Stars & Stripes by Abigail Roux

mess from their foray into illicit groping. “I’m not breaking my hand when I want to get into your pants.”
    Ty snorted. “Fair enough. But don’t be grabby, it’s rude.” He smacked at Zane’s hand. “And wash your hands.” Grinning, Zane let him loose, then opened his door and climbed out of the truck.
    Ty hopped out and reached into the bed of the truck to retrieve his bags, looking around at the house and trying to ignore how uncomfortable his jeans were. He liked the place. It was small and almost quaint, with hints of modern luxuries hidden behind the rustic details. He followed Zane through the little gate and up to the door. Zane didn’t get out his keys; the door was unlocked.
    Most of the inside was open up to the two-story pitched roof, with only a bedroom loft to break the space, and the back of the house was all glass, looking out to rolling hills and pasture. A huge stone fireplace dominated one wall, and a couple of comfortable-looking leather couches faced it. The furniture was minimal but functional.
    Zane walked through the main room to open a sliding door that led out to a wraparound deck. A cross-breeze started up that was almost cool. Then he turned and looked at Ty. “How about we just lose the truck keys and stay awhile?”
    “Will we have to barricade the door?”
    Zane sniffed. “Nah. Although, as soon as Annie learns you’re here, she’ll barge in like a Tasmanian devil and demand to meet you.”
    Ty barked a laugh. Zane crossed the room back to Ty, pulling off his denim shirt and tossing it on a chair nearby.
    “What’d you do with the cats?”
    “I asked Alston to feed them every night on his way home.”
    “Alston?” Zane said, his voice going alarmingly high. “What if he goes upstairs? What if he sees all my shit in the closet?”
    “It’s okay, Zane.”
    “Ty!”
    “He’s scared of Smith and Wesson. And I told them not to let him past the first step.”
    “Ty,” Zane said in exasperation.
    Ty knew it made Zane nervous, but that was half the fun of it. He just raised an eyebrow and smiled.
    Zane sighed and returned the smile, looking almost unwilling. “Thank you for coming.” He stepped forward and pulled Ty into a kiss.
    Ty returned it with something like relief. After so long apart, it was wonderful to get that kiss without the added urgency of needing to get off. Zane stepped back just long enough to unbutton his jeans and then Ty’s, pushing them down so they could both kick out of them. Ty’s boxer briefs went next, falling alongside Zane’s. Then Zane slid his arms around Ty’s waist so he could hold him close, drawing the kiss out. Ty hummed as he dragged both hands up Zane’s arms and started to tug on his undershirt, but just as things were really starting to get interesting, the phone in the pocket of his jeans began to vibrate, followed by a loud sound that could only be described as an old car horn.
    Ty grunted in annoyance as Zane stepped back.
    “What the hell was that?”
    Ty snorted. “I had to get a new phone. Got one like yours.”
    The phone honked at them again, and Ty bent to find it.
    “What happened to your other one?”
    “Relish. Long story.” Ty rummaged through the pockets of his jeans. He held up his cast. “Had to get a new cast, too. Everything got . . . I was covered in condiments.”
    “Uh-huh.”
    He’d have to spill that story soon, because Zane rarely let things like that go for long, but he didn’t offer to tell it right now. He sighed as he finally found his phone and looked at the display. It was a text message, one of the dozens he received every day. He shook his head and stood.
    “It’s from Nick,” he said, knowing his old friend was a sore spot for Zane, and with good reason. But he was always honest with Zane whenever he spoke to Nick, even if it grated on the man. Hiding it would be a mistake, and Ty’s conscience wouldn’t condone it.
    Zane wrinkled his nose but didn’t seem annoyed, which was a