Siren's Song

by Kaye Draper

  Matheus and Ethan perked up. Grey could feel their stares burning holes in him. He knew Mat was probably dying to make a scathing comment, but Ethan looked hopeful, and he knew the blond would probably be spewing words of encouragement, if he was allowed. Grey rubbed the bridge of his nose to hide a smile at the thought.

  A few more guys had filtered in over the course of the auditions and were now waiting their turn behind Grey. One of them openly laughed at Grey’s response. The manager frowned like he was sick of people wasting his time.

  Luca just smiled; a sly, confident thing that made Grey’s knees feel weak. “Okay. Here’s an excerpt from Poisoned Thorn. Do you need the sheet music?” Luca held up a piece of paper, that smile still in place, as if he knew a secret.

  Grey shook his head. He knew the words by heart. The music started to play, and he spread his feet, planting them firmly on the stage, grounding himself and straightening his spine. The piece they played for him was one that started off soft and deceptive then built to a crescendo of emotion. Grey closed his eyes, let the music fill him until he was overflowing. Then, he sang.

  He let all of his being pour into each note, felt the words rise and fall from his lips, clung to the microphone like a slippery, living thing, until at last his eyes flashed open and the last note of his song hung in the air like a spell. He met Luca’s blue gaze, shocked at the intensity he saw there—and at the sudden desire to kiss the man senseless right here in front of everyone. There was a roaring sound in his ears like ocean waves.

  Someone on the sidelines started clapping. Grey tore his gaze away from Luca and glanced at the rest of the band. The bored expressions were gone, replaced by completely unreadable stares. Grey willed himself to unclench his hands from the mic stand and step back. The producer stood and ushered him off the stage while Luca cleared his throat and said “next,” into the microphone. One of the guys on the sideline had tears flowing down his cheeks. Another had his head in his hands, face covered as if he just couldn’t bear to look.

  Grey’s ears were roaring. He’d done it. He had gone and embarrassed himself in front of all of Lucifer, not to mention a manager, producer, and about ten other guys he’d never met. Spectacular.

  Grey was so lost in his own pity party that he was stunned when the producer led him through a door and he finally became aware of his surroundings. He had expected the exit and a “Nice shot, kid.” Instead, he found himself in a comfortable, modern office. The other man sank into a plush leather office chair and gestured for Grey to sit on the opposite side of his desk.

  He handed Grey a bottled water from the min-fridge under his desk, then set about compiling a stack of papers. He didn’t speak, so Grey waited, feeling like a kid who’d been pulled into the principal’s office for detention. Grey cracked open the bottled water and soothed his poor, parched throat. It still ached with tension. As he gulped his water, his eyes fell on the shiny plaque on the desk. Royson Beck, Producer.

  Finally, Royson pushed the stack of papers across the desk toward him. He saw where Grey was looking and nodded. “Sorry, I guess I should introduce myself again. You probably didn’t hear a word while you were concentrating on auditions.” He stuck out his hand and grinned. “I’m Roy. Great to meet you, kid.” Grey shook his hand absently. Was this really happening?

  Roy shook his head. “Leave it to Luca to pull a stunt like that, bringing you in at the last minute without a word of warning.” He leaned across the desk, his eyes crinkling with pleasure. “You have an amazing voice, Grey,” he said, then sat back and gestured at Grey with a laugh. “Imagine that sound coming from such a pretty little thing!” He examined Grey with a critical eye. “The girls on the mainland are going to love you.”

  Grey felt dizzy. “Sir?”

  Roy tapped the paper. “You’re in, kid. You can read through all this stuff at your leisure, and then I’ll have forms for you to sign. Contract, releases, that sort of thing. Of course we’ll let the other hopefuls finish their auditions and we’ll run it by the other guys…oh, and you’ll have to make it through a trial period with the band to show us this isn’t a fluke and that you can all work together. But I have a hunch we’ve just found our new lead singer.”

  He slapped his thigh and shook his head, as if he couldn’t believe his luck. “I’ve never heard a voice like that.” He rubbed his arm and laughed. “I’ve still got goosebumps! And wait until we get you packaged. The stylist and the marketing people are going die! I thought the rest of Lucifer was an amazing opportunity. But I haven’t heard raw talent like that in…well, ever!”

