![\"chapter](\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-WKWE02M2sCE\/UyGjuQ_c3yI\/AAAAAAAADQw\/WaqF0b2NJWc\/s800\/vacation3.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Eventually, they made it out of bed. By then it was way too late for any outdoor adventures. But Zach did get the grand tour of the Hobbit hole, and at the end he had to admit that it was at the very least homey.<\/p>\n
First and foremost, the kitchen. Spacious, with square lattice windows and a barrel-vault ceiling, the kitchen was equipped with every gadget an amateur cook could dream of. (\u00e2\u20ac\u0153All The Toys, Zach, seriously, I swear.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d) Zach was introduced with much ceremony to a shiny red KitchenAid\u00e2\u201e\u00a2 mixer that Chris wanted to marry. (\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Will you look at that, Zach? Just look at her. What a beauty. Why don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t I have one in L.A. yet? Those Hobbits sure know how to live.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d) Of course, there was also a luxury coffee maker that would produce all caffeinated beverages known to mankind, and probably a few as-yet-undiscovered ones. But as a means of survival in the wilderness (no LAMILL or Intelligentsia nearby, not even a Starbucks around the corner) that machine warranted no further commentary.<\/p>\n
The solid wooden table was surrounded by three comfortable upholstered chairs and a bench. More sofa than bench, really, and cozily squeezed into the corner next to the open fireplace. A rectangular door led out to the backyard. Apparently the amenities of Hobbit living didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t just include a pool in the garden, but also a small, but well-maintained vegetable plot. (\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Just salad and herbs and stuff. Tomatoes, of course.<\/i>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d The irritated undertone made Zach guess that the tomatoes were bigger than Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s own.)<\/p>\n
Next came the dining room. With skylights<\/i>. And skylights at night in make-believe Middle-earth (or the middle of nowhere in New Zealand) meant stars, stars, and more stars. The Milky Way was clearly visible \u00e2\u20ac\u201c up in the sky, and not just on the ridiculous pajamas Zach was still wearing. That was already damn impressive, but the dining room was also a showcase for light fixtures.<\/p>\n
Arrangements of candle sconces were scattered across bare white walls instead of paintings. The ceiling light was a chandelier in the form of corals or roots. Designer candelabra graced a long banquet table. Zach didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t recognize the wood, but the texture fascinated him. With strong color contrasts and swirling lines, the surface of the table looked like a map. Apparently the carpenter had thought so, too: a corner of the table sported a pyrographic compass rose, and the fabric of the upholstery echoed the motif with a pattern of old maps. On a sideboard, a series of candle holders formed a parade, arranged by size: Hobbit-tiny, dwarf-small, people-big, and even troll-XXL. Zach\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s fingers itched to play with sizes and perspectives. Clearly, he had underestimated the Instagram opportunities of Hobbit holes.<\/p>\n
He turned to Chris. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I have to admit your taste in interior design is excellent. Even when applied to renting Hobbit holes.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153So you approve? That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a relief.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Chris beamed at him. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153And I haven\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t even demonstrated the chandelier yet.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I was wondering about that …\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Zach admitted, glancing at the globe of twisting limbs at the ceiling.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153You need to stand near the middle of the room,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Chris said. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153And close your eyes. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll say when.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153When?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Subpar, Zachary.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Chris shook his head with exaggerated disappointment. He\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d put on his contacts again, so Zach got the full experience of his wicked blue gaze. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Jet lag seems to have adverse effects on your customary standards of witticism. Now shut your eyes.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Zach obeyed. He heard Chris flick off the wall sconces. Darkness enfolded him, and he grew aware of how utterly silent it was in the house. Out here there was no traffic, no man-made noise at all. The only thing he could hear was his own breathing and a soft sound as Chris shifted on his feet next to the door. Chris was still waiting for the right moment to switch on the chandelier, drawing out the suspense until Zach\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s heart couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t seem to help itself and started beating faster.<\/p>\n
Finally, Zach heard the snick of the switch. Light flared up and brightened the darkness behind his lids.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Open your eyes,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Chris whispered.<\/p>\n
Zach found himself transported into a magical forest. Dark trees with gnarled roots surrounded him. Sinister branches and twisting vines swayed ever so slightly in a breeze he couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t feel. The white walls made sense now: they formed the canvas for the shadow painting of the chandelier. Spontaneously, Zach tried to create a bat with his fingers to add some wildlife to the forest and failed. But when he crossed his hands and aligned his thumbs, a bird flew through the shadowy trees. Surreal.<\/i> Now he only had to convince Chris to take a picture of that …<\/p>\n
Then he remembered one of the scarier riddles from \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The Hobbit\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t resist: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153\u00e2\u20ac\u02dcIt cannot be seen, cannot be felt, cannot be heard, cannot be smelt. It lies behind stars and under hills, and empty holes it fills. It comes first and follows after, ends life, kills laughter …\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 <\/i>What is it, my preciousssssss<\/i>?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Ha. Ha. Very funny.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Chris cast an uneasy glance at the dark forest the dining room had turned into. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153But I guess you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re right. This definitely has that whole \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcriddles in the dark\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 vibe going. And it fits the Mirkwood chapter, too.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d He shuddered.<\/p>\n
