Chapter 20
VAN
Another hour passed, and the concert was wrapping up.
Stepping back into the VIP room, I shoved my personal feelings aside and got back to work.
By the time the band took their final bows, hydrated, and got their makeup touched up, they were ready for interviews.
The band walked into the room and waved at everyone, then took their seats on the periphery.
Brodie’s eyes caught mine, but I quickly turned away, not wanting to draw attention.
I recognized one reporter from rehearsal day. Beau… something. From Channel 10. He and his cameraman were talking. When he noticed me, he walked over and offered his hand.
“Van, good to see you again.”
“You too, Beau. You’re up first.”
“I loved your performance. You really wrote those lyrics?”
I nodded, flustered. This is exactly why I preferred to work backstage. “But this isn’t about me.”
I motioned for Beau to follow, and we headed over to the band.
“Guys, this is Beau from Channel 10 Entertainment News.”
I stood guard as the reporter greeted each member and set up their shot.
Beau looked at the camera and nodded. “I’m reporting live from the Orpheus Theater where America’s hottest band, Wayward Lane, finished up their year with a Halloween concert, and all to raise funds for a New Orleans charity. Guys, tell us about your experience tonight.”
Beau turned to the band members, and each, in their turn, told him what they loved about the city and the show tonight.
“You also performed a new song with your manager, Ivan Cross, and it’s exploding on social media. Can you tell me more about your relationship with him?”
Brodie’s face darkened, and I braced myself.
“The response to the song was just what we hoped for,” Brodie replied calmly. “Next question.”
Beau glanced at me, and I hardened my stare. Thankfully, Beau didn’t push any further and pivoted to other questions.
I was enormously relieved. Normally, Brodie wouldn’t hesitate to snap at a question he didn’t like, but he was restraining himself.
Once Beau was done, I waved in the next journalist.
Beau turned to me with a wide grin. “I’ll be working the afterparty. Buy you a drink there later?”
I was caught off guard for a second but quickly found my footing again. “Thanks, but I’ll be working.”
“Or maybe after?”
I didn’t miss the flirty tone or the once-over he gave me. A year ago, that would’ve gone right over my head.
“I appreciate the offer, but I can’t.”
He glanced at Brodie and then back at me, a smirk on his lips. “No worries. Have a good night.”
I nodded, then turned my attention back to my phone. I perused the band’s socials, and Brodie’s in particular.
The speculation about who I was to him was running wild through social media, and there was nothing I could do about it. The best thing was to say nothing. Like any news, it would soon be eclipsed by another story. We just had to wait it out.
And really? This was the kind of press that musicians dreamed about. The song was already viral, and it hadn’t even been officially recorded yet.
After an hour of interviews, the band was done, and the press filed out of the venue.
“We’re ready to take you to the afterparty,” Regan called out.
“I need to speak to you in private first,” I said to Brodie as I motioned to the door. “Where’s Colm?”
“He was talking to Ace in the hallway.”
“Let’s go to your dressing room.”
We headed out of the room and spotted Ace and Colm standing side by side, deep in conversation.
“Brodie and I need to have a quick chat. We’ll be back in ten minutes,” I called out.
Colm nodded and resumed his conversation with Ace.
Brodie and I made our way down the dark hallway to the basement and the drafty dressing room. I closed the door behind me.
Finally, we had a moment alone.
Brodie sat down at the table, took off his rings, and began to clean off his makeup.
“Wait, what are you doing? You have to leave for the party shortly.”
Brodie shook his head. “I messed it up earlier. And it’s starting to itch.”
I stood behind him and gently placed my hands on his shoulders.
“Have you looked at the socials yet?” I asked quietly.
He nodded. “I have.”
“Greg called me. He wants to know what’s going on. He asked if you and I were together. I didn’t answer his question.”
Brodie grabbed a tissue and wiped the final remnants of makeup off his face. “It’s none of his goddamn business what we are.”
“It is, Brodie. I signed a contract. I made a promise.”
He shrugged off my hands and stood up. Then he turned and faced me, his eyes glittering in the darkness.
“I don’t fucking care.”
“Are you sure you want this?”
Hell was going to rain down over both of us once Greg found out.
My first instinct was to protect Brodie even if it was from myself.
“Are you really asking me that question? After everything that’s happened? After what we shared out there? Couldn’t you feel it?”
“Of course I feel it. That song is all about my feelings for you. But I’m trying to be the voice of reason here.”
“Well, knock it off! I don’t need to rationalize my emotions. That’s not who I am.”
He turned and made to move around me. No way was I letting him walk away now. We needed to have this out.
“Where are you going?” I demanded.
He stalked over to the door, paused, and leaned against it, facing me.
