*~ Days Go By ~*
Like Getting Off Is Such A Chore

JC looked up from his computer screen at the knock on his open office door and smiled when he saw the arm - bare at least up to the elbow and holding a brown take-out bag - curling around the corner. Seconds later, Justin's head popped through the doorway, a huge grin on his face.

"Hey sexy, got time for some lunch? Your favorite." He trailed off as he moved to JC's desk, bending to press a chaste kiss to JC's lips. JC caught a subtle whiff of warm sun and freshly cut grass lingering on Justin's skin and clothing. His khaki shorts hung low and loose on his hips, his white tank top clinging to his back and shoulders. JC smiled and sat back in his chair as Justin jumped up to sit on his desk, feet dangling a foot off the floor. His white tennis shoes had traces of green on them, and JC knew that Justin had gotten off work and come right over with food. During the spring and summer months, he worked for a grass cutting service, working on the lawns of elderly people who couldn't do it themselves, or rich people who were too lazy to do it themselves. As a result, his skin was always a golden tan from the hours spent in the sun. And his muscles always rippled nicely under his clothing, kept that way from lifting and lugging around the heavy tools needed.

That was also how the two of them had met. Justin had been working on the lawn next door to JC's house. And, with a body like Justin had, JC couldn't help but watch from the back deck of his own house. When Justin had turned the lawn mower off, lifted the bottom of his tank top to wipe at the sweat on his face and neck, and turned just enough to meet JC's eyes on him, JC had offered him a glass of iced tea. It was only when he had Justin under him, panting into his sweaty skin and mumbling obscenely in his ear, that JC realized he knew this kid. He realized later, after they were both sated and pliant on the lounge chair, that not only did they both grow up in Orlando and go to the same high school, that JC had dated Justin's older sister a few times. Of course, that was back when he was pretending to be straight and actually used to date girls. And he remembered enough of Justin from high school. Two years younger, a lot less muscle tone and a lot more curls, but he remembered him enough. Justin had finally climbed to his feet, downed the rest of his iced tea, winked at JC, and gone back to working on the neighbors grass. They'd been best friends ever since.

Now, as Justin pulled out the containers from the Thai restaurant he worked at four days a week, JC saved the rough edits of the next issue of the magazine on his computer and moved papers around on his desk, clearing a space for them to eat. Justin poked a straw through the iced tea he'd picked up for JC and took a long drink, mouth and throat working quickly, before handing it over to JC and picking up his own lemonade. JC just smiled and bit into his food hungrily.

"You gotta work tonight?" JC asked as he swallowed his food. Justin nodded slightly.

"Yeah, some big retirement party or something. I think it's the CEO of one of the ad agencies around here. I don't know all the details. All I know is that I need to dress up in my little black tux and show up, looking pretty and staying quiet while I pass out hor'derves to rich snobs." He wrinkled his nose and took a long drink of his lemonade.

"Hey, I happen to be one of those rich snobs, and you like me just fine."

"Yeah, but it's cause you're so young and sexy." Justin winked and reached out, running a hand through JC's soft curls, fingers tangling slightly. "Besides, you fuck me senseless on occasion. What's not to like?" JC's head fell back against his chair as he laughed gleefully. It wasn't uncommon for them to end up in bed together, still, even after all this time as friends. It was nothing more than sex and they both knew that, were both aware just what it meant the following morning. It was comfortable and convenient, and hey, it felt damn good.

"So what time is this thing suppose to end tonight?" JC asked as he finished his food, tossing the carry out container into the can next to his desk.

"Dunno," Justin shrugged. "One, maybe." If JC added up all the hours Justin worked a week at his different jobs, he was sure it would come to around seventy hours a week. Between the grass cutting, the Tai restaurant, and the catering service he worked for, he worked almost every day. And on top of that, he worked a couple nights a week down at Central Park, giving carriage rides. When Justin had a full day off, he never knew what to do with himself and usually ended up annoying the hell out of JC for the better part of the day. But, as JC knew well, he was always up for hitting a club, even when he had to be up bright and early the next morning.

"Wanna head to The Levy after you get done?" The Levy was the club they frequented usually at least once a week. It was half gay, half straight, but not enough of either for it to matter who went in there. And it was Friday after all. JC had a booth calling his name in the VIP section. He just needed someone to dance with now. Justin nodded, straw in his mouth, eyes shimmering.

"Hey JC." JC and Justin both looked up to see Lance standing in the doorway, Armani suit clinging perfectly to his thin body, blond hair spiked up perfectly in all the right places. "Oh, hi Timberfuck." His face twisted in a half grimace, half sneer and JC was sure, had he been able to see Justin's face, that the same look would be plastered there. To say Justin and Lance didn't like each other would be an understatement. Lance was the epitome of a rich snob and saw Justin's four jobs as meager. Justin took it all in stride and gave Lance's attitude right back to him. JC wasn't sure they'd ever said a nice word to each other in the two years Justin had been part of JC's life. But he knew, underneath the animosity that both of them would do anything for the other in a heartbeat. It was just a cycle they'd started from the moment they were introduce and had never been able to get out of. Lance put Justin down and Justin insulted Lance. That was how they worked. JC rolled his eyes.