Zach suddenly remembered how much Chris disliked the dark. Uncomfortably, he recalled the evening when John and Simon had somehow managed to get that little tidbit out of Chris and proceeded to torture him accordingly.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s normal that darkness invokes primal terror in you,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Zach lectured gently, warming quickly to a favorite topic. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You need to treat it as an invitation from your subconscious to confront your fears and your Shadow.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Instead of dismissing Zach\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s kitchen-sink psychology with a pseudo-intellectual rebuttal, Chris looked only more troubled. A reminder that there must be very real fears lurking in Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s mind right now, given their situation.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Hey, just pretend we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re Where The Wild Things Are<\/i>,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Zach quipped, quirking his eyebrows. He walked over to Chris and playfully put his arms around him, trying to lighten up the mood. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I mean, what could Captain Kirk and Jack Ryan possibly be scared of?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Chris shrugged \u00e2\u20ac\u201c shrugged him off. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Now that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a big<\/i> question, isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t it?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Chris quoted one of Zach\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s interviews. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Because fear is so interesting<\/i>,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he drawled and stepped away. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Cockroaches. Spiders. Frogs.<\/i> Mediocrity<\/i>. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m boring.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t forget to mention prosthetic tails of alien cat people,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Zach joked. Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s aversion to the prehensile tails had led to terrible teasing about suppressed desires for tentacle porn on set. But Chris had always endured the ribbing with good humor. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Now, there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s an interesting fear,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Zach went on, perhaps a little too determined to keep things cheerful. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Freud would get a kick \u00e2\u20ac\u201c or maybe rather a dick \u00e2\u20ac\u201c out of that one.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d The moment the words left his mouth, Zach knew he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d made a mistake.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m glad you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve discovered at least something interesting about my fears,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Chris snapped, switched off the light, and disappeared in the living room on the other side of the hallway.<\/p>\n
The living room shared the chimney with the kitchen, and it boasted an even bigger open fireplace. Apart from that, it sported a high-end flat screen TV and surround system as well as an Xbox and a PlayStation to keep guests entertained on rainy afternoons. Two overstuffed armchairs and two almost indecently comfortable sofas were piled high with colorful pillows and warm throw blankets. Chris was slumped on one of the sofas now, staring at the unlit fireplace. Zach sat down next to Chris but didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t touch him.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Fuck Freud,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Chris muttered. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153And fuck you, with your fearlessness. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not as if I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t try<\/i> to be as fearless as possible, too.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I know that, Chris,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Zach said. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153And you<\/i> know that was an interview.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Then he added, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m sorry. That was a stupid joke. And not just because I know for a fact that you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re neither afraid of dicks nor craving tentacles.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Carefully, Zach reached out, resting a calm hand on Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s shoulder. At first Chris stiffened, but then he exhaled some of his tension in a deep breath. In a way, Zach was relieved. Not because Chris was angry and scared. But because Chris trusted him with more than his passion after all. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153C\u00e2\u20ac\u2122mere.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Zach pulled Chris into his arms again. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153If it helps, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m scared, too.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Yeah,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Chris said after a long silence. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It does, actually.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Zach tightened his arms around Chris and leaned against him. Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s newly spiky hair tickled his nose. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Look, right now is not a good time for this. And I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m not saying that to be even more of a jerk, but I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m jet-lagged and you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re … well, kind of keyed up. But, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s okay to be scared. And it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s also okay not<\/i> to be. Like, what you said at the door that it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not \u00e2\u20ac\u201c difficult for you right now. This, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s your<\/i> experience. I mean, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m a part of it, definitely. But that must be the premise.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Chris softened in his embrace with a heartfelt sigh. Good.<\/i> \u00e2\u20ac\u0153And I promise I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll protect you from any aliens with prosthetic tails in the future.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153And from frogs,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Chris reminded him promptly.<\/p>\n
Zach\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s stomach growled as if it wanted to agree with Chris.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Time for dinner?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Chris smiled, eyes crinkling again. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m afraid I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m all out of cuisses de grenouille<\/i>, though.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Now that you mention it …\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Zach\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s stomach grumbled again. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Show me what you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve got, Pine. And if you can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t dish up frog, I hope it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s at least a little more sophisticated than frozen pizza.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d In fact, he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d be perfectly fine with frozen pizza; after a suitable sojourn in the oven, of course, and perhaps adorned with extra cheese.<\/p>\n
