When Danny met Horatio... (The Band Book 1)

by Heather Mar-Gerrison

  I chuckled, “Were they surprised when you rocked up with a straight, white boy then?”

  He shook his head, “Nah, not really.” He said, “You could say I have a type – or I did have a type before I met and fell in love with you. I’ve never dated a black guy. So, with regards to you being white – not a surprise at all. They were a little shocked when I told them you were married to a woman, though.”

  I blushed anew, “Fuck.” I muttered, “What are you doing, wasting your time hanging around with me?”

  He smiled and took my hand in his, “I’m with you because I love you.” He said, “I love your eyes, I love your mouth, I love that you get all flustered when I compliment you on a nice meal.” I immediately blushed again and looked down. He put his finger under my chin and gently tilted my head back up so he could look me in the eye, “I love that you don’t think you’re as attractive as you really are – you’re stunning, mate, stunning – I fell in love with you the moment we met.”

  I shook my head, “You couldn’t have done,” I scoffed, even though I’d been pretty damned bowled over when I first laid eyes on him too.

  He nodded. His face serious, “I did.” He said, “You can ask any of the guys.”

  I smiled, “Well, thanks, Rayshe.” I said softly, I feel the same way about you.”

  He raised his eyebrows, “Do you?” he asked, “You’ve never said.”

  I took a deep breath. My insecurities weren’t all about being in an abusive relationship with a bully of a wife. They were also about being gay. I’d grown up believing that it was kind of wrong to be gay – and I’d hated that my brother was so out there – flaunting his flamboyance for all to see and so proud of his sexuality. It had pissed me off because I was so not like that. I’d fancied men in just the same way as he had – but I hadn’t looked gay. No one considered that I could be gay – and I’d therefore gone along with being straight – and knowing deep down inside that I was living a lie and that I was the one in the wrong for wasting my wife’s life. I guess I’d allowed her to treat me so badly because I felt that I deserved some of her contempt – because I felt that exact same contempt for myself.

  I took a deep breath and looked at him, really looked at him, “I love you, Rayshe.” I said softly, “I really love you – you’re the best thing that ever happened to me.”

  His eyes filled with tears, “You don’t know what it means to me to hear you say that, baby.” He whispered. “I kind of knew you did – the way we, you know... connect.” I nodded, biting my lip to stop myself from crying, “but to hear you say it – it’s like magic.”

  I threw my arms around his neck and hugged him, “Oh, Rayshe.” I sighed, “I want to be with you forever.”

  He blinked and then the biggest grin spread across his beautiful face, lighting it up in that amazing way it always did, “Babe,” he said, “You’re really going for it today! Was that a marriage proposal?”

  I chuckled, “Well, technically I’m already married,” I said, “But not for too much longer,” thankfully...

  Horatio kissed me on the end of my nose, “I will happily marry you as soon as your divorce comes through – or never if you don’t want to go down that route again, it’s your call – but I’ll be your guy until the day I die.”

  I smiled at him, “I can’t believe how much my life has changed over the last year – this time last year I was as miserable as could be. I was jealous of my stepbrother for the way his life was going and wishing that I’d never got involved with Mara...”

  He smiled, “And now you and your brother are great friends and Mara’s a thing of the past, locked up where she belongs.”

  I nodded, “Yeah,” I agreed, “Thank God.”

  I swear she’d have come back and killed me if Rayshe hadn’t come to my rescue that night. He’d rescued me from her, risking his own safety since he was the guy I was cheating on her with.

  Horatio’s band mates were coming around tonight. Karl had penned a new song and wanted the rest of the guys’ opinions. I was fascinated. I’d never known anyone who could actually write music and lyrics before and I was quite excited, which Rayshe thought was cute and pretty funny. He’d invited them all around to his place – that was actually now our place since I’d moved in – so we could get to know one another better.

  “You’re adorable,” he said with a laugh, “You’re so adorable that I want to take you upstairs and show you how adorable I think you are.”

  I raised an eyebrow, “Oh, yeah?” I asked, “have we got time for that?”

