Love Ahead: Expect Delays (3 page)

seem practical on a road trip, so we’ll call this good.”

“So now what happens?”

Love Ahead: Expect Delays

11

“I recite a few prayers, and then…” Zach connected the circuits for the

shamash candle and the first candle. The LED lights glowed faintly.

Austin blinked. After a minute he commented, “Maybe the prayers will be

more impressive.”

Zach whipped through lightning-speed renditions of the blessing for lighting

the candles and the blessing for the miracles of Hanukkah, then launched into the

Shehecheyanu, although he forgot the Hebrew halfway through and mumbled

everything after “King of the Universe.” Austin was hardly likely to notice. When he

finished he propped the menorah onto the sill of the dingy window.

“Now what?” Austin asked.

Zach shrugged. “That’s it really.”

Austin scowled. “
That
is Hanukkah?”

“You’re supposed to have family around and a big meal and exchange presents

of course. But all said, it’s not that big of a deal. There are bigger Jewish holidays,

but Hanukkah gets a promotion as a Christmas substitute for ostracized Jewish

American children looking longingly at Christmas trees and stockings stuffed with

presents.”

“You going to undress and give me
my
present?” Austin asked, mouth

quirking.

Zach launched himself onto the bed. He was nearly thrown off the other side

by the force of the bedsprings.

“Watch it.” Austin grabbed Zach’s arm to steady him. “This bed is terrible.”

“It’s horizontal. That’s all that matters.” Zach made himself comfortable next

to Austin.

The television’s flickering images advertising better mopping solutions briefly

distracted Zach. But Austin focused on Zach’s mouth, leaned in, and kissed him.

12

Astrid Amara

The bed moved around on its own under Zach, which was a little disconcerting,

but the mounting pressure of Austin’s kiss soon consumed him. When they at last

broke, Austin looked dazed, and desire flooded Zach’s body.

“Do your parents honestly want to meet me?” Austin asked.

The question surprised Zach, but he nodded. “Yes.”

“Seems strange,” Austin commented. He looked a little embarrassed. “I can’t

imagine my father ever wanting to meet you.”

“The only thing my parents don’t know is that you’re not Jewish,” Zach said.

“Is that a problem? It seems like that matters only if we were going to have

kids, and it’s not like we’re going to be procreating.”

“Why don’t you give it a try, see what happens.”

Austin snorted, but he diligently reached down and unbuttoned Zach’s jeans.

“I’m going to be pissed if this knocks you up.”

“Give it your best shot,” Zach encouraged.

Austin laughed. “You kill me, babe.”

“Maybe later. Right now I want you to fuck me.”

“Sure thing. Hold still.”

Austin yanked at Zach’s jeans and pulled them off. He helped Zach out of his

socks, his underwear. Zach sat up and removed his shirt. He lay back down,

breathing heavier, watching to see what Austin would do next.

Austin was a very focused lover. He stared at Zach’s cock intensely, drinking

in the sight. They had done this a hundred times, but each time seemed to build in

Zach’s mind, escalate the force of Austin’s need. Zach felt exposed under Austin’s

gaze and reached up to draw him closer or move him away, anything to break the

power of that look.

Zach shifted. Austin reached down and spread Zach’s legs wider, allowing him

no place to hide.

Love Ahead: Expect Delays

13

“Are you going to undress?” Zach asked. Austin didn’t answer; instead he slid

his hands inward, over the sensitive hairs of Zach’s inner thighs. The feeling both

aroused and tickled. “I’m pleased you’re enjoying the view,” Zach continued, “but I

think maybe you could—”

“Shh.” Austin didn’t touch Zach’s cock, at full mast and ready for attention.

Instead he stroked Zach’s thighs and balls. He then gently but insistently pushed

Zach’s legs up until his knees were near his shoulders. Zach felt exposed in such a

position, but he trusted Austin.

Finally, Austin’s large palm encircled Zach’s cock and began to stroke in

rhythm. Zach leaned back against the stiff pillow and stared up at the stain on the

ceiling, oblivious to everything but the feel of Austin’s hands. Austin shifted, and

Zach looked between his spread legs to see Austin pull Zach’s cock into his mouth.

Austin’s lips stretched over the taut flesh, and Zach had to force himself not to

moan aloud. Austin tongued the length of his shaft, dipped lower, and laved each

testicle, his movements rhythmic and certain, colored with the confidence of one

who knew his lover well.

Austin fingered Zach’s anus and pressed gently inside. Zach relaxed his

muscles, anticipation fluttering through him. His body shivered with need, but

Austin moved slowly, taking control. By the time Austin decided to undress, pull on

a condom, and lather his cock with lube, Zach was fisting the sheets and bleary-

eyed with need.

Austin was slow at foreplay, but quick with penetration. He pulled Zach to him

and held him open as he pushed his cock all the way in. Zach froze, impaled on

Austin’s cock, the shock fresh and exciting and overwhelming, the fullness and the

threat of pain so close, but never reached. When Austin fucked him, it always

verged on excessive, and that was what excited Zach. Austin had the temper and

strength to take too much, but he never did. He claimed Zach thoroughly but never

crossed the line where something hurt for real.

“Yeah?” Austin gasped.

14

Astrid Amara

Zach gave a guttural moan in response, but Austin understood him and

started thrusting. He did nothing by halves. He drove into Zach hard, his rhythm

fast and deep, and it took Zach’s breath away. He had to remember to breathe. He

had to force himself to swallow air and concentrate on not clawing apart the sheets.