Chris bounced off the sofa. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Oh, ye of little faith.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d But he beamed at Zach. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I actually prepped something yesterday. I figured we might be uh…<\/i> too busy for proper cooking.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Now his smile turned shy, bashful.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re too cute for your own good.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Unable to resist, Zach grabbed Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s hips and pulled him down again, until Chris was right on top of him. Zach kissed him, lips sliding against lips with soft, slow movements, so he could savor the warmth of Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s skin and his smile. Then he teased Chris with his tongue, tracing the outline of his mouth, barely tasting, before he plunged in. Chris returned the kiss with enthusiasm, gasping sighs against Zach\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s lips, sucking at his tongue, hard. A breathless moment passed, with them staring almost deliriously into each other\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s eyes, too close to see more than a haze of colors. Then Chris was kissing him again, nipping at his lips, sucking them into his mouth, then twirling his tongue around his, only to draw back and press sweet kisses at the corners of his mouth, and finally, when Zach\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s stomach chose that exact inopportune moment to growl again, a tiny butterfly of a kiss on the tip of his nose.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Food,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Chris reminded him. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Man doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t live off love alone.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Man can try.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d But Zach let himself be pulled up from the sofa and followed Chris next door.<\/p>\n
In the kitchen, Chris made him sit down at the table while he kindled a fire. He even lit one of those old-timey candlesticks and put it on the table. Before, Zach might have made fun of Chris for his penchant of creating scenes while snapping a picture for his Instagram account himself. Now he just watched and wondered at that fluttery feeling in his stomach. Thankfully, observing Chris proved enough of a distraction from more meaningful emotional investigations.<\/p>\n
The wine came first. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s supposed to be succulent<\/i>,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Chris said, frowning at the bottle. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153A Merlot,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he elaborated. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Abbey Cellars Bishop. 2009. Apparently that was a very good year.\u00e2\u20ac\u0153 He smiled at Zach, eyes twinkling. And of course<\/i> he had to start humming Frank Sinatra before he could open the bottle and set it to breathe.<\/p>\n
Zach couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t resist smelling for himself. He reached for the bottle and inhaled. Definitely fruit-driven. Very berry<\/i>, he thought. If the flavor kept the promise of this rich, ripe scent, he wouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t argue the extravagant adjective. And he was already imagining how it would taste on Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s lips. Talk about succulence.<\/p>\n
While Zach was nosing the wine, Chris got a pot out of the fridge and put it on the stove. Next, a Panini maker made an appearance. (Chris had been serious when he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d announced that the kitchen came with All The Toys.) The bread Chris pulled out of a cabinet looked seriously artisanal, and the cheese smelled delicious even fresh from the fridge. A few minutes later, the contents of the pot were burbling away, and the fruity smell of tomato soup set off Zach\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s stomach again.<\/p>\n
Once the sandwiches were toasting, Chris laid the table with green linen napkins, spoons with wooden handles and heavy, green-tinged fleur-de-lis wine glasses. The soup bowls and plates he took out of a cupboard were simple brown stoneware. He filled an earthenware jug with water and placed drinking beakers of the same style next to it. It was all very salt-of-the-earth, rustic, and undeniably Hobbity.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Et voil\u00c3\u00a0, un croque-monsieur pour monsieur, sans jambon, mais avec de la soupe \u00c3\u00a0 la tomate.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/i> Chris carefully placed a soup bowl and a sandwich in front of Zach. Then he had the nerve to bow with a flourish, one arm at the small of his back.<\/p>\n
That was taking things too far. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re allowed to Frenchify tomato soup and grilled cheese like that,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Zach protested weakly. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153There are trademarks. Treaties. Things.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Really?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Chris returned with his own food. Sitting down, he frowned. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Okay then: \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcAqui tem, o seu croque-monsieur sem fiambre mas com uma sopa de tomate<\/i>.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u009d He picked up his spoon. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I think the Portuguese won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t mind if I abuse their language a little bit.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Did you know there’s a petition over at Change.org to prevent you from speaking foreign languages ever again?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Zach asked. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Something about you violating international humanitarian law the moment you open your mouth.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Zach tasted the soup. One sip, and he knew it was homemade. Probably with tomatoes from the Hobbit garden in the backyard. His toes curled with pleasure. Closing his eyes, he sighed. Pure bliss.<\/i><\/p>\n
