Requited Love

Requited Love

Rating: NC-17 for graphic male-male sex

Pairings: Lance Bass/Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez/Joey Fatone

Disclaimer: The young men who comprise *NSYNC and Five are their own people. The author has not met anyone here described, nor does the author mean to suggest that these people act this way in real life. This writing is a work of fiction. I make no money from this venture.

Dedication: This slashfic is for Ewan McGregor and the Savage Garden slashwriters. It's also for Diamond, her best friend, and her cousin. Everything else I want to say here sounds like a bad inspirational bumper sticker. The gist: GO DIAMOND!

Wherein Justin is Kevin Costner, Chris is a little teapot, and there's a drunk stupid crazy clone of Joey running around here...

Alla

Justin frowned, tugging at the lip of the milk carton. He needed better fingernails or something, here. Come on, open... Stupid thing, now he was mangling it. Why were these stupid things so hard to open? Maybe he should get a saw or something. Maybe - - ack! Justin jumped back as the carton ripped open and tilted, milk surging forth and splashing onto him, the counter, and the floor.

Shit. Justin righted the container and spent a moment staring in dismay at the milk running over the kitchen. Feeling wet, he looked down. Oh, shit, his shirt was...

His shirt. The one he'd put on after his shower. He'd jacked off in the shower, leaning against the cold shower wall, closing his eyes, dreaming, remembering... Afterwards, clean and dry, he'd pulled on this shirt, this one, on purpose, because, because...

"Hey, whoa." Lance grabbed paper towels, ripping them from the spool. "You okay - - Justin? Justin-"

Justin reached out and, with a deliberate touch, knocked the milk over again.

"Justin!" Lance snatched up the container. "What are you doing?"

"Crying over spilt milk," Justin said, watching the mess worsen.

"What did you do to this thing?" Lance asked, tugging the mouth of the milk carton back into perfect shape and closing it. Lance returned the milk to the refrigerator, mopped up the kitchen before the milk started to overtake the place, and rinsed his hands. "Give me your shirt, take off your shoes. Come on." He waited.

Justin grimaced as he peeled out of his wet shirt. He handed it over without meeting Lance's eyes.

"I'll wash it for you," Lance said, voice gentling. "Next time you come in here, get supervision."

Justin smiled a little. "Okay."

JC was sitting on the sofa, writing, notebook propped against his bent knees. Chris and Joey were having some sort of contest. For some reason, the fact that "Joey" and "Chris" made the initials "JC" had just occurred to them.

"Jaywalking cat!"

"Jealous cow!"

"Jacketed caterpillar!"

"Jell-O cauliflower!"

"Jellied cherries."

"Ooohhh, good one."

JC decided not to comment. What rhymed with "faith?"

"Ah! Justin's naked!" Chris shouted.

Joey scrambled onto the sofa and covered JC's eyes. "Have some respect! What are you doing walking around topless?"

JC set aside his notebook, lowering his legs. This might take a minute.

"Lance told me to take off my shirt," Justin said.

"Whoa, Lance," Chris said. "He's getting bold. Better watch out for him."

"He was looking at me kind of funny the other day," Joey said.

"Joey, everybody looks at you funny," Chris said.

"No, everybody looks at you funny," Joey corrected.

"Oh. Right," Chris remembered. "Can we look at Justin funny, too? He's walking around strutting his stuff. Are you trying to make me look old and out of shape, or is that just a side benefit?"

"Get out, you're scaring JC," Joey said.

"Ew!" Chris said. "Medic, medic..." Justin laughed. JC didn't want to know what they were doing. "Get out of here! Good riddance, you pervert!" Chris called. Justin's laughter moved off down the hallway.

JC waited.

Joey slowly uncovered JC's eyes. "You still in there?" He peered at JC with concern. "Justin, you traumatized JC!" he yelled. Joey poked JC's cheeks. "You okay? Don't worry, it was just Justin. Look, if you pull JC's earlobe, his hair gets longer. Watch." Joey tugged at JC's right earlobe. "There it goes! Oops, you missed it. Oh, there, now it's too long. Let me make it shrink again." He tugged JC's left earlobe. "There you go. How short do you want it? That looks good. Damn, I think it's uneven. Does it look longer on one side to you?"

"Shave him bald and start over," Chris advised.

Joey thought about that. "Yeah, that might be best." He tugged on JC's right earlobe again. "There's no hope now." He lifted JC around the waist, tossing JC over his shoulder. "Come on, let me get a razor."

Carrying JC down the hallway, Joey ran into a redressed Justin. "Nudist colony rejected you?"

"They didn't want me showing up everybody else," Justin said. "Where are you taking him?"

"Shaving his head," Joey said. "JC wants to join the Army." He set JC down.

"Head rush," JC said, one hand to his forehead. "Whoa."

"We'll miss you," Justin said. "Have fun serving your country. Oh, JC, don't leave us," he moaned, pulling JC into a tight embrace. He sobbed on JC's shoulder and wiped his eyes with JC's hair.

