Boys in the Band 2: Main Act Read online

  "Damn, honey. That was a heck of a way to warm up." They would have to warm up the water now if they were going to stay in.

  "Uh-huh." He licked away a drop of water that was sliding down.

  "You want to stay in? Or do you want me to heat up some towels in the microwave and go snuggle?" Caidon patted his ass, the water going sploosh.

  "Snugglage. I'll heat water for hot chocolate." They didn't have whipped cream or marshmallows, but it would do.

  ***

  The boys were all playing around, laughing and joking. They were almost done with the last series of shows before the break, only three more to go, and everyone was a little punch-drunk. This last venue had a hospitality room for them, which was a nice thing, and they'd all had a little too much hot buttered rum. That was Caidon's take on it, anyway.

  Spud was playing around, kind of doing up a little game of touch football, and mainly Caidon sat back with his beer and smiled at everyone's antics. He didn't fit in with the guys enough to play, as everyone assumed he was temporary, but that was okay with him, too.

  At least until Steve tried to use a tackle to take Spud way out of bounds and rub on him a little, trying to take a kiss. That was when Caidon set his beer aside and ambled over, letting his hand fall on Spud's shoulder. He thought he did well, not ripping Steve's arms off. He liked the fiddle player, and thought the man could really saw.

  Be a shame to lose those arms.

  Spud leaned right into him, pretty eyes meeting his, just twinkling away. "Hey, babe."

  "Hey, you. You about ready to head back to the hotel?" He smiled at Spud, letting Steve see his teeth a little at the end.

  "You know it. You good to drive?" At his nod, Spud headed to get the guitars, bouncing a little. It did it for him, knowing how much Spud wanted him, wanted to hang with him.

  "Y'all are spending a lot of time together, man. He's gonna miss you over the break, huh?"

  "Miss me? Hell, no. He's gonna have me all to himself." Let them figure that one out. Caidon didn't have a thing against the guys, but he wasn't going to let them take advantage of Spud.

  "Huh? He's not staying in the bus? He always stays in the bus. We'll come in and out and party. What the hell?" Steve actually looked a little hurt.

  He would have felt the same way, if he'd been in Steve's shoes, so he clapped the man on the shoulder. "We planned on someplace warm, maybe with a hot tub."

  "Man... You inviting all of us down?" Oh, lord no.

  "Sorry, guys. Private holiday." What else was he supposed to say? He flashed them all a big old grin. "Better get going." Maybe he could just slip away.

  The band sort of gave each other this weird-ass look and Joe stood, heading out with him. "Hey, man. What's up with Spud?"

  "Huh?" Rubbing the back of his neck, Caidon tried for clueless. "What do you mean?"

  "I mean he's been... real focused on you and the natives are getting worried. They. Uh. Miss him."

  Uh-huh. Miss him.

  "What's the problem with him getting a little something of his own? Heck, most of y'all have people back home." Maybe they needed to be reminded.

  "Nothing. Nothing. Still... I mean, he's like our mascot or something. I mean..." Joe stopped him right before the parking lot. "Look, I'm not trying to start shit. I just know how things worked here before, you know?"

  Damn. "I know. Things change, man. I would say I'm sorry, but I'm not. I like Jamie a lot." There. Flat out honest. Well, almost. He had a sneaking suspicion that he more than liked Spud.

  "Who?" He got this blank look, and then Joe blushed. "Oh. Right. Spud. Sorry."

  "Yeah. Spud. So, is there gonna be fallout for this?" Might as well know now.

  "Fallout? For what? Fucking Spud? Nah. I just sorta wanted to feel out when you were going to give him back."

  His hands clenched into fists and Caidon stepped forward. Just about the time he was about to clean Joe's plow, Spud honked the horn to the truck.

  "I got to go, man. I'll think on what you said."

  "Y'all have a good night." Joe waved to Spud, headed in. Jesus, didn't they even think? They didn't, which was the problem.

