by Kensie King
I smiled at him and thought I could get used to this, too. Not just the everyday sweetness of the gesture but being pressed against his office door knowing how badly he wanted me.
I couldn’t think of any reason we shouldn’t be together, but first I needed to make sure my heart was on the same page as my head.
And then, Lucas was mine.
17
____________________
LUCAS
The universe was trying to keep us apart. I had extra meetings this week that kept me busy, and Roe had classes at the community center or plans with Elise.
We saw each other in passing, and every time it left me with an ache for him so strong, I knew I had to make time somehow for us to spend together.
I scheduled my meetings for the same time Roe was at the community center so I could get home and spend a few hours with him before he went to the theater for movie night.
But when I got there, Roe was already heading toward the elevator.
He smiled as the doors opened, and I was hit with a moment of tenderness so strong it nearly took my breath away.
“Hey,” he said softly, fingers squeezing the strap of his satchel. “I didn’t think I was going to see you until later. Or tomorrow.”
“I finished my meetings early.”
Which wasn’t the entire truth. I’d insisted on them ending early because I didn’t want to miss more time with Roe than I already had. It occurred to me then that I knew exactly what the partners had been talking about. Balance. A support system at home.
Roe was both. He made me want more in my life than work. He made me want to share things about myself instead of holding them in. He made me a person I never thought I could be.
“I thought you didn’t have to be there until later,” I said, stepping closer to Roe.
I loved it when his gaze dropped automatically to my lips, a sure indication he was feeling the same way I was.
“Mr. Carson asked if I’d come in a little early. I was going to grab something for him for dinner and head over now.”
“Oh.” Disappointment seeped through me. “Sure.”
What else was I supposed to say? The Saturday night movies were one of Roe’s passions and I didn’t want to ask him to miss them. But at the same time, I wanted to get on the same page.
I wanted to know when he had plans and tell him mine so we could figure out time to spend together.
Which sounded just like a relationship—like what we might have had before I’d walked out on him at the B&B.
But I’d changed, and I hoped Roe could see that.
“So…” Roe bit his lip and then met my eyes, almost shyly. “I was hoping maybe you’d want to come.”
I blinked, confused for a moment. “With you tonight?”
“Sure. I mean, it’s movie night and I thought maybe…” He shrugged. “It’s no big deal. You don’t—”
“Yes,” I said without hesitation. “I want to go.”
The words “thank you” hovered on my lips. This was a big step for us. It was the first time he’d asked me to go anywhere with him. The first time he was willingly letting me in on one of his passions.
“Do I have time to shower? Twenty minutes?” I asked.
He laughed and nodded. “Of course. I’ll text Mr. Carson and let him know we’ll be there soon.”
I resisted the urge to kiss him, another thank you that was no doubt unnecessary with Roe. He could probably see how much this meant to me.
It meant he was beginning to trust me again.
I took a quick shower and picked something casual to wear, mirroring it after Roe’s typical style. Jeans and a cashmere sweater.
When I returned to the living room and found him standing in front of the bank of windows, I took a cautious breath.
My heart squeezed tight at the sight of him, his lean silhouette against the dark sky outside. I was hit with a sudden rush of affection that staggered me. Roe was one of the best men I knew, and he was here, with me.
It blew my mind and humbled me at the same time.
I walked up behind Roe and wrapped my arms around him. He hissed in a surprised breath and then turned in my arms.
“You scared me,” he murmured.
“Didn’t mean to. I just wanted…to say thanks. For inviting me tonight.”
He slid his hands hesitantly up my shoulders and rested them there. “I want you there.”
I kissed him softly, keeping it simple and sweet even when my body wanted to take it to the next level and press his body against the window to take a little more before we had to go.
There was time for that. And I wasn’t going back on my word. I wanted Roe to ask for it. I wanted him to be the one who said when it was time to take that next step.
Roe exhaled, his breath touching my lips. Then he leaned his forehead against mine like he was gathering strength from within.
“Okay,” he said quietly. “Are we ready to go?”
I wondered what was going on in his head, but I had a feeling he’d tell me when he was ready.
It took a Herculean effort, but I stepped back and took his hand. “Let’s go.”
I wouldn’t release his hand the entire time we were in the elevator. His fingers were warm, grip steady. It was the most natural yet most intimate gesture yet.
Like we were a real couple. Like Roe finally believed that I wouldn’t hurt him anymore.
We grabbed a cab and stopped for dinner on the way.
It never ceased to amaze me how generous Roe was. How he tried to take care of everyone else even when he was dealing with things in his own life.
When we pulled up to the theater, I stared out the window at the historic building. Lights surround the marquee, standing out against the old brick of the building. A small balcony stretched across the second level of the structure, but even in the dim light of the late evening, I could tell it had seen better days.
The whole place had.
But it held a charm you didn’t often see around the city anymore. An almost gothic 1920s style that lent itself to live performances as well. No wonder Roe was so enamored with the place.
“It’s amazing,” I told Roe.