Joey tried not to be jealous.

Lance spread Justin's shirt over the rack to dry. His fingers traced the map of London's Underground. He remembered Justin having a story about practically every stop. Here was where they'd scared the pigeons, here was where they'd gone shopping, here was where they'd stood on the platform and shouted, "Mind the gap!" Here was where they'd eaten, here was where they'd toured a cathedral, here was where the hotel had been. Here was where they'd played basketball, here was where they'd-

"How'd you get it off of him?" Chris asked.

Lance dropped his hand. "He spilled milk on it."

"Too bad it wasn't ketchup or spaghetti sauce or black paint."

Yeah. Lance closed the lid of the washer.

JC stretched, rolling to his back.

Joey tickled JC's ribs.

Laughing, JC twisted away from Joey.

Justin tossed Chris the basketball. "Come on, everybody up."

"We're busy," Joey said.

"Very busy," JC agreed.

"Incredibly busy," Lance said.

"Sitting around staring at the walls," Justin said.

"That fly might come back through here," JC said.

"Don't want to miss that," Joey said.

Justin grabbed the basketball with one hand and Chris with the other. Chris grabbed Joey. Joey grabbed JC. JC grabbed Lance. Justin towed Chris outside, leading the chain. "One," Justin said.

"One, two," Chris said, pulling Joey to his side.

"One, two," JC said, hand on Lance's back.

"Okay," Justin said, dribbling the ball. "Let's go."

"How did you win?" Chris demanded, running a hand through his sweat-soaked hair.

"You never win," Justin agreed.

"We're good," JC said with a smile.

"No, Lance sucks," Joey said.

"No offense," Chris said.

"We won," JC said, exchanging high fives with Lance.

"Thank you, thank you," Lance said, waving to his imaginary audience.

"I think you cheated," Chris said.

"I think you're not Lance," Justin accused, and peeked down the front of Lance's shirt.

"All right, out with it, how'd you win?" Joey demanded of JC.

"We're good," JC said with a smile. "If you can't take it-"

Joey pulled JC's nose. "You cheated."

"We won," JC countered. "Come on, Lance, let's go gloat."

"Later," Lance said to the others with a brief wave. One arm around JC's waist, he went back into the house.

"I, for one, am thoroughly disgusted," Chris said.

Justin held JC's ankles while JC walked on his hands across the room.

"JC's a wheelbarrow!" Chris shouted. "I'm a little teapot!"

"Short and stout," Joey agreed. "That shoe fits."

"Somebody has to make you look good," Chris said.

"Ooohhh," Lance said.

"I look good," Joey said. "JC, tell Chris I look good."

"Joey looks good," JC said as Justin steered him into the kitchen.

"One more time, with feeling!" Chris cheered.

"Joey looks good!" JC called.

"You're bee-yoo-ta-full, Joey," Chris said.

"Thank you," Joey said.

"I'm beautiful," Justin called.

"We know," Lance called back.

"Newsflash, Justin's attractive," Chris said. "Next you'll tell us JC's good-looking, too. Can we handle this revelation?"

"Too much for me," Lance said, dropping onto the sofa.

"Aagghh! Left, left!" Justin shouted. There was a crashing sound. JC started laughing.

JC was curled up on his side on Chris's bed, sleeping. Joey was braiding JC's hair. Lance was sitting on the floor, watching Chris and Justin dance.

The phone rang.

Chris found the phone on the dresser. "Hello, Comedy Central."

"Hey, let me guess. This is Chris. How are you doing?"

"Much better since those upstart colonials seceded," Chris said.

Justin went still.

"Is Justin there?"

"No," Chris said.

"I just want a minute with him."

"And I want to marry Cher, but you don't see that happening, now do you?"

"You want to marry Cher?" Joey asked, looking up from JC's hair. "I think she's too old for you. And too tall."

"And too scary," Lance said.

"I'm not intimidated by strong women," Chris said.

"Yes, you are," Joey said.

"I am not," Chris said. "Lance is."

"Lance is gay," Joey said.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Lance demanded. "I am not intimidated by strong women."

"I am," Chris said.

"Wait," Joey said.

Chris retreated from Justin. "What are you doing? Don't interrupt my private telephone conversation. Hello, this is Chris Kirkpatrick, may I please speak with Cher?"

"Chris, let me talk to Justin."

"I'm sorry, Cher's not here right now, could I please take a message?"

"Forget it. I'll call back later."

"Fuck you and have a nice day." Chris hung up and shrugged. "Wrong number."

"Was that Scott?" Justin asked.

"Who?" Chris asked.

"Chris," Justin said. "God, fuck you." He left.

Chris tried not to look upset.

Lance got up and followed Justin.

Chris turned in a circle and left the room.

Joey inhaled JC's hair conditioner. Rested his chin on JC's shoulder. Stroked JC's nape with a gentle thumb.

Justin stormed around his room. Lance stood still in the middle of the room, watching.

"He called, he called here, he wanted to talk to me. He wanted to talk to me."

