Zack and Richard Page 4

  “Thank you. Whatever it costs, let me chip in,” Richard insists.

  “Yeah, me too. I feel bad you both being out of pocket because I was a dumbass and left my cell in my house when I came to check on Richard yesterday,” Zack says. He has good friends. He knew that, but this is a much-needed reminder that people still have his back.

  “Don’t worry about it. I just got a raise. I’m just glad you’re safe.” Rick nods.

  Zack takes a cup of coffee over to Richard, who’s gotten the fire going again. He passes it to Richard and on impulse, kisses his cheek briefly, and he’s glad he did when he sees some tension drain out of Richard’s face. Richard takes the coffee and puts a hand on the base of Zack’s back, not possessive, just casual. It feels nice that Richard is comfortable with people knowing they have a romantic and physical relationship.

  “You two are cute together.” Kelly smiles, leaning down to let Biscuit, who seems to, as always, love the attention.

  “My girl, Anne, will kill me if I don’t arrange a meal or some kind of hang out with the both of you. If you don’t want to come into the city, we can come out here if they have good places to meet up,” Rick says, and Zack can’t believe just last night he was worrying about losing Rick as a friend because of his sexuality. Doesn’t seem like Rick is that type of straight guy, at all.

  “Ah, we could come to the city?” Zack says, uncertain, looking up at Richard. He doesn’t want to speak for him.

  “Why not both? I know some great places here in the country, but I have no issue going to the city and saving you a drive.” Richard nods.

  They drink warm coffee while the driveway is cleared and talk about places in their respective towns they like to go. It’s really nice. Richard is affectionate around Zack’s friends, which he loves. They end up sitting on a couch together, cuddled close not just for warmth, Biscuit at their feet.

  * * * *

  After a while, one of the members of Richard’s book club, Jess, turns up to check on him. She brings fresh muffins and is the most charming woman Zack has ever met. She’s tall and curvy, with dark black skin and dyed red hair. Kelly, who Zack always thought was straight, looks at her like she’s hung the moon. When talking about embroidery, they find they both like to craft quirky projects, and swap phone numbers. Zack is sure he sees sparks but doesn’t say anything. He’ll just make sure Kelly knows that he’s around to talk about anything she might need to talk about. He knows how hard coming out later in life can be.

  Kelly and Rick help him get over to his place and gather a bag of things. His power is still out, and Richard has offered him a bed till his power is back. It’s nice to be back in pants that actually fit him, and Zack sends text messages to his mom and dad right away so they’ll stop worrying about him. They had been nervous about him moving to the countryside, away from family, from the start, so it feels good to be able to say his neighbor is willing to help him. He doesn’t want to tell his parents he’s seeing a man via text, so he waits.

  Zack says goodbye to his friends as they load the snow mobiles onto trailers and get ready to leave, now that they’re sure Zack is safe.

  “Call us if you need anything. Promise you will,” Rick says, opening his truck door.

  “Of course. I promise. But I have a feeling I’ll be okay,” Zack says, glancing back to just outside Richard’s home, where he is letting Biscuit have some outside time on her lead.

  “It’s nice to see you look at someone like that again. I thought you’d never open your heart up again after your divorce. Keep doing whatever it is you’ve been doing that has you looking so happy,” Rick says firmly.

  “I’ve been doing well, but Richard, he’s helped. Before recently, having him as a friend was super nice. But I did miss romance, and I think I’ve found someone I can be friends with and be romantic with, which is all I’ve ever wanted,” Zack admits. The first time Richard had waved at him, he’d been happy to have a nice neighbor. Then they’d talked, getting their mail in the mornings or just anytime they were both outside. Those had always been bright spots in his day, and he likes the idea of getting to spend more time with Richard, now their feelings are out in the open.

  “You don’t need my approval, but I do. He seems good for you. I like the way he treats you, too. I can see he cares.” Rick nods and they hug briefly before Rick climbs in the car, and Zack feels silly for thinking Rick wouldn’t ever accept him as a bisexual man.

