Once again, Joshua was standing at the window, looking down at Rome. He heard laughter, he smelled life, but now…now, it made him sad. He didn’t even move when Justin turned on a small lamp, lighting the room with a soft yellow glow. “I envy you, Justin,” he said, his voice soft. Justin came over to Joshua as he stood at the window. They hadn’t talked on the way back to Justin’s room from the café; both men had realized the other knew something, but neither wanted to vocalize it. He observed Joshua, leaning against the windowsill, his classical features only half visible. Justin wished he could see his eyes. “Why?” he asked. “Your life here. It’s simple, easy.” Joshua sighed. “My life isn’t simple.” Justin laughed dryly. “It’s not always easy here,” he told Joshua. “And far from simple.” Joshua turned to him. “I’m sorry…I didn’t mean to imply…I just.” He sighed again, turning back to the window. “I have duties and obligations. So many duties I don’t enjoy. So many obligations I will be forced to fulfill.” Justin moved closer, his hand lifting, itching to touch the other man. He dropped it back to his side. “JC…” “My name is Joshua,” the prince corrected again. Justin shook his head. “No, it’s not,” he said. “It’s JC. Right here, right now, you’re just JC.” He lifted his hand again, this time touching Joshua. Justin skimmed his fingers along Joshua’s jaw, relishing the shiver he produced from the other man. “Yesterday, you were Joshua. Maybe you’ll be Joshua tomorrow. But for now…tonight.” Justin crept closer, his breath now replacing his hand on JC’s skin. “You’re JC. A man with no past, no future.” Justin’s lips hovered over Joshua’s. “And above all…no obligations.” Though it wasn’t their first kiss, it seemed that way. It was everything a first kiss should be. Their lips met softly, delicately, hesitantly. Justin pressed gently, moving his head a bit, his mouth encouraging Joshua’s to loosen and open. Justin slipped his hand around Joshua’s neck, sifting his fingers through the curls, slanting his mouth to take possession of Joshua’s. The kiss turned deep, heartfelt. Justin gave everything to Joshua; Joshua gave everything back. With one kiss, their souls were connected. They broke apart, eyes locked, breathing heavy. Joshua’s head leaned back into Justin’s hand, his hips leaning forward into Justin’s hips. Justin smiled at the feel of Joshua’s hardness pressing into him. He leaned down to take Joshua’s mouth again, but stopped as Joshua pulled back. “And who are you?” Joshua asked. Justin’s hand moved around Joshua’s waist, pulling the other man in close, grinding his hard cock against Joshua. “I’m just a man who wants you,” he said, thrusting enough to anchor Joshua against the wall. Justin ran his hands down Joshua’s arms, finding his hands and slowly raising them over Joshua’s head. His entire body pressed into Joshua, eliciting a groan from the other man. Justin ran his tongue along Joshua’s throat, ending with a sharp nip of Joshua’s earlobe. “Is that enough?” he asked, leaning back to look Joshua in the eyes. Joshua lifted a hand to Justin’s face. “It’s more than I ever expected,” he confessed. Conflicting emotions ran through Justin. Arousal was tinged with guilt; excitement with sadness. He had to tell…had to confess… “No,” Joshua said, slipping a finger over Justin’s mouth as he was about to speak. “No…please. No words. No explanations. No promises.” His eyes implored Justin. “Just…please.” Justin nodded, lifting Joshua’s hand from his mouth, kissing the fingers softly. He led the other man across the room, stopping at the bed. He noticed his hands were shaking as they lifted to Joshua’s shirt, unbuttoning the soft cotton, lightly skimming his fingers over the flesh exposed. Justin slipped off Joshua’s shirt, hands running over the other man’s chest, stopping when he reached the waistband of Joshua’s pants. They dropped to the floor with a quiet whoosh, followed quickly by Joshua’s underwear. Justin’s hand dipped to cup Joshua’s hardness, eyes closing in ecstasy at the heat he found. He felt Joshua shiver with emotion, and caught the other man’s gaze. “Please?” Justin asked, dropping