The Way You Touched Me - Chapter 14
The Way You Touched Me - Chapter 14
By: we_dreamerz
Betaed By: atomic_dawn
Pairing: Adam Lambert/Tommy Ratliff
Genre & Timeline: RPS - AU Fantasy
Rating: NC17
Word Count: 6,002
Status: WIP
Warnings: AU - This story will varry from canon. And the timeline is NOT the same.
Disclaimer: It's not true...it didn't happen and Adam and Tommy belong to themselves. This is fiction. (Or so they want us to believe)
Summary: Adam has just stepped off of the American Idol tour and into the exhausting life of a rock star. It's everything he's always wanted but something is missing. Tommy has dreams; dreams that don't include living the ordinary, boring life laid out for him. But when you're a Pixie, what other choice do you have? They come from different worlds, but when they touch, the magic is undeniable.
Chapter 14
“Next,” someone called out.
Adam sat slumped in his chair, tired and weary, head pounding with an ache that wouldn’t go away. He felt like he hadn’t slept in days. But he'd had a relatively quiet weekend.
It was Monday afternoon. The first official day of band auditions. There’d been an endless parade of musicians and for all his excitement at getting his band together, Adam hadn’t been able to gather up much enthusiasm for those he’d seen.
He was handed an application stared at it blindly for a moment, letting his good friend and newly hired lead guitarist, Monte Pittman, take the lead. Adam was relying heavily on Monte’s expertise in choosing the other members of the band. He’d been in the business a long time and knew exactly what Adam was looking for.
“What’s your name, son?” Monte asked the next applicant. They’d moved on to auditions for bass guitar about an hour ago and everyone was beginning to sound the same.
“Tommy Joe Ratliff,” said a quiet but confident voice. Adam felt a rush of strangely familiar excitement race up his spine. His head snapped up and all the breath rushed from his lungs.
“All right, Tommy. Let’s hear what you can do,” Monte prompted. Tommy hesitated, his eyes, brown and warm like chocolate, met Adam’s for a moment that seemed to stretch. Pretty - it was the only word left in Adam’s addled mind but there was more...so much more.
Adam reached for it but before he could grasp it, Tommy looked down and brought his instrument to life. Adam could feel the beat in his chest as Tommy played, mellow and melancholy. But the mood of the music shifted into something a little funky and Adam couldn’t help but smile as he watched Tommy move, foot tapping, and his glossy lips pushed out in a little pucker that Adam suddenly needed to taste. His body responded, thrumming to Tommy’s rhythm as the tone shifted again, sexy, a sweet groove that made Adam want to move his hips.
Monte handed some sheets of music to Tommy, the bass solo for Down the Rabbit Hole. “Take a look at that and when you’re ready, let us know. That’s one of Adam’s songs from the album.”
Tommy nodded and looked over the music, tapping his foot to an unheard beat, his fingers moving up and down on neck of his bass. He looked up at them and nodded. “I’m ready,” he said and blew them both away when he nailed every note.
When Tommy finished, he let the last note fade out before he looked up. Adam smiled, and his heart beat faster when Tommy offered a shy, Mona Lisa smile in return. He was a contradiction, a study in opposites with two-toned hair, black, skinny jeans and t-shirt, with the face of an angel. And he could play. Tommy had picked up the small bit of music flawlessly in the matter of minutes. Tommy played from his heart.
Monte quietly cleared his throat and Adam startled, looking at him like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Adam looked back at Tommy, reaching blindly for his voice. “Thank you, Tommy. That was…really great.”
Lame, Lambert. You sound like an idiot.
“Thanks.”
“Tommy, do you usually play bass?” Monte asked and Adam’s heart dropped as Tommy’s face fell.
“I play guitar usually. But I was told that Adam had a guitarist. So I learned to play bass.”
Adam had been staring at Tommy as he talked. He quickly swiveled his gaze back to Monte, smiling as Monte nodded slowly, clearly impressed. “How long have you been playing bass then?”
