Leaning negligently against the wall, Justin smiled slightly as the students, just released from their classes, passed him. Justin supposed he did seem out of place amid the backpack carrying, ultra serious students attending night school. His eyes moved from the students to the door where JC was supposed to come from, then to the clock. JC’s class had ended a good five minutes ago, but still no sign of the other man. Justin left his perch on the wall and walked to the half opened door. There he was. Justin smiled as he peeked into the class, watching JC as he talked to someone. Whatever the subject was, JC was speaking excitedly, his hands waving to make a point. Justin shifted a bit to see who it was JC was talking to. His stomach flipped a bit at the sight of the man opposite JC. Partially sitting on the desk, he was watching JC with what Justin could only figure was an amused and admiring way. Justin noted the man’s handsome face, good clothes. He looked older than JC; Justin realized this must be the teacher. Justin’s eyes narrowed as the other man interrupted JC, placing a hand on JC’s arm. Justin pushed open the door all the way, causing it to bang loudly against the wall. JC turned at the sound, his smile widening. Justin was glad to see the teacher remove his hand from JC’s arm. “Justin!” JC exclaimed, walking over to Justin and grasping his hand. “What a nice surprise,” he said, leading Justin over to the desk. “I got off early and thought I’d walk you home.” “Gonna carry my books?” JC asked. “Depends on what my reward will be,” Justin countered suggestively. A slight cough brought their attention to the other man in the room. “I’m sorry,” JC said, turning toward the desk. “Justin, this is Richard Tompkins, my instructor. Richard, this is my Justin.” Richard? “Nice to meet you,” Justin said, shaking the other man’s hand quickly. “Nice to meet you, Justin,” came Tompkins’ reply. “Are you clear on that point now, JC?” JC nodded, packing up his backpack. “Yes, thanks,” he said. “I couldn’t figure out a poem,” he explained to Justin. “I wish all my students cared enough to stay behind and ask things,” Tompkins said. “JC is my very best student.” JC blushed. “I doubt that,” he countered. “But I am enjoying the class.” “Do you enjoy 19th century poetry as much as JC does, Justin?” the teacher asked. Justin’s blood simmered at the smirk on the older man’s face. He leaned in a bit to answer. “Only when JC reads it to me in bed,” he said to Tompkins, only loud enough for him to hear. “What?” JC said. “I said, I haven’t gotten it that bad,” Justin fudged. He grabbed JC’s backpack from him. “We ready?” JC nodded. “See you on Thursday, Richard,” JC said, walking out of the room with Justin. The lovers were quiet on the walk home. The university that JC was attending was close enough to their apartment that JC walked the short distance. A short rainstorm had fallen, but the clearing skies showed stars and a crisp wind kissed their skin. “Thanks for coming to get me,” JC said, linking his fingers with Justin’s. “That guy wants you,” Justin said bluntly. “Hmm…wait,” JC said. “What?” “That guy, Richard” Justin he said, his voice sneering over the name. “He wants you.” JC stopped on the sidewalk. “What are you talking about?” Justin stopped as well, turning toward his lover. “Your teacher. He wants you.” “I don’t think so,” JC said, shaking his head, chuckling. “As someone who wants you, too, JC, trust me on this,” Justin insisted. “He does.” “I think you’re crazy, but whatever,” JC said, slipping his arm around Justin’s, leaning into the other man. “I don’t want him.” He kissed Justin’s cheek. “I only want you.” “JC…” “Damn, I’m starving,” JC said. “Let’s get a burger before we go home.” JC pulled Justin to a small 24-hour café. Justin didn’t want to let this subject drop, but JC seemed uninterested in keeping it going. But Justin knew, Justin realized it even if JC didn’t see it. That guy wanted JC. *** “I’ll expect your papers next week,” the instructor was saying, his voice rising over the din of books being stowed and people moving from chairs. “Everyone