"Everything smells awesome."
Remey hung back a little, crossing the room to where Stevan had Willow perched on a counter so she could watch everything. She beamed at him and wrapped her little fingers around one of his.
"You gon' sing me a song today, Remey? You said maybe later. Is later now, right?"
Jess glanced up, her eyes bright with excitement. "You should!"
Remey blushed, glancing over at Aleks. "Okay. Something quick, though."
A second later, he launched into the first verse of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." Willow's eyes widened because it just so happened to be one of her very favorites.
Aleks knew this version. Vaguely island-y and different. But he'd never heard anyone sing it in person before. He smiled, leaning his hip against the counter as Remey continued. His gaze darted between Remey and Willow, who was watching the other man with a look of awe on her face.
That gave Aleks pause. It didn't take much for hero worship to turn into expectations Remey couldn't or wouldn't fulfill and then Willow would end up disappointed.
Jess bopped along as she went back to making the salad, and his brother was busy giving Aleks this very knowing sort of look. Damn it, why was he surprised Stevan was trying to play matchmaker? He wanted to tell Stevan not to bother, he was interested enough without his help, but he wasn't quite ready to admit it to anyone else yet.
Besides, there was no telling what was going to happen, if anything. Then Remey glanced over at him, still singing to Willow, and Aleks let out a sigh.
Fuck.
Something was happening all right. It lingered in the room like another person, taking up space, making the air thick with unspoken things.
When Remey's voice drifted off, Willow clapped and patted his arm enthusiastically.
"Pretty! Sing again, Remey? Please?" She batted her lashes at him, and Aleks laughed.
"Careful. She's a little operator, my girl. She'll have you giving a whole concert just for her in the living room if you don't watch it. Willow, say thank you to Remey for singing you a song like you asked."
Willow beamed up at him. "Thank you, Remey. Again now, 'kay?"
Remey smiled and gave Willow a quick squeeze. "Not right now,
bebette.
Maybe later."
Willow huffed out a sigh at being denied, but before she could get too put out, Stevan distracted her with a bit of carrot. Aleks gestured Remey over, and the other man bit his lip before rounding the island to lean against the counter beside him, carefully staying out of Jess's way.
"I've never heard anyone sing that version in person before. It's different."
Remey nodded, meeting Aleks's eyes. "It is. I hope you didn't mind..."
Aleks shook his head. "Willow would've kept on pestering you otherwise. It was nice."
Remey laughed and shook his head, meeting Aleks's eyes with a teasing smile. "Nice? Gee, your compliments put my Grammys to shame."
"Stop it. Willow liked it, obviously."
Remey looked like he wanted to ask if Aleks had liked it, too, but instead, he leaned against the counter, gesturing to where Stevan was feeding Willow bits of lettuce. "You going to pound on your brother? He seemed pretty confident he could take you if need be."
Aleks snorted. "He's also delusional at times. I probably should've warned you about him."
Remey chuckled, meeting Aleks's eyes. "Delusional, maybe, but he's cute. Then again, he looks like you, so that's a given."
Jess glanced over at the two of them, and Aleks caught the gleam in her eyes. Damn, just like his brother, she was in matchmaking mode. Why was everyone suddenly so keen on him dating someone? And a famous pop star on top of it?
"Hey, Aleks, I've been meaning to ask if you'd move those paintings of yours out of the attic? Stevan and I are planning to clear out the guest bedroom and finally do something with the room. We could use the extra storage space." She flashed a grin at Remey. "Why don't you take Remey with you? He could help."
All Aleks could think was she was so lucky he adored her. Because Remey's eyes lit up like a damn Christmas tree. "Paintings? You paint?"
Aleks sighed and grabbed his wrist. "Fine, come with me. Stevan, don't stuff my kid on rabbit food, would you? Save some room for actual food." He pulled Remey along behind him because he knew it was going to be a wasted effort to try to say no at this point. Stevan and Jess seemed determined to all but throw Remey under Aleks.
"You paint?" Remey repeated as he followed Aleks up the stairs to the second floor.
Aleks nodded. "I do." He gestured to the hatch in the ceiling. "Up here, but let me go up and make sure the light's working first."
