Chapter 16 – Luke
LUKE
“Isigned the lease yesterday," Jack texted. "Want to come see the place?”
Luke was wrapping up at The Ridge just before three, and he smiled because Jack remembered what time he finished work. That was… something.
He replied, “Can’t wait! What’s the address?”
They hadn’t seen each other much this week, but they had kept in touch almost daily.
Now, Luke wondered what kind of housewarming gift to bring.
Wine felt wrong because he hadn’t been in a liquor store in fifteen years and wasn’t about to break that streak.
Beer seemed too bro-ey. Flowers felt like too much.
He popped into the hardware store and found a potted plant. Mrs. Miller assured him it was hardy enough to survive even in the dark and without any love at all.
“Perfect,” Luke said with a smirk.
Luke pulled up with Marley as Jack opened the front door.
“You made it,” Jack said, stepping aside to let them in. “Ready for the grand tour?”
“Lead the way, Colonel.”
Jack walked him through an open living area, a decent kitchen, two bedrooms, and two baths. “And the deck’s out back. Not much, but it works.”
“It’s good,” Luke said, looking around. “Photos? Books? Knickknacks? Anything that’s actually… um… yours?”
“Hey, come on, I just got here!” Jack pushed back, pointing to a few boxes stacked against the wall. The space had potential but was still bare—except for his desk setup with dual monitors.
Luke handed Jack the plant. “Well, here’s a start! Happy housewarming. Everybody needs something alive in their home, right?”
Jack took it and studied the leaves. “I’m actually pretty good with plants," he said. "They bring out my latent nurturing side.”
Luke raised an eyebrow. “Oh, really?”
“Really.” Jack set it on the kitchen counter, then turned back to Luke. “What?”
“Nothing,” Luke said, remembering how Jack nurtured Martinez on campus. “But I have been here for five minutes, and you haven’t kissed me hello in your new house.”
Jack smiled, crossed the room, and pulled Luke in for a proper, slow, deliberate kiss.
“Here's to Casa Garrison,” Luke said as they pulled apart. “It’s going to be great.”
They spent the next hour unpacking boxes using Jack's methodical system. Kitchen first, bedroom second, everything else could wait. Luke helped sort dishes, books, and framed photos that Jack hadn’t yet decided where to hang.
“Your parents?" Luke asked, holding up a picture of The Colonel and Mrs. Garrison at what appeared to be a military ceremony.
“Yeah. Dad’s retirement," Jack said, looking at the photo for a moment before setting it on the bookshelf. “I should call them. I finally have my semester strategy developed enough.”
“Has that been on your mind a lot?”
“Hmm? Oh, no. But Dad will ream me if I don’t give him a full report.”
They emptied a few more boxes, laid sheets and a quilt on the bed, and swept the floors. Jack installed a ceiling fan he’d picked up earlier at Home Depot, while Luke organized the bathroom.
By the time they finished, it was getting dark out.
They grabbed takeout from the grocery store deli and ate standing in the kitchen, laughing about something one of the kids had done at soccer practice the previous week.
Jack was rinsing their containers when Luke came up behind him, sliding his arms around Jack's waist.
“Thanks for letting me help today,” Luke said into Jack's neck. “It took my mind off losing the donor. I’m still on my heels about it.”
Jack turned to face him and said, "Thanks for coming. Do you want to talk about it?”
“Yes, but not right now,” Luke said. “Thank you.”
They kissed, and this time when they pulled apart, Jack’s eyes were half-closed.
“I’ve missed you this week,” Jack said. “Could you stay over tonight?”
Luke smiled and nodded, but inside he was screaming: Finally!
“Come with me,” Jack said, taking his hand. They stumbled down the hall, tugging at their clothes. Jack pushed Luke onto the bed and stood over him.
"I’m gonna make you see God,” Jack said.
Luke’s breath froze. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” Jack pulled his pants down to his knees, his cock pressing against his boxers, and knelt between Luke’s legs.
Luke lifted his hips as Jack pulled his jeans down. The cool air hit his skin for a second before Jack’s mouth was on him—hot, wet, and perfect.
“Oh, fuck,” Luke breathed.
