Page 22 of Finally
Now it wasn’t only a beating heart Gray would be able to feel, it was also the start of an erection. It had been years since Jack had lost control of his body like that. He simultaneously loved the feeling of arousal coursing through him and was petrified that it would offend Gray. Thankfully, Gray pressed closer, which could only mean he didn’t mind.
“Is that really the translation of the lyrics?”
“It is.” Gray grazed his lips across Jack’s jaw and over to his mouth.
Unable to hold himself back, Jack wrapped his arms around Gray’s shoulders and leaned into him as he deepened the kiss.
“Mmm, Jack.” Gray rubbed his palms across Jack’s wrists, forearms, biceps, and shoulders. “You’re an amazing kisser.”
“I am?” Jack asked breathlessly. Since Gray had proclaimed himself to be Jack’s boyfriend in an effort to shield him from their meddling friends, he had become even more physically affectionate than usual, but Jack didn’t have a firm handle on what that meant and whether Gray truly wanted a relationship with him or if he was doing Jack a favor.
“The best.”
He searched Gray’s face but saw nothing other than sincerity. “I didn’t know that,” he confessed.
Gray winced and closed his eyes.
“You okay?” Jack put his hand on Gray’s chest. “What happened?”
“Nothing.” Gray shook his head and opened his eyes. “I’m fine.” He smiled at Jack. “Let’s go inside and continue this on a soft surface.”
“Okay.” Jack could feel his cheeks stretching from the size of his smile. He walked toward the door and Gray went the opposite direction toward his car.
“I need to grab my bag.”
“You have it?” Jack asked, surprised. “When I saw you here before me, I figured you’d changed your mind about tonight. How did you stop at home and get here this fast?”
With his hand on his door handle, Gray looked over his shoulder at Jack and frowned. “Changed my mind?”
“You didn’t get your things. Or I thought you didn’t get your things.”
Instead of answering right away, Gray reached into the car, put his laptop case over his shoulder, and then took out his weekender bag. “Jack?” Gray said as he walked toward him.
“Yes?”
“I’m not ever going to change my mind.” He lifted the leather bag. “I packed this before the class because I had every intention of smooth talking my way here afterward.”
“You don’t have to smooth—”
“But even if I hadn’t thought ahead and didn’t have my clothes and toothbrush, I’d still want to be with you.” He cupped Jack’s cheek with his free hand and looked into his eyes. “Do you understand?”
“Yes,” Jack said, realizing he sounded silly. “In a world of Grindr and Tinder, the whole overnight bag thing is outdated, huh?” If he had been with anyone other than Gray, Jack would be embarrassed, but Gray knew him so well that all he could do was laugh and shake his head. “I swear I’m not completely out of touch. I know people go home with dates and hookups all thetime, and they probably don’t treat the situation like a weekend getaway.”
“No, you don’t understand.” Gray sighed. “But you will.” He wrapped his arm around Jack’s back. “Come on, let’s go inside.”
The mood had shifted and not in a good direction. “Did I say something to offend you?”
“’Course not.” Gray opened the door and waited for Jack to walk into the house before following him.
“I know I’m being awkward about all this.”
“You’re not awkward,” Gray said with a chuckle.
“Okay, I know that’s not true.”
“Fine, maybe you’re a little bit awkward, but it’s endearing not offensive.” Gray threaded his fingers through the back of Jack’s hair, brushed their lips together, and then said, “We have a few hours before dinner. Do you have work to do?”
The familiar topic calmed him. “I always have work.”
