Fic: Couture - RPS - Part 5
Title: Couture
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Chris/Zach
Word count: 5772 (this part)
Warning: Language, sexual situations, hurt/comfort, fluff, angst.
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
“You look like shit,” Zach says from the doorway, relief flooding his body as he sees Chris sitting up in the hospital bed, bruises and scratches over his pretty face and his left arm in a cast over his chest. He looks forlorn and full of self pity as he valiantly tries to eat a pudding cup with a spoon using one hand.
“I just got hit by a cab,” Chris snaps, putting the spoon down and admitting defeat.
“I came as soon as I could,” Zach says softly, walking into the room hesitantly, his eyes roaming Chris’ body with worry.
“Zachary Quinto?” a nurse suddenly says, walking up to him with a clipboard in her arms. “You’re fine, blood tests showed low blood sugar so make sure you eat enough and try and take care of yourself in future.” She gives him a brief smile and leaves.
Chris shifts in his bed, straightening up, his eyes becoming worried. “What happened?”
“I just passed out, that’s all,” Zach says, waving it off, his mind still fixed on Chris and checking he’s OK as he walks up the side of the bed.
“That’s all? That’s because you’re exhausted, you’ve been working all day, partying all night-”
“Stop it. It doesn’t matter. Are you OK though? Any pain?” Zach says, cupping his face tenderly, inspecting the cuts.
“They won’t scar,” Chris says, like he thinks that’s an answer to the silent question Zach was asking. Zach shakes his head quickly, that thought being the farthest from his mind.
“As long as you’re alright, that’s all that matters.”
Chris smiles, although it looks pained and empty.
“I’ll stay for a bit, if that’s alright,” Zach says, collapsing into the chair next to the bed.
“S’fine,” Chris says, sounding tired before perking up a little. “How did it go? I can’t believe I missed it.”
Zach yawns and turns his body in the chair to face Chris. “Really well. Amazing actually. When you get out of here you can watch the video from it.”
Chris smiles proudly. “I’m not surprised it went well considering how hard you worked,” Chris says with a sleepy smile as his eyes shut. “I wish I could have been there.”
“Don’t worry about that right now,” Zach mumbles comfortingly before letting his own eyes shut, exhaustion and tiredness overwhelming him.
When Zach wakes up from his own nap in the early evening and finds Chris still in a deep sleep, he decides to creep away back to his apartment to shower and change before heading to his after party. He only intends to spend a few minutes there, to say hello to people who want to congratulate him, but before he knows it, it’s almost midnight and he’s still there, having designers and models all cooing over him. It makes him feel a little better, distracts him even, from the small ball of guilt in his gut that keeps reminding him that Chris is lying in a hospital bed. Zach reassures himself by thinking that Chris is fine, and sleeping, and probably hasn’t even realised he’s not by his bedside.
By the time he gets to the hospital, it’s 2am and none of the nurses will let him see him since visiting hours were over hours ago. He sits in one of the blue plastic chairs outside Chris’ room, slowly slumping down and trying to get some sleep in the very uncomfortable position he’s in.
…
“Shuffle over,” Zach says as he strolls into Chris’ room in the early morning, still in the clothes from the night before, his back painful from his sleeping position.
“You went to your after party,” Chris observes, his tone scarily neutral as he takes in Zach’s attire distastefully.
“Err, yeah, but I’ve been here all night in the plastic chairs outside. My neck is fucking painful.” Zach rubs the back of his neck soothingly before sliding his hand across his stubbly jaw.
Chris looks at him before sighing. “I knew you’d go last night.”
“You were asleep, I came here straight after but they wouldn’t let me see you.”
“It was still a dick-move. Whatever, I didn’t expect anything more from you.”
Zach is immediately hurt by that, his chest clenching painfully and a stab of disappointment at himself hitting him hard. He walks over, the urge to touch Chris making him impatient, and climbs up on the bed next to Chris. There’s only just enough room for both of them but Zach doesn’t mind, his hand finding Chris’ good hand and clasping it tightly.
“You smell of beer and smoke,” Chris says disapprovingly as they both cuddle up to each other.
“Sorry,” Zach says softly into Chris’ ear, apologising for more than the way he smells.
Chris turns his head and looks at him with a searching, intense look, and then gives him a small smile and presses his lips to Zach’s cheek.
“It’s OK. I’m cranky right now because of this,” Chris says, indicating his arm. “Didn’t sleep well.”
“Me neither,” Zach says quietly, letting his thumb rub along the back of Chris’ hand. “You know, not many people can pull off a hospital gown but you do look cute.”
It gets a smile out of Chris and Zach turns his head to the side and presses a kiss to his forehead.
Zach slowly feels himself grow tired again, his head rolling to the side and resting on Chris’ shoulder. He smiles when he feels Chris reciprocate by pressing his cheek to Zach’s hair.
“Hey, Zach?” Chris mumbles sleepily.
“Hmm?”
“You know what’s not broken?”
Zach smiles. “If you’re going to say your penis I’m not sleeping with you ever again.”
There’s a beat of silence. “You always spoil my fun.”
It’s the last thing he hears before sleep wraps around him.
Zach wakes up with a start when he hears a woman shouting “Chris.” He looks toward the door where a middle aged woman is standing with dark curly hair and a distressed look on her face. Zach’s eyes then slide to the man next to her with silver hair, his features holding a striking resemblance to Chris’. Zach looks at Chris and sees him staring at them with his mouth open in shock.
“Mom, Dad, what you guys doing here?” Chris asks, sitting up a little straighter and wincing in pain. Zach tries to pull his hand out of Chris’ grip but Chris’ hand tightens around his, not letting go.
“We got called about your accident and flew over on the red eye.”
“Oh, OK. You didn’t have to do that, I’m fine. This is Zach by the way,” Chris says with a smile as Zach shifts uncomfortably, trying to remove his hand from Chris’ grasp again but not being able to.
“I’m Gwynne and this is Robert,” Chris’ mom says pleasantly, appraising him slowly with curious eyes.
“Nice to meet you,” Zach says politely, feeling incredibly awkward having not thought he would be thrust into a situation where he’d meet Chris’ parents. He wishes he was better prepared, and didn’t look so unkempt and exhausted.
“I’m pleased you’re here to take care of him,” Robert says, approaching Chris’ side of the bed and smiling down at his son. “I know you’d get into an accident like this. I told you they all drive like lunatics over here.”
“Oh yeah, because LA drivers are all so considerate,” Chris says dryly. “Anyway, I get to go home this afternoon.”
“You can’t go back to Sam’s place and sleep on his couch in this condition,” Gwynne says, joining her husband by his side of the bed.
Chris turns and looks at Zach nervously. “I haven’t really been staying at his place for a while. I spend a lot of time at Zach’s.”
Both pairs of eyes of his parents shoot to look at him and Zach feels his cheeks burn for a second under their scrutiny.
Zach coughs uncomfortably. “Yeah, he does and it’s fine, he can come back with me.”
Chris smiles, squeezing Zach’s hand affectionately.
