"ITVR: Chapter 34"
Friends.
By Jadedoll, Penumbren, & Raising Kane
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They were cursed. That was the only answer that was coming to mind at the moment. Jay and Ty were arguing and Austin was acting... weird. Okay, scratch that... Austin always acted weird, but today he was even weirder than normal and that just made him twitch. Now that he was finally with Chris, where he belonged, all of their friends were going to hell in a hand-basket. Kind of made him wonder who was going to be next. It sure as hell had better not be him or Chris or he'd probably bawl like a two-year-old. "So you need help with that jerking off Babe? Shelton and I could come round and give you something to pace yourself by?" Chris was really playing this Shelton bit for all it was worth. It took him a moment to catch on, but watching Jay move closer to Ty he choked down a laugh and contemplated his options. Jay obviously thought he was going to have a fit... god knows he did have a hair-trigger temper some days, but then Jay probably thought all this Shelton stuff was serious as well. Choking down a laugh as the doors slid open, he bent over and placed his shoulder against Chris' stomach and then stood with the man slung over his shoulder, his arm wrapped behind his knees. Chris started squirming almost immediately and Adam reached up with his free hand and swatted him on the ass... hard. Walking out of the elevator, Chris seemingly calm for the moment, he turned back to look at Austin who hadn't moved an inch. "Austin? If you are going to leave your bags in our room, shouldn't you... I don't know, follow us or something?" Turning to walk down the hall, he was completely aware of Austin now following them and Jay and Ty watching them from just outside the elevator doors. Raising his voice loud enough so that the two could hear him, Adam grinned as he spoke. "Once we get there Steve, you can call down and talk to Meredith and find out where Shelton's room is so I can drop the extra baggage off there." Punctuating his words with another swat to Chris' lovely backside, he swiped the card through the reader and walked into their room. As soon as they cleared the door, he put Chris down gently on his feet and burst into laughter. Jay and Ty's reactions had been simply priceless. **** Desperate old man, huh? Before Kev could reply to that, Scott's mouth was on his and his knee was brushing against him and his fingers were in his hair... Growling at the soft tug, Kevin tilted his head as Scott kissed him deeply, his own hands sliding around his lover's body, one tangling in the dark locks swaying around his face, the other moving downward to grasp the hips hidden by tight denim. Meeting Scott's slow exploration of his mouth with his own questing tongue, Kevin shifted, pushing his groin up against Scott's with a lazy roll, the muted touch enough to make his fingers clench for an instant. The fingers in his hair, the insistent mouth on his, the legs tangled together... all combined to send a warm wave through him, his nerves tingling with slowly growing arousal. Finally pulling away when his lungs demanded relief, Kevin simply looked up into Scott's eyes, knowing that his own were darkened. He could see the love and arousal and simple joy at being together that he felt reflected back at him from those familiar eyes, and his lips curved slightly as they shifted together into a less demanding position. Content simply to feel his lover's weight against him, Kev lost track of time as he combed his fingers through the dark curls in a slow, almost meditative fashion, his mind focused on nothing but the pleasure of the moment, listening to their mingled breathing. The brisk knock at the door was nearly shocking in the warm silence that had overcome them. The sound was repeated before Kevin's mind focused enough to realise that it was their room service delivery. "Just a minute!" he called, his voice a little husky from the long silent minutes. Dropping a quick kiss on Scott's cheek, he reluctantly slid away from him and stood up, ignoring the creaking as he did. He dug into his pocket as he took the few steps to cross the room, pulling out a bill for the tip. Opening the door, he stood in the doorway out of habit, blocking the view of the bellboy as he handed him the tip with a smile, waiting until he had turned away to pull the cart inside and close the door behind him. For all of their public antics and teasing interviews, they had each developed their own little habits intended to protect the small amount of privacy they actually had without even realising that they had. Only after Shawn had commented on that protective hovering block did Kevin realise that he did it, and he'd immediately decided that it was a habit well worth keeping. The fact that there was nothing to hide this time didn't make it any less compelling for him to do it. He pushed away all thoughts of Mark, Hunter, Shawn, and everyone else outside the room as he looked at Scott, still lying on the bed, sprawled out now that they'd separated. They could deal with all of their friends and their issues later. For now, all Kevin wanted to think about was his lover