#jd12

It feels a little different this time, though. Because Liam is in his underwear and most of his clothes are shed along with the mask he’s been wearing his entire life. There’s a lightness in him now — one that reaches down to his very bones — because he knows, finally. Or, maybe he’d known all along and had just become such an expert at hiding it from everyone else that he eventually started hiding it from himself, too. But he accepts, now.

He accepts who he is and the reason why all of his relationships have failed. He accepts that the only thing broken inside of him are the pieces of himself he’d torn apart trying to make himself belong.

And, above everything else, he accepts that this feeling he gets in his chest whenever Jack is around — whenever Liam so much as thinks about him — is love. The real, honest, life-altering kind. The kind he’s been searching for in every woman who gave him the time of day, without realizing it’s always been right by his side.

And it’s a scary thing to come to terms with, knowing it could change everything.

When Yuki is 800 miles away, and isn’t here for Liam to explain it to him. But it feels like a part of himself has slotted into place now. It turns out the piece he’d looked for in Hannah, in Andrea, and in Danielle was inside himself all along. And he knows — he knows — that this is the biggest step to healing things with himself. Because now that Liam knows, understands, and accepts himself, he feels whole enough on his own that he doesn’t feel the need to make up for his past mistakes. Liam doesn’t feel like he has to make up for the fact that he isn’t enough. Because he is.

So Liam feels like he can breathe a little bit easier now. He feels free.

But Jack feels like a different matter entirely, and not just because Liam is so in love with him that he can feel it pulsing in his veins.

He can tell that something is going on with Jack. He can feel the — not hurt, but confusion, maybe, that’s radiating off him. It feels like grasping fingers reaching out for something. It feels like maybe Jack has come here to find out what it is, exactly, that he’s reaching for.

They’ve been sitting in silence for maybe ten minutes when Jack finally breaks it.

“So, Mick broke up with me.”

Liam startles at that, his head swiveling to the left to look at Jack — to take in the expression on his face, the language of his body, the glint in his eyes. He looks…not sad, exactly, but sad-adjacent, like maybe he’s having mixed feelings about it. Liam isn’t having mixed feelings, of course. Liam’s only feeling right now is relief, and he has to swallow down the thank god that almost slips from between his lips.

“Oh. Okay. Uh, what— what happened?”

Jack sighs. “Well, he was engaged to Laila, for one.”

Liam chokes on his beer. “He was what? Engaged?”

Jack hums in confirmation, unsure what exactly to say next.

Liam doesn’t even want to touch that, honestly. He kind of feels like he’s reeling a little bit, like he’s gotten whiplash from the sudden change in direction. Because whatever he’d thought Jack was going to say, it certainly wasn’t that.

“I was weird about it at first, you know, because I've known him all my life and suddenly he's engaged but still wants us to fuck on the side,” Jack admits. “But… but then I talked to my dad, and I made my peace with it. Y’know?”

Liam nods his head. “Okay, so that's why you broke up with him?”

“Well, I asked him to move in with me.”

Liam almost chokes again. Because — because of course he did. That’s such a Jack thing to do.

He has a habit of trying to hold onto long-dead things because he’s scared of being left behind. He loves so big, and loud, and fast — and it’s such a beautiful thing to witness, and to be on the receiving end of — but it makes him impulsive, sometimes. Makes him dig his claws and teeth in to try and keep that love from leaving him, even when that love isn’t the good kind; even when it doesn’t come close to being enough for someone like Jack.

“And he said no, because he thinks I’d break his heart — he loves Laila. He said he’s my first, but he won’t be my last.”

Liam thinks that’s probably the smartest thing Mick has ever said.

And look, he doesn’t hate the guy — they were friends, even though that’s kind of faded since he started seeing Jack — but Liam knows, without a doubt, that Mick isn’t the right person for Jack. He’ll be the right person for someone, for Laila maybe. But not Jack, who needs affection, and attention, and reassurance. Jack, who needs to feel seen, and heard, and understood.

Mick couldn’t even call him by his name half the time, for god’s sake. He was always Doohan.

“That’s… a lot,” Liam acknowledges. “How are you feeling about it all?” he asks, because while Liam is certain this is the right thing in the long run, he doesn’t ever want Jack to be hurting.

Jack sighs. “I don’t know,” he says. “I feel… I feel like I should feel worse, if that makes sense?”

He pauses and looks to Liam, maybe to gauge his reaction. So Liam shifts in his seat, tucking one of his legs up onto the couch so he can comfortably turn and face Jack as he’s talking. Jack mirrors him, pulling his own leg up onto the couch so their knees are pressed together. Liam nods encouragingly, and Jack gives him a sweet smile before continuing.

“It sucks,” he says, “because I feel like I’m back on that goddamn hamster wheel again, just running around in circles and getting absolutely nowhere. But… but I don’t really think I’m sad about him. About Mick.”

“You’re not?” Liam pushes.

“I think, unfortunately, he was probably right,” Jack says, grimacing like it hurts him to admit it. “He was the first guy I’ve ever been with, y’know, and I’m grateful for that, but. But I was never going to fall in love with him, or anything.”

It’s probably selfish for Liam to feel relieved at the sound of that, but he can’t quite control the way he lets out a breath and his entire body relaxes.

It’s just — Jack doesn’t have to want Liam back, this isn’t about that, but. But Liam and Mick are actually kind of similar in a lot of ways — though they’re different in far more — and Liam would probably spend the rest of his life sick with envy if Mick turned out to be the one for Jack, instead of Liam. If Jack fell in love with someone who was like Liam, but not him. It might have made him crazy, actually.

“I mean, that’s good, right?” Liam asks. “It’s not like you’re losing the love of your life.”

Jack’s breath hitches, and his face falls as he says, “Like you did?”

He hadn’t planned to talk about this right now. He’d wanted to give himself time to adjust to the new label he’s assigned to himself, before sharing it with anyone else. But… but this is Jack, and Liam trusts him more than anybody else in the world. He trusts him with his life and with his vulnerability, so he knows that his heart is safe with Jack, too. Because even if Jack doesn’t want it, he would never do anything to hurt it.

So he takes a steadying breath, like he’s preparing to go into battle, then he says, “No. No, I loved Hannah; she was like my best friend. But… but she wasn’t the love of my life.”

Jack’s eyebrows pull down in confusion as he asks, “She— she wasn’t?”

Liam laughs a little, shaking his head. He gets Jack’s confusion because he was confused about it for a long time as well. But he knows that not being in love with Shannon will never take away from the fact that he did love her. She’ll always be important in Liam's life, and she’ll always hold a piece of his heart, but she wasn’t the great, big love of his life. That honor belongs to someone else.

“I, um,” Liam hesitates, glancing down for a moment at the way his bare knee is pressed against Jack’s. “I’m gay.”

He’s met with stunned silence, and the swirling anxiety in his chest forces him to look back up at Jack’s face. Jack’s mouth is parted in shock, and his blue eyes are wide and shining as he meets Liam’s gaze. For a moment, Jack is completely still, frozen by the revelation. But then, gradually, a slow, wide grin spreads across his face, and his open palm lands on Liam’s bare thigh, giving it a firm squeeze.

“Oh my god,” he breathes, voice filled with excitement and something that sounds a lot like pride. “Oh my god, Liam. That’s… that’s incredible. I’m so happy for you.” There’s genuine joy and elation in his voice, but for Liam, it’s kind of hard to focus on anything except the warmth of Jack’s hand on his leg, the feeling grounding him, comforting him.

