Chapter 3
Dean
On the sidelines, Dean got everything in order for the video shoot. He spotted Coach Shepherd on the field and ran over to introduce himself.
“Coach Shepherd, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Dean Harris, or DJ DVLN.” Dean shook the coach’s hand before continuing. “I just wanted to thank you so much for allowing us to do this. I’m a huge Niners fan, so this really is a dream come true!”
Coach Shepherd smiled at Dean’s exuberance. “Well, that’s awesome! Anything for a fan.”
“I promise, we won’t get in your way or interfere with your practice,” Dean reassured him. “And if we do, just tell us to move.”
“Sounds good. We’ve got four of our guys who volunteered to be in your video,” Coach Shepherd began.
Please, please, please let one of them be Colton Merrick.
“Bryce Parker, Greg Kirschner, Neil Byrd, and Colton Merrick. I’ll send them over to you when we’re done here.”
“Thank you, Coach!” Dean smiled calmly, but inside, he was doing backflips and a happy dance. Colton fucking Merrick!
Still sporting a massive grin, Dean trotted back toward the sideline, glimpsing Colton on the field. Colton was looking back at him, holding his helmet in his hand.
What a beautiful fucking man.
As the video director moved around the perimeter of the field, with Dean at his side, they filmed bits and pieces of plays from both the offensive and defensive practice sessions.
They also spent some time with the kicking unit, filming various angles of field goals and punts.
They filmed close-up shots of the offense hiking the ball, pushing the sleds, and tackling the defense.
“Parker, Merrick, Kirschner, Byrd!” Coach Shepherd yelled, and all four men jogged over.
“All right. You guys are dismissed from the rest of today’s practice.”
“Yes, Coach!” the four men said in unison, then turned and walked over toward Dean and the rest of the crew on the sideline.
Dean saw them coming and smiled with a wave.
“Hey, guys. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he greeted them.
“So…DJ…um,” Greg began.
“Oh, sorry! My name is Dean…you can call me Dean. DJ DVLN is my stage name. Actually, my middle name is Devlin. So, that’s where it comes from,” Dean stammered, feeling a bit nervous at meeting the players he's lusted after for years. He shook their hands, saving Colton for last.
“Mr. Merrick. I’m a huge fan,” Dean gushed. Standing this close to Colton and his sparkling blue eyes, pouty pink lips, and whisps of blond bangs swooping down across his forehead made him breathless.
For a brief moment, the whole world faded into the background and there was only the two of them.
From the moment their hands touched, Dean felt a connection with Colton, a little flicker of something electric, magnetic, and familiar…
like an old friend or a favorite sweater. He wondered if Colton felt it too.
“Oh, we’re not that formal around here. Call me Colton,” he smiled and winked, squeezing Dean’s hand.
That smile! Dean thought. His perfect white teeth, dimples in his cheeks, in every sense of the word a megawatt smile, and those fucking lips!
Dean was ready to drop to his knees right there, right where he stood, and praise any deity available for gifting such a perfect specimen of a man to the world.
“Thanks, Colton. Very nice to meet you.” Dean could hardly contain his excitement. Surrounded by four of the sexiest NFL players playing the game, he slowly eye-fucked each of them. He might come just standing there.
“I hear a little southern accent,” Colton said.
“Where are you from?” His deep voice sent shivers down Dean’s spine and directly into his groin.
Dean could only wonder what the gorgeous hunk of a man would sound like having sex.
He shook away the thought before his arousal became obvious in his pants.
“Oh, I grew up in rural Georgia.” Dean chuckled, biting his bottom lip. “I try to cover it up, but it comes out from time to time, usually when I’m drinking.” He laughed.
“Oh no, man, you shouldn’t cover it up! A southern accent is really cool, it’s distinctive! I’d kill to have an accent.”
Dean smiled, feeling a slight blush form on his cheeks. “Thanks, Colton.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Dean spotted a mountain of a man walking toward them. The whole group turned to face him.
“Hey look, there’s Mr. Lynch.” Bryce lifted his chin toward him.
Jerome Lynch was the general manager of the team.
He walked toward them carrying a small box, and the closer he got, the larger he became. He was an enormous man, towering over everyone else in the group.
“Hey, guys. So, Coach Shepherd tells me that we have a huge Niners fan here.” Mr. Lynch smiled, shaking Dean’s hand.
“Yes sir! Massive fan. Faithful to The Bay!” Dean grinned as he replied.
Mr. Lynch opened the box he was carrying. “Well, we thought we would give you a small token of thanks, for putting us in your video.” The box contained a custom Niners jersey with “DJ DVLN” on the back, and the number 00.
