Chapter 40

“Don’t move.” Jack rose and left the room.

The air felt cool and cruel on my naked skin. I was a man stranded on an island, watching the last ship sail away—everything bottled up inside me like SOS messages no one would ever read.

Then Jack came back. He was at ease, as though being naked was the most natural thing in the world to him. He lined up three things on the table. A lube tube. A condom package. And a piece of paper.

I looked at the paper.

“My last test results. Negative.” Jack touched it gently on the table. “Rubber. Lube.”

“I really wanna make love to you,” was all I could say. It was strange how the words had gunned out of my mouth.

“Then come here.” Jack grabbed my face and kissed me. “It’s okay. It’s all beautiful and magical.” He pulled me closer to him. “I’m safe, Sebastien,” he whispered, between kisses.

“I’ve never done this before.”

As if he hadn’t figured thatout by now.