Chapter Eight

CHAPTER EIGHT

CRAIG

Steam from my shower fills the bathroom, fogging the mirror. I rush through toweling off, then dig out jeans, boxers, and a T-shirt from my suitcase. The adrenaline from spending the past two hours on stage thrums through me, feeding into the electric charge of knowing Ty will be here, in my suite and in my arms, tonight.

When he called me with the news that his friends gifted him the flights to come see me, I was over the moon happy. It's something I'd considered doing myself, and if this goes the way I hope it will, I'll be more than happy to pay for future flights if he'll let me.

My phone chimes with a text alert as I slide on my boxers. I snatch it up and find two messages. The newest is from Luke, above one from Ty that came in while I showered.

Ty: I'm at the airport and waiting for a taxi. See you soon.

Luke: Hey bud, we're in the lounge on the tenth floor tonight if you and your man feel like joining us. Private party, just us and the road crew. Otherwise, we'll see you on Monday.

I love hanging out with the band, but tonight is all about Ty. They were cool about me rushing off after the last song so I could get back here and get myself ready. In a lot of ways, they remind me of my best friends. A tight knit group, its own family, friendships forged through highs and hardships.

Three rapid knocks sound at the door. My pulse racing, I tug on my shirt then jeans, zipping up as I hurry toward it. Ty's here already? I look through the peephole.

Cody, Devon, and Patrick are crowded in the hallway.

What the hell?

I flip the locks, then tug the door open. Three smiling faces greet me. "Guys? What are you doing here?"

"Surprise!" Cody flings his arms around me, full of enthusiasm, squeezing me so tight breathing is difficult. "We came to see you in action. You were awesome, such a great show."

Wearing a hoodie with the Buffalo Bedlam's logo at the center of his chest, Devon hugs me next. He's the shortest of our group, though Cody only has an inch or so on him. "Patrick got us tickets for tonight's show."

Patrick brings up the rear, clad in a leather jacket and clutching a bottle of water. "I texted Luke once we knew for sure that you were still filling in for Zander tonight and asked him, said we wanted to surprise you."

My first bandmates and oldest, closest friends pile into my room. The four of us are together in the same place again, after several months of being apart. I let the door swing shut and follow them into the suite. "Well, you did. I can't believe you're here."

Cody drops onto the bed with enough force to bounce. "It's not every day our friend gets to play with a multi-platinum band. I wanted to come out and support you earlier in the tour, but couldn't get time off work until now. Still, we made it for your last show. I'm so proud of you."

"You looked good up there," Patrick adds, sitting beside Cody. "Luke gave us your room number. I was hoping we'd get to the arena for the pre-show meet and greet, but Cody and Devon's flight was delayed. We arrived right before The Fury took the stage."

"I'm glad we got to close out the tour with you." Devon's smile is beaming, pride for me shining in his eyes. "You ready for it to be over?"

Patrick narrows his eyes at me. "You look exhausted."

"Yeah. I am. But I'll have tomorrow and Sunday to decompress. On Monday, we're recording that song at Zander's home studio." I peek at my phone, but Ty hasn't sent any new messages. "Listen, Ty's on his way."

"What, here? Now?" Devon asks.

"He texted me a little while ago from the airport. He was waiting for a taxi. He'll be here until Sunday afternoon."

Cody's eyes grow wide. He looks at Devon, then me, then hits Patrick in the stomach with the back of his hand. "We got to see you in your rock star glory and we get to meet Ty? This visit just keeps getting better."

Patrick lays his hand on Cody's thigh to stifle his movements. "You're making me seasick with all that flailing around."

Ignoring the pair, Devon rubs his hand over the back of his neck as he settles onto a chair near the window. "Sorry we're ruining your reunion with Ty. Maybe we shouldn't have shown up here without any warning."

"Sorry, Craig. The surprise part was my idea." Cody winces and regret dulls the excited shine in his eyes.

I've really missed these guys, and wish I could clone myself so I could spend as much time as possible with both them and Ty without anyone feeling left out. "It's good to see you. I'm glad you're here."

"I wish we could stay longer. Cody and I are flying home on Monday night. I have to be back at work for inventory on Tuesday." Devon stretches his arms overhead, then cracks his neck from side to side. An avid runner, he manages a shop that sells running gear and pairs runners from beginner to advanced levels with coaches and training programs.

A knock on the door sends my heartbeat skyrocketing, and we all stand. Weaving past Cody and Patrick, I head for the door. The peephole shows Ty standing in the hall, like sunshine himself, wearing a bright yellow T-shirt and jeans. "He's here."

My pulse pounding, I open the door. Ty standing before me is almost surreal. I keep thinking about when we had to say goodbye that morning at his hotel, and how I didn't want him getting on that plane. "You made it. You're really here."

His smile grows bigger and brighter. "Hi."

Aching to pull him into my arms, I don't want to begin our reunion in a hallway, so I step back and swing the door open wide. "Come in. Meet my friends."

"Friends?" His smile dims as surprise overtakes his features. Hiking his travel bag higher on his shoulder, Ty slips past me, but doesn't venture farther than a few feet beyond the entryway. The view of the rest of the room is hidden by the narrow mini-hall created by the bathroom and closet.

"Old friends. They flew in to surprise me."

"Oh." His hand tightens around the strap of his bag, and he bites his lip. His gaze darts from the hallway to his sneakers and then lands on my eyes. "Your old bandmates? I…"

He's all vibrating nerves, and I am, too. I slip my hand to the small of his back and pull him into my chest. The travel bag hits my side as he wraps his arms around my torso.

Holding him feels as good as before.

Having him here, holding him again, how tight he's clinging to me, I'm bombarded with longing, relief, satisfaction, and desire. He lifts his face to mine. After weeks of seeing him through a phone screen, I get to touch him, to feel that soft skin under my stroking fingers, and gaze into those light brown eyes. "Damn, it's good to see you."

Leaning into my hand cupping his cheek, he nods and his trembling fingers fan out on my upper back and flex, then shift higher to grasp my shoulders. "You too. It's silly to say that I missed you since we chat all the time, but I did."

"I did, too." The urge to kiss him pulses with every heartbeat. Sliding my hand into his hair, I bend my head. His tongue peeks out to wet his lips, then he smiles and pulls me the rest of the way down.

His lips are warm and soft, and I draw his scent into my lungs. That overwhelmed feeling crashes through me once more.

He's here. In my arms. And damn, he feels so good.

His hands roam my back, the strength in his arms keeping us banded together. Ty opens for me, allowing me to deepen the kiss, and with a groan, presses against me, matching me with the same eagerness and passion.

"Aw, look at them. So sweet." Cody's whisper reminds me there are three people waiting to meet Ty.

