There was a perfunctory knock at the door before it swung open. "Hey, Boss," Matt Bongiovi called out. "I got your outfit from Dawn...making me feel like a damn delivery boy." He held it up to show Jon. "She said fuck you for ripping it."

"Yeah yeah," Jon grunted, barely paying his brother any attention. He was slouched on the sofa, marker still lying in his fingers from writing up the set list for the show that night. He didn't have the focus for it though. He'd tried a dozen times but his head was still picturing Richie and David together.

"Fuck's got your panties in a twist?" Matt asked, slinging the clothes over the couch.

"Huh?!" Jon said, looking blankly at him. "When did you get here? Oh, did the pants get fixed?"

"Glad to see you paying attention. Dawn said fuck you for ripping it straight up the crotch. You still upset about David and his boytoy?"

"Stay out of it, Matthew." Jon frowned, sending his brother his stink-eye for mentioning his current pain in the ass. "I don't need you to poke your nose into it too, and dredging up things that don't exist any longer."

"Things that don't-." Matt dropped into one of the chairs and crossed his arms. "You're still in love with Richie, aren't you? This isn't about David being gay. I know you. You've never had issues with someone being gay before."

Jon inhaled sharply. Damn it, he cursed himself. Out of both his younger brothers, Matt was the more intuitive to Jon's moods and needs. It's probably why he had taken on the role of personal assistant even though Matt preferred to call himself Jon's right hand man. "Personal assistant sounds like I should be following you around in stockings and high heels, with a notepad and pen," he complained one day when Jon had called him by that title.

"No, I-," Jon started to say.

"C'mon, bro...don't even try it," Matt interrupted, waving a hand at his brother.

"Try what?" he snapped.

"You're mad 'cause it's Richie. Every time I say his name, your cheeks blush."

"They do not, asshole!" Did they? Jon wondered, resisting the urge to put his hand on his face.

Matt chuckled and shrugged. "Fine...if you wanna act like a child, I'll leave you to it...." He stood and made a move towards the door, reaching for the knob.

"Matt!" Jon called out. "Wait up...please. I-I...you're right."

Matt turned on his heels and grinned at Jon.

"Stop looking so smug," Jon said, scrubbing his face with his hands, dropping his head to the back of the couch and flinging his arm across his face.

Matt raised his own in acknowledgement. "So you're just gonna be an asshole to them? Jonny, they're your best friends and pushing them away because you're jealous? I'm surprised David hasn't dropped out of the band over how you're acting!"

"I've fucked up, haven't I?"

"You've been fucking up since you walked in on Richie buried in Lema's ass."

Jon groaned pitifully, feeling the hot prickle of tears behind his eyes; ones that he would only ever show a few people. "I...I wasn't-," Jon cleared his throat in an attempt to make it sound less clogged with tears but failed. "Yeah. Yeah, I have. It should be me...not him," the last word came out strangled. He breathed heavily, trying to control his emotions before speaking again. "What do I do, Matty?"

"I would advise not continuing to be an asshole," Matt offered with a smirk. "You know it got back to me that David was out with Lexi last night. Just the two of them. But...before you go blabbing to Richie just--"

"Well...."

"Well, what?" Matt's voice growled, suspicion clear in his tone.

"Richie came to my room last night. We were working on shit and jamming. Like the old days...and I kinda," he took a deep breath, "threw myself at him," Jon confessed, the words coming out in a rush on a breath. He peeked out from behind his arm to stare at the ceiling, not daring or willing to face his brother just yet.

Matt rolled his eyes and twisted his lips. "And?"

"We ended up in bed together."

"My guess is you two weren't just talking," Matt sighed.

"No...but...he felt guilty after and left. He just left me there," Jon replied and closed his eyes against the tears again and not ready to see the look of incredulity on his brother's face. "It felt so damn good being inside him again-"

"Too much, bro!" Matt yelped. "Well...," he said after a long moment, "you can't keep up this bullshit."

Jon finally dropped his arms and shook his head. "I know...the fuck am I supposed to do? I don't know how the handle this shitpile I've created now."

Matt considered the whole situation, then said, "What about doing something to...I don't know...," he shrugged, "take any heat off Richie and Lema?"

"Like?" Jon asked wearily, rolling his head Matt's way finally.

"Jovi fans love a good drama or conspiracy," he said. He knew this from the many years of working the fan club and Runaway Tours. The whispers abounded aplenty when they thought he wasn't listening.

