Chapter 16

The next thing Kyan knew, Thom was shaking him awake and telling him to get dressed. They were being rescued. He was still in a sleep stupor as he fumbled with his clothes and asked how long he had been asleep.

"About twenty minutes," Thom said, zipping up his pants.

"I wonder if Carson, Jai and Ted are still at the party."

"Knowing them, they probably are." He shoved his feet into his flip-flops. "We'll go check, okay?"

"Yeah," Kyan said, tucking his shirt in, then leaning down to pull his boots on.

The elevator launched to life and started the rest of it descend.

"Hey," Thom said, grabbing Kyan's waist as he stood up.

"What?" he asked, smiling and tilting his head back to look at him.

"Nothing is going to change when we get out of this thing," he said. "I love you."

They managed one last quick kiss before the doors opened. The hotel's manager was standing in the lobby apologizing profusely for the problem and was downright groveling when he recognized who the two individuals were that had been trapped for an hour and half.

Despite the fact that both Kyan and Thom had reassured him it was no big deal, the manager insisted on giving them their entire stay for free. It was on the tip of Kyan's tongue to ask if the mini bar was included in that.

"Is the party still going on?" Thom asked.

"Of course," the manager answered.

"Thanks," Thom said, patting him on the shoulder. "Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year to you, too, Sir."

"Cripes, I hate when they call me sir," Thom grumbled as he and Kyan made their way through the lobby to the ballroom.

They stopped when reached the doorway and scanned the crowd.

"There's Jai," Thom pointed out.

Kyan glanced in that direction, seeing Jai gyrating against a tall, thin woman. He shook his head. "Carson's over there." He motioned to the opposite way.

"Okay, well, I'll catch up with you later," Thom said.

Kyan nodded, unable to help but think that maybe this time Thom was running away. He felt Thom's fingers brush against the back of his hand before getting swallowed up by the crowd. Taking a deep breath, he headed towards Carson.

"Hey!" Carson yelled, seeing him emerge from the dancers. "What are you doing back down here?" He raised his glass. "Want a drink?"

"Sure," Kyan said, nodding.

Carson happily handed Kyan his drink, then sent the guy that was hanging off his arm to fetch him another one.

"Who is that?" Kyan asked.

"Who knows," Carson slurred. "He does what I want him to do- that's all that matters."

"My God, Car," he said, chuckling.

"So since you missed our New Years, you going to stick around for the last one?"

"The last one?"

"Yeah, we gotta about…" He looked up at the clock. "About forty minutes until the West Coast hits midnight."

"Christ, no wonder why you are three sheets to the wind."

Ted suddenly appeared grinning like a mad man.

"Hey," said Kyan.

"You had sex!" Ted announced.

The statement shocked Kyan, and he stepped back. "W..what?"

"You had sex!" he said again.

Carson's jaw dropped.

"You are nuts," Kyan said, shoving the comment aside. "How much have you had to drink?"

"Hardly any," Ted said, proudly. "It's written all over your face… not to mention smeared all over your face."

"Fuck," Kyan hissed, running his sleeve over his chin and mouth.

"You've been standing here for like five minutes and you haven't told me yet!" Carson shrilled. "Kyan! Who? Did you meet some hunk on the way back to your room or something?"

"Who do you think," Kyan said, smugly, taking the handkerchief that Ted offered him.

Carson's eyes grew wider. "You dirty dog! You and Thom did the nasty again! And you had us all fooled thinking he was ditching you tonight, when a little rendezvous was planned all along."

"It wasn't planned," Kyan told him. "Nothing was planned. He was getting on the elevator when I was getting off. He asked me to come back down to the party with him. The elevator got stuck on the way down." He glanced at Ted, who was still grinning. "We were trapped in there for an hour and a half."

"Nothing passes the time than a good old fuck," Carson sighed, nostalgically.

