Out of the Clear Blue Sky, Part Six
Reid stood at the back door until his harsh breathing subsided.
He didn’t want to appear overly excited, even though he had sprinted up the gigantic hill between the guest house and Lucinda’s kitchen. He opened the door and Luke was there, tie dangling to his shoes as he dug in the fridge for a bottle of water.
“Luke.”
Smiling so wide he thought the corners of his mouth might tear, Luke barely missed hitting his head on the shelf as he stood quickly. He wiggled the fingers of his left hand proudly. “I’m single. Officially.”
No, officially, he was Reid’s. The overwhelming need to prove that made Reid feel reckless and bold. Without another word, Reid was moving to him. Just like in his dreams, Luke was meeting him halfway. The stiff material of Luke’s suit jacket crinkled as he wrapped his arms around Reid’s neck. Reid’s hand tugged at Luke’s tie, the silk gliding smoothly beneath the collar and fluttering gracefully to the floor.
“Luke.”
The sound of Reid’s hushed voice, low and thick with want, went straight to Luke’s groin. “No.” Luke hunched bashfully. “Someone could walk in.”
Reid wet his lips and placed them on Luke’s creamy neck. He nipped lightly at the skin, his tongue soothing the sting. His breath danced across Luke’s nerves causing him to shudder.
“Luke.”
Even though he knew it was nuts, being wanted by Reid was intoxicating enough to throw caution to the wind. Pulling Reid’s hair, Luke gave one last attempt at being the voice of reason. “The kids are in the living room. We can’t.”
Reid was too hard and too damn scared that this would all melt away like the mirage of an oasis in the desert to listen to reason. “Here.”
“Reid.”
“Here.” Reid kissed Luke fiercely, almost four years of incredible longing pouring from his lips. His talented hands slid along Luke’s body, one unbuttoned Luke’s shirt while the other unzipped his pants.
Luke pulled back, his eyes wide as Reid yanked on his collars. His shirt and jacket were tossed across the room, landing haphazardly on the edge of the table. “Have you gone crazy?”
With hot eyes, his voice rumbling with growing desire, Reid shoved Luke’s pants down enough to squeeze his ass roughly. “For you.”
Luke dove in for another kiss. How could he not? Breathing heavily, he stopped the kiss long enough to say “Here.”
A plate skittered across the counter, after Luke’s hand crashed into it. He braced himself, his head thrown back as Reid latched on to his nipple. His teeth sunk into his bottom lip trying to bottle the moan that was begging to escape.
“No, darling. I can’t let you into the kitchen.” They froze at the sound of Lucinda’s voice outside the door. “Terrible mess. You don’t want to go in there.”
“Mother?” Lilly sounded shocked and much, much too close. Luke tugged on Reid’s hand, attempting to hide in the pantry and keep from tripping on his belt. “Mother, let me in the kitchen. I don’t care if there’s a mess.”
Luke’s heart was pounding as he shut the door. “That was close.” He whispered, unable to hide a giddy smile. “This is insane. What if she had caught us? Oh, no! What if she sees my shirt?”
Reid, surprising Luke with his strength, lifted him onto a small cabinet. “Then she’ll know you’re somewhere in the house with your pants on.” A glint sparked in Reid’s eye. “But not for long.”
Lifting his hips willingly, Luke quivered as Reid bunched the material along his thighs. He cried out when Reid dipped his head and mouthed Luke’s erection through tight, red briefs that he hadn’t worn since Reid brought them home as a present to himself. They were now Luke’s lucky underpants.
“Fuck. I remember these.” Reid’s words were muffled as he licked at the wet spot growing larger as Luke leaked more pre-come in anticipation. “I love you.”
As long as he lived, Luke would never get tired of hearing that. It was amazing to think that a week ago all this, Reid and love and, thank god, sex was all an unattainable dream. But today, it was real and Luke wanted it right now.
“Naked, Reid. I need you naked.”
