7. Seven
Seven
W il threw the empty beer bottles into the recycling bin along with the grease-stained pizza boxes. It had been good to catch up with the guys, but he was tired after driving most of the day. He glanced outside to see Ben chatting with Jamie and gave a small smile. As predicted, Ben had been welcomed with open arms, and it hadn’t taken long for him to join in the conversation.
Stifling a yawn, Wil headed back outside.
“Hey, I’m ready to turn in. You can stay and chat with Pa some more, but I thought I’d show you your room.”
Jamie shook his head. “We can pick up our conversation again tomorrow. You guys must be beat.”
“Thank you for a lovely evening. I’ve really enjoyed myself,” Ben said.
“Are you guys turning in?” Kellet asked as he joined them after seeing the rest of the guys out.
“Yeah.” Wil yawned again. “Sorry. Long day.”
He noticed his parents exchange a glance, and he looked at Kellet questioningly. “What’s up, Dad?”
“We… ah… weren’t sure if you and Ben wanted to share a room or not, so we’ve made up the guest room.”
Wil felt himself blush as he flicked his gaze to Ben, who looked equally embarrassed.
“Thanks, Dad. We haven’t discussed that yet,” Wil admitted.
Jamie clapped him on the shoulder. “We’ll leave you to it. You know where everything is, Son. Ben, please make yourself at home.”
Wil watched his fathers leave, their arms wrapped around each other, before turning back to Ben.
“Come on. I’ll show you around.”
He led Ben up the hallway towards the front of the house. “Dad and Pa’s room is upstairs, thank god, and my room is down here.” He stopped in front of a door and pointed to one opposite. “That’s the guest room.”
Ben looked between the two rooms. “Okay. Thanks.”
The silence was thick before Wil broke it. “I know we haven’t talked about taking things to the next level yet, but I want you to know whichever room you decide you want to sleep in is fine with me.”
Wil waited for Ben to decide. They’d both been so busy with midterms and their work schedules, they’d only managed a couple of dates and some make-out sessions. Wil wanted to get physical with Ben, but they just hadn’t had the time.
Ben moved closer and slipped his hands around Wil’s waist. “I’d really like to sleep in your room, if that’s okay with you?”
“More than okay,” Wil replied, his voice low. He brushed his nose against Ben’s. “And if you only want to sleep, then that is also more than okay.”
“What I’d really like to do is shower and then relax. Maybe we just see what happens.”
“Great idea,” Wil agreed. He led them into his room, closing the door behind them. Flicking a switch, soft lamps lit up the room, highlighting the large king-sized bed and comfy loveseat over by the window.
On the wall opposite the bed was a large screen TV, with a gaming console tidily tucked onto the cabinet below.
“Did you bring your console back with you?” Ben asked, nodding towards it.
“No. I have two… ah… actually, I have three,” Wil admitted ruefully. “One here, one at Wyndham, and one at my mom’s house in Juniper.”
Ben raised an amused eyebrow at him, and Wil chuckled.
“Yeah, yeah. I know. But in my defense, the one at Mom’s is my original one from when I was in high school and rarely gets used. The one at college I bought myself, and Pa bought me this one to save me lugging either of the other two back and forth.”
“Makes sense,” Ben said dryly.
“Grab a shower,” Wil told him, pointing to the small ensuite bathroom. “There’s a towel in the cabinet under the sink. Help yourself to soap and shampoo.”
Ben unzipped his bag and pulled out some soft-looking pajama pants and a worn t-shirt.
“I won’t take long.”
“Take as long as you need,” Wil said.
***
Ben let the warm water cascade down his back as he replayed the events of the day. They’d set out early from Phoenix, Wil’s truck smoothly eating the miles up to the outskirts of Los Angeles. They’d used the six-hour trip to get to know each other better, with Wil telling him stories of being a roadie for both Larkspur and Eclipse. Ben was more than a little envious but appreciated that Wil didn’t take it all for granted.
