by Solet, Trina
When he straightened, he told Mark, "Best lunch ever." He wanted to say so much more, but there wasn’t enough time.
"And you didn’t even eat anything," Mark said and they both knew he wasn’t talking about food.
"No time," Zack said. He could eat Mark alive and never stop. But time was running out. He was in no shape to go back to work but still had to. Mark was wiping sweat off his own face then Zack’s.
"You’re a mess," Mark told him.
Zack laughed again and kissed him.
Just as Zack wondered how long they could keep things going without taking a decisive step, Mark called him on it. Zack had picked up lunch on his way home for a quickie. They were eating in the kitchen. Zack was feeling pretty content and hungry. The reason for both was the mutual suck off on the living room carpet. Then Mark spoke up.
"You look too pleased with yourself for a guy who refuses to make a decision. You think if you keep it unofficial, it’s not happening?"
"That’s like asking me if I’m stupid," Zack pointed out.
"And the answer?"
"It’s easier not to think about what I’m doing. When you hear that some guy is shtupping the babysitter, do you think 'What a great guy' or do you think 'What a sleazeball'?" Zack asked.
"I don't think either because I don't give a crap. Unless the sitter is underage, which I am not."
Zack could tell that Mark was stressing that last part to remind him of that fact. Mark didn't say anything more. He waited for Zack to come to his senses, to accept the inevitable, to accept that Mark was one of them now, and that the real hurt would come if Zack denied that and let him get away. Zack smiled despite himself. He couldn't let go of his misgivings, but he couldn't let go of Mark either.
That evening it was almost like their lunchtime conversation continued while they sat around after dinner.
"You need a social life," Mark said probably leading up to something.
You are my social life, Zack wanted to say. They had been going out together more. Always with Al between them, but it wasn't all about Al.
"You need to see what else is out there so you can make up your mind about us," Mark said, getting to the point.
"I don’t need to do that. I just need to be sure we can last," Zack told him. He couldn’t even imagine dating now. Who in the world could hope to compare to Mark?
"You mean you’re not sure I can last," Mark said reinterpreting what Zack said.
"You are so young."
"Stop thinking of me as some kid. I'm well past legal."
Zack could tell from his expression how annoyed he was by that.
"You're barely legal and still technically a teenager," Zack told him though he hated to think of him that way.
"No. I'm twenty now."
"What? When? You said you were nineteen."
"I turned twenty a few weeks ago," Mark said. "That means that we're both in our twenties.
"We are on the opposite sides of twenty and just barely."
"Just get over yourself already, old man."
"Are you making a case for or against us being together?" Zack asked him, but then realized Mark’s birthday had gone by without him even wishing him a happy birthday. "You made me miss your birthday! Al will kill you when he finds out," Zack threatened.
"Um, it's no big deal." Mark tried to deflect the delayed firestorm he had ignited with this information.
"Not a big deal! You are going to choke on so much cake and presents and balloons," Zack promised him.
"Ouch and no," Mark said looking more frightened than when Zack was issuing death threats.
"No one is going to ask you. We're celebrating you, and that's that," Zack decided.
"You're celebrating me?"
"Yes. The you. The existence of you," Zack said sounding crazy even to his own ears.
"OK. Don't," Mark pleaded.
"Be quiet. You're like a deceased celebrity or a fallen hero. You have no say in what street gets named after you," Zack informed him.
"Look..."
"Fine. We aren’t doing it for you. It's for Al. Now you can't refuse." With that Zack left him and went to recruit Al for this mission.
"Al. We have to throw a birthday party for Mark. We missed his birthday. He already turned twenty without us," Zack told Al with predictable results.
Al gasped then jumped up and down. He was torn between excitement about the party and distress that he missed Mark’s birthday.
"We have to buy his cards and presents and balloons and cake," Zack said.
Al nodded vigorously at the list.
"And a donkey." This last item that Al added to the list didn’t make a lot of sense to Zack.
"Huh?"
