by Ava Thorpe
“Hey,” he said, breathless, when he finally reached Carter. It was only then that he noticed a couple of Carter’s teammates around—Ash, and someone else whose name Luke couldn’t recall. They smiled at him, before turning away, walking to the bar.
Carter placed a hand on his hip. “Hey back,” he said. “I…I’m…can we talk? Is that okay?”
Luke nodded eagerly. “Yeah, yeah. They, uh, gave me a room to get ready earlier? We can go there?”
Licking his lips, Carter said, “That sounds good. Lead the way.”
They walked quietly to the small ready room Mike gave Luke, Carter’s hand burning at the small of his back. It felt proprietary, like Carter was telling everyone in the room that Luke was his. Luke craved it. He wanted to be Carter’s, and to have Carter belong to him.
Carter flipped him so that Luke’s back was at the door as soon as they walked into the room, Carter’s body surrounding Luke. Then he kissed him, deeply, passionately, like Luke was the answer to all of Carter’s pleas.
It was earth-shattering, like the very air around them broke, and Luke couldn’t help but moan loudly into the kiss.
Luke felt relief rush through him. He hoped this kiss meant they weren’t over, that Carter wanted to give them another chance. His heart blossomed at the thought.
God, he missed the man.
He missed having this, missed being able to hold onto Carter like this. It had only been a couple of days, but it felt like a goddamn lifetime to him.
They pulled apart, Carter still flanking him. “I’m…god, Luke, I’m so sorry. I fucked up big time. I thought—” He laughed self-deprecatingly, shaking his head. “I saw a text pop up from some guy about this when I was looking at the pictures you showed me, and, well, I thought it was a date. I thought you were seeing someone else.”
Luke caressed his cheek, holding Carter’s face gingerly. “God, no, I—I fucked up too. I just. I should have told you about the gig.”
“Why didn’t you?” Carter looked hurt, and Luke regretted his decision even more.
“I just…it wasn’t a big deal, you know? It was just some small-time gig. It felt…insignificant, compared to what you do for a living. I’m no one famous, not like you. I’m just a small-time guy playing at some small-time bar.”
Carter kissed him again, wet, languid kisses that Luke sank into. It felt blissful, like a drug Luke couldn’t get enough of. “You’re important to me. This was clearly important to you. I would have wanted to be here, baby.”
“I…I didn’t know. I didn’t realize you would have wanted to be here, and I—”
Gripping Luke’s hips tightly, Carter interrupted him. “I love you. I love you so much. I should have told you that a long time ago, I should have made sure you knew. I wanna be there for you—music, law school, whatever you want to do. I want to be here. With you.”
Luke felt his heart swell, like he was suddenly floating on air. Carter loved him. God. Carter felt the same way. He cupped Carter’s face into his hands, kissing him lightly. “I love you, too. I—I didn’t know if you would ever feel the same, but god, I love you. I’m in love with you.”
Grinning, Carter lifted him up, holding on tight. “I’m an idiot. I’m the biggest idiot this side of the Atlantic and I don’t deserve you.” He giggled—full on giggled—and Luke thought he’d never seen a more adorable sight.
“We deserve each other. We’re a couple of idiots, that’s for sure,” Luke said, unable to keep the smile off his face. “The last couple of days have been awful. I’m glad…I’m glad you’re here.”
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just. I let my fears get the better of me.”
“Just…just don’t do that again, okay? Don’t walk away without talking to me first. It hurt, Carter. We should have talked—we should talk,” Luke started. He leaned his forehead against Carter’s, breathing deeply. “But right now, I just want to be close to you.”
Carter nodded his agreement. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, and I’m going to spend the next forever making it up to you.”
Luke felt all of his residual anger and hurt draining away. He kissed Carter again, slowly, languidly, letting his kiss do the talking.
When they pulled away, Carter pressed their foreheads together. “What do you want to do, baby? Tell me, and I’ll do it.”
“Take me home, Carter. Just take me home.”
Beaming, Carter kissed him again lightly on the lips. “I can do that. I can take us home.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Luke
Luke’s body was humming when they got to Carter’s condo. Carter hadn’t let go of his hand the whole way home. It thrilled him, knowing Carter wanted him just as much as he wanted the other man.
