m/m romance

Jinx Jett is a rock superstar. As such, the hunky Skull Blasters drummer thoroughly enjoys the many perks of willing groupies, earning him a reputation as the band slut. Making it big and scoring hot women is something Jinx never expected. There’s a little voice in the back of his mind constantly reminding him of how he used to be — shy, overweight and acne prone. One night in a gay bar turns life upside down when Jinx runs into Jayden Dempsey, a kid he’s been fantasizing about since giving him his autograph at a mall. Long-held insecurities keep Jinx from fully committing to anyone, and he may lose Jayden if he can’t put his past behind him.

Jayden Dempsey always wanted out of his life in small-town Alabama. When his parents kicked him out after he told them he was gay, Jayden decided the time was right to move on. He crosses the country to try out for ‘Singers!’, a show that propels unknowns to stardom. In a twist, producers choose him and three others as winners and form a boy band called London Boys.This season, the show brings Jayden and the guys back for the finale. Surprise! The contest’s heavy metal finalist will be singing with Skull Blasters.

Jinx and Jayden’s initial meeting doesn’t go so well, and Jayden’s stunned when the guy he’s crushed on for years turns out to be a total jerk. It doesn’t stop him from falling into Jinx’s arms every time they’re alone, but Jayden didn’t sign on for one nighters. He wants Jinx Jett, baggage and all.

Can a former teen outcast put rejection behind him and embrace the acceptance standing right in front of him? How much will one boy bander put up with from his rock idol before enough is enough? Can they make it work? Or are they jinxed in love?

The stall next to the one I was in opened and a man walked out. His eyes met mine and widened.
“Oh, fuck me,” he whispered.
In two seconds flat, I was back at the mall with that golden-haired hottie with the bubbled ass of fantasies. His clear, blue eyes were still fixated on me as I moved forward.
“I know you,” I said stupidly.
“Oh my God! I thought … the door closed, so I thought … holy shit! I just sucked Jinx Jett’s cock?”
“Could you not yell that?” I snapped. “I’m not … well, you know …”
“Gay?” he drawled. “Here’s a tip — don’t come to a gay club and stuff your cock into a glory hole!”
“It’s Jayden, right? You’re the guy from the mall?”
“You remember my name? Wait, okay, back up here for just a minute. Why are you here?”
“I was, um, curious?”
“Well, that’s just great. Another guy ‘curious’ about gay men.” Jayden lifted his fingers to indicate air quotes.
“I didn’t know if I should stay or what. I mean, how does this work? Do I thank you for a fabulous blowjob? Tipping seems to cross a legal line …”
“You liked it?” Jayden gaped in astonishment.
“Like it?” I laughed. “Fuck yeah, I fucking loved it.”

“Talk.” Gareth pointed at me.
“I had sex Saturday night,” I blurted out.
“Okay, that’s not exactly ‘stop the presses’ stuff.” Gareth raised his brows.
“It was with a guy.”
“Hmmm. Still not major news.”
Hammer chuckled and my head snapped toward him. He winked at me and went back to what he was doing. What the fuck? The guy never speaks but he winks? Gareth snapped his fingers in front of me and I turned back to him.
“What do you mean ‘not major news’?” I asked curiously.
“Hello? You’re talking to little Gareth O’Donovan, remember? I was at your house a million times as a kid. I remember your secret CD collection and your love of Lance Bass.”
“Could you keep your voice down?” I leaned forward, trying to see the other guys up front.
“Whatever. What do you care what they think? They’ll have your back, and you know it. You were my hero when I was a kid. You’d always talk to me about the guys and the newest album you got. Hell, you loaned me one of them. You always had time for me.”
I stared at Gareth and he smiled. Damn, the kid had grown so much. I still couldn’t believe he was married. It seemed surreal.
“It was because of you that I realized I wanted to have sex with Justin Timberlake,” Gareth chuckled.
Hammer busted out laughing at that point and we both turned to stare at him. He shrugged his shoulders and grunted.

“I was with Jinx Jett on Saturday night.” Evander tripped and I grabbed his elbow before he fell. His mouth opened, then shut, then opened again. I ushered him into the bathroom and checked all the stalls. I felt like I was back in high school.
“You fucked him?” Evander’s eyes were wide.
“That’d be a no. I was the catcher.”
“Wow.” Evander leaned against the wall. “I didn’t think he was gay.”
“I think he might be bi. I mean, it didn’t really seem to faze him that he fucked a guy.”
“Well, he’s never really addressed that in interviews, either. I think the last interview he did with the band, the question was raised and he said, and I quote, ‘Does it really matter?’” Evander smiled at me. “You like him.”
“Um, yeah. Did you not get that when we saw him at the mall?”
“Well, he is hot.” Evander shot me a wicked grin.
“It’s not even how he looks. Have you seen his pictures when he was a kid? He was so adorable, even back then. Those pouty lips, those eyes.” I sighed. “He’s so damn talented, too.”
“Yeah, you mentioned that in our radio interview,” Evander laughed. “I think you spent the last five minutes of it talking about Jinx.”
“Hey, they asked,” I shrugged.
“We need to get to practice.” Evander opened the bathroom door. He looked back at me. “So, no details about his dick?”
“No.”
“A guy can try.”

