It was dark in the VIP section of The Iron Club. The Dark Angels had just finished playing the venue attached to the club and were now enjoying the after concert party that some of their sponsors put on.

It had to be one o'clock in the damned morning. Dusty would rather have been asleep in his hotel room or at least on his laptop, but The Dark Angel's manager had warned him about cutting out too early. He had to make do with his iPod and cell for entertainment.

Sighing, he thought about his life. Here he was, living the dream, but he couldn't seem to appreciate it. Dusty knew he was blessed, living a charmed life some might say. He was the drummer for The Dark Angels. Fuck, Angel Luv had been his best friend since grade school. He and Angel had gotten everything they have ever dreamed of while growing up on the unlucky side of poor. They had fortune, fame, and chicks.

Well, Angel had more dudes than chicks. Though now it was just one guy in particular for Angel-- their guitar player. Dusty would never admit out loud but Darius Stone and Angel made a nice couple. He was still adjusting to the fact that Angel wasn't always available to hang out and he was trying to learn how not to be a third wheel. Hell, fifth wheel now their keyboard player, Robin, and bass player, Josh, finally got their heads out of their asses.

Looking out onto the dance floor he smiled as he saw the two youngest members of the band. They were dancing. If it could actually be called that; it looked more like they were practicing the Kama Sutra with their clothing on. Robin had really come out of his shell since the two of them had their commitment ceremony. Or maybe it was the whole collaring thing? Dusty wasn't sure, but he was happy for them.

He grinned at them as they waved to him. Dusty looked around but he didn't see Darius or Angel anywhere, which meant they were someplace doing something they shouldn't be doing at the party. He thought momentarily of ratting them out to Megan, the band's manager, but she looked like she was enjoying the attentions of one of the sponsor's sons.

Dusty felt the usual stab of loneliness he got at these shindigs. It was true he loved each and every one of the idiots that made up The Dark Angels, and he knew they returned the emotion. He was happy that they each found love, he really was, but that didn't stop him from aching for something he would probably never find.

It was his fault he was sitting alone at this party. He had effectively chased all the well-wishing fans that made it into the VIP section away. Not that Dusty claimed to be a philosopher, but he always found being alone had less to do with the proximity of other people and more to do with not having what you want. Damn, no more beer for him!

Though if he were honest with himself, he couldn't find what he refused to look for... Hell, he wasn't even sure what he was trying to find. At times, when his guard was down, he thought Angel might be right. Even though he had only had sex with women, he might be gay.

But with a mother who was growing more religious with each Sunday that passed, he knew that exploring that side of himself could bring nothing but trouble. He ignored it as he had done for years. He sighed as he felt that heavy thought weigh him down. Maybe he really was demisexual.

Dusty smiled to himself as he remembered trying to explain the Sexuality Fluidity Project's concept of demisexual to Angel. His best friend couldn't wrap his mind around someone needing have a strong emotional connection with someone before they could experience sexual attraction. Dusty finally resorted to threatening him with telling Darius that he was getting hard-ons over every cute guy he saw. Though Angel denied it, he dropped it.

Thinking about it, what was Dusty looking for in a potential mate? Hmmm, let's ignore the gender-neutral title. He wanted someone smart, kind and funny. He wanted to have wonderful sex with his best friend. Not Angel! Dusty wanted a new best friend, one that he could spend the rest of his life loving. He believed in love at first sight, and he just knew if he found the person that was meant for him he would know it. He just hoped like hell that person was a woman.

Lamenting, Dusty looked around the shadowy club. It was crowded and noisy. He hated being in a room full of people, all telling him how great he was, but having no clue. Dusty found himself doing what he always did, smile and overcompensate.

Tonight, he had allowed himself a couple more beers then usual and was feeling no pain. It was too late to realize he probably should have listened to the band's doting manager and eaten something so he was less buzzed. But fuck it! They were celebrating after all! Their second album had out sold their first. The Dark Angel's second US tour was so successful they were told today they were going on an international tour. Actually, in a few hours they were due on a plane, but they had interviews in California before they left for overseas.

Instead of rejoicing he was feeling dejected. It was rather pathetic. Dusty had everything most people wanted. Why couldn't he be happy?

In truth, he never got into the whole groupie scene. More evidence that I'm demisexual. Hell, he wasn't even sure when the last time he had a bed partner was. It was at least a couple of years, maybe longer. Even then it had only been a one-night thing.

Angel blamed Karen, his high school girlfriend, for making him gun shy. She was probably one of the reasons why he shied away from that kind of intimacy. Once burned, Dusty learned never to trust another female like that again.

The psycho-bitch had nearly ruined his life with her lies of a pregnancy that didn't exist. He had almost dropped out of school to marry her. Luckily, Angel had saved his ass with reality and the truth.

His phone buzzed, so he picked it up and it chimed immediately again. Two texts - must be his brothers. Looking at the screen confirmed it was the troublesome twosome.

'Jordan is sexting' His middle brother Zack claimed through the message.

