Parting them from the kiss, catching his breath that Ray had stolen from his lungs, he caressed the side of his face and brushed the dark locks away that had stuck to his tanned skin.

"Marry me."

The same way he'd frozen in the restaurant when Kai had mentioned the ring in the glass Ray hovered over him and just stared back for a second.

It was a blatant joke before. A joke he was surprised someone like Kai would make to begin with but had done regardless. The smirk that had been on his face reassuring him of the fact entirely but with Kai's expression seeming deadly serious now he wasn't sure how to take it this time round.

The evening had been perfect, and this moment even more so but he didn't want to jump the gun here and make himself look an idiot just in case.

"Very funny, Kai..."

"Who said I was being funny?" Kai asked, hand still gently caressing the side of Ray's face as his stubborn bangs kept falling back in his way.

"You're being serious right now?" Ray dared to ask, his heart starting to beat faster in his chest at what all this was quickly developing in to though still held back in case Kai was an extremely good actor.

Kai's brows furrowed a little, when wasn't he serious?

"If you don't want to, that's fine. We don't have to be married." He tried to diffuse. Maybe he took one leap too far.

Ray cupped Kai's face and roughly pressed his lips against his, unable to hold back the giddiness now before breaking off from him just as quick as he'd kissed him.

"You're not kidding." He stated aloud though was more for himself. "You really want to marry me..."

Ray held onto his face, staring at him and taking in his gorgeous features in disbelief before his own eyes started to water some.

"Ask me again..."

Kai was just as confused as he was amused, a soft chuckle escaping him as he copied Ray and cupped his face in his hands. Their eyes locking though one pair wet and the other dry, yet again with no hint of joking in them.

"Marry me."

The lump in Ray's throat swelled to the point that all he could do was violently nod down to him, eyes squeezing shut causing the tears to escape and trickle down his tanned cheeks before pressing their foreheads together and sniffling.

"Why are you crying?" Kai asked as he went to rubbing his back and holding him close again.

Ray shrugged his shoulders before sitting himself up to wipe at his eyes. "J-just, because I feel like I-I've known for a while, as crazy as that sounds, that one day I-I'd want to marry you... And when you'd said about the ring in the glass at-at the restaurant for a second I thought that was it." He explained through his happy tears before going on to then laugh a little.

"But then I-I realised it was probably too soon to think like that, a-and I don't know, I guess I'm just relieved you feel the same way!"

Kai smiled faintly at him, wiping the tears with the pad of his thumb best he could. He hadn't meant to make him cry, happy tears or not, but was elated to know Ray felt the same way.

"Is a bit soon, I'll admit, but then again this whole thing has been. And I love you, want to spend the rest of my life with you and take care of you and Thomas. So I promise I'll do better, for the both of you."

Ray returned the smile with one of his own before lying back onto his chest, sharing another tender kiss and snuggling into Kai's neck.

"You better... 'Cos I'm not going anywhere now. That's it. No take backs."

Kai smiled, arms wrapped around him again and placed a kiss to the top of Ray's head. Entire chest swelling as they lay together embraced and wrapped around one another.

He had everything he ever wanted right there, of course he wasn't going to take any of it back.

Things were good. Really. Really good.

After a few more minutes of just laying and wrapped around together, the events of the entire night fresh in their minds, Ray sat himself up off Kai's chest again and grabbed the little plate with their cheesecake still sat there waiting for them.

Kai pushed himself up to sit against the bed more as Ray passed him his fork, the plate being held between them as Ray sat as close as he could beside him, pulling the messed up sheets to the bed to cover his still naked and chilled lower half.

After a few bites of the cake between them, the silence more peaceful than it had been since Christmas, Kai swallowed his mouthful and cleared his throat a little, gaining Ray's attention who looked like he'd been sent back up to the clouds while eating the cake.

"You and Lee doing okay then? Said you went over there and got the rest of your things."

Ray nodded as he chewed the bite in his mouth, face not showing but he was caught off guard by the question. Yet, seeing as how he really didn't give a full run down of his encounter with Lee he wasn't all that surprised Kai had pressed for further information.

"Yeah, I'd say we're better than we were before he called me." He answered with a slow nod of his head, "I'm not that surprised, ya know though, just because in the end I really am all he has left."

Kai nodded back to him, letting Ray's words circle the air about them and set the fork he'd been using back down on the plate, shifting to roll on his side to face Ray better with a hand propping his head up on the bed.

Although he'd never really pried before about Ray's past, nor had Ray seemed to question his, he figured now was as good a time as ever to really get to know him (he just proposed after all) and felt like they'd taken a giant leap over all that without having it brought up before.

Not that he could really blame one or the other, their pasts didn't matter that much in the grand scheme of things, but after everything having been going on fast forward between them to the rest of the issues and events that had transpired in between, he really did want to know more about Ray before he got the pleasure of meeting him.

"How did that happen exactly? He mentioned it to me before, the last time him and I spoke at his place, said that your family kicked you both out." He spoke almost softly just in case Ray wasn't particularly keen on telling him any of it, and he didn't have to if he didn't want to, he wasn't going to press if that was the case.

"Oh… That." It'd taken a moment for Ray to even form any kind of words after Kai had asked him, and not because he didn't want to tell him as he'd been past it for a long time, just the timing seemed a bit odd after everything else.

"Well…" He started, setting the plate with the last few bites of their cheesecake down over his legs, smacking his lips together and focused on nothing in particular across the bed from him.

