Fic: Couture - RPS - Part 8 - Complete
Title: Couture - COMPLETE
Rating: NC-17 overall
Pairing: Chris/Zach
Word count: 7478 this part (46,820 words overall)
Warning: Language, explicit sex, awkward!sex, angst, a lot of fluff.
AN1: You guys have been so amazing. Thank you so much for the endless stream of lovely and supportive comments throughout this series. It’s meant so much to me.
AN2: I may one day come back to this AU and write a few one-shots, but for now, this is done. :)
Summary: Zach is a fashion designer and Chris is a male model that he takes an interest in.
Previous parts: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7
Part 8
Zach lets out a sigh of exhaustion as he steps into his building’s elevator. It’s been a week since the charity fashion show and work since has been awful, which is primarily down to him being unhelpful and distracted all of the time. He’d have people coming into his office, asking his opinion, and he’d just shrug, his mind firmly on other things.
The doors to the elevator open at his floor and he steps out with his keys in hand, but stops short when he sees Chris, sitting on the floor, back against the door and his legs outstretched in front of him. Zach can hear Noah whining from inside his apartment, like he knows who’s sitting on the other side of the door.
Chris scrambles to his feet, a breathtaking, broad smile on his lips as he gazes back at Zach. “I was just singing to Noah through the door.”
Zach raises an eyebrow. “You came all the way over here to sing to a dog through a door?”
“And to say hi to you.”
“Do you want to come in?” Zach asks as casually as possible.
Zach knows it’s a risk asking Chris inside, one he shouldn’t indulge in, but having Chris so close is instantly exciting and all he can think about is getting him back inside his apartment. Zach opens the door quickly and Noah is on Chris in a second, barking a few times happily as he jumps up to him, his tongue hanging out.
“Oh, I missed you, too. I did, I did. Who’s my favourite boy? Who is?” Chris baby talks to Noah as Zach walks into his apartment, his whole body on edge and buzzing with anticipation, for what, he’s not sure. He stands by the couch, fidgeting nervously as he watches Chris crouch down and shower Noah with affection.
“Well, there’s your answer for whether he remembers you,” Zach says with a smile. Chris stands up, his face suddenly serious and emotional as he approaches him.
“I’ve missed you so much, Zach,” Chris admits softly in the quiet room. Noah whines and jumps up to Chris’ side again, trying to get attention, and Chris ruffles his head distractedly, his eyes still fixed on Zach. Zach looks down at the floor and swallows.
“After we broke up, I pretty much cried the whole flight home, people were staring, it was kind of embarrassing,” Chris admits softly.
“I was a mess after you left.” Chris snorts disbelievingly and Zach snaps his eyes up to look at him, serious and sober. “I really was. I was a pathetic mess. I chained smoked solidly for about a week, ate pizza and Chinese food, and I didn’t wash, shave or go outside. I was a wreck, Chris.”
Chris searches his eyes, like he’s checking if Zach’s being genuine, and then there’s a look of almost satisfaction and affirmation in Chris’ eyes, like he’s just confirmed something.
“You ate carbs?” Chris suddenly asks, smiling.
“Yeah, I put on so much weight, but I spent the whole time in sweat pants so it didn’t really matter. I didn’t care about anything. I just cut myself off from the world until Joe came round and cleared up the apartment.”
Chris smiles in sympathy and sighs. “I pretty much stopped eating. And I cried, a lot. Not just on the plane, but for like weeks after. Imagine how bad a thirteen year old girl is after her first break up, triple it, and then you have me.”
Zach smiles sadly, finding that exchanging how pathetic they were helps validate what they went through. It makes Zach feel a lot less alone.
“Joe got me washed, shaved and dressed, and then I found something of yours and went back to the couch and got into my sweatpants for another week.”
“I was watching America’s Next Top Model and they did a photo shoot with your clothes and I ended up eating two pints of ice cream.”
“My sex life is shitty because of you.”
“Mine’s non-existent because of you.”
They exchange heartbroken smiles, like it’s one big joke they can share and laugh over; when in reality it’s sad and depressing, and makes Zach want to break down all over again.
“I didn’t think it would have affected you that badly,” Chris comments.
“You knew I loved you,” Zach says, the words out of his mouth before he can stop them.
Shock sweeps Chris’ face for a moment before he manages to school his features. “Deep down, maybe I did, and maybe I was selfish in needing to hear it, but sometimes all I ever wanted was to hear you tell me you love me, because I was so in love with you that I could have told you every second of every day and it was constantly disheartening to think that it wasn’t the same for you. But you know what, I think you always felt trapped somehow because being in a relationship with me was never a conscious choice at all, you were with me before you knew what was happening.”
Zach’s chest clenches painfully at all the past tense Chris is using, and he forces a smile onto his face.
“Maybe you’re right, but it didn’t mean I never felt things for you, I just couldn’t verbalise them. I keep thinking about what would have happened if my self-preservation hadn’t kicked in and I just told you straight out how I felt. I’m sorry I didn’t.”
Chris looks at him like he understands and Zach hopes that he does, because his self-hatred over what happened was eating him up inside and now that he has Chris there, letting him explain, he doesn’t want to mess it all up again.
“I’m actually seeing a therapist to help me work out why my emotional wall can be seen from space,” Zach jokes.
Chris’ eyebrows shoot up, looking surprised. “That’s good, good for you. It’s working. You’re already better at opening up,” Chris says with a reassuring smile. “I’ve been thinking and this may or may not be a good idea, but maybe we could start again? Not in a relationship but as friends. It’s something we didn’t really try.”
Zach can’t help but feel like that that’s no where near enough for him. “I don’t know, Chris.”
“Well, think about it, we could just hang out and stuff. No pressure.”
Zach bites his lip, not wanting to say that he would much rather be at the very least friends with benefits because always seeing Chris in clothing seems like an acute, horrific sort of torture.
“Well, we can see how things go,” Zach says vaguely.
Chris nods. “OK, well I guess I should get going, let me know about the play, it’s not going to be opening for a while yet, but I want you there when it does.”
“Can’t promise anything, I could be washing my hair.”
Chris chuckles and heads to the door. Noah starts whining when Chris puts a hand on the door handle, like he knows Chris is about to leave and wants everyone in the vicinity to know he’s not happy about it.
“I’ll see you soon,” Chris coos down at Noah, ruffling his head with his hand. “Maybe I could take him for a walk sometime?”
Zach nods as he walks to the door and pulls Noah away, the dog’s eyes glancing at Zach with blame before walking off.
“Hug?” Chris asks awkwardly and opens his arms.
“Sure,” Zach says, indulging himself as he wraps his arms around Chris’ frame, finding the warmth of his body against his own comforting and reassuring. He pushes his nose into Chris’ neck, taking a good inhale of the familiar scent, like he’s a druggie and it’s been too long since a fix. He feels an unusual burst of emotion and he swallows, trying to get himself together.
What surprises him is that it doesn’t just feel like he’s got his boyfriend back, but that he’s got his best friend back, too. Zach holds on to him like a life raft, trying to remember a time when he wasn’t this needy, when one person didn’t make his entire body relax and fill him with contentment. He doesn’t want to let go, and he’s not even sure he can as his arms lock around Chris’ thinner body.
“I missed you,” Chris mumbles into his neck, the warm air brushing Zach’s skin and making him to shiver.
“I still have your leather pants,” Zach mumbles back, causing Chris to let out a small burst of laughter. Then Zach feels Chris’ soft lips press against the crook of his neck in a gentle, affectionate kiss, and Zach eyes flutter shut, his chest squeezing with joy at the wonderful sensation. He finds himself moving his head slightly to the side so Chris has better access as he places a second kiss just above his pulse point, and Zach practically shudders with pleasure.
Chris pulls his head up at the same time Zach does, and they stare at each other for a moment like they can’t believe they’re both standing there. Then Chris cranes his neck forward and places a soft, unsure kiss on his mouth before pulling back, his eyes lit up with uncertainty over what he just did and how well it was going to be received.
Zach let’s out a small satisfied hum and it seems to trigger Chris into action as he suddenly surges forward, one arm going around Zach’s neck, bringing their mouths together in a deep, soul searching kiss, their tongues sliding and tangling together. Zach presses his body against Chris’ quickly, his hands running all over him, impatient to touch and feel everything that he’s been longing for and missing for the last few months.
“This is a mistake,” Zach mutters, breathless, before delving back into Chris’ mouth and grabbing his ass possessively. Chris releases a small ‘uh’ as Zach pushes Chris so his back is pressed tightly to the door, and slips one of his legs in between Chris’ to get closer as they rub and hump against each other like teenagers.
Chris lets out a small grunt and pulls back. “OK, too much dry humping with a door handle digging into my back,” Chris says with a laugh. Zach buries his head in Chris’ neck again, ignoring him, and carries on rubbing himself against Chris like he can’t stop, the zip of his pants digging into his erection almost painfully.
“Zach,” Chris tries again, his hand twining in Zach’s hair. “Bedroom, come on.”
Zach can barely focus on what Chris is trying to tell him, his mind hazy from finally have him back, and he lifts his head up and goes for his mouth again, seeking out the familiar taste of Chris as his other hand reaches down to hastily unbutton and unzip his own pants, pushing them down his thighs awkwardly.
