Final Act

Man, there was something heavy-duty funky in the air tonight. Like really and truly fucked up and nasty, like biting into a bad pecan or something. Bitter and sour.

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Spud wasn't sure what it was, but he could feel it, from the way people were mixing up the playlist to the way nobody brought him a beer on the break or the way his pack of smokes got taken full and returned empty. Caidon had been gone a week to do some studio stuff in Nashville and, man, it was starting to get creepy. Shit, it had started when the bus door closed behind Caidon's ass. Spud was beginning to think he had a 'kick me' sign taped to his back. "Spud, quit standing there and move your lazy ass." Tracy swatted him hard enough to bruise,

knuckles pushing in but hard, and he grumbled a little, going to grab his case.

"Hey, man." He nodded to Steve, offered over a smoke from his new pack. "You want one?" Will

you tell me what's up? Please?

"Sure." Steve gave him a ghost of the smile he usually got, but didn't diss him or anything, just

plucked a smoke from his pack and lit up, leaning on the bus.

"Cool." He packed his gear, chewing on his butt, thinking hard. "You think we'll stop for food?"

Steve gave him this weird assed look, half sympathy, half something less. "I doubt the guys will

want to hang, man."

"Oh. Okay." He nodded, looked around. "I'm going to run across the street then, get some candy

and a couple of Cokes to tide me over." Maybe a magazine or two. Joe had made a new rule

about picking at night, about making noise. About being out in the common area even.

He thought that last rule was just for him, maybe.

"Spud. Man, I... Look. We'll go for something, you and me." Steve shifted from foot to foot,

looking at his boots. Looking guilty as shit.

"You... is it gonna get you in trouble?" Because whatever he'd done, it was like to be catching

and he didn't want to get it on no one else.

"Nah. Joe is Joe, you know? Besides, I told Caidon... Shit. Come on." The smoke went sailing,

Steve taking his arm and steering him to the bus to load their stuff.

Told Caidon what? What all was going on?

He followed along, chewing on his bottom lip. This was high-dollar weird. He wished Caidon

was about.

Steve stared Joe down when he would have bitched about them leaving the bus again. "We're

gonna go have something at the Denny's. Y'all won't want to stop once we're on the road."

"You could come, if you want." See him, see him not be an asshole.

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"No. No, you go ahead." Joe gave him this stone cold look, just evil as could be, lip curling.

He waited only they were away from the bus to look over, nudge Steve's arm. "Am I fixin' to get

fired?"

"No. I mean, I don't know, but I don't think so. Caidon, now, he's on the bubble."

"Caidon? 'Cause of me?" Oh, fuck. That. Well, shit.

"He's upsetting the balance, Spud." Steve stared right into his eyes while they waited on the little

gal to seat them. "Everything was fine until he came on board."

Fine? He hadn't been.

Not really.

Not at all.

He'd just been doing his thing.

"So what do I have to do to make it right?"

Steve stuck his hands in his pockets, his shoulders hunching. "I dunno. I mean, you don't look

like y'all're breaking up any time soon."

"I sure don't want to." It was something, having somebody look at him like Caidon did, having

somebody to love for real. Of course, if he went and got Caidon fired, that all would probably

stop real quick. Even if Caidon brought him along, it would always sorta be there, that it was his

fault.

"Yeah." Sighing, Steve nodded. "I guess not. Anyway, it's just... you used to be with us, you

know?"

"Yeah." Was he supposed to apologize for not being the band hole? The sudden rage kinda shook

him, made his belly bubble with acid. He finished his coffee, poured another cup. "You hungry?

She's gonna come back soon for the order."

"I could eat. I'm sorry, Bud. I mean, I think Joe's being shitty, but I miss you." Those big old

hang dog eyes told him all sorts of stuff Steve didn't say out loud.

"I didn't mean to hurt nobody. I just..." Shit, what was he supposed to say? That he was sorry?

He wasn't. He wasn't.

"I know that, you fool." He got a real smile suddenly, Steve just sitting back like old times.

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Spud tried to smile back, but he didn't have it in him and all of the sudden he just wanted to get

his guitar and go. Just poof into the cornfields.

That'd be stupid as shit, but different.

"Get yourself some food, man. God knows if they have good food in the wilds of Kansas."

"No shit." Steve ordered enough for both of them, like always, and suddenly he missed Caidon,

sharp and hurty.

Just like wishing made it so, his phone rang, Caidon's voice singing good and loud. He grinned,

flipped the phone open. "'lo."

"Hey, Jamie. How's it going?" Oh, that was Caidon's voice for real.

"Hey. It's going. How's Nashville?" Everything sucked. Everyone hated him. This whole tour

thing was broke. La la la.

"It's a damned shame you ain't here." Caidon didn't sound any more cheerful than he did. Jeez.

Poor them.

"Yeah. I hear you." He leaned back when the food came, nose wrinkling. He really didn't want it.

Steve tucked in, though, making a face.

"Everything okay, baby?"

"Yeah. I'm having a quick dinner with Steve."

"Yeah? He come on to you yet?" Huh. Looked like Caidon knew what was what, anyway.

"Nope. He's being nice to me." He winked at Steve, grinned a little.

"Good man. He is, you know. Joe? He's kind of an ass." He could hear the laughter now, Caidon

warming up.

"Yeah. Yeah, ain't that the truth." He needed a smoke in the worst way.

"I love you, baby. Miss you bad. Been jacking off in the shower, thinking of you." Oh. Oh, that

made things better.

"I oughta be there." He could feel Steve's eyes on him, one eyebrow lifted. Okay. Awkward.

"You so should." Caidon sighed. "I should let you eat, huh?"

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"Yeah. I'll call you in the morning, if you want. There's a bunch of new rules about making noise

and stuff."

"No shit? Noise?" He heard Caidon light up. "That's crazy, baby. You're a band. There's noise."

"Yeah. No noise after gigs. No jamming. I bet it's temporary, huh?"

"I bet." Caidon sounded dead serious. "In fact, I bet it will change when I get back."

"Probably." He sighed. "Sleep good, man. I'll call you in the morning. We're in Kansas

tomorrow."

"I'll see you in just over a week, Jamie. Don't let the bastards get you down."

"I won't. Have a good one." He hung up, grinned at Steve. "He's enjoying Nashville. What tastes

the best?"

"The waffle, actually. I left you one." Steve was all tense, and it just sucked to have to walk on

eggshells. "You so rock, man. I do love me dripping-with-syrup waffles." He ate hearty, even though he didn't want it. Couple more weeks and then... Well, at least Caidon'd be back. *** Caidon crawled off the Greyhound and cracked his neck. Man, being on a public bus reminded him how good a tour bus could be, even a crappy one like theirs. Joe's. Whatever. Hell, he didn't even know if he had a place anymore. Not the way Jamie'd been sounding of late, quieter and

quieter.

