What Happens on the Cruise

5. Let's Get It On

Tim: That was the sound of your zipper, wasn't it?

Chris nods.

Tim: Not as sexy as I've imagined.

***

"I have no idea how you can eat any bacon, let alone that much," Austin complained, nodding at the pile of bacon on Tim's plate. "The smell of it is making my stomach roll."

"Sorry," Tim answered. "I'll try to eat it quick."

Austin took a delicate bite of toast with strawberry jam. "We are not kissing until you brush your teeth." He looked up to see a woman at the next table staring at them. "You got a problem?" he demanded irritably.

"Austin," Tim spoke a low warning, then smiled at the woman. She quickly returned her attention to her food.

"Hey, guys! Fancy seeing you here!" Rob said, walking up to the table.

"Ow ow owowow!" Austin covered his ears.

"Rob," Tim growled, "hangover voice."

"Oops. Sorry," Rob whispered, sliding into the chair next to Tim and immediately snatching a strip of bacon.

Tim dumped a handful onto a napkin and slid it toward Rob.

"You're sharing your bacon? What's wrong with it?" Rob asked, looking suspiciously at the proffered meat.

"The smell is bothering Austin."

"And?" Rob asked, raising his eyebrows.

"And I'm being thoughtful," Tim answered.

"Wow. When's the wedding?" Rob teased, elbowing Tim.

"Just eat your bacon," Tim growled.

"I need something to drink. You guys need a refill?"

"Coffee," Austin muttered. "Black. Two sugars."

"That's your third cup. You aren't going to be able to nap," Tim commented.

"Actually caffeine makes me drowsy."

"Wow, that's weird," Rob said, as he stood up to head to the carafes. "Tim, anything?"

"I'm good," Tim answered.

"Good morning," Chris's voice rang out. "Oooo, bacon."

Austin dropped his head to the table, lightly banging his forehead in rhythm. "Can I just die now?"

***

"I held my nose, I closed my eyes," Matt sang.

"I took a drink," Tim came in low. He spotted Austin slipping in the door, still in his theatrical makeup, the bag in which he carried his change of clothes slung over his shoulder, and gave a brief nod.

Austin smiled and waved, then found an empty table at the back.

***

"Hey, you came back. You must really like us," Matt teased as he grabbed a chair at Austin's table.

Austin's eyes slid to where Tim and Chris were talking to a couple of audience members. "I really do," he admitted quietly.

Matt considered the younger man. "Well, there might be an opening coming up."

Austin's eyes widened. "Really?"

"Yeah. For a tenor."

Austin glanced over to where Rob was talking animatedly with Adam. He'd fallen in love with the man's silky voice, almost as much as he loved Tim's chest-rattling bass. He'd really relish singing with the bear of a man. "You or Rob?" he asked.

"Me," Matt answered. "My wife and I are trying for a family, and the touring life isn't really great for raising kids."

Austin nodded, taking a shaky breath. "Do you think I'd have a chance of taking your place?"

Matt considered him. "You have such amazing potential for a career on Broadway. Right now Home Free is paying the bills, but it's pretty tight."

"I don't care about being a Broadway star. I want to be in a band. I've always wanted to be in a band, going on the road, just hanging out, and making amazing music."

"Well. Wow," Matt said. "If you're serious, I'll bring it up to the guys."

"I'm dead serious," Austin answered.

"Hey, Austin," Chris greeted. "Joining us in another night of drunken revelry?"

"I'm stopping at two," Austin answered. "I've learned my lesson."

"Hello," Tim nodded, conveniently dropping into the chair next to Austin. "Who's hungry?"

"I'm thinking the bacon cheeseburger with blue cheese," Austin answered.

"Sounds good." Tim smiled at the tenor, his foot brushing against Austin's under the table.

***

They had barely gotten in the door of Tim's cabin before Austin had pressed him against the wall, his lips finding Tim's. They kissed, exploring each other's mouths as their hands mapped the other's body. Austin broke the kiss. "You have no idea how hard it was to keep my hands off you," he breathed, then pressed his mouth to Tim's throat.

Tim hummed in pleasure, then took Austin's arms and gently pushed him away.

Austin gave him a stunned look. "What--?"

"We need to talk before we get beyond the ability to think."

"You're not having second thoughts, are you?"

Tim shook his head. "No. But I've never done anything with another man. And I also don't know what you're into specifically."

"Right, right." Austin stepped back, stuffing his hands in his pockets as if to keep them off Tim. "Well, I'm pretty vanilla. Frottage, jerking off, oral, anal. Also just a whole lotta kissing and petting if you're not up to, you know, sex."

"Like we did last night," Tim said.

Austin shrugged. "Sorry, I still don't remember it."

"Um. When you say anal -- not that I'm suggesting we should start out with that -- but, um... Pitching or catching -- is that how you phrase it?"

Austin snorted. "That's one way. Yeah, either. I'm pretty open to anything that doesn't hurt anyone."

"So... I suppose you're... experienced there."

Austin shrugged. "Sort of?"

"When you say 'sort of' what are talking? About how many times have you, um, done that with a guy?"

Austin shifted uncomfortably. "With a guy? Never."

Tim blinked and shook his head. "But last night you were so... adamant that you wanted me to... How would you know...?"

"I had a girlfriend in college who got curious about pegging. And, yeah, it's... it's pretty fun."

Tim nodded. "Okay. Well that's cleared up."

Austin took his hand. "Let's take this to the bed, shall we?"

Tim let out a nervous breath. "Okay."

"We'll go slow," Austin assured him. "I promise I'll stop if you get uncomfortable."

Austin led Tim to the bed and sat him down, kissing him quickly. "Give me a sec, I'm going to go get this makeup off." Austin headed into bathroom, taking just a few minutes before emerging fresh-faced and grabbing the bag he had with him. He unzipped it and pulled out a large box of condoms and a tube of lube and set them on the bedside table. "Just in case. Better to be prepared." He turned, pushing Tim down to the bed while he slid on top. He grinned down at Tim, his nose wrinkling in a way that Tim was beginning to find really cute. "Now where were we?"