Ty's short hairs tickle my palm as my hand journeys from the back of his head to rest at the nape of his neck. With one last brush of my lips against his, I raise my head. Gaze misty, Ty smiles at me. The tight hold he has on my shoulders eases, and his fingers graze along the sides of my torso like he's reluctant to lose contact. His travel bag slips off his shoulder and hits the floor with a thud.

"Come meet the guys." Keeping my arm around him, I guide him down the short hall to the large room. Patrick and Cody are again lounging on the bed and Devon has moved from the chair to the couch. "Guys, this is Ty. Ty, that's Patrick, Cody, and Devon."

Cody is the first to stand, bouncing from his spot to embrace Ty. "So good to meet you."

"You too." If Ty's taken aback by the enthusiastic embrace, he doesn't let on. Released from Cody, he shakes hands with Patrick, then Devon. My friends reclaim their spots. Standing at the foot of Cody and Patrick's bed, Ty glances at the other empty bed, then the desk chair, then the couch, and then me.

Lacing my fingers through his, I gently pull him to the side of the free bed, and we both sit. He presses his thigh against mine as though he can't get close enough. I hope he's not intimidated or overwhelmed by the guys. The nerves over how things would be when Ty and I came face to face have now shifted into anxiousness over how everyone will get along and if they'll all like each other. My skin feeling too tight, I roll my shoulders. "I hadn't expected your paths to cross so soon. But I'm glad you all have the chance to meet."

Cody leans forward with a friendly smile. "We've heard a lot about you from Craig, Ty."

"Including how he saved me from crashing headfirst into a concrete floor?" Brown eyes shining, Ty presses his shoulder into mine. "All I saw was the costume and for a second thought I was being rescued by a real life superhero. And I was right."

Chuckling, I settle our joined hands on my thigh and press a kiss to his shoulder. "Of all the booths in all the comic book conventions in the world, I'm just glad you crashed into mine."

"Me too." His hand tightens around mine and his smile blooms. Then he drags his gaze away from me and focuses on my friends. "Craig's told me about you all too. I know Devon is your group athlete. Congrats on finishing your last marathon with such a good time, by the way." He pauses while Devon gives him a look that is both surprised and pleased. "And Cody, I hear you're a social media genius, and that you maintain the band's profiles and website."

Cody beams at me, then Ty. "I don't know about genius, but yeah, I do handle that for our band."

The tight grip Ty has on me eases as he turns to Patrick. "And Patrick, Craig told me how much he valued your help on that last song he wrote when he was up against his deadline."

A faint flush colors Patrick's cheeks. He shifts his body and shrugs, as though his assistance wasn't the eleventh-hour lifesaver we both know it to be. "What he already had gave us a great foundation to work with."

"You are way too modest, man." I raise my eyebrow, holding Patrick's gaze until he smirks and nods at me, then turn to Ty, tracing a knuckle under his chin. The purple shadows under his eyes are much lighter than they'd been on our video call. "Did you get some sleep on the flight?"

"I slept through most of it. Slater got me noise-canceling headphones and Noah gave me a neck pillow that helped a lot."

Cody snatches a pillow from the head of the bed and hugs it to his chest. "Slater's your comic book partner, right? Craig said he's a member of the Buffalo Bedlam. Devon loves hockey. He's a big Bedlam fan."

Ty twists toward Devon, his eyebrows raising in interest. "Yeah? Slater Knox is working on the series with me. I stay with him and Noah Alzado a lot. They're really good guys. I didn't watch hockey at all before I met them, but since we've become friends and I've gotten to know a few of their teammates, I guess you could say I've become a fan of the sport. Though I only watch Bedlam games."

Devon's fingers tangle in the blue drawstring hanging from his hoodie. For the first time since his arrival, I notice there's a player's number printed below the team's logo, and yep, it's Anton Celek, the team captain's number. "Have you met Anton Celek? He's my favorite player."

Ty fully relaxes against my side. He draws up one leg, tucking it underneath the other, and I catch a glimpse of the side of his sock, imprinted with tiny superhero symbols. "Celek's really nice. Laid back. Always looking out for his friends. I see him about once a month with the other guys at the team's book club meetings."

"It's cool that they post the book so the Bedlam fans can read along too. I've been a part of it since the beginning." Devon drums his fingers along the side of his thigh, his gaze darting to his phone. "Celek's pick last month was great. That mystery kept me guessing until the end."

"Whoever chooses the book hosts the meeting, so we were at his apartment for that one. His book collection is huge. It takes up an entire room. He's great about lending out the books. I'll have to tell him I met someone wearing his number."

"Is he single?" Propping another pillow behind his back, Cody keeps his attention on Ty. "Inquiring minds, and certain drummers with an affinity for running, ahem Devon, want to know."

I snort, completely unsurprised that Cody would ask. Cody, Patrick, and I have known about Devon's crush for a while. When watching a game with him, his attention always strays to Celek whether the captain is on the ice or the bench.

Caught in the crossroad of Devon's blushing stammer and Cody's unrepentant grin, Ty leans into me like he's seeking reassurance. "As far as I know, yes. He was dating someone back when I met Slater, but that ended a while ago."

Patrick swipes the pillow from Cody's lap and stuffs it behind his own back. "Stop trying to play matchmaker for Devon."

Cody makes a grab for the pillow's edge, his fingers digging into the fluffy white cloud. "Why? Devon's amazing. Anyone would be lucky to have him. Stop being a killjoy, Paddy."

"Don't call me that." The words grunt out through clenched teeth.

Cody rolls his eyes, releasing his hold of the pillow. "You love it."

"Anyone want to get a drink at the bar?" Devon asks too brightly, sending a quelling look to Cody and Patrick. If left to their own devices, the pair will bicker all night.

"I do." Patrick stands, throws the pillow at Cody, who catches it, falling onto his back.

"Me too." Punching an arm into the air, Cody sits up and smiles at Ty. " Let's go. We have so many stories about Craig."

Amusement lights Ty's face. He squeezes my hand, then presses a kiss to my cheek before standing. "That sounds like fun."

Rubbing my hands over my face, I hold back my sigh. Nothing about tonight is going as planned. Might as well roll with it. "Luke said the guys are in the lounge on the tenth floor and we're welcome to join them."

Patrick extends a hand to Cody to help pull him to his feet. As quick as they are to fight, the tension fades just as fast. "He sent a text with that invite to me, too. It's been a while since I spent any time with Luke, and longer for the other guys. Seeing them again will be cool. "

"Great, let's go." Cody hooks his arm through Ty's. "We're so excited you're here."

He leads the way to the door. I shove my feet into my sneakers, pocket my wallet and room card, then follow my friends and Ty into the hall. Ty drops back to wait for me, a smile in his eyes, and his hand finds mine like we've spent a lifetime reaching for each other.