Opening the door, Carter pushed Luke inside gently, trapping him against the door. Carter kissed him deeply, wetly, and Luke’s knees almost buckled from the intensity behind Carter’s kiss. He cradled Luke’s face in his hands, like he was being careful, like he didn’t want to break Luke.
Desire pooled in Luke’s belly, coiling around him warmly. Gripping Carter’s sweater, Luke pulled him closer, without an inch of space between them.
Distantly, he could hear Puck barking excitedly to greet them. He tried to ignore the noise, getting lost in the feel of Carter all around him. Puck was persistent, though, and Luke couldn’t help but laugh into the kiss, the whole thing ridiculous to him.
“Your dog’s a menace,” he said through the giggles. “What a cockblocker.”
Carter snorted. “He’s your dog now, too, you know.” He smiled, kissing Luke soundly on the forehead.
“Yeah? I didn’t know this relationship came with dog responsibilities, I don’t know if I want this anymore.” Luke almost stumbled on the word relationship. This was what they had now, right? A relationship?
“I’m only in this relationship for the free dog-walking,” Carter said solemnly, before cracking up a moment later. “We’re a packaged deal, I’m afraid. You’re going to have to take both of us in this relationship. Can’t have a boyfriend who doesn’t also want my dumb dog.” He grinned cheekily.
Luke’s heart soared at Carter’s confirmation. Boyfriend. Luke had a boyfriend. He felt giddy. “I guess I can do that, if I must,” he said, but he couldn’t keep a straight face. He beamed back, happy.
Carter took Luke into his arms, closing his arms around him. He inhaled deeply, and Luke held on just as tightly.
“Let’s go feed him, and then we can lock him out of the bedroom,” Carter said, pulling away slightly. “Why don’t you wait in the bedroom? It shouldn’t take me long.”
Luke nodded. “Yeah, that sounds good.” His voice was gravelly, suddenly feeling edgy.
Walking to the bedroom, Luke wasn’t sure why he was jittery all of a sudden. It wasn’t like he and Carter never slept together before. This was different, though. This was their first time as a couple—an official couple—and Luke couldn’t help the butterflies flying in his stomach.
Luke could hear Carter walking through the condo, his voice soft as he talked to Puck. Sitting down on the bed, Luke swallowed, his hands folded on his legs. He licked his lips in anticipation.
“You look scared,” Carted commented from the door.
Giving him a wry smile, Luke said, “Not scared. More…I don’t know, nervous?”
Carter quirked an eyebrow. “Nervous? Why’s that?”
“This feels different, you know? It feels. It feels more. I can’t describe it,” Luke said honestly.
Easing closer, Carter wrapped his arms around Luke’s waist. “Yeah. I get you. This is still us, though. Still you and me. This is good, baby, we’re good,” Carter assured him, his voice dark and sexy. and Luke’s heart pulsed in his chest.
“We are good,” Luke agreed in a murmur. “I’ve just wanted this for so long, you know? Wanted to be yours, and now you’re here.”
Carter’s eyes were smoldering. “That’s right, you’re min
e.” He enveloped Luke in his arms. “But I’m yours, too. Always.”
Unable to curb his emotions, Luke pressed his lips to Carter’s, needing the warmth and attention. Carter’s mouth opened and he darted his tongue in. He missed the way Carter tasted, and Luke reveled in it. Luke’s body grew hotter, as he came to one important realization.
This was real.
What they had, it was real, it was here, and Luke never wanted it to end.
Carter’s fingers flexed around his sides. Hot breath wafted past Luke’s cheeks and neck as their kiss deepened. He hoisted Luke up in his arms, using his muscle and brute strength. Luke wrapped his legs around Carter’s hips as best he could.
“What are you—” He tried to speak, but Carter lifted him onto the bed, laying him down gently, Carter’s arms flanking him on either side.
“You look good like this,” Carter said huskily, the gorgeous smile never leaving his lips.
“You’re becoming entirely too used to manhandling me.”
