He stood, waiting patiently, by the front desk as the clerk opened the book before him. His eyes started to wander around the lobby for a second. Then something caught his attention out of the corner of his eye. It was the most beautiful hair he had ever seen, long red curls with natural blond
highlights. He had seen someone with hair like that before, but where? Wait could it be?

"Excuse me sir, were you going to check in sometime today?"

"Oh yeah. Do you have reservations for a Mr. Nesmith?" Mike asked, while still keeping an eye on the hair.

"Nesmith. yes right here. You're in room forty-two on the third floor." The clerk handed Mike his room key. "Someone will bring your luggage up to you."

"Thank you very much."

Mike walked away and took the elevator to the third floor. He came to the hallway where his room was located.*42... 42... Where the hell did they hide room 42... Oh there it is.* He thought as he reached the room. He pulled the room key out of his pocket and put it in the keyhole. Before he could turn the lock he saw something that took him by surprise. He took a second look to make sure he wasn't seeing things. He wasn't because entering the room right next to his was the guy who sat next to him on the plane. *He WAS the one with the gorgeous curly hair in the lobby! What was his name again?* He thought with excitement.

He had to retain his cool and pretend like he hadn't notice him. Too late, he was spotted.

"Hey is that you?"

Mike looked up at his new curly haired wonder and smiled. Oh he looked even more stunning than he did on the plane!

"Michael! Remember me? It's Steven, from the plane."

*Oh Steven! That's right!* " Of course I remember you. It wasn't that long ago when we saw each other last." Mike could hardly contain the giddiness in his voice as he spoke to his new crush.

There was a short moment of silence between them until Steven spoke. "Well um. Looks like we'll be neighbors." He laughed.

"Yeah. Looks like it." Mike smiled.

They stood in mirror image positions for a few seconds, their heads leaning against the doors, a single bag hanging from their fingers, dangling to the floor, and with similar grins on their lips.

Steven sighed and then placed his hand on the doorknob, turning it slightly. "I guess we'd better be going into our rooms before someone comes along and mistakes us for statues or something."

"Yeah. Um."

"I'll see you around Michael." Steven winked at Mike as he walked in through
the door, closing it behind him.

Mike leaned back against the door and sighed heavily. It had only been the second time he'd made contact with Steven, and he was already falling in love with him. He opened the door and walked in the room all in a daze. Mike hadn't felt this good in years. He had to tell someone about it, but who could he tell?

~*~

They both looked around the room and at the mess before them. Beer cans were everywhere, there were cards in a messy pile on the kitchen table, and most of their clothes were in miscellaneous places.

"Do you remember what we did last night, Stace?" Micky asked.

"No. The last thing I remember was, you were trying to make a house out of cards on the table."

"Looks like I didn't succeed." He laughed.

They gathered their clothes and started to dress. Micky pulled his pants up and fastened them, and then he turned toward Stacey with an impish grin on his face.

"You know what we should do?"

"No. What?"

"It's boring around here. We should go somewhere else together."

"Like where?"

"Anywhere but here. We could...we could stay at a hotel. I know the perfect one. What'd you think?"

"Ok. Let's go."

~*~

It was the end of the day and Mike was sick and tired of everything. He couldn't stand family gatherings, because at every one he was bombarded with questions. Are you seeing any one? Are you still in that band? When are you going to move back to Texas? Why did you move to California? Blah blah blah! It never ends! He became so frustrated with his family that he decided to take the next bus back to the hotel. He was glad that there were only two other passengers on the bus, an old lady who had fallen asleep in her knitting, and Steven. He actually sighed in relief when he saw him sitting alone. Steven signaled to Mike by patting the seat next to him, allowing Mike to join him. Mike plopped down next to Steven, and let out some frustration in a heavy sigh.

"Well, who put that bug up your butt Michael?" Steven said with a laugh. Mike looked over at Steven and his expression softened a little. "Oh let's just say I never want to deal with family again."

"Oh, I see. Well, I'll just let you go back to pouting. I don't like interfering when family's involved."

They sat in silence for a couple minutes. Mike stared out the window and Steven stared at Mike with a small smile at the corners of his mouth. Suddenly he grabbed Mike's chin and turned his head so he would be looking in his eyes. Then he pulled him closer for a smooth French kiss which left Mike helpless. Once Steven finally pulled away Mike stared at him with a sparkle in his eyes.

"What was that for?"

"Well, you're all tense. I was trying to get things off your mind so you could relax. Plus you should've known it would have come some time." Steven answered.

Mike looked down looking for a reply, and trying not to show Steven that he made him blush.

"You look so cute when you blush." Steven said, causing Mike to blush more.

The bus stopped in front of the hotel, and the two of them held hands as they stepped off. They walked to their hotel rooms, stopping in between the doors. Mike wrapped one arm firmly around Steven's waist and pulled him close. Then he dipped him, placing a very passionate kiss on his sweet, soft, pink lips. He then let him up and pulled a couple curls behind his ear and then began to nibble a little on the lobe. This caused Steven to let out a mixture between a shriek and a giggle.

"Michael! When I kissed you on the bus I didn't think it would cause you to get like this!"

"You like it, don't you?" He asked as he moved down to kiss his neck.

"Well, yeah, but."

"So, are you complaining?"

"No. Not at all. I just didn't expect this much so soon."

"Well, you made the first move."

"You're right, but we shouldn't do this out in the hall."

"Yeah. So um... your room or mine?"

Steven looked at both doors then at Mike, and laughed. "How 'bout yours because mine is a little messy."

"Who cares about a little mess?" Mike opened Steven's hotel room door and ushered him inside.


"I guess it's mine after all." Steven said before kissing Mike gently on the lower lip.

It was dark in the room as they entered, closing and locking the door behind them. They could barely see each other as they began to tear their clothes off and moved over to the bed in a lip locked embrace. The next thing that Mike knew was that he was flat on his back on the bed, stark naked. Steven was hovering over him, panting from the excitement. Then Steven started sucking Mike's neck gently and moved downward, leaving a trail from his lips and tongue. He circled his belly button with his tongue then continued down to his inner thigh, which teased Mike even more.

Steven lifted his head and looked at Mike with a sly smile. He knew that, because of the darkness, Mike couldn't see what he was about to do to him. Mike gasped over the sensation that Steven was causing. First Steven stroked the top of his head, right over the damp opening, causing Mike to tingle all over. Mike felt as if the air had escaped his lungs once he felt Steven's soft lips surround the smooth pink shaft. Time ceased to exist during that captivating moment, as Mike's and Steven's bodies melted together and they were as one.

~*~