by A M Snead
Exhaling heavily, Gideon leaned back in his chair and rubbed his eyes. “Lord, I hope not. It’s too soon to tell.”
“Anything I should know?” Bailey asked. “I don’t want to step in something unwittingly and get socked in the jaw.”
Gideon sighed and shrugged. “All I can advise is…be cautious about bringing up Jack or Garrett’s name to either of them right now.” Gideon wanted to believe it would all blow over, but the instant he had put Jack and Garrett together, there had been fireworks and thunderbolts. And it hadn’t been more evident than on that stage last night.
Whatever wounds had been inflicted—a mere Band-Aid wasn’t going to fix it.
♥
“Do you think he’ll come back?” Jack played with the snap of Lucas’ pants wistfully but didn’t unfasten it.
Lucas reached down and moved Jack’s hand to his crotch. “Do you want him to?”
“Oh yeah.” Jack smiled and squeezed Lucas’ goods.
Chuckling and groaning simultaneously, Lucas asked, “So what was with all that flirting? You really poured it on strong.” He pushed against Jack’s hand.
The truth would have been simple, but it would also require Jack to tell Lucas the story of the paper hearts, and Jill. And he had already decided he wasn’t going to do that, not again. Opening up led to deeper confessions—the kind that could hurt if they were trampled on. He had confessed his fears of falling in love to Garrett last night while the man held Jack in his arms and pretended to give a fuck. No one else would ever get that far again or trick him into giving up so much.
So, he lied. “I don’t know.” He smirked. “The twins made it look so fun, I thought I’d try it.”
“And was it?” Lucas asked. “Fun, I mean?”
Jack smiled. “Yeah. It was.” Lucas lay on the bed next to him propped up on his elbows. His head dropped back, and he groaned deeply as Jack rubbed his crotch harder. “So,” Jack said. “Have you and Bailey…got down and dirty off camera?”
His eyes closed, a grin split Lucas’ face and he slowly rocked against Jack’s hand. “You could say that,” he panted lightly.
Jack suspected as much. There was no mistaking the look in Lucas’ eyes when he had seen Bailey standing in the doorway. It gave Jack cause to wonder just how much Lucas truly liked the guy. There was an undeniable vibe between them, that was definite.
“Have you and him ever been involved?”
Raising his head, Lucas opened his eyes and looked at Jack. “You’re awfully inquisitive.”
“Just healthy curiosity.” Jack grinned and straddled Lucas. The guy’s already prominent erection jumped and hardened even more. Jack pushed his hands under Lucas’ shirt and rubbed slowly up his stomach. “So?” He leaned down as his palms ventured over Lucas’ thick pec muscles. “Were you two ever an item?”
No immediate answer came back to him. Lucas stared at him, a twitch to his lips. “I’ll make a deal with you,” he finally replied. He shifted off his elbows to lie flat on his back and rested his hands on Jack’s hips, squeezing firmly. “I’ll tell you about me and Bailey, if…”
He paused, and Jack looked at him inquiringly. “If?”
“If you tell me what happened between you and Garrett last night.”
Jack sat up slowly and exhaled hard. “I told you what happened,” he said quietly and averted his eyes. “We got drunk. We fucked. Period. People do stupid shit when they drink. It was a mistake and we both knew it. That’s it.”
“If it’s that simple, then why are you two so pissed at each other today?”
Jack sighed. “Who says we are?”
“Uh, my eyes and ears,” Lucas chuffed. “Not to mention my keen queer-boy intuition.”
Jack shook his head. “Yeah, well, your eyes, ears, and intuition are way off this time,” he mumbled and started to crawl off Lucas when the guy slipped an arm around his waist and sat forward.
“Hey,” Lucas said quietly, holding Jack on his lap. All “play” faded from his tone. “I know I come off as an insatiable horn dog…”
“Aren’t you?” Jack interjected, eyebrow raised.
“Well, okay, so maybe I am,” Lucas admitted. His arm tightened around Jack. “But I’m also your friend, Jack. And if something else happened between you and Garrett that you want to talk about…I promise, I won’t make light of it and I won’t say anything to anyone else.”
