Justin's internal hard drive let him float there in a hazy, blissful semi-consciousness for a little as sleep reluctantly began to release him back to the waking world on Monday morning. It was those peaceful moments when you can lie there, warm in bed, somewhere between states of mind, somewhere between Heaven and Earth, and feel that everything in your existence is perfectly balanced and beautifully harmonized. You're out-of-your-body comfortable and at ease with all. That was the deliciously foggy sensation he was drifting on this Monday morning anyway. He could even remember most of the details of that gorgeous dream he'd been having only seconds ago - the one he never wanted to wake up from, the one he was sure he was still living in. He grabbed onto it with his heart and embraced it, unwilling for it to be over. It was a simple scenario, really. He didn't require a lot for total dreamland satisfaction. He was at the beach, sitting on a blanket in the sand. It was evening and mostly dark, the only light around coming from muted sources way up the shoreline. And from the moon and stars in the dusky sky overhead. In this dream, he could hear waves charging up from the black ocean and popping at the wet sand in front of him. And he was alone in these shadowy elements - except for JC, who was, of course, on the blanket next to him. They were close, their shoulders and upper arms rubbing against each other, and they each sat cross-legged with JC's left bent knee and thigh laying on top of Justin's right one. Like that was the only way it should be. Another blanket covered their combined laps, and they leaned into each other as they laughed in unison and tried to pick out constellations in the stars spread wide above and in front of them. It was a sweet, warm, perfect place. All theirs. And Justin wanted to stay there. He didn't need much more than that. It was enough. It was, well, stellar. Soft-light consciousness was dawning stronger and stronger around him now, breaking into his psyche, and the hot reality of what had happened the night before gently flared into his head with slow-burning clarity. He could almost - if he kept his eyes squeezed shut tightly - could almostalmostalmost feel it going on still. JC naked and warm and all over him, sliding against him, turning him on again and again, touching every part of him like a live electric wire, moving inside him, driving him higher and higher with inches and inches and inches of ohfuckingyesss heat and maddening energy. The smooth memory shuddered through him like a hiss of velvety steam. Justin winced softly and licked the outer edge of his lips. Yep. That salty sweetness of JC's skin on him. Slowly, he breathed in and smiled. The scent of their sex lingered in the air, mixed with the faint smell of lavender from that tall candle in the corner that still burned. He didn't remember falling asleep here afterward. After they'd blown each other's mind, bled each other breathless. Twice. But he did remember waking up a couple of hours later, disoriented and anxious in the pitch black room until his mind reset itself and he realized where he was. In JC's bed. Beside JC. With the hot length of JC's body spooned up against the back of his own, JC's long arm slung loosely over his waist, and JC's rhythmic dream-breathing sounds at his ear. He remembered rolling over carefully so that he could watch the man sleep, so that he could finger those soft, dark curls of his hair and touch the contours of his face again. He remembered, too, not regretting one damn second of letting go of his dumb inhibitions and coming home with JC, having sex with JC, spending the night here with JC. He smiled again, top front teeth sinking into his lower lip. And just as he reached his arm out to discover the other side of the bed empty except for bunched-up sheets, a quiet noise entered the bedroom. And then a quiet voice. "Ah! He wakes. At last. Lord knows the dude doesn't need any beauty snoozing. Just look at him laying there. As hot as they come already." Justin opened his eyes to find JC standing next to the bed, smiling and wearing a teal wife beater and navy-blue sweatpants. His hair was loose and wild around his face, but he didn't seem to mind. His eyes looked heavy and sleepy, but their shades of blue glimmered as brightly as ever. Justin grinned, just a little bit shy, and sat up in bed, pulling the sheet with him up over his nude lap and stomach. Immediately, his other hand flew upward to plow fingers through his short tuffs of hair. "Well, good morning. And when did extreme bed head get to be anywhere near 'hot'?" "Good morning to you too. And bed head? What? You? It looks fine from here." Justin blinked slowly, still a little slumberized. And he stared at the tall, limber body he knew much better now. "Then maybe you're standing too far away." JC smiled. It was sly. "Maybe you're right on. But the view, see, just gets better the closer I get. So your theory kind of sucks." Justin leaned backward into the pillow and bed frame behind him. "Are you always this generous with your sweet talk at such an early hour?" Gingerly, JC