Tommy wrinkled his forehead, as if he couldn’t quite remember. “About a month.”
Adam felt like he was watching a tennis match as Monte grilled Tommy on his musical experience. He could play lead and bass guitar as well as piano. “I’ve loved music all my life,” Tommy said, a passionate softness to his voice that Adam could feel in his own heart. “And it’s been my dream to play in a band since I could pick up a guitar.”
"Most of your bands have been garage, heavy metal...what makes you want to play for Adam?" Monte asked, looking Tommy in the eye.
Adam frowned. That was the first time Monte had asked that question to any of the applicants. He looked at Tommy, inwardly groaning when he saw Tommy's cheeks had bloomed a sweet, rosy blush.
Tommy didn't look at Monte though; he looked right at Adam as he spoke. "I like to play all kinds of music. I saw you on Idol for the first time the night you did Ring of Fire. You were just amazing. I'm a big Johnny Cash fan and I saw how Randy Travis was a total douche and some people didn't like it but the crowd…the fans…they just went nuts. I thought that Johnny would have loved it, you know? Pushing boundaries and making music...rock n roll...it's what it's all about." Tommy shrugged and looked down at his feet a second and then back into Adam's eyes. "I guess I just wanted to be a part of that."
Adam felt a smile curve his own lips as Tommy spoke and was nodding by the time his soft voice quieted. "Yeah...it's about time someone started pushing buttons, I think," Adam said.
"Tart it up a bit?" Tommy grinned and Adam was blown away by his smile, so genuine and heart felt.
Is really quoting Velvet Goldmine to me?
"Rock N Roll is a prostitute, after all," Adam said, delighting when Tommy grinned wider. They laughed but Adam caught Monte's strange look from the corner of his eye and turned to face him.
"Sorry. Did you...did you have any more questions for Tommy?" he asked.
Monte suppressed a smile and looked down at his paper, scanning Tommy's information. "Nope. Do you?" he asked.
Adam shook his head, sick dread unexpectedly overwhelming him at the prospect of sending Tommy away. He wanted Tommy in a million different ways, and he'd only known him for all of twenty minutes.
I'm losing my fucking mind.
Adam grinned at Tommy. "No, I think we've heard everything we need." His mind was made up about Tommy. He had talent, the right look, the right attitude and had even gone as far as learning a new instrument to be in his band.
But Monte made his hair stand on end when he spoke. "We'll be in touch within the next few days," he said, dismissing Tommy with a monotonous nod.
Tommy's face fell and he glanced at Adam, seeming almost reluctant to go. "Okay. Um, thanks for the opportunity to play for you." Tommy's gaze lingered just a moment longer before he unplugged and left silently. Adam couldn't help the thrill of desire that raced along his skin when Tommy turned one last time, giving Adam a shy smile before disappearing as the door closed behind him.
Adam jumped when Monte spoke. "So, shall I send the rest of the young hopefuls home then?" he sighed, voice resigned and amused. Adam had been gearing up for a fight but Monte had made him stop short on his laundry list of reasons why Tommy had to be in the band.
"Do you have a reason not to?" Adam challenged.
Monte just shrugged. "None that you'll listen to."
Adam narrowed his eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"I saw the way you looked at him, Adam. And if he hadn't been so damn good, versatile and exactly what you're looking for, I'd tell you to shove your dick back in your pants and start thinking with the big head." Monte shrugged. "But he is all those things; so, just don't fuck it up, okay?"
Adam sat there a second, surprised and suddenly excited for the first time since he'd woken up. He laughed and stood up. "Great, that's settled. Now, let's go get some lunch and check out some of the drummers."
~~~~~~~~~~
Tommy stopped at the audition registration desk to hand in his security tag and staggered down the hall and past the other musicians. The nausea that had plagued him that morning had returned and his head was spinning. He’d been sure he was going to lose it during his audition but the moment he'd laid eyes on Adam he'd relaxed. Tommy’s head had been clear and his mind focused for the first time since he'd woken up.
