Chapter 22
Each show blows Gene away. It’s already nearing the end of October, having played more than a dozen concerts on this tour.
Performance after performance, Gene gets on stage, hammering away at the rhythm on his guitar, and he sings the blues with Ray.
This tour has been wonderful—not just with the band, but also with his proximity to his best friend.
He hasn’t had another opportunity to bring Ray into his bedroom, but that’s not to say they haven’t had any time alone at all.
They’ve still been writing songs on the long bus rides, jamming together backstage when the rest of the Brooms are busy, and, occasionally, they slip into a dressing room by themselves for some fun.
Just like after that first show, Gene locks the door and Ray has his way with him—or the other way around.
Rubbing their cocks together, fucking against the vanity, or Gene getting on his knees to suck Ray off, any way is fine.
Maybe they don’t have the same privacy as a bedroom, but Gene will take what he can get.
Ever since Carol almost caught them that one morning, Ray has been hesitant to join Gene in his room.
Which is understandable. He can’t blame Ray for being cautious.
At least in the dressing rooms, they can get away with easier excuses. It’s worked so far.
And yet, that means that every night, Ray retires to his room with Carol.
It drives a dagger into Gene’s heart even thinking about it.
Ray may have fun here and there with Gene—hell, he even sings with him onstage in front of thousands of people—but the one who he always returns to at the end of the night is Carol.
On this tour, the Brooms don’t share rooms with each other, which leaves Gene in his room by himself.
Usually he enjoys having time alone, but when he knows Ray is right down the hall, spending each night with his girlfriend…
It crushes Gene’s lungs, making him suffocate in the empty room.
The only thing he’s found that gets his body to relax is to get high, calming the alarming thoughts instantly.
It’s like a medicine, in a way. Like he’s regulating his internal structure.
He doesn’t feel nearly as bad when he can spend the night with a friend. Usually it’s with Nicky. He’s let Gene smoke some more of that special weed laced with something a few more times. The feeling is so fucking good, like his heart has wings, flying away to heaven.
“You know, if you ever think you’re not getting enough of it, you can always shoot it up directly instead of mixing it with something else,” Nicky says nonchalantly one night as he’s hanging with Gene in his hotel room.
“Shoot it up?” Gene’s mouth twists. “But… but that’s what junkies do.”
“Aren’t we already junkies?” Nicky laughs, taking another hit from his joint. “I’m not telling you to do it. I’m just saying it’s an option. You don’t want to go straight into mainlining anyway—just a skin poke is more than enough.”
“A skin poke…” Gene shrugs. “Well, alright. I’ll think about it. But I’m probably fine just smoking it like this.”
After another wonderful show in Phoenix, Arizona, the Dusty Brooms retire to their motel.
They’ve rented almost the entire place out, needing enough space for a room for each of the main band members, along with a couple extra for the rest of their party.
Gene loves the air down here in Phoenix—it’s so warm, despite being late October.
A great difference compared to the chilly autumns he’s used to in Michigan.
Some of the band members hang by the outdoor pool, surrounded by tall palm trees and decorated overhead by a starry night sky.
However, Gene doesn’t spot Ray. He was hoping that tonight they could finally share a room again, as Carol is away.
She had a modeling gig earlier in the day, all the way in New York, and she’s staying overnight there tonight as well.
And if Carol isn’t going to be with Ray, then that means he could easily spend the night with Gene and she wouldn’t suspect a thing…
Gene thinks to check the cocktail lounge to see if Ray is there, as he’s not here by the pool, but before he can even enter the building, he hears one of the doors to the rooms open.
It’s Ray’s door, and the man himself steps out, wearing different clothes than he had on earlier at the show.
Gene remembers now—Ray said he was going to take a shower.
To be fair, Gene’s mind is a little muddled from some whiskey he had during the show.
But he’s glad to see Ray, his handsome best friend giving him a smile and waving for him to come over.
Gene obliges, walking around the pool toward the rooms. It doesn’t seem like anyone was paying him any mind, so he won’t worry about what anyone else thinks. There’s nothing wrong with him wanting to spend time with his closest friend. What they do behind closed doors is nobody else’s business.
Out of earshot from the rest of their party and standing in front of Ray, his hand against the doorway and leaning in close, Gene asks, “Did you want to hang out in here? Or maybe my room instead…?”
“Your room,” Ray says quickly. “Just in case. I think it works out easier that way, and… she doesn’t have a key for your room.”
