Love Is Always Write Volume 4

bartender's appearance stopped him short. Zeb turned to him, "I'll take a…"
    "A cola, I know." The bartender interrupted. The singer nodded and turned to Chad with a question on his face.
    "I'll take a Rum and Diet." The bartender turned away to get their drinks and Chad saw Zeb chuckling under his breath while he scanned Chad's body. "What?"
    "Diet?"
    "Not cuz I think I need it. It's for the taste." It looked like Zeb didn't believe him. He had a really adorable scrunched up look to his face that Chad had a hard time not leaning in to kiss. Instead he explained. "Rum is already sweet and adding regular sugary cola to that is just gross. It's not like I'd ever drink diet on its own – of course I wouldn't want Rum on its own either – but sometimes you take two things that aren't so perfect on their own and put them together and…" he trailed off, realizing he was rambling.
    "And?" Zeb asked quietly, leaning in closer.
    "And zing… perfection."
    "Yeah," the other man agreed and Chad noticed the dark ring surrounding the gray in those mesmerizing eyes. So beautiful, he thought, and for a moment wondered what those eyes would look like in the heat of passion. Just then the bartender brought their drinks and Chad was glad for it. A moment longer and he might have forgotten where he was and kissed Zeb right there. Before Chad finished that thought Zeb already had their drinks paid for and was taking a long swig of his soda.
    "Are you done for the night now?" Chad sipped his drink, hoping he didn't look as nervous as he felt.
    "No. Just on break. We play four forty-five minute sets with fifteen minute breaks between."
    "Oh." Chad frowned, disappointed to find out they had such a short time together.
    "So…" Zeb started again, turning back to him. He wondered if this was how the guy started all his conversations and waited. "There's this back room here I've got a key to."
    Wondering if he'd heard right, he asked, "What?" in a voice a little too startled.
    Zeb leaned in closer to whisper in his ear. "You see, I'm thinking you're wanting at me as badly as I'm wanting at you. I tend to be the impatient sort. So, I was thinking…" Zeb paused, stepping back for a moment to let his eyes do the talking for him before he moved in close again. "If you like it hard and fast we could share something more enjoyable than a drink on my next break. Or, if you'd like to have some real fun, we'll wait till the band's done. The bar stays open another hour after we finish up but they play the jukebox nice and loud so no one will hear you moan. And, ohhh, how I can't wait to make you moan."
    For some reason Chad felt like he just got slapped in the face, or maybe doused with cold water. Maybe both. He'd done the meaningless sex thing, although not often, there wasn't anything new there, but… oh shit… that wasn't the track his mind had been on since spotting the sexy singer. The thought hadn't even occurred to him, and now he felt derailed. "Listen, maybe you've gotten the wrong idea."
    "Doubt it." Chad stepped back and Zeb gave him a smirk. "Oh come on. I know you're interested." The look on his face went from just a little cocky to smug. "I've seen starving men with less hunger in their eyes then you when you look at me."
    Chad decided right there that he didn't like smug too much. "I'm not denying I'm interested in you. Just not in what you're offering." Zeb looked confused but still smug, and Chad sighed. "I'm not going to sneak to a back room with you for some quick fuck."
    "What, prep-boy? Too good for a little fun?"
    Chad shook his head slightly, finding the other man's defensiveness almost amusing. "Nah, nothing like that. It's just not what I wanted from you." Smug was gone and only confusion remained in Zeb's eyes. "Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure you feel the same spark between us that I do."
    Zeb chuckled, almost nervously. "Yeah, it's called lust."
    "No. Well… yeah," Chad gave a lazy shrug. "There's that too." He straightened to his full height to step a little closer and spoke in a low voice. "Trust me, I've felt lust before. And yeah, I'm not going to deny I want you, but…" he trailed off, completely unsure how to explain when he didn't have a clue himself. "but this feels… a little different. I guess I was just hoping for something a little… more ."
    "What…" The musician trailed off and swallowed hard, looking at a loss for words. "What are you talking about? What's more?" He took a half step away,