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

“Should we set a watch?” someone called out.

Zach didn’t know how to answer. He turned to Torres.

“Deputy?”

She looked around. Did she know of anyone in the group who couldn’t be trusted? Anyone who’d sneak into someone else’s tent to steal or worse?

“It would be a good idea to have someone up in case of an emergency,” she said.

“Someone should monitor the radio too,” Visha said, “in case a signal comes through from a rescue ship.”

Zach hadn’t thought of that. Good point. But everyone was so tired, it didn’t seem fair to make anyone stay up.

“We could have short watches,” Torres said. “Two hours maximum and two people—to keep each other awake. Not you,” she said as Zach opened his mouth to volunteer. “I happen to know you were up all last night, since I had to listen to you yapping. You’ll sleep tonight.”

“And you,” Zach said. He smiled at her. “Since you were up all night listening to me yapping.”

“And staying awake through it took a heroic effort for sure,” she said. “I’ll organize it. You go to bed. You’re asleep on your feet. Everyone else, time to turn in. Let’s go.”

She started to hustle people into getting up, moving away from the fire, back to their tents, and taking volunteers for the first watch. Adam banked the campfire, then came back and took Zach’s arm, startling him. He had indeed begun to fall asleep on his feet.

“Time for bed.”

The wicked look in his eyes made Zach wake up a little bit.

* * * *

Two grown men trying to get out of their clothes in the cramped confines of the tent quickly became a slapstick comedy. Adam was surprised they didn’t bring the thing down around their ears, as both of them kicked the supporting poles several times. Zach, clearly exhausted and tightly wound with nerves, began to unravel a bit. He broke into a giggle Adam might have found delightful except for the edge of hysteria it carried. He took Zach’s arms after he’d struggled out of his shirt.

“Shh,” he said. “Let me get the rest for you.”

Zach stilled, his expression turning serious. “Okay.”

Adam left Zach’s T-shirt on. He’d be too cold without it. “I’ve zipped the two sleeping bags together, see?” he said as he undid Zach’s pants. “Makes one big one we can share. It’s warmer. That okay with you?”

“Of course.”

Adam had shared a doubled-up sleeping bag a few times, not always with a guy he was sleeping with—though in a couple of cases, that status had changed by the end of the night. It kept a body warm very effectively. But there were other ways to keep warm too. He felt the flush of heat sweeping over his body, down his arms and legs. Zach’s pale skin had started to go pink.

“I want to,” Zach said softly, “but I’m so tired. Better be quick.”

“Good idea.” Adam was tired too. “Let’s keep this simple.”

He pressed Zach back down on the opened sleeping bag and finished getting his pants off. White cotton briefs under them bulged impressively. He left those on and shed more of his clothes, keeping on socks, T-shirt, and his shorts.

“Let’s zip up and get cozy.”

In a moment, they were zipped inside the doubled bag.

“It is cozy,” Zach declared as he snuggled down into the insulated depths, closer to Adam, who leaned over and kissed him. Zach’s response had as much passion as that morning, despite his tiredness. He pulled Adam closer, half on top of him with an arm around his shoulders. He snaked his other arm between their bodies and slipped his hand inside Adam’s shorts to stroke his cock. Though his skin was flushed with excitement, his hand was still cold and made Adam gasp.

“Wait, wait.” Adam grabbed Zach’s hand and chafed it between his own, warming it up. “You’re chilly,” he said at Zach’s questioning look. “Nearly sent all the blood back to my brain. I’ve no use for it there right now.”

Zach laughed, pulled his hand free of Adam’s. “Oh, I thought you were trying to start a campfire.” He caressed Adam’s chest under his shirt, pushing it up to get at the skin, Adam’s nipples rising under his fingers. “Can I touch you again yet? Is my hand warm enough?”

“Do it. Please.” Zach didn’t hesitate, no time for that. He slid his hand back into Adam’s shorts and started stroking his erection. Adam bit his lip to stifle the moans, aware of other people not too far away and the less than soundproof nature of tents. He didn’t want to spend all day tomorrow getting knowing looks. People might guess what they were doing, but they didn’t need to hear it too. Or see it, he thought suddenly, realizing they still had their lantern on.

“Better turn the light off.”

“I want to see you,” Zach protested.

“You ever see a shadow-puppet show?”

Zach’s eyes widened. “Oh God.” He grabbed at the lantern, twisting around to pick it up and turn it off. In the sudden darkness, he scrambled back down into the sleeping bag and pulled Adam close again, sliding his hands around his waist, finding him instinctively. Adam felt his warm breath and opened his lips to welcome Zach when they found each other’s mouths.

How many others were making love in their tents? Despite the group’s good spirits so far, they were afraid. Adam knew what the fear led to. It had led to Zach practically jumping him that morning. It led to them taking this time to have sex, even while their bodies screamed for sleep. The fear led to this because it distracted you from it. Or it made you desperate to do this now in case you missed your chance and never had another. Adam wanted to take every chance to touch Zach and make him beg for more.

A twinge of pain from his back told Adam he was in the wrong position, his spine twisted. He wriggled