"Something you wanted, Lance?"

"Just wanted to let you know that Rob got the cover article finished. It's getting proofed now before he sends it off to editing. And Janet said she's having some problems with the photos from the cover shoot. Something about lighting." Lance brought his hand up, looking at his manicured nails with a bored expression on his face, like he couldn't be bothered with problems of lighting.

"Well get it dealt with Lance. That's what you get paid to do, right?" Lance rolled his eyes but nodded.

"Just figured as editor as one of the most prestigious gay magazines in the country that you'd like to know when problems are going on in the creative process." He looked up with a smirk on his face. "But I guess you're too busy for that right now." His eyes shifted from JC to Justin for a long moment before looking at JC again. "I won't interrupt again unless it's a real emergency." JC laughed lightly.

"Just let me know when it becomes a real problem and not just Janet complaining like Janet does."

"Right. So, drinks after work? I could go for a couple martinis to take the edge off." Justin snorted loudly, eyes shimmering as Lance turned to him, cool and collected, eyes focused intently. "Something wrong, Justin?"

"Nothing," Justin said, covering his mouth to keep from laughing again. "It's nothing. I just think you'd need more than a couple martinis to take the edge you seem to have going off. Maybe like ten or twelve at least. Maybe then you'd figure out what it is exactly that's stuck up your ass all the time and work on getting it removed." He smiled, wide and bright and so very innocent at Lance. Lance's eyebrows rose slightly and he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Well I would ask you to come, but I think there happens to be a dress code. And I'm sorry to say that khaki cargo shorts and tank tops aren't on it. Maybe when you can afford something a little more, I don't know, classy, you might get an invite. Until then, stick to your cheep beer and keep your mouth shut." Justin shrugged, not at all affected by Lance's words. JC dropped his head and grinned slightly. Lance hated when comments he made to and about Justin slid right off Justin's back. But the truth was, Justin really didn't give a shit what anyone had to say about him. Especially Lance Bass.

"I'll meet you at four," JC said to Lance. "But only for a couple."

"And until then I'll go pretend to do something productive to get paid for, but just between you and me, I'll probably really just be checking out the photo shoot scheduled in twenty minutes. Seems to me my time would be much better spent watching sexy young boys than actually doing something constructive." He wiggled his eyebrows playfully and slipped out of the office while JC laughed and shook his head. Once he was gone, Justin turned back to JC.

"I don't get him. I mean, what the hell are you friends with him for?"

"Lance is, well, he's Lance," JC said, shrugging. "He's a good guy, even if he can be a little bitchy at times." Justin's eyebrows rose as he regarded JC.

"A little bitchy at times? Try like a lot bitchy all the time, Jace. But," he started before JC could interrupt, holding up a hand. "He's your friend, I know. And if you want to go to some fancy, fucked up excuse for a bar and drink martinis on a Friday afternoon, you go right ahead and do it." He patted JC's cheek lightly before hopping off the desk. "I gotta get going. I got laundry to do before I go to work tonight. But I'll call you when I get off and we'll meet up somewhere." He leaned down, pressing another chaste kiss against JC's lips and exiting the office as quickly as he'd entered.

*****

Justin darted between two cabs, causing one of them to honk obscenely at him, and hopped the curb on his bike, stopping only when his tires hit the steps leading up to his apartment building. He jumped off and lifted it under his arm as he made his way up the steps and through the door. The elevator was old and rickety, but still worked and was apparently in good enough condition that it still passed all the safety codes.

Justin opened his apartment door, loud music hitting his ears, and slipped inside, leaning the bike against the wall and slipping into the living room. His roommate Joey was sitting at the computer desk, head resting against the solid wooden surface. And before Justin could say anything, Joey lifted his head and started banging it repeatedly against the surface of the desk. Justin laughed and moved across the room quickly, grabbing Joey's shoulders and stopping him.

"Problems at school, Joe?" Joey tipped his head back so he was looking at Justin upside down, a sad pout on his face.

"Every kid I had try out for the lead was an idiot. What ever happened to good old fashioned talent? Seriously, none of them had any, at all." And Justin knew if he didn't stop Joey immediately that he'd end up listening to an hour and a half lecture on the Great Talents of American Theater. Not that he didn't appreciate the great talents of the world, but he really didn't have the time right now. Joey just sometimes forgot that he was a drama teacher that worked with a bunch of high school students, not professionals.

"Jace and I are going to the Levy tonight, if you're interested." Seconds later, Joey's eyes lit up. Dancing with half naked men and women and alcohol was enough of a bribe to get Joey out of any mood. Even if it did revolve around the Great Talents of American Theater. "Should I take that as a yes?"

"Course, dude. Dancing and half naked men and women. Give me a reason to say no."

