From Morocco to Paris (30 page)

The crowd “Awwed” and clapped, and Zane smiled, even though he wanted to dive under the nearest table. He felt Davey’s fingers tangle with his and he squeezed Zane’s hand.

“Now, let’s have a party!” Elliot said. “No more fucking speeches, Saul!”

The crowd laughed and cheered, and Saul lifted his glass with a grin.

Zane met Elliot coming off the stage and hugged him. “Thanks for putting me on the spot,” Zane said. “Jerk.”

Elliot drew back, smiling. He patted Zane’s shoulders. “You’re officially unemployed at midnight, I thought it was the least I could do.”

As they walked away, Davey smiled at Zane, eyes sparkling. “You know, you keep going down this road and you might turn out to be a decent human being. Are you sure you want that kind of reputation?”

“You’re right, it’s time to drink and make an ass out of myself. Maybe I can break something if I try.”

“Why don’t you meet me back at the hotel in a little bit? I can’t handle another all-night party.”

Zane made sure not to get entangled in any lengthy conversations. The hotel they were staying in, a fifteen-minute cab ride away, looked quaint on the outside but was quite contemporary inside. Their room -- white, spacious, and modern -- had a huge bed with a red quilted bedspread. Zane couldn’t wait to get back to it and into Davey’s arms.

Davey arrived at the hotel shortly after Zane. Zane met him at the door and pressed him up against the wall. They made out like teenagers, sucking hungrily at each other’s mouths, hands everywhere, over and under each other’s clothes, in each other’s hair. Davey felt warm and pliant, his scent made of desire and everything good in the world.

“Just tell me I can have you forever,” Zane whispered, tracing his thumb over Davey’s wet lips. “Even if it’s not true.”

“You can have me forever.” Davey’s voice sounded tight. “And it’s the truth.”

Zane stepped back. Davey bent over and tugged one of his boots off, then the other. Zane waited, and when Davey stood upright again, Zane grabbed the bottom of Davey’s shirt and tugged it up and off. Davey hadn’t even lowered his arms before Zane started kissing him again. Davey grabbed the bottom of Zane’s shirt as well and yanked; Zane only broke the kiss to take it off.

They finally stopped kissing, and Zane stared into his eyes. The overhead light glowed in those blue depths, making them shimmer.

Davey said softly, “Zane. I need to tell you -- “

Zane stopped him with another kiss. “Don’t say anything,” he murmured against his mouth. “Don’t talk.” He stroked his fingers through Davey’s hair. “Just touch me,” Zane whispered, desperate, on the verge of a frightening emotional outburst. “Please.”

Davey touched him, running his fingertips gently over Zane’s skin, over his arms and shoulders and chest, and then down to his stomach.

Zane undid Davey’s pants, feeling not so much horny as needy. The intimacy seemed more important than sex. Zane held him, just held him, for a few minutes, clutching Davey so tightly he heard his labored breath against his ear. Davey didn’t try to pull away though, just clung to him.

“I want you to touch me too,” Davey whispered. “Touch me everywhere.”

Zane gladly slid his hands over him, kissing Davey’s bare shoulder, and the first real spark of arousal was ignited, a slow-spreading warmth low in his belly. Zane gripped the top of Davey’s pants and pushed them down. Davey wore plain white briefs underneath, and Zane pushed those down as well.

“So nice,” Zane whispered. He slipped his hands onto Davey’s hips, slender and narrow, but just enough flesh there to soften any sharp angles.

Davey hooked a finger in the top of Zane’s pants and tugged. “You’re telling me,” he breathed.

Zane slid his hand around Davey’s cock, so very silky and firm. Davey undid Zane’s pants and pushed them down as well. Zane wanted to pause and take them off, but he also wanted to keep stroking.

“I’m gonna miss your hands,” Davey murmured, skimming his fingers over Zane’s belly. He then slid them down to Zane’s groin, where his cock rose stiff and wanting as well. “I’m gonna miss everything,” Davey said. Zane’s cock twitched as Davey gripped him.

After a few heated minutes of mutual stroking, Davey grabbed Zane’s wrist and gently stilled him. He then bent over and started removing his own pants and underwear the rest of the way, along with his socks. Zane waited, touching Davey’s hair, not wanting to lose contact. Davey tossed his clothes to the side.

Zane wanted to draw him over to the bed, but Davey fell to his knees. He clutched Zane’s hips and looked up at him, and Zane gasped as Davey pulled him forward.

“Davey, fuck,” Zane said.

