Ukuleles & Scrums (Mitch & Cian Book 4)

by Helena Stone

  “Mitch had other commitments tonight.” He wasn’t sure why he kept his answer vague other than that he didn’t want to have to explain why he wasn’t at his boyfriend’s gig, wherever that might be. Mitch hadn’t mentioned the location and Cian had stubbornly refused to ask, mostly because he did feel bad about not accompanying Mitch.

  But I can’t be in two places at once.

  “Bummer,” Conor muttered as they entered the venue. “Well, don’t let it spoil your fun.” He waved at someone to their left Cian couldn’t see. “Catch you later.” Before Cian could reply, Conor, with John in tow, crossed the room toward a group of men Cian only vaguely recognized from having seen them on the sidelines.

  Don’t let it spoil your fun. The words resonated in Cian’s head, as if on a loop. Conor was right. If Cian was just going to mope around, he should have stayed at home. Since he was here, he might as well enjoy himself. After all, it wasn’t as if the world or even his relationship with Mitch had ended. A few hours from now, they would both be home again, sharing stories about what they’d gotten up to. As he approached the bar with a mostly genuine grin on his face, he almost convinced himself.

  As tempting as it was to order something strong and hope it might improve his mood, Cian decided to be sensible and asked for a pint of cider. Once he’d received his drink, he turned and studied the surroundings while leaning against the bar. The space wasn’t packed yet but getting there. He saw faces he recognized and far more he’d never seen before. With everybody dressed up, it was hard to estimate what the men and women surrounding him might be like in everyday life.

  The thought brought a smile to his face. He was pretty sure the middle-aged man standing a few feet away in a black jumpsuit, cat’s ears, and a tail didn’t wear those normally. Cian certainly wasn’t inclined to visit college in the skirt he’d worn for this occasion.

  “I have to admit, I’ve seen your legs before, but they’ve never looked as pretty as they do now.”

  Cian turned to his left so fast he almost spilled some of his drink. Ray had sounded totally serious, and it wasn’t until Cian saw the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes and the twitching of his lips that Cian knew Ray was having a laugh.

  Two can play that game.

  Cian stretched out his right leg and tilted his head, batting his eyelashes at Ray. “You are too kind, sir. Yours aren’t half bad either.”

  Ray threw back his head and let out a deep laugh. He was wearing an outfit in two parts. His upper body was dressed up to the nines, with a white shirt, burgundy-red waistcoat, black‑and‑red bow tie, and black jacket. Below the waist was a different story. The very tight, also deep red, leather shorts combined with fishnet stockings and—Cian leaned forward to take a closer look—high heels spoke of experience when it came to dressing up.

  “Touché.” Ray chuckled. “This is my first dress-up party with this crowd, and I was afraid I might have overdone it.” He turned his head and took in the other people in the large room. Cian followed his gaze, silently agreeing. He’d taken his outfit off at least twice while getting ready, unsure what would be expected, and kicking himself for not asking others what they would be wearing.

  “Now that I’m here,” Ray continued, “I’m feeling somewhat overdressed.”

  Again, Cian had to agree. “Some of these outfits, or lack thereof, seem aimed at a, how shall I put this, different sort of event.”

  Ray winked at him. “Could be fun too.”

  Cian smirked, happy to discover the friendly banter was lifting his spirits. “Sure. Whatever rocks your boat.”

  He took another sip from his glass, noticing the space around him had filled up since he’d arrived. Movement on the far side of the hall caught his attention. He focused on the stage there, taking in the man, dressed all in black, placing microphone stands at regular intervals. “We’re having live music tonight?”

  Ray nodded. “Yeah. It’s supposed to be a surprise. Apparently Luke’s twin sister is in a band, and they’re kicking the evening off before the disco starts.”

  Cian thought for a moment, trying to remember which of his teammates Luke was before his mind conjured up the image of the rather quiet but very large forward. “Are they any good?”

  Ray shrugged. “I’ve no idea, and more worryingly, I’m not sure Luke knows either. Apparently, they’re a brand-new ensemble.”

