Page 51 of Bulletproof
“Come on. It’s too nice of a day to stay indoors!” This from Jeremy.
Travis let out a small laugh. “I’m not indoors. I’m on the balcony!”
“Dork.” Alan chided Jeremy.
“We’re not going anywhere until you open the door.” Brandon’s voice boomed from the hallway.
“You better listen to them.” Now Cam joinedin trying to coax him to open the door. “They’re not gonna leave until you open up.”
Travis shook his head, a sappy smile now on his lips. “What the hell are you guys doing here?”
Alan, Jeremy, Brandon and Cam walked into the room, while Derek stood just outside the door, arms folded across his chest, wearing a what-am-I-going-to-do-with-you smile and shaking his head.Four members of Bulletproof’s security team hovered in the background. “Did you really think I was going to leave you here alone? Do you know how sad you sounded?” Derek touched the center of his chest. “It broke my heart. There was no way I was letting you spend the day by yourself.”
“Yeah,” Jeremy agreed. “You’re coming with us. We’re going parasailing.”
“No. Really.I don’t want to—”
“Too late.” Brandon clapped his hand onto Travis’ shoulder. “Where’s your swim trunks?”
Travis looked to Derek for help, but Derek only raised his brows with impatience.
“It’s really sweet that you’re all here,” Travis said. “But—”
“Don’t bother arguing,” Cam warned. “You’re no match for these guys. They’re just overgrown teenagersat heart.”
“It’s true,” Alan admitted. “We’ll de-pants you. Strip you of your clothes and carry you out by your arms and legs in your underwear.”
Travis let out a small laugh and held his hands up in front of him. “Take it easy. Calm down.” Touched at everyone’s insistence that he join them, Travis laced his fingers behind Derek’s neck. “You win. I’ll come with you.”
“Smart man.”
As he switched out his T-shirt for a tank top and his jeans for board shorts, he still couldn’t believe that Derek and his bandmates were here. Derek, yeah. But all of his friends, too? “Why did you guys come here? Really.”
“We heard your plans fell through and you weren’t doing anything,” Alan replied.
“We weren’t gonna let Derek’sguy stay home alone while we’re out having fun.” Brandon pressed his lips together for a brief second, as if he overspoke, and his eyes shifted to Derek.
Was he Derek’s guy?Travis wondered. The term was foreign. He’d never been one half of a couple. He paused to reflect on the emotions it stirred inside him, and warmth filled his chest, much like sitting in front of a fire on a chillynight. He loved the feeling of “belonging” to someone, and realized that committing to Derek also brought with it a circle of friends.
A lump formed in his throat as he realized this group of friends that he’d only known a short time cared more about him than his own bandmates. He’d been playing music with Ricky, Troy and Mark for the last three years, but they never hung out socially.The absence of camaraderie resulted in a lonely, isolated existence, and robbed him of the glamorous life he thought he’d have as a rock star. He craved a bond with the guys he performed with night after night, who he’d been on tour with for three months before this mini tour with Bulletproof. He swallowed hard and fought to keep the emotion out of his face. He felt the corners of his mouthtwitching and knew there was no way he’d ever replicate the bond Bulletproof shared with each other. Not with anyone except Derek.
Travis kept his eyes lowered as he reached out and squeezed Derek’s shoulder. He hoped the gesture showed the appreciation that was tightening his chest right now. When he raised his eyes and gazed at Derek, the guy had the cutest smile on his face thatcrinkled the corners of his eyes.
Derek pushed his hair behind his ears and smiled a little wider. He took a step closer to Travis, close enough so they could be touching, but weren’t.
The apparent hesitation in Derek’s approach and in his touch always baffled Travis. It was as if Derek wasn’t sure if his displays of affection were welcomed. They wereverywelcomed, andTravis wanted Derek to know there were real feelings in his heart. Derek wasn’t a convenience. He mattered. Travis tugged on the hem of Derek’s T-shirt so their hips collided, not in a sexual way, but in an I-want-you-touching-me way. He moved his hands to the back of Derek’s neck and pushed his fingers through Derek’s long, massive length of sexy hair. Travis was enamored with this man and theway he lived his life. Everything about him said “rock star.” But it wasn’t just the talent and persona that Travis found irresistible. The way this man cared for him, the way Derek made him feel loved and accepted, made his heart soar and melt at the same time. The emotions that ran through him practically knocked him over. He rested his hands on Derek’s waist and pressed his lips onto Derek’s mouthwith a small brush of heat.
Derek reacted instantly, not by way of movement at his crotch. His body relaxed and leaned into Travis’, the hard muscles in his chest hitting Travis like a brick wall. Derek’s mouth moved in a slow circle as his head tilted so his hair fell to one side and tickled Travis’ arm, sending goose bumps over his body.
“Will you please accept an invitationnext time, instead of making an excuse to stay in your room by yourself?” Derek asked when their lips finally parted.
“Yeah. I wouldn’t miss this for the world.” Travis turned to the group, all strewn around his room, making themselves at home. Jeremy and Alan were sitting on the edge of the bed, bouncing like two kids jumping on their parents’ mattress. Brandon was on the tiny loveseat,leafing through one of Ricky’s girly magazines, his face scrunched into a puzzled expression while turning the page to view the centerfold from different angles. And Cam was tidying up the table by tossing empty beer bottles in the trash. What a fucking crew.
Brandon tossed the magazine aside. “Ready to go?”
“Yeah. Thanks again for including me,” Travis said slowly, alingering softness to his voice that gave away his emotion. “I appreciate the offer. I love parasailing.”
Cam let out an uneasy breath. “I’m not so sure about this.”
