Chapter 11 – Jack
JACK
Jack's Saturday morning was quiet. No obligations, no schedule, no one expecting anything of him.
Just coffee on the hotel's back deck after a long, restful sleep.
He could get used to this.
His plans were simple: Luke and Marley would jog over, they'd drive to the high school to watch Mara's kids' soccer practice, then... whatever. Maybe the old silver mine, maybe one of the ski resorts for lunch.
The point was to spend the day together, no pressure. Start in second gear and see how it goes.
Things had been moving fast since he got back—the job, settling in, Luke. Since Luke's trip to campus on Tuesday, they'd seen each other a few times—quick encounters at The Ridge, coffee at Mara's café.
Wednesday night, as his workday ended, Luke texted Jack, who invited him to the hotel.
They'd fucked fast and hard, athletic more than anything.
Two champions in their prime, almost competing to see who could drive the other crazier, wilder.
They'd come less intensely than before, then laughed together afterward, that same physical release of tension.
And that time, Luke left first, saying he had to get home to check on Marley, which was fine with Jack. He was ready to be alone again, but didn't want to say anything.
It was good. Easy. Uncomplicated.
Keep it that way.
He looked up as Luke and Marley jogged onto the deck. Jack stood reflexively but didn't hug or kiss Luke.
Instead, he crouched down and greeted Marley.
"There's a good boy," he said, scratching behind the lab's ears. To Luke: "Such a great dog."
"This man's best friend, no doubt," Luke said, opening his arms for a quick bro-hug. "Good to see you. Ready for a fun day?"
"Let's do it."
Luke directed Jack to the high school. The county had rebuilt the access road about ten years earlier, and Jack didn't remember the old route anyway.
"It's just up here," Luke said.
"High school horrors coming up fast."
"Please,” Luke said. “You ruled high school."
"Hey, you were homecoming king, not me."
"You weren't here for that."
"Oh, I heard all about it,” Jack said. “I even saw the yearbook. Your date was cute in her strapless dress, with her hair flat-ironed straight."
"Hey, it was the style back then. She was hot."
"She was hot? You were hot. No wonder Hollywood stole you away."
"Please. It was just Calvin Klein and Men's Fitness. I bombed out before I could even finish the audition for 'Survivor.'"
"'Survivor?'" Jack grinned. "Now that I didn't know. You would've been the sexiest castaway, for sure."
They pulled into the lot—school in front, athletic fields to the right. Julio was on the other side of the fence, keeping an eye on the team's bench while the kids tried to follow instructions.
Jack and Luke sat behind him. Julio turned and waved. During a break, Nita and Marco ran over for juice boxes. Julio said something Jack and Luke couldn't hear, and the kids turned to wave, their smiles aimed at Luke.
"Cute kids," Jack said.
"The best. Love them to death. They're the same age as my niece and nephew, but I'm much closer to these two. Don't tell my sister. They're my angel-babies."
Eventually, they made their way to the field and kicked a ball around with the kids, with Marley running around chasing balls, too. Practice was mostly drills—getting them used to behaving in an orderly fashion, more than anything.
Julio leaned in close to Luke and said something Jack couldn't quite catch. Luke shook his head, though he was smiling. Julio laughed and clapped him on the shoulder, shooting Jack a knowing look.
Whatever Julio had said, Luke's cheeks were slightly flushed.
The kids came running for high-fives, and Jack and Luke walked up to the school, which was locked on Saturday. They stood at a side entrance and began walking the perimeter.
When they turned a corner, Jack pulled Luke to him and kissed him.
"What are you doing?" Luke asked, breathless.
"Just had to do that."
"Yeah? Any chance you just have to do it again?"
"I do," Jack said, pulling Luke closer and kissing him more deeply. Their playful make-out turned serious fast. Jack's hand slid down Luke's back. "Remember when we used to make out here after baseball practice, my senior year? The only place I knew we wouldn't get caught."
He squeezed Luke's ass through his jeans.
"Not here," Luke said. "Too risky. Besides, it's cold. My dick will shrink."
They walked back to the Jeep uncomfortably, both obviously hard. No one was around, but by the time they got in, a couple more cars were pulling into the lot.
Jack groaned in frustration and pushed aside thoughts of pulling Luke into his lap right then.
Release would have to wait. Again.
Jack drove past the hotel toward Luke's place.
"Oh, are you taking us home?" Luke asked.
"I'm taking him home," Jack said, nodding toward Marley in the back seat. "You can take care of him and meet me at the hotel."
Luke turned toward the passenger window and smiled, saying, "Yes, sir."
"I mean, if that's acceptable."
"Yes, Sir," he said. "Very acceptable, Sir."
"And bring the lube," Jack added as Luke and Marley got out. "I don't have any."
