by Lane Hayes
“Come inside.”
He paused to turn on the lantern-style lights over his kitchen island and shrugged his coat off, laying it over a barstool before leading the way to his bedroom.
Charlie’s townhouse was neat and clean and beautifully decorated with colorful but tasteful accents. In other words, he didn’t have a single poster hanging on his walls. And no instruments either. I bet if we lived together, he’d assign a designated area for my guitars and skateboards and—oh…fuck. I wasn’t ready for that. I didn’t do the live-in thing. I’d never wanted to. Charlie wouldn’t be easy to live with either. He was too picky, too prickly, too perfect. Except when he wasn’t. Because sometimes he was a fucking tornado. And he had rooms in his home that reflected that part of him. His master suite, for example, was pure chaos.
“Oh. Fuck. Gimme a second.” He clicked on the lamp on the nightstand, gathered the pile of clothes on his bed and dumped them on the already overloaded chair in the corner. He tripped on a pair of red high-heeled boots and landed at my feet on the plush white area rug in the middle of the room.
I offered him a hand but changed my mind and kneeled beside him. “This looks comfortable,” I hummed, pushing him flat and climbing over him.
I covered his mouth and licked the corners in a silent quest for entry. He let me in with a sigh, gliding his tongue alongside mine. He pulled me closer, rocking his hips meaningfully until I gave way and let him roll on top of me. Charlie unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it over his shoulder with a sassy grin before slipping his fingers under my T-shirt. I sat up and let him pull it over my head, then captured his lips again, sucking and licking as I worked on his belt. He took over and gave me room to undo mine. As soon as I freed my aching cock, I pulled him against me and rolled over again.
“Mmm,” he hummed as he pushed my jeans over my bare ass.
I nipped his chin playfully and shoved the denim out of the way. I swore I was stiff enough to hang a towel. I pulled my shoes and socks off before helping Charlie undress. I yanked his pants and his sexy briefs down and waited for him to deal with his shoes before I crawled on top of him naked. The feel of his skin against mine was seriously intoxicating. And when our cocks nudged each other, I saw stars. No fucking kidding.
“Christ, you feel so good, Char.” I pumped and grinded, madly seeking friction as I sealed my lips over his.
Our bellies were slick with precum and sweat. It felt like all the best kinds of nasty. And suddenly, I had to taste him. I slipped my hand between us and swiped my thumb across his lower abdomen before sucking it clean.
Charlie gasped and went a little crazy. He bucked upward and pushed my chest hard enough that I lost balance. Then he climbed over me, straddling my torso so my dick rode his crack. I stroked him while he gyrated shamelessly. Damn, he was beautiful. I admired the flex and pull of his muscular thighs, his smooth, toned abs, and that fucking gorgeous smile. I had never been with anyone so free and unfettered. There was no part of him that didn’t know exactly what he was doing to me. I’d do anything he wanted…and he knew it. So, when he scooted forward on my chest and told me to put my finger in his ass, I did. And since his leaking cock was just inches away, I went ahead and tasted him too.
“Oh, fuck. Yes.” Charlie pulled his cheeks apart to give me better access to his hole, so I could finger him while I circled the head of his dick with the tip of my tongue. It wasn’t long before he was fucking my mouth in earnest and riding my hand. “Another one. Please. Yes…fuck, yes.”
I played him like an instrument. He moved above me, moaning my name and begging for more. When he reached back to stroke me, I couldn’t take anymore. I had to have him.
I pulled my fingers out and smacked his ass before changing positions again. I held his hands beside his head and licked his jaw. “I need to be inside you, baby.”
He whimpered softly and nodded. “Bed.”
We scrambled off the floor and jumped onto the mattress. Charlie opened the lube and poured some on his right hand before reaching behind himself.
“You make the craziest things look so fucking hot,” I said in a reverent tone.