“God, you’re so hot like this,” Chris murmurs when they pull back for air.
Zach’s hands quickly fumble with Chris’ pants as he undoes them and pushes them down his thighs hastily, a smile coming to his lips when he sees Chris’ heavy cock spring free.
Zach wraps his arms around Chris’ body and they start shuffling away from the door, both with their pants around their ankles as they kiss messily and loudly in the quiet room.
Chris suddenly let’s out a small yelp and starts falling backwards, his hands going for Zach’s shirt desperately as he flails and tries to remain upright. He fails and falls down backwards with a loud shout, Zach falling on to him so they’re in a heap on the floor, both of them groaning in pain. Zach rolls off him so they’re lying side by side.
“Did you have to elbow me in the ribs?” Chris says through clenched teeth, his arms around his chest.
Zach has his hands over his penis and balls protectively. “You kneed me in the balls, you asshole.”
They glance at each other, their eyes dancing, before falling about laughing as Noah walks over to them with interest, sniffing Chris’ foot. Zach reaches over and takes Chris’ hand in his, surprised that it already feels like Chris never left.
Chris leans down and kicks off his pants before looking down his body to his penis. “Still hard, even after an elbow to the ribs.”
“Even more miraculous, I’m hard after having a knee in my balls.”
They both lie there on the floor, staring at the ceiling as they’re breathing gets back to a normal pace and Noah walks around them before lying down by Chris’ side. Zach feels a smile tugging as his lips as he uses his thumb to trace over the back of Chris’ hand.
“You know we sound like grumpy old guys,” Chris jokes, looking to the side.
“We’ll probably still bitch and have awkward sex when we’re 50.”
“50, huh?” Chris says with a smirk, his eyes laughing.
“You don’t want to have sex with me when I’m 50?” Zach asks, trying to make a joke about it.
“Depends how hot you are at 50.”
Zach feels his heart leap, wanting to ask so many questions but not having the confidence to ask as they stare at each other, both of them smiling.
“You good? Your balls recovered? I’m hoping to get laid sometime tonight.”
Zach squeezes his hand. “You’re such a pissy little bitch,” Zach says.
“Come on, I’m not fucking in front of Noah, that’s weird and I want him to still respect me in the morning.”
“He might, I won’t,” Zach says, heaving himself in to a standing position. “I don’t know if this is a good idea.”
Chris gets up and stands there in just his shirt, his penis hard between his legs, with a kicked puppy expression on his face. Zach feels his resolve tumble and he grabs Chris’ hand and drags him down the hallway to his bedroom, slamming the door shut behind them, making Noah give a rejected whine.
They fall onto the bed, both of them trying to get out of their shirts as quickly as possible before reaching for each other and making out and groping like they’re teenagers who need to get off before their parents get home.
Chris hums and moans against Zach’s mouth as Zach rolls them so he’s on top. Zach feels like every nerve ending in his body is on fire as a flood of want slams through his body. He tries to touch Chris everywhere at once, touching one of his pink nipples, then letting his fingers graze over his belly button and down to rub a thumb around Chris’ pubic hair before running his hand back up Chris’ chest, the warm skin welcome under his fingertips.
Zach cranes his neck down and engages in an open mouthed, wet kiss and lets his hands wander down to Chris’ thick thighs that tremble lightly at his touch. Chris lets out a small whine of impatience and Zach moves his hands around the outside of Chris’ thighs and down to behind his knees, and pushes them up to his chest with ease, displaying Chris’ ass to his eyes. Chris shifts slightly to make it more comfortable, and Zach runs a finger down in-between his ass cheeks to brush over his hole. Chris lets out the smallest hum of appreciation at the touch and Zach feels like he’ll die if he’s not inside Chris within the next minute.
He tries to prepare Chris carefully so as not to hurt him, but his whole body fidgets with anticipation and impatience, and the noises slipping out of Chris’ mouth aren’t helping whatsoever. He’s dreamt so many times of having Chris back in his bed, of all the things he’d do to him, but as he looks down at Chris, holding his legs open, Zach’s mind only focuses on getting inside him as quickly as possible. A part of him wants this to be slow and loving, but he knows the time for that isn’t now.
Zach leans down and presses an uncoordinated, shaky kiss to Chris’ lips. Chris pants into his mouth, eyes glassy and filled with lust as he pushes his ass back onto Zach’s fingers eagerly, wanting more.
Zach pulls his fingers out and fumbles for the condom, rolling it on before hiking Chris’ legs up further and lining himself up, his dick rubbing up and down the crack of his ass a few times before pushing inside slowly.
“Fuck,” Chris grunts out, his hands sliding up and down Zach’s back as he pushes in a little further. “S’been a while.”
“Good,” Zach says through gritted teeth, the warm, very tight channel contracting around his cock as he thrusts himself in slowly.
Zach waits a few torturous moments, letting Chris adjust, before pulling out and snapping his hips forward as forcefully as he can, the headboard hitting the wall with a loud bang as he shuts his eyes in bliss. Chris let’s out a pleased, encouraging moan, his hand going down to his own cock and stroking it lazily as Zach thrusts into him as hard and as deeply as he can without hurting him or breaking the bed.
Zach opens his eyes and almost loses it at the sight of Chris lying there, one arm over his head, the other stroking himself, his mouth agape, eyes shut, and a deep red flush across his cheeks. He looks completely undone and it just shoots Zach further towards his climax as he shuts his own eyes again and focuses on all the moans and whimpers coming out of Chris’ mouth and the feel of his ass around his cock.
“Jesus, Zach,” Chris shouts, his hand flying up and down his own dick as the bed creaks ominously, banging rhythmically against the wall as Zach snaps his hips forward as hard as possible, driving himself into the warm grip of Chris’ body.
Zach’s eyes fly open in surprise when suddenly his orgasm slams through him out of nowhere, his body shaking and trembling as his loud moan fills the room, his hips still thrusting forward as he moves through it. His orgasm seems to trigger Chris’ and he looks down to catch Chris’ cock spurting all over his stomach as he says “Zach” over and over again, his ass tightening around Zach’s cock.
Zach rolls off him, throws the condom in the trash and reaches for his pack of cigarettes.
“No, don’t even think about it,” Chris snaps, grabbing the cigarettes and throwing the pack across the room.
Zach stares at him for a moment before giving in and settling down on his back, Chris pressing up tightly to his side and throwing a leg between his. Zach runs his hand up and down Chris’ body, the skin warm and tinged with sweat. Zach feels like he could happily die right that second as Chris presses a lazy kiss to his chest.
“Well, that was interesting,” Chris murmurs.
“Interesting? Did I not fuck you right?” Zach asks, amusement filling his voice.
“You know what I mean. I didn’t come here thinking we’d have sex, although this has been a nice surprise.”
“‘Interesting? A nice surprise?’ Please, stop flattering me so much, my ego may explode.”
Chris huffs out a laugh. “So, how long do you need for your afterglow before I can ask what all of this means for us?”
Zach’s not surprised that Chris hasn’t changed in his constant push mentality, but he is surprised at how calm he is over it. He knows that in the past, if Chris had brought this up, he’d be thinking up ways to get out of the room and avoid the conversation.
“Give me five to just bask.”
Chris brings his wrist up and Zach notices the watch he bought him. “OK, I’ll let you know when your basking time is up.”
The five minutes go too quickly and Chris shifts so he can put his chin on Zach’s chest and gaze up at him expectantly.
Zach runs a hand through Chris’ hair and sighs. “OK, well, what do you want start with?”
“Are you over me? Was this just nostalgic sex?” Chris asks straight out.
“No,” Zach replies confidently. “I’m no where near over you.”
Chris nods. “Well, do you want us to get back together?”
Zach coughs and clears his throat as his face slips into a thoughtful expression. “Kinda. I know we have a shitload to work out, but I need you back in my life.”
Chris smiles up at him, his cheeks glowing from their previous exertion. “Do you still love me?” Zach opens his mouth to reply but Chris puts his hand up. “Don’t say yes. Say the words. Can you do that for me?”
Zach snorts, amused that Chris is so sure it was going to be a yes. “I could.”
“Say it then.”
“Say what?”
“Say those three words.”
“See, you’re pushing me again.”
“And you’re evading again,” Chris says back playfully, raising an eyebrow.
Zach gives an overdramatic sigh. “Fine. I love you.”
Zach has seen Chris smile so many times, in so many different situations, but the smile that graces his face at hearing those words is the most beautiful, exuberant, beaming smile he’s ever seen in his life and the fact that he caused it forces a matching smile to spread across his own face.
“It’ll get easier, you know. It’ll get way easier to say those words,” Chris says, his eyes adoring and completely devoted as he looks at Zach.
“You not going to say it back?”
Chris shrugs as a slow, teasing smile crosses his face. “Well, I thought I’d wait a few months, then break up for a while, spend some time apart, and then I’ll say it with almost no hesitation when I see you again,” Chris teases pointedly.
Zach raises an eyebrow and smirks. “I can wait.”
Chris apparently can’t as he buries his face into Zach’s chest hair and mumbles, “I love you.”
