Tangled Weeds (The Road to Rocktoberfest 2024)

Two

Rory Smith

“ A re you sure you want to go?” I asked as we rode back to our house. It hadn’t been long ago that Kai moved in with me and I had zero regrets.

“Yes, I can’t wait. I haven’t gone with you guys on the bus yet,” Kai said and reached for my hand while he drove.

“Believe me when I say, it is not as glamourous as they try to make it sound. Those guys reek after a show, and the bus gets nasty.” I cringed at the memory. The bus was fairly new to us but there had been days where I would have been just as happy to get to where we were going another way. This part of the tour was long and short all at the same time, and I missed Kai every day we were apart. “But I am excited that you’ll be joining us.”

“How many nights are you in Vegas?” Kai asked.

“We play four nights, but we’re at different venues each night. We’ll be there a total of seven days.”

“Maybe I can fly down on Thursday and see you play. I’ve never been to Vegas.”

I still forgot how little Kai had traveled and I kicked myself for it. “Are you able to do that?” He had taken on an internship while he was still in school while still maintaining several websites. He’d graduate at the end of this school year, but it made for a tight schedule now.

“Yes. I can let them know I can’t put in my hours this week unless I do them earlier in the week. It’s a slow school week so no problem there.”

“Let me know for sure and I’ll make sure we get a hotel room,” I said making him laugh. “Liam and Easy do the same thing. I’m not exaggerating when I say there is no privacy on the bus. And if you’re going to go all the way to Vegas, there’s no way I don’t want some alone time with you.” I kissed the back of his hand and settled it back on my leg.

“I missed you. It feels like you were gone longer than a month,” Kai said.

“I missed you too, baby, and I promise I will make it up to you as soon as we get home.” He pressed down on the gas and sped up a little making us both laugh.

We lived less than thirty minutes from where we’d just played, and I was never happier for that than I was right now. I wanted Kai in every way and the distance we’d just had only made me want him more.

“Did you get any writing done while you were gone?” he asked as he pulled up to the house and turned off the ignition.

“A little, but you know I always get more done when I’m with my muse,” I said and kissed him. Since we’d been together, I hadn’t had any problems writing songs. He filled me with so many ideas and emotions it made it easy to put them on paper.

“Let’s go in so I can inspire you some more,” he whispered as his breath sped up. “I’ve missed you so much.”

It was still so foreign to me to know there was someone other than my family that cared where I was and was anxious for me to come home again. I liked it, and the place he held in my heart grew with every passing moment we were reunited. I paused with the key at the door before turning to face him and kiss him one more time. “I missed you too, baby,” I whispered.

“Go shower. I’ll meet you in bed,” he said and gave me a shove in that direction knowing if he didn’t, I’d skip the shower, and a quick whiff of my shirt told me it was a necessity. After what had to be the fastest shower in recorded history I walked into our bedroom where Kai was lying face down across the bed, his naked ass on perfect display for me. I let the towel I’d draped around me fall to the floor and walked over to lie on top of him.

“Trying to tempt me with that ass?” I asked, making him laugh as I ground down on him.

“Possibly,” he said, and after I kissed the back of his neck, I lifted up enough for him to roll over to face me. “I’m just so happy to see your face again.” He smiled but his eyes hinted at—something.

“Kai? Is there anything wrong?” Cradling his face in my hands I brushed my thumb gently on his cheek. His hand came up to cover mine.

“Not really. Just the usual shit, school is a lot right now and I’ve taken on a few more websites so it’s been busy.”

“I wish you could always go with me when we travel. I don’t sleep as well without you, and I definitely don’t get any songwriting done. It’s just not like it used to be,” I said. Every word was true, I missed Kai so much when we were gone and talking to him on the phone wasn’t the same. I needed his touch and his calm to tame the storm that constantly brewed in my head.

“How long until you’re out of school?”

“A few weeks. I don’t mean to complain, I know you’ve been working hard too. I just really missed you,” he said again.

“I wanted to talk to you about that. I know you only need a few more classes but how about you take the next semester off and spend some time with me on the road? After Rocktoberfest we’ll be going on a short tour up to Seattle. I’d love for you to go.”

“I’ve never been to Seattle,” he said, and the spark that had dimmed in his eyes was back. “I could still work remotely especially when you’re busy with the band. Maybe there’s a remote class I could take too.” He smiled and this time I could see the relief in his eyes.

“You can travel with us anytime you want to. It’s really not that glamourous but honestly, having you there would really help with my creativity and possibly keep Easy on good behavior.”

“Uh you realize he doesn’t listen to anyone other than Liam, and possibly his parents,” Kai said.

“Believe it or not he’s much less an asshole when you’re around. I think he thinks you’re too nice to be mean to,” I said, and he laughed again.

“I’m not sure everyone would agree with that, but I’m glad he’s not a dick to me.” Kai had seen all of us at our best and worst in the time we’d been together. Being in a band was never easy, and sometimes that boiled over into our lives outside the band, but so far, we’d been able to keep the band drama out of our life together, and I wasn’t sad about that. It was a relief to have someone who both understood and didn’t feel the need to be involved with every practice or go to every show. If Kai wanted to go, he went, but he had a life that kept him busy too. So, the possibility he’d be able to go with us on the road had excitement bubbling up in me.

“Rory?” Kai said and forced me to meet his eyes. “Fuck me.” He didn’t need to tell me twice. I’d been looking forward to it all night.

Reaching under his pillow I found the lube and condoms right where I knew they’d be, and after slipping on a condom and spreading some lube on his asshole, I teased him with my finger until I knew he was either going to blow his load or roll me over and have his way with me. He was beautiful. His head thrown back over the side of the bed, his mouth agape in a silent moan, and his hand clenched in my hair.

Pulling him back toward me, his eyes shot open before I lifted his leg and slung it over my shoulder. “This is probably going to be way too quick, but I can’t wait.” He started to laugh but his laughter was cut off as I slid into him. Home, he was my home and being this close to him was so fucking much more than sex.

“I love you,” I whispered, and tried not to move until he was ready. When he squeezed my shoulder and squirmed under me, I knew it was time. No matter how many times we did this it was never long enough and never enough. He wrapped his other leg around my leg and urged me deeper into him and I started to move, until neither of us could think of anything other than what was right in front of us. Love and emotion, and the man I’d fucking walk through fire for.