After The Beach

Written February 1, 1999
by Bast

"Come on H, let's head on out," Rafe said, gathering up the scattered dishes and left over food.

"Sure," H said agreeably, helping pack things back into the cooler.

That done, they walked back to Rafe's Mustang, and loaded it up. Rafe started the car and drove carefully out of the parking lot. Silence stretched between them, and finally Rafe glanced at his partner. "Thanks a lot for coming with me, H," he said with a small smile. "It gets kinda old going to everything by myself."

"Hey, I had a great time. But Jim sure was uptight, wasn't he?" H looked over at Rafe for a second, then looked away. "Thought you and Hairboy were dating."

Rafe laughed. "I asked him out, yeah. He went, we had a good time... but... he didn't want to see me anymore."

"Why?" Henri asked, full of curiosity.

"Said I wasn't his type. That he wanted to be friends," Rafe said with a grimace. "That's okay, he really isn't my type either. I was just lonely." He reddened, and stared at the road, his hands tightening on the steering wheel.

"Why?" H looked back at Rafe. "You ain't hard on the eyes, or anything. It seems like a lot of guys would want you."

"Want me to take you home?" Rafe said with a smile. "Ah, but no one ever asks me out."

"Nah, thought we were hanging together. I brought clothes so I could change at your place – unless you don't want me to come over, I mean," H said, watching Rafe carefully.

"No, that’s fine, you know I like you coming over," Rafe said with his easy smile.

"What do you mean, no one asks you out?" H said, his mind going back to Rafe's comment.

Rafe shrugged. "Just what I said."

"I can't believe that, man," Brown said with a frown.

Rafe shrugged and smiled, watching for a break in the traffic so he could pull into the parking lot of his condo. Parking in front of Rafe's condo, they unloaded the Mustang and went inside. "Oh, man, I forgot about her," Brown said, watching as the poodle jumped up and down, trying to get their attention.

"What's wrong with Furbaby?" Rafe asked indignantly, picking up his pet.

"Errr... nothing," Brown said staring at the little chocolate brown poodle in Rafe's arms. She was wearing red toenail polish and red bows on her ears and a rhinestone studded red collar. "Nothing at all."

"You can take a shower first, H," Rafe said, kissing his dog.

"Great," H said, grabbing his duffel bag. Heading to the bathroom, he heard Rafe murmuring endearments to his dog as he began to unpack the cooler and he grinned.

Feeling better now that the salt water was cleaned off, H headed back out of the bathroom. He heard Rafe talking on the phone, and his partner sounded angry. "I told you, no! Quit calling me, okay?" Rafe was starting to yell. "I don't care, Trent."

H walked into the laundry room, and watched Rafe load the washer while he argued with whoever Trent was. Handing Rafe his wet trunks, he crossed his arms and waited for his partner to get off the phone.

"Trent, please listen to me... I am not interested," Rafe said, sounding like he was at the end of his rope as he hung up the phone.

"Sounds like he wants to date you," H said with a smile.

"Yeah, he does. What a thrill," Rafe rolled his eyes. "We dated for, oh, about a year."

"Wow," Henri offered. "What happened?"

"Long story, H," Rafe said softly. "I'm gonna take a shower."

"Okay," Henri said with a smile, heading into the living room.

Half-hour later, they were both sitting in the living room, Furbaby sitting on Rafe's lap. He petted her absentmindedly, obviously off in another world.

"So, you going to tell me about him?" H said, taking a drink of his soda.

"Who?" Rafe asked, his face blank until comprehension dawned. "Oh. Trent?"

"Yeah. What's the story?" Henri pressed his partner for details.

Rafe looked away. Then he softly spoke. "I loved him. He was a jerk. We broke up. End of story."

"No way. That’s not everything, is it? Why is he calling you?" H started to get angry, well aware Rafe wasn't telling him everything.

"He just does sometimes," Rafe said, his face reddening.

"Fine. You don't want to tell me, just say so, Bri. No need to lie to me!" Henri said, draining his soda and standing up.

