Higher Ground (12 page)

“Thank you.” He sipped the coffee.

“I’ll get you some breakfast soon.” She glanced at the windows. “It’s almost dawn.”

Sheriff Statham had come in ten minutes ago after being away a couple of hours, and had taken a mug of coffee outside. He came back in again, still carrying his mug, with Adam hard on his heels. Zach’s heart leaped at the sight. Adam wore the same clothes he’d had on yesterday, rumpled and creased. He looked tired, his hair had gone limp, and he had bristles showing on his chin. But he was beautiful, more beautiful than Zach had ever known a man could be. He wanted to rip aside the bars and run to him. Pull him close. Kiss him. Touch him.

He’d barely thought about their nascent romance the previous day, with so much else to do, all of it urgent. But his need to be with Adam, perhaps the only chance he’d have to do so, suddenly became the most urgent thing in the world. Adam smiled tiredly at him as Zach gripped the bars tight.

“Let him out, Barbara,” Statham said. “Mr. Gray here is posting bail.” As Torres unlocked the cell, Statham turned to Adam. “Be glad to get him out of here. He hasn’t shut up all night. Take him so we can get some peace.”

It wouldn’t be peaceful for long, Zach thought, stepping out of the cell. He wanted to run to Adam and kiss him but decided he should wait until they had some privacy.

“I’ll be glad to take him.” Adam winked, and Zach’s resolution to wait became much harder, but he had no choice as they went through the paperwork.

“Here,” the sheriff said, handing Zach his Link back. “Your bail conditions are on there.”

They included not leaving town without permission. Zach sighed. He’d have to pay Adam back for the bail money he’d put up, because Zach couldn’t keep that particular condition. He signed for the Link and his other possessions and handed the forms back to Statham.

“Thank you. I hope I’ll…” He stopped. No, he’d better not say he hoped they’d join him in a few hours for the evacuation. Probably best not to announce he intended to break his bail conditions. Anyway, he had the feeling they’d be at the rendezvous all right. “Thank you,” he repeated and left with Adam.

“What’s the situation?” Zach asked, putting his watch back on as they walked.

Adam grinned. “Well, the island hasn’t sunk yet.”

“Adam!”

“Okay. According to what I’m told, a lot of arguing went on after the meeting. Morrison got up to argue against your data and to tell people there’s no danger.”

“Dammit!”

“I know. But on the plus side, the distress signal is still sending. The sheriff broke into the comms center a couple of hours ago, but nobody can figure out how to stop the signal. They even cut the power. It didn’t help.”

“The Franes clearly know their job.”

“They know how to lie low too. Nobody can find them.” He took Zach into an alley, where the Biological Sciences department truck stood. Zach didn’t know how Adam still had the vehicle, but he didn’t question the good fortune. A large backpack lay in the bed. Adam’s gear. He gulped down a lump in his throat, full of relief. Adam was coming.

“If Morrison’s persuaded everyone not to come,” Zach said as they climbed into the truck and Adam pulled away, “then…then…”

“Then you and I will be taking a nice stroll through the mountains with Professor Korrie and her cat.”

“Her cat?”

“Of course. You don’t think people are going to leave their pets behind, do you?”

“I hadn’t thought of it.”

“Anyway, it won’t only be Korrie and us. There’s the Franes and plenty of others I’ve spoken to overnight. You had any breakfast?”

“No.”

“Right. We’re heading to your place for your stuff, so we’ll eat there, and I’d say we could both use a shower, shave, and a change of clothes.”

“Oh yes,” Zach said. His voice cracked hoarsely, and he cleared his throat.

“Right,” Adam said, glancing at him, a smile on his face. Heat flushed Zach’s cheeks, and he cleared his throat again.

“It’s barely five,” Adam said. “We’ve got plenty of time to get organized for eight.”

Plenty of time. Oh good.

* * * *

Time Zach wasted none of. They were barely inside the door of his apartment in the accommodation dome when he pulled Adam into his arms and kissed him. Adam responded at once, his mouth welcoming Zach’s. Not a moment of perfect romance—they both needed to bathe, shave, and brush their teeth. But it was glorious all the same.

“Adam,” Zach whispered, pulling back after a moment. “We have time to…” If Adam had forgiven him for his crazy behavior the last few days.

“Yes,” Adam said. “Breakfast can wait.”

