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

is posting bail.” As Torres unlocked the cell, Statham turned to Adam. “Be glad to get him out of here. He hasn’t shut up all night. Take him so we can get some peace.”

It wouldn’t be peaceful for long, Zach thought, stepping out of the cell. He wanted to run to Adam and kiss him but decided he should wait until they had some privacy.

“I’ll be glad to take him.” Adam winked, and Zach’s resolution to wait became much harder, but he had no choice as they went through the paperwork.

“Here,” the sheriff said, handing Zach his Link back. “Your bail conditions are on there.”

They included not leaving town without permission. Zach sighed. He’d have to pay Adam back for the bail money he’d put up, because Zach couldn’t keep that particular condition. He signed for the Link and his other possessions and handed the forms back to Statham.

“Thank you. I hope I’ll…” He stopped. No, he’d better not say he hoped they’d join him in a few hours for the evacuation. Probably best not to announce he intended to break his bail conditions. Anyway, he had the feeling they’d be at the rendezvous all right. “Thank you,” he repeated and left with Adam.

“What’s the situation?” Zach asked, putting his watch back on as they walked.

Adam grinned. “Well, the island hasn’t sunk yet.”

“Adam!”

“Okay. According to what I’m told, a lot of arguing went on after the meeting. Morrison got up to argue against your data and to tell people there’s no danger.”

“Dammit!”

“I know. But on the plus side, the distress signal is still sending. The sheriff broke into the comms center a couple of hours ago, but nobody can figure out how to stop the signal. They even cut the power. It didn’t help.”

“The Franes clearly know their job.”

“They know how to lie low too. Nobody can find them.” He took Zach into an alley, where the Biological Sciences department truck stood. Zach didn’t know how Adam still had the vehicle, but he didn’t question the good fortune. A large backpack lay in the bed. Adam’s gear. He gulped down a lump in his throat, full of relief. Adam was coming.

“If Morrison’s persuaded everyone not to come,” Zach said as they climbed into the truck and Adam pulled away, “then…then…”

“Then you and I will be taking a nice stroll through the mountains with Professor Korrie and her cat.”

“Her cat?”

“Of course. You don’t think people are going to leave their pets behind, do you?”

“I hadn’t thought of it.”

“Anyway, it won’t only be Korrie and us. There’s the Franes and plenty of others I’ve spoken to overnight. You had any breakfast?”

“No.”

“Right. We’re heading to your place for your stuff, so we’ll eat there, and I’d say we could both use a shower, shave, and a change of clothes.”

“Oh yes,” Zach said. His voice cracked hoarsely, and he cleared his throat.

“Right,” Adam said, glancing at him, a smile on his face. Heat flushed Zach’s cheeks, and he cleared his throat again.

“It’s barely five,” Adam said. “We’ve got plenty of time to get organized for eight.”

Plenty of time. Oh good.

* * * *

Time Zach wasted none of. They were barely inside the door of his apartment in the accommodation dome when he pulled Adam into his arms and kissed him. Adam responded at once, his mouth welcoming Zach’s. Not a moment of perfect romance—they both needed to bathe, shave, and brush their teeth. But it was glorious all the same.

“Adam,” Zach whispered, pulling back after a moment. “We have time to…” If Adam had forgiven him for his crazy behavior the last few days.

“Yes,” Adam said. “Breakfast can wait.”

He wouldn’t let go of Zach, made him steer them both to the bedroom locked together and laughing at their clumsy progress. But he stopped laughing when Zach pushed him on the bed, face going serious, eyes burning with desire. He sat on the edge, legs apart, Zach standing between his knees, then lay back on his elbows and slowly undid a couple of shirt buttons, his gaze locked with Zach’s.

Too slow for Zach, much too slow. He climbed on the bed, grabbed hold of Adam’s shirt, and tore it open. Buttons pinged off. Buttonholes tore through.

“Whoa, Zach!” Adam protested but then stopped. Did he understand? He’d never wear this shirt again. Never have to wash or mend it. He pounced on Zach and began to tear his clothes off. Hell yes, he understood. Seams ripped. Buttons and garments flew across the room.

The wild undressing started Adam laughing again. Until he was naked. Then he silenced and lay back on the bed, looking at Zach with a smile of invitation.

Seeing the body he’d been fantasizing about since first noticing Adam laid out and open to him, Zach could barely contain himself. He wanted to plunge into Adam in that instant but made himself stay in control. He lay beside Adam and took him in his arms, entwining their legs.

“We might never have another chance,” he said softly.

“Shh,” Adam said. “We’ll have more chances. I know it. But never mind. We’re here. Now.”

Yes they were. Zach hadn’t felt so completely here for a long time, so utterly present. All the fear and worry of the last few days fell away. All the terror of what might happen later faded. Here. Now. Kissing Adam, his lips, his neck, his ears, shoulders, the skin as warm as summer sun, scattered with freckles by that same sun. No, another sun, Earth’s sun. A home they might never see again. A home that, in this moment, his senses drowning in Adam, he could barely even bring to mind. He flicked his tongue over Adam’s left nipple and produced a gasp.

“Keep going,” Adam said in a hoarse voice. One of his hands touched Zach’s shoulder, not pushing but suggesting a direction.

Zach had no need of suggestions or directions. He knew where he was going and followed Adam’s urging on downward, over the flat, taut planes of Adam’s chest and belly. His hand