Page 18 of Revive
Xane rounded on him the moment there was space to do so. “What do you think? After earlier, I was hardly going to send her over here and not check in to make sure she arrived and that you weren’t totally freaking out. Also,” he pointed at a bag he’d dumped on a side table by the sofa, “I brought you Blackwater’s takeaway. You have to feed the lass, you know, after you’re done screwing her sideways.”
“Fuck off.”
“Will do.” In a magnanimous display of generosity, Xane headed for the exit. “Oh, there’s some more of Ginny’s baking in there too. She says it’s helping her think about our future merchandising.”
Spook tweaked open the top of the bag and had a nosey inside. He spotted chips and stuck one in his mouth. It was still hot enough that he had to breathe around it. “What future merchandise? We haven’t even finished the album yet.” They wouldn’t need any gimmicky tat until they were out on the road again. Shit! “If one of your next words is tour, I’m going to drag you down to the shore and drown you.”
Xane huffed into his hand. “I think that might give your girlfriend the wrong idea. Whatcha doing up there, huh? Have you got her tied to the bedposts? Is that why she isn’t down here telling me to fuck off herself?”
“None of your goddamned business.”
That earned him another mirthful puckering of Xane’s lips, followed by a salacious smirk.
“Oh, just fuck off, okay.” Spook marched him out of the door. Night had turned the beach into a pleasing monochrome. The wind caught his hair immediately and swirled it around him. “I’m all right. But no tours, and no more nosey enquiries.”
Xane about turned, also fighting with the wind to keep his hair out of his eyes. “You’re delusional if you think I’m promising you either of those things. Studio, first thing, or I’ll be back here with Mister Bright Eyes and Bushy Tail and then you’ll never hear the end of it.”
“Fuckwit! Why would you even…”
“If you’re at the studio for breakfast, I won’t have to.” The irreverence melted from Xane’s expression. “Seriously. Am I okay to leave? Are you okay?”
Was he? He’d spent years nodding and grinning in response to that question. More recently, he’d been working on being more honest. He took a breath, then nodded. “I’m good. Promise.”
“Cool. That’s good.” Xane moved in to give him a hug, probably meaning it as no more than a fleeting farewell, but Spook found himself clinging tight to his solid presence. There was something about his friend which was intrinsically comforting, and even though he wasn’t lying, that didn’t mean a hug wouldn’t help.
“Hey?” Xane squeezed him back, just as tight. “You sure you’re good?”
“Yeah. Yeah, I am… I just need a moment. It’s… I guess it’s catching up with me.”
“So, things are getting frisky.”
“I said no more—”
Xane’s hands laced behind Spook’s head and pulled them so close together, their breath formed a heated fog between them.
“Safe, sane, consensual. Within those confines, anything goes. You’re fine. Don’t second guess yourself. Don’t let the worries eat you up and stop you having a good time. Now, go. Shoo. Go remind yourself why the fuck you’re obsessed with this woman. I’ll see you in the morning. If you need me before then, you know where I am.”
Fuck the man and his sincerity. It made him tear up. He gave a tremulous nod.
Xane grazed their lips against one another. “You’ve got this. Just do what feels right.”
Yeah. He would. What felt right at that moment, was expressing how goddamned grateful he was to have such an amazing friend in his life. He turned what had been a graze into a solid kiss. For a moment, Xane danced tongues with him.
“Okay, that’s enough. You taste of her pussy, and I’m not sure how down with it Luthor will be of me turning up with her on my lips.”
“Sorry.”
“No, it’s fine. Night, Spook.”
“Goodnight.”
“Give her one for me.”
“Not likely.” The only person’s benefit he’d be fucking her for was his own… Well, and hers.
-6-
Spook