His eyes are so blue.
It was all Tommy could think as he stood there, caught up in Adam's warm smile, trading lines from Velvet Goldmine. He'd watched Adam on American Idol, and when his cousin had contacted him about auditions, he'd jumped at the chance. Adam was an amazing talent and everything Tommy said in his audition had been the truth. Tommy wanted to be a part of it. He wanted to be there when Adam took the world by storm. The fact that Adam was smoking hot and seemed to be so sweet was just icing on the cake. But nothing had prepared him for the earth shattering want that had rocked his body when Adam looked at him. When their eyes connected, Tommy thought for a moment that he could almost feel Adam, even from across the room.
"S’cuse me, where's the bathroom?" he asked a girl with a clipboard as his stomach lurched. She pointed the way with a horrified look on her face, carefully stepping back and out of the potential splash zone.
Tommy threw open the bathroom door and barely made it into one of the stalls before emptying the contents of his stomach. His back arched as he heaved, closing his eyes and hoping that he'd had a fucking awesome night because he sure was paying for it. Tommy retched again; just dry heaving, his stomach rolling as he groaned and leaned heavily against his knees. The last thing he wanted to do was touch the toilet.
He breathed through his mouth, slow and steady, trying to remember what the fuck he’d drank the night before. Mia's voice echoed in his mind. And he frowned.
“You’re auditioning for Adam Fucking Lambert. I don’t think he’ll appreciate it if you smell like booze and pussy.”
Pussy?
"Hey, are you okay?" a concerned voice said from behind him.
Tommy groaned again. He recognized that voice and suddenly wanted to flush himself down the toilet.
"Tommy?" Adam said, coming closer. "Are you okay?"
Tommy was mortified, and hung his head, trying to calculate his chances of pretending to be someone else.
"Oh, honey, don't be embarrassed. Everyone gets nervous sometimes. Here." Tommy listened as Adam yanked some paper towels from the dispenser and wet them. "You'll feel better in a little while."
Adam handed him the paper towels, folded neatly and just wet enough so that Tommy could wipe his mouth. He cleaned up, appreciating the fact that Adam stepped back to give him some privacy.
Tommy sighed and flushed the toilet, dread and nervous excitement coloring his cheeks as he turned around to join Adam at the sink. "I'm sorry," he said, unable to meet Adam’s eyes or his own reflection in the mirror.
Fuck, I probably look like hell.
“You don't have to apologize. I'm the one who intruded." Adam smiled, his voice soft as he reached out to gently push a strand of hair from Tommy's face.
Adam's touch was light but Tommy could feel it everywhere, radiating out from where Adam’s fingers brushed his cheek. Involuntarily, he closed his eyes and sighed, a ripple of desire coursing through his body. Adam’s skin was soft and warm, and Tommy could feel him, his solid strength, so close.
"You should get some rest," Adam said and Tommy nodded, looking down at his hands.
"Yeah, I think I'll do that. Thanks," he said, glancing back up into Adam's eyes. "For everything."
"My pleasure." Adam winked and turned toward the door. But he stopped and turned around, eyes smiling. He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something but then stopped. "See ya," he said and slipped out the door.
Tommy let out a breath and leaned against the sink, exhausted but giddy with excitement. The nausea had passed. But when Tommy looked into the mirror he couldn't help but groan.
"Fuck, you look like hell," he said to his reflection, mortification setting back it. "There's no way you're getting this gig now. He either thinks you're such a nervous idiot that you can barely make it through an audition or completely hung over. Either way, you're fucked," Tommy murmured to himself, straightening his hair and rinsing out his mouth.
With another sigh, he left the bathroom, hoping he hadn't just completely blown it.