“I’ve heard a lot about you Zach, although I was unaware you were living together,” Gwynne says, sounding interested.
“We’re not really living together per se,” Zach says a little defensively and he gets the distinct impression he’s being weighed up as Gwynne stares at him.
“Well, we live with each other, hopefully you’ll see his place later,” Chris says proudly, and Zach tries not to frown at the idea of his parents seeing his place.
Zach shifts up, finally whipping his hand out of Chris’, and swings his legs over the side of the bed so he can stand. “It’s been great meeting you, but I better get home and feed the dog. He’s probably eating the furniture by now,” Zach says, making his excuses as he adjusts his shirt self-consciously.
“Hopefully we’ll see you again,” Gwynne says, sounding eager and hopeful as she smiles kindly at him.
Zach throws up a fake smile and nods. “Sure.” He turns to Chris, who is watching him like he’s an unpredictable animal about to be spooked. Zach leans forward and presses his lips to Chris’ cheek, aware Chris’ parents are watching and so not wanting to offend them by sticking his tongue down their son’s throat.
“See you later,” Zach says softly, running a hand back through Chris’ hair. He steps back, gives his parents a smile, and leaves the room. Zach lets out a long sigh of relief the second he’s out of sight.
…
Zach hears the door to his apartment open as he lies on the couch, and Noah, who is curled up next to him, lifts his head as his ears perk up. Noah quickly jumps off the couch and runs full speed toward the door, his tail wagging excitedly as his feet scratch against the floor. Zach rolls to the side and into a standing position as he sees Chris walk in awkwardly, one arm in a sling and the other holding the keys that Zach’s never bothered to ask for back. Noah greets him affectionately, by slobbering over his hand, before inspecting the two people who trail Chris, both of them looking at Zach’s apartment in awe.
“Noah,” Zach snaps, noticing Noah jump up on Chris. “Down.”
“He’s fine,” Chris says, looking a little dazed. Zach walks over to him and searches his face, before looking over at his parents.
“Did they give him some strong pain relief?”
Robert nods with a smile. “Fraid so. He’s a little out of it and very drowsy.”
“Hey,” Zach says quietly, grabbing Chris’ attention and wrapping an arm around his shoulders. “You OK, baby?”
“Sleepy,” Chris says, pushing his nose against Zach’s cheek.
“We’ll leave you two be, let him get some sleep,” Gwynne says, watching them with a smile on her face. “We’ll give Chris a call later as we’re staying in the city for a few days. I hope we can get dinner when Chris has recovered a little bit.”
“Sounds good,” Zach says, holding Chris up with one arm.
Once his parents have gone Zach takes Chris to the bedroom which is easier said than done as Chris leans heavily on him.
When they finally get to the bedroom Zach manoeuvres Chris onto the bed and lays him down, watching as Chris gathers the comforter in his hand and brings it under his head to use as a pillow. Zach quickly undoes Chris’ jeans and pulls them off as Chris lets out a hum.
“Zach?” Chris mumbles quietly, eyes shut and head to the side.
“Yeah?”
“Sex?”
Zach laughs and shakes his head even though Chris can’t see him. “No. Just get some sleep.” Zach goes to the doorway. “Noah, here boy.”
He hears the familiar sound of Noah’s feet on the floor before seeing him round the corner, his tail wagging happily as he looks up at Zach expectantly.
Zach walks over to the bed where Chris is lying on his back, and pats his hand on the bed a few times, inviting Noah to jump up onto the bed and lie down next to Chris. He rarely lets Noah in his room and never lets him on his bed, but he figures Chris could use the company.
“I’ll check on you in a bit,” Zach says, turning and heading to the door.
Chris hums before lifting up his one good arm. “Want you.”
Zach looks at him indecisively for a few moments, hands on his hips, before giving in and pulling off his top and pants. He gets onto the bed and awkwardly positions himself around Chris and Noah and tries to get some sleep.
…
“Zach,” Chris whines loudly from the bedroom as Zach tries to make his hair look somewhat decent in the mirror in the bathroom.
“Yeah?” Zach calls back; his fingers dipping into the gel and raking his fingers back through his hair.
“I need help getting into my shirt,” Chris says, sounding a little pathetic. Zach rolls his eyes, hating how he’s become Chris’ personal nurse in the last few days.
Zach walks into the bedroom where Chris is busy trying to contort his body in different ways to try and get his shirt on. Zach snatches it off him and holds it open so Chris can slowly manoeuvre his arm through the hole.
“You OK?” Chris asks, his eyes on Zach as he uses one hand to do up the buttons. Zach throws a fake smile onto his face before letting it drop. “Look, I know you’re not a fan of the whole meeting the parents officially thing, but they want to get to know you. What’s the big deal?”
“I just hate this part of relationships,” Zach says sharply, standing in front of the mirror next to his closet. “One of the many, many reasons I don’t like getting into them.”
Chris sighs with irritation. “According to you, you don’t like any part of being in a relationship.”
“What? Of course I do, I like seeing you after work, spending time with you, having amazing sex, but when other people get involved, that’s when being in a relationship fucking sucks.”
“Look, if you’re going to be an asshole about this, I’d rather you not come. I’ll make up some excuse and you can stay here or go out or do whatever you want to do because that’s what you always do.”
Zach whirls around to face him. “What I always do? For the last three days I’ve cancelled two evening commitments, four very important business meetings, and I’ve had to put back a lot of work so I can be here taking care of your ass because you don’t look both ways before jaywalking,” Zach snaps, feeling his temper rise impossibly quickly.
Chris stares at him, his mouth agape and his eyes shining with hurt. “Sorry for being such a burden.”
Zach takes in a calming breath, realising he overreacted and immediately feeling guilty as Chris swallows and stares at the floor. “Yeah, well, not much we can do about it now.”
Chris blinks quickly and sits down on the bed and Zach has a suspicion he’s trying to stop tears from falling. “Fine, I’m going alone tonight. Maybe you can do one of your other commitments.”
Zach feels like an asshole that a part of him is really excited over the prospect of getting out of a dinner with his parents and having a night to go out with friends or do something non-coupley for a change.
“You really don’t want me to come?” Zach asks, trying to keep the hopeful tone out of his voice.
“Don’t pretend you want to,” Chris snaps, leaning down to awkwardly put on his socks. “I’ll get a cab.”
Zach let’s out a sigh, which is equal parts relief and frustration, as he watches Chris toe on his shoes.
Zach is sitting on the bed when Chris grabs his wallet and phone, pushing them into his pocket before striding out of the room without another word. Noah strolls in and sits down at Zach’s feet, his head cocked to the side in silent question. Zach’s never felt so judged by a dog in his life.
Zach sighs at himself and stands up quickly, grabbing his keys and pushing his shoes onto his feet before running out through the living room and out of his apartment, throwing the door shut behind him. He sees Chris standing by the elevator, waiting for it to come.
“I’ll drive,” Zach says as he comes to stand by Chris’ side.
“Fine,” Chris says calmly, a hint of satisfaction in his voice, like he had confidence that Zach wouldn’t let him down.
