by Cara Dee
Sylvia took over the keyboard one last time, and I walked over to the mic with my harmonica.
We played with a finality to every note and poured the last of our energy into our goodbye to the South.
Almost broken
Here I am
Take me
Down the river
Lead me home
Water. Gimme water.
Unsure of where my cases were right this second, I placed my guitars on a few boxes and scanned the immediate area for water. Water came first.
Thank fuck.
There was a case of bottles waiting for us, and I tore the plastic and handed them out as everyone came off the stage.
“That was such a rush!” Sylvia exclaimed. “We need to play live more.”
I grinned, out of breath, and uncapped my own bottle.
“We go live almost every Sunday,” Maria reminded in a singsong voice.
“Because that’s the same, mami,” Nicky laughed. “Yo, if church offered kick-ass rock concerts, I’d go to Mass more often.”
I chuckled. “You mean instead of only when Nonna guilts us into it?”
He pointed to me in exactly.
Our group divided to create an aisle for the crew that was already busy clearing the stage of our instruments, and this time, nobody cared where things went. As long as the equipment was stored securely, it didn’t matter. Everything was going straight on to the bus, and then we’d find a classroom at the Initiative to organize it all. That was Tuesday’s problem.
“Great job tonight,” I said, lifting my tee to wipe sweat off my face. “I hope we can do this again.”
“I’m so in,” Sylvia agreed.
“You sounded amazing, bro.” Luiz held out his fist, and I bumped it with my own.
“I didn’t set the bar very high at the rehearsal,” I joked.
Nicky and Chris laughed.
I spotted a backstage worker and felt I’d waited long enough to see August and Camden, so I walked over to her and asked if it was okay to bring spouses and family back here.
“As long as no one gets in the way,” was her response.
Good enough.
I texted August, and I told Nicky to send Gideon a message too.
A couple minutes later, we opened up the fence enough for the men to sneak through. Gideon went straight to Nicky, and Camden threw his arms around my midsection.
“You were so freaking good! And sweaty. Jeebus, you’re soaked through.”
I laughed and kissed the top of his head.
“Lemme see your abs. Sweaty abs are hot abs,” he said.
“Abs?” I snorted. “You mean the ones buried under a layer of pizza and August’s cooking?”
“Hey, don’t go blamin’ me, boy.” August closed the distance and gave me a firm kiss. “You were amazing up there. Incredible. Out of this world.”
“Thanks.” I smiled and stole another kiss. Then I had to—Christ. “Ragazzo, I swear. Stop tugging on my shirt.” I pushed it down again.
He snickered and snuck close to hug me again. “Fine. I’ll wait till we get home.”
Home. That sounded nice. Too nice.
“Speaking of.” August squeezed my hand. “What’re your plans now? Y’all headin’ out or…? I don’t know how you rock stars come down after a show.”
I chuckled. I could guarantee his life had been a lot more rock ’n’ roll than mine.
“No plans,” I replied. “I think the others talked about having a drink back at the hotel, but I’m coming back to the ranch as soon as we’ve loaded the bus.”
The relief that flashed in his eyes did things to me. “I’m not even going to feel bad for takin’ up all your time. We’ll prepare some snacks while we wait for you.”
“And I’m gonna put your CD on the shelf!” Camden announced. “We bought two. Daddy wants one in his truck.”
Fuck, my cheeks hurt from smiling. “When you know the band, you get those for free. You know that, right?”
He shrugged. “That’s not how you support musicians. But I will demand you sign it.”
I’d sign whatever he wanted. I lifted his chin and dipped down, kissing him languidly. “Consider it done. I can walk you guys out. I gotta pick up the rest of the demos at the merch place anyway.” With a bit of luck, the ones we’d sold would hopefully cover dinner or a tank of gas.
“If you haven’t sold out.” August’s forehead creased. “Camden and I snuck away halfway into the show when we noticed the crowd had tripled in size. I worried we’d be too late, but there were a few left. Not many, though. Maybe a dozen or so. Then we hurried back.”