and the small happiness they'd found in this moment. Pulling the cart behind him, he sat next to Scott again, unaware of the small smile curving his lips as he let his gaze drift over his partner's body, hidden from view in the everyday clothing, but bare in his mind's eye as he relived countless moments together in that instant. When he met the dark eyes that were watching him, he blinked, losing his tenuous grasp on the thread of thought he'd been following without regret. Why live in the past when there was so much to enjoy in the present? Moments like this were rare, and he intended to savour this one for as long as it lasted. Leaning forward, he kissed Scott gently, some of the quiet peace they'd found earlier still with him. Cocking his head as he sat back, his smile grew into a mischievous smirk as he remembered Scotty's earlier comment. "Hungry... old man?" he asked teasingly, knowing that Scott would roll his eyes and smile back at him even as he shook his head. **** Shawn tilted his head as he watched Dave curiously, the back of his hand still tingling from the soft kiss. Such a little thing, that quick gesture... and so telling. The emotions swirling around the three of them had softened somewhat, he decided, shifting his gaze to admire Hunt's backside as he leaned against the balcony rail. No vertigo there, he thought ruefully. They seemed to be on firmer footing now, even if there was still more to discuss... but there would always be more to discuss. Now that the important things had been dealt, laid out on the table for all to see, they could deal with everything else as it came up. He followed as they left the building, leaning comfortably against Dave in the back seat of the car, nodding in all the right places during their banter, but almost abstracted as he considered his feelings. This level of introspection was unusual for him, and he was a little surprised at what he found. A small part of him was still hurt by Hunter's rejection the night before, his harshness this morning, the insecurities that he'd always tried to push away and hide coming back to the surface despite himself. He knew that Hunter loved him, he even understood Hunter's motivations behind the rejection... but that doubt was still there. Not doubt in Hunt, not at all. Doubt in himself. He'd been with Kevin and Scott for a year, more or less, and while he'd loved them deeply, he'd known from the outset that it would be a temporary arrangement. They loved him, but it was nothing like what they felt for each other. When he left them, it had been an easy thing, still surrounded by love, and still connected by that feeling. His other relationships... hadn't gone so well. Marty had happened well before he'd met the rest of the Clique and he had no one to blame but himself for the ending there. Bret... well. Love and hate were equal sides of the same coin, and Shawn still wasn't entirely sure how he really felt about the man. It had been passionate, intense, and incredibly brief. Vince... well, if an affair with your boss so that you could get a push in the business was a relationship, then yes, he'd had one with Vince. On-again, off-again, for longer than he liked to admit, it had started as nothing more than the then-nearly-required time on his knees to gain and retain that all-important gold. It had become something more than that somewhere along the line, and he'd let himself make the mistake of thinking that it was something real. Right up until he'd walked in to Vince's office and found him fucking a fresh young face right through his desk. For some reason, he'd been unable to really get past that. Fortunately for him, he was at the top of his game then and Vince couldn't pull the rug out from under him for refusing to bend over anymore. Not without a lot of backlash, and even Vince hadn't been willing to risk that. Mark had been the one to pick him up after that and convince him that he really was worth something. Hunter had tried, but with Shawn's long-buried feelings an unacknowledged unseen wall between them, he hadn't been able to breach the distance. Mark. He'd loved Mark deeply. He still did. But that relationship was long over, and he'd moved on. Mark had moved on also, although neither of them had had any great luck at finding a real connection with anyone else afterward. Mark knew how he felt about Hunter, had always known. Shawn had been honest with the Dead Man from the beginning, and that had come back to bite him in the ass at the end. After his injury, when he needed the support the most... Mark couldn't be there. With him gone, Vince needed his other stars to support the company while he rebuilt angles and decided on new pushes, new stars... and Mark was one of his pillars. Hunter had been a rising star, but he'd been able to take time off and stay with Shawn, helping him struggle through the aftereffects of the surgery, the physical therapy, the emotional storms when he'd realised that he could never go back... And Mark had seen that. He'd seen that, and he'd made his decision. When Mark had come to see him, Shawn had known immediately what the man was going to say from the expression hidden in his eyes. There had been no tears, no