Life After Love Chapter 6
Title: Life After Love Chapter 6
Sequel to: Lost in Life
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: adam/kris, OMCs
Summary of Story: WIP. Kris and Adam are moving on with their lives, jumping into a new venture that promises so much, but the past comes back to haunt them.
Disclaimer: I do not own the real people involved, only those I’ve created.
Warnings: angst, violence, language DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE TRIGGERS. Additional warnings will be posted when warranted.
Can’t find a straight answer on internet re: fire insurance for the Club so going with my gut. If I’m wrong, forgive me.
Recap of Chapter 5 ~ Kris sees Adam and a man talking, business card is exchanged ~♥~ Fire at Indigo, Peter is shaken, past coming back ~♥~ Adam is offered a contract by a record company, he’s unsure ~♥~ learned Jerry connected to the fire
MASTERLIST ~ http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/39293.html#cutid1
:::: ♥♥ ::::
In the morning when Kris woke up, Adam wasn’t in bed. He shuffled through the dimly lit hallway towards the low sounds in the living room. Adam was sitting on the couch watching an infomercial on the newest and greatest way to chop vegetables.
He gazed at the clock ~ 6:00am.
Adam was never awake at 6:00am.
“Trouble sleeping?” Kris asked softly as he rounded the couch and cuddled up beside him.
Adam shut the TV off and wrapped both arms around Kris, holding him close. He didn’t say anything, just held on.
This worried Kris. He started thinking back to how Adam was when they first met at the Cavanaugh Club, withdrawn and not very talkative. Kris had the feeling Adam wasn’t telling him something and he didn’t know if he should breech the subject or let his fiancé open up first.
“Do you want some coffee?” Kris asked, trying to get a conversation going.
“There’s a pot in the kitchen … but it might be cold by now.”
“I’ll make a fresh one.”
Kris got up and headed to the kitchen. The counters were a mess, covered in open and empty snack boxes and bags. Adam never did this; he was overly conscious of his weight. He couldn’t keep quiet any longer. He needed to know what was going on in his lover’s head.
Two mugs of steaming coffee in hand, Kris padded barefoot into the living room.
“Adam, we need to talk.”
The reply was a gentle snore. Kris looked at his love lying on his side, asleep. Returning the coffee to the kitchen, he covered Adam with a blanket from the hall closet. Kissing him on the forehead, Kris headed back to bed himself.
A one sided conversation wasn’t going to get them anywhere.
Several hours later, Kris awoke to the sound of the shower going. He really didn’t want to get up. Maybe it was because the bed was too warm or maybe it was because he was worried about what Adam might tell him.
Adam came out naked, towel drying his hair. Not seeing Kris, he dug out a pair of briefs, long shorts, a t-shirt and a hoodie, slipping them on quickly. Reaching into the bottom of the closet he found his running shoes.
“Morning,” Kris yawned.
“Again.”
“Yeah, again. It’s been a while since you went jogging.”
“Too long actually. Feel a few pounds that need shedding.”
“Would you like some company?”
Kris wasn’t expecting him to say ‘yes’ so when Adam did, Kris was forced to get up and get out.
:::: ♥♥ ::::
Rather than jog along the beach, they drove to a nearby park. It was green and sunny and not too busy. Adam could hear Kris behind him. He’d been surprised when Kris asked if he could come along. They usually didn’t jog together cause Kris would complain he had to work twice as hard as Adam to keep up with his long legs. He took a glance back and spotted Kris about eight feet behind him but keeping up like a trooper.
Fifteen minutes later, the jogging came to a halt.
“Hey! Hold up, my lace came undone!”
Adam stopped but kept moving on the spot as Kris fixed his shoe. He thought about yesterday for the twentieth time.
A development deal. They were hard to come by. You had to already have an established fan base and have proven yourself these days before a major label would even look at you. Sam said what he’d observed at Adagio and what he’d heard about his success at the Cavanaugh Club had proven to him that Adam was offering something people wanted.
Sometimes he’d wished the Cavanaugh Club had never happened but then he wouldn’t have found Kris and he wouldn’t have developed the skills that drew 19E’s attention. Still, it kept nagging in the back of his mind that they expected him to be the next Frank Sinatra and that wasn’t what he wanted.
Before he worried anymore about it, he would call Sam and ask him straight out.
“Thanks for waiting.”
Starting up again, Adam slowed down so his boy could stay by his side.
Adam sensed Kris was aware something was up. He loved him even more, if that were possible, for giving him space and letting him open up when he was ready. Reaching out, he took Kris’ hand and they stayed that way until they completed the circuit and returned to the car.
“Hungry?” Adam asked, stripping off his hoodie and grabbing a towel out of the trunk.
“Famished,” Kris lifted his arm and sniffed, wrinkling his nose, “but I think a shower is needed first.”
Adam pulled Kris into his arms and sniffed his neck, letting the tip of tongue taste the saltiness. Kris groaned and gripped the wet shirt plastered over Adam’s back.
“I love it when you get sweaty,” Adam groaned.
“I know, but usually it isn’t from running.”
Licking a stripe up his neck, Adam left Kris weak kneed and got into the car. When Kris didn’t join him, he gazed out the back window and didn’t see him. He then looked at the passenger’s side mirror and spotted him tying that damn shoe lace again at the side of the road.
The roar of a motorcycle caught Adam’s attention. It was coming their way, the driver encased in black, including the helmet visor. Closing in, the machine headed straight for the car and Kris.
Frantically, Adam tried to undo his seatbelt but it jammed. He opened his door and shouted, “KRIS! BEHIND YOU!”