He looked around, hoping to see a familiar face. He wanted one face in particular, but he didn't

want to put too much hope in the boys letting Spud be the one to come get him.

"Caidon. Man. Over here." Nope. Not Spud. It was Al, with his big, scarred up drummer's hands.

"How was Nashville?"

"It was Nashville. Whoopdi fucking do. I need to go to Texas, man." He winked, hoisting his

duffle up on his shoulder.

"Yeah, it's warmer there. We're fucking heading north." Al nodded toward the little pickup that

Jason liked to tool around in, picking up chicks. "There's no gig tonight. We're at the Motel 6."

"Cool." God, he could use a bed and Spud and some time. Hours. He needed.

"Yeah." Al unlocked the doors, not meeting his eyes as they got on the road, the old Ford

sputtering and coughing. The fucking air was as tense as all get out.

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"Al, you got a problem?" He wasn't one for beating around the bush.

"No. I reckon Spud does, though." Those eyes cut over to him, the look quick. "Not with me, you

understand, but. Well. It ain't been pretty."

"What's going on, man?" Al was the quiet type, and he'd never said boo about him and Spud, so

Caidon figured he'd be fair.

"I don't know the exact bits, but Joe's pissed off and Spud ain't... friends with the guys no more.

There's no more music, Spud ain't hanging out, ain't invited for beer or food or nothing, 'less

Steve says so." Al shrugged, sighed. "It's weird, man. I don't know what Spud did, but... he's in

trouble, all right."

"Yeah? Well, I guess I'll just talk to him." Poor Al. "We okay, man?"

"Surely. Shit, you go to Texas for real, you got my number. I'm dying to head home out of this

cold shit."

"Yeah? Well, that works, man." He could use a guy like Al. "Damn, it's good to be away from

the studio, though, even if it is cold."

"Yeah? Did you get any tracks cut?"

"I got to sing on some demos." He rolled his eyes "Won't get me nothin' but some free CDs to

send out to some indie labels."

"Shit, you get on that computer deal, though, there's money. Real money. Lots of the Texans are

going that way."

They pulled out onto the highway, the road zooming by.

"Yeah. We'll see." He took out a pack of smokes, but didn't pull one out.

"Go ahead. We got about five more minutes." Al started whistling, fingers tapping on the

steering wheel.

"Thanks, man." Well, at least he knew he could count on Al, though it sucked to have to think in

terms of picking sides.

The five minutes flew by, the motel next to a Denny's. Spud was sitting out on the steps with his

guitar, hiding under his hat, picking and smoking, shivering a little in the wind.

Damn. It was worse than he thought. Caidon clapped Al on the back when they got out of the

truck, thanking him before heading over to say hey.

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Al headed over to the Denny's, waving once at Spud. Spud looked up with bloodshot eyes that

had bags the size of Samsonites and offered him half a grin. "Hey, Caidon. You survived."

"I did." He looked Jamie over with a critical eye. "You look tired."

"A little. You hungry? I walked down and bought Cokes and them waxy chocolate donuts."

"I could eat. We got a room to ourselves?" He wanted Spud more than he wanted donuts.

"Uh-huh." Spud dangled the key card. "Paid for it myself. One big bed. Hot shower. Not on the

same floor as the others."

"Oh, honey, you're a life saver." He held down a hand to help Spud up. "Come on, baby. Let's

have some alone time."

"Sounds good to me." This time he got a real smile. A good one.

Spud led him up to the second floor -- 211 -- and opened the door, putting his guitar inside.

"Home Sweet Hotel Room."

"Yay." He put his hands on those lean hips, letting the door click shut behind them. Bending,

Caidon nuzzled Spud's hairline. "Hey, baby."

"Hey." Spud pushed up on tiptoe, cuddled right on in. "Missed you something fierce."

"I missed you, too." Damn. Just damn. It felt good to hold on. Spud nodded and they stood a

minute, together. Finally Caidon pulled back and took a kiss, smiling against Spud's mouth.

"Taste good."

"Yeah? Taste again, huh?"

"Shit, yes." He took another kiss, then another, pushing his tongue into Spud's mouth. Caidon

hadn't needed this bad in a long, long time. Spud damn near crawled up his body, shaking against him like a leaf in the wind. "I got you, Jamie." Jesus, if he thought he'd had it bad, Spud must have had it rougher. The man was just crazy for him.

"Good. Love that, yeah? Love how you say my name."

"Love to say it to you." He could call himself a sap later. Right now, Spud needed.

Spud started working his shirt open, fingers on his chest, his belly, petting him.

"Mmm. Let me help." He got naked as fast as he could, figuring it would help him get Spud

naked, or whatever.

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"Damn, you look good." Spud leaned in, lips landing on his shoulder, tongue sliding out to taste

him.

"I've had nothing to do but pick and work out, baby." He started on Spud's hoodie, then the shirt,

wanting skin, too.

"I miss picking." He got Spud's shirt off, got skin. Jesus. It looked like Jamie'd been whaled on -little bruises and lumps scattered all over. Hell, a couple of the bruises weren't even little. Weren't little at all. "What the hell happened to you, baby?" Caidon pushed Spud back to look at him, staring.

"Oh, the guys just... You know, shit happens."

"No, it doesn't. Not like this. Jesus, baby. This is bad." He just... Jesus. They guys were being

fucking vicious, beating his lover.

"I think I'm fixin' to get fired. They're all pissed at me." Spud's hands rubbed those ropy arms,

hugging himself.

"Why?" Like he didn't know, but it seemed important somehow, that Spud knew.

"Because I ain't giving them what they want, what I did before." Jamie looked down, sort of

ashamed, sort of lost. "Don't worry about it. They push, huh?"

"Well, they'd best be careful. I'll start pushing back." He let it go, though, hugging on Spud,

kissing him hard.

Spud wrapped around him, cock filling right up against his belly.

"Hot." Spud was always so damned hot for him. It was the only thing that felt better than a live

show.

"Uh-huh. You're like being home, man."

"Yes. God, yes." Didn't matter where as long as he had Spud. That man just made everything

better.

Spud hummed, moving against him, all that unhappy tension faded away. Caidon grabbed a

double handful of ass and pulled Spud closer, kissing that hot mouth, licking at Spud's lips. So

good.

"Yours, huh?" Spud spread, that skinny body offered right over to him.

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"Mine. Yeah" He sucked up a mark on Spud's neck, wanting to make all the rest of the bruises

and bumps fade away.

