Seducing His Ex - Chapter 5

Zion set the piping hot plates on the table before sitting down across from John in the breakfast nook in the kitchen.

They each tucked into their food quietly. Zion figured this was the best time to try to reacquaint himself with John. Yes, they’d known each other very well fourteen years ago. But now, they were both grown men with careers and lives. Zion needed to know if any of the boy he’d fallen for all those years ago still existed.

“So, what have you been up to all this time? Start from the moment we finished school to now.”

John was midchew with a packed jaw when he looked up at Zion, a bewildered looked on his face.

Enjoying catching John off-kilter, he leaned forward in anticipation of John’s answer.

“I was fortunate to get a paid internship at Landry and Adams. I worked my butt off to learn the ropes and prove I was an asset to the company. After the internship, I was offered an associate’s position, and I did the same thing. Worked like crazy to make myself the obvious choice for the next promotion.”

“I hope you found some time for fun in all of that work.”

John shook his head. “No, when you’ve got a goal, there’s no time for anything or anyone else other than work.”

His answer made Zion both sad and hopeful. John was such a beautiful soul when he opened up to the people around him and allowed himself to be free. Knowing he’d left that part of himself locked away while he worked to accomplish his goals made Zion hurt for the young man he once loved.

But the part of him that had always wanted a second chance delighted at the possibility that John was single.

Yes, Zion had been the one to break things off and he didn’t have any rights to John whatsoever. Yet, he couldn’t deny he would be thrilled if John didn’t have someone in his life right now.

“Your dad must’ve been thrilled.” Zion picked up the conversation again, hoping to open up the John sitting in front of him now. “I remember how you used to push yourself in school to make him proud.”

A murky darkness dimmed John’s blue eyes. What did he say wrong?

John swallowed, reaching for his glass of water before lifting his eyes to meet Zion’s again.

“My dad passed away a year after I landed my associate position. He never saw me move up the ranks, unfortunately.”

Instinctively, Zion extended a hand and covered John’s. It wasn’t until his skin made contact that he wondered if he was overstepping.

“I’m so sorry to hear that, John. I know how close you were to your dad.”

He was about to move his hand when he felt John’s fingers connect with his.

“Thanks. It hasn’t been easy without him. I promised him I’d have our name on the door. It’s been my singular goal since we lost him. It feels good to have the finish line in view.”

“I’m sure your father never doubted you’d reach your goal.”

John lifted a pointed brow. “How can you be so sure of that when you never met my father?”

Zion squeezed John’s hand slightly and smiled. “Because I never had any doubts that you’d reach your goal. Everything you’ve ever wanted, you set a goal and you accomplished it. Why would this be any different?”

John shook his head and Zion wondered if the mournful look sliding down his face meant he was still thinking about his late father.

“I didn’t accomplish every goal I set out to achieve.”

“What do you mean?” Zion waited for John’s answer. Whatever it was, it had to be an impossible feat if John’s determination couldn’t smash it into little pieces.

“I couldn’t convince you to stay.”

A lump grew in Zion’s throat. He took a sip of water to push it down, and to stall as he tried to find a good enough response to John’s statement.

There was no good answer. He knew that. But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t still search for one. John deserved an answer after all Zion had put them through.

“John, you were going back to the East Coast to start your career and I had another four to seven years of study to complete my doctorate. There was no way we would’ve survived that kind of pressure. Something would’ve broken and I didn’t want that to happen for us. I didn’t want either of us to have to choose between becoming the men we wanted to be or making a relationship work so we could keep things exactly the same.”

John pushed his plate aside, laying his hands flat against the table as he stared directly at Zion.

“I know your reasons. And as much as it hurt me to let you go, I know it was the right thing. But we were so good together—I can’t help but wonder what we would’ve become if we’d stayed together.”

When silence crept in between them, John stood, forcing Zion to do the same. He’d pushed John away before, but he wouldn’t be so foolish as to not fight for him again. So he stepped in front of John as closely as he could without actually touching him.

“There’s no time like the present to find out if you’re truly interested.”

Zion raised his hand slowly, enjoying the smooth texture of the cotton button-down shirt John wore.

When his thumb reached John’s sharp, angled jaw, he nearly groaned at the tempting and slightly abrasive feel of the barely-there stubble against his fingertip.

Zion leaned in, waiting for John to pull back, and when he didn’t, Zion kept going until he touched soft lips.

John leaned against him, flattening his palms against Zion’s chest and moving them upward until his arms were around Zion’s neck pulling him closer.

Whatever hesitation he had bled away once he felt John’s body against his. The soft moan of pleasure coming from the man’s lips nearly pushed Zion over the edge.

All these years and that spark, that fire between them, was still just as hot, just as electric as it had been. What else would be as good, if not better, if they continued as they were?

John tore his mouth away from Zion, his shoulders rising and falling as he tried to get air in and out of his lungs.

As badly as he wanted to grab John and haul him back against him, he couldn’t. He’d made the first move; now it was John’s turn.

“This…” John began as he tried to catch his breath. “This…”

“Was incredible, potent…” Zion filled in with a cocky grin tugging at his mouth.

“A mistake,” John said once he finally got his breathing under control. “We shouldn’t have done that. It can never happen again.”

Of all the things he had expected John to say, that certainly wasn’t it. John hadn’t found the kiss offensive if his response was anything to go by, so there was only one reason Zion could see that John would deny them both what they obviously wanted.

“I have a lot riding on this weekend, Zion. I can’t just take this kind of risk with you. I finally have everything I’ve always wanted within my grasp. I can’t let anything, not even you,, derail my plans.”

“You can’t be serious,” Zion countered. “My big brother has always been a pain in the ass, but him cockblocking me is an actual first.”

Zion placed his hands on his waist to keep from trying to touch John again. Obviously skittish, Zion worried that if he pressed further than this, it would have the opposite affect than he desired.

“Your brother is the last obstacle standing between me and the thing I’ve sacrificed everything to have. Us rekindling what we had—no matter how great it was, no matter how tempted I am, no matter how badly I’d like to kiss you again—could blow everything up for me. I can’t let that happen, Zion.”

John ran his fingers through his jet-black waves and blew out a long breath. “I’m gonna go and let you get some rest. Thank you for the food. It was delicious. With this being a holiday weekend, I don’t think it will be hard to find something to do. I’ll pick you up by ten in the morning.”

And just like that, John nodded and headed for the door before Zion could say another word. Zion didn’t move until he heard the click of his front door closing.

He shook his head and smiled. “You are certainly mistaken if you think I’m going to let this go that quickly, John. Run if you must, but I’ll catch you in the end.”