The urge to pull him into me and run my hands over every inch of him, soaking up his words and scent is strong, but with the guys here, I can't close us off in a private bubble like I want. Stroking my thumb over a patch of skin by his knuckle, I keep him close, answering my friends' questions about the show as we take the elevator to the tenth floor.

Two of the band's security guards stand like sentries on opposite sides of the lounge's door. They allow us through. Several members of the band's crew are at the tables, couches, and chairs throughout the room. Luke and Zander sit at a nearby couch. Brendan and Landry are by the bar.

Luke sees us, and a smile lights up his face as he stands and waves us over. "Hey, look who's all here. Drinks and food are on us tonight." He pulls Patrick in for a hug. "It's been too long, man."

"Good to see you. Thanks for helping us out with the tickets." Patrick hugs Zander next, then steps back and gestures to our friends. "Luke and Zander, this is Devon. And Cody." They both shake hands with the pair. He then gestures to Ty. "And this is Ty."

Zander shakes Ty's hand first. "Good to meet you."

"You too. I'm a big fan of the band."

Luke's smile widens. His gaze flicks to mine before he turns his focus on Ty and clasps his hand. "I've heard a lot about you, Ty. Craig's been looking forward to your visit. "

His cheeks flushing, Ty presses his shoulder into mine. "I've been looking forward to it, too."

"Sit. Relax. Plenty of room for everyone." Luke points to the couch and chairs grouped around a long, low table. "Patrick, I forgot to tell you, I was cleaning out boxes from the garage before the tour and found an old recording of you and me."

Patrick drops onto the chair closest to Luke. "No way. What song?"

" Don't Stop Me Now . The best duet to come out of that nightmare experience."

Chuckling, he rubs his hand over his jaw. "I'd love to get a copy of that."

I spy Ty's questioning gaze and with a tug on his hand, pull him onto the couch with me. "Luke and Patrick were briefly in a band together years ago."

Nodding, Luke shifts over so Zander and Devon can sit beside him. "Why don't you come over tomorrow? I'll make you a copy. Hell, we can sing it right there in my studio. Jam a bit. I'd love that. We'll have a cookout too." He casts his gaze over all of us. "You're all welcome to join us."

Cody perches on the arm of Patrick's chair. "The chance to hear Paddy sing? I'm in."

Eyes warm, Luke gestures to Cody with his bottle of beer. "I hope I get to hear you sing too, man. From what I've heard in your songs, you have a hell of a range."

With a squeak, a wide-eyed Cody slips off the chair's arm and onto Patrick's lap. "You've… heard us?"

"I've followed your band from the beginning. You have a great sound. My home studio isn't as big as Zander's, but it's still decent. I'd love to jam with you."

"I want to hear the two of you sing together. You both have such powerful voices." Zander tips his glass at the guys. " And Devon, I watched the drum solo you did during your cover of Cut Down . Brendan and I were blown away. I want to see that in person, if you'll play for us."

"Holy shit." Cody clutches Patrick's hand. "Craig. Paddy. Devon. I can't believe this is happening." His low voice, filled with awe, stirs goosebumps on my skin. Playing together for an audience of rock royalty is a huge deal.

With a cough and a run of his hands through his hair, Devon attempts to school the surprise stealing over his features. "Sounds fun. It would be an honor to jam with you."

Patrick shifts Cody's weight to his other thigh. "I'm in."

I open my mouth, but hesitation holds my words back. Wanting to take part, to see what it's like with these two groups existing in the same space wars with wanting time with Ty.

Ty squeezes my hand and smiles in understanding. "I'd love to see you all play together."

Luke sits back with a satisfied smile. "Great. It's settled. Once Brendan and Landry get back, we'll loop them in."

"Are you sure?" Murmuring the question close to Ty's ear, I steal a kiss to his temple. "We don't have to go."

He presses against me. "Yeah. Definitely. I want to."

A waitress arrives for our drink orders, then Landry and Brendan join us and set off a second round of introductions. My friends fall into conversations with the band, chatting away like they've known each other for years. Devon and Brendan are side by side, their attention held by a video of a drum solo on Brendan's phone. Landry and Patrick look like twins in their leather jackets, discussing a guitarist they both idolized growing up. And Cody's animated recount of one of our earliest shows has Zander and Luke in stitches. I'm relieved, though not surprised they're getting along so well .

Keeping my hands off Ty is impossible. I wrap one arm around his waist, hugging him, and he relaxes into me, laying a hand atop mine to keep me close. We chat about our week and he shows me some of the new artwork he completed for the comic book series. The connection we share feels electric and necessary, completing me in a way I didn't realize I was missing until I saw him again. It's also huge and scary and breathtaking. I never want it to end.

In between trading teasing remarks with each other, Cody, Patrick, and Devon entertain Ty with stories about me. The Fury members add in a few more, and I swing from amused to slightly embarrassed to laughing so hard I can barely breathe. I can only hope I'll have the chance to do this with Ty someday, with his friends in Buffalo.

He tips his head onto my shoulder and his eyes twinkle with his smile. "I feel like I know you so much better now."

"I hope that's a good thing." Affection for him swells from deep in my chest. The way we are with each other feels so natural and he fits in with my friends like he's been a part of us all along.

The brush of his thumb on the side of my hand is hypnotic. "A very good thing."

"Hey, Ty. I have photos of Craig from our early gigs." Cody waves his phone. "Come see."

"I can't pass that up." With a kiss to my cheek, he slips from my arms, then joins Cody on the chair.

Cody's album of band pics is huge and will take them some time to look through. I take the opportunity to move to the bar and order another drink.

Devon joins me and puts in his order, then leans on the bar, bumping his shoulder into mine. "Ty seems like a good guy. I'm happy for you. "

My gaze lingers on my blond-haired man. "Being with him is like being given something I've been yearning for. But we live on opposite sides of the country. It's still early."

"Mmm hmm." Devon bumps my shoulder again. "I saw the way you lit up when he arrived. How you are with him. That's something special."

"It is. He is. But I don't know where anything will lead."

"Sorry again about interrupting your reunion. If we'd known, we wouldn't have shown up tonight."

"Don't worry about it. Good of you guys to come out." I pause while the bartender sets out two new bottles and clears away the empties. "It's a great surprise, Dev. I'm happy to see you."

"You performing with The Fury is a big deal." He taps his bottle against mine. "We wanted to support you."

Leaning an elbow on the bar, I turn to face the room. "I wasn't sure how I'd feel, being back up there, playing live for people night after night. If I'd want it again. I'm happy to be helping out my friends. It's fun. Exhausting too. But it's not the same as having the three of you up there beside me."

Wistfulness mists through his gaze. He takes a long pull of his beer. "I miss that too. Sometimes, I wonder what would've happened if I hadn't gone back to Buffalo."

