Chapter 7

Dean's hand rubbed furiously hard at wooden counter behind the bar. He couldn't believe Seth's audacity sometimes. It was as if the little shit couldn't think past his own needs and desires. A hand clamped down over his stopping him from scrubbing away the varnish on the counter. The hand remained on his, the thumb softly stroking Dean's wrist.

" What has you so worked up?" The soft Scottish accent was tinged with concern.

Dean slapped the towel against the counter and exhaled in frustration. " It's nothing Drew."

Drew squeezed the hand that he was holding. " C'mon Dean. You know that I know you better than that."

Dean sighed and stared at the floor. Drew did know him better than that. Drew sometimes worked the bar along with him on peak nights like Friday and Saturday. He was a couple inches taller than Dean with lean muscular body. He was from Scotland with long dark blond hair and blue eyes with a square jaw. He was boyishly handsome and worked as a part time model after being told that he was too tall to make it in Hollywood. It was surprising to find that most of Hollywood's leading men were under six feet tall because it looked better on camera. They had worked together for the past two years and made out with each other several times although it never progressed past heavy petting.

Drew moved his hand and patted Dean's shoulder. " C'mon. We've got about an hour before this place opens to the public. Let's talk."

Dean followed Drew into one of the back storage rooms. It was a small room with just a table and boxes packed up all around it. Drew flipped on the light and then closed and locked the door when Dean came through it.

Dean rested against the edge of the table with his arms folded across his chest. Drew came up in front of him standing to his right side. He pressed his hips against Dean's right thigh, placing an arm loosely around Dean's waist. He leaned in and kissed Dean on his cheek and then whispered in his ear. " Tell me what's wrong."

Dean continued to stare at the floor trying to sort out his feelings and his thoughts. But everything was so messy and muddled up that he didn't know where or how to begin. " I can't."

Drew placed both arms around Dean's waist. " I think you can." He kissed Dean right at the corner of his mouth just avoiding his lips. " Just start talking."

Somehow Drew always got Dean to open up to him. Dean never knew how he did it but it always worked. So he told him about Seth and Roman while Drew planted kisses all over his face and neck.

When Dean had finished, Drew placed a soft kiss right over the pulse point on Dean's neck and then lifted up his head to look at Dean. " I know what you're problem is."

Dean raised an eyebrow. " What?"

" You're jealous." Drew stated simply.

Dean pulled away from him, denying the statement. " No I'm not. Why would I be jealous?"

Drew slowly approached him and took Dean's hand and gently pulled him against his body. " You're jealous because of two reasons. One, that Seth is interested in Roman and hasn't given you the time of day. Two, because Roman is interested in Seth and you still have a crush on him."

Dean twisted his lips thinking it over. " Okay, I may give you the first one but I do not still have a crush on Roman."

Drew laughed lightly and pushed a lock of Ambrose's auburn hair off his face. " Dean, I have seen Roman. I know that you still have a crush on him."

Dean shook his head. " Whatever."

Drew's face suddenly grew serious and he pulled Dean right up against his body. " You need to stop denying your feelings." He pecked Dean's lips. " Your other problem is that you don't know if you should warn Roman about Seth."

Dean acknowledged it by returning the peck to Drew. " I feel like it isn't my place ya know. But Roman's my friend and I don't want to see him get hurt."

Drew kissed him fully this time, teasing Dean's bottom lip by tracing it with his tongue. " I think that you have your answer."

" I guess." Dean hand firmly grasped the back of the man's neck, bringing his head down to kiss him properly.

The kiss was slow and smooth like they usually were between them. Drew's tongue slid easily into Dean's mouth curling around his own. Drew backed Dean up against the table, pressing their hips together as they continued to kiss. His right hand went under Dean's shirt, touching his bare skin. His flesh was soft and supple as Drew moved his hand up to the middle of Dean's back resting there. Dean kissed him for a few more seconds before pulling away and ending the kiss. He could feel his and Drew's hardness pressing against each other through the denim. But Dean didn't think that he wanted anything more from him for the rest of the night. Drew as usual had worked his magic to help sort himself out.

Drew cupped Dean's chin and tilted it upwards to him. " Sometimes I wished that you could feel for me the way that I do about you."

" Drew ..."

" I know Dean, I know." He let go of Dean's chin and kissed him on his forehead. " You don't believe in workplace relationships."

Dean looked at him, unsure in what to say. He just didn't feel like that about Drew.

" But I know that if I got a different job tomorrow you would come up with a different excuse." Drew smiled sadly.

