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If asked later, Kaelix would have no idea what he even said that prompted this whole mess.
One minute he was hanging out by the bar after closing, laughing and bantering with Zeal about something silly as always, and the next...something snapped. The bartender's eyebrow twitched and he stopped replying, his smile just a little bit more strained than usual.
Instead of shooting back another one-liner, Zeal grabbed him by the wrist and dragged him away to a storeroom in the back. Ushered him in unceremoniously until Kaelix's back hit the wall and Zeal's hands were planted firmly on each side of his head. Caging him in, close, the sudden inexplicable—to Kaelix at least—tension feeling practically oppressive.
If Zeal was asked later, he'd say that it wasn't any one statement that did the trick. More like a compilation of smiles, of Kaelix leaning over the bar just so, or against him while laughing wildly, or practically hanging all over him for no reason whatsoever except seemingly to drive Zeal insane. A whole history of back-and-forths between them that more and more frequently dipped into the suggestive, the innuendos, with Zeal pushing a little further every time just to see, and Kaelix just giggling and smiling wide as if he wasn't stoking the fire in Zeal's gut with his...everything.
And that night for some reason it was as if all of that was dialed up even more. No, it wasn't one specific thing, just months of self-control gradually eroding down to nothing until one last tease and those sparkling blue eyes were the final straw.
"Do you even realise what you're doing? You're driving me insane." Unlike his usual calm demeanor, Zeal's voice was gruff and his eyes ablaze with something barely contained, instantly making Kaelix's pulse pick up even more.
"What? I-I don't...huh?"
A black eyebrow twitched just like earlier and the air felt charged between them, before Zeal seemed to deflate just a little. One hand withdrew to push his hair back and he let out a huff, lips curling into a wry smile.
"Of course it's not even on purpose. Flirting back like that every night until I'm losing my mind, and you have no idea."
Kaelix's eyes widened as he struggled to catch up, his brain spinning from the proximity and the words flirting back and the heat in Zeal's gaze—
Which, if he was entirely honest with himself, was perhaps not wholly unfamiliar. To some degree it might have always been there, in the sly looks when they were teasing each other, in the intense stares that made the back of his neck tingle pleasantly, things that he always brushed off as a joke. An ever-present heat hidden behind several layers of restraint, and this is what it looked like with those layers peeled away. Like a dangerous cocktail of longing and lust.
Oh.
Oh, he might have been a bit stupid.
"Zeal," he breathed, absolutely clueless as to what to say or do next.
The arm next to Kaelix's head flexed and it was like the sound of his name drew Zeal in further, looking so devastatingly handsome it was just unfair.
"You're still doing it," Zeal murmured, and the rumble of it went a shiver down Kaelix's spine. "Looking at me like that is really not helping me hold back, you know."
Kaelix had no idea what look he was giving but it was surely made worse when he flushed wildly. His heart was pounding so hard it must be practically audible, and oh no, the heat pooling in his gut was a problem—
"Kaelix." They were close enough now that Zeal's warm breath mingled with Kaelix's rapid and unsteady puffs of air. "This is where you tell me to stop."
A beat of silence passed, in stark contrast to the absolute chaos that was Kaelix's thoughts and emotions.
"I will, you know," Zeal continued in a slightly softer tone. "Stop...if you ask me to. I've been holding back for months already." Moving slow, as if testing the waters, he lightly brushed their noses together.
And still Kaelix was frozen on the spot. On the verge of hyperventilating and feeling like he'd vibrate out of his skin unless something happened, yet paralyzed with nerves. Instead of any helpful words, or actions, anything, only a whimper escaped his throat.
A shaky sigh from Zeal warmed the scarce air between them. Then, as if things couldn't get any worse, his voice dropped to that intimate lower register when he muttered, "Baby, this is torture."
