Page 197 of The Locker Room

“Is that all you got? We haven"t played together in six weeks, and

that"s your banter? Weak, Edwards. Bush-fucking-league.”

Chris grinned, that irrepressible, impish grin that hadn"t lost its

core of sweetness from when they were kids. “I"ll show you bush-

fucking,” he murmured, his voice so low Xander had to lean over to hear

him, and Xander replied, his voice suddenly tense.

“You"ve been fucking any bush, and I"ll just fuck you up,” he said,

and instead of taking offense, like he probably should have, Chris looked

at him, his eyes dark, and challenging, and violent.

Xander"s cock was suddenlyveryhard.

Someone said, “Hey, guys, a reunion photograph?” And they

turned toward a series of flashbulbs. Chris"s hand was set behind

Xander, and Xander felt a fumble and a slide into his hip pocket.

“One more?”

There was another series of flashes, and Chris mumbled the suite

number, while Xander was trying not to blink.

170 Amy Lane

The cameras went away, and Chris looked at him and mouthed

“Twenty minutes. I"ll go first,” before sauntering off into the crowd.

Xander had to keep his teeth from chattering.

He looked across the room and found Penny. She and Mandy were

deeply involved in conversation, and he could only dread what they were

saying. If he caught the word “cat” he was out of there, becauseno one

got between him and the dogs. Carefully, he made his way to them, and

when he got there, he tried to be as casual as possible.

“I"m going up in a few,” he said quietly. “You both have your

keys, right?”

“Yeah. See you in the morning,” Penny said softly, “but you better

make it early. We"re both on the same floor, but still—”

“It"s a suite,” Xander said, with more confidence than he felt. God.