SEBASTIAN WOKE to knocking at their front door. “Blast!” He sat up and pulled on his pants, as Ray did the same. “Your friends have caught us with our pants down. Literally.” What a wonderful first impression that will make.
“Don’t worry. I am sure they’ll just think we are taking longer to get to the door because we are older,” Ray assured him.
“What? I was hoping they’d think we were being naughty.” Sebastian winked.
Ray grinned. “Do you want everyone to know what I did to you?”
“Well, not the details, mind you, but a little envy goes a long way.”
Sebastian followed his lover down the stairs as he finished straightening the last of his clothing. Ray went to the door, and Sebastian stood behind him, waiting to be introduced. He’d never met these people. Ray had told him he wanted Sebastian all to himself before the two friends arrived to “check him out.”
Now Sebastian buried his hands in his pockets to keep from twisting them together. He stole a quick glance in the hall mirror. He looked… fresh, pink-cheeked, and happy.
Good Lord, Ray made him so happy he glowed with it. Or perhaps it was that just-been-fucked look. Would they know? Could they tell? Sebastian groaned.
Ray opened the door, and Sebastian listened to welcomes in French. He took a deep breath. These were some of Ray’s dearest friends here in France, and he wanted to make a good impression.
Ray let in two men about the same age as them, although in France one never knew exact ages.
“Sebastian, these are two of my oldest and dearest friends—Emil D’arcy and Jean-Paul Thibaud.”
They exchanged kisses on each cheek and shook his hand in a warm welcome.
“Bon! It is good to meet you. Ray has told us so much about you.” Emil, the shorter of the two, spoke excellent English.
“Pleased to meet you,” Sebastian replied. When had Ray spoken to them? Not while they were here. Perhaps from New Orleans? But it pleased him that Ray had told his friends about him.
“And I can see he’s spoken the truth,” Jean-Paul added as he handed Ray a bottle of wine. “He is very handsome, non?” He batted his eyelashes at Sebastian.
Sebastian blushed. “Why, thank you. I’ve always relied on the kindness of strangers,” he drawled.
Ray took Sebastian’s arm. “I promise you, there are no strangers here. Only good friends.” He led the way into the living room. “Drinks?”
Emil went straight to the bar, as if he knew the place well. “Are you still stocking that wonderful brandy?” He took four glasses down as he searched the bottles. “Here it is!” He held it up, then poured them each a glass.
They settled down for a chat, Emil and Jean-Paul in chairs opposite the couch Sebastian and Ray shared. Ray wrapped his arm around Sebastian, in a clear show of staking his claim.
It was silly, but it made Sebastian happy. He put his hand on Ray’s thigh, at ease now with showing his lover affection.
They asked him questions, mostly about what he’d seen, and he told them the places Ray had taken him. Ray got up to check on dinner, then came back in and shooed them all to the dining room.
Jean-Paul opened the wine he’d brought and filled their glasses. Sebastian hadn’t gotten any better handling wine, but at least this was a Chardonnay. No headache, if he kept it to one glass.
Ray brought out the casserole, uncovered the chicken stew to many “ohhs” and “ahhs,” then went back for the crusty baguette of white French bread Sebastian had bought in the village.
The conversation continued as dinner was eaten and more wine poured as the evening passed. Sebastian laughed, held hands with Ray, and truly enjoyed his new friends. It was a pleasant evening. Ray got up to take their plates to the kitchen and bring out his dessert, a fresh fruit tart.
Emil leaned over to Sebastian. “I’m so glad he’s found you. For a while I thought he’d never get over losing Claude.”
Jean-Paul shook his head and made tutting sounds, but it seemed as if he were more sad for Ray than for the loss of Claude.
“I’m glad. He’s helped me to break out of my shell too. After my partner Frank died, well, I was merely going through the motions of living.”
“Bon! And you are happy? I can see it in your eyes when you look at our dear friend.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever been happier,” Sebastian admitted.
“And Ray too.” Jean-Paul made a funny noise. “Claude.”
“Shhh. Don’t speak ill of the dead,” Emil warned him, taking a quick glance at the door to the kitchen.
Sebastian’s interest was piqued, to say the least. “Didn’t you like Claude?” He’d never heard Ray say anything bad about him, only that they had been fighting at the end.
Emil swatted at Jean-Paul with his napkin. “Idiot! See what you’ve started.”
Jean-Paul ducked. “Pardon, Sebastian. I spoke out of turn.”
“Oh no. You can’t drop a bomb like that and then expect not to explain.” Sebastian gave them each a hard glare. “Tell me. Is this something I should know?”
Perhaps if he’d known more about Claude and Ray, he might not have upset Ray today or would have been able to handle it better.
“Claude was….” Emil searched for a word, probably translating from French into English. “A bitch.” It sounded like “ah bee-itch.”
“Oui, a bitch.” Jean-Paul nodded. “Quelle bitch!” He waved his hands in the air and rolled his eyes.
“I can’t understand that. Ray is so loving, so kind and wonderful.”
“Oui. And Claude used it, wore the life out of our dear boy.” Emil frowned. “I’m sorry he died, but it was for the best. There, I’ve said it.” He slapped the table and looked at Jean-Paul as if defying him to contradict him.
“And now our prayers have been answered. Ray has found you.” Jean-Paul took Sebastian’s hand. “And you two are in love. I can tell; you both have the look of love on your faces.”
“Ray and Claude? Did they have the look too?” he asked, not really wanting to know.
“Non. Ray had the look, always, even at the end. Claude?” Emil made a rude noise.
“At first, I think.” Jean-Paul was much more generous. “Then, after a while, the look disappeared. Poof! From then on, he used Ray. And his money.” Jean-Paul’s eyes narrowed and his full lips pursed.
“We shouldn’t be telling him this. Ray would be very upset with us, ma petit.” Emil took Jean-Paul’s hand and gave it a quick kiss.
Sebastian hadn’t realized they were lovers until then. Ray hadn’t mentioned they were anything more than dear friends.
“How long have you two been together?” he asked.
“Forever.” Jean-Paul sighed.
“It only seems like it, pet.” Emil leaned over and kissed Jean-Paul’s cheek. “It has been not long enough.”
Jean-Paul blushed.
Ray returned and placed the tart on the table, and an awkward silence fell. Ray looked at them, head cocked to the side, then opened his mouth to speak.
“Honey, it’s lovely,” Sebastian blurted before Ray could get a word out.
“You’ve outdone yourself, Raymond,” Emil exclaimed. “It’s beautiful.”
Jean-Paul clapped in agreement. “Tres bon!”
“Thank you.” Ray grinned at Sebastian. “I have been inspired to cook again.”
“Ah, love will do that, my friend.” Emil smiled at Sebastian and raised his wine glass. “A toast!”
All the glasses went into the air, ready for the toast. Sebastian’s glass still had most of the first wine he’d been served, but among the others, they had drained the bottle.
“To old love. It only gets better with age.” Emil clinked his glass to Jean-Paul’s, who blushed. “To new love. May it blossom into old love.” Emil and Jean-Paul bumped glasses with Sebastian and Ray. “And may we never have our hearts broken!” Emil drank from his glass, and the others followed.
Sebastian looked at Ray over the rim of his glass as he sipped. The man looked so happy. Sebastian had put that look on his face—that look of love—and he swelled with pride.
He raised his glass again. “To love in old age. The love worth waiting for.”
Instead of touching his glass to Sebastian’s, Ray reached out and pulled Sebastian in for a kiss. Sebastian wrapped his arms around Ray and kissed him back as Emil cheered and Jean-Paul clapped.