Fortunate Son by Jay Crownover

Bowe

“I DIDN’T DO things like this before you. You know that, don’t you?”

I lifted my head and looked in the ornate mirror on wall of the private bathroom for the performers. There was still an hour or so before I went out on stage for my very first solo performance, and I was understandably nervous. Fortunately, there was one surefire way to take my mind off everything. I just needed to spend a little bit of time convincing Ry to help me burn off my excessive energy and work his unique magic to make me forget about everything but him for a few minutes. He protested when I first tried to drag him into the bathroom, but once I kissed him and started pawing at the front of his jeans, nearly begging him to distract me, he quickly relented. I was glad he was always fairly eager to give me what I wanted when it came to sex, but he still had an inherent cautiousness that he needed to overcome.

I curled my fingers around the edge of the sink and watched him watch me in the reflective glass. I loved the way the winter in his eyes melted into something much brighter and warmer when he touched me. I liked the way his cheeks turned pink, from either embarrassment or desire, I didn’t care which. It was cute on a face otherwise set in a harsh expression of masculine arousal. I probably shouldn’t think anything about him was cute at the moment, considering he had one hand braced at the base of my throat and the other holding my waist as he moved fast and hard behind me. There was hardly time for foreplay, and the risk of being interrupted was high, so Ry was taking no prisoners. He was fucking with the purpose to get us both off as fast as possible, and I found his sudden lack of finesse charming. It was rare he let himself be as rough and heavy-handed as he could be, so I was enjoying the moment when he forgot himself.

I closed my eyes briefly as heat and pleasure surged through my entire body. There was no room for anxiety or fear among all the other sensations filling me underneath Ry’s skilled hands. I felt his cock swell and pulse inside of me as I pushed back against him, riding the rushed rhythm he set.

I gasped as the head of his pounding erection hit an extra sensitive spot deep inside of me. I lost my balance and leaned forward, trying to form words as my orgasm started to coil deep and tight within me. “You always say I bring out the best in you. You can thank me later.”

His reflection smirked at me as his eyes blazed the brightest blue I’d ever seen. “I want to be the guy you need me to be, but you don’t get to blame me if we get caught.”

The tiny backstage area was mostly empty, but there was still bar staff wandering around, and I expected Remy to show at any moment. Dragging Ry into the bathroom and practically jumping him as soon as the door was closed and locked wasn’t without risk… and wasn’t my brightest idea, but I preferred the shivers of pleasure racing across my skin over the tension under it caused by self-doubt and uncertainty.

“It’s not like we’ll get busted by my parents. Don’t worry so much.”

He grunted a vague response and dug his fingers deeper into the curve of my hip. I rocked against him, chasing after the sparks of pure, unfiltered pleasure that flickered through me when he bottomed out.

His hand, with roughened fingertips, tightened at the base of my neck as he shoved a knee between my legs and moved them farther apart. I was wearing one of his t-shirts with his team logo on the front that I’d strategically slashed in places. It was long enough to pass as a dress, so I cinched it at my waist with a wide, studded leather belt, put on a pair of barely-there yoga shorts just in case, and called it a cute outfit. It just happened to be a bonus that the material was stretchy and easy to maneuver, meaning I could have a quickie and not worry about looking like I’d just had sex in the bathroom. Plus, the way Ry’s expression softened when he saw which shirt of his I picked after raiding his closet made my heart feel all sorts of funny and kind of melty.

Once my legs were open, Ry pressed against my back, and I felt his palm slide across my naked hip and down the lower part of my belly. My breath caught, and I let my head drop forward again, breaking eye contact as I felt his fingers start to inch toward the place between my thighs where we were connected. A moment later, thick fingers parted folds that were already wet, and skimmed across sensitive skin that was already being worked thoroughly from behind. When I felt the press of his finger against the tight center of my clit, I thought there was a chance I might climb out of my skin. My knees went a bit watery, and my hands clutched the sink with enough force they started to hurt. I made a sound that was much louder than I anticipated, and I heard Ry chuckle as his head suddenly moved to rest between my shoulder blades. I could feel the warmth of his skin through the cotton of the t-shirt, and I felt each pant of his ragged breathing as he continued to move in and out of my body while his fingers took me apart.

“Oh, my God.” The words burst out just as someone knocked on the door.

