Different Tracks (a free read)

Part 13



Xander shivered despite the fact it was hot and humid. He remembered seeing a story on the news about heat waves and that hypothermia was a problem during such weather. It made no sense, but maybe it did. The humidity against his skin made him dizzy and woozy.


He was sweating so much it was trickling down his face and neck. The sensation was sticky and thick and annoying as fuck.


Lifting one hand to wipe the sweat away, Xander was surprised when he looked at his fingers. They were covered in red stuff.


He’d heard of sweating bullets, but red sweat? A sluggish thought formed: he was bleeding from his head.


“I need a shower,” Xander grumbled. Using his other hand he started to push off the ground.


When had he sat on the ground?


He certainly wasn’t going to get his car running sitting on the fucking ground. He’d made a complete fool out of himself in front of Peter--and yes it mattered! Then his car wouldn’t start. This was a crap of a day.


“Not so fast.” Someone--Peter--said from behind him and pushed him back onto his butt with a strong hand on his shoulder. The memory of Peter’s hands all over him the week before flashed to the forefront of his mind. Then his cock took notice.


Xander was screwed. It was a well-known fact the human male only had enough blood for one head at a time. Maybe it was a good thing all that blood was rushing down, it might stem the bleeding.


Peter sat cross-legged next to him and began dabbing at Xander’s forehead. It stung and Xander made a halfhearted attempt at swatting Peter’s hand away. Xander’s cock chimed in with an opinion that was the complete opposite of what Xander’s brain advised.


Peter huffed a breath and grabbed Xander’s hand, holding it tightly. With his other hand he shook a canister and Xander heard a whoosh. A second later something thick covered a spot on his forehead.


“Ow ow...that stings!” Xander cringed at the way he whined.


“Stop it. Sit still. Do you know what happens to open wounds in this heat? Maggots.”



Xander froze and blinked at Peter. “I have maggots?” His voice sounded much too thin and weak. Peter used one hand to dab and wipe at Xander’s head while still holding Xander’s hand with his other hand.


“No.” Peter grinned suddenly. “But it made you sit still long enough for me to clean you up and put on some liquid bandage.”


“You’re a sick fuck, you know that?”


Peter laughed softly. “What’s wrong with your car?”


“Won’t start.”


“Yeah, that part I figured out. Need a jump?” Peter asked. When Xander raised his eyebrows Peter turned beet red. “Your battery, I mean--uh. Do you need to get started?”


Xander burst out laughing. Peter let go of Xander’s hand and rested it in his lap. Xander missed Peter’s grip at once. Why on earth he reached out and took hold of Peter’s hand he’d never know. Chalk it up to blood loss and stupidity.


“I’m sorry,” Xander said softly. “I don’t want to be a jerk.”


“So you’ve said.” Peter stood up. At the same time he grabbed ahold of Xander’s arm and hauled him to his feet. “I’ll drive you home and we can get your car later.”


“My apartment isn’t--”


“I don’t pick my friends by where they live,” Peter snapped.


Xander made a face. “We’re friends?”


“I’d like to be,” Peter grumbled. “You did see me naked.” Peter had one arm around Xander’s waist and was guiding him to his truck. The parking lot and sky swirled around one another but finally settled into their proper places once Xander was sitting in Peter’s truck. “Gimme your keys.”


Xander didn’t have the energy to argue. He fished in his pocket and held them out to Peter then watched as Peter gathered everything near Xander’s car up and put it in the trunk. The hood was shut and Peter locked the car before jogging back to his truck.


He blinked and realized he must have dozed off because the next thing he saw was Peter’s house. Peter helped him inside and to the couch.


“You sit tight, I’ll fix you a sandwich, and you need to get some water into you. Then we’ll deal with your car.”


Xander nodded, and leaned back. The couch was comfortable and nice. Xander was dirty, sweaty and bloody. He started to push off, he didn’t want the couch ruined. The room did a slow spin and a dip making Xander sink back onto the couch. Maybe he’d just sit here for another minute and catch his breath.


When Xander opened his eyes again he felt much better. There was a glass of water on the coffee table and a blanket had been thrown over him. He lifted his hand to his head feeling a neat gauze bandage taped in place. The air conditioner must have been on because the room was actually slightly cool. The spot where he’d whacked his head still stung and hurt, but the rest of his head was fine.


A glance out of the window and Xander saw the sun was setting. He sat up and stretched, looking around. He could see the driveway through the window and Peter’s truck was sitting in there.


There was a shower running. Xander downed the glass of water and followed the sound of running water. The bathroom door was slightly ajar so Xander pushed through and walked inside all the while telling himself he was stupid, dumb, crazy.


He didn’t do relationships and he shouldn’t just have sex with a nice guy like Peter.


Except he couldn’t make his feet turn around. He stripped off his clothes. His cock was already rock hard and he seriously needed a shower.


Peter turned and arched an eyebrow when Xander stepped into the shower and slipped both arms around Peter from behind.


Part 12


Sophie Bonaste (Part 1, 7 and 9)

Charlie Cochet (Part 8)

Grace Duncan (Part 3 and 11)

Kim Fielding (Part 6)

Lane Hayes

Elizabeth Noble (Part 5)

Brynn Stein (2 and 10)

Suki Fleet (Part 4)