Nobody bothered to wake them through the bus ride. So when they arrived at the next town, AJ was extremely groggy as he was forced up by a too peppy Brian. He grunted at his lover, who was trying to encourage him to get off the bus. “Come on, Age. There’s a nice warm bed in there where you can sleep for like two more hours. All you gotta do is walk in there.”
“Mmph.” AJ mumbled. But he did shift to sit up on the couch. He looked around, bleary eyed. “Coat?”
“Here, hon.” Something was pressed into AJ’s hand. He forced his eyes to focus a little. Sure enough, there was his coat. He scowled at it. Brian, half amused, half annoyed, asked him “What? What’s the matter now?”
“’S wrinkled.”
He wasn’t sure, but AJ thought that he heard Brian snort out a soft chuckle. Before he could gather the energy to care about it he found his hands full of something else. “There, Age. You can wear my hoodie. Now can we get upstairs? The other guys are waiting so security can get us all in at once.”
A few grumbling attempts later, AJ finally had the hoodie on and was following Brian off the bus. The first feel of sunlight on his face had him wanting to hiss. He took hold of the hood and yanked it over his head, letting it come down to shelter his eyes. This time he was positive he heard Brian chuckle. “Shut up, Littrell.”
“Make me.” Brian quipped.
Any other time that would have been the perfect invitation. But they were in public now. AJ had to force himself not to make the response he normally would have. So he settled for snapping “Don’t press your luck.”
They got inside quickly enough and were soon on their way up in the elevator. AJ dimly heard Kevin talking, saying something about the room switches. He didn’t care, so long as he was in a room with Brian in the end. Who cared where the rest of them slept? Stupid idiots. Couldn’t they just shut up so he could get to his room and go back to bed? He’d missed a lot of sleep while on break, and he was paying for it a little now.
AJ felt his lips curve. Yeah, he’d missed a hell of a lot of sleep. But it had been so worth it. Like the one night Brian had woke up in the middle of the night feeling frisky and had decided to wake AJ up with him, slowly. Oh yeah. That had been well worth the lost sleep. Sure, he could have slept in that morning, or any of the other mornings that they woke up in the middle of the night, but then he’d have missed out on great morning sex, and midday sex on the table, or the floor, or the couch….
Everyone started to move, bringing AJ back to reality. He slowly followed them out of the elevator, sticking close to Brian’s side. He knew that Brian would have the room key, and that was all he cared about. But something stopped the whole group of them so abruptly that AJ actually crashed into Nick’s back. It was only Brian’s hand on his arm that saved him from falling.
Just as AJ was about to snap at them for stopping right in his path he heard a deep voice that he didn’t recognize. “Hello, gentlemen.”
“Who’re you?” Nick asked the deep voice guy. Still annoyed, AJ hadn’t even bothered to look up yet. He just wanted to go back to bed. Was that too much to ask them all?
“My name’s Jeff. I’m a new security guard hired by The Firm. I’ve been assigned to Mr. Littrell.”
There was a moment of silence. AJ shuffled his feet, waiting for the introductions to get done. He tugged on Brian’s sleeve to catch his attention. Peeking out from the hood of the sweater, he looked to Brian and asked “Can we get to our room already?”
Jeff’s deep voice spoke up before Brian had a chance to answer. “Mr. Littrell, your room is right over here. I’ll help you get settled while the others head to their rooms. I hear you were given the single this time.” New guy Jeff spoke in an even voice, but his words carried a meaning that even AJ’s sleep deprived brain understood. His gaze snapped up, finally focusing on the six foot tall, burly giant that belonged to the deep voice.
Everyone else made the leap quickly enough. “You’re not here for security.” Kevin said slowly. “You’re here to make them stay apart.”
“I’m just here to follow orders, Sir. I’m simply doing what I’m paid to do.”
AJ gaped at the man. “Are you kidding me?” he demanded angrily. “You think you’re going to keep me from going into that room with him?”