“Yeah?” Liam asks, his voice coming out a little breathless from both the intensity of Jack’s touch and the overwhelming relief that washes over him at seeing Jack so happy, so accepting.

Jack laughs, bright and light. “Yes, of course!” he exclaims, and then, without warning, “Come here.”

In a heartbeat, Jack is kneeling up on the couch, towering over Liam as he leans forward and throws his arms around him in a bear hug so tight and fierce that it knocks a bit of breath out of Liam. Jack’s arms wrap securely around Liam’s shoulders, and Liam’s face is pressed against Jack’s chest, where he can feel the steady, reassuring beat of his heart. Liam’s own hands come up to tentatively rest around Jack’s waist, and he finds himself melting into the embrace, feeling like he’s somehow found a safe haven.

Jack rests his cheek on top of Liam’s head, holding him tightly, protectively, as if he’s telling Liam through the strength of his embrace that he’s here, that he’s got him, no matter what. Liam has spent so much of his life carrying burdens, constantly bracing himself for impact, and here, in Jack’s arms, it feels like he’s allowed to let it all go, to just be, with Jack holding him together.

A laugh escapes from Liam, muffled against Jack’s chest, and Jack joins in, the sound rich and joyful as they sway slightly from the force of their shared laughter. As they pull back just a little, Jack keeps his hand nestled in the space between Liam’s shoulder and neck, his thumb tracing light, comforting patterns along the base of his neck. They’re sitting even closer than before, knees brushing, faces mere inches apart. Liam could count every one of Jack’s eyelashes if he wanted to, and the thought is surprisingly tender, making his heart beat just a little faster.

Jack’s voice is soft and a little breathless as he says, “Sorry. Sorry, I got a little carried away.”

Liam looks at him, feeling strangely open, and murmurs, “I don’t mind.” His voice comes out a bit too honest, even to his own ears, but he can’t bring himself to care. He wants Jack to know.

Jack’s eyes widen, and a faint flush of pink rises on his cheeks, a mixture of bashfulness and hope that makes him look impossibly endearing. “No?” he asks, his voice just above a whisper.

And as his gaze dips down to Liam’s lips, Liam can feel a warmth spreading through his chest, something steady and sure. “No, Jack,” he replies, his own voice soft but full of meaning. “I don’t mind. Not when it’s you.”

He feels Jack’s hand tighten on his shoulder, and he opens his mouth to say something, but the words fade as he watches Jack’s tongue swipe across his bottom lip. Liam wants to lean in and taste him — wants to get lost in everything Jack. But something holds him back, a last moment of hesitation.

“Sorry,” he whispers. “Sorry, that was too much. You’ve just brok—”

He doesn’t get to finish his sentence.

In an instant, Jack is surging forward, pulling Liam closer as he does, and then, in the blink of an eye, Jack’s lips are on his. Liam doesn’t have to wonder what Jack tastes like anymore; he just flicks his tongue out and steals a taste. When Jack moans into his mouth, Liam swallows it down, pressing closer, pushing Jack backward until there’s enough room for him to swing a leg over Jack’s thighs and settle in his lap. And when Jack’s hands splay across the curve of his ribs, Liam melts into his touch.

It’s his first time kissing a man, but Liam knows instantly that it feels right. There’s no sense of performing, no need to think about his next move, because everything flows naturally, instinctively. Every touch, every taste, every breath — they all feel like they’re exactly where they’re supposed to be.

He knows, right down to his core, that this is exactly where he belongs.

Jack’s fingers curl around Liam’s waist as he captures Liam’s bottom lip between his teeth, giving it a gentle tug that makes Liam whine louder than he’d intended, his hips jerking of their own accord. Jack’s grip tightens, and he breaks their kiss only to press their foreheads together, both of them breathing hard.

“Jesus, fuck,” Jack pants, his breath hot against Liam’s lips. “Holy shit, you’re— you’re... Liam.”

“I want you,” Liam whispers, peppering tiny kisses from the corner of Jack’s mouth and all along his jaw. “I’ve always wanted you.”

Because even before Liam truly knew it, he’d wanted Jack. Liam’s soul has been reaching out to Jack’s from the very beginning. And he might have spent too many years ignoring the universe’s call, but he won’t turn away from it a single second longer.

“I want you, too,” Jack murmurs, voice rough and filled with emotion. “Always, Liam. Always you.”

As those words sink in — as they seep into Liam’s blood and saturate his bones — it feels like they are rewriting his very DNA. It’s as if loving Jack, and being loved by him, is reshaping the core of who Liam is. For the first time, he finally feels like someone he recognizes.

And maybe it should feel too fast, this thing between them that’s burning, growing, ravaging him from the inside out. Maybe Liam should want to slow it down, take a moment to breathe, let his mind catch up with his body — with his heart. But he’s tried fast with Hannah, and slow with Andrea and Danielle, and none of those things had worked out because they weren’t this. They weren’t a man.

They weren’t Jack, with his big, calloused hands, warm and steady against Liam’s waist as he pulls him closer. They weren’t Jack, who’s leaning down to bite, to suck, to leave marks that Liam wants to wear forever.

He doesn’t want to stop; he doesn’t even want to slow down. He wants this, here, for the rest of his life. He’s past wondering if he deserves it, past questioning if he’s good enough for someone like Jack, past being afraid of the depth of love he feels. He wants Jack selfishly, wants him greedily, and if Jack is willing to give himself over, then Liam isn’t selfless enough to say no. He isn’t strong enough to deny himself this kind of joy.

“Need you,” Liam whispers, almost begging. “Please, Jack. Please.”

He tilts his head, exposing his neck for Jack’s lips and teeth and tongue to explore, leaving a trail down to his collarbone. Jack sucks the skin into his mouth, biting in a way that makes Liam shiver, moan, and grind against Jack’s hardening length.

He feels frantic, desperate, like he might fall apart if Jack doesn’t do something soon.

“What do you need?” Jack murmurs. “Tell me what you need, Li.”

“You,” Liam answers, barely able to hold back. “I need you. Just you.”

Jack tips his head back, resting it on the couch, eyes squeezed shut. The smile on his face, the blush creeping up his cheeks — it’s enough to drive Liam wild, and he has to swallow down a whine at the sight of him.

“You’re killing me,” Jack pants, and Liam laughs softly.

“Well, we don’t want that,” he teases.

But then Jack is helping Liam off his lap and jumping to his feet, and they’re standing so close that their chests brush together with every breath. Liam can’t resist leaning forward to steal another kiss from Jack. It’s all tongue, teeth, and wandering hands, and Liam’s entire body feels like jelly in Jack’s hands — soft, malleable, ready to bend to Jack’s will.

“Jack,” Liam whines again, his hands tugging at Jack’s hair.

“Bedroom?” Jack murmurs against Liam’s mouth.

Liam nods so quickly their noses bump together, and they both break into laughter. Jack pulls back to press a kiss to the tip of Liam’s nose — it’s soft and silly, and Liam has never had this before. He’s never been able to laugh like this with someone, always feeling like he needed to be on, so focused on doing the right things that he forgot to enjoy himself. But with Jack… with Jack, he thinks it might actually be fun.

“Bedroom,” he agrees, and Jack’s eyes darken with heat.

“Let’s go.”

