“Get your feet off my desk, Timberlake.” Justin bent his head back, surveying his ex-boss upside down. “Hello to you, George,” he said, not removing his feet. The editor came into the office, shoving Justin’s feet so they landed with a thump on the floor. “I thought you weren’t coming back to work for me,” he said, sitting behind the desk. “I’m not,” Justin agreed. “But I thought I should give you first crack at the story of the century. You know, for old times sake.” George’s extremely bushy eyebrows raised. “Story of the century?” he scoffed. “Unless you found Hitler alive and well, Timberlake, there’s nothing that will get this kid off the front page.” George tossed Justin the evening edition of the Herald-Tribune. Again, there was a large picture of Prince Joshua, and more articles about him and his illness. Justin smiled at the sight. “That’s exactly what I’m talking about,” he said simply. “Hitler?” “Him,” Justin said, tapping the picture of Joshua. “Him,” George repeated. Justin nodded. “What would you say, George, if I told you that Prince Joshua isn’t ill. That he is, in fact, in Rome, playing tourist?” He tossed the paper back to George. “Would that be worth something to you?” George glared. “He’s not in the embassy?” he asked. “Not under doctor’s care?” Justin shook his head. “Nope.” “Where is he, then?” “He’s, uh.” Justin didn’t want to come out and tell George he was at Justin’s pension. It would be just like the editor to surreptitiously send another reporter over there. “Let’s just say he’s safe.” “Are you shitting me, Timberlake?” Justin smiled, withdrawing a picture from his jacket and tossing it to George. He watched as the editor’s eyes bulged at the sight of Prince Joshua, dressed as a commoner, riding on the back of a Vespa. Justin leaned forward and snagged the picture back, refusing to look at Joshua’s happy face in the photo. He replaced it in his pocket. “Now,” he said, leaning back in the chair and again putting his feet on the desk. “Let’s talk deal, George.” *** Once again, Joshua was leaning out a window, soaking up the sights, sounds, and smells of Rome. But this time, it was daylight, and this time, he could indulge to his hearts content. He watched old men play Bocce, he watched women hanging out laundry, and he watched children running through the streets. And while watching, Joshua was replaying the day in his mind, reveling in his adventures. He, Justin, and Joey had traveled all over Rome, Joshua riding behind Justin, Joey tagging along on a separate scooter. After the Spanish Steps, they’d driven by the Coliseum, the Pantheon, and into Vatican City. Joshua smiled as he realized this trip through the Holy See was quite different than the one he’d taken just the day before for his audience with the Pope. There was only one close call. They were near the Trevi Fountain, after Joshua had made the requisite tossing of the coin, when Joshua noticed two men watching him. He recognized them as two of his security detail, and turned to Justin, asking the other man if there was somewhere he could rest for a while. “I came in late last night, and never got a room, and well, do you think it would be alright?” he had asked the other man. Justin had looked at Joshua with a puzzled expression, but had nodded. “Joey, we’re going to my place,” Justin had told the other man. “We’ll meet up with you later?” Joey had looked like he was going to refuse, but had eventually nodded. They had all mounted their scooter, and Joshua had buried his face in Justin’s back as they drove by the security men. Justin had taken Joshua to his pension, a house on a side street in the Trastevere area of Rome, taking three flights of stairs up to Justin’s room. “Here,” Justin said. “Make yourself at home,” he said, flipping on a light. “I, uh, have some errands to run, so I’ll be back later, okay?” Joshua turned to Justin. “Thank you,” he said simply. Justin cocked his head. “For what?” Joshua opened his arms, twirling in the room. “For this. For today. For everything!” Joshua said. “You don’t… I know it doesn’t make much sense, but believe me, today has meant more to me than I can express.” Justin tampered down the twinge of guilt at Joshua’s pleasure. “You’re welcome,” he