Smolder (The Road to Rocktoberfest 2024)

6. Chapter Six

Chapter Six

Sandy

I wanted to beat the life out of my brother for bringing Skyler Ashe over to my place to stay against my wishes, but as much as my parents didn’t talk to me now, if I killed Marsh, I’d never get back into the family. Not that I really thought I would, queer as I was. Life was certainly a first-class bitch.

Marsh’s rental SUV stopped in front of the house, so I went to the door and peeked through the sidelight, not happy to see Skyler Ashe step out of the passenger side. As easy as Skyler was on the eyes, I had to wonder how the next few weeks would work between us. Could I keep my cock locked in my pants while being around the man every day? That was the question.

I opened the door and stepped onto the porch. Skyler had his duffel and a guitar case as he walked around the corner of Marsh’s SUV. Marsh was in the vehicle on his phone, as usual, so I walked down the stairs and banged on the window. It was satisfying when Marsh jumped like I’d shot him.

“Get the fuck out of the vehicle, Marshall, and tell me what the hell you’ve gotten me into.”

Without an invitation, Skyler went in through the front door, but I’d figure that shit out later. I turned to my brother and fought the urge to sucker-punch him in the throat as he got out of the vehicle.

“Look, Sandy, I need him to rewrite the song. He’s got some guys to help him out, and they’ll be done in a couple of weeks, tops. The piano will come on Monday, and you can put it in the basement or maybe the living room. He can work in either space. Once he has it figured out, he’ll go back to his mom’s rescue farm because that’s where the studio is. He’ll work there to finish up, and then he’ll be out of your hair.” Something about the look in his eyes told me he was bullshitting me.

“What’s in it for him, Marsh? I get what you and the band are getting out of this deal, but what about the teacher?” I hitched my thumb over my shoulder toward the house.

Where those feelings came from, I didn’t know, but I couldn’t keep them inside. It was clear that Marshall and the band were setting Skyler up to be used, and I didn’t like it one bit. I didn’t give a damn about Skyler Ashe—except to watch his round ass in motion—but I wasn’t fond of those who took advantage of others.

“Skyler will get paid, though it will be split into three shares since he insisted on bringing in other musicians. If it all works out, everyone will make a lot of money. I have a feeling this song will be fantastic, and the kid might get the chance to write the movie score and make a lot of money.”

I stared at Marsh. “What about me? What about the shit I gotta endure to help you? What the fuck, Marsh? What do I get out of it?”

My brother sighed. “You know, Sandy, I wasn’t the one who got a contract with the NFL. I wasn’t good at sports like you, so I had to figure out another way to make a living. I’m sorry you got screwed for being yourself. That was a rotten thing for the team to do, and I wish I could make it up to you. I love you, Sandy. I won’t ask you for another favor as long as I live if you help me with this.”

I chuckled as I pointed toward the house. “Do you fucking know what you’re doing to me? This guy? God, he’s beautiful. How the fuck am I supposed to…?” I couldn’t finish the sentence.

Marsh touched my arm. “Why on earth would you hold back? If you like him, why not try to make something of it while he’s here? He’s legal, and he’s nice. Fuck, he’s a teacher and works with kids, so he must be a good guy. I hate that Regal Ashe pushed me to rope him into this shit, but Regal blew through his money, and now, he’s got nothing. Please help Skyler help his family.”

I stared at Marsh for a full minute. “Get your shit and leave. I’m not taking you to the airport, so call a fucking cab. You better do right by them, Marsh, or I’ll kick your ass.”

He nodded, went into the house, and returned a few minutes later with his suitcase. “I’ll be back in a week. Thank you for this, big brother.” He hugged me before he walked down to the end of the driveway, where a car was waiting for him.

Marsh turned before he got into the car and waved, which I returned. He slid inside, and it drove away. I hoped to hell he really came through for them as promised.

I climbed the stairs and let myself inside the house, going to the kitchen where I found Skyler staring out the bay windows. He didn’t look back, just stood there. “I’m sorry I’ve been foisted on you. I don’t plan to be a problem. I just need some solitude to do this, and then I’ll be gone. I swear.”

My heart wanted me to wrap him in my arms and tell him he could stay forever. Of course, that was a stupid impulse. My gut reminded me I’d just met the guy. I didn’t know him at all, did I?

“Hey. No, okay? You’re welcome to hang around. I’ll try to stay out of your way.” I sounded like a pussy, but I’d figured out that what he’d been tasked with wouldn’t be easy.

I marveled at anyone who could make something as beautiful as music, though I doubted I’d ever tell Skyler. It was a talent I didn’t have, but it was inspiring.

I glanced up to see his beautiful grin. “I appreciate you letting me come here. Where can I write? You tell me where to go so I won’t be in your way, and I’ll respect your privacy.”

Respect was the last thing I wanted from him. I wanted him to disrespect me. Disrespect me all over my fucking body.

“Yeah, sure. There are a couple of bedrooms upstairs, so pick one. I’d say the best place for you would be in the living room. When your piano comes on Monday, it can go in front of the windows. The kitchen isn’t far, and there’s a powder room down the hall. I’m usually downstairs working out or in the pool, so no worries.”

