"I know you're there! Pick up the fucking phone!"

Jeff squeezed his eyes shut and tried to ignore the angry voice on the answering machine. He wasn't giving in this time. This was the last straw. There was no turning back. This was it. He could not and would not be second anymore.

"DAMNIT HARDY, YOU BEST PICK UP THIS DAMN PHONE RIGHT THIS SECOND!"

"And if I don't?" Jeff smirked at the answering machine.

"If you don't, I will fly to Carolina and be on your doorstep by morning!"

Jeff sighed. He really did not want to see anyone right now, especially not him. Not the man he had been having an affair with. Not the man he had fallen hopelessly in love with. Not the married man who forgot about him every time he went home to the wife.

There was a click then silence.

"Thank God."

No more than two minutes later, the incessant ringing of the phone once again filled the room.

Irritated, Jeff grabbed the receiver. "Look, I don't wanna fuckin' talk..."

"Nero."

"Shan." Jeff whispered.

"What's wrong?"

"Same ole' shit, man."

"Want some company?" Shannon whispered.

"Yeah." Jeff replied softly. "Yeah, I do."

"Alright, I'll be there soon."

"Okay...hey Shan?"

"Yeah?"

"Hurry." Jeff breathed.

"I will, Nero." Shannon whispered. "Trust me."

"Mark, it's three o'clock in the morning!" Sara exclaimed. "Where the fuck are you going?"

"To take care of somethin'." Mark replied flatly. "I'll be back in a few days."

"If you leave, don't bother comin' back."

Mark looked up from the bag he was packing. "Ya know, I just might take you up on that." He then zipped his bag and threw the strap over his shoulder. "See ya sweetheart."

"Mark! Mark, you can't do this."

"Watch me." Those were the last words he spoke as he strode out of the house and hopped on his bike. If he didn't straighten things out with Jeff now, he could lose him forever. That thought shook him to his core. He just prayed it wasn't too late.

"Shan..." Jeff moaned as the smaller man sucked on his neck softly. "Fuck..."

"I've missed you." Shannon breathed.

"Missed you too." Jeff whispered as he leaned down and licked Shannon's collarbone. "Mmm."

"Taste good?" Shannon chuckled breathlessly.

"Uh huh." Jeff murmured and nipped at his neck.

"You love torturing me, don'tcha?"

"Why do you say that?" Jeff grinned and licked Shannon's chin.

Shannon groaned. "Because you do shit like that and because you've been lubed up and ready to fuck for twenty minutes but instead you're driving me crazy."

"You wanna be fucked Shanny?" Jeff whispered huskily.

"Please." Shannon whimpered.

"Alright." Jeff shifted slightly so that the head of his cock was positioned right at his lover's entrance. With a soft growl and hard thrust, his cock was encased in warmth.

"Jeff..." Shannon moaned and locked his legs around Jeff's waist. "Oh God..."

Jeff simply moaned in response and started to thrust in the smaller man eagerly. He closed his eyes and tried to block out the memories that were threatening to come back at that very moment.

*~*

"You ain't fuckin' with me, are ya?"

"Now why would I do that?" He chuckled.

"Because you never let me top."

"Well, I'm letting you tonight." Mark whispered.

"Thanks Marky." Jeff murmured.

"Welcome, Kid." Mark laughed. "Happy birthday."

*~*

"Where to sir?" A petite brunette woman at the ticket counter asked.

"As close to Cameron, North Carolina as possible." Mark replied. Normally he would've just drove his bike all the way there but he knew that would take too long and if there was one thing he didn't have a lot of, it was time.

The brunette smiled as she handed Mark his ticket and made arrangements for his bike to be transported.

He thanked her then found a quiet corner to sit in since his flight wasn't leaving for another three hours.

Maybe he should have just ridden his bike afterall.

He sighed and rested his head against the hard, cool wall. "I'm coming, Kid. I'm coming to get all this straightened out."

"You okay?" Shannon whispered.

Jeff looked over at him and smiled softly. "I'm okay, you?"

"I'm good." Shannon smiled and blushed.

"Oh, I know you are." Jeff laughed. "C'mere."