Reid pulled a condom from his pocket before shoving his jeans to the floor, his shirt thrown behind him. Luke’s eyes glowed with joy at the sight and he wiggled from his underwear. He kicked off his shoe and left his pants bunched around his right ankle.
Lubing his fingers with spit, Reid positioned Luke at the edge of the cabinet and sunk his fingers inside. Luke was so tight, his hole clinching as Reid opened him. It had been so long. The burn was intense and Luke relished it as he rocked against Reid’s hand.
Knowing it would be rough with only the lube on the condom, Reid took his time. He scissored his fingers and pumped slowly in and out of Luke’s ass, prepared to continue until Luke was ready. The thought of causing him pain made Reid’s stomach tighten. He never wanted Luke to hurt again.
They moved like memories, the same maddeningly slow pace that Reid used to drive Luke crazy in the beginning now running the show. And like always, Luke whimpered, wanting more.
“Please, please, Reid. Need you now.”
Reid tested Luke’s ass, giving it a final stretch, and decided he was as ready as he could be. He rolled the condom on quickly and lined up. They went still and their eyes locked. This was really happening and it was obvious just how much that meant to both men. In one swift pulse of his hips, Reid pushed into Luke completely.
Eyes closed, Reid dropped his head to Luke’s shoulder. He was whole, once again connected to his other half. How he had survived so long without Luke was a mystery, but Reid knew then that it couldn’t be done again. His throat was tight, emotions seizing his chest as he pulled nearly all the way out and plunged back into Luke slowly. He was home. With Luke was where Reid lived and nothing or no one would take that from him again.
Luke carded his fingers in Reid’s curls and held him close. The sensation of being so full and so…Luke had trouble describing it exactly. He finally settled on complete. Reid completed Luke and he grinned, thinking of how Reid would roll his eyes if Luke said that out loud, but it didn’t make it any less true. “I love you, Reid. I love you so much.”
Reid kissed Luke’s lips before rolling his hips. They had to be quick and quiet. Quick wasn’t going to be a problem. Reid didn’t dare move more than an inch at a time and Luke had stretched his balls, praying to last a little bit longer. Quiet, even knowing that Lucinda and Lily were on the other side of the door, was an impossibility.
Every twitch of Reid’s cock caused Luke to cry out. He braced his shoulders against the wall, supported his weight with his hands alone and sunk down on Reid. Luke set the pace. Reid didn’t argue, knowing that he must need to. He supported Luke’s ass and concentrated on holding off his orgasm until Luke was satisfied.
“Help me, Reid.”
Reid pushed Luke back onto the cabinet and pounded into him roughly, repeatedly. He licked his palm and reached out to stroke Luke’s erection, so engorged it was blazing red and hot to the touch. Reid pumped three, four times and with a warbling howl, Luke shot halfway up his chest.
The sight was so erotic, so beautifully dirty, this golden angel riding the waves of pleasure on his cock, that Reid sunk his teeth into Luke’s shoulder and unloaded in the condom. He pulled out slowly and situated Luke more comfortably on the cabinet. They were silent for a few moments, feeling the other’s hands move slowly down their backs and their chests touching as breathing returned to normal.
“Hey.” Reid said softly. He gently cupped Luke’s cheek, his thumb brushing back and forth over the flushed skin. “Are you okay?”
Luke was confused for a moment. A bit more lube would have been nice, but the sex hadn’t been rough enough to cause Luke any pain. Then, he looked into Reid’s eyes. The concern wasn’t over his physical state. Reid wanted to make sure Luke wasn’t emotionally torn. With a passionate kiss, Luke answered.
Reid eyes remained closed when the kiss ended, opening slowly as a grin rose on his face. “You’re okay.”
“Almost.” Luke bit his lower lip and ruffled his fingers through Reid’s hair. “Take me to your bed, Reid.”
Reid marched past a smug Lucinda and shocked Lily. He nodded curtly. “Ladies.”
He rounded the table, snatching Luke’s shirt and jacket. He scooped up Luke’s tie from where it lay bunched on the floor. “Lucinda, thank you for a lovely evening. Lily, always a pleasure.”
