Page 84 of Conquest

JJ snorted. “Not many straight men would admit that to themselves let alone on camera. And poor Kenny. Did you see his face when Jess said you were his best friend? I think that stung a bit.”

Brandon laid his hand on Evan’s thigh. “Don’t worry about it. I’m sure people will blow it off.”

A slow smile lit Evan’s face. “He said he loves me on national TV! I can’t believe he did that!”

“You’re not mad at him?” Brandon asked.

“No. How could I get angry with him saying he loves me? I just wonder how the media found out about us already. Since Greg released I was working on a new album, we’ve been careful when we’ve gone out. Some paparazzi have been slithering around the studio, but I didn’t think they tagged us. Now we have to figure out how widespread the rumors are and how to stop them.”

Brandon looked back at the TV as the commercial break ended. “Yeah, but I have a feeling stopping the media is going to be a hell of a lot easier than stopping Jess.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Jesse rushed through the airport with his Chicago Bears duffel bag slung over his shoulder. Kenny and Julian on either side of him struggled to keep up, Trish and Greg followed behind. He stood waiting for his other bag, impatiently tapping his index finger against his hip, his only thought being how badly he wanted to get into Evan’s arms. It was all he had wanted since his first night away. Missing him so much that he had a constant ache in his chest was just one of the many things to make his first trip to New York not as enjoyable as he’d always envisioned.

From the second they landed, it had been go, go, go. Interviews here, photo shoots there, autograph sessions next, it was one thing after another, and to top it off, he hardly slept the whole trip despite the frantic schedule. At night, he would collapse into bed, physically and mentally exhausted, but unable to sleep without the lullaby of Evan’s soft breathing beside him and his firm body to keep him warmer than any blanket. They talked every morning, in the afternoon, and evening, but those phone calls only managed to make him miss Evan more.

Despite his fatigue, the Rolling Stone interview went especially well. Originally it was supposed to be a small article with a single band shot about Conquest as a band to look out for, but after the way “Euphoria” and the album were dominating, it was decided they’d be the next month’s cover feature. The only thing that hadn’t gone so well was the interview on VH1.

At the time, he thought it had gone well. Sure there was a tense moment when the VJ asked about him and Evan, but he thought he smoothed it over pretty good. Of course, he did say he was in a relationship after agreeing with everyone that if questioned about his personal life, he would say he was single, and he had really believed he would be able to do that, but when the question was finally asked, he couldn’t get the lie out. In that split second, he became filled with an overwhelming sense of betrayal, to Evan and himself, and he realized to be asked to deny the one thing in his life that meant more than anything else was too much. He could keep quiet, he could dance around the questions, but he would never openly say he was available when he had Evan.

He was pretty sure he had given Greg an ulcer after that interview. When the show finished and they went back to the green room, Greg was so pale, his forehead beaded with sweat, and he looked like he had just thrown up. He was surprised Greg never lectured him about what he said, but Greg probably realized there wasn’t any changing it. Trish scolded him for his words, but he made it clear it wasn’t her place to tell him what to say during interviews. Julian thought it was funny; Kenny had been pissed at him ever since.

What made matters worse was by the time they walked out of the VH1 studios, his legions of fans were joined by crazed paparazzi screaming questions at him about his relationship with Evan. From that moment forward, he only knew peace when locked away in his hotel room. Going out to eat, traveling to interviews and photo shoots, even to the airport to come home, the press tailed him everywhere. Though so far, things were clear now that he was back in Chicago. He knew it wouldn’t last. It was just because the local paparazzi hadn’t picked up his scent yet. It left him feeling hunted, that if he lingered too long in one spot they’d track him, and once they picked up his trail, a certainty as soon as he went to the studio again, they’d be tricky to evade.

But at the moment, none of it mattered. As soon as he walked out the airport doors, he would be in Evan’s arms.

Jesse sighed, grabbed his other bag, and waited for the others to collect theirs. He wondered if Evan really was upset with him. When he asked him, Evan said no, but that had been over the phone. He wouldn’t feel fully confident until they talked in person.

Jesse walked out of the airport, his gaze darted about and landed on the Cayenne. He waved to the others and strode quickly toward it, hearing the hatch pop open as Evan unlocked it at his approach. He heaved it open the rest of the way and met Evan’s radiant blue eyes.

Evan wore a glowing smile. “Welcome back, gorgeous.”

At the sight of him, Jesse felt both calm and excited. “Do you know how badly I’ve been dying to see your beautiful eyes?”

Evan chuckled. “And here I thought the pictures you have of me on your cell phone would keep you satisfied.”

“Not nearly enough.”

Jesse tossed his bags in the SUV and closed the tailgate. He rushed toward the passenger side, ripped open the door, and jumped in. The door hardly finished closing before Evan was stretched across from the driver’s seat, devouring Jesse’s tongue in a deep kiss. Jesse moaned and massaged Evan’s tongue with his. He slipped his hand up the back of Evan’s shirt, needing to the feel the warmth of his bare skin.

Jesse broke the kiss with a soft laugh. “It’s a good thing these windows are tinted jet black.”

“Yeah. I might not be able to make it until we get home and wrestle you into the backseat.” Evan put his lips to Jesse’s neck. “You smell so good.”

Jesse nuzzled into Evan’s hair, inhaling his scent and Platinum Egoist cologne. “So do you.”

Evan slid his tongue over Jesse’s bottom lip and sat back in the driver’s seat, giving Jesse a playful smile as he veered the Cayenne away from the airport. “As soon as we get home, no clothes for the rest of the day.”

Jesse took Evan’s hand in his. “Sounds like a perfect way to spend the day.”

  

Jesse panted for breath, his arms stretched up on the bed with his hands pressed flat against the headboard, bracing himself against Evan’s vigorous thrusts. His legs rested over Evan’s shoulders. He opened his eyes and looked at Evan, his torso glistening in sweat. The sight of Evan’s body, the feel of his strength in each thrust, drove Jesse closer to climax. He pressed his head against the mattress, moaning high and loud.

The sound of Jesse in pleasure took Evan’s passion to a fiercer level. He thrust harder and grabbed Jesse’s cock in his right hand. Jesse let out a sharp gasp at Evan’s forceful grip, yanking and pulling on it. He couldn’t hold back. He arched off the bed, squeezing Evan’s neck with his legs.

“Yes, Evan!”