Secret of Being a Grimaldi - Chapter 9
Oct. 21st, 2010 11:15 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
marsabi1Title: The Secret of Being a Grimaldi
Author: Marsabi
Summary: Luke has the power to read minds and has visions, and Damian is back.
Rating: NC-17
Warning: none
Chapter Nine
Reid skewered Luke with a look. "This isn't happening,' he said firmly. "It's impossible."
Luke tried to maintain a serious face, "Reid, I beat you, fair and square."
Reid shook his head. "Can't be."
"Why?" Luke asked. "Cause you're a genius and I'm just average?"
"Well...Yeah!" Reid nodded. Then he snuck a look at Luke. "No offense."
"We could play again," Luke offered with a smirk. It didn't really bother him that Reid said
that, since not many people were at Dr. Oliver's intelligence level. Besides, Luke had his own advantages.
Reid nodded. This must be a fluke. There is no way he beat me.
"Let's play again, " Reid agreed.
They bent over the chess board and set up the pieces once more. Meanwhile, the plane moved through the air and sunlight. There was something Luke just loved about the speed. The clouds outside, the plane rushing onward, it excited him.
"Hey, Snyder!" Reid snapped his fingers near Luke's face. His sarcastic voice interrupted Luke's thoughts, "Move."
"Okay, relax." Luke sucked on one finger as he thought about where to start. Then Reid's thoughts on the game started entering his head.
In a matter of 15 minutes, Luke moved his queen. "Checkmate," Luke said.
"You don't understand; this is impossible. I never lose."
"But you just did."
"But I never do! I - you - It must be this damn airplane and the high altitude effecting my frontal lobe or something."
Reid continued to stare at the chess board like it would soon provide him with the answers.
"I need some food," Luke said and went over to the fridge. Lucinda's jet spared no expense. There was a full kitchen and living area. "You want?'
"Huh?" Reid was still staring at the board going over and over the moves in his mind, "No."
It was just so delicious to torment him. Luke had not intended on cheating. But Reid's thoughts had just appeared in his head. Move after move, Luke could hear what Reid was going to do.
Actually , Luke was starting to read his thoughts more frequently, and when he concentrated on Reid, he could hear them almost at will. Maybe it was because they had slept together, and therefore Reid and Luke's connection had increased. Because Luke still could not read strangers' minds. The people at the airport had all been a blank, and he could barely read his pilot's thoughts, before they took off for Malta. But Luke had only met and talked with the pilot a few dozen times. It seemed to Luke that the deeper his connection, the more his mind could probe into another's. The chess game at first had been to just mess with poor Reid, but then it had become almost a test.
Reid was looking a little panicked.
"Does it really matter if I beat you?" Luke asked him gently, and handed him a sandwich.
Reid took the sandwich, despite having refused the food a moment before, and chewed.
"It does matter, " he told Luke as he swallowed down the lunch meat.
"My parents took me to chess competition after competition and I never let them down." Reid threw down the sandwich and looked frustrated. "This just makes no sense."
"And they cared about it so much - your winning?"
Reid just shrugged.
"What were they like?" Luke pressed.
Reid rolled his eyes. "Well, they weren't like your bad dad. They didn't steal and try to murder or do any crimes. They were normal. "
Luke heard, Cold and demanding.
Luke reached out and touched the side of Reid's face. He gave Reid a melting smile.
Reid drew away a moment and looked almost pained at the touch.
"I'm going to figure out why you were able to win."
"I know you will."
"I don't need sympathy or anything. It's just chess."
"That wasn't sympathy. It was," Luke grinned, "affection."
Reid just looked at him a second. "Oh," he said. Then Reid looked away.
Luke heard, Nothing has prepared me for this. For Luke...so warm.
"I'm thinking," Luke's voice had gone soft. "We should play another game."
"What? " Reid asked, "Checkers? Bingo? No thanks."
"No," Luke said and closed the space between them. He looked into Reid's eyes and fingered the collar of his leather jacket. "A different sort of game entirely."
"Oh!" Reid' eyes began to gleam. "How long until we land in Malta?"
Luke laughed. The plane was gently rocking from some turbulence, but neither man noticed. Luke pulled at Reid's hand until they were both tumbling onto the big black couch.
