Page 63 of Counterpoint
“How was that?” He cupped Dom’s face.
Dom leaned into the touch, but didn’t close his eyes. Adrian’s were too full of hope and wonder to turn away from. “Perfect. I never knew...” He huffed a laugh. “You were right about calming me down.”
He wasn’t hard anymore, and though his body ached from the past weekend’s activities, his soul felt rested. Clear of the anxiety that usually plagued it whenever he wasn’t onstage in the middle of a show or in a bed in the middle of orgasm.
“There are ways I could excite you, too. But I think we both needed this.”
“You—you liked it, too?” It hadn’t occurred to him, but of course. The books had said—
Such a profound flicker of emotion over Adrian’s face. “I loved it,” he said, and his voice was deep. “More than anything, this trust is—a gift.”
Dom’s heart shuddered and swelled, because he’d heard the words Adrian hadn’t spoken. Maybe he hadn’t even thought them yet, but they were there nonetheless.Oh, oh god.
But he still floated, right overthatpit and safely to the other side before the panic could even touch him. “I’m—yeah. That’s really good. Because I shouldn’t be the only one getting something out of this.”
“You’re not, believe me.” Adrian seemed to search for words, then shook his head. “Thank you.” Lips skimmed his. “Thank you for every moment together.”
“For all the ones to come.” Dom meant that, because he wanted those moments, too.
Adrian untied him and helped him to his feet, then handed him his glasses. Dom slid back into his clothes and his life. But this weekend’s kisses by the door weren’t full of worry or longing. “You free next weekend?”
Adrian took his mouth again, then after another sweet taste of lips answered. “Yes. For all the foreseeable weekends, too. But for some of them I’d like you to pick what we do. Where we go.”
“I can do that.” And would soon. Show Adrian what he could of the man he was.
The summer evening was warm and perfect, and Dom hummed one of their new songs as he headed back to his place, head high and heart soaring even higher.
Maybe he could be both the men he wanted to be.
Chapter Twelve
As they climbed the steps to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Adrian tried to remember the last time he’d been here. It’d been a while. Maybe a year or two. Certainly he’d been since he moved back into the city after he’d inherited the house and gotten his banking job.
Such a change of pace, from sunny California to weather-temperamental New York City. Though today? Today was practically postcard-worthy. Clear blue sky. Warm summer sun, but a dry, cool breeze that kept the temperatures mellow and the humidity low.
Wouldn’t have mattered if it had been pouring rain, though. He was still so fucking glad to be back where he belonged. Didn’t regretthatdecision at all, even if taking over the house had estranged him from most of his family.
But if he hadn’t come back, hadn’t moved into the brownstone, he’d never have met Dominic at Poet and Whiskey.
And now, with Dominic tugging him up the steps of the Met, there was no place on Earth he’d rather be.
When Dominic had suggested going to the Met this weekend, Adrian’d been a little disappointed, since he wanted more than just looking at art. He’d wanted a glimpse behind some of those walls Dominic threw up.
Then Dominic had said the magic words: “There’s a tour today where they’re bringing out some of the stringed instruments for a demo, including a seventeenth century guitar.” His eyes had shone with excitement and delight. “I’ve heard recordings—there’s even stuff on the website—but to experience that in person?”
Adrian recognized the shiver of delight, and that had cinched it. He could touch Dominic like that—he wanted to know what else did. And this was music-related, something Dominic tended to push away.
As it happened, the galleries that housed the Met’s musical instrument collection had apparently been undergoing some major renovations over the last couple of years and they were finally in the process of being reopened. As part of that, there’d been some special tours, including performances with instruments from their extensive collection.
Normally, this was the type of thing Adrian would have passed up—tours were tourist traps or designed for school groups—but the way Dominic’s face lit up each time he thought of hearing some instrument from a couple hundred years ago played live...
Yes, he’d seen Dominic in the throes of passion, but that didn’t nearly measure up to the intense need in every fiber of Dominic’s frame. The man was a musician, indeed. He might not talk about his career or his band for whatever reason, but this—thisDominic was willing to share, so Adrian followed, and gladly.
He also adored the feel of Dominic’s hand in his and how utterly unashamed Dominic was to hold his. For someone who could be so shy at times, Dominic was utterly free about expressing his sexuality. Though sometimes, when he looked at Adrian, there was still that haunting sadness or worry. Less and less, though.
They weredating.
And Adrian was grateful for that. He’d rather have Dominic’s smiles and sexy little glances, and not have to worry about whether this was a very long casual thing. Plus, he wanted more, too. More throaty cries, more cuffs and rope, more lazy talks after sex, more of Dominic paging through books and snuggling next to him to read poetry.