Zach almost makes a joking comment back but doesn’t, feeling the seriousness of the moment overcome him. He leans his head down in an awkward angle and presses a kiss to Chris’ hair.
“What else did you wanna talk about?” Zach asks.
“There’s a lot of stuff we need to work out but there’s time for that. And anyway, it’s not just me, there must have been stuff you wanted to know but were too afraid to ask.”
“How many boyfriends have you had?” Zach finds himself asking, needing to ask something a little less serious.
Chris shifts slightly, making himself comfortable. “OK, so I didn’t actually lose my virginity till I was like 17 because I was such an awkward teenager, but I lost it to some guy called Ben, he wasn’t my boyfriend, and three days after that, I had sex with a girl to compare.” Zach rolls his eyes. “So, in senior year I started dating Mike, who was so deep into the closet that it was scary, but when we were alone, he was sweetest guy in the world. We broke up when I went to Berkeley. Berkeley is when it all happened because I suddenly worked out I could look borderline cute in certain lighting. So, there was Mitchell, Brian, Luke, Dylan, Martin, Freddie, who was so cool that I felt a little inferior next to him. And then there was Kev, who was a little older than me, but the sex was actually mind blowing. Seriously, I wouldn’t be able to walk for like three days after-“
“You know, I don’t need the specifics,” Zach quickly says, halting Chris’ rambling and feeling a little insecure all of a sudden.
Chris looks up at him, eyes dancing with laughter. “You’re better than all my college boyfriends, trust me. Anyway, after Kev-”
“There’s more?” Zach asks, eyes wide.
“Kev was in second year, still got two more years of guys to go through.”
“You know what, I take back my question. I always thought you were the type of guy who could count the number of people they’d slept with on one hand.”
Chris grins at him and pushes himself up so he’s over Zach. “Well, overall there’s been under twenty, which is probably a drop in the ocean in your dating record. Are you jealous?” Chris teases.
“No, but if you just tell me I’m the best you’ve ever had then we can move on.”
Chris leans down and presses his lips to Zach’s in a slow, deep kiss that lights up Zach’s body in ecstasy. “You always rock my world.”
Zach chuckles and runs a hand lightly down Chris’ spine. “That’s still not telling me I’m the best sex you’ve ever had.”
“Well, I deducted points for the airplane bathroom incident.”
Zach grasps Chris’ ass possessively and leans up to kiss him again. “Just tell me.”
“You’re one of the best I’ve ever had.”
Zach laughs, his whole body light and content as Chris lies back down to his side with a pleased hum, and runs his hand through Zach’s chest hair idly.
“I’m thinking we shouldn’t live together, not anytime soon anyway,” Zach says honestly.
“I agree. I have my studio apartment anyway. And hey, maybe you could even stay over at mine some time.”
Zach gives him a look of disgust. “No, baby, that would be a step down for me. I’ve become accustomed to a certain standard of living. You can just stay over here a few nights a week or something.”
“Eugh, I’ll have you know my apartment is cute. It has character.”
“That’s what realtors say when they’re showing a place that’s ridiculously small and has zero potential.”
Chris lets out a huff and they slip into silence, the only sounds in the room coming from their slow breathing.
“God, I’ve missed you so much,” Zach suddenly says emotionally, like he can’t quite believe he has Chris back in his arms. It was something that he’d longed and pined for over the months they weren’t together, and now he has no intention of letting him go.
“You see this as long term thing, right?” Chris asks quietly, a hint of vulnerability and fear in his tone, like he’s afraid Zach’s about to close up on him and start calling their relationship ‘just fun’ again.
“You’re stuck with me for now.” Zach runs a gentle hand through Chris’ soft hair. “You know I mentioned getting a cat? I might do it this weekend, wanna come with?”
“I’m more of a dog person. Can’t we get a puppy?”
“We are getting nothing; I am getting a cat because I love them.”
Chris lets out a disapproving hum. “Cats hate me. And I just know the one you get will stare at me like he disapproves of my life choices and judges my use of putting brown and black clothing together.”
“You mean, the same way I look at you?”
“Pretty much,” Chris says with a smile.
“You know, when we wake up tomorrow, we’re going to have to really talk about some things.”
“Tomorrow,” Chris says, yawning loudly.
Chris lifts the comforter over their bodies and turns around so Zach can wrap his arms around him from behind.
Just before Zach falls asleep, he lifts his head and whispers those three words into Chris’ ear and realises he was right, it does get easier.
…
Four weeks later
Zach shifts in the uncomfortable chair as he spreads his knees slightly, trying to find a position he’ll be able to stand for three hours as he sits in the theatre waiting for Chris’ play to start. His mom is sitting next to him with a proud smile on her face like she’s about to watch her own son in a play.
The only reason his mom’s there is because Chris had picked up his phone when he had been in the shower. Chris had managed to persuade his mom to book a flight to New York to see his play in a ten minute conversation. It was impressive considering it normally took Zach a good hour to get the same outcome.
“I’m so excited,” Margo says to him in a hushed whisper as the lights go down, the playbill wrapped in her fist tightly.
Three hours and one outrageously short intermission later and Zach swears he’s going to need a chiropractor as he stands up, his neck and legs clicking loudly.
“So wonderful,” Margo says as they walk out of the aisle, people chatting loudly around them.
“Next time I’m forcing Chris to give us a box.”
His mom shushes him as he moves his head in different directions, trying to get the knot out of his neck.
They quickly head toward the stage and over to a door, giving their names to one of the stage assistants so they can head backstage.
The backstage area is cramped, smelly and full of cast members and members of the creative team, all of them buzzing with excitement and talking loudly about their opening night. Chris, who was busy laughing loudly at one of his co-stars, notices them and jogs across the room with a smile on his face, the skin by his eyes crinkling.
Zach gives him a tight hug and a quick kiss on the mouth before his mom insists on leaning up and giving Chris a long hug.
“Well?” Chris asks, eyes bright and hopeful as he looks from Zach to Margo and back.
“You were magnificent,” Margo gushes as she clutches the playbill to her chest, her eyes sparking with happiness.
“Yeah, you were. I have no idea what it was about because the second you took your top off I kind of stopped caring.”
Chris frowns. “You promised you’d actually pay attention.”
“I paid attention for some of it,” Zach says back.
“What was it about?”
“It was a socio-political look into how average people’s lives would be different in an America ruled by a communist regime.”
Chris gives him a dry look. “Congratulations on reading the playbill.”
Zach laughs and moves forward, wrapping Chris in a hug. “I’m just kidding around. Of course I paid attention.”
Chris leans forward and kisses him soundly as Zach runs his hand up and down Chris’ back slowly. “Anyway, I’ll catch up with you both at the after party,” Chris says before turning and walking away, a slight skip in his step.
…
Zach is actually pleasantly surprised by the modern and classy bar the cast has decided to use for their after party. In his mind he thought they would end up in some basement in Soho, but as he sits at a corner table with his mom and Chris, he can’t help but be impressed by how upmarket the place is.
“Hey, I’m sorry I’m late,” Joe says apologetically as he walks up to the table, giving them all a smile. “How’s my future movie star?” Chris stands up and embraces him warmly.
“You haven’t even seen it yet.”
“I’m seeing it tomorrow night and I’ll tell you you were awesome even if you weren’t. So my compliment stands,” Joe teases, giving Chris a smack on his back before clapping his hands together. “You wanna inappropriately dance with your boyfriend’s brother?”
“Like I could say no,” Chris says, letting Joe drag him away.
Zach rolls his eyes as Chris throws a thumbs up back at him before wrapping his arms around Joe.
“I swear, if Joe were gay, I’d be in trouble,” Zach jokes.
His mom gives a small chuckle. “They do get along very well.” Zach looks over to where Joe and Chris are busy grinding against each other in an over the top way which lacks any intimacy. Margo smiles and places her hand on Zach’s, patting lightly. “I knew you two would work it out.”
“Yeah, I’m kind of content with things at the moment. We’ve talked over things a lot, more than a lot, and so we’re more comfortable with each other now. It’s easy.”
“I’m assuming he’s not living with you?”
“God, no. Not for a while anyway. He spends some nights back at his apartment, normally when I’m working late. But I hope one day, in the future, he’ll move in. I probably won’t get a say in it though when he does. I like to think I wear the pants in our relationship but I know I’m wrapped around his little finger.”
“Who says that’s a bad thing?” Margo says with a smile.
Zach shrugs and looks across to the dance floor. “Oh, wonderful, my boyfriend making spanking gestures at my brother’s ass.”
Margo follows his eye line and lets out a laugh. “He’ll certainly keep you on your toes.”
“That’s one way of putting it,” Zach says, adjusting his shirt slightly.
“You’re not smoking,” Margo comments, like she’s been waiting to say something all evening.
Zach’s cheeks go red. “Err, I’m trying to quit. Chris and I have a kind of punishment and reward system when it comes to me smoking,” Zach says, leaving it at that. He doesn’t want his mom to know that he gets given a lot of blowjobs on the days he manages to abstain and no blowjobs on days he doesn’t.
A few minutes later Chris and Joe walk back up to the table with matching rosy cheeks and grins.
“We just tore up that dance floor,” Joe says energetically, sitting down by his mom.
Chris sits down next to Zach and puts an arm around his shoulders. “Your brother is a god amongst men.”
