Journey

JOURNEY

This week has been the best one I've had in a long time. I'm having fun, I'm enjoying the music and life is good! The bar is packed out each night and Under Rhaps is getting a lot of exposure. I'm happy for Freddie and the guys, it's exciting to watch a band take off. It's been some time since a band has gotten this much excitement here in Boston.

It's great and bad all at the same time.

Butch is more than happy. And he's walking around like a proud peacock since he's the one who spotted the band and brought them into the bar. It's just another group of up and comers to add to his list of "I found them first".

I smile as I hear the tinkling of the keys as Freddie sits and plays. It's become a nightly routine that I look forward to. Moving around behind the bar, I come up next to Butch to put the glasses away and hum to the music floating through the bar.

"Sounds good." Butch grunts out.

"He does."

"Not just him."

I side eye the old man. "You're lucky you're getting this much." I laugh him off but he turns toward me with a serious look.

"I don't want to be a debbie downer here but have ya guys talked anything out?" I furrow my brows. I have an idea of what he's getting at but I don't want to acknowledge it just as much as he doesn't want to ask. "I heard the drummer talking about a call they got."

"What kind of call?"

"Someone asking about their gigs and showing up to hear them play live." He gives a knowing look and yes, I understand what that means. I would never take anything away from Freddie, or anyone for that matter. And if it's something he wants and he has the opportunity, I want to support it.

I may not like it, but I won't hold him back.

The piano gets louder and so does his singing. We both turn and see the smile spread across his face. The love he has for what he does is on display and my love in seeing him that way expands in my chest.

"I kinda like the guy. Be a shame if I have to kick his ass."

I laugh. "And why would you have to do that?"

"Because I see him battling between two loves right now. And if he can't find balance, I'll find it for him."

My heart constricts because I get it. I'm in my own battle. A battle of coming out of my shell, of finding the one who will break it for me, versus keeping it to myself and not getting hurt. I acknowledge I've moved very quickly from my closed off, reserved self. That someone who never wanted to get involved again, is now wanting to spend all my free time with Freddie.

"I'm a big girl, Butch."

He grunts and walks past me. "I'm heading out for the night. Make sure the front door is locked before you leave."

"Yes, boss. I'll see you in the morning."

"Catch ya tomorrow, Butch." Freddie calls out and Butch gives a wave before heading down the back hallway. I hear the door open and shut tightly and then it's just Freddie and I. "Come over here, just . Sit with me."

My heart flutters with each step I take closer to him. I stand beside him while he plays ‘Bed of Roses' by Bon Jovi. Freddie makes me feel so comfortable in who I am and makes me feel that any move I make is wanted. He won't laugh at me, he won't correct me or say it's wrong. I place my hands on his shoulders and squeeze. He rolls his head on his neck, turning and kissing my fingers before nibbling the tips. The feeling that zips through me is electric.

I lean down, pressing my breasts against his back and kiss behind his ear. His whole body shivers and I giggle.

"." He gives a warning.

"Yes?"

He continues to play but I see him actively fighting his urges. "I'm on a short string right now. And with ya touching me, I can't be held responsible for anything that may happen at this piano."

I sit beside him, angling my body towards him and letting my hand linger on the inside of his thigh. "Ever make love on a piano, Freddie?"

His hands stutter across the keys and I let my palm drift over the bulge that's growing in his jeans. "Keep touching me, ." It's another warning but I push past his tone.

"I plan on it." I slip my hand up the back of his t-shirt and around to his side, letting my finger tips tickle his ribs. "Don't stop playing though. If you do, I'll stop touching." He huffs out a laugh and hits a wrong note or two. "Something wrong? I've never heard you miss a note before."

"I'm a little distracted."

"Oh?" I rub his thigh before lightly tracing his fingers dancing across the keys all the while still letting my left hand linger on his bare skin of his back. He transitions into ‘Amazing' by Aerosmith and I hum along with him before matching him word for word. Our sound is like no other. I don't hold back, and neither does he, allowing our words to belt out across the bar.

The feeling that comes over me is insane. It's new, like nothing I've felt before. There's a time where I would sing with my friends and it was fun. Playful. Once my ex had me on stage, singing with him felt like a show and he never sang with me, he sang at me or told me to change my sound. But singing with Freddie? It's a partnership and the love that‘s coming from it is clear.

I'm in love with Freddie Menotti and nothing has ever felt more right.

I stand from the bench and wedge myself between him and the keys, sliding onto his lap, facing the keys. I place my hands over his while we play the notes together. Leaning back, I lay my head on his shoulder lightly swirling my hips over his hard cock.

He chuckles a low laugh in my ear. "You're beggin' to be fucked on this piano aren't ya?"

His words set me on fire. "Keep singing to me, Freddie."

"Only if ya keep singin' with me." For a split second I want to fight it but then he says, "Just here, . Right here. For me and you. I want to do it together. Our voices are perfect together. I'm not asking for more than right here, right now. I won't push ya." He takes his hands from the keys, but places mine back on them. "Keep playin', don't stop." He whispers in my ear.

His hands drift up my arms, a soft touch making me moan in pleasure. He brushes down my sides, before coming around and cupping my breasts, lightly brushing his thumbs over my nipples. I squirm on his lap, feeling his own excitement. "Careful, . We're not there yet." I giggle at his words. "But we will get there. Keep playin'."

I work hard concentrating on the keys, the tune changing as I go. My hands speed up and slow down as I anticipate his next move. His fingers drift over my core and I rock into his hands. He slips his fingers into the band of my shorts, pushing them down over my hips. "Lift up for me, babe." His voice is low and sensuous in my ear and I do as he says. "Don't stop playin'." His voice is laced with sarcasm and borders on the edge of control, I'm so turned on right now I could combust. He slides my shorts and panties to my thighs and I feel him fumble with his own pants. His legs widen on the bench as he urges me to sit down. He enters me as I come down on his lap and I gasp.

"Oh, fuck." his words come out clipped on a groan. ", you should see how hot we look together. Watchin' my cock disappear inside ya? Fuckin' perfect." He growls. "And your moans? Music to my ears."

We pulse together on the bench, and I continue to play while he sings a few words here and there. I can barely concentrate and my hands fall onto the keys as he picks up speed. The music is choppy and the notes are wrong but I could care less. The game I started with him quickly changed sides and now I'm the one fighting to hold on.

His breath on my neck, his hands on my breasts and his own dirty words in my ear echo around me as I race for the finish line.

"Get me there, Fred." I pant out.

"Don't take your hands off the keys. I'll handle us."

Those are the hottest three words that have ever been spoken to me. I lay my hands flat on the keys, the sound a loud garbled note until it drifts off. Our moans of pleasure taking over the music from the keys. He twists my hips in a rhythm that is bringing us closer and closer and when he reaches down, spreading my legs wider to rub small circles on my clit, I break.

And so does he.

"Oh, , ya feel incredible." He brings us down, the echoes of the last few notes drifting through the bar. The intimacy that comes with not only sex, but sharing our love of music together, is something I never thought I would get. It's a high that I still don't quite understand but experiencing it with him makes it worth all the uncertainty of it. We'll just learn together.

"Freddie?"

"Hm?" He kisses my neck.

"What happens next?" My words are quiet but no less powerful in meaning. And he knows it.

"I don't know." He whispers back. For some reason, it makes me feel like we're on the same playing field, both of us wondering how we move forward with two loves.