Page 40 of Conquest

Kenny closed his phone and headed up the sidewalk. “Let’s get going. The sooner we get home, the sooner we can party!”

The earlier tension between them vanished on the ride back to their apartment, with excited conversations of what it’d be like to record and tour. When they arrived home, Jesse let Kenny shower first, then claimed the bathroom, showering and making sure every part of his body was perfectly washed and groomed for Evan. He stood in front of the mirror in a pair of jeans, working on his hair. As he finished, a knock sounded on the apartment door.

Jesse sprinted out of the bathroom and slid to a stop at the door. Taking a deep breath to steady his rapidly pounding heart, he flung open the door.

His lips graced in a sensual smile, Evan brought one arm from behind his back and held out a bottle of Dom Perignon. “Congratulations, gorgeous.”

Jesse ignored the champagne and hurled himself at Evan, slamming into him in a rough kiss.

Evan stumbled back, trying to catch his balance and not drop the champagne. He laughed through the kiss. “Miss me?”

Jesse kept his arms clamped around Evan’s neck. “You have no idea how much.”

“I can’t say I’m not happy to hear that.” Evan held up the bottle of champagne. “Now are you going to let me in, or should I drink this stuff straight from the bottle in the hall like a bum?”

Jesse took the champagne and let Evan inside. “You’d be one high society bum to be drinking this.” He closed the door and turned around as Evan took off his Yankees cap. “You got your hair cut and highlighted.”

Evan shook his hair out with his fingers, now shorter in the back, falling to the middle of his neck, layered, and staggered sharper around his face to pull out his refined features. Gold and copper highlights streaked through the natural chestnut color. “That’s where I was when you called. The guy doing my hair was so nervous about screwing it up, his hands were shaking. Sorry I had to cut our conversation short, but I was afraid my being on the phone would distract him even more.”

“It looks wonderful. It’s just like when you were performing.”

“Yeah, I’ve always liked it like this.”

Jesse set the champagne on the card table that acted as a kitchen table and walked toward him, his eyes locked into Evan’s, his lips lifted with a mischievous smirk. He wrapped one arm behind Evan’s back and reached up with his other, taking a fistful of Evan’s hair behind his head. “I’m glad you didn’t get it cut too short. I still have something to hold on to.”

Evan grinned and moistened his lips with the tip of his tongue. He brushed his fingers down Jesse’s bare chest, moved to kiss him, and paused when Kenny walked into the room. “Hey, Kenny. Congratulations on the contract.”

Kenny glanced at them standing chest to chest, embracing each other, and sped toward the kitchen. “Thanks. Are you going out with us?”

Evan looked at Jesse. “You’re going out?”

“I meant to ask when I called if you wanted to join us, but if you don’t feel like it, we could do something else.”

Kenny stared at Jesse in disbelief.

“I’ll go,” Evan said. “Where?”

“We haven’t decided yet,” Kenny said.

“We could stay here, or go back to your place,” Jesse suggested.

Evan raised one slender eyebrow. “Are you trying to get me alone?”

Jesse lingered his lips a fraction from Evan’s. “Maybe.”

Evan gave him a light slap on the butt. “Go get ready to go out.”

Jesse sighed in defeat and released his hold on him. He walked into his bedroom and went to his dresser to flip through his shirts. His bed creaked behind him, and glancing over his shoulder, he saw Evan lay back on it, propped up on his elbows with his legs hanging over the side.

“My closet is bigger than this,” Evan said, gazing around the room.

Jesse grinned at him. “Wait until my record sales surpass yours, then we’ll see who’s got the bigger closet.”

“My my, aren’t we setting high goals for ourselves?”

A knock on the apartment door forced Jesse to turn his eyes away from him, then Carrie’s squeal of, “Baby! I’m so happy for you!” broke through the apartment.

Evan snapped his head toward the door. “What the hell is that?”