“You love it, don’t lie,” Carter smirked over him still. Carter wasn’t wrong. Luke loved it when Carter used his strength to carry him like he weighed nothing. Carter was powerful, and witnessing it first hand was a heady feeling.
“Well now that you got me here, what are you going to do with me?” A shiver ran through Luke as he thought of all the possibilities. His cock thumped against his zipper.
Carter bent away, glancing between them—he must have felt the tug. “I could... think of a few things.” He brushed his fingers against Luke’s sides, pulling his shirt up and letting the cool air nip at his skin. Carter’s hands warmed him again.
A flush heated Luke’s face. Oh, he could think of a few things, too, but there was only one thing he wanted now. He eased his thoughts as Carter continued to explore his skin. Those smooth fingers now moved up underneath his T-shirt and flicked at a hardened nipple.
Luke let out a breath of anticipation. He eased back, letting Carter thumb across his skin, down his abs, and finally to the waistband of his jeans. After moments of silence, Carter straightened and slipped his own shirt from around his head.
In the pale light next to the bed, Luke followed the hollows of Carter’s chest to his six-pack abs and licked his lips. Carter was indeed gorgeous fully dressed, but like this, splayed shirtless before him, Carter was a work of art. When Carter leaned back over him, Luke wrapped his arms around Carter’s sides, the muscles underneath his fingers drawing taut, and pulled him in for another kiss.
Their tongues mingled, bodies pressed together in wanton need.
Carter thumbed across Luke’s waistline, dipping a hand between them to cup his bulge in his jeans. Luke pressed against his hand eagerly.
“Look at you,” Carter said, marvel in his voice. “Needy little thing, aren’t you?” Carter unzipped his jeans, and when his hand finally found Luke’s hard cock, Luke thrust up into his fist.
“Christ,” Luke swore, unable to help himself. Carter’s hand was warm around him, firm, and he felt his toes curl as Carter tugged on his cock.
Carter flicked his thumb over the head of Luke’s cock, spreading the precome there. It made Luke arch his back, his eyes shut tight from pleasure. It felt amazing, the act sending sparks all over his body, but mostly, it felt amazing because it was Carter.
He could feel the hitch in Carter’s breathing, as he stroked Luke’s cock, up and down, his grip firm around the shaft.
Luke gingerly hovered up on his elbows, giving Carter a long, lasting kiss. When they pulled apart, breathing heavily, Luke said, “I don’t wanna come yet. You have to stop.”
Carter looked disappointed. “I wanna make you feel good, though,” he said, earnest, earning a smile from Luke.
“You can make me feel good in other ways,” Luke said. He threaded his fingers through Carter’s hair. “Fuck me. I want you to fuck me.”
Swallowing a lump in his throat, Carter nodded wordlessly. Luke maneuvered them so that Carter was lying on the bed. He straddled Carter’s legs.
Slowly, he worked Carter’s zipper down and eased his fingers around the flaps. The bulge in Carter’s boxers spoke volumes.
As he dipped his hand inside, Carter leaned his head back on the pillow, groaning into the silent air. Wrapping his fingers around Carter’s hard cock, Luke gently began to stroke.
“Ah, fuck...” The words spilled from Carter’s lips.
Luke loved hearing the noises Carter made, and he made it his mission to hear more of them tonight. He bent in, lapping at his lips, and took Carter’s cock into his mouth. He moved farther, eliciting sexy noises from Carter, until the tip hit the back of his throat.
He licked the tip of Carter’s cock again, then sucked him in, this time speeding up his motion. The moans and groans on Carter’s lips echoing through the room, drowning out any other noises in Luke’s head.
Carter reached out, running his hands through Luke’s hair. He thrust his hips up each time Luke moved down across his length. Luke lapped up his swollen cock, then down again, speeding his pace with every motion.
“Mmm, damn, baby.” Carter was breathing heavily. “This is going to be over soon if you don’t stop.”
Luke pulled away and plopped on the bed next to him, snuggling close. Carter’s breath was ragged for a moment as he stared up at the ceiling, then glanced at him, wonder and lust mixed together in his eyes. He kissed Luke softly, lightly, before crowding around him, his arms on either side of Luke.
