Okay, yes, I know it's been forever on this one. I do apologize. That darn muse of mine likes to play hide-and-seek sometimes. Looks like I've found her now. Enjoy, and as usual, I don't own House.
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The band had already started by the time House and Johnny entered the crowded club. The place was even more packed than it had been the previous night, and Johnny found himself unintentionally pressing against House as they pushed their way through in search of a table. Not that he minded the contact, but he knew House wasn't nearly as comfortable with it, at least in a public setting.
House didn't seem to object, finally finding a pair of open seats and easing himself into a chair, his eyes intent on the stage. Johnny glanced around in search of someone to take their drink order, finally flagging down a waitress to do so.
Johnny settled in and pulled out his memo pad, tuning in to the band's raw, bluesy sound that belied their youth. The lead singer was clearly pouring his heart and soul into the performance, and his voice sent chills up Johnny's spine. He imagined how good this kid and Bella would sound if he could get them in a recording studio together.
"There you are!" He heard Bella's voice and felt her arms cross over his chest, squeezing tightly. "Wasn't sure you'd make it."
Johnny patted her hands and waved his notepad at her. "Course I did. Figured they were worth a second look." He gestured toward the stage. "You two would sound damn good together."
Bella laughed softly as she took a seat next to him, leaning in slightly. "As long as you know it's only a musical duet."
"Of course, girl." Johnny chuckled in response. "Wouldn't expect nothing else. Now hush. I'm trying to listen."
The band wrapped up their first set, and Johnny rose from his seat to make his way toward the stage where the band was engaged in idle chat. He briefly cleared his throat. "So...who's in charge here?"
Four heads turned as one, their eyes going wide. Finally the lead singer stepped forward and extended his hand. "Guess that'd be me. Derek Phillips."
Johnny returned the gesture, taking the young man's hand in a firm grip. "Good to meet you. I'm…"
"Johnny Rocket. Yeah, I know." Derek was obviously having a hard time containing his reaction. "Got all your albums…seen you live a bunch of times." A grin broke out on his face. "Man, it's cool to meet you. Never thought that would happen."
Johnny couldn't help the chuckle that escaped him. "Well…thanks. That's good to hear. Now then…got a little proposition for you guys."
Derek glanced back at his bandmates before nodding. "Sure."
"I'm starting a record label." Johnny explained. "I'm thinking you guys have the sound we're looking for. How do you feel about coming down and laying down a few tracks?"
Derek's eyes went wider than before, and Johnny thought they might pop right out of the kid's head. "Dude, are you serious?"
"Hell yeah, I'm serious." Johnny told him. "I don't make that offer to just anyone."
He pulled a business card out of his shirt pocket and handed it to Derek. "Give me a call when all of you can get together. We'll work something out."
Derek stared at the business card, smiling from ear to ear. "This is too fucking cool." He looked up and stuck his hand out. "Thanks, man. You won't regret it."
"I'm sure I won't." Johnny couldn't help returning the smile as he shook the young man's hand. Derek reminded him a lot of himself at that age, busting his ass in the clubs around Austin, trying to get noticed.
He turned to walk back to the table when Derek's voice stopped him. "Hey man…you want to sit in with us for a couple songs?"
Johnny shook his head. "Not tonight. I'm here as a fan. Maybe some other time."
He could hear the murmuring behind him as he returned to the table, and he couldn't help the chuckle that burst out of him. Johnny only hoped their excitement and enthusiasm was warranted. The last thing he wanted was to hold these guys back. They were too talented for that.
"So…?" Bella seemed to sit on the edge of her seat as Johnny returned. "What's the word?"
Johnny tried to keep his face impassive, but soon let the grin spread. "Think I've got them convinced to come on down. Now it's just a matter of when."
"Sa-WEET!" Bella jumped up and squeezed Johnny around his waist before turning back to House. "I told you he'd come around."
"Yeah, yeah." House rolled his eyes and drained the remains of his bourbon, signaling the passing waitress for another.
"They're damn good." Johnny extricated himself from Bella and eased himself into the seat between her and House. "No sense letting them toil in obscurity."
The lights went down for the second set, and Johnny found himself absentmindedly sliding his hand along the back of House's chair. Now that he had taken care of business, he could get on with the pleasure part of the evening.
Suddenly Johnny felt antsy for no reason he could readily identify. Perhaps the fact that this would be House's last night in New York for a while, possibly forever. Johnny had no idea if House would want to come back once he returned to his own reality. Maybe this would end up as a one time thing.
