Sebastian hummed under his breath as he parked on the street, then walked up the sidewalk to Luke’s house.

​

It was beautiful out. One of those rare early July days where the weather was just perfect. Hot but not muggy, with the sun shining and the birds chirping and everything had gone more or less according to plan.

 

Sebastian, Krysta, and Rosaleen had set up the floral decor for a beautiful wedding and reception and although there had been a few small snags along the way that required some creative thinking, everything had come together in the end.

 

Best of all, the couple had appeared very much in love, and they’d gushed about the floral decor and promised to tell all of their friends about Twig & Bloom.

 

Sebastian’s partnership with Krysta was already working out better than he could have imagined in his wildest dreams, and he had a great staff at the shop who were handling the new changes to the company well.

 

Brie had accepted the promotion at the hospital and begun her new role and Harper would be going to school in the fall. She still had a chronic condition. That would never go away. But she and Brie were finding ways to thrive anyway.

 

Now, Sebastian sorted through his giant wad of keys to find the one to Luke’s front door. He was still living in the apartment above the shop because that was working out beautifully for both of them, but he had a key to Luke’s place and spent at least three or four days a week at the house.

 

Luke stayed at his place sometimes too and occasionally brought over dinner for Sebastian and his staff when they were working late before a special event.

 

All in all, life was good.

 

Luke’s house was dim and quiet as Sebastian let himself in. He kicked off his shoes, then turned to see Luke sprawled on the couch on his back, snoring a little. He’d be getting some work done on his deviated septum in a few weeks.

 

At the moment, there was a small, black pile of fluff on Luke’s chest and Sebastian tiptoed quietly toward the couch, hoping to grab a photo of the cute scene. But he was still halfway across the room when the rabbit’s ears flicked a little.

 

Elvis lifted his head, turning to look at Sebastian with what he would swear was a scowl.

 

The rabbit didn’t like Sebastian much. It didn’t like much except for Luke, leafy greens, and the tops from strawberries that Luke occasionally gave him as a treat. Sebastian, who was more than used to prickly creatures with an attitude, gave the rabbit its space and was content to enjoy watching him and Luke interact.

 

Frankly, Sebastian thought the whole thing was hilarious. Luke hadn’t even wanted the rabbit.

​

But about a month ago, the team had been doing a promo event with the animal shelter. Sebastian and Harper had tagged along. Harper had met Elvis, found out that no one wanted to adopt him because he was mean, discovered that Elvis loved Luke, and the rest was history.

​

Luke hadn’t been able to say no to her pleading eyes and the rabbit had come home with him a few days later.

​

Now, as Sebastian carefully set his bag down and tiptoed through the living room, intending to get a glass of water, Luke woke with a snort.

​

“Hey,” he said roughly, bringing up a hand to rest it on Elvis’ back and prevent him from flying off. “How was the wedding?”

​

“Great!” Sebastian said. “Everything turned out amazing. Sorry I woke you though.”

 

“Nah, it’s okay.” Luke said, scooping up Elvis and setting him on the floor. “It’s about that time anyway.”

 

Luke was an afternoon napper. Decades of hockey had trained it into him and even though it was mid-summer, his body was conditioned to fall asleep every day at more or less the same time.

 

The rabbit hopped off—probably in search of wires to chew on. He was always getting into something, though Luke had done his best to rabbit proof the house. He’d killed a lamp and a charging cable already.

 

Luke stood. He ambled over, clearly a little stiff like he was every time he sat still for too long, and gave Sebastian a quick kiss hello. He didn’t have his tooth in and it always left him looking like an overgrown kindergartener, despite the thick beard.

 

Sebastian found it oddly endearing. Combined with the new hair care routine he’d grudgingly adopted, he was looking better than ever.

 

“I finished up work in the den today,” Luke said, taking his hand. “Come see.”

 

“Yeah?” Sebastian followed him through the dining room and kitchen and to the weird little addition on the back of the house. Luke had been working on it for a while. He’d hung plastic up over the doorway to keep dust out of the rest of the house and warned Sebastian to stay out so he didn’t step on any stray nails or screws. Sebastian had dutifully stayed away, though he was curious to see what Luke had done with the room.

 

“Close your eyes,” Luke said.

 

Smiling, Sebastian closed them and heard the sound of ripping tape and crinkling plastic.

 

A moment later, Luke settled his hands on Sebastian’s upper arms and guided him forward. “Take one step down now.”

 

Sebastian carefully stuck one foot out, then stepped into the slightly sunken den.

 

“Open your eyes,” Luke instructed.

 

Sebastian opened them to see … a lounge. It was a perfect mid-century style lounge for listening to records. It was a bit like the small corner he had set up in his apartment, but better.

​

This room held a stylish but comfortable chair with a footstool, sleek and sculptural lamps perfect for low, ambient lighting, and a plush, textural rug on top of glossy wood floors.