fight, no emotional scene... just a simple statement. "You love him." "Yes." "You need him. You don't need me." "... yes." And he'd gone. Afterward, when the realisation of what had happened sank in, he'd turned to Hunter for comfort. Irony of ironies, that, and it wasn't lost on him at the time any more than it was now. Watching Hunter from the back seat of the car, his arm sneaking its way around Dave's waist as he soaked up the warmth emanating from the man, he knew that he'd have to tell Hunt the truth about Mark. He hadn't been able to at the time. How was he supposed to tell his best friend that the man he'd loved so deeply for over two years had left him because no matter how deep that love was, it couldn't compare to what he felt for that same friend? He couldn't do it. He'd have to, now. He knew Hunter had always resented Mark for hurting him, especially since Mark hadn't told him anything. He'd left that completely up to Shawn. It was long past time to fix that, since ultimately it had been out of all of their hands. And Dave... he looked up through his eyelashes at the man who had an arm around his shoulders as they leaned comfortably into each other. What about Dave? How did he feel, exactly? Did he love him? No, he didn't love the Animal... yet. Could he? Definitely. Was he already well on his way? ... yes. Letting his feelings for the two men fill him, he let go of his doubt. He knew that it was a temporary fix, but at least for now, he knew that he didn't need the doubt. He didn't need the selfish pain. He didn't need to worry. Whatever happened, they would deal with it, and they would work through it. Sighing a little as he forced his thoughts back into the here and now, he leaned his head against Dave's shoulder, smiling a little as the big man shifted to make him more comfortable. Softly, his voice still a little husky from the events of the morning and previous evening, he said in a low tone, "What I'd really like to do is lay with my head in your lap, Dave... but I don't think I should right now." Smiling a little, he tilted his head so that he could meet the chocolate eyes. "I do think, though, that I'll need your help with a project. Hunter's all wound up over being able to touch us, and we need to help him get past that. I can't think of a better way to convince him that it's okay to touch us than for us to touch him... as often and as intimately as we can. You've already seen that it can work... so. Are you in?" He let his smile widen a little, the familiar cocky glint in his eye as he flicked his gaze to the blond in the front seat before looking back at Dave. **** Adam's reaction wasn't the one Chris had been expecting. He'd thought maybe... he didn't know... another comeback regarding Shelton? Agreement to CJ's suggestion and then some laughter? Maybe that wicked grin and an eyebrow wiggle to suggest he'd pay Chris back later for the teasing. Instead the reaction threw Chris completely off balance... literally. Tossed over Adam's shoulder like a sack of grain, Chris immediately began to struggle. About to tip his weight forward so he could climb down Adam's back, the sharp slap to his ass put paid to that idea quick smart. He could hear Adam chuckling too, the bastard. Guy was enjoying the fact he'd taken CJ by surprise, so he stopped squirming on principal. He wouldn't give Adam the satisfaction of overpowering any more struggles. It wasn't that he was enjoying it at all. No way. Taking the delightful opportunity to rest his hands on Adam's ass... for balance of course... Chris looked up at Ty's wry expression, Reso's rolling eyes and Steve's smug grin. At least the Rattlesnake was looking normal at last. His quiet demeanor was unsettling to say the least. find out where Shelton's room is "Somehow Babe, I don't think Shelton will like having that kind of snake in his bed tonight." Chris' laughter was abruptly cut off by another smack to his ass, just a teensy bit harder than the first. It was disturbing in the least that he was thinking up some other ways to get Adam to swat him. Maybe that could be his punishment for starting this whole Shelton thing anyway. The thought made CJ feel quite flushed, but in a good way, a very good way. Adam's own peel of laughter as he set Chris on his feet was enough to bring an answering smile to CJ's face. Rarely had he seen Adam smile so much in the last few months, the tall blond's expression more likely to be a frown of concentration or distant speculation. One day he'd have to ask what Adam had been thinking all those time Chris had caught him watching the other wrestlers. He sincerely doubted they'd been receiving scores out of ten for the firmness of their butts. But with Adam you never could tell. Steve's grin was still in place as he followed them into the room, the bald man dumping his bags near the door with a grateful, "Thanks Boys." But when he began to eye Adam speculatively from behind, Chris' frown sent him back out into the hallway, hands up in an 'I didn't touch anything' plea. He did really need to talk to Austin, the look in the man's eyes had been something that Chris recognised. A need to talk. Its rarity grabbed CJ with an affection he hadn't known he