Luke’s hand snaked out from behind the door and he yelled from inside the pantry. “And, Mom? Would you mind watching Kenna tonight?”
“Um, ye…I, uh” Lily stammered and stuttered, her brain still trying to catch up. “Yes?”
“Great. Thanks, Mom.” Luke pulled Reid in and shut the door for more kisses before they headed to the guest house. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
Reid growled low in his ear. “Better make it afternoon.”
**********
Luke rolled over in his sleep, the twinge in his ass reminding him just where he was and how he had gotten there. His arm slid across the empty mattress. “Reid?” Luke propped himself on an elbow and rubbed at his tired eyes. “Reid?”
No one was in the bathroom. Luke pulled the rumpled sheet from the bed and padded quietly into the kitchen. The light from the TV illuminated the living room, Reid’s form a silhouette on the couch.
“There you are.” Luke flopped down next to Reid and curled into his side. He placed a small kiss on Reid’s shoulder, his stomach tightening when he felt Reid pull away. “What’s up? Couldn’t sleep?”
“I guess I’m not used to sleeping next to someone anymore.” Reid sighed roughly and placed his arm around Luke’s neck as an afterthought. “You don’t really have that problem, do you?”
Luke watched Reid’s expression closely. The late night infomercial cast deep shadows across his face. Luke couldn’t determine what Reid was thinking, but he knew it couldn’t be good. “It’s been longer than you think.”
“So, it’s just habit then?”
“Um…” The blood in Luke’s veins ran cold. What had he done?
“You know what? Let’s just go back to bed.” Reid looked at him then, his expression icy. “You’ve got a life to get back to in the morning.”
Luke took Reid’s hand in his. “Reid, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” His answer was curt. Reid shook out of Luke’s grasp and walked around the couch. “Are you coming?”
Brow crinkling, Luke felt the sting of tears in the corner of his eye. Despite what Reid was saying, something was terribly askew. “Not until you talk to me, Reid. I don’t know what I did to upset you so badly, but-“
“You loved him.”
Reid’s voice didn’t even sound familiar. It wasn’t broken or sad. The tone was harder than Luke had heard it since Reid first arrived in Oakdale on that cold January day. “I…I didn’t. I mean-“
“You did.” Reid swallowed against the bile rising in his throat. “And tonight when I wrapped my arms around you to go to sleep, you proved it.”
“What?”
So much for the plan. Reid sat on that couch for over an hour convincing himself that Luke didn’t even know what he had said. That it was habit and Reid should just let it go that on the cusp of dreams, Luke uttered the one thing that could set Reid on edge.
“’Goodnight, Knox’. It’s my bed you’re in, but he was the one on your mind.”
Luke gasped. Of all the things he could have said. “You have to understand. I’ve said that every night for the last two years.”
Reid flinched, looking at Luke like he had just taken a fist to the jaw. “Is that supposed to make me feel better?”
“Not, you know, every night.” Luke sputtered. “When I was sick, I fell asleep in Kenna’s room most nights and Knox traveled a lot.”
“But there were times when you two slept together?”
Luke’s mouth went dry, his heart beating erratically. “Yes, Reid. He was my husband.”
The silence from Reid was absolutely terrifying. Luke’s body began to quake, his muscle clenching like he was naked in a blizzard.
“Reid?” Luke reached out slowly. “You were gone and he was there to fill in the holes.”
Reid held up his hand, a frigid smile on his face. “I changed my mind. I don’t really need to know any more about him filling you holes.”
“Stop it!” Luke cried. “That’s not what I meant and you know it.”
“Go on. Tell me what you meant.” Reid crossed his arms over his bare chest, his toes gripping into the carpet. “Tell me what you meant when you stood in front of your family and friends and promised to love Knox forever. Tell me what it was like to make love to him.”
“That’s what this is about?” Luke jumped from the couch, anger moving his stiff muscles. “You can travel the world fucking anything you want to, but I have to explain myself because I slept with one man?”
