Marco went from bouncy to pinging off the walls when the trip to the Bursar’s Office let him know his fall classes had already been paid for. Silver tucked the big packet of financial-aid information into his backpack.
“I don’t need to pay again until November,” Marco pointed out, as if the money would magically appear by then.
Of course, despite Marco’s obliviousness, Silver didn’t have grounds for criticism. Marco had been homeless for less than a day, and he still knew more about his future than Silver. Until less than a month ago, Silver hadn’t really believed he had one.
“After your friend’s shelter opens, I can move in there.”
Eli’s eyes met Silver’s. “That might not be for a while. But we’ll manage something.”
Marco nodded, smile still bright. He had complete trust in Eli. And why not? If it weren’t for Eli—
“C’mon.” Silver steered them east. “I owe you another freaky ice cream.”
“You owe me a hell of a lot more than that. But we can start with some ice cream.” Eli winked.
SILVER’S WORK schedule was perfect. That is, for someone trying to save up enough money to cover the first, last, and security on an apartment. For someone who wanted to spend maximum time with his sort-of boyfriend before he left for six weeks or indefinitely, the schedule sucked. He had the Monday of Doom—otherwise known as his court date—off, having made it clear he had an appointment he couldn’t miss. But that was it—until after Zeb was gone. He had a call out to the other waiters and had offered to take any weekend shift Kaivon didn’t want for the entire summer to be able to leave by four on the day before Zeb left.
Figuring Marco’s endless questions were probably making it hard for Eli to get anything done, on Thursday Silver brought Marco down with him to work. Marco had two summer school classes starting at three twenty. Quinn and Eli were going to drive down to pick him up to make sure Timo didn’t cause any problems. They all must have reminded Marco three times each to call campus security if Timo showed up.
Seeing Marco peering at his laptop at a back corner table, Silver realized how much he’d been asking of Zeb when showing up that night on the run from Path to Glory. Full responsibility of someone not even legally able to vote. Food, clothes, school. If Zeb had taken him in, it wouldn’t have been much of a relationship. Being dependent on Prince Charming for everything might have worked for Cinderella and Eli, but for Silver and Zeb, it would have been a disaster. Right now there was a chance to salvage things, assuming everything worked out on Monday.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he ducked into the toilet to answer it.
The yeah rising to his lips got substituted for a nervous hello when he saw the number. Did lawyers ever call with good news?
“Don’t panic.”
The lawyer’s first words had the exact opposite effect. Obviously there was something to panic about.
“The court date has been rescheduled,” the lawyer said.
“Why?” Because if everything was going to work out like people told him, no one would need more time.
“The Branson trial is taking longer than anticipated, so Judge Rosen’s cases have been adjourned to July. I’d rather wait and have her hear us than take our chances with a different judge.”
“Okay.” Not like it was up to Silver. That’s what Gavin was paying this guy for, to make sure Silver had the best chance of not going to jail.
“You’ll receive a criminal summons at the address you left with the court.” The address he left with the court. As if Quinn would let that be a front.
“What’s the new date?”
There was a crisp sound of pages turning. “July 14.”
Another month of not knowing? Of waiting to so much as start to figure out if whatever he and Zeb had found again could turn into something like what Eli and Quinn had? Or Jamie and Gavin?
He’d been counting on having a decision before Zeb left. So they knew where they stood. Now he couldn’t ask for anything. Had nothing to offer, not even the freedom to make his own decisions.
“I’m confident Judge Rosen will approve the plea bargain,” the lawyer said into the long pause.
“Thanks for letting me know.”
The lawyer clicked off.
In that moment, it felt like it was already over. He was standing up there, and they were going to take him away. Everyone saw through him. Saw how little it mattered what happened to him. A space between his shoulders burned as if all those eyes were peering into him. Seeing nothing.
He turned around. Marco was behind him. “Is—are you okay?”
“Yeah. I’m fine. But you should head back up so you aren’t late for your class. You need anything?”
Marco held up his bus fare card.
“Right.” Silver peeled off a bunch of ones from his tips. “Load it up.”
