Chapter 6

Waylon ran on the treadmill,getting in his workout time while Chayce jammed with a couple of the band members, the songwriting session impromptu but welcome as far as he could tell. These guys had passed the background checks Waylon had run personally, so he felt pretty safe with Kenny and the football-player guy watching the bus from outside while he ran.

Chayce had surprised him in damn near every way. The son of a bitch was stable, happy. He loved his job, loved his music and his fans, and he was generous with his band.

A bit of an adrenaline junkie, but that was the breed.

Chayce was also—surprisingly—low risk. He had a drink or two, but he didn't get drunk. He didn't seem to care for drugs. His big addiction was music. There was never silence. Never.

So why was someone after him? And why hadn't Waylon been able to track down the son of a bitch? It wasn't Chris shooting at Chayce. Sure, the assistant guy had cracked his nut over Waylon joining the crew and gotten himself canceled, but he was pretty much all hot air.

No, the shootings were a more serious type of crazy. And they were so damn random. Although he was fairly sure that whoever was doing this was based in the south.

Was it bigotry? Chayce wasn't out of the closet, but he wasn't in. He made sure that his music and his soundbites were all positive and supportive, focused on love and having fun.

So it could be. Hate crimes could be super unpredictable.

It could be personal too. Someone who felt slighted, someone from the past who didn't like where Chayce was at now in his life. Chayce seemed the type that simply moved on, no question, no worries. So maybe someone was pissed at that. Or it could be an enemy of the mom. She sure blazed a trail through life. And she had more money than God.

He had a few feelers out with some of his information people, but so far, nothing was getting a nibble, and it was frustrating as hell.

Waylon liked simple, dammit. This complicated shit was for the birds. Still, he wouldn't trade this time with Chayce for anything. The man was special. Special and his, all the way to the bone.

Now he needed to make sure Chayce was safe.

Waylon turned up the speed on the treadmill, running a sprint. He would do that for a minute, then off for three. His heart pounded, and sweat ran off him, the heat in the bus kind of intense. It was basically a tin can for all its plush feeling.

He wondered what Chayce's place in the mountains was like.

All he had to do was search it—the dossier had the information—but he really wanted Chayce to offer it over, to volunteer the information. Maybe they could go up once this leg of the tour was over. It was only another four dates and an awards show. Then the man would have a break until the second round of big rodeos in July. Waylon was actually looking forward to those shows. They had way fewer moving parts, and a much more orderly crowd experience.

Waylon was happy any time the danger zone was reduced.

It was fucking weird. He'd guarded his share of celebrities, he'd been attracted to a few, but this attraction was harsh. Wild.

Breath-taking.

"You still running?"

He almost flew off the treadmill. He'd been so distracted by his thoughts he hadn't heard Chayce. He turned down the speed going back to a steady jog. "Yeah. You all written?"

"I am. Had a good session." Chayce went to the mini-fridge and grabbed two bottles of water, tossing one over.

"Thanks, babe. Well, good. I been sweating it out." He slowed everything another notch, heading toward cool down. He didn't need to keep on if Chayce was free now.

"I can tell. I appreciate the view." He got a long, slow once-over.

"Do you now?" He puffed up a little, because who didn't like to be appreciated? Waylon knew he did.

"I do." Chayce leaned against the treadmill, watching him. "You've run your butt off."

"I do have to run off the biscuits." Waylon shut down and hopped off the machine.

"Yeah. I don't get another cheat day for a week." Chayce gave him the drama face, eyes huge and wide.

"No shit? What if we worked it off? I'm craving DQ." He could murder one of their burgers and a peanut buster parfait.

"You are a cruel man! Ice cream is my kryptonite!" Chayce laughed and plopped down on the love seat, bouncing a little.

"Soft serve for the win. What's your favorite thing?" He figured a guy could learn a lot about someone from their ice cream order.

"Are you kidding? Banana split, all the way!"

"Ah. That way you have fruit and fudge sauce." He chuckled. "See I go all protein."

"Peanut buster man, are you?"

"Unless you're allergic to peanuts." That would so suck. He loved his peanut butter.

"Not. I'm allergic to eggplant."

"No shit? Any other nightshades?" A lot of people developed more sensitivities as they got older if they started out with eggplant.

"Not that I've found. I don't need any bonus issues, though."

