What Happens on the Cruise

56. Stand By Me

Tim made his way to the bathroom, stopping every few steps to get his body under control. He relieved himself, then washed his hands, staring at himself in the mirror. If someone had told him a year ago that he would be the sort to own and use sex toys -- plural -- he would have laughed at the thought. But here he was.

"Hey," Austin's soft, sleep laden voice drew him from his musings. Austin leaned on the bathroom door jamb looking tousled and yet still irresistible. "You need me to take it out, babe?"

Tim shook his head. "I'm okay."

Austin stepped behind him and slipped his arms around Tim's waist, kissing the spectacular hickey at the join of Tim's neck and shoulder. "Just thinking about what it's doing to you turns me on."

"Maybe we should get you one."

"Mmhm. I actually thought about ordering two." One of Austin's hands began rubbing Tim's abdomen, tantalizingly close to the waistband of Tim's pajama pants. "So sexy."

"... you realize ... time it is?" Chris's voice demanded from next door.

They could hear Adam's voice answer, but couldn't make out the words.

"I've been laying here worried sick about you!"

Once again Adam's reply was too low to hear.

Austin and Tim's eyes met in the mirror, concerned. "Should we go over?" Austin asked in a low voice.

"... can't believe... do this to Ericha."

"Do what to Ericha?"

"Oh, come on, Adam! You've been in his room for hours." Chris's voice was accusatory.

"Their room. And it's none of your fucking business."

"Yeah," Tim said, "I think we may need to intervene."

Rob and Allen were standing outside the brothers' door looking hesitant. Austin shouldered past and knocked loudly.

Rob gave Tim a quizzical look. "Why are you walking so funny?" Then he slapped his forehead. "Never mind. I don't want to know."

Adam jerked the door open. "What?"

"We heard you two arguing," Austin said. "Is everything all right?"

"No," Chris answered. "No, it isn't."

Adam let out an exasperated sigh and stepped back, gesturing for them to come in.

"What's going on?" Tim asked, settling onto the sofa and shifting uncomfortably, trying to ease the pressure of the toy inside him.

"He just came back from spending most of the night with Jaimie," Chris said, "in his hotel room."

"Their hotel room."

"Seriously, you're going to get stuck on pronouns instead of the main point that you spent most of the night with Jaimie?"

"Nothing happened."

"Nothing happened? You were with him, sorry, with them for hours and nothing happened?"

"Okay, obviously some things happened, but not what you're accusing me of."

"Then what did you do?"

"Why do you need to know?"

"Oh, I don't know, maybe because you're being so cagey about it," Chris shot back.

"Maybe we could tone down the accusations," Tim suggested.

Rob turned to Adam. "It's none of our business what you and your old flame have been up to tonight, but you know we try to hold each other up and be accountable."