"How far should I go back?" He managed to ask in a slight chuckle, finally turning his head back to Kai who gave him a lopsided shrug.

"However far you want? And you don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I wasn't meaning to pry."

Ray waved him off, "It's fine. Really I don't mind." He laughed off again and went back into thought for a second as Kai watched him quietly.

"My grandparents immigrated over here before my father, so second generation here I suppose." He pointed at himself, the awkward laugh still caught in the back of his throat.

"And well, they're old fashioned. Always have been. Dad met mom when they were in college, popped me out a few years later. And when I say I come from a big family I mean BIG. There's so many of us it's ridiculous, but I'm an only child which is surprising really since all my aunts and uncles have at least three or more.

"Anyways… I wasn't out for almost all of my childhood. Wasn't something I really wanted out in the open, given how my family is, ya know? So kept it in, though I'm sure some had their suspicions for a long time." He stopped to take a breath, moving his hair from his face and Kai almost cut in to tell him to stop if it was bothering him yet Ray cut over him before he could.

"Remember back at Tala's when I mentioned the quarterback and the lake house?" He asked, looking back to Kai for a moment who gave another slow nod of his head.

"Well… Funny story about that… Got caught." Ray laughed awkwardly again, twirling a strand of his hair around a finger, his gaze breaking away from Kai's to the space above his head.

"So naturally, parents were called and told what their once straight A and 'straight' son had done behind the bleachers at the football game.- "So wait, your first… Whatever, was with this guy at the football game?" Kai finally cut over, shifting on his side just to get more comfortable.

"Thought you said the guy who broke you in was Mark?"

"Oh, he was." Ray nodded back quickly with a wobbly smile on his face, "That was at the lake house, same night. Drake was just more of a test drive if you will. He'd been eyeing me past few weeks leading up to the game and I had been eyeing him. He actually approached me."

Kai ran his tongue along the front of his teeth, "I see…." He tried not to sound bitter but they both heard it loud and clear in his tone that was quickly washed away by the sound of Ray chuckling beside him.

"Actually, you know what's hysterical? Drake's girlfriend, who was the one that found us by the way, is also Mark's sister!" He howled, clearly finding the entire thing hilarious but Kai wasn't laughing or even cracking a faint smile.

He gave Ray a minute to calm, shifting again and wondering why he bothered to open his mouth at all now. He was not enjoying this story time.

"Anyways… Drake's girlfriend was the one that ratted us out, like I said she was pissed to find her boytoy with his cock down my throat, and so of course word spread around school that following week, got to the higher ups and to my parents.

"Got home that Wednesday from school and they were both home, which was already a red flag for me because they're never home and so was already on edge the second I got through the door. Lo and behold though, it wasn't just them." Ray explained more now that his laughing fit had subsided, tone going back to his earlier uncertain one.

"The entire family was there, like some gay intervention or something, so naturally Lee was there too when they all sat me down and demanded answers. At this point I was so overwhelmed with everything already, and they clearly knew what had happened so I just came clean and shrugged my shoulders at them and said, and I quote, 'sorry to disappoint but I like cock'." He shrugged his shoulders to emphasize, tone almost harboring on sarcastic now and the grand reveal finally made Kai snort a little at the nonchalance of it all.

"After that, everyone was down my throat about it. Yelling and screaming to the point I just couldn't take it. I've been called a lot of things in my life, but none had ever cut like their words did that day." Ray continued, tone lowering and the distraught Kai could hear in it made him sit right up, pulling Ray into his side and running his hands down his back and into his hair.

Ray laid against him, swallowing the lump in his throat as his fingers curled against Kai's bare stomach and let the sound of his heartbeat soothe the upset he felt swelling in him.

"You don't have to keep telling me, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked." Kai cooed down to him, caressing his hair still and placing a soft kiss to the top of Ray's head.

"No. It's okay. Good to talk about it…" Ray answered back in a wavering tone, gearing himself up for the rest with a deep inhale and letting it out slowly as he stayed in Kai's embrace.

"I don't remember everything that was said, there were too many people yelling to remember it all, but by the end of it all I was given a single duffel bag shoved into my arms and told I had ten minutes to get out… So I did…"

"I'm sorry that happened to you." Kai apologized, placing more soft kisses to the top of Ray's head.

"It's okay… Lee followed me out the door after I got everything I thought I might need, and they didn't even try to get him back on their side. Just let him go with me. Been ten years since." He finally finished, laying against Kai for a bit longer before he pulled away and wiped at his eyes with the back of his hand.

"He was already getting into college, being older than me, so I did what I had to do and get a job. Was lucky enough to pass as older than what I was and got a job working the poles, even at sixteen, was good money and helped Lee with his schooling and put a roof over our heads.

"He was not impressed by my choice of a job, but it kept us going until he was able to graduate and end up where he is now. But by then, I'd already made plenty of money of my own, was now eighteen and could do whatever I wanted too. But I stuck to it, moved from one place to the next because of the issues going on at the old, not that the next place was better or anything mind you." He chuckled a little again, picking back up his fork and picking at the cheesecake still sat on his lap.

"Wasn't until boss man got a bit too touchy feely with me that I called it quits, went and got my bartending license shortly after that and had moved out from Lee's place so I could try and be an adult on my own. That's when I met Michael and all that other good stuff." He seemed to wave away his own words, popping in the mangled piece of cheesecake he'd been picking at while talking.

"The rest, as they say, is history and this is where I am now." He finished after swallowing the piece he'd chucked down the hatch.

