Page 83 of Filthy Rock Stars

I grin and jut my head toward the coffee table. We’re at Damian’s place, and among the many piles of clutter, there’s a stack of games at the end of a long pink table. “Get those Pokémon cards out for a game later,” I joke. “Then we’ll see who the geek is.”

Nico leans against me. “Pokémon cards?” he says with a grin. “I had no idea.”

“Not even moody outsiders were immune to their charms,” I joke.

Damian turns his palms to the ceiling. “Well how could you resist? The drawings are so damn cute.”

I chuckle and lean back. Owen and Damian were warm right away, and they didn’t even do the typical fame stuff, acting shy or awkward around celebrity.

Just a couple of rounds of this totally chill bird game, and now we’re joking around, and it’s like I fit in or something.

Damn, did I ever need this after meeting with the band earlier. I thought for sure I’d fucked it up. After all the promises to myself that I’d make a good impression, I’m pretty sure I left them doubting me.

But meeting Nico’s friends, touching another part of his world, that does something. It makes this feel a little more real, a little more possible.

And it makes me feel fucking inadequate as hell, too. The three of them are smarter and kinder than I’ll ever be. They’re good. Owen and Damian are the kind of good that Nico deserves, and I’m glad to know they have each other.

I’m trying to be the good boyfriend tonight, whatever that means, so I flash Nico’s friends a smile.

“Anyone want a refill?”

“Oh!” Owen sits up straight. “I just realized.”

“What’s that?” Nico asks.

“It’s so simple,” Owen says, getting excited. “Fox is all worked up about the rivalry and protecting the band. He’s so focused on stopping anything bad from happening, he’s barely sleeping. But really, he shouldn’t be doing this on his own. He should be working with you! You should collaborate.” His mouth pops open into a little circle. “Oh, I’m sorry! If you don’t want to talk about this now, that’s fine. I’ve just been mulling over it since Nico told me earlier, and the idea hit me.”

“Uh, no.” I blink, not sure what to say. “That’s fine.” I glance at Nico, who gives me an encouraging nod. “You think Fox would want to work with me?”

“If I vouch for you, sure,” Owen answers, then waves his hand in the air. “Anyway, just a thought!”

My chest feels tight. I get hit with a wave of inadequacy, but I don’t want to seem rude, so I make sure to nod. “Yeah. I think that could be great. Thank you.”

“Ohhh,” Damian coos, “so cute! Your boyfriends could work together!”

“Okay,” Nico says with a laugh. He tilts his eyes down, and I realize he’s embarrassed, which is too fucking adorable. “Enough of that.”

I grin and squeeze him close again, but resist embarrassing him more. Instead, I just press a kiss to the side of his head.

A night like this, sharing time with friends, it’s special. A few months ago, I never thought we’d arrive here. Now that we have, I need to treasure it.

CHAPTERTWENTY-SIX

NICO

Shadow tossesme onto his big mattress, which lies flat to the wooden floor of his massive loft. I grin as he mounts me from the front, foreheads pressed together, and when he ruts his hard cock against mine, only the cotton of our underwear between us, I wrestle him onto his side.

I drag my hands down his muscular chest, crawl on top of him, and kiss my way down to his cock. With a needy hum, I lick my lips and grip his base.

“Fuck,” Shadow grunts, bucking his hips. “You’re hungry.”

I tilt my eyes up. “Fuck my face,” I say as sweetly as I can. “Please?”

“Oh fuck.” Shadow groans as he grabs the sides of my face, holding me by my cheeks. He bounces his hips, dragging his erection across my face, and I lap my tongue out and slobber on him.

Exactly what I wanted.

I’ve reached this place I’ve never been when I’m with Shadow. When I want something, I ask for it, totally unashamed.

---