“Oh wow! This is awesome.” Dean reverently held up the jersey. “Thank you!” Dean’s eyes were as wide as a kid on Christmas morning, overflowing with joy. He thought he might cry. “Can I wear this in the video?”
“Of course! We were hoping you would." Mr. Lynch was obviously tickled over Dean's excitement. "Well, I’ll let you get back to it.”
“Thank you again, sir. I’m going to cherish this for the rest of my life.”
Dean whistled for the video director, who ran over without hesitation.
“Check this out!” Dean proudly displayed the jersey with a huge goofy grin. “Okay, new plan. We’re going to use this in the video.”
Dean turned to Colton. “Is it possible for me to get some pads and gear?”
“Sure. I’ll take you to the equipment room.” Colton gestured toward the facility.
Bryce, Greg, and Neil began filming with the crew as Colton walked Dean off the field.
As they walked, Dean bit his bottom lip. “I really appreciate you guys doing this! Hopefully it won’t be too much of an inconvenience.”
“Nah, we're happy to do it. I’m excited to be in a music video.” Colton smiled. “I gotta be honest though, I’ve never heard of you.”
Dean laughed. “I figured. Unless you actively follow dance music, you most likely haven't heard our stuff. We rarely get play on mainstream radio. So, I’m not offended.”
Colton stepped ahead of Dean to open the door to the equipment room and Dean took advantage of his position to admire Colton’s exquisite ass…two perfectly round mounds of totally sexy man meat. Dean licked his bottom lip, fighting the urge to reach out and squeeze it.
Inside the equipment room, there were tons of helmets, straps, pads, jerseys, pants, everything stored in bins and racks. It was a massive space and Dean wondered how they would ever find what he needed.
Off to his right, Dean heard a gasp and, “No way…DJ DVLN?!”
He turned to find a young boy, maybe thirteen or fourteen, carrying a pile of towels, looking starstruck.
“Hi!” Dean flashed a big smile. “What’s your name?”
He gulped, his eyes wide, and smiled. “Tommy.”
Colton came up to them and put his hand on Tommy's shoulder. "The Niners allow local kids in youth sports to help around the facility. Tommy here is one of our towel boys."
Tommy’s eyes went wide with excitement, the kid was practically vibrating. “I can’t believe it’s you! Can I take a selfie with you?”
“Of course you can.” Dean grinned at the boy. Being famous could suck sometimes, but meeting fans, especially the younger ones, was the best part of the job.
Colton offered to take the picture, and Tommy was beside himself, absolutely giddy.
They posed, Tommy looking like a miniature version of Dean with his short brown hair, brown eyes, and fair skin.
“What are you doing here?” Tommy asked.
“We’re filming my new music video here today, with the team.”
“That’s so cool! ‘Lights up’ is my favorite song.” Tommy looked admiringly at Dean, who smiled genuinely at the young man.
“It is? You know what? It’s one of my favorites too.” Dean patted him on the shoulder.
“When is your new album coming out? I can’t wait,” Tommy asked with a grin.
“It’s actually coming out in about a month.” Dean paused, bit his lip again, and shot a sly look at Colton. “Hey, Tommy. How would you like it if I gave you the album today?”
“Really? Yes, please! I would love it!” Tommy began bouncing on his toes.
“Okay, here, give me your Instagram handle.” Dean handed his phone to Tommy. “When I get home tonight, I’ll message you a link to download the whole album. I’ll even include all the remixes too.”
Dean dropped down on one knee, so he was on Tommy’s level and squeezed the kid’s shoulder. “But this is just for you, okay? You can’t share the link with anyone else. Deal?”
“Deal!” Tommy handed Dean back his phone and gave him a huge hug. “Thank you, DJ DVLN.”
“Hey, we’re friends now, Tommy, so you can call me Dean.” He winked.
Dean stood and patted the top of his head. “Alright, you better get back to work. I don’t wanna get you in trouble.”
Tommy ran off, turning once to wave to Dean, grinning ear to ear.
Dean turned back to find Colton studying him with a raised eyebrow. “What? What is it?”
“Nothing,” Colton responded. “It’s just, you’re totally not what I was expecting.”
Dean cocked his head to one side. “What were you expecting?”
Colton paused for a moment. “I don’t know. I guess, a self-absorbed musician with lots of tattoos.”
“Mmmm, no bumper stickers on this Ferrari.” Dean chuckled as he rubbed his hands down his chest and Colton laughed.
“And there are already too many of those types in the world! I’ve got no time for that shit.
I mean, being nice to people isn’t that hard.
” Dean motioned toward where Tommy had just left.
“Who knows? Maybe that gesture won’t mean much to Tommy.
Or maybe I just completely changed his life.
Either way, I did something nice for another human being, and that’s what it’s all about. ”