Even though he was expecting Falcon, the instinctive who the hell’s leaning on my car? defensiveness rose before Blane could quell it. Then he relaxed and smiled, raising a hand in a wave.

Of course it was Falcon. He hadn’t stood him up yet, and he’d had the opportunity.

He’d brought clothes to change into from his work uniform, but he still felt self-conscious in his jeans and polo shirt compared to their last date. But Falcon was in jeans, too, and a clingy white t-shirt that was absolutely designed to show his body off.

“Hey, good-looking,” he greeted Falcon with a grin.

Falcon grinned back at him. “Hello yourself, handsome.” He patted the hood of Blane’s car. “I figured I’d take a turn to drive us today. You’ve got a parking sticker or whatever for the lot, right?”

“Yeah. Makes sense,” Blane agreed, opening the back door of his car to toss his backpack in. He locked it again, then put his keys away. “Lead on.”

Falcon looped his arm through Blane’s and strolled to one of the few remaining cars in the lot. “How was your work day?”

“Pretty good, thanks,” Blane answered. It was unfamiliar, having someone ask him that. He was used to getting home to a quiet house and a quiet life. “Uh… what’s new… not much. Routine exams, no emergencies. Sheila, the sloth, is about ready to leave for her new home.”

“Aw,” Falcon frowned.

“I know. But it was a temporary loan. Zoos trade animals back and forth according to veterinary needs, planned exhibits, available space…”

“Like, how does that work? You call up Nashville and go pssst, hey, I have a hippo but I need a giraffe?” Falcon laughed.

“Actually, pretty close,” Blane grinned. “I’m not in charge of that stuff, but the people who are have a network. Kind of a bulletin board. You’re not allowed to charge money, so you end up coming to a mutual agreement that, say, a small herd of zebras is worth an elephant.”

“Wow.” Falcon pulled away from Blane as they approached his car, a beat-up little thing. “I had no idea.”

Blane grinned and ducked into the car, fitting himself carefully into the front seat. He felt too big for it, but that was a common problem with hatchbacks. It had taken days at car dealerships to pick out one of his own that he felt comfortable stretching out in. “And your day?”

“My day was… boring, I guess. Mostly digital today. I wanted to come back and sketch Sheila one more time soon, if I can ever find her awake,” Falcon laughed. “People online like sloths.”

“They do. We saw a lot of visitors. That factors into the value of animals… more people will come to see an elephant than a sloth, but more people will see a sloth than a zebra…”

“This is crazy. This is like a whole economy.” Falcon kept his eyes on the road rather than looking over at Blane while he drove. “How cool. Thank you for telling me that.”

Blane laughed. “That made your day, didn’t it?”

“It did!” Falcon beamed. “This pizza place is close, isn’t it?”

“Just around that corner. Yeah, and then go that way.” Blane glanced around the interior of the car. Not a mess, but also not tidy. He spotted scraps of paper, business cards, a few water bottles. It was homey, not that strange kind of sterile shape that some people liked to keep their cars in. Like they were new off the lot, but without the new-car smell.

“Got a call from that asshole ex. I’m meeting up with him to, I guess, let him apologize or something,” Falcon laughed. “Out of the blue, after all these years.”

Blane looked over sharply in surprise, then frowned. “Huh. Nice?”

“I hope so. I don’t really give a fuck anymore,” Falcon laughed. “But if it makes him feel better, hey, he can go to town.”

He’s not stuck in the past, then. Blane nodded, trying to pretend he hadn’t been assessing Falcon as a partner. “Good. I’m glad.”

“The wedding is about the only other thing that’s up right now,” Falcon said. “Which was why he called. He’s gonna be there, so he wanted to talk beforehand.”

“Ahh. Yeah. This is the guy who wanted you to be a secret, right?” Blane didn’t mean it to sound so critical, but Falcon seemed to appreciate it, judging by his laugh.

“Yep.”

Blane shook his head. “Family stuff. So awkward.”

“Right? Do yours live near?”

“No. Illinois and Kentucky,” Blane answered. “After the divorce, Mom moved back closer to her parents.”

“Oh. Sorry.” Falcon looked over for half a second, then made the final turn into the pizza place’s parking lot.