Jack took his time, tongue drawing patterns before taking half, then more, then more into his mouth. His hands gripped Luke’s thighs, holding him firm as he worked. Rhythm building, pressure increasing, moving slowly up and down at first.
Luke’s fingers found Jack’s head, the bristle of his crew cut rough against his palms.
“Jack… fuck!”
Jack’s lips again circled wet and tight around the base of Luke’s cock, and Jack hollowed his cheeks to keep the pressure on as much as he could. He eased a slicked finger into Luke until he found the spot that made Luke gasp, then kept stroking in and out, hitting it again and again.
Jack nibbled his way down to Luke’s balls, tugging, then tonguing each one. He dragged his tongue all the way back up and then, lightning quick, was down all the way again.
Luke came hard and called Jack’s name like he was lost in a storm.
Jack swallowed, and moments later, Luke tasted himself when they kissed.
They lay like that, Jack resting on Luke’s chest, both content, Luke slightly buzzed from his orgasm, Jack’s lips and heaving body covering him like a heavy rug.
“Good?” Jack asked.
“Understatement,” Luke said, still catching his breath.
He reached for Jack’s boxers. “Your turn.”
Jack caught his hand. “I’m good,” he said.
Luke couldn’t believe it. Was he already retreating?
“You sure?”
“Yeah,” Jack said, standing and revealing a telltale wet spot on his underwear. “You already made me cum from sucking you.”
Luke felt his face flush. God, that was so hot, seeing this man who had just taken him apart, brick by brick, standing there like that.
Jack took off the underwear, put on another pair, stretched, and yawned loudly.
“Can we watch the game? Playoffs are on. I can bring my laptop.”
Luke blinked slowly and smiled. “Yeah, okay," he said.
Jack returned with his laptop and a couple of bottles of water. They settled against the headboard, Luke’s head finding that spot on Jack’s shoulder where he fit perfectly.
The game played on, but Luke felt himself sinking into the warmth of Jack’s body, the steady rasp of his breathing, and the comfort of being here.
He looked over and saw Jack’s eyes were closed, his mouth slightly open, the softest snore emerging.
Luke smiled, closed the laptop quietly, and set it aside. He found his spot again between Jack’s shoulder and chest and let himself drift.
When Luke woke, the morning sun was filtering through the closed blinds, giving everything a honey glow.
Jack’s side of the bed was empty.
Luke heard movement in the kitchen—a cabinet opening, the coffee maker running. He got up, used the bathroom, and found his boxers from last night.
When he walked into the kitchen, Jack was already dressed—jeans and a T-shirt, his hair damp from a shower Luke hadn’t heard him take.
“Morning,” Luke said.
“Hey.” Jack looked up from his phone. “Coffee’s on.”
Luke poured himself a cup and leaned against the counter. Jack kept scrolling.
“Sleep okay?” Luke asked.
“Yeah. You?”
“Good.”
Silence. Not uncomfortable exactly, but not easy either.
Jack set his phone down. “I’ve got some stuff to do today. Errands. Boring stuff.”
“Oh. Yeah, sure.” Luke took another sip. “I should probably head out anyway. Need to check on a few things at The Ridge.”
“Cool.”
They stood there while Luke sipped his coffee.
“We’ve gotta talk about this coffee situation,” Luke said.
“Bad?”
“Not good.”
Luke set his cup in the sink, gathered his clothes from last night, and got dressed. He could feel Jack pulling away the same way he had on Sunday morning, the same way he always did after they were close. Luke recognized the pattern, but he didn’t know how to respond.
When he went back into the living room, Jack was at his desk, laptop open.
“See you later?” Luke said.
Jack stood, crossed to him, and gave him a quick kiss. “Yeah. Text me.”
“Will do.”
Luke called for Marley and headed to his car.
The drive home was quiet. He turned on the radio, turned it off again.
Last night had been good together, the blowjob the best he’d ever imagined—not only for the pleasure, but for the way Jack was so intent on giving it to him, as if Luke’s pleasure were his only goal. Or maybe he’d just been making a point, taking care of the evening to move through it.
But this morning, their first time waking up together, definitely felt different to Luke. Maybe Jack’s not a morning person. Don’t read into it.
But as he walked into his house, Luke couldn’t shake the sense that even though they’d spent the night together, they’d woken up in completely different places.