He felt Spud's cock jerk and bob against his belly. Mmm. Hello, that was nice. Caidon reached

down and grabbed that cock, needing to feel it in his hand, against his palm. It had been too

damned long. That sound that Spud gave him let him know Spud agreed. Wholeheartedly.

Worked for him. Caidon rubbed, pushing against Spud, really going to town. They weren't going

to last long, not like this, both of them humping like naughty puppies. He pulled at Spud's cock,

silently demanding, wanting his lover to come for him. To prove that he was wanted.

"Love." The single word was bitten out, Spud's muscles going tight as heat poured over his

fingers.

"Oh, Jesus, baby..." Caidon rubbed, his hips pumping. He came seconds later, shooting hard,

Spud not even touching his prick once.

"Mmm. Damn. Damn, Caidon." That voice sounded right, for the first time in days.

"You know it. God, I missed you." If his own voice was a little raw, he was gonna ignore it.

"I hear you. 'm proud, though. You cuttin' a demo."

"Yeah? It wasn't all that." He leaned back, looking into Spud's eyes. "Been thinking hard about

Texas."

"No shit? The scene there is wicked, Caidon. Austin is like Mecca or some shit."

Caidon grinned. He didn't know Jamie knew what Mecca was. "I think it suits my sound a little

better. My look. I didn't..." How could he say that Nashville left him feeling beaten down, and

like the worst kind of bumpkin?

"Didn't fit in with the spangles and twelve year old boy bands?" Spud wasn't stupid; the man

proved it to him, over and over.

"That and the little blonde chicks with the wide eyes." Grinning, he shrugged a little. "I just don't

get it."

"I'm not the guy to ask, man." Spud grinned. "I like studly front men."

"I like slutty guitarists." They rubbed noses, kind of hanging on to each other, loving on each

other.

"Well, then, we're set for bear, huh?"

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"We are. I figure we'll go far together." Man, he'd never been really steady with someone, just

one on one, maybe since high school. It made all sorts of things different.

Spud nodded once, eyes shifting away a little, that shame coming back. "I think that Joe's

looking to fire me, man. You might... You might be better off bunking without me for a couple

weeks..."

"Oh, fuck that. Joe can fire us both, that's what he wants. Hell, that way we can go to the

management and tell them Joe's in breach of contract." They worked for the tour manager. Not

Joe.

"I just wanted to warn you, huh? You got a chance."

"Stop it." He kissed Spud hard. He wasn't going anywhere without his favorite guitar player.

Nowhere.

"'kay." Spud wrapped around him, that happy hum suiting him to the bone.

"Better." Much, much better. He wanted to be with Spud for a while and not think so much. He'd

had way too much time to think.

God knew it wasn't fucking healthy.

He just needed to sit and jabber and kiss on Spud. So he started with the kissing. Good thing for

him Spud seemed all over his plan. All over him, too. They slid down to lie next to each other,

touching and petting, lips and tongues moving slow.

They had enough pillows, the blankets were clean and the mattress was soft. Caidon figured they

could stay all day, just like this. They could order pizza. Shit, they could eat the doughnuts and

shit. Spud's hands were working under the blankets, rubbing his belly, petting him.

"Feels good, baby." He couldn't help it; he had to talk a bit, his hands moving, too.

"It does. Lord, I been wanting this -- just fucking. Well, that's nice and all, but I mean I been

needing you."

"Mmmhmm. Missed you. Missed touching you." There were a lot of folks out there who thought

he was an emotionless bastard. Spud knew better.

"I know. Did you write more songs?" Spud nuzzled the hollow of his throat.

"I got some ideas. Been waiting to run them past you." They were a good team. Spud was way

better musically; his lyrics worked. He could find a hook without a fishing line.

"Yeah? I haven't done much. I'm not as good without my guitar."

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"Shit, honey, we'll have to work on that one. I don't see how Joe can tell you not to pick."

"Oh, he's just being a dick. Steve says that it'll stop once you're back... Now that you're back,

whatever."

"Yeah. I'll see to it." No way was Joe going to get away with making life shit for Spud. No way.

"Hey, don't go screwing things up for yourself, huh? Joe can be... mean as a hurt rooster." Spud's

fingers kept working, sliding.

Caidon shook his head, capturing Spud's fingers, playing them like guitar strings. "We'll figure

it."

"Mmm. 'kay. And we don't have to, not 'til tomorrow."

"Nope. We got all night, babe." All night, and he intended to enjoy everything he'd missed while

he was away.

"Well, there you go." Spud licked his lips, those weird-assed worried lines fading right away.

"Mmm." He kissed Spud's forehead, the lines beside the man's eyes. Then he took Spud's mouth,

needing to taste. Spud opened right on up, arms around his shoulders, fingers stroking and sliding on him, playing his skin. "Sweet. Sweet man." Grinning, he kissed Spud's nose and cheeks, humming happily. Man, he wanted to forget everything else for a while. That got him a soft laugh, Spud's hands massaging him, rubbing him good and hard.

"What? You are. Like sugar." Okay, that was a bit much, but it made them laugh some more.

"Swear to God, Caidon. You start calling me sugar butt and I'll pinch you."

"Yeah, yeah. You know better." He might, but only as a joke.

"I know. Hell, you call me by my real name."

"I do." Spud seemed so amazed by that, so happy. "Jamie."

"Yep." Spud leaned in, nibbling on his collarbone, the little bites almost tickling.

"Mmm. Damn, you have a good mouth." He could rhapsodize about that mouth for a good long

while, but he'd rather kiss it.

"Been hungry for you." Spud headed south, sucking right above his nipple.

"Well, that's a good thing, huh? A real good thing. Been needing you." It was amazing, how

Spud had become important. Necessary.

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"I know. I'm glad." His nipple got a nice, firm bite.

"Uhn. So, what was it, uh, you were gonna run past me? Music wise." See him. See him talk. Go

Caidon.

"Some tunes. I been working on the bridge of that waltz you wrote."

"Yeah?" That was way cool. He licked at Spud's chin. "I'll look forward to that."

"Mmm. I've been work…working on stuff, you know, real quiet." Spud twisted, moaned some,

not being so quiet now. "Wanting to play."

"Me, too." They were playing now. Damn, Spud was going to drive him crazy.

Spud crawled over top of him, starting to rub a little. "You smell good."

"So do you." He grabbed Spud's ass, squeezing hard. "Jamie."

Those cheeks went pink and Caidon could feel Spud's cock throb.

"Love how you love that." Maybe it made him a broken record, but he wanted Spud to know

that.