"And are you happy?" Was all Kai could think of to say back.

After the past week of him being nothing but an asshole to him he felt it even harder now. He knew it wasn't his, or even Ray's fault, for what had happened to him but that didn't mean he didn't feel bad or sorry for all that he'd been put through.

Ray's head snapped back towards him, that question really catching him off guard. Did he not seem happy to Kai?

"Of course I am. What would make you think I wasn't?"

Kai's shoulders went up a little, "Could have done anything you wanted, still can, and you chose to stick around in my messes. Just, figured I'd ask."

Ray sighed through his nose, once more setting the fork back down on the plate on his lap before just moving it to the side table on his side of the bed before throwing his leg over Kai's waist to sit on him. Cupping the pale face in his hands, their eyes locking from his perch and not missing how Kai's hands had quickly moved to his hips to hold him.

"I am happy, Kai. Not just because of what you can give me either, it was never about the money or anything like that. I fell in love with you, after I got to know you much better than those first few nights at work. I'm not expecting our lives to be- and no laughing at this- sunshine and rainbows all the time. We have a little boy to care for, have each other to care for on top of you running a business and dealing with your own issues.

"My past has nothing to do with where we are now. It's not the one that's biting us in the ass right now, after all, so I'm here and I'm here to stay." He said as firmly as he could, hoping his words would actually sink in Kai's sometimes thick head.

Kai could only attempt a nod at him with his face still cupped in Ray's hands, his own having come up and settling over Ray's as he looked at him and offered a small smile at him where he sat on his lap.

"I don't want you to go anywhere."

"I'm not." Ray confirmed again, and as if sealing and cementing his words, he leaned in and pressed their lips together tenderly, hands brushing along Kai's jawline to the back of his head, fingers tangling in the darker strands resting along his shoulders and neck.

Kai softly moaned into it, pulling Ray closer by the back of his neck to deepen it and opened his mouth in invitation that Ray took almost instantly the second he felt Kai parting his lips for him.

Already the night had been wonderful, he honestly couldn't have asked for a better night than this one to end such a shitty week. His body only reacting to the way his tongue and Kai's tangled together in the other's mouth, his own low sounds starting to emit as they kept the slow, and almost lazy, make out session go on until they were so out of breath and lightheaded that they needed to part.

Together, their eyes slowly fluttered back open, both glazed over in another lust induced haze as their hearts beat faster collectively in their chests. Although the heat of the room had shot down considerably for a while now they both could feel it beginning to rise again around them.

"I love you." Kai's breath was haggard, already on the verge of beginning to pant and before Ray could respond back to him Kai had pulled the two of them back together in another slow and lazy kiss.

Once again, Ray's body lit up, his cock laying hard against Kai's stomach between them and beginning to feel the swell of Kai's own reawakened organ pressing into his thigh now that he teasingly rubbed and rocked against.

Neither really cared for the time, knowing it was beyond ten at least now. It wasn't the plan to keep going, though they weren't even sure if there had been a plan to start with so didn't care all that much when Ray's back was gently placed down on the bed again with Kai hovering over him and kissing him just as senseless as before.

The second he could, the moment Kai's mouth detached from his and started to work down his face to his neck, Ray's eyes closed and another breathy moan escaped him as his hands went all up and down Kai's back.

"I love you too." He breathed out in a sigh almost, a hiss passing soon after as Kai's teeth nipped at his neck and then collar bone and shoulder.

Sitting up between Ray's parted legs, Kai's eyes raked down him shamelessly and licked his lips a little where the taste of Ray lingered on them.

"Take it off." He commanded, once more in a haggard breath and moving more away so Ray could sit up more properly to discard the only piece of attire he'd been sporting all along.

Doing as he'd been told, the chained chest harness slipped off and was left on the floor, Kai having gone off the bed to wiggle out of the sweats he'd put on not even an hour ago only to come right back on the bed between Ray's legs.

Using his weight he laid the other down onto his back again, lips pressed together in that tender and gentle touch as his own hips began to move where it rubbed their trapped cocks together between them, heavier and deeper breaths beginning to expel into the other's mouth now with the heat around the room climbing higher and higher.

Holding back with everything he could, Kai kept the slow pace that had seemed to entrap them, savoring every breath and small moan from Ray under him, loving and only getting more riled every time the other writhed and lifted up to grind against him back.

There was a small sharp stinging sensation along his back where Ray's nails dragged down his skin, yet the sting was more pleasurable than painful and only set his blood on fire to the point he wasn't going to be able to hold himself back much longer from screwing Ray into the sheets blindly again.

At the moment, Ray didn't even care what kind of pace they were trying to go in, all that mattered to him was that he was wrapped around Kai like he was, feeling more wanted, protected, and loved than he ever felt in his life. Trying to soak in every last bit of Kai's affection that had been absent the past week, lapping it all up as much as he could even with the way his head was spinning and clouding over even further.

Kai could do whatever he wanted and he'd have no complaints. As long as he didn't just up and walk away, he may have a few harsh words for him then.

The pleasurable stings that were radiating down Kai's back, Ray's nails embedded so far into his fair skin it was beginning to tear through, became harsher the lower he went down Ray's body with butterfly kisses till his face was nestled between Ray's thighs and his cock was right there for the taking.

Once more, holding himself back and not even sure why he was at this point, he only gave the weeping head a teasing lick and felt Ray's nails dig in deeper around his shoulder blades that made a hiss pass his own lips.

"Ray..." He breathed out with the hiss.