Zach just smiles and leans in to kiss his flushed cheek. “I love you, but please don’t ever pretend to spank my brother’s ass ever again.”
“I promise, but only if you come and dance with me.” Chris’ eyes are bright and his cheeks are flushed bright red, and Zach’s torn between dragging him to the nearest bathroom, and making some kind of announcement to everyone in the bar that he’s hitting that on a regular basis.
“I don’t dance.”
“Who cares? Just shove your crotch into my ass and sway, it’ll be fine.”
“I said I don’t, not that I can’t.”
Chris’ eyes light up with glee. “That’s it, dance floor, right now, before I continue testing the boundaries of Joe’s sexuality.”
Zach gives a tired sigh like he’s an exhausted parent being forced to do something by a hyper-active child. Chris pulls him up with a grin. “Wait, let me take off and fold my jacket first.”
Chris lets out an impatient groan.
…
Zach opens the door to his apartment and walks inside, his arm around Chris’ shoulders. His mom follows them quietly.
“So, you have Sunday and Tuesdays off?” Margo asks as she gives Noah a quick pat on the head.
Chris nods. “Yeah, which isn’t too bad considering I only have one show a day, except for Saturday’s.”
Chris ducks out of Zach’s grip and heads over to the windowsill where Harold, Zach’s cat, is sitting, staring out at the night sky.
“How’s my favourite cat?” Chris asks, picking Harold up and causing his claws to come out.
“OK, I’m going to head to bed as it’s been a long night,” Margo says.
Chris and Zach both let out “night’s” as his mom heads in the direction of the guest bedroom.
Chris holds Harold to his chest and pets him slowly, even though the cat is trying to wriggle free of Chris’ grip.
Zach walks up to him and takes Harold from his arms and puts him down, where he promptly runs across the floor and under a table so no one can get near him, especially Chris.
“I’m determined for that cat to like me. I’m telling you, if you’d actually got a kitten and not a rescue cat, it would have been more sociable.”
Zach lets out a hum, slides his arms around Chris’ waist impatiently, and presses a kiss to his mouth. “You were amazing tonight. And really hot.”
“Your mom’s here, we can’t have sex,” Chris says quietly as Zach pushes his body against his.
“The guest room isn’t even close to my bedroom; we could totally get away with it if we’re quiet. I’m really fucking horny right now thanks to seeing you walk about the stage like you owned it. It was such a turn on,” Zach says darkly into Chris’ ear before letting one of his hands slide down to brush against Chris’ round ass.
Chris smiles and kisses Zach quickly before pulling back. “How about we go at it right here? You can fuck me in front of this window.”
Zach nods emphatically, eyes glazing over with barely suppressed lust. “God, yeah. Take your pants off.”
Chris suddenly pushes him away, his eyes wide, and Zach frowns, wondering if Chris wants him to be rough with him, when he hears the kitchen door creak loudly. Zach turns to see his mom standing there, a flush of embarrassment on her face and a glass of water in her hand.
“I just needed some water,” she mumbles before walking back down the hallway to her bedroom and shutting the door with a loud click.
Chris puts his hand over his mouth, a look of horror in his eyes like she’d walked in on them actually having sex against the window. “Oh god, what is she going to think of me?”
Zach frowns. “What? Think of you?”
“Well, she probably thinks I’m like, you know, a good kind of guy that’s all sensitive and innocent but she just heard me suggest having you fuck me against the window.”
“It’s not exactly deviant behaviour, Chris. And anyway, you’re not really a good boy considering last Thursday you blew me in a restaurant’s restroom and demanded I come on your face.”
“Yeah, but she doesn’t know about that side of me and I like it that way. I don’t want your mom to think I’m like that. I want her to think of me like an untouched, innocent Disney princess.”
Zach laughs. “Really Chris? I somehow doubt my mom thinks we have a sex-free relationship… or thinks of you as a Disney princess.”
“You know what I mean. Like, she probably doesn’t want to think about it and I don’t want to give her any reason to.”
Zach sighs. “We spent most of the night pushing public decency laws on the dance floor, I don’t she’s under any illusion we don’t have a healthy sex life.”
Chris still looks a little anxious over it and Zach walks back up to him. “How about I make you feel better by taking you to the bedroom so we can have painfully vanilla sex. I’m thinking in bed, missionary position, with the lights off and minimal foreplay.”
Chris chuckles. “You know how to really get me going,” Chris says dryly.
“Well, you’re an easy lay.”
Chris shrugs and grabs his hand, taking him through to the bedroom.
It’s the kind of sex Zach wants to enjoy but he’s pulled away from getting completely into it because of how loud Chris is being. Zach rolls his hips in a steady rhythm, Chris gazing up at him, a stream of obscenities and moans spilling from his open mouth. Zach wonders what Chris would do if he covered his mouth with a hand.
“My mom is down the hallway,” Zach pants out as he continues thrusting, his body looming over Chris, who’s lying there, knees apart and a pillow under his hips, looking the picture of blissful.
“You said we should have sex and that it wouldn’t matter,” Chris bites back and Zach rolls his eyes as he watches Chris’ erection twitch and jump against his stomach every time he pushes in deep.
“Just, uh, volume control, baby,” Zach forces out. He pushes one hand under Chris’ knee and pushes it further up, bending Chris in half and fucking him a little harder.
“Oh, fuck yes,” Chris shouts, his arms coming around Zach’s neck and holding on as Zach picks up the pace.
“Shh,” Zach tries as Chris let’s out another loud yell of “Zach.”
Chris’ eyes spark with irritation before he grabs a corner of the comforter and stuffs it in his mouth so his yells and shouts are somewhat muffled. Zach readjusts his position slightly and pounds into Chris hard, before realising the action is hard enough for the headboard to hit the wall with a loud bang. He immediately stills, his eyes going wide.
Chris pulls the comforter from his mouth and raises an eyebrow. “Who’s being loud now?”
Zach uses a hand to push his black hair away from his forehead and glares down at Chris. “I need to get more of a rhythm going, wanna fuck on the floor?”
“Err, no, think of my poor knees. Just don’t thrust hard enough for the bed to make any noise against the wall.”
“I was kind of hoping to come tonight.”
“Well, how about you thrust slowly, let me come, and then I’ll suck you off?”
“You know I prefer it when I come inside you.”
“Well, we can’t all get what we want,” Chris says back. Zach feels Chris squeeze his ass tightly around his dick, causing Zach’s eyes to shut for a second at the exquisite pleasure. “How about we put a pillow or something in between the headboard and the wall to take some of the impact?”
Zach laughs at the absurdity of the situation and kneels up, his cock still throbbing and hard inside Chris. “I love you, you know.”
Chris pushes his top half up on to his elbows. “We’re having unsuccessful sex right now and you’re telling me you love me? I’m not complaining, it’s just weird.”
“Yeah, but if I could be having ridiculously awkward and unsuccessful sex with anyone, it would always be you.”
Chris grins up at him, blue eyes shining. “I love you, too, and because I do, I’m going to move onto the floor.”
Zach pulls out and jumps out of bed with a satisfied smile. Chris follows him out of the bed and settles onto all fours, Zach crouching down behind him, his hands on Chris’ hips as he pushes back inside with a relieved sigh.
When it’s over and they’re sprawled across the floor, their chests rising and falling rapidly, bodies covered in a thin sheen of sweat, Zach can’t help but worry.
“I bet my mom heard us.”
“Fuck. I tried to be quiet.”
“If your Disney princess cover wasn’t completely blown before, hearing you begging me to fuck you harder probably did it.”
There’s a beat of silence before Chris perks up. “I’m going to leave at like 6am tomorrow so I don’t encounter your mom.”
“No way. We can be painfully embarrassed together, that’s part of the deal in our relationship.”
“I don’t remember signing something that talked about this particular scenario.”
Zach sighs and pushes himself up from the floor and holds a hand out to Chris, pulling him up too. They crawl into bed and Chris proceeds to drape himself across Zach’s body like a blanket. Zach shoves him playfully, pretending he doesn’t enjoy having him in that position, when actually he loves the constant, reassuring pressure of his boyfriend’s body on him throughout the night.
“Zach,” Chris mumbles against the crook of his neck and Zach swears he can already feel drool. “I need a new toothbrush here.”
Zach laughs. “What happened to yours?”
“Dropped it in the toilet accidentally,” Chris murmurs, and Zach only just makes out what he’s saying.
“I have a spare one you can use tomorrow,” Zach says back.
“Mmmm. Thanks. S’why I’m totally going to marry you and have your children some day.”
“Sure you are,” Zach says sarcastically, running a hand up and down Chris’ back soothingly. “Grow a womb and we’ll be good to go.”
Chris mutters something back sleepily, but Zach can’t work out what and he’s too tired to care. Instead he focuses on the steady rise and fall of Chris’ chest against his own, the warm air that brushes against his neck every time Chris exhales, and the way his fluffy brown hair tickles his chin slightly.
He shuts his own eyes, imagining what Chris would look like in a wedding dress, and lets out a chuckle before stilling, not wanting to wake Chris who’s now definitely drooling against his neck.
Zach presses a soft kiss to Chris’ hair and finds himself slipping into a deep, content sleep, a small smile on his face.