Chris snorted, and Zach glared at him a little. But Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s eyes only brightened even more until they crinkled with mirth at the corners. Chris licked his lips and just smiled<\/i>. And Zach couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t help it, he fucking loved<\/i> that he was allowed to feel a little possessive and proprietary about that smile now. He tried the wine. Oh yes, succulent indeed.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t worry,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Chris said. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The Brazilian PR people taught me just a couple of phrases for that Ryan interview. Mostly hello and goodbye and wonderful-weather-today, and because I nagged them a bit of foodie stuff, like this one. The only other thing I know is \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcPode dizer-me se a pizza vem com os tomates por cima ou por baixo?\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/i> and I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m pretty sure that doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t mean what I think it means because they kept cracking up whenever I tried to say that. Maybe it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not quite as bad as that \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcPinto\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 thing our dear fans came up with, but I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m certainly not going to try that one in public any time soon. So you see, the world is actually pretty safe from my mad-bad linguistic skills.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Thankfully Zach hadn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t any soup or wine in his mouth. The effect would have been embarrassing. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153As long as I get exclusive rights to your talented tongue, I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t mind.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d He didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t even pretend that he wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t serious about that, and took a decisive bite of grilled cheese for added emphasis and extra bliss. Because he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d been right about the bread, and the cheese was heavenly.<\/p>\n
His spoon suspended midair, Chris gazed at Zach and sighed with the appreciation of a man savoring Lucullian delights. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You know, Kingsolver was right. She wrote that watching Italian men eat is a secret form of tourism. That totally applies to Irish-Italian Americans, too. And to you. Though I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m not sure I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d call it \u00e2\u20ac\u02dctourism\u00e2\u20ac\u2122. Voyeurism, more like. Food porn, even.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d He licked his lips and declaimed, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153They close their eyes, raise their eyebrows into accent marks, and make sounds of acute appreciation. It’s sexy.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/i><\/p>\n
Zach hid his blush behind his wine glass. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153So it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s culinary quotes now? Our vocabulary games don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t do it for you anymore?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Chris chased the last bite of sandwich with a deep swallow of water. He shrugged and spread his hands, a study in innocence. His mischievous expression ruined the angelic effect, however. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Just one of the books I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m reading at the moment,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Chris said. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Animal, Vegetable, Miracle.<\/i> It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a good book, interesting. Even though the author is a bit of a fanatic about some stuff.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Hmm.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/i> Zach finished his soup. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Trade seconds for another quote? Because I promise you, I can satisfy all your … literary desires.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Watch me shiver in anticipation.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d But Chris smiled at the compliment and served him a second bowl of soup.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153All right, then.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Zach made a show of eating the soup. He closed his eyes, raised his eyebrows, sucked the spoon, and sighed with pleasure. It was no hardship; the second serving was just as delicious as the first. When he opened his eyes, he found Chris staring at him, his face flushed, and a silent ohhh…<\/i> on his lips. Zach pushed the empty bowl aside and leaned forward. Thoughtfully, he sucked his lips into his mouth and watched how Chris inhaled, how the silent ohhh…<\/i> flowed into a soft AHHH…<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Tomatoes,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/i> Zach murmured, keeping his voice low and sexy, a deep-voiced whisper, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153are lusty enough, yet there runs through tomatoes an undercurrent of frivolity. But beets, beets are deadly serious.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/i> He drew back and smirked. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Tom Robbins, Jitterbug Perfume.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Jesus Christ, Zach,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Chris breathed. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We really need to stop watching each other\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s interviews.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Zach laughed. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153But your performance with those blood oranges for \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcEllen\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 was very inspiring.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d He reached for the bottle of wine to top up their glasses. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re right about the interviews, though,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he said, growing serious again. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Well, perhaps not that we have to stop watching them. I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t see how we can. But, like, what I said about fear \u00e2\u20ac\u201c about cockroaches and the nuclear apocalypse \u00e2\u20ac\u201c that was me grandstanding. There are just … things friends don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know of each other, not even good friends, not even you and I. Things we can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t extrapolate from interviews. Our public personae, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m not saying it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s all fake, but it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s definitely an act. At least not quite real. You know that, Chris. And that, we can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have that between us now. We need to be authentic with each other.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Chris pulled the candle closer and started playing with the melting wax. Zach hated it when people did that, but he didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t say a word. And he fully expected Chris to complain about how he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d ruined a moment of romance with a relationship lecture. (It was a special talent of his that Jon had kvetched about frequently. Miles less so; but then he<\/i> had spoiled the mood often enough himself). A few minutes later, Chris pushed the candle away again and looked up, his eyes dark. A stormy evening at the pool, <\/i>Zach thought.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Thank you,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Chris said quietly. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153For what you said, now and … before, too. For the way you said that. Like I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m real. Like we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re<\/i> real. You know, relationship-real.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Oh.