Reid started to reach for Luke's lips. Luke pulled back.
"Wait."
"What?" An almost hurt look crossed Reid's expression.
"The game," Luke told him. "I want to be the only one doing it."
"Doing what?" Reid asked.
"Doing all the touching, " Luke replied. "You can't touch me yet, but I'm going to touch you."
"But I want to touch you," Reid murmured, attempting to stroke Luke's face. Luke caught his hand.
"Please?" Luke smiled at him. "Since we've gotten together, you've always taken the lead. I just want to try this ...just for a little time, okay?"
Luke kept his eyes on Reid's blue ones.
Reid swallowed hard and then nodded. "Sure, why not?"
Luke paused a moment. While it was true he wanted to be the one in charge, to pleasure Reid, Luke also wanted to test out his power a little more. In the past, whenever Reid had touched him, Luke could no longer read his mind. Once Luke's own body was lost in the pleasure of sex, his powers stopped. But what if Reid were in his control and not yet touching him? Luke was curious.
Luke kissed the graceful curve of Reid's neck. "Remember, no touching me."
"Right."
Luke grinned. "What do you like?" He asked.
Reid just smiled. "I like everything you do."
Luke heard, I want to feel those lips on me, and that tongue. Starting at my toes.
"Lie down," Luke commanded.
Reid obediently stretched out on the couch. He looked at Luke with hungry anticipation.
Luke stood over him. He undressed his shoes, socks, those tight black jeans. Luke picked up one of Reid's lean legs and kissed his way down to Reid's toes. Then he took the toes inside his generous mouth and suckled them one by one.
"Luke!" Reid's hips lifted slightly off the couch.
Luke, Luke!
Luke licked the arch of Reid's foot.
Reid was naked except for his briefs now, and he seemed almost shy. He trembled as Luke began to touch him all over. Everywhere caressing him: skin, lips, hands. The plane rose up on a pocket of air and then dipped down again.
"What else? " Luke prompted. Trying to get Reid to think his desires, even if he would never say them.
Reid's hands were clenched already. "All good," he mumbled.
Luke heard, My cock
Luke pulled down Reid's briefs in one quick motion. Reid was rock hard and waiting to be touched. Luke positioned himself between Reid's legs. He took Reid into his hands. He gently rubbed up and down.
Luke heard, Circles. Mouth
Luke pressed his tongue firmly down on Reid. He took the tip into his mouth and circled it with his tongue. Reid sucked in a deep gasping breath.
Reid swallowed visibly. His eyes were glazed as he looked down and watched Luke moving between his open thighs.
Luke heard, God I want him. He can't know how much.
Luke sucked on Reid's cock; he teased him by nipping at it with some teeth. Then he sucked again.
Luke heard, Oh, yes. Oh, please, please.
Reid was thrashing his head from side to side. His whole body tensed. Luke took him deeper inside the wet cradle of his mouth. Reid exploded. Luke savored the taste of him. He eagerly swallowed and swallowed.
Luke took a moment then, as Reid lay languid on the couch, and quickly grabbed his suitcase and the condoms and lube. Luke then shed his clothes. He walked proudly back to Reid, who was watching him.
Luke had to concentrate now to read his mind. Luke's own body was aroused. He met Reid's eyes and really focused.
Luke sat down on the couch and pulled at Reid.
"Lie on me," Luke whispered and half-dragged Reid face down across his lap.
Luke spread Reid's cheeks wide and went to work. He could hear Reid's thoughts, as his tongue followed the silent orders. He moved his tongue every way that Reid wanted, finding the exact spot . Reid was moaning. Soon Reid seemed to have no clear thoughts at all.
Only then did Luke let him lie back down. Luke lowered his mouth to Reid's and then lowered his body on top of him. He could feel Reid quivering. The small plane was bouncing on the air.
Reid couldn't resist touching him any longer. Reid's hands buried themselves in Luke's hair. He stroked Luke's back and hips. He touched Luke some more. It didn't matter. Luke could hear nothing by now; he too was lost in a sexual haze. Luke's head swam. His pulse throbbed.
Luke kissed Reid's shoulder, letting Reid feel his weight. Luke opened the lube and moistened his fingers and he stuck them deep inside of Reid. Their mouths met greedily.