Explosions of sensation ricocheted through Zach’s body, starting with his cock

and flowing through him, numbing his mind. He wanted to wait. He wanted Austin

to come first just once, so he could know he was capable of making Austin lose

control. But Austin was too accurate with each stroke, the pounding intensive and

filling. Austin clenched his fist around Zach’s cock, and Zach came, hot seed

shooting between them, but the pace of Austin’s thrusting didn’t slow. Austin

panted, quietly fucking Zach, and turned him slightly to change the angle. Zach

clenched his ass around the intrusion and emitted a deep gasp. His hands trembled

around Zach as he pulsed his release deep inside of Zach’s body.

They stayed locked together for a long moment, catching their breath. And for

a long time there was no thought and no conversation and no future. There was only

this, the coupling of two bodies, a complicated rhythm that had crescendoed into

desperation and—at the last—sentimentality, as Austin gathered Zach closer and

pressed his face into the crook of Zach’s neck, kissing him there and whispering

something about love that probably had more to do with the rush of endorphins and

less about Zach himself.

But Zach didn’t complain. He loved being held and always sighed when Austin

finally extricated himself. Austin walked into the bathroom, dumped the condom,

and returned with a towel.

He gave Zach a crooked smile. “You made a mess.” It wasn’t much of a

chastisement, since Austin looked thoroughly pleased by the result. He wiped Zach’s

chest and between his legs before giving his own dick one last wipe and tossing the

cloth on the floor. He collapsed next to Zach in bed.

“Cleaning lady’s going to love that washcloth,” Zach mumbled.

Love Ahead: Expect Delays

15

Austin laughed into Zach’s shoulder. Zach relaxed into the soft mattress,

smiling and enjoying his warm, boneless body. Within minutes Austin passed into a

deep, unresponsive slumber. Zach, high on the orgasm and drunk on love, couldn’t

sleep.

He maneuvered out of Austin’s heavy embrace and cranked the timer for the

shower. The showerhead squealed with pressure, and the noise was enough to wake

the damned, but a quick peek into the main room confirmed Austin still slept,

naked body sprawled across both beds in possessive contentment. The shower

alternated blazing heat and frigid cold, so Zach stepped out before his ten minutes

were up. He returned to bed and pulled the thin sheets over them. The expectation

of great things to come with Austin filled Zach with nervous excitement. He’d had

strong hopes before, in other failed relationships, until reality came crashing down,

and he ended up distraught, heartbroken, and oftentimes broke.

Zach shook his head. No good came out of dwelling on his past mistakes. He

had to focus on Austin, who was not Ed or any of his other lovers.

And his parents were going to love Austin. His grandmother would be thrilled

to have her car. And as he lay there, staring at Austin’s slack mouth, he smiled. It

would
be an adventure. It would actually be a
blast.

16

Astrid Amara

Chapter Two

Thursday, December 2

Austin was in a bad mood.

His back was stiff after having fallen in the crack between the twin beds at

some point the night before. The dry, crisp air east of the mountains reddened his

eyes.

And when he stepped out of their motel room and saw the broken glints of

light beneath the passenger-side door of the Spectrum, the final straw broke.

He rushed forward, furious as he took in the shattered window and round

pieces of safety glass on the vinyl seat, sparkling like plastic diamonds.

“Oh no!” Zach hurried after him, looking sick as he took in the damage.

Austin yanked open the driver’s-side door and shoved his hand past the

cassette tapes. As he feared, he felt nothing but air. “They took my fucking iPod!”

Zach surveyed the rest of the car. “They stole our cooler too. All our snacks and

beverages.”

Austin looked at him as if he were insane.

“It’s okay,” Zach said, holding out his hands defensively. His weak smile didn’t

fool anyone. “We’re insured against theft.”

“Yeah? At what deductible?”

Zach swallowed. “Five hundred dollars.”

Austin punched the roof of the car. “Great! Fucking great! The entire

goddamned
car
isn’t worth five hundred dollars!”

Love Ahead: Expect Delays

17

“I know,” Zach said. He brushed the glass off the passenger seat. “It’s all right,

Austin. I’ll buy you another iPod—”

“That isn’t the fucking point!”

Zach ran a hand through his hair. “Well, what do you want to do?”

“Anything but this,” Austin spat.

As soon as he said the words, he regretted them. He sounded childish, and he

saw disappointment rock through Zach—the instant pain and his attempt to conceal

it. Austin had never been with anyone as sensitive as Zach or as readable. Zach’s

heart wasn’t pinned on his sleeve. It was stapled everywhere, completely exposed,

every wide-eyed look of hurt or dark glance of anger a clear sign of what he felt.

Austin stared at the console and, unable to control his anger, kicked the

driver’s-side door and walked back into their room.

Now what was he going to do?

He would have to apologize, for one thing. Which didn’t come naturally. He

wasn’t used to sharing his feelings with anyone, let alone worrying about someone

else’s.

But something about Zach made him try harder to be kind. He loved the guy.

A lot. More than anyone he’d ever been with. Zach was funny, clever, and easy to

spend time with, besides being a terrific lay, and he had a way of making Austin’s

blood pressure lower. Zach relaxed him, and so it was worth the extra effort to see

to Zach’s needs.

Besides, he hadn’t meant it when he said he wanted to go home. He was just

pissed. Pissed at himself mostly, for being an idiot and leaving his iPod in the car.

What was he thinking? He was in a fucking motel off the interstate in fucking

Ellensburg. He had to be more careful.

He heard Zach outside, talking to someone else, but Austin was still too angry

to socialize with strangers. Instead he did a quick once-over of the shitty room to

make sure they didn’t leave anything behind.

18

Astrid Amara

Assured they had everything, Austin picked up his duffel and backpack and

rolled Zach’s suitcase outside. Zach had covered the passenger-side window with a

clear plastic bag and duct tape. A grizzled, bedraggled older woman chatted with

him as she smoked a long pink cigarette. She wore a name tag, so Austin assumed

she was the morning-shift motel manager. The way she laughed at Zach and called