Dean was beginning to feel guilty about using Drew to make him feel better. " Drew I..."

" You don't have to explain yourself," He interrupted. " It is what it is."

He kissed Dean on the lips for a few seconds and then he stopped. " Just know that I'll always be here for you."

The corner of Dean's lips curled up into a short smile. " Thanks."

Drew took a step back breaking their close body contact. " I think it's time that we went back out there."

Dean nodded in agreement. " Yeah."

As Drew unlocked the door he turned to Dean. " I want you to do one thing for me."

Dean looked puzzled. " What?"

" Stop underestimating yourself. You have no clue how attractive you really are."


A few days later Dean was coming down the stairs to head to the store because Seth had used up all of the coffee creamer when he saw Roman exiting his apartment.

" Hi."

Roman turned and smiled at him. " Hi Dean. What's up?"

" Nothing much man." He replied as they both walked to their cars.

As soon as they were about to separate to go to their respective cars, Dean piped up. " So I heard about you and Seth."

Dean bit his bottom lip nervously. He didn't know how else to bring it up except to be forthcoming with it.

Roman looked at him initially a bit shocked but then he grinned and nodded his head. " Um yeah. It's kinda weird."

Dean propped against his mustang. " I can imagine. With you being straight and all." He teased.

Roman accepted the ribbing good naturedly. " Yeah, so I thought. But Seth's just different ya know?"

A brief pang of jealousy hit Dean and he wished that he could've ignored it. But he guessed Drew was right. He wasn't completely free of his crush on Roman. " I guess."

Dean walked over to him. There was no one else around but he didn't want to have this part of the conversation shouted over the parking area. He tapped Roman on the shoulder. He turned around and looked at Dean, his face questioning what he wanted. " You know that Seth's in a relationship with someone else right?"

Roman nodded. " Yeah. He told me all about Damien. But he's married and Seth says that he doesn't love him so I guess it's alright."

Dean looked a bit mystified. " And you're okay with that? Sharing him?"

" I don't see it like that." Roman sounded a bit defensive. " What Seth and I have is just... just different, okay?"

Dean took a step back sensing the annoyance emanating from Roman. " Okay. I was just making sure that you're alright with it."

" It really isn't any of your concern Dean." Roman said as he got into his SUV and closed the door in Dean's face.


Damien couldn't pinpoint exactly when it had happened. It was probably around the same time that Seth had moved into his new place but things weren't the same between them. For the past month or so, Seth felt emotionally distant from him. Well more so than usual to be fair. Even now as they were lying side by side in the bed at the condo. Seth clad only in his briefs. His long golden, muscled legs stretched out with one arm behind his head as he watched the television at the foot of the bed. He was so beautiful to look at but Damien never felt as if he truly ever had him.

" Seth?"

" Hmmm?" Came the indifferent response as his eyes remain transfixed on the television.

Damien wondered if Seth had become involved with that sea urchin looking ruffian that he lived with but he dismissed that thought. Not even Seth would stoop that low.

He softly caressed the arm that Seth had placed behind his head. " Seth baby?" He placed a gentle kiss on the inside of Seth's bicep. " I was wondering."

Seth turned to look at him. Those big brown eyes momentarily stunning him with their soft beauty.

He kissed Seth's arm again before he spoke again. " Do you have any vacation days saved up?"

Seth nodded. " Yeah I do."

" I want you to take a couple."

Seth raised an eyebrow. " Why?"

Damien slid his arm over Seth's waist using his fingers to stroke the skin. " Because I want to take you on a trip with me." His eyes locked on to Seth's. " To Cancun."

Seth sat up immediately. Excitement all over his face. " Are you serious Dae?"

Damien couldn't help but to smile at Seth. " Of course. Just you and me. It isn't a business trip."

Seth had a huge grin all over his face. " Cancun? I've always wanted to go to Cancun. It looks like heaven."

" So is that a yes?"

" Yes!" Seth shouted and planted a noisy kiss on Sandow's lips and then kissed him all over his face saying thank you as he laid each one.

Damien couldn't help but to laugh at Seth's excitement. When they were like this laughing and Seth was being extra affectionate. It made everything that he had to put up with at home from his wife worth it. He pulled Seth into his arms and his younger lover threw a leg over Damien's waist. They started kissing and in between Seth prattled on excitedly about seeing the white beaches and the stunning blue waters of the Caribbean sea. Damien couldn't be happier.