He reached to the nightstand beside his bed. He quickly grabbed a packet of condoms and lube, spreading them on the bed. Nudging Luke’s legs open, Carter uncapped the lube bottle, warming the lube with his fingers.
He trailed his finger over Luke’s opening, massaging his entrance, before breaching his hole gently. Slowly, he pushed his finger in, letting Luke adjust to the sensation.
“More, please,” Luke croaked. “I need you. I don’t want slow.”
Encouraged by Luke’s pleas, Carter pushed another finger in, letting it join the first, as he stretched Luke’s channel. Two soon turned to three, and by then, Luke was a mess, his cries echoing in the room.
“God, please, Carter. Now,” he said in short, ragged pants.
Luke opened his legs further, wrapping them around Carter’s backside to pull him in. Carter tore at the condom wrapper and slid the slick rubber on. He grabbed Luke’s legs, holding them up around his sides and scooted closer.
Carter thrust his hips, entering Luke’s tightness and making him gasp. It burned a little, but mostly, Luke felt contentment humming through his body. This felt right, perfect, in a way that took Luke’s breath away.
Carter murmured words of encouragement, almost incoherently so, and Luke took them all in, letting Carter’s voice wash over him. His body felt like it was on fire, like he was a guitar string strung too tight, and he felt like he was about to explode.
Carter leaned over him, rocking his hips until his cock slid in further. Then, he moved his hips, brushing against that pleasure spot. Luke gasped. Each time Carter pushed in deep, he’d catch his breath, the intensity enough to make him tremble inside.
He sucked in his bottom lip, loving every second, every motion. Carter intently stared at his cock bobbing with the motion and moved to stroke him.
“Fuck, baby,” he cried, when Carter squeezed, his hand circling around the base of Luke’s cock. It was too much, too intense, and Luke found himself at the crest of it all. He felt full, Carter’s cock grazing over his prostate at every stroke.
“I can’t hold on, I’m gonna...I can’t,” Luke whimpered incoherently with need.
Carter grabbed his hips tightly. “I don’t want you to hold. Come, baby. I wanna see you come.”
Luke’s whole body shook as he held on to Carter for purchase. It felt like electricity coursing through him. With a cry, he came, spilling his come all over his stomach.
“Fuck, you’re amazing,” Carter said, awe in his voice. His thrusts became erratic, no longer
maintaining rhythm, his grip on Luke’s hips clutching even more. “I’m not going to last either.”
Running his hands over Carter’s back, Luke whispered sweet, dirty, encouraging words at him. He wanted to see Carter come, wanted to feel him come, knowing he was the cause of it. Knowing he was the reason for Carter’s pleasure.
With a grunt, Carter came, his body shuddering above Luke. “Fuck, Luke,” he said, breathless. He pumped once, twice, before kissing Luke sloppily.
He collapsed on top of Luke, his weight heavy but comforting. Luke loved this, loved having Carter like this, pliant and loose, contentment oozing from him.
They laid there together in the afterglow, clinging to each other, as they came down from the high. It felt even more amazing than their first time, and Luke wondered if it was going to be even more amazing with Carter each time.
He couldn’t wait to find out.
Carter moved to pull out, but Luke stopped him. “No, not yet. Just…I want to keep feeling you for a little bit more.”
“I love you so much,” Carter whispered against Luke’s chest.
Luke shivered at the words. He didn’t think he could ever get tired of hearing the words ‘I love you’ from Carter’s lips. He kissed the top of Carter’s head. “I love you, too.”
All Luke could feel was happiness, knowing that Carter was finally his. That he belonged with Carter in return.
It was everything he’d ever wanted.
“Stay?” Carter asked hesitantly, like he wasn’t sure if Luke would say yes.
Like it was even a question. “For as long as you want.”
Carter looked up at him, smirking. “As long as I want, huh? What if I want forever?”
Luke’s heart flowered. “Forever sounds good.”
Epilogue
Luke
Six months later…
“You nervous?” Z asked Luke. They were at Future, waiting for Luke’s gig to start. They had a table all to themselves, with some of Luke’s friends and Carter’s teammates all mingling together.