by Evie Drae
In less than forty-five seconds, his disheveled rebel with a side of “chic unique” appearance—Cinder’s brand—was refreshed. He snatched his faithful acoustic guitar, and inanimate best friend, Betsy, from his guitar technician before making his way to his next mark.
Despite the stage remaining cloaked in darkness, Cinder’s chest swelled as he scanned the house. In preparation for “Heartbeat Away,” the sultry romantic ballad they all expected, thanks to the prompt shift in atmosphere, the entire audience had their cell phone flashlights on and swayed in haphazard synchronization. It always made him think of what it might be like to look out the front window of a spaceship going light speed through the stars.
The brief intermission music wrapped up, and a single spotlight beamed straight down on Cinder. Other than the flickering light emanating from the wound-up crowd now hooting and hollering in earnest once more, the deep red glow encompassing Cinder, his guitar, and a wooden stool was the only visible area of focus.
He cocked a hip on the stool and adjusted the strap of his guitar before strumming a single note and grinning when the house exploded in excitement.
Their predictions were true.
Without missing a beat, he slipped into the sweet ballad he’d cowritten with Kumiko as a wedding present for Lizbeth. The only reason it held so much genuine passion and heart was because most of the lyrics were Kumiko’s, not his. Most of the songs he had sole writing credit on skirted around the topic of love because it wasn’t one he was familiar with. Instead, he wrote about friendship and family and any number of other important emotions and events in a person’s life.
But recently, that had changed.
He’d known he was teetering dangerously close, so it didn’t come as a huge shock when he tripped over the edge and toppled headfirst into love. What had surprised him was the catalyst that sent him soaring into the unknown abyss of devotion and fervor and complete, all-encompassing adoration.
It had been that night, about a month ago now, when Ellis took Cinder to Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas. Over the course of that evening—their first real date and everything that had happened after—Cinder learned what it meant to depend on and venerate the involvement of someone else in aspects of his life he’d always tackled alone.
Ellis had held his hand while he faced down one of his longest held fears and remained supportive while Cinder dealt with his drunk and disorderly best friend. Then they’d gone back to Cinder’s, where Ellis had taken him apart, one intimate kiss and gentle touch at a time until Cinder knew, beyond a doubt, he’d been marked for life.
There was no coming back from a love like Ellis Tremaine, inspired without a soupçon of effort on his part.
And tonight, Cinder was going to tell Ellis how he felt.
The audience crooned the final note of “Heartbeat Away” in tandem with Cinder and paused long enough for him to murmur a sincere “Thank you,” before they broke into another booming reverberation of cheers and shouts and thunderous applause.
Rather than getting off the stool so the stage could be subtly and efficiently remapped for the next song’s dance number, he allowed his guitar tech to switch out his acoustic beauty for one of his many electric guitars and remained seated. He held up a hand in a silent request for attention—meant to both calm the fans and to make the horde of technicians running the show, who he hadn’t spoken to ahead of time, aware that he was about to throw a wrench into the gears. He also hoped a certain someone watching from the rafters would take a pause rather than returning to his duties.
“For those of you aware of the specifics behind my limited engagement with the Colosseum here in beautiful Las Vegas, you might also know that tonight marks the halfway point of this exclusive arrangement.” Cinder waited while the crowd erupted over the knowledge of their fortuitous presence on the halfway anniversary of his Vegas show. He grinned, resting casually over his guitar. “To celebrate this exciting occasion, I’ve got a special surprise for you tonight.”
Again, massive pandemonium broke out, but Cinder motioned for silence and was almost immediately granted his request. “Among other things, I’ve spent a chunk of my unprecedented free time over these past three months working on new material for an album due to release ahead of my next tour.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Cinder caught Kumiko standing offstage left, grinning like a loon. She was in on this little impromptu set changeup and had all but done a literal jig when he’d asked for her help setting it up.