had. For all that Austin could piss him off just by breathing, he was a good, solid friend. And despite his 'crowd' Chris didn't have that many that he'd let one down when he was needed. Knowing the sleaze was just a cover for something else, CJ looked up the few, very few, inches into Adam's sparkling green eyes. Eyes with a light that Chris was beginning to realize, was now a primary part of his own well-being. As Austin had given them a moment of peace, Chris leaned forward in the circle of Adam's arms and kissed his lover slowly and sweetly. He'd never get tired of kissing Adam, never. That instant when their lips met was fast becoming an addiction Chris had no intention of fighting. "Babe, I want to see what's bothering Austin. Could you put this stuff out for the laundry service and I'll meet you downstairs in twenty?" CJ nudged one of his clothes bags with a toe and blinked up at Adam hopefully. He knew his clever lover wouldn't be taken in for an instant by his innocent look but it was worth a try. **** Glad that for the moment at least the turbulent emotions that had surrounded them all throughout the meal had lessened, Dave followed Hunter out of the building so that they could head to the hotel. Despite the fact that things were easier between the three of them, his head was still churning over what Hunter had said. After his reassurances, he hadn't expected Hunter to respond... not with the waiter returning when he had. He had been comfortable with that since he was sure he'd gotten his point across. That Hunter had responded in kind and had actually touched him while doing so had him wondering more than ever over Hunter's feelings towards him. There wasn't the doubt that Hunter had some... Dave couldn't see him wanting to move forward with this threesome if there were none, but Hunter hadn't been real specific and Dave hadn't had the nerve to ask him to clarify. He knew where Shawn stood right now, that helped. And it wasn't as if he'd been jumping hoops to divulge the depth of his own feelings for either of them. It just hadn't been the time or place and he wasn't sure exactly when it would be. Of course with the way his luck had been running lately, it would come out at some completely inappropriate time. Hunter's comment in the car distracted him from his rambling thoughts for a moment or two. Dave could think of all kinds of ways of getting sweaty at the arena and not one of them involved exercise equipment of any kind. Knowing that Hunter, by his own admission, wasn't ready for the kind of 'exercise' he was contemplating did not help. Nor did Shawn's arm snaking around his waist. He wrapped an arm around Shawn's shoulder, tugging him closer, and suppressed his instinct to take it farther. There was a driver after all and just because he was now in a relationship did not mean he was going to turn into a sex fiend. He felt a little better giving himself the excuse that it had been awhile since he'd been with anyone. A brief resurgence of his on-again, off-again fling with Ty during his rehab at OVW being his last encounter. Ty was now extremely happy with Jay Reso and Dave couldn't have been happier for the guy. They were still friends, as were he and O'Haire, his other OVW playmate. No doubt they'd both be happy for him having finally ended up where he had wanted to be. He hadn't come right out and told them so, but the closer that Hunter had come to his wedding, the shorter Dave's temper had been. Both men were very insightful and had called him on it at one time or another. He had admitted to his feelings, upon threat of death if either of them leaked it to anyone else. His attraction to Shawn on the other hand, he had kept mum about. Though either man might have noticed it in the weeks previous, they hadn't said anything to him if they had. "What I'd really like to do is lay with my head in your lap, Dave... but I don't think I should right now." That really had not helped his condition at all with the way his thoughts had been running. Thanks, Shawn, kill me while you're at it why don't ya? Shawn had been quieter than usual during this car ride, but Dave attributed it to thinking about what had come up at lunch. Hadn't he spent time doing so as well? Despite the conversation they'd had, there was still plenty to figure out with where this thing was going between them. Especially considering Hunter's 'problem', which Shawn so nicely brought up at that moment. "I can't think of a better way to convince him that it's okay to touch us than for us to touch him... as often and as intimately as we can." Dave took a moment to look at the man in question himself, before turning back to look at Shawn. Was he in? Returning Shawn's smile with a rather wicked one of his own, Dave nodded once. "I think that can be arranged. We'll just have to watch our proximity to bathrooms when we do it." At least he could joke about it now. Knowing the reason behind Hunter's little flight earlier did help. Without the explanation he probably would have shied away from initiating anything further himself, but knowing now that that was what it would probably take to get Hunter to break this leash he'd put on himself, Dave was all for it. When