Kyan swallowed, wanting to tell his friend that it wasn't fucking, but decided against it. It was something that he had shared with Thom. Carson and Ted didn't need to know what was said, what had happened.

"Is everything okay with you guys now?" Ted asked.

Kyan shrugged.

"Oh, come on," Carson groaned. "You have got to be kidding me!"

"Things are better, yes," Kyan said. "But there are still some issues."

"Like what?" Ted pressed.

"Like the fact that Thom says he loves me and I can't tell him I love him, alright."

Carson literally jumped in the air. "He really told you that he loves you! That's fantastic! I'm so happy for you." He flung himself against Kyan and kissed him full on the lips.

"My God, I can get drunk just by smelling his breath," Kyan spat.

Ted laughed.

"Carson, here's your drink." The guy that had been sent out had now returned.

"Ah, thanks, sweetie."

Kyan and Ted exchanged looks.

"Isn't he cute?" Carson asked his friends.

"I'm Kyan," he introduced, extending his hand.

"Eric," the young man replied. "Nice to meet you."

"You, too."

The song changed from the fast pace tempo to a much calmer, soother one.

"Ugh," Ted groaned. "It's times like these that I miss Barry."

"Oh, it's just a song," Carson teased, tapping him on his chest. "Nothing to get all emotional about. Dance with… Eric. I want to dance with Kyan here."

"Car, I'm not---"

"Lighten up," Carson said, grabbing Kyan's hand. "It'll be fun."

Kyan was dragged onto the dance floor; his eyes sweeping over the bodies trying to find Thom.

"So what do you think about Eric?" Carson asked, spinning around and placing his hands on Kyan's shoulders.

"You didn't even know his name until two seconds ago," Kyan said, timidly putting his hands on Carson's waist.

"Utterly besides the point."

"He's cute."

"Cute enough to sleep with?"

"Are you trying to get my permission?"

"Approval, not permission," Carson stated.

"Just be careful, Car. I don't want you to get hurt."

"Me, hurt? Nah." He looked over at Eric who was chatting with Ted. "I could use a good lay though. It's been far too long."

"The horror! How have you survived?"

"Shut up," Carson said, grinning. "Unlike others, I'm not…. In… love."

"Will you stop." Kyan blushed.

"Yeah, I don't get it. You've told me a million times you love him. How come you can't tell him?"

"It's complicated," Kyan said vaguely.

Carson rolled his eyes. "You always have a way with words, K."

Kyan sipped his drink and glanced back over at Eric and Ted, where Thom and Jai had suddenly joined them. His heart skipped when he met Thom's eyes. He saw a small hint of jealousy in them.

"Car, maybe we should…" He stopped his feet and pulled away slightly.

"Come on, the song's not over," Carson whined.

Kyan tilted his head slightly to the right, and Carson looked in that direction.

"Oh, please," Carson sighed. "We are friends. I'm hardly touching you."

"I know, but…." He licked his lips. "I don't want him to get mad or anything."

Carson studied his friend's face and saw a flash of fear cross his eyes. "Shit," he sighed. "Jason used to…."

Kyan nodded furiously.

"Ah, K, Thom's not…" He rubbed his neck sympathetically.

"I know Thom's not," Kyan said, raising his voice a little. "It still doesn't keep me from holding onto that!"

"I know, I know," Carson whispered.

"Damn it, what the hell is wrong with me?"

"It's alright." He pulled Kyan in for a hug.

"I love him so much and I can't even tell him! Why can't I just tell him?"

"Maybe if you drink a little more," Carson suggested.

Kyan laughed in spite of himself.

"Alcohol always makes everything so much easier."

"You're crazy," Kyan whispered.

"I'm drunk as hell and I have absolutely no idea what to say to you right now."

Kyan nodded. "I know. I don't expect you to say anything… even if you were sober."

"Good." He pulled away, smiling goofy. "Now, I think there are some hot guys over there waiting for us, so let's go get' em."

