Sycopation

Chapter 24 #3

Interesting. He smoothed a hand over Ray’s ass, then up his back. He didn’t quite understand, no. He’d never managed to fall into subspace, but this? It was a headspace of its own. The trust he’d been given.

He returned to the table by the chair and claimed the last of his items. Flogger, crop, and lube. The latter he set down on the floor, and set the crop next to it.

He smacked his hand with the flogger, and Ray twitched and moaned. “I wonder if I could make you come from just that sound.” He did it again and, as Ray laughed, flicked the flogger across his ass.

That got him a much louder moan. “Shit.”

“Just you wait.” He worked over Ray’s cheeks and thighs and shoulders, warming the skin, ruddying it under the ink. Ray was a delight of moans and twists and curses until he wasn’t—and that was a glory, too. That moment when the motion and the pain swept over Ray and took him higher and higher.

“There you go.” Zavier’s cock throbbed and his mind whirled. Such strength in Ray. Such grace in submission. He slowed the flogger to stopping and switched it out for the crop. “Safewords?”

“Mmm. Red, yellow, and baroque.” More like sleepy words. “Won’t need ’em.”

Zavier resisted the urge to land the first one hard. Still, he put enough sting into it that Ray jumped, his limbs twitching. “Shit.”

“Mmmhmm.” He upped the ante with the next and the next until Ray was gasping and moaning and twisting in a completely different way than he had under the flogger. Both the edge of pain and pleasure sounded in Ray’s throat. Groans and pants. Curses.

“You like that?” He raised a few welts on Ray’s shoulders. His marks on top of the ink. So nice. Zavier’s blood was on fire with need. For Ray’s tears. For his sobs. To kiss and fuck them away.

“Fuck no. Yes,” Ray hissed. “Don’t stop. Please don’t stop!”

He didn’t. Not until Ray’s voice broke and Zavier got exactly what he wanted—Ray overloaded and weeping and begging for more and no more at the same time. He gave three last strokes, then stopped.

A few moments passed before Zavier realized he was shaking. Probably as much as Ray was. He dropped the crop and went around the bed so he could see Ray’s face, touch his hair, and wipe away his tears with trembling fingers. “Shh. Ray. It’s over. I’m here.”

“Didn’t want you to stop.” Ray’s eyes were rimmed with red. “Glad you did.” He sighed and melted into the mattress.

Zavier kissed his cheek until Ray turned and offered his mouth. Lips against lips. Tongues tangled.

Then Ray was exhaling again. “God, that was so good.”

For Zavier, too—in control and yet also out of it. Trembling. On fire. He traced the welts on Ray’s shoulders. “I left marks. Bruises everywhere.”

Ray shuddered.

Felt right to lean over and kiss that raised skin. Nibble here and there. Listen to Ray hiss and moan. Feel that lithe body rock under his touch. He worked his way back to Ray’s ear and whispered into it. “I want my come inside you.”

Full-body shudder and a delicious moan. “Fuck, Zav.”

“Tell me you want it.”

“Shit, Zav. I want everything you give me. Yeah, I want it. Fuck me. Claim me. Paint my insides.”

He nearly came right there. Ray’s stunning voice, all in pieces, muttering those words. He kissed him again, harder, before pulling away and fetching the lube.

He’d never fucked anyone without a condom. But lubing his dick, fingering Ray, then sliding into his body? Felt so fucking right Zavier couldn’t catch his breath for a moment. “Jesus, Ray.”

Ray shuddered and moaned. “Fuck yeah, Zav, I need—”

Zavier pulled back and slammed in deep. “You need to take what I give you.”

The answer Ray gave was a gasp and a long moan.

“Yes, exactly like that.” Zavier quickened his pace—he wasn’t going to last long, given how tight Ray was. How he thrashed and humped and babbled. And neither would Ray.

He raked his fingers over the marks he’d left on Ray’s back, dug his fingers into Ray’s hips, and let himself go.

No caution, no restraint. He fucked as if every piece of Ray belonged to him.

Hot and tight and marked and beautiful. A mind that saw music and a soul that understood his.

Zavier squeezed his eyes shut against the pleasure, and tears fell on Ray’s back.

He’d never been this high, never like he was about to shatter like dropped crystal. Heat and light cut into him.

