The Drum Major’s Passion Read online

So much for not touching him.

  “You don’t get to ignore me,” the jock snarled. “I told you yesterday that I didn’t wanna see you around here no more.”

  Will so wanted to correct the jock’s speech patterns, but he figured that would just make it worse. “I’m part of the track team,” he stated, keeping his voice as level as possible. “I have permission to use the track.”

  In fact, as long as no actual coach-led training was going on, anyone could use the track whenever they wanted.

  “I don’t give a shit,” the jock replied belligerently. “I say your fag ass don’t come ‘round here no more, so you do as I say.” Then he released Will and cracked his knuckles. “Or else.”

  The two guys flanking the asshole chuckled cruelly.

  Will barely resisted rolling his eyes. It seemed he would have to report these guys to his coach after all. He’d been hoping to avoid dragging administration into it, but the college did have a zero-bullying policy in place, so he might as well take advantage of it.

  Huh. Wonder if it’ll work.

  Just as Will opened his mouth to warn the jock one last time, a deep voice caught everyone’s attention.

  “Leave him alone, Aaron,” the interloper ordered, a low growl filling his tone.

  The sexy voice went straight to Will’s groin, causing his blood to heat.

  Well, damn!

  “You sidin’ with this homo, Drew?” one of the other jocks asked, clearly surprised. “What the hell, man?”

  The man—Drew—crossed his arms over his massive torso, accentuating his bulging biceps. “I’m not siding with anyone but the right to work out in peace, Kyle,” Drew stated, frowning as he glanced between the trio. The man had an inch or more on the others, depending on the jock. “This guy isn’t doin’ anything but training. That’s his right. How’d you like it if some asshole came into the weight room and ordered you to leave while you were pumping iron?”

  The ringleader—Aaron—snorted as he leveled a narrow-eyed glare at Drew. “No one would do that, since I ain’t a disgusting homo faggot.”

  Drew rolled his eyes. “Maybe they would decide to do it because you’re a bully who needs a taste of his own medicine.” Before Aaron could respond, Drew held up his phone. “Besides, if you don’t stop harassing Will, I’ll give this video to coach. You wanna get benched a coupla games?”

  Aaron scoffed, but the other guys exchanged uneasy glances. “Coach wouldn’t bench me.”

  “Zero tolerance, remember?” Drew stated, revealing he was aware of the policy, too. “Even if he didn’t want to, he’d have to.” Rolling one boulder of a shoulder in a half-shrug, Drew smirked. “But he’d want to. Coach Harrison never let you pick on Jake. Why would he let you bully some other gay dude?”

  “You bein’ tainted by your fag roommate, Drew?” Aaron taunted, stalking toward him. “You a butt-muncher now? Are ya bonin’ that loser cuz ya can’t get no pussy?”

  Narrowing his dark eyes, Drew shook his head. “God, do you even listen to yourself? Why are you thinkin’ of me and Jake’s sex lives?” Then his expression turned sad as he shook his head. “I’m really sorry, Aaron. Even though me and Jake ain’t bangin, I can’t really put in a good word for ya with my roommate. You’re just not Jake’s type.”

  To Will’s amusement, Aaron’s pale face flushed red as he took a step backward as if struck. “I don’t want anythin’ to do with that homo. I’m so fuckin’ glad he’s off the team.” His voice lowered as he grumbled, “Fags shouldn’t play ball.”

  “He was a better runningback than Tom, here,” Drew claimed, flicking his hand toward the shorter of the black men who’d been flanking Aaron. “No offense, man.”

  Tom shrugged. “None taken.”

  Aaron scowled at Tom. “How can you say that?” he barked. “Of course, you’re better than that homo.”

  Wincing for an instant, Tom muttered, “Jake was good, A. I know you don’t want to admit that, but it’s true.” He shook his head. “If he hadn’t quit, I wouldn’t be seein’ nearly as much game time as I am now.”

  “Come on, A,” the final guy encouraged. “This ain’t worth it, and I got shit to do.”

  Will watched Aaron mentally debate with himself—emotions flitting across his features. It was obvious the jock didn’t understand how he’d lost the support of his buddies.

