Page 115 of Sycopation
“You. Us. The band. Whatever the future holds.” There was a pause and more rustling—Ray was either getting up or sitting down. “I talked to a lawyer today.”
Oh. That was good. Calm settled into Zavier’s bones. Ray was fine. He’d come through and out the other side of this crisis and taken charge. While he so enjoyed taking care of Ray, there werelimits—both for Ray’s good and for Zavier’s. Twisted Wishes wasRay’sband. What Carl did, he’d done toRay. The person to solve all of that couldn’t be Zavier.
He ran a hand through his hair. “Do you have a plan?”
“Yeah. Or at least I know what I want and we’ve talked about what’s most likely and what to aim for.” There was a thump, and Zavier was pretty sure Ray was pacing. “I gave my statement to the police, too. Now it’s just a matter of waiting for wheels to turn and legal people to talk to each other. But we do have them over a barrel, in many ways.”
Well, yes. Carl’s malicious actions had threatened Ray’s life. “Sounds like you have everything in hand.”
A chuckle. “Or at least have found other capable hands to put the problem into.” There was a pause. “Zav, I need you, though. I can do this shit, sure. But having you here—just here in the room—would make all of this so much easier.”
“Moral support.”
“More than moral support. You believe in me. You have since you walked into that audition, even when I was being a little shit to you.”
Zavier rolled onto his side. “Yeah, I do, and I did even back then.” He studied the wrinkles in the sheets. “I wish I were there, Ray, because I’d lay you out on that big hotel bed and show youexactlyhow proud I am of you. How much I believe in you.” Wouldn’t that be a treat? He stroked his hardening length.
There was a groan on the other end of the line. “Shit. How am I supposed to go to bed now?”
“Well, there are a bunch of toys in my bag.”
A laugh. “Is this gonna turn into a phone sex thing? You telling me what to do to get myself off?”
“No.” He kept his voice soft. “I’m really tired. I only slept a couple hours at a truck stop last night.” He’d driven until hunger and exhaustion had taken him off the road. A few hours later, hisbrain—and a couple of eighteen-wheelers lumbering past—had put him back on the road. “And the sooner I wake up tomorrow, the sooner I can come home.”
There was a catch in Ray’s breathing. “That’s twice you’ve saidhome.”
“Yes. You’re home, Ray. Wherever you are.”
Another hitch in Ray’s breathing. “I—feel similar.”
Zavier heard the other words, the ones Ray was tryingso hardnot to say for Zavier’s benefit. It was endearing and a kindness. “You know what I want to fall asleep to?”
“What?”
“The thought of you pulling that dildo out of my bag and banging yourself with it until you come with my name on your lips.”
“Oh fuck.” That came out as a moan.
Zavier chuckled and ran his thumb over the head of his dick. “Can you do that for me?”
“Yeah. I can.”
“Good.” He paused. “Good night, Ray. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Ray exhaled. “Good night, Zav. You’re evil, you know?”
He just laughed and disconnected the call. Yeah, he was. But for all that he was tormenting Ray, he was tormenting himself as well. He set his phone on the nightstand, then delved into the fantasy he’d set for Ray, knowing that in that large hotel room, Ray would be fucking himself senseless.
Zavier came faster than he wanted, pumping his jizz out all over his chest. The orgasm was entirely unfulfilling, except to help exhaust him more. Too tired to get up, he wiped himself off with the bed sheet. Sleep would be an indulgence, and tomorrow?
Tomorrow he’d join Ray in that big hotel bed of his...oftheirs.
Ray wokethe next morning far too early to bother Mish or Dom. Living in what amounted to two hotel rooms without Zavier and without being able to leave was weird and getting uncomfortable. He didn’t venture over to Mish’s or Dom’s rooms, because he didn’t want to intrude on their privacy. They’d had to deal with all of this shit, too—it was the least he could do. He expected they would wander over when they were up and dressed, and they’d all order room service.
Apparently there were less paparazzi hanging around the hotel, but some still lingered. His lawyer had suggested they lay low, as had the cops. So they had.
But the hotel life was wearing thin. He hoped they could figure out what the next steps were soon so they all could move on. At least the label was still paying for the hotel, though Ms. Gonfaus said their firm would pick up costs if the label decided not to pay, and then tack that on to their demands.