If Kaelix thought he was blushing before, now his face was on fire, and it felt like all the remaining blood in his body rushed to his groin with startling speed. Unable to take it anymore he grabbed Zeal by the lapels of his shirt and tugged until their chests were pressed together, mouths almost but not quite slotting together, all the while internally chanting please please please please please—
Zeal tensed at the sudden motion for a second, breath hitching right up against Kaelix's lips and making them tingle with anticipation. Then, finally, mercifully, he took the invitation for what it was and closed that last barely-there gap between them in a bruising kiss that wiped any coherent thought from Kaelix's mind. It didn't even register when his head thumped back against the wall, because Zeal was kissing him like he had been parched for it.
How had they even existed all this time without doing this?
A hand curled around Kaelix's nape and some of the pressure let up, but not to give him a break in any way. Instead Zeal adjusted the angle just right to deepen the kiss, tongue slipping effortlessly into Kaelix's gasping mouth. And, oh, clearly it could get even better. Kaelix was getting a little weak-kneed from the onslaught of sensations. It didn't matter that he was slightly taller, it felt like Zeal was looming over him, confident and commanding in his mission to completely dominate Kaelix's mouth. Their tongues slid together and Kaelix couldn't hold back a moan. His body moved on instinct, hips twitching forward where Zeal was pressed snugly against him, equally hard. Hard. God, his head was spinning.
It could have been a minute or an hour for all he knew before Zeal pulled back to murmur "Breathe, baby," his voice much more gravelly than usual.
Kaelix dragged in a much needed, shaky inhale, trying and failing to ignore the fierce pang of arousal coursing through him at those words.
"You can't just...hah...say that," he panted, though there was no conviction in his voice as Zeal started mouthing along his jaw.
"Oh? Why not?" Zeal's smug smirk was audible in his voice. He scraped his teeth over the sensitive spot right below Kaelix's ear and chuckled lowly at the full-body shiver it elicited. "Would you prefer...darling?" And now his lips ghosted along the shell of Kaelix's ear. "Sweetheart?"
"Unfaiiir," Kaelix whined breathlessly, gripping Zeal's shoulders in a hopeless attempt to hold it together. "You...are a...very bad, terrible—ah—man..."
"Yeah? Is that why you're grinding against me like that?" Zeal glanced down pointedly where Kaelix's hips were indeed traitorously chasing more friction. And like he had no shame of his own he rocked forward harder, making them both groan.
It was embarrassing for Kaelix, acting so desperate like he had no control over his own body. Embarrassing, yes, but hearing it stated so boldly like that was also ridiculously arousing. Oh this bartender was the worst influence...
"Zeal..." It came out as a needy sigh as Kaelix squirmed restlessly, aching for more while at the same time enjoying being trapped between the wall and a firm, very hot body. "Touch me?"
He had thought it might be harder, that Zeal would tease him more first and drag things out, but as it turned out he needn't have worried. With an equally impatient growl Zeal dove back in for another kiss, meanwhile reaching between them blindly to open up both their pants. It was a chaotic mess, harsh exhales interrupting the slide of their lips, hips still moving even though it hindered the process. Despite all that, Zeal managed to free both of them at record speed, and the first time his hand curled around Kaelix's cock had his knees buckling.
"Oh shit," Kaelix gasped at the same time that Zeal said "Hold on to me."
Which was truly excellent advice because he then proceeded to press their erections together, and if Kaelix hadn't been clutching at Zeal's shoulders he might have collapsed on the spot.
It wasn't news to Kaelix that Zeal's hands were big. He was good with them, too, flipping shakers in the air and handling bottles expertly in his usual work. But absolutely nothing compared to seeing his long, elegant but strong fingers wrapping around both of their cocks, stroking up and down firmly. The sight was downright lewd and Kaelix squeezed his eyes shut, cheeks glowing crimson.
"Hey." Right on cue Zeal touched Kaelix's chin with his free hand, the even tone of his voice effortlessly commanding attention. "Don't do that, hiding your pretty eyes. Let me see, yeah?"
And how could Kaelix say no to that? Especially when blinking his eyes open meant he could witness Zeal's dilated pupils, as well as the flush of exertion and arousal on his skin. That earned him a firmer stroke, like a reward, and his resulting moan just made Zeal smirk more.
"Good boy."