That was surreal, if true.
“A million people saw you!” Camden beamed up at me.
I grinned at his cute exaggeration. “You’re so adorable that I could fucking eat you.” I cupped his cheeks and started nibbling on his nose.
He laughed and pushed at me. “Stop it! I’m struggling not to sink into my Little mode as it is.”
A struggle that was easy to see. I held him to me, and my heart clenched. He’d had to do a lot of mental gymnastics lately, and I hoped he got a chance soon to go back to the little boy he wanted to be. But if I remembered correctly, he had a new work project starting soon, so maybe it would have to wait.
“Let’s get you home, baby boy.” August grabbed Camden’s hand and faced me. “I won’t tell you to hurry, but…”
I kissed his cheek. “I’ll hurry.”
Sunday.
The water in the pool was perfectly calm. Green hills met a bright blue sky without a single cloud in sight. I spotted half a dozen horses too. The sun hadn’t reached over the ranch entirely yet, so the patio was still in the shade, but it wasn’t chilly.
I added an egg and a slice of cheddar on top of the sausage patty and closed the English muffin.
August sat across from me and looked out over the hills as he sipped from his coffee.
Camden sat next to him and picked at his food.
I had to break the silence. I couldn’t take it. More than that, I didn’t want my last day to be wasted on…whatever this was.
“We’re gonna see each other again,” I said. “Soon, hopefully.”
August glanced at me with a faint smile. “Of course we are. Camden and I talked about it a little yesterday. We’d like to come see you in New York.”
They could come when-fucking-ever. I was ready to hand over my keys. “I’ll take that as a promise,” I replied. “What else did you do yesterday?”
“Daddy turned into Mommy,” Camden stated.
August chuckled, and I looked at the two in question.
It was Camden who clarified. “We went to a few stores so he could buy, like, twenty food containers for you. And other stuff.”
I lifted my brows, still confused.
“I have plans for us today.” August took over. “I’ve heard and seen enough—both from you and your brother—and I’m not sendin’ you home without everythin’ you need in order to feed yourself properly for the next few weeks.” Was he serious? “I won’t be able to sleep at night knowin’ you’re orderin’ pizza all the time.”
“That’s crazy, baby,” I laughed. “Sweet as hell, but crazy. I take care of myself just fine, and you already do too much.” I shook my head and took a bite of my sandwich. “If anything—I’mma step up my game until you come see me. It’ll be my turn to take care of you.”
Camden snickered. “It’s funny that you think he’s giving you a choice.”
August nodded at him. “Funny, indeed. I wasn’t askin’, Anthony. It’s what we’ll be doing today. You’ll get a few containers with leftovers, and the rest will be kits we’ll put together. I promise you clear-cut instructions, and you’ll only have to buy the main ingredients. I’ve bought the seasonings and prepared measurements and dry goods. End of discussion.”
Damn. He got all dominant with me.
I wouldn’t go down so easily, though. As soon as I got home, I was calling Non
na. She could teach me enough so that I could make myself more useful when August and Camden visited.
Nicky could teach me some things too. I knew he was spending the day sight-seeing and shopping with Gideon and the others, and maybe they could pick up August’s cookbooks for me in town.
True to his word, August put us to work in the kitchen all day. The island quickly filled up with a neat grid of containers and notes with instructions. Right now, I was tasked with dividing boxes of fancy pasta into servings. One cup in each plastic bag, and there was everything from tagliatelle and rigatoni to linguine and macaroni.
I kept telling him it was too much. I felt a little embarrassed too. Forty-three years old, and I couldn’t cook worth a damn.
“I don’t wanna hear it, boy,” August told me. “You’ve spent years building an institution that helps people. You think I don’t know? You may not enjoy speakin’ about yourself, but your brother doesn’t have that problem. He told me quite a bit at the barbecue.”
For chrissakes. “He was undoubtedly tryna be my wingman.”
