by BA Tortuga
Seb still felt damn near like a bird in his hand, the skin right next to the bone. The shaking had gone away, though, and the constant panic had eased. They’d spent hours together floating in the bathtub, entire days writing, him playing his acoustic when Seb’s hands wouldn’t work.
He thought it was time, though. Time to get Seb back into the world and know other people could be kind.
“Hey, boss.” Bev waved when they walked in. She looked relaxed, in a little sundress, her hair down. “I like the pants.”
Seb flipped her off, lazily. He was wearing a soft pair of sweats, a T-shirt, his skin still sensitive.
Markus fought his grin. “Hey, y’all. Eduardo, this is Sebastian.”
“Sebastian.” The name came out with, like, four more syllables than it would in English. “I saw you once, at the running of the snowboards in Chamonix. In France, sim?”
“I was there. You rode Destiny’s Child for ninety point three in Baton Rouge, and he damn near took your riding hand off.”
“Yes!” Eduardo hooted, this totally crazy tropical bird sound, and slapped the table. “Welcome, Sebastian Longchamps!”
“Thanks for the help, man.” Seb went over and gave the man a hug, and it felt good—damn good—for Seb to reach out to someone, touch them. “I appreciate it.”
Justin didn’t look thrilled about it, though. Man, that whole thing with him and Eduardo was going to go nuclear. It was going to be fun as fuck to watch.
They were going to watch it too. They’d found a huge plot of land with a lake, a pool, a beautiful house with a room for a studio, plus a little two-bedroom house separate for Bev, when she was in-country. He’d gone to see it and had fallen in love. It was only about thirty minutes from Eduardo’s place, so Markus knew they’d always have a friend.
“I’d like to propose a toast,” Tawny said, raising a glass of some kind of guava and grapefruit juice. “To me going back to the States, where there are toilet seat covers and Pop-Tarts.”
Sebastian snorted. “We’ll send you baby Wranglers for a shower gift.”
Her husband, Jim, chuckled. “You mean Scooter isn’t coming to help at the delivery?”
“No fucking way. She’s going to castrate any nearby male.” Markus grabbed his glass. “A toast to good friends.”
“To a new home.” Bev lifted her glass.
Seb just clinked glasses.
“To new friends too! When you are well, Sebastian, I will let you ride my bulls, huh?” Eduardo was just grinning ear to ear.
“Hell, yeah. I’m so there.”
Bev looked at Markus, purely horrified. He winked at her, knowing he’d never let that happen. Now, he might get on one, just to see….
They all sat together, the huge bowl of black beans and white rice and cheese breads sitting next to slabs of meat.
“Wow, that’s a lot of food.” Seb looked like he was going to barf, which might fuck supper up a little bit.
“There’s hearts of palm salad and fruit too, baby.” He knew Seb would need lighter choices. “Lots of juice.”
“Sim. Sim. The pão—the bread—is tapioca. So good. You try, Justin?” Those dark eyes fastened on Justin, and Markus would be damned if the man didn’t blush dark.
“Sure. I like cheese.” Justin popped a piece of bread in his mouth and dished up a bowl of rice and beans, which seemed to break the ice. Everyone else dug in.
Seb looked fucking panicked, and Markus kept one hand on his back. Seb had to do this. He had to. It took a minute, but Seb got some salad, some rice, some beans, and one of the cheese breads. Markus murmured praise as he filled his own plate, and he went light so Seb wouldn’t be overwhelmed with all the food. When Seb made a happy noise at the taste of the hearts of palm salad, he could have cried with relief.
There was something fucked-up about the fact that Seb’s issue wasn’t having too much of something, but not having enough. Hell, he wasn’t sure what it was about, but he knew how to help. He knew how to help with almost everything now. They were working on it together.
The conversation was light, playful, Tawny teasing them about whether to write under their names or a pseudonym, Eduardo flirting wickedly with Justin, and Bev gently changing the subject whenever Seb seemed uncomfortable.
She was stunningly good at that. He hoped she stayed at least part of the year in Brazil. She was just so good with Seb, and they needed all the friends they could find.
