Chapter 27
27
Jasper
A day before Surrender’s first show in Boston, I was manning the grill in my parents’ backyard. We had decided it would be nice to get everyone together for a barbecue so we could visit and relax. The guys definitely needed the time with Silas, and it had been years since our entire families had all been together. Even Savannah was there to meet everybody.
“Hey, Jasper.” Norah, Malachi’s sister, came to stand beside me.
She was a year younger than me, and because of how close our families were, we had spent a lot of time together when we were younger. But I hadn’t seen her since the finale of The Band Showdown .
I wrapped my free arm around her shoulder. “Hey, how’s it going?”
“Just enjoying the summer off from college.”
“You graduate next year, right?” While I hadn’t seen her in some time, Malachi occasionally filled me in on what she was up to.
Norah nodded. “Actually, I’ll be graduating after the fall semester. While I’m going to miss Hawkins University when I’m done, I’m looking forward to starting my career.”
“Do you have a job lined up yet?”
“No, but I’m looking. Originally, I was searching for some marketing opportunities in New York, but last night Malachi and I talked and he offered to talk to Stellar Records to see if they had any internships available.”
“Oh wow. I guess I’ll be seeing you more often if you move to LA.”
She smiled. “Does that mean you’re staying out there after the tour?”
I took a sip of my beer. “Yeah. Obviously, that’s where your brother is, but I also really like the West Coast. Plus, there are a ton of job opportunities out there.”
“But it’s mostly because of my brother,” she teased.
“Pretty much.” I grinned.
“I’m really happy you guys are together.”
I started flipping the hamburger patties. “You are?”
“Yeah. Whenever I saw pictures of him out with random girls, I always wondered if they liked him for who he was as a person, or because he was Malachi Danvers, the lead singer of Surrender. You know the real him and somehow still love him.” She chuckled.
“Geez. Thanks, sis, for that ringing endorsement.” Malachi joined us, having caught the end of our conversation.
“Your fans might think you can do no wrong, but to me, you’ll always be the annoying brother who picked on me when we were little.” She hip-bumped him playfully.
He leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “Yeah, but you still love me.”
She shrugged. “I guess.” She may have enjoyed giving him shit, but the love she had for her brother was clear in her eyes when she looked up at him.
We continued talking until the burgers were finished cooking, and I took them over to the table, which was already filled with a ton of food. Malachi and I each made a plate and joined the group sitting with Silas. His parents were there, along with his sober companion, Cash, who came to meet the band since he would be traveling with us once the tour resumed.
“Hey, guys.” Silas gave us a head nod as we took our seats. “Cash, you already met Malachi, and this is Jasper, his boyfriend and our chef on the road.”
Getting introduced as Malachi’s boyfriend in a casual setting still caught me off guard sometimes. We had spent so much time hiding before, but now we could be open with our friends and family without fear of anyone judging us. Finally, all those fantasies I’d had when I was younger were coming true.
“Nice to meet you,” I replied.
“Likewise. This guy raves about your food, and if this burger is anything to go by, I’m likely to gain twenty pounds on the road.”
“He makes some killer vegan dishes if you want something healthier,” Savannah added.
I saw a hint of skepticism in Cash’s eyes, but he smiled. “I may have to try one of those as well.”
As the evening wore on, everyone seemed to be relaxed and having a good time. Off to the side, I watched Silas throw his head back and laugh at something Jesse said.
“Man, that’s good to see,” Malachi whispered, wrapping his arms around me from behind.
“He’ll have challenges along the way, but with you guys in his corner, I think he’s got this.”
Although I had already known it, the day had only reinforced how deep the bond among them truly was, and I felt privileged to be a part of it.
Later that night, Malachi and I returned to our hotel room, where we cuddled in bed.
“Did you have a good time today?” I asked, running my fingers through his dark locks.
“Yeah. I didn’t realize how much I missed everyone. It was nice having us all together again.”
“It was fun catching up with your sister. I hadn’t seen her in years, and she sounds excited to move to LA. I told her I’d definitely be seeing her around.”
He looked up at me. “You’re going to stay in LA?”
My brow wrinkled in confusion. “I told you I didn’t want to leave you.”
“You did, but I wasn’t sure if you’d made a final decision.”
I lifted a shoulder. “Well, I haven’t talked to Jesse yet, but I’m sure he’ll let me stay with him until I find my own place.”
Malachi rose onto his knees and faced me. “You don’t need your own place.”
“I don’t?”
He shook his head. “You should be in my bed every night. I can’t think of anything better than waking up with you in my arms every single day.”
“You’re asking me to move in with you?” I grinned.
He smiled. “I thought that was sort of obvious.”
“I don’t want you to feel pressured, though. I plan to stay regardless of where I live.”
“I’m not asking because I feel obligated and shit. I want you with me, so just say yes already.” He leaned forward and planted a kiss on my lips.
“We’re really going to do this?” I couldn’t wipe the grin off of my face.
“Yep. We can move your stuff once the tour is over. In the meantime, I expect you to stay with me wherever we are.”
“I don’t know. You might get tired of me,” I teased.
“Never.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck. “Taking this job was the best decision I ever made.”
“Agreed. Now let me show you one of the benefits of living with me. Get on your hands and knees.”
I pushed my boxers down and rushed to do as he said.
“You have the most perfect ass,” he admired, caressing one of my cheeks. “I can’t get enough of you.”
“Me either. Now fill me with your cock.” I wiggled my butt, trying to entice him.
“Oh, I will, but I want to play first.”
He spread my cheeks and circled his tongue around my rim. I lowered my forearms to the mattress and rested my head on them as I lost myself in how good it felt when he licked me there.
