Fic: Wait for You | 3 of 4
Title: Wait for You
Type: AU | Angst | Romance
Rated: NC-17
Adam ignored the scurrying and people moving around him as he flipped through the binder and matched the dates and times to the calendar on his iPad. He scribbled notes along the pages as one leg bounced to the music.
Tapping his knee with a pen in one hand, he stuck the other in his mouth as he turned the page. A plate full of cookies blocked his view, making him look up.
He pulled the pen from his mouth and grinned, “Aww, for me?”
Tatiana rolled her eyes, “Who else would they be for?”
Removing the headphones and turning off the music, he cleared space on the table, “You shouldn’t have, Tats.”
She placed the plate on the table, along with a glass of milk and a bottle of water. “I didn’t. Kim sent them. A messenger just dropped them off.”
Adam took a bite and moaned as the chocolate and sugar melted in his mouth. He sprawled back onto the couch and continued to chew with his eyes closed. Opening one eye, he saw Tatiana still standing in front on him, arms crossed and lips twisted trying not to laugh.
“Say it, brat.”
“There was a note, too.”
“Which said…” he raised an eyebrow and took another bite of the cookie in his hand.
“Why would you think…”
Adam popped the rest of his cookie in his mouth and reached for the milk. “I’m waiting.”
The laugh burst out of Tatiana as if she couldn’t contain it any longer, “Fine. Kim and Neil are coming over to dinner, along with your mom. Monique’s already called the market for delivery because Kim’s going to be making the meal.”
“What? Why?”
Tatiana paused and quirked her lips; she went to the door and closed it. “You’re leaving on an extended trip for the first time since the accident. I think they want to make sure everything is okay.”
“Everything’s fine,” Adam huffed. He grabbed another cookie. “Why didn’t you stop it? I’m leaving at ass o’clock tomorrow morning, and the house is a mess. Christi’s people are running in and out of…”
“Boss,” Tatiana said sitting next to him. She put a hand on his knee. “Okay, so here’s the deal. You’re leaving for three weeks. We’ve done this before. Despite the house looking like a tornado hit it, it’s not new. So, now, after saying that, I didn’t stop it because I think it’ll be good for you to spend a little time with the family before you head out. You spend time with your mom. Kris spends time with his mom and dad, but it’s been a while since you all spent time together.”
“Fine,” Adam said with a sigh. He tried to take another cookie, but Tatiana pushed the plate away. “Tat…what?”
“I’m not done.”
Adam pouted, “Of course you’re not.”
“You know I love Kris, right?”
“Yeah,” Adam nodded.
“But, you know that my loyalty is first and foremost with you,” Tatiana said seriously.
“I know, and that’s why you can never leave me.”
Tatiana smiled, “Well, that and the fact that you’d be a giant, hot mess without me.”
“Brat.”
“I love you, too,” she laughed. “But…”
Adam fell back into the couch and sighed, “Of course there’s a ‘but’ …”
“But, I think you should know this, even though Kris didn’t want Monique or me to say anything to you.”
Adam tilted his head, “Yeah? What?”
“Do you know he’s been sleeping on the couch here? That he spends hours looking through all the pictures, the ones in the albums and on your iPad?”
Frowning, Adam thought back. He still checked on Kris every night, but only from the doorway. He didn’t tempt himself by going inside. He hadn’t noticed the albums being moved from the shelves.
“What do you mean? He never comes in here anymore, spending all his time in that damn man-cave of his. When’s he do this?”
“During the day, after his physical therapy sessions, when you’re not around,” she answered. “He’ll come in here, take an album out or go through the boxes. He doesn’t say anything, and we don’t bother him, but he does it. Then he falls asleep on the couch for a small nap, face in the cushion, blanket in his hand.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
Tatiana sighed and slapped his knee, “Because you’ve been avoiding him the last couple of weeks. You barely talk to him, and he’s miserable.”
“I’m giving him space!” Adam shouted. He looked at the door, thinking someone would come in at the outburst. Then quietly said, “He’s still getting used to all this…us. He told me as much before he moved back in. I think I was too intense for him when he came back from his parents, and it freaked him out.” He blew out a breath and rubbed his temples. “Tat…I have to give him this space. The doctors said not to push, that the memories would come back when they do…if,” his voice hitched, “if they do. And, until then, I have to let him come to terms with everything on his own time.”
Tatiana shook her head, “No, you don’t get it. You’re not seeing it.”
“Seeing what? Get what?” Adam growled and stood up. “I’m not having this conversation. Drop it, Tats.”
He opened the door and nearly knocked Brad over. Adam huffed and left the room.
Brad furrowed his brow, “Tats, what’s going on?”
Tatiana raised her arms up and grimaced, “Adam’s being a stubborn asshole!”
Brad looked at her then down the hall and raised an eyebrow, “Well, that’s not new.”
“Talk to him, please Brad?”
Nodding, he left her and went to find Adam.
**
Us Magazine
Hot Pics!
In London to do press for the upcoming film, House of Sleep, co-stars Adam Lambert, Ewan McGregor and Matt Damon were seen bar-hopping and having fun with the locals, where they bought rounds at each stop. Along with Emma Stone, the actors will be breaking hearts while traveling to Amsterdam, Berlin, Barcelona, Rome and Paris.
OK! Magazine
Adam Lambert Loving London!
Actor Adam Lambert is making his way through Europe, and we don’t just mean to do press for his new movie. Though Lambert was seen enjoying dinners with co-stars, Ewan McGregor and Matt Damon, sources tell OK! that he’s been sneaking out afterwards to meet up with some friendly locals in very popular gay hot spots around town. Their film House of Sleep comes out in December.
The Enquirer
Lambert on the Loose! Caught!
While gallivanting around Europe for the House of Sleep press junket, photos have surfaced of actor Adam Lambert cozying up a pretty boy, who happens to not be husband, Kris Allen. Check out the photos and tell us what you see. Is that the glam Lambert or a Lamebert trying to throw of us track? You decide!
PerezHilton.com
La Lambert Liking La Attention!
Though technically in London and Amsterdam and Paris for work (wink wink), Adam Lambert, the House of Sleep actor, has been spending just as much time playing and enjoying all the “offerings” that these amazing cities have to offer, and not just museums. We hear that La Lambert with some very flirty fans. Pictures don’t lie. What do you think?
**
“ ‘Lo?”
It sounded like Adam, but Kris needed to make sure. After seeing the blurry photos, he couldn’t do anything or think straight, so he picked up the phone. “Adam?”
“Kris? Are you okay?” Adam’s voice was deep and husky, and definitely hoarse from sleep.
“I’m okay…sorry,” Kris stuttered. “Didn’t mean to wake you.”
He could hear Adam fumbling with the phone, probably squinting to find a clock to check the time. Kris didn’t know why he knew this, but it settled the ache in his chest regardless.
“It’s four in the morning. Did something happen?”
“No, it’s… I’m sorry. Go back to sleep.”
“You sure you’re okay, baby?”
“Yeah, I just…” Kris smiled while his fingers played with the frayed edge of his jeans. Adam hadn’t called him baby since he first moved back home. It was a small thing, but he missed it. “I didn’t think about the time, and I wanted to say hi.”
“Oh, uh hi,” Adam said tentatively.
Kris could hear the confusion in Adam’s voice. It’s not that he could blame him. “I didn’t think about the time. You have a crazy schedule, I forgot about the time change and…”
Adam sighed, “No, it’s okay. My wake-up call goes off in a little bit anyway. Have some silly morning talk show to do.”
“Sorry, I’m not sure why I actually called,” Kris mumbled. He could hear Adam settling back down in the bed, the rustle of sheets, and god, Kris had the sudden urge to be there with him.
“To make sure I don’t get yelled at for oversleeping?”
Kris huffed out a small laugh, “Did I used to do that a lot? I mean, before?”
“Not a lot,” Adam said softly. Kris could hear the smile in his voice. “You usually blamed not being able to calculate the time difference, but you’re so much better at that than I am that I never believed you.” Adam paused, “Huh.”
