Rockstar Rivals: First Time Gay Romance (3 page)

Chapter Four

Mark

Things had gotten completely out of hand the previous night.

Mark looked down at the sleeping form of the young man in his bed.  The intention hadn't been to get all cuddly with him, damn it.  He'd woken up wrapped around Gavin, holding him close, when all he'd wanted was to embarrass him by forcing him to confront his attraction to Mark.

After all, Mark had been doing this for awhile.  He knew what it was like to have someone want him, he knew the look in their eyes, and Gavin had all the signs.

So why not mess with the kid?  Get a bit of a sadistic thrill out of it?  He did hate the brat, after all. 

None of this explained why he would wake up as he was, cuddled close to the gorgeous young man.  Mark frowned.  He'd warned Gavin to be careful, but maybe Gavin was the one who was dangerous, when it came down to it.

Mark should have pulled away, but he was a little hung over, honestly, and found that he didn't want to.  Instead, he looked at Gavin, at his full lips, his messy dark hair, the way he winced as he started to wake, nuzzling his head into Mark's chest.

A strange mixture of emotions went through Mark then.  Gavin was clearly hung over, and he was amused by that, of course, and gratified by the suffering of his enemy.  But he also wanted to take care of him, and he sighed as he hugged him close.

“Oh, shit,” he commented, and the sound of his voice seemed to finish the job of waking Gavin up.

The younger man raised his head and rubbed his eyes, then groaned and shied away from the light.  Honestly, Mark could sympathize.  He'd been there more than once.  Even this morning, he wasn't at his best, and he'd been drinking more lightly than usual.

“Ouch.”  Gavin's voice was little and pathetic, and Mark found himself in the very odd position of wanting to help him.  What was up with that?  Gavin's eyes opened, and found Mark's, and for a second he looked seriously puzzled.  “...Uh?” he asked, and Mark didn't know how to answer that question.  Not in a way that even made sense to him, much less Gavin.

“I was gonna leave, but I passed out,” he admitted, and it was even true.

Gavin seemed to understand that.  He groaned as he pulled himself away from Mark, stretching, still avoiding the light.

“Damn it, we're traveling today,” Gavin realized, and Mark laughed.  Someday, this innocent child was going to realize just what he'd gotten himself into.  This naïve boy who was taking Mark's place at the top was going to get quite the education very quickly.

“Yep,” Mark said complacently.  “We need painkillers, water, food, and probably beer.”  This was not his first time around.  But he yawned and stretched, and found himself tugging Gavin closer.  “Don't quite want to leave yet, though.”

“Mmm.”  Gavin murmured in agreement, and then sighed.  “But we have to.  I gotta get these clothes off, for one thing.”

Mark laughed softly.

“Oh yeah?” he asked, intrigued.  He knew it made Gavin uncomfortable, made him all adorably flustered.  “You want to take your clothes off?  I could probably help with that.”  Feeling playful in a lazy sort of way, he reached out and pinched one of Gavin's nipples, right through his shirt.

He was rewarded by Gavin gasping, and then by a low, erotic moan from the beautiful young man.  Gavin arched his back, giving Mark full access to his body, his dark eyes full of fire now.

“But I … I don't have any other clothes to wear here,” Gavin murmured, clearly having trouble focusing.  Mark kept playing with the other man's body, teasing the other nipple into full hardness, too.

“Hmm,” Mark hummed, as he watched with satisfaction as Gavin writhed for him.  Maybe the young man was replacing Mark, but Mark could make him writhe and moan for him.  Mark could make him desperate for him.  That was something.  “Why do you want to take off your clothes, exactly, pretty boy?”

It was a clear effort for Gavin to speak, to force his mind to focus, and Mark liked that.  He liked it just a little too much, having the impossibly sexy, sweet young man eating out of his hand like this.

“Leather pants ain't too comfortable,” he finally managed, and that was good enough for Mark.  It gave him all the excuse he needed, which admittedly wasn't much.

