“Neither did I.” He had nothing to hide, yet he was on the defensive. “He wasn’t the photographer Julian and Nick hired; he’s filling in for a friend who got stuck at LAX.”
Marcus drained his glass. “Is he staying in New York?”
“I didn’t ask him. Look—”
“I’m sure he wanted to get together, you know, for old times’ sake.” Zach rubbed his thighs with the palms of his hands in a classic nervous gesture Sam recalled from his police days. “You should, you know. You guys were so close for so long.”
The crooked smile he gave confused Sam.
“Why would I want to do that? What’s wrong with you?” Life was too short to sit around and play mind-fuck games.
“Nothing. I figure you could catch up with him, and I can hang out with my friends.”
The fakeness of Zach’s smile blinded him, and Sam frowned. This was a new side of Zach he hadn’t seen, and he didn’t like it.
“Excuse us, please,” Sam took Zach by the arm. “We need to talk,” he whispered to Zach, pulling him to a standing position.
The two women wore identical confused expressions, but Sam didn’t care; he’d leave it to Marcus to explain if they asked. From the sly grin curving Marcus’s lips and the approving light in his eye, Marcus understood what Sam was about.
“There’s nothing wrong,” said Zach in a furious hiss when they finally reached a quieter, more private space in the loft. “I’m fine. Besides, I have to go soon; I need to get my mother home.”
“Your mother is doing fine, stop hiding behind her as an excuse.” Sam’s gaze traveled through the loft until it found Cheryl happily ensconced in a conversation with Nick’s mother. “I’ll make sure she gets a ride home, but you’re coming with me. We have things to discuss.”
“I’m going home. We don’t have anything to talk about, everything’s fine.”
The mulish tilt to Zach’s jaw surprised Sam. For someone people claimed was sweet and amiable, Zach could be a goddamn hard-ass. But, Sam admitted to himself, he liked when Zach transformed into a demanding lover, showing his strength, taking control. The times he’d pushed his and Sam’s limits resulted in the most explosive sex Sam had ever had.
It was a side of Zach Sam had only seen in their bedroom and one Sam wanted to explore in greater depth. But only if he could get Zach back to his house, and they could be alone.
“Zach. Please.” It took every ounce of Sam’s strength not to drag Zach up against him and kiss him until he couldn’t breathe. Now more than ever, Sam had to set things straight so Zach would never have cause to doubt his feelings. He knew Zach had never exerted himself; he’d simply gone along with the crowd in an effort to please, never once voicing his own wants and desires.
He understood that life; for years Sam had wallowed in a miasma of uncertainty, his relationship floundering, but he hadn’t had the strength of will or reason to move on. He wasn’t going to let what he felt for Zach have its life sucked dry, to end up withered and dead like a plant forgotten in the corner.
Who would’ve thought a silly bet would set off a chain reaction of events leading to this moment, where he knew for certain he’d discovered the rest of his life. Sam had to make sure Zach believed him. He wasn’t playing a game of chance—he was playing for keeps.
For forever.
“Remember how you chased me down after I walked out on you?”
Zach’s stony expression softened, then grew heated. Sam pressed his advantage by touching Zach on his arm and sliding his hand up to curve around the nape of Zach’s neck. The smoothness of his skin acted as a balm, soothing Sam’s soul. Merely touching Zach now brought him a peace he’d forgotten existed.
“I won’t let you run away from me,” said Sam, the words coming directly from his heart. “If you leave, I’ll only follow you, no matter where you go. Come home with me. Please.”
Zach’s uncertainty twisted Sam’s heart into a painful knot in his chest. He cupped Zach’s jaw with his hand, his fingers resting on Zach’s face. Zach’s eyes held his, glimmering hot and fierce with an emotion Sam hoped he was able to convey back. When Zach nodded, Sam’s breath escaped him in a whoosh of exhalation.
“Let’s go.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Didhemake a mistake? Conflicted, Zach found it hard to relax in his seat on the drive back to Brooklyn. When he’d said his good-byes to Julian and Marcus, they each told him the same thing:“Don’t jump to conclusions. Listen to what Sam has to say.”
It was his mother who had surprised him the most. He’d approached her with trepidation, afraid of her reaction to his leaving with Sam and sending her home in a car.
“Nick’s parents have graciously offered to take me home, so don’t worry. I’ll be fine; you go off with Sam and enjoy yourself.”
“Really? I, uh, I may not come home tonight, or I might be very late, so don’t wait up for me.”
The shock must’ve been evident on his face, for her eyes danced with amusement.
