Page 9 of Zero Confusion

He groaned at the heat uncoiling in his stomach and slowed his movements, keeping the orgasm at bay. He wouldn’t let himself come to the thoughts of his best friend.

His gaze fell on Zach’s body wash, and he had the strangest urge to grab it and breathe it in.

What was happening to him? It seemed impossible to get his mind off Zach. He tried to think of hot girls from his classes, of porn, of anything else, but he couldn’t.

He didn’t want to.

Spreading his legs, he increased the pace and rolled his balls in the other hand. Against his better judgment, he remembered how firm and luscious Zach’s ass had felt through layers of fabric. Would it feel even more amazing with no barrier between, his cock grinding directly against Zach’s hot, silky skin?

The mental image was too much. He gasped as release slammed into him, taking his breath away. White sticky ropes landed on his chest and stomach, immediately washing down the drain, erasing the evidence of his confusing thoughts. His shoulders ached from leaning against the hard tile, but he stayed still for several minutes, panting as his heart rate slowly calmed. Once his legs could finally support his weight, he turned off the water.

He had some soul-searching to do.

Chapter 5

ZACH

“What’s the plan for today? More homework?” Miles asked, shoveling the last bit of syrup-soaked waffle into his mouth. His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed, a perfectly normal bodily movement that suddenly seemed obscene. Zach forced his gaze away and gathered their plates to carry back to the kitchen.

He needed a moment before responding to Miles’s question. Right now, he could barely look him in the eye without blushing.

It had been an interesting morning so far. He’d woken up in time to hear Miles in the shower, his muffled moans searing themselves into Zach’s brain, swirling around, destroying his ability to think.

“I should probably study.” Zach kept his voice even, neatly placing the dirty dishes in the sink and wiping down the counter. Anything not to make eye contact. “We could go to the Arts District for lunch. You’ll like it—it’s bright and colorful, and there are little art galleries and cute shops with random stuff.”

Miles came up behind him and placed his chin on Zach’s shoulder, his large, warm hands landing on Zach’s biceps. “You don’t have to entertain me, you know. If you need to study, I’ll hang out here, maybe do some grocery shopping. We can go out to dinner and watch a movie when you’re done.”

Zach winced, remembering his plans with Joel.

“I actually already have something tonight...”

Miles tensed and stepped away, leaving a strange, electric tingle behind on Zach’s skin. A relief and a loss at the same time.

“I promised Joel we’d go to the club for his birthday. Between finals and summer classes, it’s been a while since we’ve gone, and he’s really looking forward to it. Otherwise, I would cancel,” Zach said apologetically and reluctantly turned around. He could only wipe the same square inch of the counter so many times.

“Who’s Joel?” Miles asked, a flicker of hurt flashing behind his eyes and his jaw set tight. If Zach didn’t know any better, he’d say Miles looked jealous.

Thankfully, Zach knew better.

“I’ve told you about Joel. He’s in my classes, and we go to happy hours together?”

“You might have mentioned him,” Miles conceded, a disappointed frown lingering on his face. “You’re going out with him tonight?”

“I’m going to the club with him,” Zach stressed, mostly for his own sake. Miles had never seen Joel, and he wouldn’t judge Zach based on who he dated anyway, but Zach wanted it to be extremely clear that he was in no way romantically involved with a bratty firecracker who happened to be shorter and skinnier than Zach himself. Zach’s type was the complete opposite—tall, broad, and currently standing across from him, arms folded in front of his chest, looking so crestfallen that the words tumbled out on their own. “Wanna come along?”

“Okay!” The tension in Miles’s muscles loosened, a spark of eagerness lighting up his expression. “The more, the merrier, right? I’ll buy your Joel a birthday drink.”

Zach wished he could travel back in time to before he made the offer.

“Miles, so you know...” Zach bit his lip, trying to think of the nicest way to put it. “It’s not like a party or anything. It’s just me and Joel hitting the club to get him laid.”

Miles nodded in agreement. “That’s fine.”

He wasn’t getting it, staring at Zach with those puppy-dog eyes, and Zach was seconds away from saying fuck it and abandoning Joel. Except Joel didn’t deserve to have his birthday ruined by Zach’s inability to communicate.

“It’s a gay club,” he gritted out through his teeth. Reminding Miles about his sexuality made him feel itchy and uncomfortable. Miles had been amazingly supportive when Zach came out, but it was easy to be accepting from afar. What would Miles do when faced with a dim room full of men grinding up on each other?

Zach was terrified to find out.