The End
Rating: NC-17 overall
Pairing: Chris/Zach
Word count: 7478 this part (46,820 words overall)
Warning: Language, explicit sex, awkward!sex, angst, a lot of fluff.
AN1: You guys have been so amazing. Thank you so much for the endless stream of lovely and supportive comments throughout this series. It’s meant so much to me.
AN2: I may one day come back to this AU and write a few one-shots, but for now, this is done. :)
Summary: Zach is a fashion designer and Chris is a male model that he takes an interest in.
Previous parts: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7
Part 8
Zach lets out a sigh of exhaustion as he steps into his building’s elevator. It’s been a week since the charity fashion show and work since has been awful, which is primarily down to him being unhelpful and distracted all of the time. He’d have people coming into his office, asking his opinion, and he’d just shrug, his mind firmly on other things.
The doors to the elevator open at his floor and he steps out with his keys in hand, but stops short when he sees Chris, sitting on the floor, back against the door and his legs outstretched in front of him. Zach can hear Noah whining from inside his apartment, like he knows who’s sitting on the other side of the door.
Chris scrambles to his feet, a breathtaking, broad smile on his lips as he gazes back at Zach. “I was just singing to Noah through the door.”
Zach raises an eyebrow. “You came all the way over here to sing to a dog through a door?”
“And to say hi to you.”
“Do you want to come in?” Zach asks as casually as possible.
Zach knows it’s a risk asking Chris inside, one he shouldn’t indulge in, but having Chris so close is instantly exciting and all he can think about is getting him back inside his apartment. Zach opens the door quickly and Noah is on Chris in a second, barking a few times happily as he jumps up to him, his tongue hanging out.
“Oh, I missed you, too. I did, I did. Who’s my favourite boy? Who is?” Chris baby talks to Noah as Zach walks into his apartment, his whole body on edge and buzzing with anticipation, for what, he’s not sure. He stands by the couch, fidgeting nervously as he watches Chris crouch down and shower Noah with affection.
“Well, there’s your answer for whether he remembers you,” Zach says with a smile. Chris stands up, his face suddenly serious and emotional as he approaches him.
“I’ve missed you so much, Zach,” Chris admits softly in the quiet room. Noah whines and jumps up to Chris’ side again, trying to get attention, and Chris ruffles his head distractedly, his eyes still fixed on Zach. Zach looks down at the floor and swallows.
“After we broke up, I pretty much cried the whole flight home, people were staring, it was kind of embarrassing,” Chris admits softly.
“I was a mess after you left.” Chris snorts disbelievingly and Zach snaps his eyes up to look at him, serious and sober. “I really was. I was a pathetic mess. I chained smoked solidly for about a week, ate pizza and Chinese food, and I didn’t wash, shave or go outside. I was a wreck, Chris.”
Chris searches his eyes, like he’s checking if Zach’s being genuine, and then there’s a look of almost satisfaction and affirmation in Chris’ eyes, like he’s just confirmed something.
“You ate carbs?” Chris suddenly asks, smiling.
“Yeah, I put on so much weight, but I spent the whole time in sweat pants so it didn’t really matter. I didn’t care about anything. I just cut myself off from the world until Joe came round and cleared up the apartment.”
Chris smiles in sympathy and sighs. “I pretty much stopped eating. And I cried, a lot. Not just on the plane, but for like weeks after. Imagine how bad a thirteen year old girl is after her first break up, triple it, and then you have me.”
Zach smiles sadly, finding that exchanging how pathetic they were helps validate what they went through. It makes Zach feel a lot less alone.
“Joe got me washed, shaved and dressed, and then I found something of yours and went back to the couch and got into my sweatpants for another week.”
“I was watching America’s Next Top Model and they did a photo shoot with your clothes and I ended up eating two pints of ice cream.”
“My sex life is shitty because of you.”
“Mine’s non-existent because of you.”
They exchange heartbroken smiles, like it’s one big joke they can share and laugh over; when in reality it’s sad and depressing, and makes Zach want to break down all over again.
“I didn’t think it would have affected you that badly,” Chris comments.
“You knew I loved you,” Zach says, the words out of his mouth before he can stop them.
Shock sweeps Chris’ face for a moment before he manages to school his features. “Deep down, maybe I did, and maybe I was selfish in needing to hear it, but sometimes all I ever wanted was to hear you tell me you love me, because I was so in love with you that I could have told you every second of every day and it was constantly disheartening to think that it wasn’t the same for you. But you know what, I think you always felt trapped somehow because being in a relationship with me was never a conscious choice at all, you were with me before you knew what was happening.”
Zach’s chest clenches painfully at all the past tense Chris is using, and he forces a smile onto his face.
“Maybe you’re right, but it didn’t mean I never felt things for you, I just couldn’t verbalise them. I keep thinking about what would have happened if my self-preservation hadn’t kicked in and I just told you straight out how I felt. I’m sorry I didn’t.”
Chris looks at him like he understands and Zach hopes that he does, because his self-hatred over what happened was eating him up inside and now that he has Chris there, letting him explain, he doesn’t want to mess it all up again.
“I’m actually seeing a therapist to help me work out why my emotional wall can be seen from space,” Zach jokes.
Chris’ eyebrows shoot up, looking surprised. “That’s good, good for you. It’s working. You’re already better at opening up,” Chris says with a reassuring smile. “I’ve been thinking and this may or may not be a good idea, but maybe we could start again? Not in a relationship but as friends. It’s something we didn’t really try.”
Zach can’t help but feel like that that’s no where near enough for him. “I don’t know, Chris.”
“Well, think about it, we could just hang out and stuff. No pressure.”
Zach bites his lip, not wanting to say that he would much rather be at the very least friends with benefits because always seeing Chris in clothing seems like an acute, horrific sort of torture.
“Well, we can see how things go,” Zach says vaguely.
Chris nods. “OK, well I guess I should get going, let me know about the play, it’s not going to be opening for a while yet, but I want you there when it does.”
“Can’t promise anything, I could be washing my hair.”
Chris chuckles and heads to the door. Noah starts whining when Chris puts a hand on the door handle, like he knows Chris is about to leave and wants everyone in the vicinity to know he’s not happy about it.
“I’ll see you soon,” Chris coos down at Noah, ruffling his head with his hand. “Maybe I could take him for a walk sometime?”
Zach nods as he walks to the door and pulls Noah away, the dog’s eyes glancing at Zach with blame before walking off.
“Hug?” Chris asks awkwardly and opens his arms.
“Sure,” Zach says, indulging himself as he wraps his arms around Chris’ frame, finding the warmth of his body against his own comforting and reassuring. He pushes his nose into Chris’ neck, taking a good inhale of the familiar scent, like he’s a druggie and it’s been too long since a fix. He feels an unusual burst of emotion and he swallows, trying to get himself together.
What surprises him is that it doesn’t just feel like he’s got his boyfriend back, but that he’s got his best friend back, too. Zach holds on to him like a life raft, trying to remember a time when he wasn’t this needy, when one person didn’t make his entire body relax and fill him with contentment. He doesn’t want to let go, and he’s not even sure he can as his arms lock around Chris’ thinner body.
“I missed you,” Chris mumbles into his neck, the warm air brushing Zach’s skin and making him to shiver.
“I still have your leather pants,” Zach mumbles back, causing Chris to let out a small burst of laughter. Then Zach feels Chris’ soft lips press against the crook of his neck in a gentle, affectionate kiss, and Zach eyes flutter shut, his chest squeezing with joy at the wonderful sensation. He finds himself moving his head slightly to the side so Chris has better access as he places a second kiss just above his pulse point, and Zach practically shudders with pleasure.
Chris pulls his head up at the same time Zach does, and they stare at each other for a moment like they can’t believe they’re both standing there. Then Chris cranes his neck forward and places a soft, unsure kiss on his mouth before pulling back, his eyes lit up with uncertainty over what he just did and how well it was going to be received.
Zach let’s out a small satisfied hum and it seems to trigger Chris into action as he suddenly surges forward, one arm going around Zach’s neck, bringing their mouths together in a deep, soul searching kiss, their tongues sliding and tangling together. Zach presses his body against Chris’ quickly, his hands running all over him, impatient to touch and feel everything that he’s been longing for and missing for the last few months.
“This is a mistake,” Zach mutters, breathless, before delving back into Chris’ mouth and grabbing his ass possessively. Chris releases a small ‘uh’ as Zach pushes Chris so his back is pressed tightly to the door, and slips one of his legs in between Chris’ to get closer as they rub and hump against each other like teenagers.
Chris lets out a small grunt and pulls back. “OK, too much dry humping with a door handle digging into my back,” Chris says with a laugh. Zach buries his head in Chris’ neck again, ignoring him, and carries on rubbing himself against Chris like he can’t stop, the zip of his pants digging into his erection almost painfully.
“Zach,” Chris tries again, his hand twining in Zach’s hair. “Bedroom, come on.”
Zach can barely focus on what Chris is trying to tell him, his mind hazy from finally have him back, and he lifts his head up and goes for his mouth again, seeking out the familiar taste of Chris as his other hand reaches down to hastily unbutton and unzip his own pants, pushing them down his thighs awkwardly.
