Chapter 23

We recorded three songs that afternoon. They weren’t finished yet, but we had a good start.

Six hours later, we were tired but wired, happy with our studio time. I still worried that me and Ronin being lovers would change our dynamic. That somehow our songs, our sound, would be different and not in a good way. Relationships among band members were always a volatile kind of thing. Even when you weren’t lovers.

But when sex came into play, well, things changed. Some bands broke up over it, some wrote hit songs. There was a lot of pressure for me and Ronin. As happy as Holls and Brodie were for us, there was fear there too. And I wasn’t ignorant to it.

We’d stopped off at my place on our way back to Ronin’s to grab my clothes, my laptop, and other personal items. My hands were still shaking as we loaded up the SUV.

Settling in the back seat, Ronin took my hand in his and brought it up to his mouth, kissing my knuckles.

“Stop thinking so hard,” he interrupted my musings.

“I can”t help it.”

“Then I’ll just have to find a way to distract you,” Ronin whispered as he pushed me down on the back seat.

“Ro,” I warned him, my face heating.

It was hilarious, considering all the sex I’d had in front of other people.

“Your sudden shyness is too fucking adorable.”

I let out a frustrated groan. “I told you how I feel about that word.”

Then he kissed me, and I forgot all about words. Except ‘more’ and ‘please’ and ‘yes’.

The weight of his body, the way his lips took possession of mine, it was all very sexy, insistent, demanding. Like being caught in a massive wave, I was pulled under, deeper, drowning in his ocean blues. I licked into his mouth, and swirled my tongue around his, sucking hard. His answering groan had me shifting, our hips colliding. Fuck, I needed more of his kisses. I could live off them alone.

Suddenly, a throat cleared. I’d forgotten that Lennie was in the car with us.

“We’re back. And your mom has arrived.”

Lennie’s statement was like a cold shower, and I startled, then pushed against Ronin’s shoulder.

“Give us a minute,” Ronin muttered as he sat up and pulled me with him.

Lennie got out of the car and closed the door. Ronin was about to kiss me again when his phone buzzed.

Kissing—and everything else—would have to wait. Again.

“Stay on the other side of the car,” I cautioned Ronin.

His wicked chuckle told me I was in so much trouble.

A few deep breaths, and a few minutes later, we exited the car. Lennie shook his head at us, leading us inside.

Ronin’s mom, who was just shy of my height, greeted us on the other side of the door, pulling Ronin in tight and hugging him hard. And he was a big man to move.

“Ciara’s resting. I’m cooking dinner. Why don’t you boys go and get washed up.”

“It feels like high school all over again,” I said as I greeted her with a hug.

“I hope not. I couldn’t take the smell of Ronin’s gym bag ever again.”

“Mom!”

“What? It’s the truth. I used more bleach during your teenage years than I did throughout my entire life.”

“Okay, we get it,” Ronin sighed and shook his head, his hair falling out of his messy bun.

I bit back a laugh as we entered the foyer.

I was home.

When the four of us settled down to dinner a short time later, memories of my childhood came flooding back.

For years, Callie worked two jobs to support Ronin and Ciara. And after Ronin’s dad cut off contact, she was the only parent they had. It was clear the way she’d always put their needs ahead of her own, that she loved Ro and Ci, and would do anything for them.

Ronin loved staying at my parents’ place on the weekends, but once a week, we’d have dinner with Ciara and Callie at their apartment. Only now did it hit me how lucky I was. To have not just one home, and one family, but three.

After dinner, the four of us sat down to watch movies.

Normally, I sat on one end of the couch and Ronin on the other, but not anymore. He beckoned me closer with a crook of his finger and I had no hesitation moving into his arms. Then I realized that we hadn’t said anything to his sister or mom about us.

I snuggled into Ronin’s lap, leaned back against his chest, his arms around my waist. Fuck, that was better than good. I never wanted to leave.

His mom glanced over at us and smiled but said nothing. Her eyes told me that she’d always known. Ciara offered us a blanket and then moved to sit beside her mom, holding her close.

I sighed.

“Good?” Ronin whispered, his hot breath teasing my ear.

I shivered and ran my hands along his forearms, linking my hands with his. “So good. Not sure you’re gonna be able to move me from this spot.”

“That’s the plan.”

The movie started, but I wasn”t paying attention to the screen. All I could focus on was the feel of Ronin”s body against mine. The heat, the rapid drumbeat of his pulse, the brush of his hard cock that sat snug against my ass. He squeezed my arms and kissed my neck with gentle nips and playful licks. He was keeping it PG in front of his mom and sister, but underneath that blanket was a whole different story.

Halfway through the movie, I was so turned on I started squirming in his arms. Then he massaged my neck and shoulders, easing all the tension out of my body, one languid touch at a time. He rubbed my scalp, my temples, then worked his way back between my shoulder blades, and down to the upper swells of my ass.

When his arms wrapped around my waist again, I was pretty sure I was going to melt into a puddle right there on the couch.

Next thing I knew, the movie was over, and Callie and Ciara were saying goodnight. Then it was just me and Ronin, alone.

“You ready for bed?” Ronan asked.

My tongue was so tied I couldn”t answer him, so I nodded instead. I gently eased off his lap, and he slid out from under me, standing up, the blanket falling to the floor.