~~~~~~~~~~
Mia’s dogs greeted Tommy at the door as he let himself into the house. They herded around his feet, yipping and sniffing as he inspected the fridge for something to eat. He called out Mia’s name but the only response was the air conditioner kicking in. He sighed, feeling strangely empty.
Tommy was starving but afraid to awaken the beast that had been taking up residence in his stomach all day so he settled on some canned soup and a slice of crusty bread. He made his way out onto the back patio, letting the dogs out to play while he ate. Tommy watched them sniff the grass and poke their little wet noses into flowers and ferns. The knots in his stomach uncoiled as he sat there, breathing in the fragrant earth.
Feeling better, Tommy went inside to change and find his bass. In a pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt, he found a shady tree and sat beneath it, picking through some of the songs he'd learned. If he did manage to get the gig, he wanted to be ready.
But it wasn't long until the warmth of the day and the cool breeze lulled Tommy to sleep. He put his bass to the side and sighed contentedly, leaning his head against the rough bark and drifting off to the drone of fat, lazy bees.
~~~~~~~~~~
"Tommy."
A voice tugged at the corner of his mind, but Tommy turned away, flying higher into the sky. He felt light as a feather and free and he floated and soared with the seagulls and then dipped down to drag his feet in the salty, cool ocean.
"Tommy Joe," the voice called again, soft and friendly. Tommy smiled, recognizing it but not wanting to leave. He soared higher and circled a little garden. Something called to him, pulling him down into sanctuary, into warm arms that enveloped him.
"Tommy, wake up!"
Tommy sat straight up, confused and disoriented until he caught sight of Chantala kneeling beside him, concern in her eyes.
"Fuck," he said, slumping against the tree. "What a crazy dream."
She smiled and settled beside him. "What were you dreaming?" she asked.
Tommy rubbed a hand over his face and grimaced as the emotions of the dream came back to him. "I was flying," he said, looking at her strangely when she stiffened.
“Um, sorry, go on,” she waved at him, urging him to continue.
"Well…I was flying above the ocean, playing with seagulls, dipping down in the ocean. But then..." he shook his head, not sure if he could explain it. "It was like I was drawn inland, to this wild, beautiful little garden. It was like something or no…someone was calling to me."
Chantala smiled and looked down at her hands. She'd highlighted her hair again and the silvery platinum streaks were shining in the sunlight. He reached up to take a strand of her hair between his fingers and looked at it, frowning as he spoke. “I think maybe they were singing. I don’t know but, I didn’t want to leave.”
"Sorry to have woken you," she said, her face strangely serious and sad.
Tommy shook his head. "It was just a dream."
Chantala nodded and patted his knee. "So tell me about your audition. How was Adam? I mean...you know…what was he like?"
Tommy smiled, his cheeks coloring as he told her about everything that had happened, leaving out the parts that really made him look like a wilting little fan boy.
"I must have looked like an ass, bent over and puking my guts out. There is no fucking way I'm getting this gig," he said, shaking his head.
But Chantala just laughed. "I would be surprised if you didn't get the gig...puking or no puking. You're good. And I just...I have a feeling," she said with a shrug.
Tommy smiled and reached for her hand. He pulled her into a hug, holding on tight for a moment before letting her go. She smiled and got to her feet.
"Come on, let’s get your mind off of the audition and go somewhere."
Tommy's stomach rumbled and he grinned up at her. "Del Taco?"
Chantala rolled her eyes. “Weren’t you just puking your guts out?” she asked with a laugh.
“Yeah but I’m pretty sure I’m done. Now there’s nothing in there besides soup and that wasn’t nearly enough.” Tommy looked up at her with the puppy dog eyes he knew she couldn’t resist and she sighed.
“All right but you’re paying."
~~~~~~~~~~
Adam gasped awake, wet with sweat, his stomach covered in come. Chest heaving, Adam closed his eyes and grasped onto the details of his dream.
Slick skin, a shimmering, shining glow and Tommy under him…begging.
