Mindy slipped behind the bar, wrapping a hand over Candy’s shoulder and whispering something in her ear.Mindy poured several servings of liquor and brought them over.
“To success,” she said, raising her glass.
They cheered her and downed the shot.Whiskey burned Ry’s throat.They took two more shots in a row, each one burning and sending warmth through Ry’s skin.Mindy played a mean game of pool and, over the next two hours, challenged them all to a match.One by one, she cleared the table and left each of them in the dust.Still light and fuzzy, Ry tugged at Alex.
“Let’s get out of here and celebrate at home,” he said.
Alex’s lips curled, and he winked at Ry.“As you wish.”
They exchanged goodbyes, leaving Brand and Lon to the vibrant chaos of Mindy and her friends, a kaleidoscope of colors.Those two would be more than fine.
The laughter faded as he and his boyfriend made it a couple of feet up the street, the warm, pulsing beat of the music softening with each step.The pair walked to the back of the Libra, where Alex had parked their car and stored some of the gear.Ry got in the passenger side, and Alex started up the car.
Soon, they were pulling out of the parking lot and onto the road toward the two-bedroom apartment they all co-occupied.Alex and Ry occupied the smaller room.
Alex reached out.“We’ve come a long way since that talent show.”
“Yeah.”Ry squeezed his boyfriend’s hand.“You shredded out there.”He made absurd guitar noises until Alex laughed.
Alex headed down the street they lived on.“Ry, your performance was incredible.I have never been so turned on, or so proud of you.”
Ry's cheeks flushed, a wide, uncontainable smile spreading across his face.No matter how many times his boyfriend complimented him, he always felt gooey and undone.Alex pulled into the apartment complex, the buildings hinted at by the lights from the windows, and parked.Ry got out and stretched.Alex came around the car and leaned down to nuzzle him.
Ry gave into the kiss, the weight of Alex pressed up against him, warm and supple, willing.Ry reached up and ran his fingers through Alex’s hair, the coarse texture familiar and comforting.
“We should take this inside,” Ry said, throaty.“Or we might be arrested for all the indecent things I wanna do to you.”
“Is that a promise?”Alex’s voice was also thick with desire, and Ry wanted very much to climb his boyfriend like a tree.
“Mmm-hmm,” Ry said, grabbing his hand and pulling him toward the apartment.
“Hey, I’m not done kissing you,” Alex said, sounding wounded.“And we have to bring in stuff.”
“You and I are wearing too many clothes.”
“Ry,” Alex whined.“Come on.One more kiss.And the gear.I promise.”
“Fine.”Ry yielded to Alex pulling him back and settled into a long kiss, the thumps in his ear counting the eternities until their lips parted.
Breathless, Alex let go, his grin lopsided.“Grab the guitar and the bass.I’ll get the amps.”
“And don’t hurt your babies, I know.”Ry rolled his eyes but grabbed the instruments and secured them over his shoulder.He led Alex to the apartment, key at the ready.
Ry unlocked the entryway, set down the guitar and bass in their stands, and Alex set the gear in the corner where it lived.He then closed the door and jumped into Alex’s embrace, wrapping his legs around his boyfriend.Instinctively, Alex’s arms came up to support him, and their mouths crashed together.
Alex stumbled a bit and found a wall to lean against.
Ry focused all his attention on Alex: his body, his lips.Alex tasted of the whiskey they had.Their tongues fought for dominance and for space: for anything possible to merge them into a single being, desperate for oneness.
Alex switched positions, pressing Ry against the wall, still eye-to-eye, Ry’s legs wrapped tight around his hips.Ry tried to pull Alex closer, but their jeans, thick and clumsy, separated them too much.
But he could endure the clothes while Alex rocked into him, promising pressure and pleasure.Ry relaxed and let the man press into him.Ry, burning, flicked his tongue into Alex’s mouth, inviting him in more.Alex, knowing all his cues, pressed harder.
Ry longed to rid himself of pants and release Alex’s dick that poked into his leg.When Ry got a moment of clarity, he tugged on Alex’s shirt insistently, loosening his leg’s grip.
Alex backed up and let him down gracefully.Ry, leaning against the jamb, watched in the dim light as Alex peeled his t-shirt off.No matter how many times he’d seen his boyfriend naked or shirtless, he always lost breath.
Ry stared, drinking in every hard line, every curve, every bit of skin.Alex pulled the shirt over his head and threw it to the ground.