“Jayden? What are you doing here?”
“I’m in the show.”
“Oh, are you a finalist? I didn’t see you in the lineup.”
“Nope. I’m last season’s winner.”
“Last season?” Jinx furrowed his brow. “I missed last season.”
Evander and the guys came back, trailed by Sebastian, Jericho, and one of the other finalists whose name I couldn’t remember no matter how many times I was reminded. Jericho winked at me and I smiled.
“Well!” Sebastian’s voice boomed over the empty stage. “I see you guys are all getting to know one another. This is Jericho, our first heavy metal finalist, and this is Scott,” Sebastian motioned to the other guy. “He’s more of an alternative kind of guy. Gareth, where are the rest of your guys?”
“Right behind us,” Gareth answered.
“Oooh, I sense some chemistry over there,” Scott crooned. “Heavy metal is joining the boy band? I didn’t know you liked them so … pretty, Jinx.”
“Wait, what?” Jinx spun around.
“Oh yeah,” Scott continued maliciously. “Jayden and his merry band of mates make up London Boys.”
Jinx spun back to me, a look of absolute horror on his face. “You’re in a boy band?” he almost whispered.
“Guilty.” I held up my hands.
“You like ’em, huh, Jinx?” Scott leered.
I wanted to slap Scott in the face. No wonder I couldn’t remember his name — it wasn’t worth remembering. Jinx backed away from me and I took a step forward.
“Don’t.” Jinx lowered his voice so that I only I could hear him. “I can’t believe you’re in a fucking boy band! You guys barely sing, you just go na-na-na-naaaa, and you don’t even play instruments!”
I recoiled as if I’d been the one slapped. Jinx was staring at me as if I were a serial killer. The anger boiled up and I lashed out.
“Fuck you, Jinx!” I stomped offstage, Evander hot on my heels.

“Can I get some clothes?”
“I like you in a robe.” Jinx waggled his brows.
I started for the door and Jinx jumped up and grabbed my hand. He pushed me into the wall and gently pinned my hands above my head.
“Jinx …”
I gasped as his thigh insinuated itself between my legs, rubbing my balls.
“Yeah?” his breath caressed my lips.
“I … fuck … stop doing that,” I panted.
“This?” Jinx raised his knee higher and rubbed my dick.
My God, my mouth actually started watering as Jinx leaned in closer to me, letting his tongue trail my bottom lip. I wanted to taste him so fucking bad my whole body hurt. I wanted him. I couldn’t deny it.
“Fuck, you are sexy as sin,” Jinx rumbled against my lips. “Love your lips, your eyes, even your fucking hair turns me on.”
I clenched my eyes shut and tried to stay in control.
“Yeah? Even if I’m a talentless pretty boy?”
Jinx stiffened. He pulled back slowly and searched my eyes.
“I’m sorry I said that.”
“Yeah? Why did you say it? What’s your problem with me being in a boy band?”
Jinx sighed and let my hands go. He rubbed his hands down his face and exhaled slowly. I continued to speak because by that time, my word vomit had begun.
“I don’t even like boy bands, but you know what? This is where I am and fuck it! I’m successful. Do you know I auditioned with one of your band’s songs?” Jinx’s gasp was very audible in the room. His eyes widened. “Yep, that’s right. I sang Manwhore; the song fits you.”
“I deserve that.”
“Are you going to tell me what your problem is?” I placed my hands on my hips, glaring at him.

Oh fuck.
“I thought…” Jayden blinked and shook his head.
“Are you all right, Jinx?” Achilles asked sharply.
“I’m fine.”
“Ma’am? Could you button your blouse, please?” Achilles addressed the woman with no expression on his face.
I walked around Arielle and approached Jayden. He backed up, still shaking his head.
“Jayden…” I reached out to him.
“No.” Jayden lifted his chin. “Don’t worry about it. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
He turned and ran down the corridor and I started to follow, but Achilles gripped my bicep and held me back. Arielle walked past us, straightening her shirt.
“Maybe next time?” she cooed, completely oblivious.
No and just … no. God, was I so wrapped up in Jayden that I couldn’t even function with women? Seemed that way.
Achilles dragged me into the corridor and shut the bedroom doors behind me. He turned to face me and I saw anger in those cool eyes.
“What?” I said in defiance. “This is who I am.”
“Bullshit,” he snapped. “It’s who you used to be. Jayden was worried you’d been drugged or something so he came and found me.”
My mouth dropped open in surprise. I’d never heard Achilles speak that forcefully. His brows were furrowed and his glare went right through me.
“Don’t play with people’s emotions, Jinx. That’s not you,” he continued.
“How the fuck do you know who I am?”
“I’ve been watching you. I know more than you think, Jinx. Jayden sees you, the real you, not the guy you show everyone else. Either let him go, or reel him in ─ but don’t fuck with his head.”