A/N: I HAVE to start off by giving a HUGE shout out to my homie Linda (rockchickwrites/blogs/doesawesomethings) for the AMAZING gifset she made for this. Seriously, made my fucking life. I look at it when I'm sad or need motivation to write. Love it. Love you. Love love love :D

Secondly, we're due to get a crazy ass storm and my parents are pretty much convinced the power is gonna go out, but I keep getting distracted by the hilarious mental image of what "thunder snow" is. Convinced it's a Scandinavian death metal band.

Third, my dad poured caramel syrup over the top of the bacon he's drying. It seems strange...

Fourth, I am just putting such random shit here and I am so sorry.

Fifth, ass covering about iPhone, which I still do not own, although I now have an iPod! Yay Santa! Also, I know zero DJs or radio stations in San Diego and am too lazy to look any up, so for this it's just a nameless DJ dude at a nameless station. Deal with it.

I'm off to hang out with my bestie Lennay Kukoa (points if you get the reference). Have a Palm Woods Day! :D

It took only a couple minutes for Kendall to get changed, washing up with one of the hand towels provided by the hotel that he wet in the sink, feeling a lil bummed that he wouldn't get to see the maid pick it up or witness her reaction. Assuming she'd know what was on it. Fresh boxers and new jeans on, he left the bed, heading into the living area and seeing that Logan and Freight Train were now in the room, the short brunet constantly checking his watch, as James stood across the room fixing his hair in the mirror. The singer's hazel eyes came across the teen's green ones, a small smile forming on both their faces, a silent smirk over the moments they'd just shared and what they had just done.

But when the pop star turned around, the smile was gone, the light in his eyes that had spoken of that secret moment they'd just shared missing. His face was back to that expressionless mask he wore when hiding shit, when he didn't wanna talk about something personal or too deep. The blond figured the brunet didn't want his best friend or bodyguard knowing what had just transpired between the two of them, although the loud moans and swears probably gave that away, especially if Freight Train had still been stationed outside the room. Totally not awkward at all.

Deciding to just let it go, Kendall walked over to where Logan and Freight Train were standing and chatting, James soon joining the group.

"We're stopping by a Starbucks, right?" the pop star questioned, interrupting the conversation that had already been taking place. "Cause if I hafta be up at five am for a radio interview, then I need some fuckin' caffeine."

Logan rolled his eyes, not chastising his friend for butting in and being rude, seeming like he was used to it. "You'd been up all night so having a five am wake up call isn't exactly a big deal."

Kendall cocked an eyebrow as he turned to the taller brunet, tryna gauge a reaction on another emotionless mask, finding a small, strange comfort in the fact that the other male had been up all night,too. Had to mean something, right?

James didn't comment on what his best friend had pointed out, instead going back to his original inquiry. "Starbucks? Yes? No? I'm thinking it's a yes."

The shorter male just sighed, resolution on his face. "Yeah, sure. We'll use the drive-thru on the way there."

"Sweet!" the singer exclaimed, smile on his face, seeming pretty damn excited about the prospect of getting some caffeine in his system.

Another Logan eye roll before he asked if everyone was ready to go, James looking at Kendall, who nodded, before giving his friend a "yes". Freight Train led the way to the main door, the shorter brunet following. The blond did the same, feeling a hand pressed to the small of his back, knowing it was James, the corner of his lips curving up.

Only to have the hand move away when he reached the door.

"There's cameras in the hallways, aren't there?" he double-checked, eyebrow cocked as he looked at the back of his assistant's head.

Logan stopped in the hallway, turning to look at the pop star. "Yeah. And in the elevators, too. So unless you're ready to make a big announcement-" he trailed off, letting the rest of his statement hang in the air to be completed by everyone else's imagination.

Kendall turned his head to look at James, seeing the pop star raise his eyebrows before putting that mask back in place. The singer swallowed hard, nodding as he finger-combed his hair.

"Got it," he replied before dropping his hand, shoving both in the pockets of his jeans, turning to the blond as he did so. "Uh, yeah, we're gonna hafta cool it in public."