“Come here.”

I kneeled on the couch facing him, and when I saw the bulge in his crotch, my mouth watered.

Then we moved like we always did in, towards each other, in sync. He bent down and I slid my arms around his neck, and my legs around his waist as he carried me through the house and up the stairs to his bedroom. My heart knocked hard against my ribs with every step. I knew, I just knew, that what was going to happen next was going to change us forever. And the way Ronin was looking at me, the way he held on to me like I was the most precious thing in the world? Fuck, it sent shivers up and down my entire body.

Sex with other men had always been hot and dirty and fast. There were never any deep emotions attached to it. It was just fun, casual fucking. But this, what was happening right here? I couldn”t even believe it, never mind feel it. My whole world narrowed down to Ronin. We shared everything in life—music, laughter, highs, lows, and now, our bodies. Our love.

But he hadn’t made to kiss me yet. I just knew that if we did, we’d never make it up those stairs. And with a house full of his family, it wasn’t the time for an exhibitionist kink.

He carried me into the bedroom and playfully tossed me onto his bed.

I laughed, wasting no time stripping off my clothes, my skin on fire, my dick so hard it slapped against my stomach, red and throbbing, leaking pre-cum. Ronin groaned and leaned forward, licking the head of my dick.

“Oh, fuck,” I moaned as I grabbed his hair, tugging on the long strands, needing more.

“Fuck is right,” he whispered and gave my cock one more teasing lick before moving up my body, until we were face to face. I was naked and he was still dressed, and the contrast, the roughness of his clothes against my skin, it was electric. I let out a loud moan that probably echoed through the walls of his bedroom.

His lips hovered over mine. “I need you in my ass and I sure as hell want yours.”

“I’m down with this plan.”

“Good. Because I want you to wake up tomorrow and know that you’re mine, I’m yours, and nothing and no one comes between us. Not ever.”

“Yes,” I moaned in response.

I wanted him in every way I could get him. And there was nothing I wanted more than to give myself to him.

“No condoms,” I offered.

“Nothing between us.”

I nodded. “Kiss me already.”

“So demanding.”

“Just wait,” I teased him.

I was a quiet guy in general but bossy as fuck in bed. Most of the time. Then again, I’d never been in bed with my best friend, so who knew what would happen? I didn’t like to submit to strangers. Most of the time I topped. But just the thought of Ronin coming in my ass was so hot that it burned away any hesitation.

Ronin’s lips took mine in a possessive kiss, and I was only too happy to return the favor. His tongue sucked on mine, each deep, devouring touch better than the last. And each kiss had me wanting more. I slid my hands to his neck, pulling him in tighter, angling my head for a deeper connection. Our kisses went from playful to languid to downright filthy, as he aggressively fucked my mouth, taking ownership of my lips. His beard teased my skin, the burn so fucking heady I wanted more. Every nerve ending in my body was so alive.

When we finally broke for air, I pushed on his shoulders, and he fell to his back, taking me with him. I straddled his waist, and reached for his jeans, unzipping them with trembling hands, eager to see all of him. Eager to taste every inch of his gorgeous skin.

“Get this shirt off,” I demanded as I slid my hand inside his jeans and my skin met his. “Commando? You dirty fucking boy.”

Ronin waggled his eyebrows at me, and I shook my head, unable to stop the smile that spread over my face. I took hold of his heavy, rock-hard dick, giving it a long, slow stroke. Ronin’s groan was loud, and so fucking satisfying.

Playtime was over. It was time to rock ’n’ roll.

Ronin threw his shirt off, and I attacked his mouth. I tugged on his cock, stroking him off. He was leaking so much pre-cum that it made for a smooth glide.

“Stop,” Ronin warned.

“What?” I nearly shouted, my hand stilling.

“Keep that up and I’ll come too soon. And as sexy as a handjob is, I need more this time.”

“I want to fuck you,” I moaned, letting go of his cock and slipping down the bed. “I need to be inside you.”

“Yes,” Ronin grunted.

I yanked on his jeans, and pulled them all the way off, tossing them aside.

Seeing him fully naked and hard, for me, had my balls drawing up tight. I wanted to rub myself all over his body and come on those sexy abs of his. When he drew his hand up over his hairy chest and pinched his nipples, I jerked hard, like he’d just touched me.

I grabbed the base of my dick, willing myself to calm down. Holy fuck, he wasn’t the only one about to come too soon.

“Get over here and fuck me already,” Ronin whispered as he rolled over and got up on his hands and knees. He clutched the duvet in his hands, his knuckles white with strain, his forearms shaking.

And shit, I didn’t know which view was sexier.

His round ass was right there, so fucking biteable and all mine. I kneeled on the bed and ran my hands up his hairy thighs, and under, cupping his heavy balls and then his dick, so hard, so hot, and all for me. Christ.

I leaned in and kissed the dimples on the swells of his ass, willing myself to go slow. I licked one cheek, then gave him a not-so-gentle bite, sucking on the skin, marking him. I was going to leave so many love bites on Ronin’s body, there would be no question who he belonged to.

“Faise.”

His voice was low and gravelly, full of desperation and need. He pushed his ass back and spread his legs.

I didn’t need any further invitation.