“But you didn’t sleep with him, did you?” Reid was screaming now. He knew he should calm down. His feelings of betrayal were irrational. Reid knew that, but he didn’t lower his voice. “You didn’t fuck him. You made love to him. You married him. You adopted his kid, for Christ’s sake.”
“Reid, I…” Luke’s lip quivered. He bit it so hard, he tasted blood. “I thought you were dead. It got harder and harder to drag myself out of bed, to stop wishing I was dead too. Knox was there and I tried to convince myself…”
Pulling in a deep breath, Reid rubbed the heels of his palms into his eyes. Everything Luke was saying made sense. Knox hadn’t been any more than a place filler. Reid looked at Luke, struggling to explain something that was already crystal clear, and tried to keep a rational head. “It’s late. We had a crazy day. Maybe I’m on my period. Just, you don’t- You don’t have to say anything else.”
“No, I do.” Luke kneaded Reid’s shoulders, the tense muscles that traveled up his neck. Tears were streaming down Luke’s cheeks as he searched for the words that would get his message across. “You need to believe me when I say that I always knew I would never love Knox like I loved you. I forced myself to tell him every night and prayed that it would be true, but it didn’t happen. Our love, yours and mine, is once in a lifetime, Reid, and I’m so, so sorry that I settled for less.”
“Hey, cut it out.” Reid pulled Luke close and rubbed his hair gently. “I’m sorry, okay? I overreacted. Let’s go to bed.”
Luke clutched at Reid, his fingers digging into the flesh of Reid’s hips. “When we get there, let me show you how much I love you.”
Intense fear filled Luke’s eyes. Reid didn’t want this. Things were finally good, and yet he couldn’t stop himself from looking for an excuse to ruin them. He had to move past this ridiculous jealousy. Burying himself inside Luke seemed like a good place to start. Reid’s arms tightened around Luke’s shaking body and he kissed him fiercely. “You better, Mr. Snyder.”
**********
“Uncle Reid!”
Jacob yanked his hand from Katie’s. He raced up the cobblestone path to Luke’s front door, jumping at Reid, who was swinging his briefcase on the way to his car. She righted her purse on her shoulder and cross her arms haughtily under her breasts. “I could be gone for a year and wouldn’t get a greeting like that.”
“Well,” Reid sighed. “Let’s hope the goodbye is less enthusiastic. I’m on my way out.”
“Bummer.” Katie flounced, her heels clicking on the ground. “Can you guys come over for dinner next week? I feel like I haven’t seen you since you started back at the hospital.”
Reid rolled his eyes as he put Jacob down. “That was three days ago, Needy. I can’t be asking for time off for dinner parties just yet.”
“Fine, then.” Katie tossed up her hands. “Breakfast? Lunch? Midnight fridge raid? I don’t really care. I’ve been single for almost a year. I need to spend time with a happy couple. See proof that they still exist.”
“Oh, yeah.” Reid muttered. “That’s us.”
“Wait.” The long, hard ‘a’ dragged from Katie’s mouth, her eyes suspicious slits.
Reid patted Jacob’s head and rushed toward his car. He called back over his shoulder. “Really gotta go. I’m sure you two will drag me into something against my will.”
Katie chewed her lip, watching Reid pull down the drive. “Stupid boys.”
Impatiently, Jacob bobbed up and down. His voice was a grating whine. “Mom! Let’s go!”
Luke was nearly trampled when he opened the door. Jacob darted to reach Kenna at the top of the stairs. They were already rummaging through her toy box before Luke could yell. “No running.”
“Good luck with that.” Squeezing Luke’s arm gently, Katie let herself inside. “Coffee?”
“Yeah, of course.” Luke gestured grandly and followed Katie into the kitchen. “Two sugars, right?”
“What the hell is up with you and Reid?”
Luke’s steps halted. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He removed a mug from the cupboard and attempted a light chuckle. “Nothing. We’re great.”
Katie pulled a stool from beneath the breakfast bar. She rested her elbows on the smooth, swirling marble and leaned forward.