“I could eat your ass all night long,” he growled and plunged his tongue into me.
“Fuck,” I gasped. “I think I could come just from that.”
“Not yet. I don’t want you coming until my dick is buried deep inside you.”
He continued to tongue-fuck my ass until I was certain I couldn’t take anymore. “Malachi,” I moaned. “I need you.”
He grabbed the bottle of lube from the nightstand and squirted some directly onto my puckered entrance before using his fingers to stretch me. When I was ready, he replaced his digits with the tip of his shaft. Rubbing his hands up and down my back, he nudged inside me.
“You take me so well,” he praised. “It feels like you’re strangling my dick.”
As he began to thrust, I moved my hands from the bed and braced them against the headboard and pushed back, forcing him to penetrate me deeper.
“Damn, you feel so good. Please fuck me harder.”
“Your wish is my command.” He picked up the pace and hammered into me, hitting the spot where I needed him most. “Is that what you want?”
“God, yes.” I reached down and began jerking my cock. “Don’t stop.”
My arm started to shake, and I didn’t know how much longer it would hold me up. Malachi’s movements became erratic; knowing he was close had my balls tightening. Within seconds, I spilled all over the sheets beneath me.
“I’m going to come,” he shouted as he gripped my hips so hard he’d likely leave marks behind.
“Do it,” I groaned. “Come in my ass.”
It didn’t take long before he shuddered, and I felt the warm spurts of his cum filling me. He trailed kisses along my spine as my heart rate slowly returned to normal.
“If I weren’t already sold on moving in with you, that would have sealed the deal.”
He chuckled. “Such a smartass. Now let’s go shower.”
The night of the concert, I stood in the front row between my parents and Malachi’s. Silas’s and Elliott’s families, along with Norah and Olivia, took up the rest of the seats as we all watched Surrender perform.
When it came time for the band to play “Whispers in the Night” instead of standing together, Savannah moved over toward Elliott, and Malachi came forward to the edge of the stage. Not long ago, he had admitted he’d written the song about me and now was looking directly at me as he sang the words about his desire for what we finally had.
My heart swelled with love for the man in front of me, and I lost myself in his dark green eyes that reflected all the affection and desire in his lyrics. After he belted out the last line, he mouthed the words, “I love you,” and crooked his finger for me to come forward. Once I was within arm’s reach, he wrapped his hand around my neck and pulled me in for a kiss.
I expected a brief peck, so it took me by surprise when his tongue met mine, and he proceeded to devour my mouth. It was the most toe-curling, delicious kiss I’d ever experienced, and I was left breathless when he eventually pulled away.
The crowd erupted in cheers, likely having seen the moment play out on the screen behind the band, and I could feel the positive energy surrounding us vibrate through the entire venue. I knew if Malachi had any lingering doubts about how our relationship might affect the band, the acceptance we received from their fans would have immediately erased them.
After the show, I was still buzzing from Malachi’s very public display of affection. I headed backstage, where the guys would host a meet and greet. When I reached their dressing room, I slipped inside and went right to Malachi.
“You were amazing out there tonight,” I said, kissing him.
“I don’t know what the crowd liked more: our concert or the show you two put on.” Silas chuckled.
“Yeah, everyone enjoyed my best friend making out with my brother.” Jesse rolled his eyes. “But we don’t have time for a repeat performance. Rina wants us ready in five minutes.”
With a final press of my lips against his, I told Malachi, “I’ll see you out there.”
I made my way to the area, which was already filling up with fans eager to get autographs and take pictures with the guys. I had managed to get tickets for Ryan and his sister, Morgan, so I started to search for them.
“Hey, you guys made it,” I greeted when I found them not too far from the dressing room.
“Jasper!” Morgan shrieked when she saw me and then hugged me. “Thank you so much for getting us backstage passes. I can’t believe you’re dating Malachi Danvers.”
“Sometimes I can’t believe it either,” I joked.
They asked me what it was like traveling with the band while we waited for the guys to come out, and then Ryan’s phone started ringing.
“Oh, man. I’ve been waiting for this call all day. I gotta take this somewhere quiet.”
“I’ll hold your spot in line,” Morgan said.
“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you get to meet everyone,” I added.
Ryan nodded and took off down the hallway. A few seconds later, the guys came out of the dressing room and headed over to the table set up for them to sign whatever merch people wanted to get autographed. I followed them over but stopped in my tracks when I heard Malachi growl, “What the hell is he doing here?”
I turned in the same direction he was looking and saw Donnie Pierce, who we all went to high school with. He’d been in the same grade as my brother and his friends, but his reputation was well known around school for dealing drugs. And given that Silas had just ended a stint in rehab, I understood Malachi’s reaction to seeing him backstage.
“You didn’t invite him, did you?” Elliott asked Silas gently but filled with concern.
Silas shook his head. “I haven’t talked to him in a while and definitely didn’t expect to see him tonight.”
“Do you want us to ask him to leave?” Jesse asked.
“Nah. There’s no reason to cause a scene in front of the fans,” Silas replied. “If he causes any problems later, we can get security involved.”
After that, the meet and greet went on as scheduled, and by the time the last picture was taken and the final item signed, everyone was ready to head home.
“Tonight was great,” Rina said as we all walked toward the parking lot. “I’d like to meet with you guys tomorrow to discuss the rest of the tour dates. I want you guys to start up again as soon as possible.”
I knew they were all eager to make up for the canceled shows, but it was Silas who had the biggest smile on his face. When we reached our rental car, we said our goodbyes and climbed inside.
“So, are you ready to get back on the road with us again?” Malachi asked as he shut his door.
I grinned. “I’m ready for anything with you.”