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Zeph woke to find his bedside light was on. He hadn’t left it on. He hardly had time to think that was weird before something pressed hard against his mouth and he panicked, thrashing around until he realised it was Jack’s hand. Jack put his finger over his lips and Zeph nodded. The hand moved.

“Are you okay?” Zeph whispered.

Well, of course he was okay. It was…eleven thirty at night and he appeared to have climbed in through Zeph’s window. Zeph pushed himself to a sitting position and Jack sat beside him, his legs stretched out on top of the duvet. He wore his dark grey running gear.

“Have you run here?”

Jack nodded. “Sorry I didn’t answer your calls. I couldn’t. I was away with Thomas and it was a no phones situation.”

“So you weren’t ill?”

Jack shook his head.

“Or being held at gun point?”

“No.”

Why hadn’t Jack waited until morning to let him know he was all right? Though Zeph was glad he hadn’t. “You bunked off school! I’ve never done that. Did you do something fun?”

Jack shook his head.

“What’s wrong?”

“It was a hard weekend.”

Zeph slid his hand over Jack’s and squeezed his fingers. “Can you tell me about it?”

“Just some unpleasant stuff Thomas and I had to deal with. Did Rufus and Scott try anything?”

Jack clenched his teeth as he listened to what had happened.

“I’m still wondering if I did the right thing letting the Head think it was some random boy from another school. I guess I’ll find out on Monday. Have you come to get your homework?”

Jack’s smile churned Zeph’s stomach. “Is that what you think?”

“Well, yes. You’ll get demerit points if you don’t hand it in on time.” Zeph hoped Jack knew he was teasing.

“Is that so?”

Zeph nodded. He couldn’t blink now. All he could do was stare at Jack. And breathe. Oh shit, I’ve forgotten how to breathe. In…out. He sucked in a breath, then pulled Jack’s hand to his mouth and kissed his palm.

Jack stared at him and Zeph kissed his palm again and again, slowly dragging his tongue up the centre of his hand, then over his wrist and sucking gently. He’d never felt so brave in his life.

“I want to kiss you,” Jack whispered.

“I want to kiss you.” Zeph leaned in and pressed his lips gently against Jack’s.

He heard the hitch in Jack’s breathing and then Jack was peppering kisses on his lips, sweet and soft and insistent, but nowhere near enough of them.

Zeph put his hand on the back of Jack’s head, threaded his fingers in his hair and held him close.

Somehow, and Zeph wasn’t sure how, they slid down so they were lying side by side.

Jack pulled him in until they were pressed together along their lengths, the duvet between them.

Zeph wanted it gone, yet was desperate for it to stay.

If they were heard… If his father… He pressed his mouth harder against Jack’s to stop the groan of desperation escaping from his throat.

Then, all at once, Jack wasn’t plastered to him anymore, but standing by the bed.

Zeph blinked up at him.

“I need to go before I can’t,” Jack whispered.

“Don’t go yet.”

He thought Jack would leave but he came back to the bed, and straddled him.

Jack held Zeph’s gaze as he lowered himself down until their hips were together, still with the duvet between them.

Caged by Jack’s arms, Zeph wrapped his around Jack and held tight.

The kiss was wilder this time, deeper, and Zeph could only hold on and go where Jack took him.

He could feel Jack’s hardness and wondered if Jack could feel his.

The kisses shifted from Zeph’s mouth to his cheek, then his neck and his ear, and shivers raced up and down his spine. He ached with wanting. Zeph lifted a hand to twist his fingers in Jack’s hair, and Jack pulled away again.

“I don’t want to go but I have to. I can run tomorrow after all. Ten. Same place. Bring the homework.”

He left the way he’d entered and Zeph pushed to his feet and padded over to the window. Jack was almost on the ground. He looked up, smiled at him, then he was gone. Zeph felt…undone, flayed open, all of him exposed.

How could he have thought he could keep his heart safe? He’d already lost it.