He’s only wearing it for the weekend, of course. As a reminder of my promise to take care of him, of his promise to let me. After tomorrow, the need for it will be gone and he’ll take it off.
It’s a shame, really. I like the idea of Ned being tethered to me. This weekend is going to be over way too fast.
THIRTEEN
______
NED
After Toni falls asleep, I lay watching him for a long time. I push the sheet back to uncover his naked body, drinking in the sight of his skin. The curve of stomach and the jut of hipbones. His long dick is soft against his thigh, the base surrounded by neatly trimmed curls. The state of his grooming hadn’t registered earlier, when I’d done my best to bury my nose in those same curls, but now it makes me smile. I should have known Toni would be as particular about his manscaping as he is about the other aspects of his appearance.
Lifting my gaze back to his face, I take in his relaxed expression and messy hair. He looks younger when he’s sleeping, although in truth he’s barely a year behind me.
Fuck, he’s pretty. I could spend hours worshiping him. Lapping at his dusky nipples until they pebble against my tongue. Caressing his limbs with gentle hands and abrading the smoothness of his skin with my stubbled cheeks.
My dick pulses and I squeeze my eyes shut, dropping my head back to the pillow. We’re both exhausted, and I’m performing tomorrow. We need sleep.
Reaching for the cotton sheet, I cover us back up in its subtle comfort. Toni stirs, releasing a soft sigh as he rolls towards me. I wrap my left arm around him, inserting a leg between his knees and tucking his head beneath my chin. There’s a soft sigh, the press of absent lips against my throat, and then he settles once more.
When I first insisted Toni pay his debt by joining me at the festival, it didn’t occur to me I might enjoy his company. Even after the mind-blowing sex the night we finalised our agreement, all I’d cared about was knowing he could drag me into line, by the balls if he needed to. The strength of the attraction between my body and his—the pull that makes me want to do things for him, to him, with him—had been a convenience. One I’d planned to exploit to keep myself safe from Zac.
I never expected to have fun with him, or find him interesting, or care about him. But I do.
More than anything, I’m grateful. Toni was here for me when I needed him. He was exactly the person I needed him to be.
This man didn’t just keep me safe. He helped me forget I had a reason to be afraid.
* * *
The next morning, I meet up with the rest of the band to do our sound check and prepare for our set later in the day. It all goes smoothly, and we’re done faster than expected. Afterwards, we take the instruments we brought with us back to Gavin’s van for safekeeping, and then head over to one of the food tents where Toni and Charmaine have nabbed a table large enough for all of us.
Toni stands to greet me as we approach and I take his hand, lifting it to the back of my neck. “How did it go?” he asks, his brown eyes searching for signs of distress. He only agreed to let me out of his sight this morning because he knew I’d be with the guys. I appreciate his dedication to protecting me, but somehow, after last night, it feels less necessary. The thought of seeing Zac again doesn’t unsettle me the way it did before. The spectre in my mind has regained his earthly human form, and he’s as big a dickhead as ever.
“No problems at all,” I assure him.
Satisfied, he joins the others as they disperse to buy an early lunch. I ate a light breakfast this morning but won’t eat again until after the performance. Singing with a stomach full of half-digested food is never a good idea.
I sit down beside Johnny, who’s appeared off kilter all morning. “How did your mischief making go last night?” I ask in a teasing voice.
He shrugs, drilling holes into the table with his gaze. “Not as well as I hoped.” Clearing his throat, he fidgets with the lid of his water bottle. “Honestly, I thought casual sex would be easier.”
“It can be, but it doesn’t suit everyone.” I shrug. “Why push it if it doesn’t feel right to you?”
“Because this is my one chance to—” He stops dead, his face flushing, then he gives a drawn-out sigh. “You know what, it doesn’t matter. Let’s talk about what’s going on with you and Toni instead.”
My eyebrows lift. “What do you mean?”
“Last I heard, you were after a weekend fling. Then Toni shows up, introduces himself as your boyfriend, and the two of you spend the whole weekend acting like two peas in a little love pod.” He looks baffled by the breakneck speed of our relationship. He wouldn’t be the only one. “Are you guys serious or what?”
I clamp my mouth shut, unsure what to say. Toni and I have slapped the boyfriend label across ourselves as if my willingness to present my arse, and his willingness to make use of it, provide a solid foundation for a relationship. The supposed love pod Johnny’s referring to has been the result of my clinginess mixing with Toni’s need to control every situation he finds himself in. But underneath all the baggage we’re carrying and the deals we’ve made, maybe there is a spark of something real between us. Something worth exploring.
“We’re not serious at the moment,” I say in answer to Johnny’s question. “Although, I think maybe we could be.”
Johnny’s smile is bittersweet. “I hope it works out for you.” I nod my thanks and then he holds his arms out wide. “If nothing else, at least we get to play in front of a big arse crowd today. That’s worth celebrating all on its own.”
A flicker of excitement flares deep inside my chest, and I can’t stop myself from grinning. “Yeah, Johnny. It is worth celebrating.”
As much as I’ve dreaded this day, and the old cravings it could stir, I can’t deny the anticipation that’s building now it’s here. The thought of getting up there and playing our hearts out feeds a part of me that finds no other succour. And fuck if it isn’t starving.