Thankfully, Kris heard him and jumped out of the way, falling onto the gravel, as the motorcycle came within inches of him. Adam’s seatbelt finally released and he hurried around the car as the engine faded into the distance.
Kris was on his hands and knees, slowly getting up. Gravel dented his palms but the damage was on his knees, blood slowly pooling around the tiny stones and dirt. Adam retrieved the water bottles from the car and carefully cleaned the skin, removing the stones.
“Where the hell did he come from?” Kris hissed as the cleaning continued.
“Who knows. I’m just thankful you’re okay.” Adam looked down the road and even though the bike was long gone, he still muttered, “Jackass.”
“Adam, can we finish this at home? You’ve flooded my socks and shoes.”
“Oh … sorry baby. Yeah, I’ll fix you up at home. Didn’t happen to get the license did you?”
“No, I was too busy chewing dirt.”
They drove home, Kris had his shower and Adam properly cleaned, medicated and bandaged his boy’s knees. When done, Kris teetered into the bedroom, legs stiff.
What a shitty way to start the day.
:::: ♥♥ ::::
Peter sat at the bar, sipping a black coffee and staring at the wet ring on the napkin. The phone lay beside it, silent. Tim was at Indigo meeting with the Fire Marshall to find out what caused the fire and would call when he had answers. Meanwhile, Peter had been in contact with their insurance agent. They would be covered but if it was caused by negligence, they wouldn’t collect the full amount and would still have make up the difference. Peter didn’t think the bank would look too kindly on him asking for another loan in this instance. He’d called James, Indigo’s lawyer, letting him know what happened and what could happen. James said he’d be there when needed.
When Peter had gotten home last night, Serena was waiting. The moment the front door closed, she had him in her arms and held him while he cried. With her, he didn’t need to keep up the façade. They had been dating and engaged twenty years ago when he’d suffered the most painful experience of his life ~ being burned.
Peter had been a server at an upscale restaurant in San Francisco. He was in college studying business administration and working at night and on weekends. He had a wonderful fiancé and life couldn’t have been better.
One night, he’d gotten into a disagreement with one of his co-workers. They’d never gotten along and just tried to stay out of each other’s way. Well, it came to blows, literally, over a tip of all things. The manager sent them in separate directions to cool off. Peter, unfortunately, had ended up with a blackening eye and since it couldn’t really be hidden, he spent the rest of the night in the kitchen while the other guy just had to stop wincing at the pain in his ribs.
After hours, when there was just a handful of staff there, he’d gone into the storage room to get the something when the door shut behind him. Peter didn’t think anything of it since the hinges did that all the time. Once he got what he needed, he tried to open the door but it was jammed.
Then smoke started pouring in under the door and the fire alarm went off. He pounded on the door, screaming until his voice went. The door got hot beneath his fists and that was where his memory stopped. The next thing he knew he was waking up in the hospital with his upper back burned.
He found out much that the fire had been deemed suspicious. He had his own ideas, as did his fellow co-workers, on who was responsible. It was confirmed in their minds, if not legally, when Malcolm skipped town.
“Mr. DiSantos, are you feeling alright. Your hand’s shaking.”
He set down his mug and looked over at Sara, one of his servers, and smiled weakly.
“I’m fine. Has Kris arrived yet?”
“Yeah, he hobbled in about ten minutes ago. I think he’s in the office.”
Hobbled?
Leaving Sara and the phone behind, Peter hurried to the office. Kris was sitting on the couch with the legs of his sweatpants pulled up over his bandaged knees.
“What the hell happened?”
Kris looked up and huffed, “Good morning to you too.”
Peter dragged a chair over and sat down by him. “Sorry.”
“No,” the younger man sighed, “I’m sorry.” He looked at the polka dots of blooded popping through the gauze and flopped back into the couch. “Adam and I went jogging this morning and some jackass on a motorcycle wasn’t watching where he was going. He hit the road and I hit the ground.”
“And Adam?”
“He’s fine,” Kris replied out loud then added more softly, but not softly enough for Peter to miss, “… at least physically.”
Peter got off the chair and joined Kris on the couch.
“Something’s wrong.”
Kris lulled his head towards his boss and nodded.
“It started last night. At first I thought it was the fire ~ kinda shook us all up.”
You don’t know the half of it, Peter said to himself.
“He was actually pretty optimistic on that front. It’s something else. I don’t think he slept much last night and this morning, I went into the kitchen and discovered he’d had an eating binge. He doesn’t do that. I saw him talking to some guy last night after his set. Since then, he’s kind of shut down.”
“Have you asked him outright?”
“I want to,” he replied slowly, dragging out the words, “but I don’t want to push. He knows I’m here when he’s ready to talk.”
“Don’t wait too long, if you really think its something to be concerned about.”
“We’re going out tonight. Maybe when we’re relaxed and having fun he’ll open up. If not, I’ll bring it up.”
Peter patted Kris’ knee. “Good man.”
“Ow!”
“Sorry.”
There was a knock on the door and Sara stuck her head in, the phone held out in her hand.
“Mr. DiSantos, a call.”
:::: ♥♥ ::::
Adam sat in the coffee house, foot tapping, phone tight in his grip. After Kris had gone to work, Adam got on the phone with Sam Castle and asked if they could meet. The scout had half an hour free so here he was, waiting for the man who could change his future drastically.
His mind kept wandering between the problem at hand and sight of that motorcycle bearing down on Kris. He tried not to think about the car accident that took his parents away from him but he couldn’t help it. Adrenaline had pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind as it was happening but when he had time to think, he felt sick.
If he’d lost Kris, he’d loose everything.
“Adam.”
