Almost Everything 7/15 [Lure Big Bang]
Almost Everything Master Post
Chapter Seven
For the next two mornings, when Reid woke up the coffee was made, and there was a note from Luke.
Even though Luke was gone before Reid got up, he always saw Luke at the hospital because the younger man wanted to be with Noah. Occasionally, Reid would see Luke at home where a few stilted conversations were exchanged. Neither one of them knew how to behave around the other. Reid knew he could not entertain ideas of something more happening between them, but a part of him wished that their relationship could progress past its current state. However, Reid also had limited experiences with relationships. And he wasn’t sure if he could admit to Luke that he had feelings for him. Would it even matter? Reid wondered in light of the constant vigil the blonde held at Noah’s bedside.
Late in the afternoon of the second day, Reid decided to run some tests on Noah. The doctor was optimistic, and he expected Noah to wake up soon.
Luke came racing into his office. “Where’s Noah?” he demanded. He was breathing hard, and he had to hold on to the door to steady himself.
Reid instinctively reached out for Luke. “He’s getting routine tests done,” he said as his hands rubbed up and down Luke’s arms.
The blonde smiled gratefully. “Yeah?”
Despite his own disdain for the outpouring of emotion about Noah, Reid found himself smiling when he saw his husband’s smile. “I promise. Luke, you know if anything were to change with Noah’s condition, you’d be the first person I’d contact. Okay?”
Luke let out a breath and looked at Reid for a moment. “Thank you. You…I don’t know if I’ve said it yet, but thank you.”
The doctor’s grip tightened briefly. “For what?”
“Everything,” Luke said simply. “You’ve completely changed your world for me, so that we could… And what you’ve done for Noah. I will never be able to thank you enough.”
Reid quickly let go of his husband. “I’m doing my job, Luke.”
“Yeah, I figured that’s what you’d say,” he muttered. “Reid, I-”
The rest of Luke’s response was cut off by Reid’s beeper. After a quick glance, he turned to leave. “I have an emergency. It’s not Noah, I promise. But I do have go. Stay if you want. I’ll see you later.”
Luke quickly pulled an envelope out of his back pocket. While he was sitting with Noah, Luke had been trying to work out his thoughts. He wanted to find some way to express his gratitude to Reid for everything he’s done like staying in Oakdale, marrying Luke, and particularly for Noah’s surgery. That evening he had planned to pull himself away from Noah’s bedside and invite Reid to dinner. After that night in his bedroom, Luke realized his heart was still very much tied to Noah. However, that didn’t mean he didn’t feel the attraction, and he suspected Reid had felt it as well. Reid said what was on his mind, and Luke thought it would be best if they talked and got everything out in the open.
He handled the envelope for a few more moments before placing it on Reid’s desk.
*
Reid’s emergency didn’t turn out to be an actual emergency, just an overzealous intern. After “explaining” to the young doctor all the reasons he was wrong to page Reid and offering a suitable punishment if he disturbed Reid again, the redhead went back to his office. His steps quickened, hoping to find Luke still there. He wasn’t sure what he was going to say, but sometimes the close proximity to his young husband was enough for Reid.
With a shake of head, he realized even though Luke was the young one in their relationship, Reid was feeling like a kid with his first crush.
Opening the door of his office, Reid found it empty. His shoulders slumped, and he tried to ignore his feelings of disappointment. He sat down at his desk and noticed an envelope with the familiar scrawl from his husband’s hand. He picked up the envelope and pulled out a sheet of paper. Reid held his breath, pinpricks of fear hit him. He wondered if Luke was leaving him a “Dear John” letter.
Deciding he was too old to behave this way, Reid began to read the note.
Dear Reid,
Once Noah wakes up, I’m sure he’s going to want to spend the next six months saying “thank you.” He won’t be alone. How can we ever begin to thank you? I’m sure you’ll have a few ideas, I still remember you talking about being a “kept husband.”
Reid smiled softly. Even in a note, Luke was teasing him. He could picture that sly grin on the blonde’s face when he wrote that last line.
But I wanted-I needed to say a few things to you, and I’m not…I don’t know if I can.
Noah told me once that he wished he had my way with words. (I used to be a writer. I know you don’t know that. There’s so much we don’t know about each other.) But when it comes to you…I find words…I don’t have any. Or if I do, as you know, they’re usually angry and insulting. But you give as good as you get. And maybe that’s why I always push you because every time I try to tell you something…I can’t. Or I say the wrong thing and you leave, like the other night in my room.