That much was true.

"What's he, do you know how early it is over there? He's awake and he wants to talk to me. Maybe he's, he could be awake thinking about me. He could be..."

Lance kept quiet.

"It's none of Chris's business, he can't mess in like that, he, Scott wanted to talk to me. He hasn't, I haven't heard from him in..."

Two weeks, five days...

"I wonder what he wanted."

Lance didn't know.

"Shit. Maybe I should call him back."

No.

"Maybe he'll call back. I know we broke up, it's over, I just want to know why he called. Why is he calling? Why is he awake? Maybe he was out. Maybe... Where's Chris?" Justin left the room.

Lance sighed and ran his hands over his hair.

Joey wrote "English guys suck the Queen's balls" on JC's back.

Justin found Chris in the kitchen. "What did he say?"

"He said, ''ello, 'ave you seen me pigeons?'" Chris sucked mustard from his thumb. "What do you think, tomato or no tomato? Tomayto or tomahto?"

"What did he want, Chris?"

Chris tossed the tomato to Lance. "Take this before I commit an act of violence." He turned back to Justin. "Justin, your ex-boyfriend called. He wanted to talk to you. I hung up on him."

"Don't ever do that again," Justin said. "My phone calls are my business."

"I know it was wrong, and I'd do it again," Chris said.

"How did he sound? Was he..."

"Normal. Not happy or depressed, not grief-stricken or celebratory or drunk or pining or hurt or bleeding or American. He sounded like he was lolling on the sofa on a summer noon, returning phone calls. He's a bloody ass and I'd like to smite his bum."

"He's okay?"

"He's fine. How are you?"

Justin avoided Chris's eyes.

Joey unbraided JC's hair, taking care to be gentle.

Lance grabbed the phone from Justin's hand. "Don't you dare."

"What?" Justin demanded. "Give me that!"

"You are not calling him."

"I can call anybody I want! What are you doing?"

"Why? Why are you calling him?"

"He called! I want to know what he wanted."

"You think he wanted you."

"Let me call him and find out! Lance, give me the phone! Lance-"

"What if he wants you back? What if he wants you again? You're going back to him? You're going to be with him again?"

"That's my business."

"You are not calling him."

"James Lance Bass, you give me that phone or I will break your motherfucking arm to get it."

Lance threw the phone into the hallway. "I'm not afraid of you. You won't hurt me. You don't hurt the people you care about. You're loyal and you're loving. You care about people and you take care of them."

"I'll take care of you," Justin growled, on the verge of violence or tears. "Get out of my room."

"He hurt you, Justin, he betrayed you and used you and cheated on you."

"So?"

"So?! So you don't deserve that! You know you deserve better. You've been burned so many times you think that's how it goes, you think that's the way it's supposed to be. It's not, Justin. You're supposed to be loved and respected, you're supposed to get back what you give."

"I'll give him a second chance."

"You've given him ten. Where does it stop? He hurts you, you forgive him and go back to him because everyone hurts you, and you don't expect that you'll get any better treatment from anyone else. Everyone betrays you, one way or another."

"Shut up."

"I know why you really started with Scott. I know why you really made that jump. You thought maybe it was women, maybe it was you and women, maybe that wasn't working, maybe with a guy it would be different."

"Shut up."

"It's not you, Justin, and it's not a gender. It's the shitty people you pick. It's not knowing what you deserve."

"Shut up!"

"He cheated on you!"

"Get the hell out of my room!"

"Do you know why Chris hung up when Scott called? Chris loves you more than Scott does. I love you more than Scott does. You think everybody cheats on you, everybody betrays you, everybody uses you? How long have you been with us? How long have we been *NSYNC? And which one of us has ever done that to you?" Lance left, stopping in the hallway to pick up the phone. "When you find someone who loves you and respects you the way we do, you stick with that person. Nobody else is worth your time, Justin. Nobody."

Justin watched Lance go.

JC rolled over and stretched. "Mmm. Hey, Joey."

"Hi." Joey put his hands behind his head and watched the ceiling.

"Chris's room?"

"Yep." Joey popped the "p."

"Mmm. I'm hungry." JC yawned. "What time is it?"

"No idea. Justin's in his room. Lance and Chris are watching TV."

"What've you been doing?"

"I played hairdresser, I talked to Chris, and I watched you sleep."

"And a good time was had by all." JC sat up, running his hand through his hair. "I'm off to get food. You want anything?"

"No, I'm good." Joey watched JC leave the darkened room.

Four a.m.

Justin walked into Lance's room and sat on the bed. Waited. Patted Lance's thigh. Waited. Scratched Lance's shoulder. Waited. Crawled on all fours over Lance and leaned down until their noses touched. Waited.

"Why are you breathing on me?" Lance asked.

"Are you awake?" Justin asked.

"Are my eyes open?"

"No."

"Then I'm sleeping." Lance turned farther onto his side, getting comfortable.

"Lance. Lance. Lance!"

Lance tried to sleep.