Kendall nodded, small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "It's cool. I get it."

An appreciative smile was on the pop star's face as he met the teen's eyes, hand touching between the younger male's shoulders. "Thanks."

The smaller male nodded some more, watching as the elder left the room, following him out. A small sadness hit him, a minor upset feeling over the fact that he was finally around the guy he wanted but couldn't actually do anything with him. Not in public anyway. Not without the entire fucking world and their mom finding out. And okay, he totally understood why, totally got the reasoning behind it. The two of them holding hands or kissing out in the open was clearly a blatant sign that the singer was gay-or at least bi-something he clearly wasn't ready to come out with. And Kendall himself wasn't exactly ready to explain what the hell was going on to his baby sister, not to mention the epic freak out his mom would have.

Not that she wasn't already gonna have one, but clearly her son going across the country to hook up with a male singer wasn't gonna make her any less calm or understanding.

But despite all that, he couldn't help but feel like he was being hidden, that the singer just flat out didn't want the world to be made aware that he knew the blond, that the pop star was ashamed of him. Which was bullshit, just past insecurities coming back and fucking with him once again. At least that's what he kept telling himself.

The group made their way out the hotel and into a limo that was waiting outside. Logan got in first, sliding down the seat that ran along the side of the limo opposite the door. Kendall got in next, followed by Freight Train, who somehow managed to get his large frame in and beside Logan. James was last, sitting next to Kendall on the backseat. The driver shut the door and in a matter of a few seconds, they were on their way.

"I already talked to the station," Logan started, iPhone in his hands, eyes on the singer. "They know not to ask about anything regarding your personal life but-" He trailed off, shrugging his shoulders in a "what can you do?" kinda way.

"But they're gonna do it anyway," James finished, fingers combing through his hair.

The assistant nodded, letting out a sigh. "And our current situation isn't exactly gonna help things."

"Current situation?" Kendall questioned, not exactly cool with the way the shorter brunet's eyes had shifted over to him when he'd said those words.

"He means you showing up," the pop star clarified, pretty much voicing what the teen had been thinking.

The blond nodded, swallowing hard as he looked at the carpeted floor of the limo, brow furrowed in worry and focus. The last thing he wanted was to make shit complicated, to fuck things up for James or his career. Obviously he hadn't thought shit through when he hopped on that plane and flew to Cali, hadn't given a second's consideration over the consequences of his actions, only thinking about the fact that he'd soon be reunited with the elder male. But now that he had been, now that his brain was actually capable of thinking of something else, he wondered if the whole thing was a mistake and what damage could be done during the weekend.

"Hey," the singer's voice was low, drawing the teen's head and attention to him. His eyes were as sincere as his words, clearly meaning everything he was saying. "Don't worry about it. It's nothing I can't handle."

A hand was placed on Kendall's knee, his head tilting down to look at it. But before he could fully relish in the comfort that small simple touch brought, James removed it, his throat clearing, his eyes holding an apology that quickly disappeared. Without hesitation, the blond took hold of the brunet's hand and put it back on his thigh, covering it with his own to keep it in place.

Hazel eyes were wide, unsure as they locked onto green ones before darting over to look at Logan and Freight Train, who were busy discussing whatever the fuck they talked about. James turned back to Kendall, his hand turning over and his fingers lacing with the teen's, a small, slightly nervous smile on the singer's face. The younger male gave the elder's fingers a squeeze, reassuring him that all was okay, despite the fact that internally, he was freaking the fuck out. He was actually holding the singer's hand again, properly, fingers tangled, wrists together so they could feel each other's out of control pulses, that spark still there and passing between them. It definitely hadn't been the lights or the stage or the song. It was them, a true connection that was as real as they were and not a fabrication of the circumstances surrounding them.

That thought in mind, Kendall leaned over and pressed his lips to the elder male's, wordlessly speaking what he'd just figured out, feeling the brunet kiss him back.