They walk into the elevator and the doors shut in front of them. Zach feels Chris’ hand slip into his, and he lets out a small smile.
…
“Aren’t my parents awesome?” Chris says with glee as he climbs into the other side of Zach’s car outside the restaurant. Zach smiles at him as he puts the car into drive, finding himself agreeing. It was a surprisingly easy meal as Chris’ parents kept a steady stream of easy discussion going the whole time and both seemed to unconditionally adore Chris in a way that would make most people jealous. Zach actually felt a pang of longing as he‘d watched Chris and his dad interact with so much love and respect.
“Yeah, they seem really nice. Although I was worried you’re mom was going to psychoanalyse me any second.”
“Oh, she was doing it in her head, trust me. Anyway, they really liked you,” Chris says sincerely.
“Doubt it.” Zach checks in his side mirror and pulls away from the sidewalk into the late evening traffic.
“You kidding? You totally turned on the charm, and compared to my past boyfriends, you’re a real catch.”
Zach swallows nervously, not wanting to have a conversation about their past conquests. He can’t see how it would help anything for him to list how many people he’s slept with and if he’s honest, he’s not sure he ever wants to hear about all the guys Chris has been with.
“I mean, the last guy I dated was in a band that played out of his garage, so you know, going from jobless idiot to business savvy famous fashion designer is a pretty decent jump.”
“I knew you were a gold-digger.”
Chris smiles at him. “Hey, if I was a gold-digger, I’d go for some 90 year old that always has decent stuff in his fridge. Not someone who only keeps healthy crap that tastes like cardboard.”
“It’s called preserving your body. You’re a model, you should understand about keeping your figure.”
“Now I have you I can just let myself go and get some of those pants with an elasticated waist. It’ll be awesome.”
“You better be joking,” Zach says with a smile, giving Chris a quick look.
“Yeah, I’m too vain to really let myself go, but still.” Chris slouches in his seat next to him, his hand scratching at the cast on his left arm. “So, maybe at some point I’ll meet your mom?”
Zach feels a small, threatening bubble of panic in his gut but quickly ignores it, reassuring himself that he’s in control in this relationship. He might be kidding himself, but it helps him sleep at night. “Not for a long time.”
Chris shifts in his seat so he’s facing Zach. “It’s Thanksgiving next month; I thought maybe we could do something together.”
Zach feels like the car is suddenly too small as his heart picks up pace. “I was going to go to Pittsburgh with Joe.” Zach can see Chris giving him an expectant, hopeful look next to him. “It’s a family thing. You not going back to LA?”
Chris lets out a small sigh and sits back in his seat. “No. I guess I’ll stay in the city by myself.”
“Stop it,” Zach snaps irritably, feeling like he’s dealing with a difficult child.
“Stop what?”
“I know you want to come, but my mom is pretty much the most special person in my life and I don’t want her to get attached to anyone I bring home. It’s just easier if I go alone.”
Chris remains silent for a beat, the air in the car growing thick with tension. “I’m too tired to fight about this.”
“Why do we need to fight about this at all? I do what I do every year and visit my mom; you do whatever you want to do. We can spend Christmas doing something together, I guess.”
“Whatever,” Chris says, sounding exhausted, but also like the conversation is far from over. Zach readjusts his hands on the wheel and sneaks a look over at Chris who has his eyes fixed straight ahead. Zach sighs.
…
Zach spends the next few days constantly on edge, wondering when Chris is going to strike and bring up Thanksgiving. He hates feeling so uneasy all the time, especially when he just wants to hang out with his boyfriend after work and be comfortable. Instead, they watch a few movies and Zach sits there with bated breath the whole time, worrying that Chris is suddenly going to bring it up or something in the film will hit too close to home and force them to talk about it.
Chris is stirring sauce in the kitchen with his one usable arm as Zach prepares the vegetables one evening, both of them chatting mindlessly about the news when Chris turns to him, his hand not missing a beat as he carries on stirring, and asks.
“So, am I coming with you to Thanksgiving?” Chris asks casually.
Zach pauses, his hand stilling from where he’s cutting up carrots. His breath falters and he coughs a few times before turning around and leaning back against the counter.
“Chris, no. We already talked about it. Please do me a favour and respect my decision.”
Chris stirs for a few seconds, the silence heavy between them. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
Zach breathes a sigh of relief and sends a smile Chris’ way. He turns back to cutting the vegetables mindlessly.
“What are you worried about happening if I did come?”
Zach looks skyward, thinking he should have known the conversation was far from over. “It’s just a pretty serious step, that’s all. I get to decide when I want my boyfriend to meet my mom, OK?”
Chris purses his lips, his body language becoming agitated. “We’re in a serious relationship. You’re my boyfriend, you’ve met my parents, you’re letting me live with you, and there are pictures of us in magazines that you haven’t reputed. This isn’t just fun anymore, this is serious.”
Zach rolls his eyes. “Can we not talk about this?”
“I want you to tell me why you don’t want me to meet your mom.”
Zach opens his mouth to say something, anything, but nothing comes out and he feels a tinge of emotion settle in his chest. “Just leave it.”
Chris looks at him, a soft expression coming into his eyes and he moves toward Zach slowly, reaching him with a small smile. “Do you think one day I’m just going to up and leave you? Keeping me at arms distance is only going to last so long, Zach.”
Zach turns away, his eyes going to the carrots as he starts chopping them up hastily. “Whatever. If you want to come, you can come.”
“I want you to want me to come,” Chris says, his hand running down Zach’s back gently.
“Well, I don’t. I can’t pretend I do, but if it’s this or you leaving me, then I guess I’ll have to suck it up.”
Chris frowns. “What? Who said anything about leaving?”
“Just forget it. I can’t be bothered to fight anymore. You’ve broken me down, well done,” Zach says bitterly, his voice cold and detached.
“Zach-”
“Drop it.”
When they eat, it’s not comfortable silence, it’s filled with uncomfortable tension that settles over them like a horrible blanket and suddenly anything they say is in a clipped, annoyed tone of voice which neither of them can budge from.
…
Before Zach knows it, it’s Halloween and he quickly decides to host a party at his place which Chris uses as a double celebration as he gets his cast off three days before the event.
They haven’t mentioned Thanksgiving again, but it’s the elephant in the room that seems to follow them everywhere. All that’s being left unsaid and skirted around puts a strain on both of them, and Zach couldn’t be happier to have his large apartment filled to the brink with guests all dressed up in various costumes.
“Zach, people are bringing presents. Since when do they do that on Halloween?” Chris asks into his ear. Zach turns and smiles as he takes in Chris, standing there in just a loin cloth and skin coloured underwear, a large red bowed box in his arms. It’d been Zach’s idea to dress him like that after finding out Chris planned to dress as a Disney prince which in his opinion included far too much clothing. Chris had given him an unimpressed look when he revealed his own costume would be a surgeon.
“Just thank you gifts. Put them in my bedroom for now.”
Chris nods and turns, weaving his way through the mass of people, Zach watching him go with a smirk as he stares at his ass appreciatively.
