Behind The Limelight 25: Smells Like Cinnamon

“I think we’ve rehearsed enough,” Ryker announced, keeping the script beside him as he tilted slightly to face Ashton. The two men were in Ashton’s trailer, running lines.

Yes. They were, in fact, just running lines.

“Okay. If you say so,” Ashton shrugged casually. Ryker didn’t waste a single second in leaning forward, eager to kiss the other man, but Ashton kept a hand on his chest to stop him. “Listen—”

“Huh?”

“I don’t think we should…not when we’re at work,” Ashton muttered, looking away. “It’s risky.”

Yesterday’s events with Tabitha replayed in his mind as he gulped. Followed by his panic attac— no. Ashton didn’t get panic attacks. That was not true.

“Oh,” Ryker blinked, caught off-guard by the sudden change of Ashton’s mind. They had been sneaking behind everyone’s backs for weeks now, so it was justified why he was surprised by what Ashton was now saying. “Okay. Do you want to come over after work?”

“To your place?”

“No, dumbass. To Disneyland,” Ryker retorted. “Of course, my place. We can stop by yours first and you can pick up a pair of clothes for tomorrow.”

“I’ll come,” Ashton paused. “But I’m not staying the night.”

“Works for me,” Ryker mumbled, and Ashton once again missed the frown on his face.

And that was how Ashton ended up at Ryker’s place once again. He couldn’t even begin to comprehend how he seemed to manage to do so against his better judgment. It didn’t even take a lot of convincing, he just…agreed.

Ashton was expecting Ryker to jump on him the moment they were inside, but surprisingly he didn’t do that. Instead, after washing up and changing into some comfortable clothes, which was just a pair of grey sweatpants, Ryker headed to the kitchen to make dinner.

“Can you pass me the chopping board?” Ryker asked. Ashton nodded, picking it up before handing it to Ryker, who smiled before pressing a light kiss to Ashton’s forehead. “Thanks.”

Ashton blinked in confusion once Ryker turned around. Did he just… peck his forehead? They had done more than that, obviously, but for some reason this kiss felt a lot more intimate. The entire time that Ryker was preparing dinner, he kept asking Ashton to help him with trivial things. Ryker would then keep his hand on Ashton’s lower back, or smile at him, and on one occasion he event tapped his butt to acknowledge him.

Odd.

Ashton was currently stirring whatever was in the pot, when Ryker walked towards him and stood behind him. He kept both his hands on Ashton’s waist, gently rubbing them up and down as he rested his chin on the Ashton’s shoulder.

“Smells good,” Ryker mumbled.

“Yeah, what did you add? Cinnamon or—”

“I meant you.”

Ashton didn’t respond. Well, not using words anyway. But his face was starting to feel warm and he knew it wasn’t because of the heat of the kitchen. Ryker tilted his head, pressing soft kisses at the side of Ashton’s neck as his hands slipped inside the other man’s shirt.

Ryker was behaving so differently. He was acting as if the two were dating, and that idea freaked Ashton out. But despite that, he couldn’t find it within himself to ask Ryker to move away or to do so himself. He hated that a part of him was actually enjoying being held and touched like this.

“You shouldn’t be doing all this when we’re so close to the stove,” Ashton muttered, but his body was saying otherwise as he tilted his head slightly, giving Ryker more access to his neck. His other hand was gripping the edge of the counter tightly as he tried to hold back a moan.

“But it’s so hard to keep my hands off of you,” Ryker whispered. He placed one hand on the front of Ashton’s jeans, smirking once he felt that the other actor was hard. “And it seems like you’re enjoying this too, aren’t you?”

“Unless you want me to dip your hand in this boiling hot pot…step back,” Ashton ordered. Ryker chuckled as he distanced himself away from Ashton, raising his arms up in defense.

“Alright, alright. This is done anyway. Just keep the lid on top, turn the flame on low and then we need to let it sit for an hour or so,” Ryker said. Ashton nodded before doing as he was told.

Ryker opened a bottle of wine, pouring both of them a glass before leading Ashton to the living room. They both sat down on opposite ends of the couch, their eyes on each other with the wine already forgotten about on the table.

“Now where were we?” Ashton asked. Ryker rose a brow, before letting out a light laugh.

“We were at you threatening to burn me,” Ryker answered.

“Because you were being a fire hazard! Sue me for caring about safety,” Ashton retorted.

“Since when do you care about my safety?”

“I meant my safety, I don’t give a fuck about yours,” Ashton shrugged nonchalantly.

“Is that so?” Ryker questioned with a soft hum as he moved closer to the other man. He kept a hand on Ashton’s chest, pushing him down on the couch as he got on top of him. He ran his fingers through Ashton’s hair, before tugging on the strands to tilt Ashton’s head. He leaned forward, whispering in his ear. “Come on, you’d care if something happened to me. Admit it.”

