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  Nico put a hand on Luke’s head. “Oh yeah.”

  Encouraged, Luke ran his lips up and down a few times before his hand dipped lower. His finger brushed over the opening, and Nico shivered.

  “Oh, God.”

  He pulled up and off Nico’s cock, but didn’t release his hold. “Lube.”

  Nico twisted to get the supplies, and Luke resumed sucking his cock. He could seriously give Nico head all night and be happy. He loved how it felt and tasted in his mouth.

  A bottle touched his shoulder, and without missing a stroke, Luke took the lube and popped the top. He squeezed the slippery liquid and ran a slick, teasing finger around Nico’s hole.

  Luke dipped inside.

  Nico shifted, pushing down eagerly on Luke’s finger. “Oh fuck yeah.”

  The need in Nico’s voice was a huge turn-on. Luke slid his finger in and out a couple of times before adding the second. He twirled his fingers back and forth as he moved in and out.

  Nico grunted. “Luke. Fuck me. Please.”

  Luke stopped sucking and looked up. “Bossy bottom much?”

  “Only when I don’t get what I want.” Nico tore open the condom and held it up. “Can I?”

  “Fuck, yeah.” Luke got to his knees, his cock at full mast, and inched forward.

  Nico’s warm hands rolled the condom down. “Can we do this face-to-face?”

  Luke lubed his pulsing length. “Yeah?”

  “I want . . . I want to watch you while you fuck me.”

  “So hot.” Luke dipped and snagged Nico into a passionate, tongue-twisting kiss.

  “Ti amo tantissimo,” Nico said, pulling back for air.

  Luke kissed him again. “Whatever you said sounded sexy as fuck.”

  Nico swallowed hard.

  Luke raised Nico’s legs and kissed the right calf as he positioned himself for entry.

  Watching for signs Nico was in pain, Luke kept up a slow pressure. Nico winced, and Luke paused.

  Nico clasped Luke’s butt. “Don’t stop.”

  The words said go, but Nico’s face said pain. “Nico, I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “You won’t.” He huffed through the obvious pain. “It’s been a few years.”

  “Years?” Luke stopped.

  “Four.” Nico reached up to pull Luke down and nipped at his ear. His words skittered warmly over his earlobe. “Don’t stop. I’ll be fine once I get used to you.”

  Luke carefully finished his entry. Nico gripped him tight and hot. God, he’d had sex before, but he’d never felt so connected.

  Nico grabbed Luke’s head and pressed their lips together. After a deep kiss, he moved back. “Fuck me, Luke. Like you promised.”

  He pulled back slowly and plunged forward, eliciting a deep moan. The pain was gone; this was pleasure.

  Gaze fixed on Nico, Luke didn’t rush his strokes. When he pulled back, he angled so his cock rubbed Nico’s prostate. Nico’s eyes rolled back.

  “Fuuuucck.”

  “Like that?”

  “So much.” Nico opened his eyes. “Harder. I need more. Please.”

  Having begun with long, deep thrusts, Luke moved to shorter, faster, harder ones. Nico’s ragged breathing and demands for more spurred Luke on.

  Luke gulped air as he neared release. Beneath him, Nico grabbed his cock and stroked fast. Keeping his rhythm, Luke was so close when Nico grunted.

  The muscles surrounding Luke’s cock contracted as a volley of come hit Nico in the face. His body kept spasming, and Luke lost it. He shoved in fast and hard and kept himself buried inside Nico as he came. After a couple of shots, he pounded a few more strokes to finish his orgasm.

  Beyond happy, he collapsed onto Nico, who wrapped his arms around Luke and hugged him tight. They remained still until their breathing almost returned to normal.

  Luke propped himself on his elbows and looked down. He remained inside Nico, not ready to withdraw.

  “Four years? You should have told me.”

  “I didn’t want you to stop.”

  “God, Nico. I thought you liked bottoming.”

  Nico cradled Luke’s face and their gazes met tenderly. “I do. I just haven’t met anyone I wanted to do that with in a long time.”

  Luke’s chest seized. “And you wanted to with me?”