His mind turned to the here and now. He and Wil hadn’t discussed moving to a physical relationship, but it was something he wanted. Wil was gorgeous and even a casual touch had Ben wanting more. He didn’t know how experienced Wil was, considering he’d admitted to not ever having been in a relationship. Ben had had a boyfriend his last year of high school and they’d been each other’s firsts. Then there had been a short-lived romance his second year at Wyndham and the occasional hook-up since, but he wouldn’t classify himself as overly experienced.
He finished soaping himself thoroughly before rinsing off and stepping out of the shower. Once dry and dressed in his pajamas, he took a calming breath and headed out to the bedroom.
Wil grinned up at him from where he was lounging on the bed, phone in hand. Music played softly from a music channel on the television, its images throwing shadows across the room.
“Did you find everything okay?” Wil asked him, tossing his phone onto the bedside cabinet as he stood up.
“Yes, thank you. That showerhead is amazing. How do you cope with the drizzle they call pressure in the dorms?”
“I know, right,” Wil agreed. “If it wasn’t for the water restrictions here, I’d spend all day in there.” Wil nodded to the bed. “Get comfortable. I’m just going to have a quick shower myself. I grabbed a couple bottles of water, so help yourself.”
Scooping a small pile of clothes from the dresser, Wil moved past him to the bathroom. At the sound of the door clicking shut, Ben moved around the bed and slid beneath the covers. He let out a low groan as his body settled into the soft mattress. He hoped Wil didn’t take too long, because he didn’t want to drift off to sleep just yet.
He let himself relax, trying not to envision a wet and soapy Wil just a few feet away. His imagination, though, ran riot, and his body began to heat up from the mental images he was conjuring up. He was about to reach for his phone to distract himself when the bathroom door opened, and a damp and disheveled Wil walked back into the room. He was running his fingers through his wet hair, trying to tame it.
“I think that’s a lost cause,” Ben told him with a grin.
“Yeah. I need a haircut. If I’m lucky, Tam will be around this week, and I can get him to do it.”
“Who’s Tam?” Ben asked, rolling to his side and propping himself on his elbow as Wil slid in next to him.
“Tam is the band’s hairstylist,” Wil replied. “He works with a lot A-listers, and if I’m nice to him, he’ll cut my mop too.”
Ben reached a hand out to run his fingers through the damp hair flopping onto Wil’s forehead. “I happen to like your mop of curls.”
“Yeah?” Wil murmured, rolling to face Ben.
“Yeah,” Ben agreed huskily. “I enjoy tangling my fingers in them.”
Wil’s hand slipped under the covers and landed on Ben’s hip, urging him closer. Ben lifted his chin and their mouths met in a soft kiss.
“What do you want, Wil?” he asked, needing to know how far he could go tonight.
“I want you,” Wil replied, his mouth grazing Ben’s again.
“I want you too. Do… do you have any preferences?
Wil paused in his ministrations on Ben’s neck, leaning back far enough to look Ben in the eye.
“Is that your way of asking if I’ve been with a guy before?”
Ben blushed and shrugged.
“I’ve been with a few guys. I’m bi, but I prefer being with a guy over a girl. I’m a switch and I get tested regularly. I have my latest results on my phone if you need to see them.” He kissed Ben. “Does that help?”
“Sorry,” Ben groaned, dropping his forehead onto Wil’s shoulder.
“What are you apologizing for? We’re still figuring things out, and this is a conversation we need to have.”
“I know,” Ben agreed, lifting his head. He cupped Wil’s jaw, smoothing his thumb along the stubbled skin. “I’m also vers, but I prefer to bottom. I’m on PrEp, and I got tested at Christmas when I was home, and I haven’t been with anyone but you since then.”
“We don’t have to do anything tonight, or even this week,” Wil told him, and a part of Ben melted at the sincerity and earnestness in his tone.
“I know. But….” his voice trailed off, and he slowly slid his hand into Wil’s hair.
“But?” Wil questioned, his breath quickening.
“I’d really like to play with your curls while you blow me,” Ben said, his voice barely more than a whisper.
Wil’s eyes dilated at the suggestion, and a small whimper escaped from his parted lips. “Oh, God. Yes.”