by Megan Derr
"Naw, I ain't worried about this," Cooper said. "If I was worried, I wouldn’t have chased you up here like a cat after a bird." He ran his thumb over Dai's lips, then up to trace the line of his cheek. "I'm just worried in general. Been trying not to bug you with it, I'm sorry."
He started to pull his hand back, but Dai grabbed it, kept it against his face. "You can bug me," he said, ignoring the resurge of heat to his cheeks. "I—I like this, even if it's gotta be a secret. Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself, but I don't normally give my number out, or text people, when they're just for fun." He stared at Cooper's chest, inwardly panicking about giving up so much, but he preferred to have everything out so he knew where they were going. "I really have missed you."
"Missed you, too," Cooper said quietly, freeing his hand, but only to gently grasp Dai's chin, tilt it up, and bend down to kiss him. "More'n you know. You done got under my skin, and I ain't in a hurry to get you out, however foolish that makes me." He ran his fingers over Dai's spiky hair, still stiff from the salon, the purple and red dye fresh and bright. "Looks good."
Dai grinned. "Thanks." He pulled away, grabbed his beer, then wandered over to the bed and sat down, patting the space next to him. "Sit. What's so difficult about replacing Henry? She's your guitarist, right?"
"Everything," Cooper groused, pouring himself a beer and sitting next to Dai. "Half of them think they should get paid more, like we ain't paying them plenty fair. Others have been amazing but didn't actually understand the commitment involved. Others just want the money—don't actually like the music all that much, and we just ain't putting up with that. We'll find someone eventually. The last time we needed someone, though, it was a lot easier." His mouth quirked. "Guess we ain't used to having to work for it."
"We had to replace Kim once, way back in the beginning when he broke his leg in a car accident. That fucking sucked, let me tell you, and the guy who filled in turned out to be a goddamn asshole. So I feel your pain. Hey, do you know Hard Play?"
"I know the name. Ain't they got a hit playing right now? Sober, that's what it's called. Heartbreaking. What about them?"
"They're on hiatus for a bit, after they do a concert with us in a few days for some fat cat private event. Nikko is taking a break to do some modeling thing for an old friend, and I think someone else in the band is getting married soon, so he's taking time off for that. But I think their guitarist, Edward Teller, is free and clear. He's a bit on the pretentious side, but not in any really damaging way, and he started in country music, I think."
"I thought you guys hated them."
Dai shrugged, grinned faintly. "Only because it's more fun than playing nice, really. And they're good, there's no denying that. You can call their agent, I've got her number, and if Edward can do it, she'll arrange it. Gimme your phone." Cooper handed it over, and Dai punched in the information. "He doesn't need the money, so I doubt he'll bitch about that, and he likes to stay busy."
"Thanks, darling," Cooper said. He tossed the phone on the bed as Dai handed it back, set his beer on the floor and hooked a hand a behind Dai's head and drew him into a kiss that melted every thought in Dai's head. When he finally pulled away, he looked around the room, then back at Dai. "So what is all this about, anyway? Jake didn't make no mention of this."
"He may not know. Taylor is really fucking strict about who gets access."
Cooper finished his beer in a long gulp. Dai watched that long throat work and resisted an urge to bite it, tucking it away for later. He finished his own beer, then let Cooper take their glasses and set them on the floor. When he sat back up, Dai tugged Cooper up the bed and spread him out before straddling his hips, bracing his hands on his stomach. He liked the bit of softness to it, that for all Cooper was lean and trim he wasn't some six-pack obsessed-pseudo model like so many of the guys Dai had fucked. "Come here often?" Cooper asked, mouth tipping up at one corner.
"Not really," Dai replied. "Last time was… shit, I don't even fucking remember. Two years ago? Some German bassist. He was hot, but it turned out he had a girlfriend, and I'm not going to be party to some guy being a cheating asshole. Nobody is that hot." He'd expected jealousy, or maybe a pout. Something like that. Cooper just smiled that hot little smile that Dai already knew meant he really liked whatever images were playing in his head. "What has you smirking?"
"I just like any excuse to picture you well-fucked. One of my favorite images."