At that the nails and grip Ray had on him loosened some, running up to Kai's hair instead while his chest had started to heave in anticipation.

"Sorry..." He sheepishly apologized; eyes so heavy now he couldn't even get them open to look down at Kai between his legs yet parted them more for him in invitation.

The movement, although slow and almost not noticeable, caused Kai to chuckle since he did notice and went back in with a slow lick up the underside of Ray's shaft where the hardened flesh twitched under his tongue that he took and swirled over the head in a light and teasing touch.

Ray, beside himself, writhed and moaned before a pathetic whimper escaped his throat the second he could feel Kai pull away. Again.

"Kaiii." He whined, still unable to open his eyes or do more than just lay there as his chest continued to heave in and out on him with the built up anticipation that made him feel like he was fixing to burst.

A coy smirk twitched up Kai's lips at hearing the desperation in Ray's tone, it making his stomach somersault and wind him up to the point he too was fixing to burst.

Without warning he dived down, taking Ray whole again like he had when they first walked through the front door.

The moment he was engulfed, Ray's back arched off the bed, his fingers in Kai's hair twisting around the already disheveled strands as a long and shameless moan rolled from the bottom of his stomach and through his throat the second Kai adopted a steady rhythm against him.

"Oh god... Kai..." He moaned in praise, his sounds bouncing around the room the faster Kai got.

Hallowing his cheeks, expelling his own heavy breaths through his nose to compensate, Kai went down even further till he had all of Ray in his mouth and down his throat. Upping the suction he had as his head, tongue, and bit of teeth, dragged along Ray's still twitching cock and back to the head before going back down.

The hands in his hair pulled and tugged, the stinging sensation coming back though this time in his scalp, egging him to keep going with what he was doing as the body under him continued to writhe and twist about.

Just before Ray was on the brink, Kai pulled away and got another whine for doing so. And if Ray could get his eyes open he'd glare at him but was still unable to do such a simple task as it felt like he was floating on a cloud. Whatever outside noise was nothing but low static inside his head, chest rising and falling faster in more uneven breaths.

With the static currently playing and blocking out everything else in his ears he barely heard the cap to the lube pop open yet knew instantly what was going on when he could feel Kai moving in for the kill shot as his legs were taken up and the tip was at his entrance.

Once again his back rose off the bed, a deep and more satisfied sound coming through him as Kai entered his body, the sheets at his sides getting twisted about like he'd done to Kai's hair earlier as everything hit him at once and he was stretched out as Kai filled him.

In a chorus of moans their names bounced around the room quickly as Kai wasted no time in moving his hips, slowly dragging himself through and back in. The warmth and tightness feeling so much better after having already gone once and he couldn't ever recall having done it twice in a row like this before.

With his own grip around Ray's thighs, that he'd gone and pressed up against his already sweating chest, all thought and anything else that had been in his head was now gone as he drowned in the sounds and sights below him while his hips worked slow for a few thrusts only to amp up for a few sporadic ones that made Ray gasp and cry out louder with his back arching again until Kai slowed back to his more slower and deeper thrusts.

On one hand he loved it all that was being given to him, but his hunger had only soared now as Ray lay under him with a faint blush over his face, mouth opened and eyes closed shut, producing sounds that were the only thing he was focusing on aside from the visual.

He wanted Ray on his back, on his side, on his hands and knees, bouncing on his own cock. The list was long but for now he continued to throw himself inside with Ray on his back and legs held to his chest as he towered over him.

With an unexpected clamp around him, as he drove in with his more sporadic thrusts, he nearly came down over the top of Ray with a cry of pleasure coming out of him that made him seize up almost instantly. Not missing the slight upturn of Ray's still parted mouth like he was trying to smirk.

"That's playing dirty." Kai chuckled in a heavy and deep breath, letting Ray's legs go so he could lay over him.

"You love it." Ray chuckled back, tightening his muscles around Kai again and felt him tense over the top of him as he did.

Pressing a harsh kiss to Ray's mouth, tongue diving in only to pull right back out, he could feel Kai's warm breath against his face but couldn't look at him as he felt drunk and nothing was working on him now to the point he felt almost useless like a sex doll just laying there.

"I love you." Kai said in almost a sing song tone, the amusement clear in his voice.

Ray's lopsided smirk turned more into a lopsided smile, mouth going to respond but was only able to produce another noise as Kai pulled out of him.

"Where you going?" He whined at him, trying his damn hardest to open his eyes this time.

"Want you like this now." Kai simply replied as he flipped Ray over onto his stomach like he was made of paper, hand automatically going to caresses the ass presented before him after moving Ray's hair out of the way.

"Want you to tell me when you're close, okay?" He asked as he eased himself back inside, his grip on Ray's hips firm after pulling him up on his knees while keeping his lower half laid down and dangerously close to the edge of the bed now.

"Okay."

It wasn't long before the room was overcome with their moans and curses flying and bouncing off the walls again, louder this time too and both more than grateful that Thomas wasn't home and that Kai lived in a detached house.

It was one thing being able to lie to a five year old about what he heard at night, but neither were prepared in having to potentially face their neighbors if they were connected to another house beside them.

With Ray clamping around him more and more, the sounds he was producing like music in his ears, it wasn't long before Kai felt his own orgasm just off on the horizon the more he ploughed into Ray from behind.

Pulling himself back out before he lost it all inside his gaping hole, he quickly flipped Ray back around, pulling him to sit up in front of him.

After all the rough manhandling, Ray's heavy eyes finally pried open, sweat running down his flushed face as he gave Kai a curious look.