Justin tried to roll Lance over again. Lance resisted. Justin wrestled him over and pinned him on his back. Then Justin froze.

Lance pushed Justin off of himself.

"Sorry," Justin said.

Lance sighed, sitting up. He reached for the bedside lamp. "Cover your eyes."

"Lance-"

"I don't want the light to hurt your eyes," Lance said patiently. Justin closed his eyes. Lance turned on the light, blinking. "Why are you here?"

"I didn't mean to..." Justin opened his eyes. "Having good dreams?"

"I was," Lance said. "Why are you awake? It's after four."

"I'm sorry I yelled at you."

"I'm sorry I yelled at you," Lance admitted. "I know you're upset, and I know - - Justin, it kills me seeing you hurt. I don't have the right to dictate your love life, but it's hard to see you hurt all the time."

"If that isn't the way relationships are supposed to go, maybe it's me," Justin said.

"No," Lance said. "Justin, no, it's not you. You don't deserve it, and you don't make it happen."

"Then why does it keep happening? Every time."

"Stop dating evil people."

Justin chuckled. "Okay. That's good advice."

"I don't know why people hurt you, Justin," Lance said. "I don't see how anyone could."

"Lance is my best friend," Justin said, and pulled Lance into an embrace. "I love Lance." He sighed, resting his chin on Lance's shoulder, scratching Lance's back meditatively. "He might call back."

"The phone might be disconnected accidentally," Lance said.

Justin smiled.

"May I go back to sleep now?"

"Sorry," Justin said, releasing Lance. "I didn't mean to interrupt anything. You and Mr. Sandman gettin' busy?"

Lance pushed Justin out of his bed.

"Lance?"

Lance dropped to his back and put his hands over his face.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome."

"Now go to sleep," Justin scolded. He kissed Lance's forehead, turned out the light, and left.

Joey watched Justin and JC play video games. He decided to cheer for Justin. Chris came in and took JC's side. Then Joey and Chris started a brawl in the stands. Justin stopped the game and made them leave. They made popcorn and snuck back in. When Justin lost, they threw the popcorn over him and carried JC in a victory lap around the room.

"That was a lot more fun when he had his 'fro," Chris observed. He let go of his half of JC, so Joey took up the slack. "All the little kernels got lost in his hair."

"Now they just slide off his bald spot," Joey said.

"It's not a bald spot," Justin said.

"What do you call it?" Chris asked. "A tragic Nair accident?"

"Hi," Joey said to JC.

"Hi," JC said. "You can put me down now."

"Where?"

"On the floor."

"Which floor?"

"This one."

"Where?" Joey started to turn in a circle.

"Joey," JC said. "Joey."

"Duck!" Chris yelled, running for cover.

Joey turned faster.

"I'm getting out of the way," Justin decided, brushing popcorn from his shoulder.

Joey spun around, stopped, staggered, and fell. JC fell with him.

"Ow," Chris said. "Break anything?"

"Wow," Joey said.

JC laughed. He rolled over and crawled off of Joey. "We need more sane people in this group."

"Hey, somebody go find Lance," Chris said.

"Even he can't help us now," Justin said, watching Joey moan in a daze. "Good popcorn."

"Thanks."

Lance turned the printer on again. "Try it now."

"Okay. Thanks," Joey said. "I think it's possessed."

"No, it just doesn't like you," Lance said. "It'll be okay."

"Scott called."

Lance looked at Joey.

Joey shrugged. "I told him I don't speak English and I hung up."

"You don't speak English," Lance repeated.

"I speak American," Joey said. "You hip to that, my homie G?"

"I am," Lance said. "Does Justin know?"

"That you're hip? No, but I can tell him."

"That Scott called."

"No, he doesn't know Scott called. He also doesn't know you're in love with him."

"I hate Scott."

"You're in love with Justin."

"You're in love with JC."

Joey stuck his tongue out at Lance.

Lance flipped Joey off and left.

Joey laughed. "I'm telling your mother!"

"She'll never believe you!" Lance called back.

True. That was the trouble with good boys. But hey, the printer worked.

"Am I drunk?" Joey asked.

"How many fingers am I holding up?" Chris asked.

"None," Joey said.

"Oh. Then I'm drunk," Chris said. "Or else you are."

"Lance, who's drunk?" Joey asked.

"Leave me out of it," Lance said.

"Where's Lance?" Chris asked.

"Who's Lance?" Joey asked.

"I'm Lance," Chris said.

"Hi, Lance," Joey said.

"Lance," Chris said, and pointed at himself. "Joey," he added, and pointed at Joey. "Where's Chris?"

"Right there," Joey said, and pointed at Chris. "Where's Justin?"

"Justin's ignoring the drunk freaks," Justin said from his chair by the television.

"Justin doesn't drink," Joey said.

"His mommy's so proud," Chris said. "Where did Lance go?"

"Hey, Chris!" Lance called from the kitchen.

"I'm hearing voices!" Chris said.

"Where's JC?" Joey asked.

