Club Zombie 1-4

by Z. Allora

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to react negatively. It’s just been a long day,” Kai said, unsure what to say.

  “Understandable.”

  Were there any stories from Germany?

  Jasper handed him the book. “You might enjoy Anthony and Colton’s story. It’s interesting without being too… too much. Happy early birthday! Sleep well and sweet dreams.”

  “Night.”

  Kai griped the book for a moment before he decided. Information was power.

  6

  Romantic Tales & Happy Endings

  Kai stripped out of his jeans, kicked off his sneakers, and sank down onto his new bed. The damned thing enveloped him.

  It had been a crazy day. He hardly believed it, but he was changing into a zombie. Now he’d need come to survive and had to find his mate before he was twenty-three or go orgasmless until he found him… him. Somehow the possibly of a male mate didn’t strike him as so much of a problem as he originally thought. Living forever, though, that would be hard to wrap his mind around, but having someone who was his… making him feel he belonged—like Jasper did—would be incredible.

  Jasper… what if— No!

  He inhaled and exhaled. Calling on all his courage, he opened the large volume about the mated zombies. He skimmed the table of contents until he located the page number for Colton and Anthony’s story.

  Kai turned the pages until he found what he wanted and settled in to read.

  In the Beginning by Cassidy Frost

  Colton Hawkins glared at his best friend of fifteen years. Raven James sat next to him on their sofa, which took up most of the space in their tiny living room.

  “Colt, you’ve got to give Grindr a try. Or one of the other various man-finding apps. You can’t keep your V-card.” Raven declared this as a fact.

  Colton crossed his arms. This again. “Actually, I don’t need an app and my virginity is none of your business.”

  Raven shook his head and gave him a sly smirk. “Well, I didn’t listen to you and set up an account for you.”

  “You did what?” Instant worry about what picture his ex-best friend used raced through him.

  “Hey, look at all the responses you got.” Raven handed over his phone.

  Curious, Colton grabbed Raven’s cell phone and studied his picture. At least he was dressed in the profile picture but— “You put me down as a demanding top?”

  Raven nodded. “Didn’t you say you’d like to fuck someone—”

  Colton scrolled through the responses. “I meant a boyfriend—Oh my god! This one wants me to fuck him so hard that I’d put a permanent bend in my cock.”

  “Wow, that would be impressive.” Raven chuckled.

  “No, just no!” Colton handed Raven back his cell and continued grumbling, “I don’t even know if I’m a top.”

  “That’s why you need to fuck someone to find out.” Which made perfect sense to Raven—he was sexually expressive, adventurous, and into BDSM. The total opposite of Colton.

  “I didn’t wait twenty-three years to sleep with some stranger.” The thought made Colton nauseous. Was it too much to ask to be in love with the person he shared his body with?

  “Sleep wouldn’t be on the menu.” Raven smirked.

  “I respect you and how open you are but—”

  “Look, I get you took care of your mom when she was sick. You did everything for years. But it’s time you lived your life.” Raven squeezed his shoulder, sending him support through touch.

  His mother had begged Colton not to put his life on hold for her, though how could he not spend every moment with her after she was given only a few years to live? She had raised him by herself and worked two jobs so he could have the things he needed. They didn’t have a lot of money but they had fun and were happy until she got sick.

  He wiped his eyes. Two years since she left this earth, and it still felt like she was taken yesterday. Why couldn’t he have had more time with her?

  Raven threw an arm around him and pulled him into a tight hug. “She made me promise I’d make sure you had fun, and well, this is me doing that.”

  Colton kissed Raven’s cheek and then shook his head. “But please no phone apps. I can’t do that.”

  “Fine… then come with me to this club I heard about.” Hang on… Raven changed course too quick. This must have been his goal all along.

  “Why do I feel like I was set up?”

  Raven shrugged with his I-won smirk. “Only because you were. This Friday night we’re going to Club Zombie.”

  Colton dragged his feet in showing Raven the third outfit he believed was club-wearable. Whatever that meant.