"I do, too." I hate that Cody's dad got sick, and that Devon ever met his evil ex-boyfriend. "You did what you thought was right for you at the time."

"I let a broken heart chase me out of town. That was a stupid decision." Anger curls through his words and flashes through his features. "He wasn't worth it."

Surprise holds me still for a moment. Devon never talks about this. I hate that he has regrets. "I didn't know you felt that way."

His scrutiny shifts to members of The Fury, and then flicks to Patrick and Cody. With a sigh, he collapses onto the barstool behind him. "Yeah, well I've been thinking about a lot since I turned thirty. I mean, I'm happy enough doing what I do, with my life the way it is. I love that we still exist as a band, even if we've been limited in what we can produce and when we can play together. But I can't help wondering about how things could have been. About what could've happened if I'd stayed in LA. If we all had."

"Me too." Studying him, I down another mouthful of beer. So many nights on this tour, I've looked at The Fury and wondered if only about my friends. "You could move back."

"We're not eighteen anymore." His tone is contemplative, and that wistfulness is so heavy it swamps me. "We're thirty. We have commitments and responsibilities."

If I can shift that regret into hope, I will. "So what? If you're still hungry for something, let's make it happen. Hell, we all need a shakeup. We can figure out a way to record more often, get more songs out faster. Play some gigs."

The beginning of a smile curves his lips and light shines in his brown eyes. "Yeah? You mean it?"

"I do. I promise. We'll talk to Cody and Patrick this weekend and make plans."

"Thanks, Craig." His throat works for a moment, then Devon puts his hand on my shoulder and gently squeezes. "I'll let you get back to Ty."

I catch hold of his arm before he can move away. "Dev, we'll make something good happen with the band."

"Playing together tomorrow for The Fury is a good start." Laughing, he rubs the back of his neck. "No pressure. Just playing for one of the biggest bands in rock."

"We're playing with them, man, not just for them. You're gonna blow them away. "

He smiles at that. "Whatever happens, we're in it together."

We head back to the group. Brendan waves Devon over and Dev goes to him with a grin. Before my friends board their plane on Monday night, I'll make sure the four of us have a talk. If Devon's been upset, maybe Patrick and Cody have, too. I know I've been missing them. And this time on tour has shown me how much.

Ty stands from his perch on the chair, laughing with Cody, and turns his gaze my way. "I saw a lot of pictures. Your blond phase. The leather phase. The long hair phase. I liked them all."

Groaning, I wrap my arm around his waist. "The long hair phase wasn't my best look."

"I thought it was sexy." He leans in and kisses me and slides his hand through my hair. "Though, I love the way you look now."

The music throbbing from the speakers switches to a steady beat and I recognize the song as one I helped compose for Wild Intention, the first band Furious Records signed. To my left, Cody pulls Luke into matching his dance moves. I knew the pair would get along.

Ty tips his head, listening. "Hey, that song is on my Craig playlist."

Smiling, I set my beer on the table then slip my other arm around him. We sway, off beat, to the song. "I should start a Ty playlist. All the songs we dance to."

He brushes his hand along the back of my neck. "I remember the one we kissed to at the bar the day we met. I like the idea of a Craig and Ty, special moments playlist."

"So do I." Lowering my head, I meet his waiting lips. His taste has been imprinted on my brain, and having it again, I realize how much I've craved him .

Ty sighs and settles against me, his hand diving into my hair as the kiss goes deeper. His lips part and he whispers my name, continuing with the roll of his hips and graze of his torso against mine. My hands flex and roam his back, the ripple of his muscles as he moves reminds me of us together in the hotel room the night before he flew back to Buffalo.

I want him again. Now. Desperately. The month we've been apart has built up to a deluge of desire. Ty's close enough for me to touch. He's here, live, not stuck behind a video screen.

We've spent time with everyone and as much as I love them, I want to wrap myself around Ty and hide away from the world. No distractions, just him and me, exploring this connection. Being each other's sole focus.

I drag my mouth from his and lean back, tracing my finger along the edge of his lower lip. "Let's go back to my room."

His hand curls into my shirt, right over my heart. The banked heat in his eyes grows brighter as his gaze searches mine. "Yeah?"

"I need you."

Ty nods, smiles, and releases his hold on my shirt, only to trail his fingers down my stomach and then link our hands together. "Let's go."

I draw him toward the doors. Patrick looks up. So do Cody and Luke. I wave to them and point to the exit. The music's too loud for them to hear me, and if we go over to them, I'm afraid we'll get caught up in more conversations.

Patrick smirks and waves us off. The security guard opens the door for us, and Ty and I step through and into the quiet hallway.

He leans his head on my shoulder as we head to the elevator. " I'm glad we hung out with everyone, and I got to meet them. But I need you too."

I tap the button then slip my arm around his shoulders. "I'm sorry about springing everyone on you. I didn't know they were coming until they knocked on my door. You arrived about five minutes after them."

"It's nice that they surprised you." Ty traces his fingers along the rose tattoo on my forearm. The elevator doors open and we step inside the car.

I hit the button for my floor. "This is not the way I thought our weekend would go. I'll make it up to you."

He slides his hand along my jaw and steps closer so he's all I see. "It's fine. I got to meet the most important people in your life. That's big, and I'm happy it happened. You've met Slater and Noah, so you've met mine too."

Grasping his hips, I pull him against me. "You're amazing. Do you know that?"

"I feel that way, around you." His gaze turns shy and he ducks his face into my neck.

I stroke my hand over his back, struck by his sweetness. The car stops at my floor and the doors open.

Ty pulls away. There's a flush in his cheeks. We head down the hallway. He waits while I dig the keycard from my pocket then follows me into the room.

"Make yourself comfortable." After kicking off my sneakers, I set my wallet on my suitcase. Ty moves his bag so it's beside mine and toes off his sneakers. Those tiny superhero symbols cover his socks.

He dips his hands into his pockets and bites his lip. With his chin tipped toward his chest, he looks at me, and that muted heat in his gaze blazes brighter. "You do, you know."

"I do, what?"

"Make me comfortable." He steps closer, tracing his fingers along my arms. "People underestimate how important that is. I can be myself with you. I'm safe with you. That's a huge thing to me."

"I understand what you mean. Not having to keep a guard up is freeing." I bend my head and he lifts his to meet me halfway, and we sink into the kiss. I can relax with him too, and don't have to worry about being something that I'm not.

My hands close over his shoulders and I sweep them up his neck, then down again, and keep going lower, dragging my fingers over that soft T-shirt until I reach the hem. He helps me draw it up his torso and over his head, and when I twist to toss it onto the other bed, the warmth of his fingers sliding under my shirt, teasing along my skin encourages me to hurry.

I get rid of my shirt, throwing it in the general direction of the other bed without looking. Ty stoops to mouth kisses along my chest, and his hands work to open my jeans.

