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| The platforms rose slowly and the Boys were perched at the top as the music started. The piano resonated through the venue and the crowd became very quiet, as if most of them didn't even know the song. Ali put her arm around her friend, and leaned close to her ear whispering, "This is a new song...most people don't know the words to it. I've heard it once...and it's beautiful." Kaylee never took her eyes off Kevin. He looked like an angel raised up in the air...all in white...singing a love song. She was amazed at his outward "cool" appearance. He was leaning back, almost relaxed during the song, even as the platforms were being lowered to the stage. She thought the song was one of the most beautiful songs she had ever heard....and Kevin .... one of the most beautiful men she had ever seen. "Oh my god," she whispered as she drew in her breath. Kevin had taken a couple steps forward and when he opened his mouth she almost fainted. "...go on and pull me under.... cover me with dreams, yeah. Love me mouth to mouth now... you know I can't resist... cause you're the air that I breathe...." He had his eyes closed, his head thrown back at the end of the verse...and the way he sang "breathe" with such force. She felt her body tremble just looking at him. She squeezed closer to Ali, tears threatening to spill down her cheeks. The words...the meaning...to be loved like that..so totally. It just served to remind Kaylee of the love she lost, and the love she thought she'd never find. She looked at Kevin when he was singing. She didn't remember breathing since well before his verse. Now...as they sang, "and my heart beats again"...he was pounding his chest. She couldn't hold her tears back any longer. She put her head on Ali's shoulder and cried. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kevin had been "on" tonight. Everything was perfect. He hadn't enjoyed himself on stage like that for quite awhile. He stole glances at Kaylee every chance he got...trying to see her reactions to his performance. He felt damn proud of himself when he caught her watching him during their third song, "Not For Me". He had shifted slightly from his normal position and made sure when he removed his sunglasses that he had direct eye contact with her. Normally he kept focused on his arm, but tonight he risked a look up at her as he was removing the sleeve from his costume. He had to bite his tongue to keep from smiling when he saw her eyes widen when he flexed his arm. Everything had gone perfect! But now, he was worried about the audience reaction to the new song they were performing. They had planned on singing it the night before, but given Kevin's mental and emotional state that night, it was necessary to postpone its debut. Now he let himself become totally lost in the words and the music. He remembered how badly he wanted to relive the last tour...to have been able to play the piano onstage, but he knew from the set up of this stage, that it just wouldn't have been possible. So, he just let his heart take over and the words flowed out effortlessly. As the song neared completion, Kevin looked down at Kaylee and saw her crying. Shit, he thought to himself, where's that coming from? He wanted to just jump off the stage and take her in his arms, but the best he could hope for was that she would look up at him before he disappeared back under the stage. Just as the Boys all stepped back on their marks, and the floor started to lower them, Kaylee looked up at Kevin and found him watching her with an odd expression on his face. She made a feeble attempt at a wave to him, still overcome with all the emotions she'd been feeling for the last few months. Kevin never looked away as he went lower into the stage. He waved back, placed one hand over his heart, one finger on his lips, blew her a kiss and was gone. True to his word, Luke was at her side in a matter of minutes. He took her and Ali both by the arms and walked them backstage. Kaylee looked at Ali, somewhat awestruck herself at all the activity that was going on around them. Ali just smiled and went into "star struck" mode, again, at the first sight of Brian Littrell. "Rok..where's Kevin," Luke asked, "Got someone here he wanted to see." "He just ran through here Luke...said if I saw you..to tell you do NOT move." At that exact moment Kaylee looked over Brian's shoulder and saw him. He had taken his tee shirt off and was clad in just a tank shirt with a towel wrapped around his neck. He was soaked, and there were some small beads of sweat still running down the side of his neck. "Hi," he said, somewhat shyly, taking her hand and kissing it. "You don't want to get too close to me right now," he laughed. "Ali...how's it going? You two enjoy yourselves?" "Enjoy would be an understatement," Ali replied, "the show was great from that close. Big difference from last night." Kevin laughed and said, "yeah...guess it would be. Listen...I hate to be short here..but I gotta go get showered and change while there still might be some hot water." "Go...please Kevin...don't let us keep you...we're just so grateful for this....for you. This is something I never .. ever expected. Thank you," Kaylee replied, while gently touching his arm. "We can just head back to the hotel...." "Excuse us for a sec...," Kevin interrupted, while he pulled her off to the side. "You think I'm just going to let you get away from me that easily. You obviously didn't learn too much about me these last couple days. Baby...I only have tonight