The Curtis Reincarnation

The Curtis Reincarnation By Zathyn Priest Chapter One A vision of pure horror scrambled down the stairs wearing a heavy clay face mask, a midriff T-shirt, and a pink lacy thong. Her long red hair remained frizzed on one side while straightened on the other. Shrieking like a banshee, she tripped over the last stair, fell forward, bounced off the wall, regained her balance and lunged for the phone in Jordan’s lap. The laptop fell next, saved by Jordan’s challenged reflexes while he attempted to ease the pain of his sister’s merciless dive. “Jesus Christ, Rebecca, what the hell are you doing?” She ignored his high-pitched inquiry and frantically dialed numbers. Faced with a rear end view, and seeing more of Bec than he ever needed to, Jordan attempted to blank out the sight from his mind before it etched into his memory banks. She paced the lounge room in barely-there knickers, continually dialing, hanging up, and dialing again. Occasionally, her frenzy partnered with cursing, stamping feet, and frustrated screams. After a few minutes of this behavior, Jordan raised his eyes from the screen and took a chance at needing extensive therapy. From within the tortured howls and cussing, Bec Braxton squealed like a piglet. “Shh! Oh my God, it’s ringing!” “Did I say anything?” She frantically waved a hand with five hot pink painted nails. “Stop typing! Shh!” Somebody finally answered and the squealing escalated into a scream loud enough to wake the dead of centuries ago. Her hand clamped to her forehead, she was trembling and trying to give her name in between moments of excited yelling and foot stomping. The call ended with Bec in a teary quivering mess. She disappeared up the stairs without another word. Jordan peered into the furry orange face of the abnormally large cat beside him. “And that, Furball, is why I’m gay!” Relative peace followed during the next hour. When Bec reappeared she’d changed appropriately, the clay mask had been washed clean, and her hair was in a braid. Rather than sit in one of the armchairs, she unceremoniously booted Furball off the sofa and sat with a wide smile. “You’ll never guess what’s happened!” His blue eyes remained on the web page in front of him. “Probably not, no.”

She sidled in closer. “What have I wanted more than anything else in the whole world?” “Straight hair?” Grabbing the laptop, she closed it and set it aside. He raised an eyebrow. “I was working.” “The most amazing thing that could’ve ever happened has happened, the least you could do is listen to me! What I have wanted more than anything else in the world?” Jordan shrugged, twined his fingers, lifted his arms over his head and stretched. “Get it over with so I can get back to work.” When his arms lowered down to his lap, she grabbed his hand in hers. “Tyler Curtis!” His eyes rolled. “What about him?” “I won two tickets to his concert tomorrow night.” When he reached for the laptop she slapped his hand away from it. “For God sake, Jordy, this is a defining moment in my life!” Her hand grasped his chin and turned his face to look her in the eye. She took a deep breath through her nose and exhaled slowly through her mouth. “Not any old tickets, Jordan. Front row at Wembley Stadium! And…invites to the wrap party! Do you know what this means? It means I’m going to shag Tyler.” There elapsed a brief silence while they stared at one another, her expression deadly serious together with a grave nod as though announcing world peace. “Yes. Yes, Jordy. I know you can’t believe it but it’s the truth. Finally, after all this time, I’m going to meet Tyler. We’re going to have hot sex tomorrow night. In his hotel room, in his bed, all night.” Jordan scratched his head and frowned. “Does Curtis know about this?” “As soon as sees me he will. I’m exactly the kind of girl he likes to shag.” “He’d shag a one legged Cyclops with halitosis so long as it was female.” Tyler Curtis was a twenty year old Australian music sensation that burst onto the scene at eighteen and hadn’t slowed down since. The definitive bad boy with a Goth/Rock image, the face of an angel, and an attitude to challenge Satan on his worst day. Infamous for his heavy drinking, heavy drugging, foul temper, and a different girl every night, his fans loved to love him and the media loved to hate him. Press conferences were known to end with tables upturned, chairs thrown, and tantrums. Unparalleled on stage, his live shows were extravaganzas and sold out within minutes. No-one could doubt Curtis as a performer: the epitome of blazing talent housed within an arrogant, surly, and unlikable

persona. For just over two years he’d been Bec’s obsession, Bec’s and every other female on the planet’s. At twenty-five she’d slipped back into her teens with his pictures over her bedroom walls and his music playing wherever she went. Bec idolized him and Jordan couldn’t stand him. Bec poked him in the arm with a pink talon. “I asked Julie to come with me, but I changed my mind. I’m taking you.” There came an outburst of disbelieving laughter from Jordan. “Like hell!” “It’s only logical I take you. If I take Julie there’s the chance he could like her better. True, it’s a slim chance seeing as she’s got hardly any boobs but you never know. If Tyler’s really drunk he might think her padded bra is the real deal. I can’t risk it. This opportunity will never happen again and if you love me you’ll do this for me.” “So what you’re saying is, if I really loved you I’d willingly take you to this party and let you shag some guy who screws around with groupies, will be smashed, and then will kick you out in the morning with a severe infestation of crabs?” She peered up at the ceiling and gave a sharp nod. “Yes, that’s what I’m saying. Except Tyler doesn’t have crabs.” “Phone an ugly friend, I’m not going.” Taking the laptop, and himself, out of Bec’s company, Jordan retreated to his bedroom to work for the following three hours. Hunger convinced him to brave the downstairs and venture into the kitchen. He’d barely made it to the linoleum floor when she tailed him once more. He remained dubious when her conversation appeared to have flown off on a tangent. “Jordy, I worry about you. You’re twenty-seven, twenty-eight in two months, and you’ve been single for…” She trailed off and peered at him sympathetically. “Well, forever. Why?” Taking the loaf of bread out of his hands, she then ushered him into a seat at the table. “You’ve been working hard, a sandwich isn’t enough. I’ll make you dinner.” From the freezer she took out a TV meal and threw it in the microwave. With that done she sat opposite him at the table. “Why are you still single?” His chin rested in his palm. “I haven’t met the right guy.” Her chin rested in her palm. “You never will.” A frown creased his brow. “Right, well thanks for that!”

“Hear me out.” Her index finger rose to drive home her point. “Firstly, you don’t go out. You mess around on the stupid computer all night. Secondly, because you always come across as a prick.” His frown deepened. “Thank you again!” The microwave sounded and Bec left the table to retrieve the contents. Removing the plastic film, she then took a fork from the drawer and set the unappetizing meal in front of him. She took a beer from the fridge and placed it next to the tray. Jordan handed the beer can back to her. “Since when do I drink?” “You should try it, it could lighten you up!” She gave him a can of cola and kept the beer for herself. Jordan stabbed at the greyish, unrecognizable meal and then set the fork aside. “You have your fantasies and I have mine.” “Hear we go!” “You want a nice boy you can cuddle on the sofa while you watch romance movies and feed each other popcorn. You want to get married and spend Sunday mornings doing the newspaper crossword together and Sunday afternoons strolling hand in hand in the park while you pick flowers and declare your undying love. It’s sad, Jordan! You work yourself into the ground to build a nest egg for a boy you haven’t met yet, who’d probably not go out with you because he’d think you’re a bastard, and who doesn’t exist anyway.” He pushed the plastic tray out of his sight. “Now I’m a prick and a bastard? And what’s wrong with doing the crossword together?” “Only nerds and geeks do crosswords! Where are you going to meet this wonderful, crossword doing, park strolling, flower picking, love of your life if you never go out and give everyone the cold shoulder? You’re a great looking guy. If you weren’t my brother, and if you weren’t gay, I’d shag you in a second.” He grimaced, losing his appetite even more. Cracking open the beer with a hiss, she took an extremely unfeminine swig and wiped her mouth with her arm. “You could have any boy you wanted if you weren’t so bloody picky! You’ve got gorgeous blue eyes, you’re tall, great body, your hair’s that middle of the road brown that if he likes blondes you’d fit in and if he likes brunettes you’d fit in. Get out and about, Jordy. If you don’t you’ll be sixty and still designing websites to feather a nest that doesn’t have another little birdie in it. I want you to meet your dream boy. I want you to spend the rest of your life shagging the same person.”

Extending her arm across the table, her hand rested over the top of his. “If I could conjure up Mr. Right for you, I would. If I want to see your dreams come true, isn’t it only fair you should wish the same for me?” She petted his hand and ignored his slight smirk. “I don’t want a nest. I definitely don’t want to shag the same person for the rest of my life. My fantasy involves getting naked with Tyler Curtis. Then I’ll move on because I know Tyler and I will be ships passing in the night.” Jordan’s face dropped into his hands. “Christ Bec, how much shit can you spin in one sitting?” She pummeled her feet on the floor with a stifled scream. “Jordan! It’s one night!” He stood to finish the sandwich he’d barely had time to begin. “Take Julie. I’m staying home to dream about the boy who doesn’t exist and who won’t talk to me anyway because I’m a bastard! *** With a plate and sandwich in one hand and a glass of orange juice in the other, Alec walked from the kitchen in pajamas bunching around his ankles. With his elbow he flicked out the light and continued into the bedroom. He set the plate and glass down on the bedside table, opened the drawer, and took out a crossword book. Plumping up the pillows, he crawled under the covers and opened the book to a fresh puzzle. The silence inside the room broke at times by the sound of Alec’s chatter to himself. Every now and then he picked up the sandwich, took a bite, and placed it back down on the plate. Flicking his eyes to a clock on the wall, he noted the time at half past one in the morning. He yawned and let the pen fall from his hand. The placid ease of rest turned swiftly. Quiet turned into a quicksand of anxiety. Everything around him appeared larger than it ought to be and distorted at the edges. Fumbling for the bedside table, Alec fought the feeling rapidly engulfing him and attempted to place the glass down. It clipped the edge and fell to the carpet. His hands, arms, legs, and body trembled. Unable to move the plate, Alec lay down on his side, closed his eyes, and waited for the inevitable. The quiet of early morning pierced with a high-pitched shriek. The plate crashed to the floor sending the uneaten sandwich to the carpet. When Alec woke next it was twenty past two in the morning although he had no concept of time and no concept of where he was. There was only the excruciating pain crushing between his temples, the wet sheets, and an innate need to get out of bed in an effort to clean up after himself. He fell out the side with a thud, curled into a ball, and knew his quest to be a hopeless one. The intensity of the migraine-like headache melded with the pain in all his muscles. There was nothing he could do to move one way or the other. He closed his eyes to the light in the room, the brightness making the already unbearable migraine even more sickening. He shook with a mixture of cold and pain. The nausea peaked. Vomit coated his chin and pooled under his face.

That’s where Alec stayed for the next six hours, in excruciating agony with no-one to help and no-one who cared. His seizures happening more regularly than ever, he was frightened and trapped in isolation. He was desperately lonely and just as desperately wishing someone would see him, tired to the point of wishing death to ease continual emotional pain hurting worse than the physical agony he’d endured for six long hours. Something had to give, and it had to give soon, or Alec would give up the fight in a battle always one-sided against him. *** Eight thirty Saturday morning and Bec burst through Jordan’s bedroom door, jumped onto his bed, and smacked him with a pillow. “Let me put it to you this way.” He clamped the covers over his head and groaned. She attempted to pull the covers back and he gripped tightly to the sheets. “I’m naked, Bec!” “I’ll be naked tonight with Tyler if only you’d be a generous brother and do this one teeny, weenie favor for your favorite sister.” “Bugger off and stop annoying me!” Her bottom lip dropped in a pout. “One measly night out of your life, Jordy! For two years I’ve tried to get concert tickets and for two years I’ve failed. Do you know the chances of winning that competition yesterday? One in a gazillion billion million! I’m meant to shag Tyler. It’s my destiny! It’ll be the pinnacle of my sexual self. Don’t take this away from me. Don’t shatter my sexual self.” Jordan hugged his knees to his chest and raised his eyebrows. “He’d be the worst lay you ever had. You know why? It’d be wham, bam, thank you ma’am, fuck off out of my room, next one please! Haven’t you got a dog-ugly friend you can take instead?” Her green eyes wandered over his face as though he spoke utter nonsense. “I don’t hang around with ugly people. It’d ruin my image. Why can’t you do this for me?” “Turn around and don’t look.” Doing as she was told, she turned and put her hand over her eyes. Jordan swung his legs out of the bed, reached for a pair of track pants, pulled them on and walked toward the door, clipping Bec softly across the head as he passed. Switching the kettle to boil, he caught a glimpse of his sister reflected off the glass front of a cupboard. “You’re like dog shit on my shoe!”

“I won’t go away until you agree to come with me.” “Make me a coffee and I’ll think about it.” He left her to it in the kitchen and sauntered into the lounge room, flopping onto the sofa to be immediately joined by Furball. Picking up the remote control, he blazed the TV into life and left it on whatever station it landed. A few minutes later Bec presented him with a cup of coffee. “I thought about it. The answer is still no.” The bickering continued while Jordan drank his coffee and Bec paced the room, silenced when the morning news broadcasted the latest Curtis antics of the night before. Bec rushed to the television with her face pressed to the screen. The footage showed a group of reporters trying to snap a photo of the young star entering Wembley Stadium. Curtis lifted his middle finger to the nearest camera, his mouth twisted in an angry sneer until he mouthed the words ‘fuck you!’ and stalked from sight. What Jordan thought pathetic and disgusting behavior, Bec thought hilarious. She giggled like a schoolgirl when the report told of Curtis’ drunken altercation outside a London nightclub at two AM after the show, ending with his hotel room trashed yet again. She sighed and the bickering started up once more. “If I was in his room I’d give him something else to do!” Jordan shook his head slowly from side to side. “He’s a dickhead! Why would you want to shag that?” “Tell me honestly, Jordy, you think Tyler’s hot. Have you ever seen anyone with eyes as gorgeous as he’s got?” Wanting to walk away, but knowing there was not point as she’d only follow, Jordan remained where he was. “It doesn’t matter good looking he is, Rebecca, he’s wanker! Those eyes are contact lenses. No-one has amber eyes in real life except cats.” “People do have eyes that color. It’s rare but they do.” “People have light brown eyes, no-one has gold amber eyes. They’re contacts.” “They aren’t! Jordy, if you go with me tonight I promise, swear, and all that stuff, never to ask anything of you again. Pretty please?” “No!”

Chapter Two “I thought I told you to always use the mobile number.” “I’m not rich yet, am I?” “Did you send another email?” “Five minutes ago.” “Good. He’ll reply. I know him better than you do.” “Then what? I ask for the money and he’s going to pass it over? We need to come up with a better story.” “We? Remember who’s running this show, sweetheart, me not you.” “You could do this without me, could you?” “You’re going to be a wealthy woman, don’t get ahead of yourself or I’ll screw you over as easily as I’ll screw him over.” “Five hundred thousand is a pittance in comparison your cut.” “It’s a good deal for any member of the trailer trash community. With that amount of money you might be able to upgrade to a trailer with electricity.” “Very funny.” “If he doesn’t reply send another email and tell him he has a brother.”

Chapter Three “I can’t believe you talked me into this.” Jordan settled into front row seats slightly left of centre stage, flicking nonchalantly through a program with Bec’s hand clamped to his thigh. “These seats are brilliant! I’ll be able to smell his sex hormones from here!” Every publicity shot went for the famous sneer and focused in on those golden amber eyes. Most of his video clips involved the use of some form of gothic makeup, exquisitely done with intricate patterns and intriguing shapes, making him appear like a vampiric dark angel. The makeup wasn’t used all the time and Curtis wore bare face during live performances and press conferences. Always dressed in black with short ebony spiked hair and enough pagan jewelry to open a small market stall. Aside from that he had a youthful, beautiful face with flawless skin and perfectly plump lips. It wasn’t the image Jordan couldn’t stand, it was the attitude. He closed the program and rested his eyes on his sister pushing her cleavage together. “Do my boobs look big enough? He’s a boob man, you know.” “Any bigger you’d take his fake eyes out.” “As soon as the lights go up over the crowd the first things he’ll see are my boobs. Come and get ‘em baby, they’re all yours!” He lowered an eyebrow at her. “Why are you wearing a wedding ring?” Looping her arm through his she leaned closer to explain. “He likes to shag married women. This fake wedding band is my key to Tyler’s bed. Act like my husband. Hold my hand, put your arm around me, all that stuff.” She was the Major General of operation shag Tyler Curtis regiment. “Once Tyler sets his sights on me, which won’t take long seeing as I’m looking hotter than I’ve ever looked, you can wait for me. Tyler never lets girls stay the entire night. So I’ve heard. He might make an exception for a girl as gorgeous as me.” The plan grew worse the more he listened. “What am I supposed to do? Sit at the bar waiting for hours?” “Yeah. You never know, maybe the boy of your dreams is a bar tender. If I’m still in Tyler’s room by five in the morning you can go home.” “Gee, thanks, Bec!” The lights went down, the crowd erupted into deafening applause, and Bec jumped onto her seat along with everybody else. The band started. Tyler made his entrance in

silhouette before the lights hit and he threw his arms in the air like God on the top of Mount Everest. When he addressed the crowd he did it with self-appreciative ego stroking, foul language, and sexual innuendo. Dancers were everywhere, the lighting effects breathtaking and, although it painted Jordan to admit it, Curtis was incredible. He leered into the cameras in a way that made every girl succumb to heart palpitations. Tyler Curtis never smiled. He stalked the stage like a black cat, owning everything and knowing it.

*** The grandest hotel in London and the wrap party were a classier affair than Jordan imagined. Toward the end of the ballroom stood a platform stage. Being one of the first to arrive, Bec snared the spot directly in front of the microphone. For the next twenty minutes people poured into the ballroom until it filled to capacity. Without an introduction, Curtis walked out and stood at the rear of the platform amid screaming cheers. He dressed in black fabric pants laced up the side from ankle to waistband. His plain black shirt was turned up to show off the wrist cuffs, and his belt sported a reverse silver crucifix buckle. Boots had been replaced with black shoes. Jordan didn’t want to admit to anyone, even himself, that Curtis was hot. A man in his early fifties, with a remarkable similarity to a bulldog, wearing a striped shirt straining across an ample stomach, dwarfed the diminutive Curtis and stood at the microphone. Jordan nudged his sister and leaned in close. “Have you noticed how short he is?” “Who cares? He’ll be lying down anyway!” The bulldog raised a hand and introduced himself as Frank Brooks, Curtis’ manager. Curtis stood, saying nothing. His amber eyes wandered along the front row, stopping first on Bec, then on Jordan, and then settled on Bec. “Oh my God, Jordy, he’s checking me out! Act like my husband, quick, kiss me!” “I don’t kiss girls, especially my sister.” Frank dropped his left hand to his side and gave a flick of his wrist. Curtis turned and walked off. Frank lifted his hand again and the disappointed crowd hushed. “He’ll be back! Settle down!” The sea of females had an abrupt change of temper. “When he does he’ll be sitting on this stage having photographs taken with you!” If Frank had said he’d be reappearing to take off every stitch of clothing he couldn’t have

gotten a more enthusiastic response. “For a fee of course, he won’t do anything for nothing! Fifty pound, get your wrap party pass stamped, and come back here and line up. Security will set up barriers and if you get too out of control I can guarantee he won’t tolerate it and he’ll piss off.” When he laughed it sounded false. “Then I’ll be the one stuck trying to calm him down and explaining why another TV’s been thrown out the window! He’ll be back in forty-five minutes.” He walked through the split in the curtain Curtis vanished through. Jordan watched his sister push through other girls on a single-minded mission to get her pass stamped first. She wasn’t the only female with the same thought. A battle royal between her and an equally determined blonde ensued to get to the entrance ahead of everyone else. He ambled across to the bar. A young male took his drink order and returned with a tall glass of orange juice set on the bar with a smile. Jordan turned away. Music fired up and drowned out some of the squealing and screaming. A mismatch of seventies and eighties tunes that were out of place at a Curtis party. Ten minutes after he’d sat down, Bec scurried over waving her ticket. “Oh my God, I’m going to be right next to him! He’s probably out there now writing his room number on a slip of paper to hand me.” She snapped her fingers. The young bartender took her order for champagne and disappeared again to serve at a bar fast filling with patrons. She downed the entire glass without a breath and flicked her long red hair over her shoulder. “Rumor has it he’s got two bitches lined up already. They’re waiting for him in his limo. He’ll forget about them as soon as he sees me again.” Jordan changed the subject. He’d heard enough Curtis talk to last him many lifetimes. “Don’t you think it’s weird they’re playing seventies and eighties music?” “I asked the security guy why they weren’t playing Tyler’s music. He reckons it’s ‘cos it gets the crowd too worked up. They play the crappy shit to sedate ‘em. If that doesn’t work they pull out the slow shit from the world’s daggiest artists.” Jordan took a handful of peanuts from a small crystal bowl. “It’s not crappy shit, Bec, it’s the classics.” Taking the crystal bowl, she held it in her left hand and fed peanuts into her mouth in between words. “You saw Tyler checking me out, too. He was imagining having wild sex with me.” “You’ve got a psychic link to his thoughts, have you?”

“I know what men want. How do you think I got my ticket stamped so quickly? Showed the security guy my boobs. You’d do well to take lessons from me then you might get laid again before you’re thirty.” He rolled disinterested blue eyes and gazed vacantly at nothing in particular. “I don’t think showing my chest to security would have the same impact.” When she nudged him several peanuts flew over the bowl onto the carpet. “Have you noticed the bartender checking you out?” She nudged him again. More peanuts landed on the floor than were left in the bowl. “Jordy? Have you? He’s really cute.” “Your point being?” “I’m not kidding big brother, you are the iceman to end all icemen. If you don’t even talk to any of these boys, how do you know if he’s the one or not?” He shrugged half-heartedly. “He hasn’t done anything to grab my interest. If he did I’d talk to him.” “What do you want him to do?” “I don’t know. If I saw him do it, I would know.” Bec slapped him in the shoulder. “You’ve got all these romantic notions but you’re as warm as ice up a polar bear’s arse! Look at that cute little bartender making goo-goo eyes at you and you’re giving him the cold shoulder ‘cause he hasn’t done anything to capture your attention. He’s working behind the bar, what’s he supposed to do? Eat peanuts and shit diamonds? If you don’t put that thing between your legs to some use soon it’s going to pack its bags and find itself some action. Action that doesn’t come from your right hand.” Jordan pointed to the platform. “Shouldn’t you be over there instead of annoying me?” She looked over her shoulder and leapt out of her seat. “Jordan! You could’ve told me!” Jordan caught the bartender’s gaze and gestured him over with a jerk of his head. The guy promptly stopped what he was doing and rushed over with a smile. Jordan ignored his greeting and pointed toward the far end of the ballroom. “Those tables set up behind the stage, are they off limits? The roped off area doesn’t go all the way across.” The bartender’s pleased smile disintegrated. “I think they’re empty because no-one can see the stage from there. If it were off limits they’d rope the whole lot off. Once Tyler’s done the photographs they’ll remove the platform and open out the entire ballroom.”

“If I sit over there to get away from everyone I won’t get hauled out by security?” The guy shrugged, obviously unimpressed with Jordan’s unfriendly tone. “They’ll just ask you to move away if it’s a problem.” Jordan grabbed his drink, stood, and walked off. Passing the stage, Jordan noticed Bec in line with around twenty girls in front. Next to three security guards, the bulldog manager stood with his arms folded and resting on his bulging stomach, making sure all ran according to his specifications. Jordan made his way to a table near the wall and sat down. He could see the crowd but not the stage, and directly in front of him the black curtained area Curtis hid behind. With every sip he took from his glass, he peered at his watch, trying to will the hands to move faster around the dial, the only savior to his boredom being the supposedly crappy music. A small figure dressed in black stepped out from the rear of the curtained area, snaring his attention, Jordan saw the guy walk out, turn and disappear. Only a few seconds passed and Curtis stepped out again, turned, and walked back in. He paced with no clue Jordan sat close enough to see: out, in, out, in, with his hands clamped behind his back and his eyes on the floor. In he went again, a few seconds ticked over, and out he came. His hands now hung by his sides, his head up, his shoulders back, and he walked with the same sleek cat like motion he strutted the stage with. A ‘look at me’ walk with purposeful strides. He halted, stood in clear view, and remained there. Obviously quite oblivious to the fact he could be seen. Tyler began toe tapping to the music. Jordan’s eyebrows lifted when the toe tapping progressed to swaying. As if hit with a bolt of seventies disco lightening, Curtis spun around and the swaying turned into a collection of hip grooving go-go dancing moves. No matter how hard Jordan laughed, and how bizarre the sight, Curtis knew how to dance and certainly knew how to move his hips. He clenched his left hand into a fist, singing into it like a microphone while his right hand rose over his head in a lasso motion. He danced like a kid in front of a mirror playing pop stars. If anyone else hid behind the curtain, it seemed he didn’t care. As the song picked up pace, his dancing peppered with actions to go with the lyrics: pointing, facial expressions, finger waving, and hands on hips. By the time the song finished Jordan laughed so hard his face ached. Curtis finished his number with a spin and strode behind the curtain. Jordan wiped the tears from his eyes, disappointed the most entertaining thing he’d seen Curtis do all night had ended. “Gotta be on drugs!” Another song started up and, considering the tempo, was aimed at calming a line of hyped females. It was a beautiful piece of music sung by a popular female diva with seductive, husky lyrics. Jordan checked the time and peered upward when out strode the pint sized Curtis once more. Jordan put his elbow on the table and his chin in his hand, wondering what would happen should Curtis discover a spectator.

Tyler began swaying gently, staring into the space in front of him, his mouth barely moving with the lyrics. His head fell back a little, his eyes closed, his left arm made a soft arc in front of his body while his right arm made the same arc above his head. His right leg extended with a pointed toe, bent at the knee, and a perfect pirouette followed. His eyes remained closed, his limbs floated from one movement to the next without a seam, and his remained expression dreamy. Jordan’s pulse jumped from normal to accelerated. He watched everything, from the way Tyler’s lips parted slightly to the way his perfectly formed hands drifted through the air, graceful and elegant. The cat-like walk wasn’t arrogance; it was the walk of a ballet dancer. Altering his stance, Curtis turned to his left; never once did his eyes open. He faced Jordan front on with that dreamy expression as seductive as the lyrics he mimed. Jordan’s breathing picked up and his pulse quickened. Curtis appeared to be performing only for him, gesturing in his direction with a floating hand whenever the words of the song pertained to the object of the singer’s desire. Jordan mumbled, “God…you’re exquisite.” In his dancing trance, with his sweet angelic expression, Jordan couldn’t believe anyone with a temperament the likes of which Curtis was known for could display this much haunting emotion. As the song built to its crescendo, Jordan willed for it not to end. He couldn’t understand it, and he didn’t know why, but Curtis couldn’t have captured him any more successfully if he’d extracted Jordan’s heart in his hand. Tyler made a fluid sweeping motion with his arms, spun three perfect turns in the last few bars of the song and stopped exactly where he’d started. His right arm hung suspended towards Jordan’s table with his palm upturned and those famous gold eyes flicked open, meeting Jordan’s bewitched blue eyes. The surge of invisible energy rushing in the twenty feet between them electrified. Curtis’ head snapped to the side in response to someone grabbing his attention behind the curtain. He faltered, took a few more steps backwards, and vanished. Jordan dropped his head forward and shook it slowly from side to side, muttering as he did. “Holy shit!” Staying away from the crowd no longer held the same attraction. By the eruption of noise Jordan knew Tyler had stepped out. He left the chair and wandered over, remaining on the almost vacant stage left while girls lined up stage right. Tyler sat on a bar stool, his manager close by, and girls were ushered quickly to Curtis’ side, a photo snapped, and the girls quickly ushered off again. No time to attempt conversation with the star, a production line of fans were pushed through as rapidly as Brooks could. Jordan’s eyes remained glued to the singer and only moved when his mobile shrilled in his jacket pocket. He removed it, put it to his ear, glanced up, and caught two golden eyes watching before they looked away. Jordan’s heart skipped double time. “Yes Bec?”

He strained to hear her excited babble over the crowd. “Where are you?” “Look on the other side of the stage.” She caught sight of him and waved. “What have you been doing?” “Feeling the Earth move.” “Whatever. Oh my God, Tyler’s checking me out!” Sure enough, when Jordan glanced over, Tyler definitely had his stare glued onto Bec. Another girl stood at his side, Tyler posed with a sneer, and Brooks practically pushed her off the platform. “Jordy, now he’s looking at you!” Jordan’s throat constricted. “Yes, he is.” “He knows you’re my husband!” “I’m your brother.” She applied more lipstick, only three girls standing in front of her. “He doesn’t know that! Watch, he’ll pass me his room number.” Bec stood next in line. Jordan’s eyes didn’t shift, waiting to see if any interaction did take place. Curtis no doubt sent several glances in her direction, however he’d matched every one of them with an accompanying glance at Jordan. Security positioned her to Tyler’s right, she beamed him her best smile. Jordan braced to see whether any details would be shared. Brook’s put a hand on Bec’s shoulder and led her away. Despite Bec’s flush of disappointment, Jordan breathed a sigh of relief. If Curtis did want Bec in his room, he’d made no attempt to let her know about it then.

Chapter Four Leaving Bec at the bar, Jordan weaved through the sea of people and exited the ballroom. He roamed one hall after the other. Trying to concentrate on the art work and only seeing the captivating vision of Curtis and reliving the moment of intense eye contact. To the left of one wide hall, a doorway led into an old fashioned ‘L’ shaped smoking room. Jordan detoured and went inside. Time had edged passed midnight and, other than the foyer and ballroom, the hotel was empty of people. Wandering from one piece of art to the next, Jordan made it to the angled wall branching into a section on his right. A massive fireplace burned demurely and beckoned him forward to a huge, intricate painting above the mantel. He lifted his face and gazed at a foxhunt scene inside a wide gold frame. He searched the bottom corner for a signature, couldn’t find one, shrugged and turned to move onto the painting on the other side of the wall. His feet ground to a halt on the carpet and he froze in his tracks. Two amber eyes peered over the top of a glass. There was an awkward moment where two people stared at one another, neither saying a word. Unsure of whether his knees could support a move away, Jordan struggled to find something to say to break the thick silence. Tyler placed the glass down on the tabletop and broke the silence for him. “Are you stalking me?” He finished the question with a stony face and piercing gold eyes. Unnerved, Jordan took a rapid step away with a rushed explanation. “No! God no! I just keep turning up where you do.” Despite the typically unfriendly Curtis persona, Jordan couldn’t force his feet to turn around and walk him out of there. “I’ve noticed. I have bodyguards to deal with stalkers, you know.” With a curt nod, Jordan pressed his lips together and started to reply with a comeback when Tyler’s demeanor changed. He peered to either side, raised his eyebrows at Jordan, and spoke again. “Where have they gone? They’ve left me here all alone with my apple juice!” A knee-weakening smile, never seen in any photograph or appearance, covered his face. “I’m sorry, I don’t really think you’re a stalker. I have a stupid sense of humor.” Over his shirt, Tyler wore a snug fitting black jacket with zippers up the sleeves and down the centre. Even sitting down Jordan could see it followed the line of Tyler’s shoulders and succeeded in showing off a narrow, toned waist. He gestured to a chair opposite him. “Would you like to join me?”

Shocked by the invitation, but more than willing to take it up, Jordan walked to the table and sat. In the instant he sat down, Tyler’s broad smile switched to a shy smirk complete with a rosy flush over his cheeks. Jordan reached over the table for a handshake and Curtis obliged. “Jordan Braxton.” “Tyler Curtis. You’ve got an Australian accent. Where are you from?” “New South Wales.” “It’s always good to hear a familiar accent.” Jordan had never heard Curtis speak, other than the screamed swearing and snarling through the show or a few grunted replies to reporters on the television. He had a lisp, something Jordan’d never noticed even after listening to him sing for two hours. Like a Curtis double: dressed the part, but someone totally different. The bartender Bec wanted to set him up with paled in comparison. Jordan never wanted to settle for a simple spark, he wanted the inferno. Tyler had him ablaze. “I wasn’t spying on you before. I was sitting there to get away from the crowd. I didn’t expect you to walk out from the curtained area.” Even though Jordan should have been star-struck, it was Curtis who grew more nervous by the second, anxiously twirling a silver snake ring around his thumb. “Oh! That’s okay. I wasn’t supposed to walk out but it was stuffy in there. I pulled the curtain aside to let some air in and it was so nice and cool. I was only going to walk out and then go back in. My manager told me to say in there, but it was too hot. He was organizing the photo thing and I thought he wouldn’t know if I stayed out there in the cool. It was only me in there; no-one to tell him I’d broken the rules. Not until he came back in and caught me!” Two years of seeing Curtis posters across Bec’s bedroom walls and Jordan had barely given them a second glance. Now, as he looked at Tyler in the flesh across the small table, he’d never seen anyone more stunning. Tyler had an oval face with every feature ideally proportioned. His long eyelashes were as black as his hair, so thick he appeared to be wearing a layer of false lashes over his own. His nose was chiseled, yet softly curved where it should be. The same story with his jaw and cheekbones, nothing at all harsh and everything came together to form a masterpiece of perfection. His complexion slightly olive, he looked to have stepped from a magazine airbrushing. “I knew you could dance. Not like that though. You’re beautiful.” The snake ring flew from Tyler’s thumb and across the room. Jordan wanted to slap himself for the Freudian slip in saying ‘you’re’ beautiful instead of what he’d meant to

say, ‘it was’ beautiful, however the disappearing jewelry was worth it. Their eyes locked across the table. “Whoops! I hate it when that happens!” Tyler blushed a deep rose and dropped his eyes from Jordan’s wry chuckle. “Do you want me to get it?” Curtis shook his head. a hand hovering around his face to hide the color. “No, it’s fine. If I’d still been attached to it I’d have let you pick me up.” As soon as the words passed his lips the blush deepened to scarlet. He dropped his face and missed the reactive flicker of Jordan’s eyebrow going up. Choosing not to reply with a smart comeback, Jordan opted for another question. “Why are you in here by yourself?” “Before I went to the party I had a shower. One of the taps blew off and hit me.” Tyler pointed to just above his belt buckle. “Hit me there.” Above the belt buckle wasn’t where Jordan’s eyes landed and he quickly raised his gaze to a more appropriate place. “Frank, my manager, told me to wait here while maintenance fixed the shower.” Why he couldn’t go to his room because of a broken tap made no sense to Jordan. “You’d be safe with hotel maintenance wouldn’t you?” “Oh yes, the staff here are very nice. The concierge can be a bit full of himself. Anyone would think he built this hotel with his own two hands. My driver, Isaac, doesn’t like him either because Gary, that’s the concierge, he puts staff on a class ranking. As far as Gary’s concerned staff like drivers and cleaners are on the bottom of the ladder. You couldn’t ask to meet a nicer man than Isaac. He’s lovely. Frank doesn’t like leaving me with people because I start talking to them. I talk to Isaac even though I’m not meant to. Frank told me to sit in here because he didn’t think anyone would be walking around this end of the hotel at this time of night.” Jordan knew Frank was right about one thing, when Tyler started talking he certainly started talking. “Where’s your wife?” “You were checking out my sister?” “Sister?” Brotherly instincts kicked in to protect Bec’s honor. “Yeah, Bec’s my sister.”

“Oh! No! I was looking at you.” Tyler’s eyes widened to the size of plates and Jordan blinked back with surprise. He blurted out a rushed explanation. “I mean…I noticed the wedding ring so I thought she was your wife. I saw you at the show, too. When the lights go up I see the crowd. You had a program in your hand. Looking like you’d rather be at a funeral. Probably mine! I thought you were the boyfriend who’d been dragged there. Then I thought you were her husband.” He shut his mouth and reached for the glass. Jordan’s pulse quickened. He’d been singled out in the crowd. “Not her husband, just her…” He paused for effect, eager to see Tyler’s reaction. “…gay brother.” Tyler spluttered into his glass sending apple juice up his nose and dribbling down his chin. Jordan’s pulse jumped. “Does that bother you?” Tyler shook his head way too fast, wiping his face with his sleeve. “No! No, not at all. Not at all. No. No it doesn’t. Nope. I mean… we all need to… well… we just all need to, don’t we? ” Jordan held back a burst of laughter. It appeared the ego saturated Tyler Curtis easily fell prey to nerves and spoke fluent gibberish as a result. The more he fumbled and stammered, the cuter Jordan thought him to be. He attempted to shift the topic to ease Tyler’s nervousness. “After this, going straight to bed?” Tyler’s voice rose an octave, his mouth fell open, and his expression was scandalized. “I beg your pardon!” Jordan dropped his face into his hand, unable to hide his laughter any longer. “Not straight to bed with me, Tyler! I’m not that forward!” Another round of chuckling followed before he could add a clarification. “I was wondering if you were going back to the party or planning on sleep.” Flames erupting from Tyler’s cheeks couldn’t have burned them any brighter. “Oh! Sorry. I think I’ll order pizza.” Tyler waved a hand in the air and tried to appear composed while making a desperate attempt to talk about something, anything, else. “I haven’t eaten since this morning. I’m a bit peckish. There’s a dinosaur documentary on. I like documentaries. I like dinosaurs, too.” Jordan’s elbow rested on the arm of the chair and his chin rested in his hands. Enamored, hetook in every perfect detail of Tyler’s face and a besotted smile highlighted Jordan’s lips while he listened to the edgy chatter.

“Of course, I’m sitting in here so by the time I get to my room it’ll be nearly finished. The T-Rex is pretty cool but my favorite ones are the Velociraptors. Though I’m glad they’re not around anymore!” It came out sounding like ‘The Velotherraptorth’. Tyler’s lisp drove Jordan to distraction in a very good way. As did his shy awkwardness, continual blushing, and conversation tinged with babble. “Pterodactyls, they’re the ones I like.” “They’re cool, too!” At the beginning of the night the idea of sitting one on one with Tyler Curtis would have been right up there on Jordan’s list of things never to experience unless forced to with a sawn off shot gun to your head. Sitting down at a table enjoying his company, chatting, laughing, and feeling a sweeping attraction would have been on Jordan’s list of impossibilities. “I guess you weren’t enjoying my wonderful wrap party?” Jordan shook his head, grinning at the sarcasm in Tyler’s voice. “Too many screaming girls. Doesn’t look like you were enjoying it either!” “I make an appearance then I leave. I never stay.” With the snake ring gone AWOL across the dining room Tyler fidgeted with a studded wrist cuff. The cuff opened and fell to the floor. He bent down to pick it up, speaking as he did so. “Those parties are always the same. I go to my room and the next day I read about what I got up to.” “Like the nightclub brawl last night and trashing your room?” “Exactly!” Tyler began trying to buckle the wrist cuff into place. “You must’ve won those tickets, did you?” Jordan realized he stared hypnotically at Tyler’s full lips and raised his eyes. Missing what he said while momentarily imagining a steamy kiss. “I’m sorry, what did you say?” “The tickets. You must’ve won them. The first four rows are set aside for press and competition winners.” Jordan’s smile broadened. There had been a lot of ‘S’s’ in that sentence and that adorable lisp dotted the entire thing. “Bec won them. She’s convinced she’ll end up in your bed tonight. She didn’t want to take a friend in case you liked her better. According to her research you like sleeping with married women, hence the fake wedding ring.”

Tyler’s eyes rolled. “Not true. Another stupid rumor.” “I guess my sister isn’t the first to buy a cheap wedding ring to try and snag you?” “It’s not an original prop.” Unable to resist commenting on the endearing speech impediment, Jordan broached it. “Your lisp, you don’t hear it when you sing.” Tyler didn’t reply and Jordan knew he’d unintentionally offended the guy. Deciding to edge the conversation with a bit of flirting, he explained. “I’ve always had a ‘thing’ for a lisp. I think it’s sexy.” “So if I said, ‘Sally sells seashells on the seashore’ you’d think that’s sexy?” It had been a long time since anyone made Jordan laugh as easily as Tyler did, or caused the heart-flutters he experienced. “Yes, I do.” Tyler blushed crimson, looked away, and replied. “It’s not as noticeable when I sing or when I yell. It’s why I have to yell and not speak. Can’t have anyone knowing I lisp. Not good for the image apparently.” Jordan could have been a reporter or someone willing to sell this conversation to the media. Tyler’s honesty was openly refreshing but, to Jordan’s mind, a little naïve. Beneath Tyler’s fingers the wrist cuff refused to be buckled into place. Jordan reached over and took hold of his wrist. “That’s giving you grief, let me do it.” A slight, yet highly noticeable, tremor ran through Tyler’s arm to his hand. Even though Jordan’s eyes remained on the job, in his peripheral vision he could see gold eyes staring into his. When the task had been accomplished he kept his hand around Tyler’s wrist and peered up, taking full advantage of the lingering gaze. “Tight enough?” Amber eyes blinked out of their daze. “Excuse me?” Jordan smirked, holding onto Tyler’s hand a little more firmly. “Have I done it up tight enough?” “Oh! Yes! Thank you, Jordan.” The first time Tyler spoke his name and Jordan felt a swarm of butterflies fly loose inside his stomach. Bec wouldn’t get her fantasies of ending up in Curtis’ room fulfilled. Now he aimed toward an invitation. He hadn’t had time to comprehend the dramatic switch in

his feelings. Within seconds changing from hating everything Curtis stood for to dreaming of waking up beside the man; hating the lurid sneers plastering Bec’s walls and now wanting those lips against his. Tyler said he was looking at Jordan not Bec. It could have been faux pas and nothing more. However, Jordan believed Tyler’s sexual preference could be as dubious as his reputation. Tyler’s mobile rang and he snatched it off the table with a jerk. “Hello?” His listened, intermittently glancing up at Jordan and then away. “So… umm… the hall’s been blocked off for the next ten minutes?” Pulling the phone from his ear in reaction to the yelling he received for that simple question, Tyler lowered his face in obvious embarrassment while Jordan frowned. When the yelling stopped he put the phone to his ear again. “I have to leave now?” Even Jordan winced at a screamed ‘yes’. “So I …” From the other end the call had been severed. Tyler sheepishly put the phone away. “He hung up on me. My manager. Apparently they’ve sealed the hall and turned off the security cameras for ten minutes so I can go to my room.” Jordan flushed with crashing disappointment. Tyler stood, stepped away from the table, and shifted from one foot to the other. “Frank must’ve hooked up with a groupie. Come to think of it, it’s probably why he made me sit in here. She’s probably already in his room.” “It better not be my sister he’s with!” “Oh! I hope not, too! I don’t think so. He tends to only hook up with blondes.” When Tyler began walking he did it in a way inviting Jordan to walk along beside him. “Umm… if they’ve blocked the hall you won’t be able to get to the ballroom yet.” Jordan shrugged, his heart sinking deeper the closer they neared to the room exit. “I’m not going back to the party.” Tyler halted at the door. “Where are you going to go?” If Jordan let the opportunity pass he would never see Tyler again unless it were on Bec’s walls or a CD cover. He had nothing to lose and possibly a whole lot to gain.

“Not sure. Pity you have to go to your room. I was enjoying your company.” Nervous fingers toyed with black laces. “You were?” “I was. I still am.” “Do you feel like pizza?” A huge, relieved smile split across Jordan’s face. “Funnily enough, I do!”

Chapter Five A family of royal descent couldn’t have asked for better accommodation. From where Jordan stood he saw the massive master bedroom on his right with a king sized mahogany bed. Straight ahead another huge room housed a grand piano and enough musical instruments to deck out an orchestra. Antiques filled the place with luxury. “Have a seat, Jordan. I’m vegetarian, but if you don’t want vegetarian pizza we’ll order two”. Tyler kicked off his shoes. “Or we can do half and half. It’s up to you.” He began removing jewelry, setting it onto the generous coffee table, never once stopping the nervous chatter. “I’ll get you a drink in a second. I don’t have alcohol, I don’t drink, but if you want an alcoholic drink I can order it.” Another shattered myth, the apparently drunken Tyler Curtis was teetotaler. Tyler unzipped the jacket and began working on the belt. “What ever you have, Tyler, I don’t drink either.” He pulled the belt through his pants and tossed it onto an armchair. Only then did he seem to realize standing in front of Jordan removing these items might appear suggestive. He lifted a hand to rosy cheeks. “I’m not… I’m just… the belt digs into me! I’ll get you a drink.” He scuttled off to organize drinks and Jordan hid a laugh and a mutter. “Get it all off, honey, feel free!” Tyler came back with two glasses, handing one to Jordan. He put his own on the coffee table, and reached for the phone. He dialed and spoke with an easygoing friendliness. “Hello! This is Tyler Curtis speaking, how are you?” He listened and nodded. “Good, good! Can I order… oh… hang on a sec please.” He smothered the phone against his chest. “Are we having a whole vegetarian, two separate pizzas, or the half-half?” “Vegetarian’s fine with me.” Tyler nodded and returned to the phone. “Sorry about that. Can I order a large vegetarian pizza please?” He sat on the arm of the sofa, swinging his right leg back and forth. “That’s okay, thank you.” He stood, placed the phone down, hesitated, and sat on a plush cushion on the floor. “Fifteen minutes.” Jordan nodded, smiled, and swept his eyes around the room. “One hell of a suite you’ve got here!” “Wait until you see the bedroom!”

Jordan bit back the smirk and Tyler blushed beet red. He rolled his eyes and rushed to explain. “I mean… if you use the bathroom you’d see the bedroom on the way unless you used the other bathroom, which probably would make more sense.” The blush blazed back. Every bit of intuition told Jordan that Tyler Curtis wasn’t a womanizer at all, however, Tyler’s shyness made it difficult to judge with accuracy. Jordan’s brain ticked over to find the best way to solve the puzzle. Keep Tyler saying things before he had a chance to censor them, throw in a few subtle physical gestures, and gauge it from there. Putting the first maneuver into action, Jordan left the sofa and sat on the floor. Far enough to keep a distance and close enough to act on a go ahead if one was given. Tyler bent his legs, hugged his knees, and pointed to his sock clad feet. “Don’t worry, my feet don’t stink. It’s kind of unnatural really. You could stick your nose into any of my shoes and they don’t smell.” A strange conversation starter but one Jordan took advantage of. Grabbing Tyler’s ankle, he lifted the foot to his nose and succeeded in gaining a bunch of giggles when he took a deep sniff. Jordan tilted the corners of his mouth down and lowered Tyler’s foot. “You’re right, that is unnatural. Do you want to smell my feet?” A rapid shake of Tyler’s head partnered with his laughter. “Thank you, but no!” “A wise choice! By the way, do you want some money toward the pizza?” Just because Tyler topped the list as the one of the world’s richest celebrities, Jordan still didn’t think it was right if he didn’t offer. “Yeah, if you don’t mind, room service is so expensive here.” He reached for his jacket pocket and Tyler broke into giggles. “No! I’m kidding! It’s on me.” A quick wink accompanied a sly grin. “But thank you for asking. I appreciate it.” Instead of tentative nervousness Tyler had relaxed considerably, engaging in conversation readily. “So, Jordan, apart from being incredibly well-mannered and having smelly feet, tell me about yourself.” Shuffling forward even closer, Jordan noted Tyler didn’t retreat in the slightest. “Well, my mother’s English, father’s Australian, and Bec and I have dual citizenship. I’m a country boy, born and raised on a wheat farm. I wasn’t cut out to be a farmer. Fourteen months ago Bec and I decided to come here for a few years. Six months ago Dad sold the

farm, retired early, and they moved here as well. I’m a web designer. I work for a large company, do a lot of solo work and am planning to start my own full time business in the near future. I’m taking annual leave at the moment, so is Bec. I live in London but I’d prefer somewhere quieter. Uh… I’m single, six foot two, no sign of balding and my hair is naturally this shade of bewitching light brown. I won’t tell you how much I weigh, but trust me when I say it’s all muscle!” Tyler laughed softly, resting his chin on his knee and hugging his calves. Jordan wasn’t certain how much personal detail he could ask for or even if Tyler were willing to reveal anything at all. Aside from wanting clarification regarding Tyler’s sexuality, Jordan also wanted to know why he portrayed such a divergent image to the public when in reality Tyler was charming, friendly, and shy. “Your turn, Tyler.” “Everyone knows about me.” “Not the real you they don’t. That’s who I want to know about.” Tyler’s head tilted to the side with an appreciative smile. “Okay. I spend a lot of my spare time writing music.” “How come you don’t record it?” He didn’t know as much as Bec did, but everyone knew Curtis didn’t use his own material. “I’m not allowed. One day I hope to and I’d like to write for other artists. I’m working on a symphony. I can’t dedicate as much time to it as I’d like to so I’ve been writing it for about eighteen months here and there. It’s almost done.” Jordan couldn’t disguise his astonishment. “A symphony? You write orchestral music? That’s incredible! Did you have, I don’t know, lessons or something? ” “Not lessons in writing music specifically. My poor Dad spent most of his pay on music and dance lessons for me, ballet and tap mainly. I’m classically trained in a few areas. Vocally my ambition was opera. From that I progressed to writing.” Momentarily speechless, Jordan finally shook his head rapidly and laughed. “Who are you? Classically trained opera singer? Writing a symphony? Ballet dancer? Tap dancer? Those instruments in that room over there, you play them all?” Tyler’s modesty when he spoke only increased Jordan’s bewilderment. “Yes. I learned things when I was very young and very quickly.” “I’m pretty sure they call that a child prodigy!”

The subject obviously made Tyler uncomfortable and that only made Jordan more astounded. Not a soul could doubt, or would dare doubt, Tyler Curtis as a singer or performer. It seemed he hid a plethora of talent yet to be exposed to the world. Many already hailed him as the greatest vocalist of all time, not only because of the strength of his voice when he sang, but also because of his incredible range. He was known for his ability to sing hard, gritty rock songs that sounded as though he’d gargled gravel, then to change into a smooth treacle-like tenor for the softer rock ballads. His soaring falsetto always stole listeners’ breath from their lungs. As a dancer he made everyone around him seem like an amateur. Tyler shrugged and veered the topic onto something else. “Australian citizen and UK resident. I’m based here. I’d like to buy a house and I’d like it to be in a village where I can walk around and people won’t jump out with cameras. Maybe with some land. I love horses. I love all animals. I was born and raised in Victoria. I don’t have any brothers or sisters. I don’t have any sign of balding either but my hair isn’t naturally this bewitching shade of blue black. It’s dyed, but naturally dark brown. I have no idea how much I weigh. I’m single, five foot six and three quarters. I read somewhere you don’t stop growing until you’re twenty-one so I’m hoping I can crack the five foot seven mark!” He returned Jordan’s wide smile. “In your video clips you look a lot taller.” “The camera does lie! All tricks of the trade. When they advertise for dancers the small print says ‘Only midgets need apply’! In press conferences the chair I sit on is higher than everyone else’s. I sat on the bar stool with the photo’s down stairs because it makes me look taller. I never walk beside Frank in front of paparazzi, he walks ahead and I follow a distance behind. Everyone thinks he walks ahead to clear the way; the truth is he walks ahead to keep the illusion in photos. He only brought me out tonight to whip up the crowd into paying for a photo and then got rid of me as quickly as possible.” With every moment spent in Tyler’s company, Jordan dreaded saying good-bye. The pizza arrived and an hour was spent chatting and laughing. Time flew by in a whirlwind. He didn’t want to leave without knowing he could see Tyler again and without finding out if those perfectly formed lips tasted as good as they looked. “You must be glad the tour’s over. Are you heading somewhere else?” “The tour’s not over until tomorrow night, there’s another show. Frank wanted to keep it hush-hush to cash in on ticket hysteria and publicity. It’s a live TV broadcast and recording for a CD. Next Saturday there’s a charity concert, like Live Aid in nineteen eighty-five. I’m doing two numbers. I also have a clip to make and record the next album. I’ll be in London for the next six months at least. I live at this hotel.” “Do you get to rest?” “Rest? Ah, no!” Bitterness saturated Tyler’s reply.

