Page 80 of Sycopation
EIGHTEEN
Another showthat blew the previous ones away. Ray didn’t comprehend how they’d done it, only that they had. Top of their game. Every note perfect. The songs, the crowd, the way Dom stalked across the stage. Mish’s stellar solo that had both men and women tossing their underwear on the stage. Hell, he wanted to whip his out, too, if only because of her playing.
Zavier wasn’t wearing his fucking sexy-ass leather pants, but he’d lined one wrist and arm with leather bands and a stylish cuff. The pants he wore were flowing and slit from the cuff up the sides, high enough you could almost see his package.
Almost. A shame Ray couldn’t—though he’d tasted that dick on his tongue. Felt it inside him.
God, his ass hurt, and maybe that was why he’d danced so hard. The moment he stopped, it stung like fuck, but if he moved, the burn was good.
He’d never thought he’d like being ordered around, or spanked, or any of that. But with Zav, it seemed so...natural. Right.
The signing line was kind of hell with a burning ass and a dick that wanted nothing more than to be fondled and stroked by the drummer next to him.
Zavier’s attention was currently on the young woman before him. “Classical is a superb way to learn rhythms beyond the standard 4/4 or the outrageous 6/8.” He winked at the girl and signed her poster. “Seriously, though, don’t give up on orchestra. Use what you know for rock.” She nodded and moved on.
Fuck, Zavier really was too much. Part of Ray figured he was in way over his head, but the other part kept repeating what Zavier had said—that Ray was a fine musician. Dom said it, and Mish, too. Carl said the opposite.
Ray shook himself and smiled up at the next fan. “Hey, how ya doing?”
The young dark-skinned man stammered, “Fine.” Then continued with “Oh my god, that was the best concert I’ve ever been to.” Which got mashed into “This is my boyfriend and I just came out to my parents and they were okay with it and I’ll stop now.” The kid blinked. “Thank you.”
Indeed, he was holding hands with another kid, who blushed and waved. “Hi.”
“Hey, you guys. Congrats! That’s all wonderful.” They had Twisted Wishes T-shirts, and he scrawled his signature on them. “You two keep being yourselves, no matter what the world tells you, okay?”
They beamed and moved away so the next person could talk to him.
Yeah, he needed to listen to Zav. And himself.
The signings took forever, but they weren’t leaving until the last person came through the line. After that, they piled back on the bus and collapsed as they took off for yet another city. Phoenix this time. They’d get another break when they got to Utah and a longer one in California. Ray couldn’t fucking wait. Yeah, the concerts were phenomenal, but they did wear on the body and mind after a while. How did Gregor Daye do it in his fifties? Ray was twenty-six and could barely manage.
He glanced over at Zavier, who was back in jeans and a T-shirt, but those leather bracelets and cuff were still on his arm. Ray stared at Zavier’s wrist. What it would be like to have cuffs of a very different sort onhiswrists?
Zavier raised an eyebrow and smiled, as if he knew.
But the bus was moving, and Mish and Dom were here, so it wasn’t like anything was going to happen. Didn’t keep his mind and dick from wanting Zavier’s hands and mouth on him. That cock in his ass.
They chatted for a while, going over the best bits of the concert. Mish had loved opening with “White Hot Midnight,” while Dom had loved the acoustical set.
“What about you?” Dom lounged on the couch and looked about ready to fall asleep.
“It’s hard to choose just one,” Ray said. And it was true. His mind flitted between the fans and the music and the fucking colors in his head. All of it sang in his blood, but the cries of the fans and their smiles and wide eyes in the signing lines stood out most of all.
“That seems unfair,” Zavier murmured. He was stretched out like always, feet against Ray. “You made everyone else pick.”
“Not you.” He met those very blue eyes. “What was your favorite moment?”
Zavier took a deep breath and held Ray enwrapped with his stare. “When you dashed out into the crowd and sang ‘Bleeding Roses’ with the woman who had tears in her eyes.”
Heat to Ray’s cheeks. Her name had been Charlie, and she’d thanked him in such a husky voice when they’d finished. Her favorite song. He’d no idea why it had moved her so, but it didn’t matter. “The fans are always my favorite moments.”
The smile that danced over Zavier’s lips was heat and light and wrapped itself into Ray’s soul.
Eventually, they all crawled into their bunks, murmuring their good-nights. Ray considered jerking off, but somehow he got the feeling that would disappoint Zavier, especially after the band’s conversation. Besides, there was something sensual and edgy about the tension in his body and mind.Goodtension for a change, not anxiety.
He should have pulled out his notebook, because little snippets of the song he was starting to think of as “Dare to Be” flitted in his mind. More words. Burgundy hues and blue like Zavier’s eyes all slipped and floated behind his eyelids until they twisted and slipped away into nothing at all. Later, awareness crept back in, along with his bladder screaming at him.Fuck. All that water during the show. The bus was quiet but for the rumble of the road and Dom’s quiet snores. Hopefully Ray wouldn’t wake anyone.
He slipped out of his bunk and headed to the back of the bus. When he was finished and he’d washed his hands, he stared at his reflection in the mirror. This part of touring wasn’t exactly what he’d dreamed of when he’d imagined being a rock star. Hell, he wasn’t even sure hewasa star. Everything seemed elusive, but that might have been the hour and the haze of sleep that still clung to him. He shut off the light and headed out into the lounge.
