Snow Falling Softly

By Anam71 (my first story)

January 2000

NC-17, for M/M slash and you know what (wink, wink...)

A winter romance featuring Fraser and Vecchio and snow-flakes.

Disclaimer: I don't own 'em, but I do love 'em...oh yeah...don't sue me.

E-mail me at: Anam71@aol.com

First snow

falling

on the half-finished bridge.

-by Basho (from The Essential Haiku, Trans. & Ed. by Robert Hass; The Ecco Press, 1994).

Detective Raymond Vecchio was a kid again, and it took the bitter cold of the high North to do it.

Oh, yeah, the Mountie helped also.

Ray still couldn't believe that Benny and he were lovers. Well, they only been lovers for less than a month, the idea still fresh like newly falling snow, pristine and clean. That may explain why Ray couldn't believe it....

It may also be due to the fact that Ray Vecchio was never the lucky when it came to love...divorced from Angie...Irene's tragic death...his most successful relationship may have been with Susan Chapin because they both never acted upon it.

Ray always thought himself a heterosexual too, well... until he met Benny...he never really looked at other men. Well, maybe a few times, mostly out of envy. Ray was never confident about his looks. And half the women in Chicago throwing themselves at Fraser's feet didn't help either. Benny would always give his 'clueless -- I don't know what sex is-- I'm an innocent-- look.' There were a few times Ray wanted to smack the Mountie on the back of the head.

But now that he and Benny were lovers... Ray imagined that the next time some hapless woman threw herself at Fraser, Ray would step up to the plate and stick his tongue down Benny's mouth. That ought to turn her off...

Ray sadly shook his head. 'Think nice thoughts, think nice thoughts...' Ray easily went back to being a kid again, and stared out the frost-tinged window of the cabin. He also went back to not believing that Benny and he were actually lovers...

Ray and Benny decided to immediately go up north to repair the cabin of the late Fraser, Sr., and also to build up their newfound love. The cabin was pretty much damaged from the fire inflicted upon it by a revengeful Victoria, but nothing that both men couldn't fix. Ray saw to that.

Ray beheld the fat white flakes falling, twirling and fluttering, down to the already thick blanket of snow covering the vast expanse around and beyond the tiny warm cabin. It seemed that the whole world was just one big ball of snow, and the cabin the only structure that existed, like a mere little speck on a white canvas. It was well beyond midnight, but that world was glowing bright with the snow and the moon and the stars.

Ray remembered how he loved to watch the snow falling, peering out of his Chicago bedroom window when he was a kid. Snow meant no school. Snow meant building snowmen and hitting Frannie in the head with snowballs. Snow meant Ma bundling up Ray in so many layers of clothing that he could barely move and feeling so plump like a little fat Italian sausage. Snow meant Ray's contentment.

To a grown-up Ray, snow now meant getting up early in the morning to scrape goddamned ice off the Riv. Snow meant traffic accidents and dirty slush and another pair of ruined shoes and slipping on your ass and shoveling the crap until you suffer a coronary and scraping more damn ice off the Riv...

Benny transformed all that like everything else in his life. Watching the snow now meant he was a kid again. Snow meant Benny...

Ray never considered himself a romantic...but now... snow will always remind him of his Canadian lover.

The snow outside the cabin made everything quiet and calm. The silence was so pure Ray felt he could float on it. Quiet, calm, silent, soft, pure, clean, and gentle snow ...just like Benny. Ray can now just gaze out of that window for hours, look upon the softly falling snow and feel as if Benny was falling all around him, making him happy and light-headed... and feeling like a kid again...Ray shivered.

The snow was also making him excited. Ray looked down upon his naked frame and was amazed to find himself quite erect. The snow made him hard? Jeez...Ray was glad this never happened when he was a kid. Ma would have thrown a fit.

It wasn't really the snow, was it? It was Benny. Okay, and the snow too. Benny was the snow. And the snow was Benny. The snow will always remind him of Benny. Benny was Ray's snowman.