Lucas sounded sincere. The look in his eyes insisted on it. But Garrett had appeared just as sincere. And what about Aaron? Jack would have sworn his life on that man’s love and devotion for Jill. But as it turned out, people were only sincere and trustworthy as long as it benefited them. The second it stopped—all you were left with was a big ol’ “Fuck you. See ya. Bye.”
None of it was truly “real.” Jack liked Lucas, even viewed him as a friend. But the events of the previous night were dead and buried as far as Jack was concerned. And that’s where he planned to leave it.
“Nothing else happened,” Jack told Lucas. His sexual high had once again dissipated. He loosened Lucas’ arm and stood up off the bed.
“Jack…” Lucas gripped his hand, preventing him from walking out. “I am your friend.”
Jack nodded slowly, but his gaze felt heavy with distrust that he was certain Lucas didn’t miss. “Thanks,” he murmured. “That’s…that’s good to know.”
“So, does this mean rehearsal is over?” Lucas asked quietly and squeezed Jack’s hand before releasing him.
“Yeah,” Jack whispered, a slight pinch in his throat. He turned then stopped when he saw Bailey in the doorway.
“Guess I got back here a little too late, huh?”
Jack glanced at Lucas, then smiled at Bailey. “I’m sure Lucas is still game.”
Bailey’s eyes flicked to Lucas and back to Jack. “Everything all right? Lucas isn’t being obnoxious, is he?”
“Lucas? Obnoxious?” Jack chuckled. “Never.” He moved past Bailey then paused. “Hey, I’m sorry about…” He shrugged, feeling exceedingly foolish now. “About all that stuff before. I was just messing around.”
A soft, charming smile curved Bailey’s lips. “I kind of liked it.”
30 “The Group Session”
“Do you know what’s going on with Garrett and the new guy?” Bailey interwove his fingers through Lucas’ own. They had relocated from Jack’s bedroom to Lucas’ room and now lay side by side on the bed, gazing at the ceiling.
Things were always better when Bailey was here. At least that’s how it felt to Lucas. Every so often, someone would show up at Gideon’s door who was somehow extra-special. Bailey was one of them. The twins were also. And now Jack as well. For Lucas, though, Bailey was “extra” extra-special. He wouldn’t go so far as to say he was in love with the guy, only that if he were to fall in love…it would be with Bailey. But in their line of business, it created far too many problems to allow one’s self to fall in love. Once a heart was out there like that, connecting with another…it became difficult to stand back and watch as your newfound love shot sex scenes with other guys. No, if a person wanted to stick with this profession, it was imperative to guard your heart.
So, he and Bailey took it only so far and then stopped short of diving into that pool of emotion that would interfere with their “on camera” job.
“I don’t have the details,” Lucas said. “Jack insists that it was just an alcohol-induced fuck session and meant nothing. And Garrett…” He chuckled and twisted his head, looking at Bailey. “Well, you saw how willing he was to open up to me.”
“Shit.” Bailey shook his head and laughed. “I would’ve told you to go fuck yourself, too.”
Lucas chuckled. “I was just playing with the guy. Jeez.”
“And he really looked in the mood to play?” Bailey raised an eyebrow doubtfully.
Shrugging, Lucas grinned. “Okay, so maybe I should have paid closer attention.”
“I would have thought the ‘if looks could kill’ glare he was givin
g you would have been sending up red flags not to fuck with him.”
“He was looking at me like that?”
“Oh yeah,” Bailey chuffed. “Especially when we were out in the hall talking to Scotty. He could see you and Jack getting busy on Jack’s bed.”
Lucas shoved up on his elbows and stared at Bailey. “You guys were watching us?” He cocked an eyebrow. “Like some kind of peep show?” He smirked. “Kinky.” He twisted onto his side and slipped one hand under Bailey’s shirt, caressing his hard stomach. “So, Scotty was there, too? I haven’t seen him and Garrett speak to each other in a long time.”
“Well, they weren’t exactly conversing,” Bailey said. “We kind of walked up on Scotty peeping in on you and Jack.”
“Seriously?” Lucas shook his head. He felt bad for Scotty—the kid had problems—but he refused to let anyone get close to him. Not since things went to hell between him and Garrett. Lucas still wasn’t entirely clear on what exactly happened there…only that it left Scotty more broken than before, and in an extreme state of devastation. It still made him both sick at heart and physically nauseous to think about everything that happened last year. The only good thing that came out of it—was Bailey. He was the one on call that night.