“Thanks, cuate.” Marco stood on his tiptoes and kissed Silver’s cheek.
Silver started to issue another warning, but Marco rattled off, “Be careful, pay attention to everyone around me, and call security if Timo shows up to make trouble.”
Silver nodded. Marco scooped his backpack off the table and waved as he slipped out the door.
There weren’t many early diners. Kaivon came on at four, but they only had one table each at four thirty. Silver nodded at Kaivon to let him know he was taking a break as he went out through the kitchen to the alley.
He leaned against the wall and closed his eyes for a second while he thought about starting smoking. He probably would have to if he went to jail, to keep from going crazy. But he hated the taste.
Everything about it reminded him of the blow job he’d traded to get out of Path to Glory. And for the truck ride home. The clinging stench had lasted longer than the bitter taste in his mouth.
A familiar red Pontiac came down the alley. Silver met it as it stopped. “I was just going to text.” Zeb leaned out his window.
Despite the smile on Zeb’s face, Silver asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I know you don’t get out until ten, but I wanted to see you.”
Silver leaned in and kissed him. He hadn’t meant for it to turn into anything, but before he knew it, the kiss was wet and hot and making it hard in more ways than one to think about going back in to hand out burgers.
Zeb’s hands bracketed Silver’s face as he pulled back. “What if I asked you to fuck me up against that wall?” His chin pointed toward the wall separating the restaurant’s alley access from the pawn shop next door.
Silver crooked a half smile. “I’d ask if you were friends with Benjamin.” Zeb’s brow went bumpy in confusion.
Silver smoothed it with a thumb. “Got a hundred on you?”
“Oh. A hundred?”
“Well, in the daytime, I’d make you spring for a hotel. Too risky. Be lucky if we don’t get arrested again just doing this.” Though his black clothes and white apron identified him as a waiter, with the privilege of leaning in a car window to have a conversation. “You’re off the hook on showing up for my court appearance, though.”
Zeb had been stroking Silver’s cheeks. Letting go, Zeb sat back, eyes wary. “For what?”
“My court date got moved to July. So you don’t have to be there, since you won’t be around, right?”
“Silver, I’m sorry. I made the commitment before I saw you again.”
“I know.” Silver looked down at his forearms folded on top of the door. The hairs stood up as the AC rushed out, summer sun turning them white.
“Do you want me to do something about it?”
Only the most selfish prick in the world would say Please turn your back on a bunch of kids with cancer for me. But was it awful to wish Zeb wanted to? That he’d at least say he’d rather stay?
Silver shook his head. “I’ve got to get back to work.” He pushed himself away and tapped on the doorframe. “Thanks for coming down.”
MONDAY, WHICH was supposed to hold all the answers, came and we
nt. Silver didn’t have to work that day, but Zeb did. He came to dinner, though, along with everyone else, since Eli had already purchased supplies in preparation for a Celebrating Silver’s Freedom cookout.
Eli also handed off the tablet loaded with pictures he’d taken at Pride. Damn, he was good. Somehow Eli had managed to take shots capturing more than the way it looked, but the way it felt. Being queer and open and proud of it. Marco stood next to Quinn in those microscopic shorts, not facing into the camera, but with his eyes on something beyond it. The joy on his face was so apparent Silver felt an answering warmth in his own chest.
Zeb was in the next shot. Hair pulled back and a little off his neck, in a green T-shirt and black shorts. Relaxed, happy, wearing his real smile. Zeb at a Pride parade. Things did change. Silver doubted Zeb would have gone to the parade if it weren’t for knowing Eli and Quinn—and not only because they gave him a ride.
Silver lowered the tablet to get a real-time look. Like a typical teacher, Zeb was talking with Marco about his classes. Silver tuned in to the neighboring conversation, where Nate grilled Gavin about his plans for the shelter. Kellan’s exclamations of awesome, man made his opinions clear, but despite his casual tone, Nate was excited too. He didn’t even have a fit when Kellan ate a real meat burger.
