Yeah, he was so not answering that question. He hadn't told Levar much about his burgeoning friendship with Calix. He'd mentioned they had had lunch together, and he might have talked about what they discussed a few times, but he'd made sure not to share too much. Levar would tease him, would try to convince him there was more behind what was happening between Rhett and Calix, and Rhett didn't want that. It felt too fragile, too special, this…connection? Relationship? Friendship, yes, and one that made his belly tingle whenever he thought about it.
"Just watch your movie," Rhett told Levar, who shot him an exasperated look, then obediently turned back to the TV and pressed Play on the remote.
"And just like that, I'm all alone on the couch, cold and lonely," Henley muttered.
"Pretty sure you'll survive." Rhett had little sympathy to spare for him.
He closed his eyes as he visualized the movements he'd watched on the video, then felt with his hands until he found the exact position the massage therapist in the video had demonstrated. Two thumbs on the first vertebrae and then slowly move downward.
He didn't put pressure on his fingers until he was certain he’d positioned them correctly, and then he pushed both his thumbs in. Levar's reaction was an immediate groan. "Oh damn, that feels good."
Rhett smiled as he worked his way down Levar's spine, feeling a few small but satisfying pops underneath his thumbs. His chest filled with a sense of triumph. Yes! He'd gotten it right.
Now all he needed was a chance to use his new skills on Calix. His neck had felt awful, so tight and tense. The muscle knots had been easy to spot, even under the raised scars. He hadn't seen them, of course, since Calix hadn't taken his shirt off, but he'd felt them under his fingers. Deep empathy had filled him.
"I take back my previous complaint. Your hands are magical, and I'll take my shirt off for you anytime," Levar said.
"What about me?" Henley complained. "Why don't I ever get to be your test subject?"
Oh. Okay. Did he want to massage Henley? So far, he had just used Levar. They'd been roommates and best friends since college and were intimately familiar with each other's bodies. Ever since the Pride Bombing, their friendship had taken on a whole new dimension. Rhett trusted no one like he did Levar, and that made it easy to practice on him.
But Henley? As much as he liked him, he didn't really know Henley. Sure, they'd hung out over the last few weeks, but that wasn't nearly long enough to forge the same kind of intimacy he had with Levar. Would it be strange to massage him? Would Levar be okay with it?
"If Levar doesn't mind…" he finally said.
"Levar doesn't mind at all," Levar mumbled, sounding sleepy. "In fact, Levar insists he shares the glorious sensation of your hands with his boyfriend. It would be wrong to keep this magic to himself."
Rhett smiled. "Okay. The glorious part was a little over the top, but we'll go with it."
He used a few more new techniques he'd picked up from the massage videos, and by the time he was done, Levar declared himself a boneless puddle and was half-asleep. As soon he had scrambled to his feet, Henley immediately took his place, and no one had ever undressed as eagerly for Rhett as Henley.
"Should I be worried your boyfriend is that keen to take off his shirt for me?" Rhett teased Levar, who had stretched out on the couch, with an arm flung over his eyes, looking like he had no intention of ever getting up again.
Levar waved his hand. "Once the news of your magical hands spreads, every man will be all too happy to undress for you."
If only that were true. Rhett's first touch was hesitant, but when Henley let out an appreciative moan, he got over his initial reluctance and got to work. He'd bought some baby oil to use as massage oil, and it helped his fingers glide smoothly over Henley's back.
"Oh my God, you weren't kidding," Henley grunted. "This is the best thing ever."
"I know, right?" Levar said. "No offense, baby, but it almost beats sex."
Levar was joking, but that simple remark filled Rhett with pride. Hadn't Calix said the same thing, that it felt better than an orgasm? He loved to do that for him. And who would blame him for wanting to touch him? God, the man was…hot, though that seemed such an inadequate description.
The silver threads in his neatly trimmed hair were so sexy. Rhett loved his brown eyes, which could be sharp and curious but also soft and kind. A scruff might be in fashion these days, but Rhett preferred Calix's clean-shaven face. Even though nothing could ever come from it, he could look. And develop a teeny-tiny crush maybe. Not enough to be embarrassing but just so his belly fluttered whenever Calix talked to him.
Calix didn't know, of course, but he was the very first man Rhett had ever touched that intimately. He still couldn't believe he had pulled it off and hadn't choked on his nerves. He'd been so scared Calix would notice his hesitation, his fear of doing the wrong thing. But he’d received nothing but praise.
Fifteen minutes later, his hands started cramping, and he got up from the couch, telling Henley he was done. Henley scrambled up from the floor and slowly put on his shirt again. Rhett wiped his hands on a wet wipe and startled when Henley stepped in and kissed him on his cheek. "Thank you. That was perfect. My muscles are so much looser and more relaxed."
"Seriously, babe, you should charge for those magic fingers," Levar said.
Rhett glanced the other way. "Thank you for the compliment," he merely said. "I just wanted to learn a new skill."
Levar had to know he wasn't telling the whole truth, but he didn't call him out on it.
"It's probably the worst timing in history after what you just did for us, but Henley and I wanted to discuss something with you," Levar said. Rhett's heart skipped a beat.
He lowered himself onto one of the reading chairs, too scared about what was coming to meet Levar's eyes. Had the time come, the moment he had feared ever since Levar and Henley had become serious? Would they kick him out? The apartment was in Levar's name, as he'd been the one with a stable job.
"Babe, don't worry. I'm not telling you you need to leave," Levar said softly.
Rhett peered from between his lashes. "No?"
"Never." Levar's tone was firm. "I've made it crystal clear to Henley that's not an option. "
Rhett swallowed. "Thank you."
"Not something you need to thank me for. Bros before hoes and all that."
Rhett chuckled.
"Are you calling me a hoe?" Henley asked with fake indignity.
"If the shoe fits…"
"So what is it you wanted to talk to me about?" Rhett asked.
Levar looked at Henley, then back at him. "Henley's mom invited us to share Thanksgiving with her."
"Oh." The word slipped out before he could hold it back. "Of course. You should go."
"Babe…" Levar was so concerned.
Rhett shook his head, closing his eyes. "No. This is not up for debate. You have a boyfriend, and this is what boyfriends do. They share Thanksgiving at their parents' house, not with their sweet, awkward, but clingy roommate."
"You are not clingy," Levar protested.