"No. No, I reckon you got enough on your plate." It was bad enough someone was trying to kill Chayce. He didn't need food doing it too. "You carry an Epi?"

"No. Eggplant isn't that common, right?"

"Not really, no. I just wonder who knows you're allergic." He added that to his list of things to get.

"I guess about anyone that's ever read my rider."

"Shit." Okay, damn. Anyone could use that against Chayce. And he hadn't even known about it. "I read your dossier front to back. It wasn't in there."

"No?" Chayce tilted his head. "What is on there?"

"Basic capsule life story. That you have a little issue with impulse control. That you tend to change plans at the last moment. Things a bodyguard should know."

"That's not true! I don't have any issues with my impulse control."

"When I met you, you were riding a bull on a bet." He kept it deadpan, staring at Chayce, but his lips kept twitching.

"Right? No issues!" Those gorgeous eyes held him, naughty as fuck.

"Uh-huh." He took a kiss because he wanted to, loving how Chayce clung to him, how strong that grip was, keeping him up close and personal.

Those fingers climbed up into his hair, massaging lightly, making his scalp tingle. He closed his eyes, luxuriating in the contact. God, that felt good.

"Mmm… You like that." Chayce pushed a little harder, deeper.

"I do. That's like heaven, honey. Giving me goosebumps." Waylon shivered, because that felt so good he might just die.

No, scratch that. He was going to hang out right here and be alive and let Chayce pamper him a little if that was what the man wanted to do.

"Good. I know how to make things feel good."

Oh, there was zero doubt about that.

"You're kind of a master, honey." He slid closer, letting Chayce lean on him, his hands sliding up and down Chayce's back. If Chayce didn't mind his post workout self, well, who was he to complain. He would just go with it.

Chayce moaned, kissing him hard and deep, all but crawling on top of him again. The couch could take it, he figured. No need to move to the bed. Kenny wasn't going to come interrupt them. That guy was a class act, and he didn't venture into Chayce's territory.

"Mmm… I like this. Want round one out here?"

"Uh-huh." He turned so he could lie back and let Chayce crawl up on top of him.

"Oh, hell yeah. Now I have you where I want you."

"So what are you gonna do with me?" he teased, daring Chayce to do his worst. Or best.

"Ride you like a prize pony." He got a wide, wicked grin. "That work?"

"Uh, hell yes. You got anything in here we can use?" Did the guy have a stash of condoms next to the couch? He was selfish enough to hope so. And jealous enough to hope not.

"No, but I have some in the bathroom." Chayce chuckled and shook his head. "Come back to the bedroom. The lube lives there."

"I can do that." He lifted Chayce to his feet, letting him land on the floor, before getting up and grabbing Chayce's hand. He had to admit, Chayce's bedroom on the bus was a damn fine thing. It was almost all bed. He could just crawl in there and sleep for a week if someone brought them food.

Especially knowing that he got to touch that hard little body at will. It was an embarrassment of riches.

"You thinking naughty thoughts?" Chayce let him go as they reached the bedroom, shaking it for him a little bit as he headed for the bathroom.

"You know I am." He stripped out of his sweats before hopping on the bed, feeling like someone in a porn movie, all stretched out and waiting for his lover.

"Mmm… pretty." Chayce turned on some music, something driving and hungry, tossing slick and condoms on the bed before stripping down.

"Nice." He agreed. That was a hell of an eyeful. He wanted to touch and taste and let Chayce ride him as promised. His body was tight with need, his cock rising up hard. It was time to work out a whole other way.

"Mmhmm… I like it." Chayce grabbed his cock and started stroking, base to tip, over and over.

"Oh, I do too, honey." His toes curled, his body bowing up at the hips, just his shoulders and heels on the bed. His asscheeks clenched, his skin on fire. "You are so damn fine, Chayce. Don't stop."

"Not going to. Not even for a second." Chayce's lips twisted. "Even if I have impulse control issues."

"Yeah, I might not be responsible for my actions if you had the sudden impulse to quit." He had to laugh, because those mossy green eyes were just full of mischief, and he loved that look. Chayce was so much more relaxed today than he had been since Waylon had met him, and he felt damn good about that fact.

He intended to take credit, at least some, for the fact that Chayce was making music, making love. That Chayce was smiling down at him, hands on his chest, ready to play and kiss and touch.

Yeah, he'd done that.