“I thought you never did charity performances.” “I would. I’d love to but I’m not allowed. As far as I can work out someone’s paid Frank to get me there. Which defeats the charity side of things. Where I perform and what I do, it’s got nothing to do with me. No-one knows I’m performing yet, they’re announcing it during the show tomorrow. Publicity, that’s all Frank’s interested in. That and money. Things I don’t normally do, he’s suddenly lining me up to do them. The photo’s downstairs, directly into Frank’s pocket. I’m not allowed to sign autographs because on the website signed CD’s are for sale for two hundred pounds.” Jordan’s jaw fell open. Tyler nodded, his eyes wide. “It’s insane! Again, that money goes to Frank. He gives me a pile of CD’s to sit here for hours signing and then takes the profits. He thinks I’m too stupid to figure out he’s taking payoffs. I’ve never done a one on one interview before. On Monday I’m doing a three-minute live interview. I know it doesn’t sound long but when all you can do is sneer and grunt it’s going to feel like a lifetime! Weird things are happening. Weirder than normal.” Lifting his hand, Tyler reached over and traced his finger along the lapel of Jordan’s jacket, succeeding in sending Jordan’s hormones through the high suite roof. “I like your jacket. Do you think Bec would be wondering where you are?” Jordan strategically placed his hand in his lap to hide how turned on that one small gesture made him. “She’s too busy waiting for you to wonder about me. Before I ran into you downstairs she sent me a text and said if she got her hands on whoever you were with she’d rip their eyes out!” “You’d better go then, or you’ll go blind.” The comment was said with a flick of Tyler’s eyebrow. Jordan’s blood pressure skyrocketed; he was sure it was flirty quip backed up with equally flirty facial expressions. “I might live dangerously if that’s alright with you.” “I’m already living dangerously. I’m not allowed to invite anyone to my room. I never have before. I’m breaking all the rules.” The flames in the fireplace reflected in Tyler’s eyes and turned them to shimmering gold. A moment of opportunity, one Jordan was sure he could have leaned over and kissed Tyler in, but he hesitated enough to see it lost. Tyler dropped his gaze and stood. “Would you like a coffee?”

It was close to two-thirty and even though Jordan didn’t want to leave, he did feel guilty. Surely Tyler must be exhausted. “Yeah, thanks, I’d love one. I’m not keeping you awake, am I?” Tyler answered with a playful kick to Jordan’s leg. “Yes, you are! No, you’re not really. I managed to sleep most of the day.” He stopped and pointed to a shelf beside the television. “If you want to turn the TV off and put some music on instead, have a look through there for a CD. Back in a moment.” The intense rush of feelings Jordan had initially felt bubbled away with an absolute need to make himself a permanent feature. He’d missed the moment and was furious for not acting on it. He smacked himself in the forehead and flipped through CDs. Finding a classical one, he removed it with the hope it might tinge the atmosphere with romance so he could regain the lost opportunity. Tyler returned with coffee, put the mugs on the coffee table, and took the CD Jordan had chosen. “Beethoven, my favorite composure. You can always hear his frustration and anger in almost every piece he wrote. Even when the music starts off gently it’s like he got to the middle or the end and thought, damn everything to hell!” There went Jordan’s fantasies of Tyler falling for the orchestral romance. The smell of Tyler’s aftershave wafted like an enchanting Voodoo love potion. Still pictures in magazines, or the staged and acted video clips, all failed to highlight the nuances of Tyler’s face and body language. Tiny habits Jordan picked up throughout the night breathed life into Tyler’s expressions. The way his tongue pressed behind his front teeth with a scrunch of his nose when he admitted something he thought embarrassing. The way his left eyebrow rose upward every now and then with a flirtatious flick. The way his thumb stroked the rim of his coffee mug, totally innocent and highly sensual. All these things no-one had seen and were thirstily absorbed by someone who only hours ago had despised Tyler. Striking three, the clock on the mantel became Jordan’s enemy. Tyler put his coffee mug aside, stifled a yawn, and stood. “Excuse me for a second, I need to go to the bathroom.” “Sure.” Bec believed she’d won the competition because it was her destiny to meet Tyler Curtis. Jordan believed she’d won because it was his destiny. As unprecedented as it all was, Jordan’s dream boy, who apparently didn’t exist, had been leering from Bec’s walls for over two years. Walking from the bedroom, Tyler forewent his previous sitting position and sat on the sofa instead. Jordan didn’t know if he’d chosen it deliberately to create distance between them, or if he’d chosen it for comfort. Therefore, he also didn’t know if he should make a move to the sofa, or obey what might have been a signal for him to back off. Even worse,

it could have been a cue the evening was nearing its end. If the latter were the case, as much as Jordan didn’t want to go, he didn’t want to outstay his welcome. He cleared his throat and met amber eyes. “You must be getting tired.” Tyler shrugged and gave a small smile. “I’m not exactly sleepy yet.” He’d given Tyler the opportunity to end the night and it had been discarded. He wandered to the sofa and sat down leaving a space between them. Copying Tyler’s earlier move, Jordan turned and stretched his arm across the back of the sofa. Considering the quickly evaporating hours, he decided to throw in as many flirtatious come-ons as he could and pray Tyler took the bait on one of them. “Your eyes aren’t contact lenses, are they?” “No. They’re just naturally creepy! I inherited them from Dad.” “They’re not creepy, they’re the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen.” Suddenly the atmosphere in the room heated. “They don’t photograph true. In pictures they look all amber, but they’re really three colors. Gold around the pupil, then amber, and then they have a fine circle of brown around the edge.” Jordan lifted his hand and beckoned Tyler over with his index finger. “Let me have a closer look.’ Going his knees, Tyler moved forward. When Jordan took a gentle hold of his chin and leaned in to study his eyes, Tyler’s cheeks were scarlet. For several drawn out moments Jordan peered deeply without saying a word. When he finally did speak, his hand remained where it was. “You forgot to mention the green. Which, might I add, makes them more beautiful.” “There’s green, too?” “Tiny flecks of emerald in the gold.” “I didn’t know that.” Jordan matched the drop in Tyler’s voice. “Now you do.” Tyler’s increased breathing picked up even more. “I’ve always liked blue eyes. Your eyes are so blue they’re like sapphires.”

There wasn’t going to be a riper opportunity. Jordan let go of Tyler’s chin, took a deep breath, and dared to ask the question he’d pondered all night. “What are my chances of seeing you again after tonight?” Tyler twisted his mouth to the side. “You owe me a pizza. I’d say your chances are very high.” A broad smile lit up Jordan’s face and then faded somewhat with his next question. “So there’s no misunderstanding, you do realize I’m extremely attracted to you, don’t you?” “Yes.” No matter how red Tyler’s cheeks lit up, he didn’t move away or try to end the conversation. “Are you straight and only looking for friendship? Or are you secretly gay and attracted to me. too?” Tyler covered his face with a stifled scream of frustration and a confused shake of his head. One foot dropped to the floor and stamped hard on the carpet. Gritting his teeth together, and feeling he’d pushed the boundaries, Jordan attempted to placate the situation. “I’m not going to push you, Tyler. If you want to get to know me a little more before you tell me personal details then…” Another foot stamp and Tyler replied through his hands. “Oh God, Jordan! I don’t… I have to be…” He dropped his hands, staring at the ceiling as though requesting divine intervention. “Yes! Yes… okay… there I’ve said it! I am! You’re right! I’m gay! I am very, very, absolutely and completely gay!” Round amber eyes found Jordan’s amused blue eyes and Tyler’s ranting continued. “I wouldn’t know one end of a girl from another! I’m a ballet dancing, tap dancer who can play the harp and likes to bake things! Cakes, and cookies, and… well… I just love baking!” Jordan dug deep to keep from breaking into laughter. “In that armoire over there…” Tyler pointed with a shaking index finger and Jordan obligingly looked over. “…I keep all my craft stuff! I make things! All sorts of things! I’ve always made things! Because I’ve always been gay!” Taking Tyler’s hand from where it was suspended in the air, Jordan kissed the back of his fingers with a wry smirk. “Billions of females might be shattered, but I couldn’t be happier!” Now the wheels were in motion, Jordan was teasingly confident with where he put his hands and completely aware of how Tyler responded. Curtis’ eyes grew wider by the

second, his breathing strained, and his voice taut. Jordan’s fingers ran over Tyler’s jaw, to the collar of his shirt, and beneath the fabric to the first button. From there his hand followed the curve of Tyler’s shoulder, down his arm to his hand. Jordan lifted it to his lips and kissed the inside of Tyler’s wrist. From his wrist he kissed Tyler’s palm. “I won’t tell a soul.” Amber eyes almost fell from their sockets. “You can’t, Jordan! You can’t because I’ll get in so much trouble!” Pushing Tyler’s sleeve up, Jordan kissed the inside of his arm to his elbow. “I won’t.” Leaving that arm and moving onto the other, Jordan pushed the sleeve up and began kissing again. “Jordan? There’s something else I need to say, too.” Jordan’s reply was muffled against skin. “Hmm?” “I don’t… I’m not… you and me, we can’t… I don’t sleep around! We’re not going to… you know… do it! I know I have a bad reputation, but it’s not true! I’m sorry if I gave you that impression but…” Jordan was sure that if Tyler shook any more he’d fall off the edge of the sofa. Most of his fractured words had been spoken in the famous falsetto and there could be no doubting his very real anxiety. Anxiety rapidly switching to panic; even Tyler’s lightly olive complexion paled. Jordan slipped his hand behind Tyler’s neck and searched worried gold eyes. “Shh, Tyler. Relax, honey! You haven’t given me the impression you’re easy and I certainly don’t expect you to have sex with me. Plenty of time for that later. I swear to you, I will not make you do anything you don’t want to do. Okay?” An unconvinced looking nod came back as the reply. “You promise?” “I promise.” Jordan coaxed Tyler backward with a hand on his chest. Tyler complied tensely. When Jordan lifted the black shirt and kissed between his chest and stomach, Tyler’s hands flew to his face. “Oh!” One hand left his eyes and grabbed a handful of Jordan’s sleeve when the next kiss was placed under Tyler’s navel and near the waistband of his black pants. “Jordan! What are you doing down there?”

“Do you want me to stop?” “Yes!” He stopped immediately and Tyler had a swift change of mind. “I mean, no! I don’t know what I mean!” “Sweetie, my hands, lips, and tongue will not venture past your waist.” With his left hand Tyler fanned his face. “Oh! That sounded rather… saucy!” He ceased fanning; his hands hung blindly in mid-air, and then he took hold of Jordan’s upper arms. “Oh! Goodness me! It’s all muscle, isn’t it?” Jordan lowered himself further until their faces were centimeters apart. “You’re adorable, Tyler. Breathtakingly beautiful and absolutely adorable.” Tyler’s fingers dug into Jordan’s biceps. “I think you’d better hurry up and kiss me, Jordan!”

Chapter Six From the moment their mouths met, Jordan was swamped with light-headedness, taken off guard with the potency of his emotions. When Tyler parted his lips the tips of their tongues touched and Jordan felt shot full of adrenalin. His plans for a soft, gentle first kiss flew to the wayside. Tyler reacted with as much frantic enthusiasm and all his prior nervousness evaporated. One hand clamped behind Jordan’s head and Tyler’s left arm tightened around Jordan’s torso. Those perfectly plump lips were silky smooth and the inside of Tyler’s mouth tasted as good as the rest of him looked. Heavy breathing went with tongues frantically delving to kiss more deeply while sporadically venturing over each other’s necks or accessible skin near shirt collars. Jordan fought to keep his promise of no wandering hands below the waist while trying to reposition himself in a way that wouldn’t leave Tyler’s small frame suffocated beneath him. He maneuvered Tyler and himself until they lay on their sides facing one another; the movement slowed their hectic kissing enough to alter the momentum. Fervor died down to slow and sensual. Tyler’s clamped hand eased off the pressure and his fingers combed through Jordan’s hair in serene strokes. It was a change of pace not dulling the adrenalin charge but switching it to a whole other level. Minutes of bottomless, unhurried kisses and caressing fingers ensued. An unfamiliar trembling sensation intoxicated Jordan’s body and soul, the same tremble from Tyler added to his euphoria. The move of Tyler’s fingers under Jordan’s shirt fired up a rapid counter action. From the bare skin of Tyler’s lower back, Jordan’s hand traveled over his firm rear. He disengaged from the kiss to whisper hoarsely, “My hand okay there?” Tyler replied with a quick, husky, “uh-huh” and reinitiated the kiss. Jordan followed the curve of Tyler’s body to his thigh where Jordan’s fingers snuck only barely between the back of his legs. Tyler responded with a decisively push on Jordan’s shoulder making him lie on his back while at the same time Tyler swung his left leg over to straddle Jordan. Despite the dominance of the new position, Tyler promptly eased off and lowered his face to begin the slow, sensual kisses where they’d left off. His arms and bent knees kept his body suspended, moving his lips away every so often to concentrate on Jordan’ s neck and then stopping to allow the same access to himself. A highly erogenous zone under Tyler’s ear had been successfully located early on and Jordan already knew exactly where to go to incite sighs. Tyler’s head lolled away, forcing Jordan’s lips to disengage, and he stopped everything to meet Jordan’s gaze. There were no words, just intense amber eyes peering into blue eyes for several drawn out moments until Tyler lowered his body completely onto Jordan’s, his mouth meeting Jordan’s. Not once had Tyler’s hands ventured anywhere suggesting the twenty minutes of making out on the sofa could be stepped up to sex. Although it was plainly obvious as soon as Tyler lay on top of him that Tyler was as turned on as Jordan. If the go ahead were to be given, Jordan’s personal rule of no sex with someone you’ve just met would have been broken in an instant. Jordan’s hands

wandered down Tyler’s spine, over his rock hard rear end, to his legs, and back again while Tyler’s hand took advantage of the bare skin made available by Jordan’s bunched shirt. They were lost in the discovery of each other, their kisses sweeter and more arousing than Jordan had ever experienced. Inside the pocket of Jordan’s discarded jacket, his mobile shrieked and Tyler startled so much he almost joined the jackets on the floor. Jordan tightened his arm around Tyler’s waist, placed his hand on the side of Tyler’s face, and turned it away from the intrusion and back to himself. “Ignore it! She’ll call back!” “Maybe you should…” Silenced before he could finish his sentence, Tyler soon forgot the ringing phone and his attention returned to kissing. The phone stopped ringing. With its silence Tyler reclaimed his position lying on top of Jordan until it shrilled again and once more shattered the moment. Unwilling to let go under any circumstance, Jordan took a hold of the front of Tyler’s black shirt. “For the love of God, please ignore it!” Tyler smiled, easing away and climbing off Jordan to retrieve the mobile phone. Jordan’s covered his eyes with a groan. “I’ll kill her!” He sat up and took the phone that was held out to him. Jordan ended the call with an order for her to catch a cab and gave her no time to reply. Jordan rolled his eyes and shook his head in annoyance. “Apparently everyone’s leaving the party, but she’s not quite ready to give up on you coming back for her. Typical redhead.” Tyler’s chin rested on his knee. “She sounds determined.” “Understatement!” Tossing the mobile onto and armchair, Jordan peered first up at the clock on the wall and then down again to where Tyler sat. “You look really tired. Maybe I should go and let you sleep.” “Do you want to go?” He sat down on the arm of the sofa. “I’d rather stay with you.”

“Is it okay if we sleep out here on the chaise?” A strange request, however Jordan wasn’t going to argue with where they slept as long as Tyler slept along side him. “It’s just… well, it’s silly really! Last night I spilt orange juice on my bed. It went right through the mattress and it’s still wet.”

*** The fire crackled and Jordan watched the flames, lying on the generously wide chaise with Tyler’s head resting on his chest, listening to his voice through the dark. The more he heard the more he realized the life of the world’s most celebrated celebrity was far from glamorous. He saw only the tip of a very large iceberg. “I don’t know which way to move or even if I can move. As far as Frank’s concerned Tyler Curtis belongs to him and I’m nothing but an idiot. In Frank’s eyes he’s the success behind Curtis and I’ve had nothing to do with it.” “That’s crazy!” Something Jordan noticed, which he hadn’t previously, was Tyler referred to Curtis in the third person, as though he were a complete other entity. “He doesn’t see it like that. It’s all going to end soon, Jordan, that’s what Frank can’t see. I love what I do, I love entertaining people, I love singing, I love dancing, I love music, and it’s what I know. I don’t want Curtis to bring me down with him but that’s what’s going to happen. Frank keeps making him nastier and more disagreeable. Curtis has gone from just being rude to a complete sociopath. It kills me to be mean to people. I have no choice. All I want Frank to see is that by toning him down a few thousand pegs he’ll appeal to an even wider audience. I’m tied to this contract for another three years but, Curtis won’t be around that long. Curtis will have me in a grave within twelve months if we keep doing things Frank’s way. When he falls off his pedestal, that’s it for me. I’ll never be able do anything because I’ll be typecast forever. The goth/rock image, it’s good, it works. The nasty streak, it’s not working any more. It did to begin with because it got people talking and even bad publicity can be good publicity. But now he’s so damn nasty, nastier than ever, and people are getting sick of it. CD’s are selling, shows are selling, and all that kind of thing, but the entertainment industry’s fickle. One day Curtis is going to say something, or a report will say he said something, and it’s all going to fall apart in Frank’s hands. There’s bad taste and then there’s appalling. Curtis is appalling. Instead of pushing fans and media away, why not invite them in? That’s all I’m trying to get Frank to see.”

Why Tyler’s manager refused to acknowledge the sense of that was beyond Jordan. Then again, when he recalled Frank dismissing Tyler off the stage with a condescending flick of his hand, the guy didn’t come across as a man who’d listen to anyone other than himself: a money hungry manager with no concern for anything but his bank balance, selling outrageously priced signed CD’s and using Tyler as nothing more than a prop on the platform to siphon money for photographs. “Frank pushes me around, yells at me, calls me names, makes me sit in a hotel room by myself and I’m not even allowed to talk to anyone in case they realize Curtis is only a character I play.” Tyler repositioned himself with his arms crossed over Jordan’s chest and the index finger of Tyler’s left hand ran along Jordan’s jaw, over his mouth, and then settled on his chin. Every small gesture and movement he made sent Jordan’s heart racing. “Something’s got to give, Jordan. I can’t handle it anymore. I was the idiot who signed the contract. I trusted Frank and made a huge mistake. If Dad had still been alive he never would’ve let me sign it. I’ve always been too trusting and naïve. Dad died in a car accident three months before my eighteenth birthday. It was only Dad and me. Nanna, Dad’s mum, died when I was twelve. Mum left when I was eight.” Jordan kissed the top of his head. Tyler was certainly hemmed in and Jordan wracked his brain for a suggestion to see him clear of it all. It was the first he’d heard of his father dying and his mother’s desertion. “Sorry Jordan, I’m rambling on.” “No your not.” Tyler sighed, hesitated, and then continued. “I was missing Dad so much. I still miss him terribly. The day I turned eighteen, Frank gave me the contract to sign and, I swear to God, from the second I put the pen down he turned on me. I didn’t read it! I took him at his word and he’s right, only a moron would’ve done that.” Jordan’s hand shifted from the back of Tyler’s head and pressed against his cheek. “He took advantage of you when you couldn’t have been more vulnerable. If you could talk to a lawyer, surely it could be proved that at that time of your life you weren’t able to make a major legal decisions. He screwed you over royally.” “I know it sounds pathetic but the truth is he scares me.” Jordan swept a stray lock of hair from Tyler’s temple, watching the cat-like eyes watching him. “I want to leave this hotel and go out somewhere. I want to be me for a change. It’s all Curtis all the time! I feel like I haven’t even existed since I turned eighteen. Like when I

signed that contract I signed my life away. What am I saying? I did sign my life away. I’m sick of living a lie. I want normal! I want friends. A boyfriend. Normal things!” Snaring a ripe opportunity, Jordan lifted his eyebrows skyward and smirked. “I’m more than willing to help you out with the boyfriend dilemma.” Distress turned to laughter and reddened, flushed cheeks. “You want to be my boyfriend?” “Hell yes!” Smiling coyly , Tyler replied. “I want to be your boyfriend, too.” Wide grins rolled over into mouths stealing kisses through the smiles. Tyler eased away only long enough to speak, keeping his lips lightly against Jordan’s lips. “Can I ask you a favor?” “You can ask me anything you want.” “Can you call me by my real name? It’s Alec.” Jordan kissed the lips still resting against his. “I like that even better. So it’s Alec Curtis?” “Tyler.” A small crease springing between Jordan’s brow prompted a soft giggle from Alec. Another quick kiss followed before he explained. “My full name’s Alec Tyler.” “Ahh! I have a suggestion Alec Tyler.” “Oh?” “Before I suggest it, I want to make another suggestion.” “It’s late, don’t confuse me!” He patted Alec on the rear. “I won’t. I want to suggest we always have conversations with our lips touching.” Alec threw his head back in laughter and Jordan tugged at the front of his shirt. “Hey! Get those lips back here!”

He stifled his laugher and placed his lips against Jordan’s. “Better?” “Much! My suggestion is about your problem with Frank. You said he never does anything without a payoff. He’s not going to get a payoff if he sues you.” Alec took his lips off Jordan’s mouth and leaned away a little to listen clearly. “If he wins, which I doubt he would, he’d get a settlement, but where does that leave him after? He wants to make sure Curtis makes him money for another three years. It’s not like he can find someone else to play the part. I don’t know Frank like you do, but if he is that selfish, he’s going to opt for self-preservation. Self-preservation means hanging onto you. What if you went out there and did the show your way? He can’t run out on stage and stop you, can he? Perfect opportunity, Alec, it’s a live broadcast. If you dig your heels in deeper, baby, you’ll win the battle. Everything Frank has is tied up in Tyler Curtis and Tyler Curtis can’t survive without you.” *** Sleeping soundly the entire night until after midday, Alec woke feeling more rested and peaceful than he had in a very long time. Telling Alec he needed to duck out for half an hour, Jordan left before Alec finished his morning coffee and showered. Knowing Frank always took girls to his room with the promise of meeting Tyler Curtis in exchange for sex, he knew Frank wouldn’t appear at his suite until late afternoon at the earliest. Jordan had Alec’s room card. Easier and safer than accidentally opening the door and finding out Frank had for some reason broken his habit. He pulled on his runners and gave himself a quick once over in the mirror. He was dressed in denim jeans, a pale green shirt, casual jacket, with his black hair combed off his face. Wandering out of the bathroom, Alec noticed Jordan sitting casually on the sofa, watching television. He hurried into the lounge, wrapping his arms around Jordan’s neck from behind. “Hello!” His image reflected in a massive antique mirror. “Wow, don’t you look cute!” Jordan stood, walked around, and slipped his arms under Alec’s jacket. “I’m only a goth boy in public.” Jordan pulled him close and the kiss was deep and slow. Goose bumps prickled his skin and Alec ran his hands up and down the nape of Jordan’s neck. When the kiss ended Jordan shook his head and sighed. “Damn, if kissing you was any better it’d have to be illegal!”

Alec’s hand left the back of Jordan’s neck and moved across the rough stubble on Jordan’s face. He bent his fingers and they traveled up to Jordan’s cheekbone. “I couldn’t grow facial hair if I tried. Mine’s all patchy.” “When you grow up you’ll be able to.” He giggled and slapped Jordan’s arm. “Shut up! A thought crossed my mind while I was in the shower.” “What thought was that?” Jordan headed for the kitchen with Alec at his side. “I probably should know how old my boyfriend is.” “Haven’t I told you?” “No.” He answered with a laugh. “Twenty-seven. Twenty-eight on the fifteenth of June. Not too old for you?” “No! Twenty-seven’s my favorite number.” “When’s your birthday?” “Christmas eve. What’s your middle name?” “Anthony. Yours?” “I don’t have one. Plain old Alec Tyler. Favorite number?” “Four.” “Favorite color?” “Purple.” “Mine too!” Jordan reached for two mugs from the cupboard. “Where did you go?”

Jordan placed the mugs on the bench and turned to the fridge. “I had to go tell my other boyfriend I wouldn’t be there ‘til later.” Taking the milk from the shelf, he turned back to the bench. Alec jabbed him the arm with his index finger. “Cheating on me already?” “No baby! I’m cheating on him!” Alec’s tongue snuck out from between his teeth and he scrunched his nose. “Where did you have to go?” “You’re persistent, aren’t you?” “Yes!” Jordan put two teaspoons of sugar into one mug. “I suppose you’d better go and have a look on your piano.” Not another word needed to be said. Alec took off toward the music room at a run. He stopped still for a moment, and then laughed with excitement before running out from the music room with his hands over his mouth. When he neared the kitchen his hands clamped around Jordan’s neck, and he took a leap like an agile cat, wrapping his legs around Jordan’s waist. “Oh! Jordan! Thank you!” His lips pressed hard against Jordan’s lips. “They’re beautiful! I’ve never gotten roses before! I’ve never gotten any flowers before!” “I’ve never given roses before!” Alec scrambled down. “I’ll put them in water!” He took off at a run again toward the music room, leaving Jordan standing alone and chuckling quietly. With the roses safely in a vase of water, Jordan bustled around making breakfast and Alec sat at the dining table with the morning newspaper. He opened the paper to the crossword and gnawed on the end of a pen. He filled in answers and stopped only when Jordan appeared with a tray. Alec widened his eyes. “Roses and breakfast? I’m being spoiled!” Jordan sat in a chair next to him and shrugged. “No one butters toast quite like I do, honey.”

Over the Sunday crossword they ate breakfast and filled in answers until the entire puzzle had been completed. The last of the coffee disappeared from Alec’s mug and he placed it down on the table. His posture altered from relaxed to tense. “What’s wrong?” Alec peered sideways into questioning blue eyes, rested his chin in his hand, and shrugged with a heavy sigh. “I need your advice. You know how I told you Mum left when I was eight?” Jordan nodded. “Yeah.” “Last week she emailed me. She’s emailed me four times.” “What did she say?” “You can read them. I printed them out.” *** When Alec left the table, Jordan moved from there into the lounge room and sat down on the chaise. Twelve years with no contact and suddenly four emails in a week, to Jordan it reeked. Alec returned with the emails and handed them over. Email number one told a predictable story of regret and wishes that things could have been different, going on to say how proud she was of her son and how she’d watched every moment of his career from the start. How she was deeply sorry over Seth Tyler’s death and had wanted to be at Alec’s side but refrained, thinking Alec would dismiss her efforts. Email two reinforced email one. Email three spoke of dreams to be reunited with Alec and how she’d never stopped loving him. Email four pressed this so-called love and reunion more forcefully. Each one was signed ‘love Mum’. “How did she get your email address?” “Not from me.” “Have you replied?” “No.” It was a delicate situation and Jordan knew it. “I don’t know, it seems questionable to me.” Retrieving the emails, Alec kept his gaze on them while he replied. “Seems questionable to me, too.”

Jordan’s hand ran from Alec’s neck, down his spine, and rested just below the waistband of his jeans. “Do you think she’s going to hit you for money?” “Yes. All she’d know of me as an adult is what she’s seen of Curtis. Why would she attempt to contact me with sweet-talking if she thought I’d grown up to be a sociopath? It doesn’t add up. No-one would think Curtis could be won over with sweet-talk.” He took the pages from Alec’s hand. “Exactly. Sounds to me like she’s talking to Alec Tyler, which begs the question, how does she know Tyler Curtis isn’t real?”

Chapter Seven From the hall, the sound of the television filtered through and filled the lower level of the terrace house. Jordan placed his keys and wallet on the kitchen table, took a can of coke from the fridge, and walked into the lounge room. Flat out on the sofa, Bec wore pajamas, her feet clad in huge pink bunny slippers. She raised an auburn eyebrow and smirked. “It’s nearly four o’clock.” Jordan sat down and cracked the can open. “When did you learn how to tell time? I see you’re dressed for the day.” She watched him gulp several mouthfuls, a wide grin plastered on her face. “Did you get laid?” She rolled onto her side and watched Jordan while he watched the television. “Did you hear there’s another Curtis show tonight?” Bringing the topic back to Tyler Curtis was the only way he could think to get her to drop the subject. It worked like a treat and she sat up with her legs crossed in front of her. Sleeping in until after midday, it seemed Bec had missed the announcement and the slim chance of tickets that had sold out in less than five minutes. The only savior for her disappointment being the live broadcast, something Curtis had never done before. Reaching for her coffee mug on the table she nodded and pointed a painted pink fingernail at her brother. “Yes! And I don’t care what you say I’m watching it.” “Did you shag him?” She picked up a cushion and threw it. He caught it and let it slip to the floor. “If I did I’d be telling you about it! Don’t hold out, did you get laid?” No matter how many times he shifted the topic, he knew she’d return to it. “I spent an incredible evening with a gorgeous guy. That’s all you need to know.” Her hands went to her face and her green eyes widened. The ponytail at the back of head exploded like a red storm cloud. “Oh, my God! I don’t believe it! Did you actually find a boy worthy of you?” Furball leapt onto his lap, pleased his favorite human was home. Jordan had no time to reply, cut off by his mobile sounding in his jacket pocket. He glanced at the screen, at Bec, and then answered the call. “Hey there!” When Alec replied his voice was playfully stern. “I’ve just discovered something and I’m wondering if you noticed it before you left.”

Knowing exactly what Alec referred to, Jordan dropped his face and laughed. “If I said no would you believe me?” “No! I looked in the mirror and nearly died!” Bec watched her brother with curiosity. “I’m going to be on live TV with a hicky the size of Wembley!” “I got carried away. Tell you what, honey, feel free to get me back for it tonight.” Bec’s jaw almost bounced off her knees. Never had Jordan ever referred to anyone by a term of endearment. Matched up with the casual way he spoke, the look on his face, and the easy laughter, she could obviously tell whoever he’d hooked up with had made an impact no other guy had managed to do. The cool, aloof, and many times blatantly rude, way Jordan spoke to people he didn’t know, or guys trying to capture his attention, had vanished while speaking to the mystery man. The phone call ended some ten minutes later with Jordan saying something quietly so she wouldn’t overhear. He hoisted Furball under his arm and stood. “I’m going to get changed.” She leapt out in front of him with arms extended. “No you don’t! Details! I want details! Who are you calling ‘honey’? You don’t call guys ‘honey’! For fuck sake, they’re lucky if you bother calling them at all!” He sidestepped and started up the stairs. She had hold of a handful of his jacket, being dragged up the steps like a pajama clad plough. “His name’s Alec.” Half way up the stairs and she lunged onto his back with her arms around his neck. Furball was dislodged from Jordan’s grasp and he took off down the stairs. “Holy shit! You remember his name? This is serious!” He piggy-backed her, unwillingly, into his room where she finally leg go but didn’t stop the interrogation. “Older or younger?” “Younger.” “Brunette or blonde?”

Going through his wardrobe, he took out clean clothes and pointed to the door. “Brunette. Get out, I’m getting changed.” She flopped onto the bed. “Good looking?” “Stunning. Get out, I’m getting changed!” She reclined on the bed and pillows. “Does he know you’re a bastard who never buys boys presents ‘cos you don’t wanna waste your money on ‘em unless they’re perfect?” “He doesn’t think I’m a bastard, he is perfect, and he liked the two dozen roses I bought him.” She flew into a sitting position. “Holy fuck! Two dozen roses? He must be one hellavu lay!” “I wouldn’t know.” “You didn’t shag him? You spent the night and didn’t get laid? That’s not normal, Jordy. Something’s wrong with him. Something’s wrong with you!” He pulled out clothes from a wardrobe with his back turned. “Not everyone has sex within hours of meeting.” “Normal people do! Did you at least kiss him?” Clothes in his arms, he turned around and smirked. “A lot. We did the Sunday crossword together, too.” Crawling over the bed, she got onto her knees and stared into her brother’s face. “Oh, my God! Have you finally found a little birdie to invite into your nest?” Knowing she wasn’t going to leave his room, he made for the door and the bathroom. “Yes. I have.” *** Frank eyed Alec engaging in warm up stretches on the far side of the dressing room. Outside buzzed a collection of press wanting to catch a glimpse of the young singer, desperate for an exclusive before he walked on stage. Four gigantic strides and Frank made up the distance, taking Alec roughly by the arm and shoving him into the nearest chair. He swiped boots from the floor and dropped them at Alec’s feet. “Ten minutes, put the fucking boots back on, moron!”

Frank’s constant belittling took its toll in a damaging way. Nothing was ever good enough and never a kind word spoken. Over two years of recording and performing had left Alec exhausted physically and emotionally. “This is live so don’t you dare fuck it up! People will see everything as it happens.” Alec pulled a boot on and mumbled. “I know what live means.” “Shock me shitless!” His small, squinty eyes narrowed. He grabbed Alec’s chin with a huge fat hand and jerked his head to the side. “What the fuck is that?” Rehearsing an alibi, Alec kept his voice as casual as anxiety would allow. “Oh, I had a seizure. I, ahh, must’ve hit the table and it bruised.” Frank’s mouth tilted down at the corners. To Frank it sounded more credible than believing an interlude with a guy had taken place. “Remind me to thank the table. That’ll have the media talking.” Alec held his hand out palm up. “Tablets?” Rather than risk Tyler Curtis somehow being caught with epilepsy medication on him, it was always in Frank’s possession outside the hotel and always in an unmarked plastic bottle in Alec’s room. Frank dove his hand into his pocket, pulled out one pill, and handed it over. Alec’s hand remained palm out. “Where’s the other one?” “Must’ve fallen out.” Alec’s hand suspended in mid-air. “I need two! One isn’t enough!” Grunting a nonchalant reply, Frank checked his overweight and sagging appearance in the mirror, straightening his jacket and smoothing down what was left of his hair. “They don’t work anymore anyway! You’re having fucking fits all the time. I swear to God, if you have one on stage tonight…” “I’m not having them deliberately!” Frank reached for the door and snarled in response. “Drop the fucking attitude, dickhead!” ***

Popcorn, drinks, and everything else needed for two hours of Tyler Curtis, surrounded Bec on the carpet. When Jordan settled beside her she cackled with disbelief. “Oh, my God! This Alex is welcome to shag you anytime if it makes you this cool! When am I going to meet him?” He dove his hand into the popcorn. “Alec with a ‘C’. I haven’t shagged him. He’s not a slut like you.” “I’m not a slut, Jordy. I prefer to refer to myself as sexually amicable.” His mobile rang and he frowned with surprise at Alec’s name on the screen. He was due on stage in less than five minutes. “Hey baby, what’s wrong?” “Can’t talk long. You’re right. What you said last night, you were right. Watch this. I’ll call you after the show, gotta go.” He hung up without Jordan having a chance to say another word. The intro rolled. Pictures of Alec flashed on the television and Jordan’s heart leapt into his mouth. Snippets of video clips accompanied a voice over. Jordan listened as intently as his groupie sister. ‘Get ready for the show of the century! Three albums, each stealing the top spot on the charts and an amazing fifteen number one singles. For two years the music industry has been dominated by one name and one name only. Tyler Curtis. Unstoppable, incredible, insolent, and pure entertainment.’ Jordan nudged Bec in the elbow. “He’s had fifteen number one singles in two years?” Her arm looped through his. “Pretty amazing, hey? Practically every song on each CD was number one.” “That’s unbelievable! Christ, no wonder he’s exhausted!” As soon as he said it, he reached for a handful of popcorn and prayed Bec let it slide. “How do you know Tyler’s exhausted?” He spoke through the popcorn and shrugged. “Anyone would be. Shh, it’s about to start.” Within moments of Alec stepping onto the stage his rebelliousness was immediate and strikingly noticeable. During the opening number of previous shows he’d leered down the camera and yelled, ‘You’ve all got tickets to the best fucking performance you’ll see in your lifetime! I’m Tyler Curtis and you have every fucking reason to worship me!’ During the opening number of this show he yelled, ‘Good evening and thank you for

coming tonight! I’m Tyler Curtis, this is going out live so please have a great time!’ Sealed with a wide smile and a wink at the camera. Every audience member cheered a warm welcome from a star who was always rude and obnoxious. Bec’s mouth fell open and her grip on Jordan’s arm tightened. “Jordy, he smiled! Did you see that? Oh, my God! What a beautiful smile!” Jordan’s voice was low and with a grin he replied, “Way to go, Tyler” Green eyes studied him closely. “I think you’re on love drugs.” When her gaze returned to the screen, she screamed and slammed her hand on the carpet, catching the edge of the bowl and tipping popcorn over the floor. “Oh, my God! No! No, no, no! One of those bitches gave him a hicky!” Jordan tilted his head to the side. “It’s a good one. Shows real craftsmanship.” “Shut up, Jordan! Fucking bitch! I should’ve been giving him a love bite!” When Alec broke into song the camera zoomed onto those world famous golden eyes and then zoomed out and into a side shot. Jordan gazed and sighed. “Damn, he’s got a gorgeous profile.” A piece of popcorn flicked from Bec’s fingers and struck him in the temple. “What is up with you? Since when have you said Tyler has a gorgeous anything?” She didn’t wait for an answer and turned her eyes onto the television with a sigh. “Look at those lips. I bet that bitch got to kiss those.” “Over and over again.” “Shut up, Jordan!” *** Other than certain lyrics, every swear word had been deleted from the repertoire. After three numbers, Alec roamed to the foot of the stage. He didn’t shout; he spoke at normal level. For the first time the audience was confronted by a smiling Tyler Curtis walking up and down the foot of the stage, addressing them all, peering into the cameras with not a sneer to be seen. There was a distinct separation between the performance of his numbers and his crowd interaction with no reference to sex, drugs, or alcohol at any time. Whether Frank approved or not, the thousands watching did.

Midway through the show, Alec ambled to the foot of the stage. He took a small white towel from a stagehand and wiped his face. With that done he stared at ‘TC’ embroidered in black on the corner. He held it up to the camera. “I’ve never noticed that before! It’s got my initials on it. Makes me feel important, like I’m famous or something!” On stage Alec ruled, obviously in his element; he had absolute control yet lacked confidence one on one. Members of the press exchanged glances and bewildered expressions. The crowd whooped and cheered. Alec’s attention left the camera and went to the front row of screaming fans. “What are you all waving your arms in the air for?” The white hand towel had suddenly become hot property. He held it up. “You want this?” The crowd cheered and nodded. “Why? It’s covered in my sweat.” They cheered even louder. Alec sighed into the microphone and walked closer to the edge of the stage. “I’m not going to throw it out to you lot because, if I do, you’ll misbehave and climb over each other like unruly brats!” Disappointment visibly washed over the closest rows. Alec held the towel behind his back and responded teasingly. “Aww, that Tyler Curtis is such a big meanie!” He ambled further left of the stage. “I’m not mean, I just believe in fair trade.” A girl sat in the front row with a bottle of water in her hand. Alec stopped in front of her and smiled. “Hi!” Excitement visibly washed over her and she waved her hand frantically. “I was wondering if I could interest you in a sweaty towel in exchange for a sip of your water?” Her head nodded as frantically as her hand had waved. The crowds were off their seats and screaming.

“Yes? You’d better walk over, love, I can’t reach that far.” She wandered over on obviously shaky legs. Alec crouched down to take the bottle. “A man would have to be a camel up here! Thanks. Here, have a sweaty towel. What’s your name?” He strained to hear over the whooping crowd. “Jenny?” She shook her head and repeated while Alec took several large gulps of water. “Penny?” This time she nodded with a beaming smile. “Ahh! A penny for your thoughts, Penny!” Her smile remained unchanging. Alec nudged her with the arm that held the bottle. “How many times have you heard that and wanted to smack them in the head?” Alec let her speak a few words of reply into the microphone and then took it away from her mouth mid-sentence. “That was a rhetorical question, I’m really not interested in what you have to say.” Penny’s face fell amid oohs and ahs from the audience. Alec bit down on his bottom lip, laughed, and put his hand on Penny’s shoulder. “I’m kidding, love! I don’t even know what ‘rhetorical’ means!” The audience, and Penny, broke into laughter once again. He handed the bottle back to her and she dared to ask for a kiss. The crowd bellowed for him to oblige. Alec leaned over a little closer. “Don’t slip the tongue in, you don’t know where I’ve been!” He puckered up, Penny puckered up, and the quick kiss almost tore the house down. Toward the end of the show the lights went up over the crowd and Alec stood at the foot of the stage chatting again. “Everyone having a good time?” People cheered, feet stomped, and hands applauded. “Excellent! So am I! The TV network is probably saying, ‘For God sake, Tyler, shut up we’re twenty minutes over.’ Too bad! We’re having fun, aren’t we?”

Wembley stadium shook to its core. “See? I can string two words together. They may not make sense but you know, baby steps. I’m pretty, not bright!” Alec had them eating out of the palm of his hand. Press feverishly took notes, laughing along with everyone else and desperate to find out why Tyler Curtis had turned into a charmer. “While I have your undivided attention I’d like to make mention of the charity show this coming Saturday. The people in TV land would already know but I’d like share with you personally that I will be there.” A thunderous round of applause showed the audience’s appreciation for the stunning revelation. “We all know it’s for a fantastic cause and all the money raised will go to underprivileged kids. There are approximately one hundred thousand of you here tonight and if each of you donate only one pound that will add up to…” He stopped with an expression of deep painful thought, counting on his fingers while audience members cheered and laughed. Alec frowned, shook his head, and waved a hand at the camera. “Anyway, it’d add up to a lot of money! If everybody watching this telecast donates only one pound or one dollar… well… I’m not even going to try and calculate that! Do me a favor, if anyone is thinking of paying two hundred pounds for an outrageously overpriced signed CD on my website, don’t! Donate the money instead and I’d be far happier.” Four numbers followed, including the encore, and when Alec said his final goodnight the stadium tilted off its foundations. The show ran thirty minutes over but not a soul wanted it to end. Screaming for more as Alec exited the stage. A bottle of water was thrust into his hand; he was rushed through a maze of people and bodyguards. Frank took hold of his elbow and guided him into the dressing room. The door closed quietly behind them. “Have a seat, Alec.” Doing as he was told, and unnerved with Frank’s calm, Alec sat down and stared at his hands. Frank lowered his bulky frame into the chair opposite. “There’s a lot press outside. It’ll take a little longer to get you to the car.” More than simply calm, Frank’s tone was eerie. “Interesting show you put on tonight.”

Alec kept silent. He knew Frank too well. “Alec? I’m talking to you and I’d appreciate it if you looked at me.” Alec raised his eyes first and then his face. Frank responded, a simpering smile on his face. “What to do, what to do, what to do with you!” The words were said slowly, as though Alec couldn’t understand them at normal pace. “You put me in such a predicament. There’s not much point in trying to explain things to you because I truly don’t believe you’re capable of understanding. Have you fried one too many brain cells?” An emotional boy with a severe lack of personal self-confidence, Frank knew precisely how to wound him the deepest. He tapped a fat finger between Alec’s eyes. “Had one too many fits?” When he laughed his sagging jowls puckered. His right arm left his side so quickly Alec didn’t see the strike coming. A brutal, stinging slap that, due to the size of Frank’s massive hands, connected with Alec’s jaw, cheek, and temple, knocking him off the chair with enough force to send him crashing into a nearby table, sending everything on it to ground with him. Frank towered over him. “Fuck me over like that again I’ll smack you so hard you’ll cough up blood!” Alec’s emotional state teetered precariously, ready to snap like a worn elastic band. He hadn’t realized what he’d truly done on stage. He’d metaphorically taken a gun to Tyler Curtis’ head and blown his brains out in front of the entire world. Killing his alter ego stone dead and, by doing so, raised his own arms in the air as an entertainer who ran rings around someone all thought couldn’t be challenged. Alec’s Tyler Curtis had been born and reigned supreme. In the days to come the new Curtis would win hearts and win respect, even from those who never believed respect could be gained from them. By the end of the week he’d leave them shell-shocked, heartbroken, and crying in the streets.

Chapter Eight When the door opened, Alec stood with remnants of Tyler Curtis clinging to his casual attire. His hair was spiked from the night’s performance and the silver jewelry in his ears hadn’t been removed. Jordan closed the door behind him, bent down and gave Alec a kiss. “Frank went ballistic! Yelling at me since we left the venue. I didn’t think he was going to leave before you got here. That’s why I look like this, I jumped in the shower and didn’t have time to change properly.” Jordan ran his fingers down his face and Alec let his eyes close in response. “Go sit by the fire and relax. I’ll make us coffee.” Alec retreated to the fireplace, stopping beside the sofa to take off the cushions which he scattered over the floor . Having Jordan near had a peaceful effect on the tension building over two and a half years, able to quell the fast spinning whirlpool of stress, if only for a while. Jordan reappeared with two cups of coffee, handed one over and then sat amongst the scattered cushions. Alec held the mug in both hands and stared at the liquid inside. “If the only time we can see each other is here, you’re going to get sick of it and leave. I’m going stir crazy!” With his mother walking out when he was a child, and the sudden death of his father, t Alec harbored strong abandonment issues. “Baby, no-one can spend two years confined to hotel rooms and see nothing else but the inside of a limo, a stage, a recording studio, and expect to keep it together.” Alec’s hand hovered nervously around his face. “I signed a contract. I don’t know what to do.” Jordan held his hand out palm up and Alec placed his hand into it. “It’s not a bona fide contract, sweetie. Frank might’ve convinced you it is, it’s not. No one can keep someone hidden away and deny them basic human rights. That’s what he’s done to you. You couldn’t ask for help because he’s made sure you had no one to ask.” Alec’s hand tense inside Jordan’s fingers. “But it is my fault, Jordan, I didn’t read it.” “Is that what he keeps telling you?” Alec’s hand rested in Jordan’s while his eyes skittered from one place to the next.

“Honey, it’s not true! Fifteen singles and three albums in two and a bit years? That’s insanity! No one can keep up with that. Come to my place. We’ll figure out what to do about Bec. You can’t stay locked up in this hotel room.” Jordan took Alec’s hand away from his eyes and kissed his fingers. “You were incredible tonight. You went out there and you took control and you brought the house down. That took a whole lot of guts. Frank’s screwed now. People want to see more of you because that’s who was entertaining them tonight. No way they’ll settle for what they’ve seen before.” Jordan tugged on his hand until he moved over and into Jordan’s arms. Immediately the tension drained from his body like water ebbing off a coastline. The world saw the indomitable Curtis phenomenon. Jordan saw agonized burnout. “Tomorrow, after you’ve done the interview, come to my place with me. Frank can go to hell. You can lie around the house, watch TV soaps, eat properly, sleep properly, do nothing other than relax.” “I don’t want to intrude.” Jordan waited for Alec to lift his eyes before replying. “Intrude? Confession time, Alec. I haven’t stopped thinking about you. I can’t stop thinking about you. I don’t want to stop thinking about you!” Smiles went from one to the other. “At the risk of freaking you out, I’ve fallen head over heels in love with you.” Alec took a quick breath in. “You have?” “I have. Believe me, baby, I don’t fall easily. In fact, you’re the first.” Color flushed over Alec’s cheeks. “I’ve fallen in love with you, too.” *** The scattered cushions were used as they both lay down amongst them and watched a late night movie. During the course of half an hour of television watching, Alec’s fingers wandered from fiddling with the buttons on Jordan’s shirt to wandering further down and fiddling with the top button of his jeans. Jordan didn’t think Alec was at all aware of what he was doing or aware the results were plain to see should he turn away from the screen and look. Deciding Alec’s hands shouldn’t be the only ones roaming, Jordan’s arm left its spot around Alec’s shoulders and his fingers caressed Alec’s lower back just above the waistband. This quickly resulted in attention leaving the television. Once abandoned, the movie was forgotten completely. Slow, sensual kissing rapidly changed to Alec being repositioned onto his back and Jordan taking control on top. With Alec’s hand disappearing further under the fabric of Jordan’s shirt, Jordan went for the same action and the warmth of skin under his fingertips was met with enthusiasm. Alec’s leg wrapped around Jordan’s thighs with enough force behind the action to make sure Jordan pushed closer against his pelvis. Gym workouts had given Jordan a muscular

body. Years of dancing meant Alec was slim, toned to perfection, and with enough strength in his legs Jordan was certain he could crack a coconut between his knees. The longer they made out, hands beneath shirts and pelvises pressed together, the closer Jordan got to the point of no return. His mouth traveled away from Alec’s mouth to the erogenous zone beneath Alec’s ear. There was a quiet sigh of appreciation partnered up with Alec’s fingers tracing down Jordan’s spine and slipping beneath the waistband of his jeans. Jordan took his lips away from Alec’s neck and managed a hoarse whisper. “Okay, baby, where are we going with this?” “I’m so, so hot!” His laughter was muffled in the crook of Alec’s neck. “You sure are!” “No! I mean, it’s really hot in here!” “Do you want to stop?” Even as he said the words, Jordan found Alec’s mouth and began a slow, deep kiss he hoped would tip the scales in favor of stepping it up a notch or three. When he eased away, Alec’s fingers were knotted in his hair, breathing picked up to panting. “Umm… Jordan?” Alec’s hand continued clutching Jordan’s hair. “I… umm…I’ll do my best but… ahh… I haven’t done this before.” If Alec had smacked him between the eyes with a boulder it couldn’t have come as more of a shock. “You’re a virgin?” Wide golden eyes latched onto Jordan’s dark blue eyes. “Sorry. Yes.” Suddenly Alec’s nervous panic of the night before made a lot more sense. “Wow! Okay! That’s a doozey! Really? You’re a virgin?” Alec nodded sheepishly. “Yes.” Caught between being more turned on than he could ever remember and fighting laughter at Alec’s wide-eyed virginal innocence, Jordan tried to figure out the best way to deal with news he hadn’t expected in the slightest. He whispered into Alec’s ear. “What do you feel comfortable doing?” Alec fanned his face with his right hand. “I don’t know! What do you think?”

Jordan envisioned a running commentary of questions and requests for instructions. “I think we should hold off on going all the way. We can do other things though.” Nodding, shaking his head, then shrugging, Alec replied breathlessly. “Like what?” Jordan’s eyes narrowed. “Okay, when you say you’re a virgin are we talking ‘a virgin virgin’, or are we talking ‘just never had sex virgin’?” “Virgin virgin. I’ve never done anything before. Nothing. Only last night with you. But, you know, we didn’t touch down there bits last night.” Unable to control his laughter at not only the comment but also Alec’s deadly serious expression, Jordan’s shoulders shook and he buried his face deep in a cushion. He felt Alec tapping a finger between his shoulders. “Jordan! Stop laughing at me!” Gathering enough discipline to reply, he lifted himself up high enough to gaze into Alec’s bright gold eyes. “I’m not laughing at you, honey, I’m laughing at the ‘down there bits’ description!” He brushed away a lock of jet-black hair from those thick, brush like eyelashes. “Well…” He kissed Alec’s lips and smirked. “Do you want me to give you your first blowjob?” The flaming flush of scarlet across Alec’s cheeks took up the entire top half of his face and he fanned faster. “Oh! Goodness me no! I’m not sure I’m ready for that kind of behavior” “Behavior? Sweetheart, a second ago you were willing to go all the way!” “Yes… but… oh God, I don’t know what I’m doing! Jordan, what am I doing?” Jordan weighed up whether he should stop what was going on altogether and sit Alec down for a sex education talk. He couldn’t do anything but laugh. “What if we do this?” He kept his gaze pinned onto amber eyes and put his hand between Alec’s legs. While he massaged slowly those amber eyes flickered up to the ceiling and Alec’s fingers dug into Jordan’s back. “Ohhh! I think… that’ll be fine! What do I do with yours?” “Just do to me what you do to yourself.” Alec replied with confusion. “What have I done to myself?” There were a few seconds of silence.