"I want you , so much right now,' Reid rasped out ,and it thrilled Luke to hear the real words actually being spoken.
"Me too," he told Reid. Luke longed to say even more. He longed to tell Reid how much he wanted to just be with him like this. That Reid was in his head and in his arms, and all others were silent and far away. Just be with me, Luke thought, be with me all the time.
Luke took his fingers out and stroked Reid with his heavy cock. They teased each other, shaft touching shaft. Luke lifted Reid's legs up and back. Reid arched his hips in welcome. Luke then pushed into Reid inch by inch, feeling his body yield. Luke pushed in some more, almost tenderly, before he increased the pace. He felt like he were reaching out to the very center of Reid's being. Pounding now. Every thrust of Luke's body felt full of wonder. Their voices called to each other as their bodies moved in a matched rhythm. And Luke knew, right then, that this went beyond sex, slipping now into love, pulsing, newly fallen between them.
After that, they were quiet.
Luke stared at Reid. He suddenly realized that what had started out as a fun sex game was now wrapped up in his heart. Luke realized too that he needed to be honest with Reid, if this was truly a relationship, and tell him about the mind reading. Luke wanted to be honest. Eyes moist and lips quivering, Luke opened his mouth to speak -
"Hey," Reid said. " You look weird. Don't get all weepy on me or anything."
"Right," Luke closed his mouth. He knew that Reid was private and protective of his emotions. What would he do, how would he feel to learn that Luke had been reading his most personal thoughts?
Luke grabbed for Reid's hand and just held it. He didn't know what else to do.
"I'm just - cold," Luke finally said, "airplanes are always cold."
"Here," Reid reached his arm down and scooped up his jacket from nearby. He gently placed the coat over Luke's bare shoulders.
"So I have a question," Reid said, as he stretched back down and rested his head on Luke's chest.
"What's that?" Luke mumbled, stroking Reid's curly hair.
"What is the plan here? I mean are we just going to storm the castle and demand the foundation funds back? Don't think bad dad's going to appreciate that."
"Don't call him that. " Luke frowned. "He has done some bad things -"
Reid raised an eyebrow.
"Okay, lots of them. But you didn't know him. He loved me. And he had his good points."
Luke sat up, cleaned them both off, and then started to pull on his boxers and pants.
Reid simply watched him and waited.
Luke tossed Reid his jeans, briefs, and shirt. He continued to wear Reid's jacket.
"I really think this thing with the foundation money is just ...Damian's way of getting my attention."
Reid's mouth twisted, "A simple phone call wouldn't suffice?"
"First of all, everybody back in the States thinks he's dead or missing. He did text me that he was alive, but he can't just come and visit me."
"Why is he taking the money though?" Reid asked logically, as he too started to get dressed. "Doesn't he have millions."
"Billions, " Luke corrected. "And yes, although it is all tied up in Grimaldi shipping. Legally, the money is frozen to him and open to me, as the head of all of this. " Luke chewed his lip. He picked up his shirt and just held it to his body a moment. Then he reluctantly took off Reid's jacket and slipped it on.
"That's why this is so puzzling." Luke said as he gave Reid back the jacket. " Damian could have gotten into the shipping funds and taken that too, but he didn't. It might have taken me a lot longer to notice money missing from the shipping company. And the foundation - it was my idea, my baby - so why steal from that? Unless," Luke concluded, " he is just forcing me to take action and come to him."
"Still..." Reid scowled. He didn't look convinced. "I guess you know him."
"I do."
"Not just being blinded, are you? By that Snyder optimism thing?" Reid asked. He finished dressing but still sat on the couch.
"No, " Luke's tone became defiant.
"Okay," Reid said at Luke's change of voice. He shrugged. "I'll put myself in your capable hands. "
"Thank you," Luke said, somewhat mollified. He sat back down on the couch.
"Sure," Reid smiled. "After all, those hands took good care of me just a few moments ago." He gave Luke a saucy grin.
"Shut up," Luke elbowed Reid in the side. But he was laughing. He used to hate Reid's rude comments. When did they start becoming so funny? It must be that Luke understood him so much better now, and the vulnerable side of Reid that was just below that sarcastic surface.
The pilot's voice suddenly came over the private speaker, "Mr. Snyder?"