"Make them think there's more to you and Richie," Matt replied. "And for godsake, let them do what they want in private! Maybe you'll find the closer Lema gets to Lexi and confides in her, the more Richie gravitates to you in secret."

Jon thought over Matt's words and asked, "How would I make the fans think somethings going on? The whole point was keep all this shit OUT of the limelight!"

"Get close to Richie on stage. Work the mic together. Dance together. What's Lema gonna do? He's on the other side of the stage interacting with fans. But tell them both. Lay down the rules," Matt explained, readusting himself in the chair and rubbing the top of his head. "Either go by the rules you set as a cover or call it off...or quit!"

"I'd lose them both then!" Jon snarled. "The band would cease to exist, Matt. Then what?!"

"You kidding? Those two won't call it off, they want each other too much. And they aren't gonna quit. Losing their place in the band would be music suicide for their careers,"

"It would be suicide for all of us!"

Jon stood up from the couch and stalked around the small area assigned to him. He had to think. If he chose to let David and Richie continue the way they were, then he would be miserable and heartbroken for the rest of his life. And if he gave them an ultimatum as Matty suggested; Richie might end up hating him and he couldn't deal with that either.

But he couldn't watch all the hard work they'd put into the band to watch it implode over who is fucking who.

"I don't want to do it," Jon said, shaking out his nerves and preparing himself to face his best frineds, "but I guess I don't have any choice." He started for the door, yanking it open.

"Whoa whoa! Not on show day!" Matt exclaimed, horrified, and jumped from the chair he was sitting in.

"Nope! Perfect time!" Jon breezed out into the hallway, ignoring his brother.

"Jonny! Get back here!"

"Matt, stay out of it!"

"Then you stay out of reach of Lema's right hook," Matt warned as Jon paused at the door leading to the hospitality suite. "Hey, Jonny?! I got your back, big brother."

*~*Band Room*~*

There was commotion out in the hallway, Matt and Jon attempting to talk over the other. Jon entered the band's hospitality suite, chin high and chest puffed out. "Band meeting!"

Show day was always stressful but with the side eye Jon was giving David and Richie as he stalked around the room, it was beyond awkward and uncomfortable. Neither Tico nor Hugh dared to say anything and vowed to remain neutral.

The four had simply been lounging on the sofas and enjoying the spread laid out by catering when Jon had burst into the room.

"Oh god, not again," David huffed, quickly lifting his head from Richie's shoulder.

"Oh Christ," Tico moaned. "Please. Not now."

Richie rolled his eyes and took a sip of his coffee, trying to ignore the tension between Jon and David. "What's up, Jonny?" he asked, trying to keep the annoyance out of his voice.

Jon glared at Richie, his eyes glinting with anger. "I've decided we need to have a cover."

"A cover of what?" Hugh asked over playing his bass.

"Have you now?" David's voice dripped sarcasm. "I can't wait to hear more."

Richie leaned over and whispered, "Play nice, baby."

Jon ignored David and focused his attention on Richie. "A cover to take the heat off you two" he said, repeating Matt's words from earlier. "And I want you and David to start practicing right away."

"I ain't wearing a dress," Richie piped in with a chuckle.

"Lexi is already acting as a cover girlfriend out in public," David complained.

"So I've heard," Jon replied coldly. His stance was defensive; arms crossed, legs braced and his face was closed. "It's not enough though."

Richie glanced at David, feeling a twinge of worry. He knew Jon could be vindictive and manipulative, and he didn't want to risk doing anything that might set him off. "What kind of cover?" he asked cautiously.

"I think you know exactly what kind. I've seen the way you look at David. And the way he looks at you." He circled Richie, his eyes burning with desire. "And I think it's about time you stopped hiding it."Jon smirked and took a step forward, his eyes fixed on Richie.

Richie and David exchanged a look. "Meaning...?"

"Meaning...we make fans think and fantasize about a relationship in the band that takes the heat off Lema. You and I deliberately flirt on stage. That way you two can sneak around without issue," Jon explained with a wide grin.

Richie chewed the inside of his lip. The previous night flashed in his mind's eye. He had been torn ever since he allowed himself to be coerced into bed by Jon, guilt making him flee from the scene of the illicit crime...but also over the heartbroken expression on Jon's face as he took one last look over his shoulder and left.

His resolve almost broke when he heard Jon's anguished cry from behind the closed door, making him hurry back to his room and throw himself into the shower.