“Have you ever masturbated?” “Oh! That… yeah… yeah… of course! Who hasn’t?” A forced, high-pitched laugh preceded a look of embarrassment. “I haven’t. I don’t… touch myself… like that. Kind of… yucky.” Jordan wanted to ask if Alec was joking, but knew instantly he wasn’t. How he’d reached the age of twenty without any kind of sexual experimentation Jordan couldn’t fathom. Tyler Curtis saturated everything with sexual innuendo and yet Alec truly had no experience whatsoever. “Have you ever had an orgasm?” Mortified, Alec looked away. “Well… apparently.” Jordan’s throat burnt with holding back laughter. “Would you like to have one while you’re awake?” Alec’s complexion looked as red as if he’d spent a week sunning under the hole in the ozone layer. “Can you stop what you’re doing down there for a second? I can’t think properly!” Jordan stopped though kept his hand where it was. “Thank you. I’m sorry. This is all new to me. You get me all worked up but I don’t know what I’m doing!” “You did alright last night, baby!” Alec grabbed a handful of Jordan’s sleeve. “Yes, but that’s what I mean! You make me all hot and bothered and I want to do things I haven’t done before. Last night I knew we weren’t going to… you know… touch those places. I wasn’t worried about what to do with your… you know. Or worried about what you were going to do to… next thing I know I’m on top of you and I was…” Unable to resist, Jordan winked. “Heated, hard, and horny?” He received a slap to his arm and that flaming red color flamed even brighter. “Jordan! I wouldn’t have put it quite like that!” Letting go of Jordan’s sleeve, Alec covered his eyes. “Yeah okay, I was.” Covered eyes were uncovered and Jordan’s laughter met with another slap. “Jordan, please, stop laughing at me.” Alec’s expression was clouded with flustered naivety and Jordan stopped abruptly.

“I know I’m a prude, I admit it! I’ve never had a boyfriend before and I’ve never looked at dirty pictures or dirty movies.” His complete innocence was etched entirely over his face and Jordan’s prior amusement turned to increased adoration. Together with Alec’s honesty in trying to explain it all, Jordan only fell more deeply for Alec. “It’s not that I don’t want to do these things, Jordan, I do. With you I do. But I really truly don’t know how it’s done. I mean, yes, I know how it’s done but not how to do it properly. You think I’m a loser, don’t you?” Jordan kissed Alec’s lips and shook his head. “No, I think you’re gorgeous. Do you trust me?” Alec nodded without a word. With every button Jordan undid on Alec’s jeans, the wider those amber eyes grew. His hand disappeared under the waistband and Alec almost ripped the handful of hair from Jordan’s head. “Oh! Oh… God!” Jordan winced. “Sweetie, let go of my hair!” Alec released his grip and both his hands went straight to Jordan’s top in a frantic effort to get it over his head and off. Jordan helped in his quest with more muffled laughter. “I’m guessing you want to keep going?” Alec’s panted reply came out so bossy Jordan thought he was going to collapse and not recover. “Put your hand back where it was!” “You mean here?” “Ahh… yeah! Do I wait or can we do this at the same time?” The heat in the room doubled in a microsecond. “We can do it at the same time.” “You’ll have to move. I’m left handed.” He shifted enough for Alec to move his arm and when his hand took up residence under the waistband of his pants, Jordan emitted a quiet groan.

Alec ignored it and spoke again. “Oh! Jordan! Goodness me!” Jordan went back to an erogenous zone and whispered in Alec’s ear. “You’re doing wonders for my ego!” “Am I’m doing it right?” After a few endeavors to speak, Jordan nodded. “Yeah. Yeah… that’s… very good. You’re a quick learner!” If there was a record for how many words one person could speak during any sexual encounter, Jordan knew Alec would win it easily. Everything said was interrupted with bursts of heavy breathing and moaning, but it didn’t seem to be enough to shut him up completely and his continual requests for guidance became increasingly difficult for Jordan to reply to the defter Alec became with his left hand. Alec used his right hand to run his fingers through Jordan’s hair and Alec braved the groaning with another question. “Oh! I think I’m going to pass out! What happens if I pass out?” Jordan grunted a whisper in his ear. “You’re not going to pass out.” Alec squeaked a reply. “No, I really think I am! I feel all… hot!” “That’s normal. Relax and enjoy it.” Jordan smothered the questions with another kiss until the panting reached the point where neither of them could keep their mouths together. Jordan buried his face in Alec’s neck and the fingernails of Alec’s free hand dug into Jordan’s back. “Oooh! Jordan! What’s happening now?” Jordan forced out a strangled reply. “You’re about to come, baby, go with it.” He barely got the words out and Alec’s back arced, his head bent back, a loud guttural groan sounding, followed by Jordan’s a split second after. With Jordan lying on top of him, and his arms wrapped around Jordan’s neck, Alec stared up at the ceiling while they both let their pulse and breathing slow. Alec’s eyes left the ceiling to watch the flames in the fireplace, and he cleared his throat quietly. “Is it normally that quick?” Jordan laughed into Alec’s neck, his shoulders shaking. He planted a series of small kisses beside Alec’s ear and then lifted high enough to look him in the eye. “That’s what’s known as being so turned on you lose your stamina!”

“Oh!” Jordan bowed his head and their lips pressed together. “I love you, Alec Tyler.” “I love you too, Jordan Anthony Braxton!” From lying in front of the fireplace they retreated to the bedroom an hour after their comical sexual interlude. Jordan spooned against Alec’s back and Alec peered into the darkness. Twenty minutes elapsed before he broke the hush with a whisper. “Are you asleep?” Jordan’s arm tightened and his hand found Alec’s hand beneath the covers. “No.” “I’ve got a brother.” Sitting bolt upright, Jordan reached over Alec and went for the lamp. It lit the room with a hazy, pale light. Enough to highlight the multitude of mixed emotions drenching Alec’s expression. “She emailed you again?” “I checked before I left for the venue. He’s twelve.” He sat up against the pillows, hugged his knees, and rested his brow on his wrist. “His name’s Jamie. Now what do I do?” Jordan’s mind quickly calculated. “Twelve? That means she…” “Yeah. She was pregnant when she left. Only she didn’t know until a couple of months later. He’s my full brother. It changes everything. I can ignore her but I can’t ignore my brother. He’s Dad’s son!” The stench of extortion loomed thick even though Leanne Tyler hadn’t mentioned money. Telling Alec he had a brother screamed emotional blackmail in its purest form. It also set forth another series of questions. Did this brother even exist? Leanne hit Alec exactly in the place she knew he’d crumble. How did she know his weak spots when Curtis had none? If indeed Jamie did exist, Alec was correct, it changed everything. He had a right to know his brother and his brother had a right to know him. “Did you reply?” “No. I wanted to talk to you first. It gets worse. Apparently Jamie knows I’m his brother. She said he looks like me. He didn’t know about me until Curtis. That’s when he realized and asked her. She said she couldn’t deny it. His surname’s Tyler, he put two and two together. She said he brushes it off when people say he looks like me and hasn’t told

anyone the truth.” A muffled laugh sounded from behind Alec’s hand. “She said he wouldn’t try to contact me because he’s scared of me. Scared of Curtis.” “Did you print the email?” “Yes.” Jordan gave a quick nod and kissed Alec on the cheek. “Good. I think you should send her an email asking for her mobile number. Nothing else. Don’t put your name on it or anything. I know it’ll be bloody hard for you to talk to her on the phone, but the problem is she can print any email you send as easily as you’ve printed hers. If she does that, God only knows what she could do with them. You need to get her to send you a picture of Jamie with her. That’s the only way we’re going to know if he exists, if he does look like you, and if she does have a relationship with him and hasn’t buggered off and left him as well. As soon as we get the picture, we’ll take it from there.”

Chapter Nine

Lying on the sofa with the television on, Bec shouted the moment she heard Jordan walk in the door. “Oi! Love machine!” He threw his keys on the table with a wry smile and joined her in the lounge room. “Are you planning on spending the next three weeks in those pajamas?” Pointing to Jordan’s favorite armchair, she nodded. “I don’t have anyone to shag, so I guess so! When am I going to meet him?” He sat down and immediately Furball jumped up. “Later hopefully. I asked him to stay here for a few days.” How to break the news of Alec’s identity he hadn’t yet figured out. Bec shook her head slowly,her hand on her chest. “Oh, my God, this is really serious! You’ve never let a guy stay here. In fact, you never even tell them where you live.” “It’s very serious.” “Why might Alex the dream boy be staying with us a few days?” Used to his flippancy, it never stopped Bec from digging for information. “Alec, with a ‘C’ not an ‘X’. I asked him to.” “Whatever. Why?” “He’s tired, been working too hard, and needs a rest.” Ripping a tissue from a nearby box, she dapped at dry eyes. “Aren’t you the love sick puppy? What the hell is so great about this wonder boy? Did he do the incredible eat peanuts shit diamonds trick?” She sat up and reached for a bowl of chocolate covered almonds. Bec had a metabolism like a thoroughbred racehorse and never gained a pound. “Did you know there’s a live Tyler Curtis interview on today?” Mentioning Tyler Curtis always tilted her focus. “Fuck yeah! Why do you think I’m sitting here?” “Because you’re a lazy bitch. The interview isn’t for another two hours.” He realized he knew too much for someone who hated Curtis and hoped she wouldn’t notice. “Have you got a Tyler timetable in your wallet lately? Speaking of things in your wallet, you might wanna check the use by date on that condom before you do shag Alex the diamond shitting wonder boy. Or have you shagged him already?

“Alec. With a ‘C’.” She reached for a half empty box of chocolate chip cookies. “Whatever. How old is he?” “Twenty.” When she bit into a cookie, crumbs fell into her ample cleavage. She ignored it and cackled with laughter. “Twenty? What happened to ‘anyone under twenty-five is too immature for me’?” “I changed my mind.” She fluttered her eyelashes at him. “Is it love?” “Sure is.”

*** Alec intermittently gazed through the limousine’s dark tinted windows. The privacy screen separated Isaac from his passengers and Frank took full advantage with non-stop scolding. Through it all Alec’s mood remained aloof and coolly dismissive. Enough to turn Frank’s mood from antagonized to concerned. It showed a steely, frosty side to Alec he hadn’t seen before. Meeting Jordan ignited an inner strength and feeling of worthiness that had been stripped the day Alec had learned of his father’s death. Piece by piece he’d been taken apart until all he had left of himself was an unwanted soul hidden out of view. In Jordan he experienced safety, a feeling of awakening, he’d found a friend and a partner. The meltdown Alec steamed toward hadn’t eased; indeed, it had increased by the contact from his mother and news of a brother. Instead he’d found a crossroad and put his foot on the throttle in another direction. He’d existed in a pressure cooker. In forty-eight hours the temperature had risen. The squeezing compression was ready to implode and explode with an impact even Alec hadn’t foreseen. Frank escorted him from the limousine by the elbow, through a back entrance to another hotel, and toward a small room with two chairs, one female reporter, one cameraman, and a couple of network crew. Frank prepped Alec to say nothing, and if he did, to swear so much it would be censored. Until last night Frank had felt safe in his belief Alec would do exactly what he’d been told. Now he wasn’t confident. They stopped outside the door and Frank took a grip of Alec’s arm. “Don’t fuck me over! This is live.” “Stop accepting bribes for my appearance and you won’t have to worry.”

He shook Frank’s hand off and entered the room. A dark haired woman in her midthirties sat in a chair, nervously clutching a clipboard. Tyler Curtis, was not a star anyone wanted to cross. She watched him wander toward the chair, with his face down and hands jammed in his pockets. He sat down and raised his face, no expression on it. Not a word was spoken while a crew member counted down five seconds until filming began. “My name’s Taylor Mason. Tyler, thank you for the interview.” One leg crossed over the other and his ankle rested on his knee. “Your name’s Taylor?” She swallowed nervously under that piercing golden stare. “Yes.” “Taylor’s a bit close to Tyler, I might get confused.” He peered at the camera. “I can’t be beautiful and smart! Defies the laws of nature.” His eyes met with hers and she smirked. Frank stood in the doorway with his hands balled into fists. “Righto, Tyler, what are we talking about? I mean Taylor.” She’d probably worried about this moment all night and now it was going so much better than she’d imagined. “Your new single.” Alec’s fingers flicked a buckle on his boot open and closed. “Is that all?” Knowing exactly what the interview was supposed to be about, Alec wanted to divert the topic and leave Frank explaining why he hadn’t delivered the goods. “Your fans are eager to see the new video.” “With good reason, my clips are always spectacular.” The way he said it, with an empathetic nod, resulted in a wide grin from Taylor. “Except for the first two, they were crap and denied the public my lightness of foot.” From behind the camera came a stifled laugh. Alec casually swiveled back and forth on the chair and continued chatting. “Anyway, the video hasn’t even been shot yet and the single’s on the CD, so it’s not like people haven’t heard it. Hit me with another question, Taylor. Ask me something… oh, I don’t know… something to shock my boots off!”

Not one to back down from a challenge, Taylor tapped her pen on the clipboard. “Alright then, Mr Curtis. Who gave you that generous hicky?” Alec ceased swiveling and stared. He’d forgotten all about it until then. He lowered his face from her, bit his bottom lip, and laughed. Taylor joined in next, leaning over to regain eye contact. “Mr Curtis, are you blushing?” He shook his head rapidly and waved a hand at her. “No! No, I suffer from severe hypertension. Comes on in bouts. I can’t control it.” The crew and cameraman no longer hid their amusement. “You should try toothpaste.” He raised an eyebrow at her and looked her up and down. “Are you saying my breath’s bad?” “No! Toothpaste fades love bites.” “Speaking from experience, are you? Trying to make me look like a tramp when you’re a toothpaste wielding harlot!” The chattiness and laughter from Tyler Curtis was worth billions of new single interviews. Rather than end the friendly banter and bring the topic to anything else, Taylor kept the hilarity going. “You can’t wander on stage with a hicky like that and expect people not to notice.” “I’m Tyler Curtis, I can bloody well do what I want!” He leaned forward, his expression stern. “I must say, Taylor Mason, when I suggested a question to shock my boots off, I wasn’t expecting such a pornographic sleight on my character!” Tears of laughter glazed across her brown eyes and sniggers emerged from the crew. “I’d say a hicky would be a mild thing to discuss considering your reputation.” Alec sat back into the chair, looking highly offended. “See? There you go again!” He indicated a small amount with his thumb and index finger. “That’s how much respect you’re giving me!” He stopped, looked at his fingers, and made the space smaller. “No, hang on, that’s how much respect you’re giving me. And yet…” Alec held his hand out, palm up. “…I arrived here with an open heart and you’re driving a dagger through it!” Nothing about the way Tyler Curtis looked or spoke validated Taylor’s first impression he’d arrived for the interview high. His eyes were bright, his posture relaxed, and his

demeanor exactly replicating his friendly, easygoing attitude throughout the live show telecast. She took a tissue from under her sleeve and blotted the corners of her eyes. “Can I ask you about your performance last night then?” One perfectly arched black eyebrow rose. “Hmm, I see how this works. You think by asking me about me, I’m going to forget your sordid accusations in favor of talking about myself. You’re presuming I have an egotistical streak that can counteract my hurt feelings.” Making a pyramid with his hands and fingers, Alec pursed his lips while Taylor tried hard to quell the grin. “Well guess what, Miss Mason? You’re exactly right! I do!” Frank leaned into the doorframe with his hand over his face, obviously the only one in the room not amused. “The young girl you kissed has become a minor celebrity.” “Penny.” Obviously impressed, Taylor tilted her head to the side. “You remembered her name?” “Of course, I’m not a goldfish!” The playfully harsh expression turned to feigned melancholy. “Although, my goldfish didn’t have a three second memory. I think that’s a farce. An aquatic urban myth.” A chance to speak to Curtis about anything to do with his childhood or past was another opportunity she didn’t let slide. “What was this goldfish with the incredible memory’s name?” Alec let his eyes roam her face before replying. “Even though your question was a facetious one, he was named Andre.” She laughed, the crew laughed, and Frank sunk further into the doorframe. “What’s wrong with Andre? It’s a good name for a fish! We had very happy times together over the spring, summer, and autumn of that year until he passed away in the winter. I still harbor strong feelings of guilt in concerns to his demise.” On top of the out of character charm and humor, Taylor also noticed the smooth eloquence Tyler Curtis spoke with, despite making joking comments referring to a lack of intelligence. Eloquence she’d never before have given him credit for. It only fuelled the mystery. Daring to push the friendliness further, Taylor reached over and patted Alec’s knee.

“You shouldn’t feel guilty, goldfish have a habit of going belly up.” He held her hand. “No, I murdered him. Perhaps it wasn’t murder so much as manslaughter, or should I say, fish-slaughter. Do you mind me talking about it? I think it’s cathartic for me.” She attempted to emulate his seriousness. “Feel free.” “Thank you. As I said it was winter time, very cold, chilling in fact. I thought Andre might be cold too so I poured boiling water in his bowl.” Waiting for the laughter to die down, Alec shook his head and lifted a hand in the air. “Needless to say, Andre… well… he didn’t make it.” Picturing the poor, hapless goldfish boiled alive in his bowl, Taylor’s shoulders shook with giggles. “Kids can do some unfortunate things!” “I was nineteen.” Frank stood in the doorway, his hand signaling the end before the three minutes were up, making a slicing movement at his throat barely noticed by those in stitches. He took several steps inside, red in the face and furiously trying to end the interview. Taylor eventually glanced up and regained a little composure. “Your manager says we’re out of time already. Thank you very much Tyler, it’s been an absolute pleasure.” A wide smile settled over Alec’s face. “I’m sure it has. It’s the least I can do seeing as you…” He turned to the camera, pointed to the love bite on his neck, pointed at Taylor, and then winked. The camera stopped and was set down. Alec gave out a round of handshakes. Along with every other member of the press, Taylor wanted answers to why the foul tempered antisocial entertainer had turned into the boy next door in less than twenty-four hours. Why his ignorantly grunted replies to reporters, and fans alike, had been replaced with friendliness and wit. Too sudden a back flip to be a simple change of heart and every member of the paparazzi wanted the scoop. When Alec held his arms out, she peered questioningly at her crew before stepping forward for the offered hug. “Thank you, Taylor. That was fun.” She hugged him back with a bewildered shake of her head. “You’re very welcome. Did you really pour boiling water in Andre’s bowl?” Alec stepped away and nodded. “Sadly for Andre, yes! Killed him with kindness, but I wasn’t nineteen I was seven.”

Snatching his arm the moment he was within reach, Frank said nothing and shoved Alec down a corridor toward the conference room. They stopped outside the door, Frank let go of his arm, took hold of his jacket collar, and pushed him into the wall. “The only reason I’m not going to smack you in the mouth is because I don’t want you bleeding in front of cameras! I swear to almighty God, Alec! Get in there and shut the fuck up!” Frank’s hand flew from the jacket and wrapped around Alec’s throat. “I’ll throttle the fucking breath from your lungs if you dare screw this up!” Frank let go, opened the door, and Alec strode toward a long table. He sat down in his chair, clasped his hands together, and he spoke into the small microphone. “A very good afternoon to you all my paparazzi pals!” Frank sent a seething glare at him and sat in the chair beside him. A round of questioning looks from the press went with murmured replies and bemused smiles. Frank cleared his throat into his microphone. “If we can keep this short, Tyler has a busy schedule and photo shoot to get to.” Alec responded with a wide smile at Frank, which he then turned to the waiting press. “No I don’t. Frank’s lying.” Press broke into laughter and cameras flashed at the new smiling, affable Tyler Curtis. “Feel free to take as many photo’s as you want, I’m having a great hair day.” Frank sank his head into his hand. Reporters fired off questions at the same time. “One at a time please. Right, umm…” Alec swept his eyes over the group of reporters. “You sir, with the incredibly loud, but never the less, highly fashionable tie.” “Gavin Smyth. Tyler, there’s been a lot of gossip concerning your live telecast. The reviews have been your best yet. Is there a reason for the change?” “I haven’t seen the reviews. They’re good are they?” “Outstanding!” With his elbow he nudged Frank. “And you told me you thought I was shithouse!” The Press quickly noted the standoff, Tyler and Frank glaring one another down like a couple of cobras daring the other the strike first. Their association was as legendary as Tyler Curtis himself, and Frank Brooks always seemed to be the only one on the right side of Curtis’ temper. Now he seemed to be the only one on the wrong side of it.

Alec returned his attention to the reporter. “Anyway, Gavin, there comes a time when you have to say to yourself, ‘Tyler, you’re a dickhead!’” Alec planned to tone the image way down while keeping Tyler Curtis intact, to change forceful and licentious into light hearted and sassy. He’d still be a character Alec played but one he molded with his own hands. “Next question. Ahh, let’s see…” He blinked dramatically at a familiar face. “Hello Taylor Mason!” She raised her eyebrows. “Hello Tyler Curtis!” “Do you want to ask me another question seeing as Frank cut you off before?” He knew the Press could tell something had definitely turned sour between him and his manager. Press lapped it up. “I do! There’s a buzz over the fact you’re performing at Saturday’s live charity concert. Can we expect to see a recrudescence of the old Tyler Curtis?” Alec scratched his head with a frown. “Recrudescence? Don’t use big words, love, I only have an IQ of thirty.” The room broke into laughter. “What the hell does recrudescence mean?” She giggled and replied. “It means return.” “Oh! I was going to just say yes and then figured I could be agreeing to anything. Now I know what it means the answer is no. No recrudescence… ing. I’m tired of being a dickhead. In my humble opinion I think everyone else is tired of it, too.” From his peripheral vision Alec saw lines of sweat tracking down the sides of Frank’s face. The veins in his hands, neck, and forehead protruded and he knew Frank’s blood pressure surged dangerously high. Feeling a smug sense of power in reducing Frank to a seething nervous wreck, Alec let his index finger travel in the air to find the next reporter to pick from the crowd. He settled on a plump, serious looking man in a poorly cut suit. “You sir, what would you like to…” His words stopped dead and while Alec’s gold eyes remained on the reporter his head dipped slowly downward. The room fell quiet. There was a strangely bizarre moment in which he felt like a wind up toy in its last few seconds of life. Alec’s body tilted forward, his shoulders slumped, and at the same time his head snapped back, his eyes rolling skyward. His left hand made a misfired grab for Frank’s arm.

What was happening no one but Alec knew. Cameras flashed amid stunned silence. Frank left his chair, startled and staring. His failure to listen in the past left him ignorant to the aura symptoms Alec experienced before a seizure. Unable to find a bearing amid the swirling room around him, Alec lurched forward. The microphone on the table easily picked up the sound of rasped breathing and slurred words. “I have to leave.” In his panic to get clear of cameras, Alec pushed the chair out and attempted to stand. All of this happened within a few time-warped seconds. The distortion of his vision played havoc with his balance. Knowing he only had around thirty seconds to get clear of paparazzi, the more time elapsed the tighter the aura took its grip. Alec’s arms couldn’t support his weight, his hands slipped, the side of his face hit the table with a thump and sent a glass of water crashing to the ground. His body crumpled into the chair with his legs splayed to his right. Still completely consciously aware, Alec’s panic and fear turned into a horrific image of terrified desperation, disorientation, and frightened tears. *** Pushing through the statue-like onlookers, Taylor ran up the three steps on the edge of the platform and to Alec’s side. Somebody had to do something, yet no one did anything. Tyler lay across the table as though suddenly drunk while Frank retreated off the platform to leave his young star to it. Considering the awkward position Alec had crumpled into, Taylor stepped over his legs as she placed one arm around his waist and tried to get him clear of the chair. A dead weight despite his small stature, she barely moved him a millimeter. “Tyler? Can you hear me?” He replied with slurred words, intermixed with crying and she wasn’t able to piece his reply together. She shouted to no one in particular. “For God’s sake, someone help me get him on the floor!” Four men rushed onto the platform and within moments had Alec off the chair and lying on his side with a jacket rolled beneath his head for cushioning. She shouted next for someone to call an ambulance and only then did Frank jump into action with waving hands and yelling. “No! Nobody calls a fucking ambulance! Just get him out of here!” Alec emitted a stridor, a sound like soprano note when the inhaled breath pushed through a contracted larynx, and his body went rigid.

Taylor screamed toward Frank. “He needs help!” Horror encased the room when Alec began convulsing violently. Taylor shouted continually for Frank to step in until finally he ran forward, seized her arm, and yanked her from her crouched position at Alec’s side to her feet. He shoved his face into hers and snarled. “He doesn’t need a fucking ambulance, it’ll be over in a couple of minutes! For Christ sake shut up, it’s bad enough he did it here without you yelling like a fishwife!” Taylor shoved him away forcefully. “You arsehole!” Dropping to her knees she took up her position at Alec’s side again and rested her hand on his arm. Only one conclusion made sense and explained why Frank Brooks knew an ambulance didn’t need to be called. Infuriating her even more was his total dismissal of Tyler Curtis’ wellbeing, basically blaming him for daring to have a seizure, his concern only for the newspaper headlines. The seizure lasted around two minutes and then there was a heavy sigh and Alec relaxed. Frothy saliva escaped from his mouth and down his chin. Urine soaked through his pants onto the platform. Taylor kept her post, kneeling near his head and wiping his face with a tissue. It was the scoop of a lifetime and every reporter and photographer wanted the best story and the best pictures. Two burly security men barged forward, pushing Taylor aside in their attempt to get Alec away from press. One placed an arm under Alec’s legs, the other arm under his shoulders, and lifted him off the floor. Determined to stay with him, Taylor wouldn’t take no for an answer and followed while Frank remained behind. Brooks knew Alec would eventually have a seizure in front of people; it was an undeniable fight against the odds. He also knew how to explain it away when it did happen and stayed with press to put his plan into action.

Chapter Ten “Do you know what time it is over here?” “I don’t give a fuck, Leanne! Has he replied?” “I don’t make a habit of checking my email in the early hours of the morning.” “Check it now!” “Jesus Christ! Hang on.” “You still there?” “Course I’m still fucking here!” “Nope. Nothing.” “Shit! Maybe he hasn’t read it. I know him, he won’t resist contacting a brother.” “You can’t know him that well because apparently he has resisted. Can I go back to sleep now?” “Check later and as soon as he replies let me know.” “Sure. And by the way, I don’t live in a trailer park, I live in a government rental house, there’s a difference.” “You think? I’m surprised you even have a computer.” “Not as surprised as I am that you even know how to use one! Why all the panic?” “He had a fucking fit in front of press about two hours ago. Right there on the fucking platform, pissing himself and drooling in front of cameras and reporters!” “Was bound to happen.” “You’ve got no idea, have you?” “Can I go back to sleep now?” “Call me when he replies.” “If he replies.” She typed her home phone number and hit send.

Chapter Eleven Jordan curled his arms around Alec’s waist and lifted him off his feet, burying kisses into his neck while speaking in a panicked rush. “I’ve been so worried! Are you okay?” He stood, Alec’s feet dangling out of pajama bottoms. “I’m sorry, Jordan! I was going to tell you. I was! I promise! I didn’t know how.” From Alec’s neck, Jordan kissed his lips and his face. “Are you okay?” “I am. I’m fine.” He stopped the frantic smothering kisses and peered into Alec’s reddened amber eyes. “Epilepsy, right?” “Yes.” Walking with Alec still dangling in his arms, Jordan crossed the room and deposited him onto the sofa. He leaned in for another kiss. Alec’s arms tightened around his neck. “You didn’t deserve to find out like that and I feel terrible. I’m so sorry.” “Honey, it’s not your fault. I know you would’ve told me when you felt comfortable enough to.” Jordan sat down and Alec crawled into his arms in an instant. “I don’t know what to do. It’s all over the TV; it’s going to be all over the papers. I want to crawl under a rock and disappear. I feel like I’m back at school only a billion times worse.” Enough was enough and Jordan wanted Alec away from the pressure where he could relax and recuperate properly. “Please sweetie, come back to my place. Forget about Frank; let him suffer for a while. The most important thing is you. The press, everything else, we’ll deal with later. We’ll break the news to Bec and, when we do, she’ll be pissed off but she won’t tell a soul you’re there. I know my sister. When it comes down to the crunch she can be trusted. Please?” “Okay. I should leave Frank a note. If I vanish he might call the police or something. That’d be the last thing we need.” Jordan eased away and reached for the notepad and pen on the coffee table. He passed it to Alec who immediately wrote a concise note. ‘Gone away for a few days’. He put the notepad onto the table and answered Jordan’s query before it was asked.

“If I don’t answer the door he’ll ask Gary for the master key.” Alec stood, held his hand out to Jordan, and then continued speaking while they walked to the bedroom. “All he has to do is tell Gary he’s concerned about my health. With the whole world seeing what happened today I should think the key’ll be handed over easily.” From a massive walk in wardrobe, Alec pulled out a suitcase and began placing clothes neatly inside it. He went into the bathroom and packed items from the cabinet. From the bathroom he returned to the wardrobe and took out a pair of jeans, a shirt, and a jacket. The pajamas were stripped off and for the first time Jordan saw Alec completely naked. His eyes took in every detail. There wasn’t an ounce of fat on Alec, his lover as lithe as a feline. Alec lacked the bulk of heavy gym workouts, but every muscle was perfectly defined from his arms, to his chest, to his washboard stomach, thighs and calves. Zipping up his jeans, Alec bent down for the shirt and his eyes caught Jordan’s openmouthed gaze. “What’s wrong?” Jordan watched the shirt go on and shook his head. “Abso-bloody-lutely nothing! You are divine!” Alec reached for a pair of runners and put them on his feet, smirking. “Were you checking me out?” “Oh yeah! Got a hard-on to prove it!” Alec giggled, took a final look around the room and closed the suitcase. It was given to Jordan; Alec grabbed the overnight bag, Jordan’s arm, and headed toward the door. A search of the hall showed it vacant and Alec made toward the fire escape with Jordan’s hand clutched firmly inside his. “Where did you park your car?” “In a side street behind the hotel.” “There’s no security cameras in these stairwells.” “Are there cameras in the hall we were standing in?” Alec walked the stairs, Jordan trailing behind with the suitcase. “They never turn them on. The posh people complained about lack of privacy.” *** The fire escape door opened into an alley running off the busy London main street. Lacking in people, it was a narrow urban canyon walled in by the sides of buildings, bleak and dank. A far cry from the decadence seen at the front of the hotel. From the fire

escape door, Alec kept his hand in Jordan’s and strolled at a quiet pace. Although braving the effects of the seizure, as he’d learn to do over the years, his muscles were tired and aching. He was spared the post seizure migraine, however a dull pain lingered between his temples. Jordan gestured toward a side street. “It’s parked in there about half way up, it’s the red sports.” “Ooh la la, my man drives a sports car! You’re brave parking it here. I’d be scared it’d get stolen. Looks a bit rough, doesn’t it?” Jordan peered sideways. “You’re brave holding my hand, it doesn’t strike me as a gay friendly part of town. Although, I think the loiterers are too drunk to notice anything.” As they approached the car, Jordan removed the keys from his jeans pocket. He opened the trunk and put the suitcase inside. The key then went into the passenger side door and Alec got in. Jordan climbed behind the wheel, started the engine, and they drove away. Once out of the alley Jordan glanced at Alec and raised an eyebrow. “Now you’ve shown me everything under those clothes I’m going to have a one track mind.” With his elbow leaning beside the side window and his hand obscuring his face from other cars, Alec raised an eyebrow, too. Now that they were away from the hotel he felt the thrill of rebelliousness. “I’ve showed you all mine, you have to show me all yours.” “We can get naked as often as you like!” For most of Alec’s career he’d been based in London, but as Jordan drove toward his place it became cruelly obvious how confined he’d been during that time. He pointed to everything; buildings, dogs being walked on leashes, trees, and even the shapes of clouds. As if it were the first time he’d seen any of the city and his non-stop chatter continued from the moment he’d got into the car. Inside the terrace house the television stood silent and an empty mug sat by a magazine on the table. “Want a coffee?” Alec drove his hands into his pockets and scanned the kitchen. “Yes please, babe.” Substitution of his name with a term of endearment for the first time resulted in a wide smile from Jordan.

Alec moved toward the lounge room and peered inside. “This is really nice. Who’s the interior decorator, you or Bec?” “Me.” “I’m impressed!” Emitting a tiny squeal of excitement, Alec dropped to his hands and knees on the kitchen floor. “Oh! Goodness me, who are you?” Jordan removed the coffee from the cupboard and laughed. “That would be Furball.” Holding his hand out, Alec tried to entice the ginger cat closer. “Come here, Furball. I won’t hurt you. Oh! Our eyes match! You have to be friends with me now seeing as our eyes match.” He whipped his finger back and forth on the linoleum floor until the cat could no longer resist and pounced. Alec scooped Furball up in his arms and stood. “Wow! You weigh a ton! Babe, what do you feed this cat? Cows?” Jordan picked up the coffee mugs and shook his head. “Only half a cow per day, he’s on a diet. We’ll go in the lounge room, honey.” Alec settled into the sofa with Furball kneading his leg and perused the family photographs. Jordan bypassed the television and went for the CD collection, not wanting to risk Alec seeing any news reports flashing the ill-fated press conference. Jordan took out a CD and held it up. “This one?” One of Alec’s eyebrows rose while the other lowered. “No!” “Why not? You should see him naked!” “I’ve seen him naked heaps of times.” Jordan widened his eyes and put the Tyler Curtis CD back amongst the others. “Hussey! How about this one?” He held out a classical CD and Alec gave it a nod of approval. Jordan made himself comfortable beside Alec and took a sip of coffee. “Can I ask you something?”

Their mugs were placed on the coffee table and Alec prepared for whatever Jordan wanted to know. “About my epilepsy?” “No. Well, yeah, when you’re ready to talk about it. I was actually going to ask about your Mum. How much do you remember of her?” “Enough.” He added nothing more and Jordan squeezed his hand. “I shouldn’t have asked.” Alec shook his head and sighed. “It’s not that, babe. I haven’t spoken about her to anyone since she left. My Dad was the best Dad anyone could ask for, but he never talked about Mum. Not in any real way. He never changed his story. Until the day he died, if I tried to bring up the topic of Mum, he’d say she left because she didn’t love him anymore.” “You don’t believe that?” Removing his runners, Alec turned on the sofa and crossed his legs in front of him. “Dad only said it to protect me. I knew it’d break his heart if I told him I knew the real reason. He protected me, I protected him, and neither of us told the truth.” “What is the truth?” His eyes filled with tears. “I was a Daddy’s boy. I loved Mum, but I worshipped Dad.” *** When Alec rummaged in his pocket for a tissue and couldn’t find one, Jordan reached for the box on the coffee table and placed it between them. Upsetting Alec hadn’t been his intention, however for Jordan to assist in figuring out what Leanne had on her mind he needed to know the kind of woman she was. “Then I got sick, having seizures all the time, several times a day, in and out of hospitals. Mum had to quit her job to stay home with me. I remember being scared because I didn’t understand what was happening. I remember sitting on Dad’s lap and him telling me when the tablets started working I’d be okay. I’d have to take them for the rest of my life, but it would be okay. Mum? She was always telling me off. Even if I hadn’t done anything wrong. I started hearing them fight all the time.” Tissues disappeared one after the other from the box. Jordan kept Alec’s right hand clutched firmly in his.

“As far as I could tell it was my fault because I was sick. I thought if I could make Mum not be angry with me it would all stop. The day she left I went into the backyard and picked her a bunch of flowers. I spent ages in my room making a card for her.” Despite the tears, Alec rolled his eyes and his cheeks flushed, as though embarrassed to admit to making his mother a gift even though he was only eight. “I was really proud of myself. I thought I’d done such a wonderful job on the card, and picked such pretty flowers, she couldn’t help being happy with me.” When Alec laughed it strained against the tears. “Pretty stupid really.” Brushing his fingers over Alec’s face, Jordan answered quietly. “It wasn’t stupid, baby. You were just a kid trying to make everything better.” More tissues disappeared one after the other from the box while Alec tried and failed to stem the flow of tears. Jordan could see memories flooding him, could see them melding with long harbored resentment and anger. Alec crushed the tissue in his hand and cleared his throat to ease the knot. “I had a box full of art stuff. I had everything from colored papers to glitter, pencils, pens, ribbons, stamps and inkpads, even dried flowers I’d pressed between books. I thought the card I made was a masterpiece. I used everything I had in there! I put a hole in the top of it, put a ribbon through it, and tied it onto the bunch of flowers with the biggest bow I could manage. I was convinced she’d think I was the ants` pants.” The tears were back and rolled over those thick black eyelashes. “She yelled at me for picking flowers out of the garden and threw it in the bin.” The word bitch was mild in comparison to what Jordan really thought of her. Not a shadow of doubt in his mind questioned her motives. She wasn’t contacting her son for reconciliation. Nothing could make Jordan believing she was. Alec continued with short, sharp breaths between words. “That night I woke up when I heard them fighting and I knew it was about me again. I snuck out of bed and listened at their bedroom door. Dad found the flowers and the card in the bin. He was furious. She said she was sick and tired of being trapped in the house. Sick and tired of me always having seizures. Sick and tired of always cleaning up after me. Then she said, and I remember this word for word, ‘I can’t help the way I feel. I don’t love him. We put him in care or our marriage is over.’ I didn’t understand what being put into care meant, but later on I figured it out. Dad didn’t hesitate a second. He said, ‘Consider our marriage over, Leanne.’ I don’t know what happened after that. I went back to my room. In the morning she was gone.” He balled a tissue in his hand, studied the furious fire in Jordan’s eyes, and shrugged. “I knew when she emailed me she was lying. If I weren’t rich I’d never have heard from her. I didn’t reply because…” A sneer swept over his lips. “…because I hate her!” Raising his index finger, Alec’s expression and posture turned into pure Curtis angst.

“Four weeks, Jordan! Four weeks after I was diagnosed she was gone. That’s how long it took her to get tired of me being sick. Dad quit his job to look after me. When I went back to school he got another job with less hours and less pay so he’d always be there when I got home. Everything he had, he gave it to me. All my dance lessons and music lessons, he worked to pay for that and he sacrificed! Mum took him for half of everything. We lost our house. Everything. Now she wants to write emails saying how she never stopped loving me? Now because I have millions in my bank account! Do you know what really shits me, Jordan?” Not once had Alec lowered his finger and it shook with his anger. “What honey?” “She thinks I’m too stupid to figure out she wants me to write a check! Like I’m going to say, ‘Hi Mum! Here have a couple of million on me!’” Alec’s pent up anger bubbled over, his voice grew louder and his tone angrier. He shook through his legs, his arms, to the top of his head. His cheeks flushed this time with fury and not harmless embarrassment. Egged on by the press conference and years of resentment over a disorder causing him so much distress. If Alec wanted to sit and yell, or stand and scream in a frenzy, Jordan would let him do it. Better out than in and better expressed in the company of someone who loved him and wasn’t going to judge. Alec clamped both hands to the side of his head. “She left because she was sick and tired of me being ill. What about me? Has she wasted much time wondering what it’s like to always be scared you’re going to end up convulsing somewhere? I hate it so much! Now, after two years of dreading it happening, it has. I’ve gone and had a fucking fit in front of the entire world!” Alec cried so hard it was difficult to see if it was driven more by anger or humiliation. “You tell me how the hell do I face anyone now? I don’t have to turn on the TV to know it’s being replayed over and over! I know what people can be like, Jordan. I’ve heard every epileptic joke known to man and every single time it kills me! It’s not funny when it’s happening to you! I want so badly to be with you. Properly I mean. I’m terrified, Jordan! Terrified I’m going to have a seizure in the middle of it. Can you see what I mean? It affects everything! I want to be able to get on stage, in front of the press, without always worrying it’s going to happen. I want to sleep next to you without worrying I’ll wake up and realize you’re changing sheets and changing me! I want to be with you without being scared! Think about that! Think about us being in the middle of something that should be beautiful, but ends up with me convulsing, pissing in the bed, and throwing up?” Jordan’s hand gently took hold of Alec’s wrist. He kissed his fingers and replied with a calmness that contrasted starkly with Alec’s distress.

“Whether we’re in the middle of making love, whether we’re in the middle of having dinner, whether we’re in the middle of doing a crossword, I’ll always do exactly the same thing. I’ll take care of you. You don’t have to be frightened to be with me, honey. Before you had the seizure today, you had an aura didn’t you? Is that what’s it’s called?” Alec nodded and Jordan wrapped Alec`s hand tightly in both his. “Do you always have one?” Alec nodded again and swiped the tissue beneath his eyes. “Okay, then all you need to do, when you feel the aura start, is to tell me a seizure’s on its way. We’ll stop, I’ll stay with you while it happens, I’ll be there when you wake up, I’ll clean you up, and then I’ll hold you while you sleep it off.”

Chapter Twelve

Frank’s life was blowing up in his face as surely as if he’d dipped his head in gasoline and struck a match with his teeth. For two and a half years Alec had taken the verbal abuse Frank continually dealt him without so much as an answer back. Originally Frank’s plans for Tyler Curtis revolved around a character named Caleb Curtis and Frank had specific details in mind when choosing someone to play the part. While listening to an audio of Alec singing, Frank knew he’d found the voice. He’d wanted someone who sang with grit, someone who could stand behind a microphone and frighten it off its stand with sheer power. On the backing tape Alec Tyler did just that, to the point where his voice had to be toned down electronically so as not to overshadow the lead vocals. When Frank first saw Alec Tyler he thought someone was playing a practical joke. The booming voice flattening all else around it belonged to a seventeen year old kid built like a whippet. His hands wrung together, his face was held out of view, and if he had any self-confidence at all Frank thought he’d lost it on the way there. No matter how good his voice, Frank knew this boy was not his Caleb Curtis. Alec Tyler was too young, too mousy, too short, and too wiry. Frank planned to say a few words, thank Alec for his time, and send him on his way. Until Alec lifted his face and those unique amber eyes locked with Frank`s for the first time. Framing those eyes was a face made to adorn the walls of teenage girls` bedrooms. It wasn’t the rough look Frank wanted, however it was highly marketable. Caleb Curtis could be modeled around the fallen angel theme. An ethereally beautiful face surrounded by Gothic darkness. When asked how he acquired such a controlled and forceful singing voice, Alec had explained how he’d been classically trained in opera. Further into the interview he’d spoken of his dancing critique and a list of more musical instruments he could play than Frank dreamed possible, including some he never even knew existed. An opera singing, tapping, ballet dancing Caleb Curtis was far from ideal. Frank had leaned into the swivel chair, with his hands behind his head, laughed and said, “Tap dancing and ballet? Christ! Are you gay, son?” The amber eyes lowered to Alec`s clasped hands and Frank’s laughter ceased. “Oh God, you are, aren’t you?” He gave Alec a handshake, a ‘thank you for your time’, and sent him on his way. Two weeks later Frank had an about face. Despite the obvious drawbacks, Alec Tyler had that star quality all agents wanted. It was in his looks and it was in his singing voice. Frank wanted to hear Alec record from a selection of songs hand picked for Caleb Curtis’ first CD. He wanted to know whether Alec could be given a direction as to how a song needed to sound and deliver it in that way. Alec was bustled into a recording booth, the backing track started, and Caleb Curtis burst into life with more gusto than even Frank had dreamed possible.

With the hastily recorded demo track woven into the depths of Frank’s psyche, he waited to be introduced to the Curtis look. The image department took Alec aside with an outline given as to how he should be dressed. His collar length dark brown hair was dyed blue black and restyled into short back and sides with spikes through the top. Blue denim jeans were replaced with black leather pants and a studded belt, runners replaced with buckled Gothic boots, casual shirt with a satanic looking t-shirt, light weight fabric jacket with a calf length leather jacket. Alec`s ears and eyebrow were dressed up with fake piercings, that later changed to the real thing, and his thick eyelashes were dyed jet black to show off those incredible amber eyes even more. From there he was thrown in front of a photographer, ordered to sneer and strike a pose. The pictures made their way via the internet to Frank Brooks` waiting computer. When the emailed pictures filled up Frank’s monitor, Frank’s dream had been given life. From within the mousy Alec Tyler, Caleb Curtis reached through the screen and took a strangle hold. Alec may not have been perfect, but his portrayal was. Frank needed to address the problem of Alec’s age. He’d wanted Caleb Curtis to be no younger than twenty-three and no older than twenty-seven. Alec was seventeen. Frank had chosen an up-market restaurant for a lunch meeting, Alec wandering in with as much confidence as a chicken wandering into KFC. He sat down and, when asked what he wanted to order, said he couldn’t afford to buy anything. Frank couldn’t help noticing Alec’s open honesty in everything he said. If asked a question he gave the answer, no two ways about it. Prepared to buy his lunch, Frank informed him to order whatever he wanted. Alec ordered the most inexpensive meal the menu offered. Without Alec being eighteen there could be no signature on a contract. Not without a parent co-signing. When Alec disclosed his birthday to be on Christmas Eve, a mere one and a half months away, Frank saw yet another thing dropping into place. Out of polite, albeit disinterested, conversation Frank asked what Alec had planned for his eighteenth birthday party. It was then Frank saw the opportunity of a lifetime. Rather than be told of a party, Frank learnt Alec Tyler was out on his own. His father killed in a car accident three months prior and by the constricted way Alec spoke, he grieved deeply. Frank pried for more detail and Alec’s honesty provided it. He had no mother and he had no family. Everything he and his father owned had been sold off to pay for the funeral. Alec had moved from their rented home to a room in a boarding house for parentless teenagers. He’d quit school to take the job as a session singer to pay his way. There were no friends. Alec was completely alone and struggling both financially and emotionally. Had Frank not been feigning empathy, his face would have been wearing the wide smile of one who knew a lamb to the slaughter when he saw one. Alec`s was loneliness exacerbated, Frank felt, due to the approach of the Christmas season and the fact Alec had no-one to see and nowhere to go. His first birthday and first Christmas without his beloved father, one day after the other. All too perfect and Frank knew Alec didn’t stand a chance. Alec would record the first single and a video shoot, wrapping up and coinciding with his eighteenth birthday when the contract could be signed and the deal sealed. Liking the way Alec’s surname rang with Curtis, Frank decided to go with Tyler rather than Caleb.