Carol won’t be back until tomorrow morning, but Gene understands Ray’s worry. “Yeah, for sure.”
“Well then, without a moment to waste…” Ray shuts the door behind himself, stepping onto the sidewalk, and he grabs Gene’s hand. “Lead the way.”
Gene can’t help but smile. “Sure, though our rooms are right next to each other.”
They walk the short distance to the next room over, and Gene uses his free hand to pull his key out of his pants pocket.
After they both step inside, Gene is quick to lock it back up again.
As he kicks his boots off and shuffles off his socks, he notices Ray wearing a pair of loafers he’s never seen before.
And when Ray slides them off, there’s another surprise. Deep, vermilion red socks.
“You get new shoes and socks?” Gene asks, standing up straight.
“Yeah, these shoes are brand new. Never worn them before.” Ray smiles. “You’ll see why.”
Without a moment to spare, Ray grabs the lapels of Gene’s blazer and pulls him in for a kiss.
That’s how it always is between them—as soon as they’re left alone, they can’t keep their hands off each other.
Gene reaches up, carding his fingers through Ray’s curly blond hair.
He can’t have him like this outside of these moments, so when they are alone like this, it’s like making up for lost time.
Tonight it’s even better, having a whole motel room to themselves.
Their lips part for a moment, giving Gene time to take off his blazer, throwing it carelessly to the floor, smacking against the dresser as it lands. But as he tries to reach for Ray’s shirt to unbutton it, Ray grabs his hand, halting him in place.
“Take your clothes off first,” he says.
“Oh, really?” Gene raises an eyebrow.
“Yeah.” Ray smirks. “I have a surprise for you.”
“Alright…” Gene smiles back, lifting his T-shirt up and over his head. His necklaces are still hanging over his collarbones, but usually he leaves them on, so he doesn’t bother with them. Ray had told him before that he thinks they’re sexy, anyway.
Once the shirt is off and onto the floor, he pulls his bottoms off as well, kicking them into the same pile. Now, here he stands, completely naked aside from his jewelry, contrasting a fully-clothed Ray. The air is warm, almost tangible as it settles between them.
“Alright, well. Here I am.” Gene spreads his arms out. “What’s the surprise?”
“I can’t just tell you what it is,” Ray chuckles. “You’ll find out. Now you can undress me.”
“Gladly.” He steps forward, unbuttoning Ray’s shirt from top to bottom.
It’s a thicker one of his and a rather dark maroon, completely opaque.
The surprise must be something under his clothes, maybe something to do with those new red socks.
Button by button, it’s like opening up a present on Christmas day—Gene couldn’t be more curious, wondering what’s hiding underneath—
He opens up Ray’s shirt, finding red lace, delicately wrapped over Ray’s chest.
It almost looks like… a bra?
Heat rushes to Gene’s cheeks, all over his body too, his cock thickening at the beautiful sight.
“This is why I wanted you naked,” Ray says with a grin, looking down toward Gene’s hips. “So I could see your reaction.”
“Is this what I think it is?” Gene smiles, tugging Ray’s shirt out from being tucked into his pants and pulling the whole thing off his shoulders, tossing it to the floor with Gene’s own clothes. “Oh my god, it is.”
Over Ray’s chest is a lacy red bra. The cups are translucent, flowery lace patterns overtop, sagging a little due to Ray’s flat chest not being able to fill them. But Gene can still see Ray’s nipples underneath, making his cock stiffen even more.
“Where did you get this?” Gene asks, looking up at Ray’s face.
“I, uh… I borrowed it.”
“From Carol?” Gene’s brows shoot up high on his forehead.
“Y-yeah. But don’t say anything to her. She has no idea.”
“You really stole these from her, so you could wear it for me?” Gene can’t help himself—he rests his palms over Ray’s chest, feeling the soft fabric on his skin.
“Basically, yeah.” Ray shrugs. “But I’m gonna need to give it back, so she doesn’t suspect anything.”
“How are you gonna do that? When I might mess you all up?” Gene leans closer, resting his lips on the side of Ray’s neck. Ray shivers under his touch.
“Just be careful, okay?” Ray sets his palms on Gene’s shoulders. “That’s why I wore new shoes with this all, so I don’t get the stockings dirty.”
Gene chuckles, breathing in Ray’s scent. “And that’s why you made sure to take a shower right away, too. I get it. But I still need to see the rest…”