  Grey swallowed and pulled the stack of papers into his lap, leafing through them with shaking hands. Releases to use his name and image for marketing purposes, agreements regarding appearances, rights, royalties. His head spun.

  “But….” He looked up, perplexed. “Lucifer is indie. I thought they were just holding auditions here…they haven’t actually signed with Island Records…?”

  The producer smiled a vulpine smile. “All but you, kid. They just needed the right lead singer. We’ll have to record some samples, but I have confidence that with you we’ve struck gold. You’re going to be a perfect fit!” He shrugged and flipped his tie out of the way. “They were about to sign with us when they started having problems with Steffen. It kind of threw a wrench in the works.”

  Grey gaped at him. Luca hadn’t seen fit to share that little tidbit of information with him. Grey had thought he was auditioning for a little indie band, not one that was about to sign with a real label. Holy hell, what have I just done?

  Chapter 15

  A few days later, Grey stood before the microphone stand—this time set up in Matheus’s living room—feeling beyond awkward. Mat lived alone. Grey didn’t know the details, but he’d caught on to the looks from Ethan and Luca that said not to ask.

  Matheus gave him a brooding look as he made his way to the guitar stand to get his bass. Nothing new. The sleek, hazel-eyed brunette was always brooding. It was kind of his thing. And, if he was being honest, Grey had to admit…Mat did brooding really well. It was no wonder he seemed to always catch the attention of the “tourists” whenever they were out.

  Focus, Grey. Geesh. Now was not the time to start lusting over his bandmates. Again.

  Grey stuck his hands in his jeans pockets and rocked up onto his toes. He wished Luca would just get here already. Then he cursed himself for being such a wuss. Since when did he need a guy to make him feel strong? He squared his shoulders and glared at Matheus.

  The bassist lifted one dark brow at him. “Don’t even bother. I know it’s not me you’re pissed at.”

  Grey blinked at him. “What?”

  Matheus set his guitar aside and came to perch on the arm of the couch near Grey. “You get bitchy when you’re nervous.” He grinned, his eyes full of evil. “Don’t get me wrong—I love it.”

  Grey crossed his arms and kept glaring. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Mat stood and came closer, gripping Grey’s elbows as he slid into his space. “You really want this, don’t you? I can tell by the strength of your glare.” He tilted his head, his hazel eyes boring into Grey’s, one corner of his mouth quirking upward. “But…do you really want to be in the band that bad? Or is it just because of Luca?”

  If Grey could scowl harder, he would. Unfortunately, his face was already doing its best. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Matheus smirked, still not letting go of Grey’s elbows, his strong fingers wrapping around Grey’s arms as he practically towered over Grey. “Hmm…no?” He winked. “Don’t worry. I won’t judge you for being gay. In case you haven’t noticed,” he leaned in to whisper in Grey’s ear. “I like boys too.”

  Grey rolled his eyes and pulled away, refusing to go all shuddery and…stupid. “I noticed,” he said dryly. “I’m pretty sure you’d fuck anything with legs.”

  Matheus dropped his head back and laughed, his prominent Adam’s apple
sharp in his long throat, putting one hand over his heart like he was wounded. Then he leveled a playful look at Grey. “That’s not fair. I wouldn’t say no to an amputee either, as long as they were hot.”

  Grey shook his head. “You’re a terrible human being.”

  Mat’s smile changed, becoming forced. He executed a perfect, ridiculous bow, like Grey’s words had been meant as praise.

  Grey uncrossed his arms and took half a step toward the broody man, feeling like he had somehow done something awful and wanting to make it right. They had been joking. Matheus wasn’t a bad guy, really. He knew Grey didn’t mean it. Right? And why the fuck was Grey so tuned in to everyone else’s moods lately?

  “Careful,” Matheus said in a sharp, mocking tone as he turned away to go back to his instrument. “Get too close and I might corrupt you with my evil ways.” He looked up and winked. “You might even like it, sweetheart.”

