Page 53 of Busted String

“You wear a cage on your dick for the month of October. Everyone is doing it.”

“No one is locking up my dick. This boy”—he pointed to his cock,—“needs to come every day.”

After the man talked to Nico, he took Harry and left. Nico gently clasped Jace’s hand as they made their way to the designated performance area, searching for seats.

Jace sat beside Nico, the heat of the desert sun fading into a cool evening breeze. They were perched on folding chairs, watching the bands play. The energy in the air was electric, the crowd a sea of swaying bodies and enthusiastic cheers. The stage lights pulsed with the beat of the music, casting vibrant colors over the audience.

The band on stage was tearing through a set of high-energy rock songs, their sound raw and powerful. The crowd responded with fervor, their hands raised, voices shouting along with the lyrics. Jace could feel the vibrations of the bass drum in his chest, a reminder of the power of live music.

Jace glanced at Nico, who was tapping his foot in time with the beat. “Tomorrow night, huh?” Jace said, a mixture of excitement and nerves in his voice.

Nico nodded, a confident smile on his face. “Yeah, it will be our turn to bring the house down.”

Jace leaned back, taking in the scene. “Think we’ll be ready?”

Nico’s eyes sparkled with determination. “We’ve got this. Mark’s back, and we’ve been practicing our asses off. We’ll give them a show they won’t forget.”

The thought of their performance sent a thrill through Jace. “You’re right. It’s going to be epic. We’ve worked too hard for this.”

They watched as the band on stage transitioned into a slower, more melodic song, the crowd swaying in unison. Jace felt a sense of camaraderie with the surrounding people, all united by their love of music.

“Remember when we played that tiny club in Sacramento three years ago?” Jace asked, a nostalgic smile tugging at his lips.

Nico chuckled. “Yeah, and the sound system kept cutting out. We still rocked it, though.”

Jace laughed, feeling the tension of the past few days melting away. “We’ve come a long way since then.”

Nico nodded, placing a hand on Jace’s shoulder. “And we’ll keep going. Together.”

As the night wore on, they sat side by side, the music washing over them. The anticipation of their upcoming performance filled Jace with a renewed sense of purpose. Tomorrow night, it would be their turn to take the stage, to share their music with the world. And with Nico by his side, he knew they were unstoppable.

“Can I ask you something?” Jace asked.

“Anything.” He kissed Jace’s cheek.

“That Harry guy called you Master Nico. Can you explain that to me?”

“Years ago, back in New York, before we met in California, Harry was my sub.”

Jace took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. “I just…I can’t believe you never told me about this. It feels like a punch in the gut.”

Nico’s face softened, a hint of guilt creeping in. “I’m sorry, Jace. It wasn’t something I thought about bringing up.”

“Not something you thought about bringing up?” Jace repeated, feeling the sting of those words. “We’re supposed to share everything, Nico. I thought we had no secrets.”

Nico sighed, running a hand through his hair. “It’s not that I wanted to keep it from you. It’s just…it was a long time ago. Before we met. It didn’t seem relevant.”

“But it feels relevant now,” Jace said, his voice trembling with emotion. “I thought I knew everything about you. Why didn’t you tell me?” Jace worried he’d never be enough for Nico. Maybe that was the real reason he’d never connected with him. He wasn’t planning on living a BDSM lifestyle. All kinds of thoughts went through his mind.

Nico looked down, clearly struggling to find the right words. “I didn’t want to bring up the past and make things complicated. You mean so much to me, Jace. I didn’t want you to feel insecure or hurt.”

“Well, it’s a bit late for that,” Jace muttered, the jealousy gnawing at him. “I just wish you had trusted me enough to tell me.”

“I do trust you,” Nico insisted, leaning closer. “Please, Jace. Understand that it wasn’t about keeping secrets. It was about protecting what we have now. You’re the one I love, the one I’m with. That’s all that matters.”

Jace looked into Nico’s eyes, searching for the reassurance he needed. Despite the pain, he could see sincerity there. “It’s just…it’s hard to process. You were Harry’s Dom. What if what we have isn’t enough for you?”

Nico nodded, reaching out to squeeze Jace’s hand. “I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere. I’m not forcing you to be my sub. Those days are over.”

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