Page 87 of Tell Me Lies: Manlove Edition

“Not with half of the band right there.” He squeezed Will’s ass. “I like my privacy when I’m with the hottest guy I’ve ever known.”

Will blushed. “I’m not the hottest.”

“Want to bet?”

Will’s blush increased. “I don’t believe you, but I like the flattery.”

“You deserve it.” He patted Will’s ass again. “Up. I want to take you to my place.”

“Temporary.” Will stood, then grasped Carsten’s hands. “I want to take you to mine. If you’re going to do this, then let’s do this right. No hotels.”

He liked the way Will thought. Plus, he wanted the chance to enter Will’s inner sanctum. “Lead the way.”

“Don’t we need an escort?” Will asked. “I didn’t bring my car. I’m still parked in the staff lot behind the art building.”

“We can walk.” Carsten let go of Will’s hands, then tugged his sweaty concert shirt off. He grabbed another shirt from his bag, then donned a long-sleeved one over top of his undershirt. He picked up the rest of his clothes and jammed them into the bag.

“Do you need to clean up?” Will asked. “Let me help you.”

“Stop.” He’d done this a hundred times and wasn’t about to let Will clean up after him. He checked the dressing table, then shoved the rest of his belongings into the bag. “I have to do this after every concert.”

“I bet you used to have someone who did it.” Will folded his arms. “Cleaned up after everything you did.”

“You’re correct. When I took a step back and looked at my life, I realized I could do my own dirty work. I didn’t need so many assistants because I could handle my own shit.”

“And it got too expensive when that shit hit the fan?” Will asked. He crooked his brow.

“You’re too smart for me.” He zipped the bag shut. “I have it coming. After the way I behaved, you shouldn’t talk to me.”

“Then I’d be alone and bored.” Will shrugged. “You’re more fun.”

“I hope so.” He ensured he had his phone and wallet. “I’m ready.”

“For?”

“Whatever you’ve got in store for me.” He slid his arm around Will. “Now take me home and use me however you want.”

“Don’t say what you don’t mean.” Will led the way as they left the dressing room. “Where do we go? I don’t know the bowels of this building.”

“This way.” He’d paid attention and memorized the directions when he’d paced the room preparing for the concert. He grasped Will’s hand and tugged him through the labyrinth behind the stage to the rear door. The lights glittered and the trees lining the walkway threw shadows across their path.

Will tucked against him and fell into step with Carsten. “We’re both so broken.”

“We are.” He caressed Will’s shoulder. “Your ex was foolish for leaving you, but it’s my good fortune. If I’d have been with you all this time, I’d have treated you better.”

“You had to go through this journey to learn what you really want. I know I did.” Will directed him across campus to the art building and the small lot behind the structure. “Here’s my car.”

He wasn’t sure what he’d expected, but not the sports car. “This is yours?”

“I’m not allowed to have a fancy vehicle?”

“Not one so vintage or sporty.” He waited as Will opened the passenger door of the black Jaguar, then Carsten placed his bag on the floor. He settled on the seat. “How do you keep it in such great shape?”

“A garage, and I can see the car from my office.” Will closed the door, then rounded the hood. He sank onto the driver’s seat. “That, and I’ve got one hell of a security system in it. If anyone touches it who isn’t supposed to, the shrieking sound will split eardrums.”

“Nice.” He liked that Will took no prisoners with his car. He wanted to hold Will’s hand, but saw that Will had to shift the car as he drove. “How far are you from campus?”

“Not far. Sometimes I ride my bike instead.” Will drove out of the lot then wound along the streets of the college. Within a few minutes, he left campus and made his way down a tree-lined street to a simple Cape Cod home with an attached garage. “This is mine.”

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