they arrived at the hotel, he stood to the side with Shawn while Hunter checked them in. His sunglasses were firmly back in place for now since they were out in public. As soon as they got to the arena, he would have to head to makeup and get it taken care of so that they weren't a necessity. If Hunter had to talk to Vince about them, seeing Dave's bruises probably wouldn't help make things easier. As they filed into the elevator to head to their suite for the night, they found themselves blessedly alone for the moment. Never one to look a gift-horse in the mouth, Dave dropped his bags on the floor of the elevator and smiled at Shawn as the doors slid closed with no one joining them. As soon as they were firmly shut, he turned and pressed himself full length against Hunter, pushing him back against the wall of the cubicle. Before Hunter could protest, Dave had his mouth pressed to Hunter's, his hands at the man's waist to hold him steady. He didn't linger, knowing they wouldn't have that much time and by the time they'd reached their floor he'd pulled away and leaned up against the wall next to Hunter, a smile on his face as the ping of the elevator signaled their arrival. **** Hunter briefly juggled his keycard and mobile phone as the trio stepped into the elevator. Letting his bag drop to the ground, he finally got the phone into the inner pocket of his jacket and the key in his hand rather than half-way up his sleeve. Clumsy was not normally a word people generally associated with Triple H, but this day seemed to ensure he'd be nicknamed something similar if he didn't get his act together. Pushing his sunglasses up into his hair from where they'd slid down his nose and almost off, yeah, yeah a long trip, Hunt smiled to himself. Looking up, he noticed Shawn had been a little more subdued since the restaurant. Hunt didn't blame him. It was Shawn's motivation and frankly his sex drive, that had pulled them into orbit with each other in the first place. He certainly deserved a bit of quiet to get his head around everything, just as much as Hunt and Dave did. Just as he was lifting a hand to give Shawn's shoulder a reassuring squeeze, Dave crowded him into the wall and planted a kiss on Hunter that was more comparable to a steamroller. An overheated steamroller. Gifted with a talented tongue. That had a warm metal bar in it. Guh. Hunter was pretty sure he'd died and gone to heaven in the few seconds the kiss lasted. Dave's hands on his waist held him in place, but he really didn't feel like moving anyway. His own fingers had landed on Dave's shoulders, first to catch himself during his sudden movement backwards and then to become his grip on reality as Dave's lips and tongue brought a surprised groan from somewhere deep inside his chest Hunter hadn't known existed. The move, move imperative he'd come to feel whenever he got physical with Dave or Shawn reared its ugly head just then. Hunter's hands sliding from their grip on Dave's shoulder's and around to his chest to push him away. His action was stalled, however, as at that moment Dave pulled back from him and with a sexily crooked smile, leaned his shoulder against the wall at Hunt's back. Hunter knew his hand would be trembling slightly if he tried to adjust his tie or glasses, so he placed his hands palms against the wall and returned Dave's speculative look. To say the big man was looking pleased with himself would be an understatement and Hunt did give him credit for ending the kiss before his own flight reflex jumped in. Score one for the Animal. "I get the feeling I'm going to be brought out of this semi-frigid state of mine come hell or high water huh?" Hunt kept his gaze locked firmly on Dave's smile and that dangerous tongue within. "If that's the case then... proceed." He'd managed to time it perfectly with the lift's ping and the opening of the door. Scooping up both his and Dave's bags, hunter borrowed a definite swagger from his father-in-law as he strolled down the corridor to their room. Even with the remnants of his hang-over still giving him grief, a wife he had to explain his lovers to and a small physical complex threatening that relationship, Hunter was feeling on top of the world. Nope, no Mr. Clumsy here. **** He hadn't noticed Austin's exit from the room, he'd been too busy watching Chris for signs that he was going to get smacked for repeating his caveman tactics in public. He had noticed the frown directed beyond him and wondered what Austin had done to earn it, but he wasn't about to turn around and find out. The obnoxious man was starting to grow on him a bit and he didn't want to have to follow through on his threat from the night before. The sweet taste of Chris' mouth erased all thoughts of Austin from his head, at least for that moment. This kiss was slow, gentle, affectionate - a definite contrast to their earlier frenzied explorations. The emotions it stirred inside him were so powerful that he almost blurted out that infamous three word phrase that he'd been suppressing since their encounter this morning, but he suddenly recalled the possibility that Austin might be lurking around. When he said it out loud for the first time, he did not want an audience