The
next few days passed in a blur for Justin.
After his uncle had left, JC had introduced him to Lance, JC’s assistant. The
other man, with Lonnie, the bodyguard’s help, went with him to his uncle’s
apartment to gather his belongings. There wasn’t much. Just some music he’d
written, a few letters, and a picture of his parents. He had looked around the
dingy apartment, leaving forever with a sense of relief.
After that, they headed to a tailor shop. JC had instructed that Justin be
fitted for a tuxedo before he played at the club. So he suffered being measured
and taped and pinned, all the time asking Lance questions.
“So, how do you know JC?” Justin asked, trying to sound causal but dying of
curiosity.
Lance hid a smile. Kid had it bad, for sure. “We met at the orphanage, about
eight years ago.” He noticed Justin’s look of surprise. “He’s younger
than he looks…he’s twenty-five.” Lance shook his head at the tailor’s
choice of suit. “We met when I was 14. Being the new kid in a pretty rough
house, I got a lot of grief, and he didn’t take too well to me being picked
on.” Lance nodded at the next selection, and indicated for Justin to put it
on. “So we’ve been friends ever since.”
Just friends? Justin wondered, struggling to button the stiff white shirt.
“Just friends,” Lance answered without the question being voiced. Justin
caught the other man’s green eyes in the mirror and smiled sheepishly. “I
love JC, but I also like girls. He’s safe from me.”
Lance rose to observe Justin in the new suit, adjusting the shoulders, tugging
on the jacket. “And you’re not the only stray he’s picked up.”
“Stray?”
Lance waved a hand. “You know, people that need help. People being picked-on
or abused or hurt. He has a habit of doing that.”
“Who else?”
Lance thought for a bit. “Well, besides me, there’s Lonnie,” he said,
indicating the bodyguard napping in the corner. “JC rescued him from another
club owner who had him so in debt over gambling, Lonnie had to bust heads to pay
it off. JC paid the debts, hired Lonnie, and he’s been here ever since.”
Lance indicated for Justin to remove the tuxedo and give it back to the tailor.
“How long before it’s ready?” he asked.
“Four days,” the tailor said.
“Two.”
“Three.”
“Deal.” Lance sat down again as Justin got dressed. “Then there’s
Britney.”
Justin watched a small smile creep over Lance’s face. “Who’s she?”
“A singer. Works at the club,” he explained. “She showed up on the
doorstep one day. Wet, bruised and broken.” Lance’s eyes hardened at the
memory. “No idea why she chose JC’s club to fall down in front of, but
luckily for her, she found the right one. JC took her in, cleaned her up, and
gave her a job.”
Justin was beginning to see a pattern emerge, and he wasn’t sure he liked it.
“So, I’m just another stray? Another charity case to him?” he asked.
“Normally I would say yes,” Lance began, seeing the sadness enter Justin’s
eyes before continuing. “Except I think you’re different. The way he looks
at you…”
“Yes?” Justin asked, face expectant.
“It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen with him before.”
Justin smiled.
Justin
observed himself in the mirror. The tuxedo was finished, and he’d put it on in
preparation for his playing at the club tonight. The fine wool of the material
hugged his shoulders, making them appear broad and strong. The black of the
material was a sharp contrast against the white of the shirt and his own blonde
curls. It was the finest suit he’d ever owned, Justin thought, running his
hands down the soft material of the pants, skimming a finger over the silk
stripe on the leg. His actions stilled as he felt that familiar tingle on his
neck. He watched in the mirror as JC entered the dressing room, closing the door
behind him and walking until he reached Justin, stopping behind the younger man
and catching his eyes in the mirror.
“Looks good,” JC said, his hands rising to brush the sleeves of the suit
lightly.
Justin could barely breathe. He’d had little contact with JC over the past few
days. Most of his time had been spent with the band that played at The Deuces
nightly, preparing for his turn on the stage. The small combo was happy at the
inclusion of a new piano player—they’d lost theirs a week ago to a rival
club. Justin had also met Britney, and found the young singer to be sweet but
shy. And very much in love with Lance.
He’d only seen JC a few times, and usually at a distance. He’d been in the
club during rehearsals, nodding at the progress the band and Justin worked to
form a successful sound. He even had lunch with him and Lance one day, JC asking
questions about Justin’s life before Chicago. So he talked about the farm and
his parents and his music. JC had just listened to Justin’s rambling
recollections with a smile. But there had been no intimate contact. JC never
touched him; never really spoke to him alone. Each night Justin expected…something,
anything. And each night he was left alone and aching, dreaming of icy blue eyes.
So he was surprised by JC sudden appearance in the dressing room. He’d almost
convinced himself that any attraction between them had been in his imagination.
After all, JC was rich, beautiful and sophisticated. What would he want with a
hick like Justin?
“Are you ready for your big debut?” JC asked, dropping his chin on
Justin’s shoulder, blue eyes sparking in the mirror.