"I'm not lying! Where are you going?" Rafe scrambled off the couch, following H as he made his way to the front door.

"Going home," H said, his hand outstretched towards the doorknob.

"Why?" Rafe sounded upset, and Henri turned to look at him, frowning.

"Because. I thought we were important to each other. I thought we told each other things, things we've never told anyone."

Rafe sighed and leaned against the wall. "But...."

"No buts! It's all or nothing! I thought you trusted me!" Henri said sadly, his hand now on the brass doorknob.

"I do. But... the person I was then with Trent, is gone – I'm different now," Rafe grabbed H's arm.

"What do ya mean?" Henri asked looking at the anguished look on Rafe's face. "Different how?"

Rafe hung his head, and sighed. "Come on, I'll tell you. Let's go sit down."

Henri followed Rafe to the living room and sat down, a stubborn look on his face. "I just want to know, Brian. There's something you ain't telling me."

"Okay! Damn! He used to beat me, okay?" Rafe yelled, his fists balled at his sides.

"He did what?" Henri stared aghast at his partner.

"He use to hit on me. Broke my arm once. Went to jail. That's why he hasn't called in so long... he was in jail." Rafe frowned, hating to have to tell this story.

"You mean, when I met you and your arm was broken back in the spring you lied to me? This asshole hurt you and you didn't tell me?" H jumped up.

"Yeah... I lied! How you think it made me feel?" Rafe shouted, standing face to face with H.

"I don't know! How can I ever know? You lied to me, Brian! You lied to me!" H yelled back.

"What? What was I supposed to say? Oh, yeah, H…by the way, I got the shit beat out of me again by my boyfriend? Come on!" Rafe turned away. "You don't even know how embarrassed I was. You were my new partner – hell, you know how most people look at me down at the station – 'fairyboy', and now I get partnered with you, and I don't want to mess it up. You never looked down on me, or made fun of me, or anything!" Rafe began to walk towards the back of the condo.

"Why would I make fun of you? Why would I not want to know what's up with you?" H said, following Rafe. Furbaby ran after the two men.

"Because I'm gay! You know how much shit I've had to put up with? Do you?" Rafe said quietly, with a touch of anger.

"But... we're partners, Brian. You can't shut me out... you can't!" H pleaded, touching Rafe's back.

"Don't... don't touch me, H," Rafe said. "Please don't." His face was pale and his voice anguished.

"Why?" Henri looked at his hand and back at his partner, confused.

"Because..." Rafe whispered. "I'll want more... I..."

"Rafe... Bri... come here," Henri turned Rafe around to face him. "You know I'm straight, right? I mean, I've never..."

"Yes, Henri. I know... and that's why I asked you to please not touch me.... I don't want to want you! I just can't help it!" Rafe said helplessly. "I think maybe you and I should ask Simon for new partners. Or I'll just take a desk job."

"What?" Henri stood looking at Rafe, not believing what he was hearing. "You don't want to be my partner anymore?"

Rafe swallowed, closed his eyes, and shook his head. "No."

"Why?" Henri pleaded. "Why? I like being your partner. I like…"

"I can't go on like this, Henri!" Rafe said. "It's too hard, wanting, needing, and being close to you. Hell, when you hugged me at the beach I could have..." Hanging his head, he blushed.

Henri stepped closer. "Could've what?"

"Please, H..." Rafe backed up, bumping against the wall, the glass candleholders rattling.

"Yea?" Soon they were face to face, chest to chest.

Rafe whimpered as Henri's strong hands stroked his face. The large man smiled at his slim partner. "What I was saying, Bri, was that even though I've never thought about any other man the way I think of you, I don't have a problem being with you – I don't want to let you go." Henri's lips covered Rafe's and pulled him into a sweet and gentle kiss.

Rafe stood there, panting, his eyes bright and his body shaking when Henri released him. Rafe swayed back and forth, and Henri laughed. "You okay Bri?" Henri asked softly, patting Rafe's arm.

"F-f-fine..." Rafe stuttered.

"You don't look fine..." Henri peered at his partner worriedly.