"A donkey. You know, a donkey," Al said as if repeating the word counted as an explanation. Paradoxically, Al made hitting motions to illustrate what he meant.
It slowly dawned on Zack what Al was talking about.
"You mean a piñata," Zack said with relief. "Sure why not."
"Mark said he had them for his birthdays when he was a kid," Al explained.
Now Zack was more hesitant. In fact, Al mentioning Mark’s birthdays as a kid reminded him of some issues he needed to consider before jumping into this.
"We'll see about the piñata," Zack said, changing his mind. He didn't want to remind Mark too much of his birthdays with his family. He was even reconsidering the whole idea of making a fuss. Maybe it would be too painful for Mark to celebrate his birthday with them instead of with his own family. He decided to check with Mark before making any more plans and to listen to him this time.
Zack went back into the kitchen sheepishly.
"I think I got a little overexcited about your birthday. And now I got Al in on it too. Sorry. I'm like a bulldozer, or a bull or a bulldog," Zack said apologetically. "If it's going to be hard on you to have your birthday with us..." Zack started to say.
"No. It will be fun," Mark said without much enthusiasm but with a weird kind of determination.
"So we can celebrate you? You sure?" Zack didn’t want him to feel pressured.
"It will just be the three of us. Right?" Mark asked.
"If that’s what you want."
"Then it’s fine. Just don't go crazy."
"Like piñata crazy?" Zack asked and cringed.
Mark shook his head at the mention of a piñata. He thought for a minute then smiled.
"It’s OK. You can get one. Al will love it," he said knowing that Al might be disappointed otherwise.
"OK." Zack stared at him for a minute, and Mark patiently waited for him to either speak or go away.
"We like you so sometimes we go overboard," Zack said.
Mark blushed.
"Ha! Made you blush," Zack said childishly.
"I think I might be more mature than you are," Mark claimed.
"Hey! What?"
Mark only shrugged like the truth was self-evident.
"You might be a little calmer. Maybe saner. Maybe nicer," Zack listed, strengthening Mark’s argument instead of his own. "It's all part of my charm, and I am one very charming man, Mark."
"I'm probably just too young to appreciate your more mature, sophisticated charm."
"Ouch! My ego just shriveled up and died. It just turned to dust, Mark."
Mark smiled and shrugged again. He was scoring off him left and right.
They had Mark’s birthday party mostly in the back yard. Zack got the biggest steaks he could find. Seeing the scared look on Mark’s face when he slapped them down on the grill, Zack was gratified. The cake was pretty big too. Mark had claimed he wanted a really big cake, but Zack knew it was for Al. They set up a ring of candles around the number 20. Though Al wanted to blow out the candles, he insisted that Mark had to do it himself, or his wish wouldn’t count. Mark made sure not to look at Zack when he made his wish.
They hung the piñata from the tree in the back yard and let Al go crazy trying to hit it while blindfolded. While guiding h
im in the right direction, he and Mark also made sure to stay out of the way when he started swinging. Zack wanted to fill the piñata with raisins, but Mark wouldn’t allow it. He pulled rank and demanded candy so that’s what fell out when Al finally broke it open.
It was a fun day, and Zack was planning an even more fun night.
After the party and the clean up were over, Mark joined Zack in his bedroom.
"I was going to come to you," Zack told him, but Mark wasn’t in the mood to wait.
He was going to strip quickly, but Zack wouldn’t let him. He took Mark’s clothes off while kissing him. Then he stood back and looked at him, but Mark didn’t put up with that for long. Though Mark was ready to jump him, Zack made him stand still.
Zack began with a teasing touch that skimmed Mark’s naked body. His skin hummed with anticipation. At the same time, Zack placed kisses along Mark’s shoulders then down his spine. Mark moaned.
"You’re torturing me for my birthday?" Mark asked, maddened by the lightness of his touch.
"That’s what you get for making me miss your birthday," Zack told him between kisses that now ranged all over his chest.