“As a treat, I’m going to share an exclusive sneak peek of a song that holds a very special place in my heart.” While the audience worked out their excitement at ear-splitting levels, Cinder turned to face his band and drummed his fingers over the face of his guitar. “Sorry again for this last-minute change of plans, but I can’t thank you all enough for hopping on board. Let’s do this thing.”
Throwing his attention back to the auditorium filled with bouncing cell phones no longer swaying in a recognizable pattern, Cinder blew a kiss to the ceiling. Hopefully, Ellis would catch the silent dedication.
“All right, people. This is ‘Until I Found You.’ Hope you enjoy.”
Strumming the first note, Cinder closed his eyes and let his heart take the reins.
Blessed by success, I’m always surrounded.
Out on the road, I’ve never felt so alone.
Cursed by fame, I’ve never been grounded.
All my life, I’ve dreamt of finding home,
thinking it would be my Neverland.
Until I found you, I didn’t understand.
The tales they tell in storybooks
are always so sublime.
There’s a happily ever after
for every once upon a time.
But fairy tales never do come true,
at least, not until I found you.
Fleeing what I’ve known forever,
it was you who gave me shelter.
In your arms I found the answer
to questions I never knew I had.
You taught me how to be the master
of all the things that drove me mad.
But most important, you gave my heart a shove,
because until I found you, I didn’t believe in love.
The tales they tell in storybooks
are always so sublime.
There’s a happily ever after
for every once upon a time.
But fairy tales never do come true,
at least, not until I found you.
Together, we’ve written our fairy tale chapter,
a happy story fit for ever after.
The tales they tell in storybooks
are always so sublime.
There’s a happily ever after
for every once upon a time.
But fairy tales never do come true,
at least, not until I found you.
As the song ended with a guitar riff solo by Cinder himself, it was met by a silence and stillness he’d never experienced during a live show. His heart, already pounding from the adrenaline rush of performing paired with the emotion brought on by the song he’d written for Ellis, kicked to further life at a dangerous new rhythm.
He cast a glance to Kumiko, who stood agape, eyes wide, and hands raised as if she’d glitched out and froze right before clapping them together. She personified the sense of horrified shock thundering through his veins.
Had he missed the mark that badly? He’d poured his heart and soul into this song, allowing everything he felt for Ellis to bleed into the music without filter.
Then, as if waking from a daze, the audience came to life. They cheered and squealed, their exuberant applause echoing from the rafters. And interspersed among the joyous noise, quiet at first before taking on a life of its own, a chanting began. “Cinderellis, Cinderellis.”
Heart full to bursting, Cinder stood, brushing an errant tear from the corner of his eye as he opened his arms in gratitude and appreciation.
He bowed and thanked his fans with kisses blown to the crowd.
They understood.
Now, the only question was, would Ellis?
As was their habit, they’d planned to meet in the new green room after the show. Cinder always beat Ellis there because Ellis’s duties didn’t end when the last curtain fell. Thankfully, this evening was one where the theater had planned a meet and greet after the concert, so Cinder passed the time signing autographs and taking selfies with boisterous fans.
By the time security scooted the last of his VIP guests from the room, Cinder vibrated with anticipation laced with a healthy dose of nerves. There was no doubt Ellis would’ve caught his special performance, as he’d admitted more than once to pausing his work to listen to “Heartbeat Away.” Cinder had chosen to premiere “Until I Found You” after that song because he’d known Ellis would be watching.
But had Ellis realized, as the audience had, that Cinder wrote it for him? Had he caught the profession of love wrapped into the lyrics, and if so, how would he react to that knowledge?
When Ellis finally showed up, showered and more pink-cheeked and quiet than usual, Cinder was fairly certain he’d made the connection. But how he felt about it, Cinder couldn’t be sure.
“Hey.” Ellis rubbed a hand over his nape and peeked at Cinder through the fall of his beachy blond bangs. “That was a, ah, really good show tonight.”