  “Nope. This time we’re going to my closet,” Raven announced as he tugged him into his bedroom.

  “I’m not wearing your BDSM leather. That’s a hard stop for me.” Colton was well aware of Raven’s intense interest in BDSM, but had no desire to explore that.

  Raven rolled his eyes. “You don’t say?”

  Colton crossed his arms and waited to reject the clothing Raven wanted him to wear.

  “Before you say no, just try this on.” Raven handed him a pair of his tight black jeans and a snug teal T-shirt.

  Colton shrugged out of his work button-up and pulled on Raven’s T-shirt. The fit followed the lines of his swimmer’s body but wasn’t terrible.

  “The color brings out your eyes. Jeans next.” Raven snapped his fingers twice to hurry Colton.

  “You’re enjoying this far too much. It’s almost nine thirty. Isn’t it too late to go out? I’m usually asleep by ten.”

  Raven frowned and shook his head. “Not tonight, and what the hell are those grandpa panties? Those are not sex-ready underwear.”

  “Good, because I’m not having sex tonight.” No way. That wasn’t happening. He was sure he’d enjoy sex, but not after just meeting someone.

  “Argh! You’re so frustrating. No wonder you’re still untouched.”

  Colton wiggled into the jeans. They had more give and stretch than he’d expected. “I’m not untouched. I’ve been—”

  “Exchanging hand jobs at camp doesn’t count.”

  “It counted for Joey Masters. He said it was the best hand job he’d ever had.” Colton’s glare lessened as he looked in the mirror. Was this him?

  “Please. At that age, bumping into a desk feels great.”

  Ignoring Raven disputing his heavenly hand job skills, he asked, “Do you approve?”

  “Almost.” Raven attacked his hair with some sort of sweet-smelling stuff that made his hair behave and appeared styled. “There. Now on to Club Zombie.”

  An hour later, Colton stood on the landing of Club Zombie. The club lay out in front of him. Dear Lord, it looked like a clown’s trunk exploded with all the shades of indigo, purple, and mauve scarves hanging from the ceiling. Velvet couches, satin pillows, and golden scrolled furniture looked—

  “Isn’t this awesome? It looks like a desert oasis. And look at all the gorgeous men. I hear getting blown here is as easy as ordering a drink.” Raven grinned like that was a good thing.

  Colton’s dick hardened, so maybe the idea of oral sex sounded rather enticing— No. He was not there for a quick hookup. If he met someone….

  Glancing at the writhing bodies on the dance floor, he found it impossible to tell if they were dancing or having sex. Some were definitely having sex.

  “Where do you want to go first? Blow Alley, the Glory Hole room, Behind the Red Door, which is a BDSM space, the BJ Bar—”

  “How about the regular bar? I could use a drink.” Colton adjusted his dick and headed for two empty seats on the long, black lacquered bar.

  Raven followed, pouting only a little. “I heard the glory holes are so good here. Hashtag mouth goals. Hell, even some straight men use them.”

  Right, men who have sex with men but aren’t gay or bisexual, because they’re not attracted to men. Always sounded like a bullshit way to have the sex you wanted with none of the harsh reali
ties of being an out gay or bisexual man. “Do you think they pretend there’s a girl behind the hole?”

  “Yeah, but even if he’s aware it’s a guy, all he’s got to do is not to forget to say ‘no homo,’ because that keeps everything straight.”

  “You’re a sick fuck.” Colton didn’t want to laugh but Raven’s deadpan delivery always killed him.

  “Well, you’ll never be able to confirm that.” Raven shimmied to the music.

  Colton rolled his eyes and teased, “Maybe this is where Schrödinger’s Glory Hole comes into play.”

  “Say what now?”

  A man sitting on the other side of Raven turned and caught his gaze. Damn, way out of Colton’s league. He had a European elegance about him, and a carefully wrapped scarf around his neck, beautiful long dark hair, and a model-pretty face.

  Colton’s insides flipped like when Raven convinced him to go on the Super Loop at the fair. “Um…. What was I saying?”

