James chuckled. “She was always trying to get me to go out with her. Even if I was inclined that way, I was not going to go out with that shark. She’s nice enough, but I don’t think she’s ever been a really good person.” James rolled over, and Daniel felt his breath whisper over his skin. “There’s nothing wrong with her, but she pursued me way too hard, and that wasn’t what I wanted.”
“Rachel is one of those people who knows what she wants and is willing to go after it,” Daniel explained.
“I don’t think so. She’s the female version of Weston. I don’t think she understands when to stop.” A warm hand pressed to Daniel’s shoulder. “I saw what he did to you tonight.”
“Yeah, well, the guy is a real prick.”
“He called you names as he walked away, and Howard sent him home. He was livid about the whole thing. I wonder what’s gotten into him?”
Daniel slowly rolled over. “Some guys think they’re god’s gift to the world and don’t understand why anyone would tell them no. I know how to handle stuff like that. I get it at the theater all the time. Six months ago, I had a patron send me flowers every Saturday night for a month, asking me out after the show. I turned him down nicely the first few times, but after that I had to bar him from the theater.” Daniel sighed softly. “I don’t even know if he was gay or just enthralled with me and the character.” He rubbed his eyes from fatigue.
“I guess it’s hard not knowing if someone is interested in you or the character you play,” James said.
“Yeah. That’s pretty observant of you. When my star was on the rise, I used to be really flattered with the guys who wanted to take me out. Until I realized they wanted to date Lala and they expected me to put on a show all the damned time. That shit is exhausting! Lala is part of my personality, but she isn’t who I am.” Most of the time people didn’t understand that Lala was a persona. Sure, the fabulousness was part of who he was, and Daniel would be bereft without Lala, but she wasn’t all he was. “It’s sometimes hard to explain.”
James stroked Daniel’s cheek. “You’re a complicated person. Lala is part of you, but not all of you. You’re Daniel, and Lala is just a part of that.”
He slipped closer. “You do understand.”
“I think so.” James slipped his arm around Daniel’s waist, tugging him closer. “We all have various parts of our personality. When I’m at work, I’m a real hard-ass. I have to be sometimes.” Daniel tensed automatically, and James pulled his hand away. “I didn’t mean to be too forward.” He pulled away, and Daniel closed his eyes, missing the warmth.
“It’s not you. I don’t like to talk about it, but I was arrested two years ago.”
“What for?” James asked. Now it was his turn to tense.
“My manager had talked me into doing a tour. With the popularity of RuPaul, he thought a drag tour would be great. But the stupid promoter booked us into St. Louis. Not that there’s anything wrong with the city itself—it should have been fine—but he didn’t research the venue properly, and things got out of hand. The police had to be called, and they went after the performers rather than the patrons who were causing the trouble. They hit some of the girls and forcibly carried us out and into the street. We were treated badly just because of who we were and how we looked, and because I was the leader of the troupe, I was singled out.” He didn’t go into the fact that he hadn’t been able to perform for days because makeup could only cover so much. “The organizer and even the club owner were trying to explain, but they didn’t listen. They should have but they didn’t. Those officers didn’t use facts, just their own hatred and prejudice. It seems that one of the troublemakers was the mayor’s kid or something. The charges got dropped, but we were all processed and humiliated before those assholes let us go.” The memory made him angry. “After that, we went on with the tour, but none of us got any joy from it. They stole that from us.”
James rolled back over. “Jesus.” His arm returned. “I’m sorry you were treated that way. You didn’t deserve it.” James seemed to know the courage and trust it took for Daniel to share this.
“No one does,” Daniel whispered, and James’s weight shifted. He didn’t move quickly, and Daniel could have moved away, but he found himself drawn closer, his lips parting as James’s lips met his in a kiss that sent a wave of molten heat running through him. James enfolded him in his strong arms, pulling him close.
James tugged the top of his pajamas upward, his warm hands sliding over Daniel’s skin, sending goose bumps rippling wherever they went. Daniel groaned softly, returning James’s kisses with ever-increasing fervor. He wanted this man, and loved the way he touched him. Daniel had never been one to lie still, and he pressed forward, sucking on James’s lower lip as his control wavered. This was a bad idea, and yet he wanted it, hands exploring James’s hard, hot body, sliding down a strong back as James rolled him, climbing on top, weight pressing him into the mattress.
“Is this okay?” James whispered, his breath tickling over Daniel’s lips. “I know I can be forceful. I need to hear the words.”
“Yes...” he heard himself say, as the last of his willpower crumbled to dust.
Chapter Eleven
James had been waiting for this moment. Daniel was his, and James took advantage of the opportunity. He had lain awake listening to Daniel breathe for nights, wishing he was his to take and make love to. And now he was. All the drama and excitement of the day slipped from his mind, James’s attention narrowing to just the two of them.
Squeak... They shifted together, and the bed frame made the slightest noise. When he moved again, it did the same. James was beyond caring. He had slept next to Daniel for days, listening to him snore, inhaling his scent every single minute. The stuff was like nasal Viagra, racing through him the entire damned time. He didn’t intend to let a little squeak get the better of him. He shifted slightly, moving fluidly, holding Daniel tighter, luxuriating in the feel of him in his arms.
“You’ve driven me crazy for days,” James whispered into Daniel’s ear, then sucked it between his lips, nibbling on the lobe, shaking slightly at Daniel’s barely uttered moan.
“James...” Daniel shook under him, sliding his hands down James’s back, under his boxers and over the curves of James’s butt. He growled and kissed Daniel once again, silencing both of them out of sheer need and necessity. James wanted this more than he had wanted anything in his life.
Squeak... James stilled, breathing like he had just won a race. The house was quiet, his parents long asleep. There was no need to worry about a little sound. Squeak... Maybe they should simply move to the floor. James growled and backed away. There was no way he was going to make love to Daniel for the first time on the damned floor. He deserved better than that.