Ray now wondered what would remind Benny of him. Ray frowned. Would it be Chicago? Loud sirens and bright lights and rude strangers and slums and alleyways? Would it be the sweat and chaos of the bullpen? Vending machines that never work? Pizza takeout and bad Chinese food? Coffee that was weak and donuts that were stale? Stinking garbage dumpsters crawling with parasites? Heavy pool tables and dark-cold train station platforms? Endless hospital stays?

Ray sighed. How can he ever compare to the pleasant and gentle images that Benny conjured up in his mind? What did Benny see in him anyway?

Shit.

"Ray?" Benny's voice was heavy with sleep; he shifted in the bed. "Ray?"

"I'm at the window, Benny. Go back to sleep, caro." Ray turned his head to see the Mountie lift his own dark head from the pillow. His features were glowing soft in the firelight. Benny was gorgeous and warm and velvety.

"Window? Why are you at the window?" Benny yawned, and passed a hand over his mouth.

"Because it's there, Benny. Go back to sleep." Ray turned his head to look out the window again.

A moment passed. Quiet as the snow outside.

"Are you coming back to bed, Ray?" Benny sounded hopeful.

"Yeah, Benny. I'll be there soon." Oh shit. Ray was in no state to saunter back to the bed. His erection was throbbing, aching... he was also embarrassed. What was he supposed to say? 'I would love to come to bed Benny...but the snow made me so horny I can't walk let alone crawl to you...'

The Italian kept his back turned to the Mountie, hiding his hardness.

"Okay, Ray." Fraser sounded disappointed. And a little hurt?

Ah, jeez....

Ray continued to stare out of the window, feeling pretty lousy now...maybe that guilt will kill off his arousal.

Ray gasped when he felt two large warm hands on his shoulders, a moist warm breath on his neck.

"Benny!"

"I didn't mean to scare you Ray. Did you think I was Deif?" Benny then kissed Ray's sharp shoulder blades, a kiss to one, and then the other, and back again, and again....

"You didn't scare me Benny." Ray lied. Ray also sighed.

"Ah." Benny paused, then continued the tempo of his kisses.

"Don't 'ah' me Benny. I was ...I was just looking out the window, and...um...it's snowing Benny."

"Ray, I not sure you have noticed, but it snows a lot up here," Benny joked.

Oh great! A wise-ass Mountie.

"Very funny Benny. I was just looking at the snow falling. What? Are you going to arrest me?"

"Maybe. Where are your handcuffs?" Benny slipped his hands down to rest on Ray's smooth hips.

"Benny, you're something else."

"What's wrong, Ray? Couldn't sleep?" Benny's voice gone soft with concern.

Ray shrugged. "Yeah. But sometimes that happens, no big deal." No big deal at all, really.

"It's a big deal to me, Ray. It means an empty bed..." Benny pressed his hands tighter on Ray's hips and went to turn Ray around to face him, but Ray resisted. The Italian body tensed like a tight coil.

"Ray?" So Benny shifted and stepped aside to see Ray's hidden face.

"Ah jeez, Benny..." Ray was really embarrassed now. Why?

Benny now noticed that Ray was very, very erect, his dark length hard and curved and flushed. Oh, that's why.

"Ray..."

Ray looked out the window, not at Benny.

"Ray?"

Damn. Who can resist those Mountie electric-blue eyes?

"Well you see Benny, I was looking at the snow and stuff and I was thinking ...you know...daydreaming and stuff... and the snow reminded me of you and I was thinking about it, and about you and stuff... ah jeez Benny, just go back to bed." Please, Benny, just give a guy a break.

Fraser began to smile. "The snow reminded you of me, Ray?"

"Yeah. I guess so. Sounds corny, I know..."

"Why does the snow remind you of me, Ray?" Benny was always the curious one of the duo.

"I don't know. Well, its always snowing in Canada, and you're Canadian..."

"Actually Ray, there are many parts in Canada where it's not always snowing. In fact, based on the season and the air currents and global..."

"Benny! I don't need to know the weather forecast." Ray looked down and shifted his feet.

Yep.... Erection still there, despite Benny's near endless lecture on global air currents and shit.