The party is in full swing when Zach realises he hasn’t seen Chris in a while, and makes his way through his guests to find his boyfriend, heading straight to the buffet area which Chris is most likely lurking around. He actually finds him sitting in the corner with Joe, and Zach’s stomach drops as he wonders what they’re talking about. Chris’ face is intense as he listens to whatever Joe is telling him. Zach moves around several groups of people to get close and turns his back on them so they don’t notice that he’s listening in.
“Just put your foot down,” Joe says.
“If he doesn’t want me there, he doesn’t want me there.”
“Chris, he’s never had a relationship like this and he’s just panicking. Tell him you’re coming and he’ll have to suck it up and get over it. Tough love is the way to go. Mom will adore you the second she sees you, so maybe he’s just worried she’ll get attached and then you’ll leave or something.”
“Zach told me that, actually.”
“Look, if it was anyone else, bringing someone home is just part of the routine when you’re in a new relationship, but because Zach doesn’t do it, bringing you home is a major event. I love Zach more than words can say and he has many areas of expertise, but relationships isn’t one of them. Just be firm with him. ”
Zach swallows, feeling unusually anxious before getting interrupted from listening by someone in the circle he’s standing in asking him a direct question.
It’s almost 1am and people have definitely hit the drunken stage considering the amount of loud yelling and stumbling people are doing. Zach feels a little drunk himself as he leans on one of the counter tops, his mind in a content buzz and his body on the right side of tipsy. Chris approaches him with an easy going smile, and Zach feels something in his chest clench. Then without a thought he grabs at Chris, pulling into a warm embrace and pushing his nose in the crook of his neck with a smile.
“Love you too,” Chris says with a laugh when Zach pulls away.
“What did you say?” Zach asks, his eyes wide in shock and a surprising flutter in his stomach as he stares at Chris searchingly.
Chris immediately looks awkward and sheepish. “Doesn’t matter. You having a good time?” Chris rests his hands on Zach’s waist as Zach slides an arm around his shoulders.
“I am, yeah. You wanna go to the bathroom and grope me?” Zach asks, waggling his eyebrows as he lets his hand slide down the soft skin of Chris’ back and grab a handful of his ass.
“Can’t I just grope you here, in front of all these people?” Chris says mischievously, leaning forward and cupping Zach’s dick through the material of his scrubs, and pressing his lips to Zach’s in a deep, forceful kiss. Zach’s highly aware of Chris rubbing him firmly through his pants and that they’re in the middle of a room full of his dearest friends, but he’s too focused on the way Chris is kissing and fondling him to care.
“Get a fucking room,” Joe says at them and Zach pulls away, looking down to where his dick is very obviously hard underneath the blue scrubs.
“Shut it,” Zach says, pulling Chris to him so people can’t see his erection, and looking around for a something to cover it up.
“I don’t think rubbing yourself against your boyfriend will make it go away,” Joe says with a large grin. “Actually, do it long enough and maybe it will.”
Zach shoots him a glare before Chris leans to the side and hands him a hat someone dropped. Zach puts it over his crotch as casually as he can.
“Chris, bedroom, you’re dealing with this right now,” Zach says pointedly, adjusting his pants with the hand not holding the hat over his crotch.
“I thought I’d go grab some mini sandwiches first actually,” Chris says, eyeing the buffet eagerly.
“Go down on me and then I’ll let you hit the buffet without my commenting on how fat you’re getting,” Zach says, joking.
“I couldn’t work out that much when I had a broken arm, jeez,” Chris says huffily, his arms over his chest defensively like he’s self-conscious of his body. Zach lets his eyes roam the skin he can see, taking in Chris’ muscled arms and taut belly before letting his eyes linger on his thick thighs. He spends a lot of time jokingly criticising them, but if he’s truthful, he loves them.
Zach quickly takes his hand and drags him through the room with a dark, intense expression that successfully dissuades anybody attempting to start up a conversation with him as he goes straight to his room, unlocks the door and slams it shut behind them. His grabs Chris’ shoulders and spins him so he can press him up against the closed door, throwing all his weight into holding him steady, feeling Chris’ warm chest rise and fall rapidly in anticipation. Chris stares openly at him, his eyes dark and glassy and adoring, and it sends a shiver all the way down Zach’s spine.
“I heard you talking to my brother earlier.”
Chris looks surprised, his eyes searching Zach’s like he’s unsure if Zach is angry over it or not. “Oh. Well, he knows you better than anyone so it seemed obvious to ask him about… the thing we’re not talking about.”
Zach laughs, feeling his defiance, his fight, slip away quickly, like he finally realises he won’t and can’t win this fight. He realises with a start that doesn’t even want to anymore, that maybe Chris meeting his mom will not in fact be the end of the world. “You’re coming then, to Thanksgiving?”
“Try and stop me,” Chris says with a grin. “And I know you think I’m being overly pushy but sometimes you need to be pushed.”
Zach nods understandingly. Chris gives him a smirk before licking his lips slowly and Zach watches hungrily as Chris slowly slides his back down the door.
“Wait,” Zach says, stopping his movement, even though his dick is throbbing for attention inside his pants. He cups Chris’ cheek and pulls him back up so they’re face to face. Zach gives him a small smile before leaning in and kissing him slowly and passionately, letting his body lean in and press Chris against the door.
“What was that for?” Chris asks, following a small contented hum, his eyes fixed on Zach’s lips.
“Because I can,” Zach says before winking. “My dick isn’t going to suck itself.”
Chris playfully slaps him on the chest. “I don’t know why I put up with you.”
Zach feels a twang of panic and worry surge through him at those words, like he’s actually worried Chris will one day realise he can do better than him, but his worries are quickly stamped out when Chris wraps his warm, wet mouth tightly around the head of his cock and sucks hard. Zach puts a hand on the door over Chris’ head and just lets the pleasure rush through him as Chris sucks him off like it’s his job, his technique perfected to hit every single one of his buttons in quick succession till Zach’s a trembling, moaning mess.
One of Zach’s fears over relationships was that sex would get boring, but he quickly realised that because he’s been with Chris for a while, the guy knows every single thing that makes him get off harder and faster than before.
Chris sucks eagerly, his swollen lips spread around Zach’s cock as his other hand fondles and rubs at his balls and Zach knows he’s gone before he can communicate it, shooting into Chris’ mouth while he uses his fist to thump the door as his legs almost buckle.
Chris stands up, licking around his lips to make sure he got all of it. In that moment Zach feels like he’s the closest he’s ever come to saying those three words that he’s never said to anyone outside his family. And it’s not just those words that threaten to fall from his lips, but other things too, like telling Chris how honoured and happy he feels that Chris is with him, how ridiculously gorgeous he is, how he would do pretty much anything for him, and so many other deep thoughts and feelings that he’s become so used to burying.
He can’t say any of it though, and looks down, feeling pathetic that he can’t tell his own boyfriend how much he means to him.
Chris looks at him like he knows what Zach isn’t saying and smiles reassuringly at him, like it’s perfectly OK that he can’t say it. Zach knows it’s not OK, and it’s a matter of time before Chris needs to hear those words, or at least hear him express his feelings. He wonders how long he has left.