"God, don't embarrass me," Kyan sighed, as Carson pulled him to the group.

"Me? Embarrass you? Never!"

Kyan rolled his eyes.

"Hey, Thom," Carson said once they reached everyone.

"Hey, pumpkin."

"Talking to me now, are you?" Carson teased, then giving Thom a quick peek on the lips. "You look radiant."

"Oh my god, how much has he had to drink?" Thom asked, looking at Ted.

"I see you've met Eric," Carson said.

Kyan was convinced Carson kept saying his name so he wouldn't forget it.

"Yes," Thom said, nodding.

"Hey," said Jai, touching Kyan's arm. "How are you?"

"Fine," Kyan answered, sipping the drink he was holding. He had no clue as to what was in it. He could tell by the way Jai was smiling at him that Thom had told him what happened. Even though it was only obvious that Thom would have said something, he hoped Jai wouldn't want to start talking about it with him right at that moment.

"My God, I'm starving," Carson announced, calling a waiter over who was carrying around trays of food.

"You guys, how do you think Travis did tonight?" Jai asked.

"He botched the cocktails," Ted predicted.

"Oh my god, he was like a deer in headlights when you were explaining it all to him," Thom laughed.

"So help him if he went out and bought some hairspray," Kyan said.

"We should go ask some of the cameramen," Carson said.

"Oh please, how many times have we done that?" Jai said. "They never give in."

"Not even with bribes," Ted sulked.

Carson picked at the tray, then sent the waiter away. "Tad, you should've catered. This stuff is crap."

"It's not that bad," said Thom, popping a stuffed meatball in his mouth. "At least it's food."

"Hmm… I want to dance," Carson said. "Come on, Eric. Sweep me off my feet."

"It's time to cut him off," Jai observed, as the two men stumbled away.

Thom plucked a cocktail off a waiter's tray as he passed by. "Think I can catch up to him?"

"You'll be spending the night in the emergency room," Ted said.

"He's going to sleep with that guy, isn't his?"

"We are talking about Carson here," Jai said.

Thom snorted. "Okay, stupid question on my part." He looked over at Kyan. "You okay?"

"Yeah," he said. "I'm just tired, that's all."

"Why don't you head up to your room?" asked Ted. "You aren't missing much down here- except if you call Carson acting like a complete jackass entertainment."

"No, no," Kyan said. "I promised I would stay until at least two." He looked his watch and groaned.

"Come on," said Thom. "Come dance with me."

"Oh, Thom, I don't know," Kyan said. "There's a lot of people here, and if it gets out in the press…."

"I don't care about the press," he said, taking his hand. "I want to dance with you."

"Jai and I will dance together," Ted offered, grabbing the skinny man. "How about that?"

"Great," Kyan muttered. "And tomorrow's headlines will read Fab Five Has Orgy."

"Oh my god, that's gross," Jai groaned.

Thom turned Kyan around and slid his arms around his waist. Nervously, Kyan looked around.

"It's a fast song," Kyan hissed.

"So," he said, taking Kyan's arms and guiding them around his shoulders. "I missed my slow dance."

"I was just dancing with him. Nothing else happened."

Thom's forehead wrinkled. "I didn't say it did, did I?"

"No," he answered, quietly.

"Dance with me," Thom whispered.

Kyan pressed his forehead against Thom's, then slowly moved his lower body against his. Thom's arms tightened around him, and he inhaled deeply. Dropping his head, he placed his lips against Kyan's ear.

"After the party…."

"Yeah," Kyan sighed, getting lost in his sexy, low voice.

"Will you come back to my room? Let me wake up next to you."

"Thom…" he whimpered.

"Please, Ky." His hand ran over his back. "I love you so much."

"I…" He gulped for breath. "Okay."

Thom didn't say another word; he just held him as they swayed to the music. Kyan, for once, let his thoughts rest and enjoyed being in his arms.

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