gracefully to his knees. *** Justin juggled the glasses and bottle and plate, kicking the door closed behind him. Joshua turned at the sound, rising to his knees to help Justin with the food. “Ohh…great!” Joshua said, shifting back on the bed, lifting a piece of cheese to his mouth. Justin laughed, pouring the wine and handing a glass to Joshua. “Is that all I’m good for now?” he joked. Joshua looked at him. Justin sat on the edge of the bed, shirt unbuttoned, pants barely fastened. Joshua was amazed at how comfortable he felt, how natural it seemed to be sitting in Justin’s bed, naked, less than half-an-hour after Justin had…Joshua wasn’t sure what it was called. But it had felt wonderful, and Justin seemed to have enjoyed it, and he hoped to do it to Justin soon, but right now? “Right now, yes,” Joshua teased. “I’m starving!” He took a large bite of bread, sighing at the taste. Justin sipped his wine, watching Joshua eat. So many emotions were playing trough his mind, so many ideas, so many scenarios that Justin knew couldn’t come true but nonetheless, was what he wanted. However, it seemed the two men had come to some kind of unspoken agreement to keep it light, keep it carefree, keep it impersonal. Well, Justin thought with a laugh, as impersonal as you can be after giving someone head. Joshua finished his food, putting the plate on the table by the bed. Justin poured him another glass of wine. “Merci,” he said without thinking. Justin blinked. “French, too, huh?” “Pardon?” Justin wondered if this was skating too close to that realm of things not to talk about, but decided to forge ahead anyway. “I said, you speak French as well as Italian and English.” He crawled over Joshua and propped himself up on against the wall. “Oui, je parle français de même qu'anglais et italien,” Joshua said easily. “I’ll take that as a yes,” Justin said. “I’m lucky to get by with my bad Italian.” He took another sip of wine. “So, besides French, English, and Italian, any others?” “Hmm…yes.” Justin gave him a look. “Four more.” “Seven languages?” Justin was amazed. “What else?” “German, Spanish, Dutch, and Portuguese.” “You’re a veritable League of Nations, aren’t you?” Justin joked. “So…say something in German,” Justin asked. “German?” Joshua cocked his head, considering the man next to him. “Sie verdiene mich mehr als ich haben gegeben, aber ich finde ich mehr will.” You have given me more than I deserve, but I find I want more. He took the wine from Justin’s hand, putting both glasses on the table next to the bed. He turned toward Justin running a hand down Justin’s chest. Justin sucked in a breath. “How about.” He cleared his throat, eyes glued to Joshua’s hand on his chest. “How about Dutch?” he asked. Joshua shifted closer, hand dipping lower to Justin’s pants. “Ik wil doen wat, die u mij deed.” I want to do what you did to me. Joshua leaned down, running his tongue down Justin’s chest, his hands busy removing the other man’s pants. “Ik wil u proeven.” I want to taste you. “Oh…that…that’s pretty,” Justin said, his voice thick with emotion. “Sppp…anish?” he said, groaning as Joshua’s hand cupped his raging erection. “Usted es el todo en este mundo que quiero, el todo que necesito.” You are everything in this world I want, everything I need. Justin’s eyes widened as Joshua lifted himself over Justin, straddling Justin’s legs, holding Justin’s hips. Joshua’s mouth hovered over Justin’s cock, his hands holding Justin’s hips from thrusting toward Joshua. Joshua lifted his head, locking their eyes. “What about Portuguese?” Justin asked, his voice hoarse, his head thick with emotion. Joshua smiled softly. “Portuguese is my favorite,” he confessed. “Makes words into poems.” He leaned down, lifting Justin’s shaft to his mouth. He ran his tongue over the length of it, relishing in the groan he received. “São lindo.” You are beautiful. He nibbled the head of Justin’s cock, thumbs pressing into the sensitive area over his hipbones. “Obrigado para hoje..” Thank you for today. He locked his eyes with Justin’s. “Amo-o.” I love you. With that, Joshua swallowed Justin’s cock, throating the length, making Justin scream.