over his head. “Get in the middle of the bed on your back. And please, for the love of god, tell me you have stuff here.”
Luke rummaged around the nightstand, pulling out a box of condoms and a jumbo-sized bottle of lube. It didn’t escape his notice how much of the lube had been used since the last time he’d spent the night. “Have you been playing without me?”
“Have to do something when you’re not here with me,” Noah admitted. In the faint light through the window, Luke noticed Noah worrying his bottom lip. He waited patiently, getting the impression there was more Noah wanted to say but was struggling to get out.
Straddling Noah’s hips, Luke nipped his collarbone. “Tell me what you’ve been doing to yourself when you’re thinking about me.”
“I…” Noah turned his face away.
Luke wasn’t about to let him get away with trying to hide now. He gripped Noah’s chin, applying just enough pressure for Noah to look back at him. “If you tell me, I promise I’ll fuck you so good you’ll wonder how you’ve gone this long without it.”
“I didn’t want to ask you to top me if I couldn’t enjoy it,” he admitted. Luke reached one hand between their bodies and curled his fingers around Noah’s erection, figuring distraction would make it easier.
“Did you play with yourself?” Luke teased, the tips of his fingers slipping past Noah’s balls to his taint. “Is this where you touched yourself?”
Noah arched off the bed, chasing his pleasure. “Lower.”
Luke’s fingers drifted closer to his target but didn’t give in. Not yet. He rewarded Noah’s honesty with a trail of kisses along his jaw. “Like this?”
“Please, Luke.” His plea was laced with desperation. “If you keep teasing me, I’m going to come.”
“We can’t have that, now can we?” Luke sat up and repositioned himself. He slicked up two fingers, never breaking eye contact with Noah. “How many fingers did you use?”
“One.” Noah hissed as Luke’s index finger made contact with his rim. Luke circled his opening, making sure Noah was good and relaxed before he breached his entrance. “It wasn’t bad, but it felt weird to do it on my own.”
“Baby, you should have told me. I would have come over to take care of you.” Luke proceeded with caution, not wanting to cause his partner any pain. “It’s always better with someone else, but there’s nothing wrong with taking care of business solo.”
“Didn’t want to keep going alone,” Noah admitted. Luke added the tip of his middle finger. “Oh fuck, why does that feel so good?”
“Because your body knows what’s about to happen.” With his other hand, Luke stroked Noah’s cock again. “You’re about to have the best orgasm of your life.”
Once his body relaxed completely, Luke pushed deeper, spreading his fingers, twisting them. He avoided Noah’s prostate only because he was so on edge he may not be able to control himself. “But first, I need to make sure you’re ready to take my dick. It may not be thick, but it’s long, and it’s going to hit you in the most amazing places.”
“Your dick…” Noah threw his head back. “Oh shit. Keep doing that!”
“You like that?” Luke pulled out, applying more lube to his fingers before pushing three into Noah’s body. He didn’t go deep. Didn’t need to. Noah was already on the edge, and if Luke had to feel his body writhe much longer, they’d both be passed out before the main event. “Think you’re ready for more?”
“Please!” Noah whimpered when Luke pulled his hand away and scooted back.
“Might be easier the first time if you flip over.”
Noah shook his head. He grabbed Luke’s arms, pulling him down on top of him. “If I’m going to do this, it’s going to be just like this. No distance between us tonight.”
It wasn’t as if they hadn’t screwed in missionary before, but Luke understood what Noah was saying. The only distance he was trying to maintain was enough to keep him from blowing the second he felt Noah’s heat enveloping his body. If Noah enjoyed himself the way Luke did, the look of his ecstasy would be enough to send Luke soaring. “Okay. Whatever you need. But if you don’t let me grab the rubber, I can’t promise I won’t slide right into you.”
When Noah looked like he was about to beg for something Luke had never given anyone, he silenced him with a searing kiss.
Luke pulled away from the kiss, breathless and eager. He reached for the condom and tore open the packet with trembling hands. Noah watched him intently, his eyes filled with a mix of anticipation and nervousness. Luke rolled on the condom and applied a generous amount of lube, ensuring he was well coated.