"I know it's stupid, but... it makes me all hard and hot."

Caidon grunted, hips rolling like an old rocking chair, up and back. Lord, Spud felt good against

him. Finally -- finally -- all that worry left Spud's face and he got a grin, a little wild, a lot happy. Like him being back fixed things for Jamie. That made him want to kiss that face all over, made him want to curl up and love on him all night. "I got you, baby." "I know. Think you oughta keep me a while." "I think I will. A long while." They moved together, skin sliding on skin, both of them making

these happy little noises. Woulda been sappy if it wasn't so real.

The knock on the door came as a damned unpleasant surprise, given Jamie was humping his leg,

moaning softly.

"Caidon! Spud! Joe says he's ready to go!"

"Shit! What? Hadn't Al said they all had the night? He got up, dragging a sheet around him

before opening the door. "What the hell?"

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Tracy was standing there, looking half-drunk and pissed as hell. "Joe changed his mind. Says he wants to go. Asshole." The man poked his head in. "Get your sorry ass up, man, 'fore we leave you behind." "Well, he'll have to give us a few." Not that he really wanted to go, but they did have a contract.

"More than a few. You tell him we're paid through tomorrow!" Spud looked... pissed.

Maybe it was time to go talk to Joe. "Hand me my jeans, baby. I'll be right back. Tracy, why

don't you just go back to bed, huh?"

"I. Yeah. Yeah, okay. Where you going?"

"I'm going to talk to Joe. He's being an ass, and it's no good punishing y'all when he's pissed at

me." He stepped into his jeans and zipped up carefully, still not a hundred percent over what he

and Spud had been doing.

"I don't know that it's you, Caidon. You want me to come?" Spud was still sorta... flopping.

"No, honey. You stay and put us a snack together, huh?" He stomped into his boots, clapping

Tracy on the back as he headed for the bus, making sure the door shut and locked behind him.

Damn it, this was getting out of hand.

He could see Steve when he got into the bus, looking over at him, eyes all squinty. "You don't

want to go in there, man. He's growling."

"Well, I can growl louder than him. He just ain't seen it yet." Caidon knocked, because his

momma had raised him right, but then he stormed onto the bus.

Joe was sitting there, scowling, whiskey bottle on the table. "Look who the cat dragged in. Did I

interrupt the fucking?"

"Yeah, you did. What's your problem, man?" Might as well start out like he could hold out.

"We need to make up some time. We lost a day, waiting for your sorry ass."

"Bullshit. Everyone already told me we're paid through tomorrow and don't have a gig until day

after that." He put his hands on his hips, widening his stance.

"What? You're back to fuck shit up again? You've already got Spud all puffed up and full of

himself."

"What the hell does that mean?" Jesus, he was just trying to make music and live a little.

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"Shit, used to be, a guy needed a quick suck, there was a mouth. We needed anything, any of us, there was Spud. Now he's thinking he's going to write songs, be exclusive. He's a fucking picker, like a million others, and now he's not worth shit because he's gotten uppity." Caidon’s hands clenched into fists, his jaw setting. "Well, if y'all hadn't treated him like a whore, he woulda known a long time ago that he's good at what he does." "Like you're doing any better. What? You think you can take him on the road? Caidon and Spud, the two-man traveling fuckers." Joe growled, stood up. "Now go get the miserable little fuck and get on the bus. I want shit back to the way it was or I will drag y'all's name through the mud. Do you hear me? That talentless little whore won't work again." "He don't have to get me, Joe. I'm right here." Spud was there, looking like he felt about two foot tall. "And you don't have to hold the bus for us. You just go on ahead. I'll call around, find you a new guitar player." Look at him, not whacking Joe right in the nose. "Fine. Go, but Spud stays." Joe looked over. "I'll make it where the son of a bitch never works again. You want that? I swear to God, Spud, you get on this fucking bus and you stay and I'll let it be." "I..." Spud looked at him, chewing his bottom lip. "He can get a piece of ass anywhere, man. Come with us. I ain't waiting." God, when had Joe become so fucking mean? "What the hell is with you, Joe? You used to be decent folks. You get the clap while I was gone?" Caidon shook his head, turning to Spud. "Jamie, honey. We don't have to worry on this turd. He can't hurt me." "You got a chance to be big time..." Spud looked a little sick, a little raw. "Uh-huh. And what is Joe?" He gave the man in question a sideways glance, hard as nails. "What was it he said? A dime a dozen. Come on, Jamie." "Wait." That was Steve, standing there, cheeks bright red. Oh, God damn it. "Don't get in the middle of this, Steve." He didn't want to kill the man. "No. No, you don't get it." Steve held one hand up. "Y'all have to wait on me." Spud blinked, looked, "Huh?" "You wasn't never a whore to me, Spud, and y'all'll need a fiddle player in Texas. I wanna come, too."

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Caidon felt the grin coming on, but he held it back, not wanting Joe to see how tickled he was. "Well, now, you know I'd have you in a heartbeat, Steve. You play the strings right off that fiddle." "I'll grab my shit. You need to get your stuff, Spud, honey." Steve nudged Jamie and Joe stood, face burning and bright red. "You motherfuckers! You get your asses on this bus!"

"No. No, I don't think so." Caidon slipped in between Steve and Jamie and Joe. "I think you've

lost half your band, man."

"Come on, Spud. Move your ass. Caidon's good." Steve reached for Jamie as Joe picked up the

whiskey bottle.

Spud rumbled and Caidon'd be damned if the little fuck didn't launch himself at Joe. "Don't you

even think of it, you bastard!"

Then things got a little... intense.

Spud grabbed the Jack bottle, whacking Joe good and hard under the jaw with it, right before

Jason body-slammed Spud into the floor.

"Jamie!" Caidon leaped into the fray, his balled up fist taking the guy right under the jaw.

He took a hard one to the breadbasket, then he heard the dull thunk as Jamie brained Ace with a

chair. Jesus Christ on a crutch. They tusseled it up good, Steve yodeling and charging in, kicking

with those pointy toed boots of his, Al getting his licks in where he could. Lord love a duck.

Things got loud a second, then Spud headbutted Joe right in the face, blood spurting everywhere

and Joe going down with a thud. Steve blinked, head tilting. "I'd best get our stuff, huh?"

"Yeah. I think you'd best. You got anything on the bus, Jamie? Steve?" He'd get it before they

went, for sure.

"My guitar's upstairs. My CDs, too." Jamie packed light.

Steve came out, hauling bags and handing them over, nose bleeding some.

"Come on, folks. We need to get on out of their way." He took one last look at Joe. "Leave us be.

You don't want to mess with me, son."