Liam untangles his hands from Jack’s hair and instead grabs hold of his wrist. He tugs him out of the living room and down the hall, glancing back every few seconds like he’s afraid Jack will suddenly disappear. But each time he looks back, he finds Jack’s eyes on him — watching the back of his head, the stretch of his shoulders in his old alpha tauri, the ripple of his bare thighs with every step he takes.

It makes Liam feel wanted. Makes him feel desired.

As they reach Liam’s bedroom door, Jack tugs his hand back until Liam turns around to face him. Then, with one hand on Liam’s hip and the other on the door, he gently nudges Liam backward into the room.

Once he’s shut the door, Jack leans back against it, taking a moment to just look. His eyes roam slowly, lingering, unhurried as they travel over Liam, and Liam feels like a work of art being admired. He feels like something beautiful to look at and savor, even in his wrinkled shirt and boxer-briefs. The look makes his blood fizz, and he steps toward Jack with his hands outstretched, stopping only when his fingertips press into Jack’s stomach.

Liam drops to the floor between Jack’s feet, and the feeling that washes over him as he looks up… it’s like he’s kneeling at the altar of a god of his own making. But Jack looks down at him like he’s the one doing the worshipping. Like Liam is the one who’s holy. Jack places a gentle hand on Liam’s jaw, caressing his cheek with his thumb, then brushes it over the smooth space above Liam’s top lip, taking in every inch of his skin he hadn't before.

“I missed your face,” Jack says easily, as if those words don’t slide down Liam’s spine and settle in his stomach like molten lava.

Then Jack’s thumb continues to trace Liam’s face until it reaches his lips. Liam’s mouth drops open involuntarily, and he doesn’t miss the spark in Jack’s eyes.

“Sweetheart,” Jack whispers, slipping his thumb into Liam’s mouth, pressing down on his tongue as he sucks. “So fucking beautiful.”

Liam trembles, his body and mind feeling as if they’re floating — like he’s here but not fully, watching this happen to a better man than him. But then Jack is sliding his thumb out, dragging it down so Liam’s saliva spreads across his chin and cools against his skin. Then Jack holds Liam’s face in one hand, tilting it up so Liam is looking directly into his eyes.

Liam feels so desperate for him that he can’t help himself. He raises his hands, curls them around the back of Jack’s thighs, and leans forward, mouthing against the outline of Jack’s hard length. Maybe he should feel nervous — maybe a perfectionist like Liam should worry about getting it right for his first time — but the shudder that runs through Jack’s body is enough to ease any of those concerns.

“Fuck, Liam,” Jack groans, his hand moving to the back of Liam’s head to tug on his hair.

“Can I?” Liam asks.

“Yes, baby. Of course.”

The word baby drips over him like honey, and his hands tremble as he undoes Jack’s button and zip, pulling his jeans and briefs over his hips and down his thighs. Jack steps out of them, and Liam helps him remove his socks, and then… he’s confronted with the sight of Jack’s cock, hard and flushed, glistening at the tip, like he’s just as desperate for this as Liam is. It’s the first time he’s ever been this close to one that isn’t his own, and the surge of desire that rushes through him almost takes him by surprise. Almost… but this is Jack, after all. It should never be a surprise to Liam just how much he craves him.

So Liam leans forward, his tongue slipping out to steal a taste of Jack. He curls it as he licks at him, and when Jack’s hand tightens in his hair, he takes it as his cue to close his mouth around the tip. Jack feels soft and silky on Liam’s tongue, and though the taste is a little bitter, Liam finds himself wanting more. And when Jack shudders, groaning and moaning Liam’s name like a prayer, Liam lets every thought leave his head except for how good this feels and how hard he already is.

“Liam, fuck,” Jack moans. “Holy shit, sweetheart. You’re so good. So good for me.”

The words make Liam feel light-headed, a tremor rippling through his body as he palms himself through his briefs. He’s never been praised during sex before — never been told he’s good — and he hadn’t even considered that it might be something he’s into, until he hears those words on Jack’s lips. Suddenly, he wants to hear it again and again, wants to earn it by making Jack feel good.

But as he takes Jack deeper — as far as his throat will let him — Jack gently guides Liam off him. Before Liam even has a chance to worry he’s doing something wrong, Jack is pulling him up to his feet and pressing their mouths together, groaning as he tastes himself on Liam’s lips. Liam melts into Jack, sinking into his chest as Jack holds him like he’s the most precious thing in the world.

“You’re too good at that,” Jack murmurs against his lips, making Liam laugh.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah,” Jack confirms. “But now it’s my turn.”

He maneuvers Liam toward the bed, then pushes on his shoulders until he’s sitting on the edge. Taking Liam’s face between his hands, Jack kisses him once, twice, three more times, before his hands drift down to the collar of Liam’s shirt. He tugs on it, raising a single, questioning eyebrow, but Liam just shrugs and grins at him. Then Jack’s steady, practiced hands begin to unfasten each of Liam’s buttons one by one, and it probably shouldn’t feel so intense, but with Jack, it feels borderline erotic.

He slips the shirt off Jack’s shoulders and tosses it onto the floor, then he strips off his own t-shirt and throws it there, too. And suddenly Liam is looking at all of Jack — at the tan evenly spread across his skin, and the rosy pink of his nipples. The soft curves of his belly, and the length of his cock that is still slick with Liam’s spit. He’s a fucking work of art, and it blows Liam’s mind a little to realise that a man as glorious as Jack could ever want him back. But then he’s placing his hand in the centre of Liam’s chest and pushing him backwards, and as Liam slides up the bed so he’s resting on the pillows, Jack climbs in between his open legs.

He presses a kiss to both of Liam’s ankles as he pulls off his socks, then a kiss to both of his knees. When his mouth makes it to Liam’s thighs, he bites and sucks like he’s trying to leave his mark behind — like he’s trying to stake his claim. It feels heady, and possessive, and Liam’s heart thunders dangerously fast inside his chest.

“Please,” he whimpers. “Jack… please.”

“What do you want, Liam?” He asks, his mouth so close to Liam’s cock that he can feel his breath on it. “You only have to ask.”

“Suck me,” he begs. “I need your mouth.”

It’s hot as it closes over his clothed dick, and Liam would feel ashamed of the whimper that bursts out of him if this was with anyone else. Then again, he doubts anyone else could ever make him feel like this — could make him let go so completely and give up all of his control. Jack is special, though. And here in this room, with Jack between his legs, there’s no shame or embarrassment or worry. There’s just love. So much of it that Liam can taste it with every breath that he breathes.

He gasps when Jack’s fingertips dig into his hipbones, curling beneath the waistband of his briefs so he can tug them down. Liam lifts his hips to make it easier for Jack, but he whines when the action makes him press himself against Jack’s open mouth. Jack chuckles at the sound, and at the tremor that ripples through Liam’s body. The smile he gives him — all teeth, with bright eyes and flushed cheeks and a kissed-pink mouth — is absolutely devastating.

Liam can’t stop himself from reaching down, scratching his fingers into Jack’s hair and swiping his thumb down the side of Jack’s cheek. Jack turns to press a kiss to the palm of Liam’s hand.

“I’ve got you, sweetheart,” Jack says.

And then he closes his mouth around Liam’s bare cock, and Liam sees stars.

