Treasure for Treasure by R. Cooper

Author:R. Cooper [Cooper, R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: gay romance
ISBN: 978-1-63477-888-6
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2016-12-12T05:00:00+00:00

ZARRIN PEERED around Joe’s shoulder to watch in fascination as Joe slowly stirred a beaten egg into boiling broth and noodles.

“You’re really interested in this?” Joe seemed confused at Zarrin’s presence in his kitchen, which was exactly as small as Joe had said it was.

Zarrin absently waved the question away as the egg cooked and formed ribbons around the soft noodles. “Is it time? Can I add the peas now?”

Joe had pulled a bag of peas from his freezer and run a bowlful under the tap to thaw them out. He said vegetables were important, even on a budget, and since Bernard would have agreed, Zarrin had to as well.

Joe gave him a funny look for his excitement, but nodded, so Zarrin grabbed the bowl and dumped it in.

“It’s just ramen,” Joe said, for the fourth time. “Six for a dollar ramen with stuff added in.”

Zarrin leaned into the steam to inhale the scent of dinner. He was suddenly ravenous. He hadn’t felt like eating last night, and he’d been too nervous before going to see the sheriff this morning to attempt food today. But this smelled salty and interesting, and Joe prepared it with such sure motions.

“Bernard never let me help cook,” Zarrin confessed, so some of his excitement would make sense to Joe, and let Joe scoot him back so he could turn off the stove and grab another bowl. Joe stirred the noodles for another minute, then used a big slotted spoon to drain the pot over the sink.

He gave Zarrin the larger portion of the noodles, Zarrin noticed, and then put the rest in the bowl that had held the peas. He nudged a bottle of hot sauce at Zarrin after giving him a fork.

Joe continued to frown, but that was understandable. Zarrin could have kept kissing Joe—he wanted to keep kissing Joe—but Joe was also upset, and he’d started trembling the moment he’d said yes, so Zarrin was giving him space, as Marie might say.

But not too much space. Joe had invited him, after all, and Zarrin was hungry.

He gave himself as generous a splash of hot sauce as Joe had done, then followed Joe out to the living room—or bedroom, or dining room.

After a moment of hesitation, Joe went into his studio and came out pushing a rolling chair in front of him. He sat in it and waved for Zarrin to use the bed. Zarrin was more than happy to.

Perhaps Joe was right and Zarrin shouldn’t have left this bed yesterday. He perched on the edge of the mattress and dug into his noodle bowl. The hot sauce felt like it was burning his lips and teasing his tongue at the same time and he loved it. He hopped up to go to the kitchen to add more and then came back to finish the bowl.

Joe stopped for a moment but then slowly resumed eating once Zarrin did. “Don’t like it?”

Zarrin slurped up a stray noodle, then licked the red sauce from his lips.

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