“I want you, in every way I can have you,” I told him. “I won’t give up music, even if I can’t sing after the surgery and have to go instrumental.” I fought down a moment of panic.It’ll be fine. Whatever happens, if I have Lee, it’ll be okay.“Music’s in myblood. But I will try to find a way to fit it around a life with you, if you want that too.”
“So much.” He hugged me back, then pushed me away enough to find my mouth with his. Our kiss was fumbling at first in the uncertain light. Then he tilted his head, and we fit perfectly.
Yes. Fuck, yes, all I need.
I’d known through all the years, even when I was at the top of my game, that something was missing in the song of my life, some note, some lyric, some chord vital to reach life’s true promise. Lee loving me, kissing me, trusting me, was that missing chord.So right.
My head still spun with the echoes of my performance and the surreal lows and highs. The feel and taste and scent of Lee made me dizzy with need. I kissed him like I could eat him, like he was food and air. He kissed me back just as desperately. I felt him getting hard against my hip and ground into him, groaning, opening my mouth for his demanding tongue—
“Okay, folks, break it up.” A bright light shone in my eyes for a moment, then lowered.
I let go of Lee, squinting through the afterimage at the person with the flashlight. Venue security, most likely.
Confirmed when he asked, “You folks got your passes?”
I showed him my performer lanyard and assured him Lee was my guest, a phrase that made Lee snort.
“He should be wearing his pass,” the guard scolded, like they didn’t run into performers and groupies all the time, probably.
“Yes, sir. We’ll remember that.” I slung an arm over Lee’s shoulders.
“Right.” The guard turned away, then hesitated. “Great performance tonight, Mr. Marsh. I’m a huge fan.”
“That’s cool. Hey, want me to sign something?”
“We’re not supposed to ask.” But he hesitated.
“You didn’t ask, I did.”
He patted himself down, looking frustrated.
Lee pulled a folded ball cap out of his pocket. I recognized one of my swag I’d arranged for a retailer to sell here for a commission, back when my brain could actually care about those things. “How about this? Yolanda made me get one.”
“Perfect.” I could get him a hundred more if he wanted. I took the cap from him, fumbled a baby Sharpie out of my pocket, and signed my name below the Griffin logo. “What name should I put on it?”
“Rick would be great.”
I angled the brim toward his flashlight and wrote, “For Rick, a shining light in venue security.”
The guard read the inscription and laughed. “That’s awesome. Thanks, Mr. Marsh. You guys take care, now.”
As he strode away, I grabbed Lee and collapsed with laughter against his shoulder, my eyes squeezed shut. “Oh my God, I am too old to be busted by venue security. Although I guess it’s karma.”
“How so?”
“I cockblocked Axel from Grindstone when he was making out with some hot older dude a few days ago.”
Lee chuckled. “Poor guys. Speaking of cockblocking, you think we could find somewhere to go where no one will shine bright lights in our eyes?”
“Your motel room? I love the Chaser peeps but that bus is not private.” I wasn’t ready to share Lee with everyone yet, and my dick was not in a mood to spend time socializing. I had to stop myself from going back to grinding on him now, security be damned.
“I guess.” Lee wrinkled his nose. “My room is seriously dodgy, but the door does shut and the bed’s a king.”
“Lead the way.” Sore throat, declining career, bad mistakes, parole— nothing could keep me from feeling high as a kite when I had the right to haul Lee in close and kiss him again on our way to his bed.
Chapter 22
Lee