Jack drove back to the hotel, grateful for the break and eager to see Luke arrive. They'd had sex only a few times, and his body was already learning what it meant to be around Luke. Plus, there were so many things left to do, including one in particular that Jack was almost obsessed with.
In his room, Jack showered slowly, enjoying the hot water on his muscles. He shaved, brushed his teeth, and put on Levi's and a black T-shirt.
He scrolled through the hotel TV channels until he found a light jazz channel and turned the volume down low.
A knock at the door.
"Who is it?"
"Open the door, Jack."
He did. Luke stood there, somehow transformed from running-around-all-day grunge to effortlessly put-together in joggers and a Ridge T-shirt.
Jack let his gaze travel. Slow. Deliberate.
Luke noticed. "Can I come in?"
"I was taking in the view," Jack said, gesturing to Luke from head to toe.
"You like what you see?"
"Get in here."
Luke walked to him, and Jack caught the scent of his shampoo, something expensive that definitely didn't come from the grocery store.
"I can offer you bottled water or instant decaf," Jack said. "Sorry. I need to go to the market."
"What I want right now is NOT in the market," Luke said, grabbing the bulge in Jack's jeans.
"Same."
Luke smiled with a wicked gleam in his eye, kissed Jack wet and slow, and sank to his knees.
"I haven't had the chance to properly address this guy since you've been back in town," Luke said as he unbuttoned Jack's jeans and pulled them down, along with his boxer-briefs. "You're always so quick to get him inside me."
Luke kissed the head, beginning the slow, selfish procedure he'd waited decades to administer.
"Which I do appreciate," he said.
He kissed it again. And again.
"But I have other needs right now," Luke continued softly, maneuvering Jack toward the bed.
"Sit," Luke said, pulling Jack's pants all the way off as Jack disposed of his shirt.
Luke looked up at him, eyes dark with want. Luke gripped Jack's thighs, leaned forward slowly, and took Jack into his mouth. Slowly, deliberately, maintaining eye contact the whole time. Jack's head fell back, a groan escaping his throat.
Luke worked him with single-minded focus—tongue tracing every vein, lips sealed tight, taking him deeper with each plunge.
The way Luke's eyes fluttered closed, the small sounds he made, the way his body moved…
Jack could tell Luke was lost in it. Luke formed a tube of flesh and suction with his hands and mouth, jacking him furiously with hands, lips, and tongue.
"Christ," Jack breathed, hand finding Luke's wet hair. "Your mouth—"
Luke hummed around him, the vibration making Jack's hips jerk. He took Jack deeper, relaxing his throat until his nose was buried in Jack's bush, and devoured him.
Luke hadn't touched his own cock, but Jack could see the tent in his joggers. Luke's face was completely focused, intent, and lost in it.
"Luke—" Jack's hand tightened in his hair. "I'm close—"
Luke didn't pull back. If anything, he doubled down, eyes locked on Jack's face, watching. Staring each other down.
When Jack at last unloaded, Luke closed his eyes and received it patiently, swallowing only when Jack was finally spent.
Luke pulled off slowly, licking the head of Jack's penis to get the last drop and then his own lips instinctively. Jack's hand gripped his hair again, ready to turn the tables, no break in mind.
"My turn," Jack said, voice rough.
Before Luke could respond, Jack moved. He pulled Luke up, spun him around, and pressed Luke's chest against the wall. Luke braced himself as Jack dropped to his knees behind him.
He gripped Luke's ass cheeks, spread him open, hungry and impatient. He licked Luke’s hole without hesitation, making Luke gasp.
"Jack—" Luke started, his whole body going rigid. "Oh fuck—"
Jack didn't pause. He kept pushing his tongue inside, holding Luke open, taking everything he wanted.
Luke's body eased into it as his forehead pressed against the wallpaper, his breath coming in uneven gasps. "Jesus—fuck—Jack—"
Jack worked him relentlessly: tongue circling, penetrating, retreating. Luke trembled, pushing back against his mouth and urging him ever deeper. One of Luke's hands dropped between his legs, gripping his own cock.
"That's it," Jack murmured against him. "Stroke yourself."
Jack doubled down, pushing deeper, then easing back just enough to drive Luke crazy until he could only gurgle broken, desperate sounds from deep within.
"I'm gonna—" Luke gasped. "Fuck, I'm…"
His whole body went rigid, shaking as Luke came with a shout that echoed off the walls and probably through them. Jack held his hips, his tongue gentle now, easing him down.
When Luke's knees buckled, Jack caught him, pulling him back against his chest. They stood there, wordless, both breathing hard.
"Holy shit," Luke managed after a moment.
Jack's arms were wrapped around him from behind, keeping him steady. "Yeah."
"I think we both needed that," Luke said after they'd fallen onto bed.