Zach
The sun was shining through the gap in the blinds when Zach opened his eyes. With all the changes in the last few days it took him a few blinks to remember he was in Colton’s mother’s house. In the bedroom across the hall from the hot man he wanted more than he’d ever wanted anyone.
He sighed and grabbed his cock. Stroking himself, he indulged in the fantasy that he and Colton were together. It felt a bit wrong jerking off in someone else’s bed, but after last night his balls ached. Momma’s timing couldn’t have been worse.
Or better.
Any decent person would have backed off once they saw the conflict in Colton’s face. Zach had wanted to be decent, but he was hurting. Those brief moments when Colton had wrapped strong arms around Zach, or looked at him as more than just an ass to fuck, did things to Zach. They made him feel warm and safe. And wanted for himself.
Zach could lose himself for hours in those expressive brown eyes. He wanted to taste those lips that were quick to smile and that parted in a way that said Colton wanted Zach.
Thinking about their lips touching sent a shudder through his body, and his cock erupted. The suddenness and intensitycaught him off-guard. He gulped deep breaths to calm the sexual energy coursing through him.
“Fuck,” he whispered hoarsely. If the thought of kissing did that to him, getting fucked would kill him.
He lay still, soaking in the chance to enjoy the moment. None of the asshole brothers were going to barge in and catch him. He didn’t need to explain why he was still in bed.
“Momma, enough!”
Zach jumped. Colton sounded like he was on the other side of the door.
He searched for something to clean up with and settled on the T-shirt he’d worn the night before. It needed to be washed anyway.
“Goddamn it! I’m not a kid, and I don’t need this bullshit. Not from you, not from Ted. I’m not a baby.”
“Don’t you speak to me in that tone of voice!”
“Come on. You want to yell at me, you can do it in the front room. It’s not going to change anything. I’m into him, Momma. There’s something special about him, and I’m serious.”
The words trailed off as they walked away.
Zach sat up, afraid to move. His first thought was they heard him, but he dismissed that out of hand. His heart pounded so hard it was going to burst through his ribs. Colton hadn’t even hesitated either, and that was hismother, for chrissake. He wasn’t sure how to parse that. People didn’t defend him or willing to fight for him. It left an ache in the center of his chest.
Tossing aside his shirt, Zach lifted his butt, adjusted his boxers, and got out of bed. He hunted for his jeans and a clean shirt. It was silly to get dressed to take a shower. After the time in the traveling show, he wasn’t modest, but this was Colton and his momma’s home. Worse, she was up and about. He wanted to be decent.
Out of habit, he showered quickly and grumbled to himself about not enjoying the real water pressure and adequate hot water. He forgot about the missed opportunity when he was dressed and ready to find Colton.
There were no voices when he stepped into the hallway, so he made his way toward the kitchen, hoping he’d find a warm body there. A specific warm body, anyway. And just one.
Colton sat at the table in jeans and a T-shirt that fit like a second skin, a coffee cup in one hand and his phone in the other. He smiled when he saw Zach.
“Hey, honey. Sleep well?”
That was a greeting he’d pay to get every morning. Although paying for it meant it wasn’t special. “Yes. How about you?”
“Like a rock.” Colton’s lips quirked at the corners. “At least until Momma woke me. It never fails that when I tell myself it’s my day off, and I’m going to sleep late. Then something—or someone—wakes me up.” Colton stretched up tall, and Zach could hear his back pop. “I’m going to make us breakfast. Do you eat eggs?”
Zach loved how such a simple sentence almost turned his knees into cooked noodles. “Sure. Can I help?”
“Just because I messed up your tea, that doesn’t mean I can’t cook,” Colton said.
Colton smiled, and there was a touch of humor in his words, but Zach heard the embarrassment. “That’s good because I can’t,” he said, walking deeper into the room. “We didn’t cook much while traveling, so I never learned. But I learned how to fetch, carry, and wash up.”
“Well then, doesn’t that make us a pair?” He set his cup down and grabbed a second one from the cupboard. Handing it to Zach, he nodded toward the coffeepot. “Help yourself. I make better coffee than hot tea, I swear.”
Zach stood still for a second. No one ever took care of him. Growing up, Grandpa had him do all the chores. When the Ulmsteads arrived, none of them did a single nice thing for him. He accepted the cup and quickly filled it. “Coffee’s fine. I prefer it for breakfast. Tea is for when I’m stressed.”
“Reports show that most tea has at least as much caffeine as coffee.” Colton looked over his mug as he sipped. “Just saying.”
