Keys to Love (32 page)

Julian kissed Morgan behind his ear. “I love you, too.”

Morgan kissed Julian’s hand and kept it against his lips.

Julian laid his head against Morgan’s, and closed his eyes, feeling contentment and happiness spreading through him.

His eyes covered with a black blindfold, Morgan stumbled for the third time and cursed under his breath. One of the hands resting on his shoulders to guide him gave him a pat.

“Stop shuffling and pick up your feet,” Brandon said.

Morgan turned his head as if he could see Brandon. “I’m shuffling so I don’t fall on my face.”

Brandon pushed on his shoulders to keep him walking.

“You’re going to fall on your face if you don’t pick up your feet.”

“Here,” Shunichi said. He stepped around Morgan and took one of his hands. “You have Brandon pushing you from behind and me guiding you in front. You couldn’t be in better hands.”

“That may be, but I’m not really into the whole ménage a trios scene, you know.”

“We know,” Brandon said. “You only want one man, but he’s the one who asked us to torture you like this, so blame him.”

“Can’t you guys even give me a clue as to what’s up?”

“No,” Shunichi said firmly.

Morgan sighed. “Then lead away.”

He at least knew they were at the stadium and Julian was up to something. In all their mornings together, Julian had never beaten him out of bed, but today he woke to a knock on the door and cold sheets beside him. He thought Julian must’ve run out for a moment and forgot the key, so he was more than a little surprised when he opened the door to Brandon and Shunichi.

He also burned with embarrassment since he hadn’t bothered to check if it was Julian and opened the door wearing what he went to bed in, nothing. He had froze for a brief instant before slamming the door, though, from the laughter on the other side, he guessed Brandon and Shunichi didn’t take it as a rude action.

Once dressed, he let them in and was told they were to bring him
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to the stadium on Julian’s orders.

Morgan felt the slope of the aisle as they walked down it, then Brandon and Shunichi stopped him. He reached up to the blindfold. “Can I take this thing off now?”

Brandon slapped his hand away. “Not yet.”

Morgan dropped his hand to his side and waited.

“Okay, now.”

Morgan tore the blindfold away. As he did, soft notes from a piano filled the empty stadium. His eyes needed a moment to adjust, but his ears didn’t and instantly recognized the first notes as Conquest’s ballad, “Tomorrow.” He looked at the stage as Jesse’s golden tenor rose to sing, but didn’t see him. Rather than stand front and center like he always did, Jesse stood off to the side in the shadows, and a single spotlight illuminated Julian sitting at the mahogany grand. Jesse’s voice lifted over the piano:
“Many people want to know,
What the future holds.

But I see mine, every time,
I look into your eyes.

Days of laughter and tears,
Love and fears,

Shine in your gaze.

And give me so much hope,
For all that may come our way.

The piano notes grew in strength and speed as Jesse entered the chorus.

“I’ll be in your arms…tomorrow,
When the first light shines.

I’ll be in your arms…tomorrow,
When the daylight dies.

I give you all my tomorrows,
From now to eternity.

Without you at my side.

None would exist for me…”

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Julian softened the piano, playing notes holding a Chopin-like sound in the instrument’s interlude. Jesse’s voice lifted again.

“I know what a gift I have,
With you by my side.

Living days of passion and lust,
Care and trust,

Into the unreachable sunrise.

Each night in my arms,
I hold my future close.

You’re my heart and soul
My today and tomorrow,
Every heartbeat belongs to you.”

The piano grew louder as the chorus came on again.

“I’ll be in your arms…tomorrow
When the first light shines.

I’ll be in your arms…tomorrow,
When the daylight dies.

I give you all my tomorrows,
From now to eternity.

Without you at my side.

None would exist for me…”

Julian brought the piano down, the notes so soft, it seemed like the instrument whispered behind Jesse’s voice.

“Now and forever,

Forever and always,
We’re meant to be together.

And all my tomorrows,
From this moment forward,
Exist only for you…”

Jesse repeated the chorus, carrying the last note as he faded his voice. The piano followed into silence.

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Morgan stared at the stage. Julian looked toward him, a soft smile on his lips. Morgan took a breath to pull himself from his trance. His voice barely crested a whisper as he spoke. “This was for me?”

Brandon laid his hand on Morgan’s shoulder and leaned toward him. “It was. In case you don’t know, you’re very much loved.”

Morgan glanced at him. He took in Brandon’s smile and for the first time since he’d seen him, no jealousy rose in him.

