Always Attract (Chapter 88)
****Previously on Always Attract: Reid took Luke to a fundraiser at his hospital where he met a co-worker and the bosom of Reid's boss's wife. The two also decided to slap a label on their relationship and admitted.....well......that they're officially in one.
Reid walked Luke hand in hand down the hallways until they finally reached Luke’s door. “Thank you for walking me,” he said. “You didn’t have to come all the way up here.”
Reid shrugged. “I wanted to.”
Luke smiled and looked down somewhat bashfully before staring at Reid under his eyelashes, waiting for the kiss to come. Reid leaned forward and pressed his lips against Luke’s…..cheek. Luke frowned and Reid pulled away giving him a small smile. “Goodnight Luke.” Watching him walk away, Luke took out his card and opened the door of the suite. Closing it behind him, he rested against it, shoulders shrinking lower and lower in defeat. What the hell was that?
*
“He hasn’t kissed me. Don’t you think that’s weird?”
“Maybe he wants to take things slow this time around.”
Luke had been meeting with a psychologist in St. Louis since he first arrived, having left his old psychologist when he left Oakdale.
“But we’re together now. We never really were before. The first time around we denied our feelings and the second time around we jumped into bed together.”
“Maybe that’s why he hasn’t kissed you.”
“Because I haven’t expressed that I’d put out?” he asked offended.
“No,” she laughed, “because he’s trying to do things right this time around. Maybe he’s trying to court you. You should be flattered.”
“Court me? I’m not some Victorian Heroine in a romance novel. Yes, I do like that we’re going out and talking and I’m getting to meet new people in his life, but I’m not some precious flower that needs to be coddled. I’m not weak.”
“Do you think Reid views you as weak Luke?”
“I don’t……I don’t know,” he said quietly. “I’ve certainly been week in the past. He’s holding back though. It’s obvious. I know he said that I would have to be patient with him and that it would take him some time to be able to trust me again, but I didn’t think it would start so quickly. What if he never trusts me again?”
“That might just have to be a risk you’ll have to take. At least you’d be able to say you fought this time.”
Luke nodded. “I just got him. I keep thinking that if we just would’ve just done so many things differently the first time around, we would’ve already had 2 and a half years together by now. I’m not going to walk away. I’m not sure if he believed me when I told him that, but I’m not. I already feel like we’re getting closer, I just want…..I just need….for him to touch me.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that Luke. It’s been a long time since you’ve been close to him like that. Maybe you need to have the physical intimacy, in any form, with him so that way it can feel like it’s really real for you; that all of this is actually happening.”
“So what do I do?”
“Well….like you said. You’re not some innocent Victorian woman where something as little as hand holding is considered risqué. Make the first move.”
*
“Hi,” Reid smiled brightly as he opened the door.
“Hey.” Luke came into Reid’s apartment carrying a few bags. He made his way into the open kitchen and set them down at the counter. Reid followed him, looking slightly amused.
“What’s that?” he asked while gesturing towards the counter.
“Groceries.”
“I already have groceries.”
Luke rolled his eyes. “Duh, but I’m not talking about what you have. Frozen fried food, chips, macaroni & cheese, and toaster strudels are not real food.”
“Actually yes they are.”
“No they’re not.” Before Reid could refute that statement again, Luke spoke. “Besides, you needed these if I was going to make you dinner tonight.”
“You’re cooking me dinner?”
“Why yes Dr. Oliver. Yes, I am!”
*
Reid took a bite of the roasted chicken and groaned. “This is so good.”
Luke’s cheeks tinted pink at the compliment as well as at the sound Reid made when taking a bite. He shoveled another scoop of mashed potatoes in his mouth, then proceeded to ask Luke where he learned to cook so good. Most would’ve probably been disgusted at the sight of Reid’s open full mouth, but Luke was too busy gazing longingly at him to really notice all that much.
“What, do I have something on my face?” Reid asked as he ran a napkin over his mouth.
“Huh?” Luke shook his head. “No. Your face is fine. Sorry, what were you saying before that?”
“I asked where you learned to cook so good.”
“My Grandma Emma.”
“Ah,” Reid said knowingly. “Farm lady, right? I sort of remember the food.”
“Sort of? I’m sure she would be highly offended if she knew that someone “sort of” remembered her food.”
“I remember it was good. I was sort of distracted that day though.”
“Oh.” Luke remembered back to that day when Reid and him first saw each other again. “It’s weird how things happen, isn’t it? I never thought I’d see you again and all of a sudden….there you were.”
“All because Henry Coleman’s a kinky little bastard.”
Luke laughed. “He’s doing very well you know. He wound up pushing Vienna away while he was blind, blaming her….”
“The man’s an idiot. That woman is smokin’.”