Sam was walking towards him. Adam got up and they shook hands. He took a look at the very expensive suit and felt incredibly underdressed in his jeans and sweater. That suit probably cost more than a week’s pay and was reserved for the most important clientele, like the person Sam said he had to meet after their chat.
The young singer secretly hoped one day Sam might dress like that for his benefit.
“Sam. Thanks for meeting with me.”
“Glad I could squeeze you in. I was hoping you’d call. Have you reached a decision?”
Adam hated to wipe the smile off the other man’s face.
“No, not really.” Adam leaned forward. “I have some more questions.”
Sam crossed his legs. “Go on.”
“O-kay.” He practiced the wording in his head. “First off, the style of music. At both clubs, I’ve done mainly standards and jazz. If I become a recording artist, that’s not the type of music I’d want to record. It fine for the supper club but I want to be edgier, more modern. I understand if this bombshell voids the offer … there was really no way for you to have known.”
“Was that the only concern?”
“No. I don’t know if you’re aware, but Peter DiSantos, Adagio’s owner, is opening a new nightclub called Indigo. It’ll probably be six months before its up and running but I’m going to be the headliner and music consultant. I get to sing the type of music I want and Peter’s given me creative control. He’s been a great friend and frankly, I don’t want to leave him in the lurch.”
“Indigo could fail you know.”
“I know. Any new venture is a risk but I’d still have a job at Adagio if that happened. If I leave and go with 19 and it doesn’t work out, I wouldn’t expect him to take me back.”
“Anything else?”
The more he talked, the more Adam thought Sam was changing his mind. He needed to be honest and lay all the cards on the table, no matter the results.
“And then there’s my fiancé. We’ve been through a lot since we met.” Adam noticed Sam’s face soften. Perhaps he’d done research on his past and knew what he was talking about. “Our life is settled and good now and though I know he’ll support me, whatever I decide, I kind of don’t want things to change.”
Adam sat back and let out a slow breath.
“All done?”
Adam nodded.
“Let me start by saying I don’t think you’re giving yourself enough credit. We’re … aware … of what you’ve been through and we’re impressed at how you’ve turned your life around.”
“You don’t think the fact that I’m openly gay and that I was ….”
“You were a victim Adam. I can’t say for sure some of the buying public wouldn’t hold it against you but we certainly won’t. Besides, any person who has a problem with that isn’t the type of fan you’d want anyway, are they?”
“No, I guess not.”
“Now the music genre. That could be an issue but from what I’ve seen ~ and I have been there a few times when you branched out ~ I still think you have what it takes. Perhaps you could make some demos for me, give me a better idea of what you have in mind.”
“Yeah … I could do that.”
“Secondly, we wouldn’t ask you to give up your job. Artist development is a long process and actually, having a steady gig where potential fans can come out and hear you live will help immensely. Even Indigo would benefit from it, dual promotion. There is no reason why we couldn’t work out a schedule that works for everyone involved.
“As for your personal life, can’t help you on that. We’re offering you the chance every singer wants but if it makes you miserable, is it really worth it?” Sam looked at his watch. “I have to go. Talk to Kris, talk to your boss, think about what I told you and call me.”
“Thanks Sam. I’ll be in touch soon with my decision, I promise.”
After Sam left, Adam finished his cold latte and headed out. He had a date to get ready for and a life altering discussion to plan.
:::: ♥♥ ::::
The evening had been wonderful. After Kris got home from work and shared the news that insurance would cover the damage at Indigo, they went out to their favorite bistro overlooking the Pacific then caught the late showing of ‘Some Like It Hot’ at the university’s arts center. They laughed until they cried and let all their troubles fade away for several hours.
Marilyn Monroe and Tony Curtis were making out in the back of the motorboat and Jack Lemmon, as Geraldine, was about to deliver some of the funniest closing lines of any movie, past or present, to his/her husband-to-be, millionaire Osgood. Someone behind them starting talking and Adam shushed them. When he turned back to the screen, Geraldine was starting:
(actual dialogue from the movie)
Osgood: I called Mama. She was so happy, she cried. She wants you to have her wedding gown. It's white lace.
Geraldine: Osgood, I can't get married in your mother's dress. She and I … we are not built the same way.
Osgood: We can have it altered.
Geraldine: Ooooh no, you don't! Osgood, I'm gonna level with you. We can't get married at all.
Osgood: Why not?
Geraldine: Well ... in the first place, I'm not a natural blonde.
Osgood: Doesn't matter.
Geraldine: I smoke. I smoke all the time.
Osgood: I don't care.
Geraldine: I have a terrible past. For three years I've been living with a saxophone player.
Osgood: I forgive you.
Geraldine: [feigns sadness] I can never have children.
Osgood: We can adopt some.
Geraldine: [uses real voice] You don't understand, Osgood! [pulls off wig] I'm a man.
Osgood: Well … nobody's perfect.
The air was warm and the moon glowed. Still laughing and sharing their favorite scenes, Kris leaned into Adam, arm around his waist.
“Shall we head home or do you want to go somewhere else?” Adam asked casually as they slowly made their way to the parking lot.
“Actually, I’d like to just walk around for while if that’s okay; my knees stiffened up.”
Adam kissed his temple.
“Whatever you want baby.”
Staying on the well lit paths, they moved from one pool of light to another. Soon the distraction of the movie left his mind and Kris started thinking again about Adam’s behavior. This morning, it looked like he’d been binge eating yet at dinner, he hardly touched his food. He recalled Peter’s advice, not to wait too long to talk to him if he was really concerned.
He was really concerned.
An empty bench waited up ahead.
“Lover, can we sit for a bit?”
They moved to the bench and Kris slowly sat, eventually landing hard as the pain in his knees kicked in and his legs gave out. Adam slipped an arm around his shoulders and Kris took hold of his hand.
