Balance

suppose I can get away early from time to time,” Nando admitted, not wanting to sound too eager, but not shutting the door completely. “So you want to go on a date?” Cooper laughed nervously. “Why do I feel that makes you uncomfortable?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “It’s just Balance | Zahra Owens
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    two guys sharing a meal and getting to know each other, so it can be whatever you want it to be.”
    “And what if either of us wants more than just polite conversation?” Nando asked, looking over his shoulder again to check if anyone was there.
    “I’m sure we can talk about that too. Our first decent conversation was a lot more sexually oriented than the average ‘your place or mine’ would be.” Cooper looked at Nando with that slightly teasing, slightly wry smile of his.
    “Why don’t you come and sit here next to me; then we can both see the whole restaurant, and you don’t need to be so paranoid.”
    Nando weighed his options. He felt tired, and that made him needy and horny. He figured he just had to make a slight move and Cooper would follow him like a faithful puppy, but he wasn’t in the mood for a follower. Nando was in the mood for a strong, take-charge sort of man tonight, and he hadn’t seen a lot of evidence that Cooper could be that sort of man. He had enjoyed their maiden session, though. In fact, it had fueled many a steamy dream and consequent, rushed, self-administered orgasm. Even if he had to be the one in charge, maybe it would be good to feel someone else’s hand again. He was getting ahead of himself, though. Maybe Cooper did simply want to talk.
    Nando looked over his shoulder once again and scooted out of the booth. He sat down next to Cooper, who slid closer to the wall to give him some space to sit. Nando knew that if it didn’t feel right, he could easily leave.
    “Your sundae is melting,” Cooper remarked, pointing at the slowly liquefying white and brown sludge.

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    “I like it that way,” Nando answered smugly as he dug into it, watching from the corner of his eye how Cooper slowly sipped his coffee. When he was done, Nando leaned back against the seat, rubbing his stomach. “I needed that.”
    “Not much food-wise, is it?”
    Nando gave him a questioning “And why is that any of your business” look, but Cooper seemed genuinely worried, so Nando backed down. “I’m sorry. I had no right to give you that attitude.”
    “No offense taken,” Cooper answered quietly.
    “Don’t you ever want to go against the grain? Be a rebel?”
    Cooper shrugged. “I like following rules, conventions.
    They make our society function.”
    “Yeah, but don’t you ever just want to pick up a guy in a bar and fuck him into the mattress?” Cooper chuckled uncomfortably. “I told you I’m not much of a one-night stand sort of guy.”
    “You want the happy ever after?” Nando asked. “After three failed relationships, you should be catching on that there’s no such thing.”
    Cooper shook his head. “What do you know? My first lover killed himself, my second one died of cancer, and the third cheated on me, so I asked him to leave. I don’t think I have the worst track record here.” Nando looked at the deserted restaurant. Cooper raising his voice could have sparked some interest, but nothing happened. “I’m sorry.” He didn’t dare look at Cooper. He Balance | Zahra Owens
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    wasn’t feeling strong enough for that. He drank the last few sips of his coffee and started to get up, but Cooper’s hand, with a surprisingly strong grip, held him back.
    “Sit down for a minute. First you insult me, and then you walk away? At least give me a moment to explain.” Nando sat down again, still not looking at Cooper.

    COOPER liked a challenge. The men he’d fallen for in the past were never the ones who were easy or eager, but always the ones who played hard to get, intentional or not. Was that what intrigued him about Nando? He couldn’t figure him out. The first time he’d met Nando he was eager to please and very forthcoming; the second time, cocky and self-assured, in control and outspoken. Whenever he thought back to their session at the club, he still felt his groin grow tight, so he was certainly in lust with the man.
    Only tonight was almost two weeks later, and Nando seemed like a different man. He was moody and seemed unsure of himself. Cooper didn’t know what to make of it.
    Part of him wanted to push more, to