A couple days later Seth was lying in Roman's bed. A late night talk show was on but neither of them were paying it any attention. They were both in their underwear. Seth was lying partially on top of Roman with his leg between Roman's thighs. Roman's arms were around him as they exchanged slow, sweet kisses.

Seth moaned and shifted so that he was lying right on top of Roman. Seth's legs were between Roman's, their clothed groins pressed against each other as Seth licked and sucked at the base of Roman's neck. His kisses slowly moved down Roman's body. His tongue flicking over a nipple, tracing an intricate pattern all over Roman's chest to the other nipple before sucking it into his mouth. Roman groaned and slid his hand down Seth's back to cup his ass. He squeezed the cheek through the brief as Seth's clever mouth worked his nipple. Roman could feel his cock pulsing as Seth's tongue lapped against his chest. Everything that Seth ever did to him always felt good. So damn good.

Seth made his way half way down Roman's body and then moved back up to kiss him on the lips. Roman pulled Seth's briefs down to right underneath his bottom, exposing the rounded high mounds. His hands kneaded them together as their tongues played together inside his mouth. Seth's body always felt good to him. He gave the left cheek a soft smack and Seth immediately moaned into his mouth. He liked how Seth was always so sexually needy but he never pushed him out of his comfort zone.

Seth pulled away. He straddled Roman with his thighs pressing against both sides of Roman's waist. He smiled down at Roman whose lips were swollen from the intense kissing. " I've got something to tell you."

Roman's hands moved down to Seth's thighs, clasping the hard muscles with each hand. Seth's blond and black hair falling forward from his face in soft waves. He was so good looking that Roman couldn't believe how smitten he was with Seth's looks. " What is it?"

Seth dipped his head and kissed Roman's cheek. " I'm going to Cancun with Damien for a few days."

For Roman it felt as if his whole world had suddenly breaked to an abrupt stop. He knew that Seth and Damien were still on going but it didn't feel quite real until now.

" Rome?" Seth lightly poked him on his chest. " Did you hear me?"

Roman exhaled softly and looked up into those brown eyes that were looking at him expectantly. " Yeah. Cancun huh?"

Seth smiled and nodded. " Yup. I've never been. I'm so excited. I can't wait."

" That's good." The enthusiasm in Roman's voice was noticeably lacking.

" Romie, what's wrong?" Seth pouted. " Don't you want me to go?"

Roman sat up in the bed and moved his hands up to Seth's waist. " No you should go. I want you to have a good time."

This answer seemed to have pleased Seth. " Yay! I was hoping that you wouldn't be mad."

Roman gave a short smile and pushed some of Seth's hair off his face, allowing his fingers to slip slowly through the hair. He knew that he didn't want Seth to go anywhere with Damien. But how could he deny him when he was essentially the other man? " I'm not mad." Seth smiled at him. " When are you leaving?"

" Early Thursday morning on Dae's private jet. We're coming back home on Sunday night." Seth was playing with Roman's long black hair as well but it was obvious that his mind was already miles away in Cancun.

Roman tangled his fingers in the curls at the back of Seth's head and brought their faces together. He kissed Seth with as much passion as he could muster, sucking on those pretty pink lips of his. " I'm going to miss you Seth." It was the nicest way he could put how he was feeling.

Seth smiled at him and pecked his lips. " I'm going to bring you back a souvenir from Cancun."


Dean watched with faint amusement on Wednesday as Seth ran around the apartment packing items for his trip. Seth was acting as if he was going away for a whole month instead of a few days. Dean watched as Seth packed no less than ten pairs of boarding shorts along with eight pairs of speedos. Plus he had another suitcase full of shoes and a carry-on bag full of toiletries including suntan oil, sun block, various hair products and five different flavours of lip balm. Seth was definitely an overpacker and knowing him, Dean mused he was probably going to spend most the trip in the hotel room with Damien half naked anyway.

It was after nine at night when Seth had finished packing. He came out to the living room to see Dean sitting on the couch watching television. Today was Dean's off day. He flopped down across the couch with his torso landing on Dean's lap. Dean looked down at him and shook his head and then resumed watching television.

" I'm tired." Seth said and then turned over so that his head was in Dean's lap as he looked up at his roommate. " I didn't know that Cancun could be so tiring."

Dean couldn't help but to smile and shake his head. " But you haven't even left yet."

" I know." Seth turned to look at the television. " This is Dae's and I first trip together." He said a lot more solemnly.

" So are you scared or something?" Dean looked down at the man who was at least wearing a pair of loose fitting gym shorts today.