Adam hadn't been able to get the man out of his mind. There was something about his eyes, the way he had leaned into Adam's touch. He made Adam want to wrap him up in a hug or drop to his knees in worship, he wasn’t sure half the time.
But the thing that Adam loved most about Tommy was that he wasn't some star struck little fan boy like ninety percent of the people who had auditioned. Tommy was genuine. He played with passion. He had music in his soul.
Adam flopped back down onto the mattress, throwing the covers back to cool down. He glanced at the window, frowning a moment before getting up to open it instead of turning up the air conditioning. Naked, he padded into the bathroom, deciding to get a shower and wash away the lingering sweat and arousal.
He sighed, closing his eyes as the warm water beat down on his back. With slow, foamy circles of his shower poof, Adam soaped himself with his favorite body wash. Spicy, almost woodsy, the scent filled his senses and suddenly his heart was beating faster, remnants of the dream rousing him once again. He could almost feel Tommy’s hands on his skin. Adam gasped when he touched his cock, squeezing it just a little, imaging Tommy’s nimble fingers stroking him.
It didn’t take him long, just a few pulls and Adam cried out, thick ribbons of come shooting against the shower wall, Tommy’s name a whisper on his lips. But in the white haze of bliss, Adam saw it, Tommy surrounded by a beautiful lavender glow that made Adam’s chest burn with emotion. He opened his eyes, heaving breath after breath until he found himself sitting on the marble seat, pushing his hair back from his face. Adam looked around, the familiar shower feeling somehow alien in the wake of such an intense fantasy.
“Tommy Joe Ratliff, what the fuck have you done to me?” Adam whispered, half smiling, shaking his head. Adam quickly finished up and sighed as he climbed back in bed. Part of him hoped that he would have the dream again. And another part, the reckless and crazy part, wanted to go downstairs, fish Tommy's application out of his laptop bag, find his number and call him. With a quick glance at the clock, Adam decided against it. He would wait for approval from management to call Tommy. Until then, he’d just have to take Monte’s advice and try not to fuck it up.
~~~~~~~~~~
Tommy could feel his heart beating wildly as he walked from his car to Adam’s front door. To say he was nervous was an understatement. He’d changed clothes twenty-five times before calling Chantala and demanding she come help him get ready.
When Adam had called a few days after the audition, he’d been surprised to say the least. Tommy had expected to hear from someone from the label with a sorry, maybe next time speech. Instead it had been Adam’s honey warm voice on the other end of the line, offering him a job and an invitation to a small get together at his house so that they could all get to know each other.
Tommy had stammered out a thank you and accepted the invitation, thankful that Adam couldn’t see the grin on his face or the victory dance he’d done after he hung up the phone, directions to Adam’s house clutched in his hand.
But as Tommy approached Adam’s house, something strange happened. He felt less nervous. His stomach unclenched and he could breathe again. As he rang Adam’s doorbell, Tommy took a deep breath, thanking whatever deity saw fit to be watching over him at that moment, and waited for someone to answer.
It was Adam himself who opened the door, smiling warmly. “Hi,” he said, looking almost relieved. “I was beginning to think you weren’t going to make it.”
“Oh, sorry. I…got lost on the way and ended up on some weird one way street maze from hell.” Tommy smiled when Adam grinned.
“Well, I’m glad you found me,” Adam said, meeting Tommy’s eyes while the moment seemed to stretch around them. Adam jumped and waved his hand. “Come on, everyone else is here. Would you like a drink? I've got just about everything.”
“Yeah, um...beer? Tommy asked, looking around Adam’s house, eyes drifting here and there. Something about it seemed familiar.
Adam smiled and nodded, showing Tommy into the living room and heading to the little bar in the corner. He pulled a beer from the small refrigerator, opened it and handed it Tommy. “Tommy, this is the rest of the band,” he said. “You’ve already met Monte, he’s my lead guitarist. Longineu is our drummer, Lisa is on keys, and guys - this is Tommy Joe. He’ll be playing bass. Adam smiled, looking pleased as everyone greeted Tommy warmly.