“We need to talk.”
Kris expected Adam to change the subject. Instead, he was surprised when Adam agreed with him.
Once the door had been opened, Adam jumped right in.
“I’ve been offered an artist development deal with 19 Entertainment.”
Stunned silence.
“Kris?”
“Yeah, yeah, I heard you.” Once the shock dissipated, he turned in Adam’s hold, catching his gaze. “Oh my God Adam! That’s fantastic!”
They hugged forever.
“When … why … how come ….”
Adam filled him in on everything. ‘Leatherman’ was actually named Sam Castle and Adam hadn’t said anything because he’d had questions he needed answering like how it would affect Indigo, and he was worried how Kris would react.
“Did you think I wouldn’t be behind you 100%?”
“No, it’s just…” Kris saw the glint of a tear pooling in his blue eyes, “life has been a roller coaster for so long and finally our lives have calmed down. I didn’t know if you would be willing to go through another upheaval again.”
“Oh sweetheart,” Kris cupped his cheek, “never doubt that I wouldn’t go anywhere with you, that I wouldn’t support you no matter what you did. This is incredible Adam, absolutely incredible!”
A smile finally appeared on Adam’s face. “I know.”
“Are you going to take him up on it?”
“I’m still not completely sure but I talked with Sam this afternoon and he eased some of my worries and gave me great insight.”
“So what’s next?”
“I guess I need to talk to Peter. If I go with this, it could be great publicity for Indigo, and for me, but there’s also the real possibility that if things go well, I won’t be able to perform there anymore.”
Kris remembered Peter saying that morning that he’d never want to hold Adam back. He almost told Adam this but thought it should come from the horse’s mouth instead.
“And if he’s behind you too?”
“Then I guess I make some demos, show 19 what direction I want, and let the shoes fall where they may.” He let out a long shaky breathe. “God, that feels great to get that off my chest. I hate the feeling of holding things inside again.”
“You don’t have too.”
Adam kissed his temple. “I know but sometimes it easier not to face things.”
“And sometimes, sharing the burden is the best thing you can do.”
:::: ♥♥ ::::
“OW!”
Kris’ foot kicked out as the bandage got stuck.
“OW!” Adam echoed, rubbing his stomach where Kris kicked him. “I’ll have to wet the gauze and soften the scabs so I can remove them.”
“Can’t we just keep them on? The bleeding’s finally stopped.”
“True but we need to get more antibiotic ointment on the cuts. Don’t want an infection setting in.”
Adam soaked two washcloths in water as Kris readjusted his seat on the bathroom counter. Folding them up, Adam placed one on each knee. Kris giggled as the water trickled down his legs and onto the bathmat Adam has spread out under his feet.
“There. We’ll give it a few minutes and I’ll try again.”
“So what can we do in the meantime,” Kris suggested, spreading his legs apart and grabbing Adam by the shirt, moving him in.
Adam took Kris’ hands and placed them over the washcloths. “You hold onto these,” he wrapped his arms around Kris and slid him across the granite surface til their bodies were flush, “and I’ll hold onto these.”
The kissing was slow and languid. Kris desperately wanted to run his hands over Adam’s body but they were effectively stuck to the wet clothes. Between suckles, Adam whispered how much he loved Kris and how the thought of loosing him shook him to his core. Kris assured him it was going to take more than a bad driver to get him out of Adam’s life.
The water did its job and Adam got down on his knees and back to work. The gauze came off pretty effortlessly and he gently cleansed the wounds. Kris looked down at the top of Adam’s head and ran his fingers through the dark hair. When the skin was dried, Adam reached for the ointment but Kris stopped him.
“Let’s keep them uncovered for a while.”
“But what if you fall asleep and rub them against the sheets? No baby, I think I better cover them.”
“Adam,” Kris said softly and tenderly, causing his love to rise slowly up to his full height and gift him with the look that turned Kris’ body to jelly. “We are going to bed but who said anything about sleeping.”
Moments later, they were both naked on the mattress. Kris reclined on his back, legs wide and neck arched as Adam stretched out above him, licking the pulse points on his neck and working his way down. When he reached Kris’ aching cock, Adam kissed around in, worshiping the smaller man’s inner thigh and healing his damaged knees with tender kisses. On one tender spot, Kris hissed as the broken skin was touched.
“Maybe we should stop,” Adam suggested softly.
“N-No,” Kris panted, reaching out and bringing their lips together again. “Make love to me … make me feel good.”
Adam’s hand ghosted over his hot skin and caressed his swollen member, stroking. “Always, baby … always.”
Kris’ head tossed to and fro on the pillow as his fiancé brought him to and over the brink. Wetness spread over his stomach, patterns traced with black tipped fingers. Spreading his legs, he moaned as those cum soaked fingers circled his hole and pushed in, stretching and probing.
“Ng … Ad … f-fuck me now, pu-puleeeeze … mmmm ….”
Completely zoned out on pleasure, Kris was vaguely aware his legs were being bent gently and settled over Adam’s shoulders. He mewled as a hot wet tip stroked up and down over his entrance before sliding into him slowly but steadily until his sweet spot came alive.
“Baby? You okay?”
Opening his heavy eyes and licking his lips, Kris gazed at the blurred naked vision hovering over and inside him. He nodded and reached out, grabbing at the larger man’s hips and drawing him in closer.
Once Adam started moving, the pain in his knees, the concern over their future, everything else in the world melted away.
Osgood had said ‘nobody’s perfect’ … Kris wholeheartedly disagreed.