  Nico broke his gaze, his Adam’s apple jutting. “You’re careful. You feel safe. I wanted to practice again.”

  Luke rested his forehead against Nico’s temple. “You feel amazing, Nico.”

  Nico chuckled. “It was good for you? I don’t think I’ve ever come so hard.”

  Luke’s cock slipped out of Nico, and he felt Nico’s shiver. “It was everything for me, Nico. Now let’s clean up. I’m impatient to get to the next good part.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Spooning you.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Nico

  Nico blinked in the early morning light. His left arm was asleep, and Luke was using his chest as a pillow. He wrapped his arm around Luke’s shoulder, pulling his sleeping body closer. Luke’s soft breathing played across Nico’s bare torso. He shivered, as much from the air as from replaying last night.

  His phone buzzed. Nico glanced at the side table and groaned. Shit.

  He shifted and Luke stirred. “Huh? What?”

  “I have to go to work. Vito is still sick, and they’re in a bind. Wish I could call in.”

  Luke rolled off Nico, the outline of Nico’s morning wood tenting the thin sheet. “I think I know how much you want to call in. I’m not going anywhere. We can wash, rinse, and repeat tonight.”

  Nico smirked as he rubbed his abs. “Speaking of washing, I should shower.”

  “Why? I think smelling like sex would be hot. Pheromones are a thing. You’d have a line ten deep all morning.”

  Nico waggled his eyebrows at Luke. “Good point. Then all of Philly’s hot guys will flock to me.”

  Luke rolled out of bed like fire ants had crawled in. His cock stood straight up. “Right. In the shower you go. I’ll join you to make sure every pheromone is licked—scrubbed clean.”

  Nico’s dick twitched. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’ll be late.”

  Luke glanced at their clock. “Please don’t tell me this is an excuse because you hate shower sex.”

  “What? No! If anything, it’s because I like it too much. Well, the idea of it at least. I’ve never showered with anyone before.”

  “Really? We definitely need to fix that.” Luke stepped into his boxers. “Not right now, but soon.”

  “Promises, promises.” Nico winked and walked into their bathroom.

  If they got started again, Nico wasn’t sure he’d make it to work. He turned the water on and peed while it got warm. Once he pulled the shower curtain back, he said, “If you need to come in, you can.”

  “Thanks, I need to pee like a racehorse.”

  Not that Nico had been listening, but Luke hadn’t been kidding about needing to go. He did his best to ignore Luke standing inches beyond the opaque curtain and worked the shampoo into his hair.

  “I wish we had more time. Kent hated shower sex. He refused to even try it.”

  Nico’s spirits sank at Kent’s name. Everything still came back to that guy.

  “Maybe you’ll need a shower when you get back from work.”

  Nico forced a playful lilt to his voice, but it only served to deepen the ache. “Maybe, but I’m helping E unpack today. I might be home late.”

  “Oh, right. What time are you going to be back?”

  “If it gets late, I’ll probably crash there and be home tomorrow morning.” Nico scrubbed the soap from his hair. That came out harsher than he meant. “We’ll see. Hopefully, I’ll be back tonight.”

  “Yeah, hopefully.”

  Luke shut the door, and Nico’s heart screamed in pain. He’d needed to do it, but he hated hurting Luke. No matter how close they got, he still clung to Kent. It was too much for Nico to t
ake that risk.

  Elisa: At the condo. You still coming to help?

  Nico: Of course. Text me the address.

  Nico walked up Delancy Place looking for his sister’s building. He still hadn’t gotten over the guilt of leaving after Estelle asked him to stay longer. When he told her he couldn’t, the lengthy pause told him she’d expected he’d stay and didn’t have a backup plan. Her, “That’s okay, hon. You were great to help us as much as you did,” didn’t make it better.

  Part of it was his fault; he’d let them take advantage of him. Something Luke reminded him of every time he agreed to an additional shift or stayed late. Shit. Luke.

  He’d done so well all morning pushing Luke from his thoughts. Why’d he have to slip right before he got to Elisa’s place?

  Counting the numbers, he stopped in front of her building. It was an enormous old rowhome, converted into condos. Elisa and Elliott bought the middle unit.