It feels like champagne bubbles beneath the surface of his skin, and popping candy beneath his ribs. It feels bigger, better, more, than anything has ever felt before. Liam feels alive, and breathless, and he’s never wanted anybody the way that he wants Jack. It surpasses want and burrows right into need — into a desperate, aching compulsion. And I love you is on the very tip of his tongue, but he swallows it down and instead says “More. I need more, Jack. Please.”

“So polite,” Jack teases him, as he presses a delicate kiss to the very bottom of his stomach. “Use your words and tell me what you need, Li.”

Liam almost wants to cry. As someone who’s spent his whole life ignoring his own wants and needs, to ask for something now feels almost impossible.Though, as he catches Jack’s eyes and sees the shine in them, he thinks maybe that’s exactly why Jack is doing this: he’s teaching him to want. He’s teaching him that it’s okay.

“Whatever you want, baby, I’ll give it to you.”

“I need you inside me,” Liam whispers.

He feels his cheeks flaming with colour, because to be caught in the act of wanting has always felt so embarrassing to him. But then a smile spreads across Jack’s face, and he says, “Good job, baby,” and Liam simply melts.

Jack moves so he’s hovering over Liam, and he leans down to kiss and kiss and kiss him, as he roots around in the drawer of his bedside table for…he leans back, and holds up a bottle of lube. Liam feels his cheeks heat again, and he bites his lip, but he refuses to look away from Jack.

“Are you sure?” Jack asks.

“I need you,” Liam says. “I want you.”

He wants more. Wants to be as close to Jack as he possibly can be. He’s spent years wanting to climb into Jack’s skin and burrow beneath his ribs — years wanting to merge their bodies together, like their souls already are, long before he even knew what that really meant. And he doesn’t want to wait. Not because they’re in any rush…not because he’s worried he might not get another chance at this. But because he knows, as certainly as he’s ever known anything, that this is it for him.

Jack is the only person he’ll ever love like this, and he doesn’t want to waste any more time being afraid of wanting things. Especially not when Jack is giving him permission to.

Jack sucks Liam back into his mouth, and Liam gets lost in the pleasure of it — in the slick, wet heat, and the knowledge that this is Jack making him feel so good. He flinches a little when he feels the cool lube against his skin, but as Jack begins to gently rub at his hole, Liam groans and pushes back against him.

“Greedy,” Jack taunts him, and Liam whines.

But he gives Liam what he’s asking for anyway.

“Relax for me, Li,” Jack murmurs, his lips still brushing against Liam’s cock. “You can take it.”

Jack’s words, and his sickly sweet voice, and the feeling of electricity coursing through Liam’s veins is almost too much to handle. And then Jack’s finger presses inside of him, and the slight burn — the stretch as Liam’s body adjusts — is absolutely wonderful. The moans that pour out of him are filthy, and debauched, and he’s acutely aware that he’s never felt this good in his entire life.

Jack works him open slowly and gently, his lips and tongue and mouth still working over his dick as Liam loosens around his finger. Then, as Jack slips a second finger into him, he begins to make his way up Liam’s body. He kisses along Liam’s stomach, sucking hickies into the divots of his abs. When his mouth closes around Liam’s nipple, and then his other one, Liam feels like his soul is ascending and leaving his body behind.

The sensations are all so much — Jack’s fingers inside him, and his grip on Liam’s hip, and his mouth suckling at Liam’s nipples. Liam’s body doesn’t feel like his anymore, it feels like Jack’s. And he knows it’s never been in better hands.

He should have known Jack would be like this — should have known he would give, and give, and give, even here in the bedroom. But it still takes Liam a little bit by surprise; it still steals his breath how thoroughly Jack dedicates himself to taking Liam apart. Because that’s what this feels like — like Liam is being unstitched at the seams, like he’s being unravelled by Jack’s gentle touch before he slowly puts him back together again, even better than he was before.

By the time Jack has kissed his way up Liam’s throat and is feeding him his tongue, he’s pushing a third finger inside of him. Liam whimpers, and trembles, and he bites on Jack’s lip as the stretch makes all of his nerve-endings feel like they’ve been set ablaze. He arches his chest into Jack’s, wanting to be touching him everywhere possible, and Jack — reading his mind like he always does — lowers his weight onto Liam and presses him down into the mattress.

Jack’s fingers curl inside of him and Liam cries out as they find that spot that’s never been touched before. It feels like lightning. Feels like heaven, and hell, and sin. Feels holy.

“Oh,” Jack says with a grin, then does it again. Liam gasps, one hand gripping Jack’s bicep and the other the back of his neck. “There it is. Does that feel good sweetheart?”

Liam nods. “Yes, yes Jack, please. More. I need more,” he pants. “I need you. You feel so good, baby.”

“You want me inside you?”

“Yes.”

“In here?” Jack asks, curling his fingers again until Liam is writhing and his cock is smearing precum between their stomachs.

“Yes,” Liam whimpers through gritted teeth.

“Anything for you, Liam,” Jack promises.

As he kisses Liam again, slow and sweet, and so deep Liam feels it right down to the marrow of his bones, he searches in the bedside drawer once again. But when he pulls out a condom and holds it up to show Liam, Liam takes it from between his fingers and tosses it on the floor.

“No,” he says. “I wanna feel you. Jus' you, if.. if you’re—”

“I’m clean,” Jack promises. “Are you sure?”

And Liam has never been more sure of anything in his life. So he nods his head, and pulls Jack back down to kiss him, and he rocks his hips up into Jack’s so their cocks glide together. He groans when Jack slides his fingers out of Liam’s hole, and the loss almost feels like too much — he grips Jack tighter, pulls him closer, kisses him harder, but Jack just chuckles. He slows down the kiss until it’s languid, and tender, and Liam is shaking from the gentleness of it.

Then Jack’s hands are wrapping around Liam’s thighs and pushing them back, kissing the mole on the back of his leg. And Liam feels vulnerable and exposed in a way that’s entirely new to him. But Jack looks down greedily at the scene Liam is presenting him, and he groans at the sight of it. He hooks the tip of his thumb into Liam’s hole, and Liam gasps.

“I’m tasting you here later, okay?” Jack says, and Liam almost blacks out at the thought of it.

“Okay,” Liam agrees breathlessly.

“Are you ready?” Jack asks, looking Liam right in the eyes. “We can stop at any time, okay? All you have to do is-”

“-fuck me,” Liam begs. “Jack, please. I need you inside me.”

The first press of Jack’s dick against Liam’s hole feels like the first hit of morphine when you’re in pain — it soothes an ache inside of Liam that’s been hurting him for as long as he can remember. Jack kisses him through it, as Liam’s body stretches to accommodate Jack’s, and it suddenly dawns on him that he can taste himself on Jack’s tongue. It’s dirty, and heady, and it makes his cock twitch in the space between their bodies.

Jack pulls back and looks down to watch as he slides home inside of Liam, and when he’s finally all the way in — when he’s burrowed so deep inside of Liam that he can feel him in his heart — he looks back up to him and smiles. Big, and bright, and fucking earth-shattering.

“Fuck, you’re so beautiful,” Jack whispers. “Prettiest thing I’ve ever seen.” He lets his fingers trace Liam’s blush from his cheeks, down his throat, all the way to the centre of his chest, and then stops right over his beating heart. He presses a kiss there, and then he looks back up to Liam and says, “Are you ready?”

“Move,” Liam all but begs. “Fuck me, Jack. I need you to.”

