Chapter Seven

It had been seven weeks since Jarek met Luca. He counted each one, thinking he would eventually be less distracted at work. It never happened. Each day, Jarek fought the urge to cut out early so his angel didn't have to walk home. Today, he lost the battle. He made it five minutes before Luca was due to clock out. Since the place was huge, Jarek expected to have a hard time finding him. Luckily, it didn't take him long.

Jarek headed straight down the middle of the store toward the garden center. Two aisles before he made it there, he spotted Luca. It was like getting punched in the chest. Luca looked miserable.

With his forehead pressed against a shelf, he stared down at his hands. He placed clearance stickers on various products. His shoulders sagged. There was no life in him. When Jarek stepped closer, Luca's head shot up. His gaze turned Jarek's way. As Jarek looked on, Luca became someone different. Light and life filled his eyes—like he lit from the inside at the sight of Jarek. Jarek felt something.

"Daddy!" As the shout left Luca's lips, he immediately cringed and covered his mouth, as if he hadn't meant to be so loud. His eyes swam with laughter. A muffled chuckle escaped from behind his hand.

Jarek couldn't stop smiling. This was why he was quickly becoming addicted. "Hey, baby."

Luca skipped his way. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to pick you up so you won't have to walk home."

Confusion crossed Luca's features. He checked his phone. "Oh. Ha. I hadn't noticed the time. Just let me go clock out." He stole a quick peck, as if scared to get caught. "I'll be right back."

Jarek nodded. "I'll wait for you at the front door by the pharmacy."

"I'll hurry," Luca called over his shoulder as he darted away.

Jarek headed back to the front door. He felt lighter than he had all day. It amazed him how Luca made everything better. There had been something not quite right about his life for a while. Jarek woke up every day with a growing unhappiness. He kept trying to find the cause. The only time he felt better was when he was with Luca.

Luca took longer than Jarek expected. When he finally spotted Luca heading his way, he carried a stack of broken-down boxes. Jarek rushed to help him. "What's all this?"

Luca let him have half the stack. "They're for my move. I've been carrying a couple home every day. Since I don't have to walk today, I thought I'd steal the chance to take a few more."

The happiness Jarek had regained by seeing Luca disappeared. "Oh." He hated the reminder they were on borrowed time. "How much do you have packed so far?"

Luca shrugged. "Not much. Every time I try to get started, I freeze. Then I spend a few days with you and still nothing has gotten done."

Damn. Now he felt guilty. "Do I need to take you home and leave?"

Luca shot him a puzzled look. "No. Why would I want that? It's not your fault nothing is getting accomplished. It's mine for a lot of reasons."

Jarek popped the trunk. They stacked the boxes inside. He waited until they were seat belted inside before he said anything more. "Talk it through with me."

Luca's hands rose and fell. "When my cousin said I could come stay with her, she warned her spare room was tiny, but I could have it. My apartment is small too, but it's not one tiny bedroom small. I don't know how much I can take or what to do with the things I can't. Plus, I have all my Lego sets. If I don't take them apart, they'll likely get destroyed in the move. Even if they don't, I won't have any place to put them. The whole thing is just overwhelming. Then, I started thinking about how I'll be leaving you. It's not fair since I know I walked into this knowing we were temporary. Plus, you probably have lots of friends like me. I'll just stop talking now."

Jarek had never been more confused. "Wait. You think we're just friends and you're just one of many?" How the fuck had Luca come to those conclusions?

"You've never said otherwise, and I don't want to hurt my own feelings by assuming anything."

Jarek ran through the past seven weeks in his mind. Goddamn. They hadn't talked about them. He found a spot to park outside Luca's apartment. Jarek waited until he was parked and killed the engine before focusing on Luca. "We're more than friends. We're exclusive. You're not allowed to date anyone else and I'm not either. Before meeting you, I hadn't been with anyone else in nearly a year. I don't make time for people, but I do for you. Okay?"

Luca's expression screamed he hung on every word. "Okay."

A smile exploded across Jarek's face. He leaned Luca's way and stole the kiss he wanted. Each time their tongues stroked; a weight lifted from Jarek. He didn't realize how much he carried until Luca took it away. When he pulled away, Luca looked a bit dazed. Jarek wanted to pat himself on the back. Luca seemed to genuinely think men were beating down Jarek's door. The truth was, while he might have had the ability to have any man he wanted—at the end of the day—he was a stressed out, testy workaholic who sent people running.

"Let's get these boxes inside."

They climbed from the car and grabbed their haul. Together, they rode the elevator to Luca's floor. Jarek honestly hated the building. It had zero security, and he worried about Luca's safety. Inside Luca's apartment looked like a toy store exploded. Luca wasn't a messy person. It was more like he had started packing several items before abandoning the project halfway, so stuff sat everywhere. The minuscule studio apartment didn't need much mess to make it nearly impossible to maneuver. Luca didn't have a couch. Only a bed. Jarek sat on the corner and watched Luca put together a box. Then he spun in a circle, as if he didn't know where to start.

