There was no trouble with getting through the first night of being back on tour. AJ and Brian stayed in their room together and showed up for the show wreathed in smiles. After the show they went back to their room and enjoyed another night together. It wasn’t until the next morning as it came time to load onto the busses that they had any trouble.
The guys stood in the parking garage to get the bus assignments from Kevin, who had got them from the road manager.
It was Howie who noticed right off the bat what was going on without Kevin even having to tell him. “You’ve got to be kidding me!” he exclaimed as he walked up to the group. AJ and Brian, who had been bickering playfully with one another, looked over at him to try to figure out what he was talking about. That was when all of them noticed that there was only one bus.
“They’re putting us back on one bus again?” Nick asked in surprise. All eyes went to Kevin, who nodded in annoyance.
AJ looked at Brian and sighed a little. “Guess it’s their way of making sure we can’t be alone together.” He said with a shrug. The idea of being on one bus wasn’t that bad. They’d all done it countless times before. At least he wasn’t being shuffled to another bus where he couldn’t see Brian at all. The guys wouldn’t care if they held hands or kissed or anything like that.
Leaning in, Brian whispered in AJ’s ear “Takes away from the plans I had.”
“Really now?” AJ’s eyes sparkled behind his sunglasses.
Seeing that, Brian couldn’t help but grin. God, he had thought that AJ brought out a whole different side of him before; now that they had taken that next step in their relationship, he found himself growing even bolder where his lover was concerned. While the guys bickered about the bus, Brian nipped at the bottom of AJ’s ear. “I’d been wondering if this bus had its couch set up like our last bus had.”
The whispered words took them both back to that day that Brian had bent AJ over the couch in the back of the bus. Just thinking about it had Brian’s body humming. He saw the same flash of passion run in AJ’s eyes. “You’re going to make me embarrass myself here, Littrell, if you aren’t careful.”
“Sounds like fun to me.”
“Do it, and I’ll make you pay.” AJ warned him in a low hiss.
Using their bags as shelter, Brian let his hand slide down to squeeze at AJ’s ass. “Is that supposed to scare me off? Cause that sounds like just as much fun.” He whispered heatedly.
AJ had to work to stifle a moan. “I’ve created a monster in you.” He complained. But, he didn’t step back. He stayed where he was, enjoying the feel of Brian’s hand on his ass and the knowledge that no one knew it was there because of how his backpack and their duffels were hanging, as well as his light jacket. “Who knew Saint Littrell was such a freak.”
At the ‘Saint Littrell’ remark, Brian gave him a pinch before he pulled his hand back. “I’ve told you not to call me that.”
“Bite me.”
“Shove it, Age.”
“When, where, and how hard?”
The last comment came out just as the others stopped talking. For one single second everyone was silent. Then, Kevin started to laugh. Soon they all joined in. It had AJ rolling his eyes and marching to the bus. “I’m not standing here with a bunch of lunatics!” he called out to them.
“You’re the crazy one, J!” Nick called out as he followed him.
AJ shook his head at them all as they joined him on the bus. “Me? I’m totally normal!” He exclaimed.
Snorting, Brian tossed his bag in a bunk. “If you’re normal, I thank God I’m crazy.” The taunt was delivered with an innocent smile that had their friends cracking up and AJ narrowing his eyes. He put his hands on his hips for a moment to glare at Brian. “Just for that, I’m sleeping in here.” He announced, pointing to a bunk opposite of the one Brian had chosen. Even as he climbed inside, Brian was grabbing hold of his hips and pulling him back.
He couldn’t help but laugh as AJ squirmed to get free and the others practically rolled with laughter while they watched. None to gently Brian shoved AJ in his bunk before climbing in to pin him in. “You aren’t sleeping over there, so get over it.”
“You’re getting awfully bossy here, Littrell.” AJ swore as he shifted to get comfortable.
Brian just lay back and grinned. “Your point?”
“I ought to kick your ass, that’s my damn point.”