Until an authoritative throat clearing killed the moment.

James froze, not just the actions of his lips against Kendall's, but his entire body. He had gone completely rigid, tense, like someone had hit his off switch. And the metaphor seemed all the more fitting when the pop star pulled away and the teen got a good look at the expressionless mask that had been put back in place, emotions shut down once again, his face showing nothing but perfect skin and eyelashes that didn't seem to belong on a guy but made sense on him.

One step forward, two steps back, that all too familiar tango. And Kendall still hated dancing.

Turning his head, the blond looked to the source of the incredibly unwelcome interruption, seeing Logan staring at him and James, a pointed look on his face, one full of disapproval and disbelief and a whole lotta other dis-words. He was clearly gonna be fun to hang out with while James was busy doing pop star shit.

The singer gave a nod of acknowledgment to his assistant, wordlessly saying he understood what the shorter male was silently saying. He slid over on the seat, moving away from the blond, pulling his hand away, right arm resting on the door, chin in his hand as he stared out the window.

A sigh left the blond as he turned his head to look out his own window, silence descending over the passengers in the limo, a chill hitting the youngest. He knew distance would be the best idea, would be wise in order to continue the cover of James being straight and nothing happening between him and the teen, considering how they could barely seem to be in the same room without their lips becoming attached, like magnets constantly drawn together. But that didn't mean Kendall was entirely okay with it, that he didn't have an issue with the brunet so easily moving away and essentially rejecting him. Once again he tried convincing himself it was just past issues and insecurities coming back and fucking with his head in the present and once again he barely succeeded in believing himself.

The rest of the ride was silent, the only words spoken being drink orders at Starbucks, and soon the limo pulled up at the radio station, idling outside the main entrance. James took a deep breath, seeming to steady himself, putting a smile on his face. Kendall figured it was due to all the fans outside, that the singer had to maintain an image of being perpetually happy and that all was perfect in his world. The blond had spent countless hours staring at pics of the pop star, pretty much becoming an expert in the brunet's smile, able to tell when he was faking it. Like he was at that moment.

Freight Train exited the limo first, surveying the area and scoping it out. Apparently there was no immediate danger since he signaled to James that all was well and the singer got out. He smiled and waved, putting on a show, walking over to the waiting fans to give hugs and autographs.

Kendall scooted over, ready to get out himself, only to be stopped by a hand on his shoulder. Turning his head, he came face to face with a stern looking Logan, resisting the urge to tell the smaller male to just shove his upcoming lecture up his ass and let him out the limo. Instead, he just cocked an eyebrow and waited.

But rather than chew him out for whatever sin the brunet felt the blond had committed, the assistant simply told the teen to stick by his side and keep his mouth shut. Nodding, Kendall watched as Logan exited the vehicle, climbing out after him and doing what he was told to do.

The group made their way inside the station, an employee there ready to greet James and lead him to the green room where they'd wait until it was time for the interview. The singer flopped onto the couch, sitting with his legs spread wide, one hand holding his drink on his knee, the other rubbing at tired eyes. Kendall felt the urge, the need to walk over and sit next to him, to rest the elder male's head on his shoulder and let him rest for a bit, just holding him close. But the narrow-eyed look he got from Logan told him that it'd be a bad idea, that he should just stay where he was against the wall on the opposite side of the room and not do anything that would look bad if someone were to suddenly walk in.

It was only a minute or two before someone came to fetch James, the singer and his bodyguard heading off to the booth for the interview, leaving the teen and the assistant alone. Which was just a fun prospect all around really.

Ignoring the male he was stuck with, Kendall wandered around the room, taking everything in. The station was being broadcast from hidden speakers in the ceiling, allowing him to hear an ad for a local car dealership convincing people their shit credit wasn't a big deal and they could still get a nice ride. The table to the side had a coffee maker with a pot already hot and waiting, various snack foods on display for consumption.

"This shit's free, right?" he double-checked, head turned to Logan sitting on an overstuffed armchair, the hand holding the remnants of his latte pointing to the catering spread.