The redhead swallowed. They were words on a paper. They couldn’t hurt him, but when Luke mentioned that night, it brought back memories. Memories of what Reid had wanted but the reminder of what Luke couldn’t give him. In that moment, Reid hurt just as much as he did that night.
Noah’s surgery was just another day for you; it’s what you do because you’re the best. And I know there were complications, but you…you saved him. You made sure he survived the surgery, and you even let me be angry and hurtful with you.
If this surgery is a success, you’ll be giving Noah back his dreams. I brought you here because you can do the one thing I couldn’t. You’ll be giving Noah his life back. More than that though when I think about everything, I realized you’ve done the same thing for me.
Reid’s hand started to shake, and he had to put the letter down for a moment. It was difficult to read it because when Reid thought about it, what Luke was thanking him for-giving Luke his life back-Luke was doing that for him. Actually, he was giving Reid a life. They hadn’t been together long, and work was still Reid’s number one priority. But occasionally Luke would pull him out of his journals and his surgeries. And then Reid thought of other things they could do: dinners with Katie and Jacob, watching baseball games, maybe introducing Luke to chess, someone to talk about his day with, trying to figure out that convoluted Snyder family tree, and debating everything. Reid never would have considered these things before meeting Luke and especially before he agreed to marry him.
He picked up the letter again with a renewed strength.
After Noah and everything that happened with Damian, I’ve been lost. What they were to me and what they gave me: a purpose, a new path-a cure for Noah and an opportunity to get to know my biological father. Neither one worked though until…
Well, until you sat down across from me at Java and told me you needed my help with the Snyder Pavilion. Thank you for that because I could help Katie, and you reminded me that I had a foundation I was neglecting. I had a life I needed to get back to. And even more than that, when you agreed to marry me, you’ve allowed me to keep a hold on Grimaldi Shipping, my foundation and this new wing. If you hadn’t, I could have been lost again. And you might be thinking that all of this has just given me more opportunities to annoy you.
A small chuckle escaped Reid’s lips.
And, well, Reid, that’s just an added benefit.
This time the laugh was loud, and it was exactly what Reid needed and wanted.
Thank you for what you did for Noah and what you’re still doing for me. I know these two small words can’t even begin to describe everything that I feel. But let this be a start, as we figure out how to move forward.
Luke
Reid sat for a moment and then re-read the letter. He didn’t know what to do with it, what to do with everything he was feeling, and everything his young husband made him want. He smiled, wishing that Luke could have said those things to him in person. He thought about Luke’s line about Reid finding a way to pay him back. Maybe they could have dinner, and Luke could read the letter to him.
Reid had a couple of patients to check on. Then he’d head to Noah’s room to see how he was doing before collecting Luke and taking him home.
*
Luke sat with Noah, holding the brunette’s hand. He felt a shooting pain between his shoulder blades and thought it might be best to call it a day. He hadn’t heard anything from Reid, and he wasn’t sure if his husband had found the letter or not. He thought it might be best though to call it a night. The doctor sometimes insisted Luke take breaks, and glancing at his watch, Luke knew Reid would be by soon. He decided to surprise Reid by actually being ready to go home.
Luke patted Noah’s hand once more before standing up. As the blonde turned, he felt Noah’s grip tighten. He turned back anxiously. “Noah?”
Slowly the brunette’s eyes opened. “Luke?”
Letting out a shaking breath, Luke sat down on the edge of Noah’s bed. “How are you feeling?”
Noah reached out for Luke, his hands holding Luke’s face in his hands. “It’s…my head hurts,” he admitted. “It’s…fuzzy, but I’d know those eyes anywhere.”
Tears started to pinprick those eyes of Luke’s. He had been waiting so long to hear the brunette’s voice again. “Noah-”
Noah tugged, pulling his ex-boyfriend closer until Luke’s body was pressed into Noah’s. Luke wrapped his arms around Noah. “I’m so happy for you,” Luke whispered.
“I just want to hold you,” the brunette said.
Luke’s grip tightened. “I’m right here,” he assured Noah.
The two men held each other for a few moments. Luke was so grateful that Noah was awake and didn’t appear to have any problems. He knew though that he should leave and go get Reid. He stiffened slightly in Noah’s arms, thinking of his husband.
“Luke?” Noah asked. He pulled away, his eyes trying to search Luke’s face. Things were still fuzzy. However, Noah was certain now that he was recovering and what he’d feared-being blind forever-wasn’t happening. There was nothing stopping him now. The future he and Luke had so often discussed; it could happen now.