With a sudden, hard kiss Zack tackled him to the bed. Mark thought they would get serious now, but Zack made him lie still for more torture. There was more kissing and licking, and sometimes the grazing of Zack’s teeth. When he saw Mark lose his patience and reach for his rock hard cock, Zack told him, "I’ll take care of that." His breath was all Mark felt along the length of his body until Zack reached his cock. Then he felt heat and wetness and the silk of Zack’s tongue, followed by slow, deep suction that promised to satisfy.
Zack hadn’t come yet and Mark could see the fire of it in his eyes. He held Mark close and asked him, "What would you like now?"
Mark smiled. He wanted to make Zack come, but he didn’t answer. He leaned down to take Zack’s cock in his mouth but only for a taste. Then he pushed him down on the bed and in position to get fucked. Zack sighed, happy with Mark’s choice. As Mark’s cock worked his insides with deep, all-fulfilling thrusts, Zack felt like this was Mark’s gift to him. But soon Mark made another request.
"Ride me."
Leaning back with his cock ready for Zack, Mark watched him climb on. It was a treat to watch Zack’s strong, golden body rising over him. His legs spreading to take in Mark’s cock, he was a beautiful sight. Looking into Mark’s eyes, Zack lowered himself smoothly until Mark could feel the satisfaction of complete entry. He sighed and moaned, then let out a long groan as Zack rose, pushing himself up on powerful legs. His body dropped in place again where it belonged. Now Zack was rolling his hips, and Mark massaged his thighs where they bulged with effort. Sweat gathered then dripped down Zack’s face. Mark stroked his chest feeling it grow with each breath. Zack was riding hard now, his powerful body keeping a strong, steady rhythm. Mark loved the sight of Zack working so hard for his pleasure, for both their pleasure. Their moans were continuous, overlapping, as they were driven to climax together and desperately say each others names.
With Zack’s chest heaving, Mark made sure to let him breathe between kisses until he got his breath back. Zack was still straddling him as their tongues lapped at each other’s skin then met again in each other’s mouths.
They made love slowly. They kissed softly, endlessly, like they were trying to stretch out time. They wanted to make it a night without end. But the night did end. They slept late and both of them scrambled out of bed ready to sneak out, until Zack realized they were in his bedroom and only Mark needed to sneak away.
Chapter 35
Mark was working on a paper in the formal dining room where he had books and notes spread out over the big table. That was the only use that table was likely to get any time soon. That room didn’t get much light so Zack went over to turn on some lights for Mark. They both jumped as Al yelled, "PJ! No!"
Zack went to see what was going on.
"PJ got out!" Al yelled in a panicked voice when he saw Zack.
Al was by the front door, and it was ajar. Zack kneeled in front of him and took Al's wrists in his hands.
"What do you mean PJ got out? Did you open this door?"
"I..." Al looked at the door guiltily.
"Al! Why?" Zack started to ask in a very angry voice. To him this wasn't about the cat. Much worse possibilities were crowding his mind.
Hearing all this, Mark came over.
"PJ..." Al said, trying to pull away from his father to go outside. When Zack wouldn't let him go, he started to cry, calling PJ's name over and over again.
"I'll look for PJ," Mark said. As he went past them, he patted Al on the back, and he squeezed Zack's shoulder less gently.
Zack got the message, and he lowered the volume.
"You know you are never to open any of the doors that go outside, Al," Zack told him. His voice was harsh but not as loud. He could hear Mark yelling for PJ just outside.
Al was frightened for PJ and for himself. Tears dripped off his chin.
"There was a big bug..." Al tried to explain.
"You opened the door because of a bug?!" Zack was yelling again.
"Yes," Al said through sobs. "I wanted to look at it."
Zack glared at Al, but Al had his eyes closed tight as he cried.
"Let's go look for PJ," Zack said in a tight voice. He wiped the tears off Zack's face with the palm of his hand. He grabbed a tissue to wipe Al's nose.
As they stepped outside, hand in hand, they could see Mark a little further down the street. He was bending down, looking into the neighbors' bushes and under parked cars. They could hear him calling PJ's name softly like he was trying to entice her to come to him. When Mark stood up and looked their way, he shook his head.