  He unclenched everything and shook it off, determined not to take it out on Spud. "Hey, honey. You ready?"

  "I am." Spud leaned over, bumped shoulders. "Joe okay? He looked all pissy."

  "Yeah. Yeah, he just wanted to make sure we knew what was what for the last few shows." Asshole.

  "Like that changes." Spud stretched up, jeans jacket creaking with it. He knew what was under there, too. There was a love bite, right above one nipple, another one on that flat stomach.

  "Yeah. He's kind of a broken record." He grinned over, feeling better already. They'd hit the hotel, get a beer.

  "Yep. You know what sounds good? Apple pie. Oh, you know that song you were working on? I got us a neat riff for the bridge."

  "Yeah? We can stop at that diner and get pie to go. You'll have to play it for me." They pulled out, the roads icy but not as bad as they had been.

  "Sure. I made notes and all." Spud surprised him, sorta. The man couldn't write a lyric, but music? Damn.

  "You rock, honey." They stopped and got pie, the little side trips to diners and shit becoming a little ritual for them.

  They sang along to the radio on the way to the hotel -- the little place looking like a dingy bed and breakfast, sort of old, but still solid enough. Spud had just taken to it and the little old couple that ran it thought Jamie was a hoot. Caidon, they seemed a little afraid of. Still, it was quiet, and no one grumbled when the bedsprings squeaked.

  They headed in, trying to be quiet, the little front room lights on for them. They grabbed their key from the little board behind the desk and headed up, shushing each other's laughter. He goosed Spud on the way up the stairs. Of course, that had Spud juggling the pie and laughing, snorting under his breath.

  "Now, honey, don't drop the pie." That would be a tragedy. There was some yummy-looking stuff there.

  "No more pinching then!" God, that grin was something else -- a ton more wicked than on stage, intimate.

  "No more? You sure?" He got the door open, got them in, watching the extra wiggle Spud put into that walk just for him.

  "You'll leave butt bruises." The pie got slid onto a table, that jacket tossed onto a chair.

  "Yeah. I like a few bruises on you. My bruises." He reached out and snagged Spud by one arm, twirling him in, neatly as a two-step.

  Their chests smacked together, Spud fitting right and tight against him, pointed little chin lifted for a kiss. "Hey."

  "Hey. How do you think the show went?" Not that he cared, but he wanted to have something to talk about before the sex.

  "I think that it went okay. I don't like the stuff Tracy's doing with the harmony on "Roadhouse" and I think we're going to have to replace the snare." Spud cuddled in, hips shifting a little. "I like how the new strings are working and I don't like that we can't smoke on stage here. You?"

  "I think Joe's a little weak in "Home Alone", and that he needs to lay off the booze, just a little. And I miss you smoking onstage." The things Spud could do with a cigarette...

  "Yeah, Joe needs to go home for a while. Make a baby. That'll settle him up."

  "Lord." Little Joes running all over the place. God help them. "I don't know, he might eat his young."

  "You think? That might make his new single do better on shock radio..."

  Caidon cracked up, Spud's impish grin making him hoot like a monkey. "Yeah, honey. It just might."

  Spud's quick, smart little fingers found his ribs, tickling him so good he squealed like a spring pig.

  "Quit it! Spud, quit it!" He was gonna piss himself. He was ticklish as anything. Spud kissed his chin, fingers turning from tickling to stroking hard enough that it just felt good.

  "Better." Moving into the touches, Caidon grabbed Spud's ass, squeezing a little. "Much better."

  "Mmmhmm. You smell real good to me, huh? Real good."

/>   "Yeah?" That had him grinning like a fool. He liked it when Spud said shit like that. "You feel good, Jamie."

  "Mmm." He got nuzzled, the little bit of stubble rasping his jaw.

  "Were we going to have pie?" They'd have to make coffee. Beer wouldn't go.

