The birthday party is over, and it's time for the band to crash back at Cameron's place. It's been a good night, and everyone is pleased, but tired. As the others wander off to go to sleep, Ben and Ryan decide to head up to their room as well. But is sleep really on the agenda? See what's going on in this week's chapter of In Pieces. Don't forget to visit the other Briefers and see what's up with them! Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!
Once they ate their fill of the expensive finger foods—lobster
en croute, caviar, and smoked salmon alongside nachos topped with pork and
cheese and jalapeno poppers, as well as small chocolate cakes sprinkled with
gold leaf, not to mention glasses of undoubtedly expensive champagne—they
finished breaking down their equipment and loaded it. Ryan insisted on helping.
He didn’t want to be dead weight. He might not be a member of the band, but as
far as he was concerned, he was one of them, and not some delicate author who
had to be cared for. With everyone’s help, everything was loaded in a short
time.
Once they were finished and had made their farewells to
their hosts, Deacon and Keanu took the van, and everyone else piled into
Cameron’s sedan, Aiden again behind the wheel, with Abby sitting shotgun, and
Ben and Ryan in the back seat. Although
it was well after midnight, the party was still in full swing, although at
least half the guests had already gone home. Ryan assumed the rest either would spend the night, call their
parents, or take an Uber home
A contented silence reigned between them on the trip back to
Mandeville. Abby must have fallen asleep. Ryan saw her leaning against the
passenger window. That was probably why Aiden didn’t bother to turn on the
radio. Ben wrapped his arm about Ryan,
and they snuggled close together. Ryan shut his eyes, focusing on the familiar
feel of Ben, on his intoxicating scent. Oblivious to everything else, he paid
no attention when they crossed over the hated bridge, too wrapped up in Ben to
care. He felt as though he could sit like this forever.
But obviously that wasn’t going to happen. All too soon it
seemed they reached Cameron’s house. As the car slowed, then came to a stop,
Ryan reluctantly straightened. The van was already parked just in front of
them, and its occupants were climbing out. Ryan followed Ben, as Aiden came around and
opened Abby’s door. She leaned sleepily against him.
“If you don’t mind, I’m gonna take Abby upstairs,” Aiden
said.
“Yeah, go ahead. This can wait until morning,” Ben told him.
“Sounds good to me,” Keanu said. He yawned widely. “That was
some party that kid got. I hope he appreciates how lucky he is.”
“Most of them don’t.” Aiden sounded cynical. “Night,
everyone.” He wrapped a supportive arm around Abby, and they headed toward the
house.
“Why don’t we get a night cap?” Keanu suggested. “Cameron’s
got good liquor too. Maybe even better.”
“Let’s not and say we did, loverboy,” Deacon quickly said
before Ben could even respond. “C’mon,
there’s a bed up there that’s calling our name. For purposes of sleep,” he quickly added.
“Damn, man, that’s just cold,” Keanu grumbled, but his words
were muffled by another huge yawn.
“That’s what I thought.” Deacon laughed. “I don’t need to
have you fall asleep on me. Again.”
He came up behind Keanu and wrapped his arms around his waist, nudging him
forward. “And don’t try to tell me otherwise,” he cut off Keanu’s next protest.”
I was there. I know.
Deacon herded Keanu to the front door and inside. Ryan could
hear Keanu continue to grumble until they were out of earshot.
“Did you want a drink or something?” Ben asked. He held
Cameron’s car keys in one hand, jingling them almost restlessly. Ryan noticed
Ben looked away from him, toward the night sky.
“Not unless you do,” Ryan said. “To be honest, I’d just
rather we go to bed.”
Ben shifted his gaze to Ryan. “We?” he said softly.
“Us, yes. You and me, Ben. The way we did before.” Ryan
surprised even himself by his forthrightness. He didn’t want to play games, he
just wanted Ben.
Ben exhaled, as if he’d been holding his breath. “Just you
and me,” he repeated. “I want us to sleep together again. The way we used to. I haven’t slept well at all without you.”
“Me either,” Ryan said sincerely.
Ben laid the palm of one hand against Ryan’s cheek and
stroked it gently. They stood there for
a long moment, absorbed in one another.
“I guess I’ll have to take these robes off first. You wouldn’t
want to see me be defrocked, would you?” he asked cheekily. Ryan couldn’t help
but laugh.
“You’re right, I’m sure the Church would frown on us,
wouldn’t they? They’re not exactly big on their priests having sex. ” Despite
the light banter between them, Ryan’s heart began to thump, knowing that
beneath their words swirled a sensuous undercurrent laden with meaning. “I’ll
help you, if you’d like.”
“Oh, I’d like,” Ben said, closing the gap between them and
kissing Ryan softly, then a little more firmly, finally licking at his lower
lip before pulling back. “This is our night and no one else’s. I don’t care
what happens, I’m not leaving you.” He took Ryan by the hand and led him toward
the door.
Blood was pounding in Ryan’s ears, his heart felt ready to
burst with happiness, and his entire body tingled with anticipation as he
followed Ben inside.
to be continued
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