  Something fluttered in Cian’s stomach, and his heart rate increased. Don’t be silly. Such things don’t happen in real life. It’s just a coincidence.

  “I guess we’ll find out shortly.” Ray nodded in the direction of the stage, where a man Cian didn’t know walked up to the microphone in the middle.

  “Are we ready to party?”

  Cian tuned out the rest of the introduction, focusing on the setup on the stage instead. Five microphones and no sign of a drumkit. Surely it wasn’t possible?

  “So without further ado, please help me welcome UkeTunes.” The man eased away from the microphone, and seconds later, five persons filed onto the stage.

  Cian blinked, took a long drink, emptying his glass, and blinked at the stage again.

  “Mitch?”

  “What?” Ray asked.

  Cian took a moment to look at Ray, surprised to discover he’d said his boyfriend’s name out loud.

  “That”—he pointed at the second musician from the right—“is my boyfriend.”

  “You sneaky bastard.” Ray smirked at Cian. “I thought you didn’t know about the band?”

  “I didn’t,” Cian said, still trying to get his head around what had just happened. “Mitch said he wasn’t sure where the gig was.”

  “Fucking love it,” Ray said as Mitch and his friends started their first song, a tune Cian recognized as “Born This Way.” The loud cheer going up in the hall sent shivers down Cian’s spine. For a moment he just listened, taking in the tune, staring at the purple-haired girl singing. When the other band members, including Mitch, joined in for the chorus, Cian realized he hadn’t known Mitch could sing.

  There’s so much we don’t know about each other yet.

  Cian didn’t focus on the outfits the musicians wore until the shock had worn off. He wondered what had inspired them to dress up as characters from the Harry Potter stories. The miraculous coincidence made Cian giddy, and he laughed out loud when he realized who Mitch was supposed to be. His boyfriend couldn’t have strayed further from who he was if he’d tried; he didn’t have a Snape-like bone in his body.

  Then Mitch’s eyes were on him, and Cian wondered if Mitch had recognized his laugh.

  Chapter Seven

  Mitch’s heart skipped several beats when he heard the laughter coming from the audience, and for a fleeting second, he considered fleeing the stage. Then he recognized the sound.

  Cian!

  He couldn’t believe the coincidence. Of all the Halloween parties taking place in Dublin right now, what were the chances of UkeTunes ending up playing for Cian’s club?

  Pretty good, apparently.

  UkeTunes. The choice still made him smile. It hadn’t occurred to any of the band members that they would need a name, and they hadn’t come up with it until half an hour before they were supposed to start. As it was, he thought Ro’s idea to use a play on the cartoon show was a stroke of genius. Surely, they had to be loony to take on a live performance within weeks after forming the band or, as in his case, less than a month after picking up a ukulele for the first time.

  He focused on Cian as he played, trying to ignore the rest of his audience, which wasn’t hard, since Cian’s gaze was fixed on Mitch, his eyes wide and his mouth stretched into a huge grin. It was all a bit of a miracle. Then again, he thought while his fingers found the right chords without effort, given the miraculous moments he’d encountered since meeting Cian, should he really be surprised?

  When Harry started the first of his solo songs, Mitch, Cora, Ro, and Patrick stepped back, allowing him the limelight. Mitch considered edging his way offs
tage to join Cian for a moment, give him a kiss, and explain he’d honestly had no idea about this outcome. The urge was strong, but he resisted. There’d be time for that soon, and the two-and-a-half minutes of the song weren’t enough time to execute that action without causing a disruption.

  The rest of their concert went by as if in a dream. The more they played and sang, the more confident they became and sounded. Harmonies they hadn’t practiced were added to several songs, and Mitch’s heart soared when the audience joined in when they sang “Riptide.”

  He got so caught up in the magic of it all Ro took him by surprise when she approached him during an instrumental section. “Ready for your solo?”

  No! He took a deep breath. “Yes.”

  He still wasn’t sure why he’d been appointed to do the very last song of their set, and after how well they’d played together, he was petrified he’d be a huge disappointment on his own. He played along on automatic pilot as they ended their penultimate tune, distracted by doubts about the number he’d originally chosen to do on his own.