He positioned himself between Noah’s legs, his heart pounding. Noah looked up at him with trust and desire in his eyes, and Luke felt a surge of emotion that terrified him. In that moment, he realized he was destroyed for any man other than Noah Thompson. He leaned down, capturing Noah’s lips in a softer, reassuring kiss.
“We go at your pace,” Luke murmured against his mouth. “If it’s too much, just say so, and we’ll stop.”
Noah nodded, his hands gripping Luke’s shoulders. “I trust you.”
Luke aligned himself with Noah’s entrance and slowly began to push in. He watched Noah’s face carefully for any sign of discomfort. Noah’s breath hitched, and his eyes fluttered closed as Luke breached him. Luke paused, giving Noah time to adjust to the sensation.
“Okay?” Luke asked softly, brushing a lock of hair away from Noah’s forehead.
Noah nodded, his grip on Luke’s shoulders tightening. “Yeah. It’s…different. But good.”
Encouraged, Luke pushed in a little farther, feeling Noah’s body stretch to accommodate him. He moved slowly, inch by inch until he was fully seated inside Noah. The sensation was intense, a mix of physical pleasure and emotional connection that left Luke breathless.
Noah’s eyes opened, locking onto Luke’s. “You feel incredible,” Noah whispered, his voice rough with emotion. “It’s like it hurts but doesn’t all at the same time.”
“You ready for more?”
Noah dug his fingers into Luke’s shoulders, pulling him down for a blistering kiss. Luke didn’t need to ask twice when Noah arched his hips off the mattress, urging him on.
Luke began to move, slow and steady, giving Noah time to adjust to each thrust. Noah’s hands roamed over Luke’s back, pulling him closer, urging him deeper. The room filled with their combined breaths, the sound of skin against skin, and soft moans of pleasure. Luke felt every movement, every touch, every kiss so intensely that it was almost overwhelming.
He broke the kiss, needing to see Noah’s face, needing to know he was enjoying this as much as Luke was.
Noah’s eyes were glazed with pleasure, his lips parted as he breathed out Luke’s name. “Luke…it’s so good. You feel so good. Please don’t stop.”
Luke increased his pace, driven by the need to bring Noah to the edge and push him over. He reached between them, wrapping his hand around Noah’s cock, stroking him in time with his thrusts. Noah arched into his touch, his body tensing as he neared his peak.
“Come for me, Noah,” Luke urged, his voice rough with desire. “Let go. Let me feel you.”
Noah cried out, his body convulsing as he came, his release spilling over Luke’s hand. The sight and sound of Noah’s pleasure had Luke’s body tensing as his release raced up on him. He thrust deep one last time, his orgasm ripping through him, leaving him shaking and breathless.
Luke collapsed on top of Noah, their bodies slick with sweat and their breaths mingling. He buried his face in Noah’s neck, feeling Noah’s heart pounding against his own. Noah’s arms wrapped around him, holding him close as they both came down from the high.
“That was…” Noah began, his voice barely more than a whisper.
“Incredible,” Luke finished for him, lifting his head to look into Noah’s eyes. “Thank you for giving that to me.”
Noah smiled, his eyes soft with emotion. “I feel like I should be the one thanking you.”
Luke rolled onto his side, pulling Noah with him. He didn’t want to let go, didn’t want to break the connection they had forged. Noah settled against him, his head resting on Luke’s chest, their legs tangled together.
“Stay with me tonight,” Noah murmured, his voice soft and sleepy. He was already drifting off. Luke slipped out of the bed to take care of the condom. He returned with a warm washcloth, cleaning his lover before crawling into the bed behind him.
Luke tightened his arms around Noah, holding him close. “Always.”
As they lay there, the room quiet except for the sound of their breathing, Luke knew he’d found something he’d never known he was looking for. He had found a home, a family, a love that was deeper and more profound than anything he could have imagined. And he was never letting go.