"He's in his room," Justin said.

Joey stood, frowned, and started in that direction. Door, door, door. JC's room. He opened the door and looked in. JC was sprawled over the bed, in his shorts and sleeveless shirt, on his stomach, asleep.

Joey walked over to the bed and sat on it. He put one hand on JC's back. He leaned forward until his forehead rested between JC's shoulder blades. He might have been humming. He kept leaning until he was on top of JC, stretched over JC's back. He pulled aside the shoulder of JC's shirt, baring skin. He kissed JC's skin. JC had beautiful, smooth skin.

Chris was singing in the kitchen.

Lance took the sofa.

Justin hummed the commercial jingle.

Joey licked across the strip of skin exposed at the top of JC's back. He smoothed aside JC's hair and kissed JC's nape. Soft, silky skin. Soft, silky hair.

Joey was not drunk enough to use that as an excuse.

He wasn't even drunk enough for this to seem like a good idea.

He tasted JC's flawless skin. Caressed it with his lips.

"I'm going to wake up in ten seconds," JC said, eyes closed. "When I wake up, this had better be a dream."

Joey held still. Now what? He stopped kissing JC's shoulder. He lifted his hips to get his hard-on off of JC's thigh. He crawled off of the bed and disappeared.

JC rolled over, tugged his shirt back into place, and went to sleep again.

Joey walked through the living room. "I'm not drunk enough. Chris, where's the rest of the beer?"

"What's wrong?" Chris asked, coming from the kitchen.

"Joey, what did you do?" Lance asked.

"Licked the back of JC's neck," Joey said.

"Whoa," Chris said. "Hide the beer. We're cutting you off."

Justin turned off the television. "What did I hear you say?"

"How'd he taste?" Chris asked.

Everyone looked at Chris.

"Why are you molesting JC?" Justin asked.

"I wasn't molesting him!" Joey protested. "Anyway, I stopped when he told me to."

"Oh, that's good," Lance said.

"JC's a guy," Justin said. "You're a guy."

"You do guys," Joey said.

"I'm not straight," Justin said.

"He has a point," Chris admitted. "If Lance wants to go around licking men, that's his business. But you're straight, Joey."

"And I'm pretty sure JC's a guy," Justin said. "So you can't lick him."

"I didn't say it was a good idea," Joey said.

"Why did you do it?" Chris asked.

"My dick said, oh, hey, there's JC, let's get to know him better."

"Maybe you're not straight," Justin said.

"Maybe you're not sane," Chris said.

JC walked into the room, scratching his scalp. "Hey. What big party am I missing?"

"There were a bunch of drunk stupid crazy clones of us running around," Chris said. "The one who looked like Joey was in your room, but we got rid of him."

"Hope he didn't bother you," Justin said.

"No, it's cool," JC said.

Four pairs of eyebrows went up.

"Cool," Chris repeated, recovering. "Yeah, it's cool. Don't worry about it. Drunk crazy Joey clone licking your neck, not to worry."

"It's cool," Justin agreed.

"Can you shut up?" Joey asked.

"Do you two need to be alone?" Chris asked. "We'll just excuse ourselves discreetly. Come on, guys, Joey wants to lick JC. Let's give them privacy."

"Guys," JC said. "Nobody's licking me."

"He's in denial," Chris said. "Joey, you've traumatized JC."

"That's not good," Justin said.

"Everybody shut the fuck up," Joey said.

Silence.

Chris twiddled his thumbs.

Justin crossed his eyes.

JC looked around the room.

"If I should stay, I would only be in your way."

"Chris," Joey said.

"So I'll go, but I know, I'll think of you every step of the way."

"Chris," Joey said.

"And I...will always love you...I will always love you..."

"Oh, god," Lance muttered.

"You, my darling you."

Justin applauded.

"Bittersweet memories, that is all I'm taking with me."

"Ladies and gentlemen, the show-off contratenor will be playing the role of Whitney Houston tonight," Lance said.

"So good-bye. Please don't cry."

"Let me be Kevin Costner!" Justin said, raising his hand to volunteer.

"We both know I'm not what you, you need."

"We both know her range is a whole lot better than yours," Lance told Chris.

"And I...will always love you, I will always love you..."

"Try Mariah Carey next," Justin said.

"Sax solo!" Chris shouted.

Joey left.

JC wandered to the kitchen.

"Whitney!" Justin shouted.

"I hope life treats you kind."

"Kindly," Lance said. "Kindly. Welcome to the wonderful world of adverbs."

Chris serenaded Justin around the house. Justin danced and applauded and whistled and fainted. JC puttered in the kitchen. Joey decided to hate everybody. Lance promised himself that one day he'd stop being bitter about Justin loving Chris's voice. One day. Someday. Not today.

Justin hummed as he dressed. Pum, pum, pum, "Baby when the lights go out-"

He stopped short, hands on his fly. He didn't want to sing that song. He didn't want to sing any of their songs. He didn't want to remember beatboxing while they sang it. He didn't want to remember sitting on the bed and Scott whispering, "Baby when the lights go out," clicking off the bedside lamp, kissing his neck.