  They played the final chords, and Mitch’s stomach squeezed. The song he really wanted to play now he knew Cian was watching was one he’d only discovered a few days earlier. As soon as he’d seen and heard “Make Out” by Julia Nunes, he’d fallen for the song. He’d played it every time he found himself on his own in the apartment but never with the band, and he wasn’t convinced he could pull it off. On the other hand, it would make so much sense under the circumstances.

  Ro, Harry, Patrick, and Cora stepped back, and Mitch moved to the center mike, fighting his reluctance every step of the way.

  “Hi.” Mitch took in the crowd, the eyes staring at him, and wished he hadn’t. “This one’s called “Make Out,” and it’s for”—he caught Cian’s gaze and held it for a moment—“someone special.” Then he struck the first chord, closed his eyes, and sang, losing himself in the play of his fingers and the words of the song.

  Halfway through the number, when he reached the chorus for the second time, the unexpected addition of a voice made his own falter. He’d no idea why Ro had decided to join in, but he didn’t mind at all. Not being on his own felt better, less scary, and Ro’s stunning alto was a wonderful harmony to his own tenor.

  Mitch opened his eyes and focused on Cian just before he sang the last line, putting all his mixed-up emotions into the desire to kiss. He puffed out a breath as he lowered his ukulele and stepped back, nodding to acknowledge the applause and trying very hard not to grin at the loud and very recognizable wolf-whistle coming from the direction where Cian stood.

  “On that note, pun intended.” The audience snickered. “We’re done.” Ro, who’d stayed in front of her mike while Mitch retreated to the edge of the stage, addressed the audience as if it wasn’t the first time she did so. “Thank you for being a fabulous audience, and enjoy the disco.”

  Mitch jumped to the floor as soon as he was sure Ro was done and waited for her to join him, unsure where the other three had disappeared to.

  “Aren’t you the sneaky one.” Ro lightly punched his arm. “I didn’t know you knew that song. It’s one of my favorites.”

  “Thank you for joining in,” Mitch said, unsure how to react to the statement. “Your voice made the song. I….”

  “Who knew?” Two arms slipped around Mitch’s middle as the all too familiar voice spoke the words straight into his ear. “You are full of surprises, aren’t you?”

  Before Mitch turned in the arms enfolding him, he caught Ro’s raised eyebrows and grin. He smiled back, self-consciously. Then his full focus was on Cian’s chin.

  “I had no idea we were going to end up here.” He couldn’t quite make himself look into Cian’s eyes. “Fuck. If I’d known, I would probably have pulled out of the gig.”

  “Why would you do that?” Cian asked.

  “Yeah, Mitch. Why would you?” Mitch hadn’t realized Ro was still standing close enough to hear them.

  Hoping to buy himself a minute before he had to answer, Mitch turned in Cian’s arms again and switched to introductions. “Cian, this is Ro. Ro, meet Cian, my boyfriend.” The embrace of his middle tightened.

  Ro giggled, something she rarely did. “I thought he might be. Otherwise this would probably go down as the quickest groupie-musician hookup ever.”

  Behind Mitch, Cian snorted. “You’re Ro?” he asked a moment later.

  “The one and only.” She grinned. “Why does that surprise you?”

  “I…I.”

  Mitch was surprised to hear Cian stutter for the first time since he’d met him.

  “I assumed you were male.” Mitch felt Cian’s arms move up, indicating he might have shrugged.

  What? Mitch tried to turn his head enough to look at Cian’s face, but Cian held him too close. He tried to figure out why Cian would be under that impression. Mitch was pretty sure he’d never describe Ro as a girl in so many words, but he was just as certain he’d never indicated she might be anything else.

  “It’s my name, right?” Ro looked rather smug. “You wouldn’t be the first. Not that I mind. I’m not all that girly.”

  Cian said nothing, but Mitch had no problem imagining the probably somewhat sheepish expression on his face.

  “If I were male” Ro continued, “don’t you think I would have shortened my name to Rob rather than Ro?”

  “That depends on what your full name is, doesn’t it?” Cian had apparently found his voice again.