Alec agreed. Frank rubbed his hands together with just how agreeable his future star was. Whereas Frank only saw dollar signs, Alec saw a chance at security and acceptance. Frank wanted Tyler Curtis to reel in the millions. Alec wanted Tyler Curtis to provide him with a home, a way to pay his bills, and people in his life. Frank knew the deceased Mr. Tyler had raised a very well mannered and nice boy. He’s also raised an extremely gullible one. Alec recorded the first single as planned and Alec had the video down like a pro. The more Frank saw the more he realized he’d stumbled onto pure gold. Not only could Alec sing circles around anyone Frank had heard, he could step into a role and play it like a seasoned actor. He never needed to be instructed twice and he had professionalism in stark contrast to his mild nature. Alec wanted to please in everything he did. Frank knew the way to lure Alec in was to take advantage of his sweet disposition and take even more advantage of his loneliness. Frank stepped up quickly into the role of a father figure, plying Alec with plenty of encouraging words, handing over money to help him pay his bills, inviting him into Frank`s home, doling out hugs, everything to make Alec believe he was more to Frank than a person to play Curtis. Frank invited Alec to spend Christmas day with him and his family. An invitation Alec had been grateful for. Frank had two sons of his own, one Alec’s age, the other two years older. For the first time Alec had, or thought he had, friends and peers. His eighteenth birthday was another event Frank made sure he had covered, telling Alec he and his wife planned to take him out to celebrate the milestone with the rest of the family. With every word and promise Frank made, Alec fell more deeply. The original contract had been shown to Alec one week before his birthday. The pages were flipped over and only parts of them highlighted. Everything else was explained verbally and Alec took it all in without question. In between bouts of contract discussion, Frank changed the topic to Alec’s birthday and Christmas. General things he knew would distract Alec`s focus off the contract. To Frank’s dismay, Alec owned up to having epilepsy which wasn’t completely controlled through medication two weeks prior to his birthday. Had Frank known from the get go Alec Tyler would have been erased from the Curtis picture. However, he’d invested too much time, and although Alec didn’t fit the bill initially, Frank could see no other playing Curtis’ part. Alec also confessed the epilepsy had denied him the chance to make friends during school. Right from the start he’d always been segregated and the disorder Frank initially thought the worst news possible turned into another nail he could hammer into Alec’s coffin. Alec had spent his entire life being pushed away despite his efforts to fit in, having seizures in front of classmates and consequently being treated like a leper. Alec had been willing to do whatever it took to make friends and had failed at every attempt because of a disorder repelling his efforts. A people person in every sense of the word, Alec needed company. He thrived on interaction, he would offer someone the very shoes off his feet if he thought it would brighten their day and result in friendship. Only it never had. The only constant support in his life being his father, a man who loved his son unconditionally and worked hard to provide Alec with the things he needed to follow his dreams, never once suggesting his disorder could stand in his way

and making sure Alec believed it. A man Alec held on a pedestal, who he loved and idolized. The day of his father’s death, half of Alec died with him. To Frank, it was ideal. Frank removed Alec from the boarding house and set him up in modest apartment. Not for Alec’s sake, but for his own. He needed Alec separated from everyone and everything. The boarding house had too many people and Frank could no longer take the chance Alec wouldn’t befriend someone on a more personal level. Alec saw a premeditated maneuver to get him isolated as a caring gesture to give him a home. On the day of Alec’s eighteenth birthday Frank had arrived as promised to take Alec out for dinner with him and his family. He took the contract from a briefcase. It wasn’t the contract Frank had shown Alec the week before. Frank made several changes and added many clauses Alec hadn’t been informed about and then prayed his prediction of Alec not reading it would come true. Rather than bring the contract over earlier, Frank left it until Alec’s focus was completely honed on the birthday celebration. He’d taken a pen from his pocket and handed it over, making sure he glanced at his watch and made mention of how they’d be pushing it to arrive at the restaurant on time and keep the booking. Alec signed the last page and put the pen aside. Frank double checked the signature, stood and said, “I thought you were a moron when I first met you, Alec, now I’m forced to admit you’re a bigger fucking moron than I ever gave you credit for!” He didn`t have a single twinge of remorse when Alec’s face paled before his eyes. From his briefcase he took another copy of the contract and threw it on the table. “You’ve signed your life over to me for five years. Have a read, learn it, obey it, and don’t break it or I’ll fucking sue your arse so quickly your head will spin!” He picked up the pen and slipped it into his pocket. He drew back his hand and slapped Alec in the face with enough force to see him almost off his chair. Horrified and stunned, Alec pressed his hand to his face to ease the sting and broke into tears. Frank smiled and the man Alec trusted turned to pure evil. “That was a warning, Alec. Toe the line, and it won’t happen again. Mess me about, I’ll belt you until you conform. Happy birthday, you idiot, and merry Christmas!” From that day onward Frank had Alec pinned under his thumb. He’d walked out leaving Alec to spend his eighteenth birthday alone. Had celebrated Christmas with his family knowing Alec was beside himself with grief. Made sure the next time they saw each other, Alec sat silently in a chair while he informed everyone within earshot of how wonderful his Christmas had been and demanded everyone tell of their day. Everything was designed to chip at Alec until barely anything remained, to constantly drill into his head the notion not a living soul cared for him. Since his father’s death the only people Alec had in his life were Frank Brooks, his wife, and his two sons. He’d fallen hook, line,

and sinker into the offer of guidance and friendship, only to have it pulled out from under him. To lose everything he thought he’d found infected the wounds of his father’s death and his mother’s abandonment. Alec turned from a shy friendly boy into a boy who thought himself worthless. He did as Frank told him to do and took the verbal abuse as a form of punishment for what he felt was his own stupidity. The more Frank belittled and yelled, the more Alec retreated into a shell of acceptance. His portrayal of Tyler Curtis was awesome and his personal life was obliterated. The first single shot to number one in the first week and Tyler Curtis burst onto the scene like a fireworks factory ignited. Girls squealed whenever his picture blazed on a magazine or his video on their televisions. The reviews were brilliant. The second single followed and again it hit number one, the girls still squealed, but the reviews were lukewarm. There were questions as to whether the stagnant Tyler Curtis could ever stand on stage during a two hour concert and do anything other than hold a microphone and sneer, and questions as to whether or not he truly could sing as well as the CD’s suggested, that perhaps a lot of electronic help given to boost his voice through the stratosphere. It had been Alec who’d suggested he dance in the rushed out third video and single. Frank hadn’t wanted anything to do with that suggestion until the reviews kept getting more disagreeable every time he read them. An upbeat song was chosen and the video made. Frank sat alone with a copy of the finished video, a glass of scotch, and nightmares of tap shoes and tutus. Instead he saw pure gold turn into platinum. Alec was, without a shadow of a doubt, the most talented all-round performer Frank had ever witnessed. Tyler Curtis didn’t just dance in the third video, he literally blew it apart. The single shot to number one and rave reviews poured in like a broken dam. To grab momentum while it burnt hot, a live performance was set up on a popular live night time talk show. Alec crushed any rumors of his voice not being bona-fide. Tyler Curtis was the It boy; everyone wanted a piece of him, and everyone hailed him as the brightest star the industry had seen for a very long time. Frank had his Curtis dreams fulfilled and Alec lived a silent and painful lie. It remained that way until Alec began to find fragments of himself. Two years of upholding the Curtis image at all costs was exactly what Alec had done. He’d not spoken to anyone, he’d remained in his hotel room, he conversed only with Frank and all else was scripted. And then suddenly Alec wasn’t obeying the rules as stipulated. Instead of remaining in Curtis character at all times unless alone, Alec began to be Alec. Frank returned to the limousine to find him conversing with the driver. He’d found him chatting away to the hotel chambermaid about her cat or placing mannerly orders to room service. Instead of making his hotel suite look like a party had been held in it, Alec kept it as neat as a pin. It seemed whenever Frank turned his back Alec talked to whoever stood nearest. Frank came down on Alec even harder, his verbal abuse escalated into physical, trying to intimidate Alec into complying. It resulted in tears and fear, but hadn’t put a lid on Alec`s chattiness. Alec was breaking under the pressure of his isolation. Frank’s temper only ensured he broke more quickly. The more he abused, the more Alec desperately tried to

reach out for someone, anyone, to recognize him as a person, whether it be the chauffeur or whoever answered room service. Out of the blue Alec had challenged Frank head on. He’d taken the live show into his own hands and turned Tyler Curtis upside down. He’d been verbally aggressive toward Frank where before he’d never dared speak up. He’d stepped out in front of the press and taken complete control. Frank knew Alec couldn’t help the seizure, but that only added to Frank’s problems. Should they learn the seizure was not drug related, and should they learn just how hard Alec’s disorder had been for him, there stood a very good chance gossip would turn away from Curtis getting what he deserved to Curtis being a wonderful example of how to never let something like that stand in the way of your dreams. Tyler Curtis was becoming approachable, he was becoming likable, he was becoming fallible and human; he was becoming Alec. Frank hadn’t been able to piece it together. He hadn’t been able to pinpoint what gave Alec the confidence to move from chats with the limousine driver into digging his heels in with force. Proving himself no idiot, Alec had escaped the hotel without leaving any trace on security footage. His mobile phone was turned off. In only days there was a massive charity concert Frank couldn’t be sure Alec would turn up to. If he didn’t, there was the matter of Frank not receiving a large sum of money he’d secured to ensure Tyler Curtis be there. Since the announcement of him performing at the show, it had been hailed as charity scoop. If Alec didn’t appear, Frank would be faced with more negative press than he could hope to deal with. Alec had to be found and he had to be on that stage on Saturday night. Frank couldn’t lose Alec Tyler, for if he did he’d lose everything. Never would he be able to invent another character the likes of Curtis or be able to find another entertainer like Alec. No matter how many times Frank brought Alec down with name-calling and continual abuse, he knew Alec to be undiluted brilliance. He also knew if Alec ever did find the confidence to challenge him, all hell would break loose. He needed Alec; Alec didn’t need him. Not anymore. Frank knew if ever Alec were awakened to that reality the entire world would be at his feet for the taking. Alec had found a foothold and Frank new it would take a miracle for him to loose his grip. With a large glass of scotch held in his left hand, divorce papers unsigned on the dining table, and a multitude of gambling debts skyrocketing with interest every day, Frank Brooks was financially ruined. The payout given for the charity show and interview had barely scratched the surface. Three more live appearances had been lined up leading up to Saturday, now they all had to be cancelled and the money paid back unless Alec could be tracked down. With no clue as to where he’d gone, or how he’d gone, Frank’s hip pocket hurt in an excruciating way. Leanne was the only key. Dangling the sibling carrot in front of Alec’s eyes was a sure thing. However, Leanne had proven to be far shrewder than her naïve son and wasn’t afraid to make that known. Two and a half million American dollars needed to be

extracted from Alec before Monday. If Leanne didn’t get her cut, she’d walk away no worse off for the experience. If Frank didn’t get his cut, his head would be on a platter.

Chapter Thirteen Taking the stairs down into the lounge room, Jordan spied Bec on the phone in animated and excited conversation with a friend. As soon as she saw her brother she began two conversations at once without pausing for breath. “Alec with a ‘C’ here yet? I don’t care Julie, it’s not my fault your chest is flat. Jordan, get back here! So? Get a boob job like normal women do.” While Jordan wandered into the kitchen to put the kettle on, Bec trotted along after him. Even if Jordan had wanted to reply, she gave him no leeway to get a word in. He took two mugs from a cupboard and her eyes widened. “Ooh, have you two been shagging? No, you should wear the black pants Julie, covers up your thighs. Make me a coffee, too, Jordy. Stop whining, Jules, call me back when you know what time Amanda’s picking us up.” She ended the call and swanned further into the kitchen. Her index and middle fingers walked up Jordan’s arm until they reached his shoulder where she then pinched his cheek with and grinned widely. “Go tell wonder boy to get his clothes on and come meet your gorgeous sister.” Jordan bypassed the coffee and reached for the tea. “He told me he doesn’t like bawdy redheads.” “He’s a smart aleck, is he? Get it? Smart aleck? Alec?” “Yeah I get it. Pretty hilarious, Bec.” “Wasn’t it? Did you here what happened to Tyler? He overdosed and had a fit. I saw it on the news. Was awful!” Jordan’s skin prickled. “He must be feeling okay now ‘cos he’s gonna be at the opening of that new club. I’m going. When he sees me he’ll shag me this time.” Stirring the mugs, Jordan peered sideways and finally had an opportunity to answer. “I doubt you’ll see him there.” “You’re always so fucking negative! You should remember that if it weren’t for Tyler you wouldn’t have met smart aleck.” He picked up the mugs, tried to sidestep her, and failed when she took them out his hands and put them back on the counter.

“Are you sure Alec really exists? You haven’t imagined this wonder boy?” “He exists.” “Then I wanna meet him!” He reached for the mugs and she put her arm out to block his access. “Amanda’s picking up the girls on the way. The club won’t get happening until midnight and Tyler isn’t supposed to be there until two. We’re all gonna sit around here and get pissed up before we call a cab.” Six Tyler Curtis fans sitting around drinking with their idol in the same terrace house made for a frightening scenario. Alec had slept soundly in Jordan’s arms after the emotional discussion on the sofa and had only just woken. He didn’t need to be trapped in Jordan’s bedroom until after midnight, unable to even use the bathroom. Trying to think of something feasible and unable to, Jordan conceded to telling her the truth and getting her to cancel the Curtis girl’s night before the tribe of females converged. “Bec, they can’t come here.” Her head wobbled from side to side with uppity sarcasm. “Excuse me? I pay half the rent! My friends can come here if I want them here!” “Actually, Rebecca, I’ve paid all the rent the last three months.” He picked up one mug of tea. “I’m taking this to Alec. You knew he was coming here tonight and you’ve gone and arranged a party with Tyler groupies without asking me.” “I did not! You said he might be staying. Might! That’s not definite is it? Since when do you own this place?” “Since I’ve paid the rent for three months!” When he opened bedroom door, Alec looked up from Jordan’s laptop and nodded. “There’s an email. She’s given me her home number.” He set the mugs down on the bedside table and joined Alec on the bed. “Did she say anything else?” “No. Just a number.” Alec put the notebook to one side and changed the subject. “Is Bec home yet?”

Their eyes locked and Jordan sighed. “We have a problem. According to Bec’s unreliable sources you’re supposed to be at a club tonight. She’s asked five groupie friends over to get drunk before they leave. Which means, they’ll be here until after midnight.” Alec stayed silent, but his face said what he didn’t speak. “I told her to cancel it. She will as soon as I tell her you’re sitting in my bedroom!” “Are we going to tell her now?” “If I don’t you’ll be trapped in here all night.” Jordan spied another slip of paper in Alec’s right hand and Alec answered his question before it was asked. “It’s the network Taylor Mason works for. I want to call and thank her.” Taking Alec’s chin in his hand, Jordan leaned over and momentarily everything else disappeared from their minds. Every time Jordan’s lips were against Alec`s, he could feel Alec`s body relax as though filled with morphine. He knew the emotional upheaval of revealing intimate details of his mother, and his long unspoken distress concerning the epilepsy, all worked to heighten Alec`s anxiety. Out in the open with Jordan, he was no longer carrying the burden alone. The kiss ended with several small nibbles down the side of Alec`s neck. Jordan whispered into his ear before standing. “I think it might be best if I break the news before parading you in front of her.” “What about this idea? You tell her you know Tyler Curtis, that you met me, etcetera. She won’t believe you, but after you tell her, phone my mobile and I’ll talk to her. If I introduce myself, or Curtis, over the phone it might make the personal introduction less…you know…” “Groupie-fied?” Twisting his mouth to the side, Alec nodded. “Yeah. Once we’ve chatted for a bit, maybe it’ll make everything else run smoother.” The green glare sent to Jordan when he reappeared in the lounge room verged on reptilian. He ignored it and made his way to an armchair. “Have you cancelled it?” “No! And by the way, dipshit, did you bother to ask me if Alec could stay here? Double standards, don’t you think?”

“Like I said, I’m the one paying rent.” With a typical redhead temper, when Bec thought she’d been crossed she became a woman scorned. “You can be such an arsehole! I’m having my friends over and you can’t stop me.” “Tyler Curtis isn’t going to be at that club, Bec.” She stomped her feet on the carpet. “Yes he is! Jacqui told Susan who told Emma who told Amanda!” He rolled his eyes. “Curtis isn’t going anywhere tonight.” “Fuck off, Jordan! Like you’d know where Tyler’s going to be!” “Since I met Alec I know everything about Curtis.” In a switch of temper, Bec lurched forward and her venomous eyes opened wide. “Oh, my God! Does Alec know Tyler? He does, doesn’t he? That’s how you met him at the hotel! Oh, my God, Jordy, how could you not tell me this before?” “I’m telling you now.” When Furball jumped onto his lap, Jordan let him proceed with his ritual kneading. “So? Was he with the show? Does he know Tyler? Can he introduce me?” “Yes, yes, and yes.” Leaping off the sofa, she screamed and sent Furball scrambling under the chair. “Shh! Sit down and shut up!” She plopped onto the chair. “Will you cancel your friends coming over, and promise not to breathe a word of this to anyone, if I tell you I can introduce you to Tyler Curtis… very soon?” Lunging for the phone, she hit a speed dial number. “Tonight’s off, call you later!” She hung up, tossed the phone aside, pressed her index finger and thumb together and made a zipping motion over her lips. “I’ll take it my grave! Is Alec upstairs? Tell him to get down here and phone Tyler. I have to start getting ready, he’ll wanna shag me tonight.” Jordan took a slow breath in, exhaled just as slowly, and replied. “You won’t be shagging Curtis.”

“Why not?” “For one, he’s not feeling well.” She pouted. “Oh, yeah, the OD’ing thing.” “He didn’t OD, Rebecca. He’s an epileptic.” The pout vanished when her jaw dropped. “No way! Did you see it? He didn’t just fall over and have a fit he went all weird and spacey before it.” “The spacey thing is an aura. He hasn’t been well and it’s been worse lately.” “Poor baby! Alec told you this? Oh well, I’ll shag him tomorrow.” One of Jordan’s eyebrows rose and he watched her curiously before speaking. “Good to see where your priorities lie!” Wide green eyes grew rounder by the moment. She clutched a cushion to her chest, almost exploding the stuffing from it. Exactly how to break the news Jordan hadn’t truly figured out yet. He flew blind. “Oh my God, I wonder what he’ll be like? Whether he’ll be all angry and shit like normal, or if he’ll be all nice like he has been lately? Did you see the interview? I was like, ‘Who is this person?’ and Julie was like, ‘He’s so fucking cute!’ and Amanda was like, ‘He’s got a smile to die for!’. It was now or never. He knew it wasn’t going to be pretty. “I’d describe him as the friendliest person I’ve ever met.” Her face paled. “You’ve met Tyler?” “I have.” The last of the color drained from her face, leaving only rouge on the apples of her cheeks. “I don’t believe you. This is all a lie so my friends didn’t come over, isn’t it?” “No.” “Bullshit! Get Alec down here to phone him!” “I’ll go you one better and phone him myself.” She threw the pillow aside, pursed her lips, and nodded mockingly. “Yeah, right, sure, you’ve got Tyler’s number. You’re a wanker, Jordan!”

He smirked and hit Alec’s number. The phone rang three times before Alec answered. He listened, laughed, and replied. “You ready? I told her I was calling you but she doesn’t believe me.” Green eyes rolled toward the ceiling. “Okay, passing you over now. Brace yourself!” He extending his right arm out, but Bec sat unmoving in the sofa, obviously determined not play the game she felt he`d set up. He waved the phone in the air. “Do you want to talk to Tyler or not? He hasn’t got all night.” She snatched the phone, tossed her hair over her shoulder, and spoke with sarcasm. “Just so you know, whoever you are, I know what Tyler sounds like. I’ve heard him speak you know.” The phone was turned up high enough that Jordan could hear Alec`s side of the conversation. “Hmm, so have I. He’s got that really annoying lisp. Drives me crazy!” Frozen on the sofa, the hand Bec held the phone in trembled against her ear. “Beccy? You there?” She squeaked. “Yes!” “Are you still having your friends over tonight?” “No!” White couldn’t accurately describe the pallor to Bec’s skin. “Right, well, I met Jordan on Saturday night. Don’t be angry with him for not telling you because at the time I asked him not to. I guess you’ve seen what happened to me on the TV?” Finally she found more than one word in her vocabulary. “Yes I did! Are you feeling better?” “Better but tired, thanks for asking. Umm, Jordan asked me if I’d like to stay at your place for a while for some peace and quiet. I said yes.” Any rounder and her eyes could’ve teed off on a golf course.

“You’re coming to stay with us? With your friend Alec?” “Kind of, yes. Do you mind me staying? It’ll be until Saturday but I need discretion, no one can know I’m there because if the press get wind of it…” Her head shook so fast her face blurred. “I won’t tell! I promise! You can trust me, Tyler!” “I appreciate it. Don’t worry, I’m house-trained I won’t trash anything.” She laughed a girlish giggle. “I can’t believe you’re coming here to stay! Is the limo bringing you?” “A limo would probably be a tad obvious!” The girlish giggle grew even more girlish. “Oh yeah, silly me! Are you gonna be here tonight?” “I’m already here, Beccy. Look at the top of the stairs.” Peering around at a snail’s pace, the hand holding the phone fell limply to her lap. As soon as her gaze fell on Alec she leapt from the sofa, her ear-piercing scream loud enough to shatter glass. The phone flew from her grasp and across the room, Alec cringed and gritted his teeth together, Jordan covered his ears, and Bec fell to the floor in a faint. *** Dashing down the stairs, Alec crouched beside Jordan who crouched beside Bec. “Oh! Jordan! That went well!” Barely troubled, Jordan broke into fits of laugher while Alec placed a cushion under Bec’s head. “Babe! Can you lift her legs in the air?” Nothing Alec did or said could stop Jordan laughing and he bustled around while Jordan clutched his stomach. Taking a rectangular ottoman from near the sofa, Alec lifted Bec’s legs and placed them on top of it. Remaining behind the ottoman with Bec laid out in front of him, he cast a quick glance at Jordan and shook his head. “God, Jordan, I hope you don’t do this next time I collapse!” Alec’s words only made him laugh harder. A choker necklace around Bec’s neck looked to be doing exactly what its name implied. Knowing he wasn’t going to get any assistance from his other half, Alec squeezed in between the sofa and coffee table where

Bec lay wedged, straddled her, and began trying to remove the necklace. Leaning down further he attempted to undo the clasp, glancing upward in the same instant Bec opened her eyes to see her idol practically sitting on her with his hands around the vicinity of her chest. Alec stopped what he was doing, his hands hovering above her, his gold eyes wide and horrified. Another ear splitting scream broke the sound barrier and Bec flaked out in a dead faint again. Throwing his hands in the air, Alec spied Jordan rolling around the floor in hysterics. “Great! Now she’ll think I’m a pervert who tries to… you know… unconscious girls! Having another go at the necklace, it released between his fingers and he dismounted her with a sigh of relief. He threw the necklace aside and crawled toward Jordan who was still rolling around on the floor. “Hey! Listen you, this isn’t giving me much confidence in your nursing skills! I’ve caused your sister to faint twice!” Tears streamed down Jordan’s face, and he was unable to find a voice or stop his hysterics. Alec swung his leg over and grabbed a handful of Jordan’s jacket lapel. “Get up! This isn’t a laughing matter! Have you noticed how badly this is going?” Jordan managed to stop clutching his stomach and place his hands on Alec’s waist instead, spluttering a reply. “Badly? It’s a classic!” Movement in his peripheral vision alerted Alec to Bec having woken again. His eyes rolled to the ceiling. “Oh no!” He slowly turned his head just in time to see her scream and faint a third time. “That’s good, isn’t it? I introduce myself, mount Bec, and then mount her brother!” Jordan was now laughed so hard he wasn’t making a sound. Giving up, Alec sat down on Jordan’s hips and shook his head hopelessly. “Lord knows what I’ll do when I meet your parents!” Sitting up, Jordan wrapped his arms around Alec and forced him to succumb to the funny side as well, both of them in each other’s embrace and chortling at Bec’s expense. The laughter died down and Alec peered into glassy blue eyes. “I love you. I honestly do. I was so scared today, thinking you’d see what happened and not want to be with me anymore.” Jordan’s hand cradled the back of Alec’s head. “I’ll always want to be with you. Always. To me you’re perfect. Absolutely perfect and I honestly love you, too.”

“Oh, my God!” They stopped the kiss that had no real chance to begin, looking at Bec who sat upright with her palm slapped to her forehead. Feeling their position to be compromised, Alec sheepishly climbed off Jordan and stood. Bec’s catatonia ended with shrieking the moment Jordan climbed to his feet. “You fucking son of a bitch arsehole, Jordan!” She stabbed a pink talon in Alec’s direction. “Oh, my God, Tyler, is there anything you won’t shag? He’s got a boyfriend! Your friend Alec! Does Alec know your shagging his man?” “I am Alec.” “You’re Tyler Curtis! You can’t fool me, I know what Tyler looks like! Couldn’t you wait for me to wake up?” “No!” “No? Christ, how fucking horny are you?” Alec waved his hands in the air and shook his head. “No, no! I meant no, I’m not Tyler Curtis! Well, yes I am, but I’m also Alec Tyler!” Her fingers were over her mouth and the hot pink polish on her nails made her look like a phantom. “Do you have multiple fucking personality disorder or something? Tyler’s your straight personality and Alec’s a poof? Is that how you explain it? Most people call that bisexual, Tyler! They don’t invent different names for shagging different sexes! So who’s the cute personality we’ve seen on TV? Barry Curtis? Eugene Tyler? Tyler fucking Eduardo the magnificent?” Switching her fury from, Alec her next verbal assault directed at her smirking sibling. “And you! You… you hypocrite! So you don’t think he has crabs anymore, hey?” Alec’s eyebrows rose and Jordan shrugged with a grimace. “I said that before I met you!” A cushion flew from Bec’s hand and hit Jordan in the head. “I think I agree with you, Jordan! He would shag a one legged Cyclops with severe halitosis!” Jordan’s grimace became even more pained and Alec’s eyebrows even higher. “I said that before I met you, too!” Rather than be offended, Alec smirked and spoke to Bec. “I know this is a shock.”

“Finding out you`re bi would be a ‘shock’! Finding out your screwing Jordan is a fucking nuclear bombshell!” She buried her face in her hands, trying to ward off Alec’s voice from her ears. “I’m not bisexual, Bec, I’m gay.” Another cushion left her hand and this time struck Alec in the head. “Hello? Can I please talk to Tyler Curtis, Alec Tyler?” “Tyler Curtis is a stage name! My real name is Alec Tyler.” “Show me your drivers license!” “I don’t have one!” Her head wobbled from side to side and she yelled a furious comeback. “Everyone has a fucking drivers license, Eduardo!” She was instantly subdued by the way his mild tone switched. His patience came to a grinding halt and suddenly all the times she’d laughed when watching others turning to cinders beneath the Curtis wrath wasn’t quite as funny. Unbeknownst to Bec, she’d pushed the wrong buttons and his stress levels caused rapid mood swings. He leaned over her, his index finger pointing directly into her face, while he sneered furiously and screamed his reply. “I have uncontrolled epilepsy, Bec, I can’t drive a car! Stop yelling at me ‘cos I can yell a whole lot fucking louder than you! You think you’re having a bad day finding out I’m not straight? Huh? Try convulsing and pissing yourself in front of the entire fucking world and then come back to me and let know how bad your day’s been!” She stared desperately at her brother, obviously waiting for him to intervene. Jordan sat unmoving and let Alec continue with his scathing verbal attack. “I’m gay, I met Jordan, I fell in love with him, he fell in love with me, deal with it!” Alec dropped his finger, straightened, glared at her, and then stormed off up the stairs. From beneath the pillow covering his head, Alec heard the bedroom door open and the weight of Jordan sitting on the mattress. He mumbled without lifting the pillow. “I’m sorry. She hates me now.” Jordan lifted the pillow away and smiled. “I think you handled it great! She’s in her room crying because she thinks you hate her. She’s willing to opt for friendship after all.” Alec sat up and searched Jordan’s blue eyes. “I’m cracking up!”

Jordan leaned across and kissed Alec’s brow. “You’ve got a lot on your mind. Even if the seizure hadn`t happened, you still have the shit with your mum and Jamie to deal with. I think you’re holding up really well.” “I have to call her. What time would it be in Melbourne?” “About seven in the morning.” “The longer I wait the greater the chance I can’t go through with it. Stay with me?” “Of course.” Reaching for his mobile, Alec retracted his hand and changed his mind. “Can I use the house phone? That way you can listen on the other line. I’ll pay the bill when it comes in.” “You don’t have to pay the bill! You sure want me listening?” “Yes.” The two land line handsets were retrieved, one from the lounge and one from Bec’s room. By the time Jordan returned to the bedroom Alec was pacing and had a fine film of perspiration on his brow. Jordan handed one handset over with a kiss of reassurance. Alec sat down on the bed and took the phone number from his jeans pocket. “Here goes.” He took a deep breath, clutched Jordan’s hand, and dialed the number. With every ring Alec tensed more noticeably. Just when it looked like he was about to give up, a female voice answered. Alec drew a sharp breath, and then spoke with a nervous quaver. “Is that Leanne Tyler?” “Alec? Baby, is that you?” Alec’s nostrils flared in an irritated sneer. “Yes it’s me.” “It’s good to hear your voice! I’ve been so worried. I saw footage on the news, of the seizure, are you okay, honey?” Her uses of terms of endearments worked to raise Alec’s blood pressure enough for Jordan to see his cheeks tinge with red. “Don’t call me honey, or baby, or anything else! I didn’t call to talk about the seizure, I called to discuss Jamie.”

“Yes, you’re right, I’m sorry. I’d let you talk to him only he’s still asleep. You’ll have to forgive me for being overwhelmed, Alec. Or should I call you Tyler now?” Jordan’s hand let go of Alec’s and he wrapped his arm around Alec’s waist instead. “I want you to email me pictures of Jamie. I want some of those pictures to have you in them with him.” “Check your email, honey, I sent you some pictures only about quarter of an hour ago. I thought you must’ve seen them and that’s why you phoned.” Jordan quickly grabbed the laptop. “I’m looking now. Hang on.” Alec pressed the mute button. When the notebook booted up, Jordan let Alec type in his password. His fingers shook on the keys. they both held their breath, and when the email opened with three photographs attached, Alec’s hand flew to his mouth. He fell in against Jordan’s side. Jordan’s blue eyes found the screen. “Holy shit!” The first picture was a school photograph. Jamie Tyler’s dark brown hair lacked the raven dye put through Alec’s and his amber eyes were slightly darker. Out of the two Alec’s features were more perfectly formed than Jamie’s, softer and less angular. The next photograph was a picture with Leanne and the third a picture of Jamie with a scruffy brown dog. Near his mouth, Alec’s fingers trembled along with his voice. “I really do have a brother! What do I do?” As shocked and speechless as Alec, Jordan shrugged with astonishment. He’d been convinced Jamie didn’t exist. “Shit! I guess the next step is to arrange to talk to him.” “He’s scared of me!” Hooking up the printer to the notebook, Jordan hit print, wanting the photographs and email message on paper. “He won’t be as soon as he speaks to you.” Alec deactivated the mute button and held the phone to his ear. “Are you there?” “Yes sweetheart, I’m here.” Alec’s hand squeezed the phone tighter. She continued with the endearments despite being warned.

“I want to talk to him. You need to tell him I’m not scary and let me talk to him.” “I will. As soon as he wakes up today I’ll sit him down and I’ll tell him you want that. It’s not that he didn’t want to know you. He’s always wanted to meet you. Your reputation can be daunting for child. Even though I always knew what I saw on TV wasn’t the real you. Jamie couldn’t understand though. Once he knows you’re asking after him, he’ll be thrilled.” Alec’s top lip curled. “You don’t know me from a bar of shit!” From what Jordan could see, Alec had started to slip into Curtis’ character. Behind the veil of his alter ego, Alec’s angst ridden side could be more easily expressed. “I remember what you were like as a little boy, darling. People don’t change that dramatically when they grow up.” “They do when they’ve been fucked over by one of their parents!” Jordan’s arm tightened around Alec’s waist. “No matter how angry you are nothing can deny the fact you were a very quiet, wellmannered, sweet little boy. I also know there’s no way you’d drink or take drugs with your epilepsy. Remember, darling, I am your mother.” “You’re only the egg donor!” Jordan flinched. “When can I speak to Jamie?” “Can you give me your phone number? He can call you.” Jordan shook his head, but Alec was already on the ball with that request. “Not a chance! How did you get my email address?” “I hired a private investigator. I wanted your phone number, the best he could get was your email.” “I’ll phone you in the morning. Make sure you speak to Jamie by then.” “I will. I hope getting to know him can start to mend bridges between us. I know you’ve been all alone since your Dad’s death. You must’ve been very lonely.” Alec’s fingers dug into Jordan’s thigh.

“Thank you so much for caring enough to help me out when Dad died! Then again, why would you rush to my side when you wanted me put into some kind of home when I was eight?” Jordan bet Leanne hadn’t seen that one coming, and her silence put a bitter smirk on Alec’s lips. “Is that what your Dad told you?” “No! It’s what I heard you say when I stood outside your bedroom door the night you left! No bridges are going to be mended. If I had my way I’d blow the fucking bridge up with you standing on it!” Alec ended the call without another word.

Chapter Fourteen

“He hasn’t replied, Frank.” “Because he’s fucked off!” “Oops, seems you’re in some trouble, doesn’t it? Anyway, I must run. Things to do, people to blackmail, you know how it is. By the way, forget this deal, I’m over it.” “What?” “You heard me. You’ll have to get your two million out of him some other way.”

Chapter Fifteen

“Can we talk?” Alec sat on the side of the mattress and tugged on the covers until Bec relented. Her green eyes were circled with smudged mascara, her hair on a mission of its own, streaks tracked through her foundation, and lipstick was smeared up one side of her mouth. Alec pretended he saw nothing amiss. “You didn’t have to yell at me!” “You yelled at me first! Please give me a break, Bec, I’ve had a horrible day.” When she sniffed it sounded as though a mucous factory had exploded inside her nasal cavity. “How did you run into Jordan? You left the party to shag two girls in your limo!” She looked like a mad woman on crack. “Bec, all that kind of stuff, it’s nothing more than rumors and hearsay. Yes, I left the party, but I was sitting in another part of the hotel while maintenance fixed something in my room. Jordan happened to walk in, I asked him to join me, and…” “You asked him to your room to shag him!” He shook his head emphatically. “No, I didn’t! I asked him to my room because I wanted to get to know him.” Her hands clamped over her ears. “Oh, my God! ‘Get to know him’? Is that Curtis code for ‘We’ll shag after we’ve talked a while?’” Removing her hands, she grabbed a huge pink teddy bear. “How did he know you were gay? How did you know he was gay?” “He told me. I don’t think it was too difficult for him to figure out I liked him, too.” “Did he give you that hicky?” Alec felt it more than reasonable to end the conversation. “Look, with all due respect, what Jordan and I have done, or will do, is our business not yours. I don’t really want to discuss intimate details like this.” She strangled the bear in the crook of her arm. “Ha! Don’t get all fucking high and mighty, Tyler Curtis! You got that hicky making out with my brother! To get hicky’s like that you have to get pretty full on and feeling each other up!” Alec stood and stepped away from the bed. Again his docile temperament switched and he glared down at her, his arms folded across his chest, a sneer curling his lip.

“You’re carrying on like I cheated on you! Grow up! I’m not the person on your walls, Rebecca! He’s not real, I am! I’ve had enough of today and I can’t be bothered with this. I’m trying to be friends with you but you’re not giving me much to work with. Fine! I give up! We’re ordering takeaway, if you want to join us, you can. I refuse to argue with you anymore. I just want to relax with my boyfriend and forget this day ever happened!”

*** Choosing to swallow some of her pride, Bec took up the invitation to join Alec and Jordan. With dinner eaten, she reached for the television remote control. Jordan made a not so subtle gesture for her to stop. A gesture Alec overruled. Burying his head in the sand about the press conference wasn’t going to do him any favors and he knew it. At eight o’clock the standard nightly newsbreak interrupted viewing. Surprisingly, none of it concerned Tyler Curtis. Alec leaned forward, listened closely, and then recoiled in horror when finally hit with the footage. A commentary centered on a statement given by Frank that Curtis’ drunken behavior was due to drugs and alcohol. Something Curtis had overdone and resulted in the seizure. Alec sat with his hands clenched into fists and his amber eyes flaming. Those not so fond of Tyler Curtis condemned him as a disgraceful role model and the seizure his just desserts. When the newsbreak ended, Alec turned to Jordan while rummaging in his pocket. “Right that’s it!” He took out the slip of paper with the TV network number and turned to Bec. “Can you throw me the phone? I left my mobile upstairs.” She tossed it the short distance and Alec caught it deftly with his left hand. “Thanks, Beccy. Time to phone the press and tell the truth.” Bec sat, obviously enthralled with the idea Tyler Curtis sat in her home, speaking to reporters, doing all the things she presumed famous people did. “Hello! I’m looking for a reporter by the name of Taylor Mason.” “I’m afraid she’s gone home for the evening.” Alec wasn’t discouraged. “I thought she would have. I was wondering if you could give me her number.” “We don’t give out personal details. You’ll have to call back tomorrow.” Rather than flat out name-dropping, Alec was a little more subtle, to ensure the receptionist’s cooperation and not sound too egotistical. “Oh, okay, that’s a shame. Never mind, can you please leave a message for her that I called. My name’s Tyler Curtis.”

Now he’d said his name, he knew she’d match up the familiar voice on the phone with the times she’d heard him speak over the last couple days. “Just one moment please, Mr. Curtis, I’ll give you her number.” Alec had the pen poised over the paper, ready for the number. When it was given to him he jotted it down, thanked the receptionist, and ended the call. He wasted no time in dialing again. Eventually a female voice answered the ringing in an upbeat and friendly manner. “Hi, Taylor Mason speaking!” “Hi, Taylor Mason, Tyler Curtis speaking!” She recognized his voice immediately. “Hello Mr. Curtis! How are you feeling?” “Off the record?” “Sure.” Bec’s eyes were wide and excited. Off the record, just like the movies. “Shithouse!” Taylor laughed despite knowing he meant it. “Is there anything I can do to help?” Alec left the sofa and wandered around the room. “Actually, yes. First, I want to thank you for helping me.” “I’m glad I was there, your manager didn’t lift a finger. He’s an arsehole!” Alec closed his eyes and nodded. “You’re telling me! Taylor I want to give you a statement. I’m not a drug addict, I have epilepsy.” “I know. When Frank told everyone not to call an ambulance, and then told me it’d be over in a couple of minutes, I figured it had to be.” Feeling more relaxed with the call now, Alec sat beside Jordan and accepted the hand held out to him. “This is only a suggestion, Tyler, but we can do a video conference call if you want it on the TV. Do you have a computer and a web cam?” “Just a second.” Alec turned to Jordan. “Do you have web cam?”

“Yeah. Why?” “Taylor suggested a video conference call. I don’t understand how that will get to the TV though.” He heard a smothered laugh as Jordan explained it to him. “After you’ve given the statement over the cam she’d save it, or email it, to the station. Or, we can do it at this end, save it and then send it to her. That might be best, that way you can watch it back and make sure it’s okay before it leaves your hands.” He put the phone back to his ear. “I have one problem, Taylor. I’m not at my hotel and I’m wearing normal clothes.” “They’d only see your head and shoulders. You haven’t got a black shirt?” “Ahh, no.” “What about your friend, has he?” “He’s a bit bigger than me. Hang on a sec. Please.” He turned to Bec next. “Have you got a black shirt I can borrow?”

“I got a few!” “Is there any hair wax here?” Bec jumped out of her seat, seeming quite ready to dress her idol for a video exclusive. “No, but Vaseline works okay.” “That’ll do.” His attention returned to Taylor. “I’d rather do what Jordan suggested. Can you talk to him and sort the technical stuff out while I change?” “Sure. Put him on.” As soon as Alec passed the phone to Jordan, Bec had him by the hand and running up the stairs. Barging into her room, she sat him at her dressing table on a wide fluffy pink stool and began going through her wardrobe. She took one shirt after another off the hangers and threw them aside. Finally she held one out for him to see. “What about this?” He lowered one eyebrow and raised the other. “I know I’m trying to lighten Curtis’ image but I’m not sure the public’s ready for silver sequins on my collar.”

“Didn’t see them.” It fell to the floor with the other shirts and she pulled out another. “There again, Beccy, we have an issue with the faux fur.” Stepping over the clothes, she went to the dressing table, shoved him over, and sat next to him. She opened drawers and went through the contents. She pulled out an armful of lacy underwear and threw it on his lap. “Hold these.” “Do I have to?” She dug around like a rabbit burrowing. “They’re just bras, Alec, they’re not going to turn you straight if you touch them! God only knows I wish they could.” The bras were taken back and shoved in a drawer, and a t-shirt handed over. “Put that on. I have a black jacket you can put over the top.” Going to a second wardrobe, she rummaged through hangers and found the jacket she was looking for. When she spun around, he was still sitting there with the t-shirt in his hand. “What are you waiting for?” “I’m not taking my shirt off in front of you!” She hung the jacket over her arm. “Why not?” “Because! You wouldn’t take your shirt off in front of me!” “I’d rip all my clothes off in front of you if you let me!” Despite the rocky start, a friendship was quickly blossoming between the two. She hauled him into the bathroom and opened the cabinets. She removed a tub of Vaseline and put it on the bench top. “Call me in when you’re changed, ‘cos I want to watch you do your hair.” The bathroom door closed and Alec quickly pulled his shirt over his head, putting the tshirt on in its place. He stared at his reflection in the mirror and only then noticed capped sleeves and a lacy midriff. He rubbed his eyes and called her in. They stood staring at one another until she cracked into fits of giggling. “No one will see it with the jacket on.”

When he turned to take the lid off the Vaseline, he noticed her taking in the way the tshirt showed off his lean physique, defined chest, and toned abdomen. “Damn, you’ve got an even hotter body than I thought you’d have!” He scooped out the Vaseline and started molding the familiar spikes. “Stop staring at me.” “I can’t help it! You’re not hairy, are you?” Thinking the spikes would take forever, she watched with surprise as he quickly transformed. “No, I’m not.” “You’re the only guy I know who could make that top look sexy.” “Stop staring at me!” She hoisted herself onto bench and kept her gaze glued to his torso and arms. “Hey! Do you shave your armpits?” “When you spend two hours on stage sweating, hairy armpits stink worse.” Her nose screwed up. “I thought you’d have a sexy reason for doing it.” “Plain old body odor control.” When Alec asked for the jacket she pointed to it hanging over the bath. He picked it up and put it on. When he did he lifted his eyes and saw her giggling. “You’ll be sitting down, no one’s going to see the feathers.” “Jordan’s going to think I’ve turned into a drag queen!” When Alec walked into Jordan’s room he lifted his hand and pointed before he had a chance to speak. “Don’t say a word!” Jordan couldn’t hide the grin that then turned to laughter. “You look like a Las Vegas showgirl!” “I told you not to say a word!” Jordan cupped Alec’s chin in his hand. “If it’s any consolation you’re more beautiful than any showgirl.”

*** Three pairs of eyes were glued to the television, waiting for the movie to be interrupted with a news flash. It happened at eleven o’clock. Taylor sat beside the anchor, a sheet of paper in front of her. “This evening I received a phone call from Tyler Curtis wanting to make a statement. The web cam footage you are about to see has not been edited in any way.” Despite the rushed effort to slap together a believable look, the head and shoulders view managed to keep Curtis’ image in tact. Tyler Cutis peered through the screen, and spoke with soft sincerity. “I’d like to settle these rumors once and for all. My so-called drunken behavior was a pre-seizure epileptic aura. You can clearly see me trying to get assistance from my manager before he walked away and left me. I was disoriented because my vision becomes distorted and I lose my balance. That’s why I collapsed onto the table. I knew I was going to have a seizure. I’m not ashamed to admit I panicked. “Seeing the footage of myself was shocking. Knowing the whole world’s seeing it repetitively is mortifying. I have a right to my dignity. I did not deserve what happened to me. I didn’t take a drug overdose and I wasn’t drunk. I don’t take drugs, I don’t drink, and I never have. I know the publicity machine has pushed lies that simply are not true and never have been. I’m tired, I’m stressed, and I’m asking for a break on this one. Please.” Having been able to have his say was like a sedative for Alec. During the course of the day so much had occurred and he’d barely been given time to breathe. Twenty minutes after the news he lay down beside Jordan on the sofa, drifting in and out of sleep. *** Jordan tilted his head to connect eyes with his sister. “I’d better get this one to bed.” He’d bet she’d been dreading the moment he and Alec retired to his bedroom, no doubt foreseeing herself in her own room surrounded by Tyler Curtis pictures and with the pillow clamped over her ears so as not hear him in the throes of passion with Alec. It wasn’t his problem. Jordan sat Alec on the edge of the bed, pulled the covers back, and laid him down. He slipped Alec’s socks off and moved to his jeans. There was loud, tired yawn. “I’m not wearing underwear, Jordan. I was in a hurry, I didn’t put any on.” Alec lay on the bed, speaking listlessly and not moving a muscle.

“If it makes you feel any better, I sleep in the buff anyway.” “You haven’t slept nude with me before.” Jordan pulled the covers over Alec. “Thought it best I wait a couple of days before I whipped my gear off!” The bedroom light went out and the soft blue glow from a six-foot tropical fish tank kept the room from falling into complete darkness. Alec wasn’t saying anything else, his eyes closed and Jordan presumed he’d drifted into sleep. He undressed and climbed under the covers. “Jordan? Can you take my shirt off? I want to be nude, too.” Jordan had no intention of arguing and went straight to work unbuttoning and removing Alec’s shirt. With it discarded on the floor along with the jeans, he pressed in against Alec’s back, his arm around Alec’s chest, their hands entwined. Alec sounded a sleepy sigh. “Oh. This is nice.” It was nice: warm skin against bare skin, the sensation of Alec’s breathing and the soft scent of his aftershave lingering around his neck. The power of emotions running through Jordan’s body, heart, and soul intensified with the naked physical contact. He lay quietly with his eyes closed, listening to each breath Alec took and becoming more immersed in the most sensually erotic moment he’d ever experienced. The fact that they hadn’t had sex yet only fuelled the intimacy. When Alec’s breathing slowed to the point Jordan felt safe he’d fallen into sleep, he took the chance to say what he didn’t have the nerve to say while he were awake. His voice was hushed and low, his lips next to Alec’s ear, and his hand holding Alec’s. “This has all happened so quickly, but everything feels right. I’m such a level-headed guy, but with you I don’t want to be that way. I don’t want to be told this is too fast or I don’t know you well enough. I wouldn’t listen anyway. I feel like I’ve known you all my life, only I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting you until now. For over two years I’ve seen Curtis everywhere and I felt nothing. I saw the real you and something spoke directly to my heart and said ‘he’s the one’ and all I could do was think ‘I know. I already know’. “If I were going to be the level-headed guy I normally am I’d wait six months and ask you to marry me then. I don’t want to wait six months. I don’t want to wait six weeks. I met you on Saturday and I’m asking you to marry me on Monday while you’re asleep. I love you. I’m always going to love you. That’s not going to change in six months or sixty years. All I need to do is work up the courage to ask you when you’re awake and pray you say yes.”

Jordan stopped speaking; his arm tightened around Alec’s chest and the only noise in the room was the gentle hum of the fish tank filter and quiet breathing. *** Alec’s eyes flickered open and he stared at the wall. Nothing about the day had been predictable. Nothing since Saturday had been predictable. “I’m not asleep.” He felt Jordan tense against him. He waited a few moments for a reply and heard nothing. Alec’s hand disengaged from Jordan’s and ran along his arm. “Do you know how many live audience shows I’ve done? More than I can remember. During every one of those shows the lights go up over the crowd and I see faces. Only faces. On Saturday night I saw you. I only saw you. I never will see anyone else; I’ll only ever see you. I fell in love with you when the lights went up. That won’t change in sixty years either. Everywhere I looked you were there and I knew it had to be more than co-incidence. If you did ask me to marry you, my answer would be yes.” “Can you roll over and face me, baby?” *** As Alec rolled over, Jordan’s hand moved across silken soft skin covering a tight toned body: down along Alec’s spine, dipping into the curve of his back, and across his rounded, firm rear end. Jordan’s hand remained there and when Alec faced him completely their mouths joined and their bodies pressed together. The tactile pleasure of bare skin was stimulating and yet spiritual, perfect as it was. Jordan wanted to keep the stirring sensuality and hold on to the sensations. He knew Alec wanted the same and neither of them made a move to turn what was erotically arousing into a sexual encounter. It was the first time they’d lain beside one another with absolutely nothing between them. The first time all their senses could freely explore. Sight wasn’t hindered by clothes, the bed covers were moved aside, and their eyes drank in every curve and arc of each other’s body. Touch wasn’t constrained by hesitation and their fingertips found the places that caused a sigh and the places that caused a shiver. Smell was heightened as Jordan indulged in Alec’s scent, Alec indulged in his, and both mixed together into one heady aroma. Taste amplified with lips sweeter than they’d tasted before and there was an ever so slight tang to bare skin as they became more aroused. Hearing magnified, drowning out all else around them until all they heard was the drawing and exhaling of breaths, the sounds of lips on lips, and the brush of hands against flesh. Carnal and pure, all consuming with the physical urge to cross the line into sex and impassioned with the emotional need to keep it unsullied.

Jordan’s hand ran over the outside of Alec’s leg, over his knee, up the inside of his thigh to his navel, where it left his stomach and slipped behind Alec’s head. He kissed Alec’s throat, all the way to his chin where Jordan found his lips in a long, slow, and deep kiss. Alec’s hand traveled across the width of Jordan’s shoulders and over his biceps, Jordan could feel his groin hard against Alec’s thigh and could feel the way it filled Alec with a rush of exquisite, hedonistic desire. Jordan’s lips left Alec’s and his voice was hoarse. “Will you marry me?” Alec’s reply was equally as husky. “Oh, God yes! I can’t wait any longer. Make love to me. Please.”

Chapter Sixteen

Frank lay on the king size bed, half a glass of scotch in his hand, his forearm over his eyes. Saturday drew closer and if Alec wasn’t found and on that stage in time, Frank would be out of pocket one million pounds. Alec’s video statement to the press overruled the bogus one Frank had made and gathered more credence with every hour passed. To the public Tyler Curtis was no longer a drug addict who got what he deserved, he was a shining example of courage and determination and even shinier role model for all those suffering from the same disorder. He imagined that for Alec, things couldn’t have been going better. For Frank, they couldn’t have been worse. Whereas Alec was in the position to walk on water, Frank was fast drowning in it. Leanne had back flipped and reneged on their deal. The more Frank thought it over, the more he realized she was correct. Alec wasn’t a fool and it proved just how desperate Frank was that he’d presumed for one second that Alec would hand over two point five million American dollars to a mother he hadn’t seen for twelve years. The story Frank had invented, centering on Leanne being left high and dry by a husband who’d gone bankrupt, was as believable as finding that illusive pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. Desperate times called for seriously desperate measures and Frank had succeeded in doing nothing more than make his own financial burden heavier. Only one thing could be relied on, Alec’s caring nature. Alec would not refuse to do the charity concert to aide underprivileged kids worldwide. Alec had vanished from the hotel without a trace. Frank knew he’d make a miraculous reappearance at the venue with as much cunning. He dived for the phone, dialed, and waited while he drained the last of the scotch down his throat. He let the glass fall empty onto the carpet. “Two point five million, or I pull him from the show.” Robert Groves, concert promoter, spluttered at the massive one point five million jump in Tyler Curtis’ price tag. “There’s no way I can swing that!” “Then you’d better make an announcement that he won’t be there.” “Our entire promotion since Sunday has centered around Tyler Curtis! If he doesn’t show we could lose millions in donations. We had a deal!” Frank made his way to a bottle of scotch on the far side of the room. “I can easily make a statement saying he’s too ill to perform.” The ensuing silence had Frank smirking as he poured scotch into a clean highball glass. “To justify getting the crowds and donations to cover that, he’ll need to do more than sing two songs. Six numbers, no less, and I’ll make sure you get the cash.”

Frank’s smirk widened into a grin. “Good doing business with you, Robert.” He took the scotch to the sofa and sat down. His confidence in securing the needed money returned as he dialed the next number. A curt, male voice answered. “Ah, it’s Frank. I’ll have two and a half million American in your bank account by Monday.” “Pleased to hear it. What about the rest?” Sweat pushed through Frank Brook’s pores. “Within a week.” “I hope so. I’d had to waste a good bullet on you.”

Chapter Seventeen

Tuesday morning. Alec exhaled slowly and dialed. “Have you spoken to him yet?” Predictably, to Jordan, Leanne’s reply oozed syrupy sweet, like cotton candy. “Hello honey! How are you feeling?” Alec’s knuckles turned white around the phone. “I’m not calling for small talk, Leanne, have you spoken to him yet?” “Yes. I’m afraid your timings a little off, he’s in the shower. He shouldn’t be long.” Alec nodded, looked quickly at Jordan, and replied sharply. “I’ll call back.” “No need. He’s nervous, I thought I should warn you.” Understandable -- Alec also suffered the jitters at the prospect of speaking to his brother for the first time. “I don’t think he’ll be nervous for long. I’m not the villain here.” Aside from Leanne’s sugary way of speaking, Jordan couldn’t put his finger on the exact reason why he felt so uneasy. It didn’t ring too false that Jamie suffered nerves at the thought of speaking with a famous older brother or that Leanne had kept Jamie’s existence quiet. She’d mistreated Alec before she’d left and then gone without contacting him again. Therefore, why would she have had any moral concerns in thinking he had a right to know he had a little brother? And, perhaps, it was Jamie’s curiosity that had spurred her into making contact now. All those things added up, but for Jordan the answer to the equation never seemed the correct one. Leanne chuckled softly. “You’ve still got that lisp?” Jordan saw Alec prickle with every word she said. “Yeah, I do! So?” “I wanted to get you speech therapy but Seth wouldn’t hear it.” Alec’s face flushed with irritation. “Would this speech therapy have been an elective subject in the home you wanted to get me into?” “At the time I thought it was for your own good, Alec. You were a child; you couldn’t see it from an adult point of view.”

The bridge of Alec’s nose crinkled and his lips formed a sneer. “I saw it for what it was; you wanted to get rid of me!” She sighed; to Jordan it sounded staged. “I can’t alter the past, honey. There were so many issues, Alec. Things you haven’t considered. You needed special treatment right from the start, even before you were diagnosed with epilepsy.” Obviously highly offended, Alec’s face burned red. “Special treatment? I did not!” “Yes you did, sweetheart. In many ways you overwhelmed me. I’m ashamed to admit it, but you did. You overwhelmed everyone and you still do. I wasn’t prepared to bring up a genius. I didn’t know how to.” Alec had modestly refused to discuss his musical prowess, so Jordan listened with interest. “I never asked for anything special!” “You did, Alec. Even if you never said a word, you did. I had a child who could play Mozart on the piano at the age of seven!” Jordan’s mouth fell open and Alec dropped his eyes. “I had a child who picked up any musical instrument handed to him and learned it with less trouble than it took to teach you how to ride a bike. A child who sang like an angel and took dancing lessons with teenagers. Financially, Seth and I were pushed to the brink trying to bring you up. We knew we couldn’t ignore your talent, but we also couldn’t afford it. Our marriage was strained, our bank balance was strained, and when you got sick, it became too much for me. I had an eight-year-old child prodigy having one seizure after another, no money in the bank, and I couldn’t cope. I wouldn’t be the first parent in the world overwhelmed with having a child genius or the first parent overwhelmed with having a sick child. Seth could cope, but I couldn’t. I’ve watched your career from the start and I’m proud of you. The last I heard you played eight musical instruments. Eight! Is that right?” “Seventeen instruments and several variations within those. Of course, you’d have known that if you’d hung around! Who the hell told you I played eight?” Jordan almost fell off his feet. Alec’s sarcasm washed over Leanne, but she ignored his inquiry. “You are an incredibly talented boy. Whether you believe it or not, I’m very proud of you. I do love you, Alec. I always have.”