"Baby when the lights go out, Scott screws Ritchie," Justin said. Out loud. The hardness in his voice surprised him. He was angry. But he wasn't afraid. He knew what he was saying. Scott had cheated on him.

That wasn't how the song went. It wasn't, "I love you, you betray me." It was, "I love you, you love me." But that was Barney, that was a child's song, that wasn't real life. That was for innocents and innocence. By the time you were old enough to fall in love, you were old enough to realize how much it hurt. Barney's song might sound good, but Justin knew better.

Loving someone didn't have to mean being faithful to him. They'd all loved him. Scott had said so, had said, "Justin, I love you." Justin had liked Scott's accent, because it curled around his spine the same way Lance's voice did. He loved that.

Love.

He loved Scott. He loved Scott's accent. How could he use the same word, the same verb, the same action? Love had many shades, many sizes.

Maybe that was it. "I love you, you love me." That didn't mean that he and Scott loved each other equally, with the same love.

He remembered something. Something Lance had said. He was supposed to get back what he gave. Get back what he gave. That implied equality. I give you a cup of sugar, you give me a cup of sugar. I give you ten dollars, you give me ten dollars. I give you love, you give me love.

That changed everything.

Damn, love was confusing. Should've gone to Harvard and majored in philosophy. Justin smoothed his peach fuzz and went to find Lance.

JC was standing by the kitchen counter, tearing leaves from a head of lettuce.

Joey walked up, stood beside him, and started shredding the leaves.

"Hey, Joey."

"I'm not crying."

"That's onions."

"Are you having onions?"

"Don't want onion breath in case Justin tries to kiss me. He came in here asking me if I love him."

"He didn't ask me."

"He didn't have to ask you. Everybody knows Joey loves Justin."

"Aw..." Joey sniffled. "Joey loves Justy."

JC smiled.

"Joey loves Chrissy, too. And even little Lancey."

"He should. They're great guys," JC said.

"Joey loves Joshy."

"I love you, too," JC said, and fed Joey lettuce.

"Can I call you Joshy?"

"No."

"Can I call you Sex-say Chasez?"

"No."

"Can I call you tonight around nine?"

"Sure. That's a great pick-up line, Joey."

"I know. You don't know how many girls fall for it. I don't know, either. Hard to remember. Are you sure I can't call you Sex-say Chasez?"

"I'm sure. But maybe next time you can. If you wash your hands before you start grabbing on my food."

"Oh."

JC laughed. "It's okay, Joey. This'll make up for the time I used your toothbrush."

"The...what?" Joey stared at him.

JC fed Joey more lettuce. "Close your mouth. I'm just joshin' ya, Joe."

"JC's joshing me," Joey said. "Now that's funny."

Justin rolled to his back on Lance's bed. "It sounds good in theory. Does it work in life?"

"Yes," Lance said, and sat at the foot of the bed. "You deserve to be loved as much as you love."

"Reciprocated love," Justin said. "Ree...sip...row...kate...ed."

"It's already working in large parts of your life," Lance said. "Your family loves you as you love it. We love you as you love us."

"That doesn't get me laid."

Lance chuckled. "Good to see you understand the importance of a true loving relationship."

Justin rolled to his side and rested one foot in Lance's lap. He plucked at the bedspread.

Lance massaged Justin's naked instep.

"Tickle me I'll kick you," Justin warned.

"I know. I won't."

Joey had put the moves on JC. So to speak. Licked his neck or whatever. And JC had fed him lettuce. So everything was okay. JC wasn't mad at him. JC wasn't telling him to back off or keep his hands to himself.

So he played "Where is Thumbkin?" with JC's hands, holding JC's fingers behind JC's back and making them hop out in front of JC to dance before hopping back into hiding. JC held still and smiled at him. The fact that to put JC's hands behind JC's back, he had to, in effect, hug JC, well. That was just a perk.

Then JC escaped to take a shower.

Joey went to talk to Chris, to distract himself from thinking about JC.

JC naked, wet, soapy, and touching himself.

Scott called.

Justin faked a bad French accent, feigned confusion, and hung up on him.

They ordered pizza and poured Pepsi on Justin to celebrate.

"Basketball!" Justin shouted.

"Wait," Chris said. "We need new teams."

"I like my team," JC said.

"JC and Lance won," Chris continued, ignoring JC. "Nature is out of balance. We have to do something about this. JC, you play with Joey. Lance, you play with Justin."

"What?" Justin asked.

"One!" Chris called.

Joey grabbed the opportunity. "One, two!" he said, yanking JC to his side.

"One, two," Justin said. "Ha. I got Lance. We're gonna whip ya'll."

Since JC was holding the ball, Joey picked up JC and carried him to the basket. "Slam dunk!"

"I'm gonna slam dunk yo ass," Justin said. "Get over here."

"You're gonna slam dunk my what?" Joey asked, turning. He draped JC over one shoulder and walked back to Justin. "Say that again."

