“You look fine.” As Colton slowly walked, his gaze swept lazily over his mate’s tempting body.
Zack shot him a look. “That was either very smooth or deeply suspicious.”
“Little of both.” A soft, deep purr rumbled through Colton’s chest, a sound he hadn’t meant to make. His panther had forced it out.
Zack’s face flamed, making it obvious he’d heard the sound. “Honesty. Bold strategy.” He nodded as if he approved. Whether it was for the purr or Colton’s answer was a mystery.
Second Scoops sat two blocks down, painted mint green with a striped awning and a chalkboard sign shaped like a cone. Sweet cream and waffle cone hit Colton before they reached the door. Inside, the air was cooler, carrying vanilla, chocolate, strawberries, sugar. A glass case curved along one wall, metal tubs bright under the lights in every color nature had never approved.
Zack stepped up beside him and inhaled like he’d entered a church. “See, this is what I mean. This is sacred.”
Colton arched a brow. “You take ice cream seriously.”
“I take very few things seriously. Ice cream is one of them.” Zack pointed through the glass. “Mint chip is elite. Chocolate is dependable. Strawberry gets unfairly judged. Cookie dough is for people who fear commitment.”
Folding his arms, Colton grinned. “Vanilla.”
With a gasp, Zack slowly turned his gorgeous head. “I’m sorry?”
“Vanilla.”
It was hilarious how offended Zack seemed. His lips were parted, brows raised, and his fingertips were pressed against his chest. “That is not a favorite flavor. That’s a tragic surrender.”
“It’s classic.” Colton shrugged, immensely enjoying their banter. His mate flicked his hand while rolling his eyes. Fuck ice cream. Colton wanted to lick Zack instead.
“It’s bland.”
Colton’s groin rubbed against Zack’s shapely ass when he moved aside for some teenagers. He trapped the hiss in his throat and forced out, “It lets the quality speak.”
Zack reached back and playfully swatted Colton’s hip, acting as if they stood this intimately on a regular basis. “It says you looked at thirty flavors and decided you wanted frozen milk with ambition issues.”
A laugh caught Colton before he bothered stopping it. “You talk like this all the time?”
“Yes. Some find it exhausting.” Zack leaned closer to the case, studying the labels, leaving the spot against Colton cold. “Tell me you at least have a respectable second choice.”
“Coffee.”
That earned him a thoughtful look. “All right. Annoying, but an option I can respect.”
“And mint chip tastes like toothpaste,” Colton pointed out just to see his mate react dramatically. He was already learning the guy.
Zack clutched one hand to his heart. “Now you’re just trying to hurt me.”
“You started it.” It didn’t matter to Colton how many people in line moved past them. He was enjoying the banter with his mate. They could stand there for the rest of the day for all he cared.
“With taste and conviction.” Zack huffed, clearly scandalized on principle. “Mint chip is refreshing. It has texture. It has personality.”
Colton touched Zack’s elbow and gently moved him closer when a gaggle of teenagers joined the line. Before he dropped his hand, he slid his fingers down Zack’s arm. “It tastes like brushing your teeth after dessert.”
“That is slander.” Zack glared at him, lips twitching from fighting a smile. The human was too perfect.
By the time they finally reached the counter, Zack had built a closing argument for mint chip that sounded more suited to a courtroom than an ice cream parlor. Colton got a scoop of coffee and a scoop of vanilla in a waffle cone. Zack ordered mint chip and strawberry in a cup, then added rainbow sprinkles, tongue resting against his top lip like he was performing complicated surgery.
“Sprinkles?” Colton considered, but decided his cone was already amazing without decoration.
“Color has value, Colton. Some of us embrace joy.” Zack licked his ice cream, and Colton zeroed in on the way his tongue circled the cold treat, how the muscles in his throat moved as he swallowed.
Motherfuck.
