27. Chapter Twenty-Seven #2
His breathtaking beauty was nothing special—or so I told myself.
As time passed, our mutual hate intensified and spread like a rash on my skin.
I could barely tolerate Mr. Nothing Special and we let years slip by being fools.
One day this gorgeous man made me laugh.
He laughed too, and the sound he created played like a symphony of music in my head.
The hatred I carried for him began to melt from my shoulders—like an icy glacier disappearing into the sea.
In its place I found lightness and hope where there was once only darkness.
I took a chance and peeled back his layers to see the man he was beneath the surface and I saw
the sunrise clearly for the first time.
Chorus:
And then you took me straight into sweet oblivion.
We followed a path through the forest and we found the sweetest oblivion.
With your arms wrapped around me and sweaty sheets tangled around our legs—we writhed together in sweet oblivion.
There is no one else for me but you—in sweet oblivion.
I’m intoxicated on you in this sweet oblivion.
I saw your whole heart and the depth of a pure soul.
There was so much more to you. I finally had everything I ever wanted.
The connection was real, like a thundering bolt of lightning striking from the sky.
I wasn’t looking for this but what we found together was the highest level of bliss.
Putting aside my fears was a challenge. I’d been buried under self-doubt my entire life.
But you showed me happiness and the wonder of sharing my life with you.
Now you’re my everything, my shot in the blue. You taught me about love and trust. You revealed all there is of you.
I have a real shot at forever—and a special love for only you.
Take me to that sweet oblivion and I’ll spend eternity there with you.
Chorus:
And then you took me straight into sweet oblivion.
We followed a path through the forest and we found the sweetest oblivion.
With your arms wrapped around me and sweaty sheets tangled around our legs—we writhed together in sweet oblivion.
There is no one else for me but you—in sweet oblivion.
I’m intoxicated with you in this sweet oblivion.
Bronx finished the song and had to wipe his eyes from the emotion but it felt so good to set it free.
His attention swung to the side of the stage behind the heavy black curtain where Tony waited for him.
Their gazes held until they both started moving toward each other at the same time.
Bronx’s guitar tech took the guitar he was carrying from his hand as Bronx walked by.
A second later Bronx was engulfed by Tony’s thick arms and cradled against his chest like he were something precious.
“You wrote that song for me, baby?” Tony said beside Bronx’s ear.
“I did,” he answered. “Are you embarrassed?”
Tony held him tightly, as if he never wanted to let Bronx go. “Not in the least,” Tony said. “It was beautiful and full of soul. I loved every word you sang. But I thought we weren’t going to do a big reveal of our relationship?”
Behind them the audience continued to whistle, applaud, and cheer them on from where they stood tightly entwined in plain sight of nearly everyone in the arena.
Every last person was on their feet, fists pumping above their heads to congratulate them, cheers growing ever louder with each passing second.
“Yeah, I guess this lingering hug kinda gave it away,” Tony said as his nose nudged Bronx’s.
“The hug and the pornographic kiss,” Bronx added.
Tony met Bronx’s eyes. “But you didn’t kiss me,” he said.
He barely had the last word out of his mouth when Bronx slammed his lips against Tony’s and they both melted into it. Camera flashes blew off all around them but neither of them gave it much notice. They were too busy deepening their smoldering, very public kiss.
Not one care was given to anyone who didn’t want to see Bronx kissing another man.
As loud as the crowd was, seeing them kiss increased the volume ten-fold.
It was a roar like an angry tide crashing against the beach, rolling over them on the stage and sounding like it had enough energy behind it to lift the roof off the building.
It was a Category 5 hurricane, an EF5 tornado, and a massive avalanche all rolled into one and left Bronx breathless and weak-kneed, but that’s what Tony did to him from something as simple as a heated kiss.
Tony leaned back and started to chuckle. “Babe, I think you need to finish the show,” he pointed out the obvious.
Bronx glanced over Tony’s shoulder and saw Dagger tap his wrist suggesting the time.