“Have a seat,” Adam said. “I have something for all of you. I’ll be right back.”
Tommy took his drink and settled down on the most comfortable couch he’d ever seen. Plush, dark brown suede, accented with deep red, tan and chocolate pillows. Tommy snuggled down into its depths and against the softest, matching throw. He rubbed it with his hand, enjoying the feel of the fuzzy fabric. When he looked up he saw Adam in the doorway a stack of folders in his arms, frozen and looking at Tommy with an odd mix of familiarity and want. Tommy met his gaze, the other’s conversation fading into background noise for a moment.
“Hey, Adam, could you show me to the restroom?” Lisa asked, standing up.
Adam's gaze lingered longingly for just a moment before offering Tommy the cutest of little boy smiles and turning away to help Lisa.
Tommy tried to tune into what Monte and Longineu were discussing but his mind wandered, gaze returning now and then to the door through which Adam had disappeared. When Tommy caught Monte looking at him strangely, he smiled and nodded along with whatever Longineu was saying. They were discussing bands. That was a subject Tommy could get into.
But before Tommy could join the conversation, the doorbell interrupted them. Adam came from the hallway and handed the binders he'd been holding to Monte. "Here, let me get that. Guys, these are for you."
Tommy took the binder that Monte handed him and smiled. They were leather bound with silver stitching to one side. His name was embossed at the bottom. Inside was a copy of Adam's CD and sheet music for bass and lead guitar.
"I'd like you to learn your parts," Adam said behind him. Tommy looked up to find him there, holding a stack of pizzas and smiling at Tommy. "But I'd also like you to learn the lead guitar as well. Monte just found out he's gong to be a Daddy again. And it would be great to have a back up plan."
Tommy nodded and looked down at the music, almost afraid to look Adam in the eyes. His heart had swelled to bursting as Adam spoke.
"Same for you, Lisa," Adam said, turning to her as she sat down. "If Tommy is filling in for Monte, we'll need you ready to take bass on keys."
"Sounds good," she said with a smile, turning to Monte. "So you're a Daddy? When is your wife due?"
And just like that they slipped into comfortable conversation. Sitting around Adam's dining room table, they talked like old friends, about their families and the love of music they shared. Adam told them a little bit about his vision for the band, the look he was going for and some of the gigs they'd be playing.
It was all so surreal. They were shooting an actual music video, closing the fucking American Music Awards and playing all the talk shows. Tommy was overwhelmed and could only grin along with Adam as he spoke.
Tommy eyed the last piece of pizza and looked up when Adam laughed. "Eat it, Tommy. I certainly don't need it," Adam said pushing the open box at Tommy.
Tommy grabbed the slice before anyone else could lay claim to it. "I don't know what you mean, man. Have you seen your body?" Tommy said around his mouthful. "Fuck, your legs are so long, my girlfriends weep with envy."
A strange look passed over Adam's face before he looked down at the chipped polish on his nails. "Trust me, it takes work," he said, suddenly standing up to clear the table.
"Hey, so why don't we go into the living room and relax. I've got movies if you want.”
Monte groaned. "You're gonna make us watch Velvet Goldmine aren't you?"
Adam pouted. "And what's wrong with Velvet Goldmine?"
Monte rolled his eyes. "Nothing, if you haven't seen it a hundred times and aren’t able to recite it word for word."
"What's Velvet Goldmine?" Lisa asked.
"Oh shit," Monte muttered.
Adam whipped around to face Lisa and grinned. "You've never seen it?" Well that settles it then. Come on." Adam said, ushering them into the living room. But as he was headed to the DVD rack, his phone rang. "Shit, gotta take this," he said, checking his phone. "Make yourselves at home, refresh your drinks." Adam gestured to the living room and disappeared into the kitchen.
