Chapter 4

Zeke rolled up his swim trunks and stuffed them into his suitcase with more force than he needed. Irritation inched down his spine. Zeke knew he should have known this was going to happen, but he thought this time would be different. Rory had promised, had told him that he was there to stay. It was one of the reasons he had hired him. They needed dependable people, and when he was there, really there, Rory was the most dependable person in the world.

Zeke heard the door open, knew it was Rory and said nothing.

"Zee," he yelled.

Zeke hesitated. He wasn't sure he was in the mood to deal with his lover at the moment. Rory had a habit of disappearing for long periods of time right before he vanished for several months. Zeke promised himself it would be the last time for that shit. This time, if Rory walked out of his life, he was cut off.

Rory stepped into the room. "You seem to be doing some damage to the clothes, there. What have they ever done to you?"

His tone told Zeke he was trying to keep that tone light. Zeke wasn't in the mood. He didn't even look at him. If he did, Zeke was pretty sure he would punch him in his fucking throat.

"What's up?"

Zeke rolled up a shirt and stuffed it in with his other clothes before answering. "Nothing. Just wondering where you were for two hours."

"I had some things to pick up."

Rory had never cheated on Zeke. Never. It just wasn't in his character. When he was there, he was there just for Zeke. He might be a bastard when it came to sticking around, but that went with the package. Rory had commitment issues to the extreme. Zeke understood them, he was just sick of dealing with them. Sometimes, it was too fucking much to ask.

"When are you leaving?" Zeke asked. As soon as he said the words, he regretted them. He wasn't really in the mood for the truth. He wasn't sure he ever was but he was pretty sure he wasn't now.

When he said nothing, Zeke looked up at him. Rory was frowning. "What the bloody hell are you talking about?"

Of course, Rory had no idea what he was talking about. They never addressed the issues they had. Not the ones like this. He would start to discuss it and Rory would disappear. It was the way he had dealt with things in the past.

"Look," Zeke said as he went into the bathroom and started to shove things into his shaving kit, "I know what's going on. This time though, I'll have to replace you at the office if you are going to disappear, so at least give me a head's up."

Rory said nothing. Zeke wasn't sure if he was confused or stunned that he had confronted him on it. He brushed past him back into the bedroom.

"Stop," Rory said.

Zeke shoved his bag into the suitcase. "I'm not in the mood to have a fight, but if you're leaving, I need to know."

Rory walked to him then and took his hands. "Stop."

Zeke shook his hands away. "This is my life here—my reputation. I can't let you drop off the side of the earth because things got too intense." He couldn't look at him. Zeke knew if he did, Rory would talk him back into bed easily. He was sick of that. Hard truths had to be said.

"What the fuck are you talking about? I'm not planning on going anywhere."

With a sigh, he turned to face him and felt a sharp punch to the gut. The pain in Rory's gaze was enough to undo Zeke. It was his downfall to love stubborn people. Maura was just as bad. And when he shoved them, Zeke tended to hurt their feelings.

"I'm not leaving you. Not now, not unless you want me to."

Zeke wanted to believe him. The sincerity in his voice was genuine. And he understood that many times when Rory left, it wasn't because of their relationship but of the ghosts he fought from his past.

Rory skimmed his hands up his arms and then cupped his face.

"I am not leaving. Ever."

Then he leaned closer, brushing his mouth over Zeke's. The taste of him, the feel of his lips against his pulled a sigh from Zeke. He rested his forehead against his. Rory sighed.

"I can't leave you, Zee. Not anymore."

The words tightened Zeke's heart. Desire and love threaded Rory's voice. So many times he had watched the one man he had always loved walk out of his life. This time…it might kill him. But never before had Rory promised him not to leave.

Rory kissed him again, invading his mouth. Zeke's heart raced as his cock hardened, his blood heated. Rory's tongue brushed against Zeke's as he slid his arms around him and down to his ass, pulling Rory tight against him. The feel of his cock against his own, even through the layers of clothing, was enough for Zeke to start losing control. Rory was already hard and Zeke groaned. It was difficult not to. For over ten years, it hadn't changed for them one bit.

Just like the first time, Zeke felt himself falling. Rory always did this to him, could always make it impossible to resist him. He needed him like an addict needed their favorite drug. Every cell in his body urged Zeke to surrender to him. All the concerns he'd had just minutes before dissolved under Rory's sensual assault.

Rory kissed a path down Zeke's neck as he grabbed the bottom of Zeke's shirt and practically tore it off. Then, Rory started to work his way down his body, kissing and nipping at his skin. Zeke's cock hardened further and he shivered when he felt the hard bite of Rory's teeth against his flesh.