“What?” Kris asked.
“Nothing.”
“No, tell me. Please?”
“Uh, have you been reading the tabloids?”
Kris didn’t know how to answer that. He had been which is why he called. Was there a right answer to this?
“Kris? You there?”
“Yeah, I…um. There was this small thing. It was sitting on top of the stack of papers Monique brought in!” Kris tried to defend himself.
Adam chuckled, and the sound traveled over Kris’s body like a shot of adrenaline.
“What?” Kris was confused. “Was I not supposed to look?”
“No,” Adam replied. “It’s just that…well, whenever you saw a gossip item about me with someone else, you’d call and wake my ass up to say hi and that you missed me.”
“I did not!” Kris was horrified. He did that? “I did that?”
“Yeah,” Adam answered quietly. “It was cute. It still is.”
“Uh…”
The hotel phone rang indicating the wake-up call. Kris could hear Adam pick up the phone to stop the ringing.
Adam’s voice was gentle, “I need to go. I’ll be home in a few days.”
“Yeah, I’ll see you then.”
Kris tossed the phone to the other side of the couch.
“What’d the phone ever do to you,” Tatiana asked as she walked in with her arms full of boxes.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Of course,” she answered as she took scissors to open the packages. “Though, I have the right to not answer or deflect.”
“Of course,” Kris parroted back and smiled. “Was I…was I jealous of Adam?”
Tatiana stopped in the middle of cutting, tipping her head like she was thinking about the question. “Jealous? No. Possessive? Yes.” She continued ripping open boxes. “Why?”
“Possessive? Really?”
Huh. That explained…a lot actually. The teeth-clenching, stomach churning wave of sudden anger that popped up when he saw the blurry picture that insinuated it was Adam, when it obviously wasn’t. Or the photos of Adam smiling, face flushed red from alcohol, next to some overly zealous fans who had their arms around him like they owned him. Or the initial leeriness and unwarranted hatred he felt towards Brad and Tommy upon meeting them for the first time, again.
Laughing, Tatiana leaned back in her chair and propped up her feet, “Oh, the stories I could tell.”
“Share?”
“How embarrassed did you want to get today?”
Kris palmed the back of his neck and felt the blushing start, “Let me have it.”
**
Matt patted his back and bent over to wheeze, laughter choking him.
“It’s not funny, jackass,” Kris grumbled. He was sprawled on the couch, taking up the entire length of it, lying on his stomach.
“But, you see…it kinda is,” Mike chuckled. He ruffled Kris’s hair as he walked by. “And, you do know that you’ve pretty much opened the door for us to tell you even more stories.”
“We just need to make sure we have a lot of ice ready for when his face turns ridiculously red,” Cale chimed in.
Kris groaned into the cushion, “I hate you all.”
“When’s the hubby coming back?” Matt asked as he sat on the floor.
“In three days,” Kris answered. He looked up from the nest of cushions, “Why?”
Matt shrugged, “Not the same watching a game at the house without him popping in with his little sourpuss face, complaining about the noise and all that.”
“That’s what’s off about this,” Mike agreed. “It makes game days more interesting, especially when he’s pretending to listen and care.”
Cale laughed, “How about when he bitches about the food, then settles into Kris’s lap and eats and drinks with us?”
“Shut up and watch the game,” Kris groused.
“Aww,” Cale cooed, leaning over from his chair to tousle Kris’s hair. “Are you missing your man? If you want, one of us will snuggle in with you while you feed us and explain the traveling call.”
“It’s been nearly three weeks,” Matt said snidely. “It’s the longest they’ve been apart in the last few months, no?”
“Yeah,” Cale replied. He stretched out his legs and yawned. “I’m sure Kris will be less grumpy and mope-y in a few days once Adam’s back.”
“Hey look!” Kris said excitedly. “Game!”
Matt, Mike and Cale just laughed, but at least they started to watch the game again and stopped picking on him.
With their attention back on the television screen, Kris closed his eyes and focused on the nest he built around his head. The day after Adam left, he took the blanket from the couch in the den, and then snuck into Adam’s room to grab the cologne and spray one of the cushions from his game room couch.
For the first time since the accident, Kris had Matt, Mike and Cale over to watch a game. Adam hinted that it wouldn’t be a big deal for them to come over like they always did, but Kris hadn’t felt like it at the time, not remembering anyone but Cale. So, he waited. After seeing how they acted around him a couple of weeks ago, Kris felt better about everything. The regular game day routine was back on. Even better, Mike had filled him in on how Adam converted the small downstairs guestroom into the “hetero cave” for Kris and his friends.
From the three large flat screens, including a 65-inch LED LCD television and the seven point one surround sound speaker system to the cable and satellite connections to the couch, two recliners and mini-fridge, it was the dream system Kris had never thought he’d be able to have. And yet, despite his lack of interest in sports, Adam had a custom installer build it exactly how he wanted.
Kris closed his eyes. After dinner with their parents, Kris watched from the doorway as Adam finished packing.
“Is something wrong?” Adam asked, looking over his shoulder.
“No, just, you know, trying to remember if any of this is familiar.”
“Oh, uh…is it?”
Kris shook his head. He opened his mouth to say something, but Adam’s phone rang. Tuning the conversation out, he tried to work up the courage to say something to keep them talking. He waited until Adam tossed the phone onto the bed, then as he turned around; Kris took a step into the room.
As he walked in, images of Adam’s face flushed, beads of sweat trailing down the side of his face, flashed behind his eyes. Kris held out a hand as he reached for Adam’s arm, “I…uh, what time’s your flight in the morning?”
He chanced a glance at Adam’s face, and it was carefully blank. He closed the distance and placed his hand on Adam’s forearm. It was shaking from nerves and they looked at the hand like it was a foreign object. Kris was about to step back and release his nervous grip, when Adam’s free hand moved and clasped Kris’s neck.
“Kris…,” Adam whispered. “I just…”
Adam pressed his lips against Kris’s. Kris closed his eyes and breathed into the kiss, opening his mouth from the sensation. Adam licked into his mouth, tentative, unsure. But, instead of pushing him away, Kris pushed in closer and sucked Adam’s tongue deeper into his mouth. He shivered as Adam’s hand gripped the side of his neck tighter, drawing him in and holding him in place. He felt rather than heard Adam’s moan.
Heat filled him, curled up in small tendrils and traveled in quick succession up his body. Kris pushed up on his toes, arm wrapping around Adam’s waist. He felt the need to shed the clothes that were preventing him from touching Adam’s skin. The tips of his fingers tingled with an energy that was new yet achingly familiar. He moved the palm of his hand up Adam’s side, and he could feel the hammering pulse from his heart as his hand roamed along his chest.
Adam moved his hand to the waistband of Kris’s jeans, flitting over the t-shirt. He didn’t want this to stop.
But Adam pulled away, breathing hard. “Kris, I…”
“It’s okay,” Kris breathed out heavily. He took a step back and covered his throat where Adam’s hand had just been. It felt like he had been branded. “Just...uh, good night. I’ll see you when you get back.”
Kris fled the room like a maniacal, knife-wielding psychopath was chasing after him. He closed the door behind him, feeling like he had just run a three-minute mile, heart ready to beat out of his chest.
Damn.
He went to bed, body strumming. Tossing and turning, he finally fell asleep. When he woke up, Adam was already gone. The entryway was clear of the suitcases. Kris sighed, yeah, he was falling in love with his husband. The problem was, his husband just didn’t know it yet.
**
Adam pushed Kris against the wall as he kiss a trail along his jaw to his neck. His slid his hand along Kris’s wrist and pinned them over his head. Pulling back, he breathed hard and slid his lips alongside Kris’s face. Adam’s body was screaming at him to just take, supplying him with images of Kris moaning underneath, goading him until he aligned their bodies together.