"Alcohol, you forgot the alcohol," Justin said, grinning and heading toward his bedroom.

"Never, J. Alcohol is the last thing I'd forget. Count me in." When Justin had first moved to New York he'd met Joey at a coffee shop. Joey had just lost a roommate to the west coast, San Francisco area to be exact, and was in desperate need of someone to help pay the rent. Coincidently, Justin was in need of a place to pay rent at, so everything worked out. He'd moved in that very day and they'd been roommates ever since. Joey was the easiest person in the world to get along with and they had hardly any problems between them.

Justin had doing laundry down to a science. He could divide all his clothing up into two loads, one of lights, including his whites, and one of darks. Each load took twenty minutes in the washer and then forty in the dryer. If he followed one after the other, washing the second load while the first was drying, he could be done in a little over an hour and a half.

Grabbing the first load and the laundry detergent, he pulled the apartment door open and padded across the hallway to the washing machine. After the clothes were in and the washer was turned on, he walked back to the apartment. Joey was in the kitchen, making food and Justin shuffled up behind him, hooking his chin over Joey's shoulder to see what he was cooking. Pasta. Justin wasn't really surprised. Joey was Italian, came from a big Italian family. A big Italian family that knew 968 different ways to cook and serve noodles. Joey was an expert when it came to pasta. But, it was home cooked food that Justin wouldn't have otherwise so he wasn't about to complain. Reaching around Joey, he grabbed a half cooked noodle and sucked it through his lips loudly, grinning and jumping out of the way when Joey turned around to swat a towel in his direction. He laughed all the way back to his bedroom, Joey's playful shouts following him.

Justin headed for the small bathroom, turning the shower on and getting the temperature right before stepping under the spray, letting the warm water rain down over his naked body. Tilting his head back under the spray, eyes closed, he let the water sooth his muscles, tired from lifting and bending in the sun all afternoon. Grabbing the soap, he lathered it all over his body, cleaning off the sweat and smell of grass before stepping back under the spray and letting the water rinse him clean.

Ten minutes later he reemerged from the bathroom, towel wrapped tightly around his thin waist, and saw Joey setting plates on the small table.

"Dinner's just about ready," he called. "Just enough time to switch loads of laundry, probably." Justin nodded, and still in his towel, grabbed the second load of laundry, hurrying back across the hallway to switch them. He was heading back to his apartment when a door opened down the hall and Justin rolled his eyes, pulling the towel tighter around himself and mentally kicking himself for not throwing some clothes on first. Britney emerged from her apartment, designer clothes hugging her figure tightly, Gucci bag hanging off her arm, sunglass perched on the end of her nose. Britney liked to give the illusion that she was rich, had more than enough money to afford the best, the most expensive. But Justin knew the truth was that it took every last cent she had to afford any of it.

"Justin, darling!" she exclaimed, smiling as she moved down the hall toward him. He saw her eyes, behind her sunglasses, taking in his mostly naked body and cursed himself once again for not putting on clothing. "My, aren't you stunning." She lifted a hand, nails manicured to perfection, and ran three fingers across his bare chest. He pulled away, taking a quick step back before she could touch him again. "When are you going to dress up and take me out for a night on the town?" And Justin could only roll his eyes. She knew he was gay. He told her at least once in every conversation they had. But she couldn't seem to wrap her mind around the concept of what exactly that meant. Every time was the same, she tired to work her way into getting him to take her out on a date and every time he refused. He hoped one day she'd finally get the picture.

"Brit, darling," he said, emphasizing the word. "I'm gay. I date men. You are not a man. Therefore, I won't date you. Not even one night on the town. Besides, I don't make enough money to support your lifestyle. Why don't you go hang out on Wall Street for awhile? I'm sure you could find a cute, straight guy that would be more than happy to give you all his money for the rest of your lives." She laughed, high and false, fingers reaching for him again. Justin took another step back, calculating if he could safely make it past her and into his apartment without incident. But she was blocking the way.

"You're so cute!" She reached out, pinching his cheek roughly before pulling back. "One of these days I'll finally get you to agree to go out with me. Ciao, baby." She turned and hurried off, headed toward the other end of the hallway and the elevator.

"Maybe if I suddenly come down with a case of amnesia and you're the last woman on the face of the earth," Justin whispered through gritted teeth as he stepped back into his apartment. "Hey, Joe. If I ever get amnesia, don't let me date Britney." Joey looked up from the kitchen, eyebrows creased together.

"Date Britney? You'd have to be straight, man. And really really desperate." Justin laughed gleefully as he made his way back down the hallway to his bedroom.

*****

Justin walked out of the hotel where the big retirement party had been, loosening the black bow tie around his neck, and hailed a cab. Normally, he refused to ride in cabs, preferring his bike, walking, or the subway if the distance was great enough. But it was already one and he still had to go home and change before heading out to meet up with JC. Slipping in the back seat of the cab, he gave the driver the address while slipping his cell phone from his pocket and pressing the button for JC's cell phone. JC answered on the second ring with a sleepy hello.