And the thing about Jack, is that he’s never denied Liam anything. He would give him anything — everything — that he asked for and not even think twice about it, and that’s been the case for as long as they’ve known each other. So when Liam pleads for Jack to fuck him, he gives him exactly what he asks for.

He pulls out slowly, watching Liam’s face for any sign that he’s in pain, and when he finds none — when he finds only pleasure there — he rocks back into him.

Liam gasps at the intrusion, and he tangles his fingers into Jack’s hair and pulls him down. He doesn’t kiss him though, he just rests their foreheads together and breathes in Jack’s air as he begins to build a slow, steady rhythm. It’s addictive, the way the heat burns low and slow in the pit of his stomach. The sensations build and build as Jack fucks into him, until Liam is shaking and whining and desperate for more.

“Harder,” Liam demands. “Harder, Jack. I need it.”

“Yeah?” Jack asks. “You need more, baby?”

“Please,” Liam says, like it’s the only word he can seem to remember. “Please.”

His hands trail down Jack’s back, nails digging in and scratching until Jack gasps and fucks into him harder. Then he’s reaching back to snatch Liam’s hands away, lacing their fingers together and slamming them down onto the mattress. He slides their joined hands under the pillow beneath Liam’s head, and orders “keep them there.”

The command — the show of dominance — has Liam melting beneath him, and when Jack’s hand comes to rest at the base of Liam’s throat, he whines and arches up into him. He wants to reach for Jack, but he wants to be good — wants to do what Jack told him to. So he grasps at the pillow as Jack starts to fuck him in the way he’s been begging for. Not fast, still so slow that the pleasure in Liam’s body builds agonisingly. But Jack is thrusting into him so hard that the headboard starts to rattle, and Liam’s body begins to sing.

And while one of Jack’s hands remains at the base of his throat — not squeezing, just holding him there like he owns him — he reaches the other one up and he curls it around the top of Liam’s head so he doesn’t bang it against the headboard.

It’s ridiculous, and it’s embarrassing, but the gesture is so sweet and caring and intimate, that tears begin to blur his vision. He has to squeeze his eyes shut so Jack doesn’t see them and worry — so he doesn’t stop. But Jack clearly doesn’t want him to look away, because he tuts under his breath and bites gently at the curve of Liam’s jaw.

“Give me those eyes, sweetheart,” Jack commands, and Liam is helpless to do anything but obey.

As he opens his eyes the tears he’d been trying to hide leak out, dripping from the corner and sliding down the sides of his face. Liam’s breath hitches, and he whimpers at the look in Jack’s eyes when he sees that Liam is crying. A flash of concern passes over his face, and his hips stutter like he’s about to stop, so Liam wraps his legs around Jack’s waist and squeezes his thighs.

“Don’t stop,” he begs. “I’ll die. I’ll die if you stop.”

The dramatics would probably be humiliating if Liam stopped to think about the words spilling out of his mouth. But he’s so overwhelmed with pleasure that all he can think about is keeping Jack inside of him — is never letting him go.

And then Jack is leaning forwards and capturing Liam’s mouth in a kiss that absolutely wrecks him. He whispers, “You’re so good, baby. Taking it so well for me,” and Liam writhes, and cries, and surrenders his body, and mind, and his heart to Jack.

“Jack,” Liam whimpers, desperate and frantic. He’s not sure what he’s asking for — not sure what he needs — but he knows that Jack will find a way to give it to him anyway.

“I’ve got you, Liam,” Jack promises. “I’ll take care of you. You’re doing so good, baby. So perfect for me.”

The hand on his throat tightens just a little, and Jack pegs his prostate, and then Liam is cumming — completely untouched, with a silent gasp on his lips as he trembles through his release. And as his body shakes, and he tightens around Jack, he feels Jack cumming too… feels him fill Liam in a way that makes him feel more whole than he’s ever done in his life.

More tears slip from his eyes, and then Jack is leaning down to kiss them away, and it’s so sweet that Liam needs to hold him. He moves his hands from where Jack had placed them beneath the pillow, and he winds them around Jack. With his legs still wrapped around his back he tugs, and Jack lets out a soft laugh as he lets his weight fall onto Liam.

“That was…” Liam pants, trailing off because he can’t quite find the words to describe it.

“Yeah, yeah it was,” Jack agrees. “You were perfect, Liam.”

Liam snatches a kiss and says, “So were you. Thank you.” The smile Jack gives him in return is a thing of absolute beauty.

Jack is slow and careful as he pulls his softening cock out of Liam, and then he flops down beside him. Liam hadn’t wanted them to separate — had wanted to keep Jack inside of him forever — but Jack doesn’t pull away. He leans on his elbow and slips his free hand between Liam’s legs, using his fingers to push his cum back inside of Liam in a move that feels so filthy - so territorial — that Liam throws his head back and groans.

Jack leans down and kisses Liam’s exposed throat, biting at the underside of his jaw, until his lips press against Liam’s again, and again, and again.

“Jack, I…”

He reaches his hand up and tugs on the sweat-slick curl that falls down over Jack’s forehead, making Jack laugh and pretend to bite at Liam’s fingers as he pulls away. Liam laughs too, loud and carefree and easy.

“I love you, Jack,” Liam confesses.

“I love you, too.”

And Liam still isn’t quite ready to believe that he deserves this, but he’s going to take it anyway. He’s going to grasp it between both hands and never let it go. Because even if Liam doesn’t think he’s worthy of him, Jack clearly seems to think that he is, and there’s nobody in this world that he trusts more than Jack.

“You’re my last,” Jack says. “You’re my always.”

lance, 09:38

okay so

just so you know

you’re on babysitting duty today

liam, 09:38

Good morning to you too

Also no.

lance, 09:38

wtf

you're her favourite uncle

liam, 09:39

Jack and I have plans.

lance, 09:39

even better!!!

he can help you as well <3

Liam feels his eye twitching.

“I’ll be back in a second.” He tells Yuki, who shrugs beside him and doesn’t even arch an eyebrow when Liam pushes the chair back so forcefully that the metal legs of it almost break, and then marches out of the library like a man on a mission. 

“This is the fourth time this week alone.” Liam hisses the moment his friend answers the phone and barely has time to let a word out. 

“Li, please .”

“Listen, I love Delilah, I really do,” Liam sighs out and leans back against the tree in the park, suppressing the urge to bang his head against it. “but you know that Jack has been drowning in work and we’ve barely had time to spend together off track since August, it’s November now.”

“This is the last time, I swear.” Lance tells him and even through the phone, Liam can hear desperation in his voice. He slightly bangs his head against the wall. “Luca and I have to go to Monaco, we weren’t planning to, but we’re scared those motherfuckers are destroying the house instead of building it and I can not take my 2 years old daughter all the way to fucking Monte Carlo because her uncle is a massive–”

“Lance.” Liam interrupts him before he has time to send himself into a cardiac arrest which is truly the last thing Liam wants or has time for right now. “Fine.” 

“Really?”

“Of course, you asshole, when have I ever told you no?”

“Literally five minutes ago?”

“You know I can very easily change my mind, right?” Although Lance can’t see him, Liam has that smug smirk on his face that always makes his "brother" want to punch him in the face. 

“But you won’t because you love Lilah and you love me and–”

“No, I do not.” Liam cuts him off and he doesn’t even need to specify that he’s talking about Lance — though his bonus brother knows Liam loves him he definitely knows he's not talking about his one and only and favourite neice. Liam would go to hell and back for her. “Now can you please get off my back so I can go and work like every normal adult does on nine in the morning?”

