Chapter Five #2
Mom bit her lip. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.” She leaned over and kissed Nick’s cheek. “I’m so happy to have finally met you. And even happier to find you and Zach are so much alike.” The elevator doors opened, and they all got on.
We’re alike? Zach wasn’t sure he’d go that far.
Mom and Lee got off at the third floor, and they said goodnight. As the doors slid shut, Nick sighed heavily. “Okay, I take it all back.”
“All what?” After everything Nick had put him through, Zach wanted his pound of flesh.
“Your mom. She’s nothing like the women Dad has married before. Except…”
“Except what?”
Nick swallowed. “She reminds me a lot of my mom. Maybe that’s what my dad sees too.” He gave Zach a sideways glance. “I like your mom. She obviously makes my dad happy.”
Relief flooded through him. Thank God. At least where their parents were concerned, they were on the same page.
The doors opened at their floor, and they got off. Zach followed Nick along the hallway, going over all the things he’d learned about him. Once inside their room, Zach went instantly to the questions he’d been dying to ask over drinks and dinner. “Tell me more about your favorite books.”
Nick grinned. “Where do I begin?” He pointed to the minibar. “Wanna grab something to drink? Then we can talk.”
Zach liked the sound of that. “Works for me.”
For the next couple of hours, they lay on their respective beds, drinking and sharing opinions.
Zach had to admit, their taste was remarkably similar.
When Nick proposed a game where they each shared a line and the other had to name the book, Zach knew for certain he’d found a kindred spirit.
Because the kind of man who could—and did—recite lines and sometimes whole paragraphs that had meant something to him, that had moved him, was the kind of man Zach wanted to know.
Too bad he was straight. That was the only thing stopping Nick from being fucking perfect. There was also the not-so-insignificant detail that they were about to be related.
Not by blood though. Not that it mattered.
The most important thing was that the truce was well and truly in place, and Zach no longer dreaded the idea of visiting Mom and Lee, if Nick was going to be there.
And what happens Monday, when it’s back to work? How long will the truce hold when we’re back in the office?
Zach wasn’t going to think about that. His roommate had unexpectedly morphed into someone Zach wanted to know more of. Now all he had to do was keep a lid on his attraction. The last thing he wanted was to spoil this blossoming friendship by making Nick aware of Zach’s… inclinations.
Getting undressed had never been so awkward.
Zach did his utmost not to even peek in Nick’s direction as they removed their clothing.
The way Zach saw it, Nick looked edible enough dressed—the sight of him in his underwear, or, God help him, naked, would have been too much.
Suppose I got a boner? Suppose he saw it?
Zach slipped between the sheets as fast as he could, his heart pounding, then rolled over to face Nick’s bed when he heard the rustle of cotton.
Nick lay on his side, facing Zach’s bed, and Zach tried not to lick his lips at the view.
He cleared his throat. “You don’t look like your dad.”
Nick’s smile was kind of sad. “No, I look like Mom. Everyone says that. Dad says sometimes he gets choked when he looks at me, the resemblance is that strong.”
“She must have been beautiful.” The words were out before Zach had a chance to think.
Nick widened his eyes. “That sounds like it could almost have been a compliment.” He grinned. “I once toyed with the idea of growing a beard. Dad said hell no. It would be like seeing Mom with one, and that would be weird.”
Zach stroked his jawline. “Now and again, I think about shaving this off.”
“Don’t,” Nick said in a flash. When Zach arched his eyebrows, Nick smiled. “It suits you.” He cocked his head. “You look like your mom.”
Zach chuckled. “Except she shaves off her beard every morning.”
Nick cackled. “That’s mean. I’ll tell.”
Zach burst into laughter. “There speaks an aggravating little step-brother.”
“Not yet,” Nick reminded him. He rubbed his clean-shaven jaw. “So you don’t think I should grow a beard too?”
“To quote you? Don’t.” How many times had Zach thought about kissing Nick’s smooth face? Beneath the sheet, Zach’s dick jerked, and he reached for the lamp.
“Can we talk some more?” Nick asked as Zach plunged the room into darkness.
“Sure.” At least with no light, Nick wasn’t about to spot Zach’s dick tenting the sheets.
“By the way…Your mom is really pretty.”
Zach smiled to himself in the dark. “Why, Mr. Brent, was that almost a compliment?” Nick’s chuckle rolled out, and Zach joined in.
They talked into the night, both their voices becoming drowsy. Nick was the first to fall asleep, and Zach lay in the darkened room, listening to the sound of his breathing, deep and regular.
What do you know? Nick turned out to be human after all.
An attractive, Fantasy-loving human who probably had a luscious swimmer’s body Zach was going to fantasize about all night long.