said, moving out of the room quickly. So, Joshua stood at the window, waiting for Justin to return. He could have left, could have explored Rome on his own, but right now, there was more than just Rome to explore. There was Justin. Joshua knew, he knew, there was something between them. Joshua had never even allowed himself to think that way. He had a duty to fulfill, and loving another man could not be a part of that. But today, he wasn’t a prince. Today, he had no duties to fulfill. Today, he could do as he wanted. Want what he wanted. And what he wanted Justin. And he was pretty sure Justin wanted him, too. Just what that meant, and how it might happen, Joshua had no idea. But at least, for today, there was the whisper of a possibility. Joshua turned away from the window as the door opened. But it wasn’t Justin walking into the room. *** Justin bounded up the stairs, a bag of food in his hands. He realized on the way back from the newspaper offices that besides the gelato, Joshua hadn’t eaten today. He’s stopped and gotten some meat and cheese and bread, along with a bottle of wine. “Jo…JC!” he said as he opened the door. The room was empty. Justin’s heart started beating fast as possibilities raced through his mind. George had found him and taken him away. The embassy guards had found him and scurried him back behind their high walls. Or he’d just left. Justin ran back down the steps, entering his landlord’s apartment. “Signora Vertucci!” he called out. “Lei ha visto che un uomo lasciando la stanza del mio?” Did you see a man leaving my apartment? He rushed into the kitchen, stopping short at the sight before him. “Justin!” Signora Vertucci scolded. “Che lo sono fare, correre attraverso la casa come ciò, gridare i suoi polmoni fuori!” What are you doing, rushing through the house like that, screaming your lungs out! Justin blinked, his eyes locked on Joshua as he sat at the kitchen table, his hands covered with flour. “Sono dolente, la Signora. Ma ho pensato JC ha avuto sinistro.” I’m sorry, Signora. But I thought JC had left.. “I’m still here, Justin,” Joshua said in English. “Signora Vertucci was nice enough to feed me, and in return, I offered to help her make pasta." Justin came over to the table, picking up one of Joshua’s hands. He dusted off a sticky finger. “Yes, I can see that,” he said, his hand lingering on JC’s for a moment. “I’m sorry I was so long,” Justin apologized. “No, I was fine,” Joshua said, curling his fingers around Justin’s before regretfully letting go. “I met Signora Vertucci, and her daughter Isabella.” Signora Vertucci piped in at the sound of her daughter’s name. “Il Justin, lei e JC deve venire alla festa di impegno dell'Isabella stasera.” Justin, you and JC must come to Isabella's engagement party tonight The two men exchanged a glance. “A party?” Joshua asked. Justin smiled “A Vertucci party,” he said. “Like nothing you’ve ever experienced.” Joshua retuned Justin’s smile before turning to the woman at the table. “Ringraziarlo, la signora. Saremo felici di assistere.” Thank you, madam. We will be happy to attend. *** Joshua drank deeply of the red wine in his glass, his eyes excitedly taking in the café, his feet moving to the music. The party celebrating Isabella Vertucci’s engagement was in full swing, and Joshua couldn’t be happier. His head buzzed from the wine, and he looked around the outdoor area of the café, trying to find Justin. The other man had been dragged onto the dance floor by some of Isabella’s friends, and Joshua’s fuzzy eyes focused on him as he danced with the girls. Joshua blinked, realizing he was jealous. Yes, he was jealous. He wanted to dance with Justin. And dammit, he would dance with Justin! He rose from the table, holding onto the rough wood to steady himself as he made his way though the crowded dance floor. “JC!” Justin exclaimed. “What…” “It’s my turn,” he said, pushing the girls out of the way. He linked his hands and hooked them over Justin’s head. Leaning bonelessly into Justin, he lowered his head to Justin’s shoulder, closed his eyes, and sighed. Justin blushed as the girls giggled. “ Sta bene, Justin. Lo lasceremo balla col ragazzo.” It is alright, Justin. We will let you dance with the boy. Joshua