Chapter 17 #3
They repeat the process, Gene rinsing off, then both of them using the hotel-provided conditioner in each other’s hair as well.
When Gene rinses out the conditioner too, standing under the water stream, he faces Ray.
He tries not to look down, still embarrassed to do so, keeping his gaze on Ray’s endearing smile.
Much to his surprise, Ray reaches up toward Gene’s face—resting his palm on his cheek.
His thumb rubs small circles over Gene’s stubble.
He can hardly breathe.
“How often do you shave?” Ray asks out of the blue, his hand not moving from its spot.
“Every two or three days, give or take.” Gene grins. “About time for me to do so again, but I think I’ll wait until tomorrow.”
“Alright. A little bit of rugged stubble looks good on you. I don’t think I could pull it off—mine doesn’t grow as fast.”
Facing Ray like this, so close, his hand on his cheek—Gene’s heart can barely keep up. Never has he felt this light, this delighted, this intimate with anyone, and all they’re doing is standing naked in the shower.
It would be so easy, to just lean in, and kiss him…
“You probably could pull it off, if you tried,” Gene says instead. “But I like you clean-shaven like this, too.”
Ray finally pulls his hand away, but his smile never drops. “Thanks.” He then grabs one of the rags, lathering it with the bar soap, ready to move on…
“Let me wash your back, too,” Gene says.
Ray tilts his head, eyes sparkling. “Sure.” He hands Gene the rag, and turns to face the wall again.
And so, Gene rubs Ray’s back with the rag.
He’s never felt Ray like this before, resting his free hand on his shoulder, massaging his muscles, skin on skin.
Maybe he’s doing a bit more than just washing, touching him like this, but Ray appears to enjoy it, as he lets out a breathy sigh that almost sounds like a moan.
Blood rushes to Gene’s cock at the noise.
Thank god he’s facing the other way. Gene takes a deep breath, hoping to calm himself.
But at the same time, he keeps wondering—what if there is a chance Ray actually does like me that way?
He’s too shy to outright ask, too worried it would ruin what they have right now.
So he keeps his mouth shut. He cleans Ray’s back, moving down his spine, happy that he can still be close to him, even just like this.
Friends like this is all they should be, anyway.
Once done, he hands Ray back the rag, and Ray finishes washing himself.
They then trade places, now with Ray washing Gene’s back.
He massages him so gently, so softly, to be treated with such care…
he can see why Ray moaned—it just feels so damn good.
As if on instinct, he leans back into Ray’s touch.
Ray doesn’t seem to mind. He goes along with it, rubbing the rag around in little circles, moving further down his back…
Gene jolts as Ray cups his rag-clad hand over one of his ass cheeks, giving it a squeeze.
“Gah!”
Ray laughs. “Gotcha!”
Gene turns around, facing Ray, making him let go. “Oh, you got me alright.” He laughs as well, snagging the rag away from Ray. “Sneaky little fucker.”
They both continue laughing as Gene cleans the rest of himself off, giddy like a couple of naughty schoolboys.
Gene knows Ray must’ve meant it more as a prank rather than hinting at anything sexual.
Boys will be boys, after all. But he still revels in the sheer enjoyment of laughing with Ray—regardless of what it meant.
It simply makes him happy to see Ray smile.
All done washing and rinsing, Ray turns the water off and the two exit the shower.
Ray grabs a couple hotel towels from the shelving next to the sink and hands one to Gene, who dries himself off, securing it around his waist. Ray does the same, Gene puts his earring back in, and they both head back into the main room with the beds.
“I guess it doesn’t matter which pajamas you choose—they’re both mine,” Ray says with a smirk. “Which ones do you like best?”
“Hmm…” Gene taps his chin with his pointer finger. “I like these green striped ones. Besides, I think you’d look better in the floral-print ones, anyway.”
The adorable blush pops on Ray’s cheeks again. “If you say so. But yeah, it works. The green stripes go well with your hazel eyes.”
“Thanks.” Gene smiles, grabbing the spare underwear resting on the green pajamas.
Ray’s underwear. Fabric that’s touched the most intimate areas of his body…
He shoves down the thought. It’s just clothes.
Get your mind out of the gutter, Gene. He unties the towel, not too embarrassed about being naked around Ray anymore, and he slips on the underwear—fitting himself near perfectly.
Ray does the same with his own pair, and they dress.
Ray ruffles his hair with the towel to dry it off, shaking his head as if he were a dog.
Gene finds it so endearing. He smiles like an idiot.
After fluffing his own hair with his towel, easily enough, he takes Ray’s towel too and walks over to throw both of them onto the bathroom floor.
Back in the main room, Ray is waiting for him, standing by the edge of one of the beds.
An unspoken tension floats between them, unsure of where to go next for the night.
As Gene gazes at Ray, watching him bite his plush, lower lip, Gene can’t help but brace himself for whatever Ray’s next words might be—
“I’m really glad we’ve been able to come back together like this, Gene.
But…” He knew there would be a ‘but’. “You know, tomorrow night’s Halloween.
