Page 102 of Counterpoint
“Hey, can I hear you play?” Adrian waved at the studio. “This time not while lurking outside a door?”
“Yeah, sure.” Dominic looked over his shoulder. “Ray?”
A nod from their lead singer. “I’ll even sing for your dude. Pick the song, Dom.”
Tingles up Adrian’s arm. He cocked a finger and beckoned. “Dominic.” Like a magnet, he came, all breath and blush and perfect obedience. He framed Dominic’s neck with his hands, and pulled him down into a much longer kiss. He might beDom’s dude, but the reverse was very much true, as well.
“Go play for me,” he whispered against those sweet lips.
Dominic straightened, looked a little dazed, then gave a laugh of his own. “All right.” He sauntered over to his guitar and swung it over his shoulder. “How about ‘Born in Fire’?”
Ray nodded and the rest of the band got situated—and then Adrian was blown away by sound and movement and Dominic’s guitar. The lyrics were something else, too, as was Ray’s voice. Rhythmically, it was odd and wonderful. Mish played the perfect counterpoint to Dominic—but all Adrian could keep in his head was the way Dominic moved when he played and how absolutely free he looked. Adrian had seen a similar delight and joy in bed, but this was raw and wonderful and not erotic at all.
His heart and mind leapt. Yes. This was Dominic, in his life, with his passion.
Adrian doubted he’d ever be able to get enough of that, in bed or outside of it.
When they finished, they all looked at him, and Dominic gave a little shrug. “I know you’re not really a fan.”
Adrian grunted. “I just spent almost two days listening to every Twisted Wishes song I could get my hands on and watching videos and interviews.” He cocked his head and held Dominic’s gaze. “It’s brilliant stuff. Not my usual fare, but apparently I need to branch out. Consider me a fan.”
“You’re not just saying that because of Dom?” Ray pinned him with a look that was pretty muchhurt my best friend and you’ll be talking to me.
Adrian shook his head. “Lying destroys trust. I meant what I said.”
“Ray.” Zavier spoke the other man’s name like a gentle touch, and it pretty much had the same effect.
Ray softened and smiled. “Yeah, okay. I’m just looking after him.”
“I’m capable of looking after myself, thank you.” Dominic plucked at his guitar, cheeks red but a smile dancing on his lips.
Mish snorted. “We gonna play more?”
They picked out another song and started in on it—and stopped and started several times. Each time, Ray commented on an aspect and they corrected or tried new notes or rhythms; much of the terminology was out of Adrian’s wheelhouse. But when the song clicked, he felt it in his bones and sat up straighter.
Ray must have noticed, because he got a cocky-ass smile, then nodded, and that, Adrian realized, was when Ray finally accepted him.
By the end of the night, through the interactions and playfulness they included him in on, and from just watching the band work, Mish’s prediction came true. He liked all of them. Quite a lot.
He also couldn’t wait to get Dominic home.
* * *
When the band played the last song of the evening to Ray’s satisfaction, Dom unplugged and unslung his guitar, then grabbed his water bottle. Best practice yet. Didn’t know if it was all the weeks of work or that Adrian sat enraptured on the far end of the studio. He’d seen that look from him before, that admiration, but never quite this intense outside of the bedroom.
He kinda wanted to go over there, kneel down and just—be with Adrian. Thank him for coming. For not freaking out entirely about the rock-star thing. Forlikingtheir music. Holy shit.
A clatter of drums shook Dom from his thoughts. Zavier spun a stick around his fingers before dropping it into the holder on the kit. “Well, that was enjoyable.”
“It was fucking awesome,” Mish said, and Zavier grinned.
“Yeah, I think we’re almost ready.” Ray clipped the mic into the stand and glanced around at them before peering out at Adrian. “Kinda nice to have an audience, too.”
Adrian straightened in his seat. “I’m grateful you let me be here.”
“Sweetheart, we all wanted to meet Dom’s man.” Mish unplugged and set her bass down, as well. “He’s only been talking about you for weeks and weeks.”
Was Adrian blushing? Shit. Now Dom’s cheeks were hot. “I mean, I didn’t talk about youthatmuch.”