  The weird sympathy he’d felt vanished and the glare returned. Asshole. He turned away and glared at the door, willing the others to just freaking get there already and save him from Mat’s weirdness and his own stupid hormones and gullibility.

  Just then, Ethan came bouncing through the door. The energetic blond caught the full brunt of Grey’s glare and stopped in his tracks, lifting a hand to rub at his upper arm through his jacket, where Grey knew there was a tattoo he used like a worry stone. Ethan looked behind him as if looking for the source of Grey’s displeasure.

  Grey smiled involuntarily. At least one of his bandmates wasn’t a jerk.

  “I can’t wait to hear how we sound,” Ethan said as he came in and shut the door, his cheeriness not marred by Grey's mood swings.

  Grey grimaced. “Yeah.”

  The grinning blond shucked his coat, crossed to the far side of the living room, and started rattling around his drum set, adjusting things here and there, and generally making a racket while he fidgeted. It looked like Ethan left an older drum set here permanently. He and Matheus really must get along better than it seemed. How someone as sweet as Ethan could stand all the…emo-ness, Grey had no idea. Mat tuned his guitar and didn’t speak to either of them.

  Grey let out a breath of relief when Luca finally showed up. He was toting a box of doughnuts and a cardboard carrier loaded with coffee, his guitar case slung over his back. The manager—no Grey corrected himself, our manager—George, followed Luca through the door, and Grey’s chest clenched. Crap. No pressure or anything.

  Luca set his sugary treasure on an old folding table that had seen better days and went to take his guitar to Matheus, who finished tuning his instrument and moved on to tune Luca’s while the other guy settled in. Luca ruffled Grey’s hair in passing. “Breathe,” he whispered, with a wink.

  Grey was scared to death at first, afraid he would screw up or disappoint everyone and make Luca look like an idiot for bringing him in to audition. But after they went through the first song a couple times, the tension melted away. Grey had always enjoyed Lucifer’s music, but he had never given much thought to the work that went into it. Every phrase was examined and perfected, and they stopped dozens of times during the song to analyze a chord or talk about the balance between vocals and bass or the tempo of the song. They even tweaked things to better fit Grey’s unique sound. Grey was amazed to find that the same care and beauty went into crafting these songs as the arias and operettas he had sung as a woman.

  Even more amazing, was seeing Luca in action. He was a natural leader. Matheus and Ethan were like day and night in terms of personality and musical style, but Luca brought them together and melded their ideas halfway, bringing out the best of both worlds. Grey felt Luca’s influence work on him as well, as he got pulled into their discussions and friendly arguments. For a while, Grey completely forgot that he was in a trial period, or that George was watching his every move.

  When the manager stood and called a break, Grey was startled out of the warm glow of contentment that had come over him while they worked. The guys attacked the doughnuts like they had never seen food before. Grey took a coffee and stood awkwardly on the sidelines. He didn’t feel like he was really part of the group quite yet, not when it came to the music, but…he wanted to be.

  Matheus went to sprawl sideways in an antique-looking armchair, and he was so much the picture of angsty emo lethargy that Gray almost laughed. Ethan took up residence on the sofa. His bright blue eyes met Grey’s and he grinned and waved him over. Grey felt Luca’s eyes on him as he moved to sit next to the drummer. It felt like his every move was being examined, like every interaction was a test.

  “You’re doing great!” Ethan said, taking a massive bite out of a glazed doughnut, then pausing to lick his lips. Grey tried not to imagine kissing him. He certainly didn’t wonder what it would be like with all the added sweetness on his lips. “We sound amazing with your vocals,” Ethan mumbled around a mouthful of sugar, reaching over to pat Grey on the knee, oblivious to his deranged train of thought.

  Damn it. He’d heard all the stereotypical crap about raging male hormones. But shouldn’t it be getting better as he got older, rather than ramping up even more? Guy bodies sucked.

  Grey flushed and mumbled his thanks, but Mat cut him off. “His voice is way different than Steff’s. It’s really going to change our sound. People might not like it.” He glanced at Grey with hooded hazel eyes and added, “You were flat on that last high note.” Grey couldn’t tell if that was malice, or just Matheus. Something in the tone sounded both sultry and challenging. Like he wanted Grey to argue. The weirdo.

