Sometimes Ray gets so insecure.

Ray Vecchio sighed, his ear glued to a pale chest that encased a beautiful Canadian heart, now beating slower than a few minutes before. He was sated and almost relaxed, but there was a strange restlessness in him. Usually, after making love to Benny, all noises from the dilapidated apartment and its surroundings were mere background as they lulled to sleep. At that moment, however, they seemed loud and intruding.

He tried not to think about them.

"I love you, Benny."

Light fingers caressed his balding head. "I love you too, Ray."

"Valentine's coming, Benny. We have to celebrate it."

"If you wish, Ray. There is no need for that, you know."

"No need? You don't think we should celebrate our love?"

"That is not what I meant, Ray, I just - "

"Do you people from the Frozen Armpit of Canada even celebrate Valentine's?"

"Well, Ray, among the Inuit there are some other traditional forms of cherishing loved ones other than roses, candy or cards. Mainly because roses are hard to grow at the Territories."

Ray blinked twice before realising Benny had just cracked a joke. Canadian humour! Then he melted at his Benny's attempt to jest. "That is a funny image, Benny. But tell me about the other forms of celebrating."

"I am not skilled on that, Ray. But I remember a tribal elder mentioning an intimate ritual in which seal oil is greased all over a young girl's naked body and the spouse was supposed to try to catch his mate in the snow and..."

Ray felt a shiver just imagining the scene. He never let Benny finish. "Benny, Benny, please." Ray nuzzled Benny and his lips roamed all over his pale throat column. "Imagining you all greased up in whale oil and running around naked is making me hot enough to melt all that snow..." Ray rained little wet kisses all over his Benny, as his penis languidly began to stir.

Benny shifted in the cot and captured Ray's head in his hand, his eyes gently looking into emerald ones. The Canadian saw the love pouring from his friend's eyes, but there was a flicker that struck his as anguish, or fear. It lasted only a second, however, and it was immediately replaced by sheer Italian lust. Benny smiled suggestively at those eyes, his own groin feeling very much alive.

"So, Ray... are you going to just look?"

No sooner said than done. In a few minutes, Ray was on his knees, facing Benny's feet, happily licking a pink Canadian cock, his own pole rising at the sounds of moans and gasps coming from his beautiful lover. It made him so proud to know that he could arouse his partner like that.

In no time at all, Benny took advantage of their 69 position and used his swollen lips to capture the weeping burgundy cook before him. The talented mouth licked and sucked and teased, mimicking what Ray was doing to his cock.

Bringing his hands to the action, Ray also fondled the taut spheres between Benny's legs. Never stopping his tongue's motion on Benny's cock, Ray alternated the motion with his long elegant fingers to gently tease Ben's opening and to roll his hardened balls. Then the hands came up to squeeze gently the cock as the tongue lapped the spheres. Benny's moans became an octave higher.

It was difficult for Benny to focus on servicing Ray orally, since he was receiving so much pleasure. His lower belly seemed to be on fire, and he used his hand to bring the throbbing cock to his mouth, as his agile tongue rubbed gently the slit. Instinctively, Ray bucked his hips and Benny felt proud to return his beautiful Italian some of the pleasure he was getting.

Benny's attentions were becoming too much, and Ray could no longer hold his explosion. In a few minutes he poured his seed inside his partner willing mouth, and right after that, it was his turn to get spurted on his face and lick his partner as his pearly drops of semen fountained in both their bodies.

When Benny was clean, and Ray's legs threatened to give away, the Italian nested himself once more in the Canadian's arms. Ray always felt safe and loved in that embrace, and thought he should be the luckiest man in the world, because he loved Benny, and Benny loved him back. For so long he feared his love was not corresponded. Even now, even knowing Benny loved him, Ray could feel that pain as a ghost of the past, a scar in his soul.

It grew.

"I love you, Benny."

Benny mumbled back, sighing, "I love you, too, Ray."

He had to ask. And he had to ask it quietly.

"Why?"

It was so low Benny was not sure he heard it. "What?"

"Why do you love me?"

There was a tone in Ray's voice that got Benny apprehensive. He sat up to look at this lover's face. "Ray? What is it?"

Ray did not meet his eyes. "I just want to know, Benny." His voice was stricken.

"You are asking me why I love Ray Vecchio?"

"Yes. Guess that was silly." Ray looked away, his pain evident in his features, but he just shrugged. "You don't need to answer, Benny. It's not that important any way."

"No, Ray, it is important. But I want to know why are you asking me this."

"It's just that... Well, Benny, I am not that much of a looker. I have a big nose, huge feet, and I am scrawny, bald..."

"... generous, loyal, reliable, trustworthy, " Benny went on.

Ray snorted, "Nothing you don't find in a German shepherd or in a Swiss watch, Benny."

Benny smiled. "Swiss watches are the best in the world, Ray. So are you." A pause. "Ray, these qualities are natural to you. You protect the ones you love, and I am proud to be included in that category. I know you have insecurities and your self-esteem needs boosting every now and then, Ray, but that is not why I love you."

Tears fell from jade eyes. "That is not?"

Benny shook his head. "I must confess. I only have egotistical reasons for loving you, Ray. Without you, my existence would be barren, bleak and solitary. You brought joy into my life. You also introduced sugar to Diefenbaker, but the point here is other. There are not many colours in the Territories, Ray. When I first came to Chicago, I found it a very grey city. When I met you, though, I could see a rainbow."

"Ah, Benny. You are such a hero, a role model, a poster boy. I'm none of such things."

"If you were, I would not love you. I don't know why you have such a hard time to see so many good things in you, Ray. I cannot make you see them, you have to do it yourself. The only thing that matters to me is that you don't doubt for a minute that I love you with all my heart. I am the lucky one here, because I know you love me, Ray. I am grateful and proud of that, but I don't love you out of gratitude or pride to have such a beautiful man in my arms. I love you for who you are. And I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I can't imagine life -"

Benny stopped when he felt his chest getting wet. Ray's voice was hushed. "I don't know what to say, Benny."

The Canadian took him in his arms a little more tightly. "You don't have to say anything. But I would like to ask you a favour."

"What is it, Benny?"

"Tell me sincerely and honestly: Ray, do you love me?"

He swallowed, then answered, "More each passing day, Benny."

Benny lifted his head, and stared at the wet face once more. His heart flipped once at the beautiful sight before him. Reverently, he whispered. "As I do. Just believe that."

"I do, Benny."

The Canadian leaned in and gently made his lips brush against Ray's. Then he stepped back and looked inside the emerald eyes before kissing him gently for the second time. Ray's arms slowly enveloped his body and the third kiss was long, reassuring and loving.

Ray rested his head in Benny's shoulder and settled to sleep.

Feeling loved, as always. But much, much more relaxed.

The End

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