Introduction
Koda needs a stubborn man. A man to teach him how to let someone love him. Felix has just what he needs.
Koda has a silent fame. While everyone knows his songs, no one knows his name. He has worked on backup vocals for the biggest names in music and on countless albums over the years. Koda is doing what he loves. His life is perfect… except it isn’t. His fierce independence has become a wall, separating him from any chance at finding love. He needs help if he hopes to learn how to let people in. Luckily, he knows just who can help.
Since Felix leveled his life over a year ago, nothing has been the same. Artists are severing their contracts with him, leaving him with way too much time on his hands. Felix never would have dreamed his private life would affect his work as a record producer this much. The only light in his day is Koda. Despite losing his sight at a young age, Koda has let nothing stop him. He’s upbeat, successful, and he’s driving Felix insane with longing.
When Koda asks Felix for a crazy favor, Felix sees his chance to finally have the man in his bed. Unfortunately, no one warned Felix he wouldn’t want to leave… or that they’ve both been blind in more ways than one.
One
The noise of the usual Saturday afternoon Bastien family get-together made Koda’s ears throb. As much as he adored his huge family, they were some loud fuckers. It was a good thing he had bought his parents a house on ten acres a few years back. Otherwise, they would still get noise complaints every weekend from all their neighbors. They weren’t known for their discipline.
Water splashed behind him where the kids and kid-like adults kept cannon-balling into the pool. A radio played in the distance, blasting eighties and nineties hair bands. Countless conversations buzzed around Koda, nearly sending him into overload. Most days, the ongoing busyness didn’t faze him. Today, he felt like his brain itched. Koda wanted to get away. If only for a few hours, he craved silence.
“It’s the usual fare. Hot dogs. Hamburgers. You know the drill. Would you like me to fix you a plate?”
Koda turned toward the sound of Zayn’s voice at his question. Even though Koda had lost his sight at ten, he had been friends with Zayn’s family since Koda was six. He recalled Zayn being in his late teens back when Koda could still see. Zayn had constantly tossed Koda in their old above-ground pool and chased him around the backyard. Back then, Zayn had been average height and scrawny. According to his mother, Zayn looked a lot different nowadays. In fact, she had been trying to convince Koda to go after the guy by bragging about Zayn’s huge muscles, tattoos, and baby face. Koda wasn’t interested in sharing his life with anyone. If he was, he might choose Zayn. Zayn was genuinely nice.
“No. Thank you. I was just standing here contemplating walking into traffic to make the noise stop.”
A gorgeous and soft laugh caressed Koda’s ears. “You should definitely let me fix you a hamburger instead. It would kill your mom if anything happened to you.”
Koda knew that. He had amazing parents. “I guess I should eat something, then, since I doubt they’ll let me leave.”
A moment of silence passed. Koda could still feel Zayn standing there. “We could leave together. Our moms would love that, and we’d be free to find something quieter to do.”
Zayn had his attention.
“Such as?”
“Honestly? I’d kind of like to just have you to myself.”
Koda admired Zayn’s bravery, and he was bored enough to bite. “To your place, it is. You should let our moms know we’re going.”
“On it.”
As Koda waited for Zayn to return, he knew he was making a mistake. Like him, Zayn was here every Saturday. If they crossed any lines, they would be forced to pretend nothing happened for the rest of their lives. Not to mention, Koda really wasn’t interested in Zayn. Zayn was great. The guy had a lot going for him. Anyone would be glad to have him. He had gotten rich by creating a crypto currency company way before it was cool. Now he spent most of his time on his body. He was a genuinely nice guy. On paper, Zayn seemed like the total package. But Koda was Koda. He didn’t want to be tied down. Nothing good came from love. Someone always got hurt. That wasn’t something Koda wanted to bother with.
“Are you ready?”
All the good sense reasons he had just considered disappeared at the sound of Zayn’s soothing voice. “Yep. Let’s go.” He was an idiot.
Working on Saturdays had been part of Felix’s routine since two years into his marriage. Now that he was divorced and creeping toward forty, Felix could be honest with himself. He had created busy work for himself on Saturdays to avoid problems at home. Felix had been unhappy years before his ex-wife cheated, and then he had too.
In the past, unless there was a huge problem with a track, Felix had spent his Saturdays alone inside the recording studio. Here lately, he had developed a bad habit. He kept calling Koda in to help. Koda Bastien was the most popular backup singer used in today’s hottest music. He had a voice to die for, but no desire to create his own music. Even though Koda wasn’t tied to any particular studio or brand, most of his work was done right here. None of that had anything to do with why Felix couldn’t stop begging Koda to join him on the weekends. Koda made Felix feel less alone. That was his only excuse for texting Koda again today.
Felix: Are you interested in getting some work done with me today?
The moment Felix hit send, the regret set in. It wasn’t fair for Felix to constantly impose on Koda’s life. He knew Koda spent Saturdays with his family. They were close and loved spending time together. Felix usually waited until closer to dark to increase the likelihood Koda would accept. Today, he was oddly desperate for company.
Koda: I’m on my day.
A laugh burst from Felix as he read Koda’s text.
Felix: I have no idea what being on your day means. Does that mean don’t bug you on your day off?
Koda: Fucking speech to text hates me sometimes. I am on my way.
For reasons Felix didn’t want to look at too closely, he couldn’t stop smiling at his phone. Koda always made him feel better. The ten minutes it took Koda to arrive felt like forever, even though he expected it would take much longer.
“Damn. You got here quick.”
Koda flashed Felix a bright smile as he pushed through the front door of Felix’s studio, Sommerland Music Group. He immediately shifted his sight cane to his left hand to keep it from getting crushed by the closing door. “A friend of mine was taking me home when you texted me. It didn’t take long to change directions.”
Felix’s smile fell. “Am I ruining plans?”
Koda pulled a face that had Felix’s gaze dropping to the man’s full lips. Koda was really beautiful. “Actually, you saved me from myself. I was about to ruin a lifelong friendship by letting him fuck me.” As Koda laughed at the confession, Felix’s stomach twisted into knots. He fought hard to keep the unexpected jealousy from his voice.