Luke pressed the intercom. "Yes, Joe?"
"Please take a seat. We are about to land in Malta. "
"Oh boy," Reid said. "I just remembered he was even here."
Luke curled up his lips into a smile, "Worried about all that moaning you did, doctor?" He teased.
Reid merely rolled his eyes. "Give the guy a big tip, will you?"
***
In the airport, Reid stood back and watched as Luke was busy arranging their limo. He was worried about this whole trip. Reid had an uneasy feeling about going to see Damian; he really thought that Luke was being too simplistic about his father. Reid was tempted to tell Luke that they should just skip it, fly off to Rome instead. He pictured Luke naked in some hotel overlooking the Fontana di Trevi. Fucking Luke and eating pasta all day sounded much better then meeting bad dad. Luke looked over at him just then and smiled. His dimples flashed, his skin glowed, and his eyes were full of warmth. Reid just nodded back at him. He didn't smile at all.
Reid Oliver's childhood had passed by so quickly he often forgot huge slices of it. But then he remembered his parents drilling him with flashcards at the age of three, and the doctors evaluating him by age five. Reid had tried to answer every question, tears running down his serious face. School was by far the worst, the teachers resentful that he knew more than they did; the other children taunting him, kicking and spitting and knocking off his glasses. Reid had tried not to care. He had sat up in the front of the class, excelling at each and every subject. His town was small and rural, and had not valued education. Most of the children around him had no greater ambition except to buy the house next to their own parents' homes and work year after year and go nowhere. Reid Oliver was different. Ambition ran in his veins. By the time Reid was 15, he had graduated early and had one clear goal - escape. He left with nothing, and built his own life, brick by careful brick, until he was on the top of the ivory tower, untouchable. Medical school and a prestigious internship followed. Yet his parents never once told him they were proud of him. No success had ever been enough. Reid had learned that it was better to be alone.
The driver came up to Luke and soon he was engaged in a conversation with him. Reid stood back and watched Luke's animated face. Luke could talk to anybody and make them feel at ease. As he watched Luke talking and laughing, Reid only had one thought: he could not risk falling in love with Luke Snyder
Author: Marsabi
Summary: Luke has the power to read minds and has visions, and Damian is back.
Rating: NC-17
Warning: none
Chapter Nine
Reid skewered Luke with a look. "This isn't happening,' he said firmly. "It's impossible."
Luke tried to maintain a serious face, "Reid, I beat you, fair and square."
Reid shook his head. "Can't be."
"Why?" Luke asked. "Cause you're a genius and I'm just average?"
"Well...Yeah!" Reid nodded. Then he snuck a look at Luke. "No offense."
"We could play again," Luke offered with a smirk. It didn't really bother him that Reid said
that, since not many people were at Dr. Oliver's intelligence level. Besides, Luke had his own advantages.
Reid nodded. This must be a fluke. There is no way he beat me.
"Let's play again, " Reid agreed.
They bent over the chess board and set up the pieces once more. Meanwhile, the plane moved through the air and sunlight. There was something Luke just loved about the speed. The clouds outside, the plane rushing onward, it excited him.
"Hey, Snyder!" Reid snapped his fingers near Luke's face. His sarcastic voice interrupted Luke's thoughts, "Move."
"Okay, relax." Luke sucked on one finger as he thought about where to start. Then Reid's thoughts on the game started entering his head.
In a matter of 15 minutes, Luke moved his queen. "Checkmate," Luke said.
"You don't understand; this is impossible. I never lose."
"But you just did."
"But I never do! I - you - It must be this damn airplane and the high altitude effecting my frontal lobe or something."
Reid continued to stare at the chess board like it would soon provide him with the answers.
"I need some food," Luke said and went over to the fridge. Lucinda's jet spared no expense. There was a full kitchen and living area. "You want?'
"Huh?" Reid was still staring at the board going over and over the moves in his mind, "No."
It was just so delicious to torment him. Luke had not intended on cheating. But Reid's thoughts had just appeared in his head. Move after move, Luke could hear what Reid was going to do.