Carol will definitely want to spend time with me then, and especially with us going steady now, she’s going to want to, um, stay in the room with me probably every night after, too… ”
“Then let me have you just for tonight,” Gene says, taking a step forward and grabbing Ray’s hand in his, pulling it up close to his chest. “I know that with her, we won’t have as much time alone anymore…
She’s your girlfriend now, yeah. But you’re still my best friend.
Let’s have this time tonight as just the two of us. Tonight, you’re all mine.”
Ray gasps. He seems to not know what to say at first, the way his eyes widen and his lips part delicately. But then his expression softens—his cheeks still flushed, eyes sparkling, head tilting with a sweet smile. It warms Gene’s heart.
“I’d like that. I’m all yours. Just for tonight,” Ray says.
“Then let’s lie down together.” Gene lets go of Ray’s hand, but only to walk to the side of the bed, turning the nightstand lamp on. “Could you turn off the other lamp?”
“Yeah, sure.” Ray steps away and does as asked.
It darkens the green flower-pattern on the walls, giving everything a more brownish-yellow tone.
Gene lies down on the bed, pulling his feet up and Ray soon joins him, getting comfortable, cozying up close to Gene as he pulls the blanket overtop them both.
As if it’s an instinct, Gene lets his legs tangle with Ray’s, his arm slipping over Ray’s waist. Ray does the same, seeming to enjoy their closeness with that lovely smile, their faces not even a full foot apart from each other.
The light from behind Gene’s head shines onto Ray, giving his blue eyes a somewhat golden highlight—absolutely beautiful.
If only, oh, if only Carol weren’t in the picture.
With how good he feels with Ray, right in this very moment, if Carol weren’t in their lives, Gene might’ve had enough courage to lean in for a kiss.
But he can’t. Even attempting to step a single foot on that path would be a bad idea, anyway.
He knows that in theory there’s nothing inherently wrong with being bisexual, just like Maurice had said, but that’s not what society thinks.
He can’t risk that with Ray—especially Ray—and have their whole lives and careers they’ve been building fall apart.
Not to mention how such a thing would affect the rest of the band.
No, he wants to hang onto what they have as tightly as possible, the way it is right now. Right here, with him.
There’s nothing wrong with cuddling, just as friends.
Gene’s reminded of that night in August, when Ray and Harriet had broken up, and Ray needed comfort.
Maybe neither of them need that particular sort of comfort now, but that doesn’t matter—Ray is his tonight.
He’ll cuddle with him if he damn well pleases.
He can tell Ray enjoys it, too, how he rubs Gene’s side in a soothing motion, tugging slightly on his pajama shirt.
“I’m sorry, Gene,” Ray says in a small voice. “That… this whole mess with Carol, how I went getting together with her and everything… I’m sorry if how I’ve acted upset you.”
Oh, Ray, do you even realize the extent of it all? But Gene shouldn’t fault him for that—he knows he himself is to blame, too. “It’s okay. I’m sorry, too, for not trying to talk to you sooner.”
“A truce, then?”
Gene grins. “Yes. A truce.”
“Alright.” Ray rubs Gene’s waist again. “You know, if we finally have some time alone together… shouldn’t we be playing music? Working on new songs?”
“We have all the time in the world to do that,” Gene says. “I’m feeling kinda tired. All I want to focus on is holding you right now.”
“Sounds good.” Ray’s face beams. “I’m tired too. Though, hey, um… would you be okay if I rolled over? I really liked how you held me from behind before, like that one night.”
He’s been thinking of that night, too. “Sure, go ahead.”
And so, Ray adjusts his position on the bed, rolling to his other side and facing away from Gene.
Gene sits up for a moment to turn off the lamp, then lies back down, instantly wrapping his arm around Ray, slipping his knee between Ray’s thighs.
Trying to get cozy, he accidentally gets a mouthful of Ray’s still-wet hair, chuckling a little as he situates himself.
Ray giggles—the feeling of his body moving ever so gently against his spurs more butterflies frizzing in his chest. He pulls Ray even closer, his lips barely grazing the nape of Ray’s neck.
“How’s this?” Gene asks, his breath reflecting off Ray’s skin.
“This is nice.” Ray brings his own hand up to hold Gene’s grip in place. “Let’s stay just like this.”
“Yeah.”
Gene’s heart feels full. So, so incredibly full, so happy he’s here with Ray.
If only this could happen every night. But he knows he won’t be able to cuddle with him again like this again tomorrow, if Carol’s in the room—in fact, he won’t be able to share a bed with Ray at all. She’ll take over Gene’s spot.
But tonight, Ray is all his. And despite Ray having a girlfriend, with how he can feel Ray’s heartbeat underneath his palm, Gene knows that what they have is something special.
As each other’s closest friend, their connection is something they share with no one else.
Two peas in a pod. Two young men with a sympathy for the blues, a love for music that holds them together, tighter than even their physical embrace.
Ray belongs to Gene in a way he can’t even describe.