<\/i> There was that fluttery feeling again. Zach inhaled carefully, as if a deep breath might scare away any metaphorical butterflies in the vicinity. He would have liked to respond with \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Of course it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a relationship!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/i> But that would have been, well, not a lie anymore, perhaps, but also not quite true. Not yet, at least.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Look,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Zach said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t deny that there were moments during the last few weeks when I asked myself what the hell we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re doing.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Worse, without meaning to, simply with his silence during those weeks, he might have given the impression up until now that he didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think Chris was real, that he didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t quite believe in Chris, in his bisexuality. Zach had been happy to fuck Chris the very first night. Then he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d just as happily proceeded to ignore the proverbial elephant in the room. And now? Zach knew it was still not the right time to talk about that particular animal in any detail \u00e2\u20ac\u201c about all private and professional repercussions of a serious relationship between them.<\/p>\n
Instead, Zach reached across the table. He was grateful when Chris didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t pull away but entwined their fingers. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153But, Chris? I wouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be here if this wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t real.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
He wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t the only one doing some cautious breathing right now. When Chris met his gaze, Zach was relieved to see a smile. Not as brilliant as before, perhaps almost hesitant. Maybe even more touching that way. Definitely disarming.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Bed?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Zach suggested. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Now?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u2122\u00a6<\/p>\n
Zach woke pressed against Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s ass, hard and horny, ready to fuck, his arms wrapped around Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s body, one leg curled around his thigh. Morning wood was a thing, and it didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t go away when you turned thirty, or even thirty-five. Zach exhaled. Inhaled. The warm scent of sleeping Chris. He had no idea what time it was. Might be three. Might be six. And it was so silent here at night. Now he was wide awake, and there was absolutely nothing to distract him. Nothing he could do except enjoy the pain-tinged pleasure of his unrelieved arousal, his cock throbbing against Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s ass.<\/p>\n
Chris.<\/i> He was in bed with Chris. Such a surreal experience, still. Not just because of the jet lag. Another deep breath, and yeah, there was that feeling again. For a moment he experienced the strange sensation of feeling weak-kneed while lying down. And why does the idea bother me so much that I am falling in love with a good friend, and vice versa?<\/i> Zach wondered. No,<\/i> he amended, his stomach churning. Not bother. It <\/i>scares me.<\/i> Involuntarily, he drew Chris closer. Chris squirmed in Zach\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s arms and sighed, but he didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t wake. Chris.<\/i> Zach pressed just a little harder against him. Yes, he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d love to fuck that seductive ass right now. Of course he would. But for the first time in round about twelve years, Zach thought he might want to be fucked, too. Not that he never did that<\/i> ever, never mind his personal preferences. Contrary to what some people said, Zach was able to compromise in bed just fine. However, he didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t actively want that often, rarely needed<\/i> that. Now he thought he might, though. Perhaps. Chris groaned. The rhythm of his breathing changed, and he moved again. A bad dream? Or had Zach managed to wake him?<\/p>\n
That question was answered a moment later, when Chris reached around awkwardly, shoving a small bottle and a condom into his hand. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Please, don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t just tease me.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t mean to wake you,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Zach whispered, running his hand up and down Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s side.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I know.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s voice was hoarse with sleep. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Jet lag. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s fine. I like sleepy sex. Just don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t expect any miracles.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Chris, you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Crazy?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Chris pushed back against his erection, and Zach had to suck his lips into his mouth not to moan. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You keep saying that. Now come on. Fuck me. Please.<\/i>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d With every short sentence, Chris sounded more awake.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Talk about offers I cannot possibly refuse.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Zach slid his hand lower and tugged at the waistband of Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s PJs. With some awkward wriggling, Chris stripped off his pants. Obviously he was really in the mood for sex. Zach followed suit.<\/p>\n
Of course getting rid of cumbersome clothes destroyed the mood. For a while they lay silent and naked in the darkness, shifting a little with each breath to get attuned to each other again. Zach could pinpoint the exact moment the balance shifted again, when Chris didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t exhale but sighed. Zach echoed the sound and followed the slight movement with a caress, stroking Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s back, from his neck to his thighs, all those sculpted muscles and lean lines. His head resting in the crook of his elbow, Zach curled up skin to skin behind Chris. Close enough that he barely had to move to kiss Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s shoulder and to nip at his neck. For a breath or two, he pressed his erection between the cheeks of Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s ass and held himself there again, not moving, not pushing in, just allowing Chris to feel his arousal, letting his cock pulse against sensitive skin. Chris shivered in his arms and inhaled with a shaky gasp. Zach\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s dick twitched greedily against Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s cleft. But crazy passion was not what Zach had in mind for tonight. This time, he wanted all those sensual, whispering words: soft and slow and devastating<\/i>.<\/p>\n
