up and you were gone, it was like there was a hole in my chest. I hated it, but I also hated that you’d been so upset that you’d run away from me. I want you to feel like you can talk to me about anything, even if you think I won’t like what you say.”
Lukas’s beautiful eyes filled with tears once more, but his lips turned up in a small smile. “You can talk to me about anything too.”
John smiled at him. “I know that.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t stay and talk to you. As soon as I got home, I realized I’d made a mistake, and Kevin gave me a verbal kick to the butt to get me over my hesitation to come talk to you.”
John pulled Lukas forward and pressed a kiss to his irresistible lips, tasting just a hint of salt. “Remind me to thank Kevin, but also warn him to stay away from your ass.”
Lukas was laughing as he pulled away, wiped at his face, and then went back to the stove. “I am soooo not Kevin’s type, don’t worry.”
John asked a few questions to keep Lukas talking about his friend as he worked, but his mind was preoccupied with thoughts of how he could tell Dave about his relationship with his son without losing his friendship. Dave could be obstinate and bossy and never knew when to mind his own business, but he’d been there for John when he was first starting out as a plumber, when his marriage had fallen apart, and when his parents had passed. He didn’t want to imagine having to face the next fifty years without his best friend, but he couldn’t imagine saying goodbye to Lukas either.
To never hear his laughter or see his smile again? To never share his random thoughts and get Lukas’s earnest opinions was unthinkable.
And to never sink into Lukas’s ass again or to feel his perfect mouth on John’s cock or taste every inch of his skin?
No. John wasn’t willing to give up either Brown, so he was going to have to figure out how to tell Dave without imploding the Brown family or losing either of them.
“Here you go,” Lukas said, sliding a plate in front of John with an enormous omelet on it.
“This smells so good. Thank you.” He waited until Lukas was seated next to him with his own food, then leaned over and gripped the back of his head, pulling him into a heated kiss. Lukas gasped at the unexpectedness of it, and John took advantage, sliding his tongue inside to relearn Lukas’s mouth. As he pulled away, he bit Lukas’s bottom lip, then licked it. “Eat up, baby. You’re going to need your energy when we shower together.”
Lukas laughed delightedly and smooshed their lips together once more before turning to his own omelet and digging in. “I almost forgot about how you said your shower was big enough for both of us.”
John ate a little slower but couldn’t remove the smile on his face. “Plenty big. And there’s a bench, so you can sit instead of kneeling on the hard tile while you show me how sorry you are for leaving me alone in bed.”
Lukas’s fork froze halfway to his mouth, his pupils dilating and cheeks flushing. He swallowed loudly and nodded as he licked his lower lip. “I’m very, very sorry.”
“Hmm. We’ll see.” He winked when Lukas’s eyes widened farther, and then they both started eating a little faster, no more discussion needed.
They finished around the same time, and Lukas reached over to grab John’s empty plate, his own already in hand, but John stopped him with a grip on his wrist.
“Leave them.”
He grinned at the sharp breath Lukas inhaled, then laughed when Lukas turned his hand over and threaded their fingers together before tugging John after him toward the stairs. Almost tripping about halfway up in his eagerness, John pulled Lukas to a halt and joined him on the same step, grabbing the back of his neck and holding him in place to press a kiss to his smiling mouth.
“You’re going to kill us both if you don’t slow down,” he said, shaking his head when Lukas grinned unapologetically. But the rest of the way up, they were side by side, throwing heated glances at each other.
At the top, he tipped his head toward his bedroom and then again toward the en suite when they entered. Lukas unclasped their hands as he sauntered toward the bathroom, peeling