Blane smiled to himself. “It’s fine. I was an adult, I got over it pretty quickly. They’re happier now. Mom’s got a boyfriend and Dad’s picked up new hobbies, that kind of stuff.”

“Better no relationship than a bad one,” Falcon said. “My mom’s been single since Dad walked out, ages ago. She’s always said it was the best thing to happen to her.”

Blane looked up quickly. “Yes. Yes, oh, man. So many people don’t get that.”

“I know,” Falcon groaned. “And jump into relationships because they’re afraid of being single? This is why I don’t have friends. I’m too… uh… blunt.”

Blane laughed. “Don’t tell me, you tell them the truth instead of what they want to hear.”

“Got it in one.” Falcon looked rueful but grinned at Blane. “So, how does this work?”

“You wanna do the drive-in, or sit inside?”

Falcon exclaimed, “Drive-in! How many drive-in restaurants are around these days?”

“Okay,” Blane laughed. “So you pick one of those spots,” he guided Falcon to the spots along the edge of the lot. “And…”

“Oh man, there’s an order board. Genius,” Falcon nodded. Each spot had its own menu board with a call button, and the car hops brought food out on trays. “Got it.”

Blane leaned in to look at the menu, though he didn’t really need to. He already knew what he liked.

“Wanna split a pizza?” Falcon asked, grinning. “Is this where we find out how incompatible our toppings are?”

“I think we can find a topping combination that works for us,” Blane answered, his grin widening.

Falcon nodded seriously. “I like some good toppings. But I can be flexible.”

“How convenient. I like to give a good topping.” Blane pointed to the board. “And on your pizza?”

“Literally whatever pizza you like,” Falcon laughed. “You overestimate how picky I am.”

“And we need onion rings. Unless you mind onion breath.”

Falcon looked back at the menu. “They’re that good?”

“They really are that good.” Blane dug cash out of his wallet.

“No, I’ve got it—”

“It’s cash only.”

Falcon frowned at his wallet, then Blane. “Oh, I see. Sneaky. If you keep this up, I’ll owe you… well.” He winked.

“That’s my plan,” Blane teased.

“Mmm. Yet you didn’t come in after Saturday night,” Falcon teased, and Blane wasn’t sure why that made him blush. “Did you?”

“Place the order,” Blane grumbled. “Large number seven. Easy?”

“I like mushrooms. Sold.” Falcon rolled down his window and pressed the call button, beaming at Blane as he waited for an answer. Those dimples were back, obnoxiously cute as ever. Falcon looked like he was having fun all the time, but even more so now.

It was sweet. It made Blane want to show him everything cool in the world to see that smile.

Once they’d ordered, Falcon rolled up the window again. “So, what were we saying?”

“When?”

“Just now. About what we’re doing tonight after this. Whether I’m dropping you off in the parking lot, or…”

Blane’s gaze flickered to Falcon’s lips. He was suddenly aware of how much the confined space amplified the chemistry between them. They could neither get much further away or much closer. The seats trapped them at a distance a little too close to keep conversation clean, but too far to do anything about it.

“Or?” Blane prompted.

Falcon grinned slowly. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

Blane’s chest jolted with a mix of trepidation and excitement. Sure, he wanted to sleep with Falcon, but… not if that was going to be it. He didn’t want the first time to be the last.

Moving pretty fucking fast, aren’t you, he told himself, but he ignored that. His gut instinct was telling him it was the right move. When he actually listened to it, it worked. When he didn’t, he wound up on “first dates” with guys who wanted a pretext for sex.

Falcon was more than that. Falcon liked him, and vice versa. Hell, they might end up as friends-with-benefits, or dating (loosely defined), or dating (officially)… there was only one way to find out.

He licked his lips. “Yeah. I was hoping, too.”

Falcon pulled the lever to lean his seat back and stretched out, lacing his hands behind his head. His shirt lifted, exposing smooth belly and drawing Blane’s eye for a maddening moment. “And now I guess we wait for our order.”

Never had Blane been more glad he’d chosen a restaurant with quick service.

* * *

Directing Falcon to his home was easy. As it turned out, they lived within half a mile of each other, though Falcon hadn’t been into his particular part of the suburban maze before.