  “Swanky,” he said.

  He vaulted up the steps and rang the buzzer.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey, E. It’s me.”

  The buzzer let him in, and he took the stairs two at a time.

  Elisa opened the door just as he got to the second floor. “This looks nice.”

  “It is.” Her excitement matched her smile. “Come in and let me show you around.”

  The tour took less than three minutes, but the place had charm. “I like it.”

  “We do too.” She led them to a small table and chairs in the kitchen. “Did you ask Luke to the wedding yet?”

  This was so wrong. “I thought you wanted me to help you unpack, not to interrogate me about my love life.”

  “Since when can’t you walk and talk?”

  “I can, but I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “That means you didn’t ask him,” She shook her head and frowned at him. “Boo, you have to bring him.”

  “I can’t.” He wouldn’t.

  “If you don’t, Nonna is gonna fuss.”

  “Pffft. You’re crazy. This is your wedding. She won’t even notice.”

  “Now you’re being delusional. After how he took down Elliott’s mom at dinner, Nonna is convinced you two are next to get married.”

  “That’s ridiculous. Even if that’s true, it’ll pass.”

  “No, boo. It won’t. She’s gonna stress over it.”

  “She’ll get over it.” He couldn’t keep faking it to keep her happy. “I’ll tell her we broke up.”

  “Please don’t do that.” She stared at the table and exhaled. “You’ve been Nonna’s ‘dear boy’ since you opened your eyes. I don’t want her sad on my wedding day. Please ask him?”

  “C’mon, E. Don’t do this.”

  “Why not? You guys are so good together.”

  More than she knew. “He’s not . . . he’s still in love with his ex.”

  “That’s such crap, boo.”

  “No, it’s not. It’s the truth.” Nico had talked to E about everything, but this time he struggled. “I mean, this morning, we were talking about . . . stuff—”

  “Talking about how you two had sex last night.” She rolled her eyes as if talking about him and Luke having sex wasn’t awkward for him. “Go on.”

  “We were talking about stuff, and he brings up Kent. Talk about ice water on a mood.”

  Elisa made a face as she mulled over what he’d said. The fact she didn’t immediately say he was crazy told him all he needed to know.

  “See? It’s a problem. And every time Kent calls, Luke runs off to help. I mean, come on. The asshat cheated on him. If that isn’t reason enough to tell him to fuck off, nothing is.”

  “You need to tell him how you feel.”

  “Right.” Nico rolled his eyes. “I can start by singing ‘Feelings’ first.”

  She smacked his arm. “Don’t be such a troglodyte. I’m serious.”

  “I am too. I’m not going to tell him I want to discuss my fears.”

  “Why not? Afraid?”

  Nico fixed her a look. “Yes. That’s why they’re called fears.”

  “You’re being silly.” She held up a finger to cut off his protest. “You are. Not talking to him guarantees you lose him.”

  “It’s not that simple. I’m sure he likes me.” After last night he was positive of that. “The problem, as I keep saying, is he’s still in love with his ex. He may not realize it over the hurt and anger, but he is. I can’t compete with that.”

  “Can’t or won’t?”

  Nico went to the window and watched someone try to fit an SUV into a parking space just big enough for a Mini. Elisa kept silent, and he knew she could keep quiet until he answered. “Can’t. How do you compete with an idea?”

  “By being better than the idea.” Her chair scraped on the floor. “Boo, I tell you this all the time, but you are the most amazing person. Luke sees that. What are you so afraid of?”

  Anyone but his sister and he could get away with lying, but she knew him too well. “I don’t know. Kent . . . he’s jealous of me. I have a feeling he’s angling to get back with Luke. It’ll break my heart if he picks Kent over me.”

  “You don’t know that will happen.”

  “The risk is too much. It fucking hurt when Tomas left me, okay? And Tomas . . . hell, he’s nothing compared to Luke.”

  She came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “My advice is to talk to him. Yeah, I know what you’re going to say, but it’s the only way to approach this. Ask him if he sees a future for you two.”

  “I’m not sure that’s a good idea. Things could get awkward. We still have to live together.”

  “Boo, things already are awkward.”