Alec’s hand throttled the phone. “You’re such a…! Is he out of the shower yet? I’m sick of hearing your voice and I’m sick of your excuses. Put him on!” “Hold on.” Alec’s anger at Leanne had probably kept him from noticing the things Jordan had. Leanne stressed her pride and how this admiration for her son had been with her since the beginning of his career. Again the equation didn’t add up. She might have admitted to the talent no one could deny, but Jordan thought it stretching probability she’d be so proud of a son who had the reputation for hard drinking, drugging, and the foul temperament that Curtis had. “She’s being too nice. It doesn’t matter what you say she’s not ruffled by anything. Something’s not right.” Alec’s fingers pressed against his brow and he nodded. “I know! Hearing her, Jordan, it’s like nails on a chalkboard.” He did a sarcastic impersonation of Leanne’s voice. “I do love you, Alec. I always have.” His voice returned to normal. “Yeah, right! Yelling at me and smacking me all the time for being sick when I was kid! I hope to God she doesn’t love Jamie in the way she loved me! Then again, he’s not gay or epileptic so I guess he’s got two up on me already.” She returned to the phone and Jordan returned to listening. “I’m sorry, love, you’ve been very patient, but he’s got a bad case of cold feet.” Disappointment swept over Alec’s posture, and Jordan narrowed his eyes. “Can you call back later? I’ll have a talk to him and reassure him it’s okay.” “How do I know you’re not making excuses, Leanne? How do I know Jamie’s even there and not just stalling this? Tell him I only want to say hi. Tell him I don’t expect him to speak to me for hours, I only want to tell him...” Amber eyes peered into the fish tank before Alec dropped his head. “...I only want to tell him I’m not scary and I want to know my brother.” “Honey, I’m not stalling. You have to remember he’s only a normal twelve a year old boy with an older brother who’s the most famous rock star in the world. This might take a few calls, Alec. I can’t rush him or force him to speak to you; all I can do is keep assuring him it’ll be okay. Keep in mind, the more determined you are, the more you phone, the more he’ll realize you’re sincere.” No matter how strongly Jordan wanted to disagree with Leanne, and no matter how much he also felt she was stalling, that too was a completely feasible explanation.

“Before I go, does he need anything? School fees, clothes, anything like that? Or, I don’t know, money in general?” Alec winked and Jordan held his breath. “No, sweetheart, I’ve already told him just because you’re rich and famous doesn’t mean he can ask you for the world. Although I’m sure he’d love to! Can you phone back your tonight? Maybe I can convince him to have a quick word to you before he goes to school.” *** Alec’s hands wrapped around a mug and his eyes peered across the kitchen table. “I deliberately asked if he needed anything to see if she’d take the bait. She didn’t. Maybe this is only about, Jamie.” “Not that you believe that.” “No, I don’t. Twice I’ve called and twice he hasn’t come to the phone. Half of me thinks that’s suspicious, the other thinks it’s fair enough because if it were me, I’d be scared of me!” He let go of the mug with his left hand, reached over and squeezed Jordan’s fingers. “I’d better phone Taylor and thank her for last night.” They both stood. “I suppose I’d better have a shower since you wouldn’t let me have one with you.” “Only because it’s so small I can’t stand up in the shower.” “What better place to sit down than on me?” “Jordan!” They went their separate ways with Jordan going up the stairs and Alec going into the lounge room. Bec rested with a foot up on the coffee table, in the process of painting her toenails bright pink. Alec picked up the phone and sat beside her. As much as she tried to deal with him as her brother’s fiancé, and not her idol Tyler Curtis, he could tell she felt her adrenalin increase every time he sat close or spoke with her. He took Taylor’s phone number out of his jacket pocket. “You’ve got big feet for a girl.” He looked at the phone while he dialed. She stopped painting and stared at him. “Fuck off -- I have! I have dainty feet!” When Taylor answered the call without asking who it was and a request to hold, Alec agreed and returned to the topic of Bec’s feet. “If you were six foot I guess they’d be dainty feet.”

She smacked him on the upper arm. “I’ve had guys tell me my feet are beautiful!” “Some guys will say anything, Beccy. So long as they get you from A to B that’s the main thing.” She slapped him again, harder this time. “I take a six and half shoe in UK sizing, that’s a seven in Australian sizing, a thirty-nine in Europe sizing, and an eight and a half in US sizing. I’m five foot five and that means my feet are dainty!” “It means you’re squeezing your hooves into shoes way too small!” Breaking into their chatter with a laugh, Taylor interrupted and snapped Alec’s attention to the phone. “Mr. Curtis, leave the poor girl’s feet alone!” Giggling at being overheard, Alec gave Bec a cheeky grin wink. “I suppose if your feet were smaller it would emphasize how fat your ankles are.” Taylor chuckled and the Beccy caved, giggling. “Shut the fuck up, Tyler Curtis, or I’ll ram my huge hoof so far up your arse you’ll be sucking my toes!” The three of them crumbled into laughter. “Okay, enough talk about Beccy’s feet. I’m calling to thank you for last night.” “You’re welcome. Thank you for the beautiful flowers.” On the chance someone might recognize his voice, Alec had asked Jordan to phone the florist on his behalf to get the arrangement sent to Taylor. “They’re there already? That’s service! Least I could do. I haven’t seen the TV today, or the papers, anything happening over the statement?” “Tyler, it’s all anyone’s talking about! If there’s anyone out there that still believes it to be drug related, you could probably count them on one hand. The network’s replayed it twice already this morning and so far I haven’t heard of any other network replaying the seizure. Certainly not in its entirety. Add that to the news of you performing a six number appearance at the charity show and...” Alec cut in rapidly with a rapid shake of his head. “A six number performance? I’m not doing six, I’m doing two!” This was the first he’d heard of it being six

“According to the advertising you’ve agreed to six.” “Shit! Hang on a sec. Please.” Furious, Alec leapt off the sofa and made a dash for the stairs. Unless he rehearsed another four numbers he’d be left in the lurch. Pushed out onto a stage with the biggest audience he’d ever faced and winging it. Bursting into the bathroom, Alec ripped back the shower curtain and hurriedly filled Jordan in. “Frank’s done it again! Taylor’s just told me I’m doing six numbers on Saturday not two. I don’t even know what the hell I’m supposed to be singing! It’s already being advertised so it’s not like I can refuse to do it. If I do I’m the one who’ll look like a prick! He wouldn’t have settled for less than a million to get me there. Can you imagine how much the organizer has paid him for six numbers? It’s supposed to be for charity, Jordan! I feel more like I’m ripping them off even though I’ve had no say in it. Half the bloody money they make will be going into Frank’s pocket!” Eying the phone, Jordan inquired about it before anything else. “You’ve got that thing on mute, right?” Alec reached for a towel. “Yeah. How am I going to prepare for another four numbers by Saturday?” Jordan turned the shower off and stepped out, taking the towel from Alec’s hand. If it wasn’t one thing going wrong it was another. The few days off, meant to be a peaceful recharging of his batteries, had turned into a continual momentum of stress. “Just put me in the same room with Frank for ten minutes, I swear he’ll think twice before screwing you over again!” “Babe! Four more numbers? We’re talking a half hour, maybe forty minute set! It’s going to be hard enough facing anyone anyway, let alone doing it unprepared and making a fool of myself!” Jordan dried himself off, looking like he wanted to kill Frank. “Will it be the same band you had on the tour?” Alec took the towel put it over the rail. “Yes.” “Probably the only thing you can do is numbers from the show. Don’t change anything around, just do it like you did on tour. That way you’ll at least know what you’re singing and what the band’s doing. You won’t get out there and make a fool of yourself, honey, you’re too slick for that.”

“I love you. You’re my voice of reason.” “I love you, too. Least it’s better you found out now than Saturday.” Before putting his boxers on, Jordan leaned in and ended the talk with a kiss. His hand cradled the back of Alec’s head and his other arm held Alec close against his bare skin. When they parted, Alec licked his lips and smirked. “Mmm, minty!” He looked at the phone and sat down on the edge of the bath. “I’d better talk to Taylor, I can’t leave her hanging.” He pressed the mute button and put the phone to his ear. “Sorry, Taylor, are you there?” Alec rolled his eyes. “Damn it! I must’ve hung up on her.” He pushed redial, watched Jordan dress and waited for Taylor to answer. When she did he began a round of apologies. “Sorry, it’s me again, I must’ve cut you off.” “Ahh, that’s okay, Tyler.” Her usually upbeat way of speaking had altered, become reserved. Alec cleared his throat nervously, unsure of her sudden switch of tone. “I didn’t know about the charity show changes, it threw me into a loop. I should let you go, I’ve held you up too long already. Thank you again for all your help. It’s very much appreciated.” He heard her sigh and his brow furrowed. “You didn’t press the mute button, Tyler, you pressed the speaker.” A wash of nausea somersaulted in the pit of Alec’s stomach. None the wiser to the sudden tension, Jordan dressed, face averted. “Do you know what you’ve given me in the past few minutes? The name of a woman called Beccy, to whom you’re obviously extremely familiar with. That, in itself, is tabloid gold. I know the organizer of the charity show has paid around one million to your manager to secure your appearance. I know another payoff has been made to secure a six number performance. All of this I know has been done behind your back. More tabloid gold. I know you’re in love with a man called Jordan, and I was unable to not hear the kiss you and he shared. That, Tyler, is tabloid platinum.” When Jordan noticed the pallor to Alec’s skin, he stopped buttoning his shirt and stepped closer. He held the phone trembling near his ear and his voice quavered. “Please don’t say anything! Please! I can... umm...”

Alec’s complexion drained to white, his eyes filled with tears, and his voice was desperate. Jordan crouched down, trying to initiate eye contact, but Alec avoided it. “... umm... pay you. I can pay you!” “Now you’re crying and offering me a frantic bribe for my silence.” The nausea lurched up into his throat. “Considering I believe it’s more beneficial for us to build a rapport, I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear any of this. Even though you forgot to ask me to deem this call off the record, I chose to do so at the start. Unless you tell me otherwise, everything said between you and me will be strictly confidential. In future, love, you’ll have to be far more media savvy. If another reporter heard what I just heard, I guarantee it would be all over the papers before you knew what hit you.” He took several strained, sharp breaths, but still could find no words. “Now that I’ve scared the crap out of you, and hopefully taught you a lesson for your own good, can I make a suggestion?” “Yes.” “If you want to get Frank back for what he’s done, I believe I can help you.”

Chapter Eighteen Alec’s entire career could have been over in one foul swoop simply because he accidentally hit speaker and not mute. He wasn’t media savvy and he knew it. There was a big difference between charming the press and being careless. With Frank always running the show with the paparazzi, Alec hadn’t learned the basic rules to keep his guard up. Once his blood pressure lowered, a dinner invitation had been offered to Taylor to discuss a plan concerning the charity show. A dab hand in the kitchen, Alec bustled around stirring saucepans and making dessert. Nowhere near as competent, Jordan had been relegated to company. He’d left in the afternoon to buy groceries, that being the most Alec let him participate. “That’s making my mouth water.” Alec straightened up from fetching a baking dish out of the cupboard. “Best cheesecake recipe in the world.” “I was talking about your arse.”

Alec slapped Jordan in the stomach with the back of his hand. “If you don’t stop dipping your fingers in it there won’t be any left for tonight.” “Dipping my fingers in what? The cheesecake or...” “Jordan! Can you make yourself useful and get the butter out the fridge, please?” Jordan sighed and wandered to the fridge. When he opened the door he glanced quickly over his shoulder, saw Alec occupied, and reached into his jacket pocket. He took out a black velvet box, flipped it open and set it on top of the butter container. He reached for the milk and ambled to the bench. Alec peered sideways at the carton. “Not milk, babe, butter.” Jordan made no move to fix his mistake. Alec picked up the carton and went to the fridge. He placed the milk inside the door, reached for the butter and froze. A huge smile split his face, he left the velvet box where it was, ran toward Jordan, threw his arms around his neck, jumped, wrapped his legs around his waist, and planted him with excited kisses. “Jordan! It’s beautiful!” He walked to the fridge with Alec attached. “Are you going to wear it or leave it in there?” Alec nodded with a fast beating heart. “Wear it!” “I know I asked you last night but I’m going to do it the old fashioned way.” Jordan removed the ring -- a glistening platinum band around a sparkling diamond that reflected the light and colors of the room. “Alec Tyler, you are the love of my life and I want to spend the rest of that life with you by my side. Will you marry me?” Alec nodded silently as Jordan moved Alec’s hand away from his mouth and slipped the ring on his finger. A round of kisses and hugs and Jordan took another ring from his jeans pocket. “I get to wear the matching one.” *** It was six-fifteen in the evening, and Alec paced the kitchen wringing his hands together with nerves. Taylor was due at six-thirty. He’d placed a call to Leanne and gotten her

answering machine. Forced into leaving a message he’d apologized for not being able to phone at seven and said he would call in the morning. Bec raced into the kitchen and grabbed her handbag off the bench. “Gotta run brother-inlaw!” *** Running late for meeting friends at the movies, Bec blustered out the front door and collided with Taylor on the way out. “Oops! You must be Taylor.” The woman held out her hand in greeting. “Yes, you must be Beccy!” Bec shook her hand. “Yeah, the one with the huge feet! Go in, Tyler’s inside.” Taylor stepped into the narrow hall and watched Bec jump into a hatchback. Closing the door behind her, Taylor walked tentatively toward the kitchen. Standing at the sink, with a large ginger cat twining around his ankles, was certainly no goth boy. In fact she momentarily questioned whether the back facing her belonged to Tyler Curtis at all. The man was wearing blue denim jeans dressed up with a slim fitting red shirt and there was not a spiked hair to be seen. “Tyler?” He spun around with a carving knife in his grip. Taylor threw her hands out at him. “I swear it was for your own good!” He stared at her, then the knife, and set the ominous looking utensil aside. “Oh! Sorry. Hello. Come in. Call me Alec, that’s my real name.” She removed her coat and passed it over to his outstretched arms. “Beccy let me in.” He hung her coat on a hook in the hall, reappeared and went directly to the fridge. “She’s going to the movies. Can I get you a drink?” When he opened the fridge door, she noticed something gleaming on his finger that looked suspiciously like a wedding ring. “Orange juice, if you have it. Thank you.” He removed the juice carton and retrieved a glass from the cupboard. She followed him across the floor. “Where’s that fella of yours?”

The flush on his cheeks was highlighted by the color of his shirt. “Upstairs getting dressed. He’s running a bit behind because of Furball, our cat, he coughed up a huge fur ball on the carpet and Jordan had to clean it.” She took the glass from his hand. “That’s a cat? I thought it was a pony!” Alec smiled tentatively. “Yeah, so you can imagine the size of the fur balls he coughs up!” Alec led her into the lounge room. She sat down on the sofa, soaking in her surroundings. Just because everything was off the record didn’t mean she didn’t want to satisfy her own curiosity. She desperately wanted to ask about the ring on his finger, but refrained for the time being. “How are you feeling, Alec?” “Apart from almost having a full blown cardio infarction this morning, not too bad.” She moved forward and patted him on the knee. “Never carry the phone around with you. Even if you do hit mute you never know when one day it may decide not to work. That’s what paparazzi prey on, love. One momentarily lapse of concentration and the world knows your intimate secrets.” “I’ve learnt my lesson.” “By the way, I can’t help myself, I have to ask. Are you gay or bi?” She grinned like a Cheshire cat with a bowl of milk. Alec shrugged sheepishly. “Gay as a posy of daisies!” Getting up from the coffee table, Alec met Jordan at the bottom of the stairs and took hold of his hand, walking him to the sofa. “This is my fiancé, Jordan. Jordan, this is my media mentor and guru, Taylor.” They shook hands and she eyed Jordan from the top of his head to the tips of his shoes. They were certainly a stunning couple. “Nice to meet you, Jordan.” A wide smile covered her face. “And congratulations on the engagement!” On meeting Jordan, her first impression was mixed. An incredibly good-looking man, he was older than Alec, and far more guarded. He said little during the meal, leaving the chatter to his young fiancé and, when he did join in, he was direct to the point of

intimidating. From what Taylor could deduct, they were a mismatched couple with a doomed future marriage. At no time had she seen any fond physical gestures between the two. Dinner finished, the table was cleared, and Taylor excused herself to go to the bathroom. *** As soon as Taylor disappeared from sight, Alec stood at Jordan’s side while he went through CD’s. He waited until one was selected before speaking. “Do you think she liked dinner?” “Dinner was fantastic.” Jordan turned and reached for Alec’s hand. “I’m looking forward to wrapping my lips around dessert.” They moved in closer and their arms slipped around each other’s waists. “When do you think I should get that out?” “When she’s gone, baby, some things have to remain private.” *** Taylor stopped at the top of the stairs at the sound of laughter from the lounge room. She crouched behind the banister out of view. Now they were alone the brusque, unaffectionate Jordan was an entirely different man. She saw Alec take one hand out from under Jordan’s jacket and smack him in the arm. “Jordan!” His icy exterior completely shattered with laughter. “You walk into it every time!” They swayed with the music and the generally false smiles Taylor had worn until then changed to genuine. She watched Alec reach up and his hands clasp behind Jordan’s neck. She watched Jordan dip Alec to the side amid giggles smothered with kisses covering Alec’s face, lips, and neck. She couldn’t deny the strangeness in seeing Tyler Curtis in the arms of a man. On the other hand, now she’d seen them in this light, it was blindingly obvious how in love they were. With the informal meal over, Taylor began discussing the charity show and the need to gather more information on Frank Brooks. She had to make sure the chances of things going wrong stayed at a bare minimum. While Alec spoke, Taylor sat enthralled and appalled. She knew if the truth ever reached the public’s awareness it would be the biggest scandal ever revealed in the entertainment industry. More than ever she wanted to

see Frank done over now that she had the entire story. His complete lack of concern for Alec’s wellbeing after the seizure had been nothing short of disgraceful. “Alec, the man at the helm of the charity event is a guy by the name of Robert Groves. He’s the type of guy who’d hold up the white flag of surrender if cornered by a three legged mouse on crutches. Keep in mind, the nineteen eighty-five Live Aid concert was watched by over one point five billion people world wide. They raised over one hundred and ten million pounds. Groves is determined to see his show outshine Live Aid. By securing you to perform, the audience numbers will go through the roof. No amount of publicity can top your name on the artist list and it’s a massive personal coup for Groves. If they do manage to raise the cash Live Aid raised, your price tag is a reasonable one and Frank’s cut from the profits will only make a small dent. Taking into consideration the type of man Robert Groves is, and the power Tyler Curtis has, here’s my suggestion...” Alec’s golden honey eyes widened with each word while Jordan’s smile grew. Frank Brooks was about to be outsmarted and, if the plan went off as easily as Taylor predicted, Frank would be left in a bigger lurch than he ever could have ever foreseen. Taylor wrapped up her suggestion and shrugged. “What do you think?” Jordan and Alec exchanged glances and she waited for Alec to reply. “I think you’re a genius!” From her handbag she took out a notebook and flipped it open. “Here’s Robert’s mobile number.” Alec took the notebook from her and stared at the page. “It’s after nine, maybe it’s a bit rude to call at this hour.” Taylor chuckled and shook her head. “Stop being so bloody polite! Get into Curtis mode and scare the shit out of him!” Alec gave a decisive nod and took the phone from Jordan’s hand. “Okay. Let me focus for a second.” His eyes roamed from the number, to the phone, to Jordan, to Taylor, and to the phone once more. Several deep breaths were taken, the number dialed, the phone put onto speaker to allow Jordan and Taylor to eavesdrop, and Alec disappeared into the depths of Tyler Curtis. “Is that Robert Groves?” “Yes. Who’s calling please?”

Alec had a very distinctive speaking voice. Partner that up with his lisp and Australian accent, and there weren’t many who’d doubt who they were talking to. “Tyler Curtis. You and I need to have a little chat.” The silent pause was long enough that Taylor and Jordan sending each other a smirk. When Grove’s replied, his voice labored. “Tyler! This is unexpected!” “I’m sure it is. Any idea why I’m calling?” It seemed Alec could slip into character seamlessly. “Ahh... about the charity event?” “Yes.” Robert Groves didn’t have to be there in person for all three to know he’d broken into a nervous sweat. “Anything I can do for you?” Even Alec’s posture changed as he put his feet on the coffee table. “Funny you should ask, yes there is. Firstly, this conversation is between you and me, understood?” “Understood.” “Do you know what will happen if this conversation makes its way to anyone else?” “You won’t perform on Saturday?” “Damn right I won’t! Today I found out I’m performing six numbers instead of two. Can you guess how I feel about that?” “Not happy?” “I’m fucking furious! I have an intense aversion to being bartered off like I’m on auction. Are you getting my drift?” “I think so.” “You’d better be! Here’s your dilemma. Whose pocket are you more prepared to piss into? Mine or Frank’s?” “Yours! Definitely yours!”

Being the world’s most powerful celebrity, Alec could demand whatever he wanted and it would all be laid down at his feet on golden platters. Mix that in with the remodeled Curtis the public had seen of late and none could now doubt his intelligence either. He was a major force to be reckoned with, and no-one wanted to do the reckoning. Alec leaned in amongst the sofa cushions like a pharaoh and had Robert Groves been in the room the man would have been feeding him peeled grapes. “How much are you paying Frank for my appearance?” A nervous stammer preceded Groves’ answer. “Two and a half million pounds.” Alec faltered. “Have you paid him already?” “No. I’ve arranged to transfer the money on Friday.” Alec cleared his throat and appeared to slip entirely into Curtis again. “Here’s what you’re going to do, Robert. You’re going to forget your deal with Frank and you’re going to make a deal with me. You’re going to phone Frank and you’re going to tell him the money won’t be transferred until after I perform.” “I’m not sure if I can do that. Your manager’s a shrewd businessman. I can’t take a risk on that. If I do, and he pulls you from the... all the promotion is centered on you! My reputation will be ruined as a promoter if you don’t show!” Alec shrugged at the phone. “I’m far shrewder than he is! If you don’t do it my way I won’t show and if I do perform and I find out later you screwed me over, I’ll make sure your reputation’s ruined.” “What exactly do you want me to do?” Amber eyes cast a glance toward Jordan, eyebrow arching. “You’re going to phone Frank and you’re going to tell him you won’t pay the money until after I perform because you’re not confident I’ll show. You’re going to tell him you’re not confident because, from what you could tell by the video statement I made, I looked unwell and exhausted. If Frank threatens to pull me from the show, you’ll tell him it doesn’t matter. You’ll tell him although you want me there you feel the public will understand if told I wasn’t well enough. If Frank thinks he’s losing money he’ll agree to anything. Once I’ve performed, which I will should you do things my way, you’ll renege on the deal with Frank. You won’t pay him the money. It will stay in the charity pool where it belongs.” An unhidden gasp flowed through the phone. “Tyler... I can’t... if I do that he can ruin me!”

“Who the hell are you talking to, Robert? I can ruin you far quicker than anybody else can! The way I see it, you really don’t have much choice. Fuck me over, I’ll walk. Not only will I walk, I’ll walk while condemning you and your promotions company from every fucking rooftop in London. Once I’ve done that, I’ll condemn you in every other city in the world. This could have avoided had you not thought I was lot number one at Christie’s auction house. Remember who it is who’s been used here. Me! And I’m not impressed!” “When do you want me to call him?” Alec smiled. “Right now. I’ll give you half an hour and I’ll phone you again. Don’t you dare double cross me!”

Chapter Nineteen “What do you want, Groves?” Frank was nursing a glass of scotch. “I won’t be paying any money until I’ve seen Curtis on the stage Saturday night.” Frank let the glass hit the table with a clatter and jumped to his feet. “What? We had a deal. The money in my account Friday or he won’t be there!” He heard Robert swallow before calmly replying, “In that case I’m going to have to pull the plug. I want Tyler there, but I have a strong feeling he may not be well enough to perform. I can’t take that risk.” Frank’s hand slammed against his face and slid down his cheek amongst the sweat that had sprung up in seconds. He’d promised payment of his gambling debts by Friday evening. He needed the money. He’d have more luck asking for a twenty-four hour extension in his debt payment than asking for an indefinite one. He still hadn’t heard from Alec. He still had no idea if Alec would actually perform. Frank only had the knowledge Alec possessed a charitable side which would more than likely win out over his sudden show of tenacity. If he had to take another gamble, the odds of Alec not keeping a charity promise remained low. Frank picked up the scotch bottle and took a generous swig. Liquid overflowed from his mouth, dripped down his chin, and down his neck. First Leanne had backed out and now Robert Groves, the industries most notorious wet rag, was threatening to do the same. Frank couldn’t lose two million. “The second he’s off stage I want the money transferred! If it’s not I’ll make you sorrier than you ever thought possible! Two million in my account Saturday night!” “Right! That’s the new deal. Saturday. Right. Okay. Have a good night, Frank.” Alec sat in the drivers seat, whether he knew it or not. Frank’s career, his lifestyle, his very existence was tethered to a boy he was fast losing control over. As far as Frank knew Alec had no friends and no one to turn to. In a desperate search for answers, and a lead to where Alec may have disappeared to, Frank cornered Isaac the limousine driver. Keeping a stiff upper British lip, Isaac’s professionalism remained rock solid. He’d informed Frank he had no idea where Alec had gone and then informed the man that even if he did know, he was Tyler Curtis’ chauffeur and therefore the issue became one of confidentiality. When Frank offered a fifty pound bribe, Isaac’s eyebrows had risen and he’d calmly stated, ‘Don’t insult me, Mr Brooks.’ Everywhere Frank turned the walls closed quickly. On every television station, on every newspaper stand, headlines and footage exulted Tyler Curtis. A spokesperson for a

foundation raising money for epilepsy research admitted to massive anonymous donations being handed over for close to two years. The finger pointed in Curtis’ direction. The statement Alec gave, overruling Frank’s explanation of drug abuse, showed a vulnerable side to Curtis. The seizure showed a human side. The interview showed a friendly, witty side. The live show showed a side filled with fan appreciation. If Alec stood on top of Mount Sinai holding the ten Curtis commandments, Frank knew the world would throw themselves at his feet to obey. He took several more swigs of scotch and dialed a phone number. “It’s Frank. I have a problem. I can’t get the money to you until Sunday.” “You do have a problem.” “Sunday. It’s a certainty.” He heard a heavy sigh. “Wasn’t it a certainty on Friday, too? I’ve been more than reasonable, Frank. I’ve been far more patient than I need to be. I want you to listen and I want you to listen well. It’s not my concern you have a gambling problem. It’s not my concern you’ve frittered away your millions in every God forsaken casino from here to the North Pole. From the way I see it, if your wife takes you to the cleaners in the divorce courts, you had it coming. I was generous enough to agree to a loan when you approached me. I’m a very busy businessman and I’m also a very wealthy one. I don’t take kindly to my offers of generosity being thrown back into my face time and time again. I don’t like the term Loan Shark; I think it degrades my sense of philanthropy. I prefer to think of myself as a benefactor to those who are too fucking stupid to know when to fold a dealt hand. Having said that, I’m not completely devoid of compassion. You can pay me two million on Sunday.” Frank collapsed into an armchair, awash with relief. “Thank you! Thank you. It’ll be there Sunday. I’ll call and let you know as soon as I’ve transferred it. I’ll let you get back to enjoying your evening.” “Not so fast, Frank.” Relief turned rapidly to nausea. “My compassion comes at a price. Two million will be in my bank account on Sunday. For my trouble, another five hundred thousand will be put into my account by Wednesday. If it’s not, a bullet will be lodged inside your brain by Thursday. Good night, Frank.”

Chapter Twenty

It was Wednesday morning and the phone rested in Alec’s hand ready for another call to Leanne. “Here we go again.” He rubbed his temples with his fingers and cringed the moment Leanne spoke. “It’s me. Is he home?” “He has football practice after school on Wednesdays. How are you, honey?” Jordan closed his eyes and shook his head. Alec’s face dropped and his hand ran through his hair, frustration obvious. “What the hell’s going on? Every time I’ve called all I’ve gotten is excuses!” “It’s not my fault you were busy last night. If I’d had your number I could have called and told you he had football practice until six-thirty on Wednesdays.” “You could’ve emailed me!” Time and again she fobbed Alec off while still encouraging him. It drove Alec to distraction and sent Jordan’s alert-o-meter even higher. “I didn’t have time to. This bitterness you have toward me, I won’t have you poisoning Jamie’s mind with it.” Flying off the bed like a greyhound, Alec’s frenetic pacing was matched with furious trembling and his voice was only one notch down from screaming. Jordan attempted to halt the angry striding with open arms and was decisively denied. This was the first time Leanne’s tone had switched from syrupy to antagonistic. “How dare you insinuate I’m going to poison Jamie’s mind?” “Alec, you’ve snapped at me, you’ve made nasty comments to me, I think my concerns are valid.” Falling back against the wall, Alec’s jaw hung open and his eyes flamed. “Your concerns are valid? Of course, it always has to be about you, doesn’t it?” “So far, Alec, you’ve been demanding and selfishly making this about you.” Jordan thought a punch in the stomach would have been just as cruel. “You bitch!”

“You might be Tyler Curtis now but that doesn’t mean you can be abusive to me expect me to tolerate it.” Clearly fighting the rasping breathing of angry anxiety, Alec shrieked into the phone loudly enough that Jordan ripped his handset away from his ear. “I have never made this about me! I’ve been without any family and I have a right to know my brother!” “I have a right to be treated with respect.” Jordan didn’t think it was possible Alec could shriek any louder. Alec proved him wrong. “No you don’t! Have you got any idea what I’ve been through? Any idea at all how much I suffered when Dad died?” Leanne sighed. “Why don’t you tell me? Yell at me and get it off your chest once and for all.” Alec could scream as loudly as he sang. “You’ve got no conscience at all, have you? The only person I ever had was Dad! When I was seventeen I had two cops tell me his car was wrapped around a tree! I had to sell off everything to make sure he at least got a decent funeral!” Alec’s anger and furious shouting mixed with crying. “Dad was everything to me! He loved me, he cared for me, and he looked after me! I couldn’t do it alone, but I had to! Until you’ve had countless seizures, lying in a heap on the floor covered in piss and vomit, trying to get up, don’t you dare tell me I’m being selfish! I never asked to be this famous! I’d give it all up in a second if I thought it’d help find a cure for this! I’d give it all up to have Dad back! You think being Tyler Curtis is easy? It’s been a fucked up nightmare! I’ve been so alone it was killing me! I don’t care about you or your feelings, Leanne. I only care about my rights to know Jamie and his rights to know me. Can I make it any clearer than that?” Jordan braced for a stinging counter attack. Instead they got sugar coating sugar. “No, honey, that’s clear enough. If I were there I’d wrap you in my arms.” “Shut up, Leanne! I’m going away with my partner and I won’t be back until tomorrow. Tell Jamie I’ll call tomorrow night and make sure he’s there!” *** Within the hour they were traveling toward the Cotswolds. As soon as they left the main city and drove through the countryside, Alec’s dark sunglasses came off and he pressed his face to the window. “If this cottage is isolated, where do we get the keys from?”

“The owners live in the village. We pick the keys up from them and our cottage is about a mile and a half from there.” “Jordan, how much did this cost?” “I’m not telling you.” First Jordan had bought engagement rings that were far from cheap and now he’d paid for a night away. Alec felt uncomfortable not paying for anything. “I don’t mind if we use my--” “I do! I don’t make the cash you make but I can afford to spoil you.” Despite his awkwardness Alec couldn’t deny it felt good to be in receipt of spoiling. “I’m buying our house, no arguments. Something understated, like a castle with a moat and a speedboat so you can get to the front door quickly!” *** The cottage was a humble building with a thatched roof, a garden ablaze with flowers, and nothing around it other than countryside. A kitchen, a bathroom, and one bedroom were all tucked cozily inside stone walls. The lounge room had a fireplace, comfortable sofas, and an upright piano. Every nook and cranny and every flower in the garden became the subject of Alec’s exploration. Jordan sat on the cottage steps and watched him plucking one flower after the other and holding them together in a bunch in his hand. The trip to the Cotswolds exactly what Jordan thought Alec needed, a chance to breath fresh air, wander around without fear of being recognized, and to spend time with only each other. The bunch of flowers grew in size and Jordan worried the garden would be barren by the time they left. Alec wove his way through the plants and toward the steps. When he reached Jordan, Alec held the bunch of flowers out to him. “They’re for you.” Jordan took them with a wide smile and a kiss. “Thank you! Take a seat on my lap.” A clear azure sky, with speckles of white clouds dotted above, was ideal and matched the pleasantly warm temperature and soft breeze. With Alec in his arms, and the tranquil surroundings, Jordan couldn’t remember feeling more peaceful. There were long bouts of conversation and long moments of comfortable silence. Jordan noticed the time -- it was one in the afternoon and neither of them had eaten since breakfast that morning. “Hungry?”

Alec’s head nodded against his chest. “Can we eat out here in the sun?” “Not far from here is Lower Slaughter.” Alec’s nose immediately scrunched up and he moved away. “I’m not eating anything slaughtered!” Jordan chuckled. “It’s a village. Said to be the prettiest village in England.” Alec jumped off Jordan’s lap and pulled him to his feet. “We can pack lunch and sit in a park. Like normal couples do.” “Are you sure? It is quiet but...” “I’ll keep my sunglasses on. Let’s go!” Nothing would sway Alec once the suggestion had been made and they were soon back in the car , traveling to the village of Lower Slaughter. From the moment it came into view Alec was enraptured. People walked around, all seeming busy doing their own thing, immersed in the picturesque beauty. A stream wound its way through the heart of the village and they followed it pasta small stone bridge. Alec pointed out a grassy spot to sit. The sun was warm, the breeze cool, and conversation unhurried. The longer they sat amidst the beauty of the sleepy village, the more they felt they fit in with the peacefulness. They were miles away from stress. Jordan scrunched up his lunch wrapper and eyed Alec who was half way through finishing. “You’re a slow eater.” Picking a piece of lettuce off the front of his shirt, Alec fed it to a duck and replied. “You’re a fast eater.” “I’m still hungry.” Alec peered over the top of his sunglasses. “It’s a good thing I’m rich or I’d never be able to afford to keep you fed.” “That’s right, my love, you’ll have to keep singing for my supper.” Jordan started to reach over to touch Alec when he noticed twin teenage girls approaching with their parents. “Shit! There’s people coming over, I’m pretty sure they know who you are!” “Don’t panic, I’ll handle it.”

Two thirteen-year-old girls shoved each other forward and retreated, obviously too nervous and excited to approach their idol. They tugged on their mother’s arm with wide eyes and desperate voices. Mum didn’t seem too keen to ask the notoriously ill-tempered Tyler Curtis, renown for never signing autographs, to make an exception for her twins. She left them standing with their father and made her way over with obvious anxiety. The closer she came, the more Jordan panicked. Alec, however, remained relaxed, feeding the ducks. The woman had no time to speak before Alec looked up, smiling. “Did you draw the short straw?” His warm, friendly smile evaporated her trepidation, and she laughed softly. “You could say that!” Alec put his lunch to one side and stood. “What are their names?” “Brenda and Sara.” She handed him the notepad and pen. He took it and then called out to the twins. “Brenda and Sara, get your butts over here!” They squealed and ran over, clinging as though conjoined, stopping short of getting too close, jumping up and down. Their excitement revved up into tears when Alec slipped his sunglasses to the top of his head. “Sorry, Tyler, discretion isn’t their strong point.” He laughed and began writing. “It’s not mine either!” Jordan noticed from Alec’s posture to the way he spoke, he was the professional celebrity. “I must admit, Tyler, I wasn’t eager to come over here.” “I can imagine, those ducks are voracious!” Mum laughed, Jordan laughed, and Dad, who’d made his way over, laughed. Alec held his arms out toward the twins. “Right, you two, seeing as you disturbed my lunch, I at least deserve a hug.” Dad separated them and pushed twin number one forward. She put her arms around Alec’s waist, shaking like an earth tremor. Once there she had to be peeled off by her parents and twin two was ushered forward.

She held on tight and found a voice. “Can we take a photo? Please?” “Sure! Do I look okay?” They squealed and he stood between them with an arm around each waist. Dad organized the camera and snapped the photo. Alec kissed them both on the cheek and shook their parent’s hands. Mum put her other hand over the top of Alec’s. “Thank you, you’ve been more than patient.” “You’re welcome, enjoy the rest of your day.” She smiled and began walking away. “You too, love.” For the rest of the afternoon Alec and Jordan wandered around Lower Slaughter, taking in the scenery and following the paths leading away from the tiny village center and into places both secluded and beautiful. By the time they’d made their way to the car they were ready to sit by a roaring fire, eat dinner, and have their privacy. Enough glow from the fire kept the room from complete darkness and saved them having to turn on the harsh false light. Alec handed Jordan a plate and they sat down by the hearth. Jordan pointed his fork at the piano. “After dinner I’ll play you a little number.” Alec’s eyebrows rose. “You didn’t tell me you played the piano!” “I don’t. I’ll play you a number anyway. I’ll sing for you.” “Aww!” Jordan shook his head. “More like ouch! Can’t hold a tune to save myself.” “I’ll play you a little number then. Something I wrote myself. If you want me to.” “I’d love you to!” After dinner Alec settled on the piano stool and Jordan reached for the light switch. “It’s okay, babe, I can see.” He flipped the lid up while Jordan stood behind him. “It probably hasn’t been tuned in forever so if it sounds awful it’s not my fault.” Fingers danced across the keys from one end to the other.

Alec peered up. “I stand corrected, it is tuned! This is a beautiful piano, would be worth a bit.” Aside from when he and Bec had attended the show, Jordan hadn’t heard Alec sing and certainly no one had ever heard a song Alec had written himself. Alec’s hands took their position on the keys. The notes began with a slow, light touch, with a melody Jordan found instantly bewitching. Alec sang with the same easy smoothness and lightness as the music, until after the chorus when his fingers began to hit the keys with more force, his voice got stronger, and the lyrics lost their sweet innocence. “Keep me breathing faster, hold me while you can. Heat me up and burn me ‘til I’m cinders in your hand. Take my body into Heaven, keep my soul on Earth. Tie me down and love me for everything its worth. I’m innocent and wicked, Sullied and sublime. Take my poison slowly, Drink me over time.” Jordan’s goose bumps doubled and his heart rate tripled, he was caught between feeling turned on by the lyrics and the way Alec sang them with his eyes closed and a gentle rocking motion on the piano stool, to feeling jealous over who’d inspired the song. “Force me into moaning, coerce me into sin. Catch me while I’m sighing then begin it all again. Cool me off with holy wine, keep it purely righteous. Then steam me up with hellfire and make it sacrilegious.” Jordan’s fingers squeezed Alec’s shoulders involuntarily. Each line saw the piano keys struck harder; Alec’s voice becoming grittier. Jordan’s blood pressure rose higher and his blue eyes widened even more. Alec eased off the keys and eased off the strength of his voice, until the last words were sung in a stage whisper. His hands left the keyboard and he sat, obviously waiting for Jordan to say something. Jordan cleared his throat and ran his hands down the outside of Alec’s arms, and he finally spoke. “Whoa!” “You liked it?” Alec closed the piano lid. “Yeah! I’m majorly turned on and insanely jealous.” Alec spun around on the stool and looked up. “Jealous? Why?” “Those lyrics, I want to castrate whoever inspired you write it!”

Dropping his head and laughing, Alec took hold of Jordan’s hands. “Don’t do that! I wrote it last night while you were asleep.” Jordan’s jealously and somewhat forced smile dissipated. Alec took hold of the waistband of Jordan’s jeans and tugged him gently forward. “I wrote it for you. About you.” Tears sprang into Jordan’s eyes from nowhere and he raised his hand quickly in a failed attempt to cover them. Alec lifted Jordan’s sweatshirt high enough to kiss his stomach, muscles contracting beneath his lips. Blinded by his hand over his eyes, the sensation of Alec’s tongue skimming under his navel became magnified. The fingers of his left hand ran through jet-black hair and down the side of Alec’s face, his right hand fell from his eyes and settled on the nape of Alec’s neck. Jordan dropped to his knees. Their mouths absorbed each other in a spellbinding seduction of tongues tasting tongues and lips tempting lips. Alec’s thighs parted and his legs wrapped around Jordan’s. With the height difference it set them in the perfect position to invite the urgent pressure of hips against hips. Gathering Jordan’s sweatshirt in his hands, Alec pulled it over Jordan’s head. Alec’s shirt was soon unbuttoned and on the floor with the sweatshirt. Alec placed his hands on Jordan’s chest and pushed slightly until Jordan complied and lay on the floor. Alec swung his leg over and sat astride Jordan’s pelvis. Alec’s dominance served to increase Jordan’s desire. He lowered his head to glide his tongue up the side of Jordan’s torso, a highly erogenous zone for Jordan. The glide of tongue on his sensitive skin was highly erotic from there Alec detoured up along Jordan’s chest, inducing a moan of pleasure when his warm breath mixed with moist lips. Alec took complete control, Jordan more than willing to let him. His tongue traced beneath Jordan’s top lip and slid into a kiss so deep Jordan felt Alec had disappeared inside him. The kiss ended and Alec sat back, his amber eyes locked onto Jordan’s and his fingernails lightly scraping down Jordan’s chest. He began rocking back and forth on Jordan’s pelvis in the same slow movement he’d used to rock on the piano stool. Alec may as well have hooked Jordan up to a continual flow of IV adrenalin. His hands gripped Alec’s waist and his breathing grew shorter by the second. Alec leant back further, his palms on the outsides of Jordan’s knees, using his arms to support himself and allow more pressure in the rocking. “Christ, Alec! If you keep this up I’ll come before you get my jeans off!” There was no reply, only a twitch of a smile in the corner of Alec’s lips and an upward flick of his eyebrow. There was a certain coarseness in what he did and it was matched by commanding eye contact and a dominant expression.

Without warning Alec stopped rocking. His expression didn’t change; his voice was husky and those intense gold eyes peered up through lowered lashes. “Maybe I should stop. Maybe I should do this instead.” His hips began a hard, grinding, circular motion. Jordan’s spine arched and his head bent back. “I’m not kidding, baby, I’m gonna come if you keep doing this!” Alec stopped, leaned forward, put his hands on either side of Jordan’s shoulders and leaned down until his face was centimeters from Jordan’s. “Maybe I should take our jeans off and try it that way.” This bawdy side of Alec’s nature hadn’t been revealed before aside from the safe confines of the stage. Jordan couldn’t deny it was hot, steamy, and very Curtis. Alec crawled on his hands and knees backward, halting at Jordan’s fly and unzipping the denim. Alec pulled his jeans to his ankles, took off his shoes and socks, and removed them completely. Leaving him lying naked on the floor, Alec calmly walked to the coffee table and grabbed Jordan’s wallet. He took a condom from behind a credit card and let the wallet fall to the carpet. Jordan thought all Alec needed was a Curtis CD blaring in the background and the scene would be set.. Alec kicked off his shoes and socks, undid the buttons of his jeans, the condom packet held between his teeth. He stood watching Jordan, no doubt easily able to see the trembling of anticipation Jordan couldn’t disguise. Taking the packet from his teeth, Alec took a step closer and pointed. “Do you know what I’m thinking?” He ran his foot up the inside of Jordan’s thigh, dipping his head and curling his lip. Unable to reply, Jordan shook his head. “No? That’s funny, ‘cause I know what you’re thinking.” Alec removed his jeans, got on his knees, and rolled the condom onto Jordan like he’d done it a hundred times. His hands moved over Jordan’s stomach and rested on his chest. “You’re thinking crude Tyler Curtis isn’t too bad after all.” One leg swung over and he was on all fours. Alec’s expression harsh, playing the part completely. Jordan’s hands grasped Alec’s waist, hungrily feeding on a salacious, hardcore kiss. Jordan imagined spiky hair and pagan jewelry that topped tight leather pants, high buckled boots, and artistically painted gothic makeup. A carnal moan from Jordan paired with the same moan from Alec. He closed his golden brown eyes, dropped his chin, and took a few moments to breathe deeply. When Alec opened his eyes they were heavy

lidded and he began rocking gently back and forth. His hands wrapped around Jordan’s forearms while Jordan kept his grip tight on Alec’s waist. When Alec spoke, his voice was husky and there was a gravel lilt to it. “Maybe I should do this now.” He let go of Jordan’s forearms and leaned back, his hands taking up position near Jordan’s knees. Jordan’s hands slipped from Alec’s waist and rested on the tops of his thighs. Alec braced his arms and pushed his hips down hard, guttural groan drowned out by the groan from Jordan. He continued to grind hard, his teeth gritted and his amber eyes burning. This was nothing like the other times they’d been together with soft whispered words and pleasurable lovemaking. This was raw, forceful, and it drove Jordan insane. “Holy shit, Alec!” Alec lowered his head, his teeth still gritting together, and his mouth in a coarse sneer. “You can call me Tyler.” He ground down so hard Jordan thought there’d be a hollow in the floor. “One day soon...” He stopped short, attempted to hide a shuddering moan, and found his voice again. “...maybe I’ll fuck you in the back of a limo.” Jordan’s fingers dug into Alec’s thighs. “Maybe we’ll fuck in my private jet, too. Would you like that, Jordan?” Jordan nodded rapidly, unable to reply. “Yeah. I bet you would.” Alec inhaled sharply, stopped grinding, let a few seconds pass, and then narrowed his eyes. “Almost! We don’t want it over too soon, do we?” This time Jordan shook his head rapidly side to side rapidly. Alec leaned forward, his hands going up over Jordan’s chest and down to his stomach. “Am I tight enough for you?” Jordan’s eyes widened. Alec had turned into a Curtis porn star complete with dirty talk. Where it had come from, Jordan didn’t know, but he wasn’t complaining. Jordan’s adrenalin hit over drive and no longer could he play the submissive party. He pushed up into a sitting position, one hand clamped behind Alec’s neck and the other clamped to the small of his back. A handful of Jordan’s hair was clutched between the fingers of Alec’s left hand and the fingers of his right hand gripped Jordan’s shoulder. Jordan’s hand slid from Alec’s back, over his butt and to his thigh. Amid hot, frantic kisses, Jordan barked an order into Alec’s ear. “Put your legs around my waist!”

Alec did as he was told, pushing backward and dislodging from Jordan as he repositioned his legs. He was off the floor before he had time to firmly cross and lock his ankles, and while Alec held on to keep himself from slipping, Jordan solved the problem by having him pushed hard against the wall. Alec’s grip on Jordan’s hair tightened and he gasped as Jordan entered him again. His back pounded rhythmically against the wall, making the fight to keep their mouths together almost impossible. With the grunts coming from Jordan and the moaning from Alec, the tiny cottage shook with untamed and wild sex. Jordan heard Alec take a sharp breath in, felt his back arc against the wall, and they both came hard. Alec’s body relaxed as he caught his breath and trembled, his entire weight left to Jordan to hold.. When Jordan didn’t speak, Alec cleared his throat and put his lips beside Jordan’s ear. “Grrrr!”

Chapter Twenty One

Alec looked out the car window and sighed. “Back to the real world.” They walked into the terrace house and Jordan took the bags upstairs. Bec sat lying on the sofa with Furball on her stomach, her ears plugged into an MP3 player. Alec pulled one of the buds out of her ear. She startled and almost dislodged the huge ginger cat. He scratched Furball under his chin and kissed his furry face. “Hello Furball, did you miss me?” Bec frowned and turned the MP3 player off. “That’d be right, scare the shit out of me and then smooch up to the friggen cat!” Alec reached over, scratched her under the chin and kissed her cheek. “Hello Beccy, did you miss me?” She smirked and he gave her a grin in return. “Did you enjoy your dirty night away?” Moving her legs aside he sat down and she immediately put her feet on his lap. “I did, thank you.” His hands tapped her bare shins. “Do you want to come with me to the show Saturday?” She scrambled into a sitting position, but her legs remained where they were. “Really? You mean like back stage and stuff?” “Uh-huh. Close your knees I’m seeing too much.” She brought her knees together quickly. “Why are you looking?” “Hard to miss when you’re sitting there like you’re giving birth!” With her knees clamped firmly together, Alec rested his arm on top of them. She sat wide-eyed with excitement; she was part of Tyler Curtis’ posse. “Oh my God! Are you taking Jordan?” His arm hung around her knees, his hand on her lower leg. “No I thought I’d leave him behind. Of course I’m taking Jordan!” “What if they guess he’s your boyfriend?” “We won’t be making out in the wings! Taylor will be coming with us, too. Beccy, you need to shave your legs.”

She shoved him, dropped her feet to the floor and reached for the cuff of his jeans. “Let’s have a look at how hairy your legs are, smart arse!” She pulled the jeans up past his sock and peered up. “Why are your legs hairless?” “Most dancers wax their legs.” She pushed the cuff of his jeans over his sock again. “Have you got a Brazilian?” His jaw dropped and he giggled. “No!” “I have! Wanna see?”

“No!” Jordan stood at the top of the stairs, chuckling softly. Jordan started down the stairs, shaking his head and grinning. Alec knew that after his raunchy behavior the night before it probably made his prudish side funnier. As long as it was with Jordan and behind closed doors, he was uninhibited and his lightening speed ability to learn music and dance held true for his ability to learn other things just as quickly. Other than that, as far as Alec was concerned, sex and nudity shouldn’t be discussed or seen. “Stop trying to show my fiancé your Brazilian!” Jordan flopped into an armchair. The banter between her and Alec continued until she suddenly stopped teasing him and threw a cushion at Jordan. “Mum called, she wants to know why you haven’t spoken to her since last Friday.” Alec tensed, but Jordan seemed unruffled. “What did you say?” “I told her you and Tyler Curtis had gone away for a night of passion and you’d call her when you got in.” Jordan nodded. “What did you really tell her?” “Said you were a prick and she should be used to you ignoring everyone for days.” “Good. Thanks.” She reclined into the sofa. “You’re welcome. Can we have pizza tonight?”