“But, after she decided enough was enough and left for good, him and Barbara eventually started their little thing again and now they’re happily together.”
“That’s his brother’s mom, right?”
“Look at you! You do listen to Oakdale gossip.”
“Only because Matt never shuts up about it. Like a kid in a freaking soap opera candy store that one. I never told you about the day when I walked in to good ole’ Hank’s hospital room to find Matt and Katie standing there practically giving commentary as his two women nearly went at it over his bed.”
“I could imagine,” Luke laughed. “Those two together are lethal sometimes. You’d be happy though. I could tell Katie missed you, but her and Matt act like long lost siblings sometimes.”
“Don’t say that,” Reid said. “Please. Next thing we know, some mysterious person will show up and we’ll find out that the two of them are actually brother and sister.”
“It’s Oakdale. Sadly even I can admit, it might happen.”
“So your grandmother taught you to cook like this?”
“I’ve always enjoyed helping her out, but was never really good at it. Living at the farm though this past year gave me more opportunity to get the hang of some stuff. It was nice sometimes to just be able to come home and cook with her. It sort of relaxed me.”
“It really is good. The only thing that would make it better is if there was dessert.”
“I have a pie baking in the oven,” Luke smirked.
Reid licked his lips, an action Luke’s eyes intensely followed. “This is officially the best night ever.”
“It still has about 20 minutes before it needs to come out. Do you want to sit and watch some TV until then?”
Reid looked down at his empty plate. The question of him wanting seconds filtering through his brain. “TV sounds good,” he finally said.
*
“Hey Reid?” Luke said softly as he played with the older man’s fingers. They had been lying against the back cushions of the couch for the past 10 minutes. Luke had been trying to work up the nerve to finally make a move.
“Yeah?” he replied just as gently.
“Have I ever told you how sexy I think you are?”
“What?” he laughed.
“I’m serious. You’re the sexiest man I’ve ever met.”
“Thank you?” he said looking strangely at Luke. “Not that I don’t appreciate the compliment, but, well…..where is this coming from?”
Luke brought his knee up and tucked it underneath him while turning around to face Reid. “I was just thinking about you earlier. I’ve been thinking about you a lot actually.”
“Of course,” he teased.
“Shut up,” Luke grinned. “But I’m serious.” He brought his hand up and ran his fingertips down Reid’s cheek. “So sexy,” he whispered. He leaned forward to brush his lips against Reid’s, but was stopped just short by the beeping of the oven.
“Pie,” Reid tucked his head down. “You should probably get that. Wouldn’t want it to burn,” he attempted to chuckle.
Luke took a deep breath. “Right.”
He slouched off to the kitchen to take the dessert out of the oven. “Blocked by a fucking pie,” he murmured. “Damn sweet cherry goodness.”
“Do you normally do that?”
“Jesus Reid!” Luke exclaimed as he whipped around. “You scared the crap out of me.”
Reid sauntered over to Luke and placed his hands on the counter, one on each side of him. Luke was pressed in between the two looking at Reid wildly through his eyes. “What are you doing?” he said breathlessly.
“What do you want?” Reid asked seriously.
“W-what do you mean?”
“It’s a simple question,” he said. “You need to tell me Luke. What. Do. You. Want?”
“I want you to kiss me,” he blurted out. “Why haven’t you kissed me? I know you don’t trust me yet and I can deal with that, but I just need to know. Is that why you haven’t? Are you afraid of getting to close again just to have me disappoint you?”
“Shut up Luke.”
“No. I don’t want to. I just want to know. It’s been so long Reid. It’s been so long since I’ve held you and felt you. I can’t stop thinking about it. It’s like it’s taken up residence in my brain and all I can think about is feeling your lips against mine or the taste of your tongue and I need it. I can’t explain it, but I just….need it like I’ve never needed anything else before and…..hmpf…”
Before Luke could finish, he was cut off with the feeling of Reid as he pushed even closer against him until their hips were directly aligned. His brain had fogged over and he was in a soft haze. As he slowly started to come back, he realized that pressed against his lips were that of another’s; Reid’s. Reid was kissing him. When he felt the gentle swipe of a tongue against his bottom lip, he opened his mouth and moaned, remembering the taste he wasn’t sure he’d ever get the chance to experience again. Their tongues danced and glided together rhythmically as they retraced something that had once been lost, but never forgotten. By the time they broke away, both men were panting softly in the otherwise quiet kitchen.
“What took you so long?” Luke murmured.
“I just want us both to be on the same page this time. I don’t want either one of us to have any regrets.”
Luke nodded knowingly. “And what are you feeling right now?”
“I want to kiss you again,” Reid answered honestly.
Luke smiled as he fisted his hands at the front of Reid’s shirt. He brought his mouth forward, just barely grazing Reid’s lips while nipping playfully at them. “Ditto.”
