Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
TONY
The last notes of the finale sounded through the theater, ending with a glissando from Greg on the piano.
The audience rose to its feet as the cast members took their bows.
Since the theater and stage were small, the musicians shared the stage with the actors, and it was easy to spot Greg when he stood to take his bow.
Of course my brother and his teammates were loud as hell when they cheered for Greg, startling the poor man.
To be fair, I hadn’t told him we were coming because I wanted it to be a surprise. It was a little sad that he didn’t seem to expect anyone to be there for him. But there was no way his friends were going to let him down.
I glanced down the row at the ten other people who had come to support Greg and smiled. When Marco had suggested the idea, I ran with it. I even got Sean and Jeremy to come. Not that it was a hardship for them since they could stay overnight in Jeremy’s Central Park South apartment.
After a good five minutes, the applause finally died down, and the performers left the stage.
We decided to wait for Greg in the back of the theater while the rest of the audience filed out.
The man in question was talking with the musical director, who shook his hand at the end of their conversation.
Greg was grinning from ear to ear as he made his way up the aisle to where we were waiting. “I can’t believe you’re all here.”
I pulled him into a hug. “Of course we’re here. You’re our friend.”
Jeremy came over and also gave him a hug. “You did so well. I’m so proud of you.”
“Well, I’ll be damned,” a man’s voice said from behind us. “Jeremy Fitzgerald.”
I turned to find David Miles, the musical director, standing behind us. Jeremy also turned and grinned broadly. “David, it’s good to see you again. It’s been a while.”
The other man shook Jeremy’s hand. “It sure has. More than five years by my reckoning. How are you doing? I saw your Gershwin concert at Carnegie Hall, but I didn’t get a chance to go backstage. You were fabulous as always. You’d never know you had an injury at all.”
“Thank you,” Jeremy replied with a smile. “It took a while and a lot of support.”
David tilted his head. “I gotta ask. Are you the reason Greg is so good?”
Jeremy shook his head. “Greg is an excellent musician. I only helped him refresh his skills.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Greg blush. I turned my head and kissed his cheek. “What he said,” I murmured in his ear.
A soft smile curved his lips. “Thanks,” he murmured.
“All right, where’s a good place to get a drink around here?” Marco asked.
“There’s a pub right up the street,” Greg said.
“Sounds good,” Gabe chimed in. “Let’s go.”
“Would you like to join us, David?” Jeremy asked.
The other man shook his head. “My husband is home waiting for me.”
Jeremy nodded in understanding. He put his arm around Sean’s waist. “Mine is right here.”
I pulled Greg aside while Jeremy was making introductions. “Are you okay to go out with us? It occurred to me that you might be too tired.”
Greg shook his head. “Just the opposite. I’m pretty wound up from the show. A drink or two with friends will help me settle down.”
“Are we ready to go?” Pete asked.
“Christ, you people are impatient,” I groused.
“I have to get my jacket,” Greg said. “I’ll meet you outside.”
Since it was a Wednesday night, the pub wasn’t too crowded when we got there, and we were able to get tables next to each other that the staff let us push together.
We sat Greg in the middle so everyone could talk to him.
I sat next to him because I was a pushy asshole who liked to get my way. Sue me.
After the server took our drink orders, Greg leaned toward me and said, “I suppose I have you to thank for this.”
I waggled my hand. “Yes and no. Marco came up with the idea that day in the park. I ran with it and got all the tickets. It’s good that the show was on a Wednesday night. I wouldn’t have been able to get eleven seats in a row closer to the weekend.”
Greg stared at me silently for a long while before repeating, “Marco came up with the idea. That’s…unexpected.”
“You have to stop thinking people don’t like you,” I admonished. “We all like you. We wanted to celebrate your success.”
His eyes got glassy and he swallowed hard. “Thank you. That means a lot to me.”
Nico leaned in from across the table. “Hey, Greg, I have something for you.” He reached into his inner jacket pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. “This is from Cody. I told him you were playing at a special show tonight.”
Greg took the paper from Nico and opened it. Since I was a nosy fucker, I leaned over to see what it was. Cody had drawn a stick-figure person in red crayon, with a head of yellow hair, playing a purple keyboard. He had printed “Mister Greg” in big block letters at the bottom of the page.
This time, Greg’s eyes filled with tears for real. “Wow,” he said hoarsely. “This is really special, Nico. Thank you for bringing it.”
Of course everyone at the table demanded that Greg pass the picture around. There was a chorus of “Awww” and “How cute” and one, “His handwriting is better than yours, Gabe.”
I saw a balled-up napkin go flying across the table and rolled my eyes. “Knock it off before we get thrown out.”
“Yes, Dad,” Gabe muttered.
When the picture finally got back to Greg, he folded it and carefully slipped it into the inside pocket of his jacket. “Now I have something to put on my refrigerator,” he said with a tremulous smile.
“You’ll have to get some fancy magnets now,” I said.
He nodded. “Definitely. Some musical ones.” He leaned in close to me and said quietly, “If you’re not busy later, I was thinking we could go to your place after we’re done here.”
My dick perked up immediately. “That sounds like an excellent idea.”
