This is wrong, Matt thought as he studied his reflection in the bathroom mirror. Could he really do something like this? The man staring blankly back at him wore an expression devoid of emotion. It was like he was losing control of his own actions. All through the drive to the hotel he'd been thinking about Shawn … slowly devising ways to get him to leave Lance. It was a silly way to pass time at first, but as he went over and rejected various possibilities, he suddenly realized he was seriously considering them for implementation purposes. And he also understood that people were going to have to get hurt in the process. This didn't disturb him in the least, and that was what worried him.
He couldn't control this utter apathy he was developing over people's pain. On the way into the room just before, Shannon stubbed his toe on the end of the bed then tripped and landed on his kneecap. And Matt had barked out laughing so hard it bordered on the maniacal. Shannon hid his face and Matt could swear he saw a single tear fall down the blonde boy's cheek, but he was looking down and it was difficult to say. But the thought only gave Matt more comfort. He wanted to see Shannon in pain, he realized. That was what brought him into the bathroom now.
He heard Shannon move slowly about the room beyond the door and felt a slight prick of guilt for laughing at him. But as he looked back into his own eyes in the mirror, he knew that the pain the younger man felt now would pale in comparison to what he was going to feel. Matt knew what had to be done and it was Shannon's misfortune to be the object of Adam's attraction. Pity. But for this particular plan to work, Matt needed that attraction to stay strong. So now all he had to do was figure out how to feed it without letting Adam act upon it just yet.
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Jay looked down at the ground as he waited for the elevator to take him up to his room. Another day, another city. The monotony used to get to him, though now he took a perverse sort of comfort in it. Drew had already handed him his key on the way out to meet Stacy so he wouldn't have to wait in line to check in. It was handy having the large guy for a roommate. The sound of a large suitcase hitting the floor behind him drew his attention momentarily.
"Hey, there, Christian," Scott Steiner said amiably, though the smile he wore belied a measure of mischief.
Jay nodded curtly at him and turned back to the elevator. He didn't have a problem with Scott, per se, but he never did feel comfortable around him. It probably had something to do with the lascivious glances he'd been sending his way since Jay moved shows. Scott would let his wander slowly down Jay's body, stopping at his groin. It made the Canadian want to stop what he was doing and take a long, hot shower with disinfectant. But Scott hadn't said anything overtly sexual, so Jay couldn't be sure if he was being stalked or if Scott was just an average, run-of-the-mill nympho. Whatever it was, Jay wished the guy would get the hell away from him.
"Maybe I could take you to the hotel bar for a drink after the show tonight," Scott went on as if Jay hadn't just snubbed him by turning away.
"He's busy tonight," someone answered for him in that familiar Southern drawl.
Jay turned his grateful gaze to Jeff and smiled. His friend held the stare for a moment, knowing without being asked what to do to calm the man.
"He can answer for himself," Scott grunted.
"He don't need to," Shane replied from behind Jeff, glaring a hole right through Steiner's skull. "He's hanging with us."
The blonde man wasn't sure when he'd become Shane's responsibility, though he wasn't about to complain about it. The green-and-brown-haired superhero was evidently a force to be reckoned with and Jay was just happy to be on his good side. Looking back at the pinched expression on Jeff's face he could see that his friend wasn't as lucky today. It probably had something to do with Randy again. Poor Jeff.
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"I could have handled Steiner myself, thank you very much," Jeff hissed at Shane after they dropped Jay at his room and had found their way down the hall to their own.
"You're still welcome," Shane smiled sweetly, slipping his key card into the door and opening it.
He pushed it wide and gestured for Jeff to enter first. The younger man glared hotly at him before stomping past him and Shane smirked as he followed him in, closing and bolting the door behind him. He'd had enough ... absolutely enough of this situation. He couldn't possibly stand watching Randy get Jeff closer and closer to his bed. It was maddening. And yet he still didn't think starting a relationship with the enigmatic young man was wise either. But his fingers were itching to run through Jeff's silky hair again and the guy's scent was driving Shane to distraction. He hadn't planned it this way, but he was unraveling and there didn't seem to be a damned thing he could do about it.
"What the … ?" Jeff barely was able to get out.
Shane didn't waste any more time on thinking, tackling the beautiful wrestler down onto one of the beds and straddling his hips. Oh hell, he feels so damned good, he sighed.