'AM NOT!

Jordan's retort made Dusty laugh. Of course, the sixteen-year-old was sextexting; the kid had his mind on his zipper twenty-four-seven. Dusty lectured, he warned, and he threatened. He didn't know what else to do. Inhaling deeply he knew it was time to play big brother.

'Sextexting is dangerous. Do you even know who it is?

As expected two texts came immediately: 'No!' and 'YES!'

'Stop! Serious!' Dusty had given the kid so many speeches but he knew Jordan's hormones weren't allowing him to hear the warnings. He was really afraid the kid was going to get himself into a bad situation.

'I do know him.' Jordan whined through his text.

Within seconds, Zack added his two cents, 'F-booking doesn't not count as knowing some 1!'

'Should I take ur phone, Jordy?' Dusty asked. He had gotten his little brothers the latest and greatest phone technology for the holidays so they could always be in touch with him. But it had been with the understanding they weren't to do dumb shit like this.

'No. Stopped. Ok?' Jordan wrote.

'He stopped. Thanks.' Zack verified.

'Behave. Don't want u hurt.' Dusty typed. Good Lord, he didn't quite know what to do with them. Their mom did the best she could, but raising three boys on her own was tough. Dusty had stepped up to fill in the gaps with his younger siblings.

The fact they might be gay didn't help matters much. Luckily, with Angel as his best friend, he was able to deal with his overly expressive youngest brother's interest in the same sex. His middle brother seemed to be in the closet. That was easier to deal with without his mom finding out but he knew that wasn't healthy.

After his dad left them, his mom worked and went to school. She was able to get a career going, but it had taken her years. Even though Dusty would gladly support them, she had decided never to be dependent on anyone else. Understandable after his dick of a father took off. Dusty even cut her slack on her becoming so active in organized religion, though he was concerned about what would happen when she found out about his brothers' orientation.

Dusty inhaled a blend of vanilla and amber. A moment later, a sultry soft voice that gave him the chills said, "So I have a question."

Dusty turned towards the voice and saw the most beautiful stormy grey eyes he had ever seen. He got completely lost in their depth because it was a while before he was able to speak. "Please. Ask me anything," he said, knowing he would probably do anything those eyes and voice asked him to do.

"Kirk or Picard?" A grin quirked to the side on the stunning creature that looked vaguely familiar.

Dusty blinked his eyes, trying to focus his eyes better in the dark room. He wanted to see who asked such an unusual question. He expected questions like: What's it like to play with The Dark Angels? What's Angel really like? What's your favorite song? You want to take me home? Or some general variation on those very basic conversational questions to which he had all the answers ready.

"Picard. Kirk was a moron with too many hormones to be an effective leader." Dusty was a big time closet sci-fi geek and blurted out the response too quickly for that fact not to be clear.

The face glowed with appreciation for his answer. "Good answer. Agreed." Grinning, the blonde asked another question, "Lexx?"

Dusty was impressed that this person knew of one of his favorite sci-fi dramas. "I worship his shadow," Dusty responded as if he were in Tales from the Darkside. "Question?"

The gorgeous grey eyes blinked once and then the head nodded. "Answer?"

"Name?"

Dusty thought the vision in front of him said, "Justin". But that couldn't be right. The noisy din of the crowd made it difficult to hear what the lovely creature in the Asian dress had said.

"Justine?" Dusty asked. Wait, he knew where he had seen her. It was an avatar picture. "Wait. Are you DarkJustine28?"

The lovely creature just grinned as if there was a secret Dusty wasn't privy. Slowly she leaned in close to his ear to breathe the words, "Call me, J."

"You're one of the writers of the fan fiction for The Dark Angels." He was sure of it. She had attached her picture to one of the stories a year or so back. Her stories were sexually creative, hot, and always very flattering towards him.

Dusty inhaled the scent surrounding J; he loved the mix of amber and vanilla that surrounded them. It was quite intoxicating and he found himself inhaling to savor the scent.

"You read it?" The grin that lit that beautiful face was full of mischief.

Dusty liked her look. It was interesting, not the usual slut wear Dusty saw most women sporting in the clubs. J had on a short grey Chinese dress that matched those mesmerizing huge stormy eyes and was paired with low heels. J would come right up to Dusty's chin if he were standing. The cut of the dress showed off a trim lean figure and had splits up the sides giving glimpses of awesome legs.

"Of course. Your stories are great and that's not just because you're a Boston Red Sox fan!" Dusty teased.

"They are had quite a season so far. I think we're on a roll."

"Definitely." Dusty smiled, moving a bit closer.

J didn't have much on top but Dusty was actually an 'ass man' and, from what he could see, J had quite a backside. Even in the demure dress, Dusty could tell it was round and firm. It made Dusty want to grab it in both hands. J's hair hung in long blonde waves around a sweet face. J, in a word was delicious. Everything about J called to Dustin on a basic level.

And Dusty wanted more than anything to answer!