"Open up." Was the command he'd been given, and without protest he did as he was told and got down enough he could catch Kai's release in his mouth as Kai pumped himself with the tip of his head resting on Ray's swollen lower lip.

Bracing himself on Ray's shoulder with his free hand, the other going relentlessly against himself, his body tensed and he was seeing stars for a second time in the span of a few hours that the moment his orgasm hit him like a bus it took all his willpower not to come crashing down on top of Ray in front of him.

"Hold it." He barely managed to get out of himself as everything was taken by Ray who quickly closed his mouth to do as he was told once more.

Getting quickly pushed back down onto the bed, this time his shoulders and head hanging off the edge of it, Ray did all he could not to open his mouth and cry out as Kai's mouth went down on his cock for a third time like he was starving.

Ray, even with his mouthful, tried to warn him as Kai's head bobbed in a faster rhythm than before, though with him unable to say anything he was left to just whine and moan with his mouth closed as his body tensed and his own orgasm was caught by Kai's mouth.

With another pull and tug, his heavy head lifting up from being upside down where it felt like he'd been shoved underwater, his entire world seemed to spin on its side with just how much Kai kept throwing him around, and before he could even get a hold of himself Kai's mouth was back against his, tongues tangling as the collection of their cum dribbled down the corners of their mouths and mixed together.

He hadn't even really noticed when Kai went to holding his face either but had melted into the kiss as every sense was assaulted by the taste of himself and Kai dancing on his tongue now as most of it had ran down their chins.

Unable to properly breathe, and feeling like he was back underwater, he had to push Kai off him gently to swallow whatever remained in his mouth before inhaling a large gulp of fresh air as he made his eyes open only to find crimson staring back at him worriedly.

"You okay?" Kai panted, wiping the bit of cum and saliva off the corner of Ray's mouth and chin for him.

Ray just nodded to him, talking right now didn't seem like something he could do as he continued to try and catch his breath.

Kai continued to gently caress his face, wiping away whatever else was on him as the cool down seemed to hit them both just as hard as the highs had.

"Are you sure?" Kai pressed as he still hadn't gotten a verbal response from him.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine." Ray finally voiced, it sounding hoarse with how dry his throat had gotten earlier.

"Just... Wow." He chuckled, pulling at his own hair from his sweat drenched skin.

"Where'd you learn to do that?"

Kai huffed a laugh under his breath, head shaking a little. "Just now, actually. Wasn't sure if it would work either. Surprised you were able to hold it."

A coy smirk appeared on Ray's flushed face, "What can I say, man of many talents." He chuckled and flicked the hair he'd pushed off his face behind him.

Kai only laughed harder, "Beginning to see that. Can you stand?"

"I think so." Ray answered, going to throw his legs off the side of the bed as he'd spun himself around.

The second his feet touched the carpet his knees buckled on him and he was forced to sit back down.

"Guess that's a no." He chuckled more to himself.

"It's fine, wait here." Kai said as he flawlessly got up off the bed, disappearing into the bathroom.

Ray arched a brow at the sudden disappearance, it going higher as he could hear the sound of water running shortly after Kai had vanished only for the other to come back out as the water continued to run in the bathroom.

Holding his hand out to the one on the bed, Kai came to stand where Ray was sat.

"C'mon, I'll help you up."

Ray's heart fluttered in his chest as it swelled, placing his hand in Kai's and allowing him to bring him to his feet and steady his weight as his knees went to buckle on him again.

"Bout time I can put this thing to good use." Kai mused as he led the two back into the bathroom where he had left the water to run in the giant garden tub that sat opposite of the shower.

"You mean to tell me you've never used this thing before?" Ray gaped at him as he was helped over to it, whatever Kai had put in the water already enveloping the space of the bathroom as the water continued to rise with the bubbles inside it.

"Not my thing, but since you can't stand." Kai explained with another small laugh from his throat, helping Ray to step over the rim of the tub and down inside it.

"What a gentleman." Ray grinned at him as he lowered down, scooting himself back into the tubs porcelain wall behind him and tapped the top of the bubbles around him for Kai to come in and join him.

Doing as his better half commanded, though had already planned to go in with him just not in front, he eased himself down between Ray's legs, making the water and bubbles around them rise higher yet let the water continue to run.

The second he was down fully in the tight space, Ray having done all he could to make room for him, he wrapped his arms around Kai's shoulders and neck and gently pressed his lips to his skin.

"This has been nice." He whispered against Kai's neck, placing a few more kisses onto him.

"Mmm. Has been." Kai hummed back to him, leaning further back into Ray's embrace and the soft touch of his lips as his mouth trailed from his neck to the rounded part of his shoulder.

"Tell me something about you now." Ray voiced quietly, his hands running over Kai's chest before wrapping around him.

Like Ray had gone and just dropped a toaster in the bath water with them, Kai's eyes that had been slowly falling closed snapped wide open and his body nearly jolted out of the others embrace.

He wracked his brains for something to tell him that wouldn't ultimately make Ray wary of him more than he already should have been given the other things he'd already told him.

Things were nice right now, and if he went and opened his mouth he worried it'd just shatter it all.

"Well... I'm a Leo."

Ray chuckled a little, burying his face in the crook of Kai's neck. "That's not what I meant."

Kai awkwardly chuckled back. He knew that. But again was torn on giving him what he wanted or just finding something else to talk about, though the longer he sat there contemplating it all he realized how unfair it was of him not to open up to him.