“All right then,” he purred, then reached out and slid Gavin's shirt over his head.  Then he tugged those tight pants off, too, and then swore softly.  It wasn't fair.  It just wasn't.

His dislike for Gavin was very real, and it infuriated him somehow that the younger man was so damn gorgeous.  That his body was beautiful.  It wasn't enough, everything that had already happened, but Gavin had to have a huge cock as well?

Still, there was a huge amount of attraction in knowing that Gavin was utterly helpless.  Who didn't want a gorgeous young man who seemed to want them more than anything?  Gavin didn't resist in the slightest as he was stripped, and Mark smirked.

“Pretty little Southern boy,” he murmured, and then pushed Gavin onto his back.  He could see the conflict in the young man's dark eyes, but, as Mark had suspected it would, the arousal won.  Mark slid on top of the beautiful man, still fully clothed and loving that.

Who was in control now?  Mark was, and he loved every second of it.

“You're hard for me,” he gloated, triumphant, rubbing his leather-clad ass over that thick, hard cock.  He gazed down at him, drinking in the sight of the talented, sexy young man, desperate under him, writhing up against him with his skin flushed and his eyes bright.

“Yeah,” moaned Gavin, and even through the leather of Mark's pants, he could feel just how eager Gavin was.  He rubbed against him more firmly, teasing him with his ass, with the smooth, warm leather against his sensitive skin.

Gavin moved suddenly, reminding Mark that maybe he wasn't entirely in control.  The younger man grabbed Mark's hips, moving with more desperate instinct than skill.  Mark was very sure that Gavin was a virgin, at least with guys, which only made him that much more intriguing to him.

“Mmm, good.  You need me, don't you?”  Even with what Gavin had done, it was only because Mark had driven him to that.  Mark started to really grind down against him.  Maybe he could give him some sort of satisfaction that he hadn't the previous night.  Besides, it would be extremely satisfying to make him come like this.

“Mark,” Gavin gasped, his fingers digging into Mark's hips as he pulled the older man down against him more frantically than ever.  That thick cock was throbbing between them, pulsing with lust, and Mark was pretty sure he was going to get what he wanted.

Gavin was so beautiful.  Too damn beautiful.  Mark growled, and then leaned down, still grinding against him.  Very deliberately, he bit down on Gavin's neck, marking him just as he'd done to Mark the night before.  Let everyone see that, and know Mark had done it.

He was going to make this man come.  He could tell that Gavin was already so close, he could feel his tense, hot, trembling body beneath him, he knew he must be fighting it off, probably out of pride.

“It's okay,” he said, mischievous but also compassionate.  “I won't tell anyone.  Come for me.”

Just like that, like Mark's words had drawn it out of the younger man, Gavin came.  Mark felt the hot wash of come as Gavin's cock jerked and he groaned and writhed and moaned under him.

It helped.  Maybe Gavin was cuter, younger, more wholesome.  Maybe he had a voice like honey or caramel, and maybe he sung Mark's songs better than Mark did himself.  But no man had ever made Gavin come like that.  Mark would have bet serious money on it.

He didn't hate the look on Gavin's face, either.  There was pleasure there, and also shame.  Maybe Mark had found a way to get some of his own back. 

Casually, he swung a long leg over Gavin and shifted off of him.  He went to his bags and pulled out clothes, both for himself and for Gavin.  With no concept of body shame, he stripped off, tossing fresh clothes at Gavin.

“Here, kid,” he said casually.  He got dressed, then ran his fingers through his long blond hair.  The whole time, he tried not to watch Gavin as he dressed, tried not to love that his clothes hung off of the smaller man.  And he failed utterly, no matter how casually he acted.

Luckily, Gavin seemed lost in his own humiliation.  He didn't even seem to notice when Mark stared at him.  What was his story?  All that Mark really knew from the previous night was that the man was not straight.  Inexperienced with guys, yes, but definitely not straight.