"I'm gonna slam dunk yo ass," Justin repeated, grinning.

"You ain't gonna slam dunk nothin', white boy," Joey said. "You go ahead and shave your head; that won't make you play any more like Michael Jordan."

"And after some opening lay-ups, the first two points of the game go to Fatone," Chris intoned.

"Besides," Joey said. "I got the ball."

"JC has the ball," Justin said.

"I got JC," Joey said.

"JC, give me the ball," Justin said.

Joey ran off. Justin chased him. Chris announced the game and made Lance be the cheerleader. JC prayed that Joey wouldn't trip. After several passes around the court, and some fancy footwork, Joey tore off for the house.

"Get back here!" Justin shouted.

Joey slammed through the house with Justin hot on his heels. Chris ran after them, keeping up the narrative, dragging along Lance, who made one lousy cheerleader. Joey ducked into his room and locked the door.

Justin pounded on the door, making wild threats.

Joey dumped JC onto his bed. "The winner!"

JC, still clutching the ball, curled onto his side. "Joey, I think I'm gonna hurl."

"Sorry."

"Think my ribs are broken."

"Oh. Sorry."

Rolling to his back, JC let the ball drop to the floor and pulled up his T-shirt. "Is everything still there?"

Joey's gaze skimmed sharply defined musculature. "Looks good to me."

JC sighed and pulled his shirt down again. "I need a nap."

Joey's hand eased beneath JC's shirt, caressing warm, naked skin.

JC sighed and shifted.

Joey stroked JC's ribcage.

JC could have been alone in the room, for all the attention he paid to Joey's touch.

Joey's thumb found JC's treasure trail.

JC laughed and slapped Joey's arm.

Joey withdrew his hand.

JC rolled over and took a nap.

Joey watched him.

In the living room, standing there looking out through the windows, Justin was beatboxing.

Lance edged closer. Just passing through. Just walking by. Just going to the kitchen. No need to notice. Don't pay him no never mind.

Justin kept going, off in his own world.

"Timba Timba Timbalake!" Chris shouted.

Justin broke up laughing.

Lance disappeared into the kitchen. Damn it. He'd wanted... He never... Damn it.

Still on Joey's bed, JC was curled on his right side.

Joey tugged up JC's shirt in the back and ran his fingers up an inch or so of JC's spine. He wanted to kiss the small of JC's back, put his lips to that flawless-

JC tugged his shirt down again.

Joey backed off.

"Hey, sassy girl," Justin said, walking into the kitchen.

Lance looked at him. "You'd better not be talking to me."

Justin grinned. "Course not, Lanceypoo. Whatcha makin'? Gonna feed me?" He hoisted himself up to sit on the counter.

"You're in a good mood," Lance noticed.

"Strawberries!"

"Strawberry shortcake," Lance said. "Chris promised to leave me alone for five solid hours if I made it."

"Do I get some?"

"That's up to Chris."

"Please, Lancelot? Please, please."

"Ask Chris."

"Sugar and strawberries and mmm..."

Lance slapped Justin's hand. "Out."

"Is that what it takes?" Justin asked, slipping down from the counter. "If I promise to leave you alone, will you do something for me?"

"I made Chris leave me alone because he's been bothering me and hassling me and making a nuisance of himself," Lance said.

"You know he can hear you. He's in the next room," Justin said.

"I know," Lance said. "What do you want me to do for you?"

"I'll do anything you want. I'll leave you alone, I'll gag Chris, I'll do whatever you say."

"Justin. Just ask me."

"Never mind."

"Justin-" Lance looked up from stirring in time to see Justin turn red and flee. "Justin!"

"What's with you?" Chris asked as Justin sprinted through the living room.

Justin ran into his bedroom and jumped onto the bed. "Stupid, stupid, stupid," he chanted, bouncing up and down. He smacked the ceiling with the heel of his hand. "I'm such an idiot!" he shouted, and flopped onto his back.

"What are you doing?" Chris asked. "Your mother would kick your cute butt if she knew you'd been mistreating your furniture like that."

Justin rolled to his stomach and groaned, pulling his pillow over his head. "Why am I so stupid?"

"It's the company you keep," Chris said. "Stop hanging around me all of the time."

"But I like you," Justin said, rolling to his back again.

"Aw," Chris said. "I like you, too, sassy girl."

Justin laughed.

"Why are you running away from Lance?"

"I'm not."

"Scary spiders in the kitchen?"

"Go away."

"Pouty baby boy," Chris cooed. "Aw, so cute. Now you shape up and talk to me or I'll smack your baby behind."

"You wouldn't."

"How long have you known me?"

"Okay, okay, I'll... Just between us. Sacred trust."

Chris locked the door, then got on the bed with Justin and pulled the covers over their heads. They faced each other beneath the tent, licked their pinkies, and shook hands. "Talk to me, Timbalake."

"I have a crush on Lance."

"The guy in the kitchen?"

"Yeah."

