Stevie didn't try to deny it, but the way his gaze flicked to the window and the other officers outside it, told Zach that he was most definitely not out of the proverbial closet. He hadn't expected him to be. He stifled a twinge of pity. Stevie didn't need his pity. The poor man needed his help.
Not to mention his kisses. Lots of kisses.
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"You can't be here. I'm sorry. It was very nice of you to think of me and all, butE"
Zach stood up, moving closer. He told himself not to be hurt by the way Stevie took a step back. Zach might never have been anywhere near the closet—he'd always been this gay, for reals—but he could sympathize with the fear that kept someone like Stevie there.
"It's okay, Stevie. Come over when you finish yourErounds? Beat? Well, whatever, when you get done. Mm-kay?"
Stevie frowned and shook his head. "I don't think that's a good idea."
"Nonsense! It's one of my better ones. Trust me." Zach beamed and resisted the urge to kiss him. "You'll come by. Be hungry. I'll order something fabulous and pretend I cooked it." He laughed and tugged open the door, then strolled for the elevators on the opposite side.
He paused to grab his bag off the desk now occupied by a rotund, middle-aged man. "Thanks for watching it for me, gorgeous," he murmured with a wink. The man choked and his ears went red as Zach slid the bag over his arm and headed for the door with every eye in the room on him as he did.
Just the way he liked it.
It was around seven that night when he got a phone call from Officer Hotness—he didn't ask how Stevie had gotten his phone number since the man had major resources at his disposal—telling him he didn't get off until ten, and saying he understood if Zach wanted him to forget coming over.
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As if! With his propensity for long, late nights and sleeping until noon, ten P.M. was pretty much normal dinnertime anyway. Which Zach cheerfully told his officer. He had a feeling Stevie had been equal parts disappointed he hadn't gotten out of it, and just as deep down glad he could still come over.
Stevie was a strange sort of animal, kind of skittish, primed to bolt at the first rustle in the bushes. Zach was going to have to approach him differently than he did his usual types.
All the sparkle and confidence, less of the slutty and trashy, he thought.
So, new approach in mind, he discarded the whorehouse version of a kimono he'd considered wearing—sort of Big Trouble In Little China meets To Wong Foo— and instead settled on a pair of minty green workout shorts with "yum"
written across the butt in pink, and the matching hoodie, which was pink with minty green accents. He thought he looked like an adorable snow cone, and one could never go wrong with a descrip like that!
Bare feet and tousled brown hair looking vaguely like he'd just been actually working out and he was ready to knock Officer Hotness's uniform pants off. Or strip them off, whichever was easier in the end.
So when ten o'clock arrived with no knock at the door, Zach was a little disappointed, but told himself cops got busy and maybe there'd been an emergency. He waited, fretting as the delivery Italian he'd ordered started to get cold.
Eleven o'clockEstill no Stevie.
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Eleven-thirtyEZach shut off the oven and put the food in the fridge.
MidnightEhe wasn't coming.
Zach plucked at the fringed edge of one of his sofa throw cushions, the vibrant grape satin gleaming in the faint lamplight. This was unexpected. Zach had been prepared for lots of things, but Stevie just plain not showing up wasn't one of them.
He considered calling him, then realized he only had his number at the station, and he doubted Stevie was still there.
He'd probably gone home, deciding he'd had enough of the strange little queer boy.
Zach sighed, reaching over to switch off the end table lamp. His super comfy futon got pulled flat into his bed and he opened the compartment underneath to pull out his fluffy comforter and pillows. This called for the big pity party guns.
He was going to sulk for the rest of the night, watch the two episodes of Project Runway he had on his DVR and maybe make himself an appletini or two while he watched. Then in the morning he'd forget all about the closeted cop, who probably wasn't thinking about him at all.
Zach settled down on his futon, sprawled on his tummy, wrapped up in his electric blue comforter, with an appletini on the end table beside him. He'd just reached for the remote when he heard something outside. Footsteps orElike shuffling feet or something.