Davey cupped the head of Zane’s cock, enclosing it in the damp warmth of his palm. Then he replaced his hand with his mouth, infinitely hotter and better. Zane curled his fingers in Davey’s hair, his balance betraying him.

“Let me sit down,” Zane implored breathily. “I like what you’re doing, but I don’t want to fall over on you.”

Davey slipped his mouth off and sat back on his heels. Zane struggled out of his shoes, pants, and underwear, and walked to the bed. He sat down heavily, gazing at Davey, still kneeling by the door. Davey didn’t get up, just crawled across the carpet, slinking toward him. The sight made Zane’s cock throb.

“Christ, I’m gonna miss you,” Zane said.

“I know.”

Davey went back to work with his mouth, swallowing him, bobbing his head slowly. He flexed his fingers on Zane’s thighs, soft sounds issuing from his throat and vibrating along the shaft. Zane threaded his fingers in Davey’s hair and leaned back, resting on his other hand. He curled his toes against the rough weave of the carpet. He told himself not to come, not yet.

Zane slid his hand out of Davey’s hair and stroked his fingers down his face, tracing his jaw, feeling the prickly stubble there, then across his cheek, flexing with his movements. Zane wanted to pull him up and cradle his face and kiss him over and over.

“Don’t do that all night,” Zane said. “I want more.”

Davey bobbed his head a few more times, and then slid his mouth off and wrapped his fingers around the base. He looked up at Zane and dragged his tongue slowly up the length of the shaft, all the way to the head. He gave the crown a slow, swirling lick and then a parting suck. All this he did without breaking eye contact. Zane thought he would either scream or burst into an unmanly display of tears.

“Davey.” Zane trembled, touching his hair again, his shoulders, his face.

Davey nuzzled his palm.”I’m here,” he whispered. He moved up Zane’s body.

On the bed, entangled, Zane wanted to touch every part of him at once, legs wrapped around Davey’s waist, hands everywhere, mouth on his face and neck. Davey squirmed against him, demanding and possessive, as if he were trying to rub his very essence on him. Zane adjusted his hips and ground their cocks together, seeking sensation, wanting the heat, the contact. Davey made a soft sound and pushed against Zane harder.

The intensity of the encounter stilled the world around them, filling the room, filling them. Everything else fell away as Zane’s focus narrowed and sharpened. Davey crawled on top of him, their hips still grinding, kissing heatedly. Zane sucked at his tongue and Davey moaned against his lips.

“We need something,” Zane murmured, still trying to kiss Davey’s mouth as Davey drew away. “I don’t have…I didn’t…”

“I have some lube in my bag,” Davey said. “I’ll get it.”

“Prepared, are you?” Zane smiled as Davey crawled off the bed. Zane watched him walk, naked and glorious, over to his bag in a chair by the window.

“I’m always prepared.”

He returned with a small bottle. A faintly oily smell filled the air as Zane coated two of his fingers. He found Davey hot and tight inside, just like always. Zane kissed the back of his neck, tasting the tang of his sweat and listening to his soft gasps against the pillow.

After a minute, Zane slipped his fingers out and added more lube. He wanted Davey nice and slick and perfectly comfortable.

“I’m really gonna miss that,” Davey murmured. Then he gasped. “Oh.” A shudder passed through him as Zane reinserted his fingers. He lifted his hips from the bed.

Zane prepared him on his stomach, but he wanted to look at him during the actual sex. At Zane’s urging, Davey rolled over and drew his knees up. He found purchase with his heels above Zane’s hipbones. Davey took the lube and slicked Zane’s cock, hand over hand. Zane shivered and twitched, holding himself up on his arms. Davey gazed up at him, eyes wide and shimmering. Zane leaned down and kissed him passionately. Davey released his cock and tilted his hips up.

“I’m ready,” Davey whispered.

Zane thought he would die sliding in. He gritted his teeth to keep from crying out. Davey held his breath, then let it out in a long, low moan when Zane pushed past the resistance and sunk fully into him.

“God,” Davey whispered. He hissed softly. “Ah!”

“Does it hurt?” Zane made himself hold still. He tried to stop the trembling already taking over his body.

“Just a little,” Davey said. “I’ll be all right. Go on.”

With a little adjusting, they found a comfortable position for both of them. Zane lowered himself onto Davey as much as he could, elbows on the bed, and started a slow rhythm. Davey wrapped his legs around Zane’s back, heels digging into the base of his spine. Zane wasn’t in a hurry. He wanted to keep Davey there for as long as he could, feel him inside and out, cling to him, enclose him.

