<span style="font-size: 15px"><span style="font-family:Open Sans">Luca wasn't making it easy to leave, but nothing he did seemed to put the young man at ease. Nothing do be done for it. If Marcus disappeared off the face of the planet too, there would be questions.<br/>
<br/>
“I will miss you, sweetheart, but it won't be that long. I'll be back before you know it and. when I'm here, you won't have to be in the basement at all.” So long as Luca behaved. “Like I said, think about it and make me a list. I'll get you the things you need so you don't have to be so bored.” He removed his hands with Luca with some effort, and had to push him back from the doorway as he shut, and proceeding the lock everything up. Luca would be fine. He had food, water, access to a bathroom, and several blankets. There might even be a handful of board games left downstairs. Of course, most would require multiple players, but Luca would just have to become inventive.<br/>
<br/>
Marcus realized his mistake of locking Luca up before he was actually dressed for work. He listened to him scream and fuss while he was in the shower, and more as he was shaving and getting dressed. He didn't think Luca was going to let up anytime soon, and it was painful to listen to. He wanted to go to Luca, to pet and comfort him until he relaxed again. Marcus knew that would make things worse, and so he hurried his morning routine along, and got out of the cabin as quickly as possible. He had a long drive ahead of him.<br/>
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Marcus couldn't remember if he made it clear or not how long he would be gone. The plan was two days, to get what he needed finished during the week. Two days melted into three, just because the rest of the staff had ended up backed up, and Marcus was faced with the task or sorting that all out. He'd told Luca his plan though, right? That he would spend a little over half the week with him, but the other part of the week, he'd stay at his home in new york. The commute wasn't manageable daily. He thought he'd discussed this with him, but at that point, he couldn't remember.<br/>
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He just hoped Luca got on okay without him, and when he returned three days later, he'd brought more food, a bottle of wine, and candles to set the mood. He hoped Luca was happy to see him. He'd brought them lemon herb chicken, rice, and vegetables. Nothing with dairy this time, and he set the food in the oven, in it's aluminum containers because inevitably it had gotten cold on the way home from the restaurant. Marcus still had no intention of trying his hand at cooking. Maybe tomorrow, he would see if Luca was up to the task of cooking dinner for them, but for tonight it was late, and he was ready to eat, and make his absence up to Luca.<br/>
<br/>
Marcus quietly set the table, lit the candles and poured them both glasses of wine. This time he used real wine glasses. Once it was all ready, Marcus went to the basement door to unlock all the mechanisms holding Luca prisoner. He was dressed in pressed slacks, a dark gray shirt, and a taupe jacket.<br/>
<br/>
“Luca, I have a surprise for you,” Marcus told him as he swung the door open, eagerly awaiting a greeting from his boyfriend.</span></span>