The thought made something in Johnny clench. He didn't want this thing with House to end here. Sure, he could seek out other companionship, but it wouldn't be the same, Johnny knew that. House was almost the best of both worlds for Johnny, someone he could spend time with doing any number of things.
No, it wasn't just the sex for Johnny. Far from it. The sex was just an unbelievably mind-blowing bonus. Over the course of these couple of days, he had grown to genuinely like this older, rougher man, this analytical, thoughtful soul. The idea that Johnny might lose him after this weekend was almost more than he could take.
"Hey." Johnny leaned in, allowing his hand to travel from the back of the chair to smooth along House's shoulder. "Figure we'd jet out of here after this set. What do you say?"
House glanced at him, seeming to study him briefly before nodding in agreement. He almost seemed to shift in his chair, pressing into the hand that Johnny had rested on his shoulder. Johnny couldn't help a slight smile as he lightly rubbed the other man between the shoulder blades before leaning back in his own chair to enjoy the rest of the set.
The lights came back up at the end of the set, and Johnny leaned over to give Bella a quick squeeze. "I'm heading out. Tell me how the last set goes."
"I will." Bella answered, squeezing him in response. "You taking old boy with you?"
"That's the plan." Johnny chuckled, hearing the scrape of a chair to his left.
"Then I'll see you sometime Monday." Bella laughed as she rose from her own chair to approach House, grabbing him in a quick hug. "Hope this ain't your last trip to New York, House."
"We'll see." House replied, barely responding to Bella's hug with a touch to her back.
The two men wove their way out of the crowded club, Johnny following close behind House. Soon they were back out on the street again, the cool night air sending a shiver through Johnny.
He wasn't sure where to take it from here. It would be easier to go back to his place, but House also had his hotel room. Either place would be fine with Johnny.
"So, are we headed back to your place?" House's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "I need to get my guitar before I leave tomorrow."
"Sounds like a plan." Johnny was relieved that House had inadvertently made that decision. He flagged down a cab and gave the driver his address.
It was a quiet ride back to Johnny's, and House seemed to be keeping his distance, appearing deep in thought. Johnny had little doubt that House was analyzing every detail of the weekend, probably having the same debate with himself that Johnny was. Probably not exactly the same, but probably similar.
The driver pulled up in front, and Johnny quickly paid him, both he and House exiting the cab and heading toward the doors. House made a beeline for the studios, Johnny not far behind.
House seemed to be a man on a mission, and Johnny had a hard time keeping up with him, despite the fact that House was a couple of inches shorter and somewhat disabled. The man could move when he had a mind to.
Johnny managed to catch up to him, unlocking the studio door where House had left his guitar. He watched as the other man carefully tucked it into its case and closed the latches.
"You know, you don't have to take it with you." Johnny threw out casually. "I can personally guarantee it'll be safe here…that is, if you plan on coming back."
House leaned on the case, spreading out his long fingers. "I haven't really decided yet."
"Kind of figured." Johnny answered softly, feeling his heart sink a little.
"Don't get me wrong." House kept his back to Johnny, his shoulders sagging slightly. "This whole weekend…it's been kind of like one of those rock and roll fantasy camps, you know? Where normal guys get to hang out with their heroes and pretend to be rock stars for a while." He paused, smoothing his hands over his guitar case. "But…I've got a real life to go back to, that whole doctoring thing. I don't know where this would fit into that."
Something finally clicked for Johnny. It seemed that House was just as scared of what might happen between them as he was. He crossed the room and slid his hands around House's waist, crossing them over the other man's stomach and pressing a kiss into his neck. "Let me tell you something. This ain't no damn fantasy. This…thing, whatever it is…brother, it's real." He pressed further into House, starting a trail of kisses down his neck, ending at his shoulder. "Kind of wish you didn't know who I was. It'd make things a hell of a lot easier."
"We're freaks." House murmured, relaxing a little in Johnny's grasp. "You said it yourself."
Johnny let out a low chuckle. "All the more reason for us to stick together, right?"
"Maybe." House sounded doubtful, letting out a shaky sigh before turning to face Johnny. "Look…I don't do relationships. I'm probably going to find a way to fuck this up."
"I hear you." Johnny moved to take House's face in his hands. "I don't usually bother with relationships myself. I think you might just be that exception."
House's mouth quirked in a slight smile. "I guess you're kind of an exception, too."
"In more ways than one." Johnny cracked, leaning in to just touch his lips to House's.