“God, you’re so hot like this,” Chris murmurs when they pull back for air.
Zach’s hands quickly fumble with Chris’ pants as he undoes them and pushes them down his thighs hastily, a smile coming to his lips when he sees Chris’ heavy cock spring free.
Zach wraps his arms around Chris’ body and they start shuffling away from the door, both with their pants around their ankles as they kiss messily and loudly in the quiet room.
Chris suddenly let’s out a small yelp and starts falling backwards, his hands going for Zach’s shirt desperately as he flails and tries to remain upright. He fails and falls down backwards with a loud shout, Zach falling on to him so they’re in a heap on the floor, both of them groaning in pain. Zach rolls off him so they’re lying side by side.
“Did you have to elbow me in the ribs?” Chris says through clenched teeth, his arms around his chest.
Zach has his hands over his penis and balls protectively. “You kneed me in the balls, you asshole.”
They glance at each other, their eyes dancing, before falling about laughing as Noah walks over to them with interest, sniffing Chris’ foot. Zach reaches over and takes Chris’ hand in his, surprised that it already feels like Chris never left.
Chris leans down and kicks off his pants before looking down his body to his penis. “Still hard, even after an elbow to the ribs.”
“Even more miraculous, I’m hard after having a knee in my balls.”
They both lie there on the floor, staring at the ceiling as they’re breathing gets back to a normal pace and Noah walks around them before lying down by Chris’ side. Zach feels a smile tugging as his lips as he uses his thumb to trace over the back of Chris’ hand.
“You know we sound like grumpy old guys,” Chris jokes, looking to the side.
“We’ll probably still bitch and have awkward sex when we’re 50.”
“50, huh?” Chris says with a smirk, his eyes laughing.
“You don’t want to have sex with me when I’m 50?” Zach asks, trying to make a joke about it.
“Depends how hot you are at 50.”
Zach feels his heart leap, wanting to ask so many questions but not having the confidence to ask as they stare at each other, both of them smiling.
“You good? Your balls recovered? I’m hoping to get laid sometime tonight.”
Zach squeezes his hand. “You’re such a pissy little bitch,” Zach says.
“Come on, I’m not fucking in front of Noah, that’s weird and I want him to still respect me in the morning.”
“He might, I won’t,” Zach says, heaving himself in to a standing position. “I don’t know if this is a good idea.”
Chris gets up and stands there in just his shirt, his penis hard between his legs, with a kicked puppy expression on his face. Zach feels his resolve tumble and he grabs Chris’ hand and drags him down the hallway to his bedroom, slamming the door shut behind them, making Noah give a rejected whine.
They fall onto the bed, both of them trying to get out of their shirts as quickly as possible before reaching for each other and making out and groping like they’re teenagers who need to get off before their parents get home.
Chris hums and moans against Zach’s mouth as Zach rolls them so he’s on top. Zach feels like every nerve ending in his body is on fire as a flood of want slams through his body. He tries to touch Chris everywhere at once, touching one of his pink nipples, then letting his fingers graze over his belly button and down to rub a thumb around Chris’ pubic hair before running his hand back up Chris’ chest, the warm skin welcome under his fingertips.
Zach cranes his neck down and engages in an open mouthed, wet kiss and lets his hands wander down to Chris’ thick thighs that tremble lightly at his touch. Chris lets out a small whine of impatience and Zach moves his hands around the outside of Chris’ thighs and down to behind his knees, and pushes them up to his chest with ease, displaying Chris’ ass to his eyes. Chris shifts slightly to make it more comfortable, and Zach runs a finger down in-between his ass cheeks to brush over his hole. Chris lets out the smallest hum of appreciation at the touch and Zach feels like he’ll die if he’s not inside Chris within the next minute.
He tries to prepare Chris carefully so as not to hurt him, but his whole body fidgets with anticipation and impatience, and the noises slipping out of Chris’ mouth aren’t helping whatsoever. He’s dreamt so many times of having Chris back in his bed, of all the things he’d do to him, but as he looks down at Chris, holding his legs open, Zach’s mind only focuses on getting inside him as quickly as possible. A part of him wants this to be slow and loving, but he knows the time for that isn’t now.
Zach leans down and presses an uncoordinated, shaky kiss to Chris’ lips. Chris pants into his mouth, eyes glassy and filled with lust as he pushes his ass back onto Zach’s fingers eagerly, wanting more.
Zach pulls his fingers out and fumbles for the condom, rolling it on before hiking Chris’ legs up further and lining himself up, his dick rubbing up and down the crack of his ass a few times before pushing inside slowly.
“Fuck,” Chris grunts out, his hands sliding up and down Zach’s back as he pushes in a little further. “S’been a while.”
“Good,” Zach says through gritted teeth, the warm, very tight channel contracting around his cock as he thrusts himself in slowly.
Zach waits a few torturous moments, letting Chris adjust, before pulling out and snapping his hips forward as forcefully as he can, the headboard hitting the wall with a loud bang as he shuts his eyes in bliss. Chris let’s out a pleased, encouraging moan, his hand going down to his own cock and stroking it lazily as Zach thrusts into him as hard and as deeply as he can without hurting him or breaking the bed.
Zach opens his eyes and almost loses it at the sight of Chris lying there, one arm over his head, the other stroking himself, his mouth agape, eyes shut, and a deep red flush across his cheeks. He looks completely undone and it just shoots Zach further towards his climax as he shuts his own eyes again and focuses on all the moans and whimpers coming out of Chris’ mouth and the feel of his ass around his cock.
“Jesus, Zach,” Chris shouts, his hand flying up and down his own dick as the bed creaks ominously, banging rhythmically against the wall as Zach snaps his hips forward as hard as possible, driving himself into the warm grip of Chris’ body.
Zach’s eyes fly open in surprise when suddenly his orgasm slams through him out of nowhere, his body shaking and trembling as his loud moan fills the room, his hips still thrusting forward as he moves through it. His orgasm seems to trigger Chris’ and he looks down to catch Chris’ cock spurting all over his stomach as he says “Zach” over and over again, his ass tightening around Zach’s cock.
Zach rolls off him, throws the condom in the trash and reaches for his pack of cigarettes.
“No, don’t even think about it,” Chris snaps, grabbing the cigarettes and throwing the pack across the room.
Zach stares at him for a moment before giving in and settling down on his back, Chris pressing up tightly to his side and throwing a leg between his. Zach runs his hand up and down Chris’ body, the skin warm and tinged with sweat. Zach feels like he could happily die right that second as Chris presses a lazy kiss to his chest.
“Well, that was interesting,” Chris murmurs.
“Interesting? Did I not fuck you right?” Zach asks, amusement filling his voice.
“You know what I mean. I didn’t come here thinking we’d have sex, although this has been a nice surprise.”
“‘Interesting? A nice surprise?’ Please, stop flattering me so much, my ego may explode.”
Chris huffs out a laugh. “So, how long do you need for your afterglow before I can ask what all of this means for us?”
Zach’s not surprised that Chris hasn’t changed in his constant push mentality, but he is surprised at how calm he is over it. He knows that in the past, if Chris had brought this up, he’d be thinking up ways to get out of the room and avoid the conversation.
“Give me five to just bask.”
Chris brings his wrist up and Zach notices the watch he bought him. “OK, I’ll let you know when your basking time is up.”
The five minutes go too quickly and Chris shifts so he can put his chin on Zach’s chest and gaze up at him expectantly.
Zach runs a hand through Chris’ hair and sighs. “OK, well, what do you want start with?”
“Are you over me? Was this just nostalgic sex?” Chris asks straight out.
“No,” Zach replies confidently. “I’m no where near over you.”
Chris nods. “Well, do you want us to get back together?”
Zach coughs and clears his throat as his face slips into a thoughtful expression. “Kinda. I know we have a shitload to work out, but I need you back in my life.”
Chris smiles up at him, his cheeks glowing from their previous exertion. “Do you still love me?” Zach opens his mouth to reply but Chris puts his hand up. “Don’t say yes. Say the words. Can you do that for me?”
Zach snorts, amused that Chris is so sure it was going to be a yes. “I could.”
“Say it then.”
“Say what?”
“Say those three words.”
“See, you’re pushing me again.”
“And you’re evading again,” Chris says back playfully, raising an eyebrow.
Zach gives an overdramatic sigh. “Fine. I love you.”
Zach has seen Chris smile so many times, in so many different situations, but the smile that graces his face at hearing those words is the most beautiful, exuberant, beaming smile he’s ever seen in his life and the fact that he caused it forces a matching smile to spread across his own face.
“It’ll get easier, you know. It’ll get way easier to say those words,” Chris says, his eyes adoring and completely devoted as he looks at Zach.
“You not going to say it back?”
Chris shrugs as a slow, teasing smile crosses his face. “Well, I thought I’d wait a few months, then break up for a while, spend some time apart, and then I’ll say it with almost no hesitation when I see you again,” Chris teases pointedly.
Zach raises an eyebrow and smirks. “I can wait.”
Chris apparently can’t as he buries his face into Zach’s chest hair and mumbles, “I love you.”
Zach almost makes a joking comment back but doesn’t, feeling the seriousness of the moment overcome him. He leans his head down in an awkward angle and presses a kiss to Chris’ hair.
