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pose. So we're going to do this, huh?
I think we might, Zane replied. He watched Eli with the same curious intensity of focus as
he had in the bistro. This time, Eli recognized it. This time, the shudder of sensation wasn't
fear. Well. Not all fear. Something Eli couldn't quite put a name to. I think we have to.
Chapter Six
Eli waited.
Zane waited.
Eli kept his lips zipped.
I can outlast you, you know, Zane said.
Eli sighed. Fine, I give.
About time. Zane's posture eased. His drying hair fell over his face again. So I was
thinking, uh& Damn. He bit his lip. Okay, having a little trouble with the words, now of all
times.
You, speechless? I should have brought my camera to get a picture. Eli took a second
look at Zane. The man had a tremendous sense of self-presence. Handsome and he knew it,
and a sharp dresser within the limits he set himself. Even his lounging-around clothes were
chosen to fit and present his best side.
Soft, touchable sweater. Come-hither-and-tap-this jeans. Stubble. Hair in disarray that in-
vited smoothing. Bare feet. Nothing anyone could truly point to as a come-on, but only an idiot
wouldn't be able to read between the lines.
Looked like Eli wasn't the only one seeing things in a new light after the kiss at the bistro.
Or maybe&
Can't hide anything from you, can I? Zane asked with the wry twist of his lips that indic-
ated he knew he'd been made.
Subtlety is not your middle name.
Where'd I lose you?
Eli waved at the general area of Zane's neckline. Right around the part when you flashed
your tits. Over Zane's laughter, Eli sighed and made himself lean back on the couch. I'd just
like to go on the record as saying this is nuts.
You're not telling me anything I don't already know. Zane stretched his arms over his
head. Anyway, the outfit. Consider it an experiment on my part. Worked too.
How so?
You looked.
That I did. And he wanted to look again.
Shows you have good taste, if you ask me. Zane eased down next to Eli. He almost
seemed to crackle with the kind of energy that meant he was cooking up something interest-
ing. Here's what I figure. We try it again.
Eli froze.
Zane jostled Eli. Hey. This is me here. Stay with me. It's just a kiss. Maybe it will be awful
this time. Too much saliva, too much tongue, too much stubble, whatever. We'll know it was a
fluke. We write it off to outside influence and get on with our lives.
Or& ?
Zane shrugged. Eli envied him his casual acceptance. Or was that a facade? Maybe so.
Interesting. The man had balls. Now more of a consideration than ever. Or we'll have a hell
of a lot more to figure out. Are you with me?
Zane& Eli hesitated, one foot off the ledge. I don't think this is me.
Zane laid one hand on Eli's knee. Hey. Don't go and start thinking you're in this by your-
self. I've got the other oar, and I'm rowing, brother. I'm rowing hard because these are fucking
deep waters.
But& ?
Zane slid his hand higher, slowly enough to be stopped. You're not into guys. But I'm
starting to think you're into me.
Zane
I wasn't finished. I'm starting to think I'm into you too. So. Zane stopped moving. What
do we do with that?
We could panic.
True. Or I could take you by surprise, Zane said and kissed him.
It went slower than that, of course, but only later would Eli be able to track how it'd
happened. Zane slid down to lie on the couch, on his side, and at that range it was easiness
itself to roll over him and take Zane by the chin, tilt his face up, and fit them together.
Zane's lips were as soft as Eli remembered. They tasted of the scent of leather and a hint
of peppermint and underneath that the baseline Zane that Eli was already growing accus-
tomed to. It all registered, then dissipated because when a man was being kissed the way
Zane kissed Eli, there wasn't room for anything else.
He found himself with his fingers in Zane's hair, sifting the strands, as silky as they'd been
before. More so, freshly washed and dried and left to fall as they wished. Warm. So was the
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