Skyler smiled, which was the best thing I’d ever seen, though I told myself he was off-limits. Nothing permanent, right?

I scowled. “Don’t get all fucked up about this. I’m doing this as a favor for Marsh.” I stomped away.

What the fuck was I going to do? How would I survive even two days with Skyler Ashe under my roof?

Sunday morning, I went out for my run at seven, just as Skyler returned from his. “I left the door through the garage open so I could get back in. I hope I didn’t wake you when I left. Enjoy your run.”

Mr. Nice went inside, and I went out. When I returned, I followed my nose to the kitchen to find a sticky note.

I opened the microwave to find an egg-white omelet. It smelled incredible and reminded me of my days on the road with the team. I had a limited cooking repertoire, but I would damn well eat what he’d made. I just hope he didn’t thank me for letting him live with me every time I saw him.

After I changed, I walked down to the first floor before going to the basement. I heard the echo of guitar strings being plucked from the living room, so I hid by the stairs to listen.

The chords started in one key and then changed to another, moving up the scale, but that was about as much musical knowledge as I had. What was he looking for? No clue, but the sounds he produced were melodic.

He began toying with the melody of ‘Bury Me’. I didn’t know the song well, having only listened to it after Marshall explained what the guy was trying to do. Whatever he had planned, what he was doing right then sounded incredible to my ears.

I pulled myself away, went downstairs, and headed outside. I dropped my phone on the glass table by a lounger before diving into the pool. My head was as fucked up as it used to be when I’d fumble a play or we’d lose a game because of a stupid mistake.

For years, football was my life. The guys on the defensive line were my brothers, and then, one day, they were just gone. For an unguarded moment, I lived my truth with what I thought was a faceless partner who had the same goal as me—getting off—and I got caught in a hugely humiliating way. Those I thought I could turn to for support under any circumstances turned their backs, including my own parents, and I was completely alone.

I thought I had a thick skin before I left football. Trash-talking was a staple of the game, and my teammates were champions at it. It was done to hype us up on the field, and it worked. We all talked smack, but we loved and supported each other.

Going from that comradery to being completely cut off was like being struck by lightning. I was in a dark and lonely place—had been for a year. Swimming laps in the pool was a twisted metaphor for how hard I was trying to find my way back to the surface of my life. I was trying to find what was next for me because, right now, I had nothing that gave me any hope and certainly nothing that made me happy.

The pity party was too fucking much, so I slid out of the pool and went to sit on a lounger to dry off. I picked up my phone to check messages, and when I found none, I touched the icon for the cameras I had set up around the outside and inside of the house, cycling through them until I found the one for the living room.

I touched the screen and turned up the sound. The camera showed Skyler sitting on the floor by the glass cocktail table with his legs stretched out in front of him and the guitar across his lap. A notebook was in front of him, and he’d play a few chords a couple of times before he grabbed a pencil and scratched out something I couldn’t read.

I relaxed on my chair, slid my sunglasses on, and watched the live feed from the living room for at least an hour. I couldn’t move my eyes away from the screen. Watching him was beautiful. Much like I imagined it would be to see a master at work.

He put the guitar on the couch behind him and stood to stretch. His shirt raised enough to show muscled abs I hadn’t expected. Clearly, I’d misjudged Skyler’s physique.

He was well-toned, which wasn’t a surprise, but as I studied him, I could see he was much fitter than I first assessed. He was a short guy, about five-nine, if I were to guess.

God, the idea of him riding my cock had me steel-rod hard in my trunks. There wasn’t a lot I could do, so I went into the basement through the patio doors and into the bathroom. I slid off my trunks and turned on the shower before reaching into the cabinet under the sink and grabbing a bottle of lube I kept there. I placed it on the shelf in the shower.

I stood under the spray for a few minutes, trying to decide how I’d like to have Skyler. Those muscular legs wrapped around my ass was a good place to start. As I pounded into him without mercy, him saying my name like a prayer. Would that be the way I wanted to take him the first time?

I reached for my hard cock, giving it a couple of slow tugs before I reached for the lube. After a squirt into my right palm, I turned my back to the spray and slid my hand down my cock to the base.

The water pounding on my back made a river down my crack, and as I spread my legs, it slid over my hole, tickling the nerves. That brought a scenario to mind that I hadn’t entertained for a long time.

“ I wanna —”

No, that wasn’t right. He was more articulate.

“ I need to be inside you, Sandy .”

Sandy? Would he call me Sandy? Would I want him to call me Sandy?

“ Sanders, baby, I need to be inside you .”

That sounded a little too fucking formal.

“ Baby, please let me fuck you ?”

Yeah, that was exactly what he’d say.

The whole thing played out in my head while I fucked my fist. I reached around and shoved my middle finger in my ass, imagining it was Skyler, who I was guessing had a big dick. Feeling him inside me would be incredible.

A few more strokes, and I blew all over the tiled wall. I stood under the spray for another minute to clean the sheen of sweat and jizz off me and catch my breath. Water dripped in my eyes from my wet hair as I tried to push the images out of my head.

It would never happen, Skyler and me, but something inside me believed it would be amazing.