“I don’t think so,” Camden said, wiping his hands on a towel. “I talked to him too. And Maria—and Luiz. You’re the freaking glue in your community—the one who fixes all the problems. You must’ve forgotten to tell us that part.”
I didn’t wanna hear it. They were exaggerating. I did my part at home, like everyone else, and it was no excuse for not taking the time to learn how to cook fucking pasta.
“They love you, darlin’, and it’s easy to see why.” August passed me with a smooch to my cheek before he went to pull something out of the fridge. “Now—cheese. I bought some fantastic Parmesan and Pecorino Romano for you—that you’ll be cutting into pieces when you’re done with the pasta—but you’ll have to drag your rear to the store and buy burrata and ricotta. That okay?”
I did my best to shake the discomfort and their kind words, and I slid onto one of the stools on this side of the island. “I know my way around a grocery store pretty well. I often pick things up for my grandmother.”
“Good.” August returned to the island with the cheese and a pack of something that looked like it came from a deli. “The day you’re using the burrata, there’ll be enough to make four meals, so pour four cups of farfalle into one bag.”
Yes, Sir.
“Fuck.” I flinched awake by a jolt of pain in my neck and straightened in my seat. Where was… Oh. Goddammit, we’d fallen asleep in their home theater. The big cushy loveseat at the center was the obvious choice so we could sit together, but it wasn’t meant to sleep on. I rolled my shoulders and looked around me. Camden must’ve gone to bed at some point. How nice of the little punk not to wake us up…
Two loveseats and four chairs split into two rows left him plenty of options for our movie nights, but he usually ended up with his blanket and pillow on the floor between our feet. No matter how many times we’d told him there was space between us, Camden preferred the soft carpet.
“August.” I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and got off the loveseat with a grunt that revealed my age a little too well.
“Mm.”
“Let’s go to bed.” I leaned over him and peppered his face with soft kisses. My God, he was beautiful. I touched his cheek and felt… It couldn’t be. It was too soon. I had my head in the damn clouds. “Wake up, love.” Evidently, it didn’t stop me from calling him that.
“Mmm…” He let out a yawn and stretched out. “Lead the way.”
I dragged him up from the seat. The screen on the wall had already gone dark, so I just flicked off the dim light and guided him out of the room.
On our way up the stairs, he hugged me from behind and dropped a kiss to my neck.
I sighed contentedly and turned around once I’d reached the landing. He met me in a sweet kiss and walked me backward toward his room.
I was gonna miss his kisses. His affection.
August and Camden had brought me back to life. They’d made me thirst for a better tomorrow. For adventures and little things that shook up the everyday routine.
“It’s fucked that I miss you already, isn’t it?” My back hit the doorframe, and he deepened the kiss and pushed his tongue into my mouth. I kissed him back hungrily and started unbuttoning his jeans.
“Not that fucked, baby.” He lifted my tee, and I pulled it over my head. “My chances of seein’ you sooner increase the more desperate I get you.”
“That’s an evil plan.”
“I’m merely a man on a mission.” With that said, he slipped his hand down my pants and palmed my cock. Combined with his lips on my neck, there was no stopping the shudder that ripped through me.
I loved the rasp of his scruff against my skin. And his openmouthed kisses. I tilted my head to give him more access, and it was through hooded eyes I spotted Camden in the middle of our bed. Fuck—August’s bed. But right now, it was fucking ours, and our boy was in it.
“Ciccio,” I murmured hoarsely.
August hummed and followed my gaze.
It changed our plans automatically, and we zeroed in on Camden instead and got rid of our clothes before we climbed into bed.
Rolling him onto his back was like moving a listless doll. And it turned me on beyond belief. So defenseless, small, and soft. I carefully pulled down his pajama pants and tossed them, then got comfortable next to him, with my head mere inches from his cock.
“Lie on your side,” August said quietly.
I shifted onto my side and pulled up my leg so he could do whatever he wanted with me. I focused on Camden and angled him closer to me until I could suck him into my mouth. He squirmed and made a sleepy sound.