Kris was saying something, but he couldn’t hear anything. He just knew that he couldn’t stop. The sounds around him became muffled. He lifted his head, needing to hear Kris’s moans, the tiny sounds he made when Adam touched him just so, the hum from Kris’s throat when Adam licked that spot under his jaw…
Adam jerked awake as his ears started to pop and the muddled voice of the captain filled the cabin. The plane started its decent into LAX, so he removed the ear buds and shut off the music. Shifting in his seat, he tried to adjust his pants by putting his electronics and snacks away. He was suddenly thankful that he had shifted his body towards the window as he fell asleep.
He slung the messenger bag over his head, moving it over his shoulder and adjusted his grip on the duffel as he sauntered through the terminal. Ignoring the stares and whispers, he put on his sunglasses and headed to the customs line. He smiled and signed autographs as the line moved agonizingly slow, as he couldn’t ignore the people around him by pretending to be on the phone since reception was shit.
With a quick smile at the customs agent and some playful conversation, he went to the airline agent and signed off on the paperwork to get his luggage delivered. They rushed him out into the main waiting area where he spotted Eddy, his regular driver. Nodding, Eddy came around the barrier, grabbed his duffel and ushered him outside.
Flashes greeted them as paparazzi swarmed around them. LAX security formed a human blockade as they crossed the street to the parking garage.
Naturally, a team from TMZ was hanging around the black SUV. He put on a smile. The fact that they didn’t reach his eyes didn’t matter since he hadn’t taken off his sunglasses.
“Hey Adam, how was your trip?”
“Where’re Bobby and Jason?” Adam asked as he kept walking.
“Chasing after the other Adam,” the guy with the boom microphone answered.
“Aww, come on guys, leave Levine alone. He’s got a new girl, let them have some privacy.”
The camera man laughed, “Harvey didn’t want Bobby or Jason harassing you too much.”
Adam chuckled and waved to the camera, “Thanks, Harvey. Let me know if you want another dozen cupcakes.”
“So, Adam, how was the trip? Any truth to the gay club hopping rumors our less than intrepid counterparts were spreading?”
“You guys should know better than that,” Adam laughed. “So, I got Matt and Ewan to go to one club with me on one night. There was a fantastic drag show, how could we not go? Besides, Emma was there, too. She got more attention than the three of us combined.”
“Have a safe trip home, man.”
“Thanks guys. See you out on the streets,” Adam said with a wave.
He hopped into the car and grimaced, “Fuck.”
Eddy laughed, “On the plus side, Mr. Lambert…the TMZ guys have been keeping the other paps away from Mr. Allen while you’ve been gone. They’ve been kind of protective over him.”
“Yeah?”
“Totally,” Eddy confirmed. “Had no problems when Mr. Allen went to a couple games at Staples. They even chased the other guys out of the garage here when I arrived.”
“Wow.”
“Yup,” Eddy said as he turned on the engine. “Let’s get you home.”
“Thanks, Eddy.”
**
The kiss. His mind kept replaying the kiss on an endless loop, while his body remembered the press of Adam’s body, so close to his. It was what he had imagined after hours of staring at the pictures. Adam’s scent, the heat of his body, the way his skin felt on his, the way he tasted, tongue in his mouth.
Adam was coming home tomorrow night. He was excited and nervous at the same time. Would Adam remember? Want to kiss him again? Or even more? Or did he regret it? Would he push Kris away? The contradictory thoughts kept him distracted and left him a little depressed.
Kris slowly stripped off his clothes, leaving a trail behind as he headed to the bathroom. Toeing off his sneakers, he raised his arms to pull off the t-shirt. At the door, he grabbed the handle to bend over and tug off the socks, leaving them piled by the door. He opened the shower door to start the hot water.
As he waited, he leaned over the sink to look at himself in the mirror. The bruises had long disappeared and he was getting his strength back. The weight he’d lost was back, muscles firming up to where they once were. Kris touched his bottom lip tentatively, remembering how they were wet and swollen after the kiss, the light scratch at the juncture of his jaw and ear where Adam’s thumb scraped the skin when their tongues clashed.
Steam filled the room and Kris sighed. Yanking off his jeans and boxers in one pull, he shimmied to shake the material off his ankles and feet and kicked them to a corner. The cool tiles of the bathroom floor chilled him, striking a contrast against the mugginess of the hot air flowing over the shower doors.
He walked in and let the hot stream of water hit him, soothing away the aches and relaxing muscles he didn’t realize were tight. He closed his eyes and felt Adam’s hand on his neck. He tilted his head, feeling as if Adam was right there with him. He groaned and felt his cock twitch.
Inhaling, he reached out for the soap. He washed himself, his skin turning sensitive to the touch as his hands ran down the contours of his arms and chest. Lather slipped down his body, falling between his legs, across his hardening cock.
Kris couldn’t stop his hand from wandering where he didn’t want it to go, but the familiarity of it... Reaching down between his thighs, he swept the underside of his cock, now fully erect. His palm slid down then up, over and back under, creating friction that inflamed him further. He gave himself up to the sensation and gripped his erection, hard and tight. He stroked himself up and down, twisting at the head, then the base, using his other hand to massage his balls. His brain flipped on and gave him images of Adam, wet and hard and rubbing on him.
Kris turned his face to the showerhead, feeling the pulsating beat of water on his face. He put a hand against wall and leaned against it to brace himself. His cock was heavy and hard. He started to work himself up, moving his hand frantically, tightening his grip as pressure built. Pulling and twisting, he tugged and pumped his cock faster and harder until he felt the heated pulses under his skin.
With each slight change in grip and rhythm, he spread his legs further apart and braced himself. In his mind, he saw Adam’s face and felt his skin. The pounding throb traveled down his back and up legs at the same time, meeting in one place, making him throw his head back with a load groan. He grunted as the intense orgasm hit him and shouted out Adam’s name. He continued to ride it out, milking himself until the last spasms died away. His arm and knees finally gave out, and he slumped to the floor of the shower.
**
Adam couldn’t breathe. He grabbed the dresser to help him stay up, when all he wanted to do was slam the bathroom door open and haul Kris against the shower and fuck him until they died.
The sounds that echoed out from the bathroom and crashed into Adam, the way Kris shouted out his name before the eerie hush of just water running. Adam just couldn’t deal with it.
He had come home to silence. When he realized his schedule allowed him to return a day early, Adam jumped at the chance. He made arrangements with Tatiana for the flight and car, and her promise to keep it from Kris so he could be surprised.
He and Kris talked and texted while Adam was out, a little difficult because of the time difference, but it was enough. Enough that Adam was looking forward to coming home. It felt like it did before.
“Tommy told me you sing. How come you never sang for me?”
“I sang for you all the time,” Adam said. “Just because your memory is fai… uh, sorry.”
Kris snickered, “Nah, it’s okay. I mean, I can laugh about it now. And, honestly, I’d prefer it if everyone would stop acting like I’m about to die. I lost my memory, not my mind or sense of humor.”
Adam sighed out a nervous laugh, “Sorry, it’s just…”
“I know,” Kris said softly. “So, you’ll sing something for me when you get home?”
“When was Tommy over?”
“Oh, he came by to watch the game with us.”
Adam started to choke, “What?”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” Adam breathed out haltingly. “I was just taking a sip of water when you said that.”
“What? About Tommy?”
“Yes, about Tommy. Since when does he watch sports?” Adam asked.
Kris shrugged, then realized Adam couldn’t see it, “I dunno. He called, asked what I was up to, then came over about half an hour later.”
Adam cleared his throat, coughing a bit. “Did…did he actually watch?”
“I think he was bored, since Elise is out of town. He mostly drank beer and talked shit with Matt.” Kris paused. “So, I can pick the song and you’ll sing it for me, right?”
“Kris…”
“Adam…”
“God, you’re a pain in my ass,” Adam whined.
“Yes, but it’s such a nice ass. And you need to remember that despite all the beautiful people throwing themselves at you, your ass is officially mine, and that no one else is allowed to touch,” Kris retorted easily. “Plus, you couldn’t afford the alimony.”
When Adam didn’t reply back immediately, Kris got nervous. “Adam?”
“Yeah, baby.”
“Did I say something wrong?”