He'd gone and asked Ray something personal and got his answer without hesitation, was only fair he did the same he supposed.

"What do you want to know?" He settled on saying instead though, not sure where to even start or what to say.

"Mmmm." Ray seemed to ponder behind him, placing his chin over Kai's shoulder as he shifted a little where he sat.

"Tell me about your family, you've never mentioned them before. Only thing I know is you and Johnny are brother's through marriage. What happened to your biological mom?"

"She died." Came the fast and quick reply that made Ray flinch some behind him.

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"Don't be. Happened a long time ago." Kai cut over, "Was breast cancer."

"Kai… You don't." He was stopped when Kai put a hand up in front to silence him.

Ray had been right in some aspect; it was nice to talk about it. And he couldn't remember the last time he even thought about his parents much less talked about them.

"Was a few years later before my dad met Ava, Johnny's mother. They'd been working together at my grandfather's company, married maybe a year later and then they died too."

"What happened?" Ray couldn't help but press, holding around Kai's chest tighter.

"Plane crash, is what we were told. I was fourteen and Johnny was twelve. Think they'd been married close to ten years. I'm not really sure. Was too busy being shoved in school and tutoring lessons to really know what went on behind closed doors.

"I just remember coming home from school and we were sat down and told like we were being given the weather, and then everything that belonged to them was removed from the house. Like they never existed. Their bodies were never found either." Kai explained in a low breath, running a hand up his face and into his hair where the water dripped from his skin and down his face before he reached over and shut it off from the tap.

"I'm so sorry, Kai." Was all Ray could give him, going for rubbing at his shoulders just because he didn't know what else he could do right now for him.

Sure, it'd been a long time ago, but it wasn't always pleasant bringing up the past like this and he was starting to feel horrible for even asking.

Kai shook his head back at him, muscles relaxing under Ray's hands and let out a sigh.

"It's fine, really. Wasn't particularly close with either of them. They were too busy working for my grandfather to really play parents to us."

"And your grandfather?" Ray asked almost cautiously now.

"Oh, he died about two years ago." Kai answered and Ray couldn't help but notice that Kai sounded… Happy?

"Oh? Just, old age?"

"Heart attack. All alone in his giant mansion with no one there to help him. What the bastard deserved after everything."

A chill, despite the warmth of the water, ran down Ray's spine. He didn't like it when Kai talked like that, or sounded like he did just now, and his mouth opened to go in a different direction but Kai seemed to be on a roll now.

"Ya know, even after everything that asshole did, and no matter how many times I told him I wanted nothing to do with the business, he still put me down on the will for it even after he said he'd taken me off of it the first time I denied him.

"Got the last laugh though, sold it and add that to the inheritance from him and my parents, set for life." He chuckled though it just sent another cold chill down Ray's spine, yet that seemed to answer the question as to where all the money Kai had came from where he could just pass out cars like they were nothing around. On top of having another house that was bigger than the one they were living in currently and who knew what else he had up his sleeves at this point.

"I take it he wasn't a very nice man." Ray mumbled a little, hands falling from Kai's back that got him to turn and look over his shoulder at him.

"You've seen what I can be like this past week, and that's barely the extent of it. Multiply that by forty and that's him… And me too…"

"You're not like that though, Kai. You're really not." Ray tried to defend, "This week was a one off thing, you were having horrible dreams about something that no one could help or change. And yes, I don't appreciate it or the outbursts that went on, but I can understand why it happened. But you're not him."

Although he took to heart everything Ray had said, appreciated the uplift, Kai simply just sent a small smile over his shoulder at him before turning back around to face the other way before he got a crink in his neck and the fact he didn't want to disagree with him.

He knew what he was like. Had been like. Who he was now was the man Ray knew, and although that was a relief in of itself, he still feared what would happen if Ray knew all of him.

"Your turn."

"My turn?" Ray questioned as his brows lifted into his hair line.

"Yeah, tell me something else about you now." Kai urged.

"Oh… Oh! Um…" Even if Kai couldn't see the expression on Ray's face currently, he looked like he'd just been slapped for second as he scrambled to think of something else to tell him.

Maybe something not so depressing either…

"I got my GED when I turned eighteen, since I had to drop out of high school." He offered, "And aced it when I took the test. And getting my bartending license was pretty easy too. You?"

"Graduated with top honors, then went to college and got my bachelor's in business." Kai supplied almost in a bored tone yet Ray didn't miss the slight pride he could hear in it too.

"Oh wow. Brains, looks, and everything else." Ray chuckled as he wrapped his arms back around him, resting his chin back on Kai's shoulder.

"And I was the lucky one who got to you first?"

"I wouldn't say first… But the one I'd rather have out of all of them." Kai chuckled back, putting his own hand over Ray's arms wrapped about him.

"Oh?" Ray pressed as he got closer to Kai's back.

"Really want to discuss past… Whatever's?"

"Yes."

"Okay…" Kai rolled his eyes, licking the front of his teeth again as he went into thought.

"Honestly can't tell ya how many I've had, none have been serious, either one night stands or if they were lucky they got a to-go box out the door."

Ray couldn't help but laugh a little at that, "Why are you so mean?"

"I'm just telling you what happened." Kai laughed back, "But really, have never been in a relationship like this before."

"You're serious?"

"When am I not serious?" Kai playfully bit back, looking over his shoulder again. "Yes, by all accounts you're technically my first boyfriend. Keep laughing if you want."

"But why?"