:::: ♥♥ ::::
Some Like It Hot (hilarious closing scene, highly recommend you watch, about 2mins) ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KzqE71Sa4k
Sequel to: Lost in Life
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: adam/kris, OMCs
Summary of Story: WIP. Kris and Adam are moving on with their lives, jumping into a new venture that promises so much, but the past comes back to haunt them.
Disclaimer: I do not own the real people involved, only those I’ve created.
Warnings: angst, violence, language DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE TRIGGERS. Additional warnings will be posted when warranted.
Can’t find a straight answer on internet re: fire insurance for the Club so going with my gut. If I’m wrong, forgive me.
Recap of Chapter 5 ~ Kris sees Adam and a man talking, business card is exchanged ~♥~ Fire at Indigo, Peter is shaken, past coming back ~♥~ Adam is offered a contract by a record company, he’s unsure ~♥~ learned Jerry connected to the fire
MASTERLIST ~ http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/39293.html#cutid1
:::: ♥♥ ::::
In the morning when Kris woke up, Adam wasn’t in bed. He shuffled through the dimly lit hallway towards the low sounds in the living room. Adam was sitting on the couch watching an infomercial on the newest and greatest way to chop vegetables.
He gazed at the clock ~ 6:00am.
Adam was never awake at 6:00am.
“Trouble sleeping?” Kris asked softly as he rounded the couch and cuddled up beside him.
Adam shut the TV off and wrapped both arms around Kris, holding him close. He didn’t say anything, just held on.
This worried Kris. He started thinking back to how Adam was when they first met at the Cavanaugh Club, withdrawn and not very talkative. Kris had the feeling Adam wasn’t telling him something and he didn’t know if he should breech the subject or let his fiancé open up first.
“Do you want some coffee?” Kris asked, trying to get a conversation going.
“There’s a pot in the kitchen … but it might be cold by now.”
“I’ll make a fresh one.”
Kris got up and headed to the kitchen. The counters were a mess, covered in open and empty snack boxes and bags. Adam never did this; he was overly conscious of his weight. He couldn’t keep quiet any longer. He needed to know what was going on in his lover’s head.
Two mugs of steaming coffee in hand, Kris padded barefoot into the living room.
“Adam, we need to talk.”
The reply was a gentle snore. Kris looked at his love lying on his side, asleep. Returning the coffee to the kitchen, he covered Adam with a blanket from the hall closet. Kissing him on the forehead, Kris headed back to bed himself.
A one sided conversation wasn’t going to get them anywhere.
Several hours later, Kris awoke to the sound of the shower going. He really didn’t want to get up. Maybe it was because the bed was too warm or maybe it was because he was worried about what Adam might tell him.
Adam came out naked, towel drying his hair. Not seeing Kris, he dug out a pair of briefs, long shorts, a t-shirt and a hoodie, slipping them on quickly. Reaching into the bottom of the closet he found his running shoes.
“Morning,” Kris yawned.
“Again.”
“Yeah, again. It’s been a while since you went jogging.”
“Too long actually. Feel a few pounds that need shedding.”
“Would you like some company?”
Kris wasn’t expecting him to say ‘yes’ so when Adam did, Kris was forced to get up and get out.
:::: ♥♥ ::::
Rather than jog along the beach, they drove to a nearby park. It was green and sunny and not too busy. Adam could hear Kris behind him. He’d been surprised when Kris asked if he could come along. They usually didn’t jog together cause Kris would complain he had to work twice as hard as Adam to keep up with his long legs. He took a glance back and spotted Kris about eight feet behind him but keeping up like a trooper.
Fifteen minutes later, the jogging came to a halt.
“Hey! Hold up, my lace came undone!”
Adam stopped but kept moving on the spot as Kris fixed his shoe. He thought about yesterday for the twentieth time.
A development deal. They were hard to come by. You had to already have an established fan base and have proven yourself these days before a major label would even look at you. Sam said what he’d observed at Adagio and what he’d heard about his success at the Cavanaugh Club had proven to him that Adam was offering something people wanted.
Sometimes he’d wished the Cavanaugh Club had never happened but then he wouldn’t have found Kris and he wouldn’t have developed the skills that drew 19E’s attention. Still, it kept nagging in the back of his mind that they expected him to be the next Frank Sinatra and that wasn’t what he wanted.
Before he worried anymore about it, he would call Sam and ask him straight out.
“Thanks for waiting.”
Starting up again, Adam slowed down so his boy could stay by his side.
Adam sensed Kris was aware something was up. He loved him even more, if that were possible, for giving him space and letting him open up when he was ready. Reaching out, he took Kris’ hand and they stayed that way until they completed the circuit and returned to the car.
“Hungry?” Adam asked, stripping off his hoodie and grabbing a towel out of the trunk.
“Famished,” Kris lifted his arm and sniffed, wrinkling his nose, “but I think a shower is needed first.”
Adam pulled Kris into his arms and sniffed his neck, letting the tip of tongue taste the saltiness. Kris groaned and gripped the wet shirt plastered over Adam’s back.
“I love it when you get sweaty,” Adam groaned.
“I know, but usually it isn’t from running.”
Licking a stripe up his neck, Adam left Kris weak kneed and got into the car. When Kris didn’t join him, he gazed out the back window and didn’t see him. He then looked at the passenger’s side mirror and spotted him tying that damn shoe lace again at the side of the road.
The roar of a motorcycle caught Adam’s attention. It was coming their way, the driver encased in black, including the helmet visor. Closing in, the machine headed straight for the car and Kris.
Frantically, Adam tried to undo his seatbelt but it jammed. He opened his door and shouted, “KRIS! BEHIND YOU!”
Thankfully, Kris heard him and jumped out of the way, falling onto the gravel, as the motorcycle came within inches of him. Adam’s seatbelt finally released and he hurried around the car as the engine faded into the distance.