“Not at all,” Adam answered voice suddenly rough. “Not at all.”
Entering through the back door, he checked the notes on the kitchen counter from Margot, then headed to the den for any messages from Tatiana or Monique. Dumping his bags at the foot of the stairs, he called out for Kris, but got no reply. He took the stairs two at a time when he thought he heard the shower from the guestroom. A wide-open door greeted him, so he stepped inside to confirm that Kris was home.
What he didn’t expect was for the bathroom door to be partially open and Kris’s moans that reverberated down his spine, making him unable to move.
Adam palmed himself, biting his lip to keep his own noises to himself. The sound of the water shutting off got him to move. He got under control and ran out of the room, towards his own. Shutting the door behind him, Adam quickly shed his clothes and jumped into the shower. The cold water blasting on his skin a welcome relief as he gripped himself hard, stroking and pumping his cock as he bit his lip as the orgasm hit him. He leaned against the cool tiles as the stream of water warmed and rinsed the come from his chest and stomach.
Wrapping a towel around his waist, Adam rubbed a smaller towel over his hair as he bent down to pick up the trail of clothes. He looked up when he heard the knock and saw Kris come in.
A tentative knock, and the door that Adam thought had been closed swung open to reveal a freshly showered Kris.
“Adam? Is that…” Kris trailed off.
Adam stood up so fast, the towel started to slip. He clutched at it, “Uh, hi?”
Kris stood frozen to the spot and stared at Adam. Eyes traveling down his body so unabashedly, Adam started to squirm.
“Wha…what are you doing home?” Kris asked, finally looking up.
“I, uh, caught an earlier flight home,” Adam answered. He leaned down to grab the clothes he dropped. For some reason, he clutched them to his chest, attempting to cover up.
“I…oh.”
“I wanted to surprise you,” Adam mumbled.
Kris smiled shyly, “Oh.” He lifted a hand, “Hi, welcome home.”
“Uh, did you…” Adam stopped as he watched Kris’s eyes drop, roam over his body. He held onto the clothes tighter, fingers gripping the fabric. “Kris,” he started, feeling like he was suffocating under Kris’s blatant perusal. “I need you to leave, uh, please.”
“Why?” Kris asked, eyes locking with Adam’s.
“I…I can’t…Kris, please.” Adam headed to the bed, dropping the clothes onto the floor, and grabbed a shirt and boxers. Turning his back to Kris, he changed quickly, but he felt Kris’s eyes on him, burning into his skin.
He heard Kris sigh, then the shuffle of feet indicated he had left the room. Adam pulled at his hair and collapsed onto the bed.
**
It’d been slightly awkward in the house, but better at the same time since Adam’s freak out in the bedroom. Clumsy touches as they passed each other in the hallway, as if Adam couldn’t help but reach out to him, unconsciously brushing fingertips along his forearm. The other day as Kris was heading up and Adam was going downstairs, Kris had reached out, palm sliding across Adam’s waist and when he was a step higher, placed a kiss on Adam’s temple.
Kris hadn’t thought about it until Tatiana stopped mid-sentence. He looked down and Adam’s face was confused while Tatiana was jumping and smiling.
Shaking his head at the memory, Kris took the steps downstairs just as Brad walked into the house.
“Puppy!” Brad exclaimed. “Where have you been hiding?”
Kris stopped at the bottom of the staircase and watched wide-eyed as Brad practically flounced across the entryway to him. He stood stiffly in Brad’s embrace, trying not to squirm or flinch at Brad’s squeals of joy.
“Uh, hi Brad,” Kris breathed out. “Did you need something?”
“I came to see you, silly,” Brad said putting Kris down. He grabbed Kris’s wrist and dragged him into the kitchen. “Come on.”
“Me?”
“Well, duh. Why else would I be here when Adam’s not?”
“Because you don’t know Adam’s schedule?” Kris asked hopefully.
Brad blew out a raspberry and flicked his wrist, “Whatever. Tats and Monique email me his schedule every week.” He looked at Kris sitting at the table. “I know his schedule better than he does.” He looked over at Kris, “Yours, too.”
“Mine? Why would you need to know myschedule?”
“Oh darling,” Brad cooed as he grabbed a platter of vegetables from the refrigerator. “This memory loss thing is very annoying.”
“Hey!” Kris protested.
Brad set the platter on the table and grabbed Kris’s hands, “I get it, puppy. I do.” He tightened his grip and brought their hands to his lips. He kissed Kris’s knuckles and smiled, “I know it’s hard. But, you need to know that it’s not just you. We’re all going through this with you, and you need to know that we’re here for you.”
Kris smiled crookedly, as he felt his eyes tear up. “Thanks, Brad.”
With a tiny bite on a knuckle, Brad let go of their hands. “Now,” he said, clearing his throat. “We need to get Adam on board.”
“On board with what?” Kris asked, surreptitiously wiping his eyes. “What are you talking about?”
Snapping a carrot stick between his teeth, Brad pulled the messenger bag from over his shoulder. “He’ll wait for you, you know that right?” Brad asked, voice suddenly serious. “But, I’m talking about him getting over this whole thing about giving you space and maybe not waiting as long. I mean, I know he thinks he’s doing right by you, but you have to know or at least feel how this is killing him, how touch-starved he is.”
Kris blushed and looked away from Brad.
“And,” Brad continued. “If I’m not mistaken, I think you’re feeling the same way.”
“How…”
“I have eyes, puppy,” Brad said rolling his eyes. “You two were the handsiest and most affectionate motherfuckers I’ve ever come across. So, like when Adam hugged Tommy or me or anyone else a little longer than you liked, you’d get this look.”
Kris quirked his mouth, “What look?”
Brad snorted, “The look where you want to cut off our balls with the first sharp object you could get your hands on.”
“I do not have that look!” Kris protested.
“Keep telling yourself that, puppy.” Brad said, digging into his bag. He pulled out a folder with what looked like an array of photos.
“What’re those?”
“I’m conducting a little experiment,” Brad answered as he flips through them carefully. “Now,” he said lifting one up, “tell me the first thing that pops into your head.”
Kris gave him a dubious look before slumping, “Fine.” He looked at the glossy photo Brad held up. He and Adam were at some red carpet event and both were laughing at something. “Happy.”
Brad hummed and pulled out another photo, “Okay, this one.”
“Ridiculous,” Kris said rolling his eyes at the eight by ten where Brad was on Kris’s back, trying not to fall over.
“And, this?”
“What’s the point of this?”
“Just humor me, puppy.”
Leaning in for a closer look, Kris pulled it from Brad’s hand. “I haven’t seen this one before,” he said quietly. He studied the image, “Where’s this from?”
“My own private collection,” Brad answered. “It was taken at my birthday party last year.”
“I was…” Kris closed his eyes and breathed out. “God, I was so tired. But I knew that I had to get to your party or there’d be hell to pay.” His lips formed into a fond smile, “You wouldn’t have cared that I just flew in from New York.”
“Nope,” Brad smirked and leaned back.
Kris furrowed his brow, “Adam pulled me away to give me a hug.” He reached out, fluttering his fingers over the image of Adam’s hands cupping Kris’s face, painted thumb brushing over his cheek. “Who took this?”
“Cale. He was playing with the new camera you and Adam got him for his birthday. I think it officially replaced his dick as his favorite toy.” Brad waved his hand, “Not that it mattered since I was der-runk off my ass. He gave me the SD card, that’s all that matters.”
“Brad? Uh…why…”
Brad smiled and nodded, “You and Adam…fuck. You two would give anyone and everyone within a ten-foot radius diabetes or cavities; you both were that sickeningly sweet.”
Kris put the photo down and slumped in the chair, “What else?”
“Nothing. Just checking something.”
“Uh…”
Brad pushed his chair back and leaned over the table, “Don’t worry about it, puppy. It’s all good. Now,” he said checking his phone, “I need to get going.” Walking to the other side of the table, he pressed a kiss to Kris’s temple. “Dinner on Thursday, right?”
Kris nodded and watched with a pout as Brad walked away.