  “Whatever,” Aaron snarled. After casting a disgusted look at Drew, he glanced over his shoulder at Will. “Watch your back, faggot, and stay off my track.”

  Drew stood nearby, waiting and watching with Will as the trio disappeared into the night.

  Clearing his throat, Drew rubbed the back of his neck as he turned his focus on Will. “Um, you should probably report Aaron,” he muttered. “I’m not sure he’s gonna let this drop, and he’ll probably try something underhanded next time.” With a shake of his head, Drew added, “He’s a dick like that.”

  Will nodded. “If I need that video, can I get it from you?” Closing the distance between them, he held out his hand. “Drew, is it? I assume you’re on the football team, too?”

  Drew hesitated just an instant as he nodded before taking his hand.

  At first, Will thought it was because Drew wasn’t certain about touching a gay guy. Then he recalled how he was the roommate of one, and they had sounded as if they had a good rapport. Except, when Drew’s huge, calloused palm slid into Will’s own and he saw the way the much larger man sucked in a harsh breath as his nostrils flared, the truth hit Will.

  He’s attracted to me, too. This man is gay? Or at least bi?

  Will squeezed lightly while stepping even closer. When Drew didn’t pull away or attempt to free his hand, Will offered him a shy smile and peered at him from beneath his lashes. It was a little difficult through his glasses, but Will had learned how to make it work.

  “I appreciate the warning, too,” Will murmured, making his tone a little husky. He didn’t miss the way Drew’s eyes dilated and how his breathing hitched. “That was a nice thing you did.”

  “I-I was, um—” Drew paused and cleared his throat. After his tongue flicked out, wetting his lower lip, he gruffly mumbled, “H-Happy to help.”

  With the way Drew was staring at him, Will felt his blood flow south. He couldn’t remember the last time a guy had looked at him with so much appreciation. While Will had never been one to admire jocks—he knew that could be a recipe for getting his ass kicked—he couldn’t help but admire Drew’s big, broad, thickly muscled frame.

  He’s gotta be a lineman or something.

  “I’d like to thank you properly,” Will told Drew, easing even more into the much larger man’s personal space. “Can I?”

  Drew stared down their several inches in height difference for a few seconds. While a look of uncertainty filled his features, there was desire there, too. “Uh, sure?” he whispered.

  Taking a chance, Will rested his free hand on Drew’s chest. He felt the man’s massive torso twitch under his touch, but Drew didn’t move away. Will leaned into the man and lifted onto his toes, allowing him to bring their faces closer together.

  When Drew still didn’t move away from him, Will felt his own blood speed up in his veins. Anticipation filled him. After another second of hesitation, Will pressed his lips to Drew’s.

  Drew reacted instantly, and Will almost reared back, thinking he’d made a horrible miscalculation. Except, he couldn’t move... because Drew had wrapped his free arm around Will’s waist. In the same instant, he yanked his other hand free of Will’s and sank it into Will’s hair.

  With a tug at Will’s hair and a nip on his lower lip, Drew forced his head to the side and his mouth to part. The big jock thrust in his tongue, delving into Will. He plundered and conquered, controlling the kiss while mapping his cavity.

  Will gripped Drew’s shirt, hanging on for the ride—and what a ride it was.

  By the time Drew broke the kiss, Will’s lips tingled, his lungs burned, and his blood pounded in his veins. It
took every bit of self-control he possessed to keep from rubbing his aching erection against Drew’s thick thigh. Panting, he forced his eyelids open and stared up at the guy who’d just given him the best kiss of his life.

  Drew’s lips gleamed in the lights illuminating the track. His eyes were wide, and his cheeks were flushed. The big body pressed against Will’s own shuddered against him.

  Then Will took in Drew’s expression—a look that could only be called shell-shocked.

  “Drew?” Will murmured, hoping to snap the man out of it.

  Will watched Drew blink once, twice, and relief began to fill him.

  Except, then Drew focused on Will and gasped. “Oh, shit,” he hissed as he jumped away from him.

  Stumbling from the sudden loss of Drew’s body for support, by the time Will caught his balance, Drew was gone. Sighing, he shook his head. That certainly hadn’t turned out as he’d hoped.

  “What did I really expect?” Will muttered as he turned toward a different exit to the track, one that would leave him closer to his dorm.

