Olivia Cunning - Touch Me

Tonight, Owens band, Sole Regret, would perform in San Antonio. Tomorrow night? Houston, maybe. And then New Orleans. Or was it Beaumont? Owen wasnt sure. The tour dates were starting to run together. He just got on the tour bus after the show and went wherever it took him. At least he knew they were still in his home state of Texas. Hed seen his family in Austin the night before, so some of his homesickness had abated. He loved touring with the guys, but his family had always been a tight-knit bunch, so he missed them when they werent tousling his hair as if he were a four-year-old and insisting he have another biscuit with his fried chicken.

Owen stood behind the main stage, watching the crew make last-minute adjustments to the fire fountains and spark cannons. The fans had no idea how much work went into setting up the stage so Sole Regret could play for a mere hour. No one ever cheered for the stagehands, but their crews hard work had paid offthe band would be live in less than five minutes. Owen appreciated all they did. Hed climbed out of bed that morning ready to hit the stage and without the crew, there wouldnt be a stage.

While he waited, Owen wrapped his hand around the dog tags dangling from a chain around his neck, closed his eyes, and sent a silent prayer to his older brother, Chad, currently serving in Afghanistan. Be safe. Come home soon, soldier. Be safe.

Owen prayed the same words before every concert. His routine. As if the powers that be were more likely to hear his prayers right before he went onstage. As if the energy of Sole Regrets fans made his pleas more noteworthy to Chads guardian angel. Owen imagined that particular angel wore combat boots and camouflage. And carried a big fucking gun. Chads angel of no mercy would keep him safe. Owen had faith.

Someone leaned against Owens arm, and Owen knew it was Kelly before he even opened his eyes.

Kellys mouth was set in a grim line, and his dark brown eyes held concern. If Owen hadnt known Kelly as well as he knew himself, hed have thought he was always serious and stern. Kelly did loosen up on occasion, but only around people he knew well.

The leather strap supporting Kellys cobalt-blue Les Paul guitar cut into his bare chest when he lifted a hand to give Owens shoulder a comforting squeeze.

Heard from Chad lately? Kelly asked.

Owen sometimes wondered if his best friend could read his mind.

Hes supposed to Skype me tomorrow morning. Well, it will be night where he is.

Tell him I said hey, Kelly said.

Tell him yourself. Im not your messenger boy.

Owen knew Chad liked to see familiar faces. Not just family or his girlfriend or all the friends who were waiting for him in Austin, but Kelly too. Chad had been a big brother to both of them, mostly knocking their heads together when they were being insufferable idiots, but hed also stepped into a protective role more than once. Kelly had done his part to lessen the bullying Owen had endured in high school, but occasionally Chads older, bigger fists had been necessary to get the point across.

Owen had plenty of friends now, but there had been a time when Kelly had been his only one. He was still Owens best friend. Always would be. As members of the same band, he and Kelly spent more time together than should be allowable by law. That hadnt changed. Probably never would. But other things between them had changed in the past six months.

An uncomfortable tension had surfaced when Owen had given Kelly a wrist cuff for Christmas to remind him of Sara. Owen and Kelly had had a lot more fun before Owen had made Kellys grief even more pronounced. Smooth move, Owen. Fucked that one up majorly, you did. He kicked himself on a daily basis for that overly thoughtful gift. Should have bought the guy a shirt instead, since Kelly didnt seem to own one. Owen had taken to plotting to steal the damned cuff in the middle of the night and setting it ablaze. Unfortunately, Kelly was a light sleeper.

Are you ready for tonights excursion? Owen asked, shifting his hand from the dog tags to rest it on the solid gray body of his favorite bass guitar.

I guess so. I cant believe the rest of the guys bailed on us. Kelly glanced at the other three members of the band and shook his head at their disgrace. What about our pact?

Yeah, what about their pact? They were supposed to keep each other from getting entangled in serious romantic relationships while on tour, but the guys were falling like dominoes. Kelly didnt have to worry about Owen falling into the same trap, however. Owen had no interest in romantic relationships. He was having far too much fun being wealthy and single. He highly recommended it.

They must be getting old, Owen said with a grin. Dont ever get old on me, Kelly.

I dont have time to get old.

We could invite Tex and Jack to come with us. Owen was sure the roadies would be up for a little late-night entertainment. The sex club they were going to was exclusiveinvitation only. Owen couldnt believe there was a man alive who would turn down the opportunity to get inside. And Gabe, Shade, and Adam had all turned up their noses, as if guaranteed sex with a stranger wasnt good enough for them anymore. It had been good enough for them a week ago. It was still good enough for Owen.

Nah, the crew has work to do. Tonight its me and you, bro. Kelly lifted a fist, and Owen fist-bumped him.

And dont forget the ladies, Owen said with a smirk. Theyre the best part. You are going to actually do something with them tonight, arent you?

Kelly shrugged. If I feel like it.

I think youre getting old too.

Kellys eyes dropped to the cuff on his wrist, and he traced it with one finger. Maybe.

Whoever came up with that its better to have loved and lost saying was the biggest fucking dolt whod ever initiated a clich. Kelly had loved and lost, and the loss had all but destroyed him. Owen wasnt sure if he would ever be the same. Kelly wouldve been better off if hed never met Sara. The year hed dated her, hed all but disappeared from Owens life. Hed been so wrapped up in the woman, it had been hard to distinguish them as separate entities. And when shed died, shed taken his heart with her. Five years later, Kelly still hadnt recovered the battered organ from Saras clutches.

Owen had suffered his share of heartache, but nothing in comparison to Kelly. Where Owen had lost love in quantityan embarrassing amount of quantityKelly had lost in quality. Owen had long since concluded that romance was for suckers. There would be no more heartache in his future. He was through with trying to find someone to love him for who he was, not what hed become. If a guy was burned enough times, he eventually learned to stop putting his hand in the fire.

I could sample a few choice pies for you and let you know which tastes best, Owen offered, only half joking. He enjoyed pleasuring a woman with his mouth, and he knew how much Kelly got off on the act. Or he had. Until last Christmas.

Fuck. Owen vowed to never give anyone a thoughtful gift ever again. It would be tube socks and neckties all around this year.

One corner of Kellys mouth rose. Im not sure we have the same discriminating palate, dude.

If you need me to Owen glanced pointedly at Kellys crotch. Owen longed for the days when theyd pleasured women together. Especially the part when theyd given each other amazing hand jobs. But ever since Owen had given Kelly that cuff, Kelly had remained distant. He no longer helped Owen entertain women, and he wouldnt touch him anymore. At all. The truly confusing part of this shift in their relationship was that Owen couldnt stop thinking about his best friends hand. Before Kelly had backed away, their brief sexual contact hadnt meant anything to Owen. He hadnt even considered it sexual contact. It wasnt as if he was attracted to Kelly or anything. He just liked the way Kelly tugged his cock just right. But now that they no longer touched each otherat Kellys insistenceOwen couldnt get the feel of the mans perfect grip out of his head.