Jordan picked up the newspaper and began reading. “We can if you’re paying for it.” “I can’t. Tried to hit Mum up for some cash but she said no. Went to the ATM and it reckons my account’s overdrawn by twenty pounds! Then the arseholes go and take another thirty in fees ‘cos I’m overdrawn! Can you lend me fifty until I see Dad?” Alec’s gaze moved from Jordan to Beccy “Funny thing about ATM’s, Rebecca, they don’t give you money unless you have money to get. No I can’t lend you fifty, I’m still waiting for you to pay rent.” She moved her legs off Alec and stood in a huff. “I hate you, Jordan!” With that she took off up the stairs. Half an hour went by with Bec holed up in her room, Jordan reading the paper, and Alec watching a television game show. When the show ended he stood and stretched. “Just going to the loo.” Jordan replied from behind the pages. “Okay, honey” Alec jogged up the stairs, bypassed the bathroom, and knocked on Bec’s door. “If that’s Jordan, fuck off!” “It’s me.” “You can come in.” He walked in and closed the door. He took his wallet from his jacket pocket, opened it, and took out two one hundred pound notes. When she didn’t take them, he pushed them into her hand and closed her fingers around them. “Our little secret.” She shook her head, trying to pass them back to him. “Alec! I can’t... that’s two hundred pounds!” “I know, and if you tell Jordan he’ll kill me!” He took out another fifty. “And that’s to reimburse you for having to pay for a photo with me.” He gave her a wink, a kiss on the cheek, and walked out. For the remainder of the day Alec and Jordan lazed around on the sofa watching television and Bec’s mood switched to ecstatic. When stomach rumbles forced her to broach the topic of dinner, Alec offered to pay for the pizza and wouldn’t take no for an

answer. Eventually Jordan gave in and less than an hour later they all lay on the carpet around pizza boxes. Jordan none the wiser to Bec’s sudden change of temper and obviously interested enough to ask. When they finished eating, Jordan gathered up the boxes and took them straight outside into the garbage to avoid the house reeking later. Bec stood, held her hand out to help Alec to his feet, and her arms were around him in a tight embrace. “Thank you so much for the money. You really are the sweetest guy in the world.” He hugged her as firmly as she hugged him. “I’ll transfer some more into your account. You can’t live on nothing.” She eased away enough to peer into his eyes. “Really? You’d do that for me?” “Promise me you won’t go spending it on a shopping spree. Make sure your bills are paid, all that type of thing.” One hand pressed against the side of his face. “I promise. You have no idea how much I’d love to shag you.” He let her go with a playful shove. “Beccy!” “I’m only human!” He shook his head and laughed, picking up the glasses from the floor while she searched the CD collection for more music to put on. She pulled out a Tyler Curtis CD and held it up. “If I put this on will you sing for me?” When he said nothing she turned and the CD fell from her fingers. Alec stood, one hand reaching out, his body swaying. She rushed forward and grabbed his elbow. “Oh, my God! Are you okay? You’re not are you?” She screamed Jordan’s name. Alec stumbled to the side, the floor rolled under him in great waves and the walls looked as if they were breathing with a life of their own. No matter how many times Alec experienced the same aura, it was always terrifying. He soon lost his balance and lurched drunkenly. He knew he had to get down onto the floor. He knew he had to lie down before the seizure struck and took him down with it. He dropped to his knees, the room appearing to disappear into a vortex. Nausea eddied inside his stomach, washed up into his chest, and when he vomited onto the carpet the force of the retching saw his face slammed down into it.

Jordan shoved Bec aside in a frantic effort to reach him. One arm went under his waist while the other went beneath Alec’s face to lift him clear of the mess. “When did it start?” “Now! About ten seconds ago!” Even though his vision was distorted, and all ability to fight it had been lost, Alec still heard Bec’s gasps of horror and could feel Jordan’s arm around him. He knew he’d been sick, he knew his face had landed in it, and he knew it must now have been all over Jordan, too. Through it all he could hear Jordan speaking. “Lie down, honey, on your side. It’s okay, I’m with you.” With Jordan’s assistance he lay on his side, his head resting on a cushion he didn’t know was there until he felt it against his cheek. Gasping for air in between sobs had Alec coughing in reflex to drawing in vomit still in his mouth. In his bewildered panic and distress his head snapped back making matters worse. *** Time passed quickly and Jordan knew he had only seconds left to get Alec’s head positioned properly and his mouth clear. All while attempting to sound calm and in control. With gentle pressure, he eased Alec’s head forward; Alec’s gasping and spluttering hadn’t stopped. “Honey? Open your mouth, baby.” Alec was obviously unable to comply, and Jordan forced his mouth open as carefully as he could and swept two fingers inside. It had to be done rapidly and with the minimum of fuss as when the seizure took hold, Alec would bite down to the bone. With Alec’s mouth cleared, Jordan let go of Alec’s hand -- to leave it in Alec’s grip could very well break Jordan’s fingers. “I’m right here, my love, I won’t leave you.” There was a high-pitched stridor and Alec’s body went rigid. Bec screamed and a shudder of shock ran through Jordan at the sensation of Alec frozen like a corpse in the grips of rigor mortis. He wasn’t breathing, he wasn’t moving, and his lifelessness was a stark contrast to the trembling that had taken Jordan over. Bec screamed again when Alec began seizing. With Alec convulsing and Bec near to hysterics, Jordan shouted at her. “For Christ sake, shut up, Rebecca!”

His terrified yelling snapped her into action and she ran to Jordan’s side and put her arm around his shoulders. Even though they’d witnessed it on television it was completely different happening in their presence. Two minutes later the seizure ended. It felt like an eternity to Jordan. He took a handful of tissues from the box Bec held out to him. She was deathly pale and Jordan knew he himself was ashen “Can you get me a washcloth?” Bec returned quickly with a washcloth, a hand towel, and a small container of warm soapy water. Her eyes wandered to the wet patch on denim and the stain on the carpet. “Why was he sick? He wasn’t sick last time.” Jordan replaced the soiled cushion from beneath Alec’s head with a clean one. “Probably because he’d just eaten. The aura makes him nauseas.” She took hold of Alec’s hand. “Don’t be angry, Jordy, I’m only going to asking because I love you. Are you going to be able to cope with this? It’s going to be like this for the rest of his life.” Jordan squeezed his eyes closed. “What I have to cope with is nothing in comparison to what Alec deals with.” Asking no more questions, Bec offered to clean the mess downstairs while Jordan took Alec upstairs. Alec’s soiled clothes were removed and pajamas put on him. Gentle coaxing and soothing words calmed the tears and once Jordan made sure Alec’s medication had been taken, he lay down beside his lover and held Alec until he fell into a deep sleep. Jordan knew something had to be done and it had to be done soon. Somehow Alec had to receive the medical treatment he desperately needed. Alec’s third seizure in the span of six days had Jordan’s apprehension hitting a crescendo. Bec peered tentatively inside the bedroom door. “How’s he doing?” “Sleeping.” She walked further into the room and crouched beside the bed. Her fingers ran down the side of Alec’s face and she spoke in a whisper. “It’s eleven-thirty, I’m going to bed now. If you need me, wake me.” He gave her a grateful smile and tightened his arm around Alec. “I will. Thanks.”

She petted her brother’s leg with a nod. “Night, Jordy.” She leaned in and kissed Alec on the brow. “Night sweetie.” By two in the morning Jordan was still awake and, among other things fighting for priority in his mind, was the issue of Leanne. Alec had promised to call, but hadn’t been able to due to the seizure. It could very well be the ammunition Leanne needed to stall the contact between Alec and his brother even longer. Jordan didn’t want to go ahead and step in without Alec’s permission, but he couldn’t just leave it. Alec had missed one phone call the night Taylor had been invited for dinner and it had resulted in Leanne’s attitude switching dramatically even though a message of explanation had been left. Jordan climbed out of bed. The phone was already on Jordan’s bedside table in case of Alec fell ill in the night. Jordan picked it up and retrieved the slip of paper with Leanne’s number from on top of his laptop, going into the hall. He’d tell Leanne he called on Alec’s behalf and that Alec couldn’t call himself until later. He’d say no more than that. Through the quiet of the night he heard a recorded message. “The number you are calling is no longer in service.” His heart skipped a beat and he quickly redialed, hoping he’d pressed a wrong digit. “The number you are calling is no longer in service.” None of it made sense. She’d broached Alec with news of a brother, stalled and stalled again, had never asked for money, and now disconnected her phone line. Alec had certainly gotten angry the last time they spoke, but it didn’t seem enough to warrant this extremity. Even if Jordan tried to convince himself the line could have been cut due to an unpaid bill, it still didn’t ring true to him. He stepped back into the bedroom and watched Alec deep in sleep while he thought over what to do next. He put the phone down and flipped open the notebook computer. While it booted into life, he grabbed a notepad and pen. Alec hadn’t stirred; his post-seizure sleep was deep and heavy. Jordan stared at the screen and although he planned on tracking down as much on Leanne as he could, he hoped he found nothing. She’d been up to no good from the start, only he could never put his finger on what exactly she was working toward. Starting with the most obvious, he typed Leanne Tyler in Google and hit search. It returned over half a million results and nothing held any resemblance to Alec’s mother. Leanne Tyler, like Alec, had no middle name so he couldn’t narrow the search any further. He typed in ‘Australian background check’ and hit search. He chose the first website at the top of the page and clicked the link. To access the program, one that allowed a comprehensive history check, would cost ninety Australian dollars. Jordan reached for his wallet and took out his credit card. The payment cleared and in front of him Jordan had the key to everyone’s records from address to terrorist search. He had Leanne’s name, her now defunct phone number, and state of residence Victoria Australia. He typed this in. The page loaded with an alternate result and gave an option for a Leanne Silverton with the matching phone number. When he went to the next page it loaded a small photograph in the top left hand corner. He moved closer to the screen and read the information beside the picture, statistics telling nothing other than basics. Leanne was an extremely attractive woman with shoulder length dark brown hair and crystal blue eyes.

Although Jordan had thought Alec took after his father, he could see the resemblance to his mother’s soft features. Beside this benign information were options to perform a more in-depth search. He began at the top link marked ‘birth, death, marriage, and divorce’. The page loaded. Leanne had married again two years after leaving Seth Tyler to a man by the name of Bryan Silverton. The marriage lasted four years. Jordan chose the asset search next. Although Leanne had no financial assets to speak of there were no bankruptcy declarations either and nothing seemed amiss. He bypassed business records and chose the link revealing closest relatives, hoping some mention would be made of Jamie. The list began with Leanne’s parents, through to two sisters, and finally to the names of her children. Alec Tyler was listed first, Jamie Silverton second. Jordan narrowed his eyes. Leanne had made a point of telling Alec one of the things resulting in Jamie’s questions over his famous brother was the ‘Tyler’ name link. It was improbable if Jamie went by the surname Silverton. Jordan clicked the link beside Alec’s name, curious to see whether or not information could just as easily be obtained on him. When the page loaded it simply stated ‘information withheld’. Jordan breathed a sigh of relief. At least Alec couldn’t be tracked down by a simple credit card payment. He hit the back button and the link beside Jamie’s name. This time the page stated ‘information unavailable on minors’. He typed in Bryan Silverton and read all the available information in the same order he’d read Leanne’s, Bryan Silverton was an average man with no criminal record and a secure bank balance. He had two daughters aged twenty-three and twenty-six from his first marriage. Jordan’s hand left the keyboard and covered his mouth. Bryan Silverton had been granted full custody of his stepson six years ago. Suddenly the benign information on Leanne began to turn. If Jamie didn’t live with her, he probably hadn’t been there any time Alec had called. She’d been spinning a web of lies from the onset, just as Jordan thought she’d been doing. Possibly the only way to get to the truth, and finally allow Alec to speak to his brother, was to contact Bryan Silverton. But it didn’t solve the mystery of why Leanne had made contact, lied, and now had her phone number disconnected.

Chapter Twenty Two Bec tucked a blanket around Alec’s legs, handed him the television remote control, and patted him on the head. “There you go! Rest up and I’ll make you breakfast.” She hadn’t stopped fussing since he’d woken, despite being reassured he felt fine and didn’t need to spend the day lying on the sofa. Embarrassed over the night before, Alec never the less felt his humiliation lessened as the messy details were left unspoken. Jordan’s arms and reassurance when Alec woke had worked wonders. A morning cooking show neared its end and Alec watched the chef serve up the finished product. Bec returned with two slices of toast and a cup of coffee. Jordan emerged from the upper level. Jordan sat and placed Alec’s feet on his lap. All chatter stopped when the morning news telecast centered around Tyler Curtis. Alec and Jordan peered at the screen with slack jaws and Bec peered with wide eyes. The anchor began his report with a disbelieving smile. “It seems Tyler Curtis was captured on camcorder in, of all places, the village of Lower Slaughter on Wednesday afternoon.” The screen showed shakily filmed footage while the anchor continued his voiceover. “Casually dressed, and without his signature gothic attire, Curtis willingly signed autographs for two teenage girls while chatting and laughing with their parents. He then posed for a photograph with the girls and sent them on their way with hugs and kisses.” The footage ended and the anchor’s smile partnered with eyebrows high into his hairline and an obviously adlibbed comment. “Will wonders never cease!” Jordan and Alec stared wordlessly at one another until Alec broke the hush. “At least they didn’t get you on there. That would’ve been a nice shock for your Mum and Dad!” Jordan’s expression turned guilty. “I should’ve known that’d happen. It’s a tourist place, people wander around with camcorders all the time.” Alec prodded him in the stomach with his toe. “Babe, I couldn’t have staged better footage! Being caught off guard, doing that, it’s fantastic! It couldn’t have got any better if Curtis sprouted wings and a halo!” Around lunch time Bec finally decided to have a shower and dress, leaving Alec and Jordan alone Jordan turned the television volume down and took a deep breath. “Honey, I have some bad news.” Alec’s face fell. “Bad news about what?” While Jordan filled him in on everything he’d learned, Alec’s emotions switched from shock, to anger, to distress, and back again. Like Jordan, he knew the only way to track

down Jamie now was through Bryan Silverton and, like Jordan, he too couldn’t put a finger on what Leanne had been up to. Alec tapped his teeth with his fingernail while he thought everything through. He edged forward on the sofa and wrapped his hands around Jordan’s. “For the courts to award full custody to a non-biological parent she must’ve done something pretty bad.” Jordan nodded and then shrugged. “Unless she handed those rights over. Abandoning Jamie like she did you.” “What about the photograph of her with him?” One step forward and nine steps backward. “True. Which means she at least had visitation rights. Then again, that doesn’t necessarily mean she didn’t hand Jamie over willingly. She could’ve been prepared to have that kind of distant relationship. Let’s face it, she’s not cut out to be a mother, is she?” Alec shook his head slowly and climbed onto Jordan’s lap. “Why have her number disconnected? If she didn’t want to talk to me she only had to hang up when I called.” “I didn’t sleep at all last night trying to figure it out. Nothing makes sense.” Alec’s fingers tracked through Jordan’s hair, followed up by a kiss and his hand settling at the nape of Jordan’s neck. “You should lie down and get some sleep. You’re exhausted.” “I can’t, honey, there’s the not so small matter of getting you in to see a doctor. You can’t keep going through seizures like last night several times a week.” Akec;s fingers twined a strand of Jordan’s hair. “I’ve decided on Monday, after the charity show is over and done with, I’ll... I’m not sure how to go about it, really. I suppose I’ll phone a neurologist’s clinic and ask.” Climbing off Jordan’s lap, Alec stood and held out his hand. “Come on, you need to sleep. It’s too late in Australia to call Bryan anyway.” Taking the hand offered, Jordan rose to his feet. “I’ve got six numbers to sort out for tomorrow night and I haven’t done a thing about it.” He led Jordan away from the sofa and toward the stairs. “Can I borrow your computer?” “Course you can. Can you work in our room and keep me company?” They walked up the stairs together. “Course I can.”

Despite his obvious doubts and worries, Jordan fell asleep not long after his head hit the pillow. Alec sat beside Jordan with the laptop on his legs and his email program open. He’d hoped to find another email from Leanne, something else to go on, but there was nothing. He did find an email from Frank dated as sent the night before. He held his breath and opened it. It read, ‘If you don’t show your face on that stage Saturday night I’ll hunt you down and have your head mounted on a board on my wall! In case you’ve forgotten, you’re scheduled to be on at ten o’clock. The numbers you’re performing are as follows...’ Alec jotted the names of the songs down on a notepad, smirking and he mumbled, “Thanks Frank! You’ve saved me an afternoon of last minute panicking.” He put the pen down and kept reading the predictable insults until he reached the end of the email and sighed. He hit the reply icon and typed, ‘Thank you for organizing the song list, I’ve been so busy wandering around quaint English villages I’ve barely had time to think about the charity event. I would have picked you up a souvenir, but I was signing autographs and kissing fans. It kept me away from the stores. The sacrifices of being rich and famous, you know how it is. I haven’t forgotten the charity show and I do remember my scheduled time is ten Saturday evening. I’m sure I’ll see you there, however it’s really not necessary. Sincerely, Alec.’ Chuckling to himself, Alec was about to hit send when he added extra. ‘PS: If you did have my head mounted on a board and stuck on your wall it surely would be a very pretty addition to the décor. There was something else I wanted to tell you... oh, what was it... that’s right, I remember... FUCK YOU!’ He hit send before he a chance to reconsider. From the list of six songs, Alec crossed out one. There were seven members in the band he’d toured with and, due to Frank keeping him isolated and silent, Alec had never been on speaking terms with any of them. He knew all their names, but had no contact details. He quickly searched the online white pages, not expecting them to be listed and was proved right in his assumptions. From what he could remember, overhearing backstage gossip, one of the two drummers had a sister by the name of Eliza who lived in Somerset. Alec put a search in for Eliza Sheriff and came up with two. He took the phone from near his legs and dialed the first, she answered swiftly. “Hi! Is that Eliza?” She agreed it was and he inquired as to whether she had a brother by the name of Stephen. She didn’t and the call was ended with a polite “sorry to bother you”. The quicker the call was over, the less chance there was she’d recognize his voice. He dialed the other number and she too answered the phone swiftly. “Hi! Is that Eliza?” She agreed and again he inquired about Stephen. When she informed him she did have a brother by the name of Stephen, Alec beamed at how easy it had been.

“I’m trying to get hold of Stephen’s phone number, mobile preferably. You wouldn’t be able to help me out, would you?” When she replied her voice was not much more than a whisper. “Is this... it is isn’t it... are you... it is you isn’t it?” Alec knew he had a speaking voice that left no room for mistaken identity. “Yeah, you’ve got me! It’s Tyler speaking, I don’t have Stephen’s number and I need to get in touch with him before tomorrow.” “Oh God! I’ll give you his mobile number.” He jotted down the number on the notepad. “Excellent! Thank you Eliza.” She blurted out a nervous question. “Before you go, how are you? Are you feeling better?” A smile spread across his face. “Feeling much better, love, thank you for asking.” “Good! Well, it’s been nice talking to you. Take care, okay?” His smile broadened. “I will. You take care, too. Thanks again.” He ended the call with a happy shrug. It seemed the seizure hadn’t resulted in people being repelled, only concerned. He dialed Stephen’s mobile number, kissing Jordan’s sleeping face while he waited for his call to be answered. When it was, he straightened up and settled against the pillows. “Hi Stephen, it’s Tyler Curtis calling, how are you?” Never before had band members received a sideways glance let alone a friendly phone call from him “Er, fine! What can I do for you, Tyler?” Alec clearly heard Stephen’s reserve. “I’m calling about tomorrow night. I’m dropping one number from the song list. Have you got a pen handy?” He heard a rustling in the background. “Yep. Go ahead.” “Can you confirm what you have listed as the order?” Stephen knew it from memory and it matched with what Frank had emailed.

“Okay, the last one is the one I’m dropping. I know this is last minute, I’m sorry, but really need your help.” “Sure. Shoot.” “I don’t want to make you feel unwanted but I won’t need you for six and we’re on at eight not ten.” There was a confused pause. “Are you sure? You’re advertised at ten.” “I’ve pulled a swiftie! It’s all hush hush though so it’s only between me and you guys. Is that alright?” Like everyone else, surely Stephen had no idea why surly Tyler Curtis had suddenly changed. Yet he chatted on the phone as though they were old friends. “Yep. Fine. I’ll sort it out this end.” “You’re an angel, thanks.” Alec couldn’t see the expression of astonishment on Stephen’s face at that comment, but he had a feeling it was there “One more thing, sorry to be a nuisance, but I need a grand piano or a baby grand. Any way you could swing that for me?” “Do you need someone to play it?” “No, I’ll take care of that bit.” “Consider it done. Anything else?” It all ran as smooth as treacle. “Nope, that’s about it! Thank you so much, Stephen, I really appreciate it. Oh, and under no circumstances is Frank to know any of this. If you happen to talk to him, any of you, you haven’t heard from me and nothing’s been changed.” “No problem. Can’t stand the prick anyway! By the way, I saw the footage of you at Lower Slaughter and you looked well, but are you okay?” Another genuine inquiry over his health and Alec was touched. “Much better. Thank you for asking.”

Jordan slept for the next five hours and during that time Alec remained beside him. Although reading a novel, most of the sentences weren’t absorbed as his mind wandered to other things. Nerves crept in regarding his performance the next night. He knew the songs, he knew he didn’t need hours of rehearsing to give it his best, but it would be the first time he’d fronted for an audience since the press conference and it released butterflies in his stomach. When he tried to stop thinking about the show, thoughts of Leanne, Jamie, and Bryan Silverton invaded his mind. Mainly concerns as to how to phone Jamie’s stepfather and introduce himself. Even though Tyler Curtis had literally caused raised eyebrows with a new attitude, there were two years of past rumors to overcome. Alec knew, if he were in Bryan’s shoes, he more than likely would refuse a request to speak to Jamie, at least until sure intentions were good. If that turned out to be the case, and Alec had to prove those intentions, he was willing to do it. Jordan woke at five thirty that afternoon and long talks ensued over the right way to contact Bryan and the best way to ask to speak to Jamie. The topic was laid aside over dinner and raised again as time ticked toward seven-thirty AM Australian time. Pacing around the bedroom with the phone in his hand, Alec psyched himself up to calling. He stopped, took a deep breath, and dialed the number. An answering machine picked up and Alec’s shoulders slumped. He hung up without leaving a message. Responding to the questioning blue eyes peering at him, Alec shrugged. “Answering machine. Apparently he’s gone away for a few days.” His disappointment transferred to Jordan. “Did he say when he’d be back?” “Sunday night. Should I leave a message?” “As long as the message isn’t too in-depth, I couldn’t see a problem with it. So you may as well. Give him my mobile number.” Alec nodded and redialed. He waited for the beep and then spoke. “Umm... hello. My name’s Alec Tyler. I’m calling because...” He faltered and stumbled for words. “I only learnt about Jamie a few days ago. I found out he doesn’t live with Leanne, he lives with you. She had her number disconnected. Umm... I’d like to know my brother. If you can please contact me I’d be very, very grateful.” He left Jordan’s mobile number, said his thank you's, and hung up. *** It was three-fifteen in the morning and to avoid waking Jordan with his restlessness, Alec silently left the bedroom and wandered downstairs. He warmed a glass of milk in the microwave and sat on the floor in the darkness of the lounge room. He heard footsteps on the stairs and grimaced, feeling guilty for having woken Jordan despite trying not to. “Are you okay?” The voice whispering from behind him belonged to Bec.

He whispered a reply. “Yes. I couldn’t sleep. Did I wake you?” “No. Came down for a glass of water. Do you need an ear?” Even though he shook his head, she sat down opposite him. The lights remained off, their surroundings dark. “I might be a bimbo but I can be a good listener.” He smiled. “I don’t want to go back to it all, Beccy.” Her hands wrapped around his and they sat so close their knees touched. “You’re not thinking of quitting, are you?” The deflation in Bec’s posture echoed in her tone. “I don’t know what I want. I don’t think I’m cut out to be a celebrity. Some people love the limelight. I’m not one of them. I’m so confused.” She squeezed his hands. “There’d be a lot of sad people if you did quit. Me included.” “I don’t want to quit, that’s the thing. I want a separation from it all. I want to be able to walk off stage, go home, be with Jordan and have some normalcy. Wednesday was a perfect day. Aside from the autograph thing, it was me and Jordan and normal. Now I’ve felt all this I can’t let it go. There’s a lot going on at the moment. Personal stuff. I feel like I’m going to explode if one more thing goes wrong. It’s like everything I have, and feel, with Jordan is right. He’s my center of calm in the cyclone going on around me. I feel everything crumbling and he tells me it’ll be okay and I believe him. But my center of calm, Beccy, it’s so, so tempting to stay there and block everything else out.” Letting go of one of his hands, she reached over and ran her fingers down his face. “Do you know what I think? I think you need to take time off. All your fans will wait for you. Do you know what else?” He shook his head. “I love you. I know exactly why Jordan fell for you.” They were unexpected and heartfelt words, taking Alec off guard. “I love you, too, Beccy. You’re crazy but I love you!” “What I’m yet to figure out is why you love Jordan!” It was a typical sisterly comment, delivered with a smile. She patted him on the leg. “Go to bed and get some sleep. It’s not that I haven’t enjoyed sitting out here talking to you but, between you and me, you reek of sex!”

Chapter Twenty Three Alec drove with Jordan in his car to the hotel and Bec rode with Taylor. Repeating the escape in the opposite way, Jordan escorted Alec half way up the alley. From there Alec sprinted to the stairwell and disappeared. Nine flights of stairs were left in his wake, his pace never slowing from the first stair to the last. He opened the door to the top floor and peeked into the hall. An older woman waited near the elevators, aside from that the coast was clear. Alec jogged to his suite, swiped the key card, and walked inside. He took his mobile from his pocket and phoned Jordan. “I’m inside. Are you with Taylor and Bec?” So far so good and Alec calmed down. “Don’t forget to call me before you reach the door so I know it’s you.” He ended the call and reached for the hotel phone, dialing the concierge directly. “Yeah hi, Tyler Curtis speaking. Was a key to my room given to my manager at any point since Monday?” Gary admitted it had been, but also assured him it had been taken out of Frank’s possession. “Under no circumstance is he to be given a key to my room again, is that clear?” There were apologies and promises not to repeat the offence. “If there are genuine concerns for my health in future, call an ambulance.” His mobile rang, and he opened the door to let Jordan, Bec, and Taylor inside. Knowing he’d avoided Frank, and having three people with him as support, Alec calmed considerably. Even if Frank realized he was inside the suite, Frank couldn’t get in, and no matter how many times he knocked on the door it wouldn’t be opened. Prepared to call security if it came down to that, all would be relatively straight forward from now on until it was time to head for the limousine. Jordan and Taylor sat in the lounge and Bec roamed around the lush suite in awe. On the off chance plans had to be altered quickly, Alec dressed for the show. He stood in the massive marble bathroom, cursing an eyebrow ring that refused to comply. A few more tries and finally it gave in. He went through a drawer near the sink and removed the rest of the jewelry needed to finish the look. Inside the bedroom he went through the wardrobe and took out his outfit for the night. His jeans were taken off and high shine leather pants put on. He took a pair of boots out next and pulled them onto his feet. They stopped just under his knees and had chunky burnished silver buckles up the outside. He opted for a close fitting heavy black fabric top synched with straps and buckles from the sides to the centre and up to his chest. It was topped off by straps from the wrists, straightjacket style. Out of all Curtis’ clothes it was the one Alec despised because of its

unmistakable bondage element. With Jordan it mind, it seemed like a whole lot of teasing fun. Bec called out from the bedroom door, a menu in her hand. “Hey, Alec?” “You can come in, I’m decent.” She walked into the bedroom, keeping clear of the robe. “Do we have to pay for room service?” “Yes, it’s not free, Beccy!” When he stepped into the bedroom from the bathroom, her eyes left the menu and her cheeks flushed. She’d gotten to know him as informally dressed Alec, and obviously to see him dressed like this steamed her blood. The rushed Curtis look with lace and feathers hardly compared. “You don’t expect me to pay for everyone, do you?” She didn’t reply. She simply stood staring with the menu in her hand. He ambled over, thinking her star struck expression highly amusing and wanting to string her along. He ripped the menu from her hand and tossed it aside. Taking her completely by surprise, he then grabbed her around the waist and threw her onto the king sized bed. When he crawled over the mattress, straddled her and held her wrists down, she erupted in a fit of hysterical giggles, which grew louder as he playfully mauled her neck. Alec let her go and climbed off. She sat up and straightened her hair. “You’re a freak!” “Of course I’m going to pay for room service, you dopey redhead! Get off my bed before you make it smell like girly germs.” When Bec walked out still giggling, Jordan’s eyes bypassed her and rested on Alec. It looked like he was struck as mute as Beccy’d been, but Alec imagined it was for different reasons. Remembering he’d forgotten to pack his medication, Alec spun on his heel and disappeared. *** Taylor hurled a cushion at Jordan. “Hey! Close your mouth!” His mouth snapped closed. “Not that I blame you, he packs a nice parcel in those pants, doesn’t he? And I’m quite sure I’ve never seen a cuter arse than that one.”

Far more relaxed around Taylor than his staunch behavior when first introduced, Jordan raised his eyebrows and smirked. “That’s my fiancé you’re talking about!” “Yeah I know, you lucky bastard!” Alec’s raunchy display at the cottage was fresh in Jordan’s mind and now that Alec was dressed the part he was eager for an encore. When Alec returned, he sat in Jordan’s lap and the tips of Jordan’s fingers snuck beneath the waistband of leather pants until there was a knock at the door. Alec went to get the door, but he stopped before opening it and called out. “Who is it?” “Room service.” “Password?” Rather than accidentally opening the door to Frank, Alec had all bases covered. “Furball.” Alec giggled and opened the door. Glasses were taken into the kitchen for a refill and Jordan jumped at the chance for a private moment. He stood and watched while Alec bent over and looked inside the fridge. He put his hands on Alec’s hips and pressed in against him. “I hope that’s you, Jordan!” Alec took out a bottle of cola and a carton of orange juice, and turned around. “You look sizzling hot! If it were only you and me, I’d be taking advantage of you.” The cola and orange juice were set aside on the counter. Alec put his hands on the surface and, in one easy spring off those gothic boots, sat on the counter. He kept his hands where they were and pulled Jordan close by wrapping his legs around him and enticing him forward. “You can take advantage of me later, but you can kiss me now.” *** Taylor put her hands on her hips and peered sideways at Bec. “Fancy hotel like this and they can’t even count! We’re a fork short.” She put the cutlery next to the plates and headed toward the kitchen, stopping dead at the door and wondering whether she should throw a bucket of water over them. Alec’s legs were wrapped around Jordan’s waist and his ankles were crossed to keep Jordon in a lock

hold. Jordan’s hands were working to find a way in through all the buckles while Alec’s hands were clamped behind Jordan’s head. Taylor couldn’t tell who’s tongue belonged to whom. “Ahem!” Alec leapt off the bench, going straight for the cola bottle as though it would make Taylor think she’d seen nothing. “I’m looking for a fork, it seems you two are looking for a fuck!” She laughed, Jordan laughed, and Alec stared, gold eyes wide. “We weren’t doing... stuff!” She winked at him and walked over, patting him on the back between the shoulders. “It’s alright, I know you weren’t really going to do each other like a couple of horny rabbits while we were in the next room.” His eyes couldn’t have been any wider and his jaw gaped open. “Taylor! That’s just... crude!” Jordan handed her a fork, she took it and then tapped Alec on the brow with it. “You’re a funny little thing! Come on, food’s getting cold.” *** They spent the rest of the afternoon watching the live telecast of the charity show and sitting around chatting. By four o’clock Alec started to get restless and edgy, by five he was pacing, and by seven he physically trembled with nerves. He clutched a small bag of personal items to his chest. Taylor put her head out the door, looking up and down the hall. “All clear.” Alec and Jordan took off first, heading toward the stairwell. Bec followed, and Taylor closed the door, coming after them. When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Alec placed the call to Isaac and Taylor waited outside in the alley. When the limousine came into view, Isaac parked as closely to the stairwell door as possible. Taylor opened the car door, the stairs door, and they piled into the car one after the other. They drove away without a hitch. Clear of the hotel and fans, Alec tapped on the privacy screen separating the back and front seats. It lowered and Alec’s arms went around Isaac’s neck in a hug. “Hello!”

Isaac kept his eyes on the road, took one hand off the wheel, and petted Alec’s arm. “Hello!” Isaac went back to concentrating on the road as Alec settled beside Jordan. For most of the drive Alec clutched Jordan’s hand and Bec drank champagne from the mini bar. “Where does the limo drop us off? Won’t there be fans and stuff everywhere?” Alec glanced away from the dark tinted window and shook his head. “There’s a section fenced off, the performers get dropped off there.” Bec pouted, crestfallen and tipsy. “Bugger! There won’t be any screaming fans and all that superstar shit?” “There might be people at the perimeter fence I guess. It depends how it’s been set up. Beccy, if you drink anymore you’ll be pickled.” She took another tiny bottle of champagne from the fridge and popped the cork. “I can hold my booze. What happens when we get inside?” She cast aside the glass and drank straight from the bottle. “Someone will take us to my dressing room. Bec, stop drinking!” “Why?” Jordan leaned across and removed the bottle from her hands. “Because Alec doesn’t want some sloshed slapper staggering along after him.” The glass divider between the front and back of the limousine came down again and Isaac interrupted. “Looks like a big crowd near the gates, it could get a bit rough.” Alec nodded and exhaled a long breath. “A bit rough means there’ll be people throwing themselves at the car.” Bec clasped her hands together with excitement. “Excellent!” “Hardly, it can get pretty scary actually.” Isaac spoke into a hands free set attached to his mobile phone. “Bringing in Tyler Curtis.” They only moved forward a few inches and the car swamped with people hammering the windows. They had no idea who sat inside, but were prepared to risk their lives pressing

their faces against the glass in hopes they’d see. Alec flinched every time someone else hit the windows with their hands and fists until they’d passed through the mob and into the section of fenced off ground. The gates closed behind them and eager fans surrounded the fences in the hopes of catching a glimpse of one of their idol’s arriving. The area was floodlit and as bright as the middle of the day. Isaac pulled up behind a line of limousines, turned in his seat and looked over. “Looks like they’ve set it up for the fans and press at the fences. You’re going to have to walk a bit to the entrance.” Alec took deep, calming breaths, his hand clenched around Jordan’s. “Right, umm, if you can get out first through Bec’s side and, umm, then I’ll get out.” They all nodded. Alec ran his hands down his thighs, kissed Jordan, and the three climbed out the right side of the limousine. Isaac turned in his seat. “Alec, can I have a minute?” He leaned over the divider, one arm curling around Isaac’s neck. “He really does love me.” Isaac’s lips pursed. “He’d better. Break a leg tonight.” Alec opened his door, took a few seconds to compose himself, and then stepped out. The crowd of people surged forward against the fence with so much force Alec thought the entire thing would cave. From the nerves eating Alec alive, emerged the confident Tyler Curtis. Both arms lifted into the air to wave to the crowd. Deliberately taking hold of Alec’s arm to make the girls green with envy, Bec strutted beside him while Jordan and Taylor walked on Alec’s other side. They entered through a double door and were met by several bodyguards with headsets and grim faces. Alec halted in his tracks at the sight of too many people milling back and forth with backstage passes. The area should have been cordoned off, but that hadn’t occurred. Two bodyguards positioned themselves on either side of Alec, nudging the other three out of the way with barely a glance. “Head down, Mr Curtis, lean in, and we’ll get you through as quickly as possible.” He dropped his head. It wasn’t something done to hide his face from view but a safety measure should people get too close. He leaned into the beefy bodyguard. His arm went around Alec’s shoulders and they took off at a jog. Most of the people stood behind a flimsy roped off section and easily jumped it the moment Tyler Curtis came into view. Five girls lunged forward and were pounced on by security. One of the girls fell but didn’t let it deter her, taking a hold of Alec’s ankle and causing him to stumble and trip. Saved from falling by the bodyguard, he was pushed forward even faster. It was insane

and he couldn’t believe there hadn’t been better safety measures to protect not only him, but also all the rest of the performers subjected to the same kind of thing. They left the open indoor area, went through another door, and into a quiet hall. The bodyguard let go and Alec straightened his clothes. “That was ridiculous! What happened to no public in that area?” Obviously shocked Tyler Curtis had spoken to him, and no doubt even more shocked the tone in his voice was surprised not angry, the bodyguard replied with a shrug. “Not really sure, we’re not too happy about it either.” “I bet! Is it a free run from my dressing room to the stage?” The bodyguard was so tall Alec barely came up to his elbow. “To the stage it is. Only performers are allowed in this area but you’ll find press and people with passes backstage.” They halted by a door with ‘Tyler Curtis’ printed on the front inside gold star. Alec pointed to it. “That’s a bit silly.” The security guards gave each other a round of glances. Bec replied. “Why?” “It’s a charity show! Why waste money on that type of thing for everyone?” The seven foot bodyguard took a chance and spoke. “No one else has one.” “You’re kidding! It’s only me? I feel like a wanker!” Alec blushed at the display. Taylor opened the door and they all filed in. In the instant the dressing room door closed, they heard the two security guards laugh and one say t. “Christ knows what’s got into that kid lately but it beats the arsehole he used to be!”

Chapter Twenty Four Red lights spelled ‘Tyler Curtis’ across the width of the stage. It created a roar of deafening applause and, like the fans at the fence line, a surge of people pushed toward the front. When Alec’s silhouette appeared, in the god on the top of Mount Everest pose he was known for, the surge of people became crushing. Bec stood in the wings squealing and Jordan stood holding his breath. The lights hit Alec full on, the crowd frenzied, and he belted out the first line with the strength and force they exalted him for. Whether Alec prepared for the show or not, it made no difference, his performance went as slickly as always. He didn’t miss a note, he didn’t miss an impromptu dance step; he missed nothing. Jordan was filled with pride and, even though he knew Alec as the one he loved and was going to marry, he felt the awe of everyone around him. They were in the presence of greatness and not a soul dared dispute it. Jordan intermittently took his eyes off the stage and watched one of the massive screens. Two numbers down and Alec moved into the third. The further Alec went into his set the more Jordan realized it was all Curtis. There were no smiles into the cameras, only leering and sneering. No audience interaction and no friendly chatter. Where other male performers would look ridiculous doing the things Curtis did, Alec always made it look one hundred percent sexy. Whether it was because Alec was no longer a virgin, Jordan didn’t know, but Alec turned one hundred percent sex appeal into two hundred percent and every girl in the venue panted and wiped drool from their chins. From the expressions on the guy’s faces, they all appeared to be taking mental notes in preparation for trying the moves out themselves. No matter how brilliant Alec’s performance, Jordan couldn’t understand why he had put it all into reverse and let Curtis take over. When the fourth number ended, Alec went straight into the fifth, the fifth being the one with the most outrageous lyrics dripping with sexual innuendo. Alec played out every word in true Curtis style. Jordan watched the screen and shook his head, mumbling to himself. “What are you doing, baby?” Ending the fifth song, Alec stood in the middle of the stage with his arms thrown in the air; the true egotist soaking in the adulation. Jordan’s disquiet was a stark contrast to everyone else’s screams and applause. Finally Alec dropped his arms and sauntered up closer to the cameraman, raised his index finger into the lens, leaned closer and the sneer softened into a smile. “Ahh! You all thought I was on in another two hours, didn’t you? Gotcha!” Jordan’s frown was replaced by a smile. The crowd shouted back with cheers and applause. Alec strolled to the front of the stage while his band members walked off. He crossed his arms over his chest and held the microphone near his lips.

“Seeing as this is a charity show I thought it would be charitable to cut the costs of my performance down as much as possible. That’s why my band has left the stage.” He turned toward the wings and shrugged. “Either that or they don’t like me. By the way, do you like my outfit?” Alec looked himself over and peered into the camera with a seductive wink. “I wore it specially! Grrr!” Jordan smothered a laugh. “I thought to myself, ‘Tyler, if you cut the costs by having no band what on earth can you do to entertain these lovely people?’ Do you know what I came up with?” He stopped in front a girl reaching over the stage. “Have a guess.” He held the microphone to her and she grabbed his arm, trying to speak through excited tears. “Strip!” Alec shook his head. “Sorry, wrong answer. What about you? Can you guess?” He put the microphone next to another girl she screamed into the microphone. “I don’t know!” Alec nodded, smiling wide. “Correct answer! You don’t know. If you did know I would’ve had to kill you.” He strode to the centre of the stage. “I’ve spent the last few days wondering what I could do.” Folding his arms over his chest again, holding the microphone to his mouth, Alec’s eyes rested on a young girl in the front row and then rose again to look over the crowd. “The idea I had on Monday of collapsing and urinating? Sure, it was cheap sight gag, but one I don’t feel you want to see again.” His remark and humor in relation to the press conference seizure had the crowd screaming their approval. Amber eyes flicked to one of the massive screens and down to the young girl. With the surge of the crowd toward the front of the stage she’d been sandwiched between a group of six raucous men. Her presence seemed to have gone completely unnoticed by those around her and Jordan could see Alec’s concern she could be crushed increase every time he looked at her. Alec unfolded his arms and ambled over, the closer he got, the harder the girl became crushed into the front of the stage. “Hey, guys, can you stop pushing this young lady forward?” Everyone immediately noticed Tyler Curtis’ joking manner had changed, including press, and his genuine worry for the girl’s wellbeing altered his entire posture. The guys did

little to ease the pressure against the girl. Far smaller than those around her, her face pushed into the stage. Alec raised his voice in a sharp, shouted command. “Move away from her now!” *** The Curtis temper everyone had grown to know over the last two years proved enough to gain immediate results. The guys moved back and Alec reached forward. The microphone stayed away from his lips, not catching what he said. “Grab my hand, love.” Flustered, she took the hand he held out. “You guys, help her up.” They did exactly as he asked and within moments the young girl was freed. No longer in danger of being crushed, she began to tremble, no doubt nervous at being onstage with him in front of billions worldwide. Alec walked her to where he’d been standing prior to intervening, and his temper settled back. He was charmingly friendly again, and he lifted the microphone to his mouth while he straightened the girl’s skewed glasses. “Let me just fix these, we want to be sure you can admire me! What’s your name?” She smiled a shy, overwhelmed smile and answered with a quaking voice. “Sandy.” Her voice lowered even further as she said a quiet thank you. Alec shook his head and laughed. “Oh no, no need to thank me, Sandy! That’s how I pick up girls, I wait until their only option is me or death!” Alec grinned into the camera, and the crowd laughed, as did the clearly dumbfounded media. “Stay with me, Sandy, while I finish what I was saying before I swept to your rescue like your knight in shining patent leather pants!” He positioned her in front of him, put an arm firmly around her waist. She was short enough for him to see clearly over her head. “Rewind a little bit to where I said I wanted to cut the costs of my performance.”

Pretending to be distracted, Alec bowed his head and buried his nose into Sandy’s neck, sniffing deeply. She scrunched her shoulders giggled loudly, a rosy flush covering her cheeks. “Oh, Sandy, you smell like the first bud of springtime and I’m tempted to pluck.” Sandy covered her flaming face. Alec widened his eyes and spoke loudly to be heard over the laughter. “I said ‘pluck’!” He tightened his arm around her waist and pressed further into her back. “It’s a bit chilly tonight, feel free to absorb my body heat, Sandy.” He’d bet Sandy couldn’t have been more embarrassed or loving her fifteen minutes of fame with Tyler Curtis more either. Alec flicked his eyebrows upward at the camera. “I’m smoooooth with da ladies! Watch as I take you through the Curtis seduction routine. She won’t be able to resist my charms and the fair maiden will willingly give her lips over to mine.” Sandy squealed even louder and stamped her feet with excitement. “Contrary to popular belief the Curtis seduction routine is all about subtlety. Let me demonstrate.” He stepped to Sandy’s side and turned his back on her. “Feel my arse, Sandy.” Tyler Curtis’ main fan base had always been the girls; guys never admitted to buying his CD’s even if they did, but Alec had every guy in the audience cheering and laughing as loudly as the females. Sandy hesitated, breaking into fits of giggles and Alec peered over his shoulder. “Come on Sandy, take a big grab, I know you want to.” Tears of laughter streamed down her face and she squeezed his rear. Alec looked at her again, and flicked an eyebrow upward. “It’s rock hard, isn’t it?” She nodded and covered her scarlet cheeks with her hands. Alec turned around and removed one hand from her face. “Now feel of my rock hard...” He lowered her hand, and the crowd went wild. Sandy’s jaw fell open and she gave a flustered scream. Alec pressed her hand above his belt buckle. “...abs!” Keeping her hand firmly against his stomach he smiled and she giggled louder. “Do you have a boyfriend, Sandy?”

She shook her head wordlessly. “No? A beautiful woman like you is single?” She nodded, no doubt suddenly feeling as beautiful as he said she was. “If you did have boyfriend, would that stop you kissing me in about ten seconds?” Another squeal and a shake of her head answered his question. Alec grinned into the camera. “I didn’t think so.” He dramatically swung her around until she faced him and they were side on to the crowd. His arm remained around her while he bowed his head. Her chin tilted upward and she shook in his arms, no doubt from anticipation. She had to know that every girl in the world envied her at that moment. Tyler Curtis made her feel like a starlet in the middle of a fantasy movie. Teasingly, he slowly moved closer and closer until their lips almost touched. The crowd whooped, cheered, and catcalled. Alec quickly pulled away and tapped the tip of her nose. “Just one second, blossom!” He twisted at the waist to face away, brought his hand to his mouth, huffed a breath into his palm, sniffed, and turned around again to raucous crowd laughter. “We’re good to go!” He locked eyes with her, gazing deeply through the lenses of her thick glasses, and pulled her against him to press his lips against hers in a kiss lasting several seconds that she’d no doubt remember for the rest of her life. When Alec ended the kiss Sandy leaned in against him, overwhelmed tears on her cheeks and giggles filling the air Alec swayed from side to side, keeping his arm around her, and addressing the crowd, smirking. “Who can blame her for falling into my seduction? I’m so sexy I turn myself on!” Out of character Alec would never be this brash nor would he be heard endorsing his looks the way he did on stage or in front of press. Put him on stage as Tyler Curtis and suddenly all his shy, low self-confidence washed to the wayside. On top of everything Alec had accomplished in dance and music he also blazed as an incredibly talented actor. Keeping Sandy in his embrace, Alec brought the topic back around to his last number. “Seducing girls on stage isn’t what I decided to do to cut costs of this charity performance. I’m taking a chance on you lot tonight and, for the very first time in my career, I’m going to sing you a song I wrote myself.”

Not only the crowd went wild at the announcement, the press in the wings were just as eager to hear a Curtis original. Alec snapped his fingers and two stagehands rolled the baby grand into the centre of the stage. “And I’m going to play this here piano!” No one knew he could play a musical instrument either. For the past week it had been one Curtis shock and announcement after the other. “I gotta admit, I’m nervous singing my own song. To help ease my nerves I request the company of the bewitching Sandy to sit beside me and be my muse.” He walked toward the piano with Sandy’s hand held in his. “Those kind sirs who furnished me with my piano, could you please bring a seat out for the lovely lady?” One of the stagehands ran out with a stool, placed it near the piano, and disappeared. “Thank you! Have a seat, blossom, and try not to let my presence overwhelm you.” He gestured for her to sit down first. “Make yourself comfortable and prepare to be dazzled by the way my fingers dance across these piano keys like...” He paused, staring at her while she giggled, and then waving his left hand. “...well, like fingers dancing over piano keys.” Walking away, he left Sandy sitting on the stool and sat at the piano. “Be gentle with me people! Ready Sandy?” She nodded, a bright smile plastered on her face. “Tell me you love me, Sandy, I play much better when I know I’m loved.” Not only Sandy reacted to Alec’s prompt, the entire crowd went up with cheers. Alec threw his hands in the air. “Oh! I love you, too! Not as much you love me but that’s understandable.” He adjusted the microphone slightly. “Okay, here we go, let me focus like the conscientious and serious musician I am.” His hands took up their positions on the keys and when he began playing it didn’t seem as if a single person in the crowd breathed. People in the wings and members of the press exchanged impressed and stunned glances as his fingers did indeed float over the keys with music both sweet and intense. Haunting lyrics captivated, as did the heartfelt way he sang. Those listening were forced to fight the emotions the song encapsulated, drawing strong feelings from within them until the last key played and the last note evaporated into the air. A fraction of a moment’s silence at the end felt like a lifetime to Alec. When the reaction came it brought the house down, thunderous applause shaking the stage on its rigging. The final acclamation Alec needed to believe that Tyler Curtis, in his hands, could be even bigger and better than he’d been under the suffocation of Frank Brooks.

There was no turning back. He rose, stepped away from the piano stool, gave a small bow, a humble thank you, took Sandy’s hand and left the stage. *** Alec was met with a rousing round of applause from all those watching from the wings. Press, entertainers, stagehands, band members, and friends of performers. Placing Sandy into the care of a stagehand, he gave her a hug and a kiss, thanked her, and walked into the throng. Bec flew from a group of people and threw her arms around him; cameras flashed photos and press pressured for a statement. While Bec refused to let go of Alec’s hand, he hugged Taylor too. A little distance away stood Jordan, feeling torn. He wanted to be the one with Alec in his arms and he was forced to keep his distance. Reporters shouted questions from all sides. Alec did his best to comment while trying to get through to the stage stairs and he signed autographs when a pen and paper was thrust into his hand. In only one week Tyler Curtis had turned from the entertainment industries most obnoxious and rude celebrity into one of the industries most courteous and approachable. People’s heads spun in all the right directions. Everyone wanted to know the real reason why. For Jordan it was overwhelming and, in many ways, frightening. Their one week together had been quiet and private; it had been easy to forget Alec was indeed the most sought after celebrity on the planet. Jordan felt lost in the bustle, with Alec acknowledging everyone except him. Jordan retreated to the stage door near the stairs, watching his Alec be everyone else’s Curtis. Alec slowly made his way through the maze of people, camera flashes hit him from every direction. Jordan saw Alec spie him from the corner of his eye, but the hoard of people follow weren’t backing off. Alec shrugged off Bec’s grip and held his arms out. Jordan hesitated briefly, glanced around, and stepped forward. Alec’s arms went around Jordan’s neck, Jordan’s arms went around Alec’s waist, and they stood for several moments in a tight embrace. Everyone had seen Tyler Curtis arrive with two beautiful girls and one guy. All were mainly focused on the gorgeous redhead who refused to let him go. Alec moved his lips closer to Jordan’s ear. “I love you.” *** Jubilation filled the hotel suite and while Taylor and Bec poured out glasses of champagne for themselves, Alec and Jordan smothered each other with hugs and kisses, paying no attention to the two chinking glasses together. Everything had gone seamlessly with Frank left out in the cold. Whether he turned up at the venue now, or pounded on the suite door, it didn’t matter. Nothing Frank did could change it. Soon he’d receive a call

from Robert Groves informing the payoff wouldn’t be made and Alec reveled in the thought of how Frank would react. The CD player blasted and Bec filled and refilled her glass. She jumped onto the coffee table and yelled at the top of her voice. “Here’s to Alec!” They cheered again and Alec blushed silently. “Here’s to Jordan and Alec! May they live happily ever after for ever!” Alec joined in on that toast as Bec leapt off the table and went straight for the champagne bottle. Taylor grabbed Alec’s arm and shook her head. “She’s going to have a major hangover in the morning!” Bec grabbed the nearest thing resembling a microphone, a candlestick holder, and sang along with the music at the top of her lungs. Alec watched with surprised and impressed raised eyebrows. Unlike her brother, Bec had a very good singing voice. When she finished her number, she threw the candlestick aside, and began dancing again. Alec wandered over and snatched her attention. “Hey, Beccy?” She shouted back. “Yeah?” “You can sing, girl!” She bounced up and down, her head nodding with the beat. “I know!” “How about you and I talk?” “About what?” He laughed at her, taking hold of her chin to stop her head bouncing. “About you!” “Oh goody! My favorite topic!” She spun out of his grasp and he gave up. There was no use broaching the possibility of a singing career with her this drunk. He tapped Taylor on the shoulder. “Sorry to interrupt, can I have my man back?” *** Taylor handed Jordan over without argument and stepped away to watch them dancing in each other’s arms with laughter, kisses, and more laughter.