He winked, then crawled between my spread thighs and bent over to swallow me whole. Charlie hummed, sending a sweet reverberation through me. He was in his element. He swayed his ass from side to side as he worked me over, licking my shaft up one side and down the other. He pulled off my cock and met my gaze.
“Do you want me to ride you?” he asked, hiking his leg over me and lining my cock at his hole.
“Yes. Now,” I commanded, holding myself at the base.
Charlie braced his hand on my chest and slowly lowered himself on my thick cock. He didn’t stop until he bottomed out. He went perfectly still for a moment, letting his body adjust to my girth. I massaged his thighs and whispered porny sweet nothings about his tight hole and his fucking gorgeous ass. He seemed to love it. His eyes had a feverish, blissed-out glint as he rocked back and forth a couple of times. And finally began to move.
He started out slowly, murmuring softly that I was so big. I chuckled and said something like, “You fucking love it” that spurred him into action. Charlie’s lopsided grin morphed into a beautiful radiant one as he arched and quickened his strokes. He turned up the volume and rode me hard. He pulled his cheeks apart and kept his hands on his ass while his cock slapped against my stomach at a steady clip.
I flattened my feet on the mattress and curled my fingers around him. I jacked him and fucked him, and he never stopped moving. He let his fingers drift to my balls and to my cock as I thrust inside him. I tightened my grip on his shaft and pumped a little harder ’cause damn, it felt amazing. Charlie lost his rhythm then. He covered my fist and shook his head.
“Don’t. I’ll come,” he warned.
I reached for his chin and caressed his cheek. He leaned into my palm like he had earlier. Something about the contrast of his sweet expression, his wild curly hair, and the sensual roll of his hips undid me. I had a wide-eyed moment of clarity. It was good and bad, light and dark. And I wanted it all. Every ounce of whatever it was that enabled him to float above the clouds and skim the earth’s surface like some kind of fallen angel. He was mine.
“Do it. I want you to come. Come all over me, baby.”
“Oh…fuck. I’m—” he cried as he fell apart, shooting cum onto my stomach and chest.
I didn’t give him a second to recuperate. I couldn’t. I was already on the edge. I pulled him against me and quickly rolled over him, pistoning my hips in a frenzy until the first wave of pleasure came for me. The orgasm that followed was nothing short of epic. I clutched his shoulders and bucked relentlessly before giving in to the tsunami. Charlie held me close as I shuddered and quaked uncontrollably.
I buried my face in his neck and breathed him in, loving the feel of him under me. After a minute or so, I gingerly rose on my elbows and smiled.
“You okay? Am I squishing you?”
“Yes, but I like it.”
I chuckled at his self-satisfied tone as I carefully eased off him. “I’m gonna grab a towel.”
Charlie gestured toward his left, then closed his eyes. I returned a minute later with a towel to find him sprawled out with one hand over his forehead and the other above his head. He fluttered his lashes when I wiped the mess of sweat and cum from his stomach.
“Thank you.”
I nodded in acknowledgment and looked away quickly to hide my blush when he smiled at me. Yeah, I fucking blushed…and that was way too embarrassing. So, I bit the inside of my cheek and searched for a point of interest in the master suite. Something to anchor me until I felt like I could speak without getting tongue-tied.
But damn, his room was a disaster.
Under the avalanche of discarded clothing and shoes, his room was well-appointed. The white paneled walls were decorated with black-and-white photos with an avant-garde twist that complemented the black-and-white bedding. But there were generous pops of color throughout the
room…funky knickknacks on the built-in bookshelves on either side of the flat-screen television and throw pillows…everywhere. It was a lot, but so was Charlie.
“When was the last time you sat in that chair?” I asked, gesturing toward the mountain of clothing piled high in the corner.
“It’s been a while.” Charlie sat up and surveyed the room. “Believe it or not, I know where everything is. This is what I refer to as controlled chaos.”
“Oh, so that’s what we’re calling it,” I snarked.
“Hmph.”
“It’s good to know you’re not perfect.”