"Hey, babe. Did I wake you?" Justin looked up and caught the drivers eyes in the rear view mirror. He looked away quickly, eyes turning back to the road.

"No. I was just watching some TV. You off work?"

"Yeah. Headed home now. I should be there in a few. I just gotta change and grab Joey, then we'll be on our way. You want us to meet you there?"

"I'll save a table. And you owe me a dance, J."

"Anything for you, sexy," Justin whispered into the phone, mumbling a goodbye and snapping it closed. The driver pulled up in front of his building moments later and Justin handed him the money as he climbed out of the cab. Slipping into his apartment, he found Joey already dressed and waiting for him on the couch.

"Give me five minutes and I'll be ready," Justin said as he made his way down the hallway toward his bedroom, already pulling at the buttons on his shirt. Kicking his shoes across the bedroom, he headed to his closet and pulled out a simple black top, silky and see-through, and a pair of grey pants. They hugged his body tightly in all the right places and were soft as hell against his skin. Sliding them on and pulling the shirt over his head, he slipped into a pair of shoes, tucking his ID and money into his sock and slipped a black studded belt around his waist, buckling it quickly. He was in and out of the bathroom in moments, only pausing long enough to add a little bit of black liner around his eyes. Joey was waiting for him and they were out the door not five minutes after Justin had just entered it.

The club was packed and there was a line leading around the building of people still waiting to get in. Justin grabbed Joey's arm to hurry him along, walking past the line and heading right for the doors. The bouncer, a huge, muscular man, knew them both and opened the door for them without any question. Justin grinned at the looks he was sure both he and Joey were getting as they stepped into the club.

"Drinking and dancing," Joey said, gripping Justin's upper arm and leaning in close, lips right by Justin's ear to be heard over the music. "Don't get much better, man. I'm gonna make a lap. I'll find you guys in a few." Justin nodded to let Joey know he heard him before making his way across the crowded dance floor. He shimmied his hips to the music as he squeezed past bodies, packed together and moving to the loud beat. Invisible hands and arms reached out for him, trying to draw him in, trying to get him to dance. But he had a mission and shrugged them all off and kept moving. Lights flickered across the floor, painting the dancing bodies in an array of color as Justin worked his way though the throngs of people, finally making it to the other side. He headed toward the winding staircase in the back corner and grinned at the bouncer standing there.

"He up there?" Justin yelled over the music. The bouncer nodded and moved the rope, letting Justin past. They were here enough that all the bouncers knew them by names. Justin was sure it also helped that the owner was a close, personal friend to both he and JC. Taking the steps two at a time, his eyes scanned the dark recesses of tables, looking for JC. He found him, about halfway down the balcony, sitting in a dark booth, a candle flickering on the table in front of him. And across from him was Chris. Chris owned the Levy and often hooked them up with free drinks. Justin slid in next to JC, leaning over to press a wet kiss to his neck before pulling back and looking across the table at Chris.

"What's up, dude?" Chris slid a shot glass, full of amber liquid, across the table toward Justin and grinned as way of greeting. Justin swallowed the shot quickly, wincing for a moment as the thick rum slid down his throat, burning and then settling, warm and heavy, in his stomach. The music was slightly muffled by the high backs to the booths so it was possible, up here out of the way, to have a normal conversation without screaming. "How you been man?"

"Woke up with a hot guy wrapped around me this morning, so it's been a good day," Chris said, grinning wildly, his dark eyes flickering in the candlelight. Joey joined them moments later, squeezing in next to Chris and receiving a shot glass of his own as greeting. Justin reached for the bottle, pouring more in his glass and downing it quickly, feeling the alcohol stream through his system. As he set the glass back down, he felt JC's hand on his thigh, rubbing small circles against the fabric of his pants.

"Let's go dance." Justin nodded and slid out of the booth, reaching for JC's hand to pull him along. JC stood slowly, unfolding gracefully and allowing Justin time to get a good look at him. Tight red leather pants clung to him like a second skin, a black tank top hugging his chest and stomach, barely reaching the waistband of his pants.

"Damn, Jace. You look hot." Justin grinned and shimmied in front of JC, hips pressing up against JC's own for a moment before he pulled back and turned, hand still intertwined with JC's, and made his way toward the stairs. When they reached the bottom, he turned and reached for JC again, pulling him close, lips resting against JC's ear. "I got the sexiest partner in this place. Let's show everyone what we got, babe." JC grinned and tugged on Justin's hand, pulling him toward the dance floor.

*****

"How in the hell do that do that?" Joey asked. He had a beer in his hand and was leaning over the edge of the balcony with Chris, watching JC and Justin on the dance floor below. "I mean, really. They hit the dance floor and everyone else stops to pay attention."

