Yeah, but I want it. Zack sighed because the idea of Pike’s appreciative eyes on him while he churned out some push-ups made his skin all warm and tight, and that wasn’t good.
“I’m trying.” Pike misinterpreted Zack’s sigh. “You make it hard... Oh never mind.” He gave a nervous laugh.
“It’s okay.” Zack kind of liked being the one in the position to reassure Pike.
“Okay. Just the scrape on your neck and cheek to go. Bet you’re glad you’ve got a day for this to heal before heading out again.
You have no idea.
“Rough day? Tell me?” Pike asked. Fuck. Zack hadn’t meant to say that last bit aloud.
“It’s fine,” Zack said even though a part of him wanted to open up to someone about how hard this was proving to be, what with Cobb and all. But he wouldn’t. He’d dreamed of this. Trained for this. Suffered for this. No way in hell was he complaining now.
Pike shrugged. “Tilt your head.” His fingers along Zack’s neck were like twin rakes of pleasure. Then came the bite of the alcohol and it was all Zack could do to stifle another moan. Pike’s eyebrows danced upward. “Pain slut? I mean, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, with what you guys put your bodies through—”
“I’m not.” Zack silenced him. God, one more thing to deny? Really? Only this one he was pretty sure wasn’t true. He wouldn’t be reacting like this to any random person touching him and doctoring him up. He’d been banged up plenty and never once sprouted wood during the cleanup before Pike.
Pike shook his head like he didn’t believe him. He leaned in, examining the scrape on Zack’s face, which really was nothing. Zack had gotten more torn up doing the grinder obstacle course before. Of course, he’d never had anyone taking care of him before. Not like this. It felt too good, like he should pull away—
He jerked away at the precise instant that Pike leaned closer, making Pike fall against him. Holy crap. He had a lap full of Pike, pressed right up against his chest and neck as Pike tried to steady himself with a hand on Zack’s shoulder. It felt like the first few seconds of a HALO jump, all exhilaration and rush of air screaming in his ears as he waited for what came next.
And what came next was going to be something. It was there in the hitch of Pike’s breathing, in the way Pike subtly leaned closer, in the way Zack didn’t recoil, instead his hand going to Pike’s back, as if he could hold him there. It was in the way Pike’s eyes dipped to Zack’s mouth, inches away from his own. Inches, shrinking to centimeters, then millimeters...
Pause.
Everything hanging on the moment.
Something was going to happen. Right...now. Their lips collided, like they were still slipping, but Zack knew better. This was deliberate. This was kissing, something that Zack would have sworn up until two seconds ago that he did not like. He’d been kissed before. A few high school and college girls, and he’d done it enough to know that he didn’t really like it, didn’t feel what other guys felt when lips and tongues tangled. It’d felt wet. And sloppy. And much, much too close.
But this? This was altogether different. This was kissing, a beast Zack had never encountered, not like this. There was no mistaking that he was kissing a guy—Pike smelled like a guy, tasted like a guy, gripped him with strong hands like a guy. Pike smelled like the citrus shampoo that had shown up in the shower a few days ago, and he tasted sweet, like jelly beans or hard candies with just a hint of the ever-present spice Pike added to everything. And something tangier too, something uniquely Pike that meant Zack couldn’t get enough, didn’t want to ever break away.
Pike pulled away first, breathing hard. God, even his sounds were so male—harsh intakes of air, a deep groan. Zack needed more, and he leaned in to get it, but Pike held up a hand.
“Didn’t satisfy your curiosity?” Pike tilted his head, considering Zack with those all-knowing green eyes.
“No,” Zack said, unable to be anything other than honest with the rush of wanting in his head.
“And that’s all this is? Just a bit curious?”
Fuck. Pike was handing him the perfect life preserver, the one that could keep him from slipping under the churning water that was his life. And he was powerless to do anything other than nod.
“Wrong answer.” Pike stood up and was out of the bathroom before Zack could think to call him back. Somewhere distant in the house a door slammed. Fuck.
“Meow.” Gizmo appeared at the bathroom door.
“You are so much trouble.” Zack groaned, like it was the cat’s fault that he’d just made an idiot of himself to Pike.