  Zack waves Rick off and then waves to Kelly as she pulls out behind Rick. Zack can’t peel the smile off of his face as he walks back over to a bundled-up Richard and Biscuit who is happily digging in the snow.

  “You look happy. I like it,” Richard says from behind the scarf he has up over his face. Zack doesn’t want to be a mother Ben, but he’s worried about Richard’s breathing out in the cold. But then he figures Richard knows his body and his disability. He probably knows how long he can spend outside.

  “Thank you. I have very good friends. They told me a few others wanted to come, too, but they had work or family. It’s nice to be cared about. Friends are important. Rick is going to come for a chess game next week, and Kelly is coming for coffee. I feel good,” Zack says happily.

  “Jess was a little taken with Kelly. Is she?” Richard trails off.

  “Gay? I don’t know. Didn’t think so, but she looked at Jess with stars in her eyes, so I guess we’ll see.” Zack shrugs.

  “Jess is a good woman. If your friend is uncertain, she’ll never push too hard or anything,” Richard assures him.

  “That’s good. Can we go inside now? I’m freezing my butt off,” Zack admits.

  “Yeah, let’s go warm up. I can make you breakfast, if you like?” Richard offers, leading Biscuit back into the house.

  “I am hungry, but let me help. I liked cooking with you last night,” Zack says, following Richard inside and shutting the door behind him.

  “Happy to have a kitchen assistant.” Richard grins, unclipping Biscuit’s lead and letting her loose in the house again. He strips off a few layers, revealing his face fully again.

  “Want me to feed Biscuit first?” Zack offers.

  “Yes, please. I can never bring myself to eat if she hasn’t yet.” Richard nods.

  Zack goes and gets Biscuit’s food and fills her bowl up, while Richard starts getting things out and ready for breakfast. Zack washes his hands and joins Richard in the open-plan kitchen.

  “I was thinking pancakes and strawberries?” Richard offers.

  “Sounds great. I can wash and cut the fruit while you do the mix,” Zack suggests.

  “Good plan.” Richard gets to work with flour and eggs, making a batter, and Zack takes a strawberry and offers one to Richard.

  Richard doesn’t take it out of Zack’s hand. He puts his own hand on Zack’s waist and leans forward to take a bite from the red berry. Zack finds himself swallowing hard at the look of pleasure on Richard’s face and then the way he licks juice off of his bottom lip. Zack has to shake himself to stop himself doing something reckless.

  Zack goes back to the fruit and lets Richard finish whisking and start pouring the pancakes. They sizzle in the pan and are soon served warm on two plates with fresh strawberries and some light syrup. They eat them sitting in front of the fire, and it’s one of the best breakfasts Zack has had in a long time.

  “So, I know this is a little backward, but I’d like to take you on a date when the weather clears a little,” Richard says, sounding nervous again.

  “I’d like that. There are a few places in town I’d like to try, if you don’t mind the gossip from people seeing us together.” Zack knows people will talk. It’s a small town. Richard is well known, and Zack is still the new guy, so he knows them being seen together will spark talk.

  “I’d be proud to be seen with you. I don’t want to hide how I feel about you,” Richard says, taking Zack’s hand gently in his.

  “I don’t want to hide either.” Zack stands up and moves towards Rich
ard who holds out his arms, welcoming Zack.

  Zack straddles Richard on the chair, hoping it’s strong enough for two full grown men. It seems to be. Zack puts a hand on Richard’s neck, under his jaw, feeling his steady pulse.

  “Please kiss me,” Richard says softly.

  “Don’t have to ask me twice,” Zack grins, and he leans in, closing the gap, his chest resting against Richard’s and his groin rubbing against Richard’s lower belly, his ass against Richard’s dick in his jeans. Zack kisses Richard, and he doesn’t think he’s ever put more passion into a kiss in his life.