Charlie did a surprised double take. “You think I’m perfect?”
“Well, uh…”
“Just say yes. You’ll get all the karma points and something to eat. Are you hungry?”
“Are you making grilled cheese?”
“It is my specialty,” he replied glibly.
When he slid off the bed, I reached for his hand and pulled him between my thighs and stood. I kneaded his ass and pressed kisses along his jaw. “I was a little rough. Did I hurt you?”
Charlie quirked a sweet smile and shook his head as he spun out of my arms and headed for his walk-in closet. “No. You know I love it.”
“No, I love you,” I whispered.
My heartbeat accelerated out of nowhere, and sound came at me through a vacuum. I could hear him talking…something about cheese maybe. I couldn’t be sure. I looked back at the bed as I picked my jeans up off the floor. I got that itchy feeling that made me want to make a run for the nearest exit. But I didn’t want to go anywhere without him. I took a deep breath and then another. I was freaking out, but not in a bad way. It was more of a “pinch me” moment. The kind I didn’t want to fuck up, yet somehow I knew I would.
Charlie
People talked about being in love like it was something that happened to everyone eventually. I had my doubts. At least for myself. Let’s be real, I wasn’t exactly lovable. I had sharp edges and baggage I preferred to keep packed and hidden deep in the closet. Kind of ironic considering I was as out and proud as any gay man could possibly be. I wanted to be seen on my terms only, and I sometimes forgot to think about what my partner might need. I was bad boyfriend material and trust me, my exes agreed.
But Ky got me.
He thought I was funny and smart, and the way he looked at me from the stage with hooded eyes and a wicked grin made me think he meant it when he said I was his sexy boy. He actually called me that, by the way…sexy boy. I should have hated it, but I fucking loved it. I loved everything about Ky. His swagger, his cool under pressure vibe, his silly sense of humor, and his courageous spirit. He wasn’t afraid to take chances or start over and over again if necessary. He didn’t let bad breaks define him. He soldiered on and stayed focused on the future. I admired him. And I didn’t let on that I knew he used his swagger to protect himself. He’d been hurt by the people who should have supported him. It didn’t take a genius to figure out why he only let lovers in so far before turning them away.
But he let me stay.
I saw pieces of him no one else did. We didn’t talk about our feelings. We didn’t have to. We acted. We spent a lot of time together, but we didn’t crowd each other. I stayed out of the studio unless I needed to communicate important info to the band. But I waited for him after practice, ate dinner with him, watched Netflix, chilled, and slept with him every night. I didn’t need words to know he wanted me as much as I wanted him. But the harder I fell, the more I hoped he might love me too.
Don’t worry. I wasn’t the creepy, needy type. I wouldn’t dare put Ky on the spot. If—I mean, when—one of us said those three little words, it would be the right time. For now, I loved us. And in a rare show of self-control, I promised myself not to be greedy. Between the holiday and preparing a presentation for the band, I had plenty to keep me busy anyway.
I worked on my business plan and the preliminary logistics to obtain financing for the proposed label, outlining the positives and negatives. I even used cool graphics on my handouts to keep their interest in case their eyes glazed over from the boring parts about cash flow and profit and loss projections. I wanted to give them a comprehensive report including viable alternatives in case the guys hated my idea.
They loved it. I supposed that should have been a sign something was about to blow up.
And it did.
“So, we’d use what we’ve already recorded, polish it up, and release it…where? YouTube?” Tegan asked, leaning forward with elbows on his knees.
“No. We’ll distribute it to Spotify, Apple, and work the radio angle. I’ve been in contact with some big stations throughout the country. They have your demo, concert footage, and your social media info. They know you’re the real deal and they’re interested. If you say go, a couple of stations will start playing ‘Trouble’ now.
“Go.” Justin straightened from the doorjamb and unfolded his arms before casting his gaze around the studio. “Right? It sounds like a no-brainer. Charlie’s given us the platform and exposure we’ve needed to become interesting to big, medium, and small labels, but if we sign with any of them, we’re going to lose some creative control.”
