Part 4


Justin paced the length of his room, from the door to the window and back again. He’d been doing that since he entered the mansion, rushing past Britney on the stairs, avoiding all contact with her or anyone else. He stopped at the window, peering out, straining to see past the first row of trees, where he knew Joshua might still be. His mind turned the events of a few minutes ago over and over and over…


Justin whimpered at the feel of Joshua’s lips on his own. They pressed with insistence, moving softly but firmly against his own lips. Soon, Justin felt Joshua’s tongue slipping along them, asking for entrance. Justin could do nothing but open his mouth against the subtle assault.

Justin’s whimpers turned to moans as Joshua’s tongue swept inside, claiming Justin’s mouth for his own. Joshua’s skilled tongue delved deep, flicked and tickled, licked and swept Justin into a frenzy of desire. He answered the kiss, sucking Joshua’s tongue, gasping at the sensations it was creating. He was vaguely aware of his own hands reaching up to grasp Joshua’s head, holding him close. He heard a groan escape from the older man at his actions.

Joshua tore his mouth away and observed Justin. His lips were wet and swollen from his kisses. His eyes were dark with desire. Joshua smiled slightly as Justin leaned in for another kiss. How could he deny such a request?

Joshua pressed his lips to Justin’s again, this time nibbling the other man’s lips, licking along the upper one, tugging gently with his teeth the lower one. At the same time, the hand resting along Justin’s thigh began to creep upward, slowly moving along hard muscle and soft material until Joshua reached his goal.

Justin froze when he felt the hand on his erection, his eyes flying open with shock. He quickly released his hold of Joshua’s head and scrambled away, kneeling on the grass a few feet from Joshua. His eyes were wild with fear and desire and shame.

“No, your grace,” Justin began, attempting to stand up. “I’m sorry…I must have…the wrong…no, I’m sorry.”

“Justin,” Joshua said, rising to his feet and pulling Justin to his. Justin pushed the helping hand away, rushing from Joshua toward the horses. He grabbed his mount and raced away…


He paced to the door again, then back to the window. This time, his pursuit of the park yielded what he both hoped and fear he’d see. Joshua rode directly to the house and dismounted, handing the reins to a waiting groom. He paused on the steps, head tilting upwards as if he could feel Justin looking at him. Their eyes locked for a moment before Justin moved away from the window.

There was a knock on the door, then it opened, Britney sweeping inside without waiting for Justin to answer. She walked directly to where he stood in the middle of the floor, looking at him with concern in her eyes. She maneuvered him over to the settee. “Sit down before you fall down,” she scolded, sitting next to him. “What happened?” she asked.

Justin shook his head. “Nothing,” he lied.

Britney sighed exasperatedly. “Nothing?” she chided. “You come flying into the house, rushing past me without a word, and hide up here. Then Joshua comes in, also rushing past me without a word, and locks himself into his library.” She grabbed his hand, forcing him to look at her. “What happened?” she demanded. Justin was silent for a long moment, and then finally whispered so low Britney strained to hear him.

“He kissed me.”

“I see,” she said. “And you…”

“Kissed him back,” he admitted, his cheeks red.

Britney smiled at the news, but quickly hid it when Justin looked at her, but not quick enough. “It’s not funny, Britney,” he said, dropping his head in his hands.

“I know it’s not, Justin,” she said, patting him on the back. “But neither is it a great tragedy.” She’d seen the attraction between them, and was glad for it. He’d been so unhappy, for so long. She hoped he would be able to find some happiness in life, even if it were a fleeting thing. “Would it be so wrong, Justin?” she asked softly.

“YES!” he shouted, coming off the settee and pacing the room again. “It’s wrong, Britney. It’s against God’s law, and…and…”

“And nothing,” Britney argued. “How can love, any love, be against God?”

“But it is, Britney,” Justin said seriously. “It is. The last time…you know what happened. What God did to punish me for making that choice.”