"Shane!" Jeff squeaked, wide-eyed. His eyes held surprise and something else, Shane realized: anticipation. These advances weren't unwanted, and that was an even bigger turn on.
"Hush," he growled in response then locked his lips onto Jeff's and kissed him roughly.
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Oh my God, he's fucking kissing me! Jeff's mind was reeling and his blood was on fire. His body responded immediately to the contact, arms stealing up and around Shane's neck and lips opening of their own volition. Shane slid his tongue deep inside and moaned into his mouth, eliciting an excited whimper from the back of Jeff's throat. He tried to hold it back, thinking it might make Shane pull away, but it didn't. The dark haired man only settled himself more comfortably on top of Jeff and angled his head, gently nipping at his lips. The younger man could even feel the growing bulge in his roommate's pants.
Shane tasted of sexy sweet male, and it was heaven. Randy hadn't set his senses on fire like this and all Jeff could do was hold onto the man above him and ride out the tidal wave that was rolling over him. If this is what Shane could do with a kiss, he could only imagine what it would be like to make love with him. The heady image popped into his mind's eye, unbidden. And yet, he couldn't seem to get away from it. He wanted Shane fiercely, in a fury he'd never known before.
He sucked in a sharp gasp, brought back to the present as Shane moved away from his lips and down to his neck, nipping and kissing the soft flesh there.
"See?" he purred, his mouth at Jeff's ear, breath dancing into the canal. "You can't possibly start anything with Randy now. You're too confused."
"Wh-what?" Jeff whispered shakily.
"You can't tell me you didn't just about come for me right there," Shane said, pulling back and looking down at him with a smirk. "And if I, a longtime friend and a straight man to boot, can make you react like that, ain't no way you're serious about starting something permanent with him."
Jeff went cold and looked up at him like Shane had suddenly grown another limb. But Shane held his ground, giving him the most pompous look he'd ever seen grace that handsome face.
"Straight?" Jeff shrieked, finally finding his voice. "You sure about that?"
Shane's expression darkened and he pulled himself off Jeff, leaving the younger man feeling abandoned and used. He had the sick feeling he wasn't far off the mark either. Slowly he got up from the bed and put some distance between the two of them.
"I'm straight!" Shane yelled.
"Yeah, well I don't remember getting down on that bed by myself."
"I was just trying to show you that you ain't serious about him!"
"Straight friends don't do that to their gay friends, Shane," Jeff countered, heading past him toward the door. "It makes us feel cheap!"
Then he slammed out of there before he said anything else he would regret.
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Stupid, stupid, stupid! Shane berated himself as he launched himself out the door. He had him right where he'd wanted him: beneath him, writhing in pleasure. And he had to go and ruin the mood by asserting his heterosexuality … which he knew was nonexistent at this point. He saw his roommate standing impatiently, lost in thought, by the elevator and stealthily snuck up on him. Before Jeff could cry out, Shane had him up against the wall in a nearby corner, his palm covering the pretty lips he'd just before been kissing.
"I didn't mean to say that," he said as he struggled to keep Jeff in place. He was doubly sorry when he noted the tear tracks down the younger man's cheeks.
"Mmm hmm," Jeff mumbled into his hand, nodding his head furiously.
"Please …" Shane beseeched him, slowly pulling his hand away. "Please."
"Please what?" Jeff hissed. "Forget you said that and implied I'm easy enough to be manipulated like that?"
"I'm sorry," Shane murmured, pulling Jeff into a loose hug. "I'm so sorry."
Jeff ducked his head, stiff in the embrace but not moving away, which Shane took for a good sign.
"You'll stop ragging on me about Randy?" he asked in a small voice, his head still down.
Shane wanted to kick the wall, knowing it would be hell for him to agree to it. But Jeff's tears were still fresh and he knew if he did anything right now to push the matter he'd leave him and start rooming with Jay or, heaven forbid, Randy himself. He saw that he really had little choice in the matter.
"I guess," he mumbled, patting Jeff's hair, nearly shaking from the contact.
"All right then," Jeff sniffled and stood back up to his full height. "We'll just put that business behind us."
Then he walked back to their room and Shane trailed behind him with a scowl.
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NOTE: No so much of a cliffie this time. Thanks for all one of you for reviewing. LOL! I guess this couple is an acquired taste.