Part 6
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Chris/Zach
Word count: 5772 (this part)
Warning: Language, sexual situations, hurt/comfort, fluff, angst.
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
“You look like shit,” Zach says from the doorway, relief flooding his body as he sees Chris sitting up in the hospital bed, bruises and scratches over his pretty face and his left arm in a cast over his chest. He looks forlorn and full of self pity as he valiantly tries to eat a pudding cup with a spoon using one hand.
“I just got hit by a cab,” Chris snaps, putting the spoon down and admitting defeat.
“I came as soon as I could,” Zach says softly, walking into the room hesitantly, his eyes roaming Chris’ body with worry.
“Zachary Quinto?” a nurse suddenly says, walking up to him with a clipboard in her arms. “You’re fine, blood tests showed low blood sugar so make sure you eat enough and try and take care of yourself in future.” She gives him a brief smile and leaves.
Chris shifts in his bed, straightening up, his eyes becoming worried. “What happened?”
“I just passed out, that’s all,” Zach says, waving it off, his mind still fixed on Chris and checking he’s OK as he walks up the side of the bed.
“That’s all? That’s because you’re exhausted, you’ve been working all day, partying all night-”
“Stop it. It doesn’t matter. Are you OK though? Any pain?” Zach says, cupping his face tenderly, inspecting the cuts.
“They won’t scar,” Chris says, like he thinks that’s an answer to the silent question Zach was asking. Zach shakes his head quickly, that thought being the farthest from his mind.
“As long as you’re alright, that’s all that matters.”
Chris smiles, although it looks pained and empty.
“I’ll stay for a bit, if that’s alright,” Zach says, collapsing into the chair next to the bed.
“S’fine,” Chris says, sounding tired before perking up a little. “How did it go? I can’t believe I missed it.”
Zach yawns and turns his body in the chair to face Chris. “Really well. Amazing actually. When you get out of here you can watch the video from it.”
Chris smiles proudly. “I’m not surprised it went well considering how hard you worked,” Chris says with a sleepy smile as his eyes shut. “I wish I could have been there.”
“Don’t worry about that right now,” Zach mumbles comfortingly before letting his own eyes shut, exhaustion and tiredness overwhelming him.
When Zach wakes up from his own nap in the early evening and finds Chris still in a deep sleep, he decides to creep away back to his apartment to shower and change before heading to his after party. He only intends to spend a few minutes there, to say hello to people who want to congratulate him, but before he knows it, it’s almost midnight and he’s still there, having designers and models all cooing over him. It makes him feel a little better, distracts him even, from the small ball of guilt in his gut that keeps reminding him that Chris is lying in a hospital bed. Zach reassures himself by thinking that Chris is fine, and sleeping, and probably hasn’t even realised he’s not by his bedside.
By the time he gets to the hospital, it’s 2am and none of the nurses will let him see him since visiting hours were over hours ago. He sits in one of the blue plastic chairs outside Chris’ room, slowly slumping down and trying to get some sleep in the very uncomfortable position he’s in.
…
“Shuffle over,” Zach says as he strolls into Chris’ room in the early morning, still in the clothes from the night before, his back painful from his sleeping position.
“You went to your after party,” Chris observes, his tone scarily neutral as he takes in Zach’s attire distastefully.
“Err, yeah, but I’ve been here all night in the plastic chairs outside. My neck is fucking painful.” Zach rubs the back of his neck soothingly before sliding his hand across his stubbly jaw.
Chris looks at him before sighing. “I knew you’d go last night.”
“You were asleep, I came here straight after but they wouldn’t let me see you.”
“It was still a dick-move. Whatever, I didn’t expect anything more from you.”
Zach is immediately hurt by that, his chest clenching painfully and a stab of disappointment at himself hitting him hard. He walks over, the urge to touch Chris making him impatient, and climbs up on the bed next to Chris. There’s only just enough room for both of them but Zach doesn’t mind, his hand finding Chris’ good hand and clasping it tightly.
“You smell of beer and smoke,” Chris says disapprovingly as they both cuddle up to each other.
“Sorry,” Zach says softly into Chris’ ear, apologising for more than the way he smells.
Chris turns his head and looks at him with a searching, intense look, and then gives him a small smile and presses his lips to Zach’s cheek.
“It’s OK. I’m cranky right now because of this,” Chris says, indicating his arm. “Didn’t sleep well.”
“Me neither,” Zach says quietly, letting his thumb rub along the back of Chris’ hand. “You know, not many people can pull off a hospital gown but you do look cute.”
It gets a smile out of Chris and Zach turns his head to the side and presses a kiss to his forehead.
Zach slowly feels himself grow tired again, his head rolling to the side and resting on Chris’ shoulder. He smiles when he feels Chris reciprocate by pressing his cheek to Zach’s hair.
“Hey, Zach?” Chris mumbles sleepily.
“Hmm?”
“You know what’s not broken?”
Zach smiles. “If you’re going to say your penis I’m not sleeping with you ever again.”
There’s a beat of silence. “You always spoil my fun.”
It’s the last thing he hears before sleep wraps around him.
Zach wakes up with a start when he hears a woman shouting “Chris.” He looks toward the door where a middle aged woman is standing with dark curly hair and a distressed look on her face. Zach’s eyes then slide to the man next to her with silver hair, his features holding a striking resemblance to Chris’. Zach looks at Chris and sees him staring at them with his mouth open in shock.
“Mom, Dad, what you guys doing here?” Chris asks, sitting up a little straighter and wincing in pain. Zach tries to pull his hand out of Chris’ grip but Chris’ hand tightens around his, not letting go.
“We got called about your accident and flew over on the red eye.”
“Oh, OK. You didn’t have to do that, I’m fine. This is Zach by the way,” Chris says with a smile as Zach shifts uncomfortably, trying to remove his hand from Chris’ grasp again but not being able to.
“I’m Gwynne and this is Robert,” Chris’ mom says pleasantly, appraising him slowly with curious eyes.
“Nice to meet you,” Zach says politely, feeling incredibly awkward having not thought he would be thrust into a situation where he’d meet Chris’ parents. He wishes he was better prepared, and didn’t look so unkempt and exhausted.
“I’m pleased you’re here to take care of him,” Robert says, approaching Chris’ side of the bed and smiling down at his son. “I know you’d get into an accident like this. I told you they all drive like lunatics over here.”
“Oh yeah, because LA drivers are all so considerate,” Chris says dryly. “Anyway, I get to go home this afternoon.”
“You can’t go back to Sam’s place and sleep on his couch in this condition,” Gwynne says, joining her husband by his side of the bed.
Chris turns and looks at Zach nervously. “I haven’t really been staying at his place for a while. I spend a lot of time at Zach’s.”
Both pairs of eyes of his parents shoot to look at him and Zach feels his cheeks burn for a second under their scrutiny.
Zach coughs uncomfortably. “Yeah, he does and it’s fine, he can come back with me.”
Chris smiles, squeezing Zach’s hand affectionately.
“I’ve heard a lot about you Zach, although I was unaware you were living together,” Gwynne says, sounding interested.