He eased off the futon, comforter still wrapped around him, and slinked toward the door, listening. Sure, he'd told Stevie last night this was a safe neighborhood, but that didn't 20
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mean people still didn't try to break into people's houses. He glanced around, wondering what he could use for a weapon in case it was a burglar, then jumped with a squeak at the light knock on his door.
A burglar who knocked?
Zach tiptoed over to the door and stretched up to peek through the peephole.
Oh!
He spun, heart racing. He was so not prepared for this anymore. The comforter got tossed onto the futon, no help for it since he didn't have time to hide it all away. He raked his hands through his hair, mussing it and wishing for a mirror. The worst part was he'd already changed out of his super-cute outfit and into his pajamas, which consisted of blue patterned satin brocade pajama pants and a plain white t-shirt with "OMGWTF?" across the chest.
Not his best look.
WellEmaybe Stevie would think it was cute. Casual. Real.
Oh, God, he hoped so.
Turning back to the door, Zach faked a yawn as he opened it, giving his best surprised, oh-my-goodness-what-is-this?"
gaze, blinking up at a very sheepish, still oh-so-very-adorably-sexy Stevie.
"Hey," he murmured, leaning against the door with a little smile. "What are you doing here?" Another fake yawn. Why no, Mr. Officer Hotness, I did not stay up waiting for you, see? I totes went to bed, unconcerned about your no-show.
So there.
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Stephen could tell right away Zach hadn't actually been asleep, or even close to it. He'd catalogued enough crime scenes to notice small details like the remote and the appletini on the end table, as well as the lack of sleepiness in Zach's eyes and not so much as a pillow crease on his cheeks.
Still, he felt bad and couldn't blame the guy for pretending he hadn't been awake when Stephen had almost stood him up. Did that make this a date? Oh, God, what was he even doing?
"I'd say I got held up at work, which is sort of true, but it'd mostly be a lie. I stayed late on purpose."
Zach's brows lifted and he smiled a bit. "I admire your honesty. Most guys would make excuses. Not that I get stood up often, just so you know."
Stephen shook his head. "No, I bet you don't. I'm a special breed of stupid, I know."
The almost smile became a full smile and damned if Zach didn't have beaming down to an art form. How did he even maintain such wattage?
"Well, since you're aware of your problem and all, I should be supportive, right? My Officer Hotness, recovering dumbass." Zach stepped back a bit and waved him inside. "Is there a twelve step program for that? Shall I learn the daily affirmations?"
Stephen chuckled as Zach shut the door behind him.
"You're quick, aren't you? Always with the perfect comeback, huh?"
Zach grinned, tilting his head with a slight shrug. "I try.
Want a drink?"
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Stephen shook his head. "No, thanks, I don't drink."
&nbs
p; Zach looked somewhat surprised, then shrugged and plopped down cross-legged on the futon. "Well, come, sit.
Hungry? I could reheat dinnerE"
Stephen winced, sitting down on the futon. The apartment was very much how he'd expected it. Smaller, maybe, because he hadn't expected a studio. But colorful. White walls, white carpet, and white furniture, but everywhere were vivid splashes of color from lamps to art to rugs and pillows.
"I'm sorry. You didn't actually cook, did you? Tell me you didn't so I don't kick my own ass even more."
Zach laughed and shook his head. "God, no. It's one thing I have in common with Carrie Bradshaw. I keep sweaters in my oven."
He didn't know who Carrie Bradshaw was or why one would keep sweaters in their oven, but Stephen was glad Zach hadn't gone way out of his way for him.
"SoEwhy didn't you want to come?"
Zach's question, blunt and to the point, caught him off guard. The young man had a knack for it. Stephen wondered if Zach even knew how to bite his tongue on what he was thinking.
Well, maybe it wouldn't hurt to be a little more honest himself. SoE "It wasn't as though I didn't want to."
