Zack let the full fury show on his face, and John blanched.

“You,” Zack said, monotone, stating a fact, “called a hotline, didn’t you? You were talking to a PSO just then.”

John was silent at first, but then he looked down at his feet and said, “I’m sorry.”

Zack cocked a fist back and punched John square in his aristocratic face.

Chapter 17

Blood dribbled down John’s chin. He pulled a tissue out of his pocket and held it to his nose. “I take it you don’t accept my apology?” he asked. He looked calm despite his injury. It was infuriating.

Zack was breathing hard, his arms held stiffly at his sides. He vacillated between wanting to hit John again and thinking he was going to be sick. All of his earlier excitement had been replaced with a noxious mixture of betrayal and rage.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” he spat. “I just caught you cheating on me, and you’re cracking jokes?”

John pulled the tissue away from his face and examined the fresh smear of crimson on it. Zack almost demanded that he look at him, but part of him was glad to have John’s gaze directed elsewhere. It made it easier to let his fury run wild.

After an immeasurable pause, John asked, “You consider that cheating?”

“Of course it’s cheating! You’re calling other sex workers!”

“So you’re upset because I’m not patronizing you anymore?”

“No, I’m furious because you’re having sex with other people!”

John regarded him coolly. “So are you.”

“Do not,” Zack rasped, “compare my job to what you just did. It’s not the same thing.”

“How are they different? We’re both having phone sex with other people. You’re having a lot more of it than I am, actually.”

“Because I have to! That’s how I pay my bills, John. I thought you understood that.”

John shrugged, and Zack was hit by a renewed wave of fury. He’d never seen the other man look so indifferent before, like Zack was some annoyance John didn’t have the patience for.

“You’re still having sex with other men,” John stated. “It’s not fair for you to do that and then get angry when I do the same.”

“But you’re paying for it,” Zack contended. “You could get the exact same thing from me for free! Aren’t I enough for—” Zack cut himself off. A voice in the back of his head told him that he didn’t want to hear the answer to that question. He was barely holding it together as it was.