Those dark eyes met his, and Mark tilted his head, a smirk firmly in place.  Smirking was safe.  Smirking said that he was in control of this, he was in charge, that he didn't want Gavin just as much as Gavin wanted him.  That his body wasn't throbbing to take him back to bed and not let him out until he'd had his fill.

“Thanks,” Gavin said, his gaze direct and level, clearly determined to say this.  He didn't specify, but he didn't really have to.  Thanks for the clothes, sure, but also thanks for getting the gorgeous young man off.  At least he was grateful.

Gavin turned for the door, and Mark growled softly, his hands gripped tightly into fists at his sides.  He couldn't remember the last time he'd wanted anyone as much as he wanted this man.  It was a grave injustice, and just one more thing for him to hold against Gavin.  He knew that wasn't fair.  He didn't care.

“Hey, kid, I know a few goddamn ways that you could thank me,” Mark growled once he knew that Gavin was safely gone, once the door was shut.

Quietly, he started to pack.  But when he picked up the pants that had Gavin's come on them, he groaned softly.  How impossible was it that the person that he hated most was also the person who had gotten his attention far more thoroughly than anyone had in a long time?

He should just let Gavin go.  Take a long time packing so that the other man would be gone when he came out.  Instead, he rushed through it, then headed for the door, hoping that Gavin hadn't scurried off just yet.

It was just that he wanted to make him squirm some more.  Draw attention to the bruise that Mark had left on his neck.  Make him uncomfortable while basking in Gavin's clear interest in him.  That was it, the only reason.

Only even then, he knew that wasn't the case.  It was deep down and half hidden, but he knew.

Chapter Five

Gavin

Gavin knew what he was doing when he beat a hasty retreat from Mark's room.  He was running away.  He was a coward.

What was the other option, though?  Stay and further humiliate himself?  Mark had effortlessly manipulated him until he'd actually come all over the older man's leather pants.  Even as a teenager, Gavin had never been that easy.

Lost in his own thoughts, Gavin was easily surprised by a hand gripping his wrist, tugging it lightly to get his attention.

At first, he thought it was Mark, though he was confused about how the older man had made it out the door ahead of him.  After a second, though, he recognized it as not Mark, but Mark's brother, Liam, who was also in Crossroads.

Gavin glanced around.  There were a few other members of both bands who were still sluggishly getting ready to go, but no one close to them.  He frowned a little, looking at Liam thoughtfully, hung over and a feeling a little guilty about what he'd done with this man's brother the night before.

“Hey.  You okay?”  Liam's voice was similar to Mark's, but sounded far kinder and more concerned than Mark's ever had.  At least toward Gavin.  “Did he hurt you?”

Gavin blinked, and his fingers went to the little bite mark on his neck.  Hurt him?  What an odd question.  Though given Mark's hatred, perhaps not so much.

“Did everyone see?” he asked plaintively.  He wasn't in the habit of going off into other men's rooms and spending the night.  What would everyone think of him?  Where he came from, such behavior could cause some serious problems.

To his relief, Liam shook his head.

“Nah.  I think most of the guys were too shitfaced to noticed, honestly.  But … My brother, he behaved himself?  He didn't hurt you?”

Gavin was too curious.  He shouldn't ask.  He should answer the question and get out of there, the bus was going to be leaving pretty soon.  But Liam seemed so honestly worried, and Gavin couldn't help but wonder why.

“What exactly do you think he'd do to me?”  What sort of man was Mark, really?  Not the chill, laid back guy that he portrayed to the media, that was for sure.  Or at least not around Gavin.

Liam hesitated, and then shook his head.

“Not my place to say.  Just to make sure he didn't hurt you.  So, did he?”

Gavin smiled a little, and finally answered the question.

“No.  No, he didn't hurt me.”  Gavin's mind ran back to the things they'd done, and how each and every one of them had felt amazing.  No, Mark definitely hadn't hurt him.  Not even a little.  He did still wonder exactly why Liam was so worried, but he couldn't claim that Mark had done anything to him that he didn't want.