"I thought you cowboys were supposed to be all proper and focused on work or something."
"Even cowboys have a weakness," Cooper replied with a laugh, hands smoothing up his legs to rest heavy on his thighs, thumb teasing along the seam of his pants. "I like you in leather."
Dai smirked, grinded against him, and leaned forward to fan his hands across Cooper's chest. "You like me in silk more. Maybe I should do both sometime. I've still got a leather miniskirt around somewhere."
Cooper groaned. "I swear I feel too exhausted to do anything but fall over, but you have me ready to try anyway."
Chuckling, Dai shifted to lie on top of him, pillowing his chin on his arms folded across Cooper's chest. "We've got the room all night, cowboy. Take a nap. You can fuck me blind when you wake up."
"That seems a perfectly good waste of a beautiful man," Cooper replied and grabbed hold of him, flipping them. "But I admit it's a damn fine offer."
Dai tugged him down, combed gently through his hair. The last time he'd slept with anyone semi-regularly had been when he and Jet had been touring on their own, struggling through dives and sleeping in the back of their van or in dubious hotel rooms. Whatever money they'd come from, they hadn't had it once they'd left home against their parents' wishes.
Thanks largely to Jet and Jason, they'd gotten money of their own sooner rather than later.
Sleeping with Cooper was nothing at all like that, and a far cry from the few one-nighters who'd dozed a couple of hours before leaving. A couple had tried to stay longer, but Dai hadn't been down with that in the slightest.
But he didn't mind even a little bit the way Cooper fell asleep within minutes, a heavy but pleasant weight against his side, on his shoulder. It was nice—too nice, maybe, but he was obviously already determined to do something stupid.
Whatever. Consequences were meant to be faced later. Squirming a bit to settle more comfortably, Dai closed his eyes and settled into a doze, enjoying the smell and feel of Cooper, the distant throbbing of the club, and the low, hot coil of anticipation patiently waiting to become an inferno when they woke up.
Unfortunately, it wasn't sexy times that woke him, but his phone buzzing. Cracking one eye open, grumbling about stupid cousins who were going to die, Dai dug his phone out of his pocket. Yep, sure enough. Goddamn Jet. If I were to get into a fight, would you come help me?
I am going to be getting laid very shortly, asshole. If you cost me this hookup, I'll feed your dick to alligators.
That hot, huh?
STFU and go do something that is not going to end in telling my brother you got arrested.
Fine. But you owe me for making nice with Nikko.
Ugh. We'll have our revenge when we do better than them at the concert. If you can't behave, leave. I swear to god, Jet.
You can unknot your expensive panties, little prince. I'll behave this time.
He glared at his phone. Jet wanted a fight? Dai was gonna give him a fucking fight. I will come down there and break your face if you don't shut up.
Go get laid. See ya tmr.
Dai set the phone aside on the nightstand, then settled down and tried to go back to sleep. Fuck, he hoped Jet didn't ask about who he banged later. Jet usually didn't, but every now and then he got bored and/or curious enough to bother. And Jet with a question was a dog with a bone.
He put that in the 'to panic about later' stack, and focused on wiggling free of Cooper, who was still dead to the world and looked to remain that way. All he did when Dai slipped away was roll over with a soft grunt. Dai smiled, re
sisted an urge to smooth out his hair, and slipped away to the bathroom.
When he got back, he retrieved his glass and refilled it, then dug out pen and paper from a drawer in one of the nightstands. Sitting at the table, he whiled away the evening jotting down lyrics and fine-tuning the ones he'd been working on earlier in the day, recalling most of them.
He looked up when his phone buzzed again, sighed softly, and went to fetch it.
Going home Jet said. You upstairs?
Yep. You can take my car if you want, I'll call the service.
Oh, pulling an all-nighter? He must be really hot.
None of your business.
And he's making you possessive. I'll have to beat details out of you later.
You really are jonesing for an ass-kicking. GTFO and don't bother me tomorrow.
Yeah, yeah. HFBC, CIYN.
Dai smiled. Have fun, be careful, call if you need. Thankfully, the times either one of them had needed to call were few and far between and hadn't happened in a long time. Drive safe. Sleep well.
