Page 13 of Reverb (Larkspur Book 3)

Liam’s hand hesitated over the drawer of toys. Normally, he’d have most of these packed, but Miles’s parting words rang in his ears. Surely, Miles meant just today. He wasn’t allowed to touch himself just for today. The tour ran for another two weeks, covering the West Coast, taking in Seattle, Portland, Sacramento, and San Francisco, before finishing with two nights in Los Angeles. He was always extra horny and needy after coming offstage, and not being allowed to get off was going to cause even more problems than he had now.

Miles couldn’t be away with them for the whole time. First, he was too busy to be away from his office for that long, even with technology allowing for remote work. Second, apart from their very first tour, he’d never spent more than one or two nights with the band, letting his very efficient team run things. Everyone would be suspicious if he was suddenly there for two weeks out of the blue.

And that raised another question. Were they going to hide what they were doing? He didn’t think he was comfortable with the band and crew knowing that he and Miles were sleeping together. He especially didn’t want them to know why Miles was sleeping with him.

He still couldn’t believe what had happened last night. He’d felt ashamed and annoyed with himself that he admitted to Miles, of all people, what his weaknesses were.

Once he’d gotten over the initial embarrassment, it had been a relief to finally voice his preferences. The way Miles had calmly accepted them, and then comforted him when he’d spun out. His body heated, and the familiar itch rose under his skin at the memory of how Miles had helped him jerk off. He wanted that and more. He had a feeling that Miles would be a very generous and inventive lover. The thought had his hand going to his belt, wanting to relive the memory, but he stopped himself. He didn’t want to upset Miles by disobeying his first request.

Deciding he needed to get back to Miles’s apartment, he quickly packed his favorite toys into the special locked case he used—he didn’t trust Seth not to go snooping and find them—and then did a final check of the rest of his packing to make sure he had everything.

Thanks to LA traffic, he arrived back at the penthouse close to two hours later. He nodded to the doorman before using the private elevator. Once in the apartment, he stowed his gear in the guest room he’d been using before wandering back to the kitchen.

Not knowing how long Miles was going to be, and not wanting to bug him and appear needier than he actually was, he made himself a snack and settled in the den to watch a movie.

He woke with a start when a firm grip encased his ankle. He looked up to see Miles smiling down at him.

“How long have you been here, Liam?”

Pushing himself up, he rubbed his eyes with the heel of his hands. “I got back a while ago. I started to watch the movie, but I must have dozed off.”

“It’s after seven, so you may have been asleep for more than a couple of hours.”

“Ugh. I hate the wooly feeling I get after a nap.”

Miles chuckled, sending a shiver down Liam’s spine.

“I know the feeling. I’m going to grab a quick shower. Why don’t you order us some dinner, and we can relax?”

“Anything in particular you want?” Liam called after him.

“Surprise me.”

Liam pulled out his phone and perused the local eateries. He decided on a Vietnamese restaurant a few blocks away and placed an order. As he pulled out plates and silverware, it struck him how domestic the situation was.

“What’s wrong, Liam?” Miles’s voice broke through Liam’s musings.

“Nothing. Just thinking how domestic this all is. I ordered Vietnamese. Is that okay?”

“It’s perfect. Thank you.” Miles came to stand in front of him, and Liam trembled at his closeness. “Did you get all your packing done?”

“Ye… yes.”

“And did you get yourself off?” Miles’s voice was low.

“No.”

Miles gave him a searching look, and Liam felt his very soul was being looked into.

“Are you lying to me, baby boy?”

Liam shook his head.

“Words, Liam. Tell me what happened.”

Unable to refuse the commanding tone, Liam kept his gaze locked with Miles’s. “No. I wanted to. I was pac… packing my toys, and then I thought about last night and got hard. But then I remembered what you’d said to me this morning, and I knew you’d be upset if I didn’t do as you’d asked.”

“I wouldn’t have been upset, but I would have been disappointed. I want you to know I won’t punish you for not following my instructions. This arrangement isn’t going to have that kind of dynamic. You’re a grown man, and I’m going to help you learn how to control your desires and needs. I’m also going to encourage you to ask for those desires and needs to be met so you don’t feel shameful or weak.”

Liam lifted his hand before quickly dropping it. “May I touch you?”

“Yes, you may,” Miles confirmed, giving him an encouraging smile.

Liam placed his hand on Miles’s chest, feeling hard muscle, and the warmth of Miles’s skin through the thin material of his t-shirt. Miles didn’t move, just let Liam touch and explore. He slowly ran his hand down Miles’s chest, coming to rest on his waist.

“May I touch your skin?”

“Good boy for using your words. Seeing as you asked nicely, you can lift the bottom of my shirt.”

A tremor ran through Liam, the words making him feel good. His fingers slipped beneath the draped material and made contact with the smooth skin of Miles’s belly. Like Miles had done to him last night, he slid his thumb back and forth, stroking and soothing.

He felt, rather than heard, Miles’s breath hitch, and another wave of pleasure slid through Liam at the thought he was affecting the other man. He could feel the slight rasp of hair near the center of Miles’s stomach, and he longed to follow it down under the waistband of Miles’s low-riding sweatpants.

A hand grasped his, and he lifted his eyes in question.

“The food’s here. We need to stop for now.”

Liam blinked. He hadn’t heard the intercom.

Miles cupped his jaw. “Finish setting the table. I’ll get the food.”

Liam felt bereft and more than a little frustrated, and it took him a moment to gather himself to finish arranging the dinnerware.

As they ate, Liam was hyper-aware of everything Miles did. The way his fingers curved around his glass of water. The way his eyes crinkled when he laughed. Shit, how had he not realized just how sexy Miles was?