Chapter Nine

Jace

I n the morning, Jace woke earlier than he normally did. Everyone was still sleeping. He untangled himself from Nico and just as he sat up to get out of bed, Nico’s hand grabbed him.

“Where are you going?”

“Umm, I was going to get an early shower and take a walk.”

“Not without me.”

“Are you coming in the shower with me?” Jace raised his eyebrows.

“What if I did?”

“Are you coming on to me?”

“Do you have a problem with that?”

“Nope.” Jace couldn’t believe Nico wanted to follow him into the shower. Was it so he could make sure he wasn’t leaving the hotel, or was it because he wanted to start something? It’s not like he didn’t know how he was. He knew more about Jace than Jace did.

Right behind him, Nico cupped Jace’s ass in his hand. “You do have a teasing ass. ”

“I thought you’d never noticed.” As soon as they entered the bathroom, Nico locked the door.

Jace adjusted the shower knob until the water flowed out at the perfect temperature for them. He pulled down his underwear, revealing his bare skin, and stepped into the warm embrace of the shower. His cock stood straight up, but he didn’t see any condoms around for Nico. He knew better than to think he would fuck him without one, especially since he knew how much Jace messed around.

Nico’s beauty was even more striking when he stood naked. Hair lightly covered his legs and dusted his chest. He inched closer to Jace and put his arms around him.

“You’re so hot!” Nico whispered in his ear.

“Are you going to tease me in here?” Jace asked as he held his erection in his hand.

“I’m going to wash you, then you’ll see what I’m going to do what you’ve been dreaming about.”

Nico poured some gel into his hand. He rubbed it on Jace’s back in a circular motion, working from his neck down to his butt. He squeezed his ass cheeks.

“Ouch!”

Nico turned Jace around, the water cascading down his back as he lathered his chest, then took his time massaging his head. As he rinsed out the shampoo, he could feel his hair becoming lighter and refreshed. “I love your hair,” Nico said.

“Thanks.” Jace picked up the shampoo and washed Nico’s long, dark hair. He lowered his head so Jace would massage his head. Nico moaned as Jace rubbed his head.

“You’re good at this,” Nico said.

“Sammie taught me how to do it. ”

Jace rinsed Nico’s hair, then lathered his body from front to back. He played with his balls and immediately Nico took over. He moved Jace against the tile, then took both their cocks in his hand.

“I can’t fuck you until we talk, so I’ll rub us off.”

Jace grinned.

“Awe. I love how our dicks are becoming friends,” Nico said.

“I’ve waited a long time for them to meet,” Jace groaned.

Nico grasped both their erections tighter, applying a generous amount of gel to enhance their pleasure. Jace was in awe as he watched the two cocks, side by side, rubbing against each other. Their cocks. The moment their cocks had made contact, Jace felt an intense sensation. Nico continued gently caressing, his hand quickening its pace.

“Are you getting close?” Nico asked.

“Yes, are you?”

Mark and Sammie were pounding on the door.

“Hurry, we have to piss,” Mark yelled.

“What are you guys doing in there?” Sammie asked.

“Damn it!” Jace yelled.

“Ignore them,” Nico instructed.

As soon as Nico’s cum shot onto Jace’s face, he blasted his on Nico’s stomach and hand. While Jace leaned against the tile, panting and trying to steady himself, Nico pulled him in for a kiss. They allowed the water to wash the stickiness off them. Nico pulled him closer, their lips meeting in a passionate kiss that left Jace breathless. When their afterglow ended, and they had caught their breath again, they moved out of the shower to dry off.

The relentless pounding echoed through the room, intermingled with urgent shouts for them to open the door.

Jace laughed as he toweled himself. “I don’t want to see their faces. ”

“Me either.” Nico dried himself, then tied his towel around his lower half.

They stepped out of the bathroom, towels snugly draped around their wet bodies. Mark and Sammie both rushed into the bathroom and slammed the door.

Jace and Nico finished drying and put on jeans and shirts.

“Why did you want to shower with me?” Jace asked as he slipped his T-shirt over his head.

“I thought you were slipping out again.”

“So, it had nothing to do with wanting to be with me?” A sense of melancholy washed over Jace, disappointed at Nico’s reason. Nico’s behavior felt like a betrayal.

“Hey, it had everything to do with you. Have you seen me shower with Mark or Sammie?”

“No, but I could have missed that event.”

“There was no event like that. Only with you. I thought we could have breakfast alone. As I said, we have to talk.”

“Talk about our shower?”

“If you want to voice your opinion or disappointment with the shower, fine. We can talk about that too. But I have a list of things I want to cover with you.”

“What about Mark and Sammie?”

“I’m going to write them a note and tell them we’re having breakfast together, and we’ll all go to lunch before our show.” Nico used the hotel stationery on the table and wrote them a note. “Ready, pretty boy? Nico asked.

Jace nodded and followed him out of the hotel room to the elevator. A young man inside the elevator stared at them as they got in.