“But a real label usually has more than one act,” Johnny said.
“True. And so can we. I’ve included this in my plan.” I pointed at my computer screen and referenced page two. “We can sign an act this year. Someone who complements your sound would be best. We can tour with whomever we choose, cross-promote, and best of all, make a profit.”
“Assuming we don’t bomb.” Ky shot a lazy half smile at me when I furrowed my brow and growled at him.
“You don’t suck, and we wouldn’t choose anyone who sucks,” I replied primly.
“So Ky doesn’t suck?” Justin teased.
“I suck all the time. Don’t I, Char?”
I stood abruptly and set my hands on my hips. “Oh, my God. Can anyone here focus? Is it a yes or a no?”
“It’s a great idea.” Tegan made a paper airplane of the handout I’d given him and tossed it at Justin before settling in front of my laptop. “I hate looking at reports. Makes me feel like I’m back in school. Can I check it out on your computer?”
“Sure.”
“I say yes,” Johnny piped in.
“Me too,” Ky said, hooking his finger in my belt loop.
“What comes next? Do we hire an engineer or—”
“Whoa. What the fuck?” Tegan froze, then lifted his hands off my keyboard like he’d been burned.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“I didn’t touch anything. I swear. Two new texts just popped up in Messenger. Declan McNamara says, and I quote…’What time can you meet on Friday?’ What are you doing, Charlie?”
All four guys turned to me at once. Justin, Johnny, and Tegan looked confused and pissed. I expected Ky to pull away from me and join them, but he didn’t move.
“I haven’t done anything.” I bit my bottom lip and decided to go with my gut. It was time to lay my cards on the table. “But I think Declan should be our first act.”
Silence.
“We’ve been pretty damn clear about how we feel, Char. What part of ‘I fucking hate him?’ didn’t you get?” Justin asked irritably.
“Hey, relax,” Ky said, stepping between us. “Let him explain.”
“Please. Go ahead and explain,” Tegan huffed.
I swallowed hard. “Thanks. Listen, you don’t want to hear this, but he’s a really good musician with a lot of star appeal. His loose connection to you makes him instantly interesting. If you set your egos aside, you’ll realize you’re in a position to call the shots. He can help you and you can help him. You can dictate the narrative, rewrite the parts of your story you don’t like. His band, Jealousy, is a good six months to a year behind where Zero is now. They need studio time and—”
“And where would they practice? Here?” Justin asked incredulously.
“No, we’d rent a stu
dio. I found an affordable one on La Cienega. You don’t ever have to cross paths. But you’ll want to once they’re ready to release a single. He’s your competition. Get it?”
Everyone went quiet again. Either mulling over my words or planning my demise.
Justin pursed his lips as he rubbed his stubbled jaw thoughtfully. “I get it. I don’t know if I like it, but you might be right.”
“I am right. It’s a risky proposition. We’re betting on the market. We’re betting on Zero. We don’t know how your shows will be received in New York City, Boston, Miami, Nashville. We’re not sure if they’ll love you in London or Paris or Munich either. We’re betting everything on this. We’ll have to form a corporation, borrow money we don’t have, and roll the dice,” I said before adding softly, “but I’d bet on Zero any day.”
“Let’s take twenty-four hours and think about it,” Ky suggested. “We don’t have to decide tonight.”
“That’s a good idea. Do we have any more questions?” Justin asked.
Johnny, Justin, and Ky asked a few about logistics and the timeline I’d created, noting that there really was no way for me to do everything I’d proposed on my own.
“I’d have to hire a team. I know a few good people,” I assured them before rattling off a few names.
The guys tossed in a few options as they started to pack up for the night. I breathed a sigh of relief and grabbed my man bag from the sofa next to Tegan who was still staring at my computer. If I hadn’t been caught off guard by the accidental Declan reveal, I might have noticed that Tegan hadn’t said a word.