Diplomacy

made you feel like that. No one has the right to do that to you.”
    They stood by the terrace door, Jack’s arms around Lucas, his chin on the young man’s shoulder. Lucas stayed with his back to his lover, unsure of whether he trusted him enough to believe him.
    Jack kissed the back of Lucas’s neck. “I’ve never felt for anyone what I feel for you, Luke.”
    “I know,” Lucas answered, his voice heavy with emotion. “I know what you mean. All the way over here yesterday, I was thinking of what kind of a job I could do where it didn’t matter if I was married or not. If I were gay or not. I kept thinking if I could find a way to persuade you to look for another job, too.” Lucas inhaled deeply. “It’s silly, I know, not to mention naïve, but…” He placed his hands over Jack’s and stroked them gently.
    Jack moved them both forward until they were inside of the room and kissed Lucas’s neck until he felt his lover relax in his arms. They made love on the neatly made bed until the sheets and pillows were strewn all around the room, taking their time to explore each other’s bodies, bringing each other to the edge and then cooling down again, slowly touching and licking, nuzzling and kissing only to strike up the flame again, until finally Lucas came hard between their bellies and all over his lover’s hand while Jack released his seed, buried deep inside of him. A long time passed before either could move to go clean up.

    “I don’t see why not.”
    Lucas was washing Jack’s hair in the large bathtub next to the walk-in shower of the top executive suite. Jack’s back and head rested on Lucas’s chest and Jack was trying to tickle the Brit’s knees on either side of him. He was beginning to think that this was one of the few places where his young lover wasn’t ticklish.
    “Well, only if you want to. I mean, I like seeing you turn to jelly and I like the feeling when I’m inside of you, but seeing you go all incoherent makes me wonder what it’s like. Would you?” 86 | Z a h r a O w e n s

    Lucas poured a cup of water over Jack’s head. “Well, it is amazing to feel you inside me, but I don’t mind returning the favor, in fact it’s nice to turn the tables from time to time.” Lucas smiled mischievously.
    “Your arse is mine, Mr. Ambassador.”
    Jack chuckled and playfully flicked some water in Lucas’s face, but the butterflies had already started fluttering in his belly.

    LUCY and Maria were served Sunday lunch in the dining car of the Thalys train between Amsterdam and Brussels. They had spent their two days in Amsterdam shopping between museum visits and were now on their way home.
    “I’m only sorry it’s over this fast. I had fun, Maria, thanks for taking me. I did miss Lucas of course, but I’ll see him again this afternoon.” Lucy was clearly still enjoying her train journey, but then her face turned a little sad. “If he’s not still working, that is.” Maria couldn’t help but think that it was strange this was the young woman’s first train journey, just like her trip to Belgium had been her first time outside of the United States.
    “I hate to burst your bubble, Lucy, but having him working at all hours almost seven days a week is what life with a diplomat is going to be like from now on.”
    “Is that what it’s like for you and Jack? I mean, I’ve seen you two together, you love each other. He’s considerate and caring and…” Lucy gave Maria a desperate look.
    “The only time I have Jack for myself is when I kidnap him to some Caribbean island for a week, and even then he brings papers to read and I have to pry him away from CNN. It’s been almost three years since our last vacation, Lucy. My last two attempts were shot down by a fire in a nightclub where three Americans were killed and the order to move to Belgium.” She put her hand on Lucy’s to show support. “I’ve always known Jack was married to his work. You learn to make your own life and to enjoy the moments you have with him, even if those moments are at banquets or receptions. There’s a lot of good work you can do, honey, you just have to find your niche and build yourself a reputation. Believe me, I’m realistic enough to know I could never do the work I do if I wasn’t the D i p l o m a c y | 87

    Ambassador’s wife. Lucas’s job will bring you some really nice benefits; just don’t expect a romantic marriage.”
    Lucy sighed, clearly not comforted by Maria’s words.