Julian was his. Completely, wholly, unconditionally. He nodded in gratitude to Brandon, then looked back to the stage. Jesse walked up the aisle toward him with Evan’s hand in his, Kenny and Brad following, but Julian remained on stage.

Jesse stopped in front of him. “You boys have one hour for your private concert. We kicked out all the staff, so the place is yours. I know it’s not much,” his mischievous smirk shone over his features, “but anything it inspires you to do, you can save for the bus when we leave. Since you’ll be traveling with us now.”

Jesse walked past him. Morgan spun around. “Jesse, thank you. I don’t know how to express how much I appreciate what you just did and for welcoming me to be with you guys.”

Jesse faced him. “You don’t have to thank me at all.” He held his arms open. “You’re part of our family now.”

Morgan hugged Jesse, whispering another soft, “Thank you.”

Jesse laughed as he drew back. “What did I just tell you? Now go get your man. He’s waiting for you.”

“I will.”

As Kenny passed, he held up his hand and Morgan slapped it in a high five.

Brad stopped in front of him. Morgan looked into Brad’s eyes, not certain what to expect. Brad had treated him civilly, but he certainly couldn’t call it warm.

“You know,” Brad said, “even though Jules said you weren’t to blame for him being distant and not being honest about you Keys to Love
265

guys, I’m not going to lie, I’ve still blamed you.”

Morgan tensed. He really didn’t want to get into a fight with Brad, not now, not after all Julian had done to make this special time for them.

“But,” Brad continued, “I also realized it was wrong putting all the blame on you. It took a while for me to come to that conclusion, even with Jules and everyone else telling me. But even if you were to blame for Jules being distant, what you did to protect him yesterday proves to me what kind of man you are.

So,” he held his arms up and open, “welcome to the family, man.”

Relief washed over Morgan. He stepped into Brad’s arms, hugging him as equally tight as Brad embraced him. “Thanks.”

“No, thank you for taking care of him. He’s a special guy.”

Brad laughed as he released Morgan. “And he needs to be taken care of. He’s been needing his horizons broadened for a long time. Seriously, twenty-six years old and he’d never peed outside.”

Morgan burst out laughing.

Still chuckling, Brad walked by him, throwing a final, affectionate pat on Morgan’s back. “Now go get him.”

Morgan watched the guys walk away. He turned back to the stage and Julian sitting patiently. He hurried down the aisle, and at reaching the stage, jumped and pulled himself up over the edge.

Julian rose from the piano as Morgan approached. He barely finished standing before Morgan pulled him into his arms and to his lips.

Julian wrapped his arms around him and smiled through the kiss. “Surprise.”

Morgan laughed softly. “I can’t believe you arranged this.”

“Well, you’re more than overdue for your private concert.”

Julian took his hand and sat on the bench, pulling Morgan down beside him. “The set-list is yours to choose. I’ll play whatever you want, even all classical.”

Morgan laid his hand on Julian’s thigh. “How about a mix?

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Classical, ballads, and rocking this thing out?”

“Sounds perfect. What do you want me to start with?”

Morgan gave him a tender kiss on the lips. “How about Fur Elise?”

Julian returned the kiss. “Our song. You couldn’t have picked better. Play it with me?”

“I’d love to.”

Julian put his fingers to the keys. Morgan placed his hands beside him. Together, they played the first soft notes. Julian turned to him. Morgan gazed into his eyes and tipped his head toward him. Julian met Morgan’s lips, and through the kiss, their fingers floated over the keys, sounding their love.

About the AuthoR

S.J. FROST resides on a mini-ranch in Ohio with her husband and son, as well as a kind-hearted German Shepherd, a Collie who is the anti-Lassie, a few kooky cats, and some very special horses. She enjoys experimenting with her writing and dabbling in different genres, though it’s guaranteed that no matter what she writes there will be hot erotic action appearing somewhere in the story. She’s a romantic at heart, which is reflected in her writing. The majority of her work is m/m, though she’s had the occasional m/f piece published too. Her short stories have been featured in several erotic and romance anthologies including, Best Gay Romance 2007 Edition, Girls on Top, and Surfer Boys, all published by Cleis Press, Ultimate Gay Erotica 2008 and Best Gay Love Stories: Summer Flings, both published by Alyson Books, and Honey Flava published by Atria Books.

You can find out more about the author and upcoming works at:
http://www.sjfrost.com/