He wouldn’t let go of Zach, made him steer them both to the bedroom locked together and laughing at their clumsy progress. But he stopped laughing when Zach pushed him on the bed, face going serious, eyes burning with desire. He sat on the edge, legs apart, Zach standing between his knees, then lay back on his elbows and slowly undid a couple of shirt buttons, his gaze locked with Zach’s.

Too slow for Zach, much too slow. He climbed on the bed, grabbed hold of Adam’s shirt, and tore it open. Buttons pinged off. Buttonholes tore through.

“Whoa, Zach!” Adam protested but then stopped. Did he understand? He’d never wear this shirt again. Never have to wash or mend it. He pounced on Zach and began to tear his clothes off. Hell yes, he understood. Seams ripped. Buttons and garments flew across the room.

The wild undressing started Adam laughing again. Until he was naked. Then he silenced and lay back on the bed, looking at Zach with a smile of invitation.

Seeing the body he’d been fantasizing about since first noticing Adam laid out and open to him, Zach could barely contain himself. He wanted to plunge into Adam in that instant but made himself stay in control. He lay beside Adam and took him in his arms, entwining their legs.

“We might never have another chance,” he said softly.

“Shh,” Adam said. “We’ll have more chances. I know it. But never mind. We’re here. Now.”

Yes they were. Zach hadn’t felt so completely here for a long time, so utterly present. All the fear and worry of the last few days fell away. All the terror of what might happen later faded.
Here. Now
. Kissing Adam, his lips, his neck, his ears, shoulders, the skin as warm as summer sun, scattered with freckles by that same sun. No, another sun, Earth’s sun. A home they might never see again. A home that, in this moment, his senses drowning in Adam, he could barely even bring to mind. He flicked his tongue over Adam’s left nipple and produced a gasp.

“Keep going,” Adam said in a hoarse voice. One of his hands touched Zach’s shoulder, not pushing but suggesting a direction.

Zach had no need of suggestions or directions. He knew where he was going and followed Adam’s urging on downward, over the flat, taut planes of Adam’s chest and belly. His hand reached the destination before his lips did, steadying Adam’s erection, stroking it as it grew and pulsed in his hand and Adam squirmed under him.

“Zach, please.”

Zach lifted his head as he reached the end of the trail of coarse hair on Adam’s belly. The cock rose from a circle of hair the same shade of golden red spreading on the pillow as Adam’s head went back.

“Please,” he moaned again, arching upwards, straining against Zach.

Zach bent his head again and slipped his lips over Adam’s cock. Adam gave a sharp cry, and his knees came up, enclosing Zach as if fearing he’d escape. No chance. He certainly didn’t want to escape. This might be the only time they had together. He used his hand and mouth together in perfect time. He’d always had a good sense of rhythm. He could play the piano.

Right now Adam was responding like a musical instrument, making all kinds of enjoyable sounds as Zach used his fingers and tongue to tease him into a frenzy. Zach’s erection rubbed against the bedsheet, and his desire reached the point of being more than he could stand. He pulled away from Adam, who yelled in outrage. But Zach made a quick scramble to the nightstand and came back with lube and a condom.

“Zach, I’m dying here,” Adam moaned.

Dying of pleasure or frustration he didn’t say. But Zach didn’t make him wait long.

“Can I…?” Zach asked, showing him the lube.

“If you don’t, I’ll explode.”

“Do you want me to use this?” He held up the condom.

“Not unless you’ve got a reason to personally. I’m bug free. Just hurry up.”

“Thank you for trusting me.” Zach tossed the condom away, then prepared Adam, trying to keep his lubed fingers away from Adam’s prostate, fearing he’d go off like a firework right there and then.

“Now, Zach, now,” Adam pleaded, then groaned as Zach filled him. His legs immediately circled Zach’s waist, ankles locked over his back.

“Do it. Fuck me.”

The sound of that word from Adam, the first time Zach had heard him say it, sent unspeakably erotic thrills up Zach’s spine. He thrust deep into Adam, fearing he’d hurt him but quite beyond control. Thankfully, Adam’s cries weren’t of pain but of intense pleasure. He pulled his legs higher, increasing the angle of penetration, and his cries changed in tone to sharper, became louder. His cock rubbed against Zach’s chest and belly as he writhed and pushed against him.

