Part 2

The Fourth of July


It was late when Joshua returned.

Justin had stayed awake, watching the moon move across the cloudless sky. His thoughts were a tumble of worry and pride and fright and admiration. Though he realized what Joshua doing, and felt a swelling of respect about it, he nonetheless feared that Joshua may not return. His nerves where almost shot by the time he heard the explosion, far in the distance. He looked out the window again as an orange light lit the sky on the horizon. Justin paced the floor of the small house, waiting for Joshua’s return.

His entry into the house was so quiet Justin almost didn’t hear him. A soft click of the latch, the faint sound of shoes on the wooden planks of the floor, and Joshua was home. They watched each other from across the room, each lost in their own thoughts, each so glad to see the other again.

The met in the middle of the floor, a tangle of mouths and arms and sighs. Justin grasped Joshua’s head and attached his mouth to the other mans, forcing Joshua’s mouth open, sweeping his tongue inside.

The kiss was hard and hot and more than just a kiss. It was a brand, a stamp of ownership, a mark of love. Joshua did not fight the kiss; instead, he willingly submitted to Justin’s demands, giving of himself to Justin more than he’d given to anyone before.

Joshua’s hands were busy on Justin’s body, moving across the strong back, pulling the younger man closer, groaning as their erections crashed together. Slowly, Justin pulled into the bedroom, tumbling them down onto the small bed as each fought to remove the others’ clothing. Joshua lay under Justin as Justin finally moved his mouth from Joshua’s, moving it hotly down Joshua’s neck, licking and sucking the delectate skin along that path.

“Please…Justin,” Joshua said as Justin’s tongue slipped out to tease a willing nipple. “Oh, please,” he said, writhing beneath the other man.

Justin shuddered at the sound of Joshua’s voice. “Say it again,” he asked, eyes lifting to Joshua’s. “Say my name again.”

Joshua reached out a hand, running a hand across Justin’s hair. “Justin.” He shivered as Justin’s mouth moved downward, taking Joshua’s pants before his hot mouth touched the sensitive flesh. “Justin,” he sighed again. He arched as Justin’s mouth found the sensitive heat of his erection. “Justin!”

Justin engulfed Joshua’s length, his mouth sucking the flesh inside, the taste of Joshua making driving him almost over the edge. He was hard and hot and tasted so good to Justin. He felt Joshua’s excitement build and increased the pressure of his mouth until the rush of Joshua’s climax exploded in his mouth. Justin moved up Joshua’s body, spreading Joshua’s thighs and finding Joshua’s heated entry with one thrust. Justin groaned as the tight feel of Joshua enveloped him, hips moving a rapid rhythm until finally the world exploded.

Justin held Joshua as the tremors ran through him, kissing Joshua’s still trembling lips. His fingers moved down Joshua’s legs, only to be stopped by Joshua’s hand. “Non,” Joshua said.
“Non, ne pas toucher là-bas.”

Justin raised his brow at Joshua. “Joshua…”

“Je suis désolé.”
Joshua shook his head. “I am sorry. But please, Justin…”

Justin shook his head, leaning up to see what Joshua did not want him to see. A large, red scar ran down Joshua’s left leg, from his thigh to his ankle. Justin reached out a hand, tracing lightly the puckered flesh. “What happened?” Justin asked, his voice a whisper.

“When the German’s first occupied, I was in the Army. My escouade, how you say…squad, was called to fight, before the government surrendered. I was hit by a mortar shell.” He flipped the blanket over his leg, only to have Justin remove it again.

“It’s nothing to hide, Joshua,” Justin said, leaning down and kissing the rough skin of the scar. “You’re beautiful, every part of you.”

He pulled Joshua close as the fire built again.

*****************

Justin spread jam on his bread and took a big bite. They’d slept for hours, until Justin’s rumbling stomach woke them both up. He watched as Joshua pulled off the kettle, filling their mugs for tea and finally joining Justin at the table.

“So, what did you blow up last night?” Justin asked casually.

Joshua choked on his tea. “Que?

