Zack and the Dark Shaft by Gracie C. Mckeever Page A

knees drawn up to his chest, his arms wrapped around them, hoarse and on the verge of tears.
    This was a freaking nightmare, an unbelievable, weeks-long nightmare that he wanted to wake up from so bad he could taste freedom on his tongue like a parched man tasted water.
    He was going to die in here, wasn’t he? And without ever having told Quincy how much he loved him.
    No! No freaking way was he letting his sister get away with this.
    If Zara was at the club with Quincy, it was almost a guarantee she’d have a few drinks and dance her pretty little ass off. Climax plus alcohol and aerobic activity had to add up to Zack’s opportunity. The alcohol alone would dissolve her inhibitions and hopefully drop her guard. Some time during the night she would be open and vulnerable.
    All Zack needed to do was bide his time and hope Zara didn’t do anything irrevocable before he found a way out of here.

    * * * *

    Quincy watched Zack close, and true to his word, the other man hadn’t danced with anyone all evening despite being approached numerous times throughout the night. This was all well and good except he was downing more than his share of liquor and playing the flirty coquette to perfection from his table.

    Zack and the Dark Shaft
    83
    If Quincy didn’t know better, he’d swear he was watching Zara.
    He shook his head at the thought. First he was seeing her face in Zack’s, now he was seeing her actions in her brother.
    “What’s wrong, big handsome?”
    Quincy turned with a start when Zack slid a hand across his shoulder before taking the seat beside him at the main bar. “Nothing. Just enjoying the view.”
    “If you like views, I’ve got a great one for you.”
    Quincy opened his legs to accommodate Zack squeezing between them and slid his arms around the other man’s waist. “What do you have in mind?”
    “C’mon.” Zack caught Quincy’s hand and dragged him across the room to the elevators.
    Zack pulled Quincy into the first car that arrived, standing on his toes to kiss Quincy while he pressed the button for the top floor.
    Upon arriving, Zack pulled Quincy along toward the staircase leading to the roof.
    “What are you up to?”
    “It’s a beautiful, clear night. The stars are out in force. I thought it would be nice to do a little stargazing.”
    “And I thought I was a romantic.”
    “You are the most romantic.” Zack opened the door, strolled to the middle of the roof, stopped and tilted back his head to take a deep breath and glance up at the indigo sky.
    Quincy did the same, the night skyline reminding him of Zack’s gaze. He slid his arms around Zack’s waist and pulled him back against his chest while Zack covered Quincy’s hands with his own
    “Quincy?”
    “Yeah, baby?”
    “Would you go with me to the edge and jump?”
    What? No way had he just heard Zack right. “You don’t mean literally, do you?”

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    Gracie C. McKeever
    Zack turned in his arms and nodded, such a beatific and sincere smile on his face, Quincy was willing to go to the ends of the world for him.
    Quincy! It’s not me! Don’t listen to her!
    Quincy frowned. Don’t listen to her ? And why did the voice in his head sound so much like Zack’s.
    He stared at Zack’s face to see if he was speaking, but the other man’s lips weren’t moving.
    Quincy! I’m in here . Inside! Zara has me trapped!
    Oh, no. It was happening again. Only this time he saw a vision of Zack jumping up and down and waving his arms superimposed over Zack-in-his-arms instead of Zara superimposed over Zack.
    “What’s the matter, Quincy?”
    “Did you say something?”
    “I asked if you’d go with me to the edge and jump.”
    “That’s what I thought you said.”
    Quincy, help me!
    “I’d do it for you.”
    Quincy grasped Zack’s shoulders. “Baby, whatever’s going on, there’s nothing bad enough to want to kill yourself over. I told you we have the rest of our lives to spend together.”
    Zack shook his head, and that’s