  There was no way he would be able to keep running with the boner he sported.

  Instead, Will returned to his dorm and—

  “Will can stay.” Pete’s voice yanked Will out of his memory. “There’s a note in there about him being allowed to know my medical history.”

  “Glad to hear it,” Drew replied, flashing a wide grin. “Then let’s get started.”

  Will did his best to focus on the situation—helping the young man he worked with through the Big Brother program get the physical therapy he needed.

  Chapter Three

  “You’ll never guess who came into my office today.” Drew couldn’t keep the smile off his face or the eagerness from his voice.

  His buddy, Jake Gateman—formerly Jake Lewis—arched one brow as he relaxed against his husband’s side on the sofa. “Why don’t you tell me who walked into your office today,” he stated with a smirk. Then he sobered. “Unless it’d break patient confidentiality or something.”

  Jake’s husband, Devon, chuckled as he squeezed his arm tighter around his man’s shoulders. “If that was the case, surely Drew wouldn’t have brought it up.”

  “Oh, right.” Jake nodded, beaming at his husband. “That makes sense.” Then they leaned close and shared a short kiss.

  Drew stared off to the left as he took a swig of his beer. His stomach was happily full of delicious steak that Jake had grilled earlier. Even then, he leaned forward and snagged a tortilla chip, swiped it through the bowl full of guacamole, and popped it into his mouth.

  Fortunately, by the time he’d chewed and swallowed, his friends had finished their brief, sickenly sweet lip-lock.

  Jake offered him a wry smile. “Um, so you were saying?”

  With a grin of his own, Drew announced, “Will Hanson.”

  Devon’s brows drew together, betraying his confusion. Even Jake appeared uncertain. Cocking his head, his buddy’s expression turned a little vacant.

  “I know that name,” Jake murmured softly. A few seconds later, his eyes widened, and he snapped his attention back to Drew. “Will Hanson as in the best kiss of your life Will Hanson?”

  Drew felt his cheeks heat, but he nodded anyway.

  “Holy shit!” Jake cried. “It’s been... what? Five years since you’ve seen him? Six?”

  “Closer to seven,” Drew admitted.

  “Since when does Drew kiss?” Devon asked absently, continuing to express his confusion.

  Chuckling, Drew rolled his eyes. He understood where Devon’s question was coming from. Even though there was an age gap between Jake and Devon—Devon was over a decade Jake’s senior—the man had taken Jake to a few clubs, just to see if it was something Jake would enjoy.

  It hadn’t been.

  Still, Drew and a few others in their circle of friends had joined them, and it was well-known that Drew didn’t kiss pick-ups. He’d had a few prospective one-night stands walk away from him because of it. Remembering there were always more fish in the sea, he’d never minded.

  “Come on, dude,” Carmen piped up from his position on another sofa. Devon’s younger brother had his arm slung around his partner’s shoulders—Tyler—and played with the man’s hair. “Answer the question. You don’t kiss.”

  Jake waved his hand, getting everyone’s attention as he swallowed the sip of red wine he’d taken after his outburst. “Why do you think Drew doesn’t kiss?” he stated, snickering. “No one could compare to Will’s liplock, so he stopped trying.” With a wink, Jake finished, “It rocked his world, knocked his socks off, and shut his mind down so badly he didn’t remember running back to his dorm in a haze of panicked pleasure.”

  Drew glared at Jake, growling under his breath. “Asshole. That was supposed to be in the best friend secrecy vault.” His cheeks felt on fire as he recalled how he’d returned to his dorm in a panic after kissing Will that fateful night. “But, yeah. He sorta ruined me for anyone else.”

  After admitting that, Drew swigged down the rest of his brew.

  “Oh, wow,” Tyler murmured, leaning forward. “So, what happened after that?” When Drew just looked at him vacantly, the flamboyant man flapped his hand. “You know, after you settled down in the dorm? Did you see him again?” Waggling his brows, Tyler asked, “Enjoy some sweaty nights of hot sex? How’d you break up?”

  “Uhhhh.” Drew grimaced, feeling self-conscious. Still, these were his friends. Rubbing the back of his neck, Drew admitted, “I stayed away from him. I was still playing football, and I worried... um—” Drew sighed and grimaced at the ceiling.