I stepped out of the cab and walked around to open his door for him. He smiled up at me when I held out my hand.
“It is, isn’t it? Mr. Carson has owned it for twenty years. He bought it from a couple who’d owned it for years—back when they only had live shows here.” He joined me on the sidewalk, staring up at the building. “All sorts of amazing off-Broadway stuff.”
“You’re trying to buy it, aren’t you?” I asked him, the thought hitting me out of nowhere.
Roe glanced over, eyes wide. “What? How did you know?”
“The way you talk about it. How Mr. Carson is hanging on but needs to sell.”
I didn’t mention that it was almost in foreclosure. I checked out the building last week and realized one of the banks we worked with financed the property for Mr. Carson. He was close to losing it.
My guess was he was only hanging on because Roe wanted it so badly. Or maybe he had different motives altogether.
Roe looked at the building again, the marquee lights flickering in his eyes. “It used to be amazing—I’ve seen pictures. If I could restore it to what it was, we could still have shows here. Then the kids from the community center would have a real stage to perform on. And—”
Roe broke off. He dropped his gaze.
‘What?” I asked, stepping up to him. “What were you going to say?”
“Nothing. It’s just…dreams.”
I lifted his chin. “Why would you think I wouldn’t want to hear about this? Roe…” Fuck. Couldn’t he see how much I cared about him? Couldn’t he see that his worries and joys were my worries and joys?
He smiled and stepped back. “We should probably get inside or the food will get cold.”
I held back a sigh. What was Roe so afraid of? Did he think that confiding in me was giving me more of his heart th
an he was ready for?
I took his hand again as we walked inside, studying the building and its features before Mr. Carson greeted us in the lobby. It smelled like popcorn and looked just as charming on the inside as it did on the outside.
Roe hugged the man and passed over the bag. “We brought you dinner.” He glanced at me and smiled. “This is my friend Lucas. He’s a recent classic movie enthusiast.”
With a grin, I shook Mr. Carson’s hand. I hadn’t actually seen a classic movie—at least not a whole one—in years. But Roe was a new passion, so now his passions were mine.
“Thank you for dinner.” Mr. Carson’s eyes twinkled when they glanced to me briefly. “And I’m happy you brought a friend.”
“Sorry we’re a little late,” Roe said, following him further into the building.
“No worries.”
“Did you need help with something, or…?”
Mr. Carson gave Roe a smile, though I could see the weariness behind it. “No. Nothing special. Just wanted to chat with an old friend.” He smiled again and pulled an envelope out of his pocket to pass it to Roe. “This is for you.”
Roe looked at the envelope, turning it over in his hands before looking up again. “What is it? Everything okay?”
“Never been better,” Mr. Carson said, winking at me. “You put that away and read it later. Tonight, your customers await.”
Roe grinned and tucked the envelope into his back pocket.
I said goodbye to Mr. Carson when he left and followed Roe upstairs, to where the original balconies were. They’d since been converted to projector booths.
“Everyone should be here in about thirty minutes,” Roe told me, “so I’m going to get the film ready.”
“Mind if I watch?”
“Not at all. It’s a lost art, really. Not everything is digital,” he said as he pulled film out of a metal canister. “Back then, they threaded the projector and once they started showing trailers with movies, they had to splice each section together and then make sure the whole thing flowed smoothly.”
His hands moved deftly as he wound the film into the projector like he’d done it a thousand times. “Want to try?” Roe asked, glancing up at me.
I ventured closer, just because I wanted to be near him. “I don’t want to mess it up.”
He smiled. “Not a chance.”
“I think I’m good. I…” I breathed him in, stopping what I wanted to say.
God, it was killing me being this close to him, alone and in a near dark room, without being able to touch him.
“Lucas,” he murmured softly.
“Yes?”
“I can—I can feel your breath on my neck,” he said. “It’s distracting me.”
“Sorry.”
“No.” He turned abruptly. “I want that distraction. You said…you told me that I had to ask for it. That I was the one who had to say something when I realized how badly I wanted you, and I…” He reached out to touch my cheek, so softly, I closed my eyes for a moment just to revel in it. “I want you.”
My cock went hard immediately, desire pulsing through every inch of me.
“Roe,” I said, warning in my voice.
“I’m not drunk,” he reminded me. “I know what I’m saying—”
“It’s not that. It’s—fuck.” I cupped his face in my hands. “Saying that to me when we only have a few minutes before everyone gets here. I’m tempted to take you right here in the booth.”
His breath caught, and I had images of him pressed face first up against the wall while I took him from behind, burying myself in him so deep we were the same person.
“We have a few minutes,” Roe told me.
I swiveled him so his back was against the wall, devouring his mouth with my own. He gave a quiet whimper that drove me crazy. He wasn’t lying, he wanted this. As badly as I did.
“God,” he whispered when I let him up for air, “I want you so much.”
I growled at the way my body responded to every word, every touch. Capturing his wrists together in one hand, I pressed them against the wall above his head.
He made a noise of arousal and something that almost sounded like disapproval.