to witness Chris' reaction... whatever it might be. "Babe, I want to see what's bothering Austin." Adam didn't buy the innocent act for a moment, but he'd noticed Austin's unusual behavior as well so it must be something more than Austin's usual surliness. With an exaggerated sigh Adam picked up the bag and affected a pathetic pout. "First Shelton and now you're tossing me over for Austin. I feel so used." Sticking his tongue out at Chris and smiling, he grabbed his gear bag as well and exited the room. Waving Austin back into the room from his spot against the wall with an enthusiastic flourish, Adam looked at him speculatively. Deciding that with Austin's mood it was most likely safe, he continued with his current theme. "He's all yours, but if you break him, you buy him." He'd only taken a few steps down the hall when Mark exited one of the rooms on the other side of the elevator. Now seemed as good of a time as any to impart the information he had. At least if he did it out in public Mark would be less tempted to break something, most notably him, if the news wasn't to his liking. Meeting up with his ex-lover in front of the elevator doors, he pushed the down button and greeted the man. "Hey Mark. Long time, no see. You have a minute? I need to talk to you about something." Receiving the standard Dead Man nod that he'd become accustomed to during their three years together just as the doors slid open, he waved Mark into the cubicle ahead of him and then leaned against the wall with a sigh. "I know it's not one of your favorite topics, but I wanted to give you a heads up about Shawn." Seeing the look that Mark directed at him he clarified though he didn't really want to bring up what he was going to. "I know you never mentioned him by name when we talked about the 'him' from your past, but I'd have had to have been blind and stupid not to have figured out who it was in all our time together. If the way you reacted when someone mentioned his name wasn't enough then hearing you say his name when we were... that would have done it." He didn't want Mark to feel bad about it. He doubted that Mark had even been aware of it at the time, so he rushed to point out his opinion on it. "It didn't bother me. At the time I knew you were trying to get over someone and I wasn't looking for something that was going to become too serious. You are still my friend though Mark and I care enough that I don't want to see you hurt." "I don't know if you still have feelings for him or not, but from what I saw last night if Shawn and Dave didn't hook up last night, it's likely they will in the near future. I didn't want you to walk in on something and find out about it that way." Hearing the ping, Adam turned to the doors as they opened and stepped through them, turning back to Mark and smiling affectionately. "If you need someone to talk to, you know how to reach me. Not just about that, but anything." **** Closing the door behind him, Mark shifted his duffle bag higher up onto his shoulder while he put his keycard in his pocket. He really wasn't looking forward to the taping tonight, all things considered. Heyman might be a creative genius, but he was a sniveling little prick and he was enjoying having the Dead Man at his mercy right now far too much for Mark to be comfortable with. If he didn't know better, he'd think that Heyman had been hitting on him for the last few weeks. That was a thought too disgusting to dwell on, although it nearly brought a smile to his face. If Heyman ever did make an obvious pass at him, he'd have no problem whatsoever throwing the little bastard through the nearest available wall. The days of having to get to his knees to get a push were long behind him, and he didn't miss them. At least thinking about Heyman forced him not to think about anyone else... although he wasn't entirely sure the mild nausea accompanying his train of thought was really worth it. Stopping in front of the elevator, he was brought to a halt by a familiar voice. "Long time, no see. You have a minute? I need to talk to you about something." Nodding, his curiosity only visible to those who knew him well, Mark entered the elevator and leaned against the back wall, watching Adam. Whatever it was, the blond didn't look too thrilled to be talking to him about it. Of course... his eyes fastened on a small darkening mark high up on Adam's neck where it was almost hidden by his long hair. His lips curved slightly as he looked back up at his friend's face. Yep. That was a familiar aura. Not just the "I got laid" look that was so familiar on the man, but a warm glow that had him almost bouncing on his feet without realising it. Looked like his hope was true; Adam must've finally gotten the balls to hook up with Jericho. "...I wanted to give you a heads up about Shawn." What? How did... Shooting a questioning frown at the blond, he wondered how in the hell Adam had found out about Shawn. They'd kept their relationship intensely private, and he knew he'd never told Adam who it was that he'd been with. The blond's next words reassured him even as he felt chagrined. He wasn't normally that easy to read, but he had been with Adam for quite a while... and he'd never