  "We were." Jamie licked him a little, that sweet prick full. It was hot, how much Spud liked being called Jamie.

  Caidon had a hard time imagining it sometimes, how someone could get so lost. He bent and gave Spud a kiss, hard and deep, forgetting all about the pie again. Spud arched for him, up on tip toe, tongue fucking his lips. So sweet. Well, spicy. Damn. He loved the way Spud tasted. A little snow, a little pepper, a lot of hot. Spud was humming right into their kiss, hips moving against him in time.

  They danced slowly, then faster, both of them humping a little. It felt good, letting it build slow, letting everything just do what it wanted. It was like Spud was fascinated, attention caught and held like he was good music. Made sense. They made fine music together, on and off stage. Shifting them, he led Spud over to the bed, sinking down on it so they could dance horizontally.

  Spud crawled over top of him, straddling his hips. He could see all those little love bites and bruises, peppered over his skin. Sweet. It would be even sweeter when they got completely naked, got all skin-on-skin. Right now, though, he'd settle for what he could see, what was teasing him through and around cloth. Spud unbuttoned one or two more, then focused on him -- working the shirt open.

  "So pretty." He reached up, connecting the dots. Look at that skin.

  "You think so? I ain't a front man like you..." Spud's fingers slid down his breastbone, tickling.

  "I think you're the hottest thing I've ever seen. Just like fire." He pulled Spud down for another kiss to prove he meant it.

  Those pretty, clear eyes opened wide, staring at him, then the kiss went wild, Spud holding him right there, taking his mouth. Groaning, he moved, his hips rising and falling, his hands all over Spud, tugging at clothes and smoothing over skin. He got a hold of that pretty cock finally, dragging his hand up the underside. Spud groaned a little, rocked against him and rolled like a big old kitty, eyes all heavy-lidded.

  "You like that, huh? Like when I touch you here?" His fingers curled around the shaft, squeezing hard.

  Man, that sound was sweet -- all low and rich and full of yes and please and thank you. Damn, he did like the way Spud wanted.

  Caidon pushed Spud off, rolling that compact body so Spud lay on his back. Then Caidon went down, lips closing around the tip of Spud's cock.

  "Oh, Jesus fuck. Caidon. Baby. Please..." Those callused fingers landed on his head, tangling in his hair.

  "Mmmhmm." He moaned around that hot prick, his lips sliding right down to take Spud all the way in. Nothing had ever tasted that good.

  Those lean legs bent and raised up, cradling his ears, rubbing against him. The scent drew him right in, making him a little drunk, making him want to smile. Which would be a bad idea, with his teeth not needing to be in the equation. He got his hands under Spud's butt, tugging that fine prick in deeper.

  "You... you want me to... If you turn around, I can... Uhn."

  He popped off with a wet sound, nodding. "Yeah. Yeah, okay." He turned, letting Spud open his jeans before he sucked the man back down.

  Spud tugged him right in, mouth like a motherfuckering Hoover on him, proving how bad Spud needed. He grabbed those lean hips, pulling Spud into his mouth, sucking hard. Caidon wanted to give as good as he got, not wanting to let Spud down.

  It made him grunt, especially when Spud got clumsy, lost the rhythm and started shaking. Humming, Caidon sucked harder, licking along the underside. Spud tasted like heaven. Fucking amazing. Spud kept making these amazing noises, calling out around his cock, lips pulling hard at the base. Sweet. So damned sweet. Caidon felt his orgasm climbing up his spine, ready to burst in his brain. All he needed was Spud there with him. He could fucking feel Spud's cock, swelling, jerking in his lips. Come on, honey. Come on.

  When Spud finally let go, Caidon moaned, his own hips humping as he came. He remembered to swallow, though, not bite. They sort of just lay there, groaning together, resting and panting.

  Finally he lifted his head, smiling a little. "You okay, honey?"

  "I ain't never been this okay, baby. Never. I am super-okay."

