Chapter 16
Gene heads backstage with the rest of the Brooms, finding his locker and putting his guitar back in its case.
It’s been a wonderful first show. He’s been dying to perform again, and today his wish came true.
Being on stage, bright lights shining on him, cheers from all directions, and with Ray at his side…
he felt like he was on cloud nine. It was a little nerve wracking though, being their first performance in months.
He needs to get used to his adrenaline pumping like that again.
The coke he had with Nicky before the show helped ease that.
He’d brought a bottle of Jack onstage to keep himself afloat, too, countering the upper with a downer so he could stay balanced—which, of course, he accidentally left the alcohol on stage behind an amp.
Think of it as a little gift for the roadies, I guess.
He puts his guitar back in its locker, unsure of when he’ll need to take it back out.
Eventually it’ll go on the bus with the rest of the equipment.
But now’s not the time to be hauling stuff, as there’s currently a party backstage in the greenroom with the Brooms and their opening band.
Food is lined up on some tables, along with bottles of various types of liquor.
He spots Ray conversing with Carol nearby one of the tables.
Of course. It’s not like they could leave her at home, much to Gene’s dismay.
She’s Ray’s fucking girlfriend, after all.
But at least she won’t be with them every stop of the tour, having some modeling gigs lined up for when they are in New York and California.
Maybe one of these days she’ll find a gig so good she can’t help but stay there.
Gene knows he’s being unfair; she doesn’t seem like a terrible person or anything. He’s simply jealous. He tries his best to calm himself, taking in a deep breath—in and out.
Snap!
He turns his head, only to find Maurice standing next to him, camera in hand.
“Did you just get a photo of me?” Gene asks, tilting his head.
“Yeah. I liked the face you were making,” Maurice says nonchalantly. He smiles, stretching the scar on his bottom lip.
“The face I was making? What face was I making?”
“You looked serious—calm. Full of thought, which I thought was interesting right after a show. Like you’re reflecting on something.”
“I… I guess you’re not wrong,” Gene chuckles.
“I bet you’ve got lots to think about.” Maurice smirks, then looks in the direction of where Gene was originally staring—over at Ray and Carol.
Gene looks that way again. Ray is actually walking towards him, scooching past Dennis and Santiago, almost in a hurry, leaving Carol standing by herself at the table.
“Hey, Gene!” Ray says once he’s gotten close enough to be heard over the party chatter. His smile is so charming; it stirs butterflies in Gene’s chest.
“Oh, hey Ray. What’s up?” Gene asks.
“I think I left my wallet in the dressing room. I didn’t want anyone snatching it while I’m not there.” Ray fidgets with his thumbs. “So I was gonna go look for it. Did you want to… accompany me?”
A flash of deja vu hits Gene so hard, he almost loses his balance. He’s seen this situation before. Yes, the same thing happened during their last tour. He went with Ray into the dressing room, and…
“Sure, of course I’ll go with you.” Gene smiles. “What about Carol? Is she fine over there by herself?”
“Yeah. Pat’s up there with her. They’re preoccupied with tasting the different liquors they got. We got time.”
“Time?” Gene raises an eyebrow.
“Y-yeah, you know. To look for my wallet.”
Gene’s eyes widen. It’s a little hard to see, but there’s a pink tinge of blush gracing Ray’s cheeks. “Alright. Yeah, then let’s head over.”
But before he can make any move, there’s one more loud snap.
“Maurice…” Gene pouts.
“You guys looked cute,” Maurice chuckles, holding his camera by his face. “Anyway, you guys can go. Hope you find what you’re looking for.” And with that, he gives them a wink.
Gene’s cheeks burn. “Um… yeah. Okay, Ray. Let’s go.”
Ray leads while Gene follows, scurrying out of the greenroom and through a long, white-bricked hallway.
The bathrooms are the first doors on the right, and a little farther down on the left are the dressing rooms. Ray stops in front of one, opening the door with the words ‘Dusty Brooms’ lazily handwritten on a thin rectangular piece of paper taped to it.
All of this really has happened before. How could Gene forget? It wasn’t this same venue, no, but Ray had forgotten the same exact item. What are the odds that he would do that again? Unless he didn’t really forget it, which Gene has a hunch that’s the case…
Ray opens the door and they both step inside, Gene shutting the door behind himself and flicking on the overhead lights.
This room is somewhat spacious compared to other dressing rooms they’ve been in.
