by BLMorticia
“Okay, then your rival? What’s his name and address? I’ll teach him a thing or two about messing with my man.
“Seth, no. You sound like Greg saying that.”
“Then Greg is my new best friend, ’cause I’m ready to kick this douche’s arse.” Seth cracked his knuckles.
“Look, he said some cruel things, but I don’t think he would do all this because he’s jealous.”
“Then who is it, love? Who else has it in for you?”
Malakei shrugged. “I don’t have a clue. I’m good to everyone. I don’t have enemies, except for this guy Darryl. We’ve been rivals since high school. He always thought he could beat me at everything, including football. I proved him wrong each time.”
“Mhmm, and does he have other reasons other than losing to you?”
“Well, I’ve been a bigger success than him. His rap career failed, but he’s making it as a record producer, so I don’t see why there’s an issue.”
“There obviously is,” Seth said, swirling the glass around in his hand. “This guy needs a lesson, and I’m just the one to teach him. Me and Johnno used to beat up the bullies in school, you know? They’d pick on the younger ones, and we usually saved ’em.” Seth recounted those days with fondness. “Now, me and Morty are the enforcers at our shows. When fuckers come up on stage acting foolish, we teach ’em a lesson.”
Malakei snorted. “I don’t need an enforcer, Seth. Fighting solves nothing.”
“It’ll teach fuckers not to mess around with my man.”
Malakei flashed him a wry smile. “No. I need my man by my side. The police will find out who did all this. They got the guy who slashed my car. He beat up the actual valet to get my key.” He laughed bitterly.
“Did he say if someone put him up to do this?”
“I don’t know. The police are questioning him now.” Malakei threw the rest of his drink down his throat. “Anyway, I need to go somewhere. How would you like some company in Birmingham?”
Seth eyed Malakei, surprised at his suggestion. “I… I would love it, but what about—”
“You know, I’m very close not to caring anymore. I mean, I want the band to get off the ground, yes, but, I’ve been secretive and very careful up to this point. Look where it’s got me.”
“I s’pose that’s true. Barry told me you got a house in England.”
“I do. I could check out venues for High Stakes to play, with your permission of course.” Malakei placed his glass on the table. He softly ran his hand along Seth’s jawline. “You could visit your mom while I work, then come stay with me a few days at my castle.”
Seth’s breath hitched, and he leaned into Malakei’s touch. He caught Malakei’s fingers into his mouth and kissed the tips. “Your castle? Is it really, or is it… a mansion?”
“It’s a castle. I rent it out most of the year, usually only returning in the summer. I love the place. Best part, I can race Micah around the track surrounding the house. Once he gets repaired of course. He’ll be ready in about a week.”
Hearing Malakei talk, Seth’s blood boiled. He relaxed when Malakei continued toying with his hair. Why the hell was someone messing with his man? And who? He couldn’t help but suspect the ex-boyfriend, even more so than the rival. For all they knew, maybe they were working together to scare Malakei shitless.
“’M sorry about that. I swear when we find out who’s behind this, you might have to hold me back from decking the sonofabitch. I’m just glad they didn’t come after you. Better the car than doing you any harm.”
“So am I, which is another reason now might be a good time to leave. I swear I won’t take you away from your mom too much. I’m sure she misses her Re-Re.” He laughed.
“And Re-Re misses Mom, too, but I would miss you just as much. I’m kind of glad you want to take a holiday so it would give us a reason to be closer. I didn’t want to leave you, but I desperately wanted to see Mom.”
“Yes, and I need to see mine too. I’m gonna try to do so before we leave.” Malakei nuzzled the side of his neck and kissed the spot underneath his ear.
Seth sucked in a breath. “Mmph. Gods, Malakei, if you keep doing that.”
“We’ll end up horizontal? I sure hope so, because I want you. When you wore that kilt earlier, I just about lost it right there. And watching you perform… I was in heaven. You kicking up your legs while you played, not caring about the fact you had no underwear on.” Malakei laughed. “You’re something.”