The smile that crossed Liam's face was clearly one of relief, and he reached out and squeezed Gavin's shoulder companionably.

“Okay.  Good.  Thanks.  Good show last night, man.”  Liam smiled, and Gavin returned it.  “But just watch yourself, okay?  Be careful.  Let me know if you need anything.”

People kept telling him to do that.  He couldn't say it was unwarranted.  He certainly was fumbling through his first real tour.

Gavin nodded and turned away, his hands gripping the waistband of Mark's jeans.  Mark was just bigger than him, and his pants would fall right off of him, if he didn't hold them up.  “Okay.  Thanks,” he said, and meant it.  Liam was being nicer than Gavin would have expected.

“No problem,” Liam replied, but his voice still sounded worried.  “Just maybe stay away from him.  He's dangerous.”

Mark's own brother was saying that.  How strange, and more than a little frightening.  Gavin looked into the other man's eyes, then nodded slowly.

“Not a bad idea,” he had to admit.  Liam was right.  Mark was bad news, if only because he clearly despised Gavin so much.  His little fanboy crush had certainly led him to a strange place.

Just then, speak of the devil, Mark walked out of the room.  He still looked sexy as hell, even hung over, with his long curls messy.  He smirked at Gavin, clearly amused, just as malicious as ever.

“You need a belt,” he purred, and a flush of unwelcome heat went through Gavin.  Why was everything this man did so damn hot?

He managed a quick nod for Mark, a smile for Liam, and then he beat a hasty retreat.  He still had to pack, and the bus was leaving in an hour.

* * *

Or, rather, the bus should have left in an hour, but didn't.

Everyone else was there, ready to go, and had been for at least fifteen minutes.  Everyone but Mark, who strolled in a full half hour after the bus was supposed to leave, completely casual, smirking around at everyone like he hadn't delayed them all.

Mark really wasn't a very nice person.  That was the way Gavin was starting to feel.  In fact, Mark was sort of a prima donna spoiled brat, and that hurt.  Having his idol toppled off his pedestal was not fun.

Gavin had fully intended to do as Liam suggested and stay away from Mark.  He also honestly hadn't thought that Mark would prove to be much of an impediment to this plan.  After all, the man hated him.  He'd probably be happy if Gavin stayed away.

Mark was proving to be somewhat less than predictable, though.  He strolled onto the bus, looking unfairly gorgeous, and immediately went to sit right by Gavin, though there were many other places he could have chosen.

“Hey,” he greeted Gavin.  “Nice shirt, pretty boy.”

Gavin winced.  He really should have changed his shirt.  He'd gotten into his own pants, but he'd kept Mark's shirt for the truly ridiculous reason that it smelled like him.

“Thanks,” Gavin said awkwardly, and then added, “Uh, I'm supposed to stay away from you.”

It was pathetic, yes, but he needed a way to make Mark go.  It was always so awkward to be around him, anyway, and there were dark secrets that Liam had hinted at.

“Oh, really?” Mark sounded vaguely interested, but he didn't go away, like Gavin had been hoping.  Instead, he picked up a guitar and started to play, and Gavin knew that Mark knew that Gavin was hung over.  He was just doing it to be a jerk.

So Gavin did the only thing he could do.  He reached across Mark's body and snagged a guitar of his own, then started to play with him.  He saw the annoyance on Mark's face, heard as he changed the random chords into one of Crossroads' biggest hits,
Breathe Your Breath.

Mark started to sing, looking at Gavin aggressively, like he dared him to sing along.  For a moment, Gavin was almost tempted.  He knew all the words, of course he did, and Mark seemed to be almost challenging him.

It was so stupid, though.  Gavin was too hung over to have the energy for this, and besides, he kind of liked listening to Mark growl out the romantic lyrics.  Let him keep the spotlight.  Gavin wasn't playing this game.

