Chapter Six
G abriel waited until he heard the door softly click closed on the truck cab. Looking in that direction, he confirmed that Sam had indeed retired for the night and he was alone once more.
Knowing he would not be able to sleep for a while and not wanting to lock himself into the trailer yet, he pulled out one of the folding chairs. Settling in the chair, he tilted his head back and watched the stars slowly move across the night sky.
It wasn’t until the eastern sky began to lighten as dawn approached that he finally felt the adrenaline of being onstage for the first time in years drain away. Finally, he could sleep.
Stowing the chair away, he headed to the back of the trailer. After a stop in the bathroom, he stripped as he headed down the hall, leaving a trail of clothes in his wake. The bedroom’s king-size bed pulled at him like nothing else.
By the time he reached the bed, he was staggering, completely drained and ready to crash and rest up for the next concert.
He fell across the mattress, too tired to even pull the covers over his naked body. Seconds later, he was asleep.
The next thing he knew, a warm hand was shaking his shoulder.
“Go ‘way,” he muttered. “Don’t wanna wake up. Too tired.”
“You stayed up until dawn, didn’t you?”
The voice was one he recognized, one that made his cock hard every time he heard it. One he had not expected to ever hear again.
“Couldn’t sleep until then. Not the rocker way,” he mumbled as he curled into a tighter ball.
The air around him was cold. Reaching out, he did not feel the bunched-up covers beside him like usual. He slept hot and always tossed the blankets off in the middle of the night.
Opening his eyes, he found he was sleeping on top of covers. Then he remembered being too tired to pull them back when he’d finally come to bed. It had been too much trouble.
Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and released a sigh as sleep began to drag him back into its darkness.
A hard hand slapping his left ass cheek jerked him out of slumber’s hold. Twisting his upper body, he frowned over his shoulder at the man standing by the side of the bed. The man who was now smirking down at him.
“Get up, get dressed, and get yourself something to eat in the cab. You can go back to sleep once we get on the road,” Sam ordered before turning his back and heading to the door. “You have ten minutes. If I have to come back in here, you’ll get more than one smack on your ass.”
Gabriel’s frown deepened. “You can’t spank me.”
Sam stopped in the doorway but did not turn around. “If I remember correctly, you like a little pain. And Alan told me I was free to do whatever I had to in order to keep you on schedule. Now get your ass out of bed. You have nine minutes.”
And then he was gone.
Taking a deep breath, Gabriel forced himself to roll out of the bed. He picked up the clothes from the floor on his way to the bathroom. After a piss and splashing water in his face to wake up, he dressed and stopped in the kitchen area long enough to pull a bottle of soda out of the refrigerator and two granola bars from the large box in the mini-pantry.
After making sure everything was secure, he left the trailer and locked the door behind himself. He could hear the engine warming up as he slowly walked up the side of the trailer. Sam appeared around the front of the truck just as he reached the passenger door.
Memories of waking up in Sam’s arms had Gabriel swallowing hard and looking away even as his cock began to harden.
Today’s drive might only be a couple hours long, but if his cock was hard the whole time, it would be an uncomfortable drive.
Climbing into the truck, he unloaded his pockets of snacks before trying to get comfortable. Sleep continued to drag at him, and he found himself nodding off shortly after Sam pulled out of the church parking lot.
“Put your seat back and sleep,” Sam said, his voice low and rough.
Nodding, Sam leaned his seat back, then curled up in the seat and allowed sleep to roll over him like a giant wave.
****
O ver the next few days , Sam tried to remain detached and unaffected by the way Gabriel was abusing himself. He was living on caffeinated drinks and protein bars and not sleeping nearly enough. When Alan called to let him know he could not join them for another two weeks due to business issues, Sam knew he had to intervene.
Gabriel was looking more and more gaunt and exhausted, and Sam knew he had to step in and take over, the question was whether the rocker would allow it.
That night during the concert, Sam stayed in the wings, watching. After the third encore, he grabbed Gabriel when he came offstage.
“That’s enough,” he said, not letting go when the man tried to pull free. “You’re done for the night.”
Gabriel frowned up at him. “But...”
“No,” Sam replied simply, meeting the singer’s gaze and holding it.
It took a few seconds, but Gabriel sighed and nodded as he relaxed his arm. “All right. I’m done.”
“Drink this,” Sam grabbed a bottle of water from a nearby table. After opening it, he held it in front of Gabriel.
Continuing to hold his gaze, Sam waited. It only took a few seconds before Gabriel nodded and took the bottle and chugged it. It reminded Sam of when he would do the same with beers after a concert.
Taking the empty bottle, he put the cap back on it and returned it to the table. They waited a few more minutes for the audience to clear the room.
Gabriel was swaying by the time the auditorium was empty. Though Sam hoped it wouldn’t take too long for the man to sleep, they first needed to pack up his gear and carry it out to the truck. Then he would see about putting Gabriel to bed.
“Come on, let’s get you packed up,” Sam started to walk out onto the stage.
It only took a few minutes for the two of them to pack the guitars and cables and sound equipment and carry it to the back door.
“I need to get the merch,” Gabriel said, his words fuzzy with his exhaustion. “And talk to the pastor about the money.”
“I’ll come with you.”
“You don’t have to. It shouldn’t take me but a few minutes.”
“I’ll come with you,” Sam repeated, half-afraid of what might happen if he left the man alone.
Gabriel studied him for a moment and then shrugged. “Whatever.”
Thirty minutes later, Gabriel finished packing the trailer with Sam watching closely.
Once he closed the last closet door, he turned to Sam. “Thanks for the help.”
“Sure,” Sam replied, suddenly uncertain if this was the right time to force Gabriel to his agenda. “Why don’t you head to bed? You look beyond exhausted.”
“I won’t sleep. My mind is all wound up. Too much adrenaline from the show. I’ll just sit outside and watch the stars until it settles down.”
“No.”
“No?” Gabriel echoed.
“No. You’re so tired you’re swaying. You haven’t eaten a decent meal since we started this tour. And you don’t have anyone to call you on this self-abuse shit. Except me.”
Gabriel frowned at him. “Is that what you’re doing? Calling me out?”
“Somebody’s got to, and since I’m the only one around, I guess I am. What the fuck is going on? Are you trying to drive yourself to a breakdown? Because from where I’m standing it looks like you’re about two days from ending up in the hospital.”
“Why would you? You hate me,” Gabriel whispered.
Sam sucked in a breath and shook his head. It was time to tell the truth. He only hoped Gabriel wouldn’t throw the knowledge in his face.
Taking a step, he began to close the distance that separated them. “I don’t hate you, Gabriel. I love you. I’ve always loved you. Even when I was so mad I was spitting fire when you wrecked my truck, I still loved you. And watching you run yourself into the ground is hurting my heart.”