Page 27 of Numbers Boy (Working Boys #2)

I always love seeing how a crowd is going to react to a live performer as they chat and drink.

I’ve had pretty much every reaction there is, from politely disinterested to loudly invested in what I play next.

The people here are some of my favorites.

They don’t heckle or shout out requests, but they applaud after each song, and every so often, I get a cheer.

Soon, I’m sinking into the feel of playing, my voice and fingers working as one to tell the stories of the songs I choose.

I smile to myself and let my eyes close as I strum the opening chords of a song that I haven’t played around with in years.

“Can’t Help Falling in Love” pours out of me, a fairly easy tune to play, so as I sing, I allow my mind to wander to Steve.

I hope he gets just as much of an adrenaline high when he goes on stage tonight.

I know he said Eve is just a backup dancer this evening, but I can’t imagine anything Steve does that doesn’t demand attention.

Just as I’m finishing singing about the inevitable fall into love, and isn’t that the fucking truth, I notice Mark with his phone pointed in my direction.

Bars usually want photos for their social media pages and other random things, so I don’t think much of it.

I just take a sip from my water bottle and start my next tune.

Song fades into song, easily filling my allotted time, and then I’m heading offstage.

Mark meets me halfway to the storage room, a curious expression on his face.

“What’d you think?” I ask with a grin, amped up from my set.

“You’re really good,” he says kindly. “I hope you don’t mind that I took some photos as you were up there.”

It’s sweet that he’s checking, and I quickly affirm that it’s fine. Between the bars’ socials and people wanting to share their evenings, I’m used to it. “Not at all. I kind of assume there will be some sort of photographic evidence each time I play.”

“Okay. Well, thanks for playing for us tonight. I know Kimberly likes reliable acts, so I’m sure she’ll be in touch in the future.”

With that, he leaves once again, and I quickly pack up my case. On my way out to my car, I check the time on my phone, surprised to see a text waiting for me from Steve.

Princess: You look fucking hot up on stage *winky face emoji* *flame emoji* *image attached*

I tap the picture to enlarge it and huff a laugh when I see what it is. It’s a shot of me playing. From the angle, it looks like it was taken from the direction of the bar. I bet I can guess who’s responsible. I shake my head, a smile playing on my lips.

Me: You know Mark?

Princess: Yeah, he’s another Working Boy. Small world, huh?

Me: Please don’t get that song stuck in my head lol. How’s your night going?

Princess: It’s good! The number was super fun, but we were early in the show. So now I was just going to hang around and watch everyone else

Princess: Unless…

His messages come through quickly, and my cock perks up at his unfinished text. If he’s anything like me, performing will have him worked up and looking for an outlet.

Me: Unless…?

Princess: Unless you wanted to help me work off some post-stage energy?

Me: Be at yours in 15?

Princess: Make it 10.

I don’t even bother wasting time to reply. I just start walking faster.

THE FIRST THING I notice when the door swings open to Steve’s apartment is how unkempt he looks.

It reminds me of when I’ve seen him when he’s just rolled out of bed, but wilder.

His hair is a tousled mess, random curls sticking up every which way.

His face is free of makeup, except for a few traces he must have missed when wiping away Eve post-performance.

And he’s never looked sexier. His eyes are bright and happy, and the smile he gives me as he pulls me through the door sends sparks of desire shooting down my spine. Those sparks catch flame the instant his lips are on mine.

Steve’s kisses are frenzied, demanding entrance into my mouth, and I happily give it to him.

As soon as I part my lips, he licks his way in.

Our tongues greet each other, not quite fighting for dominance, but tangling enthusiastically with just a hint of impatience.

Eagerly pressing against one another. Our hands match that fire, petting and caressing any inch of skin they can find.

We grapple with clothes, not caring where they land, just wanting to uncover more.

When Steve backs me up against the closed door, both of us shirtless and his pants hanging open, a groan works its way out of my throat. Our teeth clack together slightly, and we finally break apart. Keeping Steve held close, I rest my forehead against his and stare into those bright green eyes.

“Hi,” I breathe, my simple greeting at odds with the intensity of our kisses.

Steve’s lips hitch up in a smirk. “Hi.”