"Not my thing?" Kai offered in a question. Though truth was he wasn't all that interested in having serious relationships back then, and by the time he was old enough to want one he didn't go out and try.

How he'd gone and ended up in one now almost seemed like a crazy dream still. Too good to be true but he knew, without a doubt, he wouldn't change any of it.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't be laughing. But… Wow. I'm actually surprised." Ray continued to laugh, burying his face back in Kai's shoulder until it seemed to pass but not quick enough for Kai.

"Okay, well what about you then Romeo?" He bit out, clearly unamused.

Ray had to take in a few breaths to calm himself, sitting back up yet his chin went right back down on Kai's shoulder in front.

"Well… Serious relationships you'd be my third. Michael being number two and Mark being my first." He said and Kai couldn't help but notice the sadness hanging in the back of Ray's tone.

"I know about Michael, so tell me about Mark."

Ray's lower lip went between his teeth the second Kai had mentioned him, that sadness that had been in his tone now coming out and covering his face.

"Met him at that lake house, after the football game. He was actually in college already, so older than I was, but we just clicked. He was really sweet, very kind and soft spoken… We dated for a year, had even offered me to come and live with him when my parents kicked me out but his place wasn't big enough for Lee and me and I couldn't leave Lee behind after he'd walked out with me."

"What happened to him if he was so great?" Kai asked, getting the sinking feeling that something major had happened and he wasn't so sure if he wanted to know or not now.

"He died." Ray answered without hesitation, "Day of our second year anniversary. He was coming to pick me up to go out and got into a car wreck."

Kai's eyes nearly bugged out of his head, wanting to kick himself in the nuts for bringing this up at all.

"I'm sorry, I didn't… I didn't mean to bring this up on you."

"It's okay. It's been a long, long time." Ray waved off like he'd done earlier.

"Did you love him?" Kai found himself asking before he could stop himself.

Ray gave a small nod, quickly wiping at the tears that had collected in the corner of his eyes.

"I did. But… I love you now. And I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

"Figured you'd have changed your mind after me being an ass and bringing all this up on you." Kai said almost sheepishly as he shrunk back a little in the already cramped space of the tub.

Ray laughed a little, shaking his head at him. "It's fine, really. Trust me. It's been a while since I've even really thought about him. But that was one of the reasons why I never got involved with anyone seriously until Michael came around. And well… Shoulda have let Lee go rip his dick off." He laughed a bit harder; Kai cracking a smile and wouldn't mind looking the prick up just to go and do that himself.

"Should be thanking him, I think."

At that the laughter coming from Ray stopped almost dead, giving Kai a look like he'd just admitted to being straight.

"I'm sorry?"

"If he hadn't been such an ass, you wouldn't have moved in with Lee. And I wouldn't have gotten to meet you." Kai explained, not sure why he had to since Ray had said this all once before himself then again he had been out of his mind drunk at the time so probably didn't remember it.

"Oh… Got a point." He shrugged back, "Guess you're right."

A smirk curled up Kai's face, "Always am."

After the bath water had gone too cold to stay in it any longer and Ray's legs were back in working order, neither not knowing or caring for what time it was, the two eventually made it back to the bed cleaned and dressed and intended on staying that way for the remainder of the night.

Like always, Ray lay curled up against Kai's chest with Kai's hand wrapped around his back and his fingers lazily running through his hair yet neither of them felt their eyes getting heavy as they laid there in the silence and darkness of the room.

"Do you think we'd have been friends if we met in high school?" Ray questioned as he shifted to get closer to Kai, listening to his heartbeat like he always did as it thumped under his ear.

"Truthfully?"

"Well… Yeah."

"No."

"Well why not?"

"I didn't make friends… Or have any." Kai explained, his focus not moving away from the ceiling above his head.

"Oh…"

"Probably would have slept with you though."

"As a one night stand or would I be one of those that got the to-go box?" Ray asked a bit sarcastically making Kai chuckle.

"Oh, definitely two to-go boxes."

Ray playfully slapped Kai on the chest where his hand was resting just by his head, "You're such an ass." He laughed.

"You asked."

"Because I was curious. But really, what kind of trouble could an honors student really get into?" Ray asked as he sat up some on his elbow to look down at Kai beside him.

"Oh, you'd be surprised." Kai said with a small smirk starting to form over his lips.

"Then surprise me."

"Pfft. Okay. Can tell you about this one time since it's really the only time I remember. But had aced this major test, right? So wanted to have a little party, just something small. – "I doubt it was small but continue."

"You're right, it wasn't, but that's beside the point. Johnny ended up going off doing his own thing, and like I said I don't have any friends so I'm just doing my own things. Popped… God knows what from the bowl- "Like drugs?"

"Yeah, pharmaceuticals. You put them in a bowl- "I know what it is. I've done it a few times."

"Well then… Anyways. Took a handful of whatever, had a few drinks, swear I could hear colors or some shit. Ended up by the pool and there was this kid I've never seen before out there, but he was eyeing me and I was eyeing him so he came over.

"Mistake one I made was taking him to my room. Mistake two I made was giving Johnny the key to Voltaire's bedroom.- "What's that have to do with anything?"

"Just let me finish and you'll know." Kai waved at him to shush, clearly on a roll and not wanting to get disrupted.

"Anyways, showed this guy the best night of his life. And you know what the bastard did?" He asked but didn't give Ray a chance to answer him as he kept on going.

"He stole my shit. Cards out of the wallet, the five hundred in cash I had in there. My earrings, necklace, watch, and my fucking leather jacket."