  To Drew’s relief, Jake picked up his tale. “Drew wasn’t ready to come out of the closet, and Will was a year ahead of him,” he explained to their friends. “By the time Drew was ready to start experimenting at the end of his fourth year, Will had graduated and gone who knows where.”

  “I suppose I could have tracked him down,” Drew admitted. “But what the hell would I say?” Taking the fresh beer from Lester—a guy he and Jake had befriended in college when they’d spotted him being bullied—Drew muttered his thanks. Popping off the cap, Drew sarcastically answered his own question, “Hey, remember me? I’m the guy who ran away after we kissed that one time almost two years ago. I’m ready now. How about a date?”

  Devon chuckled softly as he shook his head. “Well, I wouldn’t use those exact words, but maybe some variation?”

  Sitting on the far end of the sofa from Jake and Devon, Rory—another friend from college—asked speculatively, “Did Will remember you?”

  Drew immediately began to nod. Then he paused a second before nodding once more. “Yeah.” He rubbed a hand over his cheeks, trying to get the circulation to remove his blush. “It took him a minute, but yeah, he remembered me.”

  “And is he single?” Rory continued.

  “Uhhhhhh—” Drew snapped his mouth shut, then admitted, “I don’t know.”

  Sighing, Jake asked, “Did you at least get his phone number?” Then he frowned. “If he’s not a client, what was he doing there?” Then Jake groaned. “Please don’t tell me he was escorting his husband.”

  Drew swiftly shook his head. “No. No, of course not. You all know I’d never poach.”

  His buddies had all had experiences with cheating exes—except for Jake and Devon, but since Devon’s mother had been a cheating whore that had ended up leaving his father with the raising of five boys, it amounted to the same thing.

  Scoffing, Carmen assured, “We know, man. Relax.” He flashed an encouraging smile Drew’s way. “So, the phone number?”

  Nodding, Drew told them, “Yeah, I got his number.” Clearing his throat, he admitted, “I might have swiped it from the file of the young man he’d been escorting.” When he saw Devon frown at him—the older man owned a chiropractic practice and probably figured it was a breach of etiquette, but Drew didn’t care. “Come on, Dev. This is my chance. Besides, I’d already asked him to meet up for coffee to catch up
, and he’d said yes.”

  Wait. Did he say yes?

  Drew couldn’t remember, but he didn’t care, either.

  Devon snorted and smirked.

  Awesome. I’m forgiven.

  “So, back to the is he single question,” Rory reminded.

  “Uhhhh...” Drew didn’t know how to answer that. Just thinking that Will was already in a relationship caused his gut to churn. Finally, he had to admit, “I don’t know.” When his friends exchanged concerned glances, Drew rolled his eyes. “Come on. Not like I could ask him on a date in front of the client he was with.”

  “Yeah, totally,” Jake stated, jumping to his defense. “Of course not. So we gotta find out.” Leaning forward, he grabbed the wine bottle off the coffee table and refilled his stemware.

  “How are we gonna do that?” Lester asked doubtfully.

  “How about a picture?” Jake asked, offering the bottle to Rory, who took it and topped off his own glass before setting aside the bottle. “Did you manage to snag a pic of him to show us?”

  Drew felt his face heat as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Yeah,” he muttered before taking a swig of his beer in the hopes of his cheeks cooling down.

  Gods, this is so embarrassing. This is why I don’t date. Too fucking hard.

  “Oh, let’s see him,” Tyler urged, making a beckoning motion with one upturned hand.

  Heaving a deep sigh, Drew knew he couldn’t get out of it. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and woke the device. After a few taps on his phone, Will’s lean frame filled the screen.

  Drew had snapped the picture when Will had stopped at Jillian’s desk to schedule Pete’s appointment. The shot had a perfect view of his profile. His lean frame, encased in nice jeans and a polo shirt, were almost silhouetted by the black, thigh-length winter coat he had draped over his far arm.

  Gorgeous.

  “Oh, damn. Look at that smile,” Rory teased, chuckling. “Still smitten with the one that got away.”

  Glaring, Drew grumbled, “Why do I call you my friend?” He passed his phone to Tyler.