“We’re not really living together per se,” Zach says a little defensively and he gets the distinct impression he’s being weighed up as Gwynne stares at him.
“Well, we live with each other, hopefully you’ll see his place later,” Chris says proudly, and Zach tries not to frown at the idea of his parents seeing his place.
Zach shifts up, finally whipping his hand out of Chris’, and swings his legs over the side of the bed so he can stand. “It’s been great meeting you, but I better get home and feed the dog. He’s probably eating the furniture by now,” Zach says, making his excuses as he adjusts his shirt self-consciously.
“Hopefully we’ll see you again,” Gwynne says, sounding eager and hopeful as she smiles kindly at him.
Zach throws up a fake smile and nods. “Sure.” He turns to Chris, who is watching him like he’s an unpredictable animal about to be spooked. Zach leans forward and presses his lips to Chris’ cheek, aware Chris’ parents are watching and so not wanting to offend them by sticking his tongue down their son’s throat.
“See you later,” Zach says softly, running a hand back through Chris’ hair. He steps back, gives his parents a smile, and leaves the room. Zach lets out a long sigh of relief the second he’s out of sight.
…
Zach hears the door to his apartment open as he lies on the couch, and Noah, who is curled up next to him, lifts his head as his ears perk up. Noah quickly jumps off the couch and runs full speed toward the door, his tail wagging excitedly as his feet scratch against the floor. Zach rolls to the side and into a standing position as he sees Chris walk in awkwardly, one arm in a sling and the other holding the keys that Zach’s never bothered to ask for back. Noah greets him affectionately, by slobbering over his hand, before inspecting the two people who trail Chris, both of them looking at Zach’s apartment in awe.
“Noah,” Zach snaps, noticing Noah jump up on Chris. “Down.”
“He’s fine,” Chris says, looking a little dazed. Zach walks over to him and searches his face, before looking over at his parents.
“Did they give him some strong pain relief?”
Robert nods with a smile. “Fraid so. He’s a little out of it and very drowsy.”
“Hey,” Zach says quietly, grabbing Chris’ attention and wrapping an arm around his shoulders. “You OK, baby?”
“Sleepy,” Chris says, pushing his nose against Zach’s cheek.
“We’ll leave you two be, let him get some sleep,” Gwynne says, watching them with a smile on her face. “We’ll give Chris a call later as we’re staying in the city for a few days. I hope we can get dinner when Chris has recovered a little bit.”
“Sounds good,” Zach says, holding Chris up with one arm.
Once his parents have gone Zach takes Chris to the bedroom which is easier said than done as Chris leans heavily on him.
When they finally get to the bedroom Zach manoeuvres Chris onto the bed and lays him down, watching as Chris gathers the comforter in his hand and brings it under his head to use as a pillow. Zach quickly undoes Chris’ jeans and pulls them off as Chris lets out a hum.
“Zach?” Chris mumbles quietly, eyes shut and head to the side.
“Yeah?”
“Sex?”
Zach laughs and shakes his head even though Chris can’t see him. “No. Just get some sleep.” Zach goes to the doorway. “Noah, here boy.”
He hears the familiar sound of Noah’s feet on the floor before seeing him round the corner, his tail wagging happily as he looks up at Zach expectantly.
Zach walks over to the bed where Chris is lying on his back, and pats his hand on the bed a few times, inviting Noah to jump up onto the bed and lie down next to Chris. He rarely lets Noah in his room and never lets him on his bed, but he figures Chris could use the company.
“I’ll check on you in a bit,” Zach says, turning and heading to the door.
Chris hums before lifting up his one good arm. “Want you.”
Zach looks at him indecisively for a few moments, hands on his hips, before giving in and pulling off his top and pants. He gets onto the bed and awkwardly positions himself around Chris and Noah and tries to get some sleep.
…
“Zach,” Chris whines loudly from the bedroom as Zach tries to make his hair look somewhat decent in the mirror in the bathroom.
“Yeah?” Zach calls back; his fingers dipping into the gel and raking his fingers back through his hair.
“I need help getting into my shirt,” Chris says, sounding a little pathetic. Zach rolls his eyes, hating how he’s become Chris’ personal nurse in the last few days.
Zach walks into the bedroom where Chris is busy trying to contort his body in different ways to try and get his shirt on. Zach snatches it off him and holds it open so Chris can slowly manoeuvre his arm through the hole.
“You OK?” Chris asks, his eyes on Zach as he uses one hand to do up the buttons. Zach throws a fake smile onto his face before letting it drop. “Look, I know you’re not a fan of the whole meeting the parents officially thing, but they want to get to know you. What’s the big deal?”
“I just hate this part of relationships,” Zach says sharply, standing in front of the mirror next to his closet. “One of the many, many reasons I don’t like getting into them.”
Chris sighs with irritation. “According to you, you don’t like any part of being in a relationship.”
“What? Of course I do, I like seeing you after work, spending time with you, having amazing sex, but when other people get involved, that’s when being in a relationship fucking sucks.”
“Look, if you’re going to be an asshole about this, I’d rather you not come. I’ll make up some excuse and you can stay here or go out or do whatever you want to do because that’s what you always do.”
Zach whirls around to face him. “What I always do? For the last three days I’ve cancelled two evening commitments, four very important business meetings, and I’ve had to put back a lot of work so I can be here taking care of your ass because you don’t look both ways before jaywalking,” Zach snaps, feeling his temper rise impossibly quickly.
Chris stares at him, his mouth agape and his eyes shining with hurt. “Sorry for being such a burden.”
Zach takes in a calming breath, realising he overreacted and immediately feeling guilty as Chris swallows and stares at the floor. “Yeah, well, not much we can do about it now.”
Chris blinks quickly and sits down on the bed and Zach has a suspicion he’s trying to stop tears from falling. “Fine, I’m going alone tonight. Maybe you can do one of your other commitments.”
Zach feels like an asshole that a part of him is really excited over the prospect of getting out of a dinner with his parents and having a night to go out with friends or do something non-coupley for a change.
“You really don’t want me to come?” Zach asks, trying to keep the hopeful tone out of his voice.
“Don’t pretend you want to,” Chris snaps, leaning down to awkwardly put on his socks. “I’ll get a cab.”
Zach let’s out a sigh, which is equal parts relief and frustration, as he watches Chris toe on his shoes.
Zach is sitting on the bed when Chris grabs his wallet and phone, pushing them into his pocket before striding out of the room without another word. Noah strolls in and sits down at Zach’s feet, his head cocked to the side in silent question. Zach’s never felt so judged by a dog in his life.
Zach sighs at himself and stands up quickly, grabbing his keys and pushing his shoes onto his feet before running out through the living room and out of his apartment, throwing the door shut behind him. He sees Chris standing by the elevator, waiting for it to come.
“I’ll drive,” Zach says as he comes to stand by Chris’ side.
“Fine,” Chris says calmly, a hint of satisfaction in his voice, like he had confidence that Zach wouldn’t let him down.
They walk into the elevator and the doors shut in front of them. Zach feels Chris’ hand slip into his, and he lets out a small smile.