Lance doesn’t miss a beat before chirping, “technically, it’s already ten.”

“I’m hanging up.” 

As always, Liam stays true to his word and hangs up before Lance has time to tell him when he needs to pick Delilah up from the daycare. He doesn’t really need to because Liam has his schedule memorised (considering how many times he had to pick the kid up instead of his idiot brother and brother-in-law since they adopted Delilah) and plus, it’s not even him who’s going to be picking him up.

“Hey, love.” He can hear the smile in Jack’s voice the moment he answers. “Is everything alright?”

“Debatable.” Liam, being the dramatic little shit that he is, whines out and is definitely not offended at the sound of Jack giggling on the other side at his theatrics, thank you very much. “We’re on babysitting duty tonight, again, for the fourth time this week.”

“I did have a feeling that you were going to call me about that.” Jack hums, and even without being able to see him, Liam knows that he’s spinning around in his stupid spinning chair in the Alpine office like a little kid (Liam wants a freaking spinning chair too).

“Which means that you already know you’re going to be the one picking her up from the daycare?” Liam asks with a grin on his face.

“You know it wouldn’t kill you every now and then to walk to her daycare and meet the teachers, right?”

“Oh, sorry, I can’t hear you anymore, the service here is terrible, bye.”

Liam slams his finger against the end call button so firmly that his thumb starts to hurt, but whatever. He is not walking all the way to that daycare after a long day at work; he would rather die, no offense to the Marini-Stroll family.

And, truth be told, Liam finds it very interesting that Jack loves to make fun of him for hating to go to places that are too far from his flat or his work, considering that Jack drives everywhere and yet, he still hasn’t taught Liam anything, no matter how many times Liam begged him to teach him how to drive — it's more different from racing than one would think.

A traitor of a husband, that’s what he is, but Liam still loves him with his entire being.

After letting out a small, quite embarrassing giggle at the dumb meme Jack sent of himself right after he hung up, Liam shoves his phone into his pocket and walks back inside the library, a small huff breaking out of his throat as he throws himself onto that uncomfortable chair.

“We need to get new chairs,” he complains to Yuki, who doesn’t even remove his gaze from his laptop as he hums absent-mindedly. “I’m serious, these are so uncomfortable.”

“Or maybe you're just jealous that your husband has a spinning chair at Alpine's building and you don’t.” The corners of his mouth twitch upwards slightly the moment Liam groans quietly and bangs his head on the top of his desk.

However, his frustration gets thrown out the window the second he reads a newly received email from Christian, saying that he has to cancel tomorrow’s meeting for family emergency reasons. Liam hopes that the man and his family are alright but holy shit, he won’t have to sit there and fight the urge to lose his mind for three hours on Saturday morning and he will be able to spend a morning lazily in bed with his husband — God bless.

Liam sends a quick message to Jack, announcing his once-in-a-lifetime moment to him, receiving dozens of confetti emojis (and an eggplant emoji; Liam hates this man) in return before he returns to the list of those damned books — yes, red bull has assigned him readings to complete before he can drive — with a dumb grin on his face.

Liam slams his laptop shut right at 5:58 pm.

“If I have to go through this list for one more minute, I will freaking lose it,” he hisses to Yuki, who genuinely doesn’t care or finds it absolutely hilarious when Liam is being tormented. And, considering that this time isn’t any different, he giggles and looks at him with a twinkle in his eyes.

“Just go already, then.” He suggests, as if Liam is an idiot for not even thinking about that option — which is rude, because of course he thought about that option, and that is exactly why he's now shoving his laptop and notebook so aggressively into his bag.

“I am going.” He tells him without any heat and pushes the chair back into its place, flashing a small smile at Yuki now that his mind has accepted he’s about to be free from this hell.

Every complaint about his sometimes pain-in-the-ass job disappears from his head the moment he steps outside the library and sees that Jack is already there.

His husband is wearing classic pants and a shirt with sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and he looks absolutely gorgeous; Liam almost drops to his knees the moment he processes the outfit (again, because he was quite literally there in the morning when Jack was getting ready). But the thing that gets him the most is that Jack has Delilah in his lap, playing with her and grinning triumphantly when she lets out that heartwarming laugh.

Liam has seen Jack with kids, of course he has, but there’s something so different about this. This, as in Jack picking her up from the daycare, driving straight to Liam’s work, and entertaining her while they wait for Liam to be done so they can all go home. There’s something so unbearably domestic about it.

Liam has always known that he and Jack would have kids, but it was mainly him who asked Jack not to rush into things, especially when they’re as serious as adopting and raising a child, and they’ve been married only for a year. But it hits Liam suddenly, totally unexpectedly, that there’s nothing he wants more than to raise children with Jack now, and he can not wait for it to happen.

“Love, is everything alright?” Jack asks with worry in his eyes and slowly gets up from the bench. He puts Delilah on his hip and starts walking toward Liam when he notices that he’s cemented to the spot, staring at them with his mouth agape.

It’s like Liam’s brain is refusing to cooperate and form words, so all he does is give Jack a small nod in return. The second Jack is close enough, Liam grabs him by his tie and pulls him down carefully, a sound escaping Jack’s throat quickly muffled by Liam’s mouth.

“Everything is perfect,” Liam breathes against his lips, hearing Jack let out a small chuckle at his hoarse voice. He would definitely ask what all of that was about if it hadn’t been for Liam turning to Delilah to pinch her cheeks almost painfully until the girl turned to put her face into the space between Jack's neck and shoulder. Liam grins, prideful. “Let’s go home, I’m starving.”

Thankfully, on their way back home, Delilah seems to remember that Liam isn’t an evil uncle who’s going to eat her whole and is, in fact, her favourite uncle. For at least twenty minutes, she chatters about everything and anything, while Jack and Liam nod along, even though they can barely make out half the words she’s saying.

At some point, Jack mutters under his breath that he has two kids in his car, because Liam gets so close to throwing a tantrum in the moving car until Jack finally stops by Dunkin’ to get his husband his daily dose of sickly sweet donuts. Jack doesn’t even bother to hide the fond smile that creeps onto his face when Liam’s eyes light up as soon as Jack hands him the box.

Getting Delilah to wash her hands and change into the extra clothes her dads left around Liam's flat is quite a struggle, to say the least. But with combined powers, they manage to achieve the goal, just like they manage to convince her to eat a proper meal instead of filling up on the donuts Jack brought for Liam.

However, when it comes to finding something to entertain Delilah so she doesn’t notice that her dads aren’t there with her — and to prevent her from tormenting poor Enzo — that’s when all hell breaks loose.

“We’re putting on Cars!” Liam declares, grabbing a DVD from the shelf.

“No, we are putting on Animaniacs for Lilah!” Jack retorts, reaching for another DVD.

“Cars!”

“Animaniacs!” Jack fires back, grinning.

“Animaniacs doesn't teach her anything!” Liam protests.

“You wanna put on a movie about talking vehicles!” Jack counters, folding his arms.

“Jack Doohan, we will put on Animaniacs or you’re staying home next month, and I’m taking Mick with me to Abu Dhabi!” Liam threatens, wagging a finger at him.

In the end, all three of them end up sprawled on the couch, cuddled up and cozy, drifting off to sleep to the sound of cars driving and Mater Mater-ing.