“Yeah,” Bailey sighed and looked at Lucas, humor fading to concern. “How is Scotty doing? He seemed kind of…” He shook his head. “I don’t know.”
“It’s hard to say with him,” Lucas said quietly. “He rarely comes around the rest of us, except at dinner. And even then, he just eats in silence then leaves again.”
Bailey sighed heavily and turned his gaze back to the ceiling as he absently stroked his fingers through Lucas’ hair. “I think he should start…talking to someone again.”
“Someone?” Lucas frowned. “You mean like a therapist?”
“Yes.” Bailey looked at him. “Exactly that. I’m…I’m worried about him. When I saw him out in the hall, he was wearing a long-sleeve shirt…and it isn’t exactly cold today. He used to wear them all the time before, when he was…”
Nodding slowly, Lucas murmured, “I remember. But he quit doing that. You don’t think”—the nausea churned in his gut—“that he’s started again?”
“I don’t know,” Bailey exhaled and shook his head. “Maybe I’ll talk to him later; see if I can get him to open up a little, tell me if something is wrong. I mean, besides the usual.”
“Good idea,” Lucas said. “God knows, he won’t talk to any of us.” He smiled. “But he likes you.” His lips quirked. “I kind of do, too.” He didn’t want to talk about Scotty. The boy needed help but wouldn’t accept any. Which left Lucas and the rest of them feeling helpless.
“Just kind of?” Bailey smiled.
Lucas rubbed his hand lower. His fingertips traced over Bailey’s lean, rippled ab muscles, causing them to jump and quiver, then pushed under the waistband of Bailey’s pants, teasing the sensitive, freshly shaved skin just above his cock. Bailey cupped the back of his head and pulled him into a deep, heated kiss.
Swelling groans rumbled from them both and Bailey twisted his hips a little, trying to push his growing erection into Lucas’ hand. Lucas smiled against the guy’s mouth. “Did you miss me?” he whispered unsteadily.
Bailey kissed him with hunger and murmured, “Kind of.”
Laughing softly, Lucas groaned and kissed him harder, shoving his hand deeper into his crotch. His fist closed around Bailey’s hard member and massaged the hardened muscle.
“Fuck.” Bailey shuddered and sucked Lucas’ tongue deep into his mouth. He rocked against Lucas’ hand, letting Lucas know he was loving the attention and wanting so much more.
The notion of a “welcome home” blow job had barely worked its way into Lucas’ thoughts before the bedroom door burst open and the twins rushed in.
“Bailey!” they squealed in unison. Lucas hardly pulled his hand free of Bailey’s pants when the twins pounced on the bed and showered Bailey in kisses. “We missed you!”
“Hey,” Lucas chuffed. “Where the hell are my kisses and lovin’?”
Marcus, the closest to him, turned over and immediately dropped kisses all over his face and neck.
Grinning, Lucas moaned, “That’s better.” Marcus laughed softly and kissed the base of his throat. Lucas smiled. “Lower.” Marcus kissed his chest. “Lower…” Giggling, Marcus laid more kisses on his stomach. Lucas groaned. “Just a little bit lower…”
“Stop,” Marcus laughed and smacked him playfully, returning to Lucas’ mouth and kissing him softly. “You always want that.”
“True,” Lucas chuckled. “Is that awful of me?”
“Uh-uh.” Marcus smiled, eyes sparkling with impish glee.
“Come back over here,” Bailey growled and dragged Marcus against him. “Lucas has you all the time. It’s my turn now.”
Marcus turned over, wedged between Bailey and Lucas, while Mickey snuggled up to the guy on the opposite side and slid his hand down to Bailey’s hard crotch. “Did we interrupt something?”
Pushing up against Marcus from behind, Lucas answered with a wink. “Kind of.”
Marcus rubbed his perfect little rump against Lucas, getting him harder. “Should we leave and come back later?” he wondered teasingly.
“Nope.” Lucas buried his face in the nape of Marcus’ neck. “I think you should cum now.”
