Chapter 14

AS ZACHARY climbed into bed a few nights later with a book, his phone chimed with a text message from Sam:

Just want to say good night and ask if you’re free for dinner tomorrow.

Zachary smiled as he typed.

I’m rereading Dune because your comments about parallels to current terrorist tactics piqued my interest. I’d love to talk to you about it over dinner tomorrow.

Perfect. Let’s go to Corduroy. Great food and a nice quiet place to talk over a bottle of wine.

Done, but I’m buying this time. Text me address and time.

Will do. Sleep tight. XOX

ZACHARY SET the phone on his nightstand and picked up his book again. Sam had taken him to some great restaurants already, so it was definitely his turn to pay. He just hoped Corduroy wasn’t too expensive. Either way, though, it’d be worth it.

It was a pleasure to spend time with someone whose company he enjoyed, who shared his interests, who pushed his intellectual curiosity, and who—most importantly—didn’t seem terrified of the possibility of a relationship. He was glad they were taking the physical side of things slowly. Falling into bed with Thomas the night they met was completely unlike Zachary, and he wouldn’t have done it except for the alcohol and the dare from his friend Fred.

Plus the fact that I wanted Thomas the moment I set eyes on him.

Zachary brushed away the stupid voice in his head. That had been an aberration, a mistake. Or, more charitably, a nice memory he’d be able to dust off in the future and recall that once—okay, twice—he’d been with a man that smart, that accomplished, and that gorgeous. Sam was much more his speed, and maybe tomorrow—or soon, anyway—he’d be ready to make a move. Ramp things up a bit to show Sam he was interested in exploring a relationship.

Will I throw him against a wall? Lick his ass and fuck him into submission?

Zachary shivered at the memories of his second encounter with Thomas and felt himself get hard. Finding that streak of dominance inside himself was a surprise. Not unwelcome, but unsuspected until then. He had loved the way Thomas responded, and he was frankly proud at how good the sex was.

He’d had a decent amount of experience in college, once he found a few gay guys to hang with. Since most of his small circle—like him—were afraid of being seen going into a gay bar, they all practiced on each other like fiends. Nearly everything he knew about sucking and fucking came from those dorm-room encounters where they traded partners and switched up positions. After college, he, Fred, and their buddy Frank all returned to their childhood homes in Ogden. They continued to rely on each other for relief, but it was hard to find discreet places to get together, and the situation wasn’t exactly conducive to learning new moves or techniques.

But someone like Thomas, who knew how good-looking he was and took it for granted that men would fall all over themselves to sleep with him, who had no doubt had hundreds of sex partners… well, surprising him felt special. He alone discovered some button to push that Thomas had never even noticed about himself.

He groaned as he recalled the way Thomas shivered when Zachary claimed him. Reaching into his sleep pants to grasp his hard dick, he stroked it as he thought of that night with Thomas. He worked his flesh and tortured himself with vivid images of Thomas undone beneath him, calling him “Zach” as he came. Zachary shuddered and shot his load into his sleep pants.

After a minute he climbed out of bed to clean himself up and change into a pair of boxer briefs. Then he threw the sticky pants into his laundry basket. No more, he told himself. If he wanted a chance of making something work out with Sam, he was going to have to stop thinking of Thomas.

SAM WAS waiting at a table in Corduroy when Zachary arrived. He looked nice in a blue shirt and sports coat, with his slightly long, auburn hair brushed back casually. He stood to kiss Zachary on the cheek when he reached the table.

As they both sat down, Sam said, “I hope you don’t mind, but I ordered some martinis already. Dry with olive and a twist, right?”

Zachary chuckled. “You really pay attention. I haven’t had a martini since that first dinner in New Orleans, and you still remember.”

“Of course I do,” Sam said with a grin. “I got up the nerve to ask out a handsome man like you. You can bet I remember every detail.”

The waiter brought their cocktails, and they touched glasses and chatted easily for a bit. When they opened their menus, Sam asked, “Have you seen the new Captain America movie yet?” as they looked over the options.

“What kind of nerd would I be if I hadn’t waited in line for the first midnight showing of Civil War?” Zachary said, and he smiled. “I’d like to see it again, though, if you’re interested.”

“That would be great. Better yet, can we do a marathon of First Avenger and The Winter Soldier before going to the new one?” Sam asked.

“Sebastian Stan is so hot, right?”

“I know. I keep hoping they’ll ramp up the bromance and have Cap and Bucky get it on.”

That was how the conversation ran all night, and Zachary was in heaven to let his geek flag fly. As much as he wanted to make a professional name for himself, advance a career, find a new identity as an out-and-proud gay man in DC, he didn’t want to let go completely of the things he had loved through high school and college, like comic books and superhero movies.

“Movie marathon. Roger,” Zachary said. “How about Saturday? Oh, wait, I can’t. I’m working at Rainbow Space that day. Sunday?”

“I can do Sunday. No problem,” Sam answered as he took another sip of his martini. “Is this the LGBT shelter you were telling me about?”

“Yes. I’m going to do some work with Joe. He’s the guy I mentioned who runs the place. I’m going to get his donor database updated, and then we’ll be making dinner for the kids. Hey, what about making our Marvel-movie marathon a group thing for any nerdy teenagers who want to participate?”