“I’m sorry,” Luke said. “I should get Reid.”
“No!” Noah insisted, his hands reaching for Luke again.
“He’s your doctor, Noah. He has to know. There could be tests. I need to get him.”
“Not yet,” Noah insisted. “I want to share this moment with you. I know there is so much we need to work on, and you’ve got this business arrangement with Dr. Oliver, but…Luke, I love you.”
The blonde started to shake his head. They shouldn’t be talking about this; they shouldn’t even be thinking about it. But Luke couldn’t say these things to Noah. He didn’t want to upset his ex, and he honestly wasn’t sure if it was just concern about Noah’s health or something more that made Luke want to run away.
“Luke, please, it’s temporary, right?”
“What?” Luke asked, his eyes narrowed in confusion. He wasn’t sure if Noah was referring to Noah’s vision or Luke’s marriage to Dr. Oliver.
“Your business arrangement. You just need to get the trust fund money, right? You said that’s why you got married.”
“Oh, um, yeah.” Luke looked over his shoulder, wondering if he could somehow signal a nurse. There were usually a couple wandering around Noah’s floor. He hated the idea of Reid finding out that Noah had woken up, and they hadn’t gotten Reid first thing.
“Luke?”
“We really shouldn’t talk about this right now. You’re still recovering, and-”
“I love you,” Noah said. “I know…I know right now it’s not a good time, and maybe it’s not enough, but after everything, can’t it be a start?”
Before Luke could respond, the door to Noah’s room opened and Reid appeared. Luke quickly jumped up. “He just woke up!” he insisted.
Reid came further into the room. “Noah?”
The brunette offered a shy smile. “Hi, Dr. Oliver.”
“How you are you feeling?” the doctor asked, going over to Noah. He moved past Luke, grabbing his pen light.
“I should leave,” Luke offered.
“Luke, no!” Noah insisted, his hand reaching out as though he could stop Luke.
Reid wasn’t sure what he walked in on, but he could feel the nervous tension rolling off his husband in waves. He suddenly wondered how long Noah had actually been awake. “Actually, Noah, I do need to examine you. Luke has barely left your side since the surgery. I’m sure he won’t go far.”
Luke wasn’t sure why, but he felt dismissed. “Yeah, Noah, I’ll be in the hall.” He made a hasty exit.
“How are you feeling?” Reid asked, trying to keep his thoughts on the matter at hand. Another reason to keep his distance from Luke he realized. He’d never been distracted from his work before, and Noah’s case was too important for him to be thinking of the young man pacing out in the hall.
“I’ve been better,” Noah admitted. His gaze narrowed slightly as he was trying to get a better look at his doctor. He’d heard his voice. When they’d had appointments before, Noah had an idea of how tall Reid was-Luke’s height, maybe a half inch shorter. The voice was deep, sometimes more so in the heat of anger about Luke.
“Are you in any pain?” Reid asked.
“A little,” Noah admitted. “Sure it’s to be expected, right?”
Reid smiled softly. “Yes, I’ll prescribe you some pain medication though. How about your sight?”
Noah winced slightly. “Things are still a little fuzzy. Are you… Is your hair red?”
“Uh, yes,” the doctor answered, his voice softened in surprise. “Any other questions?”
“I just had to check, make sure I’m seeing some things,” Noah admitted.
Reid swallowed, afraid that he’d given away something in his face. “Well, it will still take time and we’re not sure…” He sighed and crossed his arms over his chest. “Noah, I don’t want to get your hopes up.”
“You mean that this is as good as its going to get?”
“It’s possible.” He reached out and patted Noah on the arm. The brunette could feel the cool hand and a slight indent from Reid’s wedding band. “But it’s not a certainty either,” Reid said. “Your vision could return. Right now, I think you need to rest and…” He smiled encouragingly. “Try to be patient.”
“I hate that word.”
“Me too,” Reid admitted conspiratorially.
Noah found himself smiling. Despite the fact that his doctor was married to the love of Noah’s life, they had always had a good relationship. Reid would listen to Noah’s terrible jokes and even share a couple of bad ones he had heard from other doctors. Noah didn’t have any aspirations to suddenly pull the doctor into a hug, but he felt some of his apprehension disappear. Mostly though, he wanted Luke. “Can Luke come back now?”