He really did need to get back to work but kissing Tony had left his brain empty of anything except for thoughts of getting Tony alone.
But first things first. Bronx reached for Tony’s hand and lifted their arms over his head.
They each offered a quick wave and a final brush of lips before Tony disappeared behind the thick curtain again.
One by one the guys trickled back out on stage with Bronx.
The guitar tech did a quick job of switching out guitars and once again Bronx had his bass back around his neck.
Dagger counted off their intro and they burst into their final song of the night, “Yesterday’s Dream,” with Dagger’s soothing baritone leading the way.
His sultry tone could literally make Pig Latin sound sexy.
A lover’s words that can’t be spoken. Soulful eyes that never see.
You move through the shadows of street lamps.
Intermittent light flickering across your skin.
I feel you in the moonbeams. A tether connecting me to you.
Broken hearts and countless scars yet no one ever bleeds.
Blurred lines are like a road map, showing wonderful days when we believed.
Some spend their lives chasing after fantasies.
While I prefer to live . . . yesterday’s dream.
Meet me by the river, where the bend is half a mile wide.
The damp and mossy river bank leaves nowhere for us to hide.
Jump into the river boat and we’ll snake our way out to sea.
No need to bring your clothing. This journey is meant for you and me.
Time stands still for no one and by nightfall we must leave.
Take my hand and I’ll get you there. A new beginning, you’ll see.
Together we’ll find happiness . . . living yesterday’s dream.
Chorus:
Do you believe your dreams?
Do you really care?
Do you seek to have a better life?
Do you believe life is fair?
Come with me to paradise. I’ll keep you safe from harm.
Lean on me and we’ll find a place to live out . . . yesterday’s dream.
Have a slice of my daydream, a sweet piece of the pie.
Does it taste like sunshine, blazing in the sky?
The darkness gives us sanctuary, a safe place for us to hide.
Dreams are our everything. Come along for the ride.
The turbulent river has swells of gold. A pure treasure to behold.
A crashing tide is waiting for us as we leave the river behind.
Brackish water mixes with a stormy sea. Cresting waves are all around us.
Hold me tight and we’ll find our way to living . . . yesterday’s dream.
They were almost finished with the song and Bronx could tell by the goosebumps breaking out on his skin that the ending of this show was going to be epic.
The audience was primed and the guys were all performing one of their best shows.
The finish line was in sight and Bronx was putting every last ounce of energy he had left into his playing.
He knew this would be one of those moments he remembered for a lifetime.
He glanced toward Tony standing in the shadows at the side of the stage and grinned at him like a love-sick pup.
On paper, the two of them together made no sense, a total oil and water situation.
But in reality, they were a perfectly blended concoction of sweet and savory that just plain worked.
Each of them offset the other’s negative traits while highlighting their positives.
This went way beyond a physical attraction because, let’s face it, beauty is nice but it soon fades with the passage of time.
If there isn’t a solid foundation beneath the surface, you’ll find yourself with nothing once good looks disappear.
Bronx and Tony’s connection was felt deep at their core, knitted together at the most fundamental level there was.
A bond like that had the potential of lasting forever if it’s nurtured properly, and that’s exactly what they both wanted.
Forever.
They were too seasoned—or mature—to settle for anything less.
Bronx thought about the vacation they were taking to his mountain hideaway after this leg of the Vegas residency was finished.
They had seven glorious days ahead of them with nothing but nakedness and loving and Bronx couldn’t wait to get it started.
The best part of the vacation would be his marriage proposal to Tony.
He was finally putting a ring on Tony’s hand and locking that man down.
If he had his way they’d be married within the year.
It was time to start living their future. Bronx could hardly think of anything else. Tony had already proven his love in a hundred different ways. Now it was Bronx’s turn to shower Tony with his—every day, side by side, from here on out.
Laughing, loving, and living life out loud in vibrant splashes of rainbow colors.
It didn’t get any better than that.