“Are we moving this to the bedroom, or…” I trail off, not sure what I want him to say. Somehow, he still finds the perfect answer.

“Nah, I figured we’d make out like teenagers for a bit more. Then you can fuck me.”

And that’s exactly what we do.

I tug Steve back into another heated kiss.

My hands run up and down along his smooth back, pausing to tease the top of his underwear every third loop or so.

Steve’s hands are buried in my hair, using the leverage to tilt my head how he wants it as he plunders my mouth.

It’s a side of him I’ve never experienced before, but as long as he’s enjoying himself, I am here for it.

On the next pass of my hands down his back, I drop them further, dipping under his jeans to cup his full cheeks over his briefs.

Taking advantage of my thigh between his, I press his hips forward and encourage him to grind against my leg.

Steve picks up the motion with ease, and soon, we’re both rutting against each other, hard lengths aching as they rub against the restricting material of our clothes.

“Take me to bed?” Steve whispers before he mouths along my jaw, leaving hot, open-mouthed kisses from my ear to my chin and then back again.

“It would be my pleasure, Princess.” And then, similar to when we were in his bathroom the other day, I lean down and pick him up. This time though, Steve is ready, and his legs go around my waist as his arms link around my neck.

He leans down to kiss me again, a little less frantic than before.

The flames he started between us are still burning bright as I bring us to the bedroom.

Each intense stroke of his tongue against mine takes my breath away until all the air in my lungs is replaced with his essence, and it heats me up from the inside out.

Needing to pull back before we combust completely, I slow the pace even more, placing teasing kisses to his mouth before dropping more along his neck.

I follow the path of freckles I find there, leaving one last peck as we make it to his bed.

We haven’t done anal yet, but I know where he keeps supplies, so I quickly grab the lube and a condom from his nightstand, making sure to keep a firm grip on his ass so he doesn’t slip.

Then, I tip us both onto the bed, hand sliding up to cradle Steve’s head and help break his fall, my knees bent between his legs to keep my weight from dropping against him.

Steve, however, has a different idea and uses his arms and legs to pull me the rest of the way down, until I’m effectively crushing him slightly into the mattress. His eyes close in pleasure, and I’m once again struck by his beauty.

“So gorgeous,” I say against the hollow of his throat, my voice hushed.

I press a tender, lingering kiss to his pulse point, pausing there just to feel the thrum of his heartbeat against my lips.

My own heart beats in kind, pulsing wildly at the feel and sight and scent of the man pressed beneath me.

Working my way down his body, I kiss and lick and nuzzle every freckle I can find, whispering loving words into each new place. And when I get to his belly button, I finally make my fantasy come true.

“My favorite,” I tell the spot right before I lick it, teeth following my tongue as I nibble it as gently as I can. Steve gasps at the sensation, and I feel his cock kick against my pec. My chest heats with a sense of accomplishment, so I do it again.

“Tease,” comes Steve’s breathless admonishment, but when I glance up at him along his pale, bare torso, he’s looking down at me with a happy little smile on his kiss-swollen lips. I shoot him a wink, then continue my journey downward.

I pull his pants and briefs down in one fluid motion, revealing his cock standing hard and dripping amidst his trimmed, fiery curls. I bend my head and immediately take his flushed tip in my mouth.

Steve arches up, letting out a moan. “Nnghh, yes, Noah. More.”

I pop off only long enough to remind him, “Anything for you, Princess,” and then I’m back on his dick.

I bring one hand up to stroke his base in time with my mouth around his crown, the other carefully pressing his knee out so I have better access to his entrance.

As soon as he registers what I’m doing, his other leg follows.

“So good for me,” I praise, letting my fingertips drag slowly up his thigh toward his entrance.

I keep my hand fisting up his length as I circle his rim with my thumb.

Around and around, varying the pressure every so often, but not pressing in.

That will come later. Right now, I just want him to relax and let me take care of him.

When Steve is squirming, ass pressing down toward my finger, and words unintelligible, I release his cock to find the bottle of lube lying next to us and pour some on my hand.

I rub it between my fingers for a few seconds to warm it up and then press two fingers against his hole.

He’s already starting to soften from my ministrations, but I still start with just one tip when I finally push inside him.