He had more patience now, and took lots of time, until Theo was drenched, his cock full, heavy between his legs, brushing against the bed. And he was gorgeous, and Jack loved him so much, and how had he ever thought he could live without this, and he breathed so hot against his tender skin, and with this new, scary honesty that had emerged from the deepest parts of him, he blurted out—

“Marry me.”

And then kept eating Theo’s ass.

“Ahh, oh my God—what the fuck, Jack—” Theo reached around and held Jack’s hair. “Have you lost your mind?”

“Totally.” Jack slid a finger in. “Completely.” He flicked against Theo’s prostate. “Without a doubt. Flip over.”

Theo did, and stared up at Jack, eyes hazy and mouth sharp. “And were you asking me, or my—” He blushed, voice trailing off.

“Don’t know, really.” Jack slipped in two fingers, thrusting back and forth. “Both, probably. God, you’re beautiful.”

“Jack...”

“You. I’m asking you.” His heart beat strong and certain. “Of course.”

“Hold on.” Theo reached down, stilled his hands. “I can’t. Not yet. Not after—” His face was pinched but shaded with pleasure, and insecure.

“All right.” Jack’s voice was low, quiet, and he leaned over, nudging Theo’s knees up, kissing him soft and sweet. Long and drawn out and liquid, lingering.

Theo smiled against his mouth. “Are you ever going to get to the fucking?”

“So pushy.”

“Yeah, well, I have been waiting for—”

And Jack pressed in.

Once he’d bottomed out—and God, it had been far too long, it was fucking unbelievable—they both stilled, conjoined, and it felt like the years unspooled out from within them, the memories thick, and it was—it was—

“Why do you make me feel this way?” Jack gripped onto Theo’s sides, panted the words onto his neck. They were in the half-light of the alley beside their club, and music was playing, and they were crowded on every side by other young people living other secret lives. Jack’s back was to the wall, their come still wet and warm in their jeans after rubbing against each other and laughing and crying out, muffled, into the other’s neck.

“Because it’s us, Jack. This is—” His silvery eyes were guarded but endless like the moon. “It’s just—us.”

“This is who we are.”

“Move,” Theo whispered, harsh.

He did.

They stayed up all night, snatches of sleep caught here and there, and Jack couldn’t stop touching Theo, like he was terrified that he would wake up without him. He ran his hands over every inch of skin, and he kissed all of those places which were beloved to him, which he had always remembered. And he thought about before, when he’d never been able to be—unguarded.