The other man almost tentatively slid his arms around Johnny and drew him in, slowly deepening the kiss and sliding his tongue into Johnny's mouth.
Johnny took full advantage, allowing his tongue to tangle up with House's while moving his hands under the other man's shirt. House responded with uncharacteristic boldness, his rough hands sliding up his back first before moving forward, spreading out over Johnny's ribcage and moving up to his chest.
His thumbs suddenly brushed over Johnny's nipples, and Johnny let out a sharp involuntary gasp at the sensation. He arched toward the touch, pulling away from House's lips to look down at him. "Do that again, brother."
House smirked slightly, an almost teasing expression dancing in those bright blue eyes. "What, like…this?"
He lightly ran the pad of one thumb across a nipple, and Johnny hissed in response, followed by a low chuckle. "Yeah, man, just like that."
House seemed to be shaking slightly, and Johnny noticed that he seemed a little weak on his right side. He immediately took charge, pulling both of them toward the table that ran along one wall of the studio. The other man looked oddly relieved as Johnny guided him to sit on the table, even as he continued to explore Johnny's body.
Johnny had no intention of stopping him. His rough touch felt so good, and watching House as he moved to deftly unbutton Johnny's shirt only served to heighten his own desire. By the time he got it undone and started to slip it off Johnny's shoulders, he could feel his jeans growing almost uncomfortably tight.
He'd never actually gotten it on in a recording studio, though he had come damn close a couple of times. If House had no issue with the location, Johnny supposed he didn't either.
Johnny leaned in and kissed House hard, working the buttons of House's own shirt while House continued touching him all over. It took nearly everything he had not to shove House to that table and take him right there, but this time he was determined to go slow and easy. If House was at all undecided about coming back to New York after this, Johnny wanted to be damn sure he remembered every touch, every sound, every sensation.
House let out a low moan as Johnny peeled off House's shirt, pulling Johnny in until their groins touched, and Johnny could feel House's hardening flesh against his own.
Suddenly he felt hands tugging at his belt, loosening it and working at the button and zipper of his jeans. He placed his hands over House's, stilling him. "Slow down, brother. We got all night."
House growled, but moved his hands around to Johnny's lower back, just dipping his hands below the waistband of his jeans and boxers, pulling him in again while recapturing Johnny's mouth with his own.
Johnny shifted slightly and started to ease House to lie down on the table, breaking away from his mouth long enough to climb up to join him. He leaned down to resume his actions, and the two were nothing but a tangle of limbs and lips, hands roaming everywhere and anywhere they could reach.
In many ways, this was getting hotter than the fuck-and-run encounters Johnny had allowed himself to get used to over the years. There was a deeper intimacy happening here, the sense that he was acquiring knowledge about the other man's body that no one else had. If he was completely honest with himself, Johnny could keep this going all night.
He felt House push against him, and they were suddenly rolling over until Johnny was on his back. House made a slight grunting noise, probably hitting his leg on the way through. It didn't seem to slow him down, however, and House was soon lying against him, working his way down Johnny's neck and dragging his tongue along his collarbone before flicking it in the space between.
His hands kept moving over him, starting at his chest and slowly smoothing down to his waist, tugging at his jeans. House's newfound aggression was surprising, but thrilling at the same time. Johnny usually preferred to take control, but he was enjoying this, too.
He lifted his hips enough to allow House to pull down his jeans, and he moved to undo House's jeans as well, pulling them down to fully expose him. The feel of their cocks touching sent a jolt through Johnny, and he let out a rough groan, arching into House as the other man's mouth worked its way back up his throat, cutting off the sound with a hard kiss to his lips.
House shifted slightly, continuing his assault on Johnny's mouth while moving a hand downward, his long fingers curving around Johnny's hardened cock and stroking lightly.
He reached down to take House's in return, only to have it brushed away as House took both of them in his hand and started stroking faster. The multitude of sensations had Johnny's mind scattered in a million different directions, and he barely knew what to do with his hands as House brought him ever closer to the point of no return.
Before he knew it, he came forcefully, arching upward with a strangled cry, curving his fingers into House's back as House followed not far behind.
"Goddamn, brother." Johnny finally found his voice again, smoothing his hands over House's back. The other man was breathing heavily, his forehead resting on Johnny's shoulder.
"Yeah, I know." House murmured, sounding slightly embarrassed. "Don't know how all that happened."
"Hell, who cares?" Johnny answered. "Kind of like the way you took control. I don't let that happen too often."
House snorted derisively, still not looking up at Johnny. "It's not like I knew what I was doing."