"Your ear is pierced?"

"That's all you got out of that?" Kai asked as his head whipped around on his pillow to look at Ray still hovering beside him, "He took my leather jacket, Ray."

Ray tried his best to not just out right laugh in his face, but it was no easy feat with Kai looking like someone had gone and killed his dog rather than taken a piece of leather.

"So what happened?" He managed without cracking.

"Fucker left, I didn't get any of my shit back and to make things worse, come out of my room and Johnny comes waltzing up and is all like 'hey we have a problem. Someone knocked over grandma's urn'."

"Noooooo."

"Yes! Okay, so that was mistake number two coming to bite me in the ass on top of Travis. If that was even his name. So we go to leave and just before we can, guess who comes home?"

"Voltaire?"

"Bingo. He was supposed to still be gone till the end of the month, but nope, flew in early for who knows why. Ended up kicking Johnny out of the house, which was not the first time he'd gone and done that, yet the lil snake slithered right back in like he always did since Voltaire was gone half the time anyways and wasn't around to kick him back out.

"As for me I got my ass handed to me and grounded for a month. Honestly I got off easy."

Ray couldn't even respond as he was too busy laughing beside him, it having started up around when Kai referred to Johnny as a snake, tears pouring down his face with a stitch forming in his side he was laughing so hard.

"So… So you do… Do know what it's like to have fun." He managed to get out between his laughter.

Kai almost looked offended below him, brow raising slightly. "If you count getting beaten within an inch of your life fun, then sure."

The second the words left Kai's mouth, the laughing from Ray's stopped dead as he looked down at him with a mix of worry and confusion.

"What're you talking about?"

Kai took in a deep breath, letting it out as he sat himself up. "I'm surprised you haven't noticed it yet." He said as he took up the hem of his shirt and lifted it over his stomach, bunching it under his chin and lowering his sweats enough his hips showed to where he pointed out a very faded looking mark on his side.

Ray's eyes automatically went down to it, though he had noticed it before but figured it had been from that scrap Kai got into at the club or from the time he'd told him about when they were in the Corvette after seeing Nicole.

It was hardly noticeable, not unless you really looked for it or were close enough to look at it, but there was a faded scar running up from the side of Kai's hip and over towards his back.

His hand, like it had of mind of its own, came out where he gently touched it like it was the first time he'd ever seen it before.

"He did this to you?" He asked in a whisper.

"And a few others, but those have long faded since."

"Kai… Why… Why didn't you tell me before?"

Letting his shirt go from under his chin and to cover himself back up, the fabric falling and making Ray's hand retract back to himself, Kai shrugged his shoulders at him.

"Didn't think it was important. You never mentioned it, so didn't think you'd seen it, so didn't bring it up myself. No need to."

"But Kai… He… He abused you?"

Kai nodded back to him slowly, "And I've done everything I can not to be the same way. But when I said that we wouldn't be friends in high school, is because I was more like him back then than I am now. You wouldn't have liked me, and I honestly wouldn't have wanted to meet you then because then I wouldn't have you now."

Ray didn't understand why a lump had caught in his throat, but one had and all he could really do was sit there as tears formed in his eyes but even those he didn't have an answer for either.

He felt overwhelmed almost, like he just met Kai for the first time all over but this time without any veils or secrecy. It didn't change how he felt for him, he really doubted anything would unless he really did start showing signs of being like Voltaire, and if this week had barely been a taste of what that man was like he didn't want another one.

"You okay?" Kai asked as he noticed Ray's eyes getting wet as he just sat there like he'd become frozen to the bed.

"I'm sorry…"

"For what?"

"For… Everything that's ever happened to you. I'm sorry. I didn't… I didn't know."

"So then why are you apologizing?" Kai asked with a light chuckle, pulling Ray into him carefully to try and soothe him. "You didn't do anything wrong. It's okay. I'm okay."

"Does Tala know?" Ray only cried back out harder.

"No."

"Okay."

"Ming did though…" Kai's voice trailed a little as his own lump caught in his throat.

"She… She did?" Ray asked through his tears, looking up best he could from where Kai had pulled him against his chest again.

"She knew everything." Kai answered. "Knew about Johnny, knew that I was gay long before any of the others did, knew about my family and Voltaire and what he'd done to me growing up. The only thing she didn't know was… Was what happened eight years ago. I could never bring myself to tell her that."

"Did you want to?"

"All the time."

"Why didn't you?"

The lump in Kai's throat got tighter, forcing it down best he could as his hands went crazy through Ray's hair as if he was trying to comfort himself now more than Ray.

"Because I couldn't lose her…. And I can't lose you either."

Ray's tears had stopped now, and while he listened to Kai struggling to keep his own at bay, he found the strength to lift himself off Kai's chest and embrace him more properly back. The other crumbling into him like all he'd needed was a decent cry about it, letting it all out onto Ray's shoulder like he should have done weeks ago.

It wasn't how either of them pictured the night ending, but it seemed like this was what Kai needed right now and Ray was more than determined to be there and be the shoulder he needed to literally cry onto until it was out of his system.

Maybe now there wouldn't be any more nightmares for him. There wouldn't be any more back and forth between them. They could, as badly as it sounded, move on from it all like they were supposed to now.

It would always hurt; he knew that all too well. There'd be good days then one day it'd just come and hit like a train from nowhere. What mattered to him, and what he hoped would matter to Kai, was that he had no intentions of leaving. That he would be there when those bad days hit, and he'd do what he was now and support and just be there for him.