Kris was on his hands and knees, slowly getting up. Gravel dented his palms but the damage was on his knees, blood slowly pooling around the tiny stones and dirt. Adam retrieved the water bottles from the car and carefully cleaned the skin, removing the stones.
“Where the hell did he come from?” Kris hissed as the cleaning continued.
“Who knows. I’m just thankful you’re okay.” Adam looked down the road and even though the bike was long gone, he still muttered, “Jackass.”
“Adam, can we finish this at home? You’ve flooded my socks and shoes.”
“Oh … sorry baby. Yeah, I’ll fix you up at home. Didn’t happen to get the license did you?”
“No, I was too busy chewing dirt.”
They drove home, Kris had his shower and Adam properly cleaned, medicated and bandaged his boy’s knees. When done, Kris teetered into the bedroom, legs stiff.
What a shitty way to start the day.
:::: ♥♥ ::::
Peter sat at the bar, sipping a black coffee and staring at the wet ring on the napkin. The phone lay beside it, silent. Tim was at Indigo meeting with the Fire Marshall to find out what caused the fire and would call when he had answers. Meanwhile, Peter had been in contact with their insurance agent. They would be covered but if it was caused by negligence, they wouldn’t collect the full amount and would still have make up the difference. Peter didn’t think the bank would look too kindly on him asking for another loan in this instance. He’d called James, Indigo’s lawyer, letting him know what happened and what could happen. James said he’d be there when needed.
When Peter had gotten home last night, Serena was waiting. The moment the front door closed, she had him in her arms and held him while he cried. With her, he didn’t need to keep up the façade. They had been dating and engaged twenty years ago when he’d suffered the most painful experience of his life ~ being burned.
Peter had been a server at an upscale restaurant in San Francisco. He was in college studying business administration and working at night and on weekends. He had a wonderful fiancé and life couldn’t have been better.
One night, he’d gotten into a disagreement with one of his co-workers. They’d never gotten along and just tried to stay out of each other’s way. Well, it came to blows, literally, over a tip of all things. The manager sent them in separate directions to cool off. Peter, unfortunately, had ended up with a blackening eye and since it couldn’t really be hidden, he spent the rest of the night in the kitchen while the other guy just had to stop wincing at the pain in his ribs.
After hours, when there was just a handful of staff there, he’d gone into the storage room to get the something when the door shut behind him. Peter didn’t think anything of it since the hinges did that all the time. Once he got what he needed, he tried to open the door but it was jammed.
Then smoke started pouring in under the door and the fire alarm went off. He pounded on the door, screaming until his voice went. The door got hot beneath his fists and that was where his memory stopped. The next thing he knew he was waking up in the hospital with his upper back burned.
He found out much that the fire had been deemed suspicious. He had his own ideas, as did his fellow co-workers, on who was responsible. It was confirmed in their minds, if not legally, when Malcolm skipped town.
“Mr. DiSantos, are you feeling alright. Your hand’s shaking.”
He set down his mug and looked over at Sara, one of his servers, and smiled weakly.
“I’m fine. Has Kris arrived yet?”
“Yeah, he hobbled in about ten minutes ago. I think he’s in the office.”
Hobbled?
Leaving Sara and the phone behind, Peter hurried to the office. Kris was sitting on the couch with the legs of his sweatpants pulled up over his bandaged knees.
“What the hell happened?”
Kris looked up and huffed, “Good morning to you too.”
Peter dragged a chair over and sat down by him. “Sorry.”
“No,” the younger man sighed, “I’m sorry.” He looked at the polka dots of blooded popping through the gauze and flopped back into the couch. “Adam and I went jogging this morning and some jackass on a motorcycle wasn’t watching where he was going. He hit the road and I hit the ground.”
“And Adam?”
“He’s fine,” Kris replied out loud then added more softly, but not softly enough for Peter to miss, “… at least physically.”
Peter got off the chair and joined Kris on the couch.
“Something’s wrong.”
Kris lulled his head towards his boss and nodded.
“It started last night. At first I thought it was the fire ~ kinda shook us all up.”
You don’t know the half of it, Peter said to himself.
“He was actually pretty optimistic on that front. It’s something else. I don’t think he slept much last night and this morning, I went into the kitchen and discovered he’d had an eating binge. He doesn’t do that. I saw him talking to some guy last night after his set. Since then, he’s kind of shut down.”
“Have you asked him outright?”
“I want to,” he replied slowly, dragging out the words, “but I don’t want to push. He knows I’m here when he’s ready to talk.”
“Don’t wait too long, if you really think its something to be concerned about.”
“We’re going out tonight. Maybe when we’re relaxed and having fun he’ll open up. If not, I’ll bring it up.”
Peter patted Kris’ knee. “Good man.”
“Ow!”
“Sorry.”
There was a knock on the door and Sara stuck her head in, the phone held out in her hand.
“Mr. DiSantos, a call.”
:::: ♥♥ ::::
Adam sat in the coffee house, foot tapping, phone tight in his grip. After Kris had gone to work, Adam got on the phone with Sam Castle and asked if they could meet. The scout had half an hour free so here he was, waiting for the man who could change his future drastically.
His mind kept wandering between the problem at hand and sight of that motorcycle bearing down on Kris. He tried not to think about the car accident that took his parents away from him but he couldn’t help it. Adrenaline had pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind as it was happening but when he had time to think, he felt sick.
If he’d lost Kris, he’d loose everything.
“Adam.”
Sam was walking towards him. Adam got up and they shook hands. He took a look at the very expensive suit and felt incredibly underdressed in his jeans and sweater. That suit probably cost more than a week’s pay and was reserved for the most important clientele, like the person Sam said he had to meet after their chat.
