Chapter Four
Pike woke up before Zack, an occurrence so rare that he tried to savor it, watching him sleep. He already looked older than the guy that Pike had first met—face more angular, muscles more defined, a hardness around his eyes that hadn’t been there a few years ago that spoke to his SEAL work and a softness around his mouth that spoke to what they had, what they’d found together. His hair was slightly darker now, still with bleached highlights from the sun, and asleep he looked so peaceful that Pike was totally content to cuddle up and wait for him to wake up slowly.
After sex the night before, they’d showered a second time, done their best to fix the bed, and fallen asleep while debating the logistics of flip fucking. The lightness had been the perfect antidote to the heaviness of their earlier talking and the emotional punch of the sex. God, seeing Zack trust him like that was something Pike wasn’t ever forgetting. He’d been reluctant to bring up the idea of Zack bottoming sooner because he hadn’t wanted to talk Zack into something he didn’t really want to try, not when what they already had was so damn good. And now he was glad he’d waited, because Zack asking for it, truly wanting it had made all the difference in the world.
“Mmmphf.” Zack yawned and stretched, blinking awake. “Oh. You’re up? How late is it?”
“Not parade time yet,” Pike assured him.
“Are we going to text Paulo? Find out where to watch it?” Zack cuddled Pike from behind.
“Do you want me too? It’s okay if you’d rather not be friendly.” Pike wiggled around, both getting more comfortable and saying hello to Zack’s morning wood.
“We can be friendly.” Zack kissed his ear. “We know where we stand with each other now, and you can always use more people to talk teacher stuff with.”
“I know exactly where I belong.” Tipping his head back, Pike found his mouth for a soft kiss.
Growling low, Zack rolled so that Pike was on top of him before deepening the kiss, exploring Pike’s mouth with a languid thoroughness that left Pike breathless.
“You know that flip fuck idea?” Zack gave him a crooked smile as they pulled apart for air. “Maybe not this morning.”
“Sore?” Damn. Pike hoped he hadn’t gone too hard the night before.
“A little. It’s not bad. I kinda like feeling it when I move around. But yeah, maybe not fucking today.”
“You wanna do me?” Pike peered down at him.
“Nah. I want more of this.” Zack pulled him down for another kiss, shifting around until Pike was plastered against his side, guiding Pike’s hand to his cock. This always seemed one of Zack’s favorite positions, rubbing off together. And Pike was happy to oblige him, stroking him slow while he thrust against Zack’s hip. It didn’t take long before the kisses got hotter and their bodies sped up.
“Fuck. I really can still feel you.” Zack surged up to meet Pike’s motions. “Love it.”
“Yeah?” Pike couldn’t say he had a personal kink for the morning-after feeling, but he got what Zack was saying, and it made his chest all warm, knowing that Zack didn’t regret the fucking.
“Mmmm.” Knocking Pike’s hand away, Zack took over the stroking. “Touch me there. Please.”
Gently, Pike stroked Zack’s balls then rubbed his slightly swollen rim with barely-there touches.
“God. That. Feels amazing. Fucking lightening,” Zack groaned. The hitch in his breath told Pike that he was close, so Pike quickly sucked on his finger, getting it wet, then teased Zack’s rim a little more deliberately, still rubbing up against his side with his body. And when Zack moaned, his own body surged. He pressed harder with his finger, and then Zack was coming, long, creamy ropes all over his belly. Zack’s moans and the look of bliss on his face spurred Pike into thrusting faster, getting the friction he needed to slip over the edge too.
“Good morning to me.” Zack laughed as Pike rolled onto his back. “Now I’m starving.”
“Me too. Expect a huge line for food.”
Zack groaned. “No good. I’ve got things to do after the parade.”
“Oh?” Pike found a towel on the floor to mop up the worst of their mess.
“I want to get my tattoo permanent.” Sitting up, Zack nodded decisively. He inspected his bicep which had faded considerably after two showers.
“You’re getting rainbow scroll work—rainbow anything—permanent? You do remember how much you’re changing in front of others, right?”
“Yes. And that’s kind of why I want it. Coming here with you, I really get why they call it Pride now. And I am proud of us. Proud of what we’ve got. I went so long hiding who I was and then hiding the best parts of me and even more recently, I’ve let worries stop me from fully embracing that pride. So yeah, I want a rainbow. A bad ass rainbow, right on my arm, telling everyone that I’m not afraid of who I am. I’m done hiding and holding back.”
“I love you so damn much.” Pike tackle hugged him. “I can’t wait to see it there forever. Wait. Should I get one too?”
“We don’t need the matchy thing.” Zack returned his embrace. “I know we’re a team and that we’re solid. If you want one for you, one that might mean something, then go for it, but you don’t have to.”
“We are a team. A good one.”
“Exactly. I’ve got my team out in the field, and I’ve got my home team with you. And I wanna celebrate that today.”
“Then, let’s get to it. Shower. Food. Parade. Tattoo. I’m here for it.”
“I’m here for all of it.” Zack pulled him back down before he could leave the bed. “Here for wherever life takes us next.”
And as they kissed, Pike knew he meant it, and that it didn’t really matter what life tossed at them—they’d confront it all together, come out stronger, like a rainbow after a hard storm. Zack and what they had together was everything good and right and perfect in the world, and that really was all that mattered.
~The End~
Want more ficlets and updates on other favorite characters? Make sure you’re in my Facebook fan group, for all the latest news, contests, and freebies. And newsletter subscribers always get the latest news on releases, freebies, and more!
Want more books like the #Gaymers series? Be sure and check out the #PortlandHeat, #PerfectHarmony, #OutOfUniform, and stand-alone universes. Also available at Apple, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, and Google Play.
ALSO BY ANNABETH ALBERT
Winning Bracket
Resilient Heart
Waiting for Clark
Save the Date (with Wendy Qualls)
Level Up
Better Not Pout (November 2018)
The Portland Heat Series
Served Hot
Baked Fresh
Delivered Fast
Knit Tight
Wrapped Together
Danced Close
The Perfect Harmony Series
Treble Maker
Love Me Tenor
All Note Long
The #Gaymers Series
Status Update
Beta Test
Connection Error
The Out of Uniform Series
Off Base
At Attention
On Point
Wheels Up
Squared Away
Tight Quarters (July 2018)
Rough Terrain (January 2019)
The Rainbow Cove Series
Trust with a Chaser
Tender with a Twist
Plus more coming!
Author Bio:
Annabeth Albert grew up sneaking romance novels under the bed covers. Now, she devours all subgenres of romance out in the open— no flashlights required! When she’s not adding to her keeper shelf, she’s a multi-published Pacific Northwest romance writer.
Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. Annabeth loves finding happy endings for a variety of pairings and is a passionate gay rights supporter. In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two children.
Contact & Media Info:
| | |
|