Zach rushes to get dressed for pizza after our shower, then shoves an extra towel at me through a crack in the door, like he doesn’t want Ben to accidentally get a peek. I wasn’t expecting Jealous Zach. It’s pretty damn cute.

I wrap the towel around my waist and sneak from one doorway to the one kitty-corner from it. Water drips from my hair onto my back and neck but I leave the towel in place. I’m not losing this opportunity to creep on his bedroom.

There is no artwork or posters like someone his age might have, and the only decoration on his wall is his framed diploma, granting his bachelor degrees, because of course he earned dual degrees in business and data science, and declaring him summa cum laude and a graduate of the honors program. As if I needed more reasons to feel inferior.

His bed is a full size with a sensible blue cotton comforter and a much less sensible crocheted afghan in a variety of orange hues tossed at the foot. It isn’t until I get to the bookshelf that I see Zach reflected in this room. Non-fiction takes up a majority of rows, many of which I’m guessing were for his degree, but I bet a lot were just topics he developed a sudden curiosity over. A few graphic novels and some very prettily-bound hardback fantasy novels line the bottom row. It’s so neat and tidy; if this were in anyone else’s bedroom, you’d think the books were all for show. But pulling one out at random proves differently, with finger-worn edges and highlighted sticky-noted pages. Zach has probably read each one cover to cover.

“You’re going to get my books wet.” Zach’s voice comes from the doorway, and I don’t have to turn around to know he’s turning pink.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to embarrass you,” I say, carefully replacing the book and grabbing my backpack that I dropped inside the doorway earlier.

“You didn’t.” He waves a hand in front of himself in a fluttery way that contradicts that statement. “It’s just … personal.”

I nod, because I totally get it. It’s why I was snooping in the first place.

“But I don’t mind you looking,” he adds, and ducks away, presumably to keep me from seeing his blush deepen even further.

By the time I’m dressed, Ben and Zach are already seated on the couch with plates of pizza in their laps and Bizarre Foods on the television. Funny how I was thinking about that show earlier. I hadn’t made a reference, but now I know Zach would have gotten it if I had.

“Grab a plate and come watch,” Ben says with a half-assed gesture toward the pizza box lying open on the kitchen table.

“How can you watch that show while you’re eating?” I pick up a plastic plate that looks like the top half of R2-D2 and snicker.

“Those are Ben’s,” Zach calls out, as if making sure I know he’s nerdy, but not that nerdy.

“And they’re awesome,” Ben says. “We can play a game instead, if you want.”

“Mario Kart?” Zach says with an adorable hopefulness, and I find myself willing to play that stupid game all afternoon if he wants.

Ben scoffs. “I was thinking a real game.”

“If these are real plates, then Mario Kart is a real game,” I say, sitting down with my R2-D2 plate piled high with pepperoni and black olive pizza. There will be a small pile of olives to the side by the time I’m finished. Olives gross me out. “I’m down with that.”

Ben makes a gagging sound before snatching up a remote to switch the TV over to the game system. “Oh my god, you guys have only been on like two dates and you’re already making me want to vomit.”

Zach flushes a shade to match Princess Peach, which is of course the character he picks. He’s smug, though, as he says, “You’re just mad that I finally get to play a game I like.”

“’Cause you like stupid games.”

My feelings must be on full display across my face because Zach quickly pats my knee. “He’s just kidding. Ben likes to tease me because he can’t understand why I don’t cream my pants over every shoot-em-up game out there.”

I’d laugh at his video game description if his hand wasn’t still on my leg, only the patting has morphed into gentle strokes up and down my thigh, and I don’t think he’s noticed that he’s doing it.

“And I tease him back for being a hairless gorilla who can’t be bothered with dishes or proper grammar. So it’s all fair.”

I can’t choke out a response. I’m too focused on R2-D2 plates and the rank smell of olives in order to keep from getting hard in front of Ben. Zach’s quizzical look travels downward from my face, until he finally catches himself and jerks his hand back like it’s been burned.

I don’t really want more pizza, but it gives me a chance to adjust myself away from way-too observant eyes. I’m mostly calm once I sit back down, until Zach reaches over and grabs one of the olives from my plate and pops it into his mouth. He smirks like he’s gotten away with something, then absently pushes at the bridge of his glasses.

Ben and Zach only have two controllers, so we have to take turns racing each other. It might be one of his favorites, but Zach comes in last every single time. It doesn’t seem to bother him, though, the way it would the guys I usually play games with. They’d be trash-talking each other or tossing the controller and walking away pissed off by now. But not Zach. He keeps muttering little words of encouragement and cheering himself on. I don’t think he realizes he’s doing it, either. I glance to Ben, who has a hard scowl directed toward me, like he’s daring me to say something bad about Zach’s earnestness so he’ll have an excuse to pummel me for it.