The young singer secretly hoped one day Sam might dress like that for his benefit.
“Sam. Thanks for meeting with me.”
“Glad I could squeeze you in. I was hoping you’d call. Have you reached a decision?”
Adam hated to wipe the smile off the other man’s face.
“No, not really.” Adam leaned forward. “I have some more questions.”
Sam crossed his legs. “Go on.”
“O-kay.” He practiced the wording in his head. “First off, the style of music. At both clubs, I’ve done mainly standards and jazz. If I become a recording artist, that’s not the type of music I’d want to record. It fine for the supper club but I want to be edgier, more modern. I understand if this bombshell voids the offer … there was really no way for you to have known.”
“Was that the only concern?”
“No. I don’t know if you’re aware, but Peter DiSantos, Adagio’s owner, is opening a new nightclub called Indigo. It’ll probably be six months before its up and running but I’m going to be the headliner and music consultant. I get to sing the type of music I want and Peter’s given me creative control. He’s been a great friend and frankly, I don’t want to leave him in the lurch.”
“Indigo could fail you know.”
“I know. Any new venture is a risk but I’d still have a job at Adagio if that happened. If I leave and go with 19 and it doesn’t work out, I wouldn’t expect him to take me back.”
“Anything else?”
The more he talked, the more Adam thought Sam was changing his mind. He needed to be honest and lay all the cards on the table, no matter the results.
“And then there’s my fiancé. We’ve been through a lot since we met.” Adam noticed Sam’s face soften. Perhaps he’d done research on his past and knew what he was talking about. “Our life is settled and good now and though I know he’ll support me, whatever I decide, I kind of don’t want things to change.”
Adam sat back and let out a slow breath.
“All done?”
Adam nodded.
“Let me start by saying I don’t think you’re giving yourself enough credit. We’re … aware … of what you’ve been through and we’re impressed at how you’ve turned your life around.”
“You don’t think the fact that I’m openly gay and that I was ….”
“You were a victim Adam. I can’t say for sure some of the buying public wouldn’t hold it against you but we certainly won’t. Besides, any person who has a problem with that isn’t the type of fan you’d want anyway, are they?”
“No, I guess not.”
“Now the music genre. That could be an issue but from what I’ve seen ~ and I have been there a few times when you branched out ~ I still think you have what it takes. Perhaps you could make some demos for me, give me a better idea of what you have in mind.”
“Yeah … I could do that.”
“Secondly, we wouldn’t ask you to give up your job. Artist development is a long process and actually, having a steady gig where potential fans can come out and hear you live will help immensely. Even Indigo would benefit from it, dual promotion. There is no reason why we couldn’t work out a schedule that works for everyone involved.
“As for your personal life, can’t help you on that. We’re offering you the chance every singer wants but if it makes you miserable, is it really worth it?” Sam looked at his watch. “I have to go. Talk to Kris, talk to your boss, think about what I told you and call me.”
“Thanks Sam. I’ll be in touch soon with my decision, I promise.”
After Sam left, Adam finished his cold latte and headed out. He had a date to get ready for and a life altering discussion to plan.
:::: ♥♥ ::::
The evening had been wonderful. After Kris got home from work and shared the news that insurance would cover the damage at Indigo, they went out to their favorite bistro overlooking the Pacific then caught the late showing of ‘Some Like It Hot’ at the university’s arts center. They laughed until they cried and let all their troubles fade away for several hours.
Marilyn Monroe and Tony Curtis were making out in the back of the motorboat and Jack Lemmon, as Geraldine, was about to deliver some of the funniest closing lines of any movie, past or present, to his/her husband-to-be, millionaire Osgood. Someone behind them starting talking and Adam shushed them. When he turned back to the screen, Geraldine was starting:
(actual dialogue from the movie)
Osgood: I called Mama. She was so happy, she cried. She wants you to have her wedding gown. It's white lace.
Geraldine: Osgood, I can't get married in your mother's dress. She and I … we are not built the same way.
Osgood: We can have it altered.
Geraldine: Ooooh no, you don't! Osgood, I'm gonna level with you. We can't get married at all.
Osgood: Why not?
Geraldine: Well ... in the first place, I'm not a natural blonde.
Osgood: Doesn't matter.
Geraldine: I smoke. I smoke all the time.
Osgood: I don't care.
Geraldine: I have a terrible past. For three years I've been living with a saxophone player.
Osgood: I forgive you.
Geraldine: [feigns sadness] I can never have children.
Osgood: We can adopt some.
Geraldine: [uses real voice] You don't understand, Osgood! [pulls off wig] I'm a man.
Osgood: Well … nobody's perfect.
The air was warm and the moon glowed. Still laughing and sharing their favorite scenes, Kris leaned into Adam, arm around his waist.
“Shall we head home or do you want to go somewhere else?” Adam asked casually as they slowly made their way to the parking lot.
“Actually, I’d like to just walk around for while if that’s okay; my knees stiffened up.”
Adam kissed his temple.
“Whatever you want baby.”
Staying on the well lit paths, they moved from one pool of light to another. Soon the distraction of the movie left his mind and Kris started thinking again about Adam’s behavior. This morning, it looked like he’d been binge eating yet at dinner, he hardly touched his food. He recalled Peter’s advice, not to wait too long to talk to him if he was really concerned.
He was really concerned.
An empty bench waited up ahead.
“Lover, can we sit for a bit?”
They moved to the bench and Kris slowly sat, eventually landing hard as the pain in his knees kicked in and his legs gave out. Adam slipped an arm around his shoulders and Kris took hold of his hand.