There was an urgency to Rory's movements and it fed Zeke's need. He needed the connection, needed to feel flesh against flesh. Rory grabbed the waistband of Zeke's jeans, yanked it free of the button then jerked down the zipper. Zeke wasn't wearing any underwear and his cock sprang free. Rory wrapped his hand around it and gave it a few long pumps.

"Like, that, do ya, love?" Rory asked. He didn't wait for an answer. He took Zeke's mouth in a hard, punishing kiss as he continued to pump his shaft. Fuck. With each stroke, Rory pulled him closer to the edge. At that moment, he was completely and absolutely under his spell. Rory bit down on Zeke's bottom lip before pulling back and releasing his cock.

Rory dropped to his knees and wrapped his hand around his cock. He gave it another hard pump before he lifted it up and slipped his tongue over Zeke's sac. Zeke curled his toes into the carpet and tried to control himself. He was so fucking close to coming.

"Beautiful," Rory said as he leaned forward to lick up one side of Zeke's penis. His breath feathered over Zeke's flesh and he shivered. Then, Rory looked up at Zeke and slowly, took the tip into his mouth. Rory swirled his tongue around the tip, as he pumped his cock. He pulled back, licked down one side, teasing the tip of his penis, then down to his sac again. Little nips against his sensitive skin pulled another drop of precome to the surface and Zeke could feel his orgasm approaching. As Rory continued to pump him with his hand, he took Zeke's penis into his mouth fully. His other hand was on his ass, his fingers digging into his skin as if he was afraid he would go somewhere. There was no chance in that.

Closer and closer, Rory pushed him toward that edge, but just as Zeke was about to come, Rory pulled back.

"Fuck," Zeke muttered as he watched Rory pull off his shirt. Rory stood and attacked his pants. He was naked within seconds. Not able to resist, Zeke skimmed his hand over Rory's chest then slipped it down to Rory's impressive erection. Rory leaned his head back and groaned as Zeke stroked him a few times. He wanted to make Rory lose control. Before he could though, Rory tumbled them back onto the bed. Zeke heard a thunk and realized the suitcase had fallen on the floor. He ignored it.

Rory wasted no time. He straddled Zeke's face and took his head in his hands. Zeke eagerly opened his mouth and took him in. Deeper and deeper Rory thrust into Zeke's mouth. His fingers dug into Zeke's scalp as Zeke slid his hands to Rory's ass. A drop of precome danced over his taste buds.

Each time he took him in his mouth deeper and deeper. He wanted that, wanted to taste him as he came, but Rory had other ideas. He pulled back and then moved off him.

"Fuck."

The exasperation was easy to hear and Zeke smiled. It wasn't often he could push him that far. Rory scooted down Zeke's body so they were lying groin to groin, their cocks pressed together. Zeke closed his eyes and sighed. Rory cupped his face and kissed him. Frustration and desire filled the gesture.

When he pulled back, he looked at Zeke for a long while.

"I love you, Zee."

The words were whispered but without hesitation. It had taken him so long to finally tell Zeke of his love it was always a joy to hear. Zeke smiled.

"I love you too."

Rory smiled at him. It was almost embarrassing how his heart flip-flopped. He really did love this man, almost more than he loved himself. He had never really been serious about another man in all his life. There had been others, but there was only one Rory. There was a part of his heart—part of his soul—that had known that all along.

Rory slipped out of bed, and offered his hand. Zeke took it and stood, his heart hammering against his chest. Rory knelt down in front of him, kissing and nipping at the skin as he went. Zeke slipped his hands down to Rory's head and fucked his mouth. God, it felt good, the damp, warm recesses of his mouth, the way he moved his tongue over the tip of Zeke's cock always got to him. He continued pumping in and out of his Rory's mouth, but his rhythm quickened as he felt his orgasm take over. One hard thrust and he came, holding Rory's head still as he thrust one last time in his mouth and giving over to the pleasure.

Rory gave Zeke's cock one last lick before he kissed his way back up his body. Then, he turned Zeke toward the bed. He skimmed his hands down Zeke's back. God, the man had the hands of a god. Just one little touch and Zeke was turned to jelly. Rory trailed his fingers down to Zeke's ass. Zeke settled his hands on the mattress as he felt Rory pull his cheeks apart before he entered him in one hard thrust.

Fuck, that felt good. The connection was stronger than ever. Rory thrust in and out of his ass, his groans were music to Zeke's ears. It didn't take long before Rory was groaning Zeke's name. He leaned over him, his chest against Zeke's back. He could feel his lover's heart hammering as Rory kissed the back of his neck.

He pulled out of Zeke's ass and they fell onto the bed but unlike all the years before, Rory held onto him, tightly. Zeke could be pissed, he could be worried, but he couldn't say that things hadn't changed between them.

Zeke just hoped that this time Rory was there for good.