“How was it today?”

“It was okay, I guess. I met the other judges and went through the first thirty contestants.” Xylan set the script he had been reading down on the coffee table. He didn’t want to think about how far out of his comfort zone this new script was or that Jarrett may be right.

“Anyone worth thinking about?” Hamilton asked him as he tossed a grape in his mouth from the bowl he carried.

Xylan shook his head. “Not in this group, but I’m pretty optimistic.”

“I’m sure the more you weed out the bad apples, the more interesting the whole experience will be,” Hamilton assured him as he walked toward the couch.

“Why have I never done an interview with P.O.I.N.T?” Xylan suddenly asked as Hamilton sat down.

“Because they’re one of the most unethical magazines I know of. If I’d known they would have a journalist on the set, I would have never agreed to let you do this.” Hamilton offered a few grapes to Xylan.

Xylan took one of the grapes. “They sent their Executive Editor. Do you know that they are one of the top five magazines in the nation?”

“Because of sales, they’ll do what it takes to get the story. The sales have no bearing on the journalism found in it, only on what each person is willing to do to get a story. I have heard that they’ve dug through trash, broken into houses, chased people through the streets causing accidents. I can’t believe they sent Jarrett. You would think they wouldn’t want their Executive Editor away from the magazine for so long, although why it surprises me I have no idea.”

Xylan snuggled closer to Hamilton. “So stay away from Jarrett.”

“Jarrett is one of the worst. The only thing that has kept that man out of jail is the fact his daddy is a high-priced lawyer who has managed to save his son’s neck. One of these days, though, the man will screw up and daddy won’t be able to help him.”

Hamilton bit a grape in half. He ran the uneaten portion over Xylan’s lips.

“Do you know he called me yesterday’s news?” Xylan let the pout enter his voice.

“Do you really care what some reporter has to say about you?” Hamilton asked, then leaned forward and gave Xylan a kiss before setting the grape on his lover’s tongue. “Umm, grape goodness. You do know I think the fans and sales speak for themselves.”

“Yeah you’re right, I know. I just keep hearing him telling me that I’m yesterday’s news and I worry.” He placed his head on Hamilton’s shoulder.

“Don’t worry your pretty little head over him,” Hamilton tried to assure him.

“I find him attractive, Hamilton. I don’t know why, but there was something about the way his hair brushed his shoulders and the absent way he pushed it back. The dark brown eyes held me mesmerized. He’s like the forbidden fruit I’m not allowed to touch, but can’t keep from staring at it.” Xylan closed his eyes as he pictured Jarrett. He knew he shouldn’t have these feelings and if he did, he shouldn’t be telling his boyfriend about them.

Hamilton smiled as he kissed the man’s nose. “He called you yesterday’s news. I know you, Xylan. You want to please people and when he rejected you, you decided, even on a subconscious level, that you needed to please him.”

Xylan sighed softly, “Do you think that’s it? He came in, took charge and dismissed me, so now I want to please him?”

“You do like a man that takes charge,” Hamilton reminded him. “Yes, I think that’s the only reason he has your attention.”

“Maybe I need to go to the room.” Xylan reached up and stroked his lover’s face.

“Not when you’re upset.” Hamilton took the man’s hand and placed a kiss on it.

“I want to be reminded that I’m yours. I want all thoughts of that man washed from my brain. I want to remember that I’m yours and you are mine.”

Hamilton squeezed his hand, “Are you sure this is the right time to go to the room? I don’t want you to think of it as a punishment.”

Xylan sat back a little so he could look into Hamilton’s eyes. “I’m not. I’m thinking of it as a way to ground myself. I need to enter that subspace. Take me there, Hamilton.”

“If you’re sure.”

Xylan nodded. “Very sure.”