“We need to talk.”
Kris expected Adam to change the subject. Instead, he was surprised when Adam agreed with him.
Once the door had been opened, Adam jumped right in.
“I’ve been offered an artist development deal with 19 Entertainment.”
Stunned silence.
“Kris?”
“Yeah, yeah, I heard you.” Once the shock dissipated, he turned in Adam’s hold, catching his gaze. “Oh my God Adam! That’s fantastic!”
They hugged forever.
“When … why … how come ….”
Adam filled him in on everything. ‘Leatherman’ was actually named Sam Castle and Adam hadn’t said anything because he’d had questions he needed answering like how it would affect Indigo, and he was worried how Kris would react.
“Did you think I wouldn’t be behind you 100%?”
“No, it’s just…” Kris saw the glint of a tear pooling in his blue eyes, “life has been a roller coaster for so long and finally our lives have calmed down. I didn’t know if you would be willing to go through another upheaval again.”
“Oh sweetheart,” Kris cupped his cheek, “never doubt that I wouldn’t go anywhere with you, that I wouldn’t support you no matter what you did. This is incredible Adam, absolutely incredible!”
A smile finally appeared on Adam’s face. “I know.”
“Are you going to take him up on it?”
“I’m still not completely sure but I talked with Sam this afternoon and he eased some of my worries and gave me great insight.”
“So what’s next?”
“I guess I need to talk to Peter. If I go with this, it could be great publicity for Indigo, and for me, but there’s also the real possibility that if things go well, I won’t be able to perform there anymore.”
Kris remembered Peter saying that morning that he’d never want to hold Adam back. He almost told Adam this but thought it should come from the horse’s mouth instead.
“And if he’s behind you too?”
“Then I guess I make some demos, show 19 what direction I want, and let the shoes fall where they may.” He let out a long shaky breathe. “God, that feels great to get that off my chest. I hate the feeling of holding things inside again.”
“You don’t have too.”
Adam kissed his temple. “I know but sometimes it easier not to face things.”
“And sometimes, sharing the burden is the best thing you can do.”
:::: ♥♥ ::::
“OW!”
Kris’ foot kicked out as the bandage got stuck.
“OW!” Adam echoed, rubbing his stomach where Kris kicked him. “I’ll have to wet the gauze and soften the scabs so I can remove them.”
“Can’t we just keep them on? The bleeding’s finally stopped.”
“True but we need to get more antibiotic ointment on the cuts. Don’t want an infection setting in.”
Adam soaked two washcloths in water as Kris readjusted his seat on the bathroom counter. Folding them up, Adam placed one on each knee. Kris giggled as the water trickled down his legs and onto the bathmat Adam has spread out under his feet.
“There. We’ll give it a few minutes and I’ll try again.”
“So what can we do in the meantime,” Kris suggested, spreading his legs apart and grabbing Adam by the shirt, moving him in.
Adam took Kris’ hands and placed them over the washcloths. “You hold onto these,” he wrapped his arms around Kris and slid him across the granite surface til their bodies were flush, “and I’ll hold onto these.”
The kissing was slow and languid. Kris desperately wanted to run his hands over Adam’s body but they were effectively stuck to the wet clothes. Between suckles, Adam whispered how much he loved Kris and how the thought of loosing him shook him to his core. Kris assured him it was going to take more than a bad driver to get him out of Adam’s life.
The water did its job and Adam got down on his knees and back to work. The gauze came off pretty effortlessly and he gently cleansed the wounds. Kris looked down at the top of Adam’s head and ran his fingers through the dark hair. When the skin was dried, Adam reached for the ointment but Kris stopped him.
“Let’s keep them uncovered for a while.”
“But what if you fall asleep and rub them against the sheets? No baby, I think I better cover them.”
“Adam,” Kris said softly and tenderly, causing his love to rise slowly up to his full height and gift him with the look that turned Kris’ body to jelly. “We are going to bed but who said anything about sleeping.”
Moments later, they were both naked on the mattress. Kris reclined on his back, legs wide and neck arched as Adam stretched out above him, licking the pulse points on his neck and working his way down. When he reached Kris’ aching cock, Adam kissed around in, worshiping the smaller man’s inner thigh and healing his damaged knees with tender kisses. On one tender spot, Kris hissed as the broken skin was touched.
“Maybe we should stop,” Adam suggested softly.
“N-No,” Kris panted, reaching out and bringing their lips together again. “Make love to me … make me feel good.”
Adam’s hand ghosted over his hot skin and caressed his swollen member, stroking. “Always, baby … always.”
Kris’ head tossed to and fro on the pillow as his fiancé brought him to and over the brink. Wetness spread over his stomach, patterns traced with black tipped fingers. Spreading his legs, he moaned as those cum soaked fingers circled his hole and pushed in, stretching and probing.
“Ng … Ad … f-fuck me now, pu-puleeeeze … mmmm ….”
Completely zoned out on pleasure, Kris was vaguely aware his legs were being bent gently and settled over Adam’s shoulders. He mewled as a hot wet tip stroked up and down over his entrance before sliding into him slowly but steadily until his sweet spot came alive.
“Baby? You okay?”
Opening his heavy eyes and licking his lips, Kris gazed at the blurred naked vision hovering over and inside him. He nodded and reached out, grabbing at the larger man’s hips and drawing him in closer.
Once Adam started moving, the pain in his knees, the concern over their future, everything else in the world melted away.
Osgood had said ‘nobody’s perfect’ … Kris wholeheartedly disagreed.
:::: ♥♥ ::::
Some Like It Hot (hilarious closing scene, highly recommend you watch, about 2mins) ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KzqE71Sa4k