Tommy grabbed a beer and was about to find a place on the couch but saw that Lisa had escaped out onto the patio. Tommy frowned as he paused, looking at the open French door. Something moved him forward and before he knew it, Tommy was on the patio.
Lisa looked up and smiled, holding a cigarette guiltily between her fingers. "I just can't stop," she said with a shrug. "Been trying to quit for over a year but there's just something about that after dinner cig."
Tommy smiled and shrugged, distracted by the garden beyond the pool. "I never really started," he said. "Alcohol and pot are more my thing."
"Consider yourself lucky. I think this shit is harder to give up than pot," Lisa said.
Tommy laughed as she put out her cigarette in the stone ashtray Adam had by the door. "You coming?" Lisa asked.
"Um, yeah, in a minute. I just wanna get some air," Tommy said, smiling a smile he knew was fake, eager for her to leave.
What the fuck is wrong with you, Tommy Joe? It's just a fucking garden.
Lisa smiled back and nodded as she closed the door behind her, muffling the sound of Monte and Longineu's laughter.
Tommy looked around, his eyes sliding uneasily over the shadowed garden. Slowly, he moved forward, past the pool and into the earth scented shadows. It was overgrown and wild, fragrant with long forgotten flowers. But something called to him, whispered his name in the ruffled leaves.
My dream.
A quiet splash drew Tommy's attention and he looked down to find a little koi pond with two fish swimming excitedly. He smiled and bent closer. They gleamed, brilliant orange and opal in the moonlight, their slick bodies gliding through the water.
Tommy laughed as one poked his nose up through the surface for an instant and the dove down as if trying to tell him something.
"They're probably hungry," Adam's soft voice said from behind. "I usually feed them a little earlier than this but I got caught up."
Tommy turned and smiled at Adam, awestruck. Adam was radiant in the moonlight, features soft and dreamy as he smiled at Tommy.
"Would you like to feed them?" Adam asked.
Tommy's stomach flipped as he nodded, feeling strangely as though he should.
“Here, let’s give them a little koi food. And then, for a treat, I cut up some grapefruit and watermelon. The guy at the fish place told me to give them fruit and veggies; and he was right. They just love it,” Adam said, handing Tommy a bowl.
They stood there quietly, feeding the fish, close enough that their arms touched. Tommy could feel the warmth of Adam’s body and instinctually leaned toward it.
"It's nice back here," Tommy said, watching the fish, hyper aware of Adam's every move. "It's peaceful and..." Tommy didn't know how to explain the way Adam's garden affected him.
"And?" Adam asked quietly, turning. Tommy followed his lead, turning to face Adam, look up into his eyes.
"It's weird but...it seems so familiar to me. Almost like I've been here before. Like I'm supposed to be here," Tommy admitted, hoping Adam didn’t think he was nuts.
Adam raised his eyebrows as a breeze kicked up, ruffling Tommy's hair. He pushed a wayward strand behind Tommy's ear, fingers brushing his cheek.
To Tommy's surprise, Adam nodded. "Would you think I was weird if I said the same thing about you?"
"Hey," Monte called from the doorway. "If you're gonna force me to watch this again, let's do it now. This old man is getting tired."
Adam smiled fondly and chuckled as he cocked his head, inviting Tommy to follow him. They were almost to the door when Tommy finally found his voice.
"I wouldn't," he said, pausing. Adam turned around; his body so close that it took Tommy's breath away. "I wouldn't think you were weird."
Slowly, a smile spread on Adam's face and he touched Tommy's cheek, like a secret, a promise. Tommy smiled back, and the strange weight that had been making it hard to breathe since he'd met Adam seemed to lift.
"We should go in, wouldn't want Monte to fall asleep on the way home," Tommy said. Adam laughed, and together they walked inside.
~~~~~~~~~~
With a giddy smile, Adam found Velvet Goldmine and put it into the DVD player. Tommy had slipped off his shoes and was curled up into the end of the couch by the comfy throw, long fingers circling his beer. Adam gravitated to the empty space beside him with no conscious decision. But once he was there, close enough to feel the warmth of Tommy's body, he realized it was right where he belonged.