When Liam wakes up with Delilah nestled on his chest and Jack’s arm wrapped protectively around both of them, he can’t help but smile. This might just be his definition of perfect.

Liam feels Jack's arms around his naked body and the man's chest against his back before he even fully comes back to consciousness. That doesn’t stop him from letting out a contented hum and snuggling more into his husband’s touch before it suddenly hits him that he has absolutely no clue if he put Delilah to bed properly yesterday or not.

Almost as if Jack heard Liam’s thoughts, he tightens his hold and nuzzles his nose into Liam’s neck, murmuring before Liam has a chance to start panicking, “Lance and Luca picked her up while you were sleeping last night.”

“Why didn’t you wake me up?” Liam grumbles, turning around in Jack’s arms, almost squishing his nose against Jack’s chest in the process.

“Because.” Jack replies simply, and before Liam has time to complain about how that’s not a proper answer, Jack pushes him onto his back and drapes his body over Liam’s, earning a small, winded oof from him.

Liam smiles fondly at Jack curling against him like an actual cat (even though they both agree Jack is a golden retriever while Liam is a cat, never mind Lance calling them both idiots for it). Wasting no time, he wraps his arms around his husband, burying half of his face in Jack’s soft waves.

“I think Delilah had a good time yesterday,” Jack whispers against Liam’s throat, the warmth of his breath sending shivers down Liam’s spine.

“She always has a good time here, torturing our poor puppy and getting you to stuff her face with sweets.” Liam says with a small smile, running his hands up and down Jack’s bare back, scratching here and there for the fun of it.

“There are sacrifices we all have to make to get a kid to like us.” Jack declares, looking up at Liam with that toothy grin, and Liam just has to kiss him for it.

“You’re great with kids,” he tells Jack, watching as his sleepy eyes start sparkling with happiness like a little kid’s. Liam hopes Jack doesn’t notice the way his heartbeat rises at the words he’s planning to say next. “You’ll be an amazing dad.”

“You’ll be an amazing dad too, Li.” Jack says, leaning forward to leave a soft kiss against the corner of Liam’s mouth before his husband tugs at his curls, pulling him into a proper, open-mouthed kiss.

“Jack, I mean that—” Liam tries to continue after breaking the kiss, but he isn’t exactly sure how to say it without freaking him out, because what if Jack isn’t ready or doesn’t want kids, or doesn’t want kids with him, or—

“You’re overthinking again.” Jack’s sweet voice interrupts Liam’s spiraling thoughts just in time, and he can feel the anxiety start to fade as Jack cups his face gently, pressing his forehead against Liam’s and looking into his eyes. “What is it, love?”

“You— you want to have kids with me…right?” Liam asks, wincing internally at how choked the words sound.

“I— Li, sweetie, of course I do!” Jack looks so surprised by the question that for a moment, Liam genuinely worries his eyes might fall out of their sockets. “Did you think I didn’t want to?”

“No, I just…” Liam almost groans, trying to look away but failing due to the way Jack is holding him firmly and staring into his eyes. “I just really want to raise a child with you, and— I needed to make sure you felt the same.”

Jack’s confused expression softens, replaced by a fond look in his brown eyes, and he kisses Liam again, though both struggle with it since Jack can’t stop smiling.

“Li, there’s nothing in this world I want more than having kids with you.” Jack whispers against his lips, his smile growing even wider at the sight of tears gathering in Liam’s eyes. “In fact, we can start working on it right here and now—”

“You’re such an idiot.” Liam laughs, which quickly turns into a quiet whimper as Jack presses himself between Liam’s legs, leaning down to kiss and bite his throat.

“So I’ve been told.” Jack hums. “But you love me for it.”

“I do.” Liam’s hands slide up into Jack’s hair again before he tugs hard enough to make Jack look at him. “I’m choosing the name.”

“Why not me?”

“Because you’ll name him after a MotoGP world champion or a video game!”

“I would not— him?”

Liam isn’t sure why, but he instantly blushes and nods, “I want to have a boy.”

“I’m starting to think you’ve already picked a name.” Jack says, his voice full of adoration as he brushes a strand of hair out of Liam’s face and kisses his forehead, the tip of his nose, and then his lips.

“I have.” Liam admits, feeling the tips of his ears grow hot as he watches Jack’s expression turn awestruck.

“Well, tell me then!”

“Pierce.” Liam whispers, playing with Jack’s curls as Jack looks at him like he’s falling in love all over again. “Pierce Doohan-Lawson— it sounds cute, doesn’t it?”

Liam Lawson, his closest friend on the track, his fiercest — favourite — competitor. They'd grown up racing side by side, knowing each other’s moves almost as well as their own, sharing stories of victories and defeats. Jack had always looked up to him, admired the way Liam raced with such confidence, as if the whole world was nothing but open road, his to conquer. But somewhere along the way, something had changed. That admiration had turned into something deeper, something that tugged at Jack every time he saw Liam’s familiar smile or heard his laugh ring out in the garage.

Jack found himself watching Liam more and more, captivated by the easy way he carried himself, the way he leaned into his teammates with that same grin that had once been Jack’s to share. Racing alongside him had once been enough, but now, watching Liam soar through challenges, standing out among everyone in the VCARB paddock, left Jack feeling hollow. His gaze lingered, too often and too long, trailing after Liam as he moved through the crowd, every laugh, every smile lighting up something in Jack’s chest that felt both thrilling and painful.

And the ache — God, it was impossible to ignore. Watching Liam laugh with others was like a punch to the gut, every casual joke or fleeting touch sparking something sharp and possessive inside Jack. He wanted to be the one making Liam laugh, the one who knew him better than anyone else. But that role was slipping away, and he couldn’t stand it.

One evening, the two were sitting in the Alpine garage after a long day of practice. Liam was scrolling through his phone, laughing at a message from someone on his team, oblivious to Jack's quiet stare. Jack could barely focus, his mind swirling with thoughts he couldn’t quite voice. The silence stretched on until he couldn’t take it anymore.

"Liam," Jack said, his voice a bit rougher than he intended. Liam looked up, still smiling, but Jack couldn’t match it. "D’you ever think about…what we’d be like on the same team again? You know, spending more time together?"

Liam shrugged, his expression casual. "Yeah, sometimes," he said. "But, hey, you’re doing amazing with Alpine. You’re gonna make headlines before you know it." He nudged Jack playfully, but Jack barely felt it — he barely felt anything besides want when it came to Liam nowadays.

"Right," Jack muttered, glancing away. He tried to summon a smile, but it felt strained. "I just miss it, I guess — when it was just us, you know? Feels like we barely have time these days."

Liam laughed, the sound light and carefree. "C’mon, Jack, it’s not like I’m going anywhere! Besides, you could always hang with the vcarb guys if you’re that lonely." He grinned, but Jack’s chest tightened.

"Maybe I don’t want to hang with the vcarb guys," Jack replied, more bluntly than he meant. Liam’s smile faltered, a hint of surprise flickering in his eyes.

"Then what do you want, Jack?" he asked, voice softening, as if he could sense there was more to it. Jack’s heart thudded, panic rising as he realized just how close he was to admitting everything.

"I… I don’t know," Jack stammered, forcing a laugh that sounded hollow. "Forget it. It’s stupid."

But Liam didn’t look away, his gaze steady, questioning. "You sure about that?" he asked, and for a moment, Jack swore he saw something else there — an invitation, a spark that made him want to say everything.