Smiling with perfect innocence, Mickey said, “You’re so naughty, Lucas.”
“I’m the naughty one?” He cocked an eyebrow and shot a direct look at Mickey’s hand in Bailey’s crotch.
Mickey feigned shock. “Oh no, how did that get there?”
“Fuck,” Bailey laughed. “However it got there…please don’t take it away, baby.”
“Anything for you, Bailey.” Mickey smiled and gently rubbed his hard cock.
“Mmm…” Bailey exhaled deeply and let his head sink into the pillow. Marcus joined Mickey in the massage. “Oh God…you two alone could make a guy never want to leave this place.”
Lucas cuddled closer to Marcus. “I might get offended at that,” he murmured, kissing the boy’s shoulder. “If it weren’t so damn true.” His hand ventured down between Marcus’ thighs and found the kid quite stiff.
Moaning again, Bailey released a slow breath. “I trust you two angels have been nice and welcoming to our new boy, Jack?”
The twins tensed simultaneously and exchanged an anxious glance.
“What?” Lucas asked quietly.
“It’s just…” Mickey started then swallowed thickly. He and Marcus exchanged a meaningful glance, communicating with their eyes in that special way they had. Marcus nodded, and sadness shadowed both boys’ eyes as Mickey said quietly, “Jack…he came to our room last night.”
Lucas frowned and looked at Bailey before meeting Mickey’s wavering stare. “Was something wrong? Did he tell you what happened with Garrett?”
“No,” Marcus spoke up, a strain of emotion to his voice. “But he was upset and…and crying. He asked if he could stay the night with us.”
Lucas’ frown deepened; just what the hell had happened between him and Garrett? “He was crying?”
Mickey nodded, eyes instantly misting. “He was really hurting. But then this morning…” He shook his head. “He said he was fine, that everything would be okay.”
Laying his head on Bailey’s chest, Marcus whispered thickly, “But he wasn’t fine…he wasn’t fine at all.”
A thin layer of tears glossed Mickey’s eyes. “Garrett’s a good person. He wouldn’t hurt Jack…would he?”
“I don’t want to believe he would, babe,” Lucas murmured. “But something got fucked up with them last night.”
“But they were falling for each other,” Marcus whispered, tears in his voice. “I know they were. Garrett needs Jack…to help him heal.”
None of them needed Marcus to clarify his words; Scotty wasn’t the only one that came away from that disaster broken. Garrett did need Jack. But Lucas was certai
n…Jack needed Garrett just as much.
♥
“It’s Jack, isn’t it?”
Jack had barely entered the club before Daniel, the club owner he had briefly met last night, was walking toward him, hand outstretched. His smile was friendly, welcoming.
“Uh, yeah.” Jack nodded and shook his hand.
“After your show last night,” Daniel chuckled. “I didn’t expect to see you out and about so soon.”
The man was plenty likable, and apparently Jack wasn’t the only one who thought so. He had caught glimpses of Daniel and Gideon last night, sitting close, either with their heads together, talking privately, or laughing out loud and enjoying the evening. The two had appeared well acquainted.
“I guess I bounce back quickly.” Jack smiled. In reality, he didn’t feel so recuperated. Waking up to the twins had started him off right, though he still hadn’t really been together when he’d left their room. Then immediately encountering Garrett sure as hell hadn’t done him any good. Lucas had been helping—until he started asking about last night. Jack would’ve liked to hang around and get to know Bailey, but pretty much everyone at the house had seen his and Garrett’s show the night before, not to mention the fact that they had been inseparable after leaving the stage. He would be fine; he would get over what had happened last night at the house, but it was too soon to be bombarded with comments and remarks from the other guys. Since he had his own wheels, he had decided on taking a drive.
Why he came to the club wasn’t entirely clear. He had to know that he would receive the same kind of “attention” here as back at the house. But he didn’t really have anywhere else to go. And at least Garrett wasn’t at the club.
Daniel chuckled. “Well, I’m glad to hear you’re not suffering the usual aftereffects.”
Trust me, Jack thought, this is worse.
“I’m actually glad you’re here,” Daniel said and motioned Jack to the bar.
“Why is that?” Jack took a seat on a stool next to Daniel.