“It’ll be better when it’s the party for the right reason,” Eli said as Silver handed over the tablet.
“Yeah. Thanks for….” He gave up and gestured. He wasn’t exactly sure having committed a crime and not going to jail was something they should make a big deal of, but Eli loved making one anytime he could. Silver tapped the back of the tablet. “You’re pretty fucking awesome at that.”
“I am.” Eli nodded. “Zeb staying tonight?”
“It’s your house.”
“It’s your bed.” Eli winked. “I was going to say it’s your ass, but I realize that’s not the case.”
Party-cookout-whatever, Silver felt more comfortable acting like he was at work. He got the orders for cheese or no cheese, carried stuff in and out of the house, and made more sweet tea when they ran out. When the burgers hit the table, he slipped into the house, figuring he could get started on the dishes.
Detouring for a piss stop, he washed his hands and shook them dry. The heat and humidity always made the hair over his forehead do its very own Elvis impersonation. Pausing in the mirror, he smooshed it down with a wet hand, but it sprang back up.
“Fuck it,” he muttered and yanked open the door.
Like they were back on the yacht, Zeb stood in front of the door.
Silver got caught up in staring at how green and gold Zeb’s eyes looked right then and almost missed what he was waving between two fingers.
A hundred dollar bill.
Silver locked a hand around Zeb’s wrist and pulled him inside.
Zeb laughed. “Not much more room than on the boat.”
“Not much. Potentially a bigger audience, though.”
“You raising the price?” Zeb’s voice was still full of humor. “I’ll expect a really good time.”
Silver hadn’t given much thought to a future boyfriend’s opinions of his porn and hustling career. Neither Jason nor Austin had cared, and though Silver had been modeling by then, they knew about the other work. But anytime he’d thought about Zeb back then, Silver had pictured the disappointment and a little righteous disgust.
Not Zeb laughing while waving a Benjamin.
“You’re getting a good time.” Silver plucked the hundred out of Zeb’s fingers, then stuffed it back in his front pocket, digging around his keys before claiming a quarter in exchange. “But I’m afraid it’ll cost you this.”
Zeb leaned in, hands sliding up under Silver’s shirt. “A whole quarter, huh? You better be worth it.”
“Oh, I am.” Silver had Zeb’s fly undone, shorts and boxers off and his cock in hand in less than a breath.
“Prove it.”
Zeb was already half-hard, and Silver took him the rest of the way there. Thumbing the slit and smearing precome, he worked the spot right under the head until Zeb put a hand on the mirror to steady himself. His head dropped back, sharp pants coming from his throat. Silver licked along the bony line, feeling the vibrations under his skin. Scraping his teeth over Zeb’s jaw, Silver made his way to an ear to murmur, “Up against the wall, wasn’t it?”
His answer was mostly a moan, but there was an uh-huh in it somewhere.
“Kick your shorts off.” Silver opened the cabinet, silently thanking his horny friends for keeping lube in multiple places. He’d made his own condom purchases earlier in the week.
Zeb leaned ass-out against the wall opposite the toilet. Silver took advantage of the position to tease and stretch Zeb’s hole with a well-lubed thumb.
The muscle gave and then tightened closed around the base. Soft and hot and slick. Silver groaned.
Zeb let out a shaky breath.
Silver pumped his thumb in and out, watching the quiver in Zeb’s back muscles, the way he dipped then arched his head in time to the movement of Silver’s hand. Everything he’d missed in the dark garage.
It was going to be even better when he got to watch Zeb’s face. Silver grabbed his hips and turned him around. Zeb’s eyes widened. “Oh yeah, like this.” Silver answer the unasked question.
Zeb bit his lip, and Silver leaned in to kiss it. “Don’t worry. I’m a professional.”
“How?” Zeb rested his hands on Silver’s shoulders.
“Get one leg around my waist and I’ll lift you.”
Zeb nodded. He got one leg pretty high, making it easy to grab his ass and slide him farther up. Zeb wrapped his other leg around Silver’s waist, fingers digging into his shoulders for balance.