He didn’t see Reid’s grimace. “Of course,” the doctor replied. “Just try to keep the visit…well don’t do anything too strenuous. I’ll talk to Beth, one of the nurses, about getting you some pain medication, and I’ll find something for you to eat. Sometimes taking the medication on an empty stomach will make you feel worse.” He turned and grabbed the door handle. “Besides, food can take away a world of pain,” Reid added, thinking that with Luke most likely spending the evening with Noah, Reid would spend the evening at home alone. The idea of one of his sandwiches sounded perfect right about then.
“Thank you, Dr. Oliver.”
“It’s what I do,” Reid answered.
When he got outside, he bumped into Luke. The blonde had been pacing the floor and didn’t hear Reid come out.
“He’s all yours,” Reid told him.
“Reid…”
“Noah’s going to need some rest. You can stay with him, not that you need my permission. One of the nurses will stop by and get him medication, but it could make him sleepy.”
“Okay.” Luke nodded his head.
Reid started to walk past him but stopped and looked at Luke. “I know your inclination is going to stay and watch him sleep, but Luke…”
“Yes?” he asked and his eyebrows rose expressing his hope.
“Nothing.” Reid turned to look for one of the nurses.
“Did you get my letter?” Luke’s voice called after him.
Looking around to make sure no one was listening, Reid closed the distance between them. “Yes,” he replied, keeping his voice low.
“He wants to get back together.” The words slipped past Luke’s mouth before he even realized it. He had wanted to ask Reid what he thought about the letter, if…well, it didn’t matter now because there was Noah; there was always Noah.
Reid felt like he’d been punched in the throat. He choked softly.
“And I don’t know. I’ve loved him for so long, and…” Luke started to say, but he also recognized that maybe he shouldn’t be having this conversation with Reid. But when he thought about who he could talk to, Luke knew there was no one else. Briefly Luke remembered sitting on his bed with Reid’s shoulder brushing against his, the way Reid had looked at him that night, and the feel of the redhead’s chin on his shoulder.
“He wants you back?” Reid asked. “Of course he does,” he muttered, answering his own question. “Because you’re Luke and Noah: soul mates.”
“Reid-”
“I can’t do this,” he muttered, walking away, and he almost forgot to find a nurse.
Luke watched Reid move down the hall. His own feet started to shuffle in the direction of his husband, but he heard Noah’s voice call out, “Luke, are you still there?”
Noah needs me, the blonde reminded himself and went back into the hospital room.
*
After giving instructions to Beth and making some notes in Noah’s chart, Reid took of his lab coat. He tossed it onto his chair, and one of the sleeves smacked against his desk. The note from Luke fell to the floor. Looking at, he decided to leave it there.
Reid couldn’t go home. He knew Luke wouldn’t be home for a while, if at all that night, but he didn’t want to be in that house. Instead, he found himself on Katie’s doorstep.
She answered with a smile, and it felt good. It was so nice to have someone actually seem happy to see him.
After the last couple of days, he just wanted to sit with Katie and bitch. He was surprised at how quickly she had become such a close friend and how this godforsaken town had become his home, in large part due to Katie and Jacob. The other reason…well, the other reason was at the hospital with his patient.
“Reid, hi.” She looked past him. “Is Luke with you?”
He sighed. “What? Just because we’re married, we’re joined at the hip now?”
She smiled knowingly: Reid was in one of his moods. “Well, since you two have gotten married, you’ve been here a total of zero times without Luke.”
“Well…yeah,” he muttered, having no argument. “I can't believe I’m asking this, but do you have any ice cream?”
Katie’s smile immediately vanished, and she reached for Reid’s arm. “What's wrong?”
“My husband's ex-boyfriend wants him back, and I don't know how I feel about it,” Reid admitted.
“Yeah,” she said, pulling him into the house. “I got ice cream.”
*
Luke sat with Noah for a few moments. When Noah tried to ask Luke how he was feeling, Luke deflected. Finally, Beth, the nurse who had been so kind to Luke during his visits, the one who had mentioned that her own husband wouldn’t feel so generous about her sitting with an ex-boyfriend, brought Noah some food and pain medication.
Looking at Beth, Luke felt a little guilty. “Noah, maybe I should go,” he said.
Beth quickly made an exit. It wasn’t her place to be there any longer.
“What? Why?” the brunette asked.
Luke sighed. “I want to help you, but Reid and I do need to keep up appearances.”
Noah shook his head. “Luke, I just woke up.”
“I know it’s just… Noah, you need to rest, and I know we have a lot to talk about. I just don’t think we should do it right now.”
“Are you going home to him?” Noah asked. His head felt a little fuzzy, the pain medication taking affect rather quickly. He briefly wondered if Reid had prescribed it for that very reason.
