Epilogue
Silas
Three Months Later
It’d been a whirlwind since Cash had made the decision to move to LA, but life with him was even better than I’d imagined. That didn’t mean we hadn’t experienced a couple of hiccups along the way. The main one was my parents, who called me a few days after Cash and I returned home. I shouldn’t have been surprised that Britt had told them about he and I being in a relationship, but for some reason, it hadn’t even crossed my mind that she’d spill the beans.
At first, they were confused and a little upset, mainly because they had found out from my sister instead of me, but after a long conversation, I think they realized how happy I was, and that’s all that really mattered to them. It also helped that they already liked Cash.
Cash and I also had to navigate Jesse and Olivia’s wedding. Things were so new between us, and we didn’t want to do anything to steal the spotlight from the happy couple, so we told everyone that while I was doing a good job maintaining my sobriety, I’d asked Cash to work with me again, and he happened to like LA so much that he decided to stay.
Everything seemed to be falling into place. Cash had started working for a new agency that had agreed to let him have longer breaks between clients. He still wanted to help people in recovery, but he also wanted to make sure he was dedicating time and attention to our relationship. A healthy work-life balance was something we believed was important for both of us.
Things were happening with my career too. Stellar Records had been so impressed with the success of our album and the tour that, just today, they put together a proposal for us to release another album late next summer and do another tour shortly afterward.
“How are you feeling about tonight?” Cash wrapped his arms around me from behind. I had just finished setting out the Italian food I’d ordered from a nearby restaurant.
The band would be joining us for dinner at our apartment to discuss the label’s offer. Cash and I planned on taking the opportunity to tell them about our relationship.
I glanced at him over my shoulder. “Fine, actually. The guys aren’t going to have a problem with us at all. And it will be nice having people we don’t have to hide around.”
We weren’t ashamed about our relationship, but neither of us were in a hurry for the public scrutiny that would likely follow us coming out. I was still focused on my ongoing recovery, and we didn’t want to deal with any backlash for Cash professionally.
Before I could check to make sure he was also okay, the doorbell rang. Jesse, Olivia, Malachi, and Jasper arrived together, and Elliott and Savannah weren’t far behind. Everyone hugged, and multiple conversations broke out about Jesse and Olivia’s honeymoon and Malachi and Jasper’s trip to Norway.
“We can keep talking over dinner,” I suggested. “But the food is going to get cold if we don’t eat now.”
After everyone filled their plates, we settled in around the dining table. It seemed like the perfect time to share our news, but Malachi took that moment to clear his throat and get everyone’ s attention.
“We have an announcement,” he said, grinning at Jasper. “While we were in Norway, we got engaged.”
Jasper held up his hand, showing off his new ring, and everyone cheered, offering their congratulations.
Cash leaned toward me and whispered, “Looks like we got upstaged.”
I laughed and waited for the excitement to die down a little, and then I made my own announcement. “Since it seems we’re sharing stuff. We have some news too.”
Everyone looked in our direction, a couple of eyebrows raised.
“Cash and I are together.” I smiled.
Olivia’s jaw fell open. “Together. Like dating together?”
Cash nodded and pressed a kiss to my cheek. “Yep.”
Elliott barked out a laugh. “I thought something was up when you brought him to the wedding.”
I rolled my eyes. “No, you didn’t.”
“Uh-huh.” He looked at Savannah. “Didn’t I, babe?”
She giggled. “You did, but you were also drunk, so I didn’t think much of it.” She turned to us. “Congratulations.”
Malachi lifted his soda. “I think I speak for all of us when I say it’s good to see you happy, man. And Cash, even though we have all long considered you one of us, take this as your official welcome to the Surrender family.”
Everyone clinked their glasses, and the happiness in the room was almost palpable. Malachi was right; we were a family, and I was grateful for all the awesome stuff we were experiencing together.
Once we finished eating, we got down to business and discussed the label’s request for a new album and tour. We’d have more than six months before we would need to start recording, so without any hesitation, we all agreed we were on board.
Later that night, after everyone left, Cash and I worked together to clean the kitchen.
“Are you excited about the new album?” he asked, leaning against the counter as I started the dishwasher .
I nodded. “I am. I’ve actually been working on something that I want to talk to the guys about, but I’d like you to hear it first.”
His brows lifted. “Hear it? Does that mean you’re going to sing for me finally?”
A smile spread across my face. “It does, but remember, it’s been a long time since I’ve done this. You can’t say anything if I sound like shit.”
He chuckled. “I’m sure you won’t sound like shit.”
I was glad he was confident because my nerves were suddenly getting the best of me. I dried my hands on the kitchen towel, then hurried to the bedroom to grab my guitar. Sitting down on the couch, I took a second to tune it before strumming the first chords.
Closing my eyes, I let the music take over and began singing.
“Running fast down the road of fame
Chasing a high I could never keep
Thinking I could make everyone believe my lies
But you saw through it all when you looked into my eyes
I needed someone to keep the demons at bay
Someone to keep me from drifting away
Drowning fast, but no one saw
Too far gone, thought I’d lost it all
Showing me things I only dreamed of
Teaching me trust when I’d given up”
When I was finished, I opened my eyes and found Cash staring at me, his gaze full of emotion.