Seth shifted around to kiss Malakei on the lips. He gazed into Malakei’s eyes and ran his hand over his perfectly chiseled face until he reached the crook of his neck. “I know, and you love it.”
“Sure do, Seth. You make me crazy. And I wouldn’t trade that feeling for anything else in the world.”
INSTEAD OF going home, Malakei spent the evening in Seth’s hotel suite. He couldn’t go home knowing some wacko was out there watching his every move and probably plotting something else to scare Malakei out of his wits. Although he loved his condo, he wouldn’t stick around to find out.
Despite his fear, Malakei went back to change clothes before he and Seth headed into the studio. A part of him wanted to blow off the rest of the day to be alone with him, but Seth talked him out of it, saying there was more work to do. Seth was handling their newfound relationship better than Malakei was. Good thing too, because Seth was the leader and had to stay focused on what was best for the band.
“Good morning, Malakei. Seth. Everything good?” the receptionist, Claire, asked them.
“Morning. Everything’s fine. Listen, I’ll be taking time off after Saturday. Whoever wants to work here will have to see Barry.”
“Okay, I’ll make note of that. Things are kind of light, I suppose, due to the holiday coming up.”
Malakei forgot about that. “Yeah, that’s true. Then I suppose this is the perfect time for a trip.” Malakei glanced over at Seth, and they walked through the double doors, proceeding into the main hallway.
“Is Claire available?”
“Hmm?” Malakei stopped to look at him. He cocked an eyebrow.
“Is Claire available? Does she have a man?”
“Why do you ask?”
Seth smiled. “For Morty. He’s had his eye on her, and I might tell him to go on ahead with it.”
“Oh.” Malakei sighed in relief. “I believe she is. Lena is the one who’s married.”
“All right. Did you think I was asking for myself?”
Heat rushed to Malakei’s cheeks. “I… I’m stupid. This whole thing has me paranoid.”
Seth ran his free hand down the center of his chest. “You don’t have to worry about me, Kei. I’m completely gay. Girls do nothing for me. In fact, they confuse the hell outta me.”
“That’s good. Real good.” Malakei moved in and covered Seth’s mouth with his own. The minute their lips touched, Malakei’s cock firmed in his trousers, straining against the zipper. Wanting Seth, he grabbed a handful of Seth’s hair to hold him there so he wouldn’t move.
Seth pulled back. “If you keep doing that, I will strip you right here and hop on your dick.”
“Even with an audience?”
Malakei pulled away when he heard his other best friend’s voice. “Sheena. Hey. You didn’t tell me you were stopping by.”
“When have you ever known me to call first?” Sheena removed her gloves. “So this is Seth?”
“It is. Hello.” Seth stepped forward and bowed. “Good to meet you.”
“You too. You are too cute for words.” Sheena smiled.
Seth flung his locks off his shoulders. “People tell me that all the time,” he drawled, then chuckled.
Malakei kissed him quick. “Why don’t you join the guys, and I’ll meet you in there?”
“Okay. Nice to meet you, Sheena.” Seth reciprocated the lip-lock and reached down to grab Malakei’s balls.
Malakei gasped and hit Seth’s behind when he turned to go inside.
Seth y
elped but didn’t stop.
Malakei continued to ogle Seth long after he vacated the space. Seth was donning black jeans and a T-shirt today. Not surprisingly, he could rock anything and look delicious.
“Ahem, hello? Earth to Malakei.”
Malakei turned back around to meet his friend’s smirky gaze. “Sorry. He just…. God, Sheena, he makes me nuts.”
“And apparently he likes your nuts. A lot. He is too cute, Kei. Does he have any brothers?”
“Nope. He mentioned his bandmate being available.” Malakei chuckled. “Anyway, what brings you here?”
“I came to check on you. Greg called me before he got on the plane this morning back to D-town. Someone tore up Micah?”
As soon as she mentioned that, Malakei’s shoulders slumped. “Yeah.”
“And that fool Darryl came in messing with you?”
“He made crude remarks, that’s all. Let’s go into my office and have a seat. The guys are practicing with Barry, so they’ll be awhile.”
