Page 61 of Due Dilligence (Takeover)
“Itisme.” A huff. Fazil climbed up on a rock outcropping and sat. “Every single one of my exes is married. I expect Kris will be soon, too. I’m like the unlucky coin—get rid of me and you’ll find true love.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Todd climbed up and sat next to him. “I’m not married.”
“You don’twantto be rid of me.”
“Never did.”
Fazil’s blush was a thing of beauty, especially with his damp hair and the Cascades behind him. If it wouldn’t get him into a world of trouble, he’d put that on his desk at work. Still... He shrugged his backpack off again and dug his own phone out. “My turn for a photo.”
“Not of me!”
“Why not?”
Fazil looked out into the valley below. “So much more beauty in the world.”
He took the picture anyway. “You’re part of the world, Z. And youarebeautiful.”
A smile. “And... we’re back to the question from this morning.”
Why Fazil? “Because I love you. Back then and now. Some things change, but not that.”
Todd saw the truth in Fazil’s flush, in the way he rubbed his arms. Had seen it last night in his moans and tasted it today in the kiss in the rain.
He doubted Fazil would say it and wasn’t disappointed when he didn’t.
They sat in silence, taking in the beauty. When Todd’s stomach grumbled, Fazil snorted, his smile pouring out like sunshine through clouds. “Someone has an opinion.”
“Eh, stomachs. You know how they are.” He pulled out two trail bars from the backpack and handed one over along with another bottle of water. “Still have to go back down.”
That cast a shadow over Fazil’s smile. “I could stay up here forever.”
Todd doubted it was a desire to become some kind of wild mountain man. “Why?”
“I’m not ready for Monday. Or giving this”—he gestured between the two of them—“up. At least during working hours.”
Yeah, work would be hard after this weekend, knowing how Fazil tasted and smelled and felt. Who knew what the higher-ups at Singularity had in store for Fazil and Eli during the next week? “When will you find out if you’re staying?”
“I’m not sure. I’m guessing midweek.” Fazil crushed the trail bar wrapper and handed it back, his fingers brushing Todd’s palm.
Warmth, desire, and need flooded Todd. “I wish I could make it all disappear. The stress. The job.”
A huff of a laugh. “Oh, but you do.” When Fazil met his gaze, every bit of Todd lit. The moment they stepped back into his apartment, he’d take Fazil away from the world once more. “We should head back.”
Fazil didn’t move. “In a minute. Can I have my phone again?”
He fished it out, and Fazil motioned for Todd to come closer and turn around. “This is dumb, but I want a selfie of us. Up here. So I canremember.”
There was an odd emphasis on that last word. He knelt next to Fazil, their heads touching, both smiling into the camera with the mountains in the back. Disheveled, damp, and full of emotions. Fazil snapped the shot.
When he was done their lips met, then mouths and tongues.
Laughter drifted up on the breeze and Fazil pulled back. “No sex in the wilderness, I guess.”
Todd snatched another kiss before packing up their trash. “Not on the trail.” He stood and clambered down from the rock. “Nature kink?”
Fazil joined him. “Bucket list.”
Well, then. Something to add to his list, too. Work or no—he’d find a way to spend as much time as he could with the man he thought he’d lost forever.