and tomorrow....please...wait here...have a late dinner with me...with us. Ali can come, too. We booked a small room at the hotel..there'll be plenty of food and alot to drink," then he put his lips to her ear, whispering, "and it gives us a little more time together. Don't say no...please." Kaylee felt herself flush all over at the feeling of his breath on her ear. God help me, she thought, I do want to be with him...and before she could allow her brain to catch up, she tilted her head to look at him and said, "OK....damn you...has anyone EVER said no to you when you do that?" Kevin just laughed...squeezed her arms...and gave her question some serious thought. "Hmmm...gotta think about that one...." "Oh please...," she said as she smacked him in the chest. "Ouch woman..that hurt...and for your information...yes...my mama .. she says no. She don't care how much I beg and plead...she can say no...so THERE!" Then he kissed her nose, turned and jogged toward the dressing area. "Oh shit Ali...look at him. Damn...damn...why am I staring at his ass?" "Kay...I couldn't tell you...I'm still looking at his shoulders." The two women looked at each other and just laughed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kaylee spent the rest of the night in a whirlwind. She was sure she'd feel out of place, but everyone was so nice to her she found herself able to relax and enjoy the night. At least until she would catch Kevin watching her from across the room, which was quite often because she found herself not able to look away from him for very long. As the night wound down, Kevin insisted on walking the two women back to their room before calling it a night himself. Ali thanked Kevin to the point of embarrassment before he finally kissed her cheek and told her to just shut up and be ready to do it again the next night. "Oh Kevin...you really don't have to let me tag along. I'll be just fine here...you two should just enjoy some alone time...after all...you'll be leaving soon." At the sudden reminder of this, Kevin dropped his head to look at Kaylee...not saying a word. "Ooooh dear...I'm sorry...I am so sorry I even brought that up. Really....I am." Kaylee looked at her friend, touched by her deep regret and said, "Ali....it's ok. Don't think for a minute that I'm kidding myself. Soon it'll be back to the real world...I know." Kaylee turned her gaze back to Kevin and let out a deep sigh. Ali, realizing that three was most definitely a crowd, said goodnight and excused herself, slipping into their room, shutting the door behind her. Kevin reached over and pushed a wayward strand of hair behind Kaylee's ear and then pulled her close, holding her head to his chest. Kaylee closed her eyes and became totally lost in him....in everything about him...how he smelled, how his body felt, how he made her feel. He was overwhelming to say the least. She thought back to earlier in the night. How her heart stuck in her throat when she saw him walk in after the show. His hair was still cornrowed and he had on a gorgeous purple turtleneck with a pair of black jeans. The way he carried himself, the way he looked.....the way he looked at her. "Pretty lady....I seem to lose you in there alot," Kevin said while lightly tapping his finger on her head. "I'm sorry...I was thinking about how wonderful the last couple of days have been...and," she sighed deeply, "I......I really wish it wasn't......" "Shush...," he whispered, and bent his head down, effectively silencing her with his lips. His gentle kiss quickly intensified and Kaylee found herself responding to his every touch. She loved the feel of his lips, the tickle of his goatee and how safe she felt in his arms. Kevin tried to stifle his moan, but had no luck and he pulled back not wanting her to feel uncomfortable. "Kaylee," he said softly, "I...I'm sorry....I don't know what gets into me...I just...." "Kevin....now you shush....please don't feel like you have to explain every kiss...every moan...every feeling...," she said, while she wrapped the end of a cornrow around her finger. "My mind is in a race with my emotions...and they're both tripping over each other...so PLEASE...not another word....just kiss me again....please." "Anything you say darlin'.......anything." Kevin lost himself in kissing her and just feeling her body pressed against him. He wondered if this was what he'd been missing for all this time...someone like her. He pulled his head back and looked into her eyes. No, he realized...he hadn't been missing someone like her....he had been missing her. He helped her open her door and kissed the top of her head. "G'night darlin'.....," he whispered as she walked in the door and blew him a kiss. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kevin walked back to his room and let himself in. He called Luke to let him know he was back and alright. He took off his clothes and laughed softly to himself when he saw that he was still somewhat aroused. "Damn...go away....," he mumbled. "Nothin's gonna happen to you down there tonight...believe me...now just go away. Shit...I ain't takin' another shower." Kevin tried to think of other things but, all he could think of was how normal he felt with Kaylee....how she looked at him...how he just left her, yet couldn't wait to be with her again. He started to drift off to sleep wondering how in the hell he was going to pull this off. He knew he couldn't just let her leave..that there had to be a way......there just had to........ |
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| Chapter 31 |