What Happens on the Cruise

3. I'm Yours

Austin: So the bass song earlier was the one that made me fall in love with Tim -- yeah, I said it -- and then, uh, this song is the one that made me fall in love with Rob. Real... I'm being dead serious here. My heart's pouring out right now.

Chris: Kiss him! Kiss him!

Tim: I'll do it.

Matt: A lot has changed since I was in this group. We never kissed on stage.

***

Austin came awake with a groan. His head was pounding, his mouth tasted like something had died in it, and his body felt like he'd been trampled by a whole herd of buffalo.

Also, there was someone sleeping in his bed. He blinked bleary-eyed and took in the cascade of dark brown hair obscuring the face. He was desperately trying to think of any women he'd met that fit that bill when the person beside him shifted closer and a very distinctive shape pressed against his hip.

"Oh, God!" He bolted upright, his head swimming and stomach churning. What had he done?

Wait. This wasn't even his bed.

Just then he lost the battle with the storm in his stomach and practically fell out of the bed, barely managing to make it into the tiny cubicle of a bathroom in time.

The third time he emptied the dwindling contents of his stomach into the toilet, he felt a hand moving his hair out of his face. He heaved one more time, then sat, groaning.

"Morning," a deep bass voice said very quietly. "All done?"

"I think so," he answered.

"'Kay. Let's get you cleaned up."

He heard the water running, then a glass appeared in front of him. "Swish and spit. Get the worst of it out of your mouth and off your teeth."

He obediently did as he was told while the other man wetted a washcloth. "Got a little bit in your hair," the bass commented, carefully running the washcloth down a few strands of hair. He had really warm, kind brown eyes, Austin thought.

The other man stood and rinsed the washcloth out, then handed it back to him. Austin ran it over his face, moaning as the coolness seemed to take the edge off his pain.

There was a rattle of pills and then Austin was being handed a couple caplets, followed by the cup with more water. "Small sips. Don't want to start another round."

Austin nodded, taking the pills and washing them down with minimal water.

"Can you stand up?" the bass asked, taking the glass back to free his hands.

He got shakily to his feet, realizing he was dressed only in his underwear.

"There's not really anywhere to sit except the bed, but I figure it's more comfortable than the bathroom floor."

Austin chuckled, then winced at the pain. He followed the other man out to the bedroom, realizing the bass was only wearing underwear as well.

The other man settled on the bed, set the glass on the bedside table, and pulled the blanket across his lap. Austin wasn't sure if he was uncomfortable in his semi-nudity or just cold. Austin sat down and grabbed the water, taking a few sips. The silence stretched between them. When he'd emptied the glass, he set it down and looked at the other man. "Ummm..." he started. "Tim... What... What exactly did we do last night?"

Tim smiled and shook his head. "I figured you wouldn't remember."

"Oh, God. Did we...?"

"Have sex? No. Not that there weren't a lot of... very explicit suggestions."

Austin buried his face in his hands. "Sorry."

Tim cleared his throat. "We did do a lot of necking and... things, which I probably should have stopped, but I figured you'd just go to sleep, which you did eventually. So, I'm... I'm sorry."

"But that was it?" Austin asked.

"Yeah. I don't have sex with people without them being able to consent. And you were way too drunk."

Austin let out a sigh of relief. "And you're not going to, you know, beat me up or have a heterosexual freakout or anything?"

There was a moment's silence. Austin looked up and watched a mixture of emotions play over the other man's face. Finally, Tim answered, "Honestly, until last night, I pretty much considered myself straight. I mean, I have a deep and abiding appreciation for the male form, but probably... seventy-five percent of my sexual energy has always been directed at boobs and butts and soft curves."

"So you are going to freak out?" Austin asked.

Tim shook his head. "I enjoyed myself. Nothing life destroying happened. I'm just sorry you don't remember it."

"Maybe we should try again tonight, but sober this time," Austin suggested and then caught his breath at the audacity of his suggestion.

There was a moment's pause while the other man deliberated, then he shrugged. "I guess what happens on the cruise ship stays on the cruise ship, right?"

"Right," Austin agreed.

Tim cupped his cheek and leaned in slowly. Austin closed his eyes as the other man's lips met his.

"Ugh!" Tim gagged, pulling away from the kiss. "Sorry. Kissing someone who's just finished throwing up isn't very romantic."

"Sorry," Austin apologized.

Tim waved away the apology. "Be right back. I've got to brush my teeth and gargle."

Austin fell back on the bed, covering his eyes with his arm to shut out the dim light. "Please, dear God," he thought as he listened to Tim brushing his teeth, "don't let me fuck this up."