**
Off to Part IV
Type: AU | Angst | Romance
Rated: NC-17
Adam ignored the scurrying and people moving around him as he flipped through the binder and matched the dates and times to the calendar on his iPad. He scribbled notes along the pages as one leg bounced to the music.
Tapping his knee with a pen in one hand, he stuck the other in his mouth as he turned the page. A plate full of cookies blocked his view, making him look up.
He pulled the pen from his mouth and grinned, “Aww, for me?”
Tatiana rolled her eyes, “Who else would they be for?”
Removing the headphones and turning off the music, he cleared space on the table, “You shouldn’t have, Tats.”
She placed the plate on the table, along with a glass of milk and a bottle of water. “I didn’t. Kim sent them. A messenger just dropped them off.”
Adam took a bite and moaned as the chocolate and sugar melted in his mouth. He sprawled back onto the couch and continued to chew with his eyes closed. Opening one eye, he saw Tatiana still standing in front on him, arms crossed and lips twisted trying not to laugh.
“Say it, brat.”
“There was a note, too.”
“Which said…” he raised an eyebrow and took another bite of the cookie in his hand.
“Why would you think…”
Adam popped the rest of his cookie in his mouth and reached for the milk. “I’m waiting.”
The laugh burst out of Tatiana as if she couldn’t contain it any longer, “Fine. Kim and Neil are coming over to dinner, along with your mom. Monique’s already called the market for delivery because Kim’s going to be making the meal.”
“What? Why?”
Tatiana paused and quirked her lips; she went to the door and closed it. “You’re leaving on an extended trip for the first time since the accident. I think they want to make sure everything is okay.”
“Everything’s fine,” Adam huffed. He grabbed another cookie. “Why didn’t you stop it? I’m leaving at ass o’clock tomorrow morning, and the house is a mess. Christi’s people are running in and out of…”
“Boss,” Tatiana said sitting next to him. She put a hand on his knee. “Okay, so here’s the deal. You’re leaving for three weeks. We’ve done this before. Despite the house looking like a tornado hit it, it’s not new. So, now, after saying that, I didn’t stop it because I think it’ll be good for you to spend a little time with the family before you head out. You spend time with your mom. Kris spends time with his mom and dad, but it’s been a while since you all spent time together.”
“Fine,” Adam said with a sigh. He tried to take another cookie, but Tatiana pushed the plate away. “Tat…what?”
“I’m not done.”
Adam pouted, “Of course you’re not.”
“You know I love Kris, right?”
“Yeah,” Adam nodded.
“But, you know that my loyalty is first and foremost with you,” Tatiana said seriously.
“I know, and that’s why you can never leave me.”
Tatiana smiled, “Well, that and the fact that you’d be a giant, hot mess without me.”
“Brat.”
“I love you, too,” she laughed. “But…”
Adam fell back into the couch and sighed, “Of course there’s a ‘but’ …”
“But, I think you should know this, even though Kris didn’t want Monique or me to say anything to you.”
Adam tilted his head, “Yeah? What?”
“Do you know he’s been sleeping on the couch here? That he spends hours looking through all the pictures, the ones in the albums and on your iPad?”
Frowning, Adam thought back. He still checked on Kris every night, but only from the doorway. He didn’t tempt himself by going inside. He hadn’t noticed the albums being moved from the shelves.
“What do you mean? He never comes in here anymore, spending all his time in that damn man-cave of his. When’s he do this?”
“During the day, after his physical therapy sessions, when you’re not around,” she answered. “He’ll come in here, take an album out or go through the boxes. He doesn’t say anything, and we don’t bother him, but he does it. Then he falls asleep on the couch for a small nap, face in the cushion, blanket in his hand.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
Tatiana sighed and slapped his knee, “Because you’ve been avoiding him the last couple of weeks. You barely talk to him, and he’s miserable.”
“I’m giving him space!” Adam shouted. He looked at the door, thinking someone would come in at the outburst. Then quietly said, “He’s still getting used to all this…us. He told me as much before he moved back in. I think I was too intense for him when he came back from his parents, and it freaked him out.” He blew out a breath and rubbed his temples. “Tat…I have to give him this space. The doctors said not to push, that the memories would come back when they do…if,” his voice hitched, “if they do. And, until then, I have to let him come to terms with everything on his own time.”
Tatiana shook her head, “No, you don’t get it. You’re not seeing it.”
“Seeing what? Get what?” Adam growled and stood up. “I’m not having this conversation. Drop it, Tats.”
He opened the door and nearly knocked Brad over. Adam huffed and left the room.
Brad furrowed his brow, “Tats, what’s going on?”
Tatiana raised her arms up and grimaced, “Adam’s being a stubborn asshole!”
Brad looked at her then down the hall and raised an eyebrow, “Well, that’s not new.”
“Talk to him, please Brad?”
Nodding, he left her and went to find Adam.
**
Us Magazine
Hot Pics!
In London to do press for the upcoming film, House of Sleep, co-stars Adam Lambert, Ewan McGregor and Matt Damon were seen bar-hopping and having fun with the locals, where they bought rounds at each stop. Along with Emma Stone, the actors will be breaking hearts while traveling to Amsterdam, Berlin, Barcelona, Rome and Paris.
OK! Magazine
Adam Lambert Loving London!
Actor Adam Lambert is making his way through Europe, and we don’t just mean to do press for his new movie. Though Lambert was seen enjoying dinners with co-stars, Ewan McGregor and Matt Damon, sources tell OK! that he’s been sneaking out afterwards to meet up with some friendly locals in very popular gay hot spots around town. Their film House of Sleep comes out in December.
The Enquirer
Lambert on the Loose! Caught!
While gallivanting around Europe for the House of Sleep press junket, photos have surfaced of actor Adam Lambert cozying up a pretty boy, who happens to not be husband, Kris Allen. Check out the photos and tell us what you see. Is that the glam Lambert or a Lamebert trying to throw of us track? You decide!
PerezHilton.com
La Lambert Liking La Attention!
Though technically in London and Amsterdam and Paris for work (wink wink), Adam Lambert, the House of Sleep actor, has been spending just as much time playing and enjoying all the “offerings” that these amazing cities have to offer, and not just museums. We hear that La Lambert with some very flirty fans. Pictures don’t lie. What do you think?
**
“ ‘Lo?”
It sounded like Adam, but Kris needed to make sure. After seeing the blurry photos, he couldn’t do anything or think straight, so he picked up the phone. “Adam?”
“Kris? Are you okay?” Adam’s voice was deep and husky, and definitely hoarse from sleep.
“I’m okay…sorry,” Kris stuttered. “Didn’t mean to wake you.”
He could hear Adam fumbling with the phone, probably squinting to find a clock to check the time. Kris didn’t know why he knew this, but it settled the ache in his chest regardless.
“It’s four in the morning. Did something happen?”
“No, it’s… I’m sorry. Go back to sleep.”
“You sure you’re okay, baby?”
“Yeah, I just…” Kris smiled while his fingers played with the frayed edge of his jeans. Adam hadn’t called him baby since he first moved back home. It was a small thing, but he missed it. “I didn’t think about the time, and I wanted to say hi.”
“Oh, uh hi,” Adam said tentatively.
Kris could hear the confusion in Adam’s voice. It’s not that he could blame him. “I didn’t think about the time. You have a crazy schedule, I forgot about the time change and…”
Adam sighed, “No, it’s okay. My wake-up call goes off in a little bit anyway. Have some silly morning talk show to do.”
“Sorry, I’m not sure why I actually called,” Kris mumbled. He could hear Adam settling back down in the bed, the rustle of sheets, and god, Kris had the sudden urge to be there with him.
“To make sure I don’t get yelled at for oversleeping?”
Kris huffed out a small laugh, “Did I used to do that a lot? I mean, before?”
“Not a lot,” Adam said softly. Kris could hear the smile in his voice. “You usually blamed not being able to calculate the time difference, but you’re so much better at that than I am that I never believed you.” Adam paused, “Huh.”