“If you need help finding your room, Mr. Mclean, I’d be glad to escort you to it.” The diplomatic way the bastard said everything had AJ’s teeth on edge. Did this dude really think he was going to succeed at this? Oh, hell no. This was what management was going to do? They really thought that they could hire this big, meaty idiot and use him to keep them apart? Well, they had another fucking thing coming.
AJ stepped forward and put his hands on his hips. “Listen here, Jeff, and listen closely. Management has no control over who I date. The fact that they hired you to keep us apart isn’t going to fly well around here, and trust me, I will pursue this one if you want to press it.”
“I never said that was my job, Mr. Mclean. You gentlemen did. Even if I was here to do the job you say I am, why, it would be rather stupid of me to admit to something like that when. Especially when, as you say, you could legally pursue this.”
Fury had AJ coiled tighter than a spring. All signs of sleep were gone from his body. Just to keep himself from hitting the guy, AJ put his hands in his pockets where he clenched them into fists. “You’re one slick son of a bitch. Don’t think we’ll fucking make this easy for you. You have absolutely no fucking idea who you’re messing with.”
A hand clasped AJ’s arm. He would have freaked out on anyone for touching him, but he recognized Brian’s touch and managed to temper down his reaction. Brian tugged at his arm, murmuring “Come on, Age. Meeting in Kev’s room.”
He tried to break his arm free from Brian’s grip. “I’m not done talking to this bastard.” He snarled.
“I say you are.” Brian said while giving AJ’s arm another yank. The clear order in those words shocked AJ enough that Brian managed to propel him down the hall and into the door that was Kevin’s. Looking behind him, it gave AJ great satisfaction to slam Kevin’s door right in Jeff’s stupid fucking face, and then click the lock shut. But once that was done he spun to face Brian, yanking his arm free of his grip and glaring at him.
Brian crossed his arms over his chest, looking so calm and relaxed that AJ felt his temper go even more. Oh, how he hated when Brian kept that calm fucking attitude. It drove him up the fucking wall! “Let me tell you something, Littrell.” AJ snarled, striding forward and poking a finger against Brian’s chest. “Just because we fuck doesn’t give you a single fucking right in hell to not only manhandle me, but to try and decide when my conversations are done yet.”
“Just because we fuck doesn’t mean you have the right to act like a he-man and bully your way through something that concerns the both of us.” Brian replied.
“That son of a bitch is here to force us to be apart, and dammit, he could actually succeed! All he’s got to do is stand outside your door at night, block me from coming in, random shit like that. But you just stood there like you’re just going to let him get away with his bullshit! Doesn’t it fucking matter to you?” Sneering, he poked Brian again, trying to make a point, and also trying to break away that calm veneer that drove him so crazy.
As usual, it worked. Brian’s eyes flashed hot and bright with a look that both infuriated and excited AJ. “You think it doesn’t matter?” Brian snapped out furiously. “How dare you? Just because you’re pissed that you can’t beat the crap out of him doesn’t mean you should take it out on me, AJ!”
“I’m pissed because you think you can control who I talk to or what I do! Telling me that you say I’m done talking to him. What gives you that fucking right?”
Brian took a deep breath before answering. “I’ll take the right when you’re being too stupid to keep your calm!”
“Stupid?” AJ exclaimed. “Stupid?” He pushed Brian back a few steps. “Who the fuck are you calling stupid?”
“What, didn’t I say it clear enough?” Furious, Brian pushed AJ back. “That macho act out there was you being stupid!”
With a roar, AJ shoved Brian again, knocking his back into the wall. He stepped right up in his face so that they were just inches apart. “I’m not fucking stupid, and I’ll talk to whoever I want. The sooner you realize you’re not my fucking boss, Littrell, the better.”
“Back off, AJ.”
“Make me.”
Those two words were always a challenge for them. AJ found two fists clenched in his shirt only seconds before he was flying backwards and plowing into a wall. The picture hanging beside him shook and crashed down to the floor, but AJ paid it no attention. Brian’s lips were suddenly against his, kissing him furiously.