"Yeah," the assistant replied, taking a sip of his own regular coffee, which was oddly served at a Starbucks. "Go for it."

The teen shrugged, not needing to be told twice to eat—teenage metabolism was great like that-grabbing a glazed donut—or two-out the box and chomping down. He continued his wander-round, viewing posters for various DJs employed by the station, taking in the comfy as fuck looking couch, which he flopped back on like James had previously done. Yeah, way comfier feeling than it looked. He needed to get his mom to buy one of these.

"I'm gonna need your help."

The statement from outta nowhere startled Kendall, his head looking around before settling on Logan. Was this dude serious? No one ever asked the blond for help, at least not in recent times. Plus as far as he could tell, the assistant wasn't too stoked on him, didn't seem to like him being around. What the fuck could he possibly help out with?

Quirking an eyebrow, he just looked at the brunet, shoving the remnants of donut number one into his mouth.

"I know James can restrain himself, can hold himself back and not make any moves on you that would hurt his image," the elder male started, voice as serious as his face. "But I need to know I can trust you to do the same."

"Is this part two of the best friend protecting the buddy he grew up with speech?" Kendall questioned before taking a huge bite of donut number two.

"I'm being serious."

"So am I." His mom would have his ass for talking with his mouth full, but fuck it, she wasn't there.

Logan sighed, leaning forward, elbows on his knees as both hands clutched his coffee cup. "Look, while James is closeted, we both have to be careful of how he acts in public. I have the easy part," he stated, hand on his chest before he gripped his cup once more. "I know that he can hold himself back around me, that I'm like a brother to him and that he won't do anything to risk being outted around me. But with you? It's not that easy."

Kendall furrowed his brow as he gave the other male his full attention. Donuts finished, he licked his fingers clean, wiping them on his jeans as he turned slightly on the couch. "Whaddya mean?"

"I mean that he doesn't need the guy he's dating kissing him with other people around, people who can talk."

The blond's eyebrows shot up briefly, forcing them back down as he made himself nod to show he understood. He didn't think Freight Train would say anything and he was pretty sure the driver didn't see anything, but admittedly, he hadn't been thinking about any of that shot when he kissed James, just that he needed to feel the elder male's lips on his own.

But that wasn't the part of Logan's speech that he focused on, the part that had caught his attention, the part that had his eyebrows raising and his heart stopping and his breath getting stuck in his throat. No, it was the phrase "the guy he's dating", as in he and James were dating, something that was news to him. In all honesty, he had no fucking clue how to define or describe what was going on between him and the singer. "Friends" didn't seem to work, since friends tended not to have phone sex or dry hump when hanging out. At least no friends that he ever had. And "dating" usually meant going on actual dates, hence the term, and so far, nothing of that nature had happened.

He wondered why exactly Logan had used that phrase, worded it that way. Was that how James had described it to him? Had the taller brunet told the shorter that he was dating the blond, that they were an item of some form? Or had the assistant come up with it himself as a way to label things and make it easier to talk about?

Kendall rubbed at his eyes, too tired to even want to figure it out. In all honesty, the only thing he wanted was a fucking nap, preferably in the same bed as James.

Whose voice was currently coming through the speakers in a chorus of laughter.

"Alright, man," the male DJ spoke, chuckles having subsided. "Now for the million dollar question."

"You're giving me a million dollars?" James jokingly questioned, the smirk fully evident in his voice.

The DJ laughed, a forced sound that spoke more of kissing a celeb's ass than actually finding him funny. "Nah, but I doubt you're hurting for cash right now, man." More fake laughing from both men before the host continued. "But I gotta ask, are you single, in a relationship, what's going on there?"

Logan muttered angry commentary under his breath, pissed off g-rated words concerning the interviewer doing exactly what the assistant had requested he not do. But the teen paid him no attention. Instead, he was focused solely on the words coming from the speaker above him, not moving, holding his breath outta fear he'd exhale too loud and miss James' answer.