With that goal in mind, Zach forced himself to draw far enough away from his lover\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s body that his erection wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t forced up against Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s ass anymore. The loss of contact was profound. Think Vulcan thoughts, <\/i>he told himself. Mind over matter.<\/i> He rested his forehead between Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s shoulder blades and sucked in a deep breath. Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s scent was pure olfactory titillation. A lemony head note of clean sweat that revealed a heart note of sleepy skin, warm and generous. And the base note was still waiting to unfold …<\/p>\n
Using the fingers of his left hand in lieu of a brush, Zach painted invisible calligraphy down Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s back. Kanji, maybe. Or those swirls and spirals that constituted Vulcan script. A poem to appreciate the sex appeal of the spine, with a verse devoted to each delicate vertebra. As he followed the groove of Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s back with his fingertips, he felt oddly protective. Yoga had taught Zach much about a body in balance. Photo shoots of Chris might show off the Hollywood-approved figure of an action hero actor in his prime, but his spine told a different story, with uneven indentations speaking of too much stress and too much pressure.<\/p>\n
When he reached the tailbone, Chris shoved back against him with a gasp. Zach grinned and interrupted his explorations. He placed his palm against the small of Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s back, warm, firm, and hopefully infuriating in its immobility. Judging by the strangled sound Chris choked out, his strategy was successful. But Chris stopped squirming, too.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Yes,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Zach whispered. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Just relax. Let me … let me …\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
He resumed his caresses. Another gentle line, a spiral drawn around the tailbone, he pressed his index finger into the cleft between the buttocks as a final flourish. Then he palmed Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s ass, spreading the cheeks with ring finger and index finger. By now his heart was pounding, and he was breathing hard, puffs of breath against Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s skin. Just with his middle finger, he began to caress the crease, to stroke lightly across the hole. Again and again, with gentle pressure. Small touches. A steady rhythm. He loved the intimacy of it, all the sensations. The soft skin of the pucker under his fingertip, the slight, coarse fuzz surrounding it, the smooth, firm feel of the buttocks, how Chris trembled under his touch, his harsh breathing.<\/p>\n
When Zach had just about reached the limit of his endurance, Chris started keening, a needy whimper, easily the most beautiful sound Zach had ever heard. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Pull your leg up,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he asked. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Maybe use one of those extra pillows, might be more comfortable.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153God, thank you,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Chris breathed. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I was about to go insane.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
A jerky movement and the rustling of fabric told Zach that Chris had grabbed a pillow. Then he felt Chris draw his leg up, shifting to give Zach better access. Zach used the opportunity to squirt a generous amount of lube on his hand before he settled back down behind Chris again. Goosebumps prickled against Zach\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s lips when Chris shivered with the shock of the cool liquid hitting hot skin.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Love getting you ready like this,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Zach murmured as he slid his index finger in and out of Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s body, barely grazing the prostate. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153So tight. As if we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve never done this before.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Four times. Not never. Ahhh…<\/i>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d With two fingers Zach was even more careful than before. His gentleness paid off in soft sighs. Even three fingers met no resistance.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Maybe not mathematically.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Zach drew back and fumbled for the condom on the nightstand. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153In terms of ass-fucking you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re still close to virginal.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
He rolled on the condom and decided to err on the side of caution with the lube, lathering himself thoroughly. Also, the slick sounds made Chris shiver, and anything that made Chris tremble like that against his body was good. Very good, even. He positioned himself and gripped Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s hip to hold him in place.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I quote\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Chris groaned. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Please push\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153No. No quotes. Not now.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Zach knew that he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d never live down that particular Instagram. He still did his best to push in slowly<\/i>, though. Once he was all the way in, he slid his hand around Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s body. But he didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t reach for Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s cock yet. He merely rested his hand tenderly on Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s stomach, feeling each shuddering breath vibrate against his palm. For as long as he could endure, he stayed like that and didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t move. He lost himself in this strange, physical connection, in almost sharing each other\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s heartbeats. When he couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t stay still another second, he pulled out almost completely again, only to ease back inside very, very slowly. He was so close, so painfully close. But just like in the shower this afternoon, physical exhaustion was on his side, and gave him more time than he might have had otherwise. He let himself sink into the rhythm he created, into a gentle back and forth between their bodies. When he felt the wetness of Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s pre-come on the back of his hand, Zach faltered.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Fuck, Chris.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d He propped himself up on his right elbow. That way, he had a little more reach. Now he wrapped his hand around Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s cock. To feel him throb in his palm, hot and slick with pre-come and lube, was almost too much to bear. Zach pushed his left foot against the mattress for leverage and thrust harder. He was so close now. He couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think anymore. Couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think beyond hot, beyond tight, beyond \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Chris.<\/i> When Chris cried out, an unintelligible, helpless sound, Zach couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t hold himself back anymore. He melted into his climax and dissolved in mindless pleasure deep inside Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s body. Then Chris closed his hand over his. Together they slid their fingers up and down Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s cock, while Zach still shuddered inside his body. With a voiceless gasp, Chris spasmed, clenching hard, and spilled over their joined hands.<\/p>\n