Actually , Luke was starting to read his thoughts more frequently, and when he concentrated on Reid, he could hear them almost at will. Maybe it was because they had slept together, and therefore Reid and Luke's connection had increased. Because Luke still could not read strangers' minds. The people at the airport had all been a blank, and he could barely read his pilot's thoughts, before they took off for Malta. But Luke had only met and talked with the pilot a few dozen times. It seemed to Luke that the deeper his connection, the more his mind could probe into another's. The chess game at first had been to just mess with poor Reid, but then it had become almost a test.
Reid was looking a little panicked.
"Does it really matter if I beat you?" Luke asked him gently, and handed him a sandwich.
Reid took the sandwich, despite having refused the food a moment before, and chewed.
"It does matter, " he told Luke as he swallowed down the lunch meat.
"My parents took me to chess competition after competition and I never let them down." Reid threw down the sandwich and looked frustrated. "This just makes no sense."
"And they cared about it so much - your winning?"
Reid just shrugged.
"What were they like?" Luke pressed.
Reid rolled his eyes. "Well, they weren't like your bad dad. They didn't steal and try to murder or do any crimes. They were normal. "
Luke heard, Cold and demanding.
Luke reached out and touched the side of Reid's face. He gave Reid a melting smile.
Reid drew away a moment and looked almost pained at the touch.
"I'm going to figure out why you were able to win."
"I know you will."
"I don't need sympathy or anything. It's just chess."
"That wasn't sympathy. It was," Luke grinned, "affection."
Reid just looked at him a second. "Oh," he said. Then Reid looked away.
Luke heard, Nothing has prepared me for this. For Luke...so warm.
"I'm thinking," Luke's voice had gone soft. "We should play another game."
"What? " Reid asked, "Checkers? Bingo? No thanks."
"No," Luke said and closed the space between them. He looked into Reid's eyes and fingered the collar of his leather jacket. "A different sort of game entirely."
"Oh!" Reid' eyes began to gleam. "How long until we land in Malta?"
Luke laughed. The plane was gently rocking from some turbulence, but neither man noticed. Luke pulled at Reid's hand until they were both tumbling onto the big black couch.
Reid started to reach for Luke's lips. Luke pulled back.
"Wait."
"What?" An almost hurt look crossed Reid's expression.
"The game," Luke told him. "I want to be the only one doing it."
"Doing what?" Reid asked.
"Doing all the touching, " Luke replied. "You can't touch me yet, but I'm going to touch you."
"But I want to touch you," Reid murmured, attempting to stroke Luke's face. Luke caught his hand.
"Please?" Luke smiled at him. "Since we've gotten together, you've always taken the lead. I just want to try this ...just for a little time, okay?"
Luke kept his eyes on Reid's blue ones.
Reid swallowed hard and then nodded. "Sure, why not?"
Luke paused a moment. While it was true he wanted to be the one in charge, to pleasure Reid, Luke also wanted to test out his power a little more. In the past, whenever Reid had touched him, Luke could no longer read his mind. Once Luke's own body was lost in the pleasure of sex, his powers stopped. But what if Reid were in his control and not yet touching him? Luke was curious.
Luke kissed the graceful curve of Reid's neck. "Remember, no touching me."
"Right."
Luke grinned. "What do you like?" He asked.
Reid just smiled. "I like everything you do."
Luke heard, I want to feel those lips on me, and that tongue. Starting at my toes.
"Lie down," Luke commanded.
Reid obediently stretched out on the couch. He looked at Luke with hungry anticipation.
Luke stood over him. He undressed his shoes, socks, those tight black jeans. Luke picked up one of Reid's lean legs and kissed his way down to Reid's toes. Then he took the toes inside his generous mouth and suckled them one by one.
"Luke!" Reid's hips lifted slightly off the couch.
Luke, Luke!
Luke licked the arch of Reid's foot.
Reid was naked except for his briefs now, and he seemed almost shy. He trembled as Luke began to touch him all over. Everywhere caressing him: skin, lips, hands. The plane rose up on a pocket of air and then dipped down again.
"What else? " Luke prompted. Trying to get Reid to think his desires, even if he would never say them.
Reid's hands were clenched already. "All good," he mumbled.
Luke heard, My cock
Luke pulled down Reid's briefs in one quick motion. Reid was rock hard and waiting to be touched. Luke positioned himself between Reid's legs. He took Reid into his hands. He gently rubbed up and down.