Groaning, I grab his waist, then his hips, gliding my hands over his soft skin while his mouth sends my need for him soaring.

Desire pulses in my blood as my jeans loosen and he drags them down my legs. The sight of him on his knees before me is straight out of my fantasies. "Ty…"

Sitting on his heels, he gazes up at me and slides his hands up my calves and thighs. He licks his lips. "Can I taste you?"

"Oh, fuck." I fist my throbbing cock through my boxers. "Anything you want."

He kneels up and his fingertips hook into my waistband. Instead of lowering it, he leans in and rubs his cheek over me. Pre-cum spurts out, turning a patch of the cotton a darker shade of red. "I've thought about this. A lot."

I release my hold of myself in favor of sliding my fingers through his hair. "I have too. You on your knees for me. You in so many ways. Just you."

Ty eases the boxers down, freeing my cock. He fists me with one hand while the other pushes the boxers to the pool of denim at my ankles. Those big brown eyes look up and meet mine, and he takes me into his mouth.

Wet heat. Soft tongue. Gentle suction. Individual sensations swamp me. On a moan, I adjust my stance and cup the back of his head. His other hand cradles my balls, while the hand on my cock works in tandem with his mouth, stroking me too close to the edge.

"Too close. Ty." Threading my fingers into his hair again, I ease him off me. "I'm not going to be able to last. Too excited you're here. I'll probably calm down after an orgasm, or five."

His smile is quick. "Good thing we have all night, then."

"Come here and kiss me." I extend my hand and he grabs hold, and I pull him to standing. Then I kick free of my pants and boxers, and ditch my socks.

Ty slides his hands up my chest and links them around my neck. His mouth lands on mine and his tongue traces the seam of my lips. I open for him, tangling our tongues together, and taking the kiss deeper.

I can't stop touching him, stroking his skin, addicted to the feel of his body pressed against mine. "One of us is wearing too many clothes."

His lips curve into a smile against mine. "Let me guess, it's me. Help me out with that?"

Dragging my knuckles down his chest and stomach, I wait for the catch in his breath and the way he sucks in and tightens his abs when I get close to his waistband. "Don't worry. I'll take care of you. "

"I know you will." That trust in his eyes is damn addicting too.

I slide the button free of its hole, and the sound of his zipper lowering is music to my ears. His hands meet mine as we push the jeans down. I stoop to continue lowering them, and the superhero symbol covering the front of his boxers makes me pause. They're sexy and very Ty, and the star over his cock is like an X on a treasure map. "I like them."

"I'll get you a pair." He pushes into my hand as I stroke my fingers over the symbol. "They're, uh, comfortable. I… can't concentrate with you touching me like this."

I lift my hand. "Should I stop?"

He presses me against him. "No."

Smiling, I squeeze his cock. "You look good in them. But even better out of them."

Passion mists his eyes. "Then let's get me there."

His jeans are too tight to simply fall the rest of the way. I crouch and help him step out of them and take off his socks. Before I can reach for his boxers, he pushes them down. I grab the waistband and tug them free of his legs.

Stroking his cock, he backs up to the bed. "I have lube in my bag."

"I have it under my pillow."

He smirks. "Bet housekeeping got a kick out of that."

Laughing, I push him onto the mattress. "I put it there when I came in from the concert tonight."

"Oh." He glides his hand up my chest, hooks it behind my neck, then gently pulls me toward him. "For me? I mean, us?"

"Of course." I slide my hand under the pillow and snag the bottle. He takes it from me and presses the cap so it pops open. "What do you want tonight?"

"I want your hands on me. And I want you to kiss me. And I want you inside me again." He drags his lower lip between his teeth. "But it's not just about me. What do you want?"

"You. Just you." I settle my weight on top of him. "Whether you're under me or over me. Whether it's my cock, fingers, or tongue inside you. Whether we do everything or nothing. I just want you." Then my cock rubs against his, and we both moan. "But I've been dreaming about being inside you since it happened. Felt like you were made for me."

Ty's fingers tremble on my shoulder. He gazes at me, and something Devon said a while ago about heart eyes pops into my head. I'm not sure if Ty has them. But I'm positive I do.

He leans in and kisses me. A slow press of lips, slip of tongue, and sigh that I feel deep in my soul. "Craig, I want everything with you."

"Then it's good we have all night. It just might take that long." I lean back on one arm and hold up my other hand for the lube.

Ty pours some into my palm, then his, and I set the bottle on the bedside table. His hand is on my cock before I can turn back to him. Groaning, I wrap my hand around his length and give him a slow slide inside my tight fist.

He arches into me and the hand he has on my thigh flexes over and over. "So good."

We drive each other higher and higher until the need to be inside him coils tighter and tighter and I'm about to break. I add more lube to my fingers and kiss him while I prep him, swallowing his gasps and moans and the whispered words of how he's ready to take me.

He puts the condom on me, gazing at me with expressive eyes, lips swollen from our kisses, and unsteady breaths.

I can't look away from his eyes as I slowly sink inside his tight heat. "You feel even better than I remembered. And what I remember was fucking incredible." My voice is raspy and low, all my concentration on not blowing my load as soon as I'm fully inside him.

His hands grasp my shoulder and thigh, like he wants to pull me onto him. His blunt nails dig into my skin. "Craig… The best…"

"Yeah, it is." I curl my hands under his shoulders and roll my hips, thrusting in and out, as my heart stutters and I know I'm on the edge of something big with Ty. Something life changing. Something that's been building since the moment we met and has no signs of stopping or slowing down.

Ty strokes himself, and on each thrust forward, his cockhead brushes my stomach. I speed up my thrusts, kiss him deeper, and with a long and broken moan, his release paints our skin.

His ass tightens around me, gripping me like a vise, and I'm gone, spurting inside him, grinding my hips against his ass to get as deep as I can. Pleasure is both sharp and soft rolling through me.

Panting, I drop onto him. His hands brush over my back and I listen to his heartbeat and breathing return to normal.

He kisses my temple and the top of my head. I need to get up so I don't crush him. I push onto my forearms and as soon as my mouth is near his, he kisses me.

My cock slips out of him. Grasping the condom, I shift onto my knees. "Be right back."

I deal with the condom, then clean up in the bathroom. Ty comes in and pulls me into the shower. We kiss again under the hot spray, soaping each other up, then dry each other off and slip back in bed.

We lay together, Ty in my arms. I gaze at him, wondering how I got so lucky. He's everything, talented, smart, funny, sexy, and sweet .

Holding him feels so good. So right. Like I'm right where I belong.

I wake to the scent of coffee and the feel of Ty next to me. Sunlight filters through the sheer white curtains, casting pale light over the room. Stroking my hand along his chest, I mouth a path of kisses from his shoulder to his neck, then cheek, then lips. What a great way to start the day. "Morning."