  He wrinkled his nose, “Probably not.” He said, “I don’t like to rush things.”

  I grinned, “Heaven forbid.” I murmured.

  Noah was the first to arrive. He came in and immediately made a beeline for me, “Danny!” he shook my hand heartily, “Good to see you again, mate.” He said, “How are you?”

  I smiled and nodded, “I’m really good.” I said Better for being free from my nutter of a wife. “How are you?”

  He grinned and nodded, “I’m great.” He said, “I’ve been over to Cheshire today. Dad and I went to look at an old vintage Ford Cortina – I bought it. She needs a fair bit of work on the bodywork and the engine needs a rebuild – but it’ll keep me out of mischief.” He grinned.

  I grinned back. Noah was a really nice guy.

  Justin and Karl arrived together. Karl eyed me from the doorway suspiciously. Justin punched his shoulder, “Come and say hello.” He said.

  Karl followed behind the smiling Justin, “Good to see you again, Danny.” He said.

  I shook his hand and exchanged pleasantries, all the while wondering where Horatio had disappeared to. I was beginning to get a little nervous. Karl really didn’t seem to like me.

  Finally, we were face-to-face. “Danny.” He said in his deep voice. Man, the guy was enormous – and really quite intimidating.

  “Karl.” I managed to greet him without squeaking, “Good to see you again.”

  He smiled, “I just wanted to tell you that I was really pleased that your ex-wife got a decent term behind bars. I’ve gotta tell you man – I wasn’t impressed that you were seeing Horatio behind her back – but that was before I knew the circumstances. How’re the divorce proceedings coming along?”

  I pulled a face, “Slowly.” I said, “But I think it’ll go through okay – since I went to the police over the abuse.”

  He nodded, “You did the right thing.” He said.

  Horatio finally reappeared with a tray of drinks and crisps.

  I raised an eyebrow, “Dude,” I said, “I thought the lasagne had been enough.”

  He chuckled, “It was.” He said, “This lot’s for the rest of them.”

  I smiled.

  Karl got his guitar out. It was funny. I had no idea he played guitar too. “Wanna hear the song?” he asked.

  We all gathered around and he played the guitar and sang. His voice was fabulous and the song was amazing.

  Horatio beamed at him “Oh, my God.” He breathed, “That’s fantastic – we have to play it at our wedding.”

  I blinked. “And when’s that gonna be?” I asked.

  Horatio grinned and leaned into me, “As soon as the ink’s dry on those divorce papers.” He said, “But only if you want to.”

  I grinned, “That sounds like a really good plan.”

  The guys stayed for a couple of hours and then they all left together.

  Horatio held out his hand to me, “Come on, you.” He said, “Bed.”

  My cock was instantly hard at the way he looked at me. The word bed wasn’t all that sexy, but the erotic images whizzing through my brain of Rayshe stroking my face with his big, hard cock and then allowing me to suck him down my throat was…

  We made our way to the bedroom slowly, kissing each other all the way there. “My cock is so hard.” Rayshe murmured, “And I can’t wait to get inside you.”

  I groaned, “Me either.” I whispered.

  He smiled, �
��You still haven’t gotten inside me.”

  I bit my lip. The truth was that I was afraid he was going to find me lacking. His cock was easily three inches longer than mine.

  Horatio frowned, “What’s the matter?” he asked looking slightly hurt and worried, “Don’t you want to top me?”

  I looked up at him. I had to tell him what was bothering me because I didn’t want us to have stuff we couldn’t talk about. I’d had one toxic relationship – I didn’t need another one. I took a deep breath, “I’m worried that I won’t be enough for you.”

  He blinked, his jaw dropping. “Not enough for me?” he asked incredulously, “Do you have any idea what you mean to me?”

  I bit my lip again; my eyes were getting hot and I was going to be making a fool of myself in a minute…

  He stopped and very gently, cupped my face in his hands, “I love you, Danny.” He said. “I have never felt this way about anyone before – and I have never bottomed for anyone before either. I want to bottom for you because I want to be part of you in a way that I’ve never been a part of someone before. Do you understand that?”