“What else did you wanna talk about?” Zach asks.
“There’s a lot of stuff we need to work out but there’s time for that. And anyway, it’s not just me, there must have been stuff you wanted to know but were too afraid to ask.”
“How many boyfriends have you had?” Zach finds himself asking, needing to ask something a little less serious.
Chris shifts slightly, making himself comfortable. “OK, so I didn’t actually lose my virginity till I was like 17 because I was such an awkward teenager, but I lost it to some guy called Ben, he wasn’t my boyfriend, and three days after that, I had sex with a girl to compare.” Zach rolls his eyes. “So, in senior year I started dating Mike, who was so deep into the closet that it was scary, but when we were alone, he was sweetest guy in the world. We broke up when I went to Berkeley. Berkeley is when it all happened because I suddenly worked out I could look borderline cute in certain lighting. So, there was Mitchell, Brian, Luke, Dylan, Martin, Freddie, who was so cool that I felt a little inferior next to him. And then there was Kev, who was a little older than me, but the sex was actually mind blowing. Seriously, I wouldn’t be able to walk for like three days after-“
“You know, I don’t need the specifics,” Zach quickly says, halting Chris’ rambling and feeling a little insecure all of a sudden.
Chris looks up at him, eyes dancing with laughter. “You’re better than all my college boyfriends, trust me. Anyway, after Kev-”
“There’s more?” Zach asks, eyes wide.
“Kev was in second year, still got two more years of guys to go through.”
“You know what, I take back my question. I always thought you were the type of guy who could count the number of people they’d slept with on one hand.”
Chris grins at him and pushes himself up so he’s over Zach. “Well, overall there’s been under twenty, which is probably a drop in the ocean in your dating record. Are you jealous?” Chris teases.
“No, but if you just tell me I’m the best you’ve ever had then we can move on.”
Chris leans down and presses his lips to Zach’s in a slow, deep kiss that lights up Zach’s body in ecstasy. “You always rock my world.”
Zach chuckles and runs a hand lightly down Chris’ spine. “That’s still not telling me I’m the best sex you’ve ever had.”
“Well, I deducted points for the airplane bathroom incident.”
Zach grasps Chris’ ass possessively and leans up to kiss him again. “Just tell me.”
“You’re one of the best I’ve ever had.”
Zach laughs, his whole body light and content as Chris lies back down to his side with a pleased hum, and runs his hand through Zach’s chest hair idly.
“I’m thinking we shouldn’t live together, not anytime soon anyway,” Zach says honestly.
“I agree. I have my studio apartment anyway. And hey, maybe you could even stay over at mine some time.”
Zach gives him a look of disgust. “No, baby, that would be a step down for me. I’ve become accustomed to a certain standard of living. You can just stay over here a few nights a week or something.”
“Eugh, I’ll have you know my apartment is cute. It has character.”
“That’s what realtors say when they’re showing a place that’s ridiculously small and has zero potential.”
Chris lets out a huff and they slip into silence, the only sounds in the room coming from their slow breathing.
“God, I’ve missed you so much,” Zach suddenly says emotionally, like he can’t quite believe he has Chris back in his arms. It was something that he’d longed and pined for over the months they weren’t together, and now he has no intention of letting him go.
“You see this as long term thing, right?” Chris asks quietly, a hint of vulnerability and fear in his tone, like he’s afraid Zach’s about to close up on him and start calling their relationship ‘just fun’ again.
“You’re stuck with me for now.” Zach runs a gentle hand through Chris’ soft hair. “You know I mentioned getting a cat? I might do it this weekend, wanna come with?”
“I’m more of a dog person. Can’t we get a puppy?”
“We are getting nothing; I am getting a cat because I love them.”
Chris lets out a disapproving hum. “Cats hate me. And I just know the one you get will stare at me like he disapproves of my life choices and judges my use of putting brown and black clothing together.”
“You mean, the same way I look at you?”
“Pretty much,” Chris says with a smile.
“You know, when we wake up tomorrow, we’re going to have to really talk about some things.”
“Tomorrow,” Chris says, yawning loudly.
Chris lifts the comforter over their bodies and turns around so Zach can wrap his arms around him from behind.
Just before Zach falls asleep, he lifts his head and whispers those three words into Chris’ ear and realises he was right, it does get easier.
…
Four weeks later
Zach shifts in the uncomfortable chair as he spreads his knees slightly, trying to find a position he’ll be able to stand for three hours as he sits in the theatre waiting for Chris’ play to start. His mom is sitting next to him with a proud smile on her face like she’s about to watch her own son in a play.
The only reason his mom’s there is because Chris had picked up his phone when he had been in the shower. Chris had managed to persuade his mom to book a flight to New York to see his play in a ten minute conversation. It was impressive considering it normally took Zach a good hour to get the same outcome.
“I’m so excited,” Margo says to him in a hushed whisper as the lights go down, the playbill wrapped in her fist tightly.
Three hours and one outrageously short intermission later and Zach swears he’s going to need a chiropractor as he stands up, his neck and legs clicking loudly.
“So wonderful,” Margo says as they walk out of the aisle, people chatting loudly around them.
“Next time I’m forcing Chris to give us a box.”
His mom shushes him as he moves his head in different directions, trying to get the knot out of his neck.
They quickly head toward the stage and over to a door, giving their names to one of the stage assistants so they can head backstage.
The backstage area is cramped, smelly and full of cast members and members of the creative team, all of them buzzing with excitement and talking loudly about their opening night. Chris, who was busy laughing loudly at one of his co-stars, notices them and jogs across the room with a smile on his face, the skin by his eyes crinkling.
Zach gives him a tight hug and a quick kiss on the mouth before his mom insists on leaning up and giving Chris a long hug.
“Well?” Chris asks, eyes bright and hopeful as he looks from Zach to Margo and back.
“You were magnificent,” Margo gushes as she clutches the playbill to her chest, her eyes sparking with happiness.
“Yeah, you were. I have no idea what it was about because the second you took your top off I kind of stopped caring.”
Chris frowns. “You promised you’d actually pay attention.”
“I paid attention for some of it,” Zach says back.
“What was it about?”
“It was a socio-political look into how average people’s lives would be different in an America ruled by a communist regime.”
Chris gives him a dry look. “Congratulations on reading the playbill.”
Zach laughs and moves forward, wrapping Chris in a hug. “I’m just kidding around. Of course I paid attention.”
Chris leans forward and kisses him soundly as Zach runs his hand up and down Chris’ back slowly. “Anyway, I’ll catch up with you both at the after party,” Chris says before turning and walking away, a slight skip in his step.
…
Zach is actually pleasantly surprised by the modern and classy bar the cast has decided to use for their after party. In his mind he thought they would end up in some basement in Soho, but as he sits at a corner table with his mom and Chris, he can’t help but be impressed by how upmarket the place is.
“Hey, I’m sorry I’m late,” Joe says apologetically as he walks up to the table, giving them all a smile. “How’s my future movie star?” Chris stands up and embraces him warmly.
“You haven’t even seen it yet.”
“I’m seeing it tomorrow night and I’ll tell you you were awesome even if you weren’t. So my compliment stands,” Joe teases, giving Chris a smack on his back before clapping his hands together. “You wanna inappropriately dance with your boyfriend’s brother?”
“Like I could say no,” Chris says, letting Joe drag him away.
Zach rolls his eyes as Chris throws a thumbs up back at him before wrapping his arms around Joe.
“I swear, if Joe were gay, I’d be in trouble,” Zach jokes.
His mom gives a small chuckle. “They do get along very well.” Zach looks over to where Joe and Chris are busy grinding against each other in an over the top way which lacks any intimacy. Margo smiles and places her hand on Zach’s, patting lightly. “I knew you two would work it out.”
“Yeah, I’m kind of content with things at the moment. We’ve talked over things a lot, more than a lot, and so we’re more comfortable with each other now. It’s easy.”
“I’m assuming he’s not living with you?”
“God, no. Not for a while anyway. He spends some nights back at his apartment, normally when I’m working late. But I hope one day, in the future, he’ll move in. I probably won’t get a say in it though when he does. I like to think I wear the pants in our relationship but I know I’m wrapped around his little finger.”
“Who says that’s a bad thing?” Margo says with a smile.
Zach shrugs and looks across to the dance floor. “Oh, wonderful, my boyfriend making spanking gestures at my brother’s ass.”
Margo follows his eye line and lets out a laugh. “He’ll certainly keep you on your toes.”
“That’s one way of putting it,” Zach says, adjusting his shirt slightly.
“You’re not smoking,” Margo comments, like she’s been waiting to say something all evening.
Zach’s cheeks go red. “Err, I’m trying to quit. Chris and I have a kind of punishment and reward system when it comes to me smoking,” Zach says, leaving it at that. He doesn’t want his mom to know that he gets given a lot of blowjobs on the days he manages to abstain and no blowjobs on days he doesn’t.
A few minutes later Chris and Joe walk back up to the table with matching rosy cheeks and grins.
“We just tore up that dance floor,” Joe says energetically, sitting down by his mom.
Chris sits down next to Zach and puts an arm around his shoulders. “Your brother is a god amongst men.”
