In The Dark

As Kai became busy with his restaurant, Cliff and Gray were finally able to enjoy some privacy once again. They had to alter their schedules slightly, however. Kai usually set out to open the snack shack at 10 am, then returned to the inn a little past 7 pm. Cliff and Gray struggled to finish their work and be able to meet each other in the bedroom at least by 5 or 6 pm. Sometimes things got in the way, but more often than not, they were able to spend time together.

Unless they were feeling particularly brave on any given day, they usually conducted their business in the bathroom. That way, they could lock it from the inside. Kai didn’t have a key for that. He hadn’t yet come home unexpectedly in the middle of the day, but they figured better safe than sorry, and they did their bests to keep their voices down as they pleasured each other in the shower each evening. The running water also helped to muffle any sounds that they might make in the heat of the moment.

One afternoon, they did attempt to do it in Cliff’s bed, but Gray was so skittish and jumpy at every little noise he imagined he heard outside the door, that they finally had to retreat to the shower after all. Cliff locked the door behind them, as Gray turned on the tap with shaking hands. Cliff turned back to his blonde friend, hugging him from behind and nuzzling his neck comfortingly. “Relax,” he purred.

They stepped under the water together and Gray did indeed relax, letting Cliff kneel in front of him and take his thick hardness into his mouth. Gray stifled a groan as Cliff caressed behind his legs gently, then slipped a finger in and stimulated him from inside. Gray shut his eyes, tangling his fingers in Cliff’s hair as Cliff bobbed his head up and down on him. Gray gritted his teeth, overpowered with incredible sensations, and finally released into Cliff’s willing mouth. Cliff smiled lazily as he swallowed, then slowly stood, stroking his own engorged member.

Gray took a deep breath, regaining his composure, and then he pushed Cliff up against the wall, facing it. He snatched up the washcloth, soaping it up and then moving it down Cliff’s back. Cliff moaned in delight as Gray cleaned him very well, then let the water rinse the soap off. Gray then kneeled behind him, parting his flesh slightly and slipping his tongue in between. Cliff whimpered in pleasure as his eyes rolled back in his head. His chest pressed up against the hard tile, and he brought his hand down to his throbbing hardness, pumping at it as Gray teased him with his tongue. It didn’t take long before he was spurting out onto the tile wall in front of him. He caught his breath as Gray gently kissed at the back of his thighs, then they rinsed everything off and emerged from the shower.

They had a little “safety measure” planned out for the unlikely event that Kai or anyone else might be in their bedroom when they tried to come out of the bathroom. One of them would come out, while the other would hide behind the door and wait for the word that it was clear. They were doing just that, when Cliff stepped out into the bedroom and squeaked as he saw Kai there.

“Oh, it’s you,” Kai said, looking disappointed. “I was looking for Gray, and Ann said he had already come home. Do you know where he is?”

Cliff’s heart pounded as he started to feel panic press down on his chest. He clutched nervously at the towel around his waist. “No! He’s not here!”

Kai frowned and shrugged. “Too bad. I just need him to come take a look at the ice shaver at the snack shack. It’s all seized up and I need someone good at that kind of stuff to take a look at it.”

Cliff swallowed hard. “If…if I see him, I’ll tell him to go there.”

Kai grinned. “All right, man, thanks. I’ll keep looking for him around town.” He started to walk out the door, then stopped and slowly turned around. He pointed by Gray’s bed. “Aren’t those his boots?” He looked up at Cliff with a quizzical look on his face.

Cliff’s mind scrambled, racing for an answer. “He…he…must be wearing his other shoes,” he fibbed, his voice shaky.

Kai shrugged again. “Yeah, I guess so. Well, tell him if you see him.” He left the room with a breezy air, and Cliff quickly rushed forward, locking the door behind him, and then collapsed on his bed, breathing heavily. Gray peeked out from the bathroom and then stepped out as well.

Cliff looked up at him, still shaking a little. “That was close…”

Gray laid next to him on the bed, pulling him in for a hug. They laid together for a moment, and then he sighed deeply as he pushed Cliff away and stood up. “Well, I guess I better get some clothes on and go see about that stupid ice shaver.” He dressed hurriedly, and laced up his boots. “Other shoes…” he chuckled. “I guess I have to get some other shoes, or he’ll start to wonder, huh?”

Cliff shook his head as he got dressed as well. “I get the impression that Kai is a bit of an airhead. I doubt he’ll remember anything that long.”