“I don’t know where Reid is,” Luke replied. “We…we’re just roommates, Noah. I can’t…we don’t…” Every time he tried to explain his relationship with Reid, the label didn’t quite fit, but Luke didn’t want to do anything to make it simple either.
“Will you stay until I fall asleep?” Noah asked.
Luke’s head jerked up for a moment. He’d said those very words to Reid, and more images of that night came flashing back: the angry way he had yelled at Reid after Noah’s surgery, the accusations, and the longing to fall asleep next to his husband. “Yes, of course,” Luke told Noah. “I’ll stay.”
Luke helped Noah eat some of the food. When Noah’s eyelids became too heavy, Luke brushed a kiss against Noah’s forehead and left. Luke made his way to Reid’s office. The light was out but the door was unlocked. He opened it, half-expecting to find his husband asleep at his desk. Instead, he found the lab coat askew on the back of Reid’s chair. The blonde went further into the room, straightening the jacket. His foot slipped slightly and he looked down, seeing his note tossed on the floor. Luke told himself he wasn’t upset that Reid had disregarded it with so little care. Picking up the note, he decided to go home.
*
The house was empty and dark as well. Luke tried to fix himself something to eat, but everything tasted like cardboard. He wanted to talk to someone; he wanted to talk to Reid. He hated the way they had left things, and he was hurt about the apparent disregard Reid had for Luke’s letter.
Luke didn’t know Reid that well. He was tempted to call the Lakeview to see if Reid was there, getting a dinner or a drink. Remembering Reid’s antisocial habits, Luke decided to try Katie’s place first. If the doctor wasn’t there, then at least Luke would have someone to talk to.
The blonde chose to walk over to Katie’s. He wanted to clear his head a little bit, think of what he wanted to say. As he walked up the driveway to Katie’s house, he saw Reid’s car.
Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door. Katie greeted him with a sympathetic smile. “Hi Luke.” She gave him a hug, which he was grateful for.
“Reid’s with Jacob,” she told him. “He’s…he’s upset, Luke.”
Knowing she wasn’t talking about the baby, Luke replied, “He’s not the only one.”
“I still can’t believe you told my ‘loving’ husband about the singing,” Reid said, as he came into the living room. “Sometimes…” the rest of that sentence died on his lips. “Luke.”
The younger man shoved his hands into the pocket of his pants. “Hi.”
Instead of saying hi back, Reid questioned, “What are you doing here?”
“It’s been a long few days, and I didn’t like the idea of going to bed without you in the house.”
Reid’s heart thudded against his ribcage. He honestly didn’t expect to see Luke again that night, especially so soon after leaving him. Noah was awake, and he wanted Luke back. Wasn’t that what Luke had been praying for the last few months? It was on the tip of his tongue to ask that very question, but he feared Luke’s response. “You married a doctor, Luke, emergencies happen. What are you going to do? Come to the hospital and stay every time I get called away?”
Both men seemed to forget that Katie was there, and she tried to slowly edge her way out of the room. Before Luke’s arrival and Jacob’s cries, she had been trying to get an understanding of Reid’s feelings. Seeing the two of them together, she knew exactly what was going on. As much as she wanted to help or act as a mediator, she knew for her matchmaking to work this time she would need to leave them alone to talk.
Luke shook his head. “I honestly don’t know why I bother.”
“Neither do I,” Reid retorted. “The love of your life wants you back. What are you doing here?”
“Because I married you,” the words were torn from Luke’s mouth-no second guessing, no thought, only pure desire escaping. “And like an idiot I thought you were upset, and I didn't want to go to bed without-”
“What?”
“Can we talk about this at home?”
Reid wasn't sure what to make of Luke and his use of that house as their home. He looked around, not seeing Katie but certain she was close by to intervene, and decided to take Luke up on his offer. “Fine.”
Luke turned and started to head toward the door.
“We’re leaving now!” Reid’s voice bellowed as he followed Luke outside.
Katie was about to go ask if they needed anything when Jacob’s cry stopped her. Reid’s voice must have woken him up. Katie knew the best way to get back at her friend was to ask for a written transcript of the conversation she missed. “Mommy’s coming, sweetheart,” she said, making her way into Jacob’s room.
Once they were outside, Luke started to head toward Reid’s car.
“Where’s your car?” the doctor asked.
“I walked; I thought the air would clear my head.”
“Fine. Then you can walk home.”
