Tyler laughed hysterically as JC jumped from the firecracker thrown under his chair. “Dammit, Tyler,” JC said, rising from his chair and glaring at this brother. “You made me spill my tea!” “Damn, Josh,” Tyler held his sides as he continued to laugh. “You squealed like a girl just now!” “You’re an idiot,” JC said, walking past Tyler to the open sliding door, dropping an ice cube down his brother’s shirt. He walked into the house, brushing his wet shirt off. Justin appeared from their bedroom. “What happened?” he asked, following JC into the kitchen. “You’re all wet.” JC gave him a withering look. “Really? I hadn’t noticed.” He wet a paper towel and swiped at the forming stain on his shirt. “Tyler exploded a firecracker and I spilled tea all over my shirt.” “Don’t forget the squealing like a girl part!” Tyler called from the balcony. “You squealed like a girl?” Justin asked, walking up to JC and pressing the older man against the counter. He moved JC’s hair off to the side and lowered his mouth to JC’s neck. “I thought you only did that with me.” JC groaned at the feel of Justin’s mouth on his skin. “Justin,” he moaned, leaning his ass into Justin’s growing hardness. Justin’s mouth moved up to JC’s ear. “Are you wearing them?” Justin asked, sneaking his hand to the front of JC’s pants. “Are you?” JC sucked in his stomach at the feel of Justin’s fingers on his waistband. “Maybe,” he said, his own hand cover Justin’s. JC shuddered as Justin’s fingers dipped inside JC’s pants, touching lightly the hot skin and cool silk. “Oh, yes,” Justin breathed, his fingers hooking into the silk of the panties JC was wearing. “I bet they look good, too…all sexy and soft on you.” “Oh God, Justin,” JC said, his other hand rising to grasp Justin’s spiked hair. “We have to stop…Tyler…” Justin’s fingers dipped again, nails scraping quickly against the head of JC’s hard cock. “Tonight,” he vowed, biting JC’s ear with a hard nip. “Tonight,” JC assured him, pulling Justin’s hand from his pants. “For now, go talk to my brother, while I, uh, clean up.” Justin kissed him hard. “You betcha, lovey.” He smiled a cocky smile and left the kitchen. *** “So when do these fireworks start?” Tyler said, mumbling around a mouthful of corn chips. “They’re New Year’s fireworks, Tyler,” JC said, sitting on the arm of Justin’s chair, handing Justin a drink. “That means they usually start at midnight.” “Oh.” Tyler was not finishing the burger JC hadn’t eaten. “You sure can cook, Josh,” he said. “You sure can eat,” JC countered. “Reminds me of this one when we first met,” he said, slipping and arm around Justin’s neck. Justin slid JC into his lap. “You love me, anyway,” Justin said. JC smiled softly. “Of course.” He turned back to his brother, who was rolling his eyes at JC’s actions. “So, how did you get Mom and Dad to agree to this visit, Tyler?” Tyler face turned away from JC’s quickly. “Any more chips?” he said, grabbing the bag and shaking it. “Tyler?” JC rose from Justin’s lap. “I saw another bag in the kitchen,” Tyler said, rising from his chair. “I’ll go get them.” A long leg jutted out, halting Tyler’s progress to the inside of the apartment. Justin fixed Tyler with a hard stare. “Answer your brother, please.” “I didn’t ask,” Tyler finally said. “Oh my God,” JC said, a sick feeling in his stomach. “You ran away again?” “Not really,” Tyler said, slumping back into his chair. “I left a note, telling them I was coming here.” “You left them a NOTE?” JC roared. “A FUCKING NOTE?” Justin rose from his chair. “JC, calm down.” he said, taking his lover’s hand in his. “Jesus, Justin,” he said, turning to Justin. “You know how they are.” “Let’s just go inside and call them, okay?” Justin said, pulling JC inside. The older man blinked. “Call.” He pierced Tyler with a glare. “If you left a note, they should have called by now. Why haven’t they?” “I took your phone off the hook,” Tyler mumbled. “In the bedroom.” JC and Justin exchanged a glance. “I’ll get it,” Justin said, walking into the bedroom. The shrill ring of the phone pierced the room. JC watched Tyler walk outside onto the balcony as he picked up the phone. “Hello, Mom,” he said. *** “When are they coming?” Justin asked, folding his jeans neatly before sliding into bed. “Tomorrow,” JC sighed, slipping his hands behind his head and gazing at the ceiling. “They wanted to come tonight, but I convinced them Seattle on New Year’s was madness. I figure they’ll be here by 10.” “It’s not your fault, JC,” Justin said, propping up on an elbow. “At least this time the kid came to you, instead of running off to LA again.” JC laughed. “He only wanted to see me,” he said. “And he knew our parents wouldn’t let him. Says they tell him things about me all the time.” “Things?” Justin asked, lowering his hand to play with JC’s hair. “Like what?” “Like we’re evil,” JC said. “And