"I'll fuck your life up, bastard."

Jamie growled and Caidon had to grab the man, keep him from attacking again.

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"Stop. Just stop. He cain't touch us. Now, come on." Oh, God. That felt good. better than almost anything, to turn his back and walk away. Jamie was behind him, Steve taking up the rear, hauling bags. "I'm going to drag this shit into my room, guys. I..." He got a grin. "I know y'all have stuff to talk on." "Yeah. We'll see you in the morning, man. Have breakfast and make a plan." "I'm glad you're good to him, huh? I mean, sucks for me, but... You know?" "Thanks, Steve. You really are a good 'un." Now, he had to go get Jamie calmed down. And patched up. He could feel Jamie, muscles shuddering violently, spine stiff as a board. They went in their room, locked the door behind them. "I ain't a motherfucking whore." "No. No, you aren't. Not by a long shot, baby. And I bet Joe is the only one who would say it or even think it." Damn it. "I didn't do it to keep my job, either. I was lonely and I thought they was my friends." "Oh, honey. They were. Joe's just gotten ugly because things have changed. It made the band pull and break. That ain't your fault." Caidon grabbed those hunched shoulders and pulled Spud close, not wanting anything but comfort. "I'm sorry, huh? If he fucks things up for you, I'll have to go kill him." "He's all talk, honey. I know enough people that he'll be shooting himself in the foot, he makes any trouble. We're going to Texas. That's a whole world he doesn't want to mess with." He grinned against Spud's temple, thinking how the Texas music scene pulled together, those folks a solid wall against the Nashville world. "You don't sound too pissed about it. Were you planning it? Planning on leaving?" Spud leaned against him, face starting to swell up already, bruise. "I was thinking on it, more than planning it. I told you how Nashville just didn't feel right." Poor baby. Caidon kissed each little bruise, knowing they'd both look like lepers tomorrow, Jamie more than him. "If you wanted to go, though. If you didn't, I was gonna stay on." "No, it was time. I ain't staying where I ain't wanted and I ain't staying where they think that. That I'm just replaceable." Jamie lifted his face, eyes closed and swole. "They didn't even 'member my real name." "Steve knows." He squeezed tight, letting Spud feel him. "I know. That's all that matters."

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"No, it ain't, but it's the part that I'm gonna hold onto." Jamie took a deep breath, and then tried

smiling for him. "Guess you got yourself a band."

"I guess so." Fuck, but his Spud was brave. "We'll work it."

"Yeah. You wanna take a shower? A hot one?"

"I so do." It would ease the aches, and give them something else to think about.

Jamie looked around, smiling at their guitars, sitting together. "We'll get to make some real good

music, now."

"We will. You can write me some good songs. No more telling you that you can't pick." He

started moving them toward the bathroom, needing that hot water.

"No more listening to Joe crack in 'Look Homeward'."

"There you go. No more of Tracy stinking up the bathroom on the bus." Man, that had been foul.

Jamie actually chuckled. "No one stealing my peanut butter crackers."

Caidon laughed right out loud. "Well, sometimes that was me."

"Those were freely offered. Get naked, man. And we're not fucking answering the door this

time."

"No. No more doors." Well, except the weird door on the shower. That was a given. *** Caidon was sleeping. Hard. So Spud grabbed his smokes and headed out to the stairs to look at the moon. He was sore in the best possible way, tired, but his mind was going rabbit-rabbitrabbit and he wasn't gonna be able to sleep for a while. The fight with Joe was written all over

his face, one eye swole shut, lip split.

He kept hearing Joe's voice in his head.

Whore.

Hole.

Dime a dozen.

He lit up, elbows on his knees, looking out into the parking lot.

Damn.

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"Hey, man." Steve came and plopped down next to him, nudging him with one elbow.

"Hey, friend." He looked over, offered the pack. "Smoke?"

"Sure. Thanks. Man, you know Joe is just wrong, huh?" Steve took the cigarette from him,

lighting up and blowing out a long stream of smoke.

He grinned and lit up another. "Yeah? 'Cause... Man, I was just trying to make music."

"Some folks don't like change. Caidon was a threat." Shrugging, Steve leaned back and tilted his

head toward the sky.

"I guess." Lord knew he wasn't. "We good, you and me?"

"We're good. I have some wishing, but you know if wishes was horses..." Steve grinned over,

stubbing out the smoke. "Caidon's what you need."

"Yeah. You're my friend, though, and you got to have a fiddle, 'specially in Texas."

"Cool. Then I'm in. Just no smoochy faces when I'm in the truck, huh?" Steve laughed a little,

rough, but on the way to good.

"'Kay, I'll just blow him." He ducked the swat easily, both of them laughing. "Ain't I been hit

enough today?"

"You have. You look like you took a couple good ones."

"Yeah. Fucker rang my bell a little." He nodded over. "You did okay. You're taller."

"Yeah, but I bet Joe has to cancel a few gigs." Steve was grinning to beat the band. Beat the

band. Heh.

"I sure as fuck hope so." That thought was damn happy making. "I hope he's sorry."

"He'd better be." Caidon's voice came from the door behind them, serious as all hell. "Asshole.

Y'all want waffles?"

He leaned back, neck creaking as he looked up along those long, amazing legs. "I do. Coffee,

too. And bacon."

"Well, come on, then." Caidon stroked his cheek before hauling him up, then holding down a

hand to Steve.

Steve took it, flicking the smoke away. "Thanks, man. So, Texas, huh? Cool. Let's go to Austin."

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"That'd be a good place to start, yeah." They headed across the parking lot toward the one

twenty-four hour place, Caidon's flip flops making the tac tac noise.

"Austin, huh? Okay. Willie's there." It seemed weird, to think about not Nashville.

"Hey, if it's good enough for King George..." Caidon kinda had a George Strait thing.

He bumped hips with Caidon. "Well, we got a fiddle player."

"We do. Amazing, huh?" They both grinned at Steve, Caidon shaking his head. "Can't believe

you're the one ended up standing up for us."

"Hey, Spud's... We ain't lovers or nothing, but, he's my good friend. He shares his smokes, even

when there's only one left."

"I know, man." Caidon clapped Steve on the back, friendly like. "No worries."

Spud chuckled, feeling better than he had in days. "Nope. No worries for us. 'cept for the fact

that we ain't got a truck."

"Well, we're gonna have to do something about that. But we got guitars."

"And fiddles." Steve chuckled.

"All that and more. We'll take the bus down if we have to." Caidon held the door for them,

ushering them into the smell of waffles and coffee and syrup.

