Page 5 of Tracker
“Zeus.”
Shadow relaxed. “You’re good. That’s the one topic I never discuss with Ridge unless he brings it up.”
Tracker settled back down. “Oh, okay.” Tracker cleared his throat. “I guess that probably answers my question. You and Zeus had sex.”
Shadow blinked like that was the last thing he expected. “Yeah.”
Tracker swallowed. He didn’t have discussions on this topic. “Was it good?”
“You mean you haven’t?” Shadow’s question held a huge amount of shock.
The desire to run hit hard. He had already been nervous and uncomfortable before Shadow made him feel worse.
Shadow hugged his arm. “I’m sorry. You’re not as open about these things as I am. I should’ve thought before I spoke. You two spend so much time together, and Zeus is… Zeus. I was just caught off guard. Now that I’ve had a second. That makes perfect sense.”
“Great. Thanks for that.”
Shadow rolled his eyes. “It wasn’t an insult. You’re exactly what Zeus needs. It has to be exhausting being on every second of the day. You’d never treat anyone like that. To answer your question, being in his bed is everything you can imagine plus more. Of course, Ridge is the perfect match for me, but yeah. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
That last bit threw Tracker for a loop. “Wait. You two only slept together once?”
“Everyone only sleeps with Zeus once. I imagine if anyone ever has him twice, it’ll mean Zeus finally fell in love. Why did you want to know anyhow? I’ve always assumed you’re asexual. You never… wait. Are you demi? Did someone finally get close enough to you? Oh no. Why did it have to be Zeus?”
“Um.” Tracker’s head was all over the place. “I have no idea what you mean by demi, but I know it’s not a lack of desire. There’s a guy online who makes me…” Tracker cleared his throat. He wasn’t here about that. “No one wants to be with someone who looks like me.”
Shadow froze. After a second, his expression turned furious. “What in the fuck do you mean by that? You’re gorgeous. I’ve heard men sigh when they look at you.”
A sad smile touched Tracker’s lips. “That’s with my clothes on. You know that wouldn’t be the case otherwise.”
“Doyoubelieve no one wants you, or did someone tell you that? Because that is categorically untrue. You look at yourself and see scars. Everyone else looks at you and sees you. Beautiful you.”
“Zeus asked me to let him make love to me.”
Shadow was back to blinking like Tracker fried his brain. “Were those his exact words?”
“Yes.”
Shadow melted into the couch, as if his body gave out. “Wow. That’s… wow.”
Tracker was more confused by the second. “What?”
Shadow shook his head. “It’s nothing. Go on.”
Tracker shrugged. “That’s basically it. I told him I would think about it.”
“And?”
Tracker knew he had to look as defeated as he felt. “I don’t know. That’s why I came to you.”
“Okay.” Shadow squared his shoulders. “Let’s talk this out. Use logic.”
Tracker nodded. Coming at this from an educated point of view made sense. He could do that. Plus, Shadow acted like he took this as seriously as it was to Tracker.
“Here’s the thing. You know what Zeus does for a living. Can you handle that once you cross that line?”
“Does it matter? He didn’t ask me to be his boyfriend or anything.”
Shadow waved away his words. “Of course it matters. Sex with Zeus will be intimate, especially since you’re his best friend. You need to be certain, when it’s over, that you won’t walk away from what you two have when it truly hits you what he does for a living.”