raised his head, glaring drunkenly at the girls. “I’m not a boy,” he argued before slipping back down to Justin’s shoulder. No, he wasn’t a boy, Justin agreed Joshua moved in his arms. Not a boy at all. Justin felt his own cock harden at the feel of Joshua in his arms, at the heat Joshua was giving off, at the hardness of Joshua’s own erection pressed into Justin’s hip. He thanked the girls for their cover, and moved Joshua back over to the table, slipping Joshua into his chair. Joshua perked up, seeming surprised by his surroundings and reached for his glass of wine. “Uh, no,” Justin said, easily removing the glass from Joshua’s reach. “I think you’ve had quite enough for now.” “Spoil sport,” Joshua accused. “You have no head for alcohol,” Justin pointed out. Joshua snorted. “I’ll have you know, I can drink glass after glass at formal occasions,” he bragged. “This is just…stronger than I’m used to.” “Formal occasions?” Justin asked, his breath catching at Joshua’s slip. “Uh…you know…weddings, state dinners, stuff like that,” Joshua said. His eyes blinked drunkenly. “You’re really pretty.” Justin pulled back a bit. “What?” “You’re pretty!” Joshua said again. “I can say that, right? I mean, you like me, right?” “Jo..JC,” Justin said. Joshua leaned closer, his breath skimming Justin’s lips. “You do like me, right?” Joshua’s tongue peeked out, licking his lips. Justin groaned. “Hey, guys!” Joeys’ jovial voice interrupted them, making both men jump in their chairs. “Hey, Joey!” Justin said, relief in his voice. “Good to see you.” Joey looked at Justin warily, noting the other man’s flushed cheeks. He glanced at Joshua, surprised by the glare he was receiving from the prince. “I, uh, can leave, if you want,” Joey said, rising from his chair, only to be pushed back down by Justin’s hand on his shoulder. “No, no,” Justin said, handing Joey Joshua’s glass of wine. “We’re happy to see you,” he repeated. Joshua crossed his arms and continued to glare. He sat back at the table, letting the other two men talk. He finally turned away from Joey, surveying the rest of the café, his eyes widening at the sight of the men coming into the area. Joshua jumped up off his chair and rushed into the café, almost knocking over a waiter carrying a full tray. He was almost out the back door when he felt a hand on his arm. Acting on instinct, he whirled toward his captor with a closed fist. “Ow!” Justin yelled. “What the hell did you hit me for?” Joshua’s eyes widened as he realized it was Justin who had kept him from leaving. “Oh, Justin, I’m sorry, but.” He peered over Justin’s shoulder as the security men entered the café building. “I have to go. Now.” Justin looked behind him, noting the men in suits headed their way. From Joshua’s reaction, he quickly realized that they were someone Joshua knew, probably security people, and Joshua wasn’t ready to go back yet. “You’ll never make it,” Justin told him. Joshua’s eyes locked with Justin’s, realizing the other man knew. “Justin…” Joshua’s words were cut off by Justin’s mouth closing over his. He felt Justin push him against the wall, pressing his body into Joshua’s own. Joshua groaned at the feel of Justin’s mouth, and the heat from Justin’s body, and melted into the other man. He opened his mouth, letting Justin surge inside. Justin groaned, accepting the invitation gratefully. His tongue possessed Joshua’s mouth, mating with Joshua’s, making Joshua’s mouth his own. He pressed his hips against Joshua’s, letting the other man feel his erection, reveling in the fact that Joshua was just as excited, just has hard. Justin’ slipped a thigh between Joshua’s legs, and a hand under Joshua’s ass, and pushed him onto Justin’s leg, letting Joshua hump the other man to Justin’s delight. A voice sounded, speaking in French, making both men freeze. “Personne ici mais ces deux fagots.” No one here but these two faggots Joshua held his breath as the two men laughed crudely, then walked out of the café. He pulled away from Justin a bit, not able to meet the other man’s eyes. “They’re gone,” Joshua said, pulling himself away from Justin’s arms. “JC,” Justin said, snagging Joshua’s wrist, halting the other man’s leaving. “My name is Joshua,” he said with a sad smile.