"If we can get to Little Rock, we can get my truck. It's in good shape." Steve nodded. "I'll grab my mandolin, too." "That would be great. Work for you, Jamie?" They got seated, and Caidon's foot rubbed up and down his leg under the table.

"Yeah. Yeah, man. I'm in." He was, so in.

"Jesus, you boys had one hell of a fight, hmm?" The waitress was laughing at them.

"You know it. Ain't worth doing if you can't do it up right." Caidon gave her a crookedy smile.

"Coffee, please, ma'am."

"Me, too." Steve nodded.

"Me, three."

They had coffee and ordered waffles, and there was no tension in them, no weirdness. It was just

good.

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By the time they'd finished, Spud was feeling like he could sleep, like the world could ease on by

for a few hours. Hell, he hadn't spent the night with Caidon in weeks.

"You ready to hit the sack, baby?" He wasn't the only one with droopy eyes, and Steve was

already dozing, not even hearing Caidon's whisper.

"Yeah. Yeah, in the worst way." He nodded, put some money on the table and nudged Steve.

"Come on, man. Bed."

"Huh?" Steve's head snapped up, then the guy smiled sheepishly. "Oh, right."

"Move it, man." He chuckled, whapped Steve's hip.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to get all sleepy." They got up and out, and Caidon stopped to buy them a

pack of smokes so they could all have one on the way back to the room. He was swaying some

himself, all of the sudden hurting and tired and a little bit grr.

Caidon stubbed out his smoke under his boot and held out a hand. "Night, Steve. Sleep in, huh?

We'll meet at checkout time in the lobby."

"'kay. Night, y'all." Steve waved and wandered, and Spud didn't watch him go. They'd see him

tomorrow.

He leaned a little as they rounded the corner. "Hey, you."

"Hey, baby. How you holding up? That's a hell of a shiner." Caidon slid an arm around his waist

once they got completely out of sight of the lobby.

"Yeah. It's achy. I'm cool. A little wigged about this whole thing, yeah?"

"Yeah? I'm relieved." Caidon laughed, the sound a little rusty. "It's cool, Jamie."

He nodded. If it wasn't, it would be. They just needed to find somewhere to play.

*** Caidon woke up the next morning feeling bruised and battered, but better than he had in ages. He had Jamie next to him, and there was no dread in the pit of his belly. They were footloose and fancy free. Damn, it felt fine. Real fine. He checked the clock. Two hours until check out. Hoo

yeah.

Jamie turned over, reached for him. Damn, there was some hard-core bruising on Spud's face.

Still, as soon as Jamie's hand touched him, he got a smile.

Rolling over, he slid a hand down Jamie's back, feeling every little bump of the man's spine.

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"Mmm. Caidon..." So fucking pretty.

"Hey, baby. How's it going?" He let his fingers do the walking, skating over that hot skin.

"Mmm. Good now. Real good." That smile widened. "I thought, for a second, you were still

gone."

"Nope. Right here." Scooting closer, he put his mouth to Spud's, tongue coming out to trace

those pretty lips. Jamie opened up, morning wood rubbing against his belly. Yum. Caidon moved

closer, too, and suddenly you couldn't slip a credit card between them. Maybe a piece of paper.

"We got time to play?" At his nod, Jamie hummed happily, nuzzling, teeth scraping his jaw.

"Oh, that feels good, honey." It did, too, that hot mouth against his rough, stubbly skin.

"Everything feels good today." Jamie chuckled for him, and then wriggled 'til their cocks were

side-by-side, slipping together. "You know it does. Goddamn, honey." They slipped and slid, both of them humming, rocking, hands moving slow. It was sweet, easy as they moved together, rocked together. Jamie's hands worked his skin like he was a guitar, fingers plucking and stroking. Caidon wrapped his leg around Jamie's hip, holding them together. He took another kiss, then another, loving the feel of them together. Jamie's cock was leaking, slicking his own prick up, making the thrusts easier,

better.

They moved so easily, so perfectly together, like really good music. Like melody and harmony.

"Want." Jamie arched, cock throbbing against him, driving a little harder, a little faster.

"Whatever you want, baby." He could do anything for this man. Anything.

"You. Just you. Now." Jamie jerked, spunk spraying over his belly, all of the sudden.

"Oh. Oh, fuck, babe." He hadn't expected that. Not at all. It made him buck, made him writhe,

and then he was coming, too, his balls emptying, almost painful.

"Sorry. I was all riled up." Jamie chuckled even as they gasped together.

"I like you riled, baby." He liked Jamie any way he could get him.

"Yeah? You think you'll keep me?" Wasn't that what Jamie had been wanting from him from the

beginning?

"I wouldn't dream of anything else, baby. You're mine, now. Mine." Caidon squeezed the man

tight.

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"Well, then. I guess you'll have to be mine." Jamie nibbled his throat, nuzzling in.

"I guess I will, Jamie. All yours." Every inch of him, balls to bones.

He couldn't wait to see what kind of music they made.

*** They rolled into Austin at midnight, pulling into the parking lot of Kerbey Lane. Spud breathed in deep, loving the smell of coffee and gingerbread pancakes. He nudged Caidon, who'd fallen

asleep somewhere around Hillsboro, grinning at Steve in the rear view. "Hungry?"

Steve grinned and nodded, and Caidon sat up, blinking. "Oh. Pancakes."

"Pancakes. Bacon. Coffee. Come on." He did love Austin, with all the freaks and students and

musicians and shit. The air was damp and cold, but nowhere near the cold they'd been living

with, and this was as bad as it got.

"Coffee." Steve sounded almost reverent. 'Course, he'd been awake, helping Spud keep from

falling asleep at the wheel while Caidon got some shut eye.

"Fuck yeah." They piled out of the truck, wandering in and plopping down as soon as the little

pink-haired, pierced and inked hostess sat them down.

"We should get the Kerbey queso, huh?" Caidon did love that Mexican cheese dip.

"You know it. They have the best guac."

Steve rolled his eyes. "Dude, guacamole does not go with pancakes."

Spud snorted. "Does, too."

"It so does. Just like carrot cake goes with beer." Caidon nodded, absolutely solid and serious.

Carrot cake and beer.

He thought on that a second. "Is that like powdered donuts and tequila shooters?" 'Cause he'd

done that.

"Yeah. Or graham crackers and peanut butter and rum."

He nodded happily, grinned. "Oreos and Jack."

Steve was making gagging noises, holding his tummy. "Y'all, quit. Please."