  "Good." That was what he wanted to hear, especially after the whole mess with Joe. He wanted to know he was doing the right thing.

  "Mmmhmm." Spud turned, scooted up and landed in his arms. "What about you, Caidon? You good? Happy?"

  "Fuck yes." He had music, Jamie, the promise of a vacation. "I'm in high cotton."

  Spud chuckled, nodded, and started whistling, body resting against him. "You about ready to go have us a Christmas?"

  "I am. Not a white one, though." No way. He wanted warm.

  "Hell, no. We can have palm trees and sand. Margaritas. Good stuff." Spud stroked his belly, nice and easy.

  "You know it. We can swim and fuck and just wallow." Thank God. He couldn't wait.

  "Yeah. Make music -- not like tour music, just jam."

  "Yeah. I figure on just taking an acoustic." That way he could scribble and play, but not practice.

  Spud nodded. "I'll bring the twelve-string." Mmm. He liked that -- liked hearing Spud make it ring.

  "Sounds good. We'll play." A couple three more shows and they were gone.

  "Mmmhmm." Spud nodded, fingers playing either “Amazing Grace” or “Dueling Banjos” on his skin, even as they dozed.

  With Spud, you never knew. That was a hell of a lot of his charm.

  Caidon figured he'd keep the man.

  ***

  Fuck, this was the life.

  Spud stretched out on the balcony of their French Quarter apartment, a blanket on his legs. They'd talked about Padre and Nassau, Jamaica and Florida and finally decided that New Orleans was it. Warm in the day, sunny, musical, good food and hell, it was just basically cool.

  He approved.

  They hadn't gotten unpacked yet, but they had time. They'd gotten in two nights ago and crashed like a pair of really tired lead balloons.

  "Hey, honey." Caidon came out of the bathroom, a towel around his neck. "You hungry?"

  "Yeah, I could be. We gotta grocery shop at some point." Caidon looked way better now that they'd slept.

  "We do." Poor guy had been almost gray, so wiped out that he'd barely kissed Spud goodnight.

  "There's lots of yummy stuff -- the landlady left a stack of places that deliver, too." He could eat his weight in andouille.

  "No shit? What kind of delivery?" They sat together on the big old bed and finally decided on a place that did pizzas and dips and shit.

  Spud reached across Caidon's lap, snuggling as he grabbed the phone and ordered a bunch of shit. "They say it'll be an hour."

  "Whatever will we do?" He got a wicked grin, but he didn't think Caidon was up to much more than snuggling.

  "We'll figure something out." He leaned in, cheek on Caidon's shoulder. "You think we should have a tree for Christmas?" He wouldn't mind one. Hell, he was all about the sparkly.

  "I don't know. I mean, I haven't had one in years. We could get something horrifying." Yeah. Yeah, Caidon seemed to like that idea as much as he did, so that was cool.

  "Uh-huh. Colored aluminum with chile pepper lights and lots of alligator ornaments."

  "There you go. I would love that, honey." Caidon's arm wrapped around him and squeezed.

  "Mmm." They leaned together -- not fucking, not singing, not doing anything at all but leaning some. It was actually a little weird and incredibly cool, all at the same time.

  Even when Caidon's fingers started wandering it seemed more absent than something sexy, like the man just liked to touch him. Him. Spud took a minute, just sort of thinking about that, thinking hard. He was in strange waters with Caidon, doing things, feeling things he wasn't used to. It felt pretty damn good.

  "We n
eed to go shopping for shit to put under the tree, too. I say we have a white elephant contest or something."

  "Is that where we swap things back and forth?" Could you do that with just two people?

  "Oh, I may be thinking the wrong thing. I was just thinking we set a limit of like, five bucks a gift and find the weirdest shit possible." Caidon grinned, turning to rub noses with him.

  "Oh, dude. I'm all about weird shit." Not to mention the fact that he loved the idea of a bunch of little things. They didn't have a life where big things went.