Justin nodded. “I, uh, wanted to thank you.”
“For what?”
“For everything!” Justin moved away slightly, causing JC to remove his head
from Justin’s shoulder. “For getting me away from my uncle. For a place to
live. For a job.” He ran a hand in front of his body. “For this suit, for
everything!”
“You’re welcome,” JC replied.
“But mostly,” Justin continued, “for giving me back my music.”
“You’re welcome,” JC repeated. “I know a good thing when I see one, or
in this case, hear one. It’s a mutual benefit, Justin,” JC explained. “I
get a talented piano player, and you get to play.” JC watched as Justin opened
his mouth to say something, then struggled not to say it, and just nod, walking
around JC to retrieve his shoes. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Nothing,” Justin mumbled, tying the laces of his new shoes, not meeting
JC’s eyes. He watched as a second pair of feet came into his vision and looked
up quickly, then down again. JC was standing so close; Justin found it hard to
breathe. JC knelt down in front of Justin, putting the two men’s faces even.
“Justin, what’s wrong?” JC asked softly. Justin shook his head. JC reached
up and tugged at one of Justin’s curls. “Come on, Farm Boy, you can tell me.”
Justin shook his head again, eyes dropping. JC reached and took hold of
Justin’s chin, keeping their eyes locked. “Tell me,” JC insisted.
“I thought…” Justin began, but couldn’t continue.
“You thought what?”
“I thought it was more than that,” Justin said in a rush. “I thought you
liked me.”
JC struggled to control the smile that crept over his mouth. The boy was just
too cute, he thought. And really had no clue at all. JC more than liked him. He
was borderline obsessed with Justin, and had forced himself to stay away from
the younger man. He wanted to kiss and lick and touch and feel and suck and fuck
the boy until they were both exhausted. But he couldn’t tell Justin that, at
least not yet.
“Justin,” JC began, coming off the floor to sit on the couch beside him,
forcing Justin to turn in his direction. “I do like you.”
Justin licked his lips nervously, causing JC to stifle a groan at the sight.
“I meant… like me,” he said.
JC put a hand up to touch Justin’s golden head, the soft, springy curls
feeling like silk against JC’s skin. He grasped hold of Justin’s head and
pulled the younger man closer.
“Justin,” JC said, his face close, his breath skimming Justin’s lips, “I
do… like you,” he said before placing his mouth on Justin’s.
Justin whimpered at the feel of JC lips. They were soft and strong at the same
time, the pressure of them tingling along Justin’s spine. He felt JC’s
tongue seek entrance into his mouth, and he parted his lips to allow it, getting
an even bigger shock when he felt JC’s tongue enter. His hands moved up to
grasp the older man by the shoulder’s, trying to get closer to this sensation,
trying to feel everything at once.
JC did groan when he felt Justin’s tongue tentatively duel with his own. He
swept through Justin’s mouth, reveling in the taste and feel of the other man.
His hands grasped at Justin’s curls, bringing the boy closer to him,
plastering him against his chest. JC felt one of Justin’s hands on his back,
rubbing and pulling him closer. He felt the other push between their bodies and
travel down to his groin, almost jumping at the feel of Justin’s hand on his
erection. He slowly pulled Justin’s hand away.
“Justin, stop,” he breathed, trying to put some space between them.
Justin blinked. Was he wrong again? Didn’t JC want him after all?
“Yes, I do want you,” JC answered Justin’s unasked question. “But it’s
too soon.”
Justin shook his head. “No, it’s not, Josh,” Justin protested.
JC smiled softly at the name. “Justin, I don’t want you to come to me out of
gratitude or because you think you owe me,” JC explained. “I want you to
come to me because you want me as much as I want you.”
“I do!”
He shook his head. “That may be true,” JC said, “but there’s more there
than just want.” He rose from the couch and pulled Justin up with him,
straightening his suit. “Now, it’s time for you to go play your music, and
for me to keep admiring you from a far.”
Justin blushed at that last. “Admire me?” he argued. “How can you admire
me?”
JC cocked his head. “For your talent. For your music.” He leered
suggestively. “For your body.” JC laughed as Justin’s blush deepened.
Justin walked to the door, only to be stopped by JC. He turned to face the older
man. “Just so we don’t misunderstand each other, let me make myself
clear.” JC pulled Justin close for a searing kiss. “I want you. I want to
sleep with you. I want to do things to your body that will make you scream with
pleasure. But I don’t want you to sleep with me out of gratitude. I want you
free and clear.”
Justin nodded, understanding everything. JC did want him, but not so soon. JC
thought he wasn’t ready. He’d wait until JC said it was time. He’d wait
because he did owe JC; he owed the older man everything, his life even. And
Justin knew he’d wait for another reason as well.
He’d wait forever for him if he had too.
He’d wait because he was in love with JC.