“You’re welcome to try. I’ll try not to hurt you too badly, so you can at least keep your pride when it’s over with.”
For a second AJ gaped at him. Then his eyes narrowed. Without warning he put his hands and feet against Brian and shoved him straight out of the bunk and down to the floor. “You and your pride can sleep down there!” he snapped out.
There would have been retaliation, but someone else suddenly stepped on to the bus and cleared their throat, drawing everyone’s attention. Looking up, Brian saw who it was and was on his feet in an instant, his body locked down tight. He barely registered AJ stepping out of the bunk to stand with him, shoulder to shoulder. They presented a united front.
Carla Taylor smiled at them, her hands folded in front of her, looking as much of an ice queen as she had the day before. She was dressed in a bright red business suit and skirt this time, looking just as beautiful, and just as cold. “Hello, gentlemen.” She said in that icy voice of hers.
“What do you want?” AJ snapped out. Instinctively, Brian angled his body to slightly shield AJ’s, not even realizing that he did so.
The woman’s grin grew even wider. “I came to try one last time to talk some sense into the two of you. Into all of you. I assume that there’s been full disclosure to each member of the group? Seeing as how you all so nicely thwarted my efforts these past two nights.”
Howie crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the counter, making sure that he stayed between this woman and his friends. “Oh, trust me, we know exactly who and what you are.” He told her. “We also know our rights. What you ask them to do you have no legal justification to do so.”
“I take it you two are going to ignore my warnings, then?” She said, still smiling.
Beside him, Brian could hear AJ snarl quietly. He put his hand behind him to take hold of AJ’s long fingers, clasping them tightly. In contrast to AJ’s temper, Brian felt a steely calmness. “We’ve heard what you have to say and our opinions haven’t changed one whit. We will not sacrifice our happiness for you, no matter what you do.”
Carla let out a delicate sigh. Lifting her briefcase, she reached inside and pulled out a magazine, setting it on the table. “This will run tomorrow.” She told them, tapping a manicured nail on the cover of the magazine. “Heed this warning, Brian, AJ. If something else had to happen, it might not end up being as nice.” Turning on those stiletto heels, she moved back to the front of the bus. At the staircase she paused, looking at them. “You never know what some people are capable of. I hope that this warning works. I would hate to see what kind of warning someone might give you next. I would hate to see someone…hurt.” With that last comment, she was gone.
Nick was the first one to move. He walked to the table as the bus started up and picked up the magazine. After flipping through it for a moment, he found what he was looking for and sighed. “Backstreet Bad Boy, more than just your average rebel.” He read out loud. When everyone stayed silently watching him, Nick took the hint and continued to read.
“’It appears that the resident Bad Boy of the Backstreet Boys has a darker past than he ever let on to his fans. The tattooed, rebellious AJ Mclean, known all over for making girls sigh and women drool, comes from a more dangerous and troublesome past than his fans know. Raised by a single mother, AJ Mclean spent much of his time on the streets.
“Involved in gang activity by the age of eleven, young AJ, known as Xander at the time, was into many illegal activities. Vandalism, drugs, assault. He ran with a group that called themselves the Pythons. This group of angry children not only used drugs themselves, but sold them as well. More than once they were suspected, though never proven, of vandalizing buildings and assaulting both children and teens alike who strayed into their area.
“Supposedly ‘Xander’ was one of their toughest. He and his gang were also suspected of robbing a convenience store as well as a gas station. For over a year the young AJ ran with this group, raising trouble wherever he went. But one night in a gang rumble gone bad, AJ led a group of friends into an ambush. One young child who was foolish enough to trust this troubled young AJ lost his life in the fight that night. Another was hospitalized with three stab wounds and multiple fractures. AJ himself was stabbed in the attack, but not before he had a chance to beat a child so badly that the child had to have their jaw reconstructed.”
A small sound came from AJ, but no one else said a word. Brian held tighter to AJ’s hand as Nick continued to read.