“No,” Ashton breathed out as he closed his eyes shut. He wrapped his legs around Ryker’s, pulling him closer.

“I don’t believe you,” Ryker said, grinding against Ashton. Ashton kept his hands on Ryker’s back, his nails lightly digging into the skin as he ran them down.

“That’s on—”

The two men were interrupted by Ryker’s phone ringing. They ignored it at first, but when it rang for the second time, Ryker sighed tiredly before getting off of the other actor to grab his mobile from the table.

“It’s Abi, she’s video calling,” Ryker muttered.

“Oh,” Ashton paused. “Well, don’t keep her waiting.”

“Okay…” Ryker seemed a bit unsure as Ashton fixed his t-shirt and ran a hand through his hair. Ryker answered the call, a smile forming on in his face instantly as he saw his sister.

“Ryker!” Abi exclaimed. “Você está muito ocupado para atender a ligação de sua irmã?”

“Não,” Ryker chuckled. “You know I always have time for you. I just, uh, I just have some company over right now.’

“Company? Que company?” Abi questioned.

“Say hi to Ash,” Ryker said, tilting his phone so that Ashton was in the frame, who waved at the woman.

“Ashton!” Abi grinned widely as she spoke. “Oh my god, Ryker give him the phone!”

“Alright, alright, I see my value,” Ryker said playfully as he handed Ashton the phone. Ashton was a bit surprised by Abi’s reaction, he wasn’t expecting her to look quite this excited to see him.

“Hey Abi,” Ashton’s voice was polite.

“It’s been so long, Ash, too goddamn long,” Abi paused. “How have you been? Please tell me you and Ryker made up and are friends again. Jesus, I can’t wait to tell mom and dad. They’d be so happy to hear about it!”

“Uh,” Ashton glanced at Ryker for help, who wasn’t looking at him. Ashton let out an awkward chuckle before speaking up again. “I’m good. Ryker and I are…working together so, uh, yeah. How are you? Ryker told me you got promoted?”

“Yes, yes, that was a while back,” Abi spoke. “Did he also tell you that I’m engaged?”

“He mentioned, yeah,” Ashton smiled. “Congrats, Abi. You deserve the best.”

“Always the sweet talker,” Abi said. “Thank you, Ash. And I hope you’ve kept your calender clear because I’m hoping to see you at the wedding, okay?”

“Of course,” Ashton answered. He hadn’t thought too much about going when Ryker had asked him, but the pointed look that Abi was giving him made it clear that she wasn’t going to take no for an answer.

“Great, it’s so good to see you Ash, it’s been long due—” Abi continued, “—actually Ryker mentioned you all have a few days off next week. He’s coming home. Why don’t you join him?”

“I don’t think…” Ashton trailed off. He didn’t know how to response to Abi’s question. It was too out of the blue and he wasn’t prepared for it in the slightest. Ryker seemed quite shocked too as he stared wide-eyed at her sister. “I don’t want to intrude on any family time.”

“Ash, come on, you’ve always been family too. I’m sure our parents would love nothing more than having you visit,” Abi said softly. “I’m not trying to pressure you, so just think about it okay?”

“I will,” Ashton nodded. “I’ll let you talk to your brother now.”

The two said bye to each other before Ashton handed the phone to Ryker. He excused himself, leaving Ryker alone to speak to his sister. Ashton went to the bathroom, wanting to give the dark-haired man some privacy.

He couldn’t go to Ryker’s home. His childhood home, that is. He couldn’t meet his parents or his sister again. He simply couldn’t. There were too many memories associated with that house and those people, more so than with his own family.

Ashton passed some more time in there, before finally going back to the living room. Ryker wasn’t on his phone anymore, he was on the couch with the television remote in his hand as he kept switching channels.

Ashton went and sat down next to him, neither of them saying a word as they stared ahead.

“I’m thinking of driving down,” Ryker broke the silence. “It’s only a four hour drive. The views are nice too.”

“I’m not going with you.”

“Okay.”

Ashton frowned, tilting his head to look at the other man. For some reason, he had thought that Ryker would argue with him on this. That he would try to convince him to come. Or maybe…maybe that’s what he hoped for, at least.

However, it seemed like Ryker didn’t care at all. His expression was blank, and he didn’t even glance at Ashton once as he announced that he was going to go check on dinner before heading over to the kitchen. All Ashton could do was watch Ryker’s retreating figure with a thousand different thoughts running in his head, and an unfamiliar ache in his chest.

***

aw, look at my boys being all…domestic hehe