“What?” Kris asked.
“Nothing.”
“No, tell me. Please?”
“Uh, have you been reading the tabloids?”
Kris didn’t know how to answer that. He had been which is why he called. Was there a right answer to this?
“Kris? You there?”
“Yeah, I…um. There was this small thing. It was sitting on top of the stack of papers Monique brought in!” Kris tried to defend himself.
Adam chuckled, and the sound traveled over Kris’s body like a shot of adrenaline.
“What?” Kris was confused. “Was I not supposed to look?”
“No,” Adam replied. “It’s just that…well, whenever you saw a gossip item about me with someone else, you’d call and wake my ass up to say hi and that you missed me.”
“I did not!” Kris was horrified. He did that? “I did that?”
“Yeah,” Adam answered quietly. “It was cute. It still is.”
“Uh…”
The hotel phone rang indicating the wake-up call. Kris could hear Adam pick up the phone to stop the ringing.
Adam’s voice was gentle, “I need to go. I’ll be home in a few days.”
“Yeah, I’ll see you then.”
Kris tossed the phone to the other side of the couch.
“What’d the phone ever do to you,” Tatiana asked as she walked in with her arms full of boxes.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Of course,” she answered as she took scissors to open the packages. “Though, I have the right to not answer or deflect.”
“Of course,” Kris parroted back and smiled. “Was I…was I jealous of Adam?”
Tatiana stopped in the middle of cutting, tipping her head like she was thinking about the question. “Jealous? No. Possessive? Yes.” She continued ripping open boxes. “Why?”
“Possessive? Really?”
Huh. That explained…a lot actually. The teeth-clenching, stomach churning wave of sudden anger that popped up when he saw the blurry picture that insinuated it was Adam, when it obviously wasn’t. Or the photos of Adam smiling, face flushed red from alcohol, next to some overly zealous fans who had their arms around him like they owned him. Or the initial leeriness and unwarranted hatred he felt towards Brad and Tommy upon meeting them for the first time, again.
Laughing, Tatiana leaned back in her chair and propped up her feet, “Oh, the stories I could tell.”
“Share?”
“How embarrassed did you want to get today?”
Kris palmed the back of his neck and felt the blushing start, “Let me have it.”
**
Matt patted his back and bent over to wheeze, laughter choking him.
“It’s not funny, jackass,” Kris grumbled. He was sprawled on the couch, taking up the entire length of it, lying on his stomach.
“But, you see…it kinda is,” Mike chuckled. He ruffled Kris’s hair as he walked by. “And, you do know that you’ve pretty much opened the door for us to tell you even more stories.”
“We just need to make sure we have a lot of ice ready for when his face turns ridiculously red,” Cale chimed in.
Kris groaned into the cushion, “I hate you all.”
“When’s the hubby coming back?” Matt asked as he sat on the floor.
“In three days,” Kris answered. He looked up from the nest of cushions, “Why?”
Matt shrugged, “Not the same watching a game at the house without him popping in with his little sourpuss face, complaining about the noise and all that.”
“That’s what’s off about this,” Mike agreed. “It makes game days more interesting, especially when he’s pretending to listen and care.”
Cale laughed, “How about when he bitches about the food, then settles into Kris’s lap and eats and drinks with us?”
“Shut up and watch the game,” Kris groused.
“Aww,” Cale cooed, leaning over from his chair to tousle Kris’s hair. “Are you missing your man? If you want, one of us will snuggle in with you while you feed us and explain the traveling call.”
“It’s been nearly three weeks,” Matt said snidely. “It’s the longest they’ve been apart in the last few months, no?”
“Yeah,” Cale replied. He stretched out his legs and yawned. “I’m sure Kris will be less grumpy and mope-y in a few days once Adam’s back.”
“Hey look!” Kris said excitedly. “Game!”
Matt, Mike and Cale just laughed, but at least they started to watch the game again and stopped picking on him.
With their attention back on the television screen, Kris closed his eyes and focused on the nest he built around his head. The day after Adam left, he took the blanket from the couch in the den, and then snuck into Adam’s room to grab the cologne and spray one of the cushions from his game room couch.
For the first time since the accident, Kris had Matt, Mike and Cale over to watch a game. Adam hinted that it wouldn’t be a big deal for them to come over like they always did, but Kris hadn’t felt like it at the time, not remembering anyone but Cale. So, he waited. After seeing how they acted around him a couple of weeks ago, Kris felt better about everything. The regular game day routine was back on. Even better, Mike had filled him in on how Adam converted the small downstairs guestroom into the “hetero cave” for Kris and his friends.
From the three large flat screens, including a 65-inch LED LCD television and the seven point one surround sound speaker system to the cable and satellite connections to the couch, two recliners and mini-fridge, it was the dream system Kris had never thought he’d be able to have. And yet, despite his lack of interest in sports, Adam had a custom installer build it exactly how he wanted.
Kris closed his eyes. After dinner with their parents, Kris watched from the doorway as Adam finished packing.
“Is something wrong?” Adam asked, looking over his shoulder.
“No, just, you know, trying to remember if any of this is familiar.”
“Oh, uh…is it?”
Kris shook his head. He opened his mouth to say something, but Adam’s phone rang. Tuning the conversation out, he tried to work up the courage to say something to keep them talking. He waited until Adam tossed the phone onto the bed, then as he turned around; Kris took a step into the room.
As he walked in, images of Adam’s face flushed, beads of sweat trailing down the side of his face, flashed behind his eyes. Kris held out a hand as he reached for Adam’s arm, “I…uh, what time’s your flight in the morning?”
He chanced a glance at Adam’s face, and it was carefully blank. He closed the distance and placed his hand on Adam’s forearm. It was shaking from nerves and they looked at the hand like it was a foreign object. Kris was about to step back and release his nervous grip, when Adam’s free hand moved and clasped Kris’s neck.
“Kris…,” Adam whispered. “I just…”
Adam pressed his lips against Kris’s. Kris closed his eyes and breathed into the kiss, opening his mouth from the sensation. Adam licked into his mouth, tentative, unsure. But, instead of pushing him away, Kris pushed in closer and sucked Adam’s tongue deeper into his mouth. He shivered as Adam’s hand gripped the side of his neck tighter, drawing him in and holding him in place. He felt rather than heard Adam’s moan.
Heat filled him, curled up in small tendrils and traveled in quick succession up his body. Kris pushed up on his toes, arm wrapping around Adam’s waist. He felt the need to shed the clothes that were preventing him from touching Adam’s skin. The tips of his fingers tingled with an energy that was new yet achingly familiar. He moved the palm of his hand up Adam’s side, and he could feel the hammering pulse from his heart as his hand roamed along his chest.
Adam moved his hand to the waistband of Kris’s jeans, flitting over the t-shirt. He didn’t want this to stop.
But Adam pulled away, breathing hard. “Kris, I…”
“It’s okay,” Kris breathed out heavily. He took a step back and covered his throat where Adam’s hand had just been. It felt like he had been branded. “Just...uh, good night. I’ll see you when you get back.”
Kris fled the room like a maniacal, knife-wielding psychopath was chasing after him. He closed the door behind him, feeling like he had just run a three-minute mile, heart ready to beat out of his chest.
Damn.
He went to bed, body strumming. Tossing and turning, he finally fell asleep. When he woke up, Adam was already gone. The entryway was clear of the suitcases. Kris sighed, yeah, he was falling in love with his husband. The problem was, his husband just didn’t know it yet.
**
Adam pushed Kris against the wall as he kiss a trail along his jaw to his neck. His slid his hand along Kris’s wrist and pinned them over his head. Pulling back, he breathed hard and slid his lips alongside Kris’s face. Adam’s body was screaming at him to just take, supplying him with images of Kris moaning underneath, goading him until he aligned their bodies together.