I realize now his teasing attempts to steer us to a different game earlier might have been more strategic than Zach will probably ever know.

Zach loses again. He was intently leaning forward while playing, but now he stretches and cracks his knuckles like he does this all the time, and didn’t just get his ass whooped.

“Oh well. That’s the best time I’ve had so far. Did you see?”

“You were amazing,” I say, and peck his lips, wishing I was brave enough to turn the “were” to an “are.” The smile I’m rewarded with could keep me warm for an entire week. The feelings Zach fills me with are so contrary and unfamiliar. I can’t decide whether I want to cradle him and keep him safe, or eat him up in one gulp. He looks up at me from under those thick, nearly white lashes like it’s the first time he’s ever been called amazing, and I decide that eating him up is the way to go at the moment.

“You know, Zach, there’s a book in your room that I had a question about. You wanna?” I nod my head toward his room.

“Subtle,” Ben snorts. “Don’t mind me. I’ll just be in here playing with the headphones on.”

Before I know it, Zach has dragged me into his bedroom and pushed me against the door after closing it. He walks away and I only have a few seconds for my brain to catch up before he returns with a pillow that he tosses at my feet before dropping to his knees. Holy fuck, he looks like he's ready to devour me.

“I was gonna …” is about all I can get out with Zach’s hands on my zipper.

“Me first,” he says while opening my pants. “It’s my best time reward, so you have to do what I want.”

Zach flashes a grin that self-proclaims him the winner, then his expression turns greedy and he sets to work. His nose nudges the part of my briefs that are exposed and he inhales like he wants to get drunk on my scent. A wet trail forms along the edge of my briefs as he licks along that line, and my jeans are jerked down to my ankles.

“Fuuuuck.” I lean my head against the door, overwhelmed by the teasing sensations. “Zach, you're killing me.”

The only response I get is a pleased hum as he rubs his face back and forth across my covered crotch, his tongue-slicked lips deliberately trailing along the outline of my cock. His fingers leave light trails up and down my thighs until they find the bottom edge of my briefs and tease the sensitive skin there. Those slender fingers continue their path up under the fabric, but avoid my dick with infuriating ease. My hips buck to the sides, and I hear a smothered giggle and feel it tickle my balls.

“Zach.” I'm actually whining at this point, but goddamn it, I need to be touched.

Finally his fingers reach the top of my briefs and slowly start to peel the fabric down over my cock. The air feels even cooler because my skin is so wet, although I'm not sure if it’s my precum or his saliva, and honestly, I don't fucking care.

Zach's tongue reaches out and swipes circles around the rim of my cockhead before he closes his lips around it and sucks. My legs tremble, and it’s a good thing there's a door behind me, or I'd be on the ground right now. Zach continues that pattern of swiping his tongue between my cock and his tight lips, then pushing forward, little by little, until my whole cock is buried in his mouth and down his throat, and his tongue is making little suckling pulses along the bottom of my shaft. Goddamn, I think he's pulling slivers of my brain down through my dick because the only thing I can think right now is how badly I want to thrust and make him choke on it.

Zach pulls back until I'm all the way out of his mouth, but there's still strands of saliva connecting us. I wind my hands into his hair before mentally checking myself to keep from going full-on animal. He reaches a hand up to cover my own, then guides me into gripping his hair harder into a fist.

“Fuck my mouth,” he says, his big eyes innocently pleading, and I practically blow my load right there at those dirty words coming from such an angelic face. He tightens his grip on my hand again, forcing me to pull his hair. For a brief second I worry that I've hurt him, before his whole body shudders beneath me and he closes his eyes on a whimper.

Holy fucking Christ, any restraint I was holding onto snaps. I grasp his curls with both hands and shove his face back onto my cock, pushing until his nose smashes into my pubes and grinding his face there. Spit drips down my balls and leaves wet trails running down my thighs. I pull his hair hard to give him a second to breathe before shoving him back down.

Fuck, I'd have never guessed Zach would like it so rough, but he's still moaning like a fucking porn star.

“Don’t wanna come yet.” I tap on Zach’s forehead until he pulls off my cock, his tears and sweat mixing with the saliva dripping from his chin, and I almost come from that sight alone.

He’s amazing, but our times have always been rushed, and I want to lay him out and discover how far his blush will go. I toss off my shirt and bend to press my lips to Zach’s, cupping his cheek and using my thumb to wipe his chin. I bring Zach up with me as I straighten, keeping my lips locked on his, and step out of my clothes as I walk him backward until he hits the bed.

My fingers drag along his skin and I can feel the heat, just from those light touches. I grab the hem of his t-shirt and yank it off, catching his glasses in the process and making him yelp. I’d apologize, but damn, he’s already pink all the way down to his nipples, which have turned almost purple. I nip a tiny bite around one and pull back to watch the pink rush back in to refill the white teeth imprints.