  Richard wraps his arms around Zack, and he feels secure. He never imagined a time would come when he could comfortably sit on a man’s lap, sober as a judge, mid-morning, not hidden away in any way.

  Zack moans when Richard threads a hand into the back of his hair, and his other hand Richard closes around the waist of Zack’s jeans in the back, sliding inside a little. He moves his hand in millimeters, and Zack knows he’s being given time to say no.

  But he doesn’t want to say no. Richard manages to work his hand inside the back of Zack’s jeans, and he palms Zack’s bare ass.

  “Richard,” Zack gasps into Richard’s mouth, arching his back when Richard gets his fingers between Zack’s ass cheeks, and he strokes firmly over Zack’s asshole.

  “God, I want to taste you,” Richard says in a shaky voice.

  “As in my ass? I’ve, ah, that’s something I’ve never done before,” Zack admits.

  “Is it something you’d like to try?” Richard asks, his fingers massaging gently, not even trying to penetrate Zack.

  “Fuck, yes,” Zack hisses.

  “Upstairs so Biscuit doesn’t try and join in?” Richard suggests.

  “Yeah. I only want you, not your dog,” Zack laughs.

  Shaking, Zack gets to his feet, missing the feel of Richard’s hand and his body. Richard takes his hand and leads him up to the bedroom he spent the night in last night, and he’s eager to get back inside.

  Richard strips him from the waist down and then encourages him to get on the bed, face down. Zack is already turned on, so much so that his nerves about doing this for the first time are hardly a blip on his radar. He trusts Richard with his body and his mental wellbeing.

  He breathes as calmly as he can as Richard stretches his ass cheeks apart, and seconds later Richard’s warm, wet, and firm tongue is licking between his cheeks over his hole, and Zack squirms at the feeling, his blood feeling on fire.

  “More,” Zack gasps.

  The sensation of a tongue in his asshole, dipping inside just a little, is like nothing he’s felt before. He’s been fingered and used his own fingers on himself, but a tongue is completely different. Zack is glad he’s laying down, because if he were standing, he’d fall down, flat on his face.

  Richard makes sweet little moaning noises right against Zack’s skin, and Zack feels himself shaking as Richard opens him up with his fingers and tongue. Zack’s cock is rock hard where it’s trapped against the mattress, and he manages to prop himself up enough that he can get a hand under him and on his dick.

  Zack strokes himself a handful of times, moaning at the combined feeling. He comes hard into his hand. Richard keeps licking lightly till Zack groans, feeling overwhelmed, and Richard stops, rolling him over carefully and getting a blanket out from beneath them and over Zack’s nude lower body.

  “That was amazing. Like, last night was no joke, but this, this was wow,” Zack pants.

  “Very happy to have provided.” Richard grins.

  “I should help you out,” Zack says, but he’s so boneless and half asleep.

  “You can owe me one. Let’s just get some rest. Snow days are good for sleeping in,” Richard says happily, and he tucks Zack against his body like Zack doesn’t weigh a thing.

  “I’m really glad my power went out,” Zack says sleepily.

  “I’m really glad you came to check on me and that you didn’t try to tough it out alone,” Richard says, kissing his cheek softly.

  “I’ve decided I like living in the country.” Zack grins.

  “Good. We’ll make a country boy out of you yet, city mouse.” Richard chuckles.

  Zack kisses Richard hard, and he thanks whoever is watching over him for snow.

  THE END

  ABOUT L.J. Hamlin

  L.J. Hamlin is a chronically ill writer who likes to write to escape from the pain. She loves animals and the supernatural.

  For more information, visit ljhamlin.com.

  ABOUT JMS BOOKS LLC

  JMS Books LLC is a small queer press with competitive royalty rates publishing LGBT romance, erotic romance, and young adult fiction. Visit jms-books.com for our latest releases and submission guidelines!