fully recovered from Shawn, so it probably wasn't surprising that he still showed the signs. At least Adam hadn't taken it the wrong way. That was good to know. They'd never been serious about each other, and the length of time they'd stayed together had surprised both of them, but Mark had always tried very hard not to treat any of his lovers as a mere substitute for anyone else. "...if Shawn and Dave didn't hook up last night, it's likely they will in the near future." He couldn't stop his eyebrows from shooting up in surprise for an instant before he recovered his composure. The fact that Shawn was getting involved with someone else was... bittersweet. He missed the man and he always would. Their attempt at a friendship had been strained since the end of their relationship, due to Hunter's unknowing involvement and his lingering resentment of Mark. But for Shawn to be taking up with Batista? That was... unexpected. If Shawn was happy, then Mark was happy for him. He'd always wanted Shawn to find happiness... but he'd always expected that it would ultimately be with Hunter, once Shawn got up the nerve to tell The Game how he actually felt about him. Well, it wasn't any of his business, but he'd keep an eye out to see how things went. There'd been a time when Shawn had laughed at him for his protective streak, but he'd never been able to turn it off when it involved someone he cared about. Hopefully it wouldn't be needed now. "If you need someone to talk to, you know how to reach me. Not just about that, but anything." Following the blond out of the elevator a little more slowly, Mark paused as Adam started to turn away, then reached out and touched his arm. "Adam." He cleared his throat, dropping his hand as Adam looked at him curiously. "Thanks. That... means a lot." He smiled a little, feeling his loneliness lift somewhat at the affection on the blond's face. Nodding at him, he headed for his rental, dropping into the driver's seat with a sigh. A workout was definitely called for. It'd help take his mind off things, and hopefully keep him calm enough to face Heyman in the ring later without his dislike for the man being too obvious. And if he ran into Shawn... well. They were still friends, although not as close as Mark could wish, and it had been quite a while since he'd chatted with his favourite blond. More than past time, he decided as he started the car. **** He loved these slow lazy moments when all they had to focus on was each other. Warm hand at his hips, hand tangled in his hair, warm mouth, lazy exploring tongue twining with his own, the slow roll of denim on denim, fingers tightening at his hips, long legs tangled together... Scott was drowning in sensation, yet felt safe and cherished rather than smothered by it. Eventually these moments they'd shared throughout the day would culminate in a powerful explosion of passion, but for now Scott was content to simply enjoy this for what it was... a moment of expressing those tender feelings that they'd think but likely not speak of. As Kevin pulled away, their eyes locked, understanding flowing between them without the words. They didn't need to be verbalized to be felt... that's just the way it was with the two of them. As they settled into a loose embrace, Scott allowed his mind to drift aimlessly, the gentle hand combing through his hair assuring that his thoughts revolved around his lover. Through his fingers curled loosely against Kevin's chest he could feel the steady beat of Kevin's heart. This was one of the moments he always found himself most thankful for, especially since they'd gotten back together. That he could have lost moments like these if he'd been successful in managing to down the pills he'd held in his hand never failed to hit home with him. Of course that had been one of his motivations for having them in his hand in the first place, that there would be no more moments like this with Kevin. The knock at the door barely registered in his mind, Kevin's voice the first indication that there was someone outside waiting for entrance. Watching as Kevin dealt with the bellboy in his customary manner, Scott felt the warmth inside him grow even more. The fact that Kevin never failed to block the view of their room, even when it wasn't a necessity, assured them of their privacy. For all that they had jokingly alluded to their relationship from time to time with the public, they were smart enough not to give any evidence that it actually existed. He kept his eyes on Kevin until he was seated beside him, closing them only when Kevin leaned forward to kiss him. Soaking up the love from the gentle kiss, he stored it away for those times when they would be apart. "Hungry... old man?" Rolling his eyes, he smiled at Kevin. He never should have referred to himself that way. Kevin would bring it up at every opportunity now, although he would say it in such a way that Scott wouldn't honestly be able to take issue with it. Sitting up, he snatched a plate off the cart and placed it between them. "Of course. When am I not? Although just for food at the moment," he said with a smirk as he offered up a slice of fresh peach to Kevin's lips. "I think I'll hold off on dessert until