Part 5


Justin paused, his hand raised to knock on the door. He knew JC was in there, but was hesitant to disturb him. The events of the last few minuets had confused the young man, and he wondered if JC would explain what had happened. Lance hadn’t, even when Justin had him pressed against the wall, demanding answers.

After Kirkpatrick had left, Justin watched as JC picked up the bottle from the table and left the main club floor. Justin followed him, but was prevent from climbing the stairs by Lance’s hand on his arm.

“Leave him alone, Justin,” Lance said.

Justin turned angry eyes on Lance. “NO!” he said, throwing off the offending hand.

“You don’t know what you’re dealing with,” Lance said cryptically.

Justin turned at that, hands fisting in the lapels of Lance’s coat. “Then tell me what I’m dealing with,” he said through clenched teeth, shoving the other man against the wall. “Who what that man?” Justin pounded Lance. “Why did he upset Josh so much?” Thump went Lance’s head again. “And why did he say Happy Birthday? I thought Josh was an orphan!”

“Justin, stop it!” Britney had followed as well, and was now reaching up to try and prevent Justin from slamming Lance further. Justin stopped banging, but didn’t release Lance from his grasp. “Chris was someone JC knew when he was younger…before he won this club,” she explained. “They have a bad history together.”

“And the birthday comment?” Justin asked.

“Just because someone’s an orphan doesn’t mean they don’t know their birthday!” Lance explained. “And today is JC’s…and he’s always had a problem with it.” Lance pushed Justin’s hands off. “If you can find out why, go ahead…just don’t expect much!”

“Justin…” Britney began, but Justin was already up the stairs.

Knock knock knock

There was no answer, so Justin tired again. Still nothing. Justin turned the handle of the door, knowing it would open. Justin had discovered there were no locks on any door at The Deuces. When he’d asked, Lonnie just shrugged and said that’s the way the boss wanted it. Justin entered the dark room, searching for JC.

He was seated in a chair by the window, moonlight illuminating his slumped frame. The bottle of bourbon was next to him. His head was thrown back and his eyes were closed. Justin came in farther and shut the door behind him, unsure of how to approach JC but unable to leave.

“You should leave, Justin,” JC said, not raising his head or opening his eyes.

Justin shook his head, and then realized JC couldn’t see it. “No.” He ventured farther into the room, coming closer to the JC’s chair.

JC laughed hollowly. “When did you get so stubborn?” he asked, not really expecting answer. “Well, if your not leaving, then sit down…you’re hovering too much.” He waved a hand at the other chairs in the room.

Justin looked at the chairs, deciding against them. Instead, he sat on the floor next to JC’s legs, moving close so his shoulder was touching the other man. JC looked surprised, but Justin stayed where he was. “Will you tell me what’s wrong?” he asked softly.

“No.”

“Will you tell me who that man was?”

“No.”

“Is there anything you will tell me?”

“Yes.” JC took a deep breath. “You need to leave.”

“No, I’m staying here tonight, Josh--” Justin began, only to have JC interrupt.

“I mean you need to leave this club,” JC said flatly. “You need to leave Chicago. You need to get as far away from me as possible.”

Justin turned shocked eyes to JC’s face. There was pain in the icy blue eyes “What? I…you..” Justin stammered.

“Yes.” JC shifted his legs away from Justin’s touch. “You need to leave.”

“Why?”

JC sighed. “Because I’m no good for you, Justin. I’m no good for anyone.”

“You are, you know,” Justin said, one hand reaching up to touch JC’s thigh. “You’ve been so good to me, to everyone.”

JC laughed. “Good to you…not for you.” He rose from the chair and walked to the window. “There’s a difference, you know.”

Justin shook his head. “I don’t understand.”

“It’s easy to be good to someone,” JC explained, leaning against the window. “All you have to do is take them in, give them a job, money.” He sighed. “It even makes you feel better about yourself, to help others.” He turned to look at Justin. “But eventually, I ruin it.”

“How?”

JC shrugged. “Just by being me, I guess.” He went back to looking out the window. “Today’s my birthday, you know.” Justin nodded. “That’s when it started. When I was born. My being born ruined my mother’s life…so much so she gave me away.” He laughed again, a coarse, rough sound. “But she did it with style, I have to give her that. She gave me away on my birthday.”

“On your birthday?” Justin asked.

JC nodded. “I was four. She said we were going to a fun place with lots of kid, especially for my birthday.” He turned glittering eyes to Justin. “It had lots of kids, but it was far from fun. There was a letter attached to me when she left me, and years later I found it in the office of the house. It said she couldn’t keep me any more, that I was ruining any chance of a normal life, and didn’t deserve more than what an orphanage could provide.” He turned away again. “So you see…I don’t deserve to be happy. I ruin lives, Justin. Yours, too, if you stay.”

Justin rose to his feet. “You’re wrong.” He approached JC as he stood by the window. “Everyone deserves to be happy.”

JC shook his head sadly. “You’re such a child, Justin.”

Justin pulled back as if slapped. A child? Is that how Josh really thought of him? Then he realized Josh wanted to make him angry, angry enough to leave. He shook his head. “It’s not going to work, Josh,” he said, coming closer to JC, but not touching him. “You can say what you want to me, but I’m not leaving.” He leaned in closer to whisper in JC’s ear. “I love you, Josh, and I’m not going anywhere.” Justin leaned closer and captured JC’s mouth with his own.

JC fought against the sensations coursing through his body, and pushed the younger man away. “No, Justin, you’re wrong. I’m no good…I ruin lives…you need to leave.”

“You are good, Josh,” Justin said, closing the gap between them again. “I know I’m young, and I don’t know much of the world, but I do know when someone cares for me…for everyone.” He pulled JC close, one hand moving up to caress the older man’s cheek. “I know when someone is fair and hones and helps people. I know when that person had made my life bearable again.”

“Gratitude Justin?” JC scoffed.

“Yes, I’m grateful,” Justin agreed. “But I also know that I love you.”

“You can’t…I won’t let you.”

Justin laughed, grabbing JC by the neck, his hand cupping the back of JC’s neck and pulling him closer still. “You can’t control who I love, Josh,” he said, nibbling on JC’s lips. “You are,” Justin’s tongue peeked and licked JC’s lips, “a person worthy of love.” Justin licked his way to JC’s ear, nibbling on the lobe. One hand still anchored JC close to him, but one other hand had moved down JC’s body. Justin now slid that hand to JC’s erection, gently stroking the swelling he felt there. “Let me show you how much I love you…let me show you how much you’re worth…” he whispered against JC’s ear before capturing his mouth again.

Justin invaded JC’s mouth, his tongue diving deep with strong strokes. He’d learned a lot in the weeks he’d been at the club, and he’d always been a quick study. He felt JC answer his kiss, the older man’s tongue joining his in a delicate dance of love and desire. Justin pulled JC along as he walked backwards to the bed, turning them around before lowering JC onto the covers. “Let me love you, Josh,” he whispered, pressing his own erection against JC’s thigh.

“Justin.” JC’s voice was strong and firm, and held a hint of warning. Justin looked up with trepidation, his eyes caught by JC’s icy blue orbs. “You’re wearing too many clothes,” he said, hands reaching down to the younger man.

Justin sighed with relief.



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