Zach just smiles and leans in to kiss his flushed cheek. “I love you, but please don’t ever pretend to spank my brother’s ass ever again.”
“I promise, but only if you come and dance with me.” Chris’ eyes are bright and his cheeks are flushed bright red, and Zach’s torn between dragging him to the nearest bathroom, and making some kind of announcement to everyone in the bar that he’s hitting that on a regular basis.
“I don’t dance.”
“Who cares? Just shove your crotch into my ass and sway, it’ll be fine.”
“I said I don’t, not that I can’t.”
Chris’ eyes light up with glee. “That’s it, dance floor, right now, before I continue testing the boundaries of Joe’s sexuality.”
Zach gives a tired sigh like he’s an exhausted parent being forced to do something by a hyper-active child. Chris pulls him up with a grin. “Wait, let me take off and fold my jacket first.”
Chris lets out an impatient groan.
…
Zach opens the door to his apartment and walks inside, his arm around Chris’ shoulders. His mom follows them quietly.
“So, you have Sunday and Tuesdays off?” Margo asks as she gives Noah a quick pat on the head.
Chris nods. “Yeah, which isn’t too bad considering I only have one show a day, except for Saturday’s.”
Chris ducks out of Zach’s grip and heads over to the windowsill where Harold, Zach’s cat, is sitting, staring out at the night sky.
“How’s my favourite cat?” Chris asks, picking Harold up and causing his claws to come out.
“OK, I’m going to head to bed as it’s been a long night,” Margo says.
Chris and Zach both let out “night’s” as his mom heads in the direction of the guest bedroom.
Chris holds Harold to his chest and pets him slowly, even though the cat is trying to wriggle free of Chris’ grip.
Zach walks up to him and takes Harold from his arms and puts him down, where he promptly runs across the floor and under a table so no one can get near him, especially Chris.
“I’m determined for that cat to like me. I’m telling you, if you’d actually got a kitten and not a rescue cat, it would have been more sociable.”
Zach lets out a hum, slides his arms around Chris’ waist impatiently, and presses a kiss to his mouth. “You were amazing tonight. And really hot.”
“Your mom’s here, we can’t have sex,” Chris says quietly as Zach pushes his body against his.
“The guest room isn’t even close to my bedroom; we could totally get away with it if we’re quiet. I’m really fucking horny right now thanks to seeing you walk about the stage like you owned it. It was such a turn on,” Zach says darkly into Chris’ ear before letting one of his hands slide down to brush against Chris’ round ass.
Chris smiles and kisses Zach quickly before pulling back. “How about we go at it right here? You can fuck me in front of this window.”
Zach nods emphatically, eyes glazing over with barely suppressed lust. “God, yeah. Take your pants off.”
Chris suddenly pushes him away, his eyes wide, and Zach frowns, wondering if Chris wants him to be rough with him, when he hears the kitchen door creak loudly. Zach turns to see his mom standing there, a flush of embarrassment on her face and a glass of water in her hand.
“I just needed some water,” she mumbles before walking back down the hallway to her bedroom and shutting the door with a loud click.
Chris puts his hand over his mouth, a look of horror in his eyes like she’d walked in on them actually having sex against the window. “Oh god, what is she going to think of me?”
Zach frowns. “What? Think of you?”
“Well, she probably thinks I’m like, you know, a good kind of guy that’s all sensitive and innocent but she just heard me suggest having you fuck me against the window.”
“It’s not exactly deviant behaviour, Chris. And anyway, you’re not really a good boy considering last Thursday you blew me in a restaurant’s restroom and demanded I come on your face.”
“Yeah, but she doesn’t know about that side of me and I like it that way. I don’t want your mom to think I’m like that. I want her to think of me like an untouched, innocent Disney princess.”
Zach laughs. “Really Chris? I somehow doubt my mom thinks we have a sex-free relationship… or thinks of you as a Disney princess.”
“You know what I mean. Like, she probably doesn’t want to think about it and I don’t want to give her any reason to.”
Zach sighs. “We spent most of the night pushing public decency laws on the dance floor, I don’t she’s under any illusion we don’t have a healthy sex life.”
Chris still looks a little anxious over it and Zach walks back up to him. “How about I make you feel better by taking you to the bedroom so we can have painfully vanilla sex. I’m thinking in bed, missionary position, with the lights off and minimal foreplay.”
Chris chuckles. “You know how to really get me going,” Chris says dryly.
“Well, you’re an easy lay.”
Chris shrugs and grabs his hand, taking him through to the bedroom.
It’s the kind of sex Zach wants to enjoy but he’s pulled away from getting completely into it because of how loud Chris is being. Zach rolls his hips in a steady rhythm, Chris gazing up at him, a stream of obscenities and moans spilling from his open mouth. Zach wonders what Chris would do if he covered his mouth with a hand.
“My mom is down the hallway,” Zach pants out as he continues thrusting, his body looming over Chris, who’s lying there, knees apart and a pillow under his hips, looking the picture of blissful.
“You said we should have sex and that it wouldn’t matter,” Chris bites back and Zach rolls his eyes as he watches Chris’ erection twitch and jump against his stomach every time he pushes in deep.
“Just, uh, volume control, baby,” Zach forces out. He pushes one hand under Chris’ knee and pushes it further up, bending Chris in half and fucking him a little harder.
“Oh, fuck yes,” Chris shouts, his arms coming around Zach’s neck and holding on as Zach picks up the pace.
“Shh,” Zach tries as Chris let’s out another loud yell of “Zach.”
Chris’ eyes spark with irritation before he grabs a corner of the comforter and stuffs it in his mouth so his yells and shouts are somewhat muffled. Zach readjusts his position slightly and pounds into Chris hard, before realising the action is hard enough for the headboard to hit the wall with a loud bang. He immediately stills, his eyes going wide.
Chris pulls the comforter from his mouth and raises an eyebrow. “Who’s being loud now?”
Zach uses a hand to push his black hair away from his forehead and glares down at Chris. “I need to get more of a rhythm going, wanna fuck on the floor?”
“Err, no, think of my poor knees. Just don’t thrust hard enough for the bed to make any noise against the wall.”
“I was kind of hoping to come tonight.”
“Well, how about you thrust slowly, let me come, and then I’ll suck you off?”
“You know I prefer it when I come inside you.”
“Well, we can’t all get what we want,” Chris says back. Zach feels Chris squeeze his ass tightly around his dick, causing Zach’s eyes to shut for a second at the exquisite pleasure. “How about we put a pillow or something in between the headboard and the wall to take some of the impact?”
Zach laughs at the absurdity of the situation and kneels up, his cock still throbbing and hard inside Chris. “I love you, you know.”
Chris pushes his top half up on to his elbows. “We’re having unsuccessful sex right now and you’re telling me you love me? I’m not complaining, it’s just weird.”
“Yeah, but if I could be having ridiculously awkward and unsuccessful sex with anyone, it would always be you.”
Chris grins up at him, blue eyes shining. “I love you, too, and because I do, I’m going to move onto the floor.”
Zach pulls out and jumps out of bed with a satisfied smile. Chris follows him out of the bed and settles onto all fours, Zach crouching down behind him, his hands on Chris’ hips as he pushes back inside with a relieved sigh.
When it’s over and they’re sprawled across the floor, their chests rising and falling rapidly, bodies covered in a thin sheen of sweat, Zach can’t help but worry.
“I bet my mom heard us.”
“Fuck. I tried to be quiet.”
“If your Disney princess cover wasn’t completely blown before, hearing you begging me to fuck you harder probably did it.”
There’s a beat of silence before Chris perks up. “I’m going to leave at like 6am tomorrow so I don’t encounter your mom.”
“No way. We can be painfully embarrassed together, that’s part of the deal in our relationship.”
“I don’t remember signing something that talked about this particular scenario.”
Zach sighs and pushes himself up from the floor and holds a hand out to Chris, pulling him up too. They crawl into bed and Chris proceeds to drape himself across Zach’s body like a blanket. Zach shoves him playfully, pretending he doesn’t enjoy having him in that position, when actually he loves the constant, reassuring pressure of his boyfriend’s body on him throughout the night.
“Zach,” Chris mumbles against the crook of his neck and Zach swears he can already feel drool. “I need a new toothbrush here.”
Zach laughs. “What happened to yours?”
“Dropped it in the toilet accidentally,” Chris murmurs, and Zach only just makes out what he’s saying.
“I have a spare one you can use tomorrow,” Zach says back.
“Mmmm. Thanks. S’why I’m totally going to marry you and have your children some day.”
“Sure you are,” Zach says sarcastically, running a hand up and down Chris’ back soothingly. “Grow a womb and we’ll be good to go.”
Chris mutters something back sleepily, but Zach can’t work out what and he’s too tired to care. Instead he focuses on the steady rise and fall of Chris’ chest against his own, the warm air that brushes against his neck every time Chris exhales, and the way his fluffy brown hair tickles his chin slightly.
He shuts his own eyes, imagining what Chris would look like in a wedding dress, and lets out a chuckle before stilling, not wanting to wake Chris who’s now definitely drooling against his neck.
Zach presses a soft kiss to Chris’ hair and finds himself slipping into a deep, content sleep, a small smile on his face.
The End