Free Beyond The Music (The Rock Gods Book 7) by Ann Lister Page A

fall.”
    Lincoln’s grin was mischievous. He snorted first, then full-on started laughing. “You’re an asshole, you know that?” Lincoln teased.
    “I’ve been called worse,” Aaron replied. “And something tells me you’ll be calling me a lot worse before you’re released from my care.”
    “What the hell do you mean by, ‘released from your care’?” Lincoln interjected. “Are you saying you’re the one who decides if I’m ready to be set free to wreak havoc on society?”
    “Something like that,” Aaron said then stood up from the table and carried their dishes over to the sink. “What would you normally be doing at this time of the night?”
    “It’s not even eight o’clock.” Lincoln gave Aaron another one of his famous eye-rolls, then his gaze dropped to Aaron’s tight ass as he stood in front of the sink. “You make it sound like it’s time for bed, for fuck’s sake. Do you want to tuck me in already?”
    Aaron spun around quickly and Lincoln did his best to lift his eyes before he was caught ogling his damn nurse. He wasn’t all that certain he’d been successful, but Aaron didn’t say anything. Aaron took it in stride and finished clearing their dishes from the table.
    When Spumoni mentioned a live-in nurse, Lincoln was visualizing Nurse Helga from Siberia who looked more like a man and was able to easily bench press Lincoln. Lincoln certainly didn’t expect to have someone as hot as Aaron takeover his home and get into his personal space like he was always meant to be there.
    Where the fuck did that thought come from?
    “I thought maybe you hung out with the guys in your band,” Aaron said.
    Lincoln shrugged. “Sometimes we hang,” he answered. “Not lately, though, for a variety of reasons.”
    “Would one of those reasons be your illness?”
    “Yeah, but mainly everyone is busy with their own lives.” Lincoln was thoughtful before he continued. “Dante and Ashton are nesting and fucking like bunnies and Dagger and Ryan are in their own little bubble, too. That leaves me, the token single dude in the group.”
    Aaron turned his hip against the countertop and faced Lincoln. “You haven’t told them about the MS, have you?”
    Lincoln shifted in his chair and pulled his fingers through his long hair. “Fuck no.”
    “Can I ask why?” Aaron asked as he wiped his hands off on a dishtowel.
    Lincoln spread his fingers out on the smooth tabletop and contemplated his answer. “Because I’d like to keep my job.”
    “Do you really think Dagger would kick you out of the band because you have MS?” Aaron’s head tipped in question.
    Lincoln sighed loudly. “I don’t think he’d fire me for that, but I know he’d make concessions to our band schedule . . . whether it be practices, recording, or performing to make it easier for me. I’d quit before I let that happen. I won’t be the reason the musical dynamic of Black Ice changes. I love them too much to allow that because of me being less of what I once was.”
    “That’s bullshit,” Aaron commented. He crossed his arms over his solid chest and glared at Lincoln sitting at the table. “Having MS doesn’t make you less of anything. In fact, it doesn’t change much about you at all.”
    “Yeah, yeah, what-fucking-ever,” Lincoln grumbled. “Your pep talks are lame.”
    “That wasn’t meant as a pep talk,” Aaron said.
    Lincoln slowly stood up from the table, steadied himself, then met Aaron’s gaze. “Are we done here?” he asked. “If so, I think I’ll shower and go to bed.”
    “I thought you didn’t go to bed this early?” Aaron grinned but the levity was lost on Lincoln.
    “You can do whatever the fuck you want, but I’m done,” Lincoln said. He started to leave the kitchen then looked at Aaron over his shoulder. “I have three guest rooms upstairs. Pick one that works for you.”
    Lincoln took half a dozen steps then stopped when he heard Aaron’s voice talking to him.“Do you play video