…
“Aren’t my parents awesome?” Chris says with glee as he climbs into the other side of Zach’s car outside the restaurant. Zach smiles at him as he puts the car into drive, finding himself agreeing. It was a surprisingly easy meal as Chris’ parents kept a steady stream of easy discussion going the whole time and both seemed to unconditionally adore Chris in a way that would make most people jealous. Zach actually felt a pang of longing as he‘d watched Chris and his dad interact with so much love and respect.
“Yeah, they seem really nice. Although I was worried you’re mom was going to psychoanalyse me any second.”
“Oh, she was doing it in her head, trust me. Anyway, they really liked you,” Chris says sincerely.
“Doubt it.” Zach checks in his side mirror and pulls away from the sidewalk into the late evening traffic.
“You kidding? You totally turned on the charm, and compared to my past boyfriends, you’re a real catch.”
Zach swallows nervously, not wanting to have a conversation about their past conquests. He can’t see how it would help anything for him to list how many people he’s slept with and if he’s honest, he’s not sure he ever wants to hear about all the guys Chris has been with.
“I mean, the last guy I dated was in a band that played out of his garage, so you know, going from jobless idiot to business savvy famous fashion designer is a pretty decent jump.”
“I knew you were a gold-digger.”
Chris smiles at him. “Hey, if I was a gold-digger, I’d go for some 90 year old that always has decent stuff in his fridge. Not someone who only keeps healthy crap that tastes like cardboard.”
“It’s called preserving your body. You’re a model, you should understand about keeping your figure.”
“Now I have you I can just let myself go and get some of those pants with an elasticated waist. It’ll be awesome.”
“You better be joking,” Zach says with a smile, giving Chris a quick look.
“Yeah, I’m too vain to really let myself go, but still.” Chris slouches in his seat next to him, his hand scratching at the cast on his left arm. “So, maybe at some point I’ll meet your mom?”
Zach feels a small, threatening bubble of panic in his gut but quickly ignores it, reassuring himself that he’s in control in this relationship. He might be kidding himself, but it helps him sleep at night. “Not for a long time.”
Chris shifts in his seat so he’s facing Zach. “It’s Thanksgiving next month; I thought maybe we could do something together.”
Zach feels like the car is suddenly too small as his heart picks up pace. “I was going to go to Pittsburgh with Joe.” Zach can see Chris giving him an expectant, hopeful look next to him. “It’s a family thing. You not going back to LA?”
Chris lets out a small sigh and sits back in his seat. “No. I guess I’ll stay in the city by myself.”
“Stop it,” Zach snaps irritably, feeling like he’s dealing with a difficult child.
“Stop what?”
“I know you want to come, but my mom is pretty much the most special person in my life and I don’t want her to get attached to anyone I bring home. It’s just easier if I go alone.”
Chris remains silent for a beat, the air in the car growing thick with tension. “I’m too tired to fight about this.”
“Why do we need to fight about this at all? I do what I do every year and visit my mom; you do whatever you want to do. We can spend Christmas doing something together, I guess.”
“Whatever,” Chris says, sounding exhausted, but also like the conversation is far from over. Zach readjusts his hands on the wheel and sneaks a look over at Chris who has his eyes fixed straight ahead. Zach sighs.
…
Zach spends the next few days constantly on edge, wondering when Chris is going to strike and bring up Thanksgiving. He hates feeling so uneasy all the time, especially when he just wants to hang out with his boyfriend after work and be comfortable. Instead, they watch a few movies and Zach sits there with bated breath the whole time, worrying that Chris is suddenly going to bring it up or something in the film will hit too close to home and force them to talk about it.
Chris is stirring sauce in the kitchen with his one usable arm as Zach prepares the vegetables one evening, both of them chatting mindlessly about the news when Chris turns to him, his hand not missing a beat as he carries on stirring, and asks.
“So, am I coming with you to Thanksgiving?” Chris asks casually.
Zach pauses, his hand stilling from where he’s cutting up carrots. His breath falters and he coughs a few times before turning around and leaning back against the counter.
“Chris, no. We already talked about it. Please do me a favour and respect my decision.”
Chris stirs for a few seconds, the silence heavy between them. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
Zach breathes a sigh of relief and sends a smile Chris’ way. He turns back to cutting the vegetables mindlessly.
“What are you worried about happening if I did come?”
Zach looks skyward, thinking he should have known the conversation was far from over. “It’s just a pretty serious step, that’s all. I get to decide when I want my boyfriend to meet my mom, OK?”
Chris purses his lips, his body language becoming agitated. “We’re in a serious relationship. You’re my boyfriend, you’ve met my parents, you’re letting me live with you, and there are pictures of us in magazines that you haven’t reputed. This isn’t just fun anymore, this is serious.”
Zach rolls his eyes. “Can we not talk about this?”
“I want you to tell me why you don’t want me to meet your mom.”
Zach opens his mouth to say something, anything, but nothing comes out and he feels a tinge of emotion settle in his chest. “Just leave it.”
Chris looks at him, a soft expression coming into his eyes and he moves toward Zach slowly, reaching him with a small smile. “Do you think one day I’m just going to up and leave you? Keeping me at arms distance is only going to last so long, Zach.”
Zach turns away, his eyes going to the carrots as he starts chopping them up hastily. “Whatever. If you want to come, you can come.”
“I want you to want me to come,” Chris says, his hand running down Zach’s back gently.
“Well, I don’t. I can’t pretend I do, but if it’s this or you leaving me, then I guess I’ll have to suck it up.”
Chris frowns. “What? Who said anything about leaving?”
“Just forget it. I can’t be bothered to fight anymore. You’ve broken me down, well done,” Zach says bitterly, his voice cold and detached.
“Zach-”
“Drop it.”
When they eat, it’s not comfortable silence, it’s filled with uncomfortable tension that settles over them like a horrible blanket and suddenly anything they say is in a clipped, annoyed tone of voice which neither of them can budge from.
…
Before Zach knows it, it’s Halloween and he quickly decides to host a party at his place which Chris uses as a double celebration as he gets his cast off three days before the event.
They haven’t mentioned Thanksgiving again, but it’s the elephant in the room that seems to follow them everywhere. All that’s being left unsaid and skirted around puts a strain on both of them, and Zach couldn’t be happier to have his large apartment filled to the brink with guests all dressed up in various costumes.
“Zach, people are bringing presents. Since when do they do that on Halloween?” Chris asks into his ear. Zach turns and smiles as he takes in Chris, standing there in just a loin cloth and skin coloured underwear, a large red bowed box in his arms. It’d been Zach’s idea to dress him like that after finding out Chris planned to dress as a Disney prince which in his opinion included far too much clothing. Chris had given him an unimpressed look when he revealed his own costume would be a surgeon.
“Just thank you gifts. Put them in my bedroom for now.”
Chris nods and turns, weaving his way through the mass of people, Zach watching him go with a smirk as he stares at his ass appreciatively.