Zach's smile was back to knowing. "It was because you did. I see."
Stephen wondered, but probably Zachary Middle-initial-L-for-Lucas West could see right through him. "What do you see?" he blurted, curious. Morbidly curious, more like.
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"Men who want to be straight are afraid of me as much as—sometimes more than—men who are straight. I know you're not the latter, Stevie, right? So are you the former?
Because if so, maybe you shouldn't be here with meEit can't look good for you if anyone found out, right?"
Zach was right. It wouldn't look good. He'd spent a lot of years being just one of the guys. Dating a woman here and there and developing a reputation as a confirmed bachelor so no one asked anymore why he wasn't married, why he didn't settle down. Instead, they ribbed him and joked and clapped him on the back like it was some kind of accomplishment.
So why was he here now, sitting in this very flamboyant apartment with this very flamboyant young man who could bring the tenuous structure of his identity down around his ears with one flutter of his mascaraed lashes?
"You said you knew I liked you. You were right. Are right."
Stephen let his gaze wander where it wanted to, landing, not surprisingly, on Zach's mouth. Soft, pink, lushEit was a mouth a man shouldn't let himself taste. Because he just knew it was sweet and willing and giving, and he'd be addicted with the very first exposure. Like some kind of candy drug.
Zach didn't say anything at first. The light in the apartment was dim, just a small lamp beside the futon, but it was enough to see the play of expressions across his face.
Zach was so expressive. He didn't hide anything he felt or thought.
What must it be like to live that way? So free?
Then Zach's expression changed, and he gave Stephen one of those knowing smiles. Without a word, Zach moved, sliding 24
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over to straddle Stephen's thighs, slim arms winding around his neck. Big brown eyes locked on his, as if waiting to see if Stephen was going to toss him off and bolt, or stay and see where this led.
Like he didn't know where it was going to lead. And, oh, he wanted to go there so much he could almost taste it.
Before he even finished the thought, Zach must have read his mind because the next instant they were kissing, with a warm mouth against his own, a soft tongue teasing his lips.
For a long second, Stephen froze. There was no turning back after this. This was ground zero, so to speak. Point of no return.
His hands made the decision for him, sliding up Zach's slim back, one cupping the nape of his neck, the other sliding back down to splay at his waist, holding him close as, with more confidence than he truly felt, he kissed the most beautiful young man he'd ever known.
It was like someone had lifted the gate and all those things Stephen had been holding back, hiding, refusing to acknowledge, came rushing out in a tumble. Passion, desire, needEall spilling from him, and Zach held on tight, seeming to tell him silently it was okay to let go, to let himself feel it all.
With a groan, Stephen turned, stretching Zach out beneath him and sliding his hands down, then back up his sides, this time under the young man's T-shirt, pushing it up as he went.
The kiss broke long enough to remove the garment, and Stephen's breath caught, staring down at him.
His skin was smooth and pale, his waist narrow, the belly button pierced. The little blue jewel nestled in the center 25
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called to him, and Stephen grinned, sliding down to press his open mouth there.
Zach laughed, squirming a bit under him. "Careful, I'm ticklish!"
Stephen chuckled. It was tempting to linger and torment him with the new knowledge, but now that he had Zach spread out under him, there was more he wanted than just making him laugh.
He wanted to make him wild.
Zach's heart was pounding. And Stevie hadn't touched him yet, not in any real way. What kind of madness was it going to be when his adorable police officer shed his hesitancy and really touched him? It made Zach faint just thinking about it.
He wanted to hurry him, to arch and grab his hands and show him where he wanted them most. But he didn't. He forced himself to relax and let Stevie take the lead. He wanted to know just what would happen when all hell broke loose and this man lost that tight control.
"I'm not going to break, StevieEyou can touch me." Hey, no one said he couldn't encourage.