“If you touch me, I don’t think I’ll be able to stop,” I told him, keeping his hands secure in mind.
His breath came in sharp pants. “I want to touch you. Lucas—"
“Not yet.” I pressed my hips against his, holding him in place. His cock lengthened, sliding along my thigh.
I was already too close to losing it, with precum leaking into my underwear and my mind whirling with how hard and hot his body was against mine.
His tongue came out to slid along my lips, making me moan and release him so I could get my hands on his ass.
I tugged him against my erection, grinding my hips so the friction drove us both crazy.
“Lucas,” he said with a gasp, driving his fingers into my hair. “I want you inside of me. I want my mouth on you, sucking—”
“Roe,” I warned again.
He didn’t continue, only drove his hands under my shirt so he could feel warm, smooth flesh. His fingertips brushed my nipples and I hissed in pleasure.
I knew far back in my mind that we were going to have to stop at any moment, but my body wouldn’t listen.
Sliding my hand between us, I ran it down his thigh and back up, cupping his cock and rubbing.
His heart hammered against mine. “Lucas,” he whimpered. “Please.”
“You want me to take you right here?” I asked.
“Yes.”
No hesitation. Complete trust. Complete longing.
And then we heard voices.
Roe gasped and froze. “They’re here.”
It took a whole five seconds for me to move away from him, for me to get my body to cooperate.
“Lucas,” Roe chided with a laugh, giving me a little shove so I’d back up. “I have to get down there.”
“Hey—” I caught his hand before he could walk away.
I gave him one more kiss, my tongue lingering against his before I released him. He hurried out of the booth, but I took one more second to compose myself. To pat my hair into place and try to think about anything that would get my cock to stop standing at attention.
18
____________________
ROE
I didn’t expect it, but Mrs. Lewis fell in love with Lucas. She was completely charmed by him and spent half the movie telling him everything she knew about Gregory Peck. By the end of the movie, I figured Lucas was probably more well-versed on classic movies than I was.
It didn’t hurt that Lucas complimented her shoes right away. If there was one thing Mrs. Lewis loved were her shoes and she was flattered that Lucas seemed to love them as much as she did.
By the time I’d wound up the film and Lucas met me in the lobby again, I was tired on my feet but exhilarated with the night.
When he leaned in and whispered in my ear, my knees nearly gave out. “Can we go home now?”
It drove so much desire through me knowing he had been waiting for this as much as I had. That he wanted me as much as I wanted him.
If no one had shown up tonight, I would have let Lucas take me right there in the booth, up against the wall like horny teenagers.
In fact, I had half a mind to go back up there and pick up where we left off. But I needed to get this place locked up for Mr. Carson.
I took Lucas’s hand, rubbing my thumb over the knuckles. “Let’s go.”
I double checked the back entrance to make sure it was locked and then moved to the front where I used my spare key to close up the place.
Lucas already hailed a cab and he waited for me, holding the door open so I could get in. When we were seated, his hand went immediately to my leg, rubbing my thigh in silence.
I didn’t have to ask to know he still had our episode in the booth on his mind. It had been just like that weekend we’d first met. We hadn’t been able to see anything
but each other. Who cared about food or water? All we’d wanted was each other, over and over again. To touch and taste every single part of each other.
I shifted in the seat as the throbbing started, my balls drawing up at the simple memory of the things we’d done to each other that weekend.
“Everything okay?” Lucas asked, glancing over.
“Uh—yeah. I’m fine.”
He leaned into me, lips brushing my ear. “We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.”
I almost laughed out loud at that. He thought I was worried about what we were going to do?
“It’s not that at all,” I whispered back. The cab driver was completely ignoring us. “I’m just having trouble waiting.”
His eyes flashed with heat. “I see.”
His hand slid higher on my leg, brushing my balls. I yanked in a breath and grabbed his hand to make him stop.
“Not yet,” I murmured.
He was torturing me, bringing me so close to coming without anything more than a touch. Through my clothes.
I couldn’t fathom what it would be like when he finally had both hands on me, naked and flushed with the heat of knowing how hard he was going to make me come.
When we arrived at the apartment building, Lucas already had a wad of cash in his hand. He passed it over the seat, murmuring, “Keep the change,” before pulling me out of the cab.
“Elevator,” he demanded. “Now.”
I greeted the doorman in a low, husky voice and kept up with Lucas as he pulled me across the lobby and straight to the elevator.
Inside, he shoved his key card into the slot and then turned to me, eyes full of desire.
“I want to make sure you’re okay with this,” he murmured.
I saw how serious he was and stopped for a moment. He didn’t want easy assurances. Even with the heat in his gaze, I could see the undercurrent of worry that lined his brow.
I stepped up to him and touched his cheek, saying the one thing I knew he’d believe. The one thing I knew he wanted to hear.
“I trust you, Lucas.”
He shut his eyes briefly, leaning into the touch of my hand.
“I want you,” I told him.
His eyes flashed open and heated again. When the elevator dinged, he snatched the keycard out and tossed it on the counter when he pulled me into the apartment.