Twenty year old Corey Evans is one-half of 2ICE, the biggest duo on the radio at the moment. Pronounced twice, they're number one on the Billboard charts this week with their latest single. And number one in download sales, with two albums that have already gone platinum, to hear their manager tell it. And currently on their second U.S. tour, which has sold out stadiums across the nation. Despite this, there's an emptiness inside him which Corey can't seem to fill, no matter how many groupies he takes to his bed. He sees this same emptiness mirrored in the eyes of his band-mate, Ian Coltraine, who drowns his evenings after each show with a bottle of whiskey. Ian's the one Corey turns to when he wakes beside an unknown fan, still asleep in his bed and needs help evicting her. He's Corey best friend, the only person on the tour he can confide in, who he really trusts ... The one, Corey finally realizes, with whom he is madly, deeply, terribly in love. And he suspects Ian might feel the same. But his recent string of one-night stands makes Ian cautious about Corey's true feelings. He's wanted Corey for so long, and has watched him go through countless fans in search of ... what? Ian doesn't know. And he doesn't yet believe Corey when he says Ian might be it. Ian hopes so, but can't bring himself to believe Corey's fickle desire won't be gone in the morning. Can these two young men somehow move beyond Corey's past and Ian's pain to embrace a love they both so desperately desire?

Beautiful Disaster

“Do you really want me to?” Corey pressed his lips against Ian’s forehead, cool and damp and impossibly soft on heated skin, and Ian didn’t have an answer for that. He couldn’t find the words to reply.   11


Corey inhaled the thick scent of whiskey and musk that clung to Ian’s skin. The prettiest perfume had never smelled so sexy, so fervid, so exhilarating, as Ian did this close. Desire stirred within him, twisting his stomach into nervous knots and buckling his knees. He slipped one arm around Ian’s waist to steady himself, and he heard Ian’s breathless gasp in his ear at the strong touch. Against his lips, Ian’s skin was warm and soft, softer than anything Corey had ever touched before, and he wanted to keep his mouth on Ian’s flesh forever.


“Corey, stop,” Ian whispered, his lips forming the words on Corey’s ear so he felt more than heard them. His hands pressed against Corey’s chest. “Please. Please stop. Now.”


Chapter 18