"Ray. Tell me about the snow. Tell me how it makes you feel." Benny placed his hand on Ray's shoulder, gently nudging him. Benny's breathing slowed, as if Ray was ready to make a very profound revelation. Still more silence, and then...

"Benny. I use to watch the snow fall when I was a kid and loved it so much, ya know?" Ray sighed as the large hand now gently stroked his shoulder.

"But as a grown-up, I hate the snow. It's messy and cold and a pain in the ass...and I don't know if you noticed Benny, but it can snow a lot in Chicago." Ray teased.

"You changed all that Benny. Like you changed so many things in my life. I look at everything with brand new eyes, eyes that you have given me. Everything seems so more ...serene. I never felt like that before. Not even with Angie. And the snow..." Ray faltered a bit as he realized what he was saying. God, he sounded like Barry White. Jeez...

"I remind you of snow, Ray..." Benny seemed in mild state of shock. He didn't realize how much he really mattered to his partner, his friend, and now lover... the discovery a bliss.

"Yeah, Benny. When I see snow I see you... and it feels good, the way snow feels when it's new on the ground and stuff." Ray blushed slightly. "It sounds dumb, I know..."

"Ray. I think it's wonderful."

Ray looked up into the face of his Mountie, and saw a wide-open smile. It looked as if Benny won the lottery.

"Ray... I always want the snow to remind you of me." Benny breathed, softly now, like a prayer.

"Every snowflake, Ray. I want you to see me. Forever." Benny stepped in front of Ray now, blocking Ray's view of the snow blowing outside the window.

"I want to be your snow Ray, and I want to make it... official...Ray..." Benny then slipped down to his knees so that he was now eye-level with Ray's groin. Ray can now see out the window again, and all that snow...

"Benny? What are you ...BENNY!!!" Ray shouted as a warm wet-velvet mouth engulfed his shaft completely.

"Oh God, Benny, God...oh..." Ray tipped forward into the sweet Mountie mouth, his hands went flat against the wall framing either side of the window to keep himself from tumbling over into that luscious abyss.

Ray's head hung down to watch a soft dark head bobbing back and forth over his cock, listening intently to the soft wet lapping of that mouth on him, bringing him to the snowy edge of the cliff...

"Benny...Benny.... Benny..." Ray was beside himself, and the name Benny was so sweet like that mouth working on Ray over and over.

Benny glanced up to see Ray staring down upon him so intently with love, sea green on sky blue... Benny stopped.

"Benny?"

Benny let Ray's erection slip free from his mouth.

"Oh God, please Benny, don't stop..." Ray moaned, awkward, still half-bent.

"Ray. Don't look at me. Look out the window, look at the snow, Ray. When you come I want you to look at the snow. I want to always remind you of the snow." Benny was practically pleading with Ray now. This meant everything to the Mountie.

"Okay, Benny." Kinky. Ray looked up and out of the winter frosty window. The snow was really falling hard now... just as Ray was falling hard as the warm mouth took him in again.

That mouth sucked and caressed his cock, and the gentle scrape of teeth along his sensitive tissue paper skin was now sending sparks along Ray's lithe body... down to his toes and up to his fingertips. Gentle nibbling at the tip of his cock only provided more flint for those sparks. Ray sobbed.

Ray steadily peered out that window, doing the best he can, and the snow, clean and white and soft and falling. Benny was now swallowing, milking Ray's erection oh so delicately...

"Benny! Yes...oh yes...Benny..." Ray seem to feel buried under all that snow, the avalanche that the clever Mountie mouth brought, and Ray now gently thrusting into that mouth and still the snow fell...to bury him...

Ray felt those large soft hands cup his buttocks, kneading and stroking. Fingertips gently slip in and out the crack of his ass. Ray was twirling and fluttering like a snowflake caught up in the winter winds.

Palms still flat against the log-wall, his arms straining with muscle fatigue, the snow still falling outside, steady and sure. Something had to give...

A hand reached under to cup Ray's balls. It wasn't a grope, or a tawdry grab...it was more like a loving hug... an embrace...