Kaelix's cock twitched hard and he almost chocked on air, those two words hitting him harder than anything else. Why was that so absurdly hot?!
Of course, Zeal noticed.
"Oh you like that, huh?" His voice dipped a bit lower again, though it was layered with excitement more than teasing. "I thought so, but this is even better...look at you, leaking like that."
With all common sense gone out the window, Kaelix made the mistake of looking down and immediately whimpered at the sight. Zeal was still stroking the both of them, squeezing a bit right below the heads which were indeed slick with precum. And as he watched, pleasure pooling hot and heavy in his groin, another drop of fluid beaded up at his tip.
"I'm not gonna last," Kaelix blurted out, torn between mortification and eagerness. "I'm...I can't, it's—nnnh..."
But Zeal was quick to reassure him. "That's okay, me neither. Just...let yourself feel good, yeah?" For once his voice sounded less suave, letting it show that he was also more than a little affected.
Kaelix nodded jerkily a few times, wrapping his arms around Zeal's neck to bring him even closer, their foreheads meeting. It was all so much yet nothing felt like enough when his blood was on fire with need.
As if reading his thoughts, Zeal sped up his movements enough to drag out rough moans from both of them.
"Next time," he murmured between heavy breaths, "we'll take it slow...I wanna see all of you, laid out on a bed before I fuck you."
More than the promise of a next time, more than the erotic imagery, it was hearing Zeal swear that made Kaelix's stomach do a flip. Just like that he was writhing urgently, hips rocking back and forth to meet every stroke.
"Oh god, I—I'm so close, please," he whined, breathless and a little teary from how good it ached. And once the floodgates were opened it's like he couldn't hold the words back anymore. "Please, please Zeal, don't stop, ohhh don't stop, I need—need to come so bad, please..."
"I got you baby, not stopping," Zeal interrupted his babbling with a rough tone. His hand swiped over the heads of their cocks swiftly, collecting the copious fluids there to slick the way when he stroked them faster. "That's it, so good for me...you look so hot when you're all desperate and shameless."
Little broken sounds kept escaping Kaelix's throat as he thrust into Zeal's fist erratically, every touch and word pushing him closer to the edge. There might have been a few more mumbled please's and Zeal's, probably, he had no idea what he was saying anymore.
All he registered was the moment that Zeal rumbled "C'mon love, let me see you come," and pleasure exploded throughout Kaelix's body.
"Oh f-fuck, Ze-ahh!"
With one last jerky thrust Kaelix spilled all over Zeal's hand, coming harder than he ever had in his life. His cock was still twitching by the time Zeal stiffened against him and finished as well with a low groan that would be forever etched in Kaelix's mind.
For a moment they just slumped there together to come down from the high, chests heaving, sharing the same air as they practically panted in each other's mouths. God, Kaelix's legs felt like jelly—much like pretty much the rest of his body. And he should probably say something, if only his brain hadn't leaked out of his ears with that orgasm...like 'wow, that was really good, we should go on a date literally tomorrow and then do it all over again' or something.
"Wow...I think I love you," is what he heard himself say instead.
Kaelix's cheeks promptly made a valiant effort to turn even redder, though the difference was probably not noticeable by now. Before he got enough time to start freaking out though, Zeal let out a breathless chuckle.
"You think, huh?" His clean hand cupped Kaelix's face, brushing away a stray tear. "I better make sure to convince you fully before taking you to bed, then."
Kaelix made a small sound in the back of his throat that was definitely not a squeal, thank you very much. Now that he could take in his surroundings again, Zeal looked disheveled, sweaty and his dark hair was a bit messy, yet still unfairly handsome. More importantly though he was looking at Kaelix in such an intimate way that it made his heart speed up all over again.
"Say it back, you meanie," Kaelix put on a pout as if Zeal hadn't been the one to call him love first.
Despite his knowing smile, Zeal didn't call out Kaelix's antics, indulgent enough to place a tender kiss below one blue eye.
"I love you very much, my darling bouncer."
And if Kaelix had to hide his face in Zeal's shoulder for a few minutes to let his blush calm down before doing anything else, that was absolutely worth it.