Chapter 22
CHAPTER 22
C haz wrapped himself around Ezra. This whole adventure could have gone sideways so fast. He could have fucked Ezra up in ways where nothing would repair him. Yet, here he was, snuggled tight in his arms after a fucking intimate moment. Chaz accepted sex with Ezra was going to be different and on Ezra’s schedule. He liked sex fine, but he didn’t need it every day. If he had to guess, Ezra enjoyed pleasure on the spicy side, so they’d have fun in a variety of ways.
“Ezra, are you happy?” The words were out of his mouth before he’d even realized he was going to ask the question. Now wasn’t the time for emotional sentimentality, just his physical state.
“I think so? My nose is starting to hurt.” Ezra reached up to touch the beige bandage. Chaz rolled off quickly, wincing as his knees hit cold wood. He examined the bruising around the bandage. It was dark and angry. While Ezra had been humming on endorphins, pain snuck in and took over. Chaz saw it in the wincing and the dazed look. It wasn’t pleasure in his pretty eyes.
“I have some painkillers in my bathroom. I’ll be right back.” He dragged his pants as he moved and hopped up the stairs, one leg in and the other leg out. Finding both Tylenol and ibuprofen, he grabbed both while worrying he'd caused more problems for Ezra. When he returned, Ezra was on the couch wearing his shorts with Chaz’s hoodie in his hands.
“I don’t feel so well,” Ezra said.
Chaz bobbed his head. This was worse than he expected. He was a terrible nurse, and Ezra required a good one. “Oh okay. So we take some anti-inflammatories? God, we should have gone to the hospital. How about I make some tea? And then I’ll start a fire. Warming up the room will help. I think.”
“I like tea.”
“Excellent. You can’t go wrong with tea.” The words slipped out of his mouth, and he froze. Holy fuck, he'd just jinxed Ezra. Chaz knew better than to say shit like that. God, if he hurt Ezra in any fashion, he’d cry. Chaz ran the comment through his head, and relaxed as he realized he didn’t quite jinx everyone.
“Can I help?”
The urge to seek answers from the most inane subjects bubbled up and threatened to overwhelm Chaz unless he asked. His tongue throbbed as he bit down, forcing himself not to ask. Ezra’s look of innocence said he hadn’t realized what he’d done. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he spoke. “Not at the moment.”
“Chaz?” Ezra was right there beside him, his hand on Chaz’s arm. “You don’t look well.”
“You have a way with words.” Chaz blew out air before kissing Ezra’s forehead. “Come sit here.”
Ezra rested his head on his arms while watching Chaz plate some cookies. His colour was still off, but he snagged a cookie immediately. Chaz turned the electric kettle on and pulled mugs from the cupboard. This domestication was pretty nice, and he pictured a future where they had tea together all the time. Chaz hoped he could have those moments sooner rather than later.
“So, what do we do now?” Ezra broke his cookie into small pieces and nibbled. Chaz smiled as pleasure rolled across Ezra’s face. He’d baked them the day before Ezra showed up in his life. As Ezra devoured his first cookies, Chaz realized he’d be baking more to keep Ezra happy.
“Now we inform the powers that be we have a rogue asshole on the loose and put a tracker on him. He knew about SPAM, so there’s a pretty good chance he’s part of the Evil League of Evil.” As the kettle boiled, Chaz poured the hot water in a teapot, gave it a swirl, and dumped it out before adding the leaves and more hot water. He smiled as the leaves danced. “I’m sure April will know exactly who Mr. Jones is and will send a midlevel hero after him. She hates messy endings.”
“And us?” Ezra played with the edge of the plate. He never lifted his head, warning Chaz this was an important question. Chaz had to be less flippant in his reply.
“I’d like us to continue. I think we had a blast despite the shit we went through. You’re an ideal hiking partner and car buddy.” That might not have been the best compliment, but Chaz didn’t know when to quit.
Ezra’s head shot up so fast, and the glare he aimed at Chaz singed his hair with its intensity. The bruising had turned black and settled around his eyes and nose, and it terrified Chaz. “Excuse me?”
“Hanging out is pretty important,” Chaz tried to backpedal and hide his grin at the same time. “We want to make sure we’re compatible for the day-to-day stuff.”
“Why–you’re an ass,” Ezra scowled and hissed as he wrinkled his nose. Ezra paled as he threw his hands over his face. “That fucking hurt.”
Chaz was in his freezer immediately, looking for an ice pack. He passed a towel and the ice pack to Ezra. “I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to tease you. Spending time with you is important to me. I want us to have fun together.”
“True, fun is good.” Despite his nasal voice muffled by the ice pack, sadness weaved through Ezra’s words. “Too many guys are always like that after an… encounter we just had.”