“Fine,” Luke agreed and started to stalk down the street. Reid watched him for a moment and then let out an exasperated sigh. “Get your ass back here, Snyder.”
He turned on his heel and headed back toward the doctor. “It’s Oliver, remember?” Luke questioned before grabbing the door handle and getting in.
They rode in stony silence back to their house. It continued all the way into the living room. Taking off his jacket, Reid demanded, “Start talking.”
Luke let out a sigh and sat down on the couch. “I-I’m confused.”
Sitting down next to the blonde, Reid muttered, “Yeah, tell me something I don’t know.”
Luke’s eyes narrowed slightly. He honestly began to question how he could ever have thought to marry this guy. They were so antagonistic, always pushing, always fighting…But then he remembered the quiet moments: falling asleep next to Reid in the hotel room in Dallas, listening to the doctor talk about Annie, hearing Reid admit that he still had the drawings she made, and kissing his husband at their wedding. He shuddered softly and his lips tingled. He wondered if Reid tasted the way Luke remembered.
Seeing the emotions play across Luke’s face and attributing them to Luke’s thoughts about Noah, the redhead wasn’t sure how to feel. A part of him wanted to comfort Luke. But he felt sick too that he was allowing himself to be caught up in wanting something to happen with Luke and feeling hurt that his fake husband wants another man.
“What exactly are you confused about?” Reid asked, moving closer. His leg brushed against Luke’s.
“Noah. He wants us to try again and two months ago…” Luke’s voice trailed off, and his gaze met Reid’s. “Two months ago, I would have jumped at the chance.”
“What’s changed?”
“You. We're married.”
Reid refused to give into this strange feeling in his chest. He thought it might be hope, but it wasn’t an emotion he was too familiar with. “It's a business arrangement,” he stated, wanting Luke to disagree with him.
“Right.”
The doctor winced slightly. No argument.
“But the fact is,” Luke continued, “we are married, and I'm not that guy any more. I can't… I want to help him.”
“Do you still love Noah?” Even as he asked the question, Reid didn’t want to know the answer.
“Yes,” Luke admitted, but he wasn’t sure how to define it. Noah was the first man he’d ever loved. No matter what, Luke couldn’t imagine that Noah wouldn’t always have a piece of his heart. The size of that piece…that was what Luke questioned.
Reid, meanwhile, refused to acknowledge how hurt and uncomfortable he felt hearing Luke say that. When backed into a corner with Luke, Reid responded in his usual way: push and run. “Just be discrete.”
Luke shook his head. “Reid, I'm not-”
“Aren't you?” the redhead countered. “Look, I don't play games. It's a waste of time and doesn't get you anywhere. I know exactly what you want out of this marriage and I agreed. You told me how important it is to keep up appearances. If you can't do that, tell me now, and we'll get this thing annulled. Go our separate ways.”
“I don't know what is going to happen with Noah,” the younger man admitted.
“There's your answer.” Reid stood up and started to head to his room.
Luke quickly followed the redhead and grabbed him by the arm. “No, that’s not my answer,” he insisted, and his grip tightened almost imperceptibly. “I don't want out,” his whispered. His gaze searched Reid’s face, hoping that he wasn’t the only one affected by the close proximity.
“Are you sure?” Reid whispered, his gaze returning the search.
“Yes,” Luke whispered back, not confident to what he was agreeing to anymore. He just didn’t want to let this moment end.
Reid leaned in closer, his nose brushed against Luke’s for a moment, before his lips pressed into the younger man’s. It started simple enough. Reid’s lips melding with Luke’s, and the younger man’s hands reached up to cup Reid’s face.
One small kiss led to another deeper kiss; lips exploring each other. Reid memorized the way Luke whimpered softly, and then the older man pulled away, afraid of things going too far before they could resolve anything. He knew how much he wanted his husband, but Luke’s heart was still very much tied to Noah. Reid didn’t want to be something Luke regretted. The blonde’s hands quickly fell away.
“Good night, Luke.” He headed for his room again.
“Reid?”
The doctor paused and glanced back at his husband. Reid had heard all the questions in Luke’s voice. “It was just a kiss, Luke.”
“No, it wasn’t.”
Reid crossed his arms over his chest. “Until you can tell me what you want from me and Noah, then it was just a kiss. There’s nothing to analyze. I wanted to kiss you. I did.” He shrugged. “Good night.”
Luke let out a shuddering breath. He wondered if Reid would want to kiss him again.
=======
Thank you for reading. Did you like the note? Noah kind of had bad timing with waking up, didn't he?
Onto Chapter Eight…