It has a few assorted chairs, private lockers if they need them, and plenty of counter space for various sorts of make-up—which it’s already littered with.
A large mirror on the opposite wall greets them.
Ray smirks, Gene barely catching it in the mirror before he turns around toward him.
“Lock the door, if you would, please,” Ray says, a bit of a devious glint in his tone.
“Why, so we can look for your wallet without being interrupted?” Gene smirks back and does as asked, locking the deadbolt on the door.
“Oh, I already know it’s in that locker over there.” Ray points behind himself with his thumb. “It was just an excuse to get you in here alone with me.”
Without warning, Ray grabs Gene’s shoulders and pins him against the door.
He leans in close—so, so very close—lips only a hair away.
Gene can taste Ray’s breath. The singer’s eyes are so blue, so determined, so dazzling with that glittery eyeshadow and thick mascara—sparking a fire in Gene’s abdomen without a moment to spare.
“Taking a page out of my own book now, aren’t you?” Gene chuckles, moving his hands to grasp Ray’s waist.
“Yeah. Why not?” Ray lightly shrugs. “Finally, I have you all to myself again. I’ve missed you so goddamn much.”
“You really have, huh?” Gene rubs circles onto Ray’s waist, messing up his shimmery blue shirt.
“Yeah.”
“Prove it.”
Ray leans in, capturing Gene’s lips in a kiss.
A fluttery light feeling bursts all throughout him.
He kisses Ray back, grasping him tighter, pulling his shirt out from being tucked into his pants.
Their bodies are now flush together, Ray pushing his weight onto Gene, not giving him an inch to move away from the door.
But this is exactly how Gene wants him. For them to be touching like this…
it’s everything he’s been fantasizing about.
That one kiss they shared before his trip to California wasn’t enough. No, he needs to experience more.
Their lips stay locked as their hands move, Gene feeling up Ray’s back, reaching under his shirt and touching his skin, while Ray holds Gene’s upper arms to keep him in place, thrusting his hips into Gene’s.
It’s been much too long; Ray is right. Gene has missed this so goddamn much.
Even when he arrived home back from Japan, they were so busy they didn’t ever have a chance to be alone, preparing for the album release, their tour, rehearsing with the band, and holding press conferences and radio talk shows.
Who knows when they’ll have another chance like this, especially with Carol constantly following Ray around?
He can’t wait any longer. And by the looks of it, neither can Ray.
Gene opens his mouth, and so does Ray, swiping their tongues against each other in a frenzy. Ray adjusts himself, moving his hands lower, groping Gene’s chest through the opening of his frilly shirt.
“Remember what I said that last night in St. Ignace?” Ray says as their lips part, his voice raspy.
Gene reminisces of that wonderful time they’d spent together. Lying on the cozy bed, cuddling up, whispering their desires… “You want to fuck me.”
“Yeah. I still want to. How ’bout it?”
“Right here in the dressing room?” Gene chuckles.
“Sure. You locked the door, right? Besides, you had me in that public bathroom during the last tour, y’know.”
“You’re very right about that.” Gene sighs, his body burning hot as he feels Ray’s erection pressing against him through their pants. “Then, yeah. Fuck yeah, I want you, baby.”
Ray kisses him again. He thrusts his hips, grinding against Gene, groping his pecs and trying to nudge his shirt off his shoulders.
Gene tries to do the same, pulling Ray’s shirt up even more.
But it’s a bit hard to take anything off when they’re connected like this.
As much as he wants to keep touching Ray, something has to come off.
It seems like Ray takes the hint, backing up a little to move his hands downward, forgetting about Gene’s shirt and leaving it on him, fingertips grazing over Gene’s abdomen to instead focus on his belt.
He undoes the buckle easily, letting it hang and he quickly unzips Gene’s fly.
In one swift movement, he pulls out Gene’s cock—hard and aching, the freedom from his tight pants ever so relieving.
He thrusts into Ray’s hand, chasing the friction.
“My, my, you’re eager,” Ray teases.
“Of course I am,” Gene says, hands still rubbing Ray’s waist. “You don’t know how badly I’ve wanted you like this again.”
“I think I do know, darling. I can feel your desire right here.”
Ray strokes Gene’s cock, up and down, sending pleasant shivers down his spine. That’s a new one—darling. He could get used to that.
Gene tries to reach for Ray’s own belt, but his hand gets shooed away. “I got this,” Ray says, unbuckling his belt and unzipping his fly, letting his cock spring free when he shoves his pants down his legs.