So he kept playing the basic chords, just doing backup guitar stuff.   Slowly, as the song progressed, it became intimate.  Just the two of them, playing guitars, with Mark's voice growling out the lyrics to the incredibly romantic song.

Mark gazed into Gavin's eyes, but that smirk never left his face.  Not for even a second.

Gavin was definitely starting to understand why Liam would call Mark dangerous.  Why Liam had even gone as far as to suggest that Gavin should stay away from Mark.  The man was just too damn charming.  When Mark looked into his eyes like that, it was too easy to get lost in him.  In the sound of his voice.  In the song.

Too soon, the song was over.  Mark gave a laugh, like the whole experience had meant nothing to him.  And it likely hadn't.  Gavin was the only one stupid enough to think it could mean anything.

“All right, pretty boy.  Your turn,” Mark invited, with an eyebrow skeptically raised, like he couldn't wait to see Gavin make an idiot of himself.

Gavin shook his head.  He was too tired for this. 

“I'm gonna nap.  Didn't get much sleep last night.”  He flushed.  Of course Mark knew about that already.  He'd been the reason Gavin hadn't slept a lot, after all.

“How much water have you drunk today?” Mark asked, peering into Gavin's face.  For a moment, it seemed like there was something there.  Worry, perhaps.  But then that damn smirk was back in place.

Gavin shrugged.  None, now that he thought about it.  He'd been too busy.  Mark shook his head.

“You're never going to last through the tour if you don't at least take care of yourself,” he scolded, and in that brief moment, Gavin almost thought he saw another Mark.  A Mark who might even give a damn about anyone but himself.

The older man got up, grabbing a bottle of water from the little fridge and tossing it to Gavin.  Just for a second, Gavin wanted to let himself be touched by that, but then he remembered Liam's comments.

“Did you put something in the water or something?” he asked, making himself be suspicious.  It wasn't his natural state, but if he wanted to survive this tour with Mark, he was going to have to learn, clearly.

Gavin saw some actual astonishment in the other man's gray eyes, and he shook his head, that smirk finally leaving his face.  Not that the smirk wasn't sexy, everything about Mark was, but this seemed more genuine.

“No!  Jesus Christ, what did Liam tell you?” he asked, and for once, he didn't seem to have any sort of angle.  There didn't seem to be any malice, just surprise and maybe a touch of anger.  What a normal person would feel, perhaps, if they were accused of drugging someone out of nowhere.

Gavin felt a little ridiculous.  He toyed with the bottle of water, then sighed and shook his head.

“He told me to stay away from you.  He asked if you hurt me, but he wouldn't say why he thought you might have.”

Mark laughed, and there was relief in it.  He shook his head, those blond curls moving beautifully around his face.

“Nah, man.  He means I'm kinky.  I've scared people off before, that's all.”

That didn't actually clear a lot up for Gavin, though it seemed to for Mark.  He frowned thoughtfully.

“What do you mean by … Actually, never mind.  Pretty sure I don't want to know,” Gavin drawled, then finally opened the water bottle and started to sip from it carefully.  His stomach was still pretty upset.

It was none of his business, really.  He was curious, yes, but still, not something he should be poking his nose into.

Mark smirked again.  That damn smirk.

“Well, he told you that I like hurting people, right?  So that should give you some idea,” he purred, and once more, there was a challenge in the words, on the older man's handsome, rugged face.

Some idea, yes, but not enough of one.  Besides which, Gavin, who would have thought himself far too miserable for such a thing, found himself getting a very confusing erection.  He wanted to know more.  But he was supposed to stay away from this man.

“Finish your water and take these pills.  They're just Advil,” Mark said, a trifle mockingly.  Gavin winced.  It was a reference to how much of a paranoid idiot he'd been, one that he really didn't need.

Quietly, Gavin did as he was told.  It was good advice.  Then he took that nap.

As he rested, in his sleep when he couldn't control it, he moved toward Mark's heat, his solidity, and wrapped himself around it.