“Oh, this is it? Cute place,” Falcon complimented him as they pulled into his driveway.

Oh, the neighbors are gonna talk. Good. Let ’em.

Blane got out and led Falcon up the front walkway to his front door. He was very conscious of Falcon standing a little too close to him, his warm breath on his neck.

It made him fumble with his keys before he managed to let them inside, holding the door.

Falcon grinned, looking around. “Are we alone?”

“Strictly no sloth company or otherwise,” Blane promised, making Falcon laughed. “Can I take your jacket?”

“Ever the gentleman,” Falcon laughed and handed it over, then took his shoes off.

Blane showed him around the ground floor—mostly open-plan, so the tour took five seconds—and to the kitchen for water. He had the feeling they’d need the rehydration shortly.

“It’s a cute little place inside, too,” Falcon told him. “Nice inside and out. Like you.” He was giving Blane that flirty little grin again that he hardly knew what to do with.

“How do you know? You haven’t seen that much yet.” Blane grinned back.

“Is that an offer?”

Blane laughed. “Well… like I said, vers top.”

“Is that what you were saying at the pizza place?” Falcon feigned innocent. “I had no idea.” He wandered closer, pinning Blane against the counter with his body and setting his glass down behind him. He rested a hand on the counter on either side of Blane.

“You minx.” Blane laughed at Falcon. “I don’t know what to do with you.”

Falcon bounced on his toes, then leaned in to breathe into Blane’s ears, “Ooh. I have some ideas. Pick me.”

Blane twisted to shove his glass out of the way, then closed his hands around Falcon’s narrow hips, running them slowly up his sides to his shoulders. “Oh, you do? And what are those?”

“I think you should bring me somewhere more comfortable to… discuss them in depth. In lots of depth, preferably,” Falcon smirked. “Without anything in the way.”

Blane growled and hoisted Falcon up against him, laughing as Falcon wrapped his arms and legs tightly around him. “I’m not carrying you up the stairs.”

“Aw,” Falcon sighed, pressing his lips into Blane’s neck. As Blane set him on the bottom step, he turned and grinned. “You want to molest me on the stairs, don’t you?”

“Guilty.” Blane grabbed Falcon’s ass before he could jog up the stairs out of the way.

Falcon squeaked and laughed, taking the stairs two at a time as Blane chased him. Blane couldn’t even remember the last time he’d chased someone—on the playground as a kid? He’d been serious even as a kid, but something about Falcon enticed Blane to have fun.

Falcon was at a disadvantage, hesitating as he eyed the doors at the top of the stairs.

Blane caught up and swept him off his feet again, then maneuvered him through the doorway of his bedroom to dump him on the bed. “Gotcha.”

“Just where you want me?” Falcon was breathless and flushed, his hair sticking up and t-shirt rising to expose his stomach as he stretched again, playfully wriggling under Blane.

“Bingo.” Blane crawled over Falcon and hooked a finger in his t-shirt, slowly drawing it up and over his head. “This can get out of the way of my view.” He had no idea where this was going tonight, and he didn’t care. Any kind of sex was fine with him. He’d do anything Falcon wanted to make him feel good.

Falcon grinned. “I feel the same about your clothes. Let’s get all that off, huh?”

“Agreed.” Blane pulled off clothing as fast as Falcon, both of them trying to help each other but doing a more efficient job on themselves. They laughed as they tangled, kicking jeans off awkwardly. Falcon had a harder time, his jeans being skinnier, but they managed it.

Falcon was gorgeous naked, and Blane took a moment for mutual admiration, bracing himself on his hands above Falcon and pulling back to get a good look.

“Come here,” Falcon murmured, yanking on his ass to make him collapse on top of him.

God, that felt good. Naked, pressed skin-to-skin, without a trace of the usual self-consciousness and nervousness of being naked with someone for the first time. Maybe because they’d already had sex last week, even swallowed… that memory had kept Blane good company in his showers ever since.

Their skin was warm, and more than anything, it felt comfortable here against Falcon, his hips angled so their cocks were side-by-side, his forearms braced on the bed, chests rising and falling against one another’s.