"Morning." Ty opens for me, taking the kiss a bit deeper, warm and soft and tasting of coffee and mint. "Want some coffee?"

"Please."

He sits up and shifts back to claim his mug from the bedside table then waits for me to adjust the pillows behind my back. The coffee is hot, sweet, and light. I down a few more sips, chasing away the cobwebs of sleep. "Have you been awake for long?"

"Long enough to make the coffee and check messages." The sheet pools at his waist. He holds up his phone, open to a string of texts. "Cody sent a lot of pictures. Looks like they had a great time hanging out with the band. He sent them to you too. Group text with all of us. Your friends, The Fury, you, and me."

"Yeah?" I grab my phone from the table on my side of the bed and open the message thread. "Want your coffee back?"

"Keep it. I'll make more." The mattress dips then rises as Ty rolls to his feet. He pads to the coffeemaker. His body is a work of art, all that soft skin and the angles and planes. I follow the lines of his body and the way the light plays over his form .

Want and need and an appreciation for all that he is floods through me. "If I could draw, I'd sketch you like that."

He twists towards me. "Fixing coffee naked?"

"I don't mean the coffee part. Just you, standing there, like you're an artist's muse, ready to be captured in a sculpture, painting, drawing, or photograph."

The coffee gurgles and hisses and the scent of freshly brewed beans fills the air. Ty smiles. "I'd pose for you. I want to sketch you too. You have no idea how good you look right now. Rumpled from sleep, all those muscles, that gorgeous face, with the blankets pooled around you. It's like an invitation to dive in and join you."

I angle my head to the spot he vacated. "You have an open invitation to join me in bed anytime you want."

The mug finishes filling with coffee. He snags one of the containers of creamer. "Did you see the texts yet?"

"No. I'll look now. Come back to bed. You're too far away." And I want to hold him.

A dozen messages from Cody show a photo timeline of last night's activities. One of him and Luke singing and dancing in the center of the lounge. Another of Landry and Patrick, labeled twins , due to their jackets and mirroring poses leaning against the bar. One of Devon and Luke on the couch, huddled close in conversation. Selfies of Cody with Zander and Brendan, then more of him with Devon and Patrick. A yearning ache to be there, sharing the experience with my friends, hits me in the chest.

Ty returns with a steaming mug. Biting his lip, he climbs onto the bed. "I'm sorry you missed out on spending time with them." Voice soft, he inches his hand onto my thigh, as though he's unsure of his welcome. "We should've stayed with everyone."

"No." No way will I let him walk on eggshells, worried that I'll resent him for this. I rush to set the coffee mug and phone on the table then turn toward him and frame my hand along the side of his face. "I'm not sorry about stealing you away so we could be together. I wouldn't trade my time with you for anything."

The lines of uncertainty smooth and he curls into my side. "I wouldn't trade my time with you either. But?—"

"But nothing." His hair is soft. I love sliding my fingers through it as I cup the back of his head. "You're here. Here . With me. When I didn't think I'd get to see you for weeks. Do you know how happy that makes me?"

His brows lift and hope fills his eyes. "Very?"

Nodding, I lean in and brush my lips across his. "Ecstatic."

Light returns to his gaze and his smile warms his features like a sunbeam. He sets his coffee aside, then wraps his arms around me. "Me too."

Holding him close, I settle against the pillows. "What's our plan for today? We have to check out of the room by eleven, but we don't have to be at Luke's until four. There's a cafe nearby. We can get breakfast there. Then drop our stuff at my place. After that, we'll figure out what's next." I want to experience everything with him, but would also be content lazing about and doing nothing together. The together part is all that matters.

"Can we go to that coffee shop again? And maybe you could give me another piano lesson?" His gaze dips to my mouth, then those light brown eyes burn with an intensity that takes my breath away. "I don't care what we do, Craig. I just want to be with you."

This man is going to wreck me.

Music twists and pulses through Luke's home studio. I play the chords, with Brendan on drums, Patrick on bass, Cody and Luke singing into a mic together, then Zander joins in, harmonizing with them. They sound good, really good. And Cody has the theatrics that make him a great frontman. Just like Luke.

We've been at it for close to two hours. All of us who can play multiple instruments have taken a turn on just about everything. We've played in duos, trios, quads, and singles in the case of Devon's drum solo, and in combinations of our own band members, and mixing them up too. Even Ty played the drums under Brendan and Devon's tutelage.

Ty meets my gaze and my skin prickles with awareness, whether he's watching me or he's laughing and talking with my friends, there's a connection threading us together. The way he felt under me last night, and how he and I touched as much as we could throughout the hours we claimed for ourselves this morning and afternoon has strengthened it so much, I wouldn't be surprised to see a current of energy connecting us to each other. He lights me up, like he's flicked a switch and everything is brighter and better. I wish he didn't have to go home tomorrow.

The song draws to a close. Ty and Landry applaud us, then Cody turns to Luke and gives him a winning smile. "I thought you and Paddy were going to sing for us."

With his arm around Cody, Luke swings them to face Patrick. "You up for it, Patrick? We did say we'd do it."

He rolls his eyes, but he's smiling. "Fine." With quick movements, he slips his bass off and places it in his guitar case.

"Yes!" Cody punches the air. "You guys need anything, like groupies holding up their phones with the flashlights on and swaying to the music? I can do that for you. "

Barking a laugh, Zander rolls his shoulder and flexes the arm he'd broken. Today, he was finally able to play without pain. He waves Cody to his side. "I like this one. He's fun."

"Fun. Right." Patrick's tone is as dry as dust. He drags a stool forward and accepts the acoustic guitar Luke hands him.

He strums it as Luke settles onto a stool too, then plays the opening chords. I remember this song, and this period of time in a tumultuous few years of disastrous bands filled with drama that Patrick endured.

Luke starts off singing. There isn't much he can't do vocals-wise, and this song is right in the middle of his range. Then Patrick takes the next verse. His voice has a bite to it, a snarl that grabs the listener by the throat. It's a sucker punch, and it's awesome.

I look at Devon, Ty, Zander, Landry, Brendan, and Cody. They're all riveted. When the song ends, silence reigns for a good ten seconds before everyone bursts out with how much they loved it.

Luke claps Patrick on the shoulder. "This guy owns the rights, so we could do something with it."

The right side of Patrick's mouth lifts in a partial smile. "You want to record it? It's a good song, but I only want to do it with you."

"We'll talk." Luke gets off the stool and drags it to the side of the room. "I'd love for you and your bandmates to do a song for us."

Brendan welcomes Devon to his drum kit, handing over the sticks with a flourish. Patrick straps on his bass again. Luke waves Cody over to his mic. My friends get situated, chatting and joking with the band. And I stay where I am, guitar at the ready, saturated in the surreal feeling of being in this space with my friends.