"Well, look at them," Chris said, taking a sip of his own drink. Some weird blue concoction that Joey wasn't sure he wanted to know what was really in it. "Apart, they're both hot. Together, they're something amazing. And they do have the moves." Joey watched as JC pulled Justin close, hips grinding together to the beat of the music. Justin's hands were in the air as he danced. JC's were wrapped around Justin, one hand resting on the small of his back, the other on his hip. And as Joey and Chris, and everyone else in the club watched, Justin brought his hands down, slipping them around JC's neck and twining his fingers into JC's hair, damp with sweat from the heat of bodies pressed together. His head fell to JC's shoulder, face buried in the crook of JC's neck. But his hips still moved, counteracting each of JC's thrust against his body. Joey was sure they had to be hard, both of them. But neither of them seemed to mind as they got lost in the music.

Justin, taller by only a few inches, pulled back from JC, grin on his face, dancing away teasingly, hands clasped with JC's own, only to circle JC and slid up against his back. His large hands grabbed JC's hips and pulled him back, pressed tight against Justin's chest and stomach. Hips pressing into the small of JC's back. Somehow through it all, they never lost their rhythm.

"I'm gonna head down there, see if I can't find someone willing to tear their eyes away and dance with me," Joey said, grinning at Chris and clinking his beer bottle against Chris's glass quickly before turning away. Chris watched him go for a moment before turning back to watch the dance floor again. He had a small, very tiny, crush on JC. Had from the moment they'd met. But he knew, even though they'd both told him over and over again that they weren't a couple, that he never stood a chance. In the year that he'd known them, neither of them had been in any sort of relationship, save for random one night stands, with anyone else. They loved each other, whether their conscious minds knew it or not. And Chris knew it was only a matter of time before they figure it out. In the mean time, he allowed himself to watch and fantasize, but knew he'd never be able to touch. JC was Justin's, whether they knew it or not.

*****

A young guy, possibly younger than Justin, slid up in front of Justin as JC danced behind him. He was pretty hot and moved right in like he knew what he was doing. Justin lost his rhythm for a moment and glanced back at JC, their eyes meeting. JC smiled and pushed Justin lightly, hand between his shoulder blades. Justin's eyes crinkled - you sure? - and JC just smiled again - yes, go have fun - as he winked quickly - maybe you'll get lucky - before pressing a quick kiss to Justin's cheek and turning, dancing away into the crowd.

Entire conversations passing between them without either of them saying a word was not uncommon and JC smiled as he moved through the crowd. It was one of his favorite things about his connection, his friendship with Justin. A blond girl, hair hanging down almost to her waist, slid up in front of him, her hips shaking. Her skirt was short, her top covering the bare minimum. And as she leaned into him, her breasts pressed up against his chest. She was very pretty. Even JC could admit that. And what the hell, he thought. Dancing with women was fun, her tiny hips in his hands, her soft curves pressed against him. So his hands slid to her hips and pulled her close, body immediately setting a rhythm that she picked up on quickly.

He wasn't sure how long he danced with her, maybe one song, maybe more, before he moved on, finding another partner and then another. At one point, he moved off the dance floor to get a drink and stood watching the crowd. He saw Justin out there, still dancing with the same guy and grinned. Justin was so getting lucky tonight. But soon, he was dragged back out to the floor and pressed between two guys, hands everywhere.

Later, he wasn't sure how much later since he tended to lose track of time while dancing, he felt hands on his hips, pulling him back slightly as a body slid up against him. And immediately, without even looking, he knew it was Justin. They danced for awhile longer before Justin took his hand and lead him off the dance floor, standing off to the side of the bar. Justin moved in close and JC caught a whiff of Justin's cologne, mixed with his sweat from dancing for so long. He smiled and shifted closer, lips pressed against Justin's ear, hand against his back to keep them both steady.

"You going home with that guy?" Justin pulled back and met JC's eyes, his own shimmering happily as he shook his head no. "How come?" It was Justin's turn to lean in, lips sliding wetly over JC's skin. Justin nibbled lightly at the skin behind his ear for a moment, sending shivers through JC's entire body before he spoke.

"Not really up for sex with someone who's body and moves I have to learn tonight." He pulled back for a long moment to look at JC, a soft smile reaching his lips. "Besides, then you'd be going home alone and not getting any. And we can't have that, now can we?" His eyebrows wiggled playfully, suggestively. And JC laughed, hand finding and holding onto Justin's arm so he didn't lose his balance. Justin's fingers wrapped around JC's and lifted it from his arm, dragging it instead down the front of his shirt, across his chest and down his stomach, past the waistband of his pants and finally curled JC's fingers around his cock, hard and pressed tight against his pants. "This is all yours tonight."

They quickly found Joey and Chris, letting them know they were leaving, and headed outside, hand in hand. JC's driver pulled up in front of the club and they climbed in the back of the car, Justin's hand already sliding down the front of JC's pants and wrapping hard and hot around JC's cock. JC moaned low in his throat, face pressed to Justin's neck, as the driver sped along the streets toward JC's house.

