Page 56 of The Chemist

Was this how everyone got greeted back atLa Maison de M?

“Yeah, it’s about to get very uncomfortable down here,” Diesel said, walking past Zero and heading up the stairs. “Let me know when you freaks are done dry humping,” Diesel hollered over his shoulder at the slobbering hot mess of bodies moaning in the living room.

That was Zero’s cue to head upstairs and get changed.

Thirty minutes later, Diesel announced that the coast was clear, and he could rejoin the living on the main floor.

“Sorry about that,” the man known as Levi apologized, reaching out to Zero and shaking his hand once again. “It’s been two whole weeks since Isaac and I have seen our guys, and let’s just say, our cocks short-circuited our brains.”

Zero chuckled.

“That’s understandable. I hope to be greeted by someone in the same way one day. I’m Zero, by the way.”

“So you’re not seeing anyone?” Isaac asked, sitting on the counter, sipping a whiskey.

Someone should tell the boy it’s only two p.m.

Zero shook his head.

“Neither is Diesel,” Levi added as if Diesel was part of the conversation.

“Don’t understand why not. With a dazzling personality like his, guys must be lining up out the door,” Zero added, giving them both a sarcastic smile.

“Oh, they’re lining up alright. They just have dirtier, more demeaning things that they want to do with me.” Diesel took aseat at the kitchen table and leaned back in his chair. “So, what are you fuckwads doing here?”

“Isaac’s dick went on strike and refused to make an appearance until he got a chance to play with his best friend,” Levi explained, giving the whiskey-sipping hormone a smirk from across the room.

“Fuck you. It was taking a nap and resting, knowing all the sex it was going to have when someone came to visit.”

“Yeah. I think Matteo’s words were, ‘Your limp dick is no use to me onstage. Go see your man, and don’t come back until your member has been resurrected.’”

Levi ducked as an avocado flew at his head.

These must be the brothers Jared was talking about. They seemed fun, in that fucked-up and emotionally stunted kind of way.

“I’ve missed you too,” Jared added, wrapping his arms around his man and pulling him into his lap.

God, all this lovey-dovey bullshit was going to give him a cavity.

“So, fill me in. What did I miss? Has the new guy tried to murder Diesel yet?” Levi asked, eyes twinkling like that was the greatest thought he had ever had.

Zero chuckled. Okay, these guys were cool.

“No, not yet. But his choice of fashion has me wondering,” Zero answered.

Diesel raised his middle finger.

“Love you too,” Zero responded, puckering his lips and gesturing toward the man.

They spent the next few hours drinking, chatting about the guys back atLa Maisonand what new death threat their surrogate father, Matteo, had made to his partner, Ares. Apparently, Matteo was now the proud owner of a crossbow, and Ares was on his best behavior.

Zero couldn’t help but steal glances at the moody piece of joy, also known as Diesel, who appeared to be lost in the laughter that surrounded the table. It appeared that Diesel’s standoffish personality only surfaced when he was around people he wasn’t familiar with. Shocking as it was, Diesel managed to keep a smile plastered to his face for the past two hours.

Now, if Zero could only do something about those beady little eyes that kept staring at him from across the table.

To be honest, they were kind of starting to freak him out.

Diesel was wearing a fitted white tank top—yes, the kind often associated with alcohol and domestic violence. It wasn’t the tank top that was making him feel uncomfortable, but rather, the beady little eyes of something staring at him from just above Diesel’s shirt collar.

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