At the sound of August lubing up his cock, my own thickened and grew harder.
A tremor ran through Camden’s body, and when his breathing changed, I figured he was waking up. But he didn’t say anything or move away. I glanced up at him, just as August’s chest pressed against my back, and saw the boy sucking on his thumb. While I sucked on his cock.
I had to swallow a moan as August drove his thick cock inside me, and whatever that did to Camden made him quiver and push into my mouth. The boy pretended well, I had to give him that. Other than his cock being rock hard, there wasn’t a sign of him actually being awake. For all I knew, he could be getting a blow job in his dreams, and it fueled my fantasy.
I had to fuck him soon.
August was in no rush. He stayed inside me and focused on driving me fucking crazy with his sensual touches and kisses. His lips against my neck, his hand roaming my chest and down to my cock. Deep, unhurried thrusts.
He lubed me up too.
“I love watchin’ you two together.” August’s whisper sent a shiver through me. “I love how you take him.”
I redoubled my efforts and swirled my tongue around Camden’s cock, and he began letting out the sweetest little whimpers. His body tensed up too, and I could sense he was close. I could taste it too. Small spurts of pre-come coated the roof of my mouth, and I swallowed repeatedly and sucked him harder.
It didn’t take long before he was shaking and coming down my throat.
August pulled out, a silent go-ahead for me, and I didn’t waste a second. As soon as Camden came down from his orgasm, I got on all fours and rolled him over. Fuck, that sweet little ass of his. Two soft handfuls. I stroked my cock and pressed against him, wanting him completely trapped between the mattress and me, and then I entered him slowly.
The pleasure rolled over me in hot waves, only intensified by Camden tensing up and letting out a soft whine around his thumb.
“Shh, beautiful boy.” I kissed his neck and gripped his hip. “You go back to sleep and let Daddy and me play with you a little.”
August cursed under his breath and moved closer behind me.
I nipped at Camden’s jaw. His soft noises faded, and he clenched around me.
“That’s a good boy,” I whispered. “You’re gonna make me come so hard.”
The only thing missing
now was August’s big cock fucking me raw, and thankfully, he didn’t make me wait long. With a firm grasp on my hips, he pulled me back onto his cock and rammed in forcefully, and I groaned a little too loudly.
It was sensory overload. Whenever I pushed forward, I sank into Camden’s tight ass, and whenever I pulled back, I fucked myself on August’s cock.
They were gonna make me lose my goddamn mind.
I threw myself into the sensations and chased every peak I could get to, fucking Camden into the mattress, being used by August, the burning sting mingling with the overwhelming euphoria.
It made me greedier. I couldn’t get enough of them.
“Fuck me hard when I come,” I groaned.
“I will, baby. I promise.” August slid a hand up my spine, pressing me down. Only the support of my elbow kept me from collapsing on top of Camden. “You’ll get all of me soon.”
Goose bumps rose along my shoulders and arms, and I took even more. I dug a hand underneath Camden and found him hard again, and thank fuck. I wanted to make him come again. I wanted us to reek of sex.
In the final moments, there was no act. Camden replaced his thumb with two of my fingers, and then he was fucking my other hand as quickly as he could, sending vibrations up my cock. I panted against his neck, my body protested, begging to let go and fall on top of him, and we were just a pile of flesh and desire.
“Make a mess for us, ragazzo.” I pushed my fingers deeper into his mouth until he gagged. And a beat later, he hauled in a ragged breath and choked as he went rigid. My hand flooded with his hot come, and it set me off.
A growl emanated from my chest, and I slammed forward and let it all go. The orgasm consumed me, drowned me, and zinged and zapped its ecstasy to every pleasure point in my body. It fucking drained me.
August collapsed on top of me at some point, and it made me keenly aware of a cute, wriggling Camden underneath me. I chuckled, completely out of breath, and managed to nudge August back before I pulled out.
“I can’t stop shivering,” Camden croaked. “I can’t move either. I think there’s a Camden-shaped impression in the mattress now.”