“But—”
Click.
What the fuck?
“Son of a bitch.” The walls echoed with his angry growl. “That bastard hung up on me. Who the hell does he think he is?” He picked a pillow off his bed and threw it across the room, unable to fathom why Jordan would be angry at him. Luke stormed across the room and picked up the pillow to place it back on the bed. Since everything looked better on a full stomach, he decided to bring the mountain to Mohammed.
A little more than an hour later, he waited on the top step of Jordan’s brownstone, a bag of Magnolia Bakery cupcakes in one hand, the other holding takeout from his favorite Italian restaurant. He pressed the bell and waited. A grin spread over his face as he heard the frantic barking of Sasha and Jordan pretending annoyance, shushing her. The curtain covering the glass part of the door parted, and Luke met Jordan’s eyes. The curtain fell back.
When the door didn’t open after a moment or two, Luke rapped on the glass. “Come on, Prep School, let me in.”
Another few heartbeats, then the door opened. Sasha jumped up on him, whining and licking whatever part of him she could reach. Luke couldn’t help but laugh as he made a fuss over her, then followed her into the house after kicking the door closed behind him.
Faint moonlight streaming in through the kitchen windows outlined the silhouette of Jordan’s body standing by the center island. As Luke walked down the hallway to join him in the kitchen, he had the chance to admire Jordan’s broad shoulders, tapering to a narrow waist and slim hips. Muscles that hadn’t been there a month ago now rippled slightly under his tight white T-shirt. Luke’s entire body hardened as Jordan tipped his head back, draining his drink. Jordan’s neglected cock stirred and swelled.
Suddenly his hunger wasn’t only for food.
“Jordan.” With a muttered curse, Luke dropped the bags on the table and pulled him close, his mouth hungry for a taste of Jordan’s lips. It was as electric a feeling as before, their mouths coming together in a clash of lips, tongues, and teeth. He palmed Jordan’s firm ass as he rubbed himself against the tight body he’d dreamed about these past weeks, lying alone in his hotel room. He could feel the thick length of Jordan’s erection through the thin sweats he wore. “Oh, man, you feel so good.”
It took him several moments to realize that Jordan had stopped responding. He wasn’t hugging Luke back, and after that heady kiss, his lips had gone hard and unyielding. Luke pulled back, confused at Jordan’s withdrawal.
“What’s the matter with you? Is anything wrong? I thought you’d be glad to see me.” His knuckles brushed along the fine bones of Jordan’s cheek. Though he shivered in response, Jordan stepped out of his arms and circled the center island in the kitchen, placing the wide slab of granite between them like a great divide. He dropped down onto one of the stools and splashed some vodka into his glass. Straight vodka, Luke noticed.
“I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?” His tone, in direct contradiction to his words, spoke volumes. It was cold and clipped, not at all the way you sounded when you were happy to see a person after he’d been gone for so long. With the practiced ease of a long-standing drinker, Jordan downed half the glass.
“Well, for starters, I texted you hours ago, and you never responded. Then earlier when we talked, you hung up on me.” Luke busied himself by taking out the food—baked ziti and chicken parmigiana—from the bags, arranging it on plates as he spoke. “I brought us some food and dessert. I figured we could catch up.” He grinned, hoping Jordan would smile back at him.
No such luck. Those pale blue eyes remained as flat as when he’d first seen him months ago.
“I’m not into playing games, Lucas, nor am I here for you to have a quickie whenever you want your itch scratched.” He picked up his glass and drained it, but Luke saw the slight shake in his hand.
“Are you okay? You’re trembling.”
Jordan slammed his glass down with such force Luke couldn’t believe it hadn’t shattered. “Don’t play this bullshit with me. You leave and all I get are e-mails or calls asking how I physically feel from the withdrawal. Have I given up the pills? Not one single time did you ever call simply to talk. You’re the first man I’ve touched since Keith. Do you know what it meant to let you into my bed?”
“I’m sorry. I should’ve realized it.” Even to his own ears, that sounded like a fumbling excuse.
“The only thing you care about is the drugs. Now you walk in here and expect what? A quick fuck?” He pushed up off the chair and advanced on Luke, his blue eyes now alive, blazing with anger. “I thought what happened between us before you left meant something, but I obviously was wrong. But for the record, listen well. No one uses me.”
“That’s not true. You couldn’t be more wrong.” Luke defended himself, shocked by the anger and hurt on Jordan’s face. “I wished I could’ve called more. I tried as best I could, but I was busy. I was running from early morning until late at night.” Never in his wildest imagination had it occurred to him that Jordan might be hurt by Luke’s constant questioning about Jordan’s withdrawal. Luke thought he was showing concern for Jordan when he asked about the drugs. Didn’t that show he cared? Then again, what the hell did he know about this relationship thing? Luke never had anyone who gave a damn where he was and what he was doing. “I’m not playing games. I-I didn’t know it mattered to you, that I mattered. I’ve always been on my own.”
Like a balloon, Jordan’s anger deflated. He turned away and braced his hands on the top of the island, head bent, but his shoulders remained tight with anger. “I’m sorry I snapped. It’s that you’re the first man I’ve been with since—”
“Since Keith, yes, I know.” Luke walked up to Jordan and slipped his arms around him, laying his cheek on Jordan’s head. “I should’ve been more sensitive to that fact, and I’m sorry.” He kissed the top of Jordan’s head, inhaling the unique scent of his warm skin and aftershave. Intoxicating. His senses reeled, desire spilling through his veins like water rushing into a dry riverbed. The hard ridge of muscles of Jordan’s stomach clenched underneath Lucas’s splayed fingers.
A shudder passed through Luke’s body as he nuzzled the heated space where Jordan’s neck curved to meet his shoulder. “Say you forgive me. I’ve thought of nothing else these past days, knowing I was coming home and you’d be here.” With frantic hands, he pulled off Jordan’s T-shirt, revealing his pale, golden skin, then turned him around so they were finally face-to-face. “You’ve been working out, Prep School, huh?” He touched the soft flesh of Jordan’s shoulders with his fingertips and traced the defined swell of muscles that hadn’t been there a month earlier. Luke’s fingers dug into Jordan’s bicep to yank him closer so their lips were but a breath apart. “I feel the difference. Your body’s harder than it was before.”
“You have no idea.” Jordan gritted the words out before thrusting his hips forward.
Luke staggered slightly, then planted his feet wider to stand firm. The heaviness of Jordan’s erection continued to rub against Luke’s own straining cock. “So am I forgiven?” Their gazes locked, his own need reflected in the fire kindled in Jordan’s eyes. “Say it, so I can give you what I know you want. I feel it, right here.” He reached down between their bodies and cupped Jordan’s cock. It swelled further beneath the thin fabric, which grew damp even as he held him. In one swift move, he yanked down Jordan’s sweatpants and, without breaking their intense eye fucking, took Jordan’s now exposed cock in hand and began to stroke.
It came as no surprise to him when Jordan reciprocated by unsnapping Luke’s pants, letting them fall to his ankles. “I forgive you. I didn’t realize the pressure you’re under with your job.”
Luke’s breath caught as Jordan took both their cocks into his strong yet elegant hand. He collected the wetness that seeped from their tips and spread it over their shafts, all the while continuing the friction, which soon had Luke swaying on his feet, his head buried in Jordan’s neck. “God, Jordan, what you do to me.”
Jordan continued the stroking and rubbing of their cocks together and whispered in Luke’s ear. “You matter more than I can say, so I’m going to show you. I’m going to make sure you’ll never be able to forget me again.”
Before he could stop himself, Luke blurted out, “How can I forget you? I think I’ve been waiting for you all my life.”