Kris was saying something, but he couldn’t hear anything. He just knew that he couldn’t stop. The sounds around him became muffled. He lifted his head, needing to hear Kris’s moans, the tiny sounds he made when Adam touched him just so, the hum from Kris’s throat when Adam licked that spot under his jaw…
Adam jerked awake as his ears started to pop and the muddled voice of the captain filled the cabin. The plane started its decent into LAX, so he removed the ear buds and shut off the music. Shifting in his seat, he tried to adjust his pants by putting his electronics and snacks away. He was suddenly thankful that he had shifted his body towards the window as he fell asleep.
He slung the messenger bag over his head, moving it over his shoulder and adjusted his grip on the duffel as he sauntered through the terminal. Ignoring the stares and whispers, he put on his sunglasses and headed to the customs line. He smiled and signed autographs as the line moved agonizingly slow, as he couldn’t ignore the people around him by pretending to be on the phone since reception was shit.
With a quick smile at the customs agent and some playful conversation, he went to the airline agent and signed off on the paperwork to get his luggage delivered. They rushed him out into the main waiting area where he spotted Eddy, his regular driver. Nodding, Eddy came around the barrier, grabbed his duffel and ushered him outside.
Flashes greeted them as paparazzi swarmed around them. LAX security formed a human blockade as they crossed the street to the parking garage.
Naturally, a team from TMZ was hanging around the black SUV. He put on a smile. The fact that they didn’t reach his eyes didn’t matter since he hadn’t taken off his sunglasses.
“Hey Adam, how was your trip?”
“Where’re Bobby and Jason?” Adam asked as he kept walking.
“Chasing after the other Adam,” the guy with the boom microphone answered.
“Aww, come on guys, leave Levine alone. He’s got a new girl, let them have some privacy.”
The camera man laughed, “Harvey didn’t want Bobby or Jason harassing you too much.”
Adam chuckled and waved to the camera, “Thanks, Harvey. Let me know if you want another dozen cupcakes.”
“So, Adam, how was the trip? Any truth to the gay club hopping rumors our less than intrepid counterparts were spreading?”
“You guys should know better than that,” Adam laughed. “So, I got Matt and Ewan to go to one club with me on one night. There was a fantastic drag show, how could we not go? Besides, Emma was there, too. She got more attention than the three of us combined.”
“Have a safe trip home, man.”
“Thanks guys. See you out on the streets,” Adam said with a wave.
He hopped into the car and grimaced, “Fuck.”
Eddy laughed, “On the plus side, Mr. Lambert…the TMZ guys have been keeping the other paps away from Mr. Allen while you’ve been gone. They’ve been kind of protective over him.”
“Yeah?”
“Totally,” Eddy confirmed. “Had no problems when Mr. Allen went to a couple games at Staples. They even chased the other guys out of the garage here when I arrived.”
“Wow.”
“Yup,” Eddy said as he turned on the engine. “Let’s get you home.”
“Thanks, Eddy.”
**
The kiss. His mind kept replaying the kiss on an endless loop, while his body remembered the press of Adam’s body, so close to his. It was what he had imagined after hours of staring at the pictures. Adam’s scent, the heat of his body, the way his skin felt on his, the way he tasted, tongue in his mouth.
Adam was coming home tomorrow night. He was excited and nervous at the same time. Would Adam remember? Want to kiss him again? Or even more? Or did he regret it? Would he push Kris away? The contradictory thoughts kept him distracted and left him a little depressed.
Kris slowly stripped off his clothes, leaving a trail behind as he headed to the bathroom. Toeing off his sneakers, he raised his arms to pull off the t-shirt. At the door, he grabbed the handle to bend over and tug off the socks, leaving them piled by the door. He opened the shower door to start the hot water.
As he waited, he leaned over the sink to look at himself in the mirror. The bruises had long disappeared and he was getting his strength back. The weight he’d lost was back, muscles firming up to where they once were. Kris touched his bottom lip tentatively, remembering how they were wet and swollen after the kiss, the light scratch at the juncture of his jaw and ear where Adam’s thumb scraped the skin when their tongues clashed.
Steam filled the room and Kris sighed. Yanking off his jeans and boxers in one pull, he shimmied to shake the material off his ankles and feet and kicked them to a corner. The cool tiles of the bathroom floor chilled him, striking a contrast against the mugginess of the hot air flowing over the shower doors.
He walked in and let the hot stream of water hit him, soothing away the aches and relaxing muscles he didn’t realize were tight. He closed his eyes and felt Adam’s hand on his neck. He tilted his head, feeling as if Adam was right there with him. He groaned and felt his cock twitch.
Inhaling, he reached out for the soap. He washed himself, his skin turning sensitive to the touch as his hands ran down the contours of his arms and chest. Lather slipped down his body, falling between his legs, across his hardening cock.
Kris couldn’t stop his hand from wandering where he didn’t want it to go, but the familiarity of it... Reaching down between his thighs, he swept the underside of his cock, now fully erect. His palm slid down then up, over and back under, creating friction that inflamed him further. He gave himself up to the sensation and gripped his erection, hard and tight. He stroked himself up and down, twisting at the head, then the base, using his other hand to massage his balls. His brain flipped on and gave him images of Adam, wet and hard and rubbing on him.
Kris turned his face to the showerhead, feeling the pulsating beat of water on his face. He put a hand against wall and leaned against it to brace himself. His cock was heavy and hard. He started to work himself up, moving his hand frantically, tightening his grip as pressure built. Pulling and twisting, he tugged and pumped his cock faster and harder until he felt the heated pulses under his skin.
With each slight change in grip and rhythm, he spread his legs further apart and braced himself. In his mind, he saw Adam’s face and felt his skin. The pounding throb traveled down his back and up legs at the same time, meeting in one place, making him throw his head back with a load groan. He grunted as the intense orgasm hit him and shouted out Adam’s name. He continued to ride it out, milking himself until the last spasms died away. His arm and knees finally gave out, and he slumped to the floor of the shower.
**
Adam couldn’t breathe. He grabbed the dresser to help him stay up, when all he wanted to do was slam the bathroom door open and haul Kris against the shower and fuck him until they died.
The sounds that echoed out from the bathroom and crashed into Adam, the way Kris shouted out his name before the eerie hush of just water running. Adam just couldn’t deal with it.
He had come home to silence. When he realized his schedule allowed him to return a day early, Adam jumped at the chance. He made arrangements with Tatiana for the flight and car, and her promise to keep it from Kris so he could be surprised.
He and Kris talked and texted while Adam was out, a little difficult because of the time difference, but it was enough. Enough that Adam was looking forward to coming home. It felt like it did before.
“Tommy told me you sing. How come you never sang for me?”
“I sang for you all the time,” Adam said. “Just because your memory is fai… uh, sorry.”
Kris snickered, “Nah, it’s okay. I mean, I can laugh about it now. And, honestly, I’d prefer it if everyone would stop acting like I’m about to die. I lost my memory, not my mind or sense of humor.”
Adam sighed out a nervous laugh, “Sorry, it’s just…”
“I know,” Kris said softly. “So, you’ll sing something for me when you get home?”
“When was Tommy over?”
“Oh, he came by to watch the game with us.”
Adam started to choke, “What?”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” Adam breathed out haltingly. “I was just taking a sip of water when you said that.”
“What? About Tommy?”
“Yes, about Tommy. Since when does he watch sports?” Adam asked.
Kris shrugged, then realized Adam couldn’t see it, “I dunno. He called, asked what I was up to, then came over about half an hour later.”
Adam cleared his throat, coughing a bit. “Did…did he actually watch?”
“I think he was bored, since Elise is out of town. He mostly drank beer and talked shit with Matt.” Kris paused. “So, I can pick the song and you’ll sing it for me, right?”
“Kris…”
“Adam…”
“God, you’re a pain in my ass,” Adam whined.
“Yes, but it’s such a nice ass. And you need to remember that despite all the beautiful people throwing themselves at you, your ass is officially mine, and that no one else is allowed to touch,” Kris retorted easily. “Plus, you couldn’t afford the alimony.”
When Adam didn’t reply back immediately, Kris got nervous. “Adam?”
“Yeah, baby.”
“Did I say something wrong?”
“Not at all,” Adam answered voice suddenly rough. “Not at all.”