But Jack only nodded, swallowing the words that threatened to spill out. "Yeah," he whispered, looking down. "It’s nothing."

The realization settled in gradually — Jack wanted more than friendship, more than the shared laughs and camaraderie they’d had for years. It was a slow, quiet ache that grew every time he saw Liam, lurking beneath his every smile, every laugh, every word. It was impossible to shake off, coming alive whenever Jack caught Liam chatting animatedly with his teammates, or throwing effortless grins to rival drivers in the paddock. But as bad as that longing felt, it was nothing compared to the jealousy that flared up when Liam was with his own team.

The vcarb team was tight-knit, practically family, with inside jokes and unspoken bonds that Jack felt he could never understand. They celebrated the small things — like one point or making it to Q2 — together, rallied around Liam and Yuki, Jack couldn't help but feel like an outsider looking in, even with his own success at Alpine. They had something Jack wanted — a closeness with Liam that went beyond the race and the track. He'd see them congratulate him after every race, hands on his shoulders, laughter and cheers surrounding him. It cut Jack deeper than he wanted to admit, this constant reminder that Liam belonged somewhere he couldn’t reach, no matter how much he tried to hide the ache.

Race days were the worst. Watching Liam out there, pushing himself, his eyes blazing with focus and determination — Jack knew that feeling well, but this was different. His heart twisted as he watched Liam celebrate with his team, every cheer, every pat on the back a reminder of his own isolation. Whether Liam won or lost didn’t matter; his team celebrated him anyway, lifting him up, and Jack stood there alone, forced to bury his feelings beneath a layer of polite applause and tight smiles. He should have been happy for him — really, of course he was — but there was an undeniable urge to be the one beside him, sharing those highs, claiming even a small piece of Liam’s world as his own. Claiming a small piece of Liam as his own.

Jack wanted to be the one Liam looked for after every race, someone he’d come to with that lopsided grin, laughing or venting or sharing a quiet moment, win or lose. Instead, all he got were fleeting glances and polite messages, the kind you’d exchange with any friend in the paddock. Jack knew he had no right to feel this way — Liam was his own person, and Jack’s feelings were his problem. But knowing that didn’t make the ache go away.

One evening after a particularly grueling race — though, aren't they all grueling? — Jack found Liam alone in the garage, resting against a stack of tires, looking out at the darkening track. There was a quiet calm in the air, and Jack knew he couldn’t let this moment slip by, not without saying something.

"Hey, Li,” Jack called softly. Liam glanced over, eyebrows raised in surprise, but then his face lit up with that easy smile that made Jack’s heart skip a beat.

“Hey! Wild race, right?” Liam chuckled, the excitement still lingering in his voice. But Jack couldn’t bring himself to join in; instead, he swallowed and took a breath, feeling the weight of his feelings pressing down harder than ever.

“Yeah… crazy,” Jack muttered, his gaze dropping to the floor. He hesitated, his heart pounding, but finally, he looked back up, locking onto Liam’s curious gaze. “Sometimes I… I wish things were different.”

Liam’s smile faded as he tilted his head, brows knitting together. “Different how?”

Jack’s mouth went dry. He hadn’t planned on saying this, but he felt like he couldn’t hold back any longer. “I just… I see you with your team, and you’re all so close, like a family. And I…” His voice wavered, but Liam stayed silent, watching him intently. “I want to be closer, Liam. To you. Not just as a friend, but… more than that.”

The air between them grew thick with the weight of Jack’s admission. Liam’s eyes widened in surprise, and Jack could feel his pulse hammering, wondering if he’d gone too far. But Liam didn’t pull away — instead, he seemed to be searching Jack’s face, taking in the vulnerability there.

“Jack…” Liam’s voice was barely above a whisper, tinged with uncertainty. “I had no idea.”

Jack tried to force a casual smile, as if he hadn’t just laid himself bare, but the ache in his chest was almost unbearable. “It’s okay, really. You don’t have to say anything. I just… I needed you to know. Because watching from a distance… it’s been harder than I thought it’d be.”

Liam didn’t answer right away, just kept looking at Jack, his expression softening. After a long pause, he reached out, placing a hand gently on Jack’s shoulder. “You mean more to me than just a friend, Jack,” he murmured, his voice barely audible. And then, almost as if testing the waters, Liam leaned forward, his breath warm against Jack’s skin.

Jack’s heart stuttered, and before he could second-guess himself, he closed the gap, his lips pressing softly to Liam’s. It was tentative, a brush of warmth that held every ounce of his longing, every unspoken word he hadn’t dared to say.

For a heartbeat, Liam seemed frozen, but then he responded, his hand sliding up to cup Jack’s face, deepening the kiss with a sweetness that sent a shiver down Jack’s spine. In that moment, the world around them melted away — all the noise, the crowds, the endless races — none of it mattered. It was just them, finally stepping beyond the unspoken, finally giving in to everything they’d both been holding back.

When they finally pulled back, breathless, Liam’s hand lingered against Jack’s cheek, his eyes soft and a little dazed. “Maybe… we don’t have to watch from a distance anymore.”

It was surreal; after all the waiting, dreaming, and planning, they were finally home with their son. The house felt different — warmer, brighter — as if it had been waiting to become a family home all along.

They walked slowly down the hallway, careful not to wake the baby, their footsteps soft on the hardwood floors. Jack smiled as he glanced around, seeing the little touches they’d added to make this place Pierce’s home. His eyes eventually landed on his husband and their son, he couldn't imagine a life more perfect than the one they were starting today. The nursery door was open, and soft, pastel light spilled out, welcoming them inside.

The nursery had been a labour of love for both of them. They’d spent hours picking out the details, from the woodland mural on the wall, painted with foxes, rabbits, and trees, to the handmade mobile that hung over the crib — Liam was very proud of himself for making it from scratch. The mobile was dotted with tiny felt stars and clouds, each one swaying gently in the air, they prayed Pierce would love it as much as they do.

Liam moved toward the crib, setting Pierce down with the utmost care — triple checking that he was okay before retreating back next to his husband. Pierce stirred, his little face scrunching up for a moment before relaxing, his breathing soft and even. Jack brushed a finger over the edge of the crib, smiling as he looked at the plush animals they’d carefully arranged by the crib — a teddy bear, a soft bunny, and a small, knitted fox.

“I can’t believe he’s finally here,” Liam whispered, his voice thick with emotion as he gazed at Pierce — he was trying his hardest not to cry.

Jack slipped an arm around Liam’s shoulders, leaning into him. “I know. It feels… surreal. Like everything we’ve done led us to this.”

They moved quietly around the room, straightening tiny details, though it hardly needed it. The rocking chair in the corner was draped with a cozy blanket that Jack’s mom had knitted. A small bookshelf beside it was already filled with picture books, and above it, they’d hung a small framed sign with Pierce's name burnt into it.

Each corner of the nursery had been filled with love, from the nightlight that glowed softly with stars to the little dresser, its drawers carefully organized with tiny onesies, socks, and soft blankets. Liam chuckled as he glanced at the small pile of diapers they’d stacked next to the changing table, realizing how much they’d probably over-prepared — and how grateful they were for it now.

They stood by Pierce’s crib, taking in the room and all they’d done to make it feel safe, warm, and full of love. It was simple, but it was everything they’d dreamed of — a place where their little family could grow.

Liam sighed softly, his arm resting on Jack’s. “He’s got a whole world waiting for him. And we’re finally here to share it with him.”