Page 69 of The Chemist

“I wanted to thank you for last night. It was really cool of you to take care of me, and I’m sorry I fucked up our stakeout.”

Zero turned his head slightly.

“Wow. Something nice just fell out of your mouth,” Zero joked.

Diesel nudged him gently with his shoulder.

“Don’t tell anyone. I wouldn’t want to ruin my street cred.”

“Your secret is safe,” Zero said, patting Diesel’s thigh with his free hand.

Heart pounding, Diesel slid his hand over Zero’s. He wasn’t sure what he was doing, but in that moment, he really wanted to touch him.

Zero’s hand froze. They sat there for a moment, Diesel’s rough hand resting on top of his.

Just when Diesel was about to remove his hand, Zero turned his over and interlocked his fingers with Diesel’s. The gesture caught him off guard, and his breath caught in his chest.

Had he lost his mind? He didn’t hold hands with guys. He didn’t hold hands with anyone.Holding hands was too…intimate. Like telling someone that you liked them and didn’t want them to leave.

Without saying a word, Zero began rubbing the skin on the back of Diesel’s hand with his thumb, just as he had last night while Diesel rested on his chest. The feeling was so amazing.

Zero took another sip of his coffee.

“Do you think anyone famous has ever stayed at this motel?” Zero asked, staring at the television at the end of their bed.

Diesel took a sip of his coffee. The hot Colombian liquid swirled around in his mouth. He prayed that his stomach would take mercy on him today.

“Not unless they were cheating on their spouse or snorting coke off some hustler’s dick.”

Zero turned to face him. “You don’t think they’d snort coke off a dude’s dick in a five-star hotel?”

His face was so serious that Diesel couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

“You’re such an idiot.” Diesel chuckled, placing his coffee on the nightstand and slinking down onto Zero’s chest. He put his head down and let his body sink into Zero’s. “Tell anyone about this, and I’ll stab you in the eye.”

Zero placed his hand on Diesel’s upper back and began caressing his right shoulder blade.

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

27

ZERO

The drive back home was spent talking about their lives. Diesel spoke mostly about his time atLa Maison, changing the subject whenever Zero tried to ask him anything about his family. He wasn’t ready to open up about that part of his life. He got it. For now, he would spend the time getting to know Diesel’s present.

“Do you think you’ll ever give up working at the club?” Zero asked, not quite sure if he was crossing a line.

“I’m sure at some point. Nobody wants to see saggy balls and a wrinkly ass dancing around onstage.”

Zero was having trouble getting that mental image out of his head.

“No. I guess you’re right.”

“It’s good money. Where else can you get paid to drink, party, and get your dick sucked?”

“Just about every strip club and whorehouse across Europe,” Zero added teasingly.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right. But where else can you live in a fucking castle with your best friends and brothers?”

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