Luke heard, Circles. Mouth
Luke pressed his tongue firmly down on Reid. He took the tip into his mouth and circled it with his tongue. Reid sucked in a deep gasping breath.
Reid swallowed visibly. His eyes were glazed as he looked down and watched Luke moving between his open thighs.
Luke heard, God I want him. He can't know how much.
Luke sucked on Reid's cock; he teased him by nipping at it with some teeth. Then he sucked again.
Luke heard, Oh, yes. Oh, please, please.
Reid was thrashing his head from side to side. His whole body tensed. Luke took him deeper inside the wet cradle of his mouth. Reid exploded. Luke savored the taste of him. He eagerly swallowed and swallowed.
Luke took a moment then, as Reid lay languid on the couch, and quickly grabbed his suitcase and the condoms and lube. Luke then shed his clothes. He walked proudly back to Reid, who was watching him.
Luke had to concentrate now to read his mind. Luke's own body was aroused. He met Reid's eyes and really focused.
Luke sat down on the couch and pulled at Reid.
"Lie on me," Luke whispered and half-dragged Reid face down across his lap.
Luke spread Reid's cheeks wide and went to work. He could hear Reid's thoughts, as his tongue followed the silent orders. He moved his tongue every way that Reid wanted, finding the exact spot . Reid was moaning. Soon Reid seemed to have no clear thoughts at all.
Only then did Luke let him lie back down. Luke lowered his mouth to Reid's and then lowered his body on top of him. He could feel Reid quivering. The small plane was bouncing on the air.
Reid couldn't resist touching him any longer. Reid's hands buried themselves in Luke's hair. He stroked Luke's back and hips. He touched Luke some more. It didn't matter. Luke could hear nothing by now; he too was lost in a sexual haze. Luke's head swam. His pulse throbbed.
Luke kissed Reid's shoulder, letting Reid feel his weight. Luke opened the lube and moistened his fingers and he stuck them deep inside of Reid. Their mouths met greedily.
"I want you , so much right now,' Reid rasped out ,and it thrilled Luke to hear the real words actually being spoken.
"Me too," he told Reid. Luke longed to say even more. He longed to tell Reid how much he wanted to just be with him like this. That Reid was in his head and in his arms, and all others were silent and far away. Just be with me, Luke thought, be with me all the time.
Luke took his fingers out and stroked Reid with his heavy cock. They teased each other, shaft touching shaft. Luke lifted Reid's legs up and back. Reid arched his hips in welcome. Luke then pushed into Reid inch by inch, feeling his body yield. Luke pushed in some more, almost tenderly, before he increased the pace. He felt like he were reaching out to the very center of Reid's being. Pounding now. Every thrust of Luke's body felt full of wonder. Their voices called to each other as their bodies moved in a matched rhythm. And Luke knew, right then, that this went beyond sex, slipping now into love, pulsing, newly fallen between them.
After that, they were quiet.
Luke stared at Reid. He suddenly realized that what had started out as a fun sex game was now wrapped up in his heart. Luke realized too that he needed to be honest with Reid, if this was truly a relationship, and tell him about the mind reading. Luke wanted to be honest. Eyes moist and lips quivering, Luke opened his mouth to speak -
"Hey," Reid said. " You look weird. Don't get all weepy on me or anything."
"Right," Luke closed his mouth. He knew that Reid was private and protective of his emotions. What would he do, how would he feel to learn that Luke had been reading his most personal thoughts?
Luke grabbed for Reid's hand and just held it. He didn't know what else to do.
"I'm just - cold," Luke finally said, "airplanes are always cold."
"Here," Reid reached his arm down and scooped up his jacket from nearby. He gently placed the coat over Luke's bare shoulders.
"So I have a question," Reid said, as he stretched back down and rested his head on Luke's chest.
"What's that?" Luke mumbled, stroking Reid's curly hair.
"What is the plan here? I mean are we just going to storm the castle and demand the foundation funds back? Don't think bad dad's going to appreciate that."
"Don't call him that. " Luke frowned. "He has done some bad things -"
Reid raised an eyebrow.
"Okay, lots of them. But you didn't know him. He loved me. And he had his good points."
Luke sat up, cleaned them both off, and then started to pull on his boxers and pants.