“It begs the question if this is the kind of role model we want for our children out there? How deeply does this part of AJ Mclean stay buried, or is it waiting under the surface? The young man who was beaten by AJ that night agreed to speak with us, but would not give his name.
“He stated fear that AJ would try to find him if he gave his name. ‘He was the ringleader of the little group. Oh, no one said it, but they all looked to him. He had them all afraid of him. I just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time that night, but it didn’t matter to him, so long as he hurt someone. He was a scary person, and I firmly believe that if I hadn’t grabbed the knife off the ground then he would have killed me. I didn’t intend to stab him, but he was hurting me so much and I couldn’t think of how to stop him.’”
Unable to take it anymore, AJ spun and yanked away from Brian, marching to the back of the bus. Sighing, Brian looked at his friends. “I’ll go talk to him. You guys mind if we take a little privacy back there and shut the door?”
“Go ahead.” Kevin reassured him. His own heart was breaking for his friend. AJ had given them the bare bones of what had happened, but to think that AJ had been stabbed by some little kid when he was no more than a kid himself!
Brian winked at them and gave a smile that startled them all. “Ignore any yelling or crashing or anything like that. I have a feeling his temper will be spectacular.” That said, he went after his lover.
~~~~~~~~~~~
AJ paced the back room of the bus as best he could, his hands jiggling slightly against the sides of his jeans. He didn’t look up when Brian came in but when he heard the door shut he wasted no time in speaking. “The truth was bad enough, but they put a spin on it that makes it even worse! They make me sound like a thug!”
“We can release our own statement.” Brian said firmly. He sat down on the couch and crossed an ankle over his knee, watching AJ with those deep eyes. “Not giving details, because no one needs to know those. But refuting the parts that aren’t true.”
“You think that’ll fucking matter? They’ll just assume I’m lying to save face!”
“Probably.” Brian agreed with him.
That didn’t help AJ’s temper any. “Exactly! So what’s the damn point? God, that bitch makes me want to strangle her! Whose business is it what I did when I was a kid? I paid for it, didn’t I? I’ve made something of myself now. I’m not that little punk anymore. I’m AJ now, and I’ve made a damn good life for myself!”
“Yes, you have.”
Furious, AJ slanted a glance over at Brian. “You just going to sit there all calm and shit and agree with me?” he demanded.
Brian shrugged and grinned. He laid his arms out on the back of the couch. “Keep making sense and most likely I will. I tend to be practical like that. Just like I’m practical enough to know that getting pissed isn’t going to change a thing. They’ll run the story whether we like it or not. So why rage about it? Won’t do any good and it sure won’t stop it from happening.”
The glare that AJ gave only had Brian smiling. He couldn’t help but feel his temper die a little in the face of Brian’s easy going demeanor. “Might not do any good, but it sure makes me feel better.” AJ told him sullenly. Most of his temper was gone, but not all.
“I could think of much more productive ways to make you feel better.” Brian said seductively.
Out in the front of the bus the TV kicked on, the sound of it most likely intended to give them privacy. AJ thought that it was a good idea as he realized the intent behind Brian’s words and saw the glint in his eyes. “The guys are out front.” He found himself saying.
A simple shrug was Brian’s answer. He uncrossed his legs and stayed sitting where he was, one eyebrow cocked. In that instant AJ felt himself lose all traces of anger. Passion took its place. Jesus, he knew what Brian was offering, and how the hell could he resist? He loved it when Brian went freaky like this. “You think you can keep quiet?” he asked him with a smile.
Brian’s smile grew brighter. “I’m sure we can figure out something.” He said easily. “Now, you gonna come over here or you going to just stand there and maybe mope some more?”
“Mope?” AJ exclaimed. He stomped forward and plopped himself on Brian’s lap. “I don’t mope!”