*****

Justin's eyes were on him, intent and full of emotion as he slipped the condom on JC. JC couldn't look away and when Justin got the condom on, stroking a few times softly, and pulled back, he turned wide blue eyes to meet JC's own. Sex between them was comfortable. JC knew Justin's body, knew how he was going to move. He knew what sounds Justin would make and what each of those sounds meant. And he knew what Justin looked like, felt like when he came. JC had intimate knowledge of Justin's body tightening around his own as he finally let go. And it was so good between them, honestly the best sex JC had ever had in his life. But he was sure part of that was because of the connection they shared outside of the bed.

Leaning over Justin, he pressed his lips, open and wet, against Justin's mouth. Justin opened easily for him, wanton and pliant below him, and JC's tongue surged inside, licking hot and hard at the caverns of Justin's mouth. His hand slid down to Justin's hip, pressing a thumb against the jut of bone. Justin's legs spread wider automatically, bring one up to wrap around JC's waist, pulling their bodies closer together. JC hissed into Justin's mouth as Justin's cock, hard and leaking slowly, pressed up against his own, sliding wetly together.

Lifting the leg from around his back, he placed it over his shoulder, eyes connected with Justin's again as he slid inside. And then, body flush against Justin's own, he stopped to look down at Justin. His eyes were closed tightly, slightly out of pain but mostly out of pleasure. His hips tried to raise, but JC's hand was still holding him down against the bed.

"Jace, need you to move." And JC did, slow thrusts, barely moving in and out, content to just be one with Justin, to be inside him completely for as long as possible. Justin's low pants hit JC's ears as he held on, trying to keep his body to stay at the painfully slow rhythm JC had set. But it was too much, and not enough and he needed more, right now. Sliding his leg from JC's shoulder, he wrapped it around JC's waist and flipped them, landing on top of JC, careful so that JC didn't slide out.

JC grunted, surprised, and grinned up at Justin. Justin's hands slid over his chest as he leaned down and pressed a hard kiss to JC's lips, sucking the bottom one between his lips.

"This is how I need it," Justin mumbled and began to move, body sliding up and down on JC's cock, riding him fast and hard. JC grunted as he pushed up, feet scrambling to find leverage on the silky sheets to no avail. His hands gripped Justin, sliding around his waist as Justin threw his head back, eyes closed, body shivering with pleasure. And then, before he was aware what had happened, he was on his back again, JC moving hard and fast between his leg. And all Justin could do was wrap his arms around JC's back, fingernails digging into his flushed skin, and hold on tightly.

He knew JC was getting close, could feel the desperation in every thrust, in ever muscle tensed along JC's back. His own toes curled as he legs wrapped tightly around JC's back, pulling him closer, thrusting his hips up harder. He was panting, JC's name sliding almost silently from his lips with every thrust. His hands scrambled for the headboard, wrapping tight fists around it, knuckles turning white from the pressure. And then, with a final thrust into his body, JC came hard, body tensing and shaking as he let go. Justin followed moments behind him, spilling all over his and JC's stomach and chest. They collapsed against each other, sweaty and panting hard. Finally, as their breathing slowed, JC pulled out and slipped the condom off, tossing it in the garbage can near the bed. His eyes looked down to Justin's stomach, Justin's come pooled against his tan skin.

JC's eyes glimmered as he leaned down, tongue lapping at the sticky mess, cleaning Justin off. Justin's fingers tangled in JC's hair as JC's tongue washed his body. When he was finished, Justin's stomach and chest glistening wetly, he fell back against Justin's body, still resting between his legs. Justin's arms came around him, holding him tightly, still struggling to catch his breath completely. And he knew JC was already drifting off, still sticky himself and pressed tightly against Justin. Justin pressed a soft kiss to the top of his head and closed his own eyes, content exactly where he was.

*****

JC awoke to an empty bed, fingers finding nothing but cool sheets as they slid across the bed. His eyes fluttered open and he wondered where Justin went. He knew Justin didn't have to work until later in the afternoon and it wasn't like him to just leave first thing in the morning unless he had work. Normally, they woke up together and spent time laying there together, cuddled close. Justin liked to cuddle, whether they'd just had sex the night before or not. It could be as simple as sitting on the couch watching a movie. Justin was always curled up against JC. He liked the contact. And it wasn't like JC minded at all.

Suddenly, a loud crash sounded downstairs and JC sat up in bed immediately, pulling the sheets close around his naked body. But Justin's profanities drifted up the steps and JC relaxed, smile on his face. JC's dog, Grits, started barking loudly.

"Shhh. Shut up you stupid mutt. You're gonna wake Jace." JC grinned. Justin and his dog had never gotten along. JC secretly thought it might have something to do with jealousy and trying to outdo each other for attention, but he'd never shared that theory with Justin.

Justin appeared in the doorway moments later, two cups of coffee in hand. He grinned sheepishly at JC when he saw him sitting up in bed, naked chest still covered in Justin's dried come, his hair devilish and tangled from both Justin grabbing it last night and from sleeping on it, eyes still only half open.