Remey nodded, standing back as Aleks tugged the hatch open and extended the ladder to the attic. He could pretty much feel those pretty blue eyes locked on his ass as he climbed up and reached for the string to turn on the light.
"Works, so come on up. Be careful." He turned and, when Remey was halfway up, reached down to offer his hand and steady him the rest of the way. Remey smiled up at him and didn't let go of Aleks's hand, even when he stepped off the ladder.
"Thanks. So... paintings?"
Aleks glanced around and gestured. "Over here. You know how you asked how come I don't play piano anymore and how you couldn't imagine not playing? I didn't really answer you then, but... this is why. I feel like that about this, not about piano."
Remey let out a soft breath as he crouched in front of the canvases leaning against the wall, studying the ones in front intently. Aleks wasn't at all sure what the singer was going to think. His art was... different. But it meant a lot to him and he held his breath, waiting to see what the verdict was.
Remey flipped carefully through the stack of canvases, examining each one. There were flowers with evil faces and grinning skeletons and all sorts of other creepy things. Finally, Remey glanced up, shaking his head with an awed smile. "You painted all of these? They're beautiful. Different, but beautiful. Why aren't you teaching art instead of music?"
Aleks crouched down beside him, reaching out to run a finger along the edge of one of the canvases. "Art is too personal. I can't break it down and explain it, or teach it so it would make sense. I can't distance myself from it enough. With music, I can."
Remey shook his head. "So the youth center is doubly important, isn't it? It hits home for you for the music and the art."
"Exactly," Aleks murmured, and Remey turned his gaze back to the canvases, gesturing to them.
"I can help you load these into my car and drop you and Willow off after dinner, if you want. I figure you walked over with her. I didn't hear a car before you came in."
Aleks laughed, shaking his head. "Do you think Jess didn't have an ulterior motive when she sent us up here to get these, when Stevan could bring them by or I could come get them any time?"
Remey flushed, fiddling with the zipper on his sweater. "Not really, but I didn't want to presume." He snuck a glance at Aleks and shrugged. "I figured you knew, too, but I didn't--don't--know how you feel about the meddling. Or about being alone with me."
Aleks wasn't at all sure how he felt about the meddling. But he was very sure how he felt about being alone with Remey. He shifted closer, one hand coming up to cup the side of Remey's neck, thumb against his jaw. He didn't say anything, and neither did Remey, but they moved at the same time, leaning into each other and lips meeting.
It was electric, like a lightning storm right there in his hands. Aleks could feel the sizzle of their attraction shivering along Remey's skin where they touched and continuing along Aleks's nerves as well.
He tasted like sweet blackberry wine, the kind Jess favored, and Aleks suddenly had a craving for it himself. Remey made a soft, breathless sound, lips parting, and Aleks sank his hand into Remey's hair, tongue gliding deep into his mouth. Remey leaned back on one hand to steady himself, and Aleks followed him, until Remey was sitting on the floor, and Aleks was kneeling, straddling one slender thigh.
It took a long moment before reason began to seep through the haze of desire and Aleks pulled back, enough to break the kiss and drag in a lungful of much-needed air.
Fuck.
He couldn't remember the last time a simple kiss had such an effect on him. Hell, who was he kidding? There was nothing simple about that kiss.
Remey exhaled, shaky and ragged, leaning back on his hands and watching Aleks through hazy eyes, and all Aleks could think was how much he wanted to see Remey looking at him with the same expression from his bed. He wasn't sure what to say when he'd just had his world completely rocked. The kiss had been way more intense than he'd been expecting. His entire body had responded and there was a nagging want for more humming under his skin.
"Well. That was... wow." Remey murmured, and Aleks let out a soft laugh.
"That's one word for it." Before he could respond, though, Remey reached one hand up, pulling him close for another kiss. His heart pounded when their lips met, when his tongue skimmed along Remey's lower one. Remey parted his lips to let Aleks in, his eyes fluttering closed. Aleks groaned into his mouth, and Remey sat up a bit more, his other hand sliding into Aleks's hair as well, nibbling on his bottom lip. He sighed when Aleks broke the kiss.
"We should go back downstairs before Jess, or God forbid, Stevan comes looking for us."
Remey laughed, shaking his head and meeting Aleks's eyes. "I'm pretty sure they're going to have a good idea what was going on up here."