His temper was still strong enough that he didn’t want to be kissed. He knew that if he was, he’d most likely give in. So he pushed Brian back from him, snapping out “If you think that kissing me is going to stop me…”
That throaty growl that Brian rarely ever gave, and that turned AJ on every single time, slid past his lips, making AJ shiver. One of the hands fisted in his shirt slid up to wrap around his throat, holding his neck against the wall. Brian growled “Shut the fuck up.” In a low voice before he was kissing AJ again. This time AJ didn’t resist. He couldn’t. On a low moan he brought his hands up, fisting them in Brian’s shirt hem, yanking them closer together. When Brian bit his lip, the rest of the blood in his head drained away. By the time Brian pulled back, AJ couldn’t even remember what he’d been angry about.
“Are you done trying to act tough?” Brian growled against his lips. The hand around his throat gave a little squeeze. “Or do you need to be put in your place again?”
AJ pushed his throat deliberately against Brian’s hand, just enough that his head could come forward and he could nip Brian’s lip. “Sounds like it could be fun.”
A loud sound, someone clearing their throat, drew their attention. In that instant the two of them remembered that they weren’t in their own private room. They were in Kevin’s room, with the others watching on. Brian quickly let go of AJ’s throat, blushing and covering his face with his hands. AJ, on the other hand, looked at them all with an amused smile. “Sorry about that, guys.”
Howie was shaking his head and grinning; Kevin was chuckling softly. But Nick, he was staring at Brian with shock on his face.
AJ couldn’t resist grinning at Nick and asking “What’s up there, Frack?”
“I just…I’ve never seen him…I mean, he was choking you. And the both of you liked it.” Nick stammered, not quite capable of forming full sentences. His obvious embarrassment had them all laughing hysterically. Even Brian laughed, though his face was still bright red. He walked over to Nick, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “You might understand one day, young grasshopper.” He teased
Nick rolled his eyes and shook his head. “No thank you. I’m not into the whole pain/pleasure thing. Just surprises me that you are.”
Before AJ could say a word, Kevin shot him a glare and cleared his throat again. “If we could get back to business here.” He said sternly. Everyone chuckled, but they all looked to him. “What are we going to do about this new security? Even though he can’t admit to it, we know what he’s here for. He’s not going to let you two be together.”
“We’ll work around him.” Brian answered simply. He looked slightly amused as he smiled at them all. “He doesn’t know all our tricks yet like the other guys do.”
AJ stepped further into the room, away from the front door. “Why, you’ve got a sneaky plan, don’t you?”
Brian’s grin grew a little more. “Don’t I always, darling?”
Everyone knew Brian well, and knew how his mind worked. They were all smiling as they gathered closer. Once they were huddled, Brian looked around at them all. “Ok, so here’s the thing. It won’t take much to trick this jerk at first, but we’ll have to keep changing things up. Like tonight, just on principal, I’m not sleeping in the single. Which one of you wants it?”
“I had it last time, so give it to D.” Kevin suggested. No one ever offered to put Nick alone, knowing that he didn’t like to sleep alone in hotels.
Brian nodded at him. “Ok, perfect. So here’s the thing. After the show we’ll gather in here like we usually do, chat it up, such like that. But when the evenings over we can just let you guys out, and shut and lock the door and then he can’t stop us from being in here together.”
“That’s brilliant, but it’s just gonna piss him off.” Nick threw in.
Apparently Brian had already thought of that. His smile turned a little evil. “Yeah, he will. We’ll have to keep changing things up. But if he thinks his life here is just going to be a walk in the park then he’s got another thing coming.”
AJ couldn’t stop from smiling when he saw Brian turn to grin at Nick. He had a feeling he knew where this was going and he approved, wholeheartedly. Sure enough, what Brian said next confirmed his thoughts. “Hey Frack.” Brian said in a nice voice. “You know, it’s been a long time since Frick and Frack have done a prank war. I’d say we’re about overdue, wouldn’t you?”
The five men exchanged wide grins. If this Jeff thought he could handle them, then he didn’t realize who he was dealing with. No one could escape a Frick and Frack prank war. The man had no idea what he was getting into now. Looking into Brian’s beautiful blue eyes and seeing the humor, the love and happiness shining back at him, AJ smiled. It was almost enough to make AJ feel sorry for the man.
Almost.