Tyler needs to stay as far away from us as possible.” Justin repressed an angry sigh, silently promising himself a long talk with Tyler before his parents came. “JC, baby,” Justin said, scooting JC closer to him. “You know that’s not true.” JC held himself stiffly against Justin’s body. “I don’t know what to think, Justin.” Justin watched his eyes, the usually sparkling blue orbs scared and shuttered. “Then let me do the thinking for a change,” Justin said, reaching over and turning off the light. Their bed was bathed in soft moonlight, their bodies glowing silver in the misty night. “I think,” Justin continued, pulling the sheet away from JC slowly, “I think you’re the most beautiful man I’ve ever known.” JC blushed. “Justin…” Justin shushed JC with a finger over the older man’s lips. “Shh, baby,” he said, circling JC’s mouth with his finger. “Don’t think…just feel.” Justin replaced his finger with his tongue, lightly licking JC’s lips with soft, sure strokes. “You know I love your mind and your heart, right?” Justin didn’t wait for an answer. “But I wonder how much I love your body…” Justin slipped the sheet all the way off JC’s body, sucking in a breath at the sight of JC in the panties Justin asked him to wear. His eyes locked with JC’s. “You’re beautiful,” he affirmed. The fire in Justin’s eyes made JC shudder with anticipation. “You make me beautiful,” he whispered. Justin shook his head. “No, baby. It’s always been here…I just set it free.” He ran his hand lightly down JC chest to the panties. They were red and silk and soft, and just big enough to almost contain JC’s raging erection…but not quite. Justin smiled at the sight of JC’s cock’s head peeking from the silk. “See?” Justin said, pulling down slightly on the panties and exposing more of JC’s cock. He leaned down to JC’s groin, the smell of JC arousing Justin even more. “You just need me to set,” A gentle lick of JC’s cock. “It,” another lick. “Free.” Justin’s mouth covered JC’s cock, sucking in the sensitive head. JC mewed at Justin’s action, the feel of Justin’s hot mouth on his cock driving him wild. He felt Justin rip off the panties, leaving JC exposed to Justin’s gaze and mouth and hands. Justin lifted JC up, drawing more of JC’s hardness into his mouth, smiling at the sound of JC’s moans. “Beautiful,” Justin murmured, slipping JC from his mouth and moving between JC’s thighs. “Beautiful,” he said again, slipping JC into his lap. He licked his fingers and slipped one inside. JC arched back as Justin’s finger did magical things to his bodies. “Jesus…Justin…please,” JC panted, his hips moving against Justin’s finger. “Please…what, baby?” Justin asked, inserting another finger and pressing deep. “Oh…God…Justin,” JC pleaded. “Fuck me…now…please!” Justin shook his head. “You have to say it first.” JC blinked, trying to focus on Justin’s words when all he wanted to do was scream. “I love you, Justin, please please please…” “Uh huh,” Justin said, his movement stopping. “I know you love me. I want you to say you’re beautiful…inside and out.” Their eyes locked. “I’m beautiful,” JC said. “Inside and out.” “That’s my boy,” Justin said, lifting JC easily and impaling him on Justin’s cock. This time, JC did scream. *** Justin closed the bedroom door quietly behind him, wanting JC to sleep a bit longer if possible. He’d tried with his lovemaking to wear JC out enough to sleep, but still the older man tossed and turned during the night. Justin finally felt JC fall asleep just as the dawn was breaking, and he drifted into a light sleep. But knowing what was coming, and wanting the opportunity to speak to Tyler alone, caused Justin to wake soon after. He started the coffee, then grabbed a bowl and some cereal, not bothering to mask his noises. The kid needed to wake up anyway. Soon, a grumbly Tyler joined Justin at the table. “Is he mad at me?” Tyler finally asked, digging his hand into the cereal box. “No,” Justin said, watching Tyler closely. The kid smiled slyly, just as Justin thought he would. “But I am.” The handful of cereal Tyler was about to eat paused in mid air. “What…why would you be mad at me?” he asked, a shell of bravado peeking out. Justin reached over and grabbed Tyler’s hand, replacing the cereal back into the box. “Get a bowl if you want cereal,” Justin told him. “And I’m mad at you because you’ve hurt JC, and that, kid, just isn’t done. Not when I’m around.” Tyler’s eyes narrowed. “Josh is my brother,” he pointed out. “And that’s the only reason I’m not beating the crap out of you,” Justin said, rising to take his bowl to the sink. He poured himself a cup of coffee. “He loves you, and your thoughtlessness hurt him. But he’ll forgive you, because he loves you.” “I never wanted to hurt him,” Tyler said, a hint of regret creeping into his voice. “I only wanted to see him, and knew my parents