Seb actually relaxed enough to joke back, to tease Tawny. “You sure you want to manage me, lady? I’m tough.”
“Shit.” She tossed a cheese roll at Seb. “I just brokered a huge settlement with your old management. You could buy your own fucking recording studio, thanks to me.”
Laughing, Markus caught the bread midair. “No abusing the tapioca. And settlements are good, but a certain old manager had better not show his face in the States again. They’re waiting to arrest his ass.”
“If he is found here, my brothers will deal with him.” The words were spoken with the confidence of a man who handled his own business. Eduardo didn’t mess around. He was like a minor deity in this part of Brazil.
“I just hope he gets what he deserves.” Seb munched a little more, eating all the rice.
Markus nodded. He just wanted the man never to show up at their door to bother his Seb, ever again. Then they’d need their friends to help hide the body.
“You two focus on getting tanned and healthy and writing music. I’ll focus on the rest.” Tawny sounded so sure. He’d see how businesslike she was when that baby showed up.
“We’re writing. No worries there.” They had to finish the house too. It was partly furnished, but Markus was looking forward to doing the work and making it comfortable. He wanted to give Seb a home. A real home. Maybe for the first time since the man had left his momma’s house. It worked for Markus that it was with him. In Brazil of all places.
Seb’s fingers twined with his, squeezed. “I think I’m done, Candy.”
“Sure. Will y’all excuse us?” Someone would bring him dessert later. He was damned glad he’d taken up swimming again during the last few months.
Good-nights were said, everyone waved, and they headed down the hallway.
“Three days before we’re at the new place, huh? Helen’s flying in?”
“She is. She’s tickled. Had to get a visa and all.” They wandered a little, meandering through the center courtyard instead of taking the inside route.
“Bev is flying back to the States to pack the bus, send guitars and clothes and stuff.”
“She’s coming back, right?” He wasn’t sure he’d known that. Damn. They got to their room, Markus stripping down right away. He was so going native. Of course, he got to wear his Wranglers and play cowboy with Eduardo’s many male relatives too, so it was the best of both worlds.
“She says she’ll be back in three weeks at the most. She has things in her apartment she wants to bring down.” Seb stepped out of his shoes, out of the sweats.
“Oh, good.” Bevvie seemed like an important part of Seb’s recovery somehow. As soon as Seb was naked, Markus moved in, looping his arms around that lean body.
“Hey.” Seb curled into him, snuggled close.
“Hey.” He hummed, his cock taking an interest, and for the first time since the rescue, he didn’t feel guilty about it. Markus didn’t try to think about baseball. He just let it rise. He also thought he ought to warn Seb it was happening. “Oh, baby. I want you.”
OH. SEBASTIAN had been worried that Markus wasn’t wanting him anymore. He knew the man loved him, knew it. It was in the music, in the long hours in the pool, in the quiet hours when he slept for what seemed like days.
That hard cock, though, lifting and filling against his belly? That meant that it wasn’t gone, that hunger. He wanted to be hungry for something. Sebastian reached down, letting his fingers trail over the head of Markus’s cock, and the man moaned.
“Mmm. Love that sound.” His eyes cl
osed, and he focused on the scent, the warmth, the pounding of Markus’s heart.
“You make me hot as hell, baby. Always have.” Markus kissed the spot just under his ear, working down to his neck.
“Still, huh?” He liked that, and he tilted his head, letting Markus have more.
“Always. I just wanted to make sure you were up to it, Seb.” Those lips moved against his skin, making him shiver.
“I want to be. I’m ready to feel things. Good things.” Starting with Markus’s fingers.
“Good.” Markus must have read his mind, because those big hands started moving, fingers touching him. Gentle. Markus was so careful with him, like he might break.
“Take me to bed, Candy. I need you.” He twisted a little bit, turning under the touches, giving Markus more skin.
“Come on, then.” Markus lifted him, so damned strong, those arms roped with muscle. Swimming agreed with the man.
They settled into the big bed, pushing together under the light blankets. He fit against all those muscles, settling in close. The hair on Markus’s chest rasped against his nipples, making him gasp.
