ESCAPADE

Chapter 2

Saturday 25, April

Jack let his head drop back on the plush cushion of his seat. His silky white shirt fell open to reveal his left nipple and the top of his abs, his long neck stretched backwards. He pulled black aviators over his eyes, shiny waves tumbling down the sides of his face.

"Why did we have to fly so early?" Jack asked around a yawn. "So," another yawn overtook him, his tongue extending sideways out of his mouth, "early. Single digits are far too severe for a wakeup call."

Louis chuckled and kept his eyes on his iPad as he read, his leg crossed away from Jack. His foot swayed his brown leather flip flop in the air. If he was going someplace warm, he planned on wearing as little footwear as possible, though he still wore dark jeans and a grey long sleeved tee for the journey, a burgundy hoodie zipped up halfway and a grey beanie over his hair.

"Too early for you, princess?"

"There's a reason I'm a gentleman of the night, emphasis on night."

"Poor kitten. I'm up this early every day with my trainer."

"I weep for your future spouse," Jack said dryly. "Morning sex all but eliminated for the sake of physical fitness."

Louis glanced Jack's way, his index finger still scrolling over his iPad. Jack's long limbs were artfully draped over his chair, one arm covering his eyes, his legs spread wide. Louis stared at his exposed nipple for a moment, his brows furrowed.

"Why did you dress like a B-List celebrity from the early nineties?" He looked at his iPad. "We're going to the Bahamas, not the land before time."

Jack grinned, his back arching.

"It's called style, love."

Louis' shoulders bobbed with a quiet laugh. He refocused on his reading, more people settling around them in the British Airways VIP lounge. London Heathrow rarely had a quiet moment, even at five in the morning.

"Besides," Jack propped his hands behind his head, sleeves slinking down his meaty biceps, "I thought the first thing isn't until the barbeque dinner on the beach? Why the rush?"

Louis quirked a brow.

"Memorized the itinerary, did we?"

"I'm nothing if not a prepared professional."

Louis smiled and looked to him. The soft brown hair under Jack's arms contrasted with the white silkiness of his shirt, the thickness of his biceps contrasting with the delicate, pale skin on the underside of his wrists.

"I want to have time to get settled." He locked his iPad and crossed his leg towards Jack. "I want you to be able to get settled before we have to meet everyone. We have our own unofficial itinerary before the official one begins."

Jack slid his sunglasses into his hair, leaning an arm on his chair and turning towards Louis.

"What do you mean?"

"I thought you, erm, we could use some relaxation before what will surely be a week from karaoke craft hell." Louis ruffled the back of his hair, still damp from his shower. "This last merger about killed me and I've been sleeping pretty poorly this whole week. I need to unwind before facing my family or it won't be pretty."

"Why didn't you say anything last night?"

Louis rolled his head on the back of his seat.

"About what?"

Jack sat up straighter and leaned closer.

"About not feeling well after work. I wouldn't have kept you up so late."