Page 24 of Half Notes and Highlights
“No,” Ethan shouted over the running water. “I’m just thirsty as fuck.”
Tyler had a bottle of water waiting when Ethan exited the bathroom. “Here you go, superstar.”
“Superstar?” Ethan’s eyes crinkled with a smile, wondering about the term of endearment. “What happened to rock star?”
“You’ve been upgraded since I saw that performance.”
While Ethan drank half the contents of the water bottle in two big gulps, Tyler eyed his lover, who was only wearing a towel around his waist. The exertion of the performance was like a workout and left Ethan’s muscles defined and on display, and it sent a hot tingle up Tyler’s back. He dropped to his knees, ripped the towel off and pleasured his lover.
When he was done, he casually wiped his mouth, took a sip of water from Ethan’s water bottle and asked, “Do you want me to do your hair?”
Ethan, who was still leaning against the credenza trying to catch his breath and staring up at the ceiling, smiled. “You kill me.” He pulled Tyler in for a kiss, his strong hands caressing the back of Tyler’s neck and waist. “You take me like your life depended on it, send me over the moon, leave me panting and unable to breathe, and move on like you just folded a load of laundry.”
Tyler chuckled. “Folded a load of laundry? I take my clothes to the dry cleaner.”
“You’re incredible. I’ve never met anyone like you.”
“I’m one in a million, rock star. Don’t ever forget it.”
“I won’t. I can’t. And of course, I want you to do my hair. You’re my personal stylist.”
It took less than thirty minutes for Tyler to blow out Ethan’s hair and for him to get dressed, then they left the venue in a huddle of bodyguards.
Just like when they arrived, there weren’t many fans lingering outside since they left much later than the rest of the band, and they swiftly made it into the SUV without much commotion. They arrived at the club in the same fashion, with the bubble of bodyguards escorting them to a roped-off area at the back of the club that was filled with a big couch, a table covered in bottles of alcohol, and about 20 people. Two burly bodyguards protected the space by manning the purple velvet ropes.
Tyler’s eyes immediately searched for Wolf and found the guy making out with another dude in the corner of the couch. Tyler’s gaze shot to Ethan to see his reaction, but Ethan was unaffected and couldn’t care less. Tension and jealousy that Tyler didn’t know was knotting his gut dissipated, and his shoulders relaxed.
“What do you want to drink?” Ethan asked, motioning to one of two bartenders who were standing within the circle.
“I don’t know. What’s everyone having?”
Marshall joined them, holding up a glass. “Jack and Coke.”
Tyler recoiled at the manly drink. “I might as well order Johnny Walker.”
“That’s my drink,” Ethan interjected.
Tyler had only seen Ethan drink beer, so he thought the guy was kidding, but apparently not because Ethan gave his order to the bartender. “And a chocolate martini for my boy,” Ethan added.
The drink was perfect and exactly what Tyler would have ordered. “How did you know I’m a chocolate martini kinda guy?”
“I took a lucky guess.”
After two drinks, which were delicious and intoxicating, Tyler couldn’t stand staying in the roped-off circle. He wanted to mingle and hit the dance floor, but he knew Ethan wouldn’t be able to move freely in the crowded club. People knew who he was, evidenced by the gawking stares. One more drink, and Tyler’s energy was too much to contain. He jumped on a small table and started gyrating and swaying to the heavy dance beat of the house music.
People in the club noticed him and started cheering him on, with a few cat calls in the mix. Caught up in the haze of alcohol, he ignored everyone and let his body move freely. With his arms over his head, he swayed and twirled until he was parched and had sweat dripping down the back of his leather pants.
He was about to step down from the table when he saw Ethan was staring up at him with a wide grin. “Were you watching me the whole time?” he asked.
“The entire place was watching you. No one even cares that Wolf Pack are here anymore. You were the main attraction.”
Tyler glanced around and caught the eyes of at least half a dozen people staring back at him. A few clapped and someone whistled. He gave them a little curtsey before he jumped off the table and into Ethan’s arms. “Can I get another choco-tini?”
“You can get whatever you want.”
***
Tyler woke in a bed full of exquisite cotton sheets, a fluffy comforter, and pillows that were as thick as a cloud. He expected to have a hangover, but who could feel ill when surrounded by such luxury? The sun peeked through the drapes with the promise of another day filled with fun and excitement. He turned toward Ethan, who was lying next to him, face down,with one arm hanging over the side of the bed. “Wake up, sleepyhead. It’s another beautiful day, and I’m hungry.”