Fifteen minutes later, they found themselves back on the couch, their bodies lied horizontally together and one cherry pie completely forgotten.
Reid walked Luke hand in hand down the hallways until they finally reached Luke’s door. “Thank you for walking me,” he said. “You didn’t have to come all the way up here.”
Reid shrugged. “I wanted to.”
Luke smiled and looked down somewhat bashfully before staring at Reid under his eyelashes, waiting for the kiss to come. Reid leaned forward and pressed his lips against Luke’s…..cheek. Luke frowned and Reid pulled away giving him a small smile. “Goodnight Luke.” Watching him walk away, Luke took out his card and opened the door of the suite. Closing it behind him, he rested against it, shoulders shrinking lower and lower in defeat. What the hell was that?
*
“He hasn’t kissed me. Don’t you think that’s weird?”
“Maybe he wants to take things slow this time around.”
Luke had been meeting with a psychologist in St. Louis since he first arrived, having left his old psychologist when he left Oakdale.
“But we’re together now. We never really were before. The first time around we denied our feelings and the second time around we jumped into bed together.”
“Maybe that’s why he hasn’t kissed you.”
“Because I haven’t expressed that I’d put out?” he asked offended.
“No,” she laughed, “because he’s trying to do things right this time around. Maybe he’s trying to court you. You should be flattered.”
“Court me? I’m not some Victorian Heroine in a romance novel. Yes, I do like that we’re going out and talking and I’m getting to meet new people in his life, but I’m not some precious flower that needs to be coddled. I’m not weak.”
“Do you think Reid views you as weak Luke?”
“I don’t……I don’t know,” he said quietly. “I’ve certainly been week in the past. He’s holding back though. It’s obvious. I know he said that I would have to be patient with him and that it would take him some time to be able to trust me again, but I didn’t think it would start so quickly. What if he never trusts me again?”
“That might just have to be a risk you’ll have to take. At least you’d be able to say you fought this time.”
Luke nodded. “I just got him. I keep thinking that if we just would’ve just done so many things differently the first time around, we would’ve already had 2 and a half years together by now. I’m not going to walk away. I’m not sure if he believed me when I told him that, but I’m not. I already feel like we’re getting closer, I just want…..I just need….for him to touch me.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that Luke. It’s been a long time since you’ve been close to him like that. Maybe you need to have the physical intimacy, in any form, with him so that way it can feel like it’s really real for you; that all of this is actually happening.”
“So what do I do?”
“Well….like you said. You’re not some innocent Victorian woman where something as little as hand holding is considered risqué. Make the first move.”
*
“Hi,” Reid smiled brightly as he opened the door.
“Hey.” Luke came into Reid’s apartment carrying a few bags. He made his way into the open kitchen and set them down at the counter. Reid followed him, looking slightly amused.
“What’s that?” he asked while gesturing towards the counter.
“Groceries.”
“I already have groceries.”
Luke rolled his eyes. “Duh, but I’m not talking about what you have. Frozen fried food, chips, macaroni & cheese, and toaster strudels are not real food.”
“Actually yes they are.”
“No they’re not.” Before Reid could refute that statement again, Luke spoke. “Besides, you needed these if I was going to make you dinner tonight.”
“You’re cooking me dinner?”
“Why yes Dr. Oliver. Yes, I am!”
*
Reid took a bite of the roasted chicken and groaned. “This is so good.”
Luke’s cheeks tinted pink at the compliment as well as at the sound Reid made when taking a bite. He shoveled another scoop of mashed potatoes in his mouth, then proceeded to ask Luke where he learned to cook so good. Most would’ve probably been disgusted at the sight of Reid’s open full mouth, but Luke was too busy gazing longingly at him to really notice all that much.
“What, do I have something on my face?” Reid asked as he ran a napkin over his mouth.
“Huh?” Luke shook his head. “No. Your face is fine. Sorry, what were you saying before that?”
“I asked where you learned to cook so good.”
“My Grandma Emma.”
“Ah,” Reid said knowingly. “Farm lady, right? I sort of remember the food.”
“Sort of? I’m sure she would be highly offended if she knew that someone “sort of” remembered her food.”
“I remember it was good. I was sort of distracted that day though.”
“Oh.” Luke remembered back to that day when Reid and him first saw each other again. “It’s weird how things happen, isn’t it? I never thought I’d see you again and all of a sudden….there you were.”
“All because Henry Coleman’s a kinky little bastard.”
Luke laughed. “He’s doing very well you know. He wound up pushing Vienna away while he was blind, blaming her….”
“The man’s an idiot. That woman is smokin’.”
“But, after she decided enough was enough and left for good, him and Barbara eventually started their little thing again and now they’re happily together.”
“That’s his brother’s mom, right?”