A forced bark of laughter came from the singer and Kendall could practically see the elder male looking uncomfortable as hell, probably finger-combing his hair, fake smirk on his face as he made the corner of his lips twist up. "I think I'd rather you give me the million bucks."

Kendall stared down at his cup, watching his thumbs rub the lid, his barely there nails flicking against the lip of it. He could feel Logan's eyes on him, the assistant flicking his gaze up as he typed on his iPhone, seeming to try and gauge the teen's reaction to the broadcasted conversation.

"Seriously, man," the DJ pressed, the blond wanting to punch the guy for harping on about something the singer clearly didn't wanna talk about. Fucking dickshit. "Anyone special in your life right now?"

A momentary pause, during which the teen imagined the pop star shuffling in his seat, clearing his throat, all the shit he did when on the phone with the younger male after being asked something he didn't wanna answer. Something like the status of his dating life.

"I'm not dating anyone, no."

And didn't that just suck the air right outta Kendall?

The teen slumped back on the couch, the broadcast turning into muffled background noise. He and James weren't dating, weren't an item, weren't...weren't anything really. There was nothing going on between them but intense sexual chemistry and an urge to fuck each other into oblivion. What the fuck was he even doing there? What the fuck was the point of him flying cross-country? Just a fuck, nothing more?

Shit, what the hell was wrong with him?

He pulled his iPhone out the pocket of his jeans, seeing it was barely past five-thirty. No way Camille would be awake. Not that he could call her with Glarey Magee in the room with him.

Returning his phone to its previous place, he slumped down on the couch even further, resting his head on the back of it. Fatigue was weighing him down, sadness helping to keep him there. He really needed some fucking answers and not to the cliche bullshit questions asked by some asshat disc jockey.

The radio interview didn't last too long—at least Kendall didn't think it did. He wasn't entirely sure in all honesty, having spaced out after the whole "I'm not dating anyone" thing happened. Not that he missed anything really. Interviews tended to be the same fucking questions over and over, just worded differently, the same pre-packaged bullshit given in response. So instead of listening to trite inquiries regarding the pop star's latest album or the whoring out of his new single and upcoming show, the blond zoned out, thinking over the impending discussion he desperately needed to have with the singer about their relationship status and what exactly they were to each other.

But it was a discussion that would have to wait. Once the interview was over, the group made their way back outside. More fans had shown up, James trying his best to sign autographs and takes pics with as many of them as possible, while Kendall and Logan got back into the limo, Freight Train staying outside to protect his charge.

Silence was a third passenger inside the vehicle, the blond picking at a worn-out patch on his jeans near his knee, the brunet messing on his iPhone once again.

'Addict much?'

'Because you sooo have room to talk.'

'No one asked you.'

He shifted in his seat, pulling at his jeans, adjusting his wallet chains so he wasn't sitting on them, his fidgeting drawing the attention of the other male. The teen stopped his actions, forcing himself to get comfy, looking out the window to the right, watching as James bent down to a shorter fan, smiling as she aimed a camera at the two of them. A smile tugged at the corner of Kendall's lips as he remembered how the pop star acted with his younger sister, how genuinely nice he was, how well he treated her. The term "keeper" popped into his head, but he quickly shoved it away, knowing that wasn't the case, not when he had no clue what the fuck they even were to each other, not when the singer wasn't his. And probably never would be.

Turning away, Kendall looked straight ahead, seeing Logan already looking at him. Raising an eyebrow, he took in the analytical look on the assistant's face, wondering what the fuck was so interesting that the brunet had to be staring at him like that. "What?"

The shorter male shrugged and shook his head. "Nothing."

Liar. But the teen was in no mood to deal with it, to actually somehow manage to give a fuck what someone else thought of him. He turned his head to the left to look out the window, elbow on the door, hand over his mouth as he stared at nothing, brain nothing but fuzz and static as fatigue came back with a vengeance. Fuck he needed a nap. He didn't care how preschool that sounded, he just wanted some fucking sleep.

"They any good?"