Ray’s moans turned sharp. “Oh god. Zav. Fuck! Yes, yes. That! Don’t...don’t—” The rest was lost in gasping and a long cry when Ray came, shuddering and shaking against the bed and Zavier’s ropes.

Zavier broke into pieces, his own cry echoing in the room. Light blinded him and for a moment all he knew was Ray under him, Ray around him, and Ray taking his seed before he lost himself completely.

All his senses overwhelmed him, vision hazing, limbs burning, mind swirling into heaven. He could stay here forever, inside Ray, inside this bliss, and never ever worry about anyone ever again. They were together and the rest of the world could go to hell.

It took a little longer than normal to pull himself together. Even longer to come back down to earth. He was propped up on his arms, over Ray and still inside him. He peered at Ray’s back.

Slow, even breaths from Ray, and complete relaxation.

“You still with me?”

“Mmmhmm.” Ray’s voice was a whisper. “You?”

Zavier tried to laugh, but it came out as a croak. “Yeah. Hang on, I’ll untie you.”

“’S okay. Like you like that. On me. Stay, Zav. Stay a little longer.”

He didn’t know why, but a knot formed in his throat. He did pull out, but only so he could crawl up and drape himself over Ray. He laid his head between Ray’s shoulder blades.

Had to hurt—or maybe not, since Ray only sighed and melted down into the mattress. “Welcome home, Zav.”

Zavier closed his eyes and failed at not letting the tears out. Fucking beautiful Ray Van Zeller. He’d marry the man to keep anyone else from ever hurting him again.

It was a little weird to wake up tied to a bed, but Ray didn’t mind. Felt strangely secure, especially with the weight and warmth of Zavier’s body over his. He could have stayed like this forever, if it hadn’t been for something so mundane as hunger.

His stomach growled again. “Fuck.”

Zavier shifted. “I should untie you.” Lips pressed against Ray’s back. “Should’ve earlier.”

“It’s not that, but yeah.” The loss of Zavier’s weight and heat was disconcerting, but not as horrible as Ray had imagined it might be. “Fucking stomach wants dinner.”

“Well, it is dinnertime.” Zavier peered at the other side of the bed. “A little past, actually.” Then he bent and freed the rope from the wrist cuffs.

Ray left his arms where they were because it still felt good to be stretched like this. “Please do this to me again sometime.”

A huff of laughter. “You really are perfect.”

“Me? Fuck no. You’re the one who’s too perfect to be real. Rock-star looks. Rock-star name. Rock star—”

“Tied down to my bed.” Zavier tapped Ray’s ass, and even the light blow sent a tangle of pain and pleasure up Ray’s back. “I should make you read some of the fanfic descriptions of you.”

The rope holding Ray’s left ankle slackened, then let go. Zavier undid the other rope, too. “Oh god.” Ray pressed his forehead into the mattress. While his arms felt fine, his legs were another matter.

“I’ll help you up. You need a shower anyway.” Zavier paused. “We both do.”

They smelled of sweat and sex and each other, and Ray loved it. “Should check with Mish and Dom to see if they’ve eaten.”

Zavier grunted, and worked with Ray to get him turned over and sitting next to the rather large wet spot he’d created. “I’ll text. I suppose we’re doing room service?”

He so so so did not want to sit in the room next door and eat hotel food again. “No. I want to go out. Get dressed. Blow through the paparazzi and have a real meal in a real restaurant. Maybe even outdoors because this hotel air is shit.”

A strange look, part amusement, part pride, appeared on Zavier’s face. “You’re feeling better, then.”

He rolled his eyes. “Text them.”

“You giving me orders?” A grin. “While you still have cuffs and a collar on?”

“Remember that part where I said I don’t want us to be Dominant and submissive all the time, and you agreed?”

Zavier snorted—and texted. A moment later, his phone dinged.

“They say they haven’t eaten. They were waiting for us.” He eyed Ray. “I’ll tell them to meet us in the communal room in thirty minutes.”

Ray nodded. “And tell them we’re going out.”

A quirky smile from Zavier. “Where do you have in mind?”

He had no idea. “Fuck if I know this town. Somewhere good. With a patio that we can get seated on. I bet the concierge can make it happen.”

Damn, it was fun watching Zavier’s ever-shifting emotions. “Shall I call down, then?”