“Look at you! You do listen to Oakdale gossip.”
“Only because Matt never shuts up about it. Like a kid in a freaking soap opera candy store that one. I never told you about the day when I walked in to good ole’ Hank’s hospital room to find Matt and Katie standing there practically giving commentary as his two women nearly went at it over his bed.”
“I could imagine,” Luke laughed. “Those two together are lethal sometimes. You’d be happy though. I could tell Katie missed you, but her and Matt act like long lost siblings sometimes.”
“Don’t say that,” Reid said. “Please. Next thing we know, some mysterious person will show up and we’ll find out that the two of them are actually brother and sister.”
“It’s Oakdale. Sadly even I can admit, it might happen.”
“So your grandmother taught you to cook like this?”
“I’ve always enjoyed helping her out, but was never really good at it. Living at the farm though this past year gave me more opportunity to get the hang of some stuff. It was nice sometimes to just be able to come home and cook with her. It sort of relaxed me.”
“It really is good. The only thing that would make it better is if there was dessert.”
“I have a pie baking in the oven,” Luke smirked.
Reid licked his lips, an action Luke’s eyes intensely followed. “This is officially the best night ever.”
“It still has about 20 minutes before it needs to come out. Do you want to sit and watch some TV until then?”
Reid looked down at his empty plate. The question of him wanting seconds filtering through his brain. “TV sounds good,” he finally said.
*
“Hey Reid?” Luke said softly as he played with the older man’s fingers. They had been lying against the back cushions of the couch for the past 10 minutes. Luke had been trying to work up the nerve to finally make a move.
“Yeah?” he replied just as gently.
“Have I ever told you how sexy I think you are?”
“What?” he laughed.
“I’m serious. You’re the sexiest man I’ve ever met.”
“Thank you?” he said looking strangely at Luke. “Not that I don’t appreciate the compliment, but, well…..where is this coming from?”
Luke brought his knee up and tucked it underneath him while turning around to face Reid. “I was just thinking about you earlier. I’ve been thinking about you a lot actually.”
“Of course,” he teased.
“Shut up,” Luke grinned. “But I’m serious.” He brought his hand up and ran his fingertips down Reid’s cheek. “So sexy,” he whispered. He leaned forward to brush his lips against Reid’s, but was stopped just short by the beeping of the oven.
“Pie,” Reid tucked his head down. “You should probably get that. Wouldn’t want it to burn,” he attempted to chuckle.
Luke took a deep breath. “Right.”
He slouched off to the kitchen to take the dessert out of the oven. “Blocked by a fucking pie,” he murmured. “Damn sweet cherry goodness.”
“Do you normally do that?”
“Jesus Reid!” Luke exclaimed as he whipped around. “You scared the crap out of me.”
Reid sauntered over to Luke and placed his hands on the counter, one on each side of him. Luke was pressed in between the two looking at Reid wildly through his eyes. “What are you doing?” he said breathlessly.
“What do you want?” Reid asked seriously.
“W-what do you mean?”
“It’s a simple question,” he said. “You need to tell me Luke. What. Do. You. Want?”
“I want you to kiss me,” he blurted out. “Why haven’t you kissed me? I know you don’t trust me yet and I can deal with that, but I just need to know. Is that why you haven’t? Are you afraid of getting to close again just to have me disappoint you?”
“Shut up Luke.”
“No. I don’t want to. I just want to know. It’s been so long Reid. It’s been so long since I’ve held you and felt you. I can’t stop thinking about it. It’s like it’s taken up residence in my brain and all I can think about is feeling your lips against mine or the taste of your tongue and I need it. I can’t explain it, but I just….need it like I’ve never needed anything else before and…..hmpf…”
Before Luke could finish, he was cut off with the feeling of Reid as he pushed even closer against him until their hips were directly aligned. His brain had fogged over and he was in a soft haze. As he slowly started to come back, he realized that pressed against his lips were that of another’s; Reid’s. Reid was kissing him. When he felt the gentle swipe of a tongue against his bottom lip, he opened his mouth and moaned, remembering the taste he wasn’t sure he’d ever get the chance to experience again. Their tongues danced and glided together rhythmically as they retraced something that had once been lost, but never forgotten. By the time they broke away, both men were panting softly in the otherwise quiet kitchen.
“What took you so long?” Luke murmured.
“I just want us both to be on the same page this time. I don’t want either one of us to have any regrets.”
Luke nodded knowingly. “And what are you feeling right now?”
“I want to kiss you again,” Reid answered honestly.
Luke smiled as he fisted his hands at the front of Reid’s shirt. He brought his mouth forward, just barely grazing Reid’s lips while nipping playfully at them. “Ditto.”
Fifteen minutes later, they found themselves back on the couch, their bodies lied horizontally together and one cherry pie completely forgotten.