Alabaster
by Shannon McKinnon

It was a beautiful Autumn Saturday afternoon, and Ray and Benny were putting the day to good use. They were in the backyard of Rosa’s house, raking up the seemingly endless amount of leaves covering the back yard.

It was strenuous work, and despite the relatively cool day, both men had built up a sweat before long. Ray pulled his sweatshirt over his head and tossed it aside, and smiled as he saw Benny doing the same.

“It’s a good thing the leaves don’t fall in the summer, Benny,” Ray said, wiping the sweat from his brow.

“Mmmmm,” Ben replied absently, turning his face towards the sun.

Ray smiled and shook his head. He stared at his lover for a moment, then headed into the house. “I’ll be right back, Benny. I’m just going to get the suntan lotion.”

Ben looked over at him in surprise. “What for, Ray? You never burn.”

“No, but you do. The sun’s at its height right now. If we don’t get some suntan lotion on that pasty skin of yours, you’ll burn to a crisp.”

Ray was walking away from Benny towards the house, so he didn’t notice his lover stiffen and stare after him; and didn’t see his expression darken.

When Ray came back out into the yard, Ben was wearing his sweatshirt again and was energetically raking leaves.

“Benny?” Ray asked, walking over to him. “What are you doing?”

“I’m raking leaves, Ray,” Ben answered, his voice distinctly cool. “That should be obvious.”

“No, I mean why did you put your shirt back on?”

“I thought it would be prudent. After all, it wouldn’t be safe to have my ‘pasty’ skin exposed to the harsh sunlight, now would it?” Ben’s voice was sullen, and he turned further away from Ray and continued to rake the leaves with a good deal of vigor.

Ray squeezed his eyes shut. Oh, shit... “Benny? Come on. You know I didn’t mean anything by that. I was just teasing.”

There was no answer as Ben continued raking the leaves.

“Come on, Benny! Stop being so sensitive!” Even as those words were leaving his mouth, Ray realized that it was probably the wrong thing to say at that moment in time. Boy, he was on a roll today.

Ben dropped his rake into the pile of leaves and whirled around to face Ray. “Sensitive? You insult me and I get upset, and you call me sensitive?”

“I wasn’t insulting you, Benny! I didn’t mean to, anyway. I’m sorry.”

“I thought you liked my skin, Ray.”

With a heroic effort, Ray held back a sigh. Christ. He was dealing with Benny in full sulk mode now. With a quick prayer, Ray prepared to tiptoe through the mine field.

“I do, Benny.”

“The other night you told me that my skin ‘shone like alabaster in the moonlight.’ Or were you just trying to get me into bed?”

“Benny, we already were in bed.”

Ben didn’t smile, but he came close. Ray stepped closer and pushed the sweatshirt up Ben’s body. “Come on, love, take this thing off. It’s too hot for you to keep wearing it.”

Ben looked like he was wavering, and Ray smiled. “I’ll put the suntan lotion on you,” he said, waving the bottle.

With a reluctant smile, Ben pulled the sweatshirt over his head and let it drop to the ground.

“That’s better,” Ray smiled. He unscrewed the lid from the bottle and squeezed some of the lotion into his palm. He rubbed the lotion into both hands, then stepped behind Benny and began applying it to Ben’s back.

“I do like your skin, Benny,” Ray said, running his hands in a slow, lazy caress over Benny’s back and shoulders. “It’s so soft and smooth.”

Ray’s hands continued to work over Ben’s back, even though the lotion should have been amply applied by now. He squeezed some more of the lotion into his hands and rubbed it into Ben’s shoulders, then down his arms. “Silky,” Ray whispered, placing a kiss against Ben’s neck.

Ben jumped slightly. “Do you really think so?” He asked, his voice just a little bit husky.

“Absolutely,” Ray answered. He moved to stand in front of Benny, and began working the lotion over Ben’s chest.

“Silky,” Ray whispered, his hands and his voice both a caress. “Smooth, pale, beautiful...” He leaned forward and placed kiss on the side of Ben’s neck.

“And it smells so good,” Ray whispered, his voice muffled against Ben’s skin. All hint of teasing was gone from his voice now. He felt Benny swallow, then gentle hands were placed on either side of his head, and his face was lifted until he was looking directly into Benny’s face.

“Really?” Ben whispered.

“Really.”

“I’m very glad you think so, Ray,” Benny said, his lips nearly on top of Ray’s. “Thank you kindly.”

“Don’t mention it,” Ray whispered back. “It was nothing, really. I-”

His words were cut off as Benny covered his mouth with a kiss. Ray wrapped his arms around Benny, and the two men fell to the ground; scattering the pile of leaves they had so carefully raked up just a little while before.

THE END