Aleks groaned, forehead against Remey's. "Fuck, you're right. They know exactly what we're doing up here."
Remey laughed, lips brushing Aleks's again. "So what? If we're already guilty..." His voice trailed off, heavy with suggestion, and Aleks's cock jumped up and agreed with Remey's theory wholeheartedly.
And then they were kissing again. Aleks couldn't seem to remember why this wasn't a very good idea. Because in the heat of it, kissing a guy who beat out Brad Pitt on the Most Beautiful People list--yes, Aleks had Googled--seemed like a fucking genius plan.
His hand slid around to splay on Remey's back, pulling him closer, this time with Aleks ending up on his ass and Remey straddling him, the kiss deeper, wilder than before. There was heat and purpose behind it, and Aleks groaned when Remey tangled his fists in Aleks's hair like a feral kitten holding on to what he wanted for his own.
Damned if it didn't make Aleks a little light-headed.
What would it be like to be the man allowed to touch Remey? Make love to him? Strip him naked and stretch him out on the floor right there and spread those pretty thighs...
Aleks cut off the thought and gently pushed Remey back some, panting.
"Wait. We cannot do this here, Remey." He sucked in heavy breaths, meeting Remey's gaze. "My family is downstairs... my
daughter.
"
Remey panted, untangling his hands from Aleks's hair and sitting back on his heels, his hands dropping to rest on his thighs. He couldn't quite hide the disappointment on his face, but he nodded. "Of course... I... that was stupid."
Aleks shook his head, reaching out to touch Remey's cheek, with eyes warm. "Hey. Just... hold the thought for later, okay? If you're going to give Squish and me a ride home, she'll be ready for bed pretty much as soon as we get there. You could come in and stay a bit." Aleks flashed him a grin. "We could make use of my couch instead."
Remey let out a shaky laugh and stood. "You're not going to let me live that down, are you?"
"Not a chance," Aleks answered with a laugh of his own, dusting off his jeans as he stood up. Remey grabbed an armful of the canvases, while Aleks took the rest and tipped his head toward the hatch. "Let me go ahead of you, in case you trip."
Remey smiled and waited for Aleks to climb halfway down before he handed him his stack and then climbed down the ladder. Aleks set down the pile of paintings and pulled the chain to turn off the light, then pushed the ladder up and closed the hatch.
Aleks led the way downstairs, grateful they were busy trying to maneuver without face-planting, because damned if he knew what to say. He held the front door open for Remey and then let him take the lead to the curb and open up the back of his hybrid. It was sweet how careful Remey was with the paintings, using a blanket in the back to wrap them in before he shut the hatch and locked it.
Aleks smiled. "This isn't L.A. You could leave it unlocked and, trust me, no one would touch it."
Remey shrugged with a smile of his own. "Habit. Besides, I'll still have to spend lots of time in places not nearly so idyllic. Better to stay in the habit."
Aleks was tempted to take his hand again, the way Remey had upstairs. It'd felt nice in his, small and warm, the fingertips rough from all the guitar-playing. Instead, Aleks waved toward the house. "Come on... dinner awaits. I'm dying for a piece of pie. What kind?"
Remey grinned. "Apple, what else?"
What else, indeed? Apple pie, his best girl, his obnoxious but much loved family... and Remey. It was weird to have another person there on family dinner night, but Aleks thought he could get used to it.
More than the pie, though, Aleks was looking forward to later. Anticipation hummed through him. It'd been a long time since he necked on the living room couch and worried about getting caught.
* * * *
"Do you want the leftovers of the pie?" Jess asked as Remey helped her finish the cleanup. He turned from the sink and glanced at the plate she held, with one lonely slice of pie on it. Laughing, he shook his head, then returned to scrubbing the roast pan.
"No, that's fine. You guys keep it."
Jess smiled and transferred the piece to a container, passing the plate to Remey to wash. "Thank you for bringing it, and for coming. I was so nervous when Stevan told me. I expected you to be all..." She trailed off, and Remey smiled as he washed the pie plate.
"All Hollywood? I'm not. Which is what I keep trying to tell Aleks. I grew up in a small town not too different from Haven. That's who I am, not some jerk celebrity."