​

There was a gorgeous high-end turntable set up on a low credenza, while the wall above it held shelves to display favorite album covers. French doors led out to the yard and the remaining two walls were lined with built-in shelves.

​

Well, the door and shelves had been there before, but they’d all been beautifully refinished and held what had to be hundreds of vinyl records.

​

“Luke …” Sebastian said, feeling a little breathless.

​

“You like it?” His tone was gruff, the way it always got when he was feeling a little emotional or vulnerable and Sebastian turned.

​

“Fuck yes,” he said, grinning. “This is incredible. Is this for … for me?”

​

“Yeah.” Luke settled his hands on Sebastian’s hips. “It’s not me asking you to move in though.”

​

Sebastian eyeballed him. “Yeah, I know,” he said with a small smile. “We agreed that’s not what we want.”

​

“But it is me giving you—a place here.” Luke swallowed. “My home is my—my getaway, you know? A place where I can shut out the rest of the world. But I want you to feel like you belong here, when you want to. Like you can come here and shut out me and Elvis and your job and …”

​

“It’s fucking perfect,” Sebastian whispered against Luke’s mouth.

​

Because it really was. It was such a big gesture. Maybe even bigger than having him take part in the 1000th game ceremony.

​

Letting the hockey world know he was in a relationship with a man hadn’t been the easiest thing for Luke. He’d been annoyed by the requests for interviews after and shut them all down.

​

“My private life is private,” he’d said. And that was that. Mac hadn’t been able to get him to agree to a single one.

​

But Luke letting Sebastian into his home? His sanctuary? That was a big fucking deal.

“It’s gorgeous. I love it. Where’d you get all of the albums?” Sebastian asked, pulling away.

​

Luke shrugged, squeezing his hip before he let go. “I’ve been shopping around for a while. Found some at thrift stores, online, and yard sales. Just been collecting them for you.”

​

“They’re amazing,” Sebastian said, browsing the shelves.

​

Some were repeats of albums he had at his place. Others were new to him. But they were all the type of music he liked. As he flipped through them, he couldn’t see a single one that felt out of place or not to his taste.

​

Which meant that Luke had been paying attention. Taking notes. Even amidst the chaos of the postseason, he’d been planning this.

​

“Luke …” Sebastian said thickly, not sure if he had the words to explain what this gesture meant to him. “This is incredible.”

​

Because there were no words to say how it felt to be loved by someone like Luke.

​

It could be nice to feel needed, but to Sebastian, it almost felt more special because Luke didn’t need him. Luke had been perfectly content in his life before they met, but he’d made room for Sebastian anyway. In his life, in his heart, in his home, Luke had made space for him.

​

Not because a relationship was an inevitability for him. Not because he needed to fill a hole. But because he’d chosen Sebastian. Let him in when it was clear he could have walked away.

​

And that felt special in a way Sebastian couldn’t begin to describe.

​

So rather than say anything, Sebastian stepped forward and pressed his palms to Luke’s chest.

​

“Sit down,” he whispered. “And get your cock out.”

​

With a lift of his eyebrow, Luke settled into the chair. He lifted his hips and slipped the silky athletic shorts he wore down over his ass.

​

He hadn’t been wearing anything underneath.

​

“Fuck. I am going to suck your dick so hard …” Sebastian promised, his mouth already watering at the thought.

​

“Yeah?” Thick thighs spread wide, Luke stroked a palm along his shaft, teasing himself. He wasn’t hard yet, but damn, he was getting there.

​

“Yeah,” Sebastian rasped, sinking to his knees on the soft carpet between Luke’s feet. “I am.”

​

***

 

Luke closed his eyes and threaded a hand through Sebastian’s hair. He was rewarded with slick heat sinking down over his cock, inch by inch.

​

Luke groaned low in his throat as Sebastian drew back, teasing his tongue along the underside of Luke’s dick in a way that was guaranteed to make him lose his mind.

​

“I didn’t build this room for you just to get head,” Luke pointed out.

​

Sebastian chuckled, the vibrations from the sound sending a pleasant jolt through Luke.

​

“But I’m not mad if this is the way you want to thank me.” Luke smirked at Sebastian and he lifted his gaze, glaring at Luke.

​

Oh yeah. That was the reaction he’d been hoping for.

​

Because that was the beauty of this relationship. It wasn’t just that Sebastian gave him enough breathing room to keep things from feeling too constraining. It was that there was still that little bit of friction.

​

That grit there that kept things from feeling wrong and out of place.

​

A lot of people thought a perfect relationship was one where a couple never argued and they spent all of their time together.

​

But that wasn’t what either Luke or Sebastian wanted. What made them happy.

​

The fact that Sebastian wasn’t in his bed every night made Luke appreciate the nights he was there more. Sebastian chirping him and calling him on his bullshit made Luke know that he understood him.

​

If other people were happy with their lives like that? Good for them. But what Luke and Sebastian had?

​

Yeah, that was something else. Something special.

​

“Fuckin’ love you, Flower Boy,” Luke murmured and closed his eyes.