Ry stilled for a moment until Remy’s distinct voice came through the barrier, “I know what you’re doing in there.” She said the words in a sing-songy, teasing tone, but that didn’t help the wave of embarrassment that rushed through me. “Suzy is looking for you and wants you to run a quick soundcheck. I’ll keep her busy for a little bit, but you two hurry the hell up.”

I swore under my breath and felt Ry chuckle against my back. He switched from twirling his finger around my clit to giving the little bud a sharp tug. I felt the pressure deep within my core, and my body clenched down on his in response. His fingers tightened around my neck, and his head moved so that his teeth could find a shockingly sensitive spot located behind my ear. It was a sensual assault on my senses, which worked wonders to shove my hovering orgasm over the edge. I came on his cock and his fingers with a low moan that was bound to be heard by anyone standing too close to the restroom.

Ry thrust wildly for a few more minutes, but it wasn’t until I lifted my head and our eyes met in the mirror once again that his big, strong body could no longer hold back. As soon as we looked at one another, I felt his heavy length kick and throb and watched as his expression tightened with pleasure. He mouthed my name and went slightly limp behind me, even as I reached up to release his hold on my throat. I urged him to hurry up and pull it together, flinching a little as we parted because my body was still so sensitive. I let him help me back into the little clothing he’d removed and rushed through a hurried cleanup to make sure we would pass inspection. Apparently, a quick once-over wasn’t good enough because the second we stepped out of the bathroom, Remy was there to grab my arm and pull me back inside. She shut the door firmly in her cousin’s surprised face and tossed a heavy makeup bag in my direction.

“You can’t go out there right now looking like that. Sit down and let me work some magic.” She pointed toward the toilet and, when I didn’t move fast enough, gave me a push.

“Looking like what?” I was genuinely confused.

“Like you just got your brains fucked out.” She sniffed a little and ordered me to open the makeup bag so she could dig through it. “I have to say, I didn’t know my prim and proper cousin had it in him. I always thought Ry was way too uptight to risk getting caught having a quickie in public.”

I gave her a look as she started patting powder around my neck and clicking her tongue.

“He’s not nearly as uptight as you think he is.” I smirked at her as she made a disgusted face.

“Apparently. Let’s just say you’re going to owe me one for not letting you walk out there looking thoroughly fucked.” She rubbed something on my cheeks and moved to smooth my hair out around my head when she was finished messing with my face. “Were you nervous?”

I blew out a breath and nodded when she moved a step away. “I still am, but not as caught up in my head as I was. He’s a good distraction.”

“You’re going to kill it. He’s also a good inspiration. Don’t think for a second that I didn’t know half those songs are about him. But I totally underestimated what a big deal your puppy love was.” Remy took the makeup bag back and grabbed my hand to pull me to my feet.

I squeezed her fingers and pulled her to a stop. “I don’t know why. Your puppy love pretty much defined everything you did for most of your life. If anyone should understand why it’s hard to let go and move on, I’d think it would be you.”

She blinked at me and cleared her throat in a way that indicated she didn’t like the conversation turned back on her.

“Mine wasn’t puppy love, Bowe. Mine wasn’t cute and fluffy. Mine had claws and teeth. It was like a monster.” She blinked her kaleidoscope eyes and visibly pulled herself together. “It still is. But tonight isn’t about me. It’s about you taking the first steps to become a star, and everyone who loves you is here to cheer you on.”

“What?” I was trying to keep up with her quick switch of topic. I was confused why she said everyone I loved would be supporting me when she knew good and well the person whose approval I wanted most wasn’t going to be anywhere near Denver tonight. “You’re making it sound like a much bigger deal than it is, and I just got my nerves under control.”

I admonished her playfully, but she caught me off guard by muttering under her breath, “Whatever you do, act happy to see them, even if they seem suspicious about why it took you forever to come out of the bathroom.”

I felt my eyes widen as she forced a smile and shoved me toward the last two people I expected to see tonight.

“Mom. Dad. What are you doing here?” I asked the question as my father pulled me into his tattooed arms and gave me an impossibly tight hug. I caught my mom’s eye and swallowed hard when I saw her deeply suspicious look. “This is such a nice surprise.” It was, but not one I was prepared for at all.

Ry was standing a few feet away next to his parents. He was giving me a look that indicated he really wanted to throw my words about not being caught by my parents back in my face, but his mom was poking him in the chest and whispering something to him furiously, while his dad was doing a really bad job at holding back his amusement. It was slightly mortifying that they seemed to know exactly what we’d been up to despite Remy’s best efforts to cover for us.

