Higher Ground by Becky Black (notion reading list txt) 📗

he had been. Whatever happened after that it hadn’t included sex—that much he knew.

“Adam, I’m sorry about last night.”

Adam emerged from under the covers. “Sorry for standing me up? Or sorry for having the nerve to show up here? Or sorry for collapsing onto my bed like a dead weight?”

“Um, all of those.”

“I tried to undress you and get you under the covers, but it was like trying to move a sack of potatoes.”

“Sorry,” Zach said again. He should leave, get to the lab, check the results of the tests he’d left running overnight. But maybe he had a few minutes. Desire stirred in him as he looked down at Adam, all warm and tousled from sleep. Adam’s eyes were open all the way now. Light stubble covered his chin and neck. Cautiously, expecting to have his hand slapped away, Zach reached out to stroke gently along Adam’s jaw, feeling the rasp of the night’s beard growth. Adam didn’t bat the hand away. His eyes locked with Zach’s. He must have had plans the night before—plans Zach had ruined. Maybe they could fulfill those plans this morning. He grew hotter at the thought of it, his skin flushing. His clothes felt suddenly tight, and he longed to be out of them.

He leaned closer, whispered Adam’s name, and “Sorry” again. He was sorry, for the loss of the time they could have had. This morning, they could have been waking up in this bed naked, both under the same covers, bodies entwined. But the past could never be reclaimed. Useless to worry about it. He had to think of the future. If they had a future. If his prediction came true and it all happened too quickly for them to escape, then he might never have another chance to be with Adam.

Adam allowed the kiss, only barely responding at first, but then abruptly relaxing into it, opening his mouth to Zach. He ran a hand through Zach’s hair—which felt as if it must be standing out from his head like a cartoon of a man suffering a fright—then pulled him closer, turning onto his back. Zach’s cock was already hard, and desire flared in his belly, heat flushing through him, sweat breaking out. He dragged at his collar as his breathing began to speed up. So hot. He decided then. He had to take this opportunity. If they died, then he wouldn’t have missed his chance. He’d have the memory of Adam, the last man he made love to. He pawed at the covers over Adam, pulled them away clumsily. Adam wore only a pair of boxer shorts. His torso gleamed with the light sweat of sleep, bringing out his golden tan. Freckles dusted his shoulders and chest, and some soft dark blond hair covered his chest and trailed down his belly.

Zach followed this treasure trail, marveling at the beauty of Adam’s body, running his fingers down the middle of Adam’s chest, down to his flat and taut belly, swirling around his navel and making Adam shiver. His skin roughened with goose bumps, and as if they were contagious, they rose on Zach’s skin too, sweeping up his arm and down his back. That such a man should want him made Zach shake his head in wonder. He reached the waistband of the shorts and paused. Adam was responding to the kisses, but would it be presumptuous for Zach to slip his hand into the shorts? He couldn’t be sure Adam had forgiven him for last night yet or had given Zach permission to touch him so intimately.

So he compromised. Instead of slipping his hand inside, he rested it on the outside, cupping it around the stiffening cock, feeling it shifting and growing through the fabric.

“Zach,” Adam sighed out. He pulled away from the kiss and pushed Zach’s shoulder, moving his head down. Zach didn’t resist, kissed his way down Adam’s neck and onto his chest. He flicked each nipple in turn with his tongue, and Adam groaned and shifted his hips, pushing up against Zach’s hand.

That felt like permission. And he’d gladly have taken Adam up on the permission but he heard his Link. A message. The sound he’d specified for notifications about his tests being completed. He pulled away from Adam with a gasp.

What the hell was he doing? He should be halfway to his lab, ready to analyze the results, not fooling around in Adam’s bed. An understandable desire, to take what might be the only chance he had to do this, but inexcusable all the same. The whole colony was in danger, and he was too busy to do the work to confirm how long they had to escape.

Adam tried to draw him close again, but Zach pulled out of his arms.

“I have to go.”

“What?” Adam leaned up on his elbows, disbelief on his face. “What are you talking about?”

“I have the final test results to analyze.” He scrambled to his feet. His shoes lay on the floor at the bottom of the bed. He didn’t dare sit on the bed to put them on, in case Adam put his arms around him to bring him back, because he didn’t know if he could resist. His cock throbbed in his pants, demanding immediate attention. His whole body felt as if it was screaming in protest at the abrupt end to activities.

“Are you kidding? What the hell is wrong with you, Zach? You wind me up and then just bail out? Are you trying to piss me off?”

“No. I’m sorry.” He looked down at Adam’s perfect and near-naked body. His shorts were tented by the erection Zach feared he’d never get another chance to touch. “Believe me, I’m so very sorry. But I have to go.”

Knowing he’d weaken if he stayed a moment longer, he strode out of the bedroom. As he closed the door, a thump from the other side told him Adam had tossed what Zach guessed was a shoe at the door.

* * * *

Zach