"Absolutely not!" David yelled, getting to his feet. "That's bullshit and you know it!"

Richie felt a mix of confusion and disgust. He knew what Jon was suggesting, but he couldn't bring himself to go along with it. "I can't do that, Jon," he said firmly.

Jon's eyes narrowed and he stepped closer to Richie, his eyes glinting with anger and something a little more akin to lust, something he saw in the blue eyes last night. "You'd better start thinking differently," he growled. "Or else you two can call off this whole...arrangement."

Richie took a step back, feeling unnerved by Jon's immediate presence. He knew he couldn't back down, but he also didn't want to jeopardize his relationship with David. "We're not calling it off," he said firmly. "But we're not doing that either."

Jon scoffed, his eyes burning with anger. "Suit yourself," he said, turning to leave. "But don't think I won't make your lives miserable if you two don't comply."

With that, he stormed out of the room, leaving Richie and David standing there speechless. The two looked at each other, unsure of how to proceed. They knew that Jon was unpredictable, but they also knew that they couldn't ignore his request.

"He's crazy if he thinks I'll go along with that shit," David protested. "You're MY lover and love. Not his!"

Richie shook his head, feeling a mix of anger and frustration. "I know, baby," he said, his voice low and tense. "But we don't have a choice. We either play along with his crazy scheme or risk blowing our cover."

"I don't want to lose what we have," he said, his voice trembling slightly. "I just wish we didn't have to play games like this."

Richie pulled David into an embrace, holding him tightly. "I know," he whispered into his ear. "But we'll make it through. We always do." He pressed his lips against David's, kissing him softly. "And no matter what happens, I'll never stop loving you."

David returned the kiss, his heart beating fast in his chest. "I love you too," he said, his voice filled with emotion. "And we'll find a way to make this work." He pulled away from Richie, his eyes locked on his lover's. "Let's go practice our cover."

*~*~*

The guys crowded into their pre-show huddle, hands all in the middle and Jon looking serious at each bandmate. As he surveyed the room, his eyes caught Richie and David standing close together, their arms brushing against each other as they whispered to each other.

Jon's eyes narrowed in anger, and he clenched his fists, feeling a surge of jealousy towards the couple. "Alright, listen up! It's Vegas, baby. Sin City and 70,000 fans out there...stick to the plan," he said, more to Richie and David.

Richie and David looked at each other, feeling a tingle of nervousness. They knew that they had to keep Jon happy, but they also didn't want to lose themselves in the process. As they listened to Jon's instructions, their hands found their way to each other, their fingers tangling together.

They leaned into each other, their lips almost touching. The tension between them was palpable, and Richie could feel his heart racing in his chest. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. It shouldn't make him uncomfortable; the guys were all now aware of the secret lovers.

They could feel the tension in the air, but they knew that they had to keep going as they walked the dimly lit alleyways to the stage.

The lights dimmed, signaling the start of the show. The crowd cheered wildly, unaware of the truth being shielded from them. Richie and David took a deep breath, readying themselves for their cover. They gave each other one last look before stepping onto the stage, their eyes locked on each other.

Richie gripped his guitar tightly, feeling a rush of adrenaline as he looked out at the crowd. Jon stood at his side at his microphone, his expression calm and confident. They began to play 'Bounce', the albums first single, and their music filling the room with energy and emotion.

He glanced across the stage and saw David at his keyboards, his shirt open enough to expose his beautiful chest and his eyes locked on his own. The intensity of his gaze made Richie's heart skip a beat, and he couldn't help but smile back at him.

David mouthed the lyrics to Richie, his eyes filled with emotion and seduction. Richie grinned and adjusted his guitar to hide any evidence, harmonizing with Jon.

The crowd was on their feet, dancing and singing along to the song. Richie could feel the energy in the air, and he knew that this was what he was born to do. He looked over at David, who was now playing a solo, and he felt a rush of love for him.

As the song ended, Richie pulled away from Jon, his expression unreadable. David gave him a small and awkward half-smile, his eyes still locked on his lover's. Jon looked like he was about to explode, his knuckles white as he gripped the microphone.

Three sets of eyes caught sight of Lexi leading a gorgeous brunette into the security gap between the fans and stage. Lexi gave the guys a mischievous grin, her eyes locked on Richie. She pointed to each one, whispering to the brunette.

