Beneath the Neon Moon by Theda Black

that's what you meant anyway." Mal smiled, doing his damnedest to cover up every last trace of the fear and confusion that had shown so plainly on his face minutes before. 
    He played a good game, and this time, at least, Zach went with it gratefully. "You did not."
    "You're a cuddler. I get it. You don't have to be afraid of your sensitive side, not with me." Mal shook his head, a little tut-tut gesture, and Zach flushed harder, knowing he was being played but unable to help it anyway.
    Mal dropped his head back into the curve of Zach's neck and shoulder, settling in and sighing a hot, noisy breath against his skin.

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 7
     
     
     
    T HE DOOR OPENED with a creak, sunlight falling down the stairway. Mal and Zach jerked awake, Mal with a curse or ten when Zach forgot himself and scrambled away so that the chain pulled tight between them. He quickly moved closer again.
    "Bathroom break, guys. We'll take you both up this time, so sit down and don't move while we get the chains off. When we tell you, move straight up the stairs. We're going to bring your asses down real fast if you make any moves at all that we're not expecting, because we're the cautious types and that's the price you pay for togetherness." Kane's arms were crossed over his chest. His face was impassive, and he made eye contact with Zach and Mal individually. He stood back and watched. Aaron tied their hands together in front of them, then unlocked their cuffs, giving Mal the loose connecting chain to hold. Kane grabbed the water jug, and they all climbed the steps.
    Upstairs, Mal and Zach were directed once again to the bright white bathroom. Aaron sent Zach in first. It was an awkward, miserable business taking care of bodily functions with his hands tied and an audience waiting outside the door, but he managed. He tried to wash up a little, managing enough that he felt better for it, though his T-shirt was soaked by the time he was done. Mal went next and came out scowling, clearly and considerably pissed off at the lack of basic freedom to maneuver around in the bathroom. 
    They went to the kitchen and ate sandwiches, both of them hungry enough by now to eat all they were given. Afterward they went back downstairs, Kane leading, then Mal, then Zach with Aaron following.
    Before they reached the bottom, Mal threw himself forward on top of Kane, both of them falling to the left and crashing through the old wooden railing. Kane gave a winded bellow as Mal's bound fists pounded into the back of his head, then grunted in pain as elbows slammed into the base of his neck.
    Zach stopped suddenly and braced himself. Aaron bumped into him, carrying the water. It sloshed down Zach's back. Zach thrust an elbow sharply back, punching hard into Aaron's stomach, the pitcher falling, rolling off the side of the stairs. Aaron grabbed his stomach, breath leaving him in a whoosh. He gasped in, then again, trying to catch his breath, and punched a brutal blow to Zach's kidneys. Zach fell forward, tumbling down the steps, Aaron coming up fast behind him. At the foot of the stairs he grabbed the back of Zach's T-shirt, bunching it and pulling him up to sit.
    Mal beat into Kane's back, neck and head with his elbows, but he had no way to hold Kane down other than by his weight. Kane bucked beneath him and rolled to one side, then reversed himself, throwing his body on top of Mal's, pinning him. 
     "Good try," Kane snarled in Mal's face, nose dripping blood, "but guess what, you fucking lose." He grabbed a handful of Mal's dark hair at the crown and banged his head up and down in the dirt. Mal's eyes squeezed shut, and he gasped at each impact. "Next time it's back to going up separately. You'll get to worry all over again about the six ways to Sunday we're fucking your buddy upstairs. How do you like that?"
    "Quit screwing with him, Kane—" Aaron started.
    Mal lifted his head fast and headbutted Kane. They all heard the crunch as Kane's nose broke.