When Danny met Horatio... (The Band Book 1) Read online

  Jules shook his head, “Nah,” he said, “Chas is meeting me in ten minutes – I’ll be fine. Go and enjoy yourself.”

  Danny turned back to me with a beaming smile. He was so different tonight; so carefree. “So, what did you say your wife was doing tonight?” I asked as we headed for the dance floor. Please say she’s fucking her boss or something…

  He shrugged, seemingly unbothered by the question, “She’s away on a team-building weekend with her colleagues.” He said, “She’s due back on Monday afternoon.”

  Wow. It was only Friday. We could totally spend the whole weekend together... I nodded, “Sounds cool.” I said, “What will they be building?”

  He chuckled, “Fuck knows.” He said, “I don’t remember her telling me any of the details.”

  I took his hand and led him to my favourite spot on the dance floor. My favourite song was playing and I really wanted to see how Danny moved.

  I wasn’t disappointed. He could really dance.

  A couple of guys a little away from us were really getting into their dancing – well, it was more like dry humping if I’m going to be completely honest.

  Danny watched them and raised his eyebrows at me, “That’s some move.” He commented as one of the guys rubbed up against the other, “Reminds me of that old movie, ‘Dirty Dancing’,”

  I chuckled, “I love that movie.” I said, “It’s corny as hell, but I love it.”

  Danny nodded, “Me too.” He said, “I’ve always wanted to be able to dance like that.”

  I grinned, “We could always have a go.” Fuck, man. What are you saying? What are you even thinking? He’ll never go for that.

  But I was wrong... “Can we?” he asked eagerly, “Oh, that’d be great.”

  He stepped closer to me and within seconds his arms were wrapped around me and we were grinding up against each other – and it wasn’t my imagination, I could definitely feel his arousal.

  The song ended far too soon and was replaced with something that didn’t really lend itself to the same sort of dancing. “Shall we get a drink?” I asked, a little breathlessly.

  Danny nodded, “Sounds like a good idea.” He said, also sounding like he needed to catch his breath.

  We made our way to the bar and I ordered us a beer each.

  I passed one to Danny and finally looked him in the eye. Would he be freaking out by the way we’d been dancing with each other?

  He was looking at me but he didn’t look freaked out. He looked gorgeous. His face was flushed with exertion and his hair was slightly less perfect than it had been earlier. “You okay?” he asked.

  I nodded, “Sure,” I replied, “You?”

  He grinned, “I haven’t had this much fun in forever.” He said, “It’s amazing being here with you.”

  My heart started to thump away in my chest. It was totally amazing being here with him. “Yeah,” I agreed, “It is.”

  Danny was looking at a text message on his phone. He looked up at me and I was convinced he was about to bail on me. “What’s up?” I asked.

  He shrugged, “Nothing.” He said, “It was just Jules telling me that he and Chas have gone.”

  My jaw dropped. “Gone?” I asked.

  He nodded, grinning, “It’s fine.” He said, “I’m with you now. You’ll look after me, won’t you?”

  I swear he fluttered his eyelashes.

  Was he was flirting with me? Goddammit. Could he get any sexier? “Of course I’ll look after you.” I said, “No one will touch you while I’m with you.”

  He grinned, “Well good, because I only want you touching me.”

  Fuck. He really was flirting with me. There was no way that wasn’t flirting. I swallowed hard. How did I play this? Did I go for it and wind up being horribly rejected and ruining the friendship we had going on or did I play it safe and never know if we could have had more?

  As if he was reading my mind, Danny reached for my hand, “Wanna dance again?” he asked softly.

  I nodded, “I’d love to.” I said.

  Chapter 8 – Magic…

  Danny

  It was like magic being here with Horatio and being able to really be myself with him.

  I realised that I was never being myself with Mara. I was living a lie and it occurred to me with a bit of a jolt that I had been for the whole of our marriage.

  We headed for the dance floor together and I marvelled at how totally at home I felt here, surrounded by all these guys, some who were, without a shadow of a doubt, as gay as gay got. Others I wouldn’t have had a clue about – like Horatio.