“Okay, but I really want to go back in there and meet the others. And ogle your hot boyfriend some more. Damn, Kei, he is fine. That hair, those eyes.”
Malakei growled at her and patted her shoulder. “I love you, but you’re only allowed to look; don’t touch.”
“I would never…,” Sheena said, incredulous.
“Good, because I would bite your fucking hand off if you did.”
“Ooohh… yes, sir. I will keep my hands to myself.”
“Okay,” Malakei said with a wry grin. “Coffee?”
Chapter Twenty-Four
“YOU’RE LATE,” Barry teased Seth.
“I had good reason. Malakei needed me.”
“Mhmm.” Barry reached out and playfully slapped Seth on the back. “Is he okay?”
“Yeah, he’s good. A little shaken up, but—”
“I’m sure. I can’t believe that idiot Darryl showed up. It must’ve been him.”
“That’s what I told Malakei. Why else would he be there if not to taunt him? I need that dude’s address because I wanna pay him a visit.”
“No, no. That’s not the way to go about it, all right? Darryl doesn’t know about Malakei being gay.”
“That’s got nothing to do with it, mate. I could say I’m beating him up as a kind gesture to my friend Malakei.”
Barry snorted. “Oh wow. You’re ready to fight, hmm?”
“I am. I need to let off some steam. Fucking doesn’t always do it for me, you know? Plus, I haven’t had a cig in over a week. Kei is rubbing off on me in more ways than one.”
“Really? Then that’s a good thing. Smoking’s bad for you, anyway. Messes with your voice.”
“I know, but the Camels taste amazing. Kei’s mouth tastes better, though.” He winked.
Barry shrugged. “I wouldn’t know.”
“Just take my word for it. It does. Anyway, did you look over that song I gave you?”
“Yeah. We can definitely make something out of it. Did the others help?”
“No. I wrote it on my own. Malakei inspires me so much, you know? Being with him, then the riffs and words hit. I’ve written a couple of love songs too.”
“Aw, look at you. Getting all sappy!”
“A little, yeah.” Seth grinned and picked up his guitar. “‘Minor Panic’ is not a love song, though. It’s about making something out of yourself then forgetting where you came from.”
“I like the sound of that. The way you jotted down the notes, it seems to be a medium tempo.”
“Still with kick-ass riffs, though. I’ll play it for you later.” Seth got up from the chair and walked toward his bandmates.
“Okay, cool. I’m on the finishing touches of the master, so you guys hang tight.”
“’Kay,” Seth answered as he ambled in the other direction. “So, that song you wrote, Morty.”
“Yeah, here. It’s another fast one. Not quite as heavy as ‘Finders,’ but….”
“Malakei? Malakei? Barry, where is he?”
Seth glanced at the door, seeing Peter come in, looking distressed. He was talking to Barry, Seth supposed, about what happened.
“He’s in his office, Peter. He hasn’t been in here yet.”
Peter nodded, then walked over to where Seth and the band were. “What’s up, guys?”
“Wassup.” Gio and Morty spoke.
Seth nodded and continued plucking his guitar.
“How’s things going?”
“Good. We’re finished doing the master, so we’re about to head back in a couple of days,” Seth answered dryly.
“Great news. Remember, if you guys go with a label—”
“Yeah, yeah, we’re not interested. I already told you that before. We’re working with Malakei. End of story.” Seth cut him off.
“Okay, got it. I just thought I’d ask. By the way, were you with him when all this happened?”
“No. I was at the hotel. He was with Greg.”
“Oh. I’ve never trusted that guy. He seems a little too street for me.”
Seth looked up at Peter and cocked an eyebrow. “What the fuck are you implying, mate?”
“Just….” Peter exhaled. “He’s not in Malakei’s league.”
“In rapping, yes, I agree, but what is too street?”
“Well, he’s from Detroit.”
“So is Kei.”
Peter appeared surprised when Seth said his nickname. “Oh, so you guys are on that level now?”