“Don’t do that.” She warned. “I know something isn’t right and, if there’s a soul in this town who might be able to help, it’s me.”
Luke sat down next to her, spinning his cup nervously in his hands. “How do I even begin to explain it when I don’t know myself? He’s here, but…he’s not. I know that doesn’t make much sense.”
“No, I get it.” Katie took Luke’s coffee. She set it on the bar next to hers and then grabbed his hands.
“At first, I thought it was the house. Maybe Reid didn’t like being here.” Luke took a deep breath. He had this conversation many times, but he had always been talking to himself. Telling someone else made the distance he felt from Reid seem all too real. “You know, I don’t know about this. Do you really think Reid would like me talking to his friend about our issues?”
Katie gaped, truly offended by what Luke was implying. “Hey, I have been your cheerleader since the moment I found out Reid had feelings for you. I care about both of you. Just because Reid only has one friend doesn’t mean that’s all I get. Now, talk to me, damn it! What about the house?”
A relieved smile flittered across Luke’s face. “Okay…so I thought he might be uncomfortable here because of Knox, but when I mentioned selling it, all he had to say was that he didn’t think it was a good idea to uproot Kenna right now.”
“It sounds like Reid really likes her.”
“The feeling is mutual. Everything out of her mouth is ‘Doctor said’ this and ‘Doctor said’ that.”
“She calls him ‘Doctor’?” Katie pressed her fingers lightly over her lips. “That is so cute.”
“I know.” Luke nodded in agreement. “But if it’s not the house and it’s not the kid, that only leaves me and it scares the hell outta me to think that Reid’s feelings have changed.”
Katie bit down hard on her lips. Luke’s eyes were swimming with tears and sympathy tugged at her heart. “Oh, honey. They haven’t.”
Luke’s lips quivered as he inhaled deeply. “I think they have and I think I know why.”
“Did Reid say something?”
“The night that Knox signed the divorce papers, we stayed in the guest house. We kinda had it out. He said he was over it.”
Katie stopped him there. The answer had to be somewhere in that argument and she couldn’t leave it to a man to provide the details. “What did you fight about?”
Luke sighed. He was still a little confused about that. “I think Reid sees me differently now that he knows I’ve slept with someone else.”
Reid had never been as explicit about his sex life as Katie had asked him to be, but she had heard enough to know that the man was no prude. “He said that?”
“Well, I mean, those weren’t his exact words, but-“
“Then, what were they?”
“He said I didn’t…” Luke looked around for any tiny ears that might be listening before whispering “fuck Knox. I made love to him, but-“
“Oh, Luke.” Cutting him off again, Katie patted Luke’s cheek sweetly. “Men are such idiots.”
“Excuse me?”
“In his life, Reid has loved exactly one person.”
Warmth spread through Luke’s chest. Despite the distance, he knew in his heart that Reid still loved him. “Me.”
Katie took a sip of her lukewarm coffee. “So, he has no clue how to grasp the concept of being in love with two people at the same time.”
“I wasn’t in love with Knox.”
Katie shook her head. “You were. What you know now doesn’t change how you felt then. After I found out about Chris’s affair, I spent a lot of time trying to convince myself that I never loved him, that he filled a void after Brad died. I realized that I wasn’t going to move past all that hurt until I acknowledged why it was he could wound me so badly in the first place. I loved the shmuck.”
“Can I ask you something?” Luke knotted his fingers together tightly and cleared his throat. “Did you still love Brad when you married Chris?”
“I still love Brad today. Did you love Reid?”
“Every minute.”
Katie slung her purse over her shoulder. “Reid would probably like to know that. I’ve got to get to the studio. Are you sure you don’t mind watching Jacob?”
Waving off her concern, Luke smiled. “He’s welcome over any time.”
Luke led Katie back to the foyer and opened the door. She lifted on her toes and kissed his cheek. “I hope our talk helped.”
“It did.” Luke nodded. “I know just what I have to do.”