Shannon eagerly climbed on top of him. "Right here?"

"Right there." Jeff whispered and ran his fingers through Shannon's damp hair. "Shan?"

"Hmm?"

"Thanks."

"For what?"

"Takin' care of me."

"We took care of each other." Shannon whispered and laid his head on Jeff's chest.

"We did, didn't we?" Jeff whispered softly.

Shannon nodded. "Nero?"

"Yeah?"

"Wanna go to McD's tomorrow and play in Playland?" Shannon grinned.

"Sure." Jeff replied with a small smile.

*~*

"Aw, c'mon!"

"No."

"Pleaassseeeeeeee??"

"No way in hell." Mark snorted.

"You're no fun." Jeff pouted.

"And you are too big to be goin' into Kiddyland."

"Playland." Jeff huffed. "And I ain't too old. 'Sides, it's late and ain't no kiddies 'ere."

"Jeff, please. Let's go before we get thrown out."

"No." Jeff replied then flashed a mischievous grin before running towards Playland.

Mark quickly followed him and couldn't help but laugh when Jeff jumped into the pile of rubber balls. "You're so crazy, Kid."

"I know." Jeff grinned. "Come in."

"No."

"Aw Marky, c'mon. I promise I ain't gonna tell no one."

"Even if that was true, which it ain't, I'm too damn big."

"Nu uh!"

Mark sighed and chucked his shoes aside then carefully crawled in with Jeff. "Happy now?"

"Very." Jeff murmured and kissed Mark passionately.

*~*

Jeff groaned as the sunlight flooded his bedroom.

Morning.

Oh, how he hated mornings with a passionate. Well, mornings and morning people.

Thankfully for him, Mark wasn't one of those.

He sighed and ran his hand over his face.

Mark.

What was he going to tell him about Shannon? How was he going to explain? He wasn't. He didn't have to. They were nothing more than fuck buddies, right?

Wrong.

No matter how much of an asshole he was or how tired Jeff was of being his lap dog, Mark Calloway was the love of Jeff's life.

It was an unexpected and at times, an unrequited love but that did not make it any less intense or passionate. In fact, it was quite the opposite.

Jeff glanced over at the empty side of the bed and frowned.

Shannon was gone, like always.

Things never changed. Jeff and Mark would fight and Jeff would run to Shannon, Shane, Adam, or anyone else that understood him and knew how to make him feel better.

That feeling would never last past the morning, though. By afternoon, Jeff and Mark were back together, both apologizing for what took place.

Jeff snorted and laughed bitterly at the memory. He would always be the first to apologize and would always have to apologize just a bit more than Mark.

He shook his head and climbed out of bed as his stomach growled.

"You just have to wait. I need a shower."

To him, a shower was his way of washing away what had happened the night before, of erasing the memories before they had a chance to set.

He hurriedly grabbed a few towels and padded to the bathroom. He desperately wanted... needed to wash away the dirt, sadness, and pain that consumed him before it choked him.

As the water cascaded over his body, tears slipped from his eyes. He cried and cried as sobs raked his body. When he could no longer stand on his feet, he slowly slid down to the floor and pulled his knees against his chest. The shower water and his tears were blinding him but he didn't care. Nothing mattered to him at that moment. He was broken and he wasn't sure he could be fixed. He wasn't entirely sure that he wanted to be.

"I don't wanna talk to you."

Mark grunted as he put his foot in the door and easily pushed his way inside.

"Fucker." Jeff snorted. "I said I didn't wanna talk to you."

"Tough shit, Kid. Sit down."

"What?"

"I said sit down."

"You got a lot of fuckin' nerve comin' into my house and tellin' me what to do." Jeff seethed. "I'm not your lap dog anymore, Mark. You can't tell me what to do and expect me to just obey, no questions asked."

"Are you done?" Mark asked in a calm but cold tone of voice.

"Yeah."

"Good, now listen...we need to talk."

"I said I didn't wanna." Jeff replied angrily. "I'm tired of bein' second. When we're on the road, you want us together as much as possible, you kiss me, touch me, take care of me in every way but the minute you go home, all that changes. I call you and you're not home. You're never home. You're out with her!"