Ty stands beside Zander, but his smile is all for me .

One hand on the mic stand, Cody turns to me. "What song should we do?"

"Better Days Ahead?" The song, the last one we recorded back in December, is the first that comes to mind. I play the opening chord.

Patrick joins in, then Devon, and it's like no time has passed at all. Cody's voice caresses the lyrics, and I can't stop the smile from overtaking my face. This is perfect.

To my left, Brendan and Landry stand with Ty, Zander, and Luke. Having The Fury watch us play gives me a rush, a twisting mix of nerves and pride. My best friends are here with me and no matter what happens or what anyone thinks of our sound, nothing can take away sharing this experience.

Beside me, Cody sways as he sings and gives me a thumb's up when I add my voice to the chorus. Devon, at home behind the drum kit, nods his head along with the beat he taps out. Keeping in sync with Devon, Patrick wanders closer to him, and the two grin at each other.

The song flows seamlessly, as if we just performed it yesterday instead of months ago. Between Cody's confident command of the words, and Devon, Patrick, and I nailing the notes and rhythm, no one misses a beat.

We come to the song's end, with Cody's voice hanging in the air for the final note, unadorned with instruments. He dips his head in a dramatic pose, holding the mic stand like he would a lover. Then he pops back up, and grins.

The Fury and Ty break into applause, and Landry whistles. Ty beams at us. "That. Was. Awesome."

"Great sound, Cody." Brendan salutes him with a mini-pack of gummy bears, his trademark treat. "Nice job on bass, Patrick. Devon, you killed it, too. Let's hear it for the rhythm section. "

"Thanks, Bren." Patrick reaches over the drum kit to high-five Devon.

"You're as good as always, man." Brendan tosses me one of his mini-packs. I set it beside my guitar case.

When I turn back, he is on the opposite side of the room, joining his bandmates in a huddle. My throat thickening, I glance from Patrick to Cody to Devon. "This really was something."

Cody sets the mic on the stand. "It was everything. Damn, I've missed us."

Devon catches my gaze. Taking a deep breath, he brushes his hand through his hair. "I have, too. Craig and I were talking last night. I'd like us, as a band, to do more, if we can."

Patrick's eyes narrow in concern and he wanders close to the drum kit again before throwing a questioning look my way. "Sure, Dev, whatever you need."

Off to the side, Luke, Zander, Brendan, and Landry are still huddled together in a whispered conversation, one that's causing Ty's eyes to grow wide. His gaze flicks to mine and he mouths, Wow .

The quad separates then joins us. Luke claims the space close to the mic, his natural place. "Honestly, you blew us away."

Pride puffs me up. The guys and I exchange grins. "Thanks, bud."

Zander stands shoulder to shoulder with him. "So much that we'd like to sign your band to our label."

Surprise keeps me frozen in place. I'm sure my expression mirrors the shock on my friends' faces. Cody gasps. "You want to sign us?"

Luke and Brendan nod, while Zander and Landry both open their mouths and start talking at the same time. They stop, laugh, and Zander gestures for Landry to go ahead.

"We enjoyed the hell out of spending time with you guys last night, watching you all interact then and today. Listening to you play together, we know you have something special," Landry says.

"Devon and I talked last night about music and performing and what went down when he and Cody left LA." With a gentle squeeze to Cody's shoulder, Luke sends him then Devon a sympathetic smile. "It was a good talk."

Devon glances at me. Guilt stamps his features and his shoulders curl him inward. "I wasn't trying to go over anyone. Luke's a good listener."

I wave away his worry as I set my guitar in its case. "I'm not angry. We were going to talk to Cody and Patrick this weekend anyway."

"You were? About what?" Hugging himself, Cody inches toward Patrick, and Patrick shifts his bass aside and wraps a protective arm around Cody's shoulders.

"About what I said a minute ago, how I want us to do more. I need it." Color staining his cheeks, Devon stammers and steps out from behind the drum kit. "I'd love for the four of us to have a real shot at making something. But I was afraid it was too late, that we blew our chance."

Luke flicks a guitar pick between his fingers in a move that I've seen him do often enough to know half the time he doesn't realize he's doing it. "I don't believe in too late, or only having one chance. Do you know how many chances we've had?" He gestures to his bandmates. "Hell, these guys alone have given me several. If you have supportive people by your side, you can do anything."

Zander's hand comes down on Luke's shoulder. Their friendship has made headlines. Through thick and thin, they've been there for each other. "With us behind you, you'd have all the support and resources you'd need."

Hope twists through my chest. "You're really serious about this?"

"We never joke about business." Luke tosses the guitar pick to me. "We like your sound and your vibe. I think you'd be a good fit with our label. These guys agree." He jerks his thumb toward his bandmates. "Craig and Patrick, you've always been there for us. We'd do anything we could to help you guys. My talk with Devon last night got me thinking, and watching you play together today cemented the idea. I've already thought of a few bands you could open for. Get you touring. Get you in the studio. Get Falling Midnight's music to the masses."

Energy tingles under my skin. After Cody and Devon moved away from LA, I thought we'd never have a chance to share a stage again. Having the opportunity now is unreal. I move closer to my friends. "Doing this with you guys would be a dream come true for me. I want this."

Devon clutches my arm, the wistfulness in his features pulling at my heart. "So do I."

Cody pumps his arm in the air. "Hell, yeah. Let's do it."

Features etched in indecision, Patrick white-knuckles the guitar's strap, gripping it like a shield, his gaze lingering on Cody before landing on the framed photo of The Fury on stage in front of a massive arena filled with fans. "I… don't know."

"Come on, Paddy." Cody's expressive eyes are wide and pleading. Gripping his hands together over his heart, he leans into Patrick. "I always wondered what would've happened if my dad hadn't gotten sick, and I could've stayed in LA with you guys. Doing this would mean a lot to me. Please."

Looking at Cody, Patrick seems to search for something. I hold my breath as their silent conversation continues for the longest minute of my life. Finally, Patrick's hesitation gives way to a nod. "Okay. I'm in."

"Thank you!" Cody throws his arms around Patrick and plants a loud peck on his cheek. Then he spins away and hugs Luke, Zander, then Brendan and Landry. "Thank you so much for the opportunity."

Chuckling, Luke claps him on the back. "No problem. Together, we'll take Falling Midnight to the next level."

Zander extends his hand toward mine, enveloping me in a warm shake. "Welcome to the Furious Records family. We'll have a contract sent over. Take your time and have your people look over it, and then we can all sit down together."

"This is incredible. Thank you." I follow up the handshake with a hug. "This means a lot to me."

"Well, you mean a lot to us." He steps back and gets enveloped in a hug from Devon. Our friend may be small, but he's all wiry strength and manages to knock Zander back a step.

