Push

by BLMorticia

  “I know, but I have to think ahead. Say we started seeing one another and then the band breaks out. People will talk lots of crap. From what I know about Seth, he won’t like that, not one bit.”

  “Well, you won’t know what will happen unless you try him. Malakei, you’re allowed to have fun, you know. You’re talented, successful, and the world adores you.”

  “Yeah, now because they think I’m straight.”

  “And they’ll continue to love you as a gay man. You’ll never know unless you put it out there.”

  “Yeah, I’m not ready to right now. I have a lot going on.”

  “So?”

  “So, this is my career. My livelihood. And while I won’t go broke if everyone turns on me, there will always be a dark cloud over my relationship with other hip-hop acts.”

  “JUST SITTING here, thinking about how we can get to loooveee….” Seth plucked the strings on his acoustic while he sang a lyric that popped in his head on the way back to the hotel. Funny how being around Malakei could inspire him so quickly, and he hadn’t gotten the chance to tell him anything.

  “Seth? Man, what’cha doin’ out there in the cold?” Morty stepped out onto the balcony.

  “Just thinking about stuff, that’s all. What’s up?”

  “Nothing. Couldn’t help but notice how you gave Malakei’s friend the evil eye during dinner.”

  Seth twisted his lips to the side. “I gots a bad feeling about him.”

  “Why? He seemed like a cool bloke.”

  “Just….” Seth sighed, wondering should he share this bit of information with his straight friend. “’Cause I like Malakei and… Peter is his ex-boyfriend.”

  “What?” Morty’s eyes bulged. “How do you know?”

  “I heard them talking earlier. I was waiting outside the studio, and Peter blurted it out.”

  “Wow. That’s… I would’ve never guessed he was gay.”

  “Yeah? And you better not tell a soul, either. He’s still in the closet, man.”

  “Obviously. So… you got the hots for him?”

  “Yeah.”

  “How? You were giving him so much shit on the phone and when we arrived. The way you brassed the guy off….”

  Seth toyed with the frays in his jeans and dropped his gaze. “I know it sounds childish as fuck, but… I didn’t want you guys to know about my crush on him. I mean….” Seth sat up straight. “I fucking lost it when you said he messaged us on the site, man. Me saying all those things was a smoke screen.”

  “Why, though? We know you’re bent.”

  “Yeah, but… you know. I’m in charge, and how freaking immature of me to show you guys I’m in lust with the hip-hopper.”

  “That’s just asinine, dude. We’re your buds. If anything, I’m pulling for ya so you can date and we can hang with Prophet on the regular.” He laughed.

  Seth snorted. “Just like you to say that, ya wanker. Hey, if he becomes my boyfriend, you guys don’t get to take advantage!”

  “Psssh. He already invited us over.”

  “Yeah, he did and I couldn’t believe it. He’s too nice of a guy, ain’t he? He should know not to invite some misfits like us over to his fancy pad, right?”

  “But we’re his band now. He can’t take it back. Me and Gio will remind him. So… uh, ya gonna try for ’im?”

  “Fuck yeah, I am. Now that I know we’re playing on the same side, he’s fair game, and… as I showed you arses back home, no one, and I mean, no one can resist the Seth Davies charm.”

  The following morning, a driver picked up the band to bring them into the studio to record the first three songs. Instead of following them in, Seth’s and Gio’s mothers with Morty’s girlfriend, Gina, took in the sights with a personal tour guide Malakei had paid for.

  Walking back into the studio, Seth gripped his guitar case tight, looking around the place as if it were the first time they’d been there. It didn’t matter that they’d been there yesterday, because everything still seemed so surreal.

  “Hello, gentlemen.”

  Seth looked up and watched Malakei walk into view with another guy they hadn’t met. He was good-looking, but couldn’t hold a candle to Malakei.

  Today, Malakei dressed in black slacks, a white long-sleeve shirt with a gray vest, and black tie. In that simple outfit, he looked amazing. Seth had a weakness for men who wore formal clothing, and Malakei did it better than anyone.

  “Mornin’.” Seth greeted Malakei with a handshake, gripping his palm firmly. He fought with himself to keep it within his own, but quickly let go.