wouldn’t let me.” “And who do you think they’ll blame for that?” Justin asked Tyler. He watched a tinge of pink stain Tyler’s cheeks. “That’s right. Not you, but their “evil” son.” Tyler ducked his head. “I’ll tell them the truth.” “Kid, it won’t matter what you say, their mind is made up.” Justin walked back to the table. “Just don’t hurt JC again.” “I won’t,” Tyler promised quickly. “I, uh, I guess you really love him, don’t you?” “Yes, I do,” Justin said. “I mean…well…physically.” “Excuse me?” “I heard you last night.” Tyler grinned broadly. “I mean, it was kinda hard not to.” “That is none of your business.” Justin countered. “Am I interrupting something?” JC asked from the bedroom doorway. Tyler and Justin exchanged a glance. “No, baby. I think we’ve pretty much finished our discussion.” He rose from the table and poured JC a cup of coffee. Justin kissed JC on the forehead, smoothing the worry lines already forming. “I hoped you’d sleep later,” he said. JC peered at the clock. “It’s almost ten, Justin.” “So it is.” Almost as if knowing, a knock sounded on the door. The Chasez came into the apartment about two feet, looking around as if they’d never been here. And, Justin realized, they probably hadn’t. “Let’s go, Tyler,” Mrs. Chasez said. “Mom, it wasn’t Josh’s fault…” “Be quiet, son,” Mr. Chasez said. “There’ll be plenty of time to discuss this in the car.” “But Dad..” Mrs. Chasez’s voice was sharp. “Tyler! Get your things. Now.” JC smiled sadly. “It’s okay, Ty.” Tears shone in Tyler’s eyes. “Thanks, bro,” he said, hugging JC tight. “And thanks as well, Justin.” Justin smiled. “No problem, kid.” Mrs. Chasez flinched at Justin’s words. “And we’ll see you soon, right?” “I doubt that,” Mrs. Chasez said. ”I don’t,” Justin said calmly. JC tried to catch his eyes, but Justin just went on. “You’re already counting the days, right, Tyler? How long is it until your eighteenth birthday, when you can leave their house for good.” “Justin,” JC said, laying a hand on Justin’s arm. Justin didn’t stop. “We’ll make sure we have a bigger place, Tyler, so you don’t have to sleep on the sofa.” He smiled at JC. “We should be able to afford a two-bedroom by then, right?” JC felt his eyes burn at Justin’s words. “Right,” he said, nodding. “But don’t think it’ll be all corn chips and fun times here. You’ll work and go to school.” He stuck out his hand for Tyler to shake. “Deal?” Tyler grabbed Justin’s hand and pumped hard. “Deal. See you in eighteen months, Josh, er, JC.” He grabbed his bag and walked out the door. The Chasez’s turned to leave as well, but paused at Justin’s voice. “It doesn’t have to be that way, you know. You can have both your sons back at any time.” He reached over and grasped JC’s hand. “Our door is always open.” Mr. Chasez turned and looked at them, his eyes noticing their joined hands. He nodded, and then walked out the door with his wife. JC turned to Justin, jumping into the boy’s arms. “God, I love you, Justin,” he said, his arms tight around Justin’s neck. Justin wrapped his own arms around JC and pulled them both over to the couch. “I love you, too,” he said, sitting them down and hold JC close. “I had to try, for you, you know?” JC nodded against his chest. “I don’t know if it worked, baby…but for your sake I hope so.” He lifted JC’s tear streaked face and kissed his salty lips. “I know how much your family means to you.” JC lifted a hand and caressed Justin’s cheek. “Right now, you’re all the family I need.” He looked over at the clock. “Ah, man…I have to go to work in an hour.” “Call in sick?” JC asked, kissing a hot trail down Justin’s neck. “Oh, god…baby, I would but, uh, yesss….it’s New Year’s Day, and uh…double pay.” He slipped his hand into JC’s curls, pulling JC’s mouth to his own. They kissed long and hard and wet for endless moments before Justin finally pushed JC aside. “I promised I’d work, JC.” “Alright,” JC said. “Go to work. I’ll be here when you get home.” Justin gathered his jacket and keys. “Wanna go out tonight?” he asked. JC shook his head. “No. I want to stay home. Give me the chance to tell you how beautiful you are.” He kissed Justin slowly, running his hand over Justin’s crotch. “Inside and out.” “Dammit, JC,” Justin groaned. “You keep that up and I’ll never leave.” “Just something to keep you going until you do come back,” JC said. He walked Justin to the door. “And here’s a little something else,” he whispered, leaning in close. “Today’s panties are blue lace.” JC shut the door on Justin’s stunned face. He walked over to the table, intent on cleaning when he heard the door open again. Strong arms grabbed him from behind. “Fuck work” Justin said. “I’ll go in late,” he said as his hands dipped below JC’s pants, grabbing fingerfulls of lacy panty. JC laughed as Justin stripped him of clothes, knowing the coming year would be a good one.