"I'm fine... why'd you do that?" Rafe whispered, his fingers running across his lips.

" 'Cause I like you... I've wanted to kiss you forever!" Henri laughed at the surprised look on Rafe’s face.

"Why?" Rafe said, sounding bewildered.

"What do you mean, why? I told you - besides, why not? You're funny, and nice, and smell good! And, last but not least," Henri laughed. "You are good looking, you know...."

Rafe stood there, blushing. "Come on, H, you don't want to do this...."

"Sure I do. Why wouldn't I want to?" H sounded surprised.

"Because you're straight!" Rafe shook his head.

"I don't give a damn about labels, Bri. Never have. What? What're ya going to be saying next? You can't sleep with me 'cause I'm black?" Henri backed away from his partner, starting to turn and go back down the hall.

"No!" Rafe said, grabbing Henri's arm. "You know I don't look at you like that!"

"Then what do you see?" Henri turned to look at his partner again. " 'Cause I don't even understand why you can't see I care about you! Why you think I'm always buying shit for you? I even take that dog of yours to the groomers... anything you need or want, I try to do for you."

"I just... I mean, I don’t want things messed up between us." Rafe stared helplessly at Henri, feeling like he just fell down the rabbit hole in Alice in Wonderland.

"Messed up how? Ain’t nothing gonna be messed up." Henri took Rafe's hands and led him into the bedroom. "Let me..." His mouth began to nibble at Rafe's neck as his hands pulled at the tee shirt that the other man was wearing. Slowly, Rafe allowed himself to touch what he had thought forbidden all along, and soon they were both half clothed, laying on the bed, their hands and mouths exploring each other as their pants and moans filled the room.

Rafe found himself flat on his back as Henri pulling Rafe's shorts down, throwing them to the floor. Murmuring appreciatively, he began to lick and kiss the inside of Rafe's legs. Rafe gripped Henri's head, moaning as Henri's tongue licked around the crown of his uncut cock, licking away the dripping pre-come. "Please, Henri, please...."

Standing up, H pulled off his shorts and threw them on the floor with Rafe's. Staring down at Rafe's body, he lightly touched his lover. "You are so beautiful, Bri," he murmured.

"Come be with me, Henri," Rafe said, holding his arms out.

Together, they held each other close as they resumed kissing. Their bodies pressed against each other, and soon, they were moving against each other, their cocks bumping and sliding. "Please, Henri...please..." Rafe pulled away and rummaged in a drawer. Handing Henri lube, and a condom, he flipped over onto his stomach. "Please, Henri, I need you so bad...."

"Yeah..." Henri sighed happily, slowly preparing Rafe, kissing his lover's back as his fingers moved inside the other man. Sliding the condom on his cock, he lubed it up, and held Rafe's hips. "Are you ready, Bri?"

"Oh, god… yes! Come on H!" Rafe said, moving under Henri's hands.

Carefully, Henri slid inside his new lover. "Oh, Bri..." H sighed, as he slowly began to move. "Want it to be good for you, Bri... come on, Bri, talk to me."

"Can't... wantcha to move faster, come on," Rafe said, stroking his cock in time with Henri's faster strokes.

Soon, all too soon, the sounds of their flesh moving together was ended by their orgasms, as they collapsed together on the bed. Henri gently pulled out of his lover, and carefully removed the condom. Pulling Rafe close, H held him tight. Their breathing quieted, and they lay together, Henri stroking Rafe's hair. "Did I make it good for you, Bri? I didn't hurt you, did I?" H asked anxiously.

"Oh, H... better than I ever even imagined." Rafe said, cuddling closer.

"You imagined?" Henri asked with a smile.

"Yeah, I imagined!" Rafe laughed, and turned over to look down into Henri's face. "You don't mind?"

"No, not at all," Henri laughed.

"Good." Rafe lay back down and felt Henri's arms wrap tight around him. "That's nice."

"Yeah, yeah it is." Henri said, kissing the top of Rafe's head. "We did good together, didn't we partner?"

"Always, H, always."

End – After the Beach