Ray shrieked as his orgasm slammed hard throughout his body.

"BENNY!!!"

Benny wrapped his arm tight around Ray's petite waist, holding him steady as Ray rocketed into the air with each spasm. Benny drank him in like it was a life-giving liquid to slack his thirst in a scorching hot desert.

The spasms subsided into soft little shivers as Ray slowly came to himself. His arms felt like Jell-O, and his belly a low burning of glowing-red embers.

Ray found his forehead pressed hard against the cold glass panes of the window, cooling and icy from the cold winter winds. Fortunately, Ray had just enough control not to smash his head through that glass. Barely enough...though.

Benny clung to him, thank God.

Ray was trembling. "Benny? Can I look down at you now? I think I seen enough snow for now..."

Benny laughed as Ray toppled on top of him with a soft whimper.

Benny shifted and twisted so that he can cradle Ray's limp and spent body between his legs. Benny rested his back against the wall under that window, and intently listened to Ray as his mate's breathing slowly returned to normal. He stroked the feathery close-cropped hair of the head now resting on his chest.

They both remained quiet for some time now. The tastes of Ray still fresh on Benny's mouth, the touch of Benny still fresh on Ray's cock... it required time for silent contemplation.

Ray spoke first.

"Gee. Thanks a lot Benny. Everytime it snows I'll get a hard on. How am I going to manage Chicago winters?" Ray softly teased, his voice languid with satiation.

"I'll help you manage, Ray. But, you're on your own if I have guard duty at the consulate." Benny kissed the soft peach-fuzz head, tickling his lips.

"God Benny, your loyalty to your country is touching. God forbid my erection be the cause of the downfall of the Canadian Empire." Ray looked up at Benny, and nipped his chin.

"Now, Ray, that's just silly."

Ray nipped his chin again. "Oh, yeah, and you like to jump out of windows."

A few more quiet moments passed...

Ray didn't want to change this rapt scene of being in Benny's arms, but the floor of the cabin was getting too cold...

"Benny, I'm ready for bed now..." Ray glanced up and met a warm open mouth placed tenderly over his...and they kissed and kissed and... the floor was too damn cold now...and hard.

"Benny, I mean it. The bed." Ray reluctantly got up, and pulled up the sturdy Mountie body with him. Benny himself was now erect, his cock pale and long and slightly pink around the foreskin and wet and...

Oh, God...

Benny snaked his arms around Ray's waist and offered yet another open kiss. Sucking on hard candy...

Ray finally pulled away. "Come on Benny, what ya want me to do? Carry you to bed over my back?"

Ray had somehow managed fine carrying an injured Fraser over his shoulder through a Canadian wilderness, even with an escaped convict lurking about. But after a bursting climax, Ray had barely the strength now...

"I was thinking, Ray, what would remind me of you." Benny was now intent on the subject.

Ray winced, remembering his earlier gloomy thoughts. "Probably nothing as cool as snow, Benny."

"Oh Ray, I highly doubt that. In fact, there are probably a number of pleasant things in life that will always remind me of you." Benny buried his face in the crook of Ray's neck...

"Oh yeah?" Ray was skeptical. "Name one."

Benny considered his choices, landed on one, and smiled. It was too simple.

"Peaches."

"What? Peaches?" Ray made a face, the curved brows now knitted in confusion. "I don't go around eating peaches all day, Frasier." Donuts maybe...

Ray didn't get it.

"Peaches," Benny repeated. Then Benny's warm hands slid down and molded over the perfectly round buttocks of his mate. Ray gasped, tilted his head to one side as a 'click' of a switch went off in his head.

"Oh. Peaches." Ray got it now. Peaches. Peaches!!!

"Peaches!" Ray's forest-green eyes went wide. "You mean to tell me my ass reminds you of summer fruit at the produce section! What's the matter with you?" Ray's arms flapped up.

Benny laughed. "Ray, when are you ever going to learn?" The Mountie was going to have to teach him...

Benny dragged the Italian to the foot of the bed. The Mountie then spun Ray around and gently pushed him onto the mattress. Ray landed on his stomach with a 'oomph.'