"You guys are gonna love this," Adam said excitedly, grinning around at his new friends.
My band.
He was amazed and looked at them as the movie started, each of them hand picked and so talented. And it seemed there was already an air of familiarity, camaraderie.
He snuck a look at Tommy, and wanted to touch him, stroke the dark fringe of hair away from his eyes. Tommy caught him looking and smiled shyly before leaning closer.
Adam thought he should be concerned. They barely knew each other and Tommy was essentially his employee. But he couldn't bring himself to care. He'd never been so drawn to someone in his life, not even Kris, whose friendship had been so easy. With Tommy it almost seemed natural, as if they'd known each other forever.
So Adam let it go, deciding to let whatever was meant to happen, happen. He gave into the urge to put his arm around Tommy, to gently stroke his hair and smile when Tommy all but purred sleepily into Adam's chest. It was comfortable and comforting and Adam refused to over think it.
When the credits rolled, everyone stirred to life, murmuring and stretching. But Tommy didn’t move. Adam smiled at him, wanting so badly to caress his skin, take him up to bed and watch him sleep in the moonlight.
“Hey man, I gotta get going,” Monte said, standing up. “Official meeting tomorrow at ten, right?”
“Yeah, ten. We’ll go over the game plan and send you guys home to rehearse,” Adam said softly, slipping free and gently lowering Tommy to the couch. He walked them to the door, hugging and fist bumping until everyone was gone. He’d acknowledged Monte's look of warning with a nod, knowing what the others must be thinking.
As he shut the door, Adam leaned against it, the wood cool against his back. He wondered if he should wake Tommy but the question became irrelevant when he heard Tommy call to him.
“Hey,” Adam said with a smile, entering the living room and trying not to notice how cute Tommy looked all disheveled and flushed from sleeping.
Tommy grumbled and wiped his eyes, smudging his liner a little bit. “Hey, everyone leave?” he asked, sitting up.
“Yeah.”
“Shit, I missed the movie. Shoulda woken me up. Oh, hey, I’m sorry. You must be tired. I should go.”
Tommy stood and stretched, his t-shirt riding up, revealing a sliver of pale skin. Adam looked up into Tommy’s eyes, his body responding instantly. “It’s all right,” Adam said, holding out his hand. Tommy took it without hesitation, letting Adam pull him back down on the couch. “Stay.” Adam wrapped his arms around Tommy, softly stroking his hair and realizing that what should have sounded like a come on, a way to get into Tommy’s pants, sounded instead like the most natural thing in the world.
Tommy nodded against Adam’s chest, his body loosening and relaxing until Adam was almost certain he’d fallen asleep again. But then Tommy murmured something.
“Humm?” Adam asked softly.
“You don’t have to stay here with me if you’d be more comfortable in your own bed.”
“Couch is comfy,” Adam said, eyes closed, enjoying the warmth of Tommy body.
“Your bed is probably comfier.”
Adam was silent a moment, fingers tangling in the silky, soft strands of Tommy’s hair. “But you’re not in my bed,” he said finally, fingers tracing the outline of Tommy’s ear.
He felt Tommy shiver and his sharp intake of breath. After a moment Tommy nodded. Through sleepy eyes, he looked up at Adam and pushed him back onto the couch. Adam smiled as Tommy made himself comfortable, curling up on his side to lay his head on Adam’s chest, snuggling close and closing his eyes.
Adam grabbed the throw from behind his head and spread it out around them. Sighing contentedly, he listened to Tommy breathe, comforted by the slow rise and fall of his chest. Just before Adam fell asleep, Tommy put his open palm on his stomach. Something in Adam’s mind twitched, a memory, an emotion. But then Tommy snuggled closer and Adam smiled, following Tommy into the most peaceful night’s sleep he could remember in a very long time.
TBC