  But all of them were enjoying themselves, drinking and talking and in some cases, getting very well acquainted with each other but I didn’t feel in the slightest bit uncomfortable – on the contrary, I felt like I belonged here, like I should be part of this wonderful world.

  I’d been missing out. For literally years.

  Horatio started to dance. He was keeping a respectable distance from me, but I wanted to dance the way we’d danced earlier. I wanted to feel his body next to mine, wanted to feel his hardness through his jeans. It was such a turn on.

  I moved closer, “May I?” I asked, as I slid up close and personal.

  He smiled that amazing smile and nodded, “Sure.” He said, holding his arms out for me. I smiled back at him and closed the distance between us, sliding my arms around his waist, we resumed our earlier position and started to move in time to the music.

  “You feel amazing.” I murmured.

  His arms closed around my back and pulled me closer, “You do too.” He said, “Too good. I’m forgetting that you’re just my mate.”

  I looked up as he spoke, my eyes on his mouth. Those beautiful full lips that I actually longed to kiss, to know what they felt like against mine. I groaned. It was impossible.

  He was looking back at me, his mouth slightly open, his eyes gazing into mine, “Don’t.” he whispered.

  I blinked, “Don’t what?” I asked.

  “Don’t even think it.”

  I sighed. He knew what I was thinking. He knew I wanted to kiss him – but he was a step ahead of me. He knew I’d freak out about it all tomorrow.

  I laughed it off, “I won’t.” I said stepping away and out of his arms again. “I really need to pee.”

  Horatio frowned, “Don’t freak out but I’m coming with you.” He said, “Those bathrooms are a bit of a minefield sometimes.”

  Fuck. I’d forgotten where we were for a minute. I didn’t need to ask what he was talking about. I’d heard enough about this place from Jules on the way here to know that at least three of the cubicles would be taken up with guys fucking each other. The idea of it actually made me feel kind of horny. I wouldn’t particularly want to be taken in a public place but it was still a turn on to think about it.

  After we’d navigated the bathrooms safely and were back out in the club, Horatio leaned over, “Wanna go somewhere a little less intense? A little quieter, so we can talk?”

  I nodded, “Sure.” I agreed.

  He grinned, “There’s a little wine bar on the way towards town.” He said, “It’s open late on Friday’s.”

  We headed out.

  Chapter 9 – Chatting in the wine bar...

  Horatio

  I had to get Danny out of the club and somewhere a little less testosterone-soaked before I did something I would undoubtedly regret. I was feeling things for him that I had absolutely no business feeling and fuck, what had I been thinking? I’d almost kissed him.

  In my defence, he’d almost kissed me back – and he’d seemed kind of into it too – but I doubted very much that he’d feel the same way the next morning and I really didn’t need to lose him now. We were great friends and even though I wanted more from him, I knew that could never happen and I’d kind of accepted it. Of course I wanted more – Danny was adorable and, in my opinion, completely wasted on a woman that clearly didn’t appreciate him. Still, with the best will in the world, I couldn’t
make him want me instead – but I could try. All was fair in love and war and all that...

  I pushed the door of the tiny wine bar open. The guy behind the bar looked up and smiled in recognition.

  I raised my eyebrows at him and started to walk over to the bar. Danny patted my arm, “Shall I find us a seat?”

  I nodded and was pleased to notice that Danny was headed towards the back of the bar where the secluded booths were.

  I ordered myself a cola and a bottled beer for Danny. I was driving – he wasn’t.

  I paid for the drinks and followed after Danny. I found him sitting in a booth. He looked up at me and smiled.

  My heart spiked at his beautiful grin. Fuck. I really had it bad. This was such a bad idea.

  I put his drink down in front of him, “There you go, mate.”

  He picked it up and took a sip, “Ahh, that’s great.” He said.

  Danny

  It felt so right to be here with Horatio. So normal. So perfect.

  So completely and utterly different to my life with Mara, which was full of fear and trepidation. I walked on egg shells all of the time and it still wasn’t enough. She still found every reason possible to pick a fight – and ultimately won it.

