Even after Brandt left, he kept harnessing his emotions to power through the set. The way Brandt made him feel. The tenderness Jewel inspired. The push-pull of a life spent largely on the road. All of it. The music might be classic covers, but he made each his own.
“Last one for y’all for the night.” Tim stepped forward again, waving at the crowd, which had thinned somewhat from the dinner rush to couples with drinks and desserts. “I want to see y’all shaking it on the dance floor. And make sure Shane hears how much you wanna see him next weekend.”
That got a hearty round of applause. Tim probably did it to help his case for Shane to come back, but it still felt damn nice, being appreciated. His shoulders rose, right along with his voice, the audience’s approval giving him a fresh burst of energy that lasted until they were done and packing up.
“Wow.” The drummer, a thirty-something cowgirl named Elaine who trained horses during the week, whistled low as she counted out the take for them to split. “Double the tip jar. Props to your voice.”
“Eh.” Shane shrugged, more comfortable with praise when it came on the stage than one-on-one like this. “It was all of us. We really jammed.”
“Damn right we did.” Tim slapped him on the back.
“Are we gonna see your face again next weekend?” Elaine asked.
Shane glanced at Tim, who nodded. Shane wasn’t about to turn down another gig, so he nodded along with him. “Looks like it.”
“Good.” Tim handed out the cash as they all ate a hurried post-show dinner before heading out. “Let’s get you home to that baby.”
More like home to Brandt, but Shane wasn’t sharing that with the group. Instead he kept his anticipation private, let it build over the miles back to Brandt’s place, let the quiet thrum of arousal he’d had all evening turn into a deeper need until he was bounding up the steps to the house, letting himself in quietly in case Brandt was asleep, but hoping like heck he was awake.
And he was, all freshly showered with damp hair and nothing but sweats on, kicked back on the couch with a magazine. “You made it back.”
“I did.” Shane set down his guitar and other belongings and headed over to Brandt. “I figured you might have given up on me, headed to bed.”
“Oh, I’m heading to bed.” Brandt unfolded himself from the couch so that he stood right in front of Shane. He hooked a finger in Shane’s belt loop, hauled him closer, like Shane needed the enticement. “Soon.”
“Good.” Shane breathed deep, letting Brandt’s shampoo and soap fill his senses, more of that delicious anticipation. He was about to go in for a kiss when the magazine fluttered to the floor. “What were you reading?”
“Smoke jumper journal. There’s an article about a buddy I know from California in there. Saved his whole crew in one of those fires last year near the bay area. His wife sent me a copy.”
“Cool.” Shane’s pulse sped up at the reminder of how dangerous Brandt’s job was, how slim the line between hero and cautionary tale.
“But I’m done now.” Brandt moved his hands up Shane’s torso, toying with his pearl-snap buttons before leaning down to nuzzle at Shane’s neck. “You smell good.”
“I shaved before my gig. And you smell nice too.” Shane met his gaze, dragging that moment right before they kissed out, enjoying Brandt nipping at his neck and jaw. “You’re cute all eager.”
“Yeah, but I’m not so hard up that I can’t wait if you’re exhausted or want a shower or—”
Brandt might be able to wait but Shane couldn’t. A shower might be polite, but hell if his body was slowing down after all this waiting and anticipating. He slid his mouth over Brandt’s, a slow, deliberate claiming. He liked being the steady rock to Brandt’s impatience, the thing that silenced all his usual motion and energy. And damn did it feel good, the way Brandt clung to him as Shane explored his mouth. He knew now more of what Brandt liked, the harder sucks and deeper tongue swipes, and he used all those tricks to get him moaning.
“Well, okay then.” Brandt looked adorably dazed as Shane released his mouth to catch a breath. “Good. We’re on the same page.”
“We are.” Shane gave him a pointed look before resuming the kiss, deeper now, more purposeful. Part of his brain wanted to slow down, seduce and tease, but the other part kept pointing out that the couch was right there. It had been days since they’d had this. He tried to steer Brandt back to the couch, but he planted his feet, preventing Shane from toppling them both to the cushions.
“Not here.” Brandt jerked his head in the direction of the hall.
“No?” Shane asked even as he let Brandt tug him toward the bedrooms.
“We need a bed for what I’ve got planned. That is, if you’re up for one of my ideas...”
“Oh, I’m up.” Shane brushed against him so he could feel exactly how up certain parts of Shane were. “And your last idea was so good I swear I can still feel the aftershocks. What’s this one?”
“How would you feel about trying fucking?” Brandt had a lopsided grin as he hauled Shane even closer against him. “I figure if toys were good, your cock might be even better. But only if you feel like that’s something you wanna try.”
All Shane’s blood rushed south and his voice came out all breathless. “You want me to fuck you?”
“Hell yes.” Brant’s gruff voice and easy grin had Shane vibrating like a too-tight guitar string. Hell yes, indeed.
Chapter Eighteen
“But only if you’re comfortable.” Brandt’s heart was hammering, far more than he’d thought possible over this question. “I don’t want you to look back and regret your first time.”
“I’m not going to. Promise.” Shane moved in to kiss him, a soft brush of their lips, the sealing of a deal.
“Good.” As much as Brandt had fantasized about this over the years, he wanted to make Shane’s sexy dreams come true too. And he hated the thought of Shane not being here and of him moving on, but at least he could send him off with hot memories, not pages of regrets. “Don’t want to end up in some angry song.”
Shane laughed. “Don’t worry. If I put you in a song, it’ll be a good one.”
“Deal.” Him? In a song? Not likely, especially not the sweet ballads Shane was so damn good at. Brandt went ahead and ducked into his bedroom before they could accidentally wake the baby with their talking in the hall. Shane followed, bending to toe off his boots before straightening with a chuckle.
“What?” Shane pointed at the bed, which Brandt had haphazardly made after his shower. “You didn’t set out the stuff? I’m disappointed.”