Something in the Way He Needs (Family 1)

“Are all y’all gettin’ nekkid?” Rob Yearling shouted to his bandmates as he looked around the stage. He stripped out of his T-shirt and threw it into the crowd. “This here show just got hella good, folks.”

Eric tapped his drum sticks together three times. “Here we go, boys. Let’s see if we can remember how to keep up with Dot. One, two, one two three four!”

And with that lead-in, Burning Wrath and Indignation—plus Daniel—started playing.

It was, unquestionably, the most incredible performance Asher had ever seen. And from the chattering in the crowd, he wasn’t alone in that opinion. BWI was on top of their game, their energy level high enough to carry into the crowd so everyone was dancing and singing along with every tune. And there was no doubt that Daniel’s addition to the ensemble was part of the reason.

He’d started out sitting on the piano bench, but that didn’t mean he was still. This was no sedate piano recital. His hands flew over the keys, his body rolling in time with the music, all fluid grace and sexy heat. His smooth, warm voice joined with Rob’s raspy mumbles in a way that should have been awkward but was, instead, a perfect union of soft and rough. By the end of the set, Daniel had kicked back the bench and was on his feet, slamming his fingers on the keyboard, sweat dripping down his back and body swaying as he belted out song after song.

By the time the lights finally flickered off, signaling the end of the show, the audience had shouted themselves raw. The spotlight came back on, and the four men stood together at the front of the stage, arms wrapped around each other, saluting the crowd and taking bows. It was an epic night and it was clear they knew it. Rob Yearling spoke to the fans, but Asher couldn’t hear his words. He was too focused on Daniel hugging the other men, listening to whatever they were saying into his ear as they rubbed his arms or back. He looked so natural on stage, like a real rock ’n roll star. Hell, he was a real rock ’n roll star.

Daniel looked like he’d been born to entertain, and Asher couldn’t help but wonder what in the hell he was doing living in his apartment, searching for jobs. Not that Daniel had been doing all that much searching. Which, now that Asher knew all the facts, made sense.

Didn’t Rob Yearling say Daniel was still writing their songs? Every album Burning Wrath and Indignation released went platinum. How much money did the people who wrote the songs on those albums make? Fuck more than a police captain, that was how much.

“Did you know about Danny?” Shirley rasped out as soon as the band, plus Daniel, left the stage. All the singing and cheering had wiped out her voice.

Oliver shook his head. “No. We didn’t grow up together, and Danny’s never been a talker. My dad would’ve told me if he knew, so I’m guessing he doesn’t have a clue either. Asher, did you know?” Oliver asked.

Asher grunted at him, not wanting to admit that apparently he had no knowledge about the past, hell, even the present, of the only man he’d ever asked to share his bed.

“Asher Penaz?” a man almost as big as Asher, wearing a BWI T-shirt and headphones, called over to them.

“Yeah?”

“Come on out this way.” He waved Asher over to him. “Dot’s waiting for you backstage.”

Shirley found enough vocal power to shriek. “We’re going backstage!”

The three of them followed the security guard down a hallway and past a locked door. “He’s right in here,” the guy said as he marched over to a door off to the left, knocked three times, and then opened it up.

Asher walked in first, followed by Shirley and then Oliver. The room wasn’t big, and in addition to the band members, there were several other people in the space. Everybody was huddled in groups, laughing and talking about the show. Asher spotted Daniel in a corner, pinned in by Rob Yearling and John Oaks.

“Come on, Dot,” John wheedled. “Don’t act like you didn’t love it up there tonight.” He was touching Daniel’s arm, his neck, his chest, hands, basically everywhere.

“You fuckin’ light up when you’re on stage and you know it. You belong with us.” Rob was standing close enough while he was speaking that Daniel surely could feel his breath on his skin.

Asher hated them in equal measure because they were all over his boy and because they were right.

“It’s not what I want. It’s never been what I wanted,” Daniel explained gently.

“That was before. None of us wanted Bobby, Johnny, Ricky, and Danny. It was boy-band bullshit. But it’s different now, Dot. It’s real,” Rob said passionately.