  After he shook hands with Morty and Gio, Malakei patted the guy’s shoulder. “Gents, this is Barry Reynolds, my top producer/engineer. He will be working along with me to help you with the mixing and sound of this EP.”

  Seth greeted him, as did the others.

  “And, to make you happier, Seth, Barry used to play in a metal band, so he knows more than me,” Malakei added.

  Seth smiled wide. “All right, touché, my man. You more than proved me wrong with your knowledge yesterday, but it’s good to have someone who was in the trenches.”

  Barry laughed. “Prophet knows a lot about metal, Seth. Years ago, he’d come watch me play.”

  “Yeah? What was the name of your band?” Seth asked.

  “Autumn’s Fracture,” Barry said, shaking his head. “We were good, but not enough to make it anywhere. So I worked behind the boards instead. A lot less stress.”

  “True. So have you heard us?” Morty asked him.

  “Sure have. You guys kick ass. I can’t wait to help you build on this sound. The raw energy is off the charts. You play like real pros.”

  “Fuck, I like you, man.” Seth laughed along with Morty and Gio. “Well, we’re ready to jam, then.”

  Barry nodded. “Good, let’s do it.”

  Seth grinned and continued on to the performance space, with Morty and Gio trailing him. He placed his guitar case on the floor and carefully removed his guitar.

  “You good, mate?” Morty asked him.

  “Yeah. It’s time to turn up the Davies charm, I know that.”

  “Why?”

  “So he’ll know I’m interested.”

  “Ah, I think he knows. He couldn’t keep his eyes off you, either.” Morty chuckled. “It’s kind of gross, but cute.”

  “Piss off, arsehole. I don’t say a word when you’re pining over some girl that ain’t Gina.”

  “That’s true. You’ve always kept your mouth shut.”

  “And if you want that to continue, you’ll stop making stupid jokes, hey, mate?”

  “Right.” Morty patted Seth on the back.

  After Seth adjusted his guitar strap and walked over to the pedal, he plugged his guitar in. He strummed his Fender once and played a few chords that nearly burst his eardrums.

  “Fucking right,” he yelled, and played the riff to “Finders.”

  “Seth, put the headphones on,” Malakei yelled at him.

  Seth continued to play and shook his head. “I gots to hear this, man. It sounds ten times better with these speakers!”

  “Yeah, that’s great, but the feedback alone will destroy your hearing. Put ’em on!”

  Thoroughly immersed in the music, Seth ignored the warning and turned his back on Malakei.

  Before he could make another move, however, Seth felt a hand on his shoulder and shifted just in time for Malakei to plop the headphones over his ears. Entranced, Seth inhaled sharply, staring into Malakei’s light brown eyes like a lovesick puppy. Seth’s heart thumped when Malakei’s hands brushed against his face. He released a shaky breath. He licked his lips and grinned at Malakei, wishing he could kiss him.

  “Aw, dammit, mate, I’m not gonna experience much with these on.” Seth tried to play it cool even though he was losing it.

  Malakei shrugged and stepped back, still eyeing Seth. “Yeah, you are, and the good thing is, you’ll still be able to hear after you’re done.”

 
; Seth bowed his head and quickly spun on his heel so he could focus on the music.

  Could Morty be right about Malakei being into him, or was he just saying that? Regardless, now that they were taking care of business, Seth was ready to rock and show M. Prophet he’d made the right decision to help his band.

  After the band played, Seth strummed his guitar again, looking for the right note for his new song on his own. His bandmates were okay with him taking care of all the lyrics, but they both helped on rhythm. For this new one, however, Seth did it solo.

  “So, Seth?”

  “Yeah?” Seth didn’t look up because he feared he’d combust from gazing into Malakei’s eyes.

  “What happened with the fourth guy?”

  “He joined a new band. They seem to be doing okay.” Except for the drugs, that was a true statement.

  “Mhmm. Was he an integral part of High Stakes?”

  “Integral?” Seth eyed Malakei and laughed. “No. More like an extra pair of hands. He was quite subpar on the axe. Why?”