Reid simply watched him and waited.
Luke tossed Reid his jeans, briefs, and shirt. He continued to wear Reid's jacket.
"I really think this thing with the foundation money is just ...Damian's way of getting my attention."
Reid's mouth twisted, "A simple phone call wouldn't suffice?"
"First of all, everybody back in the States thinks he's dead or missing. He did text me that he was alive, but he can't just come and visit me."
"Why is he taking the money though?" Reid asked logically, as he too started to get dressed. "Doesn't he have millions."
"Billions, " Luke corrected. "And yes, although it is all tied up in Grimaldi shipping. Legally, the money is frozen to him and open to me, as the head of all of this. " Luke chewed his lip. He picked up his shirt and just held it to his body a moment. Then he reluctantly took off Reid's jacket and slipped it on.
"That's why this is so puzzling." Luke said as he gave Reid back the jacket. " Damian could have gotten into the shipping funds and taken that too, but he didn't. It might have taken me a lot longer to notice money missing from the shipping company. And the foundation - it was my idea, my baby - so why steal from that? Unless," Luke concluded, " he is just forcing me to take action and come to him."
"Still..." Reid scowled. He didn't look convinced. "I guess you know him."
"I do."
"Not just being blinded, are you? By that Snyder optimism thing?" Reid asked. He finished dressing but still sat on the couch.
"No, " Luke's tone became defiant.
"Okay," Reid said at Luke's change of voice. He shrugged. "I'll put myself in your capable hands. "
"Thank you," Luke said, somewhat mollified. He sat back down on the couch.
"Sure," Reid smiled. "After all, those hands took good care of me just a few moments ago." He gave Luke a saucy grin.
"Shut up," Luke elbowed Reid in the side. But he was laughing. He used to hate Reid's rude comments. When did they start becoming so funny? It must be that Luke understood him so much better now, and the vulnerable side of Reid that was just below that sarcastic surface.
The pilot's voice suddenly came over the private speaker, "Mr. Snyder?"
Luke pressed the intercom. "Yes, Joe?"
"Please take a seat. We are about to land in Malta. "
"Oh boy," Reid said. "I just remembered he was even here."
Luke curled up his lips into a smile, "Worried about all that moaning you did, doctor?" He teased.
Reid merely rolled his eyes. "Give the guy a big tip, will you?"
***
In the airport, Reid stood back and watched as Luke was busy arranging their limo. He was worried about this whole trip. Reid had an uneasy feeling about going to see Damian; he really thought that Luke was being too simplistic about his father. Reid was tempted to tell Luke that they should just skip it, fly off to Rome instead. He pictured Luke naked in some hotel overlooking the Fontana di Trevi. Fucking Luke and eating pasta all day sounded much better then meeting bad dad. Luke looked over at him just then and smiled. His dimples flashed, his skin glowed, and his eyes were full of warmth. Reid just nodded back at him. He didn't smile at all.
Reid Oliver's childhood had passed by so quickly he often forgot huge slices of it. But then he remembered his parents drilling him with flashcards at the age of three, and the doctors evaluating him by age five. Reid had tried to answer every question, tears running down his serious face. School was by far the worst, the teachers resentful that he knew more than they did; the other children taunting him, kicking and spitting and knocking off his glasses. Reid had tried not to care. He had sat up in the front of the class, excelling at each and every subject. His town was small and rural, and had not valued education. Most of the children around him had no greater ambition except to buy the house next to their own parents' homes and work year after year and go nowhere. Reid Oliver was different. Ambition ran in his veins. By the time Reid was 15, he had graduated early and had one clear goal - escape. He left with nothing, and built his own life, brick by careful brick, until he was on the top of the ivory tower, untouchable. Medical school and a prestigious internship followed. Yet his parents never once told him they were proud of him. No success had ever been enough. Reid had learned that it was better to be alone.
The driver came up to Luke and soon he was engaged in a conversation with him. Reid stood back and watched Luke's animated face. Luke could talk to anybody and make them feel at ease. As he watched Luke talking and laughing, Reid only had one thought: he could not risk falling in love with Luke Snyder
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Date: 2011-01-23 02:27 am (UTC)I think Reid needs a hug!!
Great chapter!