Stevie smiled and nodded. "I know. I justElooking at you is good, too." His green eyes were amused when they met Zach's. "You know damn well how pretty you are."
Zach grinned, lifting one shoulder. "Maybe."
Stevie laughed out loud, shaking his head. "Maybe, my ass."
Zach's hands slid down to cup said ass through Stevie's jeans and squeezed with a little moan of appreciation. "And such a nice ass, too."
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Then they were kissing again, and Zach wound his arms around Stevie's shoulders, one leg coming up to rub against his hip. Too many clothes. They were both wearing way too many clothes. But he wasn't willing to stop kissing him long enough to say so, so he did it silently instead, hands sliding down to tug Stevie's shirt free of the waistband of his pants, impatient to see him, touch him, feel his warmth.
Thankfully, Stevie got the message fast, and the next thing Zach knew, hands were everywhere, both of theirs, tugging at clothes, fumbling with buttons and zippers, fabric bunching around thighs and finally being kicked off until at last they were both naked.
And, oh, it felt good. Stevie was no fey thing, oh no. He was strong andEwell, the word burly came to mind. Broad shoulders and a barrel chest dusted with hair, strong stomach and long, thick, muscular thighs.
Zach let his hands wander and soon discovered Stevie's legs weren't the only things that were thick.
Stevie let out a choked sound, the kiss breaking, as Zach closed his fingers around the hard length of his cock.
"Sweet Christ, Zach!" Stevie sounded downright stunned.
It was so cute.
Zach gave him an impish grin and a tight stroke. "You're going to have to get over this whole being shocked by everything I do thing, Stevie."
Stevie laughed, shaking his head. "I don't think that's possible. Bold as fucking brass, aren't you?"
"Mmm, fucking. Sounds perfect. Let's do that, hmm?" Zach lifted his brows with a light laugh and slid down under Stevie, 27
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shimmying his way until he was face toEwell, cock with what he wanted most right then. Before Stevie could protest or act all scandal
ized again, Zach took the words, and the breath, right out of him by closing his lips around the head of Stevie's cock and sucking him deep.
WellEmaybe not all the words. Stevie had plenty of cuss words left in him, as he exhibited while Zach worked every single trick he knew on the other man's gorgeous cock and blew Officer Hotness's mind.
He slid his hand up to Stevie's chest, giving him a push and, like he had no bones save for one, Stevie rolled onto his back. Zach followed, settling between his legs and able to get some momentum on Stevie's cock.
One hand wrapped around the base, stroking as he sucked; the other slid down and under to feather his fingers over the other man's balls. Just to get a feel for what Stevie liked. Some liked it rough, but some would toss you across the room if you tried to give their berries a yank.
By the way Stevie jolted and then sort of melted into the mattress, Zach got the feeling gentle was the way to go. For such a big guy, Officer Hotness was a big softy. Zach smiled inwardly and pulled off to give the head of Stevie's cock a kiss.
"Stay right here," he murmured.
Stevie blinked, pushing up onto his elbows with a furrowed brow. "Where are you going?"
Zach stretched up to brush a kiss across his mouth before standing. "I want more than oral, Officer Hotness, and I'm a safety boy."
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Understanding lit in Stevie's eyes, and Zach gave him a wink before darting to the bathroom to grab a condom out of the medicine cabinet. After a moment's pause he grabbed another, just in case, and a bottle of lube.
He was back before Stevie could have second thoughts and climbed over him, catlike, a slinky grin on his lips.
" Now comes the good stuff," he promised.
Stevie laughed. "That wasn't the good stuff?" he joked, voice breathless.
"Oh, no. That was good, but thisE You ain't seen nothin'
yet, honey."
Zach dropped the condoms and lube onto the futon and leaned down, chest against Stevie's, thighs straddling his stomach. He was so big, it made Zach all quivery inside.
"Now, I'm guessing I'm not the first lucky boy you've ever fuckedEyou know how to do this, yeah?"
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