Higher Ground

Chapter 2-3

Plenty of time to decide.

* * * *

As Adam studied the menu, Zach tapped his fork on the table, a scowl on his face. Adam frowned at him. Zach’s menu lay in front of him; he’d given it only a cursory glance. Maybe he already knew what he wanted.

“Are you hungry?” Adam asked.

“What?” Zach dragged his attention back from a long way off when Adam spoke.

“You seem impatient.”

“I didn’t get any lunch.” He still tapped the fork, the rhythm speeding up. Adam reached over and took it out of his hand, laid it back on the table. “Sorry. Can we order?”

“You okay?” Adam asked after the waiter had been and gone. “You’re on edge.”

“I’m sorry.” Zach ran his hands through his hair, making it look worse. He’d come right from work, Adam thought, clothes rumpled, a hint of beard shadow. For their date last night, Zach had clearly been home first to shower, shave, and put on fresh clothes. Not this time, and Adam should feel offended that Zach hadn’t made an effort for him, but instead he felt only concern.

“You worked late? Quarterlies?”

“Yes. Professor Phillips is starting to get on at me about them. But there’s this other thing…Just some personal work I’m not even supposed to be spending time on, but you know…” He gave a half smile, half grimace. “Sometimes something seems more urgent and important than the work they’re paying you for.”

“I hear that,” Adam said. “I could never get my professor to agree with me about spending department time on the cactus contest.”

“The what?” Zach had picked up the fork again, but it froze in his hand.

“Just a competition we have going in the lab to see who can make their cactus bloom first.”

“Don’t those things only bloom every few years?”

“It’s not a short contest, I’ll admit.”

Zach sighed and rubbed his eyes. “If I could just get someone to check my results, I’d probably be able to drop it. I think I’ve made an error somewhere. I must have.”

Adam almost asked what this other project was about, but the waiter was heading their way.

“Here comes the food. Right, I’m invoking The Rule!”

“No work talk on a date. Right.” Zach gave a feeble smile. “You’re right. I need to forget all about it for a few hours.”

Adam did his best to make Zach forget. They ate, split a bottle of wine—a nice white made at a winery attached to a vineyard Adam had visited that afternoon, which made him smile. When the waiter started giving them meaningful looks as more customers came looking for tables, they split the check and took their leave.

It was dark out, and they strolled, Adam slipping his arm into Zach’s, until they found a bench to sit on in a quiet spot sheltered by some trees.

Zach wrapped his arms around Adam’s waist and pulled him close, kissed him. Desire surged in Adam, and Zach’s hand on his thigh made him want to give in to a suggestion he felt sure would come any moment. But he remembered what he’d decided—to date the hell out of Zach. No rushing into anything. Relish the anticipation. Bring it to a fever pitch.

Zach pulled away from the kiss and whispered into Adam’s ear, breath warm against his skin, stirring his hair. “Will you come back to my apartment?”

“Not tonight.” Adam tried to bring Zach’s mouth back to his, wanting the taste of those lips again. But Zach pulled away from him. There was just enough light to read the stricken look on Zach’s face.

“Adam, if you’re not interested in me that way, please let me know where I stand. Please don’t lead me on.”

Adam grabbed his hands, pulled him closer again.

“I was just getting closely acquainted with your tonsils, Benesh. Does it seem likely I’m not interested in you that way?”

“I don’t have tonsils. They were removed when I was ten. Um, but that’s not strictly relevant.”

“No,” Adam said with a grin. “I’m just saying, relax, I’m definitely interested in you that way. And I promise, when we take the next step…” He moved closer and whispered in Zach’s ear, so close his lips touched the curves of it and Zach’s hair brushed his face. “Then I’m gonna blow your mind.”

He’d bet Zach blushed, but he couldn’t see it in the dark. He certainly made a weird little sound in his throat, almost a squeak. He spoke in a hoarse voice. “Are you trying to drive me insane?”

“Yes.”

“Oh. Well, you’re doing a good job.”

“I’ve practiced. I’m a master of the art.”

“The art of teasing.”

“Just enjoy it. Kiss me again.” He could be straightforward too. Zach filled his arms again, and Adam felt him trembling as he sought to restrain his passion. When Adam let him unleash that passion, he suspected his own mind would be blown too. He came close to weakening and giving Zach what he wanted, right there on the bench, but Zach was the one who stopped eventually.

“It’s getting late,” he said, pulling away. “And if you’re not coming up, I’d better go home.”

“You do look like you could use some rest,” Adam said, his breathing and heartbeat slowing back to normal. Wow. He tried to comb his hair back into place with his fingers. “Get some sleep, and I’ll see you tomorrow, if you want.”

“Yes. I mean, of course I want to. I’ll call you.”

They parted with one more kiss, and Adam watched Zach until he turned a corner before heading off into the night too. Perhaps tomorrow night? Or should he try teasing Zach for another couple of days? He was a lot of fun to tease. No, tomorrow night. He had Zach primed.

He started making plans. It would be perfection.