  I didn’t love her. I never had. Not really. I’d just gotten stuck.

  Really, when I thought about our existence, I realised that there was actually nothing to stay for. She quite obviously didn’t like me – or she wouldn’t be constantly picking fights with me and battering me. And I didn’t feel anything for her anymore – if I ever really did feel anything more than the first flush of desire. It wasn’t even as if we had amazing sex – not that sex was a good enough reason to stay anyway, I was just clutching at straws really. But it was always the same – quick and unsatisfying. Mara never seemed to be enjoying herself and always managed to make me feel totally inadequate. Maybe I was… She’d never once uttered anything remotely sexy like the, “Oh, God, yeah – there, there!” exclamations I’d heard on my secret porn video stash – and I wasn’t stupid enough not to realise that they were only actors but still, surely there should have been something she enjoyed…

  Horatio was chattering on about something and I realised with a rush of shame that I hadn’t heard a word. Still, I had to get this off my chest so I blurted out the first thing that entered my head…

  Horatio

  “Would you say you have a satisfying sex life?”

  I almost choked on my coke, blinked in total shock and turned to face a very earnest Danny. Had he really just asked me that? Where the fuck had that come from? Was he thinking about having sex with me? Because, I’m not gonna lie, right at that moment I was totally imagining sucking his cock until he came. Fuck. Was he a mind-reader or something? “Uh, yeah, I guess I do – when I’ve got someone to have satisfying sex with...” Well, it had been quite a while since I last had what I’d call a really good fuck but whatever – that was in the past. Danny was the guy I wanted to have amazing sex with now – although admittedly, I’d have to wait until his wife was out of the picture… “Don’t you?”

  He bit his lip and shook his head, “Nope.” He said, “It’s fucking shit.”

  Holy fucking shit. As much as I wanted to dance around the room high-fiving everyone that his marriage was as good as over, I didn’t want to appear to be totally insensitive. What the hell was I supposed to say to that? “Why’s that, dude?” I took a sip of my cola and shuffled a little closer to him. I really didn’t think he’d want anyone else to hear this and he’d had a couple of beers already.

  He looked at me, his expression tortured. “We just go through the motions. She doesn’t put in any effort to even pretend to enjoy it...”

  I frowned, “Do you try to make her enjoy it?” Well, I had to ask.

  He nodded, “Totally,” he said indignantly, “I go down on her,” he said, “I ask her what she likes – believe me I don’t want to piss her off...” he bit his lip and I wondered what the fuck this woman was really like. He seemed almost afraid of her.

  I’d never met her but I absolutely hated her. “So, what makes you think she doesn’t like it?”

  He looked me right in the eye, making me catch my breath a little at his beauty, “She doesn’t even so much as let out a sigh – it’s like she’s bored stiff.”

  Fuck. That wasn’t good. I knew that not everyone was vocal during sex. I’d had a guy that was pretty damned silent once – but he came like a fucking fountain so I knew he’d been enjoying himself. “Does she, you know, orgasm?”

  He shrugged, “I don’t think so.” He said, “Not with me anyway.”

  I frowned, “What do you mean?”

  He blushed bright red, “She’s got a dildo – and she comes on that – by herself...”

  Oh, my God. Far too much information. I couldn’t help being slightly pleased though. These two were as unmatched as it was possible to be... He was far more suited to me. Given half the chance, I was sure I could make him come in seconds – and if he ever went down on me? Fuck. I’d show him how easy it was to make your partner fall apart...

  Casting around for something to talk about that wasn’t sex, I asked him what he was doing over the weekend. “So, what are you doing with yourself tomorrow?” I asked.

  He shrugged, “I don’t really have any plans.”

  He was probably just going to enjoy the break from his wife... “Why don’t you come around to mine?” I asked, “We could play on the games console or I could show you my guitar collection...” Why the fuck he’d be interested in that, I had no idea. I just wanted to spend as much time as possible with him.