“Justin, that was an accident,” Britney said. “It wasn’t your fault, and it certainly wasn’t God punishing you for being in love!” Justin didn’t respond. She pulled him close, locking eyes. “Listen to me! God would never do that, Justin. God wants you to be happy. If you’re happy with someone, what does it matter who it is?” She saw tears well in his eyes. “Justin, please believe me. It wasn’t your fault.”

“It was,” he replied, his voice hoarse. “They were coming to get me, to take me away from Paul. If I hadn’t been there, with him, they wouldn’t have died, Britney.”

She closed her eyes, hurting for Justin, and what she had to tell him. “No, Justin, they weren’t coming for you.” He went white at her words. “The were going to Genoa for business. They were not headed to where you and Paul were.”

“You’re mistaken,” he protested. “They were…Father De Vaugh said they were…”

“Father De Vaugh lied to you, Justin,” Britney said simply. “Your father and Robert were on a ship to Genoa. Not headed to Algiers.” She watched as the words sunk in, as he accepted what she was saying as the truth, believed her because Britney had never lied to him. He started shaking, falling to his knees as if the strength to hold him upright had left in that moment. He pulled at Britney’s skirts, pulling her down as well, holding onto the one thing in his life he could depend on. She held him close, letting him cry for what he’d lost…again.


A soft twilight was shining through the windows. It had been hours since Justin had accepted Britney’s version of his father and brother’s death. They’d talked for hours, sitting on the floor of Justin’s room. Talked about Justin, talked about Britney. Reminisced about their childhood.

What they avoided talking about was Joshua.

But Britney was having none of that, and decided to broach the subject. “So, Justin, what are you planning on doing about Joshua?”

“Nothing,” he said simply, rising from the floor and pulling Britney up as well. “I doubt that I’ll ever see him again after we leave here tomorrow. I’ll just avoid him until then.” Britney snorted. “Very nice, m’lady,” Justin teased.

“Don’t be an idiot, Justin,” she scolded. “You cannot avoid him, and you’ll see him again.”

Justin raised a skeptical brow. “When?”

“How about now?” a voice sounded from the doorway.

They both turned toward the door, finding Joshua standing right inside the room. He was dressed in his usual black, hair tamed once again, an amused but concerned expression on his face. “You two were missing all afternoon, and I grew worried.” He entered the room, stopping in front of them. “I want all my guests to be comfortable and feel welcomed. If that isn’t the case…”

“No, Joshua,” Britney protested. “Please forgive us our absence. Justin and I had some…issues to discuss, and lost track of time.” She peered over his shoulder at the clock on the mantel. “My, is it that late? Please excuse me, Justin. Joshua.” She picked up her skirts, stood on tiptoe and kissed Justin’s cheek. “I must dress for dinner,” she said, rushing out of the room, but pulling the door closed behind her.

The two men observed each other, Justin with a bit of trepidation, Joshua with ease. “You might want to change for dinner as well, Justin,” Joshua said, indicating the riding clothes of Joshua’s he was still wearing.

“Yes, your grace,” Justin said.

“Justin, I asked you to call me Joshua,” he reminded the younger man.

Justin nodded. “I remember, your grace,” he answered. “However, I do not feel it correct to address someone of the noble class by such familiar terms.”

Joshua looked puzzled for a moment, then a smile broke across his face. “I understand,” he said, walking to the settee and sitting down. “Distance.”

“Your grace?”

“Distance,” Joshua said again. “You are putting distance between us. Since you’re still here in my house, as my guest, you can’t put physical distance between us. So, you’re resorting to emotional distance.” He clapped his hands in approval, rising from the settee and stopping directly in front of Justin. “Very good tactic, Justin. Too bad it won’t work.”

He reached out a hand and ran a finger across Justin’s jaw line, smiling as the uncontrollable shiver ran through the boy’s body. “Go ahead and get changed, Justin,” Joshua said, leaning down so close his breath whispered across Justin’s lips. He flicked his tongue across Justin’s mouth, smiling as Justin leaned in for more. “I’ll be waiting for you downstairs.”

With that, Joshua left the room, leaving Justin standing in the middle of the room alone.

Alone.

But very aroused.



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