"What time is it?" Cooper asked, voice sleep-rough and even sexier for it.
Dai glanced at his phone. "Two-ish in the morning."
"Hell, I slept the whole damn night away. Jake is going to kill me. Where's my phone?" He saw it where they'd left it lying on the other side of the bed, snagged it, and sent a quick text. "What time you gotta be somewhere?"
"Only place I have to be is a concert on Thursday. Until then, I'm a free man. Though I should probably show up for rehearsal on Wednesday. And we don't have to clear out of this room until ten." Dai set his phone back on the nightstand, looked up when Cooper set his right beside it, and smiled slow and hot when Cooper snagged his wrist and dragged him close. "Get a good nap?"
"Yeah," Cooper murmured against his mouth. "Thanks."
Dai didn't bother voicing a reply, just cupped Cooper's head in his hands and kissed him, slow and soft, lazily tasting and exploring that warm mouth, vividly remembering all the little things he'd missed.
Sliding an arm around his waist, Cooper dragged him into bed and then shifted to lay him out on it, swinging those long legs so he straddled Dai. He pushed one hand up under Dai's shirt, hand almost hot against his warm skin, mouth definitely hot as it continued eating at Dai's, stubble scraping in a delicious, shiver-inducing way. "You're a cure for all ills, Dai. No mistake."
"Mutual," Dai replied and reeled him back in.
Track 04
Sound of Your Voice
Cooper yawned as he pulled into the driveway of the apartment complex where Henry was staying with her sister while she sorted out where she wanted to buy a house. Retrieving his hat from the passenger seat, he climbed out of the car and then grabbed his duffle from the backseat. He mashed the button to lock the car as he headed up the walkway, following the directions Henry had emailed him, hauling to the third floor where her sister's condo was located.
He knocked softly on the door and mustered a smile when a tired, anxious Henry opened the door. "Hey, honey." He hugged her tight when she looked ready to cry, then got them both into the condo. He hung his hat up on one of the hooks by the door—she'd probably put them there just for him and Jake. "How are you?"
"Fine," she replied. "You want a beer?"
"Sounds good. Wouldn't mind food neither, if you got that."
"Saved some chicken, potatoes, and biscuits just for you." She nudged him toward the living room then slipped into the little kitchen.
Cooper pulled his boots off before finally stepping into the living room. He sat down on the couch with a groan. Damn, but it was nice not to be in that car. He was done and done with being stuck in cars. 'Bout the only thing that was gonna get him back in one right then was a certain sexy rockstar.
Whom he hadn't heard from in days. The last time Dai had talked to him had been in reply to things Cooper had said or asked. But he supposed a near seven-month absence was a bit much to expect Dai to tolerate when Cooper wasn't even sure he could call them lovers.
Sometimes he just wanted to say to hell with it all and stop hiding. But Jake didn't need Shine the Moon facing more drama and nonsense; everything was already turned on its head with the press feeding like hungry wolves over the dramatic divorce of business tycoon Dominic Edgecombe and Shine the Moon darling Henrietta Jameson. The very last thing they needed was Cooper coming out and being in a relationship with a rockstar from a band well known for its out and proud members and their flamboyant ways.
Even if there shouldn't be a single damned thing wrong with any of that.
He looked up as Henry came in carrying a plate, the food steaming, filling his nostrils with the smell of fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, and biscuits with butter and honey. "Darling, that is a sight for sore eyes."
Henry laughed and set the plate on the coffee table, along with a bottle of beer. "Kids are asleep. They were disappointed they wouldn’t get to see you until morning."
"How are they doing?"
"Best as can be expected. I think they'll be happier when we're able to find a good place to live and everything starts to feel normal again."
"When does Dominic get them?"
"Every other weekend," Henry said, mouth flattening. "Best I could do. I want to fight it, but my lawyer says to simmer down for now, and I ain't got the energy or time to keep pushing it." She settled down in the nearby armchair with a beer of her own and picked up a little remote that set her stereo to playing.
Cooper had just taken another bite of fried chicken when a song came on that felt like a double punch to his face. Dai's voice sang out, low and smooth and a touch naughty, singing a song most radio stations wouldn't play unless it was edited so heavily there wasn't much damned point.