  “That would be great.” He agreed enthusiastically, “All I’ll be doing otherwise is cleaning the house.”

  Cleaning the house? What the fuck for? The dust only gathers again... “Well, fuck that!” I said, “You can clean on Sunday.”

  He chuckled. “Yeah,” he agreed, “I’ll have to.”

  I frowned. He’d have to? What the hell sort of a life did he live with her?

  I didn’t ask. Not that I didn’t have a morbid curiosity about it – but as it turned out, I didn’t have to ask – he started to tell me – and once he’d gotten started, he didn’t seem to have an off switch...

  “The first time she hit me was actually on our honeymoon...”

  My jaw dropped. The first time? She’d done it since? “She hits you?” I asked in horror.

  He shrugged and nodded, “Only sometimes...”

  “Only sometimes?” I echoed incredulously, “You have to know that even ‘only sometimes’ isn’t right?” Oh, baby. You’re with the wrong person... you need to be with me – I might smother you with my love but I’d never, ever hurt you.

  He sighed and rubbed his eyes. “She doesn’t mean to...”

  Fuck me backwards. He was actually defending her. “She does mean to.” I said, unable to stop myself, “Because if she didn’t mean to – she wouldn’t do it.”

  Tears pooled in his eyes and I felt like such a shit for making him cry, “You don’t understand.” He whispered.

  I reached across the table and took his hand gently in mine, “You’re right. I don’t.” I said, “So make me understand – what do you stay for?”

  He closed his eyes. “I don’t know.” He whispered, “Maybe I’m afraid of what I really am... of who I really am.”

  “Who you really are, is the Danny I know – and I think that guy is incredible.”

  He opened his eyes and smiled at me shyly. There was hope lurking behind his eyes, I could see it. I just didn’t know how to draw it out of him. “Yeah?” he asked.

  “Yeah.” I agreed seriously, “I think you’re great, Dan.”

  He squeezed my hand. “I wish I’d met you before I met her.” He whispered.

  I nodded, “Me too.” I agreed. Fuck. I wished it with every cell in my body. “But at least we can be mates.”

  He nodded, looking a little forlorn, “Yeah,” he said, “We’ll always
be friends.”

  Chapter 10 – Just good friends…

  Danny

  The idea of only ever being friends made me feel like being sick. I couldn’t only be friends with Horatio. Hell, it was hard enough to keep my hands off him as it was. I had the most incredible crush on him and I really didn’t know how much longer I was going to be able to carry on just being friends.

  I had to end things with my wife first. We sure as hell didn’t have a good relationship. I wondered sometimes if she’d ever loved me and I was beginning to realise that I’d never really loved her.

  We’d rushed into things, all because she’d thought she was pregnant and didn’t want her family to know that we’d been having sex out of wedlock – I know, which century were they from? So, we’d got married and then she told me that she’d been wrong...

  And thank God she had been. Her violent nature didn’t really lend itself to her being a particularly good mother. She’d have to have anger management before I’d ever want to have children with her.

  We were sat with our drinks in the cute little wine bar. My mind was racing, my thoughts chasing each other so fast that I just didn’t seem able to put them into words. I wanted so badly to tell Horatio the way I felt about him – but I was so afraid of his rejection. After all, he was free man – he could date whomever he liked. I was married and I had absolutely no business telling him that I thought I had romantic feelings towards him...

  He broke the silence that was stretching out between us uncomfortably with a question, “Can I ask you something?”

  I blinked, “Huh?”

  He grimaced slightly, “Are you happy, Danny?”

  I stared at him, “Wh-What do you mean.” I knew exactly what he meant, I just had no idea why he was asking me.

  He looked uncomfortable, “I’m just... look, I know you probably don’t feel anywhere near the same – and why would you? You’re married – and straight.” He rolled his eyes, “Fuck, I’m making a total arse of myself.” He laughed and shook his head. Looking up at me with his beautiful dark brown eyes, he bit his lip and then spoke, apparently choosing his words carefully, “I really like you Danny – and you don’t seem to be completely happy with... with your wife.” He looked down at his drink.