have a good weekend.” JC packed his books away and rose from his chair. He was just to the door when a voice stopped him. “JC, can you wait a moment?” Tompkins said. JC turned, nodding. “Sure,” he said, moving past the exiting students and stopping at the front desk. Tompkins finished up with some remaining students, then turned to JC. “You made a very good point about Wordsworth tonight, JC,” he said, coming around the desk and leaning against it. “Thanks,” JC said. “I’m looking forward to your paper,” Tompkins continued. “Your insights are usually thoughtful and provocative.” JC blinked, unused to this much praise. “Uh, thanks,” he repeated. He pointedly looked at his watch. “I really have to run, Richard.” “Your Justin waiting for you?” Tompkins asked, looking toward the door. “No, not tonight,” JC said, “but he’ll probably be…” JC’s voice trailed off as Tompkins moved closer to JC. The older man’s hand lifted, touching JC on the arm, his fingers moving against JC’s skin. JC looked down, frozen at the sight of the strange hand on his arm. “He seems…wrong for you, JC,” Tompkins said, his hand moving to cup JC’s elbow, drawing JC closer to him. JC’s head snapped up at Tompkins’ words. “No, he’s not,” JC said hotly. He moved away, snatching up his backpack. “Come on, JC,” Tompkins argued. “You’re smart. You’re bettering yourself. You’re going somewhere.” “And?” JC asked. “Justin isn’t,” Tompkins said. “He’s a thug. He’ll always be a thug, a loser.” Tompkins moved closer to JC again, his eyes dropping to JC’s mouth. “Don’t let him take you down with him.” JC exploded with laughter. “Wow, do you have us wrong,” he said. “Do I?” Tompkins raised a brow. “How? Explain to me how you two fit together, because frankly, I just don’t see it.” JC laughed again. “You don’t have to see it,” JC said. “But we do. We see each other perfectly. I see Justin for what he is, not for what he isn’t.” JC walked toward the door, but paused as Tompkins’ voice called out once more. “And what does Justin see in you?” JC turned, smiling. “He sees a man who loves him,” JC replied simply. “I’ll be here on Tuesday, Mr. Tompkins.” With that, JC left the classroom. *** “I’m home,” JC announced as he walked through the door. Justin’s head peeked out of the kitchen. “In here,” he said. JC threw his bag on the table and joined Justin in the kitchen. The younger man was fixing the coffee for the morning, measuring and pouring water. JC came up behind him, wrapping his arms around Justin’s waist. “Hello, lover,” JC said, nibbling Justin’s ear. Justin shivered under the embrace. “Watch it,” he warned, pouring water. “You’ll make me spill.” JC rolled his eyes. “So romantic,” JC said, rubbing his growing erection against Justin’s ass. “We alone?” he asked. “Yep,” Justin said, finishing the coffee and turning in JC’s arms. “Tyler’s on the late shift.” His hands pulled JC closer, grinding their hard cocks together. “What luck,” JC said, his sparkling eyes locking with Justin’s. “Mind if I have my way with you?” JC asked, his fingers quickly undoing Justin’s pants, his hand fisting Justin’s heated cock. “Why…no,” Justin said with a groan. “Not at all.” JC’s pants were quickly removed, and JC soon found himself lifted off the ground as Justin maneuvered them to a kitchen chair. Justin sad down, draping JC to straddle the chair. “In fact, I’ll give you a hand.” Justin licked two fingers before working them between their bodies, inserting them firmly into JC’s ass. JC moaned, arching closer to the fingers as the wriggled inside of him. “Oh, god…don’t…yes…stop…” JC humped up and down on Justin’s fingers, grunting each time they hit just that right spot. Their mouths locked, tongues diving deep, teeth pulling on lips. Justin pulled his mouth away, running it down JC’s throat, biting and licking JC’s salty-sweaty skin. JC’s head tilted to give him more access to his neck, at the same time, slipping his hand down to enclose Justin’s cock again, moving up and down the hard muscle in a rhythm that matched Justin’s fingers. “Oh, Jesus…fuck yes,” Justin said against JC’s skin. “Love you…Jayce…love…you…” At