Outsider (Exodus End 2)

One

Ethan stood in the wings, his attention riveted to the man putting every ounce of his soul into the guitar strings beneath his fingertips. He’d never tire of watching Trey play live. He was, however, already tired of watching him lean up against Brian Sinclair’s back as they played one of their dueling solos. Ethan knew the intimate solos were part of their act. He knew seeing the two guitarists touch familiarly made the women go wild. He also knew that Trey had once been in love with Brian. What Ethan didn’t know was whether he’d ever completely take Brian’s place in Trey’s heart.

Ethan didn’t take a breath until the solo ended and the two guitarists pushed off each other’s backs to separate to opposite sides of the stage.

“Sometimes I wish I was Brian,” Reagan said with a pronounced sigh.

Ethan knew that feeling all too well.

“I love playing for Max,” she said. “For a rhythm guitarist, he does some intricate fret work. But there’s something about Brian’s sound that works itself under your skin, you know?”

Brian had definitely worked his way under Ethan’s skin, but not in a good way. It wasn’t that Ethan didn’t like the guy; he actually understood why Trey had been hung up on him for so many years. But Brian had had Trey first—heart, body, and soul. And he still held part of Trey. He’d likely always have part of Trey. While Ethan had no problem sharing Trey with Reagan, sharing him with Brian Sinclair was another matter entirely.

“And to have that kind of connection with another guitarist?” Reagan continued. “It’s magic.”

“Maybe you and Trey should start your own band,” Ethan said, crossing his arms over his chest and drumming his fingertips against one tense biceps.

Reagan laughed. “Like Trey would leave Sinners for me. Yeah, right.”

“He might if you asked.”

Reagan gnawed on her lip as she watched the man in question perform on stage. “I’d never ask it of him. He’s exactly where he belongs.”

“And what about where you belong?”

Reagan shrugged. “I’m doing okay with Exodus End for now.”

But he knew she didn’t feel like she truly belonged with the group. In her mind, no matter how much the band showed her she’d been accepted into their fold, she was an outsider. She’d likely always see herself that way, even if they decided to keep her indefinitely.

“What comes after Exodus End?” Ethan asked.

She shrugged. “I’m assuming something less spectacular than what I have already, so I’m not in any rush to move on.”

Perhaps not, but he was sure she wanted a band to call her own.

“What’s next for you, Ethan?” she asked, brushing briefly against his arm. She insisted that they couldn’t publicly flaunt their relationship. Not when the public knew she was dating Trey. If they thought she was a cheater, she’d be raked across the coals, but if they ever found out that she was in a polyamorous relationship with two men, they’d destroy her. Ethan would never allow that happen. So as much as he longed to let the world know she was his, he gave her plenty of space when they were before prying eyes.

“Wherever you are, that’s where I want to be,” he said.

She glanced up and met his eyes, a dopey look of affection on her lovely face. He resisted the urge to kiss her. He’d save it for later.

After the encore, Trey jogged offstage and traded his guitar for a small towel to wipe the sweat off his face. Ethan longed to push him up against the nearest wall and take everything he currently wanted from him, but that would be far worse than someone catching him with Reagan. So Ethan offered Trey a curt nod and shoved his balled fists into the pockets of his slacks. While Reagan brought out a protective, caring side of Ethan, Trey unleashed his inner beast. The combination was heady. Exciting. Erotic. And in Ethan’s mind, perfect. The only negative clouding his sunshine was the secrecy. Though if he was honest with himself, he wasn’t sure how he’d deal with the inevitable questions from his family. They were a conservative bunch. He didn’t doubt that they loved him and they adored Reagan—his mother already thought of her as a daughter. He had no idea how they’d react if they ever found out about Trey, so Ethan supposed keeping their secret was beneficial to him as well. It was just so damned hard to keep his hands to himself when he’d much rather be putting them on Trey and Reagan.

“I’d better get into position,” Reagan said.

Trey grinned at her. “That’s what she said.”

She slapped at Trey playfully and kissed his cheek. Ethan’s stomach clenched—not with jealousy, but with longing. She paused long enough to offer Ethan a heated glance, but there was no kiss for him. He doubted she’d ever publicly show how she felt about him. Not as long as Trey was in the picture. And as far as Ethan was concerned, Trey would always be in the picture.

Reagan joined her band on the floor beside the stage. After having her guitar hooked to the sound system, she disappeared beneath the stage in preparation of the band’s grand entrance.

“Do you want to stay and watch Exodus End’s performance tonight?” Trey asked. It was an innocent enough question, but Ethan didn’t miss the undercurrent of or do you want to take me back to Reagan’s dressing room and fuck me?

Typically an intermission fell between bands at concerts, but the current stage setup allowed Exodus End to go on immediately after Sinners. In fact, the unmistakable flurry of drumbeats produced by Exodus End’s legendary drummer, Steve Aimes, was already filling the stadium. The crowd cheered. Reagan would rise out of the stage any moment.

Ethan leaned close to Trey’s ear and said, “The entire time you were onstage, all I could think about was stroking your exquisite cock while I fucked you from behind.”

Trey’s sexy growl of appreciation grabbed Ethan by the balls and had him reconsidering his next words. But sneaking off with Trey to turn his fantasies into reality wouldn’t be fair to Reagan. He knew she didn’t like to be left out of their sexual encounters.

“But then I decided I’d rather stuff your cock into Reagan’s hot pussy instead. So you’ll have to wait.”

“It’s not nice to get my dick hard with your promises and then make me wait,” Trey whispered harshly over the building music.

Ethan leaned away and lifted an eyebrow at him. “When did I ever claim to be nice?”

Trey grinned, retrieved a red sucker from his pocket, unwrapped it, and stuck it into his luscious mouth. He did things to that cherry treat that Ethan very much wanted him to do to the head of his cock. Fuck, the man gave good head. And Ethan didn’t have to assume so based on the wicked things Trey did to his sucker. Ethan knew from experience.

“I guess if I have to wait, you have to wait too,” Trey said. He swirled his tongue around his sweet before sucking it into his mouth.

Ethan adjusted his fly, glad it was relatively dark in the wings, and turned his attention to Reagan, who was doing things to her guitar that he very much wanted her to be doing to his cock. Fuck. These two would be the death of him.