The party is in full swing when Zach realises he hasn’t seen Chris in a while, and makes his way through his guests to find his boyfriend, heading straight to the buffet area which Chris is most likely lurking around. He actually finds him sitting in the corner with Joe, and Zach’s stomach drops as he wonders what they’re talking about. Chris’ face is intense as he listens to whatever Joe is telling him. Zach moves around several groups of people to get close and turns his back on them so they don’t notice that he’s listening in.
“Just put your foot down,” Joe says.
“If he doesn’t want me there, he doesn’t want me there.”
“Chris, he’s never had a relationship like this and he’s just panicking. Tell him you’re coming and he’ll have to suck it up and get over it. Tough love is the way to go. Mom will adore you the second she sees you, so maybe he’s just worried she’ll get attached and then you’ll leave or something.”
“Zach told me that, actually.”
“Look, if it was anyone else, bringing someone home is just part of the routine when you’re in a new relationship, but because Zach doesn’t do it, bringing you home is a major event. I love Zach more than words can say and he has many areas of expertise, but relationships isn’t one of them. Just be firm with him. ”
Zach swallows, feeling unusually anxious before getting interrupted from listening by someone in the circle he’s standing in asking him a direct question.
It’s almost 1am and people have definitely hit the drunken stage considering the amount of loud yelling and stumbling people are doing. Zach feels a little drunk himself as he leans on one of the counter tops, his mind in a content buzz and his body on the right side of tipsy. Chris approaches him with an easy going smile, and Zach feels something in his chest clench. Then without a thought he grabs at Chris, pulling into a warm embrace and pushing his nose in the crook of his neck with a smile.
“Love you too,” Chris says with a laugh when Zach pulls away.
“What did you say?” Zach asks, his eyes wide in shock and a surprising flutter in his stomach as he stares at Chris searchingly.
Chris immediately looks awkward and sheepish. “Doesn’t matter. You having a good time?” Chris rests his hands on Zach’s waist as Zach slides an arm around his shoulders.
“I am, yeah. You wanna go to the bathroom and grope me?” Zach asks, waggling his eyebrows as he lets his hand slide down the soft skin of Chris’ back and grab a handful of his ass.
“Can’t I just grope you here, in front of all these people?” Chris says mischievously, leaning forward and cupping Zach’s dick through the material of his scrubs, and pressing his lips to Zach’s in a deep, forceful kiss. Zach’s highly aware of Chris rubbing him firmly through his pants and that they’re in the middle of a room full of his dearest friends, but he’s too focused on the way Chris is kissing and fondling him to care.
“Get a fucking room,” Joe says at them and Zach pulls away, looking down to where his dick is very obviously hard underneath the blue scrubs.
“Shut it,” Zach says, pulling Chris to him so people can’t see his erection, and looking around for a something to cover it up.
“I don’t think rubbing yourself against your boyfriend will make it go away,” Joe says with a large grin. “Actually, do it long enough and maybe it will.”
Zach shoots him a glare before Chris leans to the side and hands him a hat someone dropped. Zach puts it over his crotch as casually as he can.
“Chris, bedroom, you’re dealing with this right now,” Zach says pointedly, adjusting his pants with the hand not holding the hat over his crotch.
“I thought I’d go grab some mini sandwiches first actually,” Chris says, eyeing the buffet eagerly.
“Go down on me and then I’ll let you hit the buffet without my commenting on how fat you’re getting,” Zach says, joking.
“I couldn’t work out that much when I had a broken arm, jeez,” Chris says huffily, his arms over his chest defensively like he’s self-conscious of his body. Zach lets his eyes roam the skin he can see, taking in Chris’ muscled arms and taut belly before letting his eyes linger on his thick thighs. He spends a lot of time jokingly criticising them, but if he’s truthful, he loves them.
Zach quickly takes his hand and drags him through the room with a dark, intense expression that successfully dissuades anybody attempting to start up a conversation with him as he goes straight to his room, unlocks the door and slams it shut behind them. His grabs Chris’ shoulders and spins him so he can press him up against the closed door, throwing all his weight into holding him steady, feeling Chris’ warm chest rise and fall rapidly in anticipation. Chris stares openly at him, his eyes dark and glassy and adoring, and it sends a shiver all the way down Zach’s spine.
“I heard you talking to my brother earlier.”
Chris looks surprised, his eyes searching Zach’s like he’s unsure if Zach is angry over it or not. “Oh. Well, he knows you better than anyone so it seemed obvious to ask him about… the thing we’re not talking about.”
Zach laughs, feeling his defiance, his fight, slip away quickly, like he finally realises he won’t and can’t win this fight. He realises with a start that doesn’t even want to anymore, that maybe Chris meeting his mom will not in fact be the end of the world. “You’re coming then, to Thanksgiving?”
“Try and stop me,” Chris says with a grin. “And I know you think I’m being overly pushy but sometimes you need to be pushed.”
Zach nods understandingly. Chris gives him a smirk before licking his lips slowly and Zach watches hungrily as Chris slowly slides his back down the door.
“Wait,” Zach says, stopping his movement, even though his dick is throbbing for attention inside his pants. He cups Chris’ cheek and pulls him back up so they’re face to face. Zach gives him a small smile before leaning in and kissing him slowly and passionately, letting his body lean in and press Chris against the door.
“What was that for?” Chris asks, following a small contented hum, his eyes fixed on Zach’s lips.
“Because I can,” Zach says before winking. “My dick isn’t going to suck itself.”
Chris playfully slaps him on the chest. “I don’t know why I put up with you.”
Zach feels a twang of panic and worry surge through him at those words, like he’s actually worried Chris will one day realise he can do better than him, but his worries are quickly stamped out when Chris wraps his warm, wet mouth tightly around the head of his cock and sucks hard. Zach puts a hand on the door over Chris’ head and just lets the pleasure rush through him as Chris sucks him off like it’s his job, his technique perfected to hit every single one of his buttons in quick succession till Zach’s a trembling, moaning mess.
One of Zach’s fears over relationships was that sex would get boring, but he quickly realised that because he’s been with Chris for a while, the guy knows every single thing that makes him get off harder and faster than before.
Chris sucks eagerly, his swollen lips spread around Zach’s cock as his other hand fondles and rubs at his balls and Zach knows he’s gone before he can communicate it, shooting into Chris’ mouth while he uses his fist to thump the door as his legs almost buckle.
Chris stands up, licking around his lips to make sure he got all of it. In that moment Zach feels like he’s the closest he’s ever come to saying those three words that he’s never said to anyone outside his family. And it’s not just those words that threaten to fall from his lips, but other things too, like telling Chris how honoured and happy he feels that Chris is with him, how ridiculously gorgeous he is, how he would do pretty much anything for him, and so many other deep thoughts and feelings that he’s become so used to burying.
He can’t say any of it though, and looks down, feeling pathetic that he can’t tell his own boyfriend how much he means to him.
Chris looks at him like he knows what Zach isn’t saying and smiles reassuringly at him, like it’s perfectly OK that he can’t say it. Zach knows it’s not OK, and it’s a matter of time before Chris needs to hear those words, or at least hear him express his feelings. He wonders how long he has left.
Part 6