“Hey, Jace! How are you?” He greeted Jace warmly .

“Hey, Charlie! Nice to see you again. I’m doing great.”

“I heard you’re playing tonight.”

“We are. Hope to see you at the after-party.”

“I’ll be there.”

With a soft ding, the elevator stopped, and they stepped out into the lobby then exited onto lively Main Street.

“I think the coffee shop has fantastic breakfasts,” Jace said.

“The one your father spotted you in?”

“Yes. I don’t care. I’m fine now.”

“Okay, it’s right here and I’m starving,” Nico said.

Jace watched as Nico took in the quaint café on the bustling street of Bakersfield. It was a familiar sight, a place he’d frequented countless times growing up. The warm, inviting atmosphere was filled with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon.

“This place looks great,” Nico said, his eyes scanning the menu. “I’ll have the scrambled eggs, sausage, and hash browns.”

Jace nodded in agreement and ordered the same. As they waited for their food, a familiar face approached their table.

“Well, if it isn’t Jace,” Mary said, a wide smile spreading across her face. She was a former classmate of Jace’s, a bright and bubbly girl who had always been a friend.

“Mary!” Jace exclaimed, returning her smile. “It’s been a long time.”

After catching up for a few minutes, Mary left to get their food.

Once alone again, Nico turned to Jace. “So, about us…”

Jace’s heart pounded. He’d been waiting for this conversation. “Yeah?”

“I want to be with you, Jace,” Nico said, his voice filled with sincerity. “But it’s got to be just us. No more partying without me. And I need you to stop smoking and getting drunk to the point you have no idea where you are.”

Jace was taken aback. He hadn’t expected such a direct approach. “I…I don’t know,” he replied, his voice hesitant. Was his behavior preventing them from being together?

“No, Jace,” Nico insisted. “You have to try. I love you, and I want us to have a future together. But we can’t do that if you’re still stuck in your old ways.”

Jace knew Nico was right. He had to make some changes if he wanted to be with him. With a heavy sigh, he said “Let me think about all this.”

“Think about us? You don’t want us? You’d rather fuck around like a whore?”

“I said I need to think about it. I didn’t say no. You’re asking me to change who I am. I don’t know.”

“You’re going to lose all of us by your fucking behavior.”

Mary carried over a tray with their breakfast orders and set their platters on the table in front of them. “Is everything okay here?” Her eyes betrayed a hint of worry.

“Yes, Mary. Thank you,” Jace said.

Nico glared at him when she left. “Do you think you can fuck with me like this?”

“It seems you’re fucking with me. You’re the one with the demands for me to change for you. I want to be with you, but I don’t know about all of this.”

“What exactly don’t you know? You don’t know if you want to stop smoking? You don’t know if you want to stop drinking yourself into oblivion? You don’t know if you still want to fuck around with others? Tell me what exactly you don’t know.”

“I can’t. I just can’t right now. ”

Nico pulled his wallet out and threw money on the table. “When you can, let me know. Until then, stay the fuck away from me.” He pushed his chair back with a screech and got up abruptly, walking away.

Stunned, Jace sat there in disbelief as Nico walked away. Jace sat alone at the cafe, staring blankly at the empty chair across from him. Nico walking out left a void that felt impossible to fill. His heart ached with a mix of love and regret. He loved Nico deeply, but the thought of changing his lifestyle—quitting drinking, smoking, and partying—seemed like an insurmountable challenge. He wanted to try, but the fear of failing held him back.

As he nursed his coffee, Mary noticed his distress and approached him. She slid into the seat Nico had vacated, her eyes filled with concern.

“Hey, Jace,” she whispered. “I saw Nico leave. What happened?”

Jace sighed, running a hand through his hair. “He left because I couldn’t commit to changing. He wants me to stop drinking, smoking, and partying. I want to, but…I’m scared, Mary. What if I can’t do it? What if I fail?”

Mary reached out and placed a comforting hand on his. “Jace, I know it’s hard. Change is never easy, especially when it feels like you’re giving up a part of yourself. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I heard rumors that you’re in love with Nico. Is that true?”

“More than anything,” Jace admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Then that’s your motivation,” Mary whispered. “You don’t have to be perfect, and you don’t have to do it all at once. Take it one step at a time. And if you stumble, it’s okay. What’s important is that you’re trying. Nico will see that effort.”

Jace looked into her eyes, finding a glimmer of hope. “But what if I mess up? What if I can’t keep my promise? We all live and work together. ”

Mary squeezed his hand reassuringly. “Everyone messes up, Jace. It’s part of being human. The key is to get back up and keep trying. Nico clearly loves you, and he wants to see you make an effort. That’s what matters.”

Jace nodded slowly, feeling a bit of the weight lift from his shoulders. “Thanks, Mary. I needed to hear that.”

She smiled. “Anytime, Jace. You’ve got this. Just take it one day at a time.”

As Mary got up to return to her duties, Jace felt a renewed sense of determination. Maybe he could do this after all. For Nico, for himself, and for them together.