When Zach fell asleep a few minutes later, the deep pheromonic base note of Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s natural perfume revealed itself. Zach could taste the scent of Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s orgasm with every breath he took, at once tart and sweet, much like the wine they had shared for dinner. The flavor conjured up very pleasant dreams indeed.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u2122\u00a6<\/p>\n
A warm touch on his shoulder woke him. Zach turned on his back and blinked, trying to make sense of his surroundings.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Hey.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Chris was standing in front of the bed, a big brown coffee mug in one hand and a glass of water with a bottle of Zicam in the other. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I figured you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d get mad at me if I let you sleep in very much longer.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Nrgh.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/i> Apparently jet lag and sex in the small hours had adverse effects on his eloquence. Awkwardly, Zach pushed himself upright and accepted the coffee. Chris put the water and the pills on the nightstand and sat down on the bed in front of him, cross-legged and entirely too adorable for man in his thirties. He was barefoot (of course) and dressed in dark blue sweatpants and an oversize, bright blue t-shirt adorned with some artsy calligraphy in that awful Hobbit font.<\/p>\n
When the slogan on the shirt registered with Zach, he almost spluttered the first swallow of coffee all over himself.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153What?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Chris asked, irritated. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s organic Arabica with soy milk. The disgusting stuff you always drink.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not the coffee,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Zach wheezed. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the t-shirt.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Chris looked down at his shirt. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153A happy hole & lots of weed, let’s celebrate the Hobbit creed,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/i> he read aloud. Looking up, he shrugged. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I like it.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153You would.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Zach shook his head. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Only you, Chris.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Only I<\/i>, Zach, would go to the great lengths of not only buying terrible, horrible, no good, very bad soy milk, poison perfectly fine coffee with that disgusting substance and then proceed to serve it to you in bed. Also, there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s proper breakfast waiting for you in the kitchen.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d With a sniff, Chris jumped off the bed and proceeded to flounce out of the room.<\/p>\n
Zach remained behind, wondering how in hell he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d ever come to the conclusion that Chris was something like ninety-nine percent straight.<\/p>\n
When he entered the kitchen a few minutes later, Chris was flipping over an omelet. The table was indeed laid for a sumptuous breakfast. At a glance, Zach took in a pitcher with orange juice, croissants, fruit salad, yogurt, very red jam, honey, and almost translucent ham. Zach dropped his cardigan and his gift for Chris on a chair, and cautiously approached the stove.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m afraid I can only do whole egg omelets,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Chris said. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I actually tried making the egg white version, and I ended up with a very thin, but all the more pernicious layer of charcoal. Had to soak the pan in vinegar on low for hours.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d He wrinkled his nose. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I hope you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll survive a real egg omelet for once. We can go out for breakfast tomorrow, I suppose.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I think I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll live.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Zach stepped behind Chris and put his arms around his waist. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Hi.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Chris sighed, a happy little huff that made Zach smile. But then Chris stiffened. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Now watch me make a mess of things.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Zach could feel how Chris actually held his breath. And although he couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t see it, he was willing to bet good money that Chris had the tip of his tongue squeezed between his lips, too. Carefully, Chris slid the omelet onto a plate and sighed with relief. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Here you go.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
But Zach ignored the food in favor of a kiss. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Hey, slow down, sweetheart.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d He switched the stove off. Then he picked up the plate with one hand and used his other arm to maneuver Chris to the table. Or more precisely, to the comfortable bench next to the fireplace. He was not in the mood for chairs. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Sit.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Chris obeyed, and Zach slid in next to him, pulling him close. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Yesterday you told me not to worry about taking a nap because we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re on vacation. You know what? That applies to you, too. And vacation or no vacation, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m not going to walk away because there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s no soy milk or no egg white omelet. Or because you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re wearing the most ridiculous t-shirt I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve ever seen in my life. Or even because you dress me in fucking glow-in-the-dark Milky Way PJs.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Chris sighed. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m an idiot.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153No, you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re not.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Zach rolled his eyes. Prima donna Pine.<\/i> \u00e2\u20ac\u0153But seriously, calm the fuck down.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d He tightened his hold on Chris and inhaled deeply. A new perfume,<\/i> he thought. Citrus fruits and bergamot and Tonka beans. It complemented Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s natural scent. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You smell nice.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Thanks. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m here, Chris,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Zach interrupted him, repeating his reassurances from the previous day. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m here.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d He proceeded to kiss Chris, and that definitely helped, both of them. Maybe they should just spend the whole vacation in bed.<\/p>\n
