Diplomacy

sacrifices, they’re nothing compared to the love I get from her. She loves me, Jack, even when she’s cross with me for not allowing her to do certain things, even when I tell her no and she throws a tantrum. In the end, she always comes back to me and puts her little arms around my neck and I just melt.”
    “Well, I can certainly see she would have that potential, yes,” Jack acknowledged. He wanted to take Lucas in his arms, but was afraid to.
    They weren’t exactly sitting close together, so he tried a different approach. “This couch certainly brings back memories.” Lucas chuckled. “Yeah, it does. That’s why I couldn’t leave it behind in Brussels. I sold all the other furniture to my replacement, but I couldn’t imagine anyone else… sitting on this.” They were both thinking of the past, smiles on their faces, when a shrill cry pierced the silence.
    “Was that?” Jack asked.
    Lucas nodded and got up. “I don’t know what’s wrong with her tonight.”
    Jack got up as well. “Listen, I better leave.” 168 | Z a h r a O w e n s

Chapter Twenty-One
    “NO!” Lucas sighed, “I mean, I’ll be right back, I’m sure she’s fine and I… I want to say goodbye to you properly.” Jack couldn’t resist the young man’s pleading face and sat down again. As Lucas left to go into the bedroom he could hear his soothing voice speaking to AnnElise. He couldn’t make out what Lucas was saying, but the intonation was sweet and loving. After a little while, his voice went silent and Jack wondered what was going on. He got up again, slowly tiptoeing over to the half opened bedroom door. When he looked inside, he could see Lucas standing over the baby bed. AnnElise’s bedside lamp twirling slowly, painting elephants and mice and giraffes on the ceiling and all over her father and Jack could clearly see Lucas’s smile.
    He quietly moved over to stand behind Lucas, careful not to startle him. He could feel the heat radiating off the Brit’s body and tried not to touch him, but when Lucas leaned ever so slightly toward him, Jack moved close enough to let his chest touch Lucas’s back.
    “She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”
    Jack moved even closer, peering over Lucas’s shoulder at a peacefully sleeping AnnElise, his hands still clasped behind his back.
    “Mmmh, she is,” Jack kissed Lucas’s shoulder and his neck, “just like her father.”
    Lucas let his head fall back. He reached up to place his hand on the nape of Jack’s neck and the American wrapped his arms tightly around Lucas’s body. Lucas twisted his head and offered his lips, so Jack did what he had wanted to do since laying eyes on the Brit a few hours earlier and for every hour since they’d been apart: taste his lips, mouth, tongue.

    D i p l o m a c y | 169

    Lucas spun in Jack’s arms and deepened the kiss. The last two and a half years simply disappeared as Lucas moaned into the passionate kiss, opening up completely for Jack.
    They managed to stop kissing when AnnElise stirred, but they were still in each other’s arms as they both peered into the crib. AnnElise moved restlessly, but remained asleep.
    Lucas chuckled.
    “What?” Jack asked quietly.
    “I feel a recurring theme in our relationship coming up.” Jack gave him a questioning look.
    “You’re staying over, aren’t you?” Lucas asked brazenly.
    Jack nodded. “I’d like to.”
    Lucas kissed him quickly, then took his hand and switched off the bedside lamp. “Come on.”
    He led Jack out of the bedroom and back to the couch. “I’m sorry but I’m not ready for a two year old watching us while we’re making out.” The American smiled. “Well, this couch does hold some very fond memories.”
    The couch had soft cushions and a deep seat that easily accommodated both Jack and Lucas lying close together and they took their time getting reacquainted, touching and occasionally kissing. After all their hurried, passionate lovemaking of the past, it was as if they had all the time in the world now.
    “So how did you manage to divorce Maria?” Lucas asked, his hand slowly caressing Jack’s back. “She made it pretty clear to me she would never let you go.”
    Jack kissed Lucas’s forehead. “Yeah, I’m sorry about that.” He rolled his eyes. “I had to resort to some fairly drastic measures.”
    “Oh?” Lucas asked, slightly amused at Jack’s frown.
    “It’s a long story. “
    Lucas checked his watch. “We have about six hours until AnnElise