" No it's just..." Seth's voice trailed off as if he was trying to find the right words. " It's just different. Dae has never been so obvious about our relationship before to his wife even though she knows about us." He turned and looked back at Dean. " Do you think that he wants us to be something more?"

Dean looked at him resisting the urge to touch the soft looking hair even though Seth was using him as a human pillow. " I don't know Seth. You would have to ask Damien that."

Seth seemed to be pondering over what Dean had said and from the look on his face Seth didn't look too enthused about the idea.

" So what about Roman?" Dean dared to venture even though their last encounter ended rather abruptly.

" What about him?" Seth replied as his thoughts were obviously far away.

" Well what does he think about you and Damien going to Cancun?"

" Oh he's happy for me." Seth replied nonchalantly.

The way how Roman talked about Seth, Dean wasn't entirely convinced that he didn't mind Seth gallivanting off with no worries. " Are you sure?"

" Yes!" He looked at Dean as if he was annoyed. " Romie's happy for me. Why wouldn't he be?"

Dean realized that he wasn't going to get through to Seth so he just dropped it. " No idea Seth. No idea." He sighed and went back to watching the television show not noticing that subconsciously that his thumb and index finger were twirling strands of Seth's hair.


On Thursday, Dean had the early shift at the bar so he was home by ten thirty. Inside the apartment felt hot so he walked outside to stand on the top of the steps with a beer in his hand looking at all of the twinkling lights he could see of Santa Monica. He definitely was not where he thought that he would be when he first came to L.A. but life had a funny way of working itself out.

As he was taking a drink from his bottle he heard a loud thud coming from downstairs. At first he ignored it, figuring that Roman had just dropped something. Then he heard it again, followed by a metallic crash. Now he was worried. He sat his bottle on the ground and sprinted down the stairs. He went up to Roman's front door, wondering if he should knock. But instead he tried the knob and found that it wasn't locked. He opened the door and stepped inside. He closed the door and made his way into the kitchen as it seemed as if the noise was coming from there. Roman was furious and slammed a chopping board on to the tiled floor.

" Rome?" Dean called out. He had never seen Roman act like this. He was usually calm and composed.

Roman didn't turn around or acknowledge him so he stepped closer avoiding a metal tray on the floor. " Roman. What's going on?"

Roman turned to look at him, pushing his loose hair back from his face. Dean could see his chest rising and falling rapidly with each breath that he took. He was only clothed in a pair of dark blue boxers and Dean tried not to stare too much.

" Nothing Dean. It's nothing."

" Uh huh." Dean looked down at the chopping board and then back up at Roman. The guilt washing over his face. " So if it's nothing, then why..." He gestured at the recently made mess with his hand.

Roman started to pace. " I thought that everything was going so well between us. I thought that he was going to tell me that he was leaving Damien but instead he's excited about going to Cancun."

He stopped pacing and looked at Dean. He was obviously hurting and distraught. Dean was never any good at comforting people. He always felt awkward and that he would say the wrong thing. But he knew that he had to do it for Roman. " I'm sorry Rome."

He gingerly embraced Roman's shoulders but surprisingly Roman clutched him tightly and pushed him against the breakfast bar pinning him between the wood and Roman's body. He had never been so close to Roman before and now it was all because of Seth.

" How could I have told him that I didn't want him to go?" Roman's lips brushed against Dean's shoulder every time that he spoke. Dean felt a shiver run through him. Now was not the time to become aroused especially since Roman wasn't doing it on purpose. " He was so excited Dean."

" I know he was." Dean said as he comfortingly stroked Roman's hair.

" But why couldn't he see that I wanted him to stay? Why doesn't he see how much I care about him?" Dean felt the edge of Roman's teeth scrapping his skin. That combined with the uneven pressure of Roman's lips wasn't doing him any favours. He tried to concentrate on comforting Roman.

" I don't know Rome. Maybe he was too excited to see it." He tried as inconspicuously as possible to move his shoulder away from Roman's mouth. But that only resulted in Roman's lips touching his throat. Fuck.

" I don't know what to do Dean." Every word felt like feather light kisses against his neck. He just prayed that Roman didn't feel his growing erection.

" I don't know either Rome." Dean sighed into Roman's shoulder.


A/N: Thank you guys for your enormous support! You guys leave some of the best reviews. I love how into the story everyone is. I also love it when you leave words of encouragement. Trust me, reading your reviews is a huge motivation that keeps me writing. You guys are just awesome :)