"Benny..." Ray was sensitive enough to feel that soft warm breath on his ass already.

"Ray, Ray...." Benny kissed one buttock, then the other. The skin was satin and silk under his lips and tongue. Ray's scent sweeter than a summer garden. And so perfect.

"Oh God, Benny...mio caro!" Ray responded instantly. Peaches seemed damn fine now. Ray's hips lightly bucked against the bed as Benny sampled his lover over and over, his wet tongue tracing the crack of Ray's ass. More satin and silk in his mouth...

Benny can get lost in the wide expanse known as Ray, and once lost, he never wanted to be found. Ray, Ray, Ray of light...

Fraser reluctantly got up and left to get the gel for his purpose. Ray remained open, and he waited...

Benny was back in a flash, and was applying the cool gel to his fingers, warming before the touch.

And that sweet body waited, whimpering in the knowledge of what was to come...

Fraser looked down upon that beautiful slender form, so ready for his touch. Ray was extraordinary; that long stern curved body like an ax handle that Benny wanted to swing...

Benny slipped a slick finger into the dark tight heat of Ray, and Ray bucked again with a soft cry. Slipping in and out, preparing and relaxing... sometimes Ray was uncomfortable to this new way of love making, but he was getting the hang of it. It was a matter of time and trust and Benny...

Another finger was added to make two...then three. Ray softly sobbed into the sheets with each tender movement of Fraser's hand working him loose. Ray was too ready, his elegant, slim hands clawing those sheets. Gentle fingers finally slipped out of the sugary heat of Ray's body...

Benny now straddled those long, firm thighs, Ray's skin so much darker against his, like old museum bronze.

Parting the soft flesh, Benny placed his stone-hard cock against that secret dark opening, and delicately drove himself in. Benny entered a burning furnace, fiery and oh so tight.

Ray screamed, only to match that sound which escaped from Benny's lips. "Ray!"

Benny grinded against that willing body, his motions smooth and deep. And getting deeper still... His left hand caressed that way too long back, up to the nape of that willowy swan neck.

Ray complied in every way possible, forcing himself to open wide, and pressing his ass up the length of his lover. Pleasure lanced through the sweetness. Ray moaned beneath, quite taken, filled to his brim and impaled.

Benny's right hand reach down and under to grip Ray's steel-silk shaft. Another wordless cry. Benny stroked Ray with each wave of his movement, his hand wrapped firmly and building in intensity, like building blocks, like building a road... like building a bridge.

Benny fell forward to cover that body up, to keep Ray from fluttering away like a snow-flake. He savagely pounded that featherweight body into the mattress now, his self-control a mere distant memory. He didn't care...

Peaches...

And classic cars... and expensive Armani suits, musky aftershave, cozy diners, a warm and noisy house, polenta and lasagna, no-rust power-saws and bathroom fixtures...too many items on the list now, all that will forever remind Benny of Ray. And that list kept growing...and growing...and growing...and...

"RAY!" Benny came with a howl, his head thrown back sharp and quick.

A loud wail from Ray, and a gush of hot liquid sex flooded Benny's hand. The bridge they built was now complete. Well, until the next one...

Quiet moments later, Benny finally stirred, and was mildly amused to find Ray sleeping under his bulky weight. Ray can really sleep in any position, anywhere, when he was content enough...

Benny lifted his body up carefully so as not to wake Ray, and lowered himself to lie by Ray's sleek side.

Benny yawned and politely passed a hand over his mouth. It was really getting late...

Sleep was ready to take claim him, but not before turning his head to look out the cabin window. Then Benny dropped his head in exhaustion and drifted asleep immediately.

Outside, it was still snowing...

This is a poem of the air,

Slowly in silent syllables recorded;

This is the secret of despair,

Long in its cloudy bosom hoarded,

Now whispered and revealed

To wood and field.

-from 'Snow-Flakes' by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)

-The End-

Endnote: The word 'snow' must have been mentioned a thousand times in this story. Sorry. I wrote this story during a really heavy snow storm and school was canceled and...damn, I said the word 'snow' again...