“Then they’re dickwads. You are a fucking delight, and I want to do this again with you, except no kidnapping or anything like that,” Chaz snapped.
Ezra reached out to grab Chaz’s hand tight. “Me too. You sort of grew on me like a fungus.”
“Really? Guess I'm a fungi.”
“Oh my God, Chauncey! That’s awful. I can’t believe you actually said that.” Ezra burst out laughing, his hand protecting his face as he fell sideways on his stool. The sound of his laughter was the best in the world. Chaz didn’t even mind Ezra using his full name.
“Anything for you, my love,” Chaz murmured. The schmoopy word came out, and for once he liked using such a sweet endearment. He pressed his tongue against his teeth, feeling for the burning sensation. “Come on, the rain lightened up. Let’s celebrate our new beginning on the deck. I need to look at my water.”
“Sure, but don’t you see it every day?” Ezra carried his mug as Chaz opened the doors to the outside.
The air was cool, the storm stealing the heat and humidity with it. Chaz sucked in the fresh air and let it out in a sigh. This was perfect. The sky was grey and stormy, but it reminded Chaz of him and Ezra. Stormy with rainbows in the distance. “The chairs should be dry. This part of the deck rarely gets hit by weather.”
They pulled the chairs close to the edge and sat. Ezra squeezed Chaz’s hand while watching the crashing waves. Everything jagged in Chaz’s thoughts smoothed out as he soaked in the scenery. “Moving up here was one of the best decisions I made. I hated how out of control I felt when I was a part of SPAM. Discovering this haven was a lifesaver.”
“I’d still like to continue with my position within the company. It’s been my dream since I first discovered SPAM.” Ezra understood Chaz’s hints. “I don’t know how to make things work.”
“That’s okay. We don’t need to rush. You can talk it over with friends. It’s only been a few days. I wouldn’t expect you to drop your entire life for me.” Chaz kissed Ezra’s hand. He wasn’t sure if he’d be able to handle a new roommate right off the bat either.
“High-speed internet is pretty good up here. You could try to work remotely when you visit. I can set up one of the rooms in the basement for you.” This was as close to asking Ezra to be a permanent fixture that Chaz could handle.
“Aww, you don’t have to. I wouldn’t want to put you out.” Ezra sliced the air with his hand.
“Ezra.”
“It’s true though. I ruined your life?—”
“You did not ruin my life. You enhanced it like a flavour shot. You made it better. I was bored without you, and now look at me,” Chaz interrupted. He slid off his seat and knelt before Ezra, who had the biggest eyes. “Positivity matters.”
Ezra brought his hand to caress Chaz’s cheek. The feather touch was tentative as Ezra licked his lips. “I’m sorry. This is so new. I worry you’re going to set yourself up for a problematic future.”
Chaz kissed Ezra’s palm. “Nope. This damnable curse causes all the hassles. You are the best part. How can I be the love of your life when you’re not mine?”
Ezra’s mouth dropped open, and he gaped like a fish. “Excuse me?”
“That’s what you’re telling me. So, I had to ask.” Chaz rested his arms on Ezra’s legs, waiting for the statement to process. Was this the moment he broke Ezra Smith?
“You don’t get to decide who the love of my life is!” Ezra squawked. He attempted to push Chaz off, but Chaz was a barnacle, and he was never letting Ezra go.
“Mm. I just did. I’ve claimed the spot. And now you’re just going to have to deal.” Chaz dropped his ass to the damp deck boards and pulled Ezra, spider limbs and all, to sit on his lap. There was much jostling as Ezra fought, but in moments, Chaz’s quarry was subdued.
“Grown men don’t sit like this.” Ezra looped an arm around Chaz’s neck and wriggled until he could see the bay. Yeah, Ezra was his other half.
“I say we do. No one gets to tell us anything.” Chaz trailed fingers along Ezra’s side, content to feel his skin. “Ez, please don’t fight this. I am willing to do anything to make you happy.”
“I’m not trying to. Honest.” Ezra dropped his head against Chaz’s and blew out air. “You are the love of my life.”
“Exactly.” Chaz kissed Ezra’s lips gently. “And you are mine.”
In the morning, Chaz woke up first. He was on his back with Ezra sprawled on top, his head facing away. Any other person would have a crick in their neck. But with the way Ezra slept, Chaz didn’t think that would happen.
He glanced at the window, trying to understand what would startle him awake. There was light outside, telling him it was early morning. Straining his ears, Chaz didn’t hear boat noises. Faintly, the sound of tires on gravel grabbed his attention.
Slithering from under Ezra’s starfish sprawl, Chaz drew his robe on and left the room. Ezra curled tight into a ball on his bed, looking sweet and terrifying. Those limbs.