laid the tray he was holding on the nightstand, shoving aside the torn condom packets, and then sat down next to Justin on the mattress. "Well, the thing is it's, um, rare that I ever see such an hour as damn early as now. So no on the sweet talk being the norm. It's all for, well, this one occasion." Justin's groggy brain was still waking up. Details were beginning to register. He wasn't wearing his wristwatch any longer, he saw. Must have hurriedly yanked it off with the rest of his clothes last night. "Oh. And what time is it anyway?" JC shrugged and slid across the width of the mattress until his knee pressed into Justin's hip. "Not sure. About 8:15 or so. What time do you have to be at work, Mr. Ad Man?" Justin inhaled JC's musky morning scent, and his cock jerked under the sheet. He suddenly wished he was in reach of his sport coat so that he could snatch a breath mint from the pocket. Critical closeness shouldn't be spoiled with icky morning breath, you know. "Oh. Yeah. Work." Fuck. Work. Goddamnit. "I usually get in around nine-ish." "That's what I guessed." JC moved in a little nearer, his eyes never leaving Justin's. "I'm not that much out of touch with the nine-to-five world, eh?……….So check it out. I brought coffee. Want some?" Justin scooted his butt closer to the warm, bony knee. "Wait. You-" "Actually got off my ass and made coffee? Yep. I've got one of those big-ass fancy automatic machines. It wasn't like it was that hard," JC whispered and leaned in to graze Justin's throat with his mouth, to fold his lips around the swollen bite mark near his collarbone, to lick at the tangy red flesh with the tip of his tongue. Justin shivered and slid his hand around to clap the back of JC's neck, up under his disheveled curls. "Fuck, that's nice……….Your mouth……….feels really nice." "Sorry 'bout the vampire wound. Didn't mean to damage you. Guess I lost control in the moment. Does it hurt?" "It's okay. No. Doesn't hurt. I'll live……….I like it……….It's like evidence. A souvenir, you know." JC laughed, hot breath on Justin's neck. "You crack me up." "Did you actually get up this early today because I have to go to the office?" JC raised his head and his eyebrows. "Yeah." "Oh. I see. Do you……….want……….me to go?" JC scowled up his face in disbelief. "What? No! I want you to stay. But there's the deal about……….well……….I didn't want your friends and coworkers thinking I, like, kidnapped you or something." Justin grinned again. "Trust me. They'd probably throw a damn party if you did." JC giggled but didn't back up on the bed. "So would mine. Sad as that is." Justin watched him, soaking in as much of him as he could for later, and moved his hand around to the front again to slide a wavy strand of the dark hair off JC's high forehead. "You woke up insanely early……….just for my benefit? So I could be where I need to be?" "I did. I figured you'd do the same for me. You're so - What's that word? - conscientious." "You mean 'anal.'" JC laughed. "I do not. Shut up. And you're really one to be talking about bed head. Look at me. A damn disaster." "It's too cute," Justin whispered and brushed at the curl falling down again. "And, seriously, that was so, wow, thoughtful of you to wake up so early like this. Thanks, man." JC shrugged again, and his eyes quickly skimmed over Justin's exposed chest. "No large deal. It was worth it……….So…………ready for that caffeine now?" "Yes, please. That'd be great. You think of everything, don't you?" "Well, wait 'til after you've seen my lame breakfast options. You won't be so impressed then." Justin glanced over to the waiting tray as JC turned to get the mugs of coffee from it. "Ah, cool! Krispy Kreme donuts! I could so live on those!" JC rolled his eyes and shook his head, handing Justin a steaming cup. "Sure. Liar." "I'm not lying! They're the absolute best!" "Well, here. Take your pick. I always have these around. I trip on them too. The thing is, see, I'm a crappy cook. Plus, I don't do much, you know, overnight entertaining, so to speak, where breakfast the next day is customary and whatnot." Justin chose a jelly-filled donut and grinned. "You don't?" "Like never. You're my first, um, that kind of guest in, like, centuries." "Well, I'm honored……….And you're an awesome, um, host. Thanks……….again." "Hey. Is that iron shit cold on your bare skin back there? I can get you a robe or something." JC glanced past Justin to the sleek, black bars of the bed's headboard. Then he trailed his finger over Justin's wide shoulder. Justin hadn't noticed the coolness of the iron behind him. He was still mesmerized by what was directly in front of him. He swallowed a sip of coffee and shook his head. "No, it's fine. And what a fantastic frame, by the way. So unique. Love the style. What would you call it? Functional Gothic?