  I nodded, “It’s just…” God this was going to sound so lame. “I’m not as big as you.”

  He grinned, “You might not be quite as big as me – so what?”

  I pulled a face, “When you’re inside me, I can really feel you there. What if it’s not the same for you?”

  He shook his head, “Stop overthinking everything. I think your cock is perfect – just like the rest of you. Okay?”

  I nodded, “Okay.” I leaned in for a kiss, “I fucking love you.” I said.

  He looked at me, looking as if his heart was about to burst, “Oh, baby.” He said, “I fucking love you too.”

  *

  He looked up at me. His lips looked swollen with passion and shiny from our kissing and his eyes were glazed, “Oh, my God.” He murmured, “I never knew it could feel like this.”

  I smiled, my hands on his hips as I moved inside him, “I know.’ I said, feeling slightly light-headed at his tightness and the heat surrounding my cock, “I didn’t either. I never enjoyed sex before I met you.”

  Horatio nodded, “I know what you mean,” he groaned as I grazed his sweet spot and conversation was halted. We both came at the same time, I filled the condom and he spurted both of us with streams of his hot come.

  I collapsed on top of him, smearing us both with his come and totally revelling in it. Horatio kissed me, “Before I met you,” he murmured, “It was only about getting off, you know?”

  I nodded, “Yeah,” I said, “I get that. Everything’s different when you fall in love.”

  Horatio smiled, “It is.” He said, nuzzling my neck and planting a little kiss in the hollow of my throat, “It’s completely different – and I’ve definitely fallen in love with you.”

  The End

  Thank you for reading…When Danny met Horatio. If you enjoyed this book, I would be grateful if you could help others enjoy it too. Please help other readers find it by recommending it to your friends and/or discussion groups. Please tell other readers why you liked it by reviewing it. Your help is greatly appreciated.

  Coming Soon

  When Tobias met Noah…

  Prologue

  Tobias

  “I’m not going to argue about this, Tobias.” Uncle David glowered at me over the top of his reading glasses, “You start on Monday – it’s not their busiest night so you can get used to it over the week before the weekend hits.”

  I stared at him, “You’re expecting me to work every night of the week including the weekend?” He has to be winding me up...

  Uncle David nodded, not a hint of a smile or any sort of forgiveness in his expression. I’d really fucked up this time... “You will work seven days straight and then you can have three days off, then back in for seven and then three days off – the same as every other employee.”

  But I wasn’t just one of the employees. I was the boss’s son and heir even if that fact did stick in both of our throats... “And what did my father say about this?” Surely he’d have at least a little heart left for me?

  Uncle David smirked, “He said I was being overly generous and that you should be working your sorry arse off in the kitchens every night straight for a month instead of the front of house, so you can thank me for getting you a better deal.”

  I blanched. I’d been in those kitchens ten years ago when I was fourteen and Dad had wanted me to follow in his footsteps as a chef. Uh, no thanks... Not for me... “Right. So, I’m a waiter, huh?” I tried a winning smile that probably came across as a grimace, “Well, I guess I have do my bit towards my keep... Yeah, okay. I’ll do it – what do I have to wear?”

  Uncle David pinched the bridge of his nose. I was quite clearly giving him a headache, “Your father, as you well know, is one of the top chefs in this country – with three Michelin stars and five very successful restaurants – do you seriously think we don’t have corporate clothing?”

  I winced, “Oh, God.” I muttered, “Please tell me they’re tailored?”

  He smiled at my petulance, “Corporate clothing for Duvall employees doesn’t do ‘one size fits all’,” he said pompously, “You’re working for one of the most prestigious companies in the country. You will report for duty as Lawrence Prince – that way the paparazzi hopefully won’t get wind of you. No one will ever remember that you were once little Toby Prince.”

  I winced. Lawrence was my middle name – which I hated since it was my grandfather’s name and he’d been the most homophobic old bastard the world had ever had the misfortune to encounter and Prince was my mother’s maiden name – the name I’d grown up with until Dad came back on the scene to claim me at the age of ten years old when Mum died. No one would make the connection because no one remembered my beautiful, sweet mother.