"Oh, hell no." Johnny told him, moving a hand to caress the back of his neck. "You don't get to play that shy card no more. Not with moves like that."
House lifted his head, a slightly troubled expression on his rough face. "So…now what?"
Johnny shrugged. "We clean up, and you decide whether you want to stay here or go back to your hotel."
"That's not what I meant." House scowled, glancing away.
Johnny knew exactly what House meant, but he didn't have a good answer either. "I know I want to see you again. And again. And…probably again until we get sick of each other."
House smiled slightly. "That might take a while."
"I'm cool with that." Johnny answered with a short laugh. "Hell, I could even come down and see you. You know, if you're busy doing that doctoring thing."
House looked baffled. "You'd do that?"
"Sure." Johnny was as baffled as House looked. "Why wouldn't I?"
"I don't know…" House suddenly looked uncomfortable.
Johnny's heart sank a little. Maybe House didn't want anyone else knowing about this. "Hey, you know, if you need to keep this on the down low…"
"No, it's not that." House told him. "I don't give a damn about that. I just…you know, figured you wouldn't want to leave New York."
Johnny let out a short laugh, feeling oddly relieved. "Hell, there's more to life than this music thing. Took a long time to figure that out, but, well…there it is." He pulled House in a little closer. "Anytime you can't get away, call me. I'll come see you. Be kind of cool to see you on your home turf."
House appeared to debate with himself, finally nodding firmly. "Don't be surprised if I call you on that."
"I'll be surprised if you don't." Johnny pulled House down to him for a quick kiss. "So…you staying or going?"
"Guess I'll stay." House answered quietly. "As long as I make it back to the hotel for checkout, it'll be fine."
"Tell you what." Johnny suggested. "Next time you come up here, don't bother with a hotel. Just hang here. It'll be easier."
"I'll think about it." House scowled again. "Now, about this clean up thing…"
"Got you covered." Johnny slid out from under House and pulled up his jeans enough to find a towel, one that he would normally use to wipe down his guitars.
They soon cleaned up and dressed, heading back up to Johnny's apartment. House paced around, seeming unsettled.
"If you've changed your mind, it's cool, man." Johnny told him as he watched House pace around like a caged tiger.
"Haven't changed my mind." House answered tersely. "Just don't know what the hell I'm supposed to be doing here."
"Well, I can't speak for you, but I'm beat." Johnny told him. "I'm just going to crash. Join me when you're ready."
Johnny left House in the living room and made his way to the bedroom, climbing into bed and attempting to relax. He hoped leaving things open with House would allow the other man to relax, too.
He was just drifting off when he thought he heard the sounds of a piano. That couldn't be. The only person he knew who played the thing was the guy he was renting the place from, and he was out on tour.
Johnny pushed himself out of bed and followed the sound. Finally he found the source. House was bent over the keys, playing a moody classical piece.
Johnny could hardly believe his ears. House was even better on the piano than he was on the guitar. Johnny had taken lessons himself, years ago, but had long since given the piano up for his true love, the guitar.
He waited until House finished playing before daring to enter the room. "And here I thought your guitar playing was killer."
House lifted his head, his eyes going slightly wide. "Figured you were asleep."
"Not quite. Mind if I sit?"
"It's your place. Sit anywhere you want."
Johnny took a seat on the bench next to House, listening as he moved into a more recognizable piece. "You know, I could use a little piano on that album I'm working on, too."
House threw him a sharp look. "More flattery?"
"Nope. Dead serious." Johnny nudged House. "Gives you another reason to come back and see me."
House snorted. "Like I needed another reason."
"Good to know."
House played the remainder of his song before glancing over at Johnny. "Go on back to bed. I'll be along in a while."
"You sure?"
House nodded. "Just need to unwind a little. Been kind of a crazy weekend."
Johnny let out a low chuckle, lightly rubbing a hand across the back of House's shoulders before rising from the bench. "Sure has, brother. Glad to have you along for the ride."
House smiled slightly before diving into another piece, and Johnny left him to his own devices. He allowed House's piano playing to lull him to sleep, half wondering if the man was playing quietly on his account. Most likely not, but it was a nice thought.
He awakened briefly when he felt the mattress dip, smiling slightly to himself when he heard House sigh heavily before wrapping an arm around him, his nose rubbing slightly against the back of his neck. Johnny almost called him on it, but decided against it. It would serve no useful purpose. Far better to simply relax and enjoy this little pocket of comfort while he had it. There was no telling when he would get it again.
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