Rocker Leo needs a break. From the band, roadies, everything related to his present life. Wandering the streets of Vienna, he chances upon a poster that just might change his life. Andre Revele, renowned violinist, and Leo’s ex-lover, is performing in the city. It’s been years since Leo slipped out of Andre’s life in the middle of the night, but he's never forgotten their passionate love of music and each other.
Andre’s shocked when Leo shows up backstage after his performance. Hell yes, he’s angry, but he can’t walk away. Against his better judgment, he invites Leo to his hotel for a drink. Not sure what he wants from Leo, he knows what his body wants right now. A night of passionate sex leads to another, until he’s lost his heart to Leo again.
When Andre finds his trust in Leo tested, Leo must prove his loyalty by using their one common passion – music – to bind their hearts.
Leo finished his cappuccino. He needed a break. From the band, roadies, everything related to his present life. He tried to ignore the constriction in his chest. He hadn’t written anything in months, and that scared the shit out of him. His bandmates were like his brothers, but as much as he loved them, it wasn’t the same as having a lover who completely got him. He had no one to turn to when in a funk.
He hoped to God he still had more words inside him. For all of his flamboyance on stage, his real love was composing.
Leo paid the check and left. Too wound up to go back to his hotel, he roamed the streets, taking in the Vienna night. Stars sparkled above St. Stephen’s gothic spire. The wide boulevards twisted into narrow lanes perfect for getting lost in.
Happy to wander aimlessly, Leo slipped his hands into his fleece-lined jacket. Living in LA, he’d forgotten how cold winter could be in other parts of the world. He turned the corner and sputtered to a halt. Staring at the poster pasted to the side of a building, he didn’t need to read the name of the virtuoso to know who it was. He could never forget that face in rapture—when playing or getting off. Music and sex had invoked the same feelings in Andre Revele. Passion was passion, and that man had always had both in spades.
Numbness swept across Leo as he stared at the picture of Andre caressing the bow in those slender-fingered hands—such artistic hands on a large man. It had been love at first sight—or at least lust—when Leo had walked into the practice room.
He could still remember a youthful Andre, not quite grown into his robust physique, as he played the last stanza of Bach’s Concerto in E. The violin’s notes had faded, but the music had remained in the air long after the performance was over. Bright green eyes peered through dark lashes, and sensual, pouty lips morphed into a shy smile. Like an idiot, Leo had been at a loss for words at Andre’s performance and enamored by that handsome face. Until Andre laughed, breaking the spell.
From that day forward, they were inseparable. They both had insatiable appetites for music. They stayed up all hours talking about philosophy and musical composition, and arguing what was better, thin-crust or thick-crust pizza. They played music together, fucked, and enjoyed the simple moments that composed their insular world.
He scanned the poster for the dates of the concerts. Tomorrow night was the last performance. Leo shuffled his feet, unable to move away. He bit his lip and traced the image of Andre. Did he dare go? It had to be fate. He’d been thinking of Andre, talking about the past with Sid, and now this.
His heartbeat quickened. What if he went backstage and Andre didn’t recognize him? Or brushed him aside? Leo had purposely avoided searching the Internet for news of Andre, too afraid that his ex had a lover, or worse, had married. Their lifestyles were miles apart, and Leo could never think of Andre as a friend.
He drank in Andre’s image. Tall and broodingly dark, Andre had the body of a jock and the sensitive heart of an artist. Leo preferred men unlike himself. He’d been a skinny kid, and had a difficult time gaining weight. If he’d been born years earlier, he would have been the perfect face for a glam rock band. At least he’d outgrown the term pretty boy or twink.
Leo chewed his lower lip as he studied Andre’s picture. Tempting as it was to see his ex again, visiting the past was a bad idea. This wasn’t the time, not when Leo was restless and bored. His heart couldn’t take a rejection from Andre. There were other men, lots of men, and he’d had his share of quite a few of them. With his schedule it had become impossible to form any long-term commitment. Or at least that was what he told himself.
A big, fat lie.
He’d never met anyone who made him feel the way he’d felt for the violinist.
Leo kissed his fingers and pressed them to Andre’s lips. “Good-bye, Princess.” Andre hated that pet name, but Leo loved using the endearment. Andre had been born into wealth and privilege, and his family had expected great things from him. “You proved them right, didn’t you?”
Before Leo changed his mind, he hurried away, dismissing the memories of a love lost to his ambition.
Leo and his bandmates tour schedule can be grueling. They are on the road for months at a time. This means one-day city stops, long flights and at times, dicey hotel accommodations!
Leo, thanks for being here. A rock star is the ultimate road warrior. How do you handle your touring schedule?
Yeah, man, it can get crazy but the key is to be still.
Not sure I follow you?
I’ve seen more airports and the insides of hotel rooms than three times my age. Shit happens. Our rooms get cancelled, we miss flights, luggage gets lost. I can’t control the outside world so I don’t. I deal with situations as they come up and don’t go looking for them. A good pair of headphones also helps to shut out the world.
That sounds like a good travel philosophy for all of us. So how do you manage to stay friends with your bandmates, spending so much time together like you do?
We have different personalities and lucky for us, we get along great. Except for Sid, Jon and Mick are the original members of the band. I’ve known these dudes for years, and they are like my brothers. We’ve stayed friends because we respect each other’s space. During down times we go our own way. We don’t usually sit together on our flights. It was a bummer when we had to bunk up in the same rooms to save money. Now we have the luxury of having separate rooms. (Leo laughs) That helps.
I’ve heard rumors you’re seeing a famous violinist. How do you handle a relationship with your schedule?
The verdict that we are together is not out yet. (Leo makes the motion of zipping his mouth shut).
Okay, I get it. Don’t want to jinx it. Last question, what is the first thing you do when you get home?
Jon and Mick live in North Beach area. They like to hit The Saloon, a blues joint near their place. Sid is still a kid and he can party all night and not feel it the next day. He hits the party circuit with his friends. Shit if I know where they go. In the city, the hottest places chance every week. Me. I like to stay in, take a hot bath and chill.
Multi-published and award winner, Viki Lyn is a successful writer of gay paranormal and contemporary romance. After reading and collecting whatever she could get her hands on, she wrote her first male/male romance. And that was ‘it’ for her. She never looked back. Viki travels the world in search of inspiration. She considers herself blessed to have traveled to many of the mystical sites she had dreamed about as a child. Her travel experiences have been influential in creating her paranormal worlds. When she needs to relax, she calls a friend to meet at their favorite coffee house. When the chattering in her head goes off the charts, she plays one of her favorite RPGs on her PS4 and immerses herself in the world of dragons and magic.
2 comments:
Thank you for hosting me today and featuring Lover's Trill! Leo's schedule can be grueling but he loves what he does. That helps, as well as getting along with his bandmates. :) I will check back for comments. Have a great day.
It was our pleasure Viki :) I can't wait to read it. Sounds really interesting.
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