Zack and Al went in the other direction. The street lights were coming on. It wasn't completely dark yet, but it was getting there. Al hadn't seen where PJ went so they meandered through the neighborhood. They circled around then back to the house to pick up flashlights and check around in case PJ showed up. As they neared the front porch, they hoped to find PJ waiting there, asking to be let in. When they didn’t see her, they made sure to circle the house in case PJ was somewhere in the yard. Not finding her, they went back out. Al called for PJ in a shaky voice, sometimes soft sometimes loud. They asked anyone they saw, but there had been no sign of a striped cat.
When it got late, Zack left Al home with Mark. Al protested, but Zack couldn't let him wander the neighborhood so late. Mark offered to keep looking so Zack could stay home with Al, but Zack decided that Mark was the right one to stay home. He was calmer. Zack was still on edge, haunted by what could have happened. He couldn't stop thinking of some much worse nightmare he could be living right now. He couldn't help imagining himself desperately searching in the dark, but not looking for a lost cat.
When Zack came back inside, he saw that Mark had Al already in bed. He dreaded telling them that he didn't find PJ. He saw a stack of lost cat fliers that Mark had already printed up. The fliers had PJ’s picture and Mark's phone number underneath. That made sense since he was more likely to be available on short notice. That was good thinking, as was getting these done so fast, plus it probably kept Al occupied too. Zack lingered by the door to Al's room listening to Mark try to get Al to go to sleep.
"You have to sleep. You need to build up your energy for tomorrow when we go and look for PJ again."
"Why won't she come back?" Al asked. Zack was wondering the same thing.
"She's probably just hiding somewhere. Like when she hides from the big vacuum."
"And she'll come home?"
"Sure. We'll go looking tomorrow before you go to school, but you need your sleep first. You'll be tired if you don't get enough rest. Now close your eyes."
"OK," Al agreed sadly and reluctantly.
Zack waved at him from the door.
"I didn't find PJ," he said just as Al opened his mouth to ask.
Mark came to talk to him.
"I'll g
o and look now. You sit with Al," Mark said.
Zack nodded. He saw Mark grab the fliers and some thumb tacks and tape to hold them up. Zack went into Al's room and sat on the floor by Al's bed. He just looked at him for a while as Al looked back. Then Zack rested his head on Al's bed, near his middle. He didn't say anything to Al. He just took his hand and kissed it. Though he was tired, Zack couldn't sleep. He held Al's hand until he closed his eyes and was breathing evenly, finally asleep.
Mark had fallen asleep on the couch. He had promised Al that he would stay near the front door to listen in case PJ came by to scratch at the door so he could open it. The porch light was on, and Mark looked out through the front window for any sign of the cat. He was startled to see Zack sitting on the bench by the front door. He went out to him.
Thinking that Zack might be asleep, Mark came out quietly. Zack turned his head showing him he was awake. Mark could see a bowl with cat food and PJ's favorite treats at his feet.
"Are you going to stay out here all night?" Mark asked.
"Yeah," was all Zack said. He stayed quiet for a while, but Mark was sure he would say more.
"I should have gone after PJ right away," Zack said. "I never thought she would disappear like that. I shouldn’t have delayed."
"She’s probably just not used to being outside so she’s hiding," Mark said. He had told Al something similar.
"I thought Al knew not to open the door. I thought he knew," Zack said.
Mark had seen Zack’s fear for Al. It had consumed him. Now he was worried about Al safety and feeling guilty that he hadn’t found PJ. Mark couldn't think of anything to say to Zack that wouldn't sound like he was telling him that he could never keep Al a hundred percent safe. There was no way to make sure that Al would never put himself in danger. And even if Al and Zack and Mark, all did everything right, there were still no guarantees. None of that was something Zack needed to hear, but it was all Mark could think to say. Zack turned to look at him.
"Go to sleep," Zack told him with a smile. "Didn't you tell Al he had to rest up for tomorrow? That goes for you too."