  He swallowed the protests he had ready.

  “What do you have to lose?” she whispered.

  Only everything. But she was right. Better to kill any lingering hope he and Luke would be together than to continue with this mood-crushing uncertainty.

  Luke

  Luke turned left on Pine Street and headed home. The entire day had been a blur. After their amazing night, the morning’s tub of ice water had left him in a funk all day. If they’d asked him what he did all day, he might not have remembered.

  “Hey, Luke.”

  His head popped up, and he found Nico sitting on the stoop with a goofy grin.

  “Nico? What are you doing there?”

  “Waiting for you.” His playful mood disappeared. “Can we talk?”

  Luke had planned to ask Nico the same thing, but hearing those three words come from Nico scared him. “Sure.”

  Pushing up, Nico led them upstairs. “I didn’t have time to cook. Do you want to go somewhere or order takeout?”

  Suggesting they go out to eat calmed Luke a bit. Nico wouldn’t suggest that if their talk was going to cause a problem. “Either is good.”

  “I vote we go out. There’s a sushi bar near Front Street I’ve wanted to try all summer.”

  “Sushi it is.”

  “Great.” Nico unlocked the door and let Luke go in first. “Do you want to change?”

  “Not really.” He avoided Nico’s gaze. “I’ve kinda wanted to talk too, so let’s do that first.”

  “Right.” Nico sat on one end of the futon and tucked a leg under him. “So, the thing is, I like you, Luke. A lot.”

  It felt good to finally hear that from him. Only, Nico didn’t seem happy. “But . . .?”

  “Kent.”

  “Kent what?”

  Nico breathed deeply and then exhaled. “I’m afraid you’ll go back to him.”

  “Nico, that’s crazy. Why would I go back to a lying, cheating asshole?”

  “I don’t know, but every time he calls or texts, you rush to answer. Every time he needs something, you help him.” He shrugged. “You say you don’t like him, but you act like you still do.”

  He opened his mouth to deny it, but Nico’s sad eyes stopped his words. A simple denial wasn’t going to ease Nico’s fears.
<
br />   “What did I say this morning that has you so worried?”

  Nico’s shoulders slumped in defeat. “It’s nothing.”

  “It’s something.” Luke took Nico’s hands in his. “Nico, I’m tired of pretending we’re going out. This weekend, last night, I wasn’t pretending. I didn’t ask you to the picnic just to have a date. I asked you because I wanted you to go with me.

  “Last night I didn’t just want to get off, I wanted to be that close with you. I know you feel the same way, but I keep giving you a reason to hold back. I need to fix that so you’ll trust me when I say I don’t want Kent. I want you.”

  “I trust you, Luke.”

  “Then please tell me what I said that . . .” Of course. He squeezed Nico’s fingers. “We were talking about us and I mentioned him, didn’t I?”

  Nico nodded. “I know it’s not rational, but it feels like he’s there every time we do something.”

  “I see.” He thought back on all their dates. Kent—or Kent’s name—popped up too often to count.

  Nico pulled his hands back, and Luke tightened his grip. “I guess I’m pissed at myself that I didn’t see what I was doing. I’ve been wondering all summer what I needed to do to get you to stop pushing me away.”

  Nico finally looked up. His expression was guarded, but not skeptical. “I probably should have said something sooner. It’s just, it scared me how much I liked you. After what happened with Tomas, I was trying to . . . you know . . .”

  “Protect yourself?”

  “Yeah.”

  Luke inched closer. “I realize that to you, every time I helped him it looked like I wasn’t over him. But trust me, I am.”

  “I do.”

  Luke noticed Nico’s clothes. He’d changed out of his Esposito’s shirt and wore a tight, shiny black collared one. “I like that shirt on you.”

  “Really?” He freed his hand and ran it over the fabric. “I figured I’d wear it to dinner. If it’s not too much”

  “No, it’s perfect.” He pulled the hand he still held too his lips. “It took me a long time to figure out why you kept wearing plain T-shirts, when the first times I saw you, you were full of color. Your confidence had been knocked. You didn’t trust yourself—trust the world—that you could be true to yourself.”