Jared sat in a corner of the greenroom off by himself going over the script once more. It helped him to get into character and smooth over any rough spots. He picked absently at the blue silk shirt that was part of his costume and turned the page. He was reading a part that had been giving him trouble recently and the director was getting tired of pointing it out. Jared tried to get into character, but what did he know about the life a gay man led?
He wasn't homophobic. Not by any means. There were times, actually, when he wondered what it would be like to have sex with a man. The thought was often accompanied by fantasies in his mind about the event and he'd find himself stroking himself. Those were the most vivid fantasies he had, but he wasn't gay. He just had sex with a woman last night. No. He wasn't gay. So what did he know about playing a gay man?
He was so engrossed in the script he didn't hear the footsteps approaching and was startled out of his thoughts when he heard someone clearing their throat. His gaze roamed up into the face of one of the other company members, a handsome blond man by the name of Sean, who was playing the main supporting role. Jared stared at Sean for a moment. The man was very good looking and likely would have gotten the lead if Jared hadn't usurped him. Sean's grey-green eyes looked down at Jared with amusement. Despite their situation, Sean was one of the few people who didn't resent Jared's place in the lead role and had helped him get adjusted into the company these past six months.
A blush broke out on Jared's face as he stood up. Sean waved him back down on the couch and sat beside him. Jared felt butterflies in his stomach in a way he didn't usually get when talking with other people. Sean sometimes unnerved him, though he tried hard to hide it. Jared wasn't sure why, but being this close to the well-muscled man set his groin tingling and his penis began to stir to life. Jared readjusted himself to make it less obvious, but he was afraid Sean noticed already.
It was no secret that Sean was gay. Sean was open about it and very comfortable with it. Jared was surprised when he first found out. Sean didn't act gay or at least what Jared thought a gay man was supposed to act like. Sean had a good laugh when Jared told him that in the first month of their friendship and explained that he was gay, not flaming. It relaxed Jared a lot, but Jared still got this strange, excited feeling when he was around Sean.
"Still working on that part, huh?" Sean asked.
Jared looked at the script and felt his blush deepen. "Yeah. It's still a little beyond me."
"No it isn't," Sean said softly.
Still looking at the script, Jared responded, "yes it is. I don't know what it's like to be gay."
Jared felt Sean lift his chin up gently and peer deeply into his russet colored eyes. "No. It isn't."
Something stirred in Jared that felt peculiar but familiar; an awareness of something deep inside. Captured by Sean's intense gaze, Jared felt his breathing deepen and tried to control it. He felt his penis swell quickly in response to that which his body knew, but his mind tried to deny.
Sean leaned forward and kissed Jared softly on the lips. In the front of his mind Jared screamed to stop. People were probably looking, staring at him. Him! Kissing this man! His body knew what it wanted, though and bent in to the kiss. Sean's tongue probed forward and gently outlined Jared's lips, making his breath come all that much harder. Jared opened his mouth slightly and gently, Sean pushed his tongue forward.
The sensation of that kiss was more than Jared could bear. Script forgotten, he grabbed Sean's face and pushed his own tongue into Sean's mouth greedily. Jared could taste butterscotch and feel the warmth of Sean's mouth, sucking on his intruding tongue. His penis throbbed in response.
Finally, they broke free and, gasping, Jared stared at his friend. He understood now what his unconscious had been trying to make so clear to him. He tried to speak but Sean laid a gentle finger on his lips.
"I know," he said. "We'll meet after the show."
With that, he got up and left Jared's thoughts and feelings in a turmoil. Jared stared after his retreating body and realized they had been all alone. Sean must have gotten everyone to leave. The greenroom was never empty.
The show went better that night since Jared had first stepped into the lead role. Something inside Jared clicked and he gave a better performance than he ever had before. The other actors seemed to sense the change in him that night and flowed with the pace he set. Even the director, a man who relished breaking down his actors, had nothing bad to say about the show.
Jared was in his dressing room, with a towel wrapped around his middle, relaxing and washing off his make-up when he heard the knock on his door. He was about to call out when Sean opened the door and walked in. Jared's heart skipped a beat and his stomach tightened. He tried to control his breathing, but couldn't help staring at his friend.
Sean stood with his back against the closed door, arms crossed across his chest, well aware of Jared's scrutiny. Jared took in his 6'1" frame, well muscled and toned. Sean liked to work out and it showed. He was blessed with the Nordic look of his Swedish mother; high cheekbones, full lips, square jaw and smooth, pale skin. Sean cocked his head to the side and gave a small smile at Jared's gaze.
Jared lowered his gaze and finished removing his make-up. Suddenly he felt Sean run his fingers lightly through his dark hair. He looked up to see Sean staring at him in the mirror. Their gazes met and Jared found himself being assessed in turn. His light olive skin hid his blush somewhat, but he couldn't turn away. Held captive by that gaze, Jared could do nothing but stare. He felt as though he were being undressed with nothing more than a look. His stomach did excited little flip flops at the thought.
"You did well tonight," Sean finally said. Jared heard a catch in his voice. "I told you it wasn't hard."
Jared stood up and tightened the towel on his midsection, well aware of his vulnerability in this situation. Sean moved his hand to his chest and let it linger there.
"Yeah, thanks."