With a roll of his eyes, Brian reached up and grabbed the front of AJ’s shirt, yanking him down for a kiss that burned its way straight to AJ’s toes. He found that he couldn’t think anymore. Every cell in his brain was fried. Then the blood in his body dropped to his loins when Brian wasted no time in reaching into AJ’s jeans, undoing the zipper and button in his way, wrapping his hand around AJ’s erection. “Holy God. You’re trying to kill me.”
“Hell of a way to die.” Brian responded. His lips moved to AJ’s ear, taking the earring into his mouth and biting lightly around it. AJ felt his hips start to move of their own accord, thrusting into Brian’s hand and pushing down against the hard on that he felt underneath him.
There was no taking their time with this. They had no idea if or when one of the guys would come back and catch them and they were intent on getting their pleasure first. But AJ could tell what Brian had in mind, and he knew it wasn’t enough. Not nearly enough for the amount of passion that was curling in his stomach.
He stood up, flipping the lock on the door quietly. Then he turned back around and kicked his shoes off. Next came the pants and boxers. It thrilled him to watch Brian’s eyes go dark and hot. “You’ll have to be quiet, Bri.”
“I thought we’d…” Brian trailed off as AJ straddled him again. He couldn’t quite get the words to form.
AJ leaned in and kissed him fiercely, biting down on Brian’s lip the way he knew that Brian loved. When they broke apart, he smiled. “I know what you thought. But I want to ride you. I want you to fuck me, now, with the guys out there. I want it now, and hard, and fast.”
His words spiked Brian’s passion even higher. This, of course, had been AJ’s intent. Even as he’d been talking he had reached underneath himself and was undoing Brian’s jeans. In no time at all he had his lover exposed and was shifting to set their bodies into the right position. He gave Brian no time to think, to talk, to do anything but feel.
They kissed to cover their moans as AJ slid down onto Brian. But AJ didn’t pause to adjust or anything. He started to ride up and down, needing it just like he had said. Hard and fast. His body was on fire. With total abandon, as if they were alone at AJ’s house again, AJ threw his head back and rode his boyfriend for all he was worth.
The passion had built quickly in them that it sat not that far off. With every thrust they gave they moved closer and closer. Brian’s hands were gripping tightly to AJ’s hips, most likely leaving yet another bruise. But AJ didn’t care. He rolled his hips with each movement of his hips, wanting to bring Brian to that peak. Wanting to drive him crazy, knowing that there was a high chance they might get caught.
It didn’t take long before they were sweating and having to control their panting. “So close.” Brian gasped against AJ’s lips as they shared another kiss. “God, Alex. Oh fuck.”
AJ growled and squeezed his muscles while giving his hips another roll. He heard Brian suck in a breath and saw the look on his face that signaled his orgasm. Almost too late AJ slapped his hand over Brian’s mouth, muffling the scream that tore out of him. God, he loved it when Brian screamed. Was there anything sexier?
Once Brian caught his breath again, he did something that AJ wasn’t expecting. The grip on AJ’s hips changed and then he found himself being lifted, brought almost to his feet, and Brian’s warm mouth was enveloping him. Holy mother of God! AJ almost bit through his own lip to keep from making a sound. “I’m close, Bri.” He warned him. Brian sucked harder, deep throating him.
That was it for AJ. He bit his lip until it bled to hold in the sound of his groan as he shot his load down Brian’s warm throat.
Once the pleasure passed, AJ barely managed to collapse back against the couch. He didn’t pay much attention when Brian grabbed his pants and his boxers, or even as he helped him into them. His brain was still too scrambled to think straight. But once AJ was dressed, Brian undid the lock on the door, then came back over to the couch.
He laid down alongside AJ, pulling him into his arms, and AJ willingly went into them. He snuggled close as Brian turned the TV on. Whatever they watched, AJ had no idea. He was enjoying his peaceful, easy feeling.
Wrapped in Brian’s arms, things didn’t seem so bad as they had before. So what if the world knew what happened? Or, at least, that version of things. He was not going to give up the most important person in his life just because some bitch wanted to play threatening little games.
Smiling, AJ drifted off to sleep.