by Aiden Bates
"Okay, okay. Bossy." There was the crinkle of foil, and Jay wanted to laugh .
"This one's not expired, is it?" he asked, nipping at Luke's lips when he kissed him hard .
"I don't think so," he said, cursing as he stroked lube over his cock. "Easier cleanup ."
Jay dug his teeth into the thick muscle of Luke's shoulder as the pressure mounted, Luke's big hands spreading him wide. Finally, with an almost audible 'pop' he slid in, and they both gasped. Every breath sent crackles of energy coiling along his nerves, and he held his breath, waiting for that first perfect thrust .
Only Luke wasn't moving. Holding himself above Jay, his muscles corded with tension, he sucked in a deep breath and groaned as the tiny shift caused a cascade of pleasure to swamp them both .
"Move," Jay whined. "Are you waiting for an engraved invitation ?"
"Not gonna last," Luke gasped .
"You can add it to my rain check," Jay snapped, bucking hard and moaning, low and filthy as that gained him another inch of that delicious fullness .
Luke snapped, slamming his hips forward, his voice cracking as he shouted his pleasure .
Every nerve in his body lit up like a Christmas tree, Jay could only hold on as the tension in his gut coiled tighter and tighter. His throat ached from the ragged noises tearing free of it, but the pleasure was so intense that it barely registered. Every thrust rattled through him, until he was right there, hovering on the edge .
"Close," Luke growled, the next thrust hitting every perfect spot until Jay was wailing .
A firm, hot hand closed around his neglected erection, and he was gone, his back arching until his shoulders were the only thing left touching the bed. He shook apart, every thrust causing another flash of intense pleasure. He wanted to scream, but his throat clenched, no sound coming out .
Feeling Luke's rhythm stutter, he pried his eyes open, the last trembling pulses of pleasure still rattling through him. The alpha was glorious, sweat causing his tanned skin to glow in the light from the hallway. His eyes caught the light and burned from within as he stared down at Jay .
Their eyes met and held as he froze, his muscles leaping into sharp relief as he growled. Long and low, the sound was pure sex, and Jay's spent cock twitched with interest. He couldn't look away as Luke's jerked back into motion, his hips making a few more stuttering strokes as he slowly sank down until his weight was pressing Jay into the bed .
Foreheads together, they spent long minutes catching their breath, the air between them thick with emotions they'd never really addressed. It itched at Jay's skin, sapping his enjoyment of the moment until he couldn't stand it anymore .
"I love you," he whispered, biting his lip. "I know it's a cliche, but I really needed to say it right now ."
Luke startled, sliding free of Jay's body, and they both groaned. "Oh," he said after a moment. "I... um ..."
"Don't, please," Jay said, sitting up slightly as Luke shifted to one side. "Don't say it unless you mean it ."
"Okay." Tugging Jay in so that he was tucked up against his side, Luke waited for him to get comfortable. "If we're doing this now, then I guess I should say that I'm not sure if I love you or not. Love is kind of not my thing. I thought I loved Liam, but now, I'm not so sure ."
This was officially the most surreal conversation that Jay had ever had, sweaty and sticky with sex and barely coherent enough to form a sentence. Luke wasn't having that problem, his chest still heaving as he tried to catch his breath .
"Vivian told me once that I was asking the wrong question," he said, and Jay couldn't help but laugh .
"Can we just make a rule right now that we don't bring your assistant into the bedroom?" he asked .
"Oh, hush. I have a point here," Luke said, kissing his temple. "She said I should think about why I dated so many artists. I didn't think anything of it at the time, but now I know." He glanced at Jay, a tentative smile on his face. "It was always you. I spent three weeks with you, and ten years trying to recreate the way you made me feel ."
Jay had to force his words out around the lump of his heart in his throat. "That sounds a lot like love to me," he said .
"Maybe," Luke said seriously, "but I've seen a lot of people do truly horrible things to the people they were supposed to love, and I want more than that for you ."
Rubbing his cheek against Luke's shoulder, Jay ignored the tears welling in his eyes. "I love you," he said, pressing one finger to Luke's lips. "I can take a rain check. Go to sleep ."
Luke smiled, the lines at the corner of his eyes crinkling as he pulled the blanket out from underneath them and tucked it around their shoulders .
It was a long time before Jay drifted off to sleep, but he didn't regret a second of it .
19
"I need to go."
"Or you could stay ."
"Or I could go," Luke said, untangling Jay's hands from his t-shirt. "You wanted mocha ice cream, and I still have to pick up your Christmas present." Jay pouted, and Luke couldn't help lingering to press a kiss against that full bottom lip. "I'll be back in two hours. You can work on your watercolors ."
Jay grumbled, glaring at the watercolor palette he'd brought over from his studio. "Fine. Grab some whipped cream, too. Kurt goes through the stuff like water, and your Uncle is bringing pumpkin pie tomorrow ."
"I thought he was bringing apple," he said, pulling on his jacket .
"Both, and a chocolate silk," Jay said, picking up the watercolors and heading for the kitchen .
