Page 38 of Strike A Chord

“In the meantime, Joey, Mickey, and I will get Chaotic through their studio time. Tour kicks off the first week of the new year so buckle up, boys, life as you know it will never be the same.” Stoli’s words, while laced with enthusiasm, held a cryptic undertone.

I knew without doubt my life would never be the same. I only hoped it didn’t become too much for Reagan and he tapped out.

Chapter Sixteen

Reagan

“Wow, you weren’t kidding when you said you were all packed.” Right inside the door stood a couple of stacks of boxes. Josh’s car was pretty much loaded and now we were about to find out how much my SUV held. The place was spotless, well, as much as it could be given how dated it was and the fact the landlord was a bit of a slumlord.

“Yeah, just need to grab the box from the fridge.”

“You put a box in the fridge?” Josh’s thought process at times was a bit out there.

“Yeah, so the refrigerated goods were ready to roll.” Josh grabbed that box and a couple more he could fit in then we somehow managed to wedge the rest into my vehicle and hit the road. How sad was it that as soon as we pulled into the driveway, I breathed a sigh of relief? Josh’s former life made me nervous. How he survived the brutal beatings his so-called father doled out was beyond me. Broken bones and concussions while left in the hands of the one who was meant to protect. Where had we gone wrong as a society? The young should be protected and nurtured, not abused. The elderly we should learn from, draw the historical stories they held before they’re gone.

Seeing Josh’s bright smile as we exited our vehicles brightened my dark thoughts. This was right, moving Josh in. Fast to some? Maybe. But it was the right time for us and that’s all that mattered. I was over worrying about what others thought. I had a family to focus on and they came first.

We unloaded and placed as much in my room as we could, the remainder we pushed against the living room wall. Josh said he’d get it put away or taken to storage tomorrow. I planned to tackle as much of the garage before work as I could. “All right, let’s shower and get to bed.” Josh went first while I emptied half the dresser for him. There were only a few things hanging in my closet since I mostly lived in V-neck t-shirts, so he had plenty of room if he needed it.

By the time I’d showered and returned to the room, Josh had his clothes put away and the boxes broken down. “Wow, you work fast.”

“I don’t want to leave your house a mess.” Reading between the lines was easy—Josh didn’t want to risk upsetting us and get kicked out.

“Our house and Josh, being in a relationship means we work out our differences as they arise. Kicking you out would defeat that. We’ve only just begun to build our life together and it means a lot to me that you agreed we could start it here.”

“I like it here. It’s the first actual house I’ve ever lived in.”

“Babe,” I wrapped arms around his waist and pulled him in. “We like you here. We want you here. We want you in our lives and this is our home. To build the life we want it takes you and me.”

“And Mom, too.”

“Yes, and Mom, too. Am I naïve enough to believe it won’t be without challenges? Absolutely not. But it’s how we choose to face those hurdles and work past them that matters. I love you, Josh, and like Mom said, I’ve never given my heart before. Not because I didn’t want to but because no one before you found it.”

“You’ve been patient with me, something I haven’t had in a long time. Not since Taylor and I appreciate that. I may not be the smartest or the best looking, but I’m a good, honest man. And I’ll love you with all my heart until the day I die.”

“That’s all I ask. If any of that were to change just be real with me. It’ll hurt a hell of a lot less than to find out later our life had been a lie.” My heart was in too deep, and I believed Josh’s was, too. His past would always be there, and he’d survived by hiding away, out of view. Getting overwhelmed and bailing instead of talking it out could ruin us. Now he was thrust back into the public eye and I only hoped he was strong enough to wade through that. He wouldn’t be alone this time and maybe that would be the key to his success. That and a firm belief in himself and his abilities.

“Ha,” Josh laughed. “This is the first time I’ve been sober while in this room. I take it based upon the posters on the wall, metal wasn’t your music of choice?”

For the first time I saw my room through another’s eyes, slightly embarrassed. “What can I say, I crushed hard on Blink-182.” That shit was coming down tomorrow. Josh and I curled up in bed, I swear when I shut the light off he was still laughing.

“You make me feel like a teenager. Young, and full of life.”

“Josh, you are young and full of life.” If he wanted to be a giddy teen, then I say go for it. Considering he never got to enjoy that part of his life the first time around, I’d ride the wave alongside him and savor every moment.

“I know I’m a work in progress and always will be but honestly, I’ve never felt freer than I do now. It’s like the planets have aligned, or some shit like that.” I hissed when Josh’s hand slid down my chest and firmly gripped my cock. “Who knew sleeping naked with another human had benefits to it.”

Took me a minute before the “ah-ha” moment sank in and I remembered he’d only ever done hook-ups. “Yes.” With every stroke, my vocabulary weakened, and my toes curled. “Feels. So. Good.” Josh’s lips on that sweet pressure point on my neck, his hand working my shaft. His erection pressed against my thigh.

Hot. As. Hell.

Penetration wasn’t the only way to have sex and at times, not what the mood called for. There you go. I said it. Take away my gay card because I didn’t fucking care. I had a hot man who loved me steadily rocking my word. “Oh fuck.” And taking me right over the edge. “Whoa.”

“Whoa is right. Didn’t take you long.”

“Wha-what? Are you complaining, sir?” Dayum, my man was asking for a punishment. “Someone needs a time out. Maybe next time I get an orgasm and you don’t.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

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