Chaz peered out each window and couldn’t find the source of the noise. He made coffee and stared at the bay, baffled. No one else lived this far down the road. His neighbours had different right of way points to their cottages.
A shiny shimmery something caught his attention as he prowled the perimeter of his house. On the back deck, where he and Ezra made their commitment to each other, was a large, gaily wrapped box.
Chaz frowned. That wasn’t there the previous night. Setting his mug down, Chaz unlocked the door and stepped out. He glanced around, and again, nothing. Suspicious, he picked the box up and pressed it against his ear. No sound, nothing rattled.
He brought the present inside the house and set it on the breakfast bar. The blue and silver paper was beautiful, and the texture said expensive.
Chaz wasn’t sure if he wanted to open it now. This seemed like a group project. Ezra should participate in the unwrapping. He nudged it away and drank his coffee.
The package stared at him as he began making breakfast. It gawked at him as he drank a second cup of coffee. The desire became too much, and he stormed upstairs, not caring if his footsteps woke Ezra.
Ezra was blinking at him from his spot on the bed. He was sleepy and adorable, almost raccoon-like with his black mask. “What’s up?”
“Coffee’s done, and breakfast will be ready in a jiff.” Chaz fell on the bed and nuzzled Ezra’s neck. Only Ezra could distract him from the mystery. “God, you smell amazing.”
“It’s your body wash.” Ezra pressed himself against Chaz, and his breathing evened out as he slid back into Morpheus’s world.
Chaz lay on the bed, trapped in Ezra’s embrace. Wiggling around, he poked Ezra in the arm. As much as he wanted to stay there with Ezra, the box was killing him.
“Ezzy-baby, come on. I gotta show you something,” Chaz wheedled. Ezra groaned and rolled away. Chaz pulled out the big guns as he straddled Ezra. He flattened him out and pressed his ever-hardening cock against the crease of Ezra’s ass. If they had time and Chaz’s curiosity was low, he’d attempt to seduce Ezra.
“What are you doing?” Ezra mumbled. His hand struck his nose, and the resulting cry bucked Chaz off and had Ezra sitting up. His hands cradled his face gently as he swore. “Goddamnit.”
“Ezra, let me see. I need to see.” Chaz batted Ezra’s hands away, and he peered at the massive bruise. Nothing seemed different, and no blood came out. It had just been bumped, thank God. “Would you like something cold to put on there?”
“Uh huh.” Ezra stood and allowed Chaz to wrap him in a hoodie and a pair of pants. He followed Chaz downstairs, his hand never leaving his nose.
This was not how Chaz planned to get him out of bed. It was like Plan Z. He was the worst boyfriend to cause such pain to his wounded hero.
“What’s that?” Ezra asked.
“Hmm?” Chaz was deep in the freezer, praying he’d put the icepack back in.
“The present. Where did that come from?” Ezra asked. His gaze never left the box, even as Chaz passed him his prize.
“It was on the back deck when I got up. I was going to open it with you,” Chaz answered. He brought the box over and made Ezra his own mug of coffee. “Who do you think gave us this?”
“Mr. Jones.” No doubt in Ezra’s voice, and once Chaz thought of it, he agreed.
“Yeah, exactly. Would you like me to start? Or do you want to do the honours?” Chaz asked, itching to tear open the paper.
“You do it. You’re dying to.” Ezra pushed the box closer to Chaz.
Chaz studied the gift, looking for the best spot. Once discovered, he tore the thick paper off. It was expensive shit. Inside was a flat box and a note card. Of course there was.
Mr. Smith, and Mr. Adams,
Well played. I am struck by how kind you were despite the inconvenience to your lives. You had the opportunity to direct the authorities to my location, and you didn’t. I am honoured by your trust. The person you discovered in the original suit has been reunited with their family, and they have been well compensated. The villains of the story are awaiting trial. Thank you for bringing their incompetence to my attention. As a token of my appreciation, here is a gift for you to share. Next time we meet, I will not be so generous.
Mr. Jones.
Chaz and Ezra read the letter silently before Ezra moved the small box closer to him. He pulled the lid off, and inside was a voucher for a hotel near Niagara-on-the-Lake as well as a sizable gift card to a local adult shop.
“The guy’s a fucking asshole.” Chaz snarled.
“I don’t understand,” Ezra said as he studied the voucher. “I know this place! It’s rumoured to be haunted!”
“No, absolutely not. We are not using either of these. He can go rot in hell.” Chaz crossed his arms and scowled. Though ideas about how to use the one gift card danced in his brain.
“But at least Ricky and George get to pay for their crimes,” Ezra said, a satisfied grin on his face.
“That is a silver lining.”
The end