She was a pretty thing. Long brown with complimenting dark eyes. Full, luscious lips and a sweet oval face. Average looking like Lexi and dressed in leather. Her tight black leggings showed off a slim figure with a small bump of an ass. Her leather crop top exposed a flat stomach and belly button piercing.

"Good evening LAS VEGAS!" Jon exclaimed to the crowd, deafening roars of delight filling the arena.

The brunette nodded as each whisper, understanding Lexi's signal. She turned towards Richie and David, her eyes narrowing in suspicion and she whispered something in return. This must be Ondrea, Lexi's girlfriend from Jersey.

David and Richie exchanged a glance and grinned stupidly at each other as Tico's counted them into Wanted. They watched Lexi and her girlfriend embrace each other, swaying to the music.

"It's all the same, only the names will change. Every day, it seems we're wastin' away. Another place where the faces are so cold. I'd drive all night just to get back home," Jon sang and Richie strummed his beloved guitar. David's fingers danced across the keys, matching the rhythm perfectly.

On and on, they worked through the impressive setlist. The concert ended and the boys took their places, joining hands and bowing for the audience. Jon wrapped an arm around Richie's waist and pulled him close as they waved to fans. Richie did the same to Jon.

David and Richie slipped away from the rest of the band as they made their way backstage, their hearts racing and adrenaline pumping through their veins. They looked at each other, their eyes filled with excitement and anticipation. Finally, they had a moment alone.

They grabbed each other in a tight embrace, their lips meeting in a passionate kiss. The taste of each other's mouths filled them with desire, and they deepened the kiss, their tongues exploring greedily. They pulled back for a moment, breathing heavily, before pressing their bodies together again.

David's hands roamed over Richie's body, feeling the contours of his chest and arms. Richie's hands did the same to David, feeling his strong muscles beneath his shirt. They moaned into each other's mouths, their need for each other growing with every touch.

"Ahem," someone cleared their throat and the two men quickly separated. "Please...don't stop on our account."

"Lexi-baby, you scared the shit outta us," Richie complained, though also relieved it wasn't the other guys or any of the crew.

Lexi and Ondrea stood there, eyes wide as they caught a glimpse of David and Richie kissing. Lexi's cheeks turned red and she looked at Ondrea, flustered. Ondrea grinned mischievously, her eyes locked on Richie.

"We were just leaving," Lexi said, her voice shaky. "We're heading out to get some drinks. You two should join us."

David and Richie looked at each other, hesitant for a moment. They knew they couldn't stay together in public like this, but they didn't want to miss out on time away from Jon.

"We just need to shower first," David said. "Get less stinky and sweaty...you ladies care to help?"

Lexi and Ondrea laughed, their eyes twinkling with amusement. "As tempting as that is, we'll leave you two this time," Ondrea said, grinning at Richie.

David and Richie nodded, relieved that they didn't have to come up with an excuse. "Oh, I could get used to this cover thing," Richie chuckled, grabbing David's hand and dragging him into the dressing room. "So what exactly are the girls doing while we get alone time?"

"Distracting Jon and Tico," David answered, tossing his shirt and pants over the couch.

Richie laughed, tossing his own clothes aside. "Good luck with that," he said, stepping into the shower and turning on the water. "Though Jon does love his brunettes."

"Yeah, I remember..." David said tight-lipped and joined him, the hot water cascading over their bodies. They stood there for a moment, just enjoying the feeling of being close to each other without any fear of being discovered. "I know I've asked this before but have you ever thought of us going public?"

"I know I've asked this before but have you ever thought of us going public?"

Richie paused, his eyes meeting David's. "I have," he admitted, his voice low as he leaned in and rested his forehead on his lover's. "But you know we can't. It's not just about us, it's about the band, the fans, the media. It's complicated."

"I know, I know. It's just...sometimes it feels like we're living a lie."

"But we're not lying about our feelings for each other, baby," Richie said, his fingers tracing circles on David's back. "We just have to be careful. And we have each other, that's all that matters."

David closed his eyes as he arched into Richie's touch. "You're right," he whispered. "I just get caught up in the moment sometimes."

"It's okay," Richie murmured, turning David around and pulling him closer. He pressed a soft kiss to David's neck, trailing his lips down to his collarbone. David moaned, his head falling back as Richie continued to kiss and nibble on his skin.

They lost themselves in the moment, forgetting about the world outside of their embrace. The water ran down their bodies, washing away any lingering tension and leaving them feeling refreshed and revitalized.