Gray just smirked and pulled on his hat. “See ya,” he grunted, and turned to go.

“Gray…?” Cliff’s voice piped up, slightly pleading and questioning.

Gray sighed deeply, still facing the door, then turned around and stomped back over to Cliff. He pressed his lips firmly against Cliff’s, who sighed happily. “You kill me,” Gray muttered, but he couldn’t hide the smile that started to curl the edges of his mouth. He kissed Cliff one more time and then headed out the door and down the stairs.

Gray stalked over to the snack shack. He pushed open the flimsy whitewashed door and stepped in. “You wanted something?” he grunted at Kai, who was rolling out pizza dough.

Kai looked up, wiping flour onto his forehead. “Huh?” he said, looking puzzled, and Gray sighed heavily, frustrated by this stupid moron. Kai’s eyes lit up with remembrance. “Oh yeah! The ice shaver is jammed. Can you take a look at it?” Gray nodded in assent, and within a few moments, he had “fixed” the ice shaver. (Kai had been trying to turn the handle the wrong way.)

“Aw, thanks man. Sorry about that. I can be such a doofus sometimes.” Kai laughed.

“You got that right,” Gray snorted under his breath, and turned to leave.

“Wait, man!” Kai piped up, motioning at Gray to come back. Gray rolled his eyes and walked back up to the counter, pulling his hat low on his eyes to hide his annoyance. “You hungry? I could make you something. You know, to pay you back for having to come out here.” Kai asked.

Gray sighed. “Ann feeds me at the inn. I’ll be fine.” Kai looked disappointed, and Gray sighed again and sat down on a stool. “All right…” he muttered in defeat. He looked up at the menu board, and his eyes lit up to see baked corn was an item. That was his favorite food. He ordered it, and Kai set to work buttering up an ear and throwing it on the grill. Gray just sat in silence and watched him cook.

“So, man, you don’t talk much, do ya?” Gray didn’t respond, and Kai chuckled. “That’s what I thought. You got a girlfriend?”

Gray clenched his fists on the countertop. “…No,” he grunted.

Kai clucked his tongue. “Why not, man? Girls are the spice of life! Yow!” He flipped the corn excitedly. Gray refused to answer, and Kai shrugged. “You’re missing out man, missing out! But that’s fine, it’s just more ladies for me! Oh yeah!” He flipped the corn again, gesturing wildly with his spatula. Gray seethed silently, weighing in his head whether getting to eat free baked corn was worth having to sit and listen to this worthless fool blather on and on.

Kai turned on him, his eyes glittering. “Like in this town, there’s this one chick, Popuri. She is crazy hot! We mess around every year when I come around. Damn, she’s fine. And she just turned 18! Yow! Now she’s fair game!” Kai proceeded to detail all the things he planned to do to her, and Gray scowled in revulsion. He almost stood up to go, but Kai placed the corn in front of him, and it smelled too good to resist. Gray sat back down and bit into it. Kai beamed. “Good, huh?”

Gray grunted something in reply, and Kai nodded, turning his attention to some dishes that needed washing. “So yeah, anyway, she lives with her uptight brother, so we’ll probably have to use the inn. If you ever see my bandanna tied around the doorknob, it means steer clear! There’s some funky business happening in there!” Gray just snorted. Why should he give the guy any privacy? He sure didn’t return the favor.

As if Kai was reading his mind, he spoke up. “If you ever do get a girlfriend, you know, you can set up a method too. Like…hang your hat on the doorknob, and I’ll stay out. Got it?” Gray looked at him, actually musing this idea as rather useful. He and Cliff could finally get some privacy. Kai waggled a finger at him, snapping him out of his daze. “But, like, no all night sessions. I don’t want to have to sleep on the floor in here because you’re hogging the room all night.” Gray rolled his eyes. Damn, that would be awesome if he could keep the idiot out all night. But, oh well.

Kai continued to run his mouth. “That other dude…Cliff…I’m trying to think what he could put on the doorknob if he needed the room…” My hat, Gray smirked to himself, but hid his smile. Kai finally shrugged. “Nah, it probably doesn’t matter. That dude doesn’t really look like he’ll be bringing home a girlfriend any time soon. More like he’d be someone’s girlfriend!” Kai roared with laughter at his own joke, and Gray stood abruptly, throwing his wadded up napkin on the counter and stalking out.

“Damn, he’s a cold dude…” Kai said to himself as the door slammed behind him.