"She's my wife for fuck sakes!"

"Exactly! So why the hell are you fuckin with me?!"

"Because I love you!"

Jeff blinked and looked at Mark. "Wh...what?" He whispered.

Mark sighed and ran his hand over his face. "I love you, Kid." He whispered.

Jeff laughed bitterly as he looked at Mark through tear filled eyes. "You're such a fuckin' liar."

"Jeff..."

"You love me?! You love me?! You can fuck whoever you want, whenever you want yet I have to ask you before I do anything and you love me? That's sick! You're sick!"

"God damnit!" Mark cursed as he stalked over to Jeff. He roughly pulled the smaller man closer and kissed him with brutal force.

Jeff somehow managed to pull away then slapped Mark hard across the face.

Mark hissed and growled as he grabbed Jeff's wrists and shoved him down on the couch.

Jeff froze as he watched Mark tower over him. "M...Mark..." He barely whispered.

"You think I'd hurt you? Is that what you think?"

There was no reply.

"Kid."

"You've done it before."

Mark grunted softly as he lowered himself to the floor and sat next to the couch. "That was a long time ago and I said I was sorry." He replied softly.

"And that's suppose to make it all better?" Jeff whispered as he stared at the ceiling.

"Yes...no...damnit."

"We're over, Mark."

"I don't want us to be over, Jeff."

"Why is it always about what you want? What about what I want?"

"Do you even know what you want?" Mark asked.

Jeff looked over at him. "I thought I did."

"What happened?"

"You started to fall back in love with her."

"I hate to tell you this but I never fell out with her."

"That's a lie and you know it." Jeff replied. "How many times did we stay in whatever city we were in for an extra night just so we could be together? How many times did you tell me that I was the only one that mattered to you? How many times, Mark?"

"How many times did I tell you not to expect anything from me?" Mark whispered as he brushed a strand of hair from Jeff's face.

Jeff flinched slightly as Mark's hand came in contact with his face. He looked at the older man with scared eyes.

Mark leaned in and brushed his lips softly against Jeff's. He started to pull away when Jeff pulled him closer and kissed him desperately.

Their lips meshed together as their tongues dueled for supremacy. They knew this kiss could very well be their last and neither wanted it to end.

Jeff somehow managed to turn and lower himself onto the floor with Mark without breaking the heated kiss.

Mark slid his hands up Jeff's back and pressed their bodies together as he kissed him Jeff.

A moan escaped from Jeff's mouth but was quickly absorbed by Mark's.

Mark slowly and reluctantly broke the kiss. "Jeff..." He breathed. "Jeff, let's go to the bedroom..."

Jeff nodded hesitantly and stood up.

Mark climbed to his feet then swept the younger man up in his arms. They had a lot of lost time to catch up for.

*~*

"You okay?"

Jeff nodded. "I just...I never knew it could be like that." He whispered.

"It can be that way all the time if you want it to be." Mark whispered.

"Really?"

"Really."

*~*

Mark watched as Jeff slept peacefully in his arms. He had caused this boy so much pain, so much agony and he knew it was only a matter of time before it happened all over again. He tried to push those thoughts out of his head but found it increasingly difficult. He silently cursed when he heard the faint ringing of his cell phone in the living room.

"Mark?" Jeff murmured.

"Right here." Mark whispered. "Go back to sleep."

"Mmkay."

Mark sighed as he slid out of bed and quickly threw on his boxers. He padded to the living room, over to his bag and sifted through it. He pulled out his cell phone and flipped it opened. "Yeah? Yeah...what? I'm on my way."

Jeff let out a soft sigh as he rolled over. His eyes shut opened when his arms came in contact with the cool sheets. Mark was gone. Again.

There was a difference this time, though.

A note.

Mark left him a note.

Jeff sat up and read it, his eyes slowly filling with tears. He then angrily tore the paper to bits and threw them to the floor.

Nothing had changed but yet in that same moment, everything had.

Mark Calloway was and would always be his sweet poison. *~*End*~*

Read the Sequel Twisted Conspiracy