And Falcon’s lips were right there. His eyes settled on them for a moment before he looked Falcon in the eye again and smiled.

Falcon’s eyes were half-closed, and he licked his lips. “You’re so fucking hot. Kiss me.”

Blane shivered with pleasure at the words and did that, letting warm skin slide along skin as their lips teased each other’s. The teasing lasted seconds before it got serious, breathing heavy, tongues sliding against one another’s and almost vying for dominance.

Falcon kissed hard, threw himself into it without reserve, and it was almost overwhelming for Blane. He’d always taken it slower, gently easing into it, but Falcon dragged him in all at once, gasping and desperate.

It was second nature to grind against Falcon slowly, letting their hardening lengths rub.

Falcon’s moan was immediate and sharp. “Yes,” he panted, his hand rising from Blane’s back to the back of his head as he pulled him in for an even harder kiss.

Blane groaned as Falcon caught his lower lip and nipped it, then sucked hard. He was tempting him, driving him crazy, and Blane loved every fucking second of it.

“Fuck,” he hissed once his mouth was his own again. He pressed another open-mouthed kiss of need against Falcon’s lips, then slid his lips along Falcon’s jaw to his ear, kissed along the earlobe, flicked his tongue sharply against it.

“Nnnh. Found it,” Falcon mumbled.

“Hm?”

“The first key.” Falcon smirked, but the expression was wiped off his face when Blane brought his finger up to gently run along the rim of his ear. “Fuck!”

Blane grinned, glad for this discovery.

Falcon was so sensitive… or maybe he’d been just as turned on in the anticipation that had dragged out every spark throughout their pizza date. Now, all the sparks were back at once, an explosion of frustrated need and desire they reflected back at each other.

“Nipples work too. Actually… pretty much everything works at this stage,” Falcon laughed breathlessly.

Blane was careful of Falcon’s erection and his own as he shifted down, kissing slowly down to his collarbone. He teased the thin skin there with more kisses, then worked his way to a nipple.

Just as promised, Falcon squirmed as soon as he closed his lips around one nub of flesh. Oh, man, he’s gonna be fun. Blane grinned wickedly at him, then flicked his tongue there as he had Falcon’s ear.

Falcon was squirming under him already, gasping for breath. “Fuck… fuck! Yes,” he panted. Blane could feel him throbbing with need.

Blane repeated the particular circling of his tongue that had gotten the most results, then nipped gently while Falcon whimpered. He let his fingers continue the work on that nipple and moved to the other.

“Fucking…” Falcon groaned, his words tumbling after each other. “Can’t even think…”

“I love making you swear,” Blane whispered, letting cool air and his warm breath breeze over the wet skin. “You look like you’re gonna burst.”

“Don’t you dare make me come before you…” Falcon trailed off.

“Before I do what to you?” Blane prompted, curious what Falcon wanted.

“I don’t even know what I want. Fuck. More of that, please, but more, too…” Falcon covered his mouth when Blane brushed his lips faintly across the nipple. “Oh, God!”

Blane sucked harder, pinching and rolling the other nipple until Falcon’s body arched clear off the bed.

With this kind of response, how could he not want to move his lips elsewhere? Despite his hunger to taste Falcon and have him in his mouth, he kept it slow and kissed down to his hipbone almost casually.

“Motherfucker,” Falcon muttered into his fist when Blane avoided the base of his cock to kiss his thigh instead.

Blane chuckled deeply. “You’re fucking turned on already,” he murmured. Falcon’s dick was flushed pink and throbbing, and the head was glossy with precome already.

“Of course I am,” Falcon grumbled. “Hurry up.”

“And?”

“Suck me,” Falcon mumbled, almost too quietly for him to hear.

“What—”

“Suck me off,” Falcon hissed, loud and clear. His hands tangled in Blane’s hair, pushing his head toward his cock. “I need you. I need it.”

Blane kissed open-mouthed and firmly, flicking his tongue along the skin from base to tip of the shaft, then swallowed it in one slow, smooth motion.

Falcon tasted as good as before, his shaft as velvety and firm and pleasing on the tongue. And like before, he squirmed and pushed his hips off the bed. “Jesus. Yes. Yes, please. So good…!”