Justin’s words, JC stiffened, his climax taking control and spilling between them. JC felt Justin quickly pull his hand away, then impale JC on his hard cock, exploding inside after a few short thrusts. JC collapsed onto Justin, holding the younger man close as his spasms shuddered through him to JC. He clasped Justin close, kissing the boy gently on the forehead. Justin’s eyes flickered open at the caress, a smile crossing his lips. JC leaned down and kissed Justin gently on the mouth, but Justin must have seen something in eyes. JC saw him cock his head, his eyes becoming puzzled. “What?” “Nothing,” JC said, kissing Justin again. “I love you,” he said simply. “And I love you,” Justin confirmed. “But if you’re keeping something from me…” JC sighed. “Before I tell you, will you realize where you are? Where I am?” “We’re in our kitchen.” “And…” “We just fucked.” “You were right.” “I was right?” “About Richard.” Justin’s eyes widened. He shot off the chair, tumbling JC off. “Fucking bastard! I knew it!” He slipped on his pants, JC doing the same. “What happened, what did he do?” “Justin…” “Did he touch you?” “Justin…” “He DID!” Justin stomped around the kitchen. “Bastard.” “JUSTIN!” Justin stopped his stomping. “Tell me what happened.” “It really wasn’t much, Justin,” JC said, moving from the kitchen to the bathroom attached to their bedroom. “He started with flattery about my school work, then asked if you were waiting for me. When I said yes, he said…” JC paused. He didn’t want to hurt Justin, but also, didn’t want there to be lies between them. “He said he thought we were all wrong for each other,” JC said, giving him the condensed version. “What did you say?” JC turned on the shower before answering. “I said, he didn’t have the slightest idea about the two of us,” JC said, pulling off his shirt and placing it in the hamper. Justin sat down on the closed toilet seat. “And the touching?” he asked, arms crossed and a belligerent look on his face. JC rolled his eyes. “A hand on my arm, that’s it.” JC slipped off his shoes, socks, and pants. “I’m with you, baby. I’m staying with you. I love you.” He kissed Justin quickly, then stepped into the shower. He heard Justin mumble something and stuck his head out the curtain. “What?” “I said, maybe he’s right,” Justin repeated. JC clutched the shower curtain so hard, it pulled from the first ring. “No, he’s not.” Justin snorted. “Jayce, you’re way out of my league,” he said. “You’re educated, and smart, and have a real job.” He spread his hands. “I’m a junior high drop out who works for minimum wage. What’s right between us?” JC couldn’t believe they were having this conversation. “What’s RIGHT between us?” he yelled, shoving his wet hair out of his face. “We’re in LOVE, you idiot! What more do you NEED?” Justin stood up and walked to the shower. “JC…” “Oh, shut up,” he said, pulling Justin inside the shower with him, ignoring his yelp as the water soaked him. “I love you. You love me. I had nothing, NOTHING! until we met.” He pulled Justin close and kissed him fiercely. “I was nothing until we met,” he continued, pushing Justin against the wet tile. “If you leave, I’ll be nothing again.” Justin blinked as the water from the shower dripped in his eyes. Or, maybe it was tears. Either way, he didn’t care. What he did care about was wet and angry and screaming at him in a shower. He pulled JC close, holding the older man tightly. “I’m sorry,” he murmured. “I’m sorry.” JC leaned back, looking Justin in the eye. “You’re so much more than you think, Justin,” JC said, lifting a hand and cupping Justin’s cheek. “Please believe that.” Justin’s head turned, his lips pressing against JC’s palm. ‘If you believe it, I do, too,” he confessed. “You’re amazing, wonderful, perfect, and I’m lucky to have you…” “Justin!” “…but you’re lucky to have me, too,” he finished. JC laughed. “We’re both lucky, baby,” he said, leaning in and kissing Justin again. “”Let’s never forget that.” They both startled as a fist banged on the closed bathroom door. “Hey, you fuckers!” Tyler called out. “Quit having sex in the kitchen! It’s gross!”