Cinder tapered his grin so he wouldn’t look like the crazed lovesick fool he was. “Yeah? Any favorite parts?”
Ellis’s blush turned crimson, and his gaze fell to the floor. “Ah…”
Not wanting to put Ellis on the spot or make him uncomfortable, Cinder stepped forward and pulled him in for a hug. When Ellis buried his face in Cinder’s hair and clung to his shoulders, Cinder’s heart melted. “In case it wasn’t obvious, that song was inspired by and written for you.”
Ellis nodded against Cinder’s temple and squeezed him tighter.
“There’s no pressure to say anything. Knowing I was able to tell you in my own way, that you hopefully understand those words were meant to say I love you… That’s all that matters to me. That you know.” Cinder rubbed a soothing circular pattern over Ellis’s back and nuzzled into his throat. “Because I’ve fallen head over heels, and every other cliché you can think of, in love. With you.”
Ellis huffed out a shaky breath before pulling away and meeting Cinder’s stare. His pale blue eyes were bright with a layer of unshed tears. “I wanted to believe, but I…”
Cinder brushed a thumb over Ellis’s plump lower lip. “But you, what?”
Shrugging, Ellis dipped his gaze again. “This whole thing has been so surreal. I was afraid I’d imagined everything. That you couldn’t possibly feel the same way, and I… I love you too, Henry. So much.”
Relief washed over Cinder like a cool winter wave crashing onto the first sun-warmed sand of spring. He let the full wattage of his joyous grin spread his cheeks before crushing his lips over Ellis’s. “Those are the prettiest damn words I’ve ever heard.”
“Nowhere near as beautiful as the words you sang tonight.” Ellis pressed his forehead to Cinder’s and rubbed their noses together. “I almost fell off the catwalk when I realized what you were saying. What it might mean.”
“What it does mean.” Cinder bucked his hips into Ellis’s, a low rumble working up his throat. “And right at this moment, it means I’m going to take you home. Then I’m going to make love to the man who holds my heart as surely as the sun rises every morning and sets every night.”
“God. Yes, please,” Ellis whimpered. “And then, will you sing me our song again? Just for us?”
Cinder beamed, his soul soaring with love and laughter and light. “I’ll do anything you ask of me, baby. Say the word, and the world is yours.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Henry and Ellis took turns peeling each other’s clothing off, piece by piece. They touched and tasted and teased every inch of newly exposed skin before removing the next article. Gentle and slow and oh-so-very sweet. So many of their sexual encounters had been cloaked in the urgency brought on by novelty, driving them to explore with feverish hands and frenzied lips.
Tonight, it was different.
The lust pulsing through Ellis’s system was no less powerful now that they knew each other so well. If anything, that familiarity—paired with the newfound knowledge that their hearts were in sync as well—made the intensity of Ellis’s desire rocket off the charts.
Once they’d gotten each other naked, Henry stretched out beside Ellis and pressed his body close. He planted a soft kiss over Ellis’s left pec before placing his warm palm over the site. “Every part of your body is gorgeous, but the beauty of your heart surpasses anything I’ve ever known before. Thank you for sharing it with me.”
Tears pricked at Ellis’s eyes, and he blinked them away. Leaning on the crutch of humor to keep his overwhelming emotions under control, he cupped Henry’s jaw and offered a soft smirk. “Only a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter could still manage to wax poetic even with most of his blood south of the border.”
Henry released a whoop of laughter followed by a lewd wink and eyebrow waggle. “What can I say, you inspire every part of my multifaceted personality.”
When Henry followed those words by taking Ellis in his fist and offering a perfunctory stroke and squeeze before pulling away with a wicked grin, Ellis all but fell apart at the proverbial seams. Something akin to a growl escaped his throat on the tail end of a whimper before he rolled over and crushed Henry under his larger frame.