Her mobile phone rang and she took it from her jacket pocket. Having the Tyler Curtis exclusive, Taylor had been expecting a call from her editor. She left Jordan and Alec with their lips locked together, Bec to her crazed dancing, and walked into the room housing the musical instruments. She closed the door behind her and checked the display screen. The call wasn’t from her editor; it was a work colleague. “Hi! Sorry about the noise, Sharon, bit of a party going on here!” “This is the biggest Tyler Curtis story ever to hit the news stand.” Taylor nodded enthusiastically. “He was brilliant, wasn’t he? Talk about stealing everyone else’s thunder!” “That’s not what I’m talking about.” “What do you mean?” As she explained, Taylor dropped onto the piano stool, her hand over her face. She let Sharon finish every detail and then replied in a quietly horrified voice. “Oh... my... God!” Behind the door the music and laughter contrasted the darkness engulfing Taylor. She stood gingerly and she kept her balance by holding onto the piano. She inhaled a deep breath and made for the door. Robotically she placed one foot in front of the other until she reached the CD player. She hit stop and all three turned to stare. She approached Alec, ran her hand down his arm, and then pressed it against his face. “Sweetheart, what did I tell you about phone calls?” Taylor adored Alec and didn’t want to be the one to break it to him. “Every... single... word of your phone conversations with your mother has been sold to the press. Everything, honey.” Alec fell into Jordan on wobbling legs. “About your Dad, about your relationship with Leanne, about her wanting to put you in a home, all of it. Including the bit where you said, ‘I guess Jamie’s not gay or epileptic, so he’s got two up on me already’. There’s transcripts on the TV as we speak.”

Chapter Twenty Five

As though someone flicked off a switch inside him, Alec shut down and sat staring into nothing. A bucket of ice-cold water thrown into her face couldn’t have sobered Bec up more effectively. She sat beside Alec with her hand moving in circles on his back, haunted by the look of vacancy in his eyes and his lack of movement. In the bedroom Taylor watched the news footage. Next to her stood Jordan. Every word of the conversations between Alec and Leanne was crystal clear, and there were subtitles in case something was missed. It left no room for argument and Jordan sat on the bed with his head in his hands. Alec’s sexuality, his fury with his mother, his grief over his father, his suffocation from fame, his desperation to meet his brother, his anger over the epilepsy, his tears and shouting all exposed. Taylor rested her hand on Jordan’s leg. “What she’s done is illegal. Alec can press charges.” To Jordan the damage had been done. No lawsuit could replace the rights Leanne had taken and sold. “If she can be found, Taylor.” He walked away from the television and into the lounge room where Bec sat with brows permanently knitted together. “Nothing, Jordy! He hasn’t spoken, hasn’t cried, hasn’t moved, nothing! I think we should call a doctor.” Crouching in front of Alec, Jordan took hold of his hands. “Honey? Can you talk to me?” Taylor stood a little distance away. “I agree with Bec. Alec’s in heavy shock and a doctor has to be called. I can get you the number of a few doctors with celebrity clients.” Jordan nodded, leaning forward to kiss lips unable to kiss him in return. As she reached for her mobile, Jordan’s mobile rang. It was going on midnight and the call was from an unknown number. Taylor grabbed his wrist. “If that’s press, hang up! They could easily have traced you by now.” He sat on the coffee table, his eyes pasted onto Alec, and put the phone to his ear. “Hello?” “This is Bryan Silverton speaking. Is this Alec?”

Jordan shook his head at Taylor to indicate it wasn’t paparazzi and wrapped his fingers around Alec’s hand. “Bryan! Thanks for getting back to us! No it’s not Alec, my name’s Jordan.” Amber eyes left the place they’d been staring at and slowly peered upward. “Alec’s partner, right? I’ve seen the news, that’s why I called. I checked my messages, heard the call from Alec, and then... well... I’ve seen the news.” His voice sounded sincere and his tone understanding. “He’s taken it hard. He can’t come to the phone, I’m sorry.” Alec’s hand left his leg and reached up. Jordan took hold and kissed his fingers. “Hang on, baby, I’ll ask about Jamie. Hang on.” He put the phone to his mouth again. “Sorry, Bryan.” “That’s okay. I’m afraid it doesn’t surprise me what Leanne’s done. She’s a vindictive woman. In a lot of ways she was angry with Alec for hitting the big time while she struggled financially. She made her own bed and I was never sad to see her lying in it.” The more Bryan spoke the more at ease Jordan felt talking with him. “Did she lose custody of Jamie or hand him over?” For the first time since learning of the sold phone conversations, Alec spoke. “Let me speak to Jamie.” “I will, honey, I’ll ask Bryan.”

“She gave me custody. She met another man, took off with him, and didn’t want to be tied down by a child. The woman doesn’t have a caring bone in her body. What she’s done to Alec, and how she’s used Jamie to do it, is by far the most atrocious thing she’s ever done. She uses people, Jordan. Takes what she can get and moves on without remorse. After this I believe she’s pure evil. I’m not sure the conclusions you’ve drawn, but I can tell you she smoked Alec out by tempting him with Jamie.” He nodded into the phone and sighed heavily. “Does Jamie know Alec’s his brother? If Alec can speak with him, if Jamie’s there, it could help him through this.” There was a lingering pause. “I’d give anything to be able to do that, Jordan. Jamie died seven months ago.” Jordan felt as though a truck rammed into his solar plexus. “No! Oh God, no!” Jordan gripped Alec’s hand and couldn’t hold the tears at bay.

“Acute viral meningitis. Which is why I say she’s pure evil. She used her dead son, my son, to blackmail her eldest son. I hope she rots in hell. All I can do is offer Alec my support if he needs it. At a later date, if he wants to call me to talk about Jamie, he’s more than welcome. He still has a right to know his brother. I’m sorry, Jordan. I’m really very, very sorry. Please, pass on my best wishes to Alec.” Only a few more words of condolences were spoken and the call came to an end. The pleading look in Alec’s eyes changed to confusion and distress over the fact Jordan had hung up without letting him speak to his brother. He slid off the coffee table and onto his knees, both of Alec’s hands tightly in his own. “Jamie wasn’t there, sweetheart.” He didn’t know what to say or how to ease the look of agony in Alec’s eyes. “Where is he? I want to speak to him.” “First we need to get you a doctor.” “No! I want to speak to Jamie!” Jordan glanced up at Taylor. “Can you get a doctor?” Alec ripped his arms away and hit Jordan hard in the shoulder with the heel of hand, screaming into his face. “I don’t want to see a doctor! Phone him back! Now! Do it, now!” Taking hold of Alec’s wrist to keep him from striking out, Jordan attempted to keep his voice calm to counteract Alec’s yelling. “Baby, he’s not there!” If Jordan didn’t tell him the truth, Alec would work himself into a furious frenzy. If he did tell him the truth, it would break Alec’s already broken heart. Alec’s seizures could be, and had been, brought on by stress. Jordan felt caged. With Alec’s wrists restrained, Jordan tried once more to quiet him. “I can’t get Jamie on the phone if he’s not there.” “Then I want to talk to Bryan! Phone him back!” “I can’t.” Alec writhed free of Jordan and scrambled for his phone on the table. “Fine! I’ve got his number in here, I’ll phone!” The more Jordan tried to remove the phone from his grip, the harder Alec fought. “Let me go! I have a right to talk to Bryan! You wouldn’t let me!”

Bec and Taylor stood away, not wanting to intervene and cause Alec’s anger to rise any more than it already was. He shouted, screamed, doggedly fought Jordan for the phone, determined to place the call. When Alec’s fingernails tore into the skin on the back of Jordan’s hand, Jordan stopped the fight for the phone and wrapped his arms around Alec instead. Holding him tight, choosing to restrain him in an embrace, Jordan spoke only loudly enough to be heard over Alec’s screaming. “Your mum lied, baby. She lied. Jamie died last year.” There were gasps from Taylor and Bec. In Jordan’s arms, Alec went as limp as a rag doll. The yelling ended and the struggling ceased. When Jordan tried to lift him from the floor, Alec raised his hands in the air and stepped away, his voice whispered. “I have to get away.” He refused the hand held out to him. “We’ll do that, sweetheart. We’ll go away. Just you and me.” Alec shook his head. “No. Now. I have to get away from it all. Now!” Without the slightest sign of warning, Alec reached the door before Jordan, Bec, or Taylor could stop him. He sprinted down the ninth floor hall toward the elevators, as quick as a cheetah and was only caught when the elevator proved to be slower than him. Jordan reached for his hand and managed only to grasp the strap hanging from his wrist. The elevator doors opened, Alec jumped inside, trying to push Jordan out, but unable to. The doors closed, leaving Bec and Taylor stranded. Alec hit the ground floor button repetitively and shielding them from Jordan. “Alec, there’s press surrounding the hotel, honey, please!” “I have to get away!” Jordan tried to hit any button to have the elevator stop before the foyer. Alec had his back pressed against them. “Not down there! You won’t be able to get away down there!” The numbers above the door indicted the second floor, they were going down fast. “Shit! Alec, honey, get out of the way!” Blood dripped over Jordan’s hand and through his fingers. The wounds were deep but he barely noticed. The elevator passed the first floor and Jordan’s heart fell like a brick into

the pit of his stomach. They hit the ground level, the doors opened and, despite Jordan’s desperate attempt to stop him, Alec sprinted into the foyer. Like starving ants around a slowly dying insect carcass, paparazzi swarmed, flashing cameras and shouting questions. Hit head on by lights and yelling, Alec ground to halt. His arms went over his head, he doubled over, and he began a slow wail, the sound building in pitch until the entire hotel shook under his distress. Shoving reporters and cameramen out the way, Jordan tried everything to get Alec out of their sight. Alec refused to move, pinned to the spot, howling with his arms over his head. Security converged next. An alert went out to every available man and within moments they’d shoved through the press and formed a circle to push the media away. While Jordan attempted uselessly to coax him into the elevator, Alec worked up into hysteria. He dropped his arms and threw his head back. The only time he stopped the heart wrenching wailing was to draw breath. The only way Jordan could be heard was if he raised his voice. By doing that he also allowed press to hear everything. “Alec? Let me get you away from here!” From the corner of his eye he saw Bec and Taylor push to the front of the crowd and stand near the security circle. Despite the unabashed distress the press were witnessing, the questions continued as though Jordan and Alec had nothing better to do with their time than answer. Jordan tried again to reach out and this time Alec didn’t push him away. One arm held firm around Alec’s waist, the other settled at the back of his head, trying to ease his face down and away from the cameras. “That’s it, my love, let me help you.” When press began shouting Frank’s name and asking him questions , Jordan snapped around and came face to face with the man for the first time. He left go of Alec’s head and pointed aggressively. “Come near him, Frank, and I’ll break your fucking neck!” The mention of Frank’s name was the very thing needed to smash any progress Jordan had made. Alec tore free of Jordan’s grasp, his fists pressed to the side of his head, he marched backward, screaming. “Get away from me!” As empathetic as always, Frank yelled and Jordan smelled the strong odor of alcohol on his breath and clothes. “For fuck sake, Tyler, pull yourself together!” Jordan swung around and his knuckles crunched into Frank’s nose, sending him to ground.

Alec stood rocking back and forth, his fists to his head, shouting at his manager with tears streaming down his face in a non-stop steady river. “Leave me alone! No more yelling at me! No more hiding me! No more hitting me! I try so hard! All the time! I’m never good enough!” Microphones stretched to catch every word spoken and cameras captured every movement. Jordan left Frank in the grips of security and turned to Alec. “He’s not going to touch you again, sweetie, I promise.” Alec’s knees buckled and he crumpled onto the foyer floor. His expression was tortured, his body shaking, his crying unceasing. Within the media desire to get footage of this latest Curtis scandal came the horror of watching young Tyler Curtis breaking into a billion pieces before them. The shouted questions hushed and faces were solemn. “I only did what was right! I only wanted to talk to Jamie. Now he’s dead, too.” Only hours ago he’d stopped the world with a performance to steal the charity show, now he stopped the world with his grief. “I know, baby. I know. You don’t deserve this.” “Why does every one I love leave me?” Jordan cradled Alec’s chin in his hand. “I’ll never leave you. Please believe that, my love, I’ll never, ever leave you.” Taylor and Bec held each other and cried. While Jordan tried to coax Alec into letting him carry Alec free of the onlookers, Alec rocked back and forth continuously. “Let me pick you up, honey, and take you upstairs.” There was no reply, only rocking. “Alec? Please?” Alec reached out one hand for Jordan and missed his target. He tilted to the side, tried to stand, and his boots slid out from under him. Jordan knew that wayward look in Alec’s eyes and he knew the disorientated attempts to find support. He threw his head back to shout to the heavens. “No! What else can go wrong?” He ripped his jacket off and bundled it, placing it on the floor. He yelled to no one in particular for an ambulance to be called. It seemed as if every person standing around

reached for their mobiles at the same time. Trying to disentangle Alec’s legs, Jordan managed to get him lying on his side with his head on the jacket. He leaned in close and whispered in his ear. “It’s okay, sweetheart, I’ll be right here.” Less than three minutes elapsed before the sirens blare of two ambulances shook the midnight London streets. Press moved aside to give four paramedics quick access to where Alec lay jerking violently. “When did it start?” A gurney stood ready and waiting and medical bags opened. Panicked and not wanting to leave Alec’s side, Jordan replied frantically. “Over three minutes ago! They usually only last two!” They asked Jordan to step aside and Bec rushed to take his hand. One paramedic knelt behind Alec’s head, one knelt beside him, and the other two went through medical supplies. None seemed to be doing anything to help. Three minutes rolled into four minutes. Four minutes rolled into four and a half minutes and everyone’s panic began to reach saturation point. The man at Alec’s head, a man in his late forties with Stuart on his nametag, had his hand on Alec’s brow and his eye on his watch. Four and a half minutes rolled into five minutes and finally the paramedics all jumped into action at the same time. Stuart shouted to his partner. “He’s hypoxic!” When a nasopharyngeal airway tube was inserted into Alec’s nose it served to heighten Jordan’s fear and the media frenzy. With Alec convulsing as violently as he was, it was easier to work with him on the floor than risk putting him on a narrow gurney. Jordan stood as close as he could without getting in their way, crying and being comforted by Bec and Taylor. There was a rush to cut away the sleeves of Alec’s clothes and get intravenous lines put into each arm. An oxygen mask settled over his face and everyone watched on, growing more horrified by the blue tinge in his skin. Live news crews filmed everything as it occurred. Five minutes rolled into seven minutes. Stuart filled a syringe from a small bottle and the needle pierced into one of the intravenous lines. Another paramedic labeled a small vial of blood taken from Alec’s other arm. Seven minutes rolled into ten minutes. Nothing the paramedics did made any difference to the force of the seizure. Stuart nodded toward his partner. “Let’s go.” ***

A team of medical personnel swamped the gurney the instant Alec arrived in the ER. An older doctor strode beside the gurney. “How long now?” “Twenty-six minutes.” When twenty-six minutes rolled into thirty minutes, Alec was officially deemed to be in the emergency state of Status Epilepticus. *** Inside a private waiting room, Jordan, Bec, and Taylor sat with drawn faces. Aside from when they’d been shown into the room not a doctor or nurse had ventured to give them an update. A television on an arm attached to ceiling showed nothing but news flashes and footage of the drama. Over and over they were forced to relive a nightmare that hadn’t ended, no matter which station they switched it to. *** Doctor Shelton stood at the end of the bed and nodded slowly to the anesthetist. “An hour. Let’s get him under.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

News of what happened to Tyler Curtis swept across the world, colliding with the taped phone conversations, blending with the devastating footage of his breakdown, melding with the horrendous sight of the young star convulsing on a hotel foyer floor. His brain had gone into a continual state of seizure and a coma was induced to bring it to an end. Tyler Curtis was on life support. People stood near newspaper stands reading, shaking their heads, too stunned to pass comments to one another. It wasn’t only his loyal fans crying opening. For the first time the public saw a person behind the name. They saw his past and they felt his agony. The mystery of his sudden switch to boy next door was solved. From his painful accusations and pleas to his manager the puzzle was pieced together. Prepared to have her say, and make her share of money off the young star, Debra Brooks, Frank’s wife, confirmed the entire sordid story. Seventeen year old Alec Tyler had been coerced into signing a contract and continually bullied from then on to be the Tyler Curtis Frank ordered him to be. The people learned he’d been pushed out on stage, into recording studios, in front of cameras, bled dry, and then left alone in a hotel room with no one while Frank Brooks fed off his fame. He’d been emotionally abused, verbally degraded, isolated to keep the Curtis myth alive, denied medical attention, and physically abused with threats and violence. Even those who despised the young singer had a dramatic about face. Through it all Tyler Curtis had never let his fans down with a bad performance or a bad CD. He gave everything he had to the point of utter exhaustion. It was the biggest industry scandal ever to hit the newsrooms and the public wanted Frank Brooks’ head side by side with the head of Leanne. In the eye of the public, and all those in the music industry, the taped phone conversations confirmed only one thing. Leanne Silverton had ambushed her son and, after kicking him when he was down and eight years old, came back to finish him off. They learned of her sickening lies, of the way she’d lured Curtis with promises to speak to a brother who’d died seven months previously. Like the straw that broke the camel’s back, Tyler Curtis had shattered in front of the world. His sexuality was not an issue. The fact he had a loving partner, a new fiancé, at his bedside was the only blessing anyone could see. Frank Brooks sat alone in his hotel suite staring at the television and the phone on his lap. Everything broke around him and the news from the hospital grew worse. Jordan Braxton handed Alec’s medication over to doctors and the discovery had been made. Frank Brooks had intermittently swapped brand medication with generic. A lethal mix. Added to denying Alec the chance to take it on time, denying him the chance to eat and sleep at regular times, building his stress until it boiled, Frank may as well have signed Tyler Curtis’ death certificate. It all resulted in Refractory Status Epilepticus. Until blood serum levels showed medication levels up at the right amounts, doctors announced Tyler Curtis would stay in suspended animation.

Monday night and, as people sat around their televisions, the news broke. Tyler Curtis had begun seizing again despite the anesthesia. His already deep coma had to be deepened further. An ocean of people with candles surrounded the hospital, and across the world similar vigils were staged. The behavior Frank initially thought could end Curtis had instead secured his status. He was the darling of the entertainment industry who everyone prayed for. Veronica and Nick Braxton arrived on the doorstep of their children’s home to find their inconsolable daughter in tears, her eyes swollen and red, her face drawn, tired and grieving. She explained in detail how Jordan and Alec had met, admitted it was a whirlwind romance, but they were hopelessly in love with one another. It was tough to come to terms with Jordan’s simple lifestyle thrown in the public eye. Knowing what everyone else knew, though, there could be no malice toward Alec. He needed love and support and they knew their son would provide it. *** Wednesday afternoon Alec’s neurologist and anesthetist stood at the foot of the hospital bed and discussed what should be done next. Alec lay almost completely lifeless aside from a continuous flicker behind his closed eyelids. It appeared harmless, but along with the reading on the EEG it indicated his brain was seizing again. Dr Shelton stared at a file in his hand and sighed. “Metabolism is saturated. I can’t give him anything else, it’ll kill him.” Dr Benson, the anesthetist, stared across the bed and spoke while his eyes rested on Alec’s face. “Deepen it further?” “We’re going to have to.” While Benson went to work, Shelton sat down and read over the files again. He’d read it a hundred times and hoped something would jump out at him. There was no underlying cause for the seizures, other than Alec’s history of uncontrolled epilepsy and the poor management of medication. His seizures should have stopped, but they hadn’t. Although it was rare for this to happen, it wasn’t unheard of. They’d tried everything and given as many drugs as they could to keep Alec’s brain seizure free, to the point where Alec’s system was saturated and no more could be given. Shelton peered at the EEG. The seizure stopped and Alec’s eyelids were still. “This is about it. I can’t put him under any deeper than this.” Shelton placed the file on Alec’s legs and his hand on Alec’s brow. “That’s it, young man, no more seizures from you, enough’s enough!” His hand ran over Alec’s arm, stood, and placed the file at the foot of the bed.

Dr Benson took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. “It’s not looking good, is it?” Shelton shook his head wearily. “No. Not good at all.” *** A hospital spokesperson delivered the news and, from city to city, and country to country, people crumbled into tears. Tyler Curtis was not making any progress, his condition worsened by the day, and his coma was as deep as it could be. Inside the intensive care ward Alec remained under constant supervision. Nurses stayed in his room and paid careful attention to his EEG readings and vital signs. Jordan knew they needed to be there, but he still wished he could be alone with Alec. He was exhausted and emotionally stripped, and only able to catch a few hours sleep here and there with his head resting on the mattress near Alec’s hand. A respirator breathed for Alec, aside from that he lay lifeless. Jordan glanced at the clock on the wall -- it was three in the morning. He raised his eyes to the young nurse and then quickly looked away. His throat and chest bound tight and his heart strangled. His head thumped with an ache pounding between his temples. The only time he’d left Alec’s side was to go to the bathroom or to shower and change into the clothes brought in by Bec. Another twenty-four hours elapsed. It was Thursday afternoon. After they’d deepened the anesthetic, Alec’s EEG readings showed no seizure activity. Dr Shelton and Dr Benson made the decision to lighten the coma slightly, to gradually bring him back to consciousness over a period of time. Every twenty-four hours first, if he remained seizure free, they’d decrease it to every twelve hours. The crowd outside the hospital grew and more candles were held. Heads dropped from tears and sorrow when a statement from the hospital revealed Tyler Curtis’ seizures started up within moments of the coma being lightened. Due to that, the coma was deepened again until the EEG reading went to normal. On Saturday morning the headlines everywhere stated Tyler Curtis had been in an induced coma for a week. News shifted from early hospital reports stating the prognosis to be good, to the prognosis now being poor. Every time doctors lightened the coma even slightly, Alec began seizing again. Outside the hospital, when the sun disappeared for the day, an ocean of candles and voices singing took over. *** Medical staff came and went periodically. Doctor’s faces appeared grimmer each time they walked into Alec’s room. Jordan fought continually to keep his tears in check. Not because he was embarrassed to cry, because he wanted to stay strong for Alec. He knew people in comas sometimes heard what went on around them. When he asked a nurse

she’d said it didn’t hold true when the coma had been induced. It didn’t matter. Nothing would, or could, divert his belief Alec knew Jordan sat with him. With his right hand he held Alec’s limp fingers, with his left hand he stroked Alec’s face. He went to speak, choked on the words, and swallowed hard to release the knot in his throat. When he’d regained some control he tried again. Whether the nurse overheard or not, there were things he had to say. He pushed a lock of Alec’s black hair off his brow and leaned in closer. “Alec? I don’t know if you can hear me. I think you can.” The nurse peered over and then dropped her gaze away. Jordan’s hand swept across Alec’s cheek, over his chin, and back up to his brow. “I wish you could see the people holding candles. All of them are praying for you.” His voice faltered. “Sweetie, I know you’re tired. I know you’re trying as hard as you can, but I need you to try even harder. I’d never force you to do anything you don’t want to, or can’t do, but I’m not beneath begging you.” The tears fell over Jordan’s cheeks and landed on Alec’s face. He wiped them away and, as he did, the nurse turned her face away eyes misty Jordan squeezed Alec’s hand, kissed his cheek, and continued. “We have too many things to do, my love. We have a wedding to plan, remember? We have to find our first home together and there’s all those nights we can go to sleep in each others arms.” He stopped and took several shuddering breaths. The young nurse took a tissue from her pocket and tried to inconspicuously wipe her eyes. “Don’t leave me, Alec. I know... I know you miss your Dad. And... maybe ... maybe you want to be with him. I know you want to meet Jamie. Baby, I’m begging you to stay with me.” Jordan lifted Alec’s hand to his lips and his kissed the tops of his fingers. “You’re the absolute love of my life. If you stay I’ll never let anyone hurt you again. I swear to God, I’ll love you ‘til the day I die and I’ll do everything I can, and then some, to make you never regret staying here with me.” He heard a sniff from the nurse and ignored it. “But if it’s all too much for you, baby, if you’re too tired to fight it anymore...” He gasped between breaths and tears and the nurse covered her face with her hand. “...then I won’t force you to stay. You’ve been grieving for so long, I understand that. You’ve been fighting seizures since you were a child and I know you’re angry and exhausted. I want you to know, if I lose you to this, I will never love anyone else. I’ll keep this ring on my finger until they bury me beside you.

“So I won’t force you, I love you too much to force you. I’ll beg you. I want to see those beautiful eyes of yours looking at me in the way you do. I want to see you smiling and I want hear that strange little giggle you have. I want you by my side. Always. I want to stand in front of you and take my vows and make your life happy and loved. Please, please give me that chance. Don’t leave me without you, baby. Don’t leave me.” *** It was Monday afternoon and Jordan’s change of clothes were brought in by Taylor and not Bec. She put the small bag onto the floor, kissed Alec on the brow, and dragged a chair beside Jordan. Her hand wrapped around his hand and her voice was quiet. It was the first time she’d seen Jordan since Alec had been admitted. “How are you doing, love?” Dark circles shadowed his eyes and his face was unshaven. He sidestepped her inquiry. “I hope I didn’t offend Mum. I just don’t think I can…” “She understands.” Jordan always appeared strong and able. As she swept her dark eyes over him, she thought he now looked fragile and worn. “Have you eaten anything today?” He shook his head. Her hand left his and rested behind his neck. “Jordan, you need to try and eat something. Even if it’s only a little bit.” “I can’t.” His eyes left Alec’s face and he nodded toward the window. “At night, when it’s quiet, I can hear them singing. If I look out, I see the candles.” His shoulders slumped and he broke into unabashed tears. Taylor wrapped her arms around him and he leaned into her embrace. Tears rolled over her cheeks. “All those people praying, Jordan, I refuse to believe God would ignore all those people praying.” With her gaze on Alec, she ran her hand up and down Jordan’s arm. Beyond words he could do nothing other than lie against her in utter grief and exhaustion. Alec appeared so small and so helpless. The black hair contrasted starkly with the white of the pillowcase and the chalkiness of his skin.

She rested her cheek on the top of Jordan’s head and spoke barely above a whisper. “I’ve heard strong rumors inside my network and through close friends of the media. The police are only holding off until they can gather irrefutable evidence against Frank.” Jordan scoffed, leaned away and wiped his face. “Evidence? Alec’s on life support, what more evidence do they need?” Taking a tissue from her pocket, she handed it to him and replied softly. “It’s not unusual for the police to hold off for a while, Jordan. The last thing they want is to arrest Frank and find all bases haven’t been covered and he walks free. They need to be able to prove Alec had no knowledge the medication was being switched, that’s the main one.” “Alec’s not in the position to tell them is he?” She ignored the snappiness in his voice, knowing it wasn’t directed at her, but was driven by stress and lack of sleep. “Exactly, Jordan. They need to talk to Alec when he wakes up. Which he will, I know he will. Frank deliberately placed Alec’s life in danger and almost killed him. I also know that if Alec presses charges against Frank for everything else that man put him through, the police are just waiting to pounce. Frank hasn’t been seen outside the hotel. He’s running scared and hasn’t even left his room.” *** On Tuesday morning the hospital made a statement to press informing them Tyler Curtis’ coma would be lightened again. Fans across the world waited in the blistering heat, the bone chilling cold, or the pouring rain. Nothing would cease the vigils. At two o’clock Tuesday afternoon, a hospital spokesperson stepped in front of media and cameras for a live broadcast. “At midday today Tyler Curtis’ anesthesiologist decreased the depth of coma. In the two hours since, Tyler has remained seizure free.” The screams of relief from the people outside the hospital could be heard from where Jordan sat holding Alec’s hand. “Should Tyler continue to remain free of seizure activity over a twelve hour period, we’ll decrease the depth of coma again. He’s certainly not out of the woods yet, but this is a good start.” Midnight came and the anesthetic was lightened once more. Wednesday morning London woke to the news Tyler Curtis remained seizure free and waited with baited breath for midday to roll around. Everyone functioned on a twelve-hour rotation, counting down the minutes and then praying with more fervor than ever when the clock hands pointed up. Dr Shelton took things slowly, only decreasing the coma depth very slightly every time.

On Sunday morning Tyler Curtis had been in an induced coma for fourteen days and fifteen nights. The hospital grounds were a permanent campsite for Curtis fans and well wishers. The world was on permanent watch. His neurologist and anesthesiologist would attempt to bring him out of his coma and into consciousness. The latest news to hit the headlines announced Curtis was off the respirator and breathing by himself. Even the newscasters couldn’t hide their smiles. Midday on Sunday, Dr Shelton and Dr Benson stood on either side of Alec’s bed and waited. Jordan sat on a chair holding Alec’s hand. At three o’clock Sunday afternoon the same spokesperson stepped in front of the media. “At midday today doctors took the step of bringing Tyler Curtis out of his coma. Tyler is awake.” The world rocked on its axis from the cheering, relieved tears, and jubilation.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Karma is a powerful weapon and it had Frank Brooks in its sights. Unable to leave his hotel room, Frank became the prisoner Alec had been. If he faced the furious public, he’d be lynched. If he left his isolation, his debts would be called into play. He had lost everything and his everything had always been Tyler Curtis. The swapped contract could not pin Alec down any longer, whether torn into shreds or left whole and untouched, Alec walked free of it. He had the power of the people behind him now and no piece of paper could fight an army that strong. Nine days elapsed since the world cheered over the news of Tyler Curtis’ waking. Not a day passed without updates being given to the press via his personal friend Taylor Mason. Now the public prayed for his emotional recovery. News reports confirmed Curtis had indeed suffered a complete nervous breakdown and his journey back would be slow and difficult. Rather than incur rumors and hearsay, it proved more beneficial for the truth to be told outright. The public learned Tyler Curtis was struggling. They watched replays of his live show, replays of the charity show, and replays of his interview with Taylor Mason. On their screens they saw him smiling, laughing, and performing. They saw him as the immovable icon no one thought could be taken down. What they heard was the opposite. Since saying a few confused sentences when he woke, Tyler Curtis had barely spoken at all. Well wishes poured in, not only for Curtis but also for Jordan who refused to leave his side. Braxton was the tower of strength the public wanted around their idol and their support was expressed on website blogs and in fan mail. All of this built into a monumental mountain of problems for Frank. One step in any direction and he knew his life would be physically over. It was over anyway. His marriage ended with a signature finally on the documents after Debra had spilled of the news of Alec’s mistreatment. She’d take him for half of everything, which long ago had become the whole of nothing. Blacklisted, shunned, and despised by the entertainment industry, Frank’s career lay dead and buried. When Alec had opened the door and walked out, he’d invited the merciless judgment of Karma to walk in. Everywhere Frank looked a rifle was aimed in his direction. The only mystery was which rifle would shoot to kill first.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

From intensive care, Alec was shifted into a private room in one of the hospital’s quieter wards. Another bed had been put in place for Jordan, however he rarely slept anywhere but beside Alec. It was hard to take comfort in reassurance from the hospital’s resident psychiatrist, Dr Pam Fielding, when day after day Alec slipped further into his shell. Jordan felt Alec had gained no benefit at all from her time, whereas he himself spent the hour in the therapy chair. He needed to understand where Alec hid and if there was something he hadn’t done to coax him out. He told her all he knew of Alec’s past and listened to every word she said. From the psychiatrist’s point of view, Alec had been clinically depressed long before he lost his father. To Jordan’s amazement he learned the reason Alec snubbed reference, or talk regarding his genius probably stemmed from his shame over it. His abilities made him feel like a freak of nature and his young age segregated him from much older musical peers. With the onset of the epilepsy, and the consequential loss of his mother, Alec’s depression worsened. It continued into high school where he’d been shunned and teased. When Seth Tyler died, Alec lost not only his beloved father, he lost his home and most of his possessions. Then came the pairing up with Frank Brooks. Alec had no time to grieve before being immersed in another hell. One he didn’t believe he could escape from and had no energy left to even begin to try. She agreed with Jordan: Alec harbored severe abandonment issues. To try and attract people into his life and keep them there, Alec tended to be too giving emotionally and materialistically. He did the same thing professionally, gave everything he had, even when sick and exhausted, rather than risk alienating and disappointing fans.. A culmination of these things brewing since childhood resulted in the days of silence. Leanne’s betrayal, together with the death of a brother he’d only just learned he had, and Alec’s pain ran literally too deep to put into words. Although to Jordan it appeared as if Alec was drowning in Novocain, he was actually processing everything safely within his own realm. When that had been done he would move to verbalization. During the small hours of the morning, in the quiet of the hospital ward while Alec slept, Jordan searched the depths of his mind to come up with some other way to turn Alec’s soul switch back on. Hospital staff made their intentions clear, suggesting visitors be limited to one. Jordan now felt perhaps it was where they had been going wrong. Alec could very well feel he had been abandoned yet again. Perhaps rather than give Alec his privacy, they should do the opposite. The following morning Jordan went through the ritualistic steps he had grown accustomed to. Alec was bathed, changed, fed, and settled into bed for another day of silence. As soon as he drifted into sleep, something he did regularly and for hours at a time, Jordan reached for the phone. Dr Fielding agreed the limit of one visitor at a time

should be lifted. First he called Bec and, after explaining to her, spoke to his mother. Both willingly agreed to visit that afternoon. Nick Braxton, however, remained at a distance. Unlike his wife, his son’s involvement with Tyler Curtis didn’t settle quite so easily for him. Jordan had no inclination to argue. Any negativity at all and Jordan knew Alec would sense it immediately. He called Taylor next and she too stepped up to the plate. Jordan watched Alec’s sleeping face and pressed the nurse call button. When the matron stepped inside he asked for a phone book. She returned minutes later and handed it over. With the hotel number located, he dialed. “Hello, would be possible to speak to Isaac Welsh? He’s a limousine driver.” “May I ask who’s calling?” “Jordan Braxton.” The female receptionist offered to page Isaac and placed Jordan on hold. Less than a minute passed and Isaac came to the phone. “Yes Mr. Braxton?” “Hi Isaac, I hope I haven’t interrupted you.” “Not at all sir, how may I help you?” He sounded cordially profession and not willing to take the liberty of familiarity. “I’m calling to ask you a favor.” “Yes sir.” His disciplined manner sounded typical of any well trained British limousine driver. “Please call me Jordan. I’m trying to surround Alec with people he cares about. Could you come to the hospital, when you’re able to, and visit for a while?” A slight pause preceded Isaac’s reply. “When would be convenient?” “Sometime today, if you could.” “I finish my shift at five. I’ll come to the hospital directly.” Jordan nodded. “That would be great. Thank you, Isaac.” He put the phone onto its base and took Alec’s hand. Isaac Welsh certainly didn’t sound to Jordan like a man who let his professionalism fade easily. He didn’t exactly come across as friendly in the true sense of the word. On the other hand, Alec and Isaac had

shared a familiar moment when driving to the charity venue. Jordan wondered whether Alec had misread Isaac’s politeness as something more, he wondered if the hug Alec had given was truly accepted or merely tolerated. With late morning came the first visitors: Bec and Veronica. Initially Alec lay still, staring across the room. Jordan wanted to run the gamut of all relationships, to surround Alec with his fiancé, a sister figure, a mother figure, and when Taylor arrived, a friend figure. By mid-afternoon the activity inside the room began to have subtle affects on Alec’s withdrawal. His eyes moved from one to the other, he listened to conversation even though he wasn’t replying, and he reacting to stimuli. Veronica liberally doled out physical contact, touching Alec’s face and holding his hand. Jordan, Bec, and Taylor did the same. This continued into mid-afternoon until Alec fell asleep. Rather than overwhelm him in one hit, Jordan thought it best they leave it there and return the following day to begin the new ritual once more. By five o’clock Jordan’s anxiety over asking Isaac to visit began to rise. Alec hadn’t woken and still slept soundly. Five-thirty on the dot, Isaac walked into the room with the matron. He was dressed in his hotel uniform and, from what Jordan could see, had a stiff British upper lip. Isaac shook Jordan’s hand. A few words were exchanged and Jordan gestured to the chair beside Alec’s bed and sat in another at Alec’s other side. “He’s been asleep for a few hours, Isaac, he’ll probably wake up soon.” Isaac’s hands remained folded onto his lap and talk limited to short, almost rehearsed replies. He offered no chat, or very little of it, and not once did his professionalism slip. After several tries to start a conversation, Jordan gave in and reached for a magazine. He wasn’t one to be open with strangers either, and they both sat quietly. Half an hour after Isaac’s arrival, Alec stirred and woke. Before he noticed Isaac he watched Jordan leave the chair, take his hand, and listened as he spoke. “Everyone said to tell you they love you and they’ll see you tomorrow. You fell asleep and no one wanted to wake you up with their talking.” He kissed Alec’s lips and wasn’t kissed in return. “Someone else is here to see you.” Alec rolled his face to the side and his amber eyes locked onto Isaac like a magnet to metal. Isaac leaned forward in the chair, one hand held Alec’s and the other hand rested on the top of Alec’s head. “Hey, kiddo. What’s this I hear about you not talking to anyone?” The staid attitude slipped to the wayside and Isaac changed into a different man. Alec’s gaze wandered across Isaac’s face. The more Jordan watched the more fascinated he became. There was a strong tie between the two, stronger than Jordan had anticipated. It seemed odd a limousine driver in his early fifties, and a rock star barely out of his teens, had struck up such a friendship during limited time together.

They peered deeply into each other’s eyes. Alec had never really told how and why he and Isaac bonded and Jordan’s curiosity burned. Every word Isaac spoke, Alec heard and Jordan listened to. “I’ve been beside myself with worry.” Isaac leaned in closer, always brushing his fingers over Alec’s face. “When Jordan phoned me earlier I was in the staff room and all around me people were saying how they’re praying for you to get better.” He smiled and his hand ran over the top of Alec’s head. “Do you remember the first day we spoke? It was the first time Frank left you alone in the car with me. You’d been sitting there, as quiet as a church mouse, for over half an hour and then out of the blue you said...” Isaac’s smile broadened. “‘I spy with my little eye, something beginning with ‘U’” Jordan laughed quietly. It was a typically Alec thing to say. Isaac peered over, chuckled softly, and then returned his attention to Alec. “I ignored you. After all I had specific instructions not to speak to you. After a couple of minutes I looked into the mirror and you were looking so forlorn I thought to myself, ‘What the hell, answer the kid!’ You know what, Alec? Answering you that day was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.” He squeezed Alec’s hand. “It honestly was. In my job you see the worst of people and their behavior stops surprising you after a while. But you? Everyday you managed to say or do something else to surprise me. I remember a couple of months back having a really black day. Sitting in the car with you, waiting for Brooks, trying keep talking without letting on how bad I felt. You said, ‘I’m a good listener if you want to tell me what’s on your mind.’ To this day I don’t honestly know why I confided it to you. It was unprofessional, highly personal, and I hardly knew you. I told you it was eight year anniversary of when I lost my son.” Jordan dropped his head and nodded. The common link. “You got out of your seat, wrapped your arms around my neck, and said nothing. You didn’t have to, that said more than enough.” Isaac’s fingers followed the line of Alec’s jaw. “It’s hard sometimes to think of something to say when everything hurts so much and that’s okay. Take your time, but don’t let time take you. Look how far you’ve come since I met you. You’ve fallen in love with a man who loves you very much. You have friends who love you. I love you. I know you’ve lost a lot; you also have much more than you had. Don’t shut us out for too long, we miss you terribly.” Four days passed following the same routine. Jordan had his alone time with Alec in the mornings and through the night. During the day Bec and Veronica were there. Taylor took as much time away from work as she could. At five thirty every evening, Isaac took his place near Alec’s bed. Each day the progression was slight, but noticeable. Alec interacted with eye contact, listened to conversation, and showed subtle response to shows of affection. Jordan could see a silver lining beginning to form around the storm clouds. When the lights went out in the ward on the evening of that fourth day, Jordan lay

down next to Alec and closed his eyes. A hint of breath on Jordan’s lips was followed by the soft warmth of Alec’s mouth on his. In that moment Alec’s shattered world began to be pieced back together.

Chapter Twenty-Nine Friday afternoon, twenty-eight days since being admitted to the hospital, Alec was out of bed and attempting to regain some strength in his body. With Jordan’s arm firmly around his waist, and his hand wrapped in Jordan’s, they walked the room in five-minute blocks every hour. Alec’s talking hadn’t broached the subject of Leanne, Jamie, or Frank. Jordan hadn’t broached it either, he was waiting until Alec was ready. Their five minutes came to an end and while Alec settled in against the pillows, Jordan opened the laptop. “Move aside, my love, let’s look at our house again.” Jordan opened a web page bookmarked in favorites. A historically listed, eight bedroom, eighteenth century gothic manor. They hadn’t intended to go gothic but once seen, it stole their hearts. A private road led to the main gates, tall hedges edged the property, far enough from the main village to keep them secluded without being isolated. Beautifully manicured gardens surrounded the home before it opened up into unspoiled woodland. One bedroom would be converted into Jordan’s office, another into a dance studio, and another transformed into a recording studio. Prepared to go only by agent photographs, they’d purchased the house that morning. As Alec pointed out, if anything needed fixing they could afford to spend the money. Talk of their purchase came to a halt when Alec’s neurologist entered the room with a medical file under his arm. Alec could only keep up an unstrained conversation with Jordan, with everyone else, including his doctors, his attempts were listless. He’d made steady progress, however one only had to look at him to see the battle he fought. Nevertheless, Dr Shelton believed the time had come to discuss Alec’s discharge. When Jordan mentioned a new house, and a moving in date of Wednesday should Alec be out of hospital, it sealed the deal. To settle into a home with his partner, in a quiet village outside of London, seemed the ideal setting for Alec’s continued recovery. Regular appointments with Dr Shelton would need to be attended and Alec’s epilepsy routinely monitored from now on. Dr Fielding would visit Alec at home twice a week to help with his emotional recovery. With everything organized and agreed to, Alec’s discharge was set for the following morning. *** Rather than try and keep the time and exit a secret, Alec thought it best to have Taylor make the announcement. She also informed the press he would make no comments and answer no questions. It wouldn’t stop them trying and requests aside, the paparazzi would clamor for the first pictures of Tyler Curtis since that fateful Saturday night. Alec’s hand rested on Jordan’s shoulder. his head on Jordan’s chest. From outside in the hall he could hear the occasional footsteps of staff.

“There hasn’t been a word from Frank.” The topic was finally brought up. “I doubt there’s much he can say. He can’t deny the truth.” “It’s weird though, don’t you think? No one’s even spotted him leaving the hotel. I wonder what he’s doing.” “Probably wallowing in self pity.” When Alec moved into a sitting position, Jordan mirrored him. Once Jordan settled, Alec’s arms went around his neck, one leg went over Jordan’s, and he sat astride to gaze into blue eyes. Jordan bent his knees, providing a comfortable seat with a built in backrest. “Do you think Leanne’s left Australia?” “I do, honey, yeah. I think she’s long gone.” Alec nodded slowly. “I’ll press charges as soon as we move into our house.” It was a surprising and welcomed thing to hear Alec say. “You feel ready to do that?” Alec shrugged, shook his head, and shrugged again. “I don’t think I ever will be ready. I have to. For me and for Jamie. It might take a while for the police to track her down, but when they do I want her in jail. I’m not going to be kicked around anymore, Jordan. No more.” “What about Frank?” Despite detectives wanting to question Alec, doctors had obeyed his wish to be left in peace and access to him for questioning had been denied. “I have to think about that a little more.” *** Every slight sound from outside his hotel suite resulted in panicked anxiety and nervous perspiration. One momentary lapse of guard and Frank’s debts would be repaid with his life. When the door shook beneath pummeled hammering, the highball glass in his hand bounced ice over the rim. He sat without a word, praying silently the unknown person in the hall would vanish. His prayers went unanswered. A voice called through the wooden door and into the empty space of Frank’s quickly evaporating life.

“Mr Brooks, this is Gary Phelps, the hotel concierge. Please open the door or I will take the liberty of using the master key for entrance.” Frank’s double chin landed on his chest. If Gary wanted access to the room he wasn’t going to invite the man in willingly. He could let himself in and that was exactly what Gary did, surrounded by four security guards. From the door Gary walked purposefully into the lounge area. His grey eyes swept over the untidy mess and his nostrils flared with the stale stench hanging in the space like a haze. “Mr Brooks, please pack up your belongings and vacate the premises.” Reddened piggy brown eyes refused to acknowledge the concierge. “I’ll pay the account next Friday.” Gary wasn’t deterred in the slightest. “I’m sure you’re aware Mr Curtis will be returning to the hotel early tomorrow afternoon. As Mr Curtis is our most valued guest his comfort is of the utmost importance to me. Therefore, even if you do pay your account, which I highly doubt, Mr Curtis certainly will not feel comfortable with you remaining here. Please pack your belongings, I would prefer you leave on your own accord rather than have you forcefully removed from the premises. I also would like to inform you that if the balance of your account is not settled within a week, I will be pursuing legal action.” From within his fear, hopelessness, and angry frustration, Frank spoke more to the glass of scotch than to Gary. “Give me until tomorrow to find somewhere else.” Gary shook his head, pointed security toward the bedroom, and replied curtly. “My hotel is not a half-way house, Mr Brooks.” He took the scotch from Frank’s hand. “I believe that glass, and its contents, belongs to me.” *** Tyler Curtis’ was discharge from the hospital, and the exact exit he’d be using, was something all members of the press had been told. Who leaked the news of Frank Brooks leaving the hotel wasn’t as cut and dried. More than likely a hotel staff member had confided the details. His unceremonious ousting literally landed him on the London streets pavement with forty-three pounds in his pocket and a suitcase at his side. Fighting off the dogs of reporters biting at his heels and forced to climb into a cab in an effort to shake them, he vanished from the most decadent hotel in England to the cheapest pub willing to give him a room for the night. If Frank believed things couldn’t have gotten worse, he was horribly mistaken.

People sat reading or watching the demise of a manager who had almost been the demise of his young star. Seeing him lurching into a cab, fighting off cameras and microphones, sickly and unshaven, brought a smile to the faces of the public and the entertainment industry alike. Seeing Tyler Curtis for the first time when he left the hospital brought about mixed emotions. He was a diluted version of their idol dressed in black jeans, a black shirt, and a basic black jacket. No pagan jewelry adorned his ears, hands, or wrists. He wore only his engagement ring on his left hand. Bombarded by flashes and reporters yelling questions, the people watched footage of him being helped into the limousine without saying a word or lifting his face. No one wanted to wish ill on him but paparazzi wanted the dramatic shots. It sold papers and gained ratings. All wanted pictures of the once infamous womanizer in close contact with his male fiancé. None were disappointed. From the hospital exit to the door of the car, Jordan Braxton and Tyler Curtis were hand in hand. Frank watched what everyone else watched; only he watched it on a portable television with poor reception in a cramped room above a pub. He knew there wouldn’t be a manager alive not clamoring to be the one with Alec’s signature on a contract. He also knew whatever contract was offered to Alec now would offer complete creative control on a road paved with diamonds. After hearing and seeing Alec performing one of his own numbers at the charity show, Frank became aware of another missed opportunity. He’d always known Alec wrote his own material and always refused to let him perform it. If he had allowed Alec that much input, it would have given Curtis too much power. In his hands Frank had one of the very few true superstars of the entertainment world, but had only let Alec show a mere fraction of his capabilities. There was nothing Alec couldn’t do when it came to entertaining and Frank had blown it all by hemming him in. Alec encapsulated the word genius in every conceivable sense. Frank knew it. He’d always known it. He’d never learned that true genius couldn’t be caged because true genius could never be contained. He left the television with its fuzzy reception on, if only for the sake of filling in the silence. The stench coming off his skin passed the point where even he could not tolerate it. From a suitcase he took out a change of clothes and headed for the cramped bathroom where the shower, sink, and toilet crammed so closely together they were practically melded. He let the hot water wash away the smell, wishing it could also wash away his unrest. The higher they were, the harder they fell. A saying Frank knew well. The bigger the bank account the bigger the debt. Another saying set aside for those who had lost it all. A compulsive gambler long before he met Alec, Frank’s penchant for losing money on the horses had turned into an insatiable penchant for losing money in casinos across the world. With the ease of Internet betting he never needed to physically be at a poker table to lose his cash. All Alec had ever been to him was a reliable source of income to then fritter away. It escalated until even his forty percent coming in, much more than any other manager would dare ask, couldn’t cover the amount going out. Debt interest increased on a daily basis. As did Frank’s ruin. He turned the taps off and stood in the small tiled space on the floor. He dried off with a towel reeking of mothballs and dressed in clothes reeking of cigarettes. He left his

discarded clothes where they were, turned out the light, and opened to door into the stuffy little room. “Hello Frank.” All the strength evaporated from Frank’s body and he fell against the doorjamb. Dressed in a black tailored suit, sitting on the one armchair in the room, was the man Frank had been hiding from. Tall, handsome, middle-aged, he could easily have been mistaken as a professional businessman who obeyed all the rules. On his lap sat a gun. He pointed to the bed. “Have a seat. Nice place you’ve got here. I’m especially impressed with the retro nineteen eighties décor.” No amount of pretending could hide Frank’s fear. His legs took him to the bed without him feeling it. He sat down, his eyes glued to the gun fitted with a silencer. The man smiled, showing off a set of perfectly aligned white teeth. “I know what you’re thinking, Frank. How on earth did I find you in this Godforsaken dump?” Stretching out long legs, the shine off his leather shoes reflected the dull overhanging light bulb. “It was easy actually. Almost too easy because I must admit the thrill of the chase has always been something I’ve been partial to.” His right hand rested over the gun. “Pesky paparazzi! Always taking photos and always filming things. Good footage, Frank. Not that you looked happy, but the cab driver was extremely photogenic. There was a lovely shot of him the cameras managed to get, while you hauled your fat arse into the back of the car. A bit of investigation, the cab drivers picture matched with a name, a bit of dollar persuasion, and Bob’s your uncle, here I am.” As he rose to his feet, Frank flinch noticeably. Smiling, the man ambled to the flimsy curtain covering an equally feeble window. He lowered a rolled Venetian blind. His eyes took in the water marks on the walls, the dusty cheap pictures, the pathetic television, and the threadbare carpet. When he sighed his pale blue eyes settle onto Frank. “Another thing you might be wondering is why I’m here personally and how did I get into your room. First, I got into your room because it seems there aren’t too many people left in this country, or any other I might add, who have much loyalty to you. Fifty quid and they’ll sell you out in the blink of an eye.” From his tailored black jacket he removed a key and held it up. “Not a bad investment! One hundred quid and apparently everyone here’s blind, deaf, and mute!” When he laughed, Frank’s blood ran cold. “Second, I’m here because some things I like to tend to on a personal level.” He stepped nearer and Frank shrank away. “I don’t often admit I’m wrong about anything, Frank, generally because I never am. However, there are times, like now, when I will admit I was wrong.” He dusted the armchair with his left hand and sat down. “That fucked up psychopathic little son of a bitch you managed turns out to be not a fucked up

psychopathic little son of a bitch after all.” He widened his eyes and nodded decisively. “And if there’s one thing that really, really pisses me off, Franklin, it’s when another person takes advantage of someone who isn’t in the position to fight back.” He raised his hand, the gun in his grip, and Frank flinched dramatically “I know what you’re going to say again and let me stop you before you do. No, I am not one of those people. For example, I would never loan one million pounds to a waitress with five pounds in her bank account. That would be poor sportsmanship. That would lower me to your level. I only lend money to those who have the assets to pay it back. Whether or not that person then blows those assets on other things, well, as you can see, that isn’t my doing.” Resting his elbow on the arm of the chair, and his chin in his hand, he tapped his left index finger on the gun handle. “But Alec Tyler? Frank! Come on, now! A seventeen year old orphan a quarter of your size? That moves taking advantage to a whole new and dismal level.” He paused and, when Frank refused to look up, cleared his throat to demand his attention. Another wide smile flashed those straight white teeth. “For that reason, Frank, I’m not going to kill you.” Tears of relief welled in Frank’s eyes. He made a grab for the man’s arm and held on to it with both his hands. “Thank you! Somehow, I’ll pay you the money.” He removed his arm from beneath Frank’s hands. “I’ll never see that money again and you know very well I won’t. It seems you’ve jumped the gun. Excuse the pun.” Short lived relief was rapidly replaced with his earlier horror. The man lifted himself out of the armchair with the gun firmly in his left hand. With the barrel he gestured for Frank to sit on the corner edge of the bed. Obeying, Frank slipped to the spot indicated, dragging his body over the mattress as though dragging a six foot one lump of lead. He stood to Frank’s side, his right hand rested on Frank’s shoulder, and his left hand pushed the barrel of the gun into the centre of Frank’s lower back. “For a man to take advantage of a kid, and let’s face it seventeen is legally a child, is an incredibly spineless thing to do. If I pull the trigger now the bullet will shatter one of your lumbar vertebrae, sever your spinal cord, and you’ll never walk again. For someone who’s displayed spineless behavior I think it’s a fitting punishment. You could bleed to death if no one finds you in time. I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen.” His hand squeezed Frank’s shoulder and the barrel tapped on his backbone. “Then again...” Sweat tracked down Frank’s spine. “...what I really think is this. For someone to take advantage of a child with no parents and a serious medical condition, well, that consummately pisses me off! Frank, that is the lowest form of cowardice you could’ve stooped to. Like I said, I’m a philanthropist. I believe in giving the underdog a break. I believe in fair match ups. Alec Tyler was not a fair match up. You may argue he wasn’t

legally a child for long and was eighteen before he signed on with you. Was coerced into signing on with you, might I add. It’s all a matter of geography really, isn’t it? In several parts of the world, including where I come from, legal adulthood isn’t acknowledged until the age of twenty-one. Consequently, in my eyes, Alec Tyler is still a kid. A kid you nearly killed because you couldn’t even give to him the courtesy of making sure his medication was right. The more I think about it the angrier I get. I don’t like child abusers and that’s what you are. Put you in jail, Franklin, and you’d soon see just how despised your type is. Even hardened criminals believe a crime against children is worthy of a beating in the exercise yard... or worse.” He leaned over, never once easing the pressure of the barrel against Frank’s back. “I’m a businessman and I never do anything for free. If I lend money it’s paid back or there are consequences. If I, or one of my employees, put a bullet through someone’s head or work them over on behalf of someone else, it costs a lot of money. I didn’t become wealthy by handing out free services. Still, I find myself prepared to step away from tradition tonight. On behalf of Alec Tyler, who doesn’t even know about this free service, I’m dropping the fee. Fixing two birds with one stone, so to speak. I’ll feel my debts have been met and justice for Alec Tyler served.” The barrel pressed in hard against Frank’s spine. “Yes, to take advantage of kid like that was a spineless thing to do, Frank. But even more than spineless it showed a complete lack of balls.”

