Page 22 of Syncopation
“Honey,” Mish said. “It’sneverbeen like that!”
He didn’t know whether he should be glad or terrified. Maybe a mix of both. He found Ray watching him, wary now. Probably wise, given everything. Zavier winked at him. “So, I did all right for myfirst time out?”
“Fucking hell,” Ray said. “You really are an asshole, you know?” There wasn’t any heat behind the words, only that cocky twist to his lips. “Yeah, you did fine. Just fine.”
Domino looked more like Dominic. “Holy shit, did that actually happen?”
“Looks like the new drummer made all the difference.” Carl’s voice cut through their joy like nails scraping across sheetmetal. Domino’s amazement fell and Ray flinched like an abused man.
Ice descended where heat had been. Zavier straightened. “No.”
The room hushed and Zavier rounded on Carl. He and the label executive stood in the doorway. “What made a difference was all those hours of practice, a shit-ton of hard work, and Ray knowing his songs inside and out. He led us to the sound we needed.”
Hemight as well have slapped Carl from that expression. Good. Didn’t know what Nadia would dig up, but that man was an absolute fuck.
Ray’s chuckle was mild. “You had a huge part in that, Zav.” His face was more flushed than before.
He wasn’t going to let either man pin the success of the evening on him. “I know who I am. I know what I brought to the table.” He shrugged. “But no drummer,no matter how good, will lift a performance like that.” He gestured back at the stage. “Takes hard work from everyone. Together.”
Mish nodded. “He’s good. And smart.” She looked at Ray. “I think we should keep him.”
The suit coughed and something like humor flickered around his lips and eyes. “We’d be very happy if you’d continue to work with Mr. Demos.”
There was nothing Zavier wantedmore than to play another show with Twisted Wishes. His gaze strayed to Ray. Well, that wasn’t quite true, but tangling with that bundle of nerves and anxiety was asking for trouble, even if Ray was tempting beyond rational thought.
* * *
The clock in Ray’s room read 3:57. He closed his eyes against the red glow. Fuckinghell. He should be dead asleep. He’d burned so much energy, his bodyached from dancing, jumping, and singing. He’d been higher than a kite after the show.
Zavier had touched him—not just a friendly pat on the back, but an intimate clasp that nearly put him on his knees in front of who knew how many fans. Betthatphoto was already making the rounds.
He kinda wanted to see it. Did Zavier look like Ray remembered—like he might kiss Ray, like he wanted Ray?
Instead, Zavier had spoken, his breath a caress against Ray’s ear.You did exactly what I told you to do. I’m very pleased.Very pleased. He’d never heard those words spoken with the same tone assuck my cockbefore.
Ray rolled over and ignored the hardness of his dick. He wouldn’t jack off to Zavier. Except he already had once tonight. And had on previous nights. Fucking asshole was stunningand sexy and...not actually an asshole.
Well, maybe a little, but they all had their edges.
Part of him wished he could take the risk and get buzzed on liquor; the other part knew drinking wouldn’t help at all. He was too wired from the concert and should have crashed hours ago—everyone else had. Dom was sawing wood in the next room, loud enough Ray was tempted to go in and roll him ontohis side to shut him up.
God, the concert. They’d never sounded so good. He’d never felt that alive with the music behind him. Once they’d started playing, Ray hadn’t needed to worry. Hadn’t had to figure out how to cover for mistakes, bad playing, or anything. The band would nail it, so he’d been free to let go andsing.
Trust. He trusted the band again. He’d always known Dom and Mishwould play their hearts out, but he’d never known if Kevin would survive the night.
Zavier not only survived, he’d ruled every beat, from the first to the last.
RaytrustedZavier.
Zavierbelievedin Ray.
Ray grunted, and that sharp, painful sound faded in the room. He had no idea why Zavier believed in him. He wasn’t anything like Zav. Not as talented, not as skilled. Yes, heworked hard—but he fucked up so often it wasn’t funny. Sure, Mish and Dom were on his side, but that was because they’d been together for years and they’d accepted him, warts, foolishness, and all.
But Zavier? He had no reason at all to believe in Ray and every reason not to.
Yet he did. Deferred to Ray. Treated him like an equal. And Ray fucking wanted him, wanted his kiss, his wordsin his ear and breath on his neck.
Fuck it. He rolled onto his back, stroked himself, and gave into another round of fantasies. Zavier’s lips on Ray’s, their bodies entangled, Zavier inside him. The orgasm gripped Ray fast and hard, shaking the last bit of tension from his bones. When he could move, he stumbled to the bathroom and cleaned himself up.
This time, when he hit the bed, sleepreached up and dragged him down into nothingness.