“If this is all on me, I need to know. I can’t keep doing this,” he pleaded, his eyes full of sadness.
Before I knew what I was doing, I was right there in front of him, my hands on the door, caging him in.
I took in every detail of his face now that I could see it clearly without the veil of makeup—those stunning eyes framed by inky lashes, the smattering of freckles over his nose, his perfect pink lips.
How many times had I stared at his face? Thousands of times.
Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine we’d end up here.
“It’s not all you. I just don’t want to fuck this up,” I confessed.
His sharp inhale was so satisfying.
“Oh no, honey. I won’t let you,” he replied and cupped my face.
Brodie touching me and calling me “honey” made my heart clench.
“You feel this?” he asked as he took one of my hands and placed it over his chest. The rapid tempo of his heartbeat mirrored mine. “This is what you do to me. Now I’ve waited long enough. Kiss me.”
My control snapped at his demand.
There was no second guessing. There was no turning back.
I leaned in and took Brodie’s mouth—hard, deep, and claiming.
Brodie kissed me back the same way. He became the aggressor, and I’d never been owned like that before.
Every part of me lit up like I had on stage.
Head, heart, body, soul, all of it was perfectly aligned.
And nothing tasted sweeter than him.
We were eager tongues and lips and frantic touches.
I fucking devoured him, and he did the same to me. His wicked tongue teased mine, sparking a pleasure that was decadent and downright filthy. My body shook hard, overwhelmed by every new sensation.
He let out a husky moan, hiking one leg over my hip.
I gripped his leg and rutted against him, thrusting my hips, and the friction, fuck, the feel of his hard cock rubbing against mine, even through the layers of our clothing, was such a fucking turn-on.
I slid one hand under his kilt, my fingertips exploring his smooth thigh.
Higher, higher, until I reached his hip and felt silk and lace under my fingertips.
“You’re wearing sexy lingerie?”
“I am.”
My dick twitched, and my balls tightened. I paused, trying to get myself under control.
“You like that?” Brodie asked, his hot breath teasing my skin.
“I want to see,” I demanded. “Show me.”
Brodie pushed my chest, and I reluctantly stepped back from him.
I shivered at the loss of his touch, but he shook his head, turned around, and bent over, lifting up his kilt.
He was wearing a black lace thong, his perfect, round ass cheeks on full display.
I smoothed one hand over his right cheek and rubbed my thumb along his crease, feeling him tremble beneath my touch.
Every part of him was beautiful and deserved to be worshiped.
“It’s not the lingerie that’s sexy. It’s all you.”
“Van,” Brodie groaned out my name, and it had never sounded better. He pushed his ass against my hand. “You’re killing me.”
I leaned into him, my denim-covered cock brushing against the heat of his ass cheeks. I kissed his slender shoulder, his neck, and worked my way up to his jaw.
He turned, and I took his mouth as deep as I could at this angle.
I was starved for his taste, addicted after just one kiss, and I didn’t think I’d ever get enough.
My cock was painfully hard, and with every brush against him, it throbbed and jerked in my jeans.
My hand slid around Brodie’s hip, over more smooth skin and quivering muscles.
Through my lusty haze, I remembered that I’d never touched a man like this before. I knew what I liked and what felt good, so I slid my hand under his sexy thong and took him in hand.
A deep groan erupted from his chest as I began to stroke him, the filthy sound ratcheting my desire even higher.
He was leaking pre-cum, his dick heavy, hard, and pulsing in my hand.
I was the one he wanted, and I wanted to make it good for him—the best.
It was already the most incredible experience for me. Every kiss, every touch burning into my brain and wrapping around my heart.
As if sensing my thoughts, Brodie placed his hand over mine and guided me.
And then we were moving together, in sync, like we were on that stage.
Making music of a different kind.
“Van, I can’t hold… I’m gonna—”
His head fell back on my shoulder, and I watched his profile as he shuddered in my arms and came undone. His dick jerked in my grasp, and then my hand was covered in hot cum.
I got so turned on from knowing I was the reason he’d lost control, I came without touching myself.
My balls tightened, my dick twitched, and it was game over. I moaned Brodie’s name as the sharp wave of pleasure snapped through my body and I released my load. I held on tightly to him, one aftershock after another rolling through me .
And we’d only just started…
“What did I tell you?” Brodie panted.
I took in his smug expression, flushed cheeks, and swollen lips.
“Shut up and kiss me,” I demanded.
“Finally.”
I chuckled at Brodie’s reply, and the incredible lightness after such an intense orgasm was amazing.
Then he kissed me, and yeah, amazing was an understatement.
I was flying high, the combination of our pleasure and laughter so potent that I wondered how I was ever going to be professional around him again.
I probably wasn’t.
And I was okay with that.