Then he remembered something. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153And I have something for you.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153For me?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Doofus.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d He reached across Chris for his cardigan and the gift-wrapped parcel under it. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Surely you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re familiar with the concept? Gifts, presents? A token of my affection?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153The omelet will get cold.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Rolling his eyes, Zach picked up the fork. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Open up.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d He fed Chris the first bite before trying the omelet himself. It was nowhere near cold, and wonderfully fluffy. He raised the fork for Chris again. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s really good, Chris. Thank you.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Instead of more food, he offered another kiss. Then he alternated between kisses and omelet \u00e2\u20ac\u201c for himself and for Chris \u00e2\u20ac\u201c until his patience ran out, and he put the fork down. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Also, if it gets cold, we can eat it cold. Or feed it to the Hobbits. Now open your present.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Zach put the gift into Chris\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s hands, hoping he wouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t notice that it had been surreptitiously opened and rewrapped. He needn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have worried. Chris tore off the paper with relish and without a second glance. Zach stuffed the knuckle of his thumb into his mouth to keep himself from laughing when Chris stared in shock at the limited edition \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The Hobbit\u00e2\u20ac\u009d moleskine notebook in his hands, a glowing red dragon embossed in the satiny black cover.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153But …\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Chris started. Fell silent, and predictably opened the notebook. He nearly dropped it when he realized it was less than pristine. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Zach\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Yes?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Oh, there was that feeling in his stomach again. Fluttery. Devious. Dangerous.<\/i> Demon butterflies with vampire fangs.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153You … you copied The Notebook<\/i>.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Zach nodded. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You left it at my place. I … well, I looked up a few things online, because you and the internet definitely don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t mix, and I think I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve found your fan. So we can send it back to her when you visit me in Berlin. But I thought …\u00e2\u20ac\u009d He trailed off, feeling sort of stupid. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I thought you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d want to keep it, too.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Yes,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Chris said softly. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Of course I do.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d He leafed through the pages, smiling and blushing, grinning and blushing even more, until he suddenly stopped and frowned. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You added new stuff!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Hmmm,<\/i> possibly.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Now it was Zach\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s turn to flush. He lowered his gaze, wondering if he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d overdone things again because he just couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t<\/i> leave well enough alone.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153What you said about my<\/i> eyes. And … what I said about yours<\/i>.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Chris gasped. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153And the haiku. And … a quote?<\/i>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I seem to recall you have a thing for quotes, Mr. Berkeley,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Zach said. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153And I <\/i>happen to have a thing for this one.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153You know, it’s quite a job starting to love somebody,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/i> Chris read out loud. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You have to have energy, generosity, blindness. There is even a moment, in the very beginning, when you have to jump across a precipice: if you think about it you don’t do it.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d <\/i>Chris looked up. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s remarkably cheerful for Sartre. Thank you. And for taking on that job. Or for uh… <\/i>offering?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Zach\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s heart was pounding. He could feel the rhythm of his pulse down to his diaphragm. Almost as if he had to jump across an abyss for real. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Chris.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/i> He took a deep breath. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153If you want me for that job, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m yours.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
![\"fake](\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-Q8buKSIe-zI\/UyGnTi5zhwI\/AAAAAAAADQ8\/8QqQU9-dNsQ\/s800\/sartre.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
(Zach did post this Instagram when he was in Berlin again; it gave rise to much speculation on Tumblr in April.)<\/p>\n
(Unnecessary disclaimer: the Instagram is fake, nothing but fantasy, and just an illustration for this story.)<\/strong><\/p>\n Author’s Notes<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 The answer to the riddle is \u00e2\u20ac\u0153darkness\u00e2\u20ac\u009d, just in case that isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t clear.<\/p>\n \u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Many thanks to Zauza and F. for the Portuguese bits.<\/p>\n \u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Pode dizer-me se a pizza vem com os tomates por cima ou por baixo?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d means \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Can you tell me if this pizza comes with the tomatoes on top or on bottom?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and of course \u00e2\u20ac\u0153tomatoes\u00e2\u20ac\u009d is a euphemism. For balls …<\/p>\n \u00c2\u00ab<\/a> \u00e2\u2122\u00a5 \u00c2\u00bb<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Riddles In The Dark (And A New Notebook) Eventually, they made it out of bed. By then it was way too late for any outdoor adventures. But Zach did get the grand tour of the Hobbit hole, and at the … Continue reading