He’d finally gotten that wax. It had hurt like a bitch, more than he’d expected, but he felt like himself again, and once Markus had shaved his head, he’d been solid. Well, maybe not as solid as he felt now. He almost looked down at his prick in amazement, but Markus slid one hand behind his head, kissing him deep, tongue pushing all the other thoughts out of his head. He opened, one hand curled around Markus’s arm, the other flat on Markus’s back.
The kiss went long, slow, Markus tasting him, letting him get used to the touch. Those hands never stopped, though, not even when his skin was tingling madly, so sensitive he cried out.
“Jesus, baby, you’re like a live wire.”
He nodded, his heart beating hard. “God, yes. Don’t stop.”
“Not unless you need me to. I promise.” Markus licked a path down his body, stopping to suck up the skin around his left nipple.
That mouth. That mouth, he was dying. Living. Flying.
Markus stroked his ass, his upper thigh, and that crazy feeling of Markus pulling up a bruise never stopped. It just got bigger and bigger.
His head fell back, his throat working as Markus loved on him. He could feel every thread on the sheets, every hair on his lover’s body. Each time those lips pulled at his nipple, his heartbeat tripled, pounding in his chest, then easing off.
He reached out, fingers tangling in Markus’s hair. “Love you.” Sebastian knew Markus knew, but sometimes it was good to say it.
“Oh God, baby. I love you too.” Markus nipped at his skin before slipping down across his belly, breath hot, lips like fire.
He watched Markus stop at the tattoo, trace the ink with his fingertips. That would always be right there for his lover, that song that said every damned thing. Markus just loved on it slowly, almost meditatively.
The touches relaxed him—everywhere but his aching, heavy cock that proved he was getting better, stronger. Strong enough to need. He arched up, trying to get Markus to give that some attention too. His cock bumped Markus’s chin, and his lover chuckled, bending farther to suck at the tip of his prick.
“Oh, sweet fuck. Markus. Your mouth.” The pressure was steady, the heat perfect, and he spread, begging for more.
Markus’s answer was the best kind of noise, around his cock, vibrating his flesh. One big hand slid under his ass, lifting him. Markus loved on him, throat swallowing around his cock, then backing off, slowly building his need. The man was a machine, just giving and giving. He could feel how much Markus needed him too, that cock hard against his lower leg.
“Want you, Candy. In me. Deep.” He wanted Markus everywhere.
“Now? I want that, baby. I got lube. For when I—when you weren’t able.”
“Now, Markus. Please. Fill me up.” He just wanted to feel. Everything.
“I’m on it.” He knew that voice. That was Markus back in charge, confident now that they had a plan. It made him grin, and he admired the long line of body as Markus reached, grabbing a bottle from the nightstand.
Okay, that was the giant economy size bottle of lube. “Miss me, did you?”
Markus blinked, then laughed long and loud. “Oh yeah, baby. I would listen to some Longchamps music and jack off for a fucking hour.”
Oh, now that was the most romantic thing anyone had ever said to him. He pulled Markus down for a kiss as a reward, tasting himself on those swollen lips.
Markus moaned against his mouth. “Can’t wait to tear your ass up again like I did back on the tour, baby. I’ll fuck you now, but soon I’ll do so much more. Jesus, I can’t wait.”
“Soon.” He met those near-black eyes. “Soon I’ll need you to make me burn.”
He knew that, knew he needed what Markus wanted to give him. “You know it.” Markus popped the top on the lube and got his fingers slick. “Right now I’m gonna love you so good.”
Markus turned him onto his side, his back against Markus’s broad chest. Sebastian followed easily, humming when two broad fingers pushed into his ass, opening him up easily. He groaned, and Markus’s free hand covered his belly, pushing him back, encouraging him to move, rock.
Everything came down to Markus’s fingers, his ass, the music that played in his head when they did this. Markus held him there, pushing him to take more, then more as a third finger slipped inside him.
“Yes. Markus. Yes.” When those fingers brushed his gland, he gasped, hips rolling.
“Like that, baby?” Markus was a lot less careful now, a lot less worried. He could tell just by how that body moved, how everything flowed now.