"You look like the cat that got the canary." Chayce traced a lazy circle around one of his nipples.

"I feel like it. You're quite the song bird, honey. You do it for me. In a big way." He stroked a hand over Chayce's belly, sliding his shirt up.

"I bet you say that to all the stacked little singers." The words were followed with a wicked wink.

"No, sir. In fact, I've never gotten involved on a job before. Ever." Chayce was a first for him. Waylon wasn't sure it was wise, but it was sure hot, and Chayce amazed him, tempted him, made him a little nuts.

"No?" That smile went straight to his balls. "I'm not mad at that."

Then one hand circled the base of his cock, tugging him in a long, lazy pull.

"Damn!" He bucked like one of Chayce's prize bulls, his body tingling like he'd touched a live wire. So damn fine. "More."

"Uh-huh. I want to ride you, see if you last more than eight seconds." Little shit.

"I can totally do that. Glove me up." He grabbed his cock and squeezed the base while Chayce turned to grab a condom and the lube.

"You going to slick me up, babe?" Chayce eased the rubber down his shaft.

"I am." He grabbed the lube, struggling until it popped open. Oh yeah, he was suave.

Chayce didn't seem to be worried. In fact, he was dancing, humming softly to some melody Waylon didn't know. It was hot as hell and twice as tempting.

Then Chayce slid up to kneel tall, quads working to keep him upright and stable. The man was a damn stud. Waylon could watch him for hours. In theory. In reality, there was no way he was gonna last that long. Not when he slid a hand around to press a finger to that hot hole.

A long musical sigh escaped Chayce, lips parted and hungry.

"So fucking hot, honey. Look at you. I could eat you right up like the big bad wolf." He leaned up and bit one nipple, just to prove his point.

"You gonna huff and puff and blow me down?"

"Mmm. More like turn you inside out, honey. No blowing this time. Maybe next time." He pushed in another finger, stretching Chayce as gently as he could with his balls up tight like they were.

"You got what I need." Lord, that smooth as silk voice went low and rumbly, and fuck, that left a burn scar on his soul.

"Then come get it." He hoped Chayce was ready, because he was out of patience. He pulled free, laying back to let Chayce take what he needed. It didn't take but a few seconds and Chayce was rocking on his prick, hips rolling, pelvis bucking and taking him in deeper.

He grabbed those lean hips and pulled, wanting more, wanting Chayce seated all the way down. That slick heat slid down his shaft, and even through the condom, he knew this was the best, most amazing thing he would ever have. Damn, he was going to be ruined for life.

Fuck, he shuddered, shoulders leaving the mattress as he dragged Chayce down onto his prick.

"Uhn!" Chayce arched back, his body a stretch of nothing but strong muscle and gorgeous tanned skin. "Hot. Fuck, man, come on. Fuck me."

"Yes." He stopped fighting the urge to squeeze down on Chayce's hips and drive into that tight body. He just did it, and slammed up, letting Chayce feel every inch of him.

"Yeah…Yeah, I need it. You. This. More…" Chayce wasn't being real coherent, and that made him feel ten feet tall and bulletproof.

"More," Waylon agreed, rocking back and forth, up and down. Giving it all he had.

Chayce began jacking himself off, and Waylon felt every single stroke around his prick. It stole his breath and made him ache. He watched, his hips stuttering, his ass clenching.

"Damn, honey. That's fine. So fine."

"Uh-huh." Chayce grabbed his shoulder with his free hand, gaze catching his. "Help me, dammit. I need to come."

"Oh, fuck." He wrapped his hand over Chayce's, squeezing and giving more friction to that hot cock.

That worked. Chayce's lips popped open, and he arched, grinding down on his prick like a mad man. That body was bending in ways that just didn't seem possible, but it was stunning, and finally, Chayce shouted, coming hard for him.

And squeezing down on him until there was no way Waylon could control his orgasm one moment longer. He shot so hard his teeth rattled.

Dammit. All he could do was hold on and let the wave take him.

He panted, flopping back on the bed, just wrung out as hell.

"Fucking A." Chayce's moan was pure satisfaction.

"Uh-huh. I like this day-off shit, honey." He pulled free just so the condom situation didn't get gross. "Shower?"

"Yes. Then you want to play some Fortnite?"

"Hell, yes." He loved that stupid game. And he would kick Chayce's ass. He was looking forward to it.