"I brought coffee." JC nodded thankfully as he reached for his cup, taking a long drink. Two spoons of sugar and nothing else. Just how he liked it. And Justin always got it just right. He grinned sleepily up at Justin, setting his coffee on the table next to the bed and pulled the covers back, inviting Justin to climb back under them. Justin did quickly, curling back up around JC, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek.

JC wasn't very coherent in the morning, not until he'd consumed at least his first cup of coffee. And trying to get any sort of conversation out of him was next to impossible. One word answers, if anything, were all Justin ever got. But he could read JC's body language, even when he was still half asleep, more than well enough to know that JC was content in this very moment.

"Drink your coffee," Justin whispered against his skin. "I want to be able to talk to you and you actually be able to answer me back."

"I talk," JC mumbled, slight frown appearing on his face.

"Let me rephrase that. I want you to be able to respond with complete, coherent sentences," Justin said, laughing lightly as JC's frown became deeper, reaching his eyes. "Ok, ok. I'm sorry. Give me a full, coherent sentence right now and I'll take it all back." Justin smirked, knowing JC wouldn't be able to. He thought it was actually quite endearing, one of his favorite quirks JC had. JC, the editor of a prestigious national magazine, was always at a complete lose for words first thing in the morning.

And watching his face now, as he concentrated, trying to find something to say, Justin smiled softly down at him. Even if there was a sentence in there, he couldn't get his lips to wrap around the words, couldn't get his brain and his mouth to work together. Finally, his face relaxed into something very similar to a pout and he shook his head, sad eyes meeting Justin's. Justin laughed lightly and kissed the tip of his nose.

"It's ok. You drink your coffee. I'm gonna go shower. Then we'll talk when I'm done and you have caffeine in your system." He smacked JC lightly on the hip and climbed from the bed, headed toward the bathroom.

When he emerged again, towel wrapped around his waist, JC was sitting against the headboard, sheets still pooled around his waist, and drinking out of the coffee cup Justin had brought for himself. He'd added two spoonfuls of sugar, even though he drank his coffee back because he knew, once JC finished with his own cup that he'd start in on Justin's. His eyes were clearer now, the first cup of coffee already having kicked in.

"You officially awake now?" Justin asked, sitting on the edge of the bed. And JC nodded happily at him, finishing the last sip of the second cup. "Thanks for drinking all my coffee too."

"Anytime," JC said, leaning forward and pressing his lips against Justin's before climbing out of the bed himself, not at all concerned with the fact that he was still completely naked and covered in dried come. "Now I just need a shower and a toothbrush and I'll be good as new. Thanks for the coffee." He winked quickly at Justin and disappeared into the bathroom. When he reemerged, Justin was fully dressed and had just changed the sheets on the bed for JC.

"Those are my pants," JC noted, looking at the outfit Justin was wearing. "And my shirt. My favorite shirt." It was a loose pair of jeans, although on Justin, they hugged all the right places. And the shirt was just a tee shirt, but it was old and soft and comfortable.

"Yeah. The pants fit perfectly. They must be too big on you. And I love this shirt." Justin grinned and smacked JC's ass as he walked by him to throw his wet towel into the hamper in the bathroom. JC rolled his eyes and turned to face Justin.

"Please tell me you don't plan on wearing my favorite shirt to work in a diner?"

"Relax. I'm just serving today. I won't spill anything on your precious shirt." It was Justin's turn to roll his eyes as he moved back into the bedroom. "I'm hungry. What do you say we head for some food? You can pay to thank me for the fabulous sex last night." He grinned widely and moved to grab his watch off the nightstand, JC's laughter ringing in his ears.

"So you're a whore now? Working for money?" There was a teasing tone to his voice.

"Not money, just breakfast. You know how I am about waffles. I'd do just about anything for them, including sleep with you."

"Oh, like getting off is such a chore. Poor Justin, how will he ever endure one more orgasm?" Justin's eyes crinkled happily as he laughed, grabbing JC's wrist to pull him from the room. "I'm gonna remember this next time you want me for sex," he warned as he grabbed his wallet off the dresser and followed Justin out of the room.

*****

The restaurant Justin chose was one of his favorites, and the one they ended up nine times out of ten when they went out to breakfast. According to Justin, they had the most delicious waffles he'd ever tasted in his entire life. But JC knew he'd never even tried a waffle until he'd come to New York, so he didn't have much to compare it to.

Unfortunately it was also one of the busiest restaurants in Manhattan when breakfast was concerned. And on a Saturday morning, they had to wait for a table. But neither of them minded too much. It wasn't like they had anything better to do. JC was free all day and Justin didn't have to be to work until four. The banter between them was normal, comfortable, as they stood and waited.

And when Justin leaned in and kissed JC's nose playfully, JC just laughed lightly. Until he saw the scowl appear on Justin's face. Turning, he caught sight of a young man, probably Justin's age, staring at them, frown on his face.