Davey’s breath came quick and shallow, punctuated by soft moans against Zane’s ear. Zane’s eyes burned and he had to squeeze them shut to keep the tears from falling. His arousal grew high and keen. He rode the pleasure for as long as he could, taking each thrust easy and slow, making love to Davey. At one point he stopped, just holding still inside him. Zane trembled. Davey moved his hands lazily over his back and shoulders.

“I love that,” Davey whispered. “When you get like this, when you can’t stop shaking.”

Once, Zane hated such vulnerability, but now he didn’t mind so much. He dropped his forehead against Davey’s sweaty shoulder and tried to calm down. His body wanted more, encouraging him to move again.

Davey lifted his hips. “Fuck me now Zane,” he whispered. “One more time.”

Zane obliged, kissing Davey hard, gripping the sheets beneath them. He accelerated the rhythm until he was pounding into Davey, fucking him into the bed, slamming the headboard against the wall. Davey moaned and shrieked into Zane’s mouth, Zane sucking fiercely at his tongue and lips. Davey dug his nails into Zane’s back, heels pushing down hard, forcing Zane in as deep as he could get.

Zane came after only a short time. Davey stroked Zane’s face as he shuddered, convulsing almost, flooding into Davey in a blinding rush of heat. Zane tried to hold back from yelling, but finally emitted a harsh, strangled shout.

“Zane.” Davey wrapped his arms around him.

Zane trembled violently, the spasms in his lower body ceaseless. He bit so hard into his lower lip the flesh throbbed.

“Oh yeah,” Davey said. “That’s a good one.”

Both of them were soaked with sweat. Davey groaned as Zane slid out of him. Wordlessly, Zane moved down his body. Davey hadn’t come yet.

“Zane…”

Davey gasped and gripped Zane’s hair as Zane plunged his mouth over him. Davey’s cock tasted tangy and was thick and solid, spreading Zane’s jaws. Gripping Davey’s hips, Zane bobbed his head, quick and insistent.

“Zane!” His voice sounded breathy and desperate. He pushed his feet against Zane’s sides. It didn’t take long. “Oh God! Yes! Coming!”

Davey came hard, writhing and jerking, and copiously enough Zane had to pull off or risk choking. Zane got an unexpected shot to the face before gaining the presence of mind to cup his hand over the head. He had to hold back a laugh, the intense emotion of the moment finally breaking like a giddy waterfall.

“God, you’re lovely,” Zane whispered and kissed Davey’s quivering thigh.

Afterward, Zane sat next to Davey, cleaning his face with his fingers.

“I think you got some in my hair,” Zane said.

“Sorry,” Davey said, not sounding the least bit apologetic.

Zane sucked his fingers clean. He liked the way Davey tasted. Zane flopped back on the pillows and they sprawled side by side, still panting.

“Damn,” Zane said.

“Yeah, damn.”

They were quiet for a while, slowly calming down.

“We won’t grow apart, will we?” Davey finally asked. He sought out Zane’s hand and laced his fingers through his. “Tell me we won’t.”

“You know I can’t promise that.” Zane squeezed his hand. “You know how life is. But we’ll try. We’ll try damn hard.”

Davey sighed, not a sound of sadness, just resignation. Zane rolled toward him and captured his lips. If these were the last moments, Zane would wring every ounce of passion from them and drink it down. He would keep the taste on his tongue to sustain him. At least for a while.

Davey drew back, smiling. “You’re something remarkable, you know that?”

“I’m glad you thought so.”

“I’m glad you looked past my pushiness and saw the real me.”

“I’m glad you pushed me, so I could see the real me.”

So had come an end and a beginning. The circle was complete, and they were in a huge bed again, looking into each other’s eyes and smiling, only they were different people now, and they belonged to each other.

***

Zane and Davey flew from Paris to New York, then from New York to Los Angeles. This meant their last hours together were spent enduring the hellish, mind-numbing haul of a trans-oceanic, and then trans-continental flight. Zane had no end to look forward to either: as soon as he arrived in Los Angeles, he had to pick up another flight to Seattle, to meet with Saul’s director friend. He spent most of the two long flights, when he wasn’t sleeping or complaining, getting his resume together.

Ian came to pick Davey up at the airport in Los Angeles. Davey planned to stop by his apartment, get his own car, and drive up to San Francisco to meet Troy. Despite their promises to keep in touch, and all the emotion of their last days together, Zane couldn’t help but wonder if he would ever see Davey again. Long distance relationships were normal in the movie business, but failed in as great a number as they occurred. Soon, Zane would be in another place with new friends, having new experiences, and the last three months would fade. Such things had happened before. Relationships were forgotten, feelings dulled.