……….Haha. How 'Trading Spaces' homo does that make me sound?" JC laughed. "I'm not complaining. I dig some 'Trading Spaces.' And, if you want to know the truth, this ol' bed frame is just an antique I found in some shop up in San Fran……….Check me out. Way old car. Way old bed……….Maybe there's a running pattern here. And maybe you should just run the hell away from it, man. Know what I'm saying?" Justin laid his donut on his sheet-covered thigh and slid his fingertips down JC's bicep. "Um, no. Not old. Classic. And nothing wrong with classic, you know……….Besides, the car seems to get you where you're going just fine……….and the bed, it works awesome too, in my humble opinion……….Um, yeah. I can vouch for that……….So don't be knocking old. I'm sure not." JC smiled and blushed. "Glad you approve." "Oh, I approve. Big time." Justin whispered and brought his coffee cup up to tap it lightly against JC's. His cock ached under the sheet again, and he suddenly hated the job he had to leave all of this for. Why wasn't there time for more of being together like this? Why did he have to sit here throbbing with this on-fire longing, this I-want-to-make-you-sweat-and-groan-again sensation? Why did he have to go so soon? JC picked up on his thoughts. "Too bad it's not a damn holiday Monday, eh?" "Yeah. It sucks." "So do you havta go home before you hit your office, or can you get away with wearing last night's clothes? Hey, we could raid my closet and see if anything in there is even close to being suitable for you. If you want." Justin smiled and felt his heart melting inside. "You're so……….generous. And kind. It's so sweet." "And way off base too, right? Like you'd really wear some of the crap I've got. Never mind." Justin reached out and touched his hand. "Totally not. I could absolutely wear your clothes. But, see, I need to run home first anyway for something else. Samson and Delilah were alone all damn night. I've got to check on them." "Who?" JC squinted. "My Shelties. I'll bet they've pooped and peed all over everything downstairs. And yeah. I'm so looking forward to going home to that." "Ah. The doggies. Clever names. They're lucky pups." "Spoiled pains-in-the-ass pups is more like it," Justin laughed. "They'll be wild and crazy all over me when I get back to them." "Sounds like they've trained you well," JC snickered. Justin finished off his donut and took another careful drink of his coffee. JC's hand was warm on his leg. "You want to meet them in person and see for yourself? They'd love to meet you. I'm sure." Sparkly lights flickered down in the oceans of JC's eyes. "I'd, you know, that'd be awesome." "Are you free tonight? I'll make dinner." "You don't have to." "But I will. I want to." Justin smiled. "You did breakfast. It's my turn now." "Justin, really. I didn't do jack for breakfast-" "Are you turning me down?" Justin laughed easily, but his heart was stuck on dramatic, tense pause, waiting breathlessly. "No way. I, um, so want to see you again." "Good. Me too." Justin sighed, relaxing. "Then you're not busy this evening? Or is tonight, like, too fast? Too short notice?" "Too fast. You kill me." JC squeezed Justin's thigh and laughed, light and airy. "I have a new racquetball client coming to Trinity at six. After that, I can shower, change, and hook up with you by eight. Cool?" "Eight. I like it. That's so our magic hour now, isn't it?" JC smiled. Justin was right. "Hey. Eight works groovy for us, eh? And magic is a good thing. Are you seriously cooking? 'Cause you really don't have to." "Why? Are you, um, scurred?" Justin winked and smiled. JC giggled. "No. I just don't want you to go to any, like, hassle." "You'll find out tonight then, won't you?" Justin leaned forward and breathed quiet steam. "C'mere. Got a secret for you." JC smiled and moved toward him willingly. "What?" "Krispy Kreme looks hot on you," Justin whispered just before he pressed his mouth to the corner of JC's and licked at the flake of crusty sugar there. Instantly, their lips were full and wet on each other's, kissing and tasting and sucking. For more. "I'm glad you came here last night." "So am I. It's been, well, you know." "Yeah. I know." "Thanks for the invite. Sorry I have to rush off so early." "It's cool. I understand It's your job. But, dude. Write me down your address. For tonight." "Oh, trust me, JC. I'm making sure you've got a fucking MapQuest printout before I leave here, man." Before the big loft door was finally pulled open and Justin slowly walked out into the hallway again, they hugged behind it. They embraced and held onto each other, reluctant to let go. And they smiled against the other's skin. "Love your place. It's really cool. Thanks for the tour." "Told you I could come up with one for you. You could've showered if you'd wanted to, you know." Justin smiled and blushed pink. Their groins, hot and thick, bumped against each other. "JC, get real. We both know that if I'd stepped foot in your shower, we'd both still be in there……….And I'd never make it to work." JC grinned and licked his lower lip. "So true." "I have a shower too. A really big one." "Big enough for two?" "Absolutely." "Excellent." "Yeah. Keep that in mind." "I will. I'm guessing it will cross my mind about a trillion times today." JC shifted his stance and sighed. "Well. Happy Monday in the business world. See you later." "Yeah. You too. Tonight. Can't wait. Hope your day is good." "Same here. Be careful. And……….I can't wait either."