Shall? He laughed. “Would you mind, Zav? I guess I’m the one being imperious now.” He paused. “But you did just flog and fuck me into oblivion, so I kind of feel like I can rule the world.”

“In a collar and cuffs, no less.” Zavier texted the others, then picked up the hotel phone and talked to the concierge.

Ray closed his eyes and let the murmur of Zavier’s voice pull him back into that warm, safe place where he was strong and—at least to Zavier—perfect.

Hands on his shoulders, Zavier’s hot voice in his ears. “You’re still not down completely, are you?”

Ray shook his head. “Not entirely. But enough. Let’s get ready.”

They did, Zavier helping him into the bathroom and shower, but by the time they were done, Ray had found his strength. They put on nicer clothes. “Interview clothing,” Zavier muttered, and headed into the adjoining room. Dom and Mish were already there, looking equally as stylish and nice.

“We’re busting out of this joint?” Mish had a feral look. “Zavier’s idea?”

Ray shook his head. “Mine. I’m tired of hiding. We’ve done nothing wrong. The press is full of speculation, but generally on our side.”

Dom—or rather Domino, since the makeup and hair were back, as was the leather and boots and collar—rubbed his chin. “Would also let them see you and know you’re fine.”

Getting fucked by Zavier was the absolute best thing in the world. Second best, though, was watching Zavier realize Ray was a step ahead of him. His face did all sorts of interesting contortions on the way to surprise and elation. “You’re playing the game!”

“Damn straight. I tried playing it their way. I’m gonna play it mine.”

Zavier’s grin was like a fall of a flogger, all warmth and light. “Come on. The concierge got us reservations—yes, on a deck, Ray—and a car, and they should be here in about five minutes.”

They headed out, and it was fucking glorious, like something out of a movie.

The security called down to warn the hotel and security staff, so there were people flanking them as they strode through the lobby.

Flashes from cameras went off. Mish laughed.

Zavier looked like a fucking god, and Domino walked in front, like he would run everyone over with his steel-toed boots.

Ray didn’t answer any of their shouted questions, just waved and smiled—until Zavier casually put his hand on the back of his neck. Then he laughed and locked gazes with Zav. His fiancé.

When they were all settled into the hired car—which was actually a freaking limo—he grinned at Dom and Mish. “Hey, Zavier asked me to marry him.”

Mish punched him in the arm, missing all of his welts, thank god. “You bastard! Good. About time you freaks worked it out.”

“Freaks?” Zavier was grinning. “Honestly, it’s for practical reasons.”

“Of course it is.” Dom leaned back and waved a hand. “Legal paperwork and all that. Not like you guys care about each other. At all.”

Zavier blushed. Honest-to-god blushed. Deeply. Enough that you could see it in the passing streetlights. “It’s not—That’s not—” He sighed. “I’m not a romantic. At all. But this...” He gestured between Ray and him. “It seems right.”

“My mom always said to marry your best friend.” Dom was grinning.

Zavier’s eyebrows shot up. “Ray’s your best friend.”

Dom made a sour face. “Ray’s like my brother. Ew. Did he tell you we kissed once?”

“Once.” Ray held up his hands. “And I did, yeah. He asked why we weren’t fucking.”

“Because you are entirely not what Dominic is looking for in a partner.” Zavier had a knowing look. “Dominic is looking for someone tall and tweedy who can whisper about hidden queer nuances in old literature while jacking him off.”

“Fucking hell, Zav!” Dom choked out.

“Yeah, but is he right?” ’Cause Ray had to know. And yeah, he so could see Dom liking that.

Dom muttered “fucking hell” a few more times before sighing. “Yeah. Pretty close. Bastard.”

“Lord, you boys.” Mish sighed dramatically.

Dom punched her in the arm for a change. “Oh, don’t you start. You don’t have a leg to stand on. And half the time my room’s right next to yours.”

She smiled like a Cheshire cat and sank into the leather behind her. “I am not saying anything.”

Ray laughed until he was in tears, then wiped them off before they stepped out of their limo.

The air was cool and electrified with lights and people and the low thump of dancing somewhere.

Zavier put his hand around the back of Ray’s neck again.

His back and ass burned. His friends were here.

His band. The man he loved. Ray couldn’t keep the happiness in his heart.

Felt like everything was cracking open and blooming. Reaching for the sky.

They had nowhere to go but up.