  Raven shook his head. “Something along the lines of cockringer’s glory hole or something.”

  The man chuckled, gaining Raven’s attention. But instead of switching his focus to the stunning Raven, he gave Colton a wink.

  Looking away so he didn’t get lost in all the model sexiness, Colton continued, “Maybe you never heard of the Schrödinger’s cat in a box paradox. There’s a poison that may or may not have been released into the box with the cat. So, without opening the box, the cat is both alive and dead.”

  Raven gasped. “And I’m the sick fuck. Why are you killing cats?”

  Outrage mixed with Raven’s horrified grimace, and that—along with his need not to focus his attention on the sexy man next to Raven—inspired Colton to give some well-earned payback. “I’m not killing anything. It’s a thought experiment. Anyway, by putting a wall in between the blowjob recipient and the giver, as long as the man doesn’t know what the anatomical sex of the receiver is, they are technically both man and woman.”

  A cute blond bartender danced over and took a moment to eye Colton and Raven like pieces of candy. “What can I get you honeys to drink?”

  “Whatever is on tap.” Colton made it easy.

  Raven asked for “a Sex on the Beach, please,” because of course he did.

  The bartender smirked as he poured Colton’s beer. “You can get sex anywhere you want in Club Zombie.”

  “Really?” Raven flirted with the short blond cutie.

  Meanwhile, Sex On A Barstool leaned around Raven to catch Colton’s attention. “I think you’re right. Schrödinger clearly wrote his thought experiment based on glory holes. Great catch.”

  Colton mouth twitched and he gave in to the chuckle. “Thank you.”

  “I’m Anthony, by the way.” He held out his hand.

  Colton tried to shake hands; however, Anthony had something else in mind. He brought Colton’s hand to his lips and pressed a kiss on his knuckles.

  Swallowing hard, all Colton could do was stare.

  Raven arched his eyebrow at Colton and then polished off his drink. “I’m going to head into the back and check to see if some of the rumors are true.”

  The bartender giggled. “Hey guess what? If you close your eyes, it could be anyone’s dick you’re sucking.”

  Raven grinned as he slid off his stool. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  Anthony hopped into Raven’s seat. “So, why aren’t you heading into the back?”

  Colton shook his head. “I’d rather get to know someone first.”

  Anthony’s amber eyes widened, making him look like an anime character. “That’s unusual.”

  Shrugging, Colton admitted, “What can I say.”

  “I think it’s amazing. Tell me about yourself.” Anthony leaned forward.

  Is this how people started dating? As if he’d be interested in Colton. “Um, not much to tell.”

  Anthony tossed his shiny hair over his shoulder in a graceful move. He had to be a model. “I don’t believe that. What do you do for fun?”

  “I don’t—I mean my job keeps me busy. Drive for UPS.”

  “Do you enjoy driving?” Anthony seemed determined not to let Colton fail at Getting to Know You 101.

  “I do.” Say something more! Colton was dying inside, trying to figure out what to— “Are you a model?”

  Holy fuck! Could he be any lamer?

  “Actually, I shot a few cologne ads overseas when I was sixteen.”

  Colton gave him a low whistle. “Wow, your parents must be proud of you.”

  Anthony shook his head. “Nope. They threw me out when I came out. Thankfully, someone I knew put me in touch with someone looking for a fresh face and well… I did a few campaigns and some runway.”

  “I’m sorry about your parents. That must have been hard.” Colton threw his arm around Anthony and gave him a sideways hug. Then he became awkward when he realized he was cuddling a stranger and was trying to detach when Anthony snuggled in closer.

  “It was, though not different from many kids. It’s why I volunteer on a LGBTQIA+ suicide prevention hotline.”

  Now that was inspiring. “That’s incredible. It must be wonderful to be allowed to help guide people away from a permanently bad decision.”

  Anthony smiled. “Funny. You’re the first guy I’ve met in here who is more impressed by my volunteer work than by the modeling.”

  Scrambling from insulting him, Colton fumbled and finally said, “Oh, well… both are great but to help someone live…. That’s really something.”

