Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 10

Noah who had his arms full of Archer. His son looked even smaller next to Noah's wide chest and unintentionally, Zach's cheeks felt warm with a blush.
    Archer was touching the pointy hair and pushing his fingers in Noah's eyes. He'd never seen so much make up and certainly not anything as sparkly as the colors on Noah's face. But Noah just laughed, cooing at Archer and letting him get away with whatever he wanted. His little fingers were a lethal weapon, still uncoordinated and capable of leaving mighty scratches. Zach knew. And yet, Noah took it all in stride. Completely ignoring Zach, he held conversations with the little guy and Archer couldn't stop grinning at him.
    Before Zach could find enough words to respond another client knocked on the door and until the last scheduled person left Zach had no time to spare for Archer or Noah, nothing except a casual look here and there.
    Then the last lady left and with an exhausted sigh Zach turned toward the rock star and his son, only to find them both asleep in the upholstered chair client's friends usually used when they wanted to be there during the piercing.
    Noah had his head tilted to the side and he was lowered in the chair, making for a very uncomfortable position, but Archer stretched over his chest, resting on Noah's torso. He had Noah's shirt firmly gripped in his little fist and drooled on Noah's jacket. Zach's felt that tingle in his chest again, warm all over as he looked at the two of them so peaceful and content. They could have been father and son, with their hair the same color and the way both their mouths stayed slightly open in their sleep.
    Noah didn't drool, which amused Zach but he expected that was due to his position. He wondered if that would that be the case when Noah shared a pillow with Zach. Then promptly shook his head to dispel that delusional thought.
    It felt wrong to wake them up, but Zach crossed the distance to them, rubbing at his tattooed arms and hoping his nerves would settle down. Softly he gripped Noah's shoulder, loving the feeling of it under his fingers, and shook him gently.
    Noah opened his eyes, disoriented for a moment, then noticed Zach and smiled. His fingers tightened around Archer, careful not to disturb the little guy before Noah whispered, "Sorry I fell asleep."
    "It's okay, thank you for looking after him for me. You pretty much saved the day." Zach rubbed his palm against his jeans.
    "What's a guy to do when two cuties need help?" He grinned at Zach. "He's absolutely adorable." Then he looked up at Zach, "Can I keep him?"
    Zach grinned back, "I'm kind of attached. He's my life." That made Noah's expression turn serious and he spoke, "I know what you mean. There is no way he couldn't be. Makes me want children of my own."
    Zach just curved his lips, feeling somewhat uncomfortable. "Here, let me take him. I'm done for today and we should be going."
    Noah helped him take Archer, who instantly adjusted himself without waking and continued his rest even once he was placed in his carrier and secured.
    "I'm still finding it weird that you're not blinded by my fame. I kind of love it." Noah slipped and if Zach wasn't sure Noah never blushed he would have mistaken the bit of red in his cheeks as just that.
    "Dude, I didn't even have time to Google you yet."
    Noah laughed then covered his mouth with his hand. But Zach saw enough to be once again smitten by the guy.
    "No, that's pretty much great. So…" Noah trailed off, seeming suddenly insecure, something that really didn't suit him, but then his lips tightened and he seemed to be standing taller, "Do you want to go out with me sometime?"
    Zach was surprised enough to almost drop Archer's carrier with his son in it. "You…I… What?" he stammered, not quite sure he'd even heard right.
    "I like you. Hell, I'm hard every time I see you. My eyes glitter for you, baby," he grinned with the last of the sentence, "So I want to take you out, get to know you better. Say yes?"
    "Um, yeah?" Zach shook his head slightly again, furiously blushing, "I mean no. I don't have the time. When did you want to go out? No, really, I don't think I can."
    Noah's lips only stretched wider, "You don't have a babysitter for the little guy?"
    "Yes. No." Zach took a deep breath then, "I'm sorry, I'm a blabbering idiot today. I mean, yes, I would like to go out with you. No, Archer isn't a problem. The problem is that I really don't have time. I work almost every night and every morning. What