“More.” Like was a stupid word.
Markus gave him more, fingers working him until he wanted to scream with it, his knees pulling up to his belly. He bit out curses and pleas, needing that fat cock to fill him, stretch him.
“Now, baby. Yeah?” Markus pulled free, then pushed up against his ass, cock pressing his hole.
Seb rolled back with a moan and took Markus in all the way to the root. “Yes.”
“Fuck. Oh, baby.” Markus bit him, right where his neck met his shoulder.
The sting was perfect, and his fingers opened and closed. “Don’t fucking stop.”
“Not now. No way.” That thick cock pushed in and in until Markus’s hips rested against his ass. He wished for a moment that his ass was hot from Candy’s hand, but he knew that would come again. Soon.
“That’s right, baby. Soon this will be our bed, and I’ll put you over my knee, make you shine for me, make you ache and burn.”
His glutes went tight in response to that promise, those words. His cock reached up, begging for that hand on his belly, and Markus knew. The man always knew. That hand slid down, grabbed his cock, fingers closing at the tip, pinching his slit shut.
“Markus.” He came hard, entire body shaking with it, whole world tilting.
“Oh God, baby. Dreamed about you.” Markus shot for him too, just slamming into his ass one last time.
They rested together, Markus’s hand rubbing his own come into his belly, the touch slow, sure. Mesmerizing.
“Needed that, baby. So bad.” Markus sounded so damned happy.
“God, yes.” He nodded. “Was beginning to think we’d never get to do that again.”
“Oh, I knew better. I was just worried that I would be too rough.”
How dear was it that Markus was worried about that. The man who had tanned his ass until Sebastian couldn’t sit for a week.
“I want to feel good enough that you can be rough.” He was getting there. Slowly.
“You will. We’ll be in our house, our place, with no one else to care what we do.”
“You, me, music.” He blinked slowly, surrounded in Markus’s warmth. He felt good. Really good for the first time in ages. It made him smile.
“That’s right, baby. You, me, music. I promise.”
He nodded. “Sing to me?”
“Anytime, Seb. Anything you want to hear.” Markus started singing “I’ll Fly Away” for him, and he could swear he heard his maman singing along.
By the time his lover had headed into “Waltz Across Texas,” he was asleep.
Epilogue
“I SWEAR to God, Markus Kane, if your man doesn’t eat his lunch, I am going to beat him with a hammer,” Helen said, waving a stalk of celery under his nose.
Shame too, because he’d been working on a nap and a half, just him, his two-person chaise lounge, and their new Fila Brasileiro dog, Fido. Fido took up a person-and-a-half’s space. He also reached right out and grabbed that celery in his teeth. Go Fido.
“Well, if you were trying to feed him celery, I don’t blame him.”
“I was trying to feed him anything—peanut butter, apples, ice cream, hummus. He says he’s not hungry.”
“Okay.” Markus rolled to his feet, wrapping a towel around his waist so as not to embarrass her. “Bev?”
“She tried Ensure. He told her nothing but pineapple.”
Huh. That was a habit of a Seb who was about to hop on the treadmill and run for three hours. So not gonna happen.
Markus headed inside, Fido padding along next to him, celery dangling. “Find Seb, buddy.”
A low, happy bark sounded, and then the pup started moving. That damn dog thought Seb was pure magic, the most amazing human on earth. It made it hard to leave him outside the bedroom at night, but it turned out that was a necessary thing too. Silly dog thought they were fighting….
“There he is.” Seb was pondering the treadmill, head tilted to one side, arms crossed. “We at the contemplative stage, baby?”
“Figurative.” Those pretty green eyes looked back at him. “Helen or Bev send you?”
“Helen. She says pineapple? That’s not enough to keep you going.” He moved close, let his hand slide over Seb’s ass.
“I’m not going to fit in my jeans if I keep eating.” Seb leaned into his touch, encouraging him.
“You fit in them just fine. Trust me. I would tell you if you didn’t.” He tugged Seb away from the exercise machines. “How about some mashed potatoes?” As much as Markus loved Brazilian food, Helen always had American staples on hand.