Grabbing him for one last kiss, Luke grinned at the mint and chocolate taste. He knew Jay had been sneaking cookies behind his back. "Your paintings are great, sweetheart. Just tilt your head ."
He was still laughing when he got to the car .
Driving anywhere in the city at this time of year was a terrible idea, but he needed the space for everything he had to pick up. He hit the bakery that Nikolai had recommended first, picking up an assortment of pastries for the Christmas morning present exchange. He thought about going to the grocery store next, but he wasn't sure how long his last stop would take. Knowing his luck, he'd hesitate for so long that Jay's ice cream would melt .
He had to take a deep breath when he pulled into the parking lot of the jewelry store that Robert had recommended. Even the building screamed expensive, tinted windows protecting the privacy of the customers and a doorman to discourage the faint of heart or wallet. He was neither, but it still took effort to steady his nerves and get out of the car .
The interior was just as luxurious as the exterior, no gaudy display cases here. There were clusters of plush couches situated around sculptural tables at just the right height for viewing whatever pieces the sales associate brought out. The few displays positioned like artwork around the room showed off expensive sets dripping with diamonds .
"Welcome to Fire and Ice. Can I get you a glass of champagne?" an attractive young woman asked as he hesitated just inside the door .
He'd already been through the tour when he'd consulted with the master jeweler, so he shook his head. "I have an appointment with David," he said. He hadn't thought to ask if the clerks operated on commission, and now he wished he knew .
"Oh, he's expecting you. I'll let him know you're here," she said. She seemed cheerful enough as she disappeared through one of the doors at the back of the room, and he felt some of his guilt dissipate .
Too anxious to sit in one of the overstuffed chairs, he wandered toward the back of the room where the less ostentatious displays were clustered. His eyes lingered on the wide bands of an engagement set, and he couldn't help but imagine what it would look like on Jay's hand .<
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"That's one of our finest pieces," David said, stepping unobtrusively up beside him. "There are over twenty pave diamonds cut and set to pass light from stone to stone until the whole thing shines on even the cloudiest of days ."
"It's lovely," Luke said. He could just imagine sliding it onto Jay's finger, feeling it press against his palm when their fingers laced together. Watching it accumulate a coating of paint every time Jay even glanced at his studio. "I am glad I went with something a bit more functional, however ."
"Pave can be difficult to keep clean," David agreed. The master jeweler was quite the character. When Luke had first been introduced, he'd done a double take. David's smooth face didn't give away a hint of his age, but his hair, bright blue today, and the impressive number of piercings visible above his shirt collar made him seem much younger than he'd been expecting. "I just picked your items up from our cleaner, and I must admit that they're my favorite ones this year. Shall we take a look ?"
They moved to one of the viewing tables, and David produced two velvet presentation boxes. Luke leaned forward, his breath catching in his chest as the jeweler lifted the lid on the first box with gloved fingers. "Oh, wow," he breathed, reaching out but not quite willing to touch the shining watches inside and smear the mirror surface .
"They did turn out well, didn't they?" He picked up the more dazzling of the two watches, turning it so that it caught the light. "We've inlaid the stones exactly as you requested, and I tested the seal myself. You could smear them with axle grease and sandpaper, and they'll clean up good as new. There is a scratch resistant coating on the face that we recommend renewing once a year, or if it gets noticeably dull. And, of course, your inscription ..."
Luke accepted the watch when David held it out to him, keeping his hands on the buttery leather band as he flipped it over to read the back .
"'You remind me to tilt my head,'" David read, his voice thoughtful. "I hope the script is large enough for your needs. It's a bit longer than the typical engraving. We scaled the other piece to match." He lifted the other watch out carefully, turning it so that Luke could read the words on the back. "Make cookies with me forever ."
"It's perfect," Luke said, tracing a finger along the cold metal of the back .
Both watches were the best of their kind, aircraft grade materials inlaid with white gold and platinum. He'd spent almost four hours agonizing over the stones, diamonds for the dress watch and the most vibrant emeralds they had available for the other. Clustered together in one corner of the face, the emeralds glittered with every shade of green imaginable, reminding Luke of the green on green canvas in his office .
"It's absolutely perfect," he said again. He set the watch back into the box, his fingers sinking into the plush velvet. "Can I see the other set ?"
"Of course." With a sleight of hand that would have made a master magician jealous, the jeweler switched the boxes in one quick movement, pausing with his hand on the lid. "I must warn you, sir, that this set has already made three of our employees cry ."
Raising one eyebrow, Luke wiped his palms on his jeans. "That bad, huh?" he joked .
"See for yourself," David said, lifting the lid .
He hadn't been sure about the rings. Even if it had been a spur of the moment decision, Jay's dismissal of his offer had hurt. He wasn't sure he wanted to go through it again. The thought wouldn't leave him alone, though. When he'd caught himself mentally designing an engagement set during his last visit, he'd decided enough was enough .
There were four rings, two for each of them, the engagement and wedding bands made to fit together seamlessly. Having used up all his best ideas on the watches, it had taken him till closing to figure out what he wanted for the rings. It had been so obvious in hindsight, that he'd been worried it would look ridiculous .