  “Good point. Well made.” She held out her hand. “I’m Robin but only listen to Ro.”

  Cian released one hand from the tight grip he still had on Mitch and shook Ro’s. “Pleased to meet you, Ro.”

  Cora appeared behind Ro and grabbed her arm. “Come with me. My brother wants to meet you.”

  “Catch you later.” With a small wave, Ro allowed herself to be pulled away.

  Before she’d taken two steps, Cian maneuvered Mitch so they were face-to-face. “So, you wanna make out?”

  Mitch’s response was smothered when Cian’s lips instantly captured his. He stiffened before he remembered where he was, then lost himself in the familiar yet magical pleasure of Cian’s taste.

  Mitch didn’t notice somebody else had approached them until they pulled apart again.

  “So,” the new arrival said, “this is the elusive boyfriend.”

  Despite the obvious humor in the man’s voice, Mitch felt his cheeks turn flaming red.

  “Peter, behave.” Cian didn’t sound amused.

  “It’s okay,” Mitch said. The last thing he wanted was to be the cause of Cian falling out with one of his teammates. “It’s not as if I’ve shown my face before.”

  Peter looked decidedly contrite, a strange, almost funny expression for the man built like a bear. “Sorry, that probably came out wrong.” His face brightened. “You’re wicked on the uke, by the way.”

  Mitch studied Peter for a moment. So, this my rival. Except that Mitch now knew, without a doubt, that he had nothing to fear. If Cian was attracted to men like Peter, he wouldn’t be with Mitch.

  “Thanks.” Mitch smiled, hoping it would put an end to the still somewhat awkward tension between the three of them. “I’m glad you liked it. And I won’t be elusive for much longer. You can expect me on the sidelines now.”

  Peter opened his mouth to reply just when the disco kicked off with “It’s Raining Men.” Before Mitch realized what was happening, Cian had pulled him to the center of the room and they were dancing. Relieved to have his debut as a public performer behind him and delighted that for the first time in weeks there was no awkwardness between them, Mitch lost himself in the beat and the sway of moving bodies, singing along with the lyrics, and surrendering to the pure joy shining in his heart.

  “So, that song you sang?” Cian asked as he closed the apartment door behind them. It was two o’clock in the morning, and they were both tired, sweaty, and happy.

  “’Make Out’?” Mitch asked, although he didn’t
really need to.

  “Yeah, that one. Was there a message in there somewhere?” Much to Mitch’s relief, Cian sounded curious rather than upset.

  Rather than answer, Mitch led the way to their bedroom, taking his black cloak off as soon as he entered.

  “Sorta,” he eventually said as he continued stripping. “I wasn’t trying to say we never see each other. We spend plenty of time together.” He glanced at Cian and smiled at the sight of his boyfriend trying to wriggle his way out of a miniskirt. “It’s just that it felt as if our lives were floating apart. You with your rugby and me with my music. I don’t know.”

  He picked up the items of clothing he’d allowed to fall to the ground and concentrated on folding them neatly, knowing full well they’d go into the wash the next day. “I guess I got scared. I don’t want to lose you to some rugby player…or anybody else.”

  “You big eejit.” Cian enfolded him in a hug from behind. Clearly he’d managed to squeeze his way out of his clothes because Mitch felt Cian’s naked skin pressed against his and his hard dick push against his lower back.

  “You’re one to talk.” Mitch turned around and grinned at Cian. “Are you trying to tell me you weren’t worried about Ro?”

  Cian kissed him, pulling him toward the bed at the same time until they both fell onto the covers.

  “Fair enough. So we’ve both been fools.” He draped himself over Mitch, undulating his hips and causing a delicious friction.

  “I need you,” Mitch said, already sounding breathless. It wasn’t as if they’d refrained from intimacy over the past month, but this would be different. Tonight, it would be more than sex, a reconnection, a confirmation of what they should have known but had somehow forgotten: they were good together.

  When Cian pushed into him, slowly but without hesitation, it felt like coming home after a long journey. Cian moved leisurely as if he too was looking to revive the bond between them they’d taken for granted for too long, rather than a release.