Zach groaned. He wanted to touch Adam, but he needed both hands to hold himself up, had to be content with the feeling of Adam’s cock against his skin. So hot, seeping with precum, the scent of it sharp and enticing, a scent he’d loved since his first time with another man. A time he couldn’t even remember right now. He supposed there must be other men in the universe, some of whom he’d had sex with, but here, in this moment, only Adam existed.

Adam moaning, writhing. Adam coming. Adam thrashing on the bed as Zach thrust into him again and again, his climax sweeping across him only a moment later. Adam holding him as he collapsed, their sweating, panting bodies wrapped together.

Adam. Only Adam.

* * * *

“Adam.”

“Mmm?”

“Adam, wake up.”

Adam didn’t want to wake up. He wanted to sleep in Zach’s warm bed, beside Zach’s warm body. The island wasn’t sinking yet. They had time.

“We need to get moving,” Zach said. “It’s almost seven.”

Adam didn’t open his eyes. “We’ll get up
at
seven. Deal?”

Zach sighed impatiently but didn’t object. He shuffled into a more comfortable position, pulling Adam closer. “Okay. A few minutes. But we have to get to the rendezvous for eight.”

“Why?” Adam looked up at him. “Do you think that’s when we’ll actually leave?”

Zach frowned. “Well, yes.”

“Have you ever, you know, met
people
before?” He rubbed his hand over Zach’s chest. “I’m putting my money on getting away for about ten.”

“Oh. I see. Even so, I’m the one who’s called for this; I need to be there.”

They still had five minutes, though. He closed his eyes and snuggled closer to Zach. After practicing since childhood, Adam considered himself a master of the proper appreciation of five more minutes in bed. Did they have time for anything else in five minutes? No, probably not. Which was a shame, because
wow
. He’d been left close to stunned by the sex earlier. He’d never expected so much passion and confidence from Zach and wanted more time with him. If things were normal, he’d be rehearsing his “call in sick” speech so he could spend the day in bed with Zach.

“I’m sorry I was rather pushy earlier,” Zach said. “I hope I wasn’t too demanding.”

“God, no, that’s fine. Great, in fact.”

“It’s just…with things the way they are…” He shrugged, Adam feeling the movement rather than seeing it. “Though I am sort of always like that, I’m afraid. I feel like life is too short to waste time.”

“Really? Personally, I rather like taking the time. There’s plenty of time to let things grow—usually, anyway.”

“But there isn’t. We have so little time, such short lives. We’re no more than mayflies. We’re the blink of a mayfly’s eye.”

“Can mayflies blink?”

“I don’t know! Perhaps you know an entomologist who can tell us.”

“A couple of them, actually.”

Zach clicked his tongue and threw the covers aside. “We have to get up. I’ll start breakfast while you shower.”

Adam sighed and followed him out of bed. They hurried around, showering, dressing, cooking, and in twenty minutes were demolishing a substantial breakfast and a pot of coffee. As they finished, Adam piled the dishes by the sink and turned on the hot water.

“Leave them,” Zach said.

“It will only take me five minutes while you pack your stuff.”

“Adam. Leave them.”

The serious tone in his voice made Adam pause, suddenly realizing why he was saying it. One way or another, Zach didn’t expect to return. Adam turned off the faucet and dried his hands, leaving the dishes piled up unwashed.

“Adam, do you believe me about the island?” Zach asked.

Adam froze, then put aside the towel he was using. He looked back at Zach. How important was it to him Adam believed the prediction? Or was it only important he went with Zach, whatever he believed?

“Frankly, I don’t know. I’ve looked at your data, and it looks sound. Your methods are meticulous. But it’s not my field, so I can’t decide for myself from that. But you seem very sure, and Korrie backs you up, so I’ll assume you’re right.”

“And if I’m not? If you follow me into the mountains and I’m wrong?”

“I figure I have more to lose if I stay here. If I go with you and you turn out to be wrong, then the worst I’ll get is a reprimand for missing work.”
And possibly charged with stealing the department’s truck, but never mind
. “But if I stay here and you turn out to be right, I’ll die. Playing the odds tells me I should go with you.”

“I see. Thank you for your honesty about it. What matters to me is you
do
come with me. Not only you, of course, everyone, but especially you.” He flushed, as if fearing he’d said too much. But Adam stepped forward and put his arms around him.

“I’m coming. I just found you, Zach Benesh. I’m not letting you get away yet. I’ll follow you up any mountain you want to climb.”