Page 22 of Tracker
Tracker was blown away. “Why didn’t I know you did this?”
Zeus shrugged and put food on his plate. He didn’t meet Tracker’s stare. “You never really came here until recently. Plus, you’re not homeless. Why would you know?”
The entire situation was so Zeus. He would do anything to help others. Zeus never boasted. No one bothered to look beyond his beautiful veneer. If they did, they would see an equally flawless soul. Unfortunately, Tracker realized, maybe he wasn’t as good as Zeus. Zeus was right. Tracker hadn’t come here or looked at Zeus’ life beyond Zeus’ place in his life. More often than not,Tracker wondered why Zeus chose him. Tracker wasn’t sure he had been that great of a friend.
“You’re the best person I know.”
Zeus chuckled and flashed him a bright smile. “Actually, I’m pretty sure that title goes to Field. He had me beating the shit out of him all the time just to hang on for you guys. Making other people happy is all he lives for.”
Tracker growled. While it was true Tracker’s brother Field was beyond wonderful, Zeus deserved praise too. “Just take the compliment, Zeus.”
The way Zeus chuckled again made Tracker want to kick him in the shin. “Now, I take it back.”
A bark of loud laughter escaped Zeus. His eyes swam with mirth. The heavy bruising on his face did nothing to detract from his sexiness. “That’s the spirit.”
Tracker shook his head at Zeus’ antics. “I love you.” The words sounded every bit as exasperated as he felt. Tracker had no idea why he wanted this insanity for the rest of his life, but he did.
With lunch consumed and left warming on the buffet table, Tracker trailed through the club. Zeus followed on his heels, studying him. He never knew what Tracker was thinking, but he looked baffled.
“This place feels strange with no one here. Like the building is holding its breath or something.”
Zeus got it. Without the building’s usual characters, it was just that. A building. But somehow the place also felt like it was a living entity waiting for sound and emotions to fill it.
“Let’s give it a little life.” Zeus pulled out his phone and opened an app on his device for the building’s smart system. He found a playlist of love songs and got the music going.
Tracker smiled as the air filled with sound.
Zeus made the gap between them disappear. He drew Tracker into a slow dance. Zeus closed his eyes as he molded against his other half. It would be hard for anyone to understand what Tracker meant to him. Zeus couldn’t do enough to spoil him. Thefact that Tracker had never sexualized him hadn’t made Zeus addicted to some sort of wanting what he couldn’t have. Tracker was his peace. He let Zeus feel human. Where they came from, humanity didn’t exist. Tracker was the only person Zeus wanted to crave him, because his desire was genuine. They were real.
Tracker’s hand ran down Zeus’s body, lovingly stroking him. “I love you. I know I keep saying that, but I’m so, so in love with you. These overwhelming emotions have always been inside me, but I didn’t recognize what I felt. Now I can’t believe I missed it, and nothing I say sounds big enough.”
Zeus could cry. He was that moved. “You’re not alone. I can’t get enough. You own my every thought. Honestly, you have for a long time, but I didn’t want to admit it and lose you.”
Tracker kissed his neck. “You can’t lose me.”
Zeus sucked in a shaky breath. His body ached from just that light brush of lips on his skin. He wanted to beg Tracker to keep going. Zeus didn’t beg.
Tracker’s hands found their way beneath Zeus’ shirt.
“Please?” The quiet plea poured from him. There was no holding back the neediness. It seemed he would beg after all.
“Tell me what you need.” Tracker kissed the shell of his ear. “I’d do anything for you. Anythingtoyou.”
Zeus’ knees weakened. Tracker wasn’t the seducer. Each day, Tracker came more and more out of his shell. He did that for Zeus. Zeus was the only man alive to get this piece of Tracker. His trust in Zeus and the safety he obviously felt with Zeus was beautiful.
“There’s still a little time until opening and no one needs me for that. How do you feel about trying out a playroom with me?”
It was a risky move. Tracker wasn’t like Zeus. He needed time to adjust to a life of play. Tracker didn’t respond immediately, but neither did he freeze or run. It was as if he took the request to heart and gave it the consideration he felt the moment deserved. When he responded, his words hurt Zeus’ chest. “I don’t want to disappoint you. You’re an expert with tons of training I don’t have. Maybe this’ll be the thing that makes you realize I’m not enough.”
Zeus stopped dancing. All he could do was stare at Tracker. “Why would you even say that?”
Tracker’s shoulder lifted in an uncomfortable-looking half shrug. His gaze slid away. “Considering your vast choices, being with me is you settling.” His focus jumped back to holding Zeus’ stare, as if needing Zeus to see he was serious. “I keep expecting you to realize that and try to let me down gently.”
Zeus felt his features harden. He wouldn’t tolerate this doubt from Tracker. Not now. Not when they were so close to solidifying this beautiful thing they had together. He had thought Tracker understood.
In one quick motion, Zeus bent and tossed Tracker over his shoulder. He headed for the nearest playroom. Tracker didn’t make a sound. Zeus kicked the door closed behind them in the first room he came to. “I know I did something yesterday to make you doubt yourself and me, but fuck this bullshit.”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.” Tracker sounded completely calm and not at all like he was over Zeus’ shoulder.