  Dad and his new wife were the famous ones – the darlings of TV with their perfect little family – and no, I wasn’t included in that wonderfulness since I’d been the product of his first disastrous relationship. I was the black sheep of the family; his embarrassment...

  I was just his rich kid that dragged his ‘brand’ through the mud all of the time – and this time, which I guess was to be expected, he’d had enough...

  David was still droning on. I frowned at him. What the fuck? “You’ll be taken by Frances to the salon this afternoon to have something done with your appearance – Mandy is waiting for you – and then you’ll be fitted with your uniform.” I nodded, “and Tobias – you will not let the Duvall brand down whilst you’re are working at the restaurant. You’ve done enough damage with your recent antics.”

  I nodded. I guess I had been behaving pretty appallingly, but what else was I supposed to do? I’d gone to university – had a wild time, I grant you but I’d also got my degree – with a first at that – but then I’d graduated and found that I’d got nothing to do with it. I’d been drifting for the last six months...

  Dad wanted me to work for the company but had no idea what he wanted me to do with it.

  I’d been full of great ideas when I was fresh out of uni with my business degree but no one really wanted to listen to me – so I’d played the part of the rich, spoiled playboy instead. I’d taken off around the world with my equally brattish friends and we’d screwed our way through most of the posh totty around the world, falling out of nightclubs with an array of young men and women alike. Oh yes. I could party with the best of them – and I could sleep with them all too.

  And if Dad thought a stint in his restaurant at the busiest time of the year was going to teach me a lesson, then he was in for a surprise, because I wasn’t going to be told how to live my life. I’d put up with a month – because hell, I was damned sure I could pull that off – but then I was out of here. I was going to go and live in the US – and as far away from the Duvall brand as I could possibly be. I’d reinvent myself there and find a company that did want my ideas...

  Chapter I
– New recruit...

  Noah

  “A new guy?” I raised my eyebrows at Shona, the head waitress and my best friend and flatmate at the restaurant and smiled at her hopefully.

  She grinned and snapped her gum. “Oh, yeah.” She waggled her eyebrows at me, “I wonder which team he bats for.”

  I chuckled, “Probably yours – because I’m just not that lucky.”

  She grinned, “Yeah,” she agreed, “I have no idea why you don’t get lucky more often. You’re so damned adorable.”

  I shook my head and rolled my eyes. Sometimes it would be nice to be described as something other than ‘cute’ or ‘adorable’. Sexy every now and then could work for me – only I really wasn’t so the point was moot...

  I was definitely out of the ‘cute’ category... I had what you’d probably describe as dark-blonde hair and blue eyes with a rosebud mouth. I was your typical gay boy next door. As far as I could remember, no one had ever used the word ‘sexy’ in the same sentence as ‘Noah’. “It’s because I don’t date guys that just want to use me for sex.” I said as primly as I could muster.

  Shona chuckled, “Yeah – you’re one of life’s keepers. I really wish you were straight and my boyfriend.”

  I winked at her, “Lovers in another life, huh?” I asked.

  She grinned, “Definitely.” She said, leaning in and placing a big smacking kiss on my mouth, surprising me into momentary silence.

  A second later however, I’d recovered. Resisting the urge to wipe my mouth I asked, “When does he start?”

  She grinned, “At nine am.” She said, “He’s full time for seven days – looks like the higher management want to get him up to speed for the Christmas rush. I really hope the agency haven’t lied about this one – can you remember Winston Jones?”

  I nodded with a grimace. He’d been buddied up with me and he’d been absolutely clueless. “Oh, my God – don’t remind me.” I shuddered as I remember just how many plates and dishes he’d broken, “Uh, do you have any idea who this guy’s buddy’s gonna be?” I really hoped it wasn’t going to be me again. I needed to get away as early as possible for the gig on Friday night and if I was his buddy, I’d more than likely be given the task of cashing up with him to show him the ropes – even if we got started with that tonight, he’d still be a novice by the end of the week...