It was the lake. He'd repeatedly been assured that the champagne gold bands wouldn't clash with Jay's hair or skin the way that ordinary gold did. Looking at the way the satin finish glowed, he couldn't wait to see it on Jay's hand. The stones were subtle washes of pale blue and white, curling like the waves around the star sapphire mounted on the engagement ring .
"Yes, that's the exact reaction," David said, handing him a tissue. "It's usually the inscriptions that do them in," he added, lifting the rings out of their velvet .
Luke took them with a trembling hand, turning them to read the engraving he'd chosen for Jay's rings. "It was always you" on the engagement ring, and "I love you, too" on the wedding band .
"We can, of course, add engraving to the other two rings if your fiancé would like for us to." He looked politely away as Luke blew his nose. "If these are to your liking," he said kindly, "I'll go package them up and give you time to collect yourself ."
Not trusting his voice, Luke nodded, although he had to squash the impulse to grab the boxes back when the jeweler disappeared through the doorway with them. Everything had turned out so much better than he'd ever dreamed, but now the thought of giving any of it to Jay tied his stomach into knots. The ring was probably too much .
The ring was definitely too much. He'd barely moved in. Better just to put it away and give it to him some other time .
Jay had said he loved him, though. Sure, it was after sex, but maybe he meant it enough to say yes if Luke offered him the ring .
It was a terrible idea .
His terrible ideas had been working out for him okay lately .
"Here you are, Mr. Carter. You're all set." David presented him with two beautifully packaged and surprisingly heavy gift bags. "I've taken the liberty of separating the rings out, just in case you can't wait," he said with a wink .
"Thank you, David. I appreciate it." Luke smiled, offering his hand, but the other man was suddenly very interested in something outside .
"Son of a bitch," he muttered under his breath, then cast a startled glance at Luke. "Sir, if you would follow me, I believe you'll be more comfortable leaving through the back ."
"What?" Startled, Luke dug in his heels as David's fingers dug into his arm. "What do you mean — "
"I can't believe that idiot still hasn't signed yet." Luke’s stepmother's strident whine overpowered the chime of the door, and he almost threw himself behind one of the armchairs to avoid her. "What do you mean he's... I'll call you back. Luke, how surprising ."
David's hand was still gripping his arm tightly, and he could tell from the look on the jeweler's face that he knew exactly what was going on. "Hello, Meredith. Happy holidays," he said, turning around slowly. He wasn't quite able to manage a smile, but he didn't bare his teeth and growl at her, either, so it felt like a victory .
"Trying to win back your little artist with expensive baubles? You must have really liked him," she said, her voice mocking. She'd had her face done again, the unnatural stillness in her features making her look like a bad wax model .
"Just picking up Christmas gifts," Luke said, resisting the urge to rub her face in his relationship. "As much as I'd love to chat, I've got to pick up some groceries, and I'm eager to get home." He walked calmly across the store toward her. He refused to give her the satisfaction of giving her a wide berth .
It turned out to be a bad choice, her hand flashing out as he got within reach. Her nails were sharp, and they dug into his skin as she glared at him. "Don't think you can buy his affection back with those. He was only ever using you for your money," she hissed .
Maybe it was a sign of how much he'd grown up, or maybe it was just Jay, but he laughed in her face. "That's your method, Meredith, not his." He shook her off and continued out of the store with his head high .
*
* *
"N o peeking," Luke said, covering Jay's eyes with one hand as he squeezed past him into the bedroom .
"Are those my Christmas presents?" Jay asked around a mouthful of mocha ice cream. He was using a mint chocolate chip cookie as a spoon, crumbs smeared all over his mouth. It was adorable, and he tasted like heaven when Luke gave in to the urge to kiss him .
"No," he said, sliding his palm over the barely-there lump of Jay's belly. His baby. It still made him a little shaky just thinking about it .
"Then why can't I look?" Without opening his eyes, shoved another cookie in his mouth sulkily .
Luke laughed, the tension he hadn't realized he was carrying draining out of his shoulders. He hadn't thought Meredith had gotten to him, but standing in front of Jay, he could feel her influence shaking loose .
"Because I risked life and limb for these packages, and I'm not letting you spoil the surprise." Pressing a kiss to Jay's nose, he ducked into his closet, dropping the gift bags behind his dust-covered golf bag .
"That sounds like a fun story ."
"It really isn't," he said, herding the omega ahead of him into the living room. "I ran into Meredith ."
Peering over his shoulder at the bedroom, Jay winced. "Ouch. Maybe I should check to be sure you have all your pieces ."
Luke cupped his chin, turning him around to press a kiss to his forehead. "No peeking ."
"Can I have a hint?" Jay batted his lashes, leaning up and nuzzling Luke's lips. "Just a little one ."
"It's not an elephant," he said dryly. "Or a monkey ."
"There go my dreams of opening a circus. Oh well, more ice cream." Holding his last cookie over his head like a sword, Jay headed for the kitchen. "Did you get your dad's message about the dish he's bringing?" he asked as he dug around in the fridge. "I didn't understand a word of it. What's a mouse salad on toast ?"