after the show tonight. I've got a craving for a big ol' crème puff." Scott grinned knowing that Kev probably wouldn't appreciate the inference. Kevin was a big softy, at least when it came to him. He wouldn't dare try to call him that all the time, definitely not in front of anyone else, but he loved pointing out Kevin's softer side when they were alone. Shivering as Kevin licked the juice from his fingers, Scott firmly decided on the next part on his "Kev is beautiful" list. Now he just had to wait for the appropriate time to bring it up with Kevin. **** He wasn't oblivious to the reaction his words had on Dave. Far from it. Shawn wasn't trying to be cruel to his lover, but he was definitely teasing. Now that he'd gotten his mind wrapped around this new relationship that he'd proposed without thinking through the finer details, he was more than looking forward to reaping the benefits of it... and not just the sex. He'd been alone for far too long, regardless of the lovers he'd taken. Only Mark had been able to really touch that lonely ache in his heart, and that had been temporary. But now... Shawn bit back a smile as he covertly eyed Dave while they waited for Hunter to finish checking them into the hotel. Hunter might take a while to get used to them, and Shawn planned to enjoy every second of his little acclimatization project. However, Dave didn't need that extra time... and Shawn knew damned well that he'd been affected by the happenings of the day just as much as he had been. Licking his lips as Dave kept his attention on Hunter, he could feel his fingers almost itching with the need to reach out and touch... but the kind of touching he was thinking about at the moment would probably get them arrested if he tried it. They wouldn't have time for any fooling around before heading to the arena, after their long lunch, but there were plenty of quiet spaces backstage and Shawn was very familiar with how to find them. A slight smile played on his lips as he followed Dave and Hunter into the elevator. There were definitely times that he didn't regret his past at all. Inhaling sharply as he watched Dave push Hunter back against the wall, he felt his heartrate jump a few notches. That sight... Dave, holding Hunter there while he kissed him, Hunt's hands sliding up to clench on the big man's shoulders as he responded... The groan that escaped Hunter sent a deep shudder through Shawn, the pure sex of the sound resonating within him. He forced himself to take a breath, noting Hunter's sudden aborted move to push Dave back as the big man released him. The action made him more sad than anything else. They'd all dealt with their emotions toward each other differently: Dave had buried them, Shawn had hidden them by cavorting with anyone else who was willing, and Hunter... Hunter had sublimated them until he couldn't break through that block. That would definitely be changing, though. Shawn entertained some brief thoughts of just how they'd all react in the morning when they woke up all tangled together... "If that's the case then... proceed." Allowing his smile to show, Shawn followed the other two down the hall, laughing softly at the overdone strut. Entering the room and setting his bags down beside the wall, he eyed the other two men as he sank down into the small couch in the corner. Waiting until Dave was close enough to touch, he leaned forward and snagged the big man's arm, pulling him down and around to sit next to him even as he shifted, ending up straddling Dave's lap, his hands on his shoulders. Smiling at him, Shawn looked to the side and motioned to Hunter. "Come over here." His tone brooked no argument, and Hunt took the spot Shawn had just vacated. Reaching out, he tangled his hand in Hunt's hair and leaned over, kissing him gently, running his tongue along the seam of his lips until they parted. Taking his time, he explored Hunt's mouth, soaking in the spicy taste that seemed to be purely Hunter's. Softening the kiss, he pulled back a bit, nibbling on Hunt's lower lip before pressing his lips against it one last time as he felt Hunter tense. With a fond smile, he shook his head. "No running, Hunt. You don't need to." He pulled his hand away, smoothing the blond locks as he did, running his fingers down Hunter's cheek in a soft caress as he said softly, "I love you." Just saying the words made him feel that warmth inside again, and he knew he'd never get tired of that feeling. The smile still on his face, he turned his attention to the man whose lap he was on... the man who was definitely enjoying the show, Shawn could tell. "And you..." Letting his voice trail off, he leaned forward to kiss Dave in turn, nearly mirroring his attention to Hunter. Keeping it gentle, Shawn let himself sink down until most of his weight was on Dave's thighs, his other hand still on Dave's shoulder for balance. Finally breaking the kiss, he met the dark eyes with heat in his own. "We may not have time now... but I don't tease without following through." Letting the slow burn that was filling him show in the huskiness of his voice, he said, "I look forward to returning your favour, Dave. Sooner rather than later, I hope." **** to be continued... |