  “Just wondering. I remember you saying you guys had a fallout.”

  “Yeah, we did, but I think we’re better off without him.” Seth continued plucking the strings on his guitar.

  “I agree, but I will tell you this. Don’t allow the music to impede good friendships. Were you close with the guy?”

  “Yeah.” Seth put down his guitar and crossed his arms. “We went to middle school together. Got in trouble a lot, smoking and drinking even when we were too young.” Seth pulled out his cigarettes and tapped the package.

  “Um, I don’t allow smoking in here. Sorry.”

  “Geez, well, all right.” Seth put them back in his pocket. “Anyway, while the bloke is cool, he ain’t all that great at playing.”

  “By whose standards?”

  “Mine.” Seth snarled at him. It came out a lot harder than he wanted.

  Malakei held up his hands. “Okay, fine. I’ll back off, then.”

  Seth shook his head and ran his hand through his hair. “Shit, I’m sorry, Malakei. I didn’t mean to snap at you. It’s just, my mom has been bugging me about making peace, ya know? I’m thinking it’s time to let things go and move on.”

  “You’re right, but so is she. Don’t kill a friendship over this. Accept that it didn’t work out, but stay friends.”

  Seth sighed. “All right. And um, I’m sorry for that, again. Seems like the more time we’re around each other, the more I end up putting my damn foot in my mouth.” He chuckled.

  Malakei grinned at him. “It’s fine. I can take it. It shows that you care. That you’re alive. Anyway, remember what I said.” He turned around, not saying another word.

  Seth whistled low, ogling the way Malakei’s behind moved in his trousers. “Oh, I’m alive, baby. Can’t wait to show you just how alive I really am.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  “SOOOO….”

  Malakei looked up from the soundboard at Barry. “So what? You like them?”

  “I love ’em, man. They’re the shot in the arm the music public needs, but… I wasn’t talking about that.”

  Malakei turned to Barry. “Then, what are you speaking of?”

  “The moment between you two earlier.”

  “What moment?”

  Barry chuckled. “Aw c’mon, man. When you put the kid’s headphones on….”

  “Yeah?”

  “He stared at you like he wanted to ram you to the floor and pounce on you.”

  “Maybe.”

  “What?”

  “Okay, fine, I noticed. It doesn’t mean I will do anything about it.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I can’t. Seth and the band will be huge. The last thing they need is rumors of a romance between us following them around.”

  “Oh God, Mal….”

  “What? It’s not a good idea, Barry. At first I wanted it. Seth is so damn attractive. I even joked around with Pete, saying I’d make a run at him, but after thinking about it more, I can’t. I can’t interfere and mess up their chance at stardom. Besides, it would be very unprofessional.”

  “So what, Kei? You need to let loose. You’re wound up tighter than a spool of thread. You need someone in your life.”

  “I do, but he isn’t it. I’m… I’m thinking I might get back with Peter. I know I pissed him off last night, but….”

  “No, no, no, man. C’mon. I like Peter, but he—”

  Barry stopped talking when a knock sounded at the door.

  “Yeah?”

  “Malakei?”

  Malakei glared at Barry, then proceeded to the door. Seth stood there smiling like the cat that ate the canary.

  “Did you forget something?”

  “Wanted to see what you were up to. Was kind of hoping we could hang out a bit.”

  Malakei sighed. His mind screamed no. It was a conflict of interest to date someone he was assisting. His heart and cock spoke differently, however, because here was the man he’d been dreaming about, in the flesh, asking him out.

  “Malakei?”

  “Uh, sorry. I’m… I’m kind of busy. Barry and I are working on the first song, and….”

  “And you don’t need to go home?”

  “Not now. There’s nothing there for me to go to. Lots of leftover food I don’t need.” He laughed. “I told you guys you could take a lot more back to the hotel.”

  “We did, and the way Morty and Gio eat, they’ve just about finished it all.” Seth clicked his teeth. “C’mon, mate. Barry can do the magic while you and I hang.”

  “Seth….”

  “Yeah?”

  “What are you trying to do?”