  Anthony’s cheeks tinted pink like someone had just dabbed blush on his face. “Thank you. Um, do you want to go to a quieter table?”

  “I’d like that.” And he really would.

  Anthony waved the bartender over. “Corey, can we have some pretzel bites and more beers?”

  The blond bartender—who must be Corey—looked at his watch and asked, “You sure you’ve got time for that?”

  “Yup.” Before Corey could question him further, Anthony guided Colton over to a quieter area and pointed out a table. Once they were seated, Anthony asked, “If you could go anywhere, where would it be?”

  “Money’s no object?” Colton needed clarification on the rules.

  “In a hypothetical, it never is.”

  “I guess I’d hit the capitals of each country.”

  “Really? That’s my answer too. Everyone gives me shit about it, but I always say that I said anywhere and I didn’t limit the number.”

  Colton laughed and everything in him loosened.

  After four hours of nonstop laughter and conversation, Corey rushed over. “Anthony, you’re still here?”

  Anthony stifled another yawn. “I am.”

  “Did you two go into the back room?” Corey asked while wringing his hands, yet with a slight smile on his face.

  Was he asking what Colton thought he was asking?

  Anthony’s hand lifted, then fell back on the table before achieving any height. “It’s covered. I asked Doc to meet me here in a bit, so I’ll get it that way.”

  “Okay.” Corey wandered off.

  Colton didn’t want Anthony to feel obligated to stay with him. “Oh, if you have to go—”

  Anthony shook his head and gave Colton’s hand a squeeze. “No, I’m good.”

  When Colton tried to let go of Anthony’s hand, Anthony held tighter. “This has been a truly lovely evening. Best I’ve spent in a very long time.”

  Colton opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out as he got lost in Anthony’s amber eyes. They were stunning with their flecks of gold, yet what mesmerized Colton was the kindness he found there. If eyes were windows into Anthony’s soul, then the man was beautiful inside as well as out.

  Raven stumbled over to the table, looking far too blissed-out for a club. “Sorry I took so long. I didn’t mean to make you wait.”

  Anthony released Colton’s hand and pulled out a chair for Raven.

  “I didn’t mind at all.” Colton smiled at Anthon
y.

  “I met a man.” Raven glowed.

  “You don’t say.” Colton would tease the hell out of him later, but right now he wanted to focus on the man he’d met.

  “His name is Walker and he’s incredible. Totally a Dom who ticks all my boxes.” Raven snapped out of his stupor. “Ah, okay. Sorry. Yeah. Um, should I Uber home?”

  Anthony shook his head and yawned. “No, don’t do that. But can you get Colton to promise to come back to the club tomorrow?”

  “What time?” Raven asked like he was Colton’s schedule keeper.

  “Hey, you two, I am sitting right here.” Colton frowned.

  Anthony chuckled. “You are, so how about 7:30?”

  “He’ll be here,” Raven was quick to reassure him.

  Colton took a moment to glare at Raven, then smiled at Anthony. “I’ll be here.”

  “I look forward to seeing you again.” Anthony stood a bit unsteadily and walked them to the door.

  Ridiculously enough, Colton didn’t want to leave, and Anthony didn’t seem to be in any hurry.

  “Could I have your number?” Anthony asked.

  “Of course.” They tapped their numbers into each other’s phone. When Anthony returned Colton’s, his long fingers caressed his wrist.

  A shiver of insane desire slammed into Colton.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow night.” Anthony leaned in.

  Colton swallowed hard, anticipating a kiss. Anthony’s lips got closer to his, but before they touched, he veered off to the left and kissed his neck.

  Tilting his head to allow Anthony more access, Colton wrapped his arms around him as his neck was nuzzled. His bit back a sigh of disappointment when Anthony stepped back.

  “Tomorrow.” Anthony gave him a heart-melting smile.

  The following Friday, Anthony tried to get up from the table but his ass met the chair again.

  Corey rushed over to him. “Hey, I called the doctor’s office, so sit tight.”