Justin’s mind raced as he maneuvered the scooter through the streets of Rome. Finding Prince Joshua—he corrected himself—JC was turning out to be the luckiest break of his life. He’d even been able to delay the sightseeing tour just long enough to contact Joey at the paper. After all, who would believe this actually happened without photographic proof? He felt JC’s arms tighten around his waist, sparking a memory of JC’s excited face when the older man had seen the scooter and realized Justin would take him around Rome. Justin ruthlessly tamped down the twinge of guilt he felt about using JC for his own purposes. Think about home, Justin thought. Think about The Times. Joshua, of course, was oblivious to all of Justin’s plans for “JC.” All Joshua knew was that he was free. Free free free. The wind was ripping through his hair, Rome was whizzing by as they drove, and his arms were around a beautiful man. It was the best day of Joshua’s life. Joshua tightened his grip on Justin’s waist as they slid around a stopped taxi. He could feel Justin’s muscles shift every time the other man turned the scooter, making Joshua painfully aware of his growing arousal. He shifted back on the seat, trying to keep his distance, but always ended sliding back down the seat against Justin’s ass. After the third time, Joshua decided to stop fighting it and enjoy being this close to Justin. He went back to enjoying the scenery and Justin’s ass. They skidded to a halt near a crowd of tourists, Justin flipping off the scooter’s engine and jumping off the machine quickly. He smiled at JC’s flushed face and excited smile. He quickly dropped his eyes to JC’s lap, confirming visual what he’d only thought he’d imagined he’d felt before. The sight of JC’s erection started his own cock to twitch and again, he tamped down that twinge of guilt at his plans. The Times. The Times. The Times. “Here they are,” Justin said, pointing in the general direction of the crowd of tourists. “The Spanish Steps.” Joshua pulled his hat back on and dismounted the scooter, looking in the direction Justin was pointing. “Where?” he asked jokingly. Looking over JC’s shoulder, Justin spied Joey approaching and signaled the other man to stay away for the moment. He grabbed JC by the shoulders and spun him in the direction of the tourists. “Hey,” he laughed. “You have to work for things in Rome,” he said, pushing JC through the crowd. The Spanish Step came into view, capturing JC’s attention. Justin leaned in and whispered into JC’s ear. “I’ll be by the scooter,” he told JC. “Take your time.” Joshua nodded absently and walked toward the Steps, head spinning at the sights and smells and noise of this famous part of Rome. Justin walked back to the scooter, signaling Joey to come over. “Did you bring it?” he asked. Joey reached into a bag and pulled out a Rome guidebook. He flipped the end of it toward Justin, showing the younger man the small camera hidden in the pages. “You wanna tell me why I brought this?” Joey asked. “And what the fuck did you mean by ‘I’ve found our ticket home’?” Justin slapped Joey on the back, turning him toward the gelato cart that JC was now standing in front of. “That, my friend, is our ticket home.” Joey gave Justin a disgusted look. “How is one of your himbos gonna get us home?” Justin laughed. “Watch,” he instructed. The two men watched as JC took off his hat, shaking out his hair and giving Joey a clear view of his face. Justin smiled as the look of recognition dawned in Joey’s eyes. “Is that?” “Sure is.” “Where did?” “Labretti’s Pawn Shop.” “No shit?” “No shit.” “But…how?” “Ran away.” “Does he know you know?” “Nope.” “Why?” “No clue.” “Justin…” “Joey…” Joey pierced Justin with a look. Justin knew that look. The look that said he thought Justin might have crossed a moral line. “Joey…this guy is news. We’re the only ones who know where he is, what he’s doing.” He leaned in and whispered. “He’s an exclusive, Joey. An exclusive.” “I don’t know, Just,” Joey pondered. “I mean…does he know you’re a reporter? It doesn’t seem fair.” Justin laughed bitterly. “Is if fair that we’re stuck doing flower shows for a tyrannical boss?” He grabbed Joeys’ arm. “Listen. He wants to have a good time, away from whatever or whoever he ran away from. I intend to show him a good time. His story will get me…get us back home, Joe. Home, to a real paper.” “Home…” Joey mused, his eyes misting a bit. Justin nodded. “Just take the pictures, Joey. I’ll do the rest.” They exchanged a glance and sealed the deal with a nod. Justin turned to watch JC approach them, two gelatos in his hands. He saw JC look at Joey with quizzical eyes. “JC, this is my friend Joey,” Justin said, taking one of the ice cream cones from JC’s hands. “I, uh, ran into him and said he could come along with us on our sightseeing.” JC shook Joeys’ hand. “Nice to meet you, Joey,” he said. “Here, take this gelato, I can get another.” Joey declined. “Nah, not real fond of it,” he said. JC shrugged, licking the melting ice cream quickly. “How do you two know each other?” he asked. Justin’s eyes were locked on JC’s tongue as it peeked out to delicately dab at the melting treat, and missed Joey’s words. “We work together,” Joey said. “Work?” JC blinked. “Justin, I’m not taking you away from your job, am I?” he asked, his eyes concerned. Justin’s eyes were still focused on JC’s mouth. “Work…uh…no,” he stammered, lifting his eyes to meet JC’s sparkling blue ones. “We’re done for the day,” Justin assured JC. JC smiled, a slow, sly, knowing smile, it seemed to Justin. The younger man groaned silently as JC’s tongue came out again to lick at a spot of gelato on his lip. He felt the stirring in his groin again and without thinking he reached out a hand to JC’s face. His thumb finished cleaning the gelato off of JC’s lip, then brought it to his own mouth. The sudden charge of sexual tension between them took them both for a moment as they stood, watching each other’s eyes and mouths. Then Justin shook his head and stepped back, turning toward Joey. “Here,” he said, handing Joey his gelato. He walked away quickly. Joey blinked at Justin’s actions. “What the hell was that about?” he asked absently. Joshua smiled, finishing his gelato. “I have no idea,” he said innocently, enjoying the sensations running through his body. Justin wanted him. The best day of Joshua’s life got even better