Entering through the back door, he checked the notes on the kitchen counter from Margot, then headed to the den for any messages from Tatiana or Monique. Dumping his bags at the foot of the stairs, he called out for Kris, but got no reply. He took the stairs two at a time when he thought he heard the shower from the guestroom. A wide-open door greeted him, so he stepped inside to confirm that Kris was home.
What he didn’t expect was for the bathroom door to be partially open and Kris’s moans that reverberated down his spine, making him unable to move.
Adam palmed himself, biting his lip to keep his own noises to himself. The sound of the water shutting off got him to move. He got under control and ran out of the room, towards his own. Shutting the door behind him, Adam quickly shed his clothes and jumped into the shower. The cold water blasting on his skin a welcome relief as he gripped himself hard, stroking and pumping his cock as he bit his lip as the orgasm hit him. He leaned against the cool tiles as the stream of water warmed and rinsed the come from his chest and stomach.
Wrapping a towel around his waist, Adam rubbed a smaller towel over his hair as he bent down to pick up the trail of clothes. He looked up when he heard the knock and saw Kris come in.
A tentative knock, and the door that Adam thought had been closed swung open to reveal a freshly showered Kris.
“Adam? Is that…” Kris trailed off.
Adam stood up so fast, the towel started to slip. He clutched at it, “Uh, hi?”
Kris stood frozen to the spot and stared at Adam. Eyes traveling down his body so unabashedly, Adam started to squirm.
“Wha…what are you doing home?” Kris asked, finally looking up.
“I, uh, caught an earlier flight home,” Adam answered. He leaned down to grab the clothes he dropped. For some reason, he clutched them to his chest, attempting to cover up.
“I…oh.”
“I wanted to surprise you,” Adam mumbled.
Kris smiled shyly, “Oh.” He lifted a hand, “Hi, welcome home.”
“Uh, did you…” Adam stopped as he watched Kris’s eyes drop, roam over his body. He held onto the clothes tighter, fingers gripping the fabric. “Kris,” he started, feeling like he was suffocating under Kris’s blatant perusal. “I need you to leave, uh, please.”
“Why?” Kris asked, eyes locking with Adam’s.
“I…I can’t…Kris, please.” Adam headed to the bed, dropping the clothes onto the floor, and grabbed a shirt and boxers. Turning his back to Kris, he changed quickly, but he felt Kris’s eyes on him, burning into his skin.
He heard Kris sigh, then the shuffle of feet indicated he had left the room. Adam pulled at his hair and collapsed onto the bed.
**
It’d been slightly awkward in the house, but better at the same time since Adam’s freak out in the bedroom. Clumsy touches as they passed each other in the hallway, as if Adam couldn’t help but reach out to him, unconsciously brushing fingertips along his forearm. The other day as Kris was heading up and Adam was going downstairs, Kris had reached out, palm sliding across Adam’s waist and when he was a step higher, placed a kiss on Adam’s temple.
Kris hadn’t thought about it until Tatiana stopped mid-sentence. He looked down and Adam’s face was confused while Tatiana was jumping and smiling.
Shaking his head at the memory, Kris took the steps downstairs just as Brad walked into the house.
“Puppy!” Brad exclaimed. “Where have you been hiding?”
Kris stopped at the bottom of the staircase and watched wide-eyed as Brad practically flounced across the entryway to him. He stood stiffly in Brad’s embrace, trying not to squirm or flinch at Brad’s squeals of joy.
“Uh, hi Brad,” Kris breathed out. “Did you need something?”
“I came to see you, silly,” Brad said putting Kris down. He grabbed Kris’s wrist and dragged him into the kitchen. “Come on.”
“Me?”
“Well, duh. Why else would I be here when Adam’s not?”
“Because you don’t know Adam’s schedule?” Kris asked hopefully.
Brad blew out a raspberry and flicked his wrist, “Whatever. Tats and Monique email me his schedule every week.” He looked at Kris sitting at the table. “I know his schedule better than he does.” He looked over at Kris, “Yours, too.”
“Mine? Why would you need to know myschedule?”
“Oh darling,” Brad cooed as he grabbed a platter of vegetables from the refrigerator. “This memory loss thing is very annoying.”
“Hey!” Kris protested.
Brad set the platter on the table and grabbed Kris’s hands, “I get it, puppy. I do.” He tightened his grip and brought their hands to his lips. He kissed Kris’s knuckles and smiled, “I know it’s hard. But, you need to know that it’s not just you. We’re all going through this with you, and you need to know that we’re here for you.”
Kris smiled crookedly, as he felt his eyes tear up. “Thanks, Brad.”
With a tiny bite on a knuckle, Brad let go of their hands. “Now,” he said, clearing his throat. “We need to get Adam on board.”
“On board with what?” Kris asked, surreptitiously wiping his eyes. “What are you talking about?”
Snapping a carrot stick between his teeth, Brad pulled the messenger bag from over his shoulder. “He’ll wait for you, you know that right?” Brad asked, voice suddenly serious. “But, I’m talking about him getting over this whole thing about giving you space and maybe not waiting as long. I mean, I know he thinks he’s doing right by you, but you have to know or at least feel how this is killing him, how touch-starved he is.”
Kris blushed and looked away from Brad.
“And,” Brad continued. “If I’m not mistaken, I think you’re feeling the same way.”
“How…”
“I have eyes, puppy,” Brad said rolling his eyes. “You two were the handsiest and most affectionate motherfuckers I’ve ever come across. So, like when Adam hugged Tommy or me or anyone else a little longer than you liked, you’d get this look.”
Kris quirked his mouth, “What look?”
Brad snorted, “The look where you want to cut off our balls with the first sharp object you could get your hands on.”
“I do not have that look!” Kris protested.
“Keep telling yourself that, puppy.” Brad said, digging into his bag. He pulled out a folder with what looked like an array of photos.
“What’re those?”
“I’m conducting a little experiment,” Brad answered as he flips through them carefully. “Now,” he said lifting one up, “tell me the first thing that pops into your head.”
Kris gave him a dubious look before slumping, “Fine.” He looked at the glossy photo Brad held up. He and Adam were at some red carpet event and both were laughing at something. “Happy.”
Brad hummed and pulled out another photo, “Okay, this one.”
“Ridiculous,” Kris said rolling his eyes at the eight by ten where Brad was on Kris’s back, trying not to fall over.
“And, this?”
“What’s the point of this?”
“Just humor me, puppy.”
Leaning in for a closer look, Kris pulled it from Brad’s hand. “I haven’t seen this one before,” he said quietly. He studied the image, “Where’s this from?”
“My own private collection,” Brad answered. “It was taken at my birthday party last year.”
“I was…” Kris closed his eyes and breathed out. “God, I was so tired. But I knew that I had to get to your party or there’d be hell to pay.” His lips formed into a fond smile, “You wouldn’t have cared that I just flew in from New York.”
“Nope,” Brad smirked and leaned back.
Kris furrowed his brow, “Adam pulled me away to give me a hug.” He reached out, fluttering his fingers over the image of Adam’s hands cupping Kris’s face, painted thumb brushing over his cheek. “Who took this?”
“Cale. He was playing with the new camera you and Adam got him for his birthday. I think it officially replaced his dick as his favorite toy.” Brad waved his hand, “Not that it mattered since I was der-runk off my ass. He gave me the SD card, that’s all that matters.”
“Brad? Uh…why…”
Brad smiled and nodded, “You and Adam…fuck. You two would give anyone and everyone within a ten-foot radius diabetes or cavities; you both were that sickeningly sweet.”
Kris put the photo down and slumped in the chair, “What else?”
“Nothing. Just checking something.”
“Uh…”
Brad pushed his chair back and leaned over the table, “Don’t worry about it, puppy. It’s all good. Now,” he said checking his phone, “I need to get going.” Walking to the other side of the table, he pressed a kiss to Kris’s temple. “Dinner on Thursday, right?”
Kris nodded and watched with a pout as Brad walked away.
**
Off to Part IV