Chapter 14 #2
Around six thirty, the group had played the song in completion at least a dozen times, and Benji looked exhausted. They broke to relax, take showers, and get ready for their night at Off Beat. Emmett pulled Lincoln against his chest on the couch and held him, grateful for the contact.
Finally.
“How’s your head?”
“Easing up.” Lincoln played with their fingers, entwined on his stomach. “The pill was a good call, thanks.”
“I’m glad. I hate seeing you in pain.”
“Me too.”
Emmett startled. “I’m fine.”
“Are you sure?” He twisted his neck to look him in the eyes. “Are you okay with the song we chose?”
“Of course. It’s beautiful, the way you’re covering it.”
Lincoln held his gaze a moment longer, then relaxed against him. “Good. I’ll be playing it for you, you know. At Unbound.”
Something warm and lovely slipped in and curled around Emmett’s heart. “Really?”
“Yup. You should come with us. I can get you a guest pass.”
“You can?”
“Sure can. Benji’s boyfriend Joshua stayed with us last year. And Andy’s family knows someone with a sweet camper, so you won’t have to rough it in a tent.”
Emmett glanced into the kitchen, where several people had disappeared. “Benji has a boyfriend?”
“Three years. They both travel all the time, though, so they have an open relationship.”
“They sleep with other people?”
“Yeah.”
Emmett grimaced. “I couldn’t do that.”
“Not everyone can. It’s worked for them so far, but . . .”
He ran his fingers through Lincoln’s hair. “But?”
“I’m not sure.” His voice lowered. “Benji isn’t himself this weekend. Kind of sad.”
“Maybe he’s tired from being on the road.”
“Maybe.” Lincoln plucked at the inner seam of Emmett’s jeans, mid-thigh. “All the more reason for you to come with me to Unbound. I won’t have to miss you while I’m on the road.”
He was utterly helpless when Lincoln said things like that. “I’ll make sure it’s okay with Aunt Beatrice to be gone that long.”
“So that’s a yes?”
“It’s an I-hope-so.”
“I hope so what?” Dominic asked. He wandered back into the living room, hair still damp from his shower. He also seemed incredibly relaxed.
“Nosy much?” Lincoln shot back. “Hell, Dom, how’d you manage to keep him so quiet? I didn’t hear a thing.”
Dominic preened.
Emmett stared, confused by the exchange, until Trey joined them with a slightly rumpled and dazed expression. And equally damp hair.
Trey and Dominic had had sex. Apparently in the shower, with a house full of people around them. Emmett wasn’t sure he could ever be that brazen.
Or that quiet. Every time Lincoln touched him, he wanted to cry out. To shout how good it felt. How much he loved the notes Lincoln played on his body.
Lincoln ground backward, cluing Emmett in to his growing erection pressing against Lincoln’s backside.
Danielle walked in from the kitchen, then stopped short, staring. “Okay, what does everyone look so smug about?”
Dominic started cackling, which made Lincoln join in. Emmett shut his eyes and concentrated on getting his wood to lie down, made even more difficult by Lincoln’s shaking body and constant pressure against the problem.
Eventually Lincoln calmed himself. He rolled over so his stomach was pressing against Emmett’s groin, his chin resting on Emmett’s chest. “Need a shower?” he whispered.
“I’m fine.”
“I didn’t mean to get clean.” He wiggled his stomach, which made his intentions clear.
Emmett’s belly wobbled, and not in the fun way. He loved it when Lincoln did things to him, but not like this. Not with so many people around. People who would know exactly what they’d sneaked off to do in private. He couldn’t deal with the knowing looks, the whispers, the gossip.
“Hey.” Lincoln touched his cheek, his smile tender and soft. “I get it. I’m sorry. Rain check?”
Lincoln got it without Emmett needing to explain, and that was everything. “Thank you.”
“Oh my God, you two are disgustingly cute,” Danielle said. “You’re worse than Dom and Coop.”
“Gee, thanks, Dani,” Trey said.
Lincoln crawled higher up Emmett’s body and planted a kiss on his mouth. “Please don’t judge me by my friends.”
“I like your friends,” Emmett said. “You shine around them. They make you happy.”
“So do you.” His cheeks pinked up in an adorably timid way. “God, that sounded cheesy, didn’t it?”
“No.” He wrapped his arms around Lincoln’s waist, enjoying their positions. He loved it when Lincoln was on top, a warm blanket of safety and acceptance. “It sounded really nice. You make me happy too.”
Danielle made a gagging sound, then protested someone dragging her out of the living room. Emmett sent a silent thanks to Dominic, Trey, or whoever else had given them a moment alone.
“I’m glad you like my friends,” Lincoln said. “They like you too. Especially Dominic.”
“Good. He’s the most important one. You love him the most.”
Lincoln started to speak, then caught the words and held tight. Emmett didn’t dare to hope what they might have been. He only accepted that he had a place in Lincoln’s life right now, they made each other happy, and those two things were enough.
“Please don’t have sex on the couch,” Roxy said as she passed them on her way to the kitchen. “I can’t afford to steam-clean it.”
Emmett met Lincoln’s amused gaze, and they both cracked up.