<span style="font-size: 15px"><span style="font-family:Open Sans">Marcus was happy, even happier to see that Luca was excited to see him. He was there to greet him, just as he'd hoped for, with a gift even. It was a drawing, something Luca had remembered from their time out dancing together.<br/>
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“It's lovely, thank you. I didn't know you were so talented,” Marcus complimented as he leaned into the contact, Luca first kissing him on the cheek. Marcus turned his face afterwords, kissing him on the mouth the second time and putting an arm around Luca's waist. He made a contented sigh, happy to be back, away from work, and with Luca again. He stood there a moment, not wanting to let go of him, but of course Luca was excited at the prospect of a surprise.<br/>
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“My darling, I've missed you. I'm sorry for leaving you so long. The people who work under me are incompetent fools. It's so nice to have you to come home to,” Marcus went on, turning back and leading Luca back into the rest of the home with a hand gentle along the small of his back.<br/>
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“I brought dinner, wine, and set the table for us,” Marcus exclaimed, hoping that it had set the mood for a romantic evening together. “No cheese this time.” Marcus smiled that charming, even smile of his, proud to have remembered his partners needs. “It has been an exhausting few days. Traffic was terrible. I'm sorry it's so late, but I have the next few days to make it up to you.” Before he had to leave, and go back to work. At that point Luca would have to go back into the basement. Marcus could not take any chances like that, but with him being home, he hoped Luca had learned his lesson the first time he ran. He felt guilty for leaving him so long, thinking about his sweet Luca by himself, becoming lonely. There was no other option besides quitting his job, and Marcus didn't want to do so right after a young man went missing in his town. For now, he was keeping his habits mostly the same.<br/>
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“I bet it will be nice to sleep in bed with me, warm tonight. I hope you didn't get too cold downstairs.” He worried about putting a space heater in the basement while he was out of town. Should it cause a fire Luca would be trapped inside. Instead, he'd just given him several blankets, and wool pajamas.<br/>
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“Sit, sweetheart,” Marcus directed. “I'll get it tonight.” He was trying to make up for leaving him, happy Luca wasn't angry with him. He opened the wine and poured them both a glass, and then took a seat across from Luca. The candles flickered, providing a relaxing ambiance that helped to maintain Marcus' cool mood. He was back to the man who he'd taken lunch with before, the first day they'd met, smiling and happy to be close to Luca.<br/>
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“What did you do with your time, besides draw? Did you think often of me?” Marcus questioned. “I thought often of you.” He reached his foot underneath the table, to drag up the side of Luca's calf, lightly flirtatious. “Especially going to bed alone each night, without you there.”</span></span>