With a small groan, Brian buried his head underneath the pillow, ignoring Howie's advice and shifted his body into a more comfortable position under the covers. Howie looked at him for a moment in amusement then leaned over to snag his watch off the side table, glancing at the time and frowning.
"Brian, come on, man. Get up." He tugged the pillow out of Brian's tight clutch then whacked him lightly over the head with it. Brian moaned tiredly, not moving, and Howie smiled. God, what a slug. Compared to last night .... he couldn't believe the comparison.
Peeking at the time once more, he bit his lip in consternation and glanced nervously at his locked door. It wouldn't take Nick very long to figure out where Brian was and he was damned if he was going to get caught in the middle of it. Their arguments were becoming legendary; more intense, more powerful, forgetting sometimes that they were in the public eye as they continued their conflicts out in the open. The latest one had happened last night at the hotel lobby and it had taken all of Kevin's and his own physical strength to keep them from each other's throats.
Peeling back the sheet, Howie slowly ran his hand down Brian's backside, enjoying the view. He could, in a way, sympathize for Nick, because he had last night what Nick had been trying forever to get Brian's attention, Brian's body, Brian's love. Time after time, Nick had implored, cajoled, even threatened Brian with his pleas, but to no avail - Brian was having none of it. Brian didn't like Nick's advances, didn't want Nick's advances and repeatedly warned Nick in no uncertain terms to knock it off.
Bringing his hand back up in a sensual caress, Howie bent over to kiss Brian awake, taking pleasure in the slightly rough stubble of Brian's jaw line. He felt Brian accept the kiss for the briefest of moments before pulling away, now fully awake, his blue eyes meeting brown eyes with determination.
"Don't," he said firmly.
Howie reluctantly pulled his hand away from Brian's check, confused and hurt. "Why?"
"You know why," Brian warned.
"Oh, so you'll let me fuck you, but I can't kiss you, is that right?"
Ignoring the taunt, Brian rose from the bed and headed straight for the bathroom while Howie waited in frustration for him to return. Damn him! He knew Brian didn't love him; he didn't love Brian, but why did his sudden rejection hurt so much?
Trying to keep his face as neutral as possible, Howie watched as Brian came back into the room, a look of total exasperation on the blonde man's face.
"What's wrong?"
Brian held his arms out exaggeratedly and rolled his eyes, glancing down at his nakedness. "Um, my clothes? I don't have any. Mind if I borrow some of yours?"
Howie sighed, remembering Brian's arrival at his room last night with only a white terry cloth towel wrapped around his hips. "Sure." He nodded in the general direction of his clothing. "Take what you need."
Howie tried not to stare at his sleek form as Brian rummaged about in his suitcase; tried not to notice how erotic is was for him to see Brian slip a pair of his own boxers over those muscular legs; tried to ignore his growing desire as Brian pulled a white T-shirt over his shoulders, then chest. He now understood Nick's desperation a little more, felt the bond of Nick's desperate desire and also the sting of rejection.
And all because of ...
A bitterness welled up in Howie, one that surprised and angered him. He knew how Brian felt about... he could hardly bring himself to say his name. Howie had known for a long time about Brian's feelings, hell, everyone did except for the idiotic person himself. The "idiot" hadn't a clue, not a clue as to Brian's longing and Howie would have laughed if it weren't so pathetic.
He watched as Brian slipped on a pair of shorts, too big for his frame, almost comical. Pulling up the zipper, Brian fumbled for a belt, tightening it as far as it would go. Finishing, he glanced up at Howie, ready to leave.
"I'm sorry," Brian apologized, his eyes softening as he studied Howie's face closely.
Howie stared right back at him. "Sorry for what?" he rasped, his voice suddenly filled with anger. "Sorry for what? For me? For last night?" Howie arose from the bed, coming over to stand next to Brian. "For using me? For making me your first lover? What? What is it, Brian? Sorry for what?"
Brian lowered his eyes, unable to meet Howie's own hurt ones. He knew he had taken advantage of him, of the situation, to get what he wanted, what he desired. And he desired AJ. Not Howie, not Nick. AJ. And he was going to stop at nothing to get him.
He opened the door and quietly slipped out, trying to ignore Howie's heated jeer.
"Go on, go to him. He'll never love you. Never."