Blane guided Falcon’s hands to the bed, sucking tightly around the head and pushing his head down a few more times before pulling away.

Falcon gasped. “You—fuck—I need…”

“I know,” Blane whispered, sliding up the bed to press a kiss against Falcon’s throat. He made it obvious a moment later what he was doing as he pushed Falcon’s knee aside and spread his stance, slotting his cock alongside Falcon’s.

“Frottage?” Falcon breathed out. “Very old-fashioned. Greek.”

Blane laughed breathlessly. “You can give me the history lesson later,” he told him, reaching down to grip them both in one hand. He thrust slowly once or twice to get a feel for it, then braced himself firmly on one arm. He could already tell how goddamn good this was going to feel.

Falcon whimpered and grabbed Blane’s shoulder blades, leaning up for another of those fierce, attention-grabbing, dirty kisses of his.

One thrust and stroke at a time, Blane squeezed them both firmly onward to the orgasms plunging toward them. The sensation of the ridges and firmness of Falcon against him was enough to bring him along, if the tightness of the ring of his fingers hadn’t already been.

They were both so hot their skin glistened, bodies sliding together in easy heat.

Falcon was clearly on the edge, his fingernails digging into Blane’s skin. He rolled his head away from the kiss to gasp for breath. “Fuck… Blane…!”

“Come on, baby,” Blane whispered. “Don’t hold out for me. Let go.” To be honest, his world was already spinning, his muscles tightening until he couldn’t breathe. He wasn’t going to be able to stop himself for long, either.

As Falcon came, he arched into Blane’s body, his arms looping around his back to press together tightly. His wetness spilled over Blane’s fingers and cock, making him throb with extra need before he couldn’t hold, either.

“Fuck. Yes,” Blane groaned, throwing his head back. And then he was coming, too, thrusting hard against Falcon as they rode the wave of bliss together.

He let go at last, sticky and sweaty and feeling like he’d just run a marathon, but as he rolled onto his side, Falcon followed, keeping his arm around Blane.

Blane laughed under his breath and let Falcon cuddle into his chest, wiping his hand on his thigh and pulling him close even if he was overheating. “You good?”

“A little fucking more than good,” Falcon mumbled into his chest, and Blane grinned even more.

“Was the teasing worth it?”

“Yeah. You can do that anytime,” Falcon whispered.

“I was gonna finger you, too,” Blane hummed. “But you were pretty easy. Maybe next time.”

“Now I can’t wait for next time. You calling me easy?” Falcon flicked Blane’s nipple.

“Oof. Your orgasm was… easy to induce.”

“No, that’s dangerously close to vet territory,” Falcon laughed. “That is not my kink.”

Blane laughed richly, then kissed the top of Falcon’s head before pulling back again. “Having your needs taken care of by a medical professional? I think you just did.”

“I… shut up,” Falcon laughed, rolling onto his back. “Oh, man. We’re a mess.”

“Totally worth it.” Contentment was sinking into Blane’s bones, dragging on his eyelids. It wasn’t even that late in the evening, but he wanted to nap already.

“Totally,” Falcon whispered.

They lay together, shoulders nestled together, for another couple minutes, the silence between them not uncomfortable.

Finally, the inevitable: Falcon pushed himself upright. “I better… clean up. And get going, I suppose. Work and all. Wait, am I stranding you?”

“I got a coworker nearby who’ll give me a lift,” Blane shook his head with a smile at Falcon’s thoughtfulness.

The next few minutes passed in a blur, and it wasn’t until Blane was back in bed—alone this time—that it really sank in.

I want to do this again. And it sounded like Falcon wanted a next time, too. Maybe, even if he doesn’t want to date me… he’ll let me stay around. Eventually I might win him over. Oh, God, don’t think like that.

He dragged a pillow over his face and then rolled over onto it. It was stupid to get his hopes up, especially when Falcon had hinted before that he didn’t date. He wasn’t going to magically change the guy’s mind.

Blane couldn’t keep on assuming without asking, but if he asked and got turned down, he might ruin this one good thing that finally felt like it might be within his grasp.

Rock and a hard place.

He fell asleep remembering the warmth and weight of Falcon against him.