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Spud started laughing, grinning ear-to-ear, the waitress wandering over with coffee. They ended up with queso and onion rings and pancakes and pie. It was a hot mess of good food, and Caidon out ate all of them put together. Steve picked and he just ate, tasting this and that. You couldn't get better gingerbread pancakes anywhere. They all sat back, patting their bellies, the last round of coffee going down slow. It wasn't near as awkward as he'd thought it would be with just Steve and them. Caidon said he thought Al'd be coming too, sooner rather than later; then they'd have themselves a real little band. "So, where do you boys want to start?" Caidon asked, stretching those long old monkey arms. Steve shrugged. "You got any of those demo CDs? Tomorrow we can hit the clubs, KGSR, get some buzz going." "Sure. Sure. I got some of them in my bag." Nodding, Caidon added another creamer to his coffee, then two sugars. "There's a few papers at the front. I could look." They'd figure something out. Hell, he could work at a guitar shop or a studio. McDonalds. He was easy. "We'll grab them on the way out." Long fingers dropped along the back of the booth, Caidon stroking the hair at his nape. That gave him the happy shivers, made his cock jerk a little and swell. He couldn't quite believe it -- that they were here, footloose and fancy free. Steve was drumming on the table a little, humming a tune, and it seemed right and good and not weird, like the last month had been with the band. Especially when Caidon started scribbling lyrics and he started helping in. By the time the coffee was gone, there was a little group of folks, sitting around, all of them jamming some. Hell, one of the cooks came out from the back with a little six-string and they were going to town. That was the life for him. Music shouldn't be about angry. It should just be... Music. That was almost deep. Good thing he didn't have to worry about it; he took his own guitar from Caidon and played harmony, like he was meant to. *** Caidon watched the crowd while they warmed up for their second set, grinning a little. The drinks had been flowing, and Steve's fiddle had kept them two-stepping, and folks were ready for them to start playing again. That was always a good sign. You hated to see people rolling their eyes or giving that look of dread that meant you sucked wind on your first set. Smiles and hoots were much better.

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Jamie was leaning and laughing with Beau, the new little rhythm guitar guy that played with them when his own band didn't have a gig. They couldn't smoke in the bar here, which drove Jamie nuts, but besides that, he hadn't seen Jamie so happy in a month of Sundays. They'd have to get an outdoor gig in the next month or so, so they could share a smoke. It was sexy as all fuck. Made for a good night, after. Those bright eyes met his across the stage, the grin slow and lazy, enough to make him damn near spring a happy. Caidon cleared his throat and stepped up to the mic, tapping it gently. "Hey, there folks. We're fixin' to start our second set, so if you got any requests, just come on up to the stage!" "Why don't you play ‘Cowboys are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other’?" Now that was a familiar voice. Caidon felt his back go up, but he passed it off with an easy smile and a nod. "I think we'll give Willie songs a pass down here, sir. He does 'em better." Jamie and Steve were all stiff, still as Joe walked up so they could see him. The man looked like hammered shit, face gray and a little jowly. Shit. He felt kinda sorry for the guy. He'd lost a lot, and no one in Nashville was calling, Caidon'd bet. He covered the mic, giving Joe a look. Joe stared up and Jamie stepped forward, getting all puffy. "Grouchy dude! Leave the guys alone! We're ready to dance!" A group of rednecks and their women started fussing, the boys pushing Joe back. That was more like it. Caidon put a hand out to hold Jamie back. "We just need to play." "But..." Jamie searched his face. "Yeah?" "Yeah. We have to, we can kick his ass later." There was always time for a good ass kicking. That got him a quick grin. "No busting up the guitars, man." "Nope. No busting up hands, either. We'll have to use the drum kit." Al growled from the back. "You'll have to use mic stands, asshole." "Touchy, touchy. Come on, boys. we'll give 'em the good stuff." They counted out the beat and started an old swing number, Steve's fiddle ringing out. The crowd got into it, little rockabilly gals in poufy skirts dancing with white hats, cowgirls with tattooed biker boys. It was working for them. They forgot all about Joe, the crowd pushing him to the back, the music making everything else fade away. Just like always.

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They played a load of standards, and then tried out a new song that he'd written. Steve and Jamie made the joint ring and he'd be damned if a few folks didn't get teary. Caidon held the last note, letting it waver a little, Texas style. God knew he was all about that last note making the tear that was quivering fall. Damn, the hooting and hollering felt damn good. They rocked it through two more songs before the Shiner bottle hit the stage right in front of his feet. The beer splattered his boots, the glass shattering all up on his legs. "Oh, you piece of shit motherfucker!" Jamie was right there, growling, fixin' to jump head-first into Joe's shit. This time, Caidon let him. Jamie needed to get some of his own back. He really did. The man had called him a whore. Jamie landed on the floor about the same time that the bartender with his -- was that an oar? Damn. -- did. The bartender let Jamie get a couple of sharp licks in before whacking Joe hard on the shoulder, the action spinning the boy toward the door. Joe staggered, putting out his hands to catch himself, and someone grabbed his arms, spinning him again. "You get your sorry, stinking, jealous ass out of here. This ain't yours to ruin, you hear me?" Caidon was ready to jump into the fray, but he didn't need to. Joe was shouting, but no one could hear what he was screaming, not over the jeers from the crowd. Steve reached down, trying to grab for Jamie. "Spud! Come on back up. He's going." "Come on, babe. He's right. Joe's out of here." They could play. Make music. Yeah. Bye, Joe. Jamie reached up, let him haul that fine body back up on the stage. "That bastard pisses me off." "I know. I know it." Somehow, though, he couldn't work up a whole lot of rage. He just wanted Joe to go away, let them be. Life was getting damned good. "Come on, guys. We can do another couple and then have beer." Ah, Steve. Still about the beer. "Beer good." Al gave them a little flourish on the drums, reminding them that they had work to do. Jamie rolled his eyes, leaned into the mic. "Y'all hear that? The band needs beer!" The crowd cheered and jeered, but damned if beer didn't show up on stage, and none of it was thrown. Yeah. Caidon started up a blues style number, letting his fingers do the talking on his guitar. It didn't take a minute for Jamie to lean back against him, playing along, keeping up easily.

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That was it. He closed his eyes, letting the riff flow through him, getting into it. Shit, yeah. More. He barely heard Steve's fiddle wailing behind them. The feel of Jamie's body against his made him groan, made him pour everything into his guitar, let it ring right out. He wanted the whole fucking world to know. Jamie's moan answered him, the harmony rough and raw and driving right back at him. They wove harmony and melody, backbeat and that wailing fiddle, and it was almost like sex on stage. Only with Steve and Al there. Okay, ew. They broke apart, letting the song bridge, the key change. The finish on that one had the crowd on their feet, stomping and clapping, buying them more beer.

Jamie was sweating a little, beaming. "Damn. Damn, Caidon."

