Zach increased his stride against the wind and switched the phone to his other ear to dig his house keys out of his Pocket as he mounted the front steps of the townhouse. “Then hurry up and get your ass home.”
Sam was still laughing as Zach hung up.
Chapter Four
‡
Before he camehome, Sam stopped at the drugstore to pick up his medication. He hadn’t felt that squeezing pressure-pain in his chest since the morning and was beginning to think maybe the doctor had exaggerated his case. If he had a heart problem, wouldn’t it be bothering him all the time? He didn’t get the pain that often– only once or twice a week. He opened the little paper bag, took out the bottle of pills, and stared at them.
“Bastards. You will not rule my life.” He shoved them into his coat pocket and dumped the paper bag in the garbage. He remembered from the force when co-workers became slaves to their medicines. All they talked about was which pill they were on and how it made them feel. Once robust and fun-loving guys turned into fearful pale shadows of their former selves, refusing to take chances or enjoy life. Before he’d let that happen he’d rather kill himself, and since that wasn’t anything he’d ever consider, Sam decided to wait and see if he even had another episode before taking a pill. Why take medicine he didn’t need?
He chose to ignore the little voice inside his head whispering:You’re being an idiot. You know you need this, and told it in no uncertain terms to fuck off and stop playing with his mind. Instead, he called Zach and told him to meet him at home.
But the moment he entered the apartment and saw Zach, remorse rolled through him, diminishing the pleasure of being home. Sam had never kept anything from him; Zach was such a loving, trusting person, and Sam despised himself for doing so. It played right on his lips to tell him everything right away, but then Zach came and kissed him, and all rational thought fled his brain. Maybe later, he thought; right now he wanted Zach.
And as if Zach sensed he needed comforting, he took off Sam’s jacket and hung it over a chair, then led him to the bedroom where, obedient as a child, Sam followed in silence. Zach pulled him down to sit beside him, and still without speaking, began to kiss him, touching every place he knew would set Sam’s body aflame. Although Sam had told Zach earlier he had a plan, it appeared Zach had decided to take matters into his own hands and had his own brand of seduction in mind.
In all his years on the force, Sam had been the one to run headfirst into danger, yet now he couldn’t find the words to tell Zach that he was ill. Instead, he concentrated on the strength of Zach’s hands as they cupped his face, the long fingers stroking his cheeks and jaw with a gentle touch, and the softness of Zach’s mouth as he pressed his lips to Sam’s in a searching kiss.
Zach unbuttoned Sam’s shirt, then pulled it off and did the same with his own. Sam’s head spun—Zach’s long languid kisses grew more demanding, his slick tongue sliding inside Sam’s mouth while he pushed him down on the bed.
Sam wrapped his arms around Zach’s long, lean frame, and slipped his leg over Zach’s hip so their groins aligned. He could feel Zach’s heavy erection against his thigh. His cock responded, thickening to thrust up against Zach’s. Their kissing became more frantic, and Sam slanted his mouth across Zach’s, drinking him up. He pulled Zach closer still.
The pounding of Zach’s heart matched his own, and with his diagnosis fresh in his mind, Sam, more acutely aware of the sounds of his body, became distracted, listening to the rhythmic beat, wondering if it sounded normal. Was it his imagination or did it skip every now and then?
“Sam? Is everything okay?”
Zach hovered over him, a pucker of concern creasing his brow.
Shit. He hadn’t meant for his mind to wander and forced himself to relax and smile up into Zach’s face.
“Yeah, why?” He massaged the globes of Zach’s ass. Desire rolled through him again, and he let himself go, giving in to the familiar pleasure of Zach’s body in his arms.
“I don’t know; you looked concerned for a moment, like something was worrying you.”
This time it wasn’t pain that squeezed his heart; it was guilt. Afraid Zach might start questioning him, Sam knew with certainty he wouldn’t be able to directly lie, so he distracted Zach in the best way he knew. He slid his hands inside Zach’s well-worn jeans, cupping the heated bare skin, gliding his fingers down the crease of Zach’s ass.
“I’m only worried about having the neighbors hear us. These walls may be old and solid, but I love it when you get loud and beg me for it.”
His fingers teased Zach’s ass some more, and as Sam anticipated, Zach sighed, pleasure flushing his pale skin, his question apparently forgotten.
Zach shimmied out of his jeans, his blue eyes sparkling. “Go on and try.” He flung his jeans over the side of the bed.
“Challenge accepted.” Sam slipped off his pants and boxers and lay naked waiting for Zach, stroking himself.
They rolled together on the bed kissing and grasping at each other until Zach straddled him, caging Sam between his sinewy thighs. Zach had the body of a runner, and not for the first time Sam envied his slim physique.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” His gaze searched Sam’s face, blue eyes seriously intent. “You seem so distracted, like something totally separate is going on inside your head.”
Alarmed at Zach’s insight, Sam pushed all thoughts of his doctor appointment out of his head. He slipped one hand behind the nape of Zach’s neck and dragged his head down for a kiss that left them both gasping for breath when they broke apart.
“The only thing I think about is you. Every day, every hour.”
At those words, Zach’s expression softened, and his blue eyes glowed. “Me too. I can’t wait until we get married.”
They didn’t need a piece of paper for Sam to commit, but it was important to Zach. And therefore important to Sam. “I know. But you’re already mine; you know that. I think you were mine from the first time I kissed you.” Their lips met, softer this time; then Sam nuzzled the curve of Zach’s neck, inhaling the warm, familiar scent. “You’re mine forever,” he said, murmuring against the pulse in Zach’s throat.
“Mmm.” Zach sighed and took the lube, drizzling it over Sam’s cock. With a sweet smile he slowly impaled himself on Sam’s cock, sinking slow, clasping him firm within his passage. His grin turned wicked, blue eyes hungry with need, and Sam clasped him firmly around his waist.