“The Archers called and told us you asked them to fill in for us, and that just wouldn’t do. We dropped the twins off with Rowdy and Salem and planned to surprise you. I know this is a big night for you, and there was no way your mom and I were going to miss it.”

My dad squeezed me again and then let me go. My mom didn’t hug me the same way, but she did grab my shoulders and tilt her head while looking at me very closely. Suddenly I remembered Remy messing around with all the makeup near the base of my neck. I hadn’t looked in the mirror on my way out of the bathroom, but I now understood that she was trying to cover up the noticeable red marks that were left by Ry’s fingers. I was sure Remy covered up most of the evidence of my dalliance, but moms had the uncanny ability to see through everything.

My mom winked at me and reached out to tuck a wayward piece of hair behind my ear. “You look great. Your dad and I are so proud of you for taking this step and not giving up. I never doubted you’d find your own way.”

I cleared my throat and stepped back. “Remy is the one with all the connections. I’m lucky she seems to know everyone under the sun.”

My dad shook his head and gave me an admonishing look. “She may have opened the door, but you walked through and earned your place all on your own. You earned your place on that stage, and you’ll keep earning each and every opportunity that comes your way.”

I smiled at both of them and tried to ignore the way Ry was trying to slide away from his parents, only to be dragged back by his mom whenever he gained a few inches. It was hilarious to see such a slender and delicate woman easily boss around two big, grouchy, tattooed men with minimal effort. I wasn’t the only one watching the show from the corner of my eye.

“I’m glad you’re both here. How long are you staying?” It couldn’t be for very long since they would have to get back to my sisters.

“Only through tomorrow. I have to get back to work and get your sisters back on schedule. Your dad has a business meeting in LA, so we’re going our different directions when we leave.” My mom smiled at me and reached out to pat my arm. “You have our undivided attention while we’re here. Maybe the three of us can go to dinner with Ry and his parents before we have to leave. We can talk about the good ol’ days when your dad and I were the ones making everyone wait for us backstage.”

I nearly choked. I waved a hand in front of myself as if I could physically divert her suggestion and the image she was alluding to. My dad lifted his eyebrows and looked over his shoulder at where the Archers had gathered. Now Remy was standing with them, and it looked less like Ry was being bullied by his mom.

“We can discuss that later. I’m going to go and run through soundcheck really quick before my set starts.”

I walked away as my dad asked why I hadn’t already done that, but luck was on my side because a moment later, I heard someone ask him, “Hey, aren’t you Jet Keller? The dude from Enmity, right?’

My dad hesitated to reply, but while he was trying to avoid verifying that he was indeed a famous rockstar, the person practically yelled, “My mom is a huge fan. Do you think you could sign something for her?”

I heard my mom burst into laughter and looked over to see Ry’s parents trying to hide smiles as my dad grumbled his way through an awkward autograph session. It was a harsh reminder that things really did change and that nothing stood still, so if you didn’t take advantage of what was right in front of you, someone else would come along and replace you.

I hopped up on the stage and dug my guitar out of the case that was on the ground near the amps and kick pedals. I took a deep breath and looked out at the handful of people milling around in the open part of the bar where the stage was. My parents had moved toward the back with the Archers, but Ry and Remy were standing closer to the stage. Remy had her phone out and was snapping pictures while chatting Ry’s ear off a mile a minute. He was leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his broad chest as he watched me with eyes that appeared to be unblinking.

Everything about this performance already felt better than the last one. I wasn’t worried about how the rest of the band would sound. I wasn’t freaking out internally over whether or not my songs would lose all meaning and impact because they weren’t being played the way I intended. I wasn’t hampered by the thought of letting my dad down with this performance or proving to my mom I’d made the right decision. Regardless if I ended the night feeling amazing or awful, it was all on me, there would be no one else to blame or to share in the success, and there was something incredibly freeing in that.

Ry smiled at me as I strummed the guitar, and I thought it was really nice I could look at him while I finally sang the songs he inspired. Maybe he would hear all the different things I wanted to tell him over the years and understand how he made me feel.

If Ry didn’t get it, I had no doubt everyone else in the room who knew us would, and those looks passing between his parents and mine would take on a whole new meaning.