BAB 16

Now, maybe the guy was asexual, which was a totally valid orientation and a real possibility here, but Pino couldn't help feeling like Zaki was working overtime to refuse to admit the truth about himself whether that were asexual, bisexual or gay. There was this certain look Zaki got in his eyes an expression of confusion and longing Pino had witnessed a bunch of times. At the bars in West Hollywood. Whenever they were around Josiah and Rino sharing a tender moment. At IKEA Zaki couldn't seem to look away from the gay couple arguing over pillows, but when they'd been in line behind the most lovey-dovey het couple ever, Zaki had barely paid them a glance. And maybe Pino was just confused by his own conflicting feelings, but damn. He couldn't possibly be misreading some of the hot and heavy looks Zaki had been sending his way since they met.

"So you're on duty tomorrow, right?" Pino did his best to keep the long unpainted pine board at the right height for Zaki.

"And the next three days." Zaki grunted as he reached around for a bolt, and it was a strangely sexy noise.

"So what do you want me to start on? I've got to prep for my classes and do new faculty orientation stuff, but I should have some time to work on stuff here too."

"It can wait until I can do the list with you."

"There's a list? That's great. Just message me a copy and I'll look for the one-man jobs." Pino accepted the screw Zaki passed him, putting it in the slot before Zaki slid over with the wrench.

"I should really be around"

"Dude. You're going to need to trust me. I get that that's going to take time, but I'm not the flake everyone seems to always assume"

"I didn't call you that." Zaki huffed as he tightened the screw.

"But you thought it." It was okay. Really. Everyone thought that just because he was flirty and a comedian that he couldn't hold down a real job or be a responsible adult. But for the first time in his life, Pino was determined to prove everyone wrong. "Trust me. I'm good at this stuff. Want to talk to my mom?" Pino fished his phone out with his free hand.

"You'd let me talk to your mom?" Zaki blinked. "This late at night?"

"She's a night owl. And she's already heard about you and the roommate situation." Pino knew Zaki would never say it, but he'd bet money that Zaki parents didn't even know he was living off base, let alone with Pino. "And she can tell you that you can trust me to rip up that dank carpeting in the living room or whatever. She'll like you. She likes all my friends."

"We're friends?" Zaki eyebrows shot up.

"Guess not." Pino tried not to sound hurt. "I thought we were working on it, what with you letting me stay here"

"We can be friends," Zaki said hurriedly. "But maybe not meet the parents friends quite yet, okay?"

"Fine." Pino scooted his phone away with his foot. "I'm just saying, I'm good at stuff. And I want to work with you." Surprisingly, he really did. He liked doing things with Zaki, like this project. It gave him a warm feeling as the bed platform started to take shape. "But I'm also good with you delegating to me."

"You want orders?" Zaki raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, please." And now they were back to flirting as Pino couldn't quite keep the flirtatious lilt out of his voice.

Zaki gave him a considering look, one that made Pino want to lay all his kinks out for Zaki to examine and ponder. Finally, he spoke. "I yanked the carpet in the hall, but the tack strips still need to come up. And I guess you could do the carpet in the living room if you've got time"

"I'll make time," Pino assured him. "And get me a copy of that list." Why it mattered so much to Pino to be an equal to Zaki, to be partners in this house thing, he really couldn't say. But he wanted that, wanted to work together.

"Motherfucker." Zaki recoiled as he pinched his finger between two slats.

"You've got an awfully salty mouth for a v"

"Don't." Zaki sucked on his finger in a way that went straight to Pino dick, which decided it would like that tongue lavishing attention on it too. "And I think it's impossible to go through boot camp and BUD/S and not come out cursing. Damn, this hurts."

"Let me see." Pino grabbed Zaki hand, examining the rapidly forming blood blister. Zaki hand was heavy in his. Warm. Right. "It didn't break the skin at least. And I don't think the finger's broken."

"It's fine." Zaki yanked his hand back, as if he too had felt the jolt of electricity between them at the contact. "Let's get this done."

The remaining slats were a hassle and a half to get in place with fiddly little spacers that made Pino moan about the simplicity of box springs. Zaki told him to suck it up. "Too late now. Just got to finish the job."

Finally, they were able to wrestle the mattress into place on top of the platform.

"We did it." Pino flopped down onto the bed.

"What are you doing?" Zaki loomed large over him.

"Celebrating." Pino hooked Zaki leg with his foot, sending him off balance enough to tug him down next to him. "See? Isn't it great."

"It's a bed." Zaki sounded a bit breathless, body right next to Pino. "Nothing special."

"Yes, it is." Pino turned so they were face to face. "We built it. We're not falling to the floor. That makes it special." What really made it special was the guy next to him, not that Pino was saying that.

God, Zaki was pretty to look at, all blond hair and pale winter-sky eyes and long, straight nose. He wasn't movie star handsome like his friend Harper, but he was hot as fuck in a boy next door kind of way. And God, those muscles under his tight T-shirt, which was slightly damp with sweat. Pino wanted to touch the fabric, feel the warmth of the guy next to him.