Zach whimpers, and I guide him down to the bed and pull off his jeans, shoes, and socks with movements too impatient to be smooth. His cock is the same deep purple as his nipples and I have to hold myself back from taking it immediately into my mouth. Zach seemed to enjoy teasing me, and I want to return the favor and play first, but the gentle curve and glistening tip call to me and I have to quickly occupy my mouth with something else.

I push his legs apart and make a tiny nip above the tendon in his knee. It doesn’t leave marks like his chest, but the surprised huff that punches out of Zach’s lungs makes it worth it. I take my time, alternating between legs, slowly working my way up to the gentle crease where leg meets hip. He squirms beneath my touch, trying to get his dick closer, and making the most pathetic noises.

“Don’t tease,” he whispers. “Please.”

His head rolls back and forth and he keeps slapping the side of his leg, like he needs the stinging focus, and it brings to mind his moans from earlier when I pulled his hair. Hmm. Something new to explore.

“Since you asked so nicely.” I scoot up, making sure to keep from rubbing his cock against my body as I hover over him. His eyes are squeezed shut, like he can’t bring himself to watch. I gently comb my fingers through his hair. Zach inhales quickly, and it turns into a moan when I tug.

But I don’t linger on those curls, instead pressing a thumb along his cheek and watching as a white stripe appears and disappears. His eyes flutter open, his eyelashes briefly a pale fan against his glowing cheeks. When he looks at me, I feel the force of his trust and the ache of his need, all at once.

“I’ve got you,” I whisper against his lips, then retreat to the opening of his legs.

No more teasing. I swallow him whole in one quick plunge and his upper body shoots up off the bed. With as strong a suction as I can muster, I draw my mouth off his dick, then swallow him back down immediately, but this time I lightly scrape my teeth along his shaft as I pull off.

“Fuck,” Zach yells and jolts upward again.

I blow on his sensitized cock and it smacks his belly.

This time, I take him back into my mouth, massaging with my tongue and pulling with a suction like I’m trying to suck his seed out of him. I actually think that’s what I am trying to do, I want to taste him so badly. His legs tense, tightening close around my body, and I can tell he’s close.

I place a dry finger to his hole and press, but don’t push. It’s enough, and his legs pull inward reflexively as he comes, his heels digging into my lower back as he cries out his release.

I can tell by the look on his face that he’s still floating in the aftermath, so I get no resistance when I push his legs to his chest and hold them there with one arm across the backs of his knees. His hole has a thin, pale halo of hair, and I rub the head of my cock against it as I stroke myself with my other hand. I stop for a second to grab one of his cheeks and squeeze, and when I let go, I can’t hold back the groan that escapes from seeing my white handprint on his flushed ass. That’s all it takes, and I’m painting his crack and his hole and getting my spunk stuck in his soft fuzz.

I have to catch my breath, but I don’t want to move or to stop staring at my handiwork. I wish I had my phone nearby so I could take a picture. It drips down onto his sheets, and that’s what finally kicks me into gear.

“I’m sorry, I messed up your sheets.”

I had put my wet towel from earlier in his laundry bin, so I take it back out and carefully wipe my mess off him and the bed with one corner, and use the rest to rub down his limbs and his stomach that are sticky with sweat.

He doesn’t move, just grins.

I crawl onto the bed beside him and comb my fingertips along his scalp with a gentle scrape.

“Feels good,” he slurs.

I give his head a few more strokes before dusting my fingers down his nose and chin as light as a snowfall, until I reach his chest and begin a figure eight pattern, getting closer and closer to his nipples with each pass.

“Ngh,” he says and bats my hands away. “I'm all sensitive right now.”

“That's the best time for it.” I smirk, but still my hand anyway until I've got him snuggled into me and am just barely stroking along his sternum. “This is nice,” I say with my face nuzzled into his hair. I think he might have hummed in response, or maybe that was a snore. Between the hike and the sex, I think I’ve worn Zach out today.

Just when I think he’s fallen asleep, he turns his head toward me and I can feel the breath of his words against my neck.

“You can stay.”

“That sounds nice,” I say, “but I’ve got to get up early tomorrow. I take my neighbor grocery shopping on Sunday mornings. Senior discount.”

I know it sounds like a brush-off, but it’s actually true. The few times I noticed Mrs. Hill coming back from the grocery store alone after those trips, she looked like she was about to fall over from exhaustion. Since then, I’ve always taken her myself.

“You’re so good. Set an alarm?” he mumbles, and the warm wet on my throat gives me goosebumps.

“Okay,” I whisper. I don’t think there’s much Zach couldn’t get me to do already, so I set my alarm and tuck in beside him, wondering how I got in over my head so quickly.