Sam tilted his head. “Is it awful of me if I say I’d really like to spend the time with just you this Sunday? Maybe we could do a group thing the following weekend. I don’t know, maybe some Star Trek?”

“It isn’t awful at all. I get it. I’ll talk to Joe about a viewing party next week.”

“I really admire that you do so much for these teenagers. I might have some time to help too, if you wouldn’t feel like I was crowding you. This is your thing, and I don’t want you to feel you have to share it.”

Zachary sat up straight and said, “Are you serious? I’d love it if you got involved. God, there’re so many things that always need to be done, even with the chores that Joe requires the kids do in return for their bed and meal. There are a couple of computers at the shelter, but they run like molasses, and the software is way out of date. Maybe you could help us get them at least into the twenty-first century?”

“Sure. That shouldn’t be hard,” Sam assured him. “I’ll take a look when we have the marathon next week.”

The food at Corduroy was arranged artistically on their plates and tasted rich and exotic to Zachary’s untrained palate. He was nervous about his cauliflower soup with parmesan, but the creamy texture quickly had him scraping the bottom of his bowl. Sam offered him a taste of lobster carpaccio, but that was a little more than Zachary felt ready to handle. On the other hand, his lamb loin with spinach was delicious and satisfying, and Sam’s flounder was delicate. After the elaborate presentation, Zachary was relieved when the check wasn’t astronomical, and he placed his credit card in the black folio.

Sam said, “Thank you for dinner. You didn’t have to do that.”

“I know, but I wanted to. I may not be a fancy consultant, but I’m hardly struggling.”

“I didn’t mean to imply that,” Sam said. He bit his lip and looked concerned. “I just enjoy doing things like this with you.”

“Me too. Hey, what about having a night cap somewhere?” Zachary asked. Mata Hari crossed his mind, but he wasn’t ready to take Sam there, not until things were more established between them. He didn’t want to risk facing Thomas yet. Once he was more secure in a new relationship, it wouldn’t hurt so much to see Thomas hook up with some other guy.

Yeah, right.

Sam smiled shyly. “How would you feel about coming back to my apartment for that night cap? No pressure, but I think it would be nice to spend some quiet time together.”

Zachary took his hand across the table. “I’d like that.”

SAM’S APARTMENT was in the Penn Quarter, in the residences attached to the Newseum, on the top floor. As they entered, Zachary looked across hardwood floors and a large Persian carpet and out through a wall of windows across a balcony facing south. The view was of the National Gallery, lit up and magnificent, and several of the Smithsonian buildings that lined the far side of the Mall.

As soon as Sam took his coat, Zachary walked to the windows and didn’t hide how impressed he was. He tried hard not to think about his trip to the National Gallery with Thomas and Randy as he called out over his shoulder, “Sam, this is incredible. What a view. I noticed this building once when I was walking on the Mall, and I never dreamed I’d see the inside of it one day.”

“I’ve only lived here a few months, but I really like it. Now can I get you that drink? What would you like?”

“Surprise me,” Zachary said. A few minutes later, Sam brought him a glass filled with a creamy liquid.

“This is my version of a Nutty Irishman. It’s Bailey’s, Frangelico, and fresh mint over crushed ice,” Sam explained.

Zachary took a sip and murmured appreciatively. “That’s delicious. Like dessert in a glass.”

“Come sit with me.” Sam held out his hand and led Zachary to a sleek, upholstered sofa that faced the wall of windows.

He picked up a remote, pressed a button, and the lights in the apartment dimmed so they could better enjoy the view spread out before them. He pressed another button and a hidden sound system began to play the orchestral score to The Lord of the Rings. Zachary chuckled and leaned back and into Sam, who put an arm around Zachary’s shoulder. They sat contentedly and sipped their drinks as they enjoyed the view. Finally Sam took both of their empty glasses, set them on the cocktail table, and leaned in to kiss Zachary.

It was a sweet kiss, friendly and warm, and Zachary enjoyed it. He put his arms around Sam, pulled him closer, and opened his lips slightly to invite Sam’s tongue inside. Sam felt nice in his arms, and his body was lean and wiry.

I could get used to this.

He was relaxed, and Sam made him feel good. Little was happening for him below the waist, but so what? It was new, and they were just getting to know each other. There was no rush.

Sam seemed to feel the same way because he leaned back from the kiss and said softly, “I really like you, Zachary. I don’t mean to be presumptuous, but I need to say that this is enough for me tonight. Making out, I mean. I hope that doesn’t pose a problem.”

Zachary smiled and ran a fingertip along Sam’s jaw. “Believe me, that’s fine. I like taking it slow too. You feel great, and I like kissing you. This is really good for me for now.”

Sam kissed him again and said, “I’m glad. You make me feel safe and protected, and I like that.” He pulled Zachary closer to him, and they snuggled together on the sofa contentedly. Then he murmured against Zachary’s head, “I heard that ‘for now,’ by the way. Believe me, I see a ‘now’ when I’m nowhere near as uptight with you.”

“Ditto,” Zachary said, and he tried hard not to think about the last time he let down his guard and rained passion upon….

Stop it. Sam is perfect for me. Don’t fuck this up.