Page 75 of Sycopation
“TMI,” Dom practically squeaked.
And hell, Ray’s dick went all nice and hard for Zavier’s voice and the way it played along his nerves. Notes. Zavier hadnoteson how to fuck him. He shivered and gulped down another couple swallows of coffee. “Okay. But what do we do about all of it?”
Zavier waved a hand. “Own it.”
“You mean, tell people?” God, Carl would flip. On the other hand... Carl wouldflipand there was a certain delight inthat.
Mish cleared her throat. “Honey, the interesting thing is that by and large, the fans love the thought of you and Zav.”
“You wouldn’t actually have to say anything,” Dom said. “Just keep doing what you’re doing. I mean, it’s not like you guys stare goo-goo eyes at each other. Or that you’re all over each other, touching and kissing.”
Zavier shook his head. “Not at all my thing.”
Because Zavier didn’t do relationships.
“Yeah, so if you stare at each other like you want to set each other on fire, that’s like...normal.” Dom blushed. “Well, for you two.”
Because it was all about the benefits of being friends. The heat and the sex and kneeling at Zavier’s feet. Man, Ray’s dick really was into that, too. And his pulse and his blood.
“Makes sense,” he murmured. He finished his coffee, then rose. “I should go shower. We gotta be close to the venue, and if I’m sitting here in sweatpants and nothing else, that’s just one more thing for Carl to dig into me about.”
He set the mug on the counter. “Thanks for the coffee, Zav.” And last night. And taking care of him. But he couldn’t say those, so he scooped up his toiletry bag and a set of clean clothes, and headed to the back of the bus.
Ray showered using cooler water than he generally did, and dressed quickly. He had a good deal of stubble, but there’d be time before the show to shave. Or maybe he wouldn’t.
When he stepped out of the bathroom, he wasn’t all that surprised to find Zavier sitting in the little lounge, and the privacy curtain drawn shut. “Hey.”
Zavier smiled and cocked his finger, beckoning Ray to him.
With a start, Ray realized Zavier was sitting exactly where he had been last night. He crossed what little distance that divided them and knelt. No idea why, but it seemed the perfect thing to do. The effects of his cooler-than-normal shower evaporated as heat and need took over.
“Oh, very good.” Soft words. Zavier cupped Ray’s face and stroked his cheeks. “Close your eyes and breathe. Listen. Wait.”
Ray did as told, and everything turned sublime. The rumble of the bus. Zavier’s warm hands. His own breath, in and out. No idea how long they sat there.
“Don’t open your eyes.” Another brush of Zavier’s thumb. “I want you to tell me the truth—are you fine with us not hiding this? Being—not obvious, but not concealing, either.”
“Yeah.” The answer was simple, and it startled Ray a little. “Doesn’t change much, does it?”
“For the people out there? No. For us? Maybe. It’s an acknowledgment, Dom and Mish knowing.”
“Just means they’ll give us space.”
Zavier’s chuckle was low. “Like now.”
Ray tried to nod. “Do you want—I mean—” He sighed. “I was trying not to be turned on by you. Took a cold shower and everything.”
“And here you are, all nice and hard for me again.” Zavier grinned. “I could get you off. Probably quicker than you’d like, but wearein a time crunch.”
Ray swayed as the bus slowed down and pulled around a curve.
“Or,” Zavier continued, “you can hold on to that need until later, and I can draw it out of you slowly and in ways you may not have experienced before.”
Ray shivered. “The second option sounds like it might kill me. I want that.”
Zavier stroked his thumb over Ray’s lips. “Give me your hand.”
He did, and Zavier brought it to his own thick erection, housed in his jeans. “You’re not the only one waiting for later.”