Looming over his lover, Ellis narrowed his eyes at the wide-eyed innocence playing across Henry’s face. “You know I love a good edging more than the next guy…” Ellis rolled his eyes when Henry’s devilish grin indicated he’d caught Ellis’s purposeful bastardization of the common phrase. “More than the next guy” fit better than as much as, considering Henry’s penchant for making Ellis squirm—sometimes for hours and much to Ellis’s unexpected delight. “However, can I put in a request for a timelier reprieve? This once? I have nothing against being the center of your attention, trust me, but I want this to be wholly and completely about us tonight.”
Henry bit his bottom lip and frowned. “To be clear, I get as much, if not more, out of the time I spend teasing you as you do. However”—he mimicked Ellis’s overemphasis on the transition—“as always, your every wish is my command.”
Rocking his hips so their cocks grazed together, Ellis relished both his own shock of pleasure and Henry’s low rumble of satisfaction. He obeyed without question when Henry gave his ass a smack and growled, “Roll over.”
After both their test results had come back negative, they’d reverified their commitment to an exclusive physical relationship, which included chucking their condoms out the window. As part of their exploration of each other and of their sexual and intimate boundaries, Henry had suggested Ellis give topping a try. It wasn’t anything either of them had ever done—Henry had never bottomed, and Ellis hadn’t had the opportunity or desire to top—but it seemed like a reasonable adventure to go on together.
They came away from the awkward and rather comical experience fully settled into their roles. There was no question Ellis was a total bottom, and Henry seemed content with maintaining his top status.
Henry took Ellis’s place, covering him with his delicious body and nuzzling into his neck. He threaded their fingers together and lifted Ellis’s hands above his head as he nipped, kissed, and licked his way from Ellis’s collarbone to his earlobe. “I want you to move in with me.”
Ellis froze at those words, his eyes flying open to meet the darkness. They already spent every night together in Henry’s bed. Unofficial as it might be, it was the closest Ellis had ever come to living with someone. Hell, Henry was the closest he’d ever come to a lot of different relationship milestones—including being in a relationship at all.
But was moving in together after only a few months rushin
g things? He didn’t want to become a burden to Henry. As things were now, on the rare occasion Henry had other obligations and couldn’t see Ellis after a show, Ellis had his own place to go so he wouldn’t be in Henry’s way. He liked that. He liked knowing Henry could still live his life and their relationship wasn’t a shackle around his neck.
Plus, Ellis’s current living situation was rent-free. If he moved in with Henry, that would change. Despite knowing Henry would object to both the term and the ideology behind it, Ellis refused to be a kept man. He could make his own way in life and had no desire to freeload off Henry in any way, shape, or form.
He didn’t care if his boyfriend made more money than him, nor did he feel emasculated by it, so long as Henry didn’t expect him to give up his independence and sense of self as a result of that financial imbalance.
Henry sighed and released Ellis’s hands so he could stroke a knuckle down Ellis’s jaw. “I didn’t mean to kill the mood. I really do want you to move in with me. Not only that, but I want you to come with me on tour when my engagement with the Colosseum is over.” When Ellis’s chest deflated with a heavy sigh, it was Henry’s turn to go rigid. He pushed to an elbow and stared down at Ellis, the moonlight spilling through the blinds reflecting in his eyes. “This isn’t some short-term, situational thing for me. I want us to be long-term. If things play out as I hope they will, I want us to be forever. When my time ends here, it doesn’t mean we end. You know that, right? I refuse to leave you behind. There’s no other option than for you to come with me.”
Ellis pressed his lips together and scrunched his brow. Was that how Henry saw things? That the only choice was for Ellis to drop everything and follow him on tour? What about his own life here in Vegas? What about his job, his obligations to his stepfamily, the mortgages on his childhood home?
He hadn’t allowed himself to think beyond Henry’s limited engagement in Las Vegas. A small part of his subconscious was aware Henry would be leaving in a few short months, but he never let that part out to air its grievances. It was easier to focus on the here and now and leave whatever might happen when Henry left for future-Ellis to manage.