"Problem?" Justin asked. And the tone was polite, but JC knew him more than well enough to know he was being anything but.

"You faggots are gonna get your asses kicked for shit like that," the man mumbled, eyes trained on Justin.

"By who?" Justin asked, stepping around JC, almost protectively. "You plan on doing it yourself?" And JC saw his fists clench at his side, saw the muscles in his back tense up, ready to fight if that's what this guy wanted. But JC reached out, wrapping long fingers around Justin's wrist and pulling gently.

"Let it go, J. He's not worth it," he whispered quietly. Just that quickly, Justin relaxed, fists unclenching, muscles loosening. He turned back to look at JC, smiling softly.

"That's right, listen to your boyfriend. He's apparently a smarter man than you," the guy said, still trying to get to Justin. But Justin's eyes were connected with JC's. Don't listen to him, just let it go. Justin nodded, fingers sliding between JC's, squeezing lightly. And just that quickly he dismissed the man behind him, shrugging it off easily. Justin had absolutely no shame in being gay. He was proud of who he was, what he was. And JC knew, had he not been there, Justin wouldn't have given the man a second glance. But he also knew Justin would do anything to protect him, at any cost. And if that included getting into a fight over a few harsh words, so be it. But JC knew it wasn't worth it. Fighting wouldn't change how the guy felt, what he thought. It was just easier to let it go. And feeling Justin's fingers linked with his own as they stood there was enough of a compensation for being called derogatory names.

*****

They were walking through the Village, heading for one of Justin's favorite music stores, when Justin's phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket and frowned at the display shining back at him before answering and putting it to his ear.

"Hey, dad." JC took that as his cue to stop walking, knowing Justin would wander away from him to talk to his dad. Instead, JC slipped into the small shop next to them, content to brows the trinkets and gifts until Justin was off the phone. Justin sighed and leaned against the building as his father rambled on and on about his sister, Noelle, and how proud he was of her new job promotion. His dad had been against him coming to live in New York, had insisted that Justin stay in Tennessee and follow in his father's footsteps as the owner of a local auto repair shop. But Justin knew he'd never be content to live in Small Town America for the rest of his life, so with his mother and step father's blessing but strongly against his father, he'd moved. And even though he'd been living on his own for close to three years, working his way slowly through school and living his own life independently, his father was still convinced he'd one day come crawling back home, unable to support himself in the big bad city.

He half listened to his father ramble on and on, mumbling a response here and there. He knew his dad only called when he wanted to brag about Noelle, how good she was doing, how wonderful her husband was, how perfect her children were. She was the good child, the one who'd stayed in town and become the perfect small town wife. And he knew it wasn't Noelle's fault, but he still felt a strong resentment for her whenever he had to listen to his dad go on and on. He could see JC wandering around through the front windows of the shop, stopping here and there to pick something up and get a closer look, his attention drawn away from the phone.

"Justin? Justin are you there? Are you listening to me?"

"Yeah, dad. I'm here," he sighed, tuning back in to his father.

"I swear, you get more and more distant every time I call you. Are you doing drugs?"

"Contrary to popular belief, not everyone who lives in New York does drugs, dad." He paused, but his father remained quiet, waiting for an actual answer. And Justin sighed again. "No, I'm not doing drugs. I work, I go to class. I hang out with my friends. Contrary to what you might believe, I am doing ok for myself up here." He lowered his voice, barely a whisper coming out. "I just wish sometimes you'd see that I'm ok too."

But his dad didn't hear him, going on again, this time about the shop and how it wouldn't always be there for Justin when he decided he was ready to come home. Going on about how one day he'd give it over to someone else and then what would Justin do. Justin closed his eyes tightly, getting all his emotions under control.

"I gotta go, dad. I'll talk to you later." And he hung up the phone without waiting for a response, cutting his dad off mid sentence. Sometimes it was easiest that way.

Stepping into the shop, eyes finding JC among the shelves of random stuff, Justin smiled. He was happy in New York. Much happier than he'd ever been in Tennessee. And his father was wrong about him. He'd make it, he was making it. And he never planned on giving up, even if he had to work three more jobs to get there. Sliding up behind JC, he knew JC felt his presence and turned, holding up a beaded necklace dangling off two fingers.

"You should get it," Justin mumbled, knowing it was less about the necklace and more about JC trying to help Justin get his mind off his dad. And JC would never know how much he appreciated that. But JC glanced at it for a second and shook his head, sliding it back onto the display spinner it had come from. When he had moved on, making his way slowly back towards the front of the store, Justin picked up the necklace and moved to the counter to buy it, JC not even aware he was purchasing anything.

Later, after they'd looked around in the music shop, Justin buying a new pick for his guitar, and were back out on the streets, headed toward the subway, Justin slipped up behind JC and slid the necklace around his neck, fastening it beneath JC's long curls. He laid a soft kiss against JC's neck before letting his hair fall back into place and moving around him to keep walking.