  Seth smiled and swiped his tongue over his lips. “Have a meal with my new friend, with… hopes it could be more later on.”

  Malakei gasped and eyed Seth. “How did you….”

  “I heard you and your ex yesterday. I wasn’t even gonna tell you, but…. Gods….” Seth shook his head, running his hand through his scraggly blondish-brown locks. “I like you, Prophet. I always have and… now that we’re working together, I know I got a shot at you.”

  Malakei couldn’t believe his ears. He figured Seth might’ve heard the conversation, but he’d hoped he was wrong.

  “You could’ve fooled me with what you said yesterday, and then there was the small episode today.” Malakei turned his head. “Barry, I’m going to step away for a minute, all right?”

  “Yeah,” Barry called back.

  After closing the door, Malakei shifted back around, watching Seth. He nibbled on his bottom lip, nervous about what to do or say next. He really shouldn’t have been taking Seth up on his offer, but he couldn’t help himself.

  “Yeah, so about all that—”

  Malakei held up his hand. “Is that how you treat someone you have an interest in?”

  “I got an image to maintain with the boys, Malakei. They give me a hard time about being gay. Getting all excited in front of them would’ve only fueled the stupid-arse jokes, you know?”

  “I guess. Anyway, um, I’m not really one to go out anywhere, but I have a pool table here. Maybe we could have a drink? Shoot a game or two?”

  Seth grinned. “I’d like that. A lot. I’m good at it.”

  “Yeah, well so am I.”

  “We could play for something,” Seth said with a Cheshire smile.

  Malakei sighed. “Nah, I’m not a gambler. Let’s go.”

  “All right.”

  Malakei bowed his head and walked away from the studio. “Where’s the band?”

  “Back at the hotel. I told ’em don’t expect me back real soon.”

  Malakei looked at Seth, watching his blue eyes light up. They were full of mischief. He suddenly wondered if he was being taken for a fool. “So, you don’t think this is a bad idea?”

  “What?”

  Malakei opened the door and waved Seth through. “This. I’m helping you guys with your music.”

  “And?”


  “And, it’s almost like an employee-boss thing. I know you don’t work for me, but we are working together. This is unprofessional.”

  “Pfft. Malakei, as long as we take care of business first, I don’t see a problem. I won’t lose my head, knowing we’re about to break. Besides, I wouldn’t do that to my guys. They know how I feel about you. I told ’em if I slip, to kick my arse. But I’m telling you, I want this worse than they do, so I doubt I’ll forget the real reason I’m here.”

  “Okay, but you don’t see anything wrong with you and I….”

  “No. Malakei, I don’t really care about professionalism, but if you feel things get a little out of hand, you got the right to stop me.” Seth dragged his finger over Malakei’s shirt collar. He went down farther until he arrived at the center of Malakei’s vest.

  Malakei’s breath hitched. Seth inched in close, so much so he could feel his breath tickle his nostrils. He smelled of stale cigarettes and coffee, the only things Malakei had seen him put in his mouth. Though Malakei hated nicotine, it was an aphrodisiac when it came to Seth.

  “Seth….” Malakei managed through ragged breaths. With no distance between them, Malakei’s cock hardened in his slacks, aching for release. He could barely speak from the discomfort hindering him. “We’re supposed to be playing pool….” he ground out.

  “So we are.” Seth winked and brushed past Malakei, walking inside.

  Malakei dropped his head and flicked on the lights. “Um, what would you like?”

  “Beer?”

  “Yeah, I have Bud, Miller Lite, Stella….”

  “Stella, please. She’s the only girl I drink.”

  Malakei twisted his lips and turned toward the mini fridge behind the bar. He’d put this room together with the wet bar for his guests to wind down from long days of recording.

  Seth moved across the room like a cat. When he made it to the table, he lifted the triangle from the balls and placed it on the hook behind him.

  As Malakei poured the beer into the glass, he watched Seth study the balls intently. His hair fell over his left eye, but he didn’t bother moving it.

  Malakei blew out a ragged breath. This simple innocent instance of playing pool would be murder on his resolve to stay away.

  “Are you prepared to lose, mate?”