His gaze swept over the large gathering of people already in his home. "I�m going crazy....I really am," he muttered as he poured himself a glass of wine and walked toward the massive bank of windows overlooking the Pacific ocean. Catching a glimpse of his reflection in the glass, Richie closed his eyes and let out a deep breath, recalling events of the afternoon. It had been another typical afternoon before a party in the Sambora household...everything falling slowly into place. The food and flowers had been delivered and the bar stocked. Typical...almost. Normally an agreeable, easygoing man, Richie found himself a bundle of nerves by the time he stepped into the shower. He�d broken two wineglasses and dropped an entire platter of appetizers onto the floor before his wife finally chased him out of the kitchen. "Honey...I can finish here...," she smiled as she pushed him toward the stairs, "please....go away." "But...." "Richie....go. There�s not much left to do and you need to settle yourself down.... Go play for awhile...that might help." It didn�t. For the first time since he was a teenager, Richie was REALLY nervous....but why? Kevin ... Would he really be there? What if he wasn�t? Or worse.... What if he brought his wife? Why did he fucking care? The doorbell rang, bringing him back to the present. "Yo, Rich!", he heard the voices of his band mates as they came through the door. Finding himself surrounded by friends, he was grateful that the conversation was simple. As David & Tico wandered away to find their wives and the bar, Jon hung behind. "Dude, you okay?" "Yeah...yeah Jon," he shook himself and tried to pay attention to the man in front of him. "I�m fine...why?" "You�re quiet. You missed too many golden opportunities to rag on someone man....that ain�t like you." "No...I guess it isn�t.....," his eyes moving from his friend back to the group of people in his living room. "I�m okay...really...just thinking about something. Look Jon...I gotta go...I invited someone new and I wanna make sure he got here okay." "Yeah...sure Rich....anyone I know?" "Ah...," he lowered his voice, casting a sideways glance around, "yeah...you might. Kevin....Kevin Richardson." "The Backstreet Boy?" Jon�s voice raising almost as high as his eyebrows. Rolling his eyes, Richie nodded, "yeah...the Backstreet Boy. Damn...you�re as bad as Heather." He shook his head wondering why he was letting those comments get to him. "He�s a good guy...we talked after the Super B.....," his voice trailed off as his eyes landed on the dark haired man in the far corner of the room. "Looks like he made it," Jon smiled as he saw where his friend was looking, "go play the good host Rich....we�ll catch up later." Richie nodded and moved back toward his living room, nervously running his hand through his hair, "yeah....later." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kevin stood near the bar, making conversation with some industry insiders. His wife would�ve killed to just be in the same room with these people, but, at this moment in time, he could�ve cared less about them, or her. His eyes searched the room again... looking for the only person he really cared to see..and had yet to find. Excusing himself he ducked into a corner of the living room where he could scan the large crowd. You can�t just stand here Richardson...wander around...you know what to do, he thought to himself. It�s his damn house...he�s here...just keep.... Looking across the room, his eyes landed on two very familiar faces. Taking a deep breath, he started to move. He froze in his place when the other man turned to walk away....a warmth running through his body. "Oh hell," he muttered as he tried to take in the man in front of him. Richie was dressed in a wine colored, paisley embroidered shirt that was barely buttoned, showing the definition of his chest, and his black jeans seemed to have been �heat shrunk� to his body. "Awww...fuck me...," his voice cracked as he watched Richie run his hands through his hair and turn in his direction. When their eyes met, Kevin felt like a teenager who�d gotten caught doing something he shouldn�t have been doing.....staring. Blushing....dammit ... I�m blushing His first thought was to turn and run right out the front door. Too late...Richie was moving across the room toward him. What the hell is wrong with me, he thought, shaking himself. This is what you�ve wanted for weeks....now just get over yourself Richardson. He swallowed the rest of his drink and took a deep breath. "Kevin," Richie extended a hand, "glad you could make it." Kevin felt a jolt pass through his body, directly from his hand to his groin, "yeah..me, too." Seconds passed before Kevin released Richie�s hand from his grip and when their eyes met, they both stumbled for words...trying to exchange pleasantries. "So...Kevin......," he paused, looking around, unsure of what to say next....unsure of what was even happening. When he finally looked back, he was shocked to find Kevin watching him intently. Richie opened his mouth again, but the words wouldn�t come out. Kevin tilted his head...waiting....thinking.... He�s got the most beautiful mouth I�ve ever seen...one...just one chance...that�s all I want...one chance for one kiss.... "Umm... yeah....I promised to show you......" Show me.....please.... "....my house....," he stumbled over his words. "Your house....," Kevin shook himself, trying to clear his head. "Yeah...c�mon...." Richie placed his hand lightly on Kevin�s back and led him through the living room. Both men shivered. Only one man really understood why. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Richie found himself relaxing in the younger man�s company. He�d always been proud of his home and loved showing guests around, but tonight....tonight something was different. At every turn, he would stand back....watch....and wait for a reaction. He was waiting for reactions, but more than anything...he was watching. Watching Kevin ..... watching him. Kevin couldn�t help but smile as Richie described his home and all the work he�d done. He was animated, expressive and passionate. His deep voice and laugh touched something deep inside Kevin. God help me...now he�s smiling. Kevin was lost...lost in his eyes...his dimples...lost in him. "Kevin...you still with me?" He sucked in a breath as he felt the words being spoken...Richie�s mouth so close to his ear. Closing his eyes, he nodded, not trusting his voice. He swallowed hard when he felt a hand on the small of his back....shit. "Hey...you alright?", Richie�s head dipped in front of Kevin. Kevin opened his eyes...wide. That mouth...those lips....right there....so close...so.....double shit! "Yeah," he managed in a choked whisper. "I�m o...okay....just gettin� hungry. Can I uhhh...get the reverse tour, back to the kitchen?" "Sure man....," disappointment evident in Richie�s voice as he found himself unable to look away from Kevin's gaze. He wasn't ready to get back to his other guests. He didn�t know what the hell was going on with him, he just knew that for some reason spending time with the man next to him had become very important and very special. Neither man moved for a moment until Richie licked his lips. Kevin fought to suppress a moan and took a step backward. "Lead the way dawg," Kevin nervously swept his hand in front of them. "Sure...let�s go," the words coming out on a deep sigh as Richie led him toward the kitchen. His body brushed against Kevin�s as he stepped around him. And for the second time that night....Kevin shivered. The two men walked back into the heart of the party in silence. Richie caught sight of a friend waving him over and nodded, "gimme a sec," he mouthed, holding up a finger. "Kev...man...I gotta go mingle," he took a breath, shaking his head. "Sometimes I hate playing this part...I really do....." "S�okay. You got other guests...I understand. I really appreciate everything...the invite...the tour.....all of it." Richie found himself lost in meadow green eyes....eyes that were saying more to him than the words he heard. Words escaped him....he just stared until Kevin finally started to move away. "Kevin....wait," his voice urgent as he reached for Kevin�s arm, not wanting to let the younger man go. What the fuck am I doing? Feeling a flood of emotions rush over him as Kevin turned back around, he spoke quickly, afraid that if he thought too much, he�d turn and run. "Meet me later......play with me........" "What?" Kevin�s voice squeaked out, images flooding his brain. then heading south to other parts of his body as well. Oh for Godssake...maybe you SHOULD�VE fucking thought about what you were gonna say Sambora! FUCK! "The piano....you play the piano, right?" he felt the blush rise up into his cheeks. "Yeah......yeah, I do," Kevin found himself smiling as Richie blushed. "Yeah...right....you do....," Richie stammered on..... "I..I thought...we could...you...and me...." "Play together?" The hidden meaning almost too much for Kevin to handle. "Right....I got some shit running around in my head....and I gotta get it out...get a fresh perspective... Can you? I mean...can you stay and meet me? Later?" What the hell is wrong with me???? I�m acting like a teenager again. "I mean...If you can�t...I understand." "Yes," Kevin whispered. "Ya know...we could do it another time.....if you....." "Yes...I�ll meet you later," he said again a little louder this time. "Okay then....," Richie�s tone relaxing and a smile gracing his features. "Later...around midnight...the music room. You can....play the piano....I...I can play the guitar......" "I�ve heard that about you." Twinkling green eyes met narrowed brown eyes. "Fuck you," Richie finally laughed out loud as he turned to walk away. "I wish," Kevin whispered to himself as he watched him walk away. BACK HOME NEXT |
 |
| CHAPTER 4 |