He set the plate down and stood up, shins knocking into the coffee table. "Bathroom?"
Henry looked at him with a puzzle frown but pointed. "Down the hall."
"Thanks, darling." He fled as quickly as he could, desperate to escape Dai's voice, smooth as warm honey during the verses, rough as rock sugar in the chorus. Addictive as hell every moment of every day.
Cooper closed the bathroom door then slumped against it. Shouldn't be possible to miss one person so damned much, 'specially a man he didn't really see a whole hell of a lot. A man way too vibrant and alive for someone like Cooper, who still couldn't get used to fame, had kept his secrets too long to know how to let them go.
Digging his wallet out of his back pocket, Cooper pulled out the pictures of Dai he'd taken to keeping there, professional shots he'd taken from a magazine. Dai looked beautiful, stunning. Far too amazing to be dragged out into the dirt Cooper rolled in.
They weren't the real, ordinary pictures he'd prefer, but he wasn't sure he had the right to ask for something like that. 'Specially when Dai was talking to him less and less.
He tucked his wallet away again, pulled out his phone, and opened a text window—then closed it and punched the speed dial, heart thudding as Dai's phone rang. He hadn't a clue what he was gonna say… And it turned out not to matter when the phone eventually flipped to voicemail. "Just wanted to say I'm missing you, darling. Luck permitting, I'll see you again soon. Hope all is going well for ya." Shoving the phone back in his pocket, Cooper used the bathroom then returned to the living room.
"You alright, honey?" Henry asked.
Cooper nodded. "I'm fine. Sorry about that."
She gave him a pensive look for a bit longer then took a sip of her beer. "So how was the tour?"
"Busy, exhausting, all the usual. Edward is working out nicely, and we got a bead on a permanent replacement, but it ain't the same without you. Figured out what you're going to be doing from here on?"
"Besides finding a house? No, that's keeping me plenty busy." She took another swallow of beer. "Thinking of getting out of this state entirely for a bit. I can't leave this condo without being harassed, I swear."
Cooper finished eating and set his plate back on the coffee table. "That's act
ually one of the reasons I came. If you and the kids don't mind the long haul, you can stay in my house for as long as you need it. I'm never there; it's quiet and in the middle of nowhere, and you know my mama loves your kids. They're the closest she's ever gonna get to grandkids from me." He winked. "My folks don't live even fifteen minutes from me."
"I'm not taking your house, Coop," Henry said as she set her beer down.
He took a swig of his own. "I ain't giving it away or anything, but I spend more time in the city, and I'm gonna be there for a while anyway. You may as well use it if'n you think it's what ya'll need."
Henry worried her bottom lip, picked up her beer, and ran her thumbs through the condensation. "It might, at that. Would be space, kids could play, and we'd be far away from all this craziness. Start completely fresh, and I got friends out there who can help me find my feet. I'll have to contact my lawyer and petition for a relocation, but I don't think that'll be too much trouble. Dom has family and offices in Houston. If he really wants to see the kids we can work it out."
"Sounds like a plan, darling." Cooper stood and carried his dishes and empty bottle into the kitchen, threw the dishes in the dishwasher, then fetched his duffle bag and fished out the set of spare keys he'd brought. Back in the living room, he handed them over. "These are keys for the front door, back door, my mom's house, and there's one for my apartment in Houston though I doubt you'll be needing that."
She stood and took them, hugging him tight. "Thanks, Coop. Don't know what we'd do without you."
"You'd be just fine, honey," he said with a smile before succumbing to an eye-watering yawn. "If you don't mind now, though, I think I'm gonna go pass out."
Laughing, Henry hugged him again, then turned and pointed him down the hall. "All the way at the end on the right. I stole the master bedroom so the second-best room is all yours. Has its own bathroom and everything."
"How's your sister?"
"Having a blast somewhere in China," Henry said with a smile. "She said I could use this place as long as I wanted, but I'll be happy to have a house again. Apartments and such make me feel like I'm back in college, and the kids miss having somewhere to run around proper. Now get on with you before you fall asleep where you stand."
