Page 9 of Half Notes and Highlights
The next couple of hours were spent putting everything in place, and by lunchtime there wasn’t anything left to do exceptwait. So, he ordered Door Dash and waited. Finally, it arrived—the signage for the front of his studio. When the workers were done, he stepped outside and looked up at his name in giant hot pink letters with his slogan beneath: Hair to Make You More Beautiful. He squealed. “It’s amazing!”
After giving the workers a well-deserved tip, he stayed outside and stared up at the sign for an indeterminate amount of time admiring it and reflecting on his accomplishments. This wasn’t his first storefront, but it was the first big step in his life 3,000 miles away from where he spent his entire life. It was a little scary starting over, but he was a risk-taker. With a happy sigh, he locked up and went home.
The high from earlier hadn’t worn off, despite having celebrated by treating himself to an expensive dinner. He wished Iris were home so they could go out for some fun. He contemplated stopping by the bar where she worked for a drink, but he wanted more excitement. He wanted to go dancing. So, he did.
He showered, did his hair so it was extra fluffy, and dressed to pay homage to the color combo of his new studio. The red leather pants were an ode to the red leather couch in the shape of a pair of lips, and the black furry vest he chose reminded him of the fringe on the leg lamp. He opted for a see-through fishnet top and some fancy rings. “I look hot,” he told his reflection, then jumped in an Uber and set out to set the night on fire.
Two hours later, he was dancing on a platform with a guy wearing spandex shorts and nothing else. The club was alive with music and the crowd was kickin’ it. There were so many beautiful faces, but Tyler was more interested in spiraling to the heavy beat. For now, anyway. In a couple of hours and after a few more drinks he’d find someone to go home with.
It was so fucking hot in the club. No wonder the guy on the platform with him wasn’t wearing anything except thosecute shorts. He needed to cool down and headed to the bar for something cold. He felt someone following him and turned to find the guy from the platform hot on his heels.
“Hello.” Tyler fanned himself. “I didn’t mean to cut our dance short. I’m parched and need a libation. Care to join me?”
“That’s why I’m right behind you.”
When they got to the bar and ordered two fruity drinks, Tyler’s dance partner tried to hand the bartender cash, but Tyler wasn’t having it. “Thanks, I can pay my way. But we can still share a drink.”
“No. You can’t.”
They both turned in the direction of the unexpected deep voice and found Ethan standing behind them.
“What are you doing here?” Tyler asked, shocked to see Ethan in a crowded club.
“I’m still in LA for another couple of days and had some free time between shows.” Ethan leaned forward, separating Tyler and the dancer, and slipped the bartender his credit card. “Put both drinks on here, and I’ll take an IPA.” He gave the dance guy the side eye. “I got it from here. Enjoy your drink.”
Tyler probably should have been annoyed that Ethan dismissed the dance guy so quickly, but it was hot the way he swooped in and staked his claim and asserted his dominance. “Where’s your entourage?”
Ethan motioned to two guys standing a few feet away, one on either side. “Curt. Bill.”
Now that Ethan pointed them out, it was obvious that Curt and Bill weren’t there for dancing. First, they were wearing suits. They were also a foot taller than the rest of the crowd, and they were eyeing the place like they were with the Secret Service and Ethan was the President.
“Your hair looks good,” Tyler commented, sipping his pomegranate drink. “I take it you used the mousse I left and notthat stuff your friend pranked you with.” A tiny chuckle escaped him at the memory of Ethan with helmet hair.
“I got him back for that. I replaced the regular milk with buttermilk at breakfast, so it literally tasted like someone pissed in his Cheerios.”
“Ooh. You play hard.”
“I do.” Ethan smiled, sexily, as he stared at Tyler with twinkling black eyes. “Let’s get out of here.”
Tyler leaned back, trying to act offended, when he was actually flattered and a tiny bit excited. “Excuse me? You’re my client. I’m not going to—”
“Yes. You are. So, drink your drink. Or don’t. Because in thirty seconds, we’re outta here.”
Tyler didn’t know what to say. The audacity and arrogance of this man. Just because he was a rock star and they’d flirted, and because he was hot as fucking hell, with smoldering eyes and a jaw like chiseled stone, and a sculpted torso, from what Tyler remembered when Ethan was standing in the doorway to the bathroom in only a towel and dripping wet and—oh, who the hell was he kidding? He wanted to fuck this man the moment he laid eyes on him.
He took a big gulp of his drink, licked his lips, and placed the glass on the bar. “Let’s go.”
***
Laying naked on the exquisite cotton sheets in Ethan’s fancy hotel suite, Tyler propped himself up on his elbow and drew one knee toward his waist, popping his butt for emphasis. He watched as Ethan licked his lips and his eyes slowly washed over Tyler from head to toe. It was the exact reaction Tyler was hoping for with the seductive pose.
Ethan started to loosen his belt, but Tyler sat up and pushed his hands away. Normally, he enjoyed the slow, sensual art of love making, but the rock star stirred something inside him that necessitated urgent skin-on-skin contact. He unbuckled Ethan’s belt, unzipped his jeans, and pushed them down to his thighs at record speed. Black Diesel briefs stared back at him. He inhaled a breath as he curled his fingers around the waistband, anticipating the big reveal. Inch by inch, he exposed the dark happy trail that lined the center of Ethan’s lower abs. It made a beautiful contrast against the rock star’s fair skin. Finally, he freed Ethan’s length, and it was just as beautiful as the rest of him. Softly, he curled his hand around it, feeling its weight and smooth texture.
Ethan moaned and pushed his hands through Tyler’s hair and held it in a ponytail, so it was out of his face. “I love your hair. It’s soft and as wild and sexy as you are.” He tilted Tyler’s face up by the chin and leaned down until their lips brushed against one another, barely touching.
The heat of Ethan’s breath sent a hot shiver down Tyler’s back before they shared a fiery kiss. It was demanding and feverish. The way Ethan owned the kiss, and Tyler’s mouth, sent a sizzling heat through his body. His nerve endings were pulsing, and he let out a long sigh that turned into a moan against Ethan’s possessive lips.
The throb against his palm made Tyler wish for a taste, but he couldn’t tear himself away from the kiss that had their mouths fused together. Instead, he used his hands to pleasure his lover, but he couldn’t resist and broke the kiss with a deep intake of breath that made him slightly dizzy.
