“Hm. A shot of Colt, warmed up in the hot tub.”
“Ooh. Lucky for you, I got that lined up for you.” Every warm, sensual smile relaxed him.
“Aw. So sweet. Always thinking of me.” As soon as they’d cleared the stage door, he tugged Colt against him and took a kiss. Colt melted into him, unashamed and eager, one hand creeping up around his head to hold him close.
Something was definitely happening here. Three days apart, busy as hell, and he still missed this man, this kiss, like crazy. And it wasn’t about the sex, though that draw was undeniable; he’d felt the pull as soon as he’d seen Colt in the lobby a few hours earlier. Colt just had this kind, gentle, genuine-self thing going on that fascinated him.
This felt like the real deal, or what he thought was the real deal, as insane as that might be.
“You’re delicious.” He smiled at Colt and let himself sink into those dark eyes.
“I’m sure hungry, so I’ll take it. Take me home to love on you, feed you some?”
“Yep. Come on.” He led Colt down the alley and out to the street where it was easy enough to get a cab. They might get stuck in a little traffic, but he didn’t have the patience for the subway. It didn’t take too long to get home, and the first thing he did was open the liquor cabinet. “Margaritas?”
“Works for me.” Colt’s hands landed on his shoulders, fingers digging in.
Oh, hello. That felt like heaven. He loved what he did, and he really didn’t find it that stressful most of the time, but four days of work, dancing, and all the concentration had him pretty tight, and his body was tired. He sighed and let his head drop forward, his hand going slack on the cabinet door. “That feels amazing, baby.”
“Good.” Colt began to sing for him, soft and low, the words nonsensical.
He let the cabinet door swing closed. He didn’t really want a drink now; he just wanted more of this. He swayed into Colt a little and reached back, resting a hand on Colt’s hip for balance.
“Come on, cher. Let me love on you before we take our drinks to the tub.” Colt led him to the sofa and eased him down before straddling his ass and going back to massaging his shoulders and crooning to him.
He didn’t fight any of it, just settled right into the couch with a long sigh and listened to Colt sing. Was it just the other night that his lover wasn’t sure how to feel about a simple hand massage? The man learned fast. Not only were those hands strong and sure, but he could feel the affection in them. He relaxed and let Colt take care of him for a bit, it felt like it was doing them both good.
Colt leaned down against him, covering him, lips soft on his nape.
“Mm. Hey.” He bent his head forward, offering more skin. “I think my spine’s gone to jelly.”
“Good deal. You been working hard.” Those kisses kept going, one after another.
He nodded, eyes half-lidded, and breathed deep. “Yeah. ’S good, though. The work.”
“So good. Love to see it.”
He’d invite Colt to see more soon. Maybe final dress. Definitely opening night. He’d ask—when he woke up.
8
Colt saton the floor of the kitchen and started writing. He did okay in the country music arena and even better with the alt-country guys in Austin.
It paid a chunk of bills, that was for sure. It was easier with a partner, though—someone to bounce ideas off. Maybe Norv and Ryder could come out here for a week. Between the Texan’s speed and the Georgia boy’s way with a hook, they could bang it out.
He stopped, shot off a couple texts, then set back to his own work. He was thinking love song, but a little dirty, a little wicked and wrong. Something you’d dance to in the corners of the sawdust-covered dance floor where the neon lights didn’t reach.
Oh.
Oh.
Where the lights don’t reach.
Fucking A.
Hours went by, and the sun went down while he was sitting there. He didn’t need to move, though. Kyle had the hall light on some kind of timer, and he found himself in the perfect spot to write in the slice of amber light spilling in through the kitchen door.
“You’re in the dark, baby.” That was where he was when Kyle sat down beside him, warm hands sliding up under his shirt. “I guess I needed a nap. You must be starving.”