  Luca was making his own selection from the doughnut box. He didn’t comment, but his wide mouth turned up at the corner, and Grey saw him hide a smile behind his cup of coffee.

  That afternoon, Grey and Luca met Cameron for a late lunch. Luca bragged non-stop about Grey’s talent and how people were going to react when they heard the new material. Grey knew it was probably all part of the effort to bring Cameron and him together, but he was uncomfortable with both the flimsy ruse and the praise. Besides, Cameron was obviously not getting half of what Luca was saying as he stared at the big screen TV that replayed clips from a recent football game. Grey found himself wishing dinner would just end and free him from the awkwardness.

  Hanging out with Cam was fine. But he had to pretend with Cam. Even though the Lucifer guys didn’t know all his secrets, there was this feeling of belonging when he was with the band. He had enjoyed Matheus’s taunts and Ethan’s encouraging jokes while Luca micromanaged them all. He just…wasn’t interested in Cam, and never really had been. It was all a lingering habit from a life he should have said goodbye to years ago. But how did he tell Luca that without then being forced to explain just what had prompted his change of heart?

  Chapter 16

  Luca shifted in his over-stuffed chair and flipped a page in the issue of Rolling Stone that he was currently pretending to read. He didn’t have a clue what was printed on the page. His gaze moved over Grey, where the singer lay sprawled on the floor. They had spent the afternoon with Cameron, an awkward affair that had made Luca want to pull his hair out. But Grey had somehow managed to enjoy himself—at least he had been comfortable enough to start up a conversation with Cameron on his own. He was clearly no longer nervous around his crush.

  The object of Luca's frustration was currently propped up on his elbows studying a textbook, the eraser end of a pencil clasped between his even white teeth and a frown creasing his face. A pair of reading glasses was perched on his nose and his wild spill of chestnut curls glowed like a halo in the soft lamplight. Luca had agreed to stick around and help Grey catch up on his music theory homework, since Grey spent the morning with the band and the entire afternoon slacking off with Luca and Cam, but he was beginning to think that had been a huge mistake.

  Grey just had no damned idea how he drew people in.

  Those sharp little teeth nibbled at the pink eraser nub. A shiny curl fell forward into Grey’s eyes and he paused in his destruction to
blow the lock of hair out of his face with a huff. Luca dropped the magazine onto an end table and leaned his head against the back of his chair, giving up all pretense of not looking.

  Gods Grey was beautiful, with that soft bronzed skin, and those big, sparkling green eyes. There was also something else, that hint of otherness that beckoned to Luca like a forbidden delicacy. Luca wanted to go to Grey, remove those ridiculously sexy glasses, and see what he tasted like. He shifted in his chair again, forcing himself to stare at the ceiling, instead of ogling his bandmate. What the hell was wrong with him lately? Being trapped on this island was making him crazy.

  Sure, they’d had a charged moment there in the dojo, when Luca had lost every last bit of his common sense. But Luca knew the person Grey really wanted was golden-boy, football star Cameron. And he’d be good for Cam. Sure, Cam was straight. But Luca thought maybe sexuality was more changeable than he ever imagined. Grey could help Cam heal and move past losing their mother, maybe balance out the meathead's jock tendencies. And if The Change was reversed, Cam and Grey would be perfect for each other. How could Luca even think about messing that up?

  Grey shut his book and tossed it aside with a thump. Luca’s eyes were glued to Grey’s perfect body as he stood and pulled off the glasses. He stretched, a rippling show of compact, efficient grace, then collapsed back in on himself and gave Luca a warm smile, like a contented cat. Gods he was beautiful. Stop it! Luca chided himself.

  “I’m starving, how about you?” Grey said, clearly unaware of Luca’s lustful thoughts.

  Ravenous. Luca sat up and tried to pull himself together. He didn’t like men. What would he even do with Grey? His mind rapidly supplied him with ideas, and he had to concentrate to remember what the question was, proving that yeah, sexuality wasn’t set in stone—at least not for Luca, apparently. “Yeah, I could eat.” He cleared his throat awkwardly.