Kendall turned back to the assistant, the confusion on his face as to what the fuck the other male was talking about and where the hell that had come from.

"The band on your shirt," Logan explained, pointed to it. "I'm guessing it's a band."

The blond looked down at his black tee, seeing the red letters spelling out Bleed the Dream across his chest, before lifting his head and focusing on the other male again. "No, I just like wasting money on shirts of bands I think are shit," he replied sarcastically, furrowing his brow as he gave a slight sneer and shook his head in a "what the fuck do you think?" kinda motion.

The elder male nodded, bottom lip stuck out in a small pout of sorts, clearly seeing the younger's point, no matter how assholey it'd been delivered.

It wasn't long before Freight Train was managing to get into the limo, James following and taking his previous seat on Kendall's right. A few seconds later and the vehicle had left the lot, on its way to its next destination of—the blond had no fucking clue where.

"Where are we going now?" he questioned, looking back and forth between the two brunet males in the car.

"Hotel," Logan was the one to respond. "We have a few spare hours before we need to be at the venue."

"Thank god," James commented, rubbing his eyes with his hand. "I need a fucking nap bad."

"Can't imagine why," the assistant stated with a smirk, clearly being sarcastic, a pointed look given to the elder male.

The singer rolled his eyes, tossing his empty Starbucks cup at his best friend. "Shut up."

"Oh yeah, real mature," the younger male told him, taking hold of the cardboard mug at playfully glaring at his buddy before turning to the blond. "You sure you wanna be with this guy?"

Was he retarded?

Okay, saying that out loud was probably a bad idea. Definitely shouldn't insult the best friend of the guy you wanna go out with. So instead Kendall just shrugged, arms loosely folded across his lean torso, playing it off like it was no biggie. "My best friend beat me up with my own pillow the other day."

James cocked an eyebrow but shrugged it off, a look of "well okay then" on his face before he let out a yawn, hand flying up to barely cover his wide mouth. Plenty of room to fit Kendall's—yeah, that thought shouldn't be completed in a car full of people.

The singer struggled to keep his head up, exhaustion seeming to hit him as hard as it had the blond, and soon, his cranium was on the teen's shoulder, body relaxing, eyes closing as he drifted off.

Only for the pop star to immediately sit bold upright, eyes wide open, face flat as he stared straight ahead at nothing.

Kendall looked at the brunet, his brow furrowed, confusion on his features and in his mind. What the fuck was that? Okay, he might've been a li'l boney, but that never stopped Carlos from using him as a pillow. It was like the hand on the thigh thing all over again, the elder male seeming to have some sorta issue with PDA. Although the back of the limo with a trusted best friend and bodyguard hardly seemed all that public to the blond.

But still, there was obviously some sorta discomfort, some sorta reason for the singer's behavior and why he kept pulling away every time the two of them got close. The teen was determined to figure out what that reason was and what exactly was going on between them before the weekend was over, even if nothing else happened, even if it meant he wasn't getting laid.

No, he was still gonna get laid. That was definitely still happening.

Without a second thought, Kendall scooted along the backseat, leaning his body against James' side and resting his head on the pop star's broad shoulder. He figured that would be okay, that it wouldn't be cause for a throat clearing or another fucking spiel from Logan, since it really wasn't that big a deal on the outside. Friends leaned on other friends' shoulders all the time, it was something that could easily be explained away without anyone's sexuality coming into play. Quickly glancing at the assistant, the teen could see the brunet had no issue with it, brown eyes focused on someone else. The someone who was under the blond's head, the someone who had tensed up next to his body, the someone who seemed to be freaking out a bit.

As a means to reassure the other male, Kendall slid his hand over, cupping the singer's knee, squeezing it gently but with purpose, once again using actions to tell what he couldn't speak. He felt, as well as heard, the elder male swallow hard, green eyes locked to their adjoining laps as the brunet's hand moved to the blond's, entwining their fingers as he laid his head on top of the younger's. The smile on the teen's face was small but inside, it was every stupid fucking cliché about happiness that existed. Rainbows and butterflies and puppy dogs, all that cheesy shit that would normally make him vomit.

