Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 119011 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 595(@200wpm)___ 476(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119011 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 595(@200wpm)___ 476(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Chapter 11 - Leo
Leo burned his finger cooking strips of chicken in the pan with peppers and some fajita spice, but the product of his labor was golden brown perfection, and he couldn’t help but smile as he put salad and salsa over it before wrapping it all in a tortilla. So the salsa came from a jar, and the tortilla was store-bought too, but he was still making progress in terms of preparing fresh food.
At the club, he’d always relied on someone else doing the cooking, or he’d visit mom who always had something good to eat in the fridge. Zolt on the other hand had his protein shake and bland chicken food routine with the addition of a junk food splurge every now and then. Since Leo wasn’t about to live on plain egg white omelettes or frozen pizza, there he was, actually kinda proud of learning to cook.
He put both wraps on a plate and glanced at the clock on the kitchen wall. He’d repaired it last week, and it now showed him that Zolt was about to close shop for the day. Just in time for dinner.
Leo placed both plates on a tray he’d taken from the pawn shop earlier, along with a bottle of soda and two glasses, and shouldered his way into the store. The blinds were already down, and as Leo entered carrying the food, Zolt looked up at him from above a large open box.
“What’s that?” he asked, gaze following the steaming wraps.
Leo beamed. “Chicken fajita wraps. My own creation. You wanna eat here?” He put the tray on the counter, weirdly excited about the spicy smell of his food. He didn’t know cooking could be so satisfying, but if Zolt enjoyed his efforts, Leo would learn to make the best egg white omelettes and chicken in the world.
Leo’s knees went all warm and mushy when Zolt walked up to him. It had tended to happen a lot recently, and the closer Zolt was, his familiar footsteps heavy and confident, the more that strange softness spread all over Leo’s body. It traversed his legs and curled in his stomach, like a puppy itching for attention, and when Zolt’s broad-shouldered form filled the narrow passage between the wall and the counter, Leo struggled to keep his cool.
“I brought dessert too,” Leo said and showed off the packet of chocolate marshmallows, but Zolt frowned.
“You know I hate those.”
“More for me then.” In this strange state, somewhere between excitement and intimidation, Leo waited until Zolt was close enough to touch, and smiled at him. “Thought you’d be hungry, and I had nothing to do, so—”
Zolt picked up one of the plates and stared at it before focusing on Leo. “Only the filling’s warm. You haven’t just defrosted it?”
Leo groaned. “Try it and tell me if it tastes defrosted.”
Zolt’s mouth stretched into a smile, and he nudged Leo with his fist. “Is this for real? You actually cooked?” he asked and sniffed the wrap, his thick brows lowering over bright eyes.
“Just eat it, okay?” Leo glanced at the shutters, but they were definitely closed, so he gave Zolt a quick kiss, letting all the butterflies in his stomach fly. Everything about their arrangement made Leo giddy. They had sex all the time and didn’t have to beat around the bush about it. Zolt wasn’t shy about expressing his desire for Leo whenever he got the chance, and they shared a sense of humor that made them settle into an easy camaraderie.
Leo had a taste of the wrap, too hungry to wait any longer.
So maybe he hadn’t added quite enough salt, but the flavor was fine, especially considering it was his first time frying anything other than eggs, and pancakes from a bottle. His gaze gravitated to Zolt again, his stomach tight when Zolt picked up the wrap with his thick fingers and bit in, like a caveman who was too ravenous to remember any manners Stone Age people might have had. He chomped off a third of the thing in one go and looked up, contemplating the seasoning while his jaw worked.
“Oh, come on! Just tell me it’s nice!” Leo urged him with his mouth full.
Living away from family scrutiny had been a revelation. Despite being here for reasons that could put him in prison, he didn’t have a care in the world. No need to worry about what Kane would have said about him cooking, or that Mike would laugh at him for still being single. He didn’t even have to go to work like usual, so it was a vacation he hadn’t had in a long time.
Zolt smirked and took a step closer, rubbing his thumb along Leo’s jaw, all the way to his ear, and his touch was like sulphur striking the match of Leo’s flesh. “It is pretty good. Maybe you should do that more often. Tastes much better than my signature skinny chicken with salt.”