"You know it, babe. What do you say we wrap this up, go have a beer and a smoke out back?"

He grinned, bouncing on his boots a little.

"I'm with you."

He got a grin, Steve started "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" and they started wrapping it up.

Lord, but Steve was good, even when he was playing behind his back. They sang their hearts out,

the crowd screaming along with them, just like it ought to be.

By the time they were done, he was worn, they were all about three beers into a six pack and Al

was muttering about sore wrists. Just like it ought to be.

Now all they needed was that cigarette he'd bet Jamie would kill for. "Come on, guys. Out back,

huh?"

"Smoke break, baybee." Jamie was whistling, bouncing off the stage.

"You know it." They headed out back, all of them carrying a beer, him watching that bouncing

ass. Jamie pulled out a smoke and lit up, Steve stealing it right out of his mouth.

Some things never did change. Caidon lit up another one and handed it to Jamie, giving Steve a

look that was only half play. His.

Jamie leaned into him, rubbing a touch, nuzzling in. Oh, hell yeah. His.

Caidon looped an arm around his man, grinning at the guys, letting the night air cool him some.

Just a short time ago, he'd been dreading being on the road again. Now, it was the best thing.

Jamie took a hit, humming and blowing smoke out his nose. "It wasn't a bad set, huh?"

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"Nope. It was actually pretty damned good, considering it was interrupted." Joe was an ass. He wasn't a bad singer, though, so Caidon hoped he got his shit together. "Yeah, well..." Jamie's eyes flashed, that low snarl sexy as hell. Mmm. Yeah. They might have to go to the truck. He patted Jamie's ass, humming happily. Looking at them, you'd think Caidon was more likely to kick some ass. Of course, lots of people made mistakes where his Jamie was concerned. Hell, that was half the fun. Caidon was trying hard not to make the same mistake himself these days. He was just loving it. "Can we slip away, baby?" "God, yeah. I got adrenaline to work out with you." "Well, hell then. What are we waiting for?" He waved at the boys and grabbed Jamie's hand, pulling him off. Jamie's laughter followed him, husky and sexy as hell. They made it to the truck, but just barely, piling into the cab, hands all over the place. Finding each other. "Good. Damn. Caidon." Spud fumbled with his fly, his shirt. "More?" Like he had to ask. He ripped at Spud's button's trying to get what he needed, get his hands on that fine body. "No shit, more. Everything. Window's are tinted." So they were. It was dark. Hot damn. He pulled Jamie across his lap and kissed that mouth, pushing in deep with his tongue. Yeah. Everything. Jamie's hands pushed down the back of his jeans, squeezing hard, fingers digging in. So good. So fucking good. He moved his own hand down the front of Spud's jeans, fingers just able to reach. "Damn. More." Jamie's cock was leaking, wet-tipped, hot. "Let me just..." Caidon pulled back enough to pop that button open so he could get all the way in, get his fingers wrapped tight around Jamie's cock. "Uhn." Jamie arched, body begging for him. "I got you." He so did. All over the place. "So damned pretty, honey. So sweet. Jamie." Jamie grunted, hips set to moving like they hadn't touched in months, weeks, not just a couple of days ago. It worked for Caidon. It so did. He pulled a little, rubbing at Spud's cock with his thumb. Jamie's entire body moved like he was playing, like he was on stage, like Caidon's touch was the finest thing ever. That made him want to howl, or maybe sing, and sure enough would

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fuel his songwriting for weeks. He kissed Jamie's throat, licking at the sweat a little, pulling

harder with his hand.

"Oh, damn. Caidon. Caidon, I'm fixin' to..." And that was all she wrote, Jamie coming hard

before he'd finished speaking.

"Oh, honey." Look at that. Hell, smell that. Rich, earthy, hot. Jamie made his mouth water.

"Uh-huh." Jamie's kiss liked to melt his butter.

Sweet. Caidon rubbed up on Spud, his cock really making itself known now that he didn't have

all that heat and hardness to play on.

"Mmm. All mine." Now that was a happy sound.

"Yours. I swear it, baby. Please." He could still smell Jamie, could feel that silky heat on his

fingers, and he needed. Bad. Jamie pushed and shoved and wriggled, ending up crouched in the floorboard, fingers tugging at his fly. Caidon stared down, licking his lips, nodding hard. "Yeah. Jamie. Please." Jamie nodded, pulling his cock out so that hungry mouth could drop over it, pull good and hard. His hips lifted, his elbow cracking against the steering wheel, his head falling back. Yeah. Felt fucking fine. That mouth worked him like nothing going, sucking and tugging but hard, fingers stroking his balls. Grunting, he thrust as much as he could, trying to get more, trying to get there. He just... that mouth. Jamie started humming, damn near singing around his cock. His balls drew up hard against the base of his cock. Caidon knew he was about to blow, but he gritted his teeth and held on, just a few more seconds. All the way to the root -- those lips wrapped around the base and tugged, even as Jamie's throat closed around the tip of his cock. Caidon shot so hard his teeth rattled, his hips rising and falling like crazy. Oh, damn. Jamie cleaned Caidon’s prick off with his tongue, still humming.

"Oh, babe. Thank you." That seemed like the thing to do, say thank you. Damn.

His belly got a quick kiss, Jamie smiling. "You 'bout ready, man?"

"Ready for what?" He was still a little dazed, still blinking. That had about killed him.

"To go home. Go dancing. Go eat. Go fuck again. Pick one."

"Oh. Hell, yes. I'm ready. Let's do it." He slid over to the driver's seat, doing up his jeans.

Jamie laughed, fingers patting his cock once before it disappeared. "Which one did you pick?"

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"I say we eat and then go fuck. Steve and Al can take care of themselves." They were all staying

at the same motel.

"Magnolia Cafe? Katz's? Players?" Jamie's eyes lit up. "Oh, Players. Greasy burgers and fries

and baseball on the big screen."

"Hey, that sounds pretty good." He even knew where that was. Caidon started the truck and

headed out, letting any lingering worry about Joe slide right out of his mind.

Downtown was lit up and things were going like they were supposed to. He had his gig, his man.

Nashville could suck his ass.

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The Boys in the Band: Final Act Copyright © 2008 by BA Tortuga ISBN: 978-1-60370-461-8, 1-60370-461-2 All rights reserved. No part of this eBook may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information address Torquere Press, Inc., PO Box 2545, Round Rock, TX 78680 Printed in the United States of America. Torquere Press, Inc.: Single Shot electronic edition / June 2008 Torquere Press eBooks are published by Torquere Press, Inc., PO Box 2545, Round Rock, TX 78680

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