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

And Corey knew how to please a lover, that was obvious in the way he nuzzled Ian’s neck as they drifted off to sleep, or the way his hands curved over his waist to rest along the fluttery skin of his lower stomach. Ian wanted to let go, to let Corey’s gentle kisses devour him, to let Corey in and succumb to the passion swelling inside him, but he was scared.


Of what? Of showing him just how much he means to you? Of what he can do to you? How he can blow your mind and leave you numb—you don’t want him to see that because you’re afraid he’ll take advantage of it?


In the quiet darkness of Corey’s room, Ian muttered, “Maybe I should just leave.”


“No,” Corey said. The bed shifted as he crawled up behind Ian and wrapped his arms around Ian’s shoulders. Ian let himself be pulled into the embrace. “Ian, no. I’m sorry, I don’t want to rush things, I know you want to take it slow. Just please don’t leave. Stay here. Please don’t leave me alone.”


Chapter 27