“Wow,” he breathed. “I love it.”
“That’s good because it’s about you. It’s not done yet?—”
He cut off my words by pressing his lips to mine. Suddenly, I was no longer holding the guitar, and our clothes were being stripped off in a frenzy.
“I need you to fuck me right now,” I pleaded.
“I love it when you’re needy for my dick.” He opened the end table drawer. We no longer used condoms since we were only with each other and had been tested, but we had lube stashed all over the apartment, so we didn’t have to go searching for it when the mood struck. And it struck a lot.
I flipped around and rested my forearms on the back of the couch. Behind me, I heard Cash pop open the cap, and then I felt a stream of cool liquid run down the crack of my ass.
Gasping at the sensation, I arched my back, exposing my hole to him. His fingers followed the trail of lube, tracing my rim before shoving two digits inside. I pressed back against his hand, desperate for more.
“Patience.” He nipped my shoulder. “I want to make sure you’re ready for me.”
“I’m always ready for you.”
He leaned over me, his chest against my back, and whispered in my ear. “God, you turn me on.”
I looked back and captured his lips with mine. Our tongues twisted together, and I moaned into his mouth when he added a third finger, curling them inside me until he found the spot that had me seeing stars.
“Please,” I begged. “I can’t wait anymore.”
When he removed his fingers, I whimpered at the loss, but his digits were soon replaced by the head of his cock pressing at my hole and my whine turned into a satisfied moan.
He entered me slowly, and I gripped the couch as he filled me inch by inch. When he had finally given me all he had, he paused for a moment, allowing me to adjust. I rocked back against him, urging him to move. Taking the hint, he pulled out almost entirely before thrusting back in.
“Fuck,” I groaned.
His fingers dug into my hips as his pace quickened. His thrusts caused the couch to scoot across the floor with each push. “You’re so fucking tight. I don’t know how long I’ll last.”
“Don’t hold back. I want to feel you come inside me.”
His grip tightened as he drove deeper, and his rhythm became frantic .
“I’m coming!” he shouted, and I felt his cock twitch inside me.
Before I knew it, he pulled out and spun me around, dropping to his knees in front of me. Without hesitation, he took my throbbing dick into his mouth.
I threw my head back and tangled my fingers in his hair as pleasure coursed through my entire body.
“Holy shit,” I panted. “I’m gonna—” I couldn’t finish my sentence before I spilled my seed down his throat.
After he’d swallowed the last of my cum, he rose to his feet and wrapped an arm around my waist.
He cupped the side of my face and looked into my eyes. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” I replied, then kissed him so thoroughly he’d never have any reason to doubt that was true.
One Year Later
We were back in Boston, where everything had started, and I was still buzzing from the show we’d just put on. It was the first stop of our new tour, kicking off another two months on the road. And while some things had stayed the same, some notable changes had occurred as well.
Jesse and Olivia were expecting their first child. Even though she was nearly five months pregnant, she was determined to join us on tour, even if it meant being uncomfortable on a bus. Malachi and Jasper had just returned from their honeymoon and couldn’t keep their hands off each other. And most recently, Savannah was sporting a massive diamond on her finger after Elliott had proposed during our Fourth of July party.
As for Cash, he was also hitting the road with us, but this time, his only role was that of a supportive boyfriend. Up until now, we’d kept our relationship private, just focusing on us, but now we were ready for the world to know.
I wiped my face with a towel as I walked toward Cash, who was waiting for me in the green room. “Come walk with me,” I suggested.
We snuck out the staff-only exit and made our way to the bus.
“Is everything okay? The after-party starts in ten minutes, and I don’t want Rina kicking your ass on the first night,” he teased.
I snorted. “It’s good to keep her on her toes.”
He wrapped his arms around my neck. “You guys sounded great tonight.”
We had a whole new set list, and the best part was that “Drifting Away” — the song I’d written for Cash—had become a surprise hit and had been chosen to be our encore song. And while Malachi performed the vocals, I knew how much it meant to Cash to see us perform it live.
“It felt good being on stage again,” I admitted. “But all I could think about was you.”
His brow furrowed. “Why?”
“Tonight is sort of going to be our public debut, and I just wanted to make sure you were still okay with everyone finding out about us.”
Malachi and Jasper had invited us to go dancing at Chrome, a local gay nightclub, after our meet and greet, and we’d agreed to go.
He leaned forward, capturing my mouth in a searing kiss. As his tongue tangled with mine, a part of me considered ditching the fans and having my way with him on the bus. But I knew that wouldn’t go over well, so I forced myself to step back.
I met his gaze, and he grinned. “I’ve loved every second of having you to myself, but I’m ready for the world to know we’re together.”
Once we were back in the arena, I reached for his hand and laced my fingers with his. We entered the party together, no longer hiding.
This was us, and we were ready for everyone to know we belonged to each other.
The End.