Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 3

had been modeling nude at the art college Daren attended. Daren had walked into his live drawing class and been struck dumb by the model's beauty. They'd fallen in lust that afternoon and spent the next six months fucking each other stupid. And then Stone met Taylor and the musical muse took over. Stone's crush on Daren faded in the face of the opportunity of a lifetime. Stone and Taylor began making music together and Daren lost his lover.
    Tugging himself out of the past, Daren's gaze flicked to Stone Bradley. Six feet two inches of lean, golden skinned muscle topped with long silky blond hair and eyes the color of aquamarines set in the face of Michaelangelo's David. Stone was a work of art without ever opening his mouth, but when you added that soaring voice to the mix, the man became sex on a stick and irresistible to most people. However, Daren had already been infected and was now immune to Stone's lure. What Daren wasn't immune to was his best friend.
    In the most ironic twist of his twenty-eight years, Daren had developed an epic crush on Taylor Sutton. It had started with the man's music. Daren had always been in love with that. But gradually, over the years, he'd begun to lust over the impossible, his straighter than straight best friend.
    For a moment, Daren let Taylor's playing wash over him. His eyes closed as his soul absorbed every note, hungry for any part of Taylor, but most especially his music. As the show progressed, Daren's cock swelled until it pressed painfully against the zipper of his black jeans. How he longed to have Taylor's hands on it, the rough calloused fingertips stroking reverently. How he dreamed of having Taylor's mouth on it, silky with saliva, full lips parting to take him in…
    Jerked from his reverie by the loud crashing encore that had the entire crowd on its feet, screaming the lyrics back at the band, Daren glanced over at Wes. Resignation had settled on his date's pretty face. With one last longing glance at Taylor, his dark hair streaming down, hiding his brilliant amber gaze, Daren rose to his feet. He knew from experience that he'd never get close to Taylor after the show. Women stood four and five deep around him usually. And while Wes might want to meet Stone, Daren didn't feel like introducing his current fuck buddy to his former boyfriend.
    He dragged Wes from the club, threading through the crowds to the door and then into the parking lot. On the drive back to Daren's place where Wes had left his car, they chatted amiably about people they knew. Finally, as they turned down Daren's street, Wes asked the question Daren had been expecting all night.
    "So why did you drag me to that club if you weren't going to hang out and meet the band afterward? Didn't you want to meet the hottie with the microphone?" Wes waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
    Daren snorted. "I've already met him. He's my ex-boyfriend."
    Wes's eyes widened in shock. "Seriously? Darling, why didn't you say!"
    Daren shrugged. "It was over a long time ago. I introduced him to the guitarist. You've heard me talk about my friend Taylor before. The guitarist is Taylor."
    "No shit!" Wes stared at Daren, admiration gleaming in his pale eyes. "So that's the famous Taylor. Why did you keep this to yourself? I wouldn't have been such a bitch about going if you'd given me the deets, love."
    "I don't know why I didn't say." And he didn't. For some reason, Daren hadn't felt like telling Wes that he knew the guys in Stone Sutton. He pulled into his driveway and they got out.
    Wes stared at him with wise eyes. "Do you want me to come in? I won't be offended if you don't want me to."
    "Why wouldn't I want you to come in?" Daren asked puzzled by Wes's suddenly sympathetic expression.
    "Because you're in love with that guitar player."
    Wes's soft words were laced with pity. Daren heard it plainly and his gut clenched. He tilted his chin up. "Doesn't matter. I've been in love with him for years, Wes. I was in love with him the last time I invited you in. Nothing's changed. C'mon in, it's starting to rain."
    Big drops of water spattered them as Daren spoke and with a nod, Wes followed him into the house. Standing in the foyer, they divested themselves of their jackets and then Daren took Wes in his arms. The smaller man melted against him as he usually did, but their kiss lacked heat and Daren knew in his heart that he could never again be with Wes sexually. That look of pity in his eyes had clinched it for Daren. He