Chapter Thirty Privacy at last. No doctors or nightly interruptions from nurses checking vitals and wandering around the ward, the bedroom was a sanctuary with the warm gold glow of the fireplace and the idyllic comfort of each other. The fire filled the space with enough light for Alec and Jordan to see, while still bathing the room in soothing darkness. Their hands and fingers tracked over the lines of each other’s bodies, as they faced one another, speaking in whispers. Jordan’s hand pressed in against the small of Alec’s back and they pushed in closely against one another. The feeling of skin against skin, denied them in the confines of the hospital, was even more exquisite than it had felt before. It was a feeling Jordan wasn’t sure he’d ever experience again. He had an urgent need to be as close to Alec as he could be, wanting to spend this time making slow, gentle love to Alec and savor every second of it. He found Alec’s mouth, brushing his lips over Alec’s and his fingertips over Alec’s thigh. Alec opened his mouth slightly, inviting Jordan’s tongue in with a sigh and rolling onto his back. Jordan adjusted his position. One of Alec’s hands caressed the nape of his neck and the other hand ran down the length of his arm. Jordan’s hand travelled from Alec’s thigh, over his stomach, and then back again. He felt Alec shift beneath him, arcing slightly, and his hips rose up with subtle pressure against Jordan’s body. His legs parted, bent at the knees, and wrapped around Jordan’s legs. Things picked up from slow, subtle caresses into heavier stroking and heavier breathing. Using all his willpower to lift his lips off Alec’s, Jordan peered down into the questioning golden amber eyes gazing up. “Are you sure you’re well enough for this?” Alec’s hand ran over Jordan’s jaw, over his cheek, then combed through his hair. “I’m fine, babe. I’m not going to break.” *** Jolting them from the first drowsy stages of sleep, Alec’s mobile phone shrilled. Squinting at the clock, Alec reached blindly for the bedside table, his fingers locating the phone. He stared at the screen with a sleepy frown. “It’s Taylor.” He shuffled to a sitting position and answered the call. “Hello?” “Alec, sorry love, did I wake you?” From the sound of her voice she already knew she had. “Yeah. Kind of.”

“It’s only just hitting the news now, I wanted to tell you before you saw it on TV.” Considering the last time Taylor had revealed inside information, and the consequential landing in a coma that ensued, Alec took a shuddering breath in. “Oh no, what now? Is it about me?” “No, it’s about Frank.” When Taylor quit speaking, Alec’s hand clamped firmly over his mouth. He threw the covers off, dropped the phone next to Jordan, and hastily left the bedroom. **** Jordan snatched the phone, was the next informed and the next out of bed. Alec sat on the sofa with his hands on his face and curled over his legs. Ending the call with a promise to phone back, Jordan shook his head, his stomach churning. The news of Frank Brooks, and what had happened to him in a cheap pub room, was both bizarre and shocking. Jordan worried only about the affect it would have on Alec. He sat down beside Alec on the sofa and placed his hands between Alec’s shoulders. This resulted in shaking which Jordan concluded to be crying. “Are you okay?” The shaking beneath his hand increased, followed by sound, and Alec dropped his hands to reveal tears streaming down his cheeks. “Why am I laughing? It’s not funny! I shouldn’t be laughing!” Alec cracked into giggling hysterics. His laughter sent Jordan into his own. Both of them stark naked after rushing from the bed, Alec stared at his lap before covering his crotch with his hands and rocking with giggles. “Oh God! Jordan! That’s gotta hurt! *** Alec gnawed on a slice of toast and watched the nine o’clock morning news telecast without any feelings of empathy for the man who’d nearly killed him. Alec broke into another round of giggles and called toward the kitchen. “Hey, babe? Guess what?” Jordan emerged, carrying two mugs of coffee and wearing a wide grin. Alec hadn’t stopped laughing and smiling since he woke.

“What?” “They were talking to a detective and he says...” Putting on a serious police face, Alec repeated what he’d heard. “‘We’re treating this as suspicious’.” He crumbled into giggles again, waving his slice of toast at the screen. “As opposed to what exactly? The every day chance you’re thingy gets blown off by three bullets that came from nowhere?” Another mouthful of toast went in and he laughed with a snort. “I should send him flowers and a sympathy card saying I’m sorry for his loss!” After weeks of stress and tears, the brutal destruction of Frank’s anatomy became a tonic, doing Alec and Jordan the world of good. Neither felt guilty in finding amusement in something both would normally think horrific. Who shot Frank Brooks remained a mystery. Police reports were sketchy; staff working in the pub at the time reported seeing and hearing nothing unusual. Enduring hours of emergency surgery, and now in a stable condition, Frank refused to share the information they sought. The name of the man who pulled the trigger would be taken to Frank’s grave. Police were certain of one thing. The hit was professional and underworld. Frank’s untimely encounter with three bullets even served to increase Alec’s mediocre appetite. A phone call placed to Isaac, now fondly referred to with Uncle as a prefix, heightened Alec’s mood to jubilant. An offer to quit his job with the hotel, and take a cushy position as Alec’s personal driver, was accepted quickly and gratefully. Isaac’s resignation landed on Gary’s desk within half an hour. Due to her association with Tyler Curtis, Bec had little choice than to resign from her job as a sales assistant at the same time Jordan resigned his job. Paparazzi hounded the Braxtons with as much fervor as they hounded Alec. Temporarily housed in the same hotel, two floors under Alec’s level, the accommodation suited Bec’s love of the high life. In a room beside hers were Veronica and Nick. The London terrace house was deserted. Furball and the fish tank had moved into the suite prior to Alec’s discharge and furniture was placed into storage. Long talks centering on Bec’s future accommodation problems were settled only when Alec agreed to a compromise. He wanted to buy Bec a home of her own and foot all the bills, but Jordan wasn’t willing to encourage Alec to be quite so generous. Knowing his sister’s inability to handle finances, and taking into consideration Alec’s tendency toward over-giving, they finally settled on a happy medium. Alec would purchase the property so long as the deeds remained in his name and not Bec’s. The property would be in the village near to their home or nowhere at all. Bec’s excitement over a rent free home turned into a lackluster reception once she was given the rules. However, when Alec informed her a bedroom inside their new home would soon be converted into a recording studio, and went on to explain he wanted her to try her hand at

recording some of his material, Bec suddenly decided becoming a pop diva deserved the sacrifice. Aside from Alec’s musical instruments and his clothes, nothing else in the suite belonged to him. First thing Wednesday morning the piano removers would take it, and the rest of the instruments, to their new home. Every piece of Curtis’ clothing was boxed up. Hours searching online antique stores had filled the gothic mansion with furniture without them ever having to set foot in a store. Like the piano and instruments, all would be delivered on Wednesday and their home ready. Weeks of mayhem shifted into days of everything running smoothly. By Wednesday evening they’d finally have the peace and quiet they deserved. *** Tuesday afternoon found Alec standing in a small room next to where paparazzi waited. A press conference was the last thing Alec wanted or needed, however he knew the statement had to be made in person. Too many people had kept vigils and said prayers for his recovery. Alec felt it was the least he could do to repay them as personally as he could. He peered into the mirror and narrowed his eyes. “I still look terrible, Taylor.” “You look tired, not terrible.” She smiled and petted his cheek. “You’re the only person I know who could look gorgeous in a coma!” Jordan reached for his hand and laughed. “She’s right, you did look beautiful!” He stopped glaring at his reflection. “This is it, babe. Wish me luck.” A firm hug of reassurance followed a kiss and Alec took Taylor’s hand. She’d accompany him while Jordan remained behind and out of sight of the paparazzi. In the instant he stepped into the conference room the familiar bombardment of camera flashes hit. He dipped his head to avert his eyes, walked to the table, waited until Taylor sat, and then took his own chair. He laid a sheet of paper on the surface in front of him. Taylor spoke first. “I ask you all to please let Tyler give his statement without interruption. Once the statement has been read there will be no further questions.” There were murmurs of disappointment. Taylor raised a hand to quiet them. “As a fellow journalist, and a friend of Tyler’s, I ask you to accept his wishes.” It couldn’t be denied that Tyler Curtis looked a long way from fit and healthy. Silence fell over the room when he cleared his throat and began reading in a tired, quiet voice.

Simply having to prepare for the conference drained Alec of the strength he hadn’t fully regained. Emotional burdens exhausted him more easily and quickly than anything else. “First, I want to thank everyone for their prayers and well wishes. I’ve seen footage of the candlelight vigils and I am truly touched by the kindness and concern for me. Truly touched. My record company will be releasing the live CD and DVD as planned. The scheduled single has been cancelled. I have not resigned with another manager and do not intend to any time soon. As far as Frank Brooks goes, my association with him is over. I’m sure from now on he’ll notice something missing from his life.” The entire room erupted into laughter and camera’s snapped photographs of the sly smirk on Tyler Curtis’ face. They reveled in the fact the sense of humor they’d been introduced to the week before his hospitalization hadn’t faded. Alec cast a quick glance at Taylor, exchanged smiles, and read on. “As far as my career goes, I’m bowing out for a while.” It was what they all expected, but was hard to believe. “It all depends on my health and how long it takes me to recover. By the way, isn’t it ironic I had a nervous breakdown while wearing a straight jacket?” Pens raced across pages with admiration and laughter. To be able to joke about what happened gained Alec even more respect. “As I don’t wander around dressed in straight jackets and leather pants when I’m not performing, all my outfits have been boxed up and will be going for auction. The proceeds of this will be donated to epilepsy research. The exact date of the auction I don’t know as yet. You’ll be kept informed. I want to step away and live life in the slow lane. I want to know when I face you again, when I perform again, when I record again, that I can do it to the very best of my ability. I can’t offer anyone that at the moment. I’m twenty years old and I’m burnt out. I know the entertainment industry is fickle, I hope you won’t forget me.”

“I’ll be leaving London but remaining in the UK. Jordan and I will tie the knot in a ceremony including a civil partnership. When and where this will happen is personal. Once again, I thank everyone for their support and well wishes. Take care of yourselves, life’s too short not to. Please, give me my space to get well and to rest. Please. I’ll see you in a year or so.”

Chapter Thirty-One Two months later “Will you keep still and stop squirming?” Taylor stood in front of Alec, who stood in front of a full length mirror, not prepared to step away until she had his tie positioned perfectly. “I’m nervous!” Dressed in a beautifully tailored black single breasted suit, black shirt, royal purple satin vest, and a matching royal purple fat boy tie, Alec looked immaculate and gorgeous. Getting ready separately from Jordan who was dressing in the room his mother and father had been using. Since first thing that morning everyone had made sure they’d been kept apart. “What are you nervous about? You’re marrying the man of your dreams.” “I’m not nervous about marrying Jordan, I’m nervous about the fifty-three people turning up to watch us! Where’s Bec?” Standing by Jordan would be his best childhood friend from Australia and a cousin he’d grown up with. At Alec’s side were Taylor and Bec, dressed beautifully in simple, elegant royal purple gowns. “I think she’s staring at herself in the bathroom mirror.” “She’s supposed to be in here giving me moral support not staring at herself!” Taylor shrugged. “You know Bec! There you go, tie’s perfect.” “Thank you.” He moved away from the mirror, wringing his hands together and went to sit on the bed. When he bent at the knees Taylor yelled, hands flapping. “No sitting down, you’ll get cat hairs all over you!” “There’s another hour until the ceremony! I have to stand up for an hour?” “Yes!” The bedroom door opened and Bec swanned in looking as beautiful as she thought she did. Her red hair was in an up style complemented by simple hair accessories, exactly the

same as Taylor wore. She’d left before Alec changed into his suit and now she halted in her tracks. “Oh, my God! You look shit hot! Alec, you look so fucking horny-making it’s not funny! Jordan’s gonna want to take you right there in front of everyone!” Alec gave Taylor a shrug. “You can dress her up like a lady, but you can’t make her act like one.” *** Being just as fussed over by his mother and an Aunt, Jordan wore exactly the same outfit as Alec. His best man and groomsman were dressed in matching black suits with purple shirts, black vests and black ties. Champagne filled glasses made the rounds, Jordan the only one not indulging. Veronica stepped back and admired her son, her hands over her mouth. “You look so handsome!” Tears rose in her eyes and both Jordan and Nick exchanged glances, eyebrows raised . After two months of getting to know his future son-in-law personally, Nick’s doubts had faded. “Thanks, Mum. Stop crying!” She waved a hand at him. “I can’t help it! My baby’s getting married!” Veronica pounced on him in the same manner Taylor had pounced on Alec when’d he attempted to sit down on the bed. “No, no, no! Cat hair!” A large marquee set up for the reception remained closed off from prying eyes, not to be revealed until the vows had been taken. It looked beautiful enough in the daylight, but its real beauty would shine through when the lighting set the mood and ambiance. White chairs were set up in rows on a perfectly manicured lawn, facing a plain white lectern, simple, elegant, without a central aisle, and free of wedding fluff and finery. It had a masculine feel without being too strong. Jordan and Alec wanted everything to do with the ceremony to be as simple as it could be, with the all the focus on the taking of vows and each other. Inside the marquee was where the decadence resided. Each guest had been asked to keep the date, time, and venue secret and each one had. All professional companies and people putting the event together had signed a privacy contract. There’d been no hint and the media none the wiser. Five o’clock, at dusk, as the sun was beginning to fade, Jordan and Alec would marry.

Excited gossip from the younger members of the congregation teamed with curiosity from the older. From guests flown in from Australia, to others who lived in the UK, all had airfares and accommodation paid for. Alec footed the bill for everyone. Aunts, uncles, friends, and grandparents of Jordan’s made up the majority of the guest list. The only people invited from Alec’s side were Taylor, Isaac, and Bryan Silverton. Invites had also been given to their new housekeeper and gardener. Veronica checked the time and made some final adjustments to her son’s attire. Minutes before the ceremony both he and Alec would see each other for the first time since the morning and would walk to the grounds together. They would be preceded by Damien, Jordan’s best man, and Brendan, his groomsman, side by side with their partners Taylor and Bec. Once they had all reached their positions by the lectern, Jordan and Alec would follow. “Poor Alec, I bet he’s nervous. He’ll feel like he’s being scrutinized.” She looped her arm through his. “As soon as he sees you he’ll forget all about the guests.” Jordan’s side of the wedding party gathered around a lower level door opening out into the grounds. Chitchat to ease building nerves came to a halt when Damien spotted Alec turn into the hall with Bec and Taylor. Jordan spun around, Alec stopped short, and they both stared with mutual appreciation. Jordan stepped forward and held out his hand. Alec took it, his own hand trembling slightly. “You look divine, Alec Tyler.” Seeing Jordan dressed formally and elegantly, had obviously taken Alec’s breath away. “You... look... incredible!” Jordan bend his head, Alec raised his chin, and Bec intercepted the kiss by shoving between them and pushing them apart. “No kissing until the celebrant says you can! It’s bad luck!” A round of hellos and handshakes followed and then it was time to move out. Veronica and Nick left first, making their way to seats in the front row. When enough time had passed to see them in their places, Damien and Bec followed with Brendan and Taylor behind, leaving Jordan and Alec standing alone in the doorway. They peered sideways at each other, refraining from indulging in the kiss they both desperately wanted. Jordan spoke first. “Nervous?” Their fingers entwined and held tightly.

“Yes. In a good way. Are you nervous?” “Yes. In a good way.” Jordan kissed the back of Alec’s hand. “Let’s get married!” *** Standing facing one another, holding each other’s hands, the several gasps and whispers from the guests went unheard. Jordan and Alec only saw one another and only heard the celebrant, Sonia. Not long after she started speaking the murmurs died down and everyone zoned in on the ceremony. Sonia read out a poem Alec and Jordan had chosen and began to announce they’d written their own vows when laughter from the guests interrupted. Unaware of what had Jordan and Sonia sniggering along with everyone else, Alec looked around and located the answer. Standing at his side was the four-year-old daughter of Jordan’s English cousin; dressed in a pink dress, white shoes a white ribbon in her long dark hair. She’d set her sights on Alec and wasn’t prepared to sit at a distance. Obviously her mother chose to remain seated rather than disturb the ceremony, hoping Tamara wouldn’t get as close as she had. Tamara stared up at Alec with huge brown eyes and waved when he looked down at her. Everyone laughed a little louder and waited to see how Alec would deal with his young admirer. He mouthed a silent ‘hello’. Tamara gustily returned his salutations. Bec reached for Tamara’s hand and nearly set off a nuclear tantrum. Thinking quickly, Alec took Jordan’s wedding ring from his pocket and held it out to her. “Can you stay here next to me and hold this? It’s a very important job.” She took the ring and gripped it inside one chubby hand, smiling widely. The other chubby hand took hold of the back of Alec’s black jacket and held tight. She wasn’t going anywhere. With peace restored, and everyone mentally applauding Alec’s handling of the situation, the ceremony continued. The mistiness in Alec’s eyes started before Jordan began reciting his vows. Seeing Alec tear up set Jordan off as well. “Alec, for the rest of your life I promise to stand beside you with love, friendship, encouragement, and to give you the safety and the happiness you deserve. You are, without a doubt, the most beautiful person. One of those rare types God made beautiful to look at and also blessed with a soul of equal beauty. I’m humbled He made such an exquisite human being and then gave me the honor of being the one to cherish you.” Alec disengaged one of his hands to wipe away the tears with shaking fingers. “For that honor, I’ll always be grateful. I’ll always thank Him for every night I sleep beside you, every morning I wake up with you, and every day I spend with you.”

Jordan took Alec’s wedding ring from his pocket, Alec held out his trembling left hand, and the ring was slipped onto his finger. “I will always love you, Alec. Eternally.” Sonia smiled and gestured to Alec. He cleared his throat to find his voice. “Jordan, for the rest of your life I promise to stand beside you with love, friendship, encouragement, and to give you the safety and the happiness you deserve. You walked into my life and you swept me off my feet. In a million dreams I never could have imagined meeting a man as amazing as you. You are the beat in my heart that keeps me alive and the strength in my step that keeps me moving in the right direction. No matter what direction our lives take, it’ll always be the right one because we’ll take those steps together.” While Jordan wiped away his tears, Alec held out his hand to Tamara and she promptly handed the wedding ring over. Alec slipped the ring onto Jordan’s finger. “I will always love you, Jordan. Eternally.” Sonia signaled for the civil partnership forms. A man walked to the lectern, and Alec and Jordan stood beside him as he laid the forms out. Jordan signed first, Alec signed next, and then Damien and Taylor signed as witnesses. With the signatures on the paper, Alec and Jordan returned to their place in front of the lectern. Sonia gave them a wide smile. “Through the exchanging of vows and wedding rings, and the signing of the civil partnership act, you are now partners for life. You may kiss!” They didn’t need to be told twice and the gathering of guests broke into applause. Applause turned to cheers and catcalls when Jordan dipped Alec backward. Inside the marquee, guests were spellbound. Great swathes of fabric gathered to form the ceiling and the walls. Lighting cast a royal purple hue over the interior. Crystal chandeliers reflected shades of lavender. Purple candles in candelabras sat in the middle of circular tables. Purple napkins, purple cushioned chairs, white china plates, crystal ware, and silver cutlery, decadent and sublime without ever being over the top rounded out the decor. A photographer roamed around, taking wedding snaps while food was served and eaten. There were no formal speeches and as soon as the plates were cleared, the music started and the party began. In each other’s arms, Jordan and Alec shared the first dance alone and then everyone hit the floor. Bec and Taylor joined them and before Alec knew it a string of younger women and girls not so subtly pushed in for their chance to dance with Tyler Curtis. The DJ interrupted the music. “Sorry guys! I have to ask you all to return to your seats for the next one.”

Everyone started heading toward their tables. “Except for you, Alec. You have to stay here.” Alec sheepishly turned around and saw the smirk on the DJ’s face. All eyes were on him. Belinda rushed forward to remove Tamara with a promise she could return to his side in a few minutes. Jordan positioned a chair in the middle of the dance floor, and sat Alec down before taking the microphone from the DJ’s hand. Alec felt his face burning scarlet while Jordan addressed the guests. “For some reason my husband is under the impression he’s a bit of an entertainer.” There were sniggers and laughter. “I don’t know what’s given him that idea.” The laughter increased, as did Alec’s blushing. Jordan remained straight faced. “What he hasn’t realized yet, and he’s about to, is my extraordinary talent in the field of song writing and singing. I’ve kept it hidden until now. I thought he might not marry me if he knew I was more talented than he is.” Alec buried his face behind his hands. Jordan put an arm around Alec’s shoulders and pulled him close. “Don’t cry, my love, I’m sure a few people will still buy your CDs.” Laughter rolled through the marquee. “I thought what better time to sing Alec one of my opuses than on our wedding day? An expression of love for my new husband through the beauty of song.” He peeled away one of Alec’s hands. “Ready?” Alec shook his head, blushing and giggling. “You can’t cover your eyes! I went to a lot of effort to write this song for you!” Alec dropped his hands to his lap and clasped them together. Jordan nodded at the DJ and the music, if you could call it that, started up. A horrendous mismatch of noises, put together on his computer, which had everyone in hysterics before Jordan even started on the lyrics. When he did, the laughter grew tenfold. Jordan couldn’t hold a note to save his life and it almost made ears bleed. “I used to think your eyes were fake, I used to think you sucked.” Alec’s laughter was partnered with clutching of his stomach and rocking on the chair.

“But then I fell in love with you, especially after we fff...” Jordan paused on the ‘F’, Alec’s jaw dropped open, his gold eyes wide. “...fffound out we had a lot in common.” The marquee shook with laughter. “Now I think you’re gorgeous, which came as quite a shock, I’d cross the seven seas, for your hand around my...” He paused again, sent Alec a wink, reveling in the way Alec’s cheeks were flaming. “...heart and soul. You look so hot in leather pants, I had to make a pass. And I’m very glad I did, ‘cos I get to stick it up...” Alec very nearly fell off the chair and his face shone as red it could possibly be. The entire marquee quaked with laughter. “...all those who wish they were me!” Through the entire thing, Jordan kept a deadpan and serious expression. “I adore your sexy lisp, I adore the way you say...Velother Raptorths!” No matter how tragic or how embarrassing, to Alec it was the best love song ever. “Nothing is going to rhyme with Velother Raptorths now...” Jordan got down on one knee and took hold of Alec’s hand. “So I have to end my song here with...” He signaled for the DJ to end the music and he spoke the last line. “I love you, Alec Tyler.” Alec threw his arms around Jordan and kissed him passionately,their guests whooping. As it edged near midnight no one was tired except Tamara. Sitting at a table with Jordan, Isaac, Bryan, Bec, Taylor, and Belinda, Tamara fell asleep with her arms around Alec’s neck and her head resting on his chest. Jordan whispered in Alec’s ear, Alec nodded, and they stood. Hand in hand they approached the DJ. Jordan took the microphone again, asked for everyone’s attention, and all eyes were on them. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to sing again!” He waited for the chuckles and sniggers to stop. “We’d like to thank you all for sharing our wedding day with us. It’s been perfect in every way and feel free to party into the wee hours of the morning. As for us, we’re departing for the night.” There were more catcalls and Alec dropped his face, smirking.

“Thank you for helping us make our day as special as it has been. Goodnight!” *** The bedroom door closed, the noise from the marquee evaporating. Jordan took Alec’s face in his hands. “Hello husband!” A huge smile swept over Alec’s lips. “Hello husband!” Jordan reached for Alec’s hand, led him to the bed and invited Alec onto his lap. “Is it just me or is this the most overwhelmingly amazing feeling in the world?” With his left hand, Alec’s fingers worked to loosen Jordan’s tie. “It’s not just you. I can’t even begin to tell you how happy I am, Jordan. Everything feels peaceful and right. How it should be.” The tie worked loose, was discarded onto the floor, and Alec began unbuttoning the purple waistcoat. “Everything is peaceful and right, baby. From now on it always will be.” Standing up, with Alec in his arms, Jordan turned and laid Alec down on the bed, head on the pillows. He removed Alec’s shoes and socks and then his own and his jacket. He lay down beside Alec and this time it was his fingers that loosened Alec’s tie. “You look incredibly beautiful tonight. You always do, but tonight you’re even more breathtaking. I am, without question, the luckiest man alive.” Alec’s tie joined Jordan’s on the floor and their mouths found each other in a slow, sensual kiss. Fingers roamed over buttons and clothes. Bodies adjusted positions to get their clothing peeled away and discarded. Alec’s hands followed the line of Jordan’s shoulders, along his arms and past his elbows. The weight of Jordan’s body against him always gave Alec safety along with passion. That sense was magnified now, was deeper with the union of vows, giving them a different sense of freedom with each other that was all-powerful. A sense of never holding back in any way and wanting only to keep discovering the tactile pleasures they shared. They allowed their hands and fingers to find places they’d found before in this new light of exquisite harmony. They didn’t allow themselves to move too quickly or too feverishly. Instead, they gave free reign to light strokes and gentle caresses, letting lips play fingertips, communicating without words, saying all that needed to be said in a way words could never truly convey. It was a manipulation of body, heart, and soul into one divine creation breathing with one life. They craved each other with a yearning that was always with them and was gratified in these moments. Beginning again in a never ending and rapturous cycle, nothing could displace them. Nothing proved stronger than the emotional melding and nothing proved

stronger than the physical unity. Strength both could feed off and grow as a couple and as individuals. Together they were one with the power of two. Inseparable and invincible.

Chapter Thirty-Two Eleven months later “I don’t think I’ve ever been more nervous in my life, Jordan.” Releasing his arms from Alec’s waist, Jordan placed his hands on his husband’s shoulders and turned him away from the mirror. “Here, let me do that.” Shaking fingers refused to comply with the fastening of an eyebrow bar and Jordan took the task on himself. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you more nervous than this. Deep breaths or you’ll pass out before the limo gets here!” “Do I look okay?” In the mirror reflected Tyler Curtis with a different flavor. Gone was the solid black attire Frank Brooks had always insisted he wear. Instead there were splashes of color in the new wardrobe that had been prepared for his debut back into the limelight. His pants showed off exactly the same assets tight leather did, however they were wide with bold vertical stripes in grey and black, gothic rock styling edging into retro. They hugged his rear and snug around his legs, bunching slightly around his ankles and a pair of shiny buckled shoes. The slim fitting shirt in dark grey sported a feature panel in red down the centre where it zipped up and its collar and cuffs were black. A tailored jacket with strategically placed zippers on the pockets to compliment the shirt would finish the look along with a studded belt. Curtis’ signature hair was no longer short and spiked as it had been. It was grown out to the point where it gave the spikes a new lease on life. Segmented sections of blue black hair were styled in different directions and had movement without the immovable formation Curtis’ hair had been famous for. Alec’s image remained gothic, but also screamed quirky and individual. His typically artistic eye would no longer allow Curtis to step out in public unless he stepped out with an eccentric style. Over the past year Alec’s growing self-confidence showed in everything. In his work and in himself. Alec had settled into a comfort zone and wasn’t afraid to let it show. The quirky lilt to his attire didn’t stop with Tyler Curtis. From basic jeans and shirts, his creativity with fashion extended into every day wear for Alec Tyler. His taste in clothes was bold and perfectly suited to the assured artist and young man he’d morphed into. With the eyebrow bar fastened, Jordan placed his hands on either side of Alec’s face and bent down to once again attempt to kiss away Alec’s nerves. Dressed far more formally, Jordan wore a tailored black single breasted suit with a red tie which matched perfectly with the red in Alec’s shirt. “You know, there’s not much difference anymore between what you wear normally to what you’re wearing now.”

He took Alec’s hand and led him away from the bathroom mirror and into the hotel bedroom. “Is that a bad thing?” Alec smirked wryly. Jordan shook his head, eyes wide. “Hell, no! You in tight pants is never a bad thing, honey! I encourage it! The highlight of my day is waiting for you to emerge from the bathroom every morning with something else on I can spend the day fantasizing about peeling off you!” Pressing his finger to his lips and giggling, Alec pointed with his right hand toward the lounge area of the suite. “Shh! She’ll hear you!” Leaving Jordan behind in the bedroom to put on his shoes, Alec wandered into the lounge area and began gathering books together and placing them into a small carry bag. Along with the books, he put a small bag of sweets and two small cartons of juice. He put the bag onto the sofa and his hands on his hips. “What did I say about using markers while sitting on the furniture?” Tamara glanced up and shrugged. “Not to.” “That’s right! Come on, quick, put them away, we’ll be leaving soon.” “Alec?” The markers were taken from her hands and zipped into a pencil case. “Tamara?” The pencil case joined the other items already in the bag. “My shoes hurt.” “Beauty is pain, you’ll realize that when you get older. Hurry up, go to the toilet.” A knock on the door momentarily distracted Alec and he watched Jordan emerge from the bedroom to answer it. Snapping his attention back to Tamara, he caught her bouncing off the sofa to greet Bec. Alec grabbed her hand. “Tamara! Toilet! Go! Now!” “I don’t need to!” Escorting her toward the bathroom, he waved a rushed hello to Bec, and continued on his quest. “Try! I’m not having you whining when we get in the car about needing to pee.”

A typical five year old, Tamara had an answer for everything but generally knew arguing with Alec never went her way. “I can’t ‘cos I can’t pull my stockings up by myself.” He rolled his eyes and shuffled her into the bathroom. “Oh, good Lord! Get in there, do your business, and then come out and I’ll fix your stockings. Just hurry up!” Since her first meeting with Alec on the day of the wedding, Tamara’s adulation of him hadn’t faltered. Every second weekend he and Jordan took her into their home to stay and she’d turned into an almost adopted daughter. A pony given to her as a Christmas present was kept on their property and weekends spent with them were marked in her calendar as times she fervently looked forward to. School holidays allowed her more time and never did she pine for her mother when she stayed. Now she was in Los Angeles, in a grand hotel suite, and about to make her red carpet debut. Although she loved Jordan, it was Alec she idolized. He heard the toilet flush and Tamara shuffled out with stockings around her ankles. Alec immediately went to work getting her clothes fixed. “Did you go?” “Yes.” Mission stockings accomplished, he took her hand. “Now, when we get there and we get out of the car, do not let go of my hand. There’ll be a lot of people and I won’t have time to go looking for you if you wander off. Stick to me like glue!” Despite the rigors of part time parenthood, Tamara was the distraction Alec needed to keep his mind somewhat off the award night and the two categories he’d been nominated for. Win or lose it would be the first time he set foot on a stage and faced an audience in over a year. Even though he wasn’t the one singing, he’d be seated behind a grand piano and playing in front of A-list celebrities. Tyler Curtis burst back onto the scene in a way no-one expected and in a way no-one disputed. Hot favorite to walk away with the two awards and the industry buzzed with acclamations and awe. The youngest to ever be nominated in those two categories, everyone wanted to see him walk away with the prizes and reaffirm what they already believed. Looking stunning in a chili red gown draping over her curves and accentuating hair now redder than ever, it looked like Bec’s nerves were on a par with his own. Checking her appearance over in a massive mirror attached to the wall, she caught Alec’s eye in the reflection. “You look gorgeous! Do I look gorgeous?”

Answering on Alec’s behalf, Tamara piped up. Out of the four she remained the only one without the slightest sign of anxiety. “You look very pretty. Do I look pretty?” Bec bent down and straightened her hair. Dressed in a pale purple dress with matching ribbons in her curls, she looked every bit the five year old celebrity. “Lovely! We’ll be the best looking girls there.” There was another knock at the door and this time Alec startled noticeably. Gripping Jordan’s arm with his left hand, and covering his mouth with his right hand, Alec mumbled through his fingers. “I think I’m going to be sick!” Tamara raced to the door and opened it wide to a man dressed in a hotel chauffeurs uniform. He returned her smile cordially and raised his eyes upward. “Whenever you’re ready, Mr Curtis.” Rather than endure press and fans hoarding around the hotel entrance, the limousine had been parked toward the rear of the hotel and near a small staff entrance. Holding the car door open, Bec climbed in first followed by Tamara. Alec got in next and Jordan last. The door closed behind them, the driver took his spot behind the wheel, and they drove away toward to the awards venue. The closer they got, the higher Alec’s anxiety rose. According to industry talk and public gossip, Tyler Curtis couldn’t have been a hotter favorite to win if he’d cast the votes himself. Others nominated in the same categories had thrown their hands up in defeat long ago. Along with media and industry all wanting to see Tyler Curtis up on stage making his acceptance speech, they were also were desperate to see him personally. They each wanted to be the one to get those first sought after photographs of Curtis since he’d made the statement informing the public of his decision to take a year off and to be the one lucky enough to catch him on the red carpet for an interview. After a fifteen minute drive, the limousine slowed to a halt beside a long line of slowly moving black cars. If Alec gripped Jordan’s thigh any tighter he was sure the circulation would be cut off. “Oh God, we’re here! I want to go home!” Slipping an arm around his shoulders, Jordan edged him closer. “If it makes you feel any better I’m shitting myself as well!”

Stuffing one chocolate in her mouth after the other, legs swinging happily, Tamara piped up. “Don’t swear, Jordan!” Alec removed the box of chocolates from her hand and shoved them back inside the fridge. “You look like a truffle pig!” He ripped a tissue from a nearby box and set about wiping her mouth. “Show me your teeth.” She grinned wide to show brown teeth coated with chocolate. They were the next things scrubbed with the tissue. “Just because the fridge is full of food doesn’t mean you have to eat it all!” He tossed the tissue into a small bin, replaced his hand on Jordan’s thigh, and rolled his eyes. “Remind me again why we decided to have kids.” Eying Tamara, Jordan shrugged. “You stopped taking the pill.” Jordan nuzzled his face into Alec’s neck, and a succession of quick kisses smothered the skin below Alec’s ear. The uncharacteristic quiet from Bec gave away her nerves. She’d spent in the hands of top stylists and make-up artists. Her excitement of earlier rapidly switched to dread the nearer late afternoon drew. Even Tamara had been given the star treatment with her long dark brown hair styled professionally for the occasion. With every inch the limousine edged closer to the red carpet, the higher everyone, except Tamara’s, anxiety rose. From a speaker inside the passenger section of the limousine, the driver’s voice interrupted them with the announcement that they were next in line. Alec’s fingers dug ruthlessly into Jordan’s thigh. “Oh, no!” “You’ll do fine, baby.” The limousine ahead of them dropped off its celebrities and promptly moved away to allow the next. They drew to a slow halt beside a red carpet, and someone rushed forward to open the door. From the instant Bec stepped out, the press and crowd exploded with excitement. If Bec Braxton was in the limo it also meant that Tyler Curtis was. Tamara stepped out next, waving like it was her they’d come to see. Jordan appeared next and the excitement reached fever pitch. Alec only needed to place one leg out the car door for = fever pitch to turn into hysteria. Exiting the limousine completely, he slipped into Tyler Curtis mode, despite his nerves and despite the one year off. It was crazed insanity. Press fought for their chance to speak to him and fans in the temporary stands lurched for the best view possible. Everyone wanted to know how their idol looked and they all wanted to be reassured his health was back to normal. Not a single person anticipated the new quirky, retro, gothic, rock image and their appreciation sounded raucously. Tyler Curtis looked hot, sexy, and above all, glowing. Out of the bustle of press one female reporter managed to snare the hottest interview in town. Separated from Jordan momentarily, Alec took a deep breath and approached the

microphone with Tamara’s hand held fast in his. Barely able to hear over the screams and applause, Alec leaned in closer to catch every word. A massive smile went from one side of the reporter’s face to the other. “Tyler Curtis! Listen to that crowd!” He nodded, waved to the fans in the stand, and caused another thunder of cheering. “I know! They’re rambunctious, aren’t they?” “You look fabulous! Love the new image! Who dressed you tonight?” “Me! Tied my own shoelaces and everything! Oh, hang on, they’re buckles.” From the side, above, and at knee level, photographers scrambled for pictures. “And who’s this lovely young lady on your arm?” She crouched and held the microphone lower. “Tamara!” “Hello, Tamara! Who dressed you for tonight?” She pointed at Alec. “He did!” Laughing, she straightened and turned her attention back to Alec. “Two nominations, everyone believes you have it sown up, how are you feeling about it?” Reaching for Jordan’s hand the moment he was near enough, Alec waited until Jordan stood beside him before answering. “I’m extremely nervous and to be honest I don’t believe any one person can be guaranteed of winning an award like this. I guess I’ll have to wait and see.” The reporter flashed a white smile at Jordan. “Jordan, good to see you! You’re looking fabulously handsome!” Smirking, he glanced at Alec, one of his eyebrows rising. Arse kissing celebrities and their partners was the order of the day in Hollywood. “Thanks.” “Married life seems to be agreeing with you both!” Jordan’s smirk changed to a subdued chuckle. “It certainly does.” “Do you believe Tyler will win?”

“Of course.” She dared to broach a more personal question. “How are you health wise?” “I’m doing fine, thank you.” Alec took a step away to subtlety indicate the interview was over, and she took the hint, nodding graciously. She obviously knew she’d crossed the line and was silently admitting it. “Thank you, Tyler. You look gorgeous and I wish you the very best of luck.” “Thanks. Take care.” Waving one last time to the crowd, all four moved toward the entrance and away from the mayhem. Politely saying hello to several celebrities he’d never met and who all appeared to behave as thought they were close friends, Alec kept Jordan’s hand firmly in his and followed the usher to their seats. “Oh, no! Right in the front! How embarrassing!” Sitting down, Tamara decided the chair wasn’t where she wanted to be and climbed onto Alec’s lap. Jordan sat to his right and Bec took the seat to the left of the one Tamara had snubbed. There were famous faces, however instead of being star-struck it seemed to throw fuel onto Bec’s already flaming fire of apprehension. She seized Alec’s arm and whispered into his ear. “I’m going to screw it up, I know I am!” He whispered in reply. “They’ll have the footlights up. You won’t see the crowd until the end of the number. Best thing is to try and pretend you’re singing into an empty room. Trust me, I feel just as scared as you do.” The venue filled to capacity. Noisy chatter fell into a blanket of hush as the lights went down and the voice over announced the beginning of the Academy Awards.

Chapter Thirty-Three A single microphone stand, a grand piano, Bec and Alec. Raucous applause greeted them, and then all fell silent and waited. Alec could feel and see his fingers shaking above the keys. Accompanying them was an orchestra, out of the spotlight and hidden in darkness. A solo piano introduction preceded Bec’s vocals. The moment Alec’s fingers struck the keys his performance nerves vanished and he was soon immersed in the moment. With his eyes closed, and the habitual gentle rocking he always displayed when playing, the music he created swallowed the audience whole with its haunting simplicity. Bec missed not a note and her voice matched perfectly with the melody. She lacked the grit Alec sang with, she lacked the force, yet she sang with a spellbinding femininity as bewitching as the music. Midway through the chorus the orchestra began their accompaniment, captivating the audience with a dance of woodwind and violins, whispering into all five senses, blanketing the listener, feeding the soul with music and emotion. Notch by notch the piano intensified, the orchestra intensified, the singing intensified, and the crowd willingly allowed themselves to be trapped and enthralled. It ended with a crescendo of power, beauty, and a screaming standing ovation. Remaining on the piano stool, Alec let the limelight remain on Bec. As much as it was his moment, it was hers. Her first public performance, in front of the finest artists in the world, and she’d nailed it. After two courteous bows, she approached the piano stool, took Alec hand, and held it high in the air. The screams were deafening. Doing their best to return to their seats with the minimum of fuss, Alec sat down beside Jordan and their arms wrapped around one another as they shared hugs and kisses. Jordan leaned over to congratulate his sister with a tight embrace while Tamara hung off Alec’s neck. chattering excitedly. Once all the congratulations were doled out, Jordan’s arm remained tight around Alec’s shoulders and he leaned to whisper into Alec’s ear. “You’re incredible. I love you so much.” Alec shifted to whisper his reply. “I love you.” Two of the biggest names in Hollywood walked side by side down the stage steps and approached the small glass lectern. Alec took a sharp breath in, trembling from his head to the tips of his shoes.. Bec reached over Tamara and took hold of Alec’s free hand. It seemed everyone in the audience held their breaths along with them. “The nominations for Best Movie Score for a dramatic film are...” Three names were read before Alec’s, each of the artist’s faces flashed up on the massive screens. Along with everyone else, Alec clapped politely. His name was said next and he felt his heart stop beating inside his chest.

“Tyler Curtis for...” Needing to wait until the crowd quieted their eruption of applause, the woman at the lectern smiled to the man beside her and continued. “...Passion and Retribution.” The opening of the envelope sounded like the slamming of a door. Alec felt weak and dizzy; Jordan felt smothered by a mix of excitement and nerves. The card slipped from the envelope, she read the name in print, peered into the camera and said with a wide grin, “...looks like someone’s made history!” Alec lurched forward and slammed his hands over his face. “Tyler Curtis for Passion and Retribution!” Inside his ears Alec heard the thunderous standing ovation, around him he felt Jordan’s arms, and the overwhelming build up of emotion overflowed. At twenty-one he was the youngest composer to win an Oscar for a dramatic movie score. He didn’t know whether to laugh, cry, scream, or stay silent. Digging deep to pull himself together enough to rise to his feet, Alec walked the short distance to the stage in shoes that resembled leaden weights, taking one step after the other toward the waiting prize and waiting congratulations. The golden statue was passed to him by the women who’d made the announcement, there was an exchange of kisses and handshakes, and the microphone stood, beckoning. Waiting until the crowd hushed was akin to waiting for a thunderstorm in the midst of summer heat. Finally he had to raise a hand and gesture for quiet. The crowd obeyed and silence fell like a blanket. Alec shook his head and stared at the Oscar. He could feel the tears welling in his eyes and obscuring his vision, and he cleared his throat nervously. “There’s so many things going through my mind right now and I’m not sure I can put any of it into words. I wrote this symphony over a period of about two years, never expecting it to be used in a movie and certainly never expecting to win an Oscar for it. I’m truly overwhelmed. I’m not going to bore you with a long-winded speech so I’ll just thank a few important people. My new manager, Richard White, who doesn’t believe in keeping me on a leash!” No one had returned to their seats – they were all standing, listening to every word he spoke. “To everyone who’s supported me during the time I took to recuperate, thank you so very much. To my lovely sister in law, Rebecca Braxton, who’s haunting vocals on this soundtrack are a stark contrast to the crazy woman she is!” Laughter smattered through the people and all eyes momentarily turned to Bec.

“My mother and father in law, thank you for everything. Uncle Isaac, thank you for everything. Tamara...” He waved and she waved back. “...thank you for behaving yourself! The laughter grew louder. “It was Jordan who encouraged me to show this symphony to Richard and convinced me it was good enough to part with. When Richard suggested submitting it anonymously for the soundtrack of Passion and Retribution, again Jordan encouraged me to do so. Thank you, baby, for being my rock, my safe place to land, my inspiration, and my heart. No matter what, snaring you as a husband will always remain my greatest achievement. I love you.” He lifted his hands in the air toward the fans in the stands. “And I love all of you and I thank all of you!” He walked off the stage to a thundering ovation. Caught up behind the stage with winner interviews and cameras, Alec answered questions and obliged photographers, all the while only wanting to return to his seat beside Jordan before the presentation for best song. The longer he remained caught up in media attention, the more his hopes faded of making it to his seat on time. From every direction hands reached to pull him toward another microphone, celebrities he knew only by reputation posed alongside him for pictures in a whirlwind of attention as overwhelming for Alec as the award itself. It had been a long time since he’d been forced to front grappling press and fans, doing his best to smile and oblige while never letting on that the familiar anxiety always associated with so many people so close was running rampant To his left a man with a clipboard and an earpiece took a gentle hold of his elbow. “You’re nomination is up next, Tyler, please stand in the wings.” Disappointed he wasn’t where he wanted to be, Alec did as he was told and stood off stage. Two more presenters walked down the stairs and toward the glass lectern. “The nominations for Best Song are...” Three nominees were announced and their faces splashed on the screen. Alec took several calming breaths and rocked back and forth on his shoes. Polite applause followed each one in precisely the same way it had done earlier. “Tyler Curtis for ‘Reckoning’.” In response to the ear splitting roar, Alec waved at a camera thrust into his face. The envelope opened, a hush fell over the crowd, and the name printed on the card revealed. “He’s done it again! Tyler Curtis for ‘Reckoning’!”

Feeling like a fish out of water walking the breadth of the stage to another standing ovation, Alec accepted the Oscar with more handshakes and kisses. When he approached the lectern he blew a kiss to Jordan and waved Bec to her feet. “Come up here with me, Beccy.” Not needing to be asked twice, she carefully climbed the few stairs. She held out her arms and both hugged each other firmly. Alec handed the Oscar to her and spoke into the microphone. “I’ll simply say thank you and leave this one to Beccy.” Bec stepped up the lectern, the Oscar held in her hand and a wide grin on her face. Her words weren’t the typical acceptance speech. “About a year ago I won a radio competition to see this one...” She pointed a finger at Alec. “...in concert and go to his wrap party. I was absolutely certain all my dreams were about to come true and I’d end up in his hotel room and in his bed!” Alec hung his head to hide the blush coloring his cheeks while everyone else, including Jordan, broke into laughter. “Unfortunately, in a cruel twist of fate for me, he ended up in bed with my brother! I should probably point out, before he smacks me over the head, he does have high morals and they didn’t actually do anything that night other than...” She made inverted commas with her fingers. “...kiss. He made sure I knew that because he didn’t want me to think he was easy! Hell! I wanted him to be easy, but I wanted him easy with me!” By this stage Alec’s hands were over his face and Bec had every person cracking up. “Oh, I have so many wonderful memories of recording this song. Memories like, ‘Do it again, that was flat. One more time, you’re too pitchy. No you’re not allowed to sleep until we get this right!” She sighed and nodded. “But I think my favorite memory was when Tyler and I listened to the finished product and I realized his annoying professionalism had resulted in perfection.” Reaching behind her she took Alec’s arm and pulled him nearer to the lectern. “A year ago I won tickets to see Tyler Curtis in concert and I was filled with hope of getting naked with him. That didn’t happen. I ended up with something a whole lot better. Tyler and I couldn’t be more different, but it doesn’t matter, he’s my best friend in the whole world and...” She held Alec’s chin in her hand. “I love you snookums!” Her hand left his chin and raised his arm in the air. “Look out world, Tyler Curtis is back and I dare say, you ain’t seen nuthin’ yet!”

***

In a cheap rental flat on the outskirts of Melbourne’s inner suburbs, Frank Brooks watched Alec walk away with two Oscars and his name in the history books. Frank had been spared a sentence in prison, but was serving time in a solitary confinement he’d never be released from. His ignorance had been both his savior from jail and his condemner in life. Too ill, and unprepared to drag Frank through a court case that would have thrown him into the spotlight long before he’d recovered enough to endure it, Alec had dropped the charges. It wasn’t a blessing, which Frank knew Alec to be completely aware of. By allowing Frank to stay out of jail, he’d also made the entire world Frank’s furious and unforgiving cellmates. What the public believed to be a result of exhaustion on Tyler Curtis’ behalf to let Frank walk, was in actual fact a premeditated choice. Frank’s life out of prison doled out a punishment far worse than prison ever could and there wasn’t a chance of probation. At twenty-one Alec’s future shone so brightly it blinded. At fifty-four, Frank’s future held loneliness and ruination. In a shared prison cell Leanne Silverton learned exactly the same harsh lesson Frank had. To try and pin Alec down, in any form, never ended in anyone else’s success other than Alec’s. Her dogged fight to stay out of jail ended only two weeks after the law tracked her down. Without a leg to stand on she plead guilty after a plea bargain to lower the sentence. All along the two things she and Frank never took into consideration were Alec’s will to fight and his capacity to love. Alone, he battled with determination and hope, no matter how it nearly destroyed him he never quit trying to keep his head above the raging waters. With Jordan he trusted love to allow all his hurt, frustration, and anger to be stripped bare. He allowed himself the time to grieve and the time to heal, knowing Jordan would not walk away and would not let him drown. Above all else, this certainty of love and trust energized his soul to the point Alec Tyler could step back onto the world’s surface and claim it. Claim it and own it.

THE END (The Curtis Reincarnation © 2007 – Zathyn Priest)