“Actually, we’re fucking so, yeah, we are,” Seth said with a hint of satisfaction in his voice.
“Well, God. Uh, I didn’t think M would do that. Especially not after what he said and after what happened between us in the studio the other day.”
“M? Is that what you call him?”
“Yeah. I’ve always called him that, you know, back when we were together.”
“Mhmm, and what happened the other day?”
“He said he didn’t want to get involved with you.”
“And?”
“And, well, we had some fun here.” Peter smiled.
“The same day I heard the two of you talking.”
Peter paled at those words. “Um….”
“And the next day I beat him four games in billiards, then jacked him off on the pool table.”
“Seth, cool it,” Morty said in a warning tone.
“I… I had no idea.”
Seth put down his guitar on the stand and glared at Peter. “Yeah? You didn’t, hmm? You really didn’t have a clue?” He rolled up his sleeves on his long-sleeve metal shirt.
“No, honestly I didn’t.”
“But even if you didn’t, you got no right coming in here, telling me about how you had a little fun before me and him got together. It matters nothing, Pete. Nothing at all.”
“Okay….”
“Yeah, right. You’re full of shit, you know that?”
“Seth, just leave the guy alone, will you?” Gio told him.
“What are you saying? I barely know you.”
“You come in here, making those statements to cause trouble. Makes me think you got something to do with those phone calls he’d gotten before he changed his number, and the mess yesterday with his car.” Seth advanced on Peter and poked him in the chest.
“I wouldn’t do that. I’m worried about him. That’s why I’m here.”
“Really, aye. Really?”
Morty stepped in between them and pushed Seth backward. Seth’s feet slid on the tiles, but he fought to get closer.
“What is your problem? I’ve known M a lot longer than you. We dated for two years.”
“I don’t give a fuck if you dated for ten! It doesn’t make you any less suspect.”
“I wouldn’t do that to him. I’m his friend, and I want to see him happy.”
“Yeah?” Seth said through gritted teeth, pushing Morty out of the way. He couldn’t get any farther because Gio grabbed his arm. “You sure about that? I mean, the comment you made
about his best friend, and the little crack about what happened the other day—”
“Okay, maybe those were out of line. Catty, if you will. It doesn’t mean I don’t love him.”
Seth struggled to get away from Morty and Gio. “Yeah right. You’re probably conspiring with that dickwad Darryl on all of this. Just confess that you are, hmm? Confess before I break your fucking face.”
“I didn’t, okay? I would never do anything to hurt him. Ever! You’re fucking crazy, you know that?”
“Yeah, I’m crazy al’right. Crazy for him. And if I find out….” Seth used all his might to push his bandmates off for the last time. Seth walked right in front of Peter and pointed at him. “If I fucking find out that you’re behind all this, I will fuck you up, you hear? I will. God’s my witness!”
“Seth!” Barry ran out of the side room and got in between them.
“You’re a nut.” Peter turned on his heel. He walked in the other direction. “I’m going to see Malakei.”
Seth huffed like a bull as he watched Peter leave the studio.
“Dude, what happened?” Barry eyed him and patted his chest.
Seth pointed toward the door. All he saw was red after this little discussion. “That one. I think he’s got something to do with all this.”
“Why?”
“’Cause he’s jealous of me and Malakei. Because we didn’t sign to his label. It all fits, Barry. It does.”
“Cut it out, Seth,” Morty said, straightening his clothes. “You need to lay off the guy.”
“Lay off? You heard the gnarly shit he said.”
“Yeah, he said he was getting your goat,” Gio added.
Seth twisted his lips and cracked his knuckles. Every part of him was ready to find Peter and show him just how crazy he was. “All the more reason to believe he’s in on all this. And when I find out that he is, I’m going to kick his and Darryl’s ass!”
“SO ARE you ready to tell the world?” Sheena asked, smiling at Malakei.
Malakei looked up from his laptop in his office. “Almost. Seth definitely pushes the right buttons for me.”
“I’m so sure…. Damn, Kei. You had to find him before I did? He is just too handsome.”