“Now sink down onto my dick.” Arching his back, Silver pressed up against Zeb’s hole.
“You… didn’t… say… I’d… uh… have… to… work.” Zeb’s words were sandwiched between gasps as he worked the head inside.
Silver adjusted his grip on Zeb’s ass, holding him open. “Oh, sh-it.” Zeb sank deeper.
Silver clenched his teeth and waited.
“Just do it. Fuck me,” Zeb urged, ass squeezing Silver’s cock and hands almost as tight on his shoulders. “Fuck me right through the wall.”
Silver’s brain shorted out for a second. The fist-like grip on his dick and Zeb groaning something so dirty sent Silver’s hips slamming up and in. Zeb’s moan was closer to a shout, his eyes popping open.
Silver froze.
Zeb’s fingers dug in deeper. “Don’t stop. It’s just….” Now his voice went too soft to hear.
Silver leaned closer. “Tell me.”
“Different like this. God.”
“Yeah.” Silver smiled. “Hang on.” He drove his hips up harder, faster. Watching the shift of sensation in Zeb’s face, hearing it in his moans, feeling it in the pressure from his fingers, his legs, and oh fuck, his ass, Silver was drowning in it. In him. Sweat on his lip, on Zeb’s to lick off, the change in the angle making Zeb drop his head back into the wall with a solid thud.
His eyes blinked open, then closed, like he barely noticed. “It’s so. God.”
Silver knew. Suspended on a dick like that, your weight forcing it deeper, the angle making everything tight, endless pressure on the gland.
He watched it build in Zeb. The sharpness in his jaw, the painful squeeze of his shaking fingers.
Silver rolled his hips, the change in friction making them both groan.
Zeb’s eyes opened wide again. Like he couldn’t believe what was happening. Silver kept up the motion, and that sound was definitely a shout.
Zeb dropped a hand to his dick, but he was already shooting and sending thick, creamy ropes onto Silver’s shirt, one glob landing up near his shoulder. Zeb kept shuddering and bucking after he was empty, knuckles grazing Silver’s belly as Zeb stroked and soothed his dick.
Silver started to disentangle them, but Zeb tightened his legs. “No. Finish in me.”<
br />
Silver wasn’t going to argue it. Not when Zeb’s ass was still pulsing tight and quick on Silver’s cock.
He meant to go easy, didn’t want to hurt him, but the twitch on Silver’s cock was so damned sweet. The way the outer muscle fought against him on the way in made him lose his mind. He pistoned up, every flex of his ass as he drove in taking him higher, until another ragged groan from Zeb sent Silver over the top, pounding his last few strokes in as the orgasm pumped out of his dick, so hot and sugary good.
After they cleaned up and went back outside, Silver kept his arm around Zeb’s waist, daring any of their friends to make a smart remark. Jamie’s arched brows retreated when Silver gave him smug right back.
Eli laughed and shook his head. “I’ll get the ice cream.”
Marco put his head down on the table, covering it with his arms. “I really need a fuck.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
SINCE QUINN didn’t have to be at work at the ass crack of dawn, he was still hanging around a cup of coffee in the kitchen when Silver made it downstairs on Thursday morning.
Silver sat down across from him. “Zeb’s driving out to the camp tomorrow.”
Quinn closed the laptop he’d been using and regarded Silver over a mug. “He is.”
“Does he have a job here next year?”
“Shouldn’t you ask him that?”
“I did.” Silver cooled his palms against the tabletop. “He said he did. As far as he knew.”
“It’s the only answer he can have until he gets tenured. They can cut him any time.”
“That sucks.”
Quinn nodded. “It does. But I think they like him. The kids did well on the assessments. No serious screaming from parents over grades. If he doesn’t make a habit of getting arrested, he should be fine.”
Silver rolled his eyes. “Right. ’Cause that’s Zeb’s style.”
“He continually surprises me.” Quinn knocked back a slug of coffee.
Silver took a deep breath. “So he’s leaving. I’m getting out at four thirty today, and he’s picking me up. And I’m going to spend the night there.”
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