"See my problem? What am I supposed to do with all these sets I've already assembled?"

Jarek didn't think. He just spoke. "Gently pack them and take them to my place. I have plenty of space for your collection." Jarek paused. In the end, his heart wanted what it wanted. "In fact, pack everything and take it to my place."

Luca stared at him wide eyed. "What do you mean?"

Did he want this? Yes. He did. "Don't go to Nevada. Move in with me instead."

Luca looked as shell-shocked as Jarek felt. He hadn't expected to make the offer. Luca swallowed. "Um. I can't walk to work from your place."

Jarek shrugged. "So quit. You have me. I have money. You don't need to work." Jarek knew Luca wouldn't blow through his money. He was too much of a penny pincher. Plus, Jarek had more money than he could spend. Handing Luca a credit card meant nothing. It wasn't like the guy had a ton of expenses or anything. Jarek had already given him a phone.

For a moment, Luca simply chewed his bottom lip and shifted from foot to foot. Emotions shifted across his face, changing from second to second. Disbelief. Hope. Fear.

Jarek made a dismissive gesture. "You don't have to decide right this second. Just think about it, okay? You have time. It's not like you need to move tomorrow. You still have five weeks left on your lease. Take that time and then let me know." Even as he said the words, Jarek knew the next five weeks would be hell. But they would have been anyhow. He had already been scared about losing Luca. At least now he had a glimmer of hope.

Luca nodded, looking relieved. "Okay. Yeah. Let me think about it. I don't want to leave you. God, I really don't want to leave you. But the idea of just quitting, moving in, and making you have to carry me for the rest of your life, that seems really unfair to you. Plus, what if you get sick of me? I'll have nothing and nowhere to go."

In his shoes, Jarek would be terrified too, but Jarek knew himself. "You have nothing to worry about. I can't imagine ever tiring of you. However, I hope you know I'm not someone who would just put you out on the street."

Luca nodded. He looked a little better. "I know. You're too nice."

He wasn't nice. Just responsible. He motioned Luca closer. "Come here."

Luca moved to stand between his knees. He set his hands on Jarek's shoulders.

Jarek stared up at him and lured him closer. "Think about it. Okay? That's all I ask. Now kiss me."

Luca lowered his head and touched his lips to Jarek's. Jarek drew a steadying breath. A small part of him knew he was crazy. He was moving too fast. The rest of him wanted what it wanted. His heart craved what it craved. No going back.

Luca's heart and mind raced. Jarek wanted him to move in with him. It was a dream come true. He had never been more scared. This could go wrong in a million ways. He wanted to scream yes at the top of his lungs. Unfortunately, there was a sliver of sanity inside him that made him pause. Seven weeks was nowhere near long enough for Luca to risk it all. The sad part was, though, he knew he would say yes. Five more weeks wouldn't change anything. But rationality convinced him to wait, nonetheless.

Their kiss turned heated—the way it always did. Jarek was too irresistible. He was too everything. Luca had been limping by for years and then BOOM. Jarek had landed in his life, blowing everything out of the water. Luca straddled Jarek, needing to be closer. Jarek fell backward, bringing Luca with him. Luca unbuttoned Jarek's shirt as he kissed a path down Jarek's body. While Luca had never sucked dick before, he wanted to do it. He liked sucking on things. The lower he got, the harsher Jarek's breathing turned. The sounds drove Luca to become more daring. By the time he freed Jarek's erection, his mouth watered at the idea of tasting him. He didn't have Jarek's skill. In fact, it made his stomach hurt to think about how Jarek had learned to be so good at giving head. What Luca had, though, was enthusiasm. A moan escaped him the moment his lips closed around Jarek's cock. It was like a treat just for him. He was turned on and wanted to make Jarek feel good. Jarek kept running his fingers through Luca's hair before flattening his hands on the bed, as if fighting the urge to pull Luca's hair. Luca licked and sucked. He lost himself. Luca didn't think. He enjoyed.

The sounds Jarek made became more desperate by the second. Luca did everything he could to pull more noises from him. He felt Jarek's body tense.

"Baby, move. You don't want me to—" A strangled cry rent the air. Cum filled Luca's mouth. He automatically swallowed. Truthfully, he expected to hate that part. Mostly, he felt proud and thirsty. But he liked salty things, and it was Jarek. Luca loved him. Maybe it was too fast and soon. His heart couldn't tell time. Jarek had shown him more care and affection than he had ever known. Luca was helpless against his feelings. He pressed his face against Jarek's stomach and fought the tears that pricked his eyes. For the first time in his life, he fully believed someone could love him back, just as he was. It was beautiful.