And for some odd reason, he was okay with it, okay with the lack of nausea and annoyance.

They arrived back at the hotel too soon for Kendall's liking, the singer pulling his hand away and lifting his head almost immediately, forcing the teen to straighten up himself. The foursome got out the limo, Freight Train leading the way back inside the hotel, through the lobby and to the elevators, the ride up just as silent as the ride down had been. They parted ways outside James' suite, he and Kendall heading inside, Logan presumably off to his own room, the bodyguard off to do... well, whatever he was supposed to do at that moment.

Kendall followed James to the bedroom, shutting the door behind himself, watching as the singer kicked off his sneakers while walking to the right side of the bed, emptying his pockets once he reached the nightstand. The teen did the same, putting his phone and wallet—complete with chains—on the opposite side from the pop star, boots being toed off soon after. Now shoeless, he looked up to see the brunet had removed his shirt and was working on undoing his jeans.

Green eyes went wide at the sight of tan skin stretched over a muscular back, inches of flesh that rolled and flexed with his movements, flesh the paler male wanted to mark with his teeth, tongue, mouth, and nails—well, if he had any nails anyway. He imagined the movement of the muscles under his fingers, feeling them expand and contract with the brunet's actions, the motions of him thrusting in and out the slightly smaller male, both their bodies moving in the perfect rhythm they'd created together. He could practically feel the brunet tensing above him, muscles going rigid, back arching as he came inside the blond.

He could also feel himself getting harder, something that became more apparent as the pop star shucked his jeans and revealed long, toned legs.

God. Damn. And Kendall had thought the guy was beautiful in pictures. It was nothing compared to seeing it in person, no pixels distorting the image, no shitty connection making the image slow to load.

Snapping himself out of it, he turned away, shaking his head before he discarded his own tee and beanie, working on getting his jeans off, a task made all the more difficult considering the bulge that now resided in the front. A shuffling sounded out behind him and he turned to see James getting into bed, boxers still on.

"What happened to sleeping together naked?" Kendall questioned, eyebrow cocked, hands holding the edges of his jeans where the zipper lay.

"Trust me, I get you naked and the last thing we'll be doing is sleeping," the brunet stated bluntly, kneeling on the bed, pulling the comforter over himself as he sat. "And I dunno 'bout you, but I really need some shut eye."

The blond nodded, understanding what the other male was saying and agreeing that getting some rest sounded fucking awesome at that moment in time. Besides, they had all weekend. There was no need to rush the sex.

Kendall removed his jeans before joining the elder male in bed, James pulling the comforter over top both of them. The blond laid on his side, facing the brunet, who mirrored the younger male's body language. Without hesitation, the teen scooted closer, arms wrapping around the larger male's waist as he was enveloped in James' own limbs, legs tangling together underneath the comforter. A satisfied sigh left Kendall's lips, the air gusting against the elder male's mouth, noses rubbing and foreheads touching. All was perfect in that moment. Until the brunet's brow furrowed and a strange look came across his face.

The blond moved his head back slight to get a better look at the man he was holding. "What's up?"

"Nothing," the pop star stated, shaking his head. "Just. You fit pretty well there. In my arms I mean," he explained before speaking in a lower voice, eyes tilted down. "Almost like you belong there."

The blond moved closer, fingers spanning the other male's lower back, holding him in place. The singer was pulling away, metaphorically at least, and the teen could practically feel it happening, could see the distance in the hazel eyes he was trying to get to lock onto his own green ones. "And that's a bad thing?"

James lifted his gaze, finally looking Kendall in the eye, a million emotions in the mix of green and brown. "I dunno yet."

"Well. Until you do—" The blond let the sentence drift off, bringing his lips to the brunet's and kissing him, letting him know all was well, that them fitting together was good, more than good. It was perfect. And as James kissed Kendall back, the younger male couldn't help but feel like maybe the elder was starting to believe it, too.