Just then, the servers arrived with all of our drinks. As I took mine, I noticed Marco staring at me with a knowing smile. He raised his glass and mouthed the words, “Good luck.”
I sighed inwardly. My brother wasn’t stupid.
He could see I was getting more attached to Greg, but he didn’t know what to do about it.
I knew both he and Michael were worried I would get my heart broken—again.
It was a distinct possibility but not a guarantee.
This felt different. I wish I could say why.
My thoughts were interrupted when the server came back asking if we wanted food. That was like asking if the pope was Catholic. But to be fair, what I really wanted was to cut everything short and drag Greg back to my place to do wicked, dirty things to him.
Greg noticeably relaxed over the course of the evening. He engaged with everyone at the table, laughing and joking. It was unusual enough to draw surprised glances from the people who’d known Greg for a while.
Despite the copious amounts of alcohol flowing around the table, Greg only had two drinks and then switched to soda.
I guessed, with his mother being an addict, he didn’t want to risk going down the same path.
I ran my hand up his thigh, my fingers staying close to his cock.
“Let me know when you’re ready to head out. ”
He grinned wickedly and raked his eyes over my body. “I’m ready to go.”
My cock made its interest known. “You got it.” I rose, and Greg followed suit. “We’re going to head out.”
There were a few halfhearted objections, but I could tell we weren’t the only ones looking to leave soon. Marco eyed me speculatively. “All right. See you at the office tomorrow for those interviews.”
I nodded. “I’ll be there.”
Thankfully, the taxi ride was short and the elevator ride shorter. Otherwise, one or both of us would have been arrested for public indecency. My door was barely closed before I had Greg up against it. “How do you feel about wall sex?” I growled.
“Yes, please,” Greg gasped.
I pulled my wallet out and opened it to find I’d forgotten to replace my condom and lube supply. “Dammit,” I muttered. I pocketed my wallet and took Greg’s hand, pulling him across my apartment to my bedroom.
“In a hurry?” Greg asked with a breathless chuckle.
I shut the bedroom door and pushed him against it. “Yeah. I’ve been thinking about this all night.” I ran my hand down his chest. “Stay there and strip.” Then I walked to my nightstand, shucking my own clothes as I went.
After I finished undressing, I grabbed a condom and a bottle of lube from the drawer. When I turned back, Greg was pushing his briefs down, letting his rigid cock spring free. I stalked over to him, admiring his creamy skin and taut pink nipples.
I handed him the bottle of lube. “Get yourself ready for me.”
His dick twitched and he let out a shuddering breath. “Yes, sir,” he murmured.
I pressed against him and ran my nose up his neck to his ear. My voice was a low growl when I spoke. “You like that, do you?”
“Sometimes,” he replied. “Like now.”
I took his earlobe in my teeth and tugged gently. “I want to watch you open that pretty hole for me.”
“Shit,” he gasped. “If you keep talking like that, I’m going to come before we even get started.”
I chuckled but took a step back to give him room to prep himself.
He poured a generous amount of lube on two fingers and reached behind himself.
Watching his face flush with pleasure as he worked his fingers into his hole was almost enough to get me off.
I opened the condom and rolled it over my rigid length, ready to pounce as soon as he gave me the go-ahead.
Sooner than I expected, he withdrew his fingers and said, “I’m ready.”
I stopped myself from asking if he was sure.
I had to trust he knew his own body. I moved forward and put my hands on his hips.
“Grab my shoulders.” He looked surprised at first, but did as I said.
Once he had a firm grip, I slid my hands to the backs of his thighs and hoisted them around my waist. I settled my hands back on his hips and notched my cock against his entrance. “You good to go?”
“Oh god yes,” he gasped.
I pushed upward while he took a deep breath and pressed down on my shaft. We both groaned when I was fully seated. “You feel so good,” I growled.
“I’m so full,” he moaned. “Please fuck me. I need it.”
“You got it.” I pulled out almost to the tip and slammed back home. His cry of pleasure was music to my ears.
The pace we set was brutal in its intensity and my arms started to ache.
I was strong from working out with Marco, but Greg wasn’t a small guy.
I put one arm around his waist and walked us over to my bed, laying him down with his legs still around my waist. I put my hands on either side of his head and used my full strength to pound him into the mattress.
“Close,” he gasped. “I’m so close.”
I wasn’t far behind. “Touch yourself,” I ordered.
He wrapped one hand around his cock and started jerking it to the tempo of my thrusts. He looked into my eyes, his expression pleading. “Tony, kiss me. Please kiss me.”
I paused my thrusts for a moment, contemplating whether or not to grant his request. Kissing him had been so good that first night.
Too good. I couldn’t do it again and keep this casual.
Was this Greg’s way of asking for more? I didn’t know, and I knew I’d probably regret it, but I slid my hand behind his neck and crushed my lips to his.
Greg’s legs tightened around my waist and a deep groan of pleasure rose up from him. I felt his shaft harden beneath me and his back arched. He threw back his head and cried out, “Tony!” while hot cum spurted between us.
The sound of my name on his lips set off my own orgasm, and I thrust two more times before pushing myself as deep as I could go inside him. As I let myself sink on top of him, I knew I’d lost the battle. I was falling for a man who would break my heart.