Justin grimaced at the tea, putting it down to add some honey. He stirred the honey in and looked at Joshua steadily. “What did you and your Resistance friends blow up last night?” he elaborated.

Joshua took a large sip of tea. “A munitions cache,” was the answer.

Justin nodded. “Good for you,” he said, reaching over and kissing Joshua quickly. “I’m in love with you.”

The words were so casually spoken, so matter of fact, they caused Joshua to drop his mug of tea.
“Mon dieu, Justin!” He leapt away from the table as the hot tea splashed down. “Ne pas dire en forme de choses cela!”

Justin smiled as Joshua stormed around the room, wiping tea and cursing in French. He was beautiful, and it was true. Justin was in love with him. He discovered it sometime during the night while Joshua had slept. He laid in Joshua’s arms, feeling Joshua’s heartbeat, listening to him breath, touching the scar on his leg with his own, and knowing, yes, he loved him. He waited until Joshua was close enough to grab and did so, pulling the other man close to him and stopping his words with his hand. Joshua looked down at Justin, his blue eyes filled with…what? Justin couldn’t read them.

“I love you, Joshua,” he said simply. “You don’t have to love me back, you don’t even have to say anything. I just wanted you to know.”

“Justin.” He reached out to hold Justin’s head, hands slipping through the soft curls that were cut close and short. “You’ve been sick, and it is easy to feel things…”

Justin again lifted a hand to stop Joshua’s words. “No, it’s not gratitude, or infatuation, or even just sex.” His finger traced the soft lips. “I’ve never been in love before, but I know, deep in my heart, I know I’m in love with you.”

Joshua leaned down and kissed Justin softly. “You honor me, mon amour Justin,” he said.

Justin smiled broadly. “You love me, too, don’t you?” he asked.

Joshua rested his forehead on Justin’s. “Oui, Justin,” he concurred.
“Je vous aime avec tout mon coeur.” He kissed Justin lightly. “I love you with all my heart.”

They held each other tightly as the words sunk in.

****************

“Close your eyes.”

“What for?”

“Because I have a surprise for you!”

“Joshua, I know we haven’t known each other for a long time, but there’s something you need to know.”

“What is that?”

“I hate surprises.”

“That is…how you say…too good?”

“Too bad, you mean!”

“Yes, that is what I mean…too bad. So, close your eyes, s'il vous plait.”

“They’re closed.”

“Bon, one moment.”

“Now?”

“Non, not yet.”

“This had better be…what’s that smell?”

“Open!”

Justin jumped back as he looked down. The table appeared to be on fire. “What the hell?” he exclaimed.

Joshua smiled brightly. “Happy Independence Day!” he said, moving in and kissing Justin quickly.

“Joshua, how…what are these?” Justin peered at the creation on the table.

“Homemade fireworks, to celebrate your Fourth of July day.” Joshua pulled out the “fireworks,” burning his fingers as he tossed them into the sink. “There is a cake as well.”

Justin shook his head. “How do you know about the Fourth of July?”

“Mon dieu, the boy is daft!” Joshua complained. “Do you not know how we, the French, help you Americans win your little revolution?
The Marquis de Lafayette?”

Justin looked puzzled. “I have a vague recollection that someone helped us, but…” His voice trailed off, but he was unable to keep the smile from his face.

“Idiot!” Joshua cut some of the cake, his hands getting sticky with icing.

Justin lifted Joshua’s hand to his mouth, licking off the creamy stuff. “Hmm, delicious,” he murmured, licking all over Joshua’s hand, sucking on the fingers. “And the icing isn’t bad, either.”

Knock knock knock

Justin stiffened at the sound. “You’re expecting someone?” he asked. He rose from the table and walked to the bedroom.

Joshua walked to the door. “Non, but it is probably Madame Nouville, needing help with her drain.” He watched Justin disappear into the room and opened the door.
“Oui, Madam Nouville…”

But it was not Madam Nouville.

The three German soldiers pushed open the door wider and entered Joshua’s house.



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