I know how careful they are with their label. Furious Records is everything to these men. There's no way they'd offer us a contract if they didn't believe we could give them something special. I shake hands with Luke. "We won't let you down."

"I know you won't." He claps me on the shoulder. "Satyr's Kiss has an East Coast tour coming up in the fall. You could open for them, go on after the local band, do a five song set."

Energy tingles through me. "That would be amazing."

"Good. I'm so freaking happy you're one of us now." Luke hugs me again. Then he pulls Patrick in for a longer one. They're laughing and murmuring, and I feel like a weight's been lifted off my shoulders. The four of us will need to have a serious talk about what happens with Cody and Devon's jobs if we're touring and then for recording too. Patrick and I have the most flexibility there.

Devon turns away from Zander, and bangs into Luke. They hug, and then Devon comes to me, rubbing his hand over the back of his neck, surprise still tinging his features. "I can't believe this is happening."

"It's surreal." I wrap my arm around his neck and tug him closer, using him as an anchor because I feel so fucking high, there has to be at least three feet of air between my feet and the floor. "It's good. Really good. Dev, I'm not stopping until we're at the top of the charts."

His smile is the one I remember he wore the day we all decided to move to LA together. He mirrors my move and the weight of his arm lands on my shoulders, grounding me. "I'm not blowing this shot. Nothing's gonna get in my way this time. I know we need to figure out the details, but I'll do whatever it takes."

Brendan slings his arm over Devon's shoulders, and I drop my arm. "Come on, bud. We have so much to talk about." They wander away, with Brendan giving him a rundown of the other bands under the Furious Records label.

Ty weaves past them, heading for me. His vibrant pink Supervillains are Heroes Too shirt almost glows under the lights. He throws his arms around me, enveloping me in his exuberance. "Congratulations! This is so cool. And you said you weren't a rockstar."

Cody bounds over and wraps his arms around us. The energy pouring off him is intense. "Falling Midnight is back, baby! Maybe Ty can tweak our band's logo?"

"We could use an update." As exciting as the prospect of working with my best friends is, I want to share this moment with Ty and Ty alone. But with Cody wrapped around us like a python, I can't move. So, the best I can do is kiss the tip of Ty's nose.

Ty squeezes me tighter. His gorgeous lips spread wide and his eyes sparkle with as much enthusiasm as when he talks about new story ideas for his comic. "I'd be happy to create something for you."

"Come on, everyone," Luke calls. "Time for food. Let's head up to the deck."

"I'm starving." After giving us one more squeeze, Cody spins away and makes a beeline for Luke.

Devon and Brendan are deep in discussion by the drum kit, and Cody has claimed both Zander and Luke's attention as the trio walk toward the stairs. I catch Patrick watching them go, his expression unreadable, before Landry claps him on the back and says something that makes him laugh.

Ty drops his arms from around my neck, but catches my hand and laces our fingers together. "You looked so happy playing with your band."

I run the pad of my thumb over his knuckle. "Playing with the guys feels better, more right, than anything else I've been a part of. There's something about them. It's… the way things are supposed to be."

"Luke and the guys were right. There's something special when the four of you play together. The energy, the connectedness…" He shakes his head. "I can't explain it, but it's extraordinary."

We watch the others troop up the stairs. I release Ty's hand to tuck the pack of gummy bears into his bag, in front of his sketchbook. "When Cody moved back to Buffalo, we tried finding a replacement for him, but no one was right. Probably, because no one was him. When Devon left, we didn't even try because we knew no one could measure up, so we put the band on hiatus. Once things settled down for Cody's dad, I began sending the guys snippets of lyrics that came to me. We all worked on the music. The occasional recordings kept us connected, but I didn't think much more could happen. Now, we have a chance for so much more. And being backed by people I trust is huge."

Ty holds out his hand for me to take, then laces our fingers together again, like it's the most natural thing in the world. "Cody's so excited. Devon too. Patrick's harder for me to read."

"Patrick's… Well, he's Patrick. If he didn't want to do it, he'd say so." I lead him up the stairs. The sliding glass doors to the deck are open and a salty sea breeze blows over us. The others are in the kitchen, so we have the stretch of wooden beams dotted with potted palm trees overlooking the ocean to ourselves. "He and Cody fight over stupid things enough now as it is. I can't imagine how it'll be if we're all sharing a tour bus on the road."

"Maybe things will be different this time. You're all older." Ty slips his arm through mine, as if he can read my mind and knows I want him closer.

I bump my shoulder into his, and grin. "You saw them in the hotel room. I doubt it."

Ty's gaze shifts to my friends in question. "There's an energy between those two. I'm surprised the air itself doesn't ignite."

"That's always been there." I follow his gaze to where Patrick's eyes keep flicking to Cody every time Cody laughs. "It comes out a lot more when they're around each other in person, than say, a video call. Over the last several years, the four of us have only been together for a handful of days at a time, so I don't know what will happen when we are around each other a lot more, or if it'll be the same as it was when we lived together ten years ago. I guess we'll find out. "

He rests his chin on my shoulder, his grin intoxicating. "It's exciting though, isn't it? Another chance at your dream?"

"It really is."

"I can't believe I got to see The Fury offer you guys a contract. I'm so happy for you." He unwraps himself from me, and I miss the feel of his body molded to mine. But when he holds out his hand and says, "Hi. I'm Falling Midnight's biggest fan," my laughter barks out.

He's too sweet. "I'll take you up on your super fan status."

"Hats, shirts, whatever merch you have, I'll wear it proudly."

"It takes a super fan to know a super fan. Get me something with your hockey player superhero on it. No wait, give me the supervillain."

Ty's eyes widen. "You'd really wear my villain?"

"Of course. Like your shirt says," I trace my finger over the script on his chest, "Supervillains are heroes too."

He links his arms around my neck, his tawny eyes shining, and the softest of smiles on his lips. "I really want to kiss you."

I glide my hands along his ribcage, up and down, back and forth, to get a feel for him, and bend my head to meet his waiting lips. They're soft and open on his quiet pant. Angling my head, I take the kiss deeper, delving into his warm, wet heat. He kisses like a dream, giving me all of himself, and I do the same.

Leaning into me, he looks out at the ocean. "I could get used to this view. It's soothing."

"You're welcome to visit me anytime. I don't have an ocean view, but it's not too far to find one." I tip his face to mine, wanting to give him everything. "What do you say about spending tomorrow at the beach? We have a lot of time before you have to be at the airport. "

He buries his face in my chest. "I don't want to think about leaving."

"Neither do I." Wrapping my arms around him, I hold him close, breathing in his scent. Parting tomorrow isn't going to be any easier than saying goodbye to him last time. If anything, it'll be harder.

His book launch party is in three weeks. I'm already counting down the days until we can see each other again.