"A crush? Like, you think he's oh so cute, or you want to get in his pants?"

"I can't have sex with Lance," Justin whispered, shocked. "God, Chris, don't do that."

"Sorry, I forgot we were four years old," Chris said. "Justin, he's a gay man. You're not quite gay and not quite a man, but-"

"Hey! I'm all man."

"Oh, so funny," Chris chortled.

Justin stuck his tongue out at Chris.

Chris made faces back at him. "You like Lance? You do know that he's perfect."

"Yeah." Justin smiled a little and blushed a little and twisted his fingers in the hem of his jeans.

Chris stared. "You're gone. You're so far gone, you're, you're, you're gone. Look at you. How can it not bother you that he's perfect? It drives me crazy."

"You drive yourself crazy."

"I drive myself crazy thinking of you," Chris said, and wiggled his eyebrows. Justin laughed. "Our baby boy has a crush on Lance," Chris said. "You're sure this has to stay between us? I can't go tell him?"

"No!"

"Can I tell Joey?"

"No!"

"Can I tell JC?"

"No! Yeah. If you want."

"Are you going to sit around and crush on Lance like a girl, or are you going to do something about it?"

"I can't do anything! It's Lance. He's my friend."

"You're four," Chris announced.

"Where are you going?" Justin asked, grabbing Chris's wrist.

Chris grinned wickedly and freed himself from the bedclothes.

"Chris!"

Chris headed for the door, Justin clutching at him. He kept going, and Justin kept trying to drag him back. "Lance!" Chris called.

"You have three hours and nineteen minutes!" Lance shouted. "This is your first warning!"

Justin clawed at Chris; Chris tried to pull him towards the kitchen. Justin fell over the coffee table, taking Chris with him. The table fell, and the potted plant on it hit the carpet.

"Shit, shit," Justin and Chris said, trying to right the table, scooping up dirt.

Lance appeared in the doorway, came forward to rescue the plant, and said, "Chris, get the vacuum cleaner. Justin, go wash your hands." With one foot, he nudged the table back into alignment.

"You never cease to amaze me," Chris told Lance.

"You never cease to amaze me, either," Lance said.

"If I were gay, would you do me?" Chris asked.

Lance handed him the plant. "I'd think about it."

Justin watched Lance go back to the kitchen.

"Nice booty, Bass!" Chris called. He handed Justin the plant. "Gotta go track down a weapon of cleanliness. Good luck to you."

Cleanliness was next to godliness. Lance wasn't a god, but he sure seemed to be perfect. Joey loved him for it; Chris harassed him for it; JC, well, JC had that perfection thing working, too. Justin, Justin had dirty hands and a potted plant.

Justin sat on the sofa and looked at the plant. "What is this thing?"

"African violet," Lance said, coming through again.

"If I were gay, would you do me?"

"You're bi," Lance said, and kept walking.

Oh.

Right.

Justin was an idiot. It was official.

Chris pounced on Joey's bed, landing on JC. "Wake up! Joey, cover your ears. JC, did you know that Justin wants Lance?"

"What?" Joey asked.

"Yeah," JC said, managing to sit up as Chris gave him space.

Joey was staring at Chris. Chris was staring at JC. JC ran his hand through his hair.

"You know?" Chris asked.

"Justin wants Lance?" Joey asked. "Our Justin wants our Lance? Those little boys, the semi-blond ones, the-"

"We have to do something," Chris decided.

"I think you're backwards," Joey said.

Chris turned around. "We have to do something."

Joey pulled Chris around again. "No, Lance wants Justin."

Chris stared at Joey.

"They're in love with each other," JC said. "Did you wake me up for this?"

Three points! The crowd went wild. Justin Timberlake had won the game!

He went inside, kicking off his sneakers, peeling off his socks, pulling off his one of his shirts. Time for a shower. Or time to go hug JC.

Justin screamed, jumped back, and fell on his butt.

"Sorry," Chris said. "Did I startle you?"

Justin was on his feet in a flash.

Chris ran. Justin would have caught him, but he dodged around furniture. He tore through JC's room and almost got cornered in the bathroom and leapt over Lance's bed.

Joey popped up and tackled Justin, pinning him to Lance's bed.

Chris grabbed Justin's wrist; JC tied it to the bedpost.

They ran out, closing the door.

Justin pulled himself free and ran to the door and - - "Hey! Hey!"

Lance was sure he didn't want to know what they were doing.

He was locked in. How had they locked him in? What were they - - "I'm going to kick your butt, Kirkpatrick!"

"You can try, Timberlake!"

"Let me out of here, you funny little man! JC, JC, please, let me out. Come on, guys. JC, JC? Joey, come on, have a heart, man. Joooeeeyyy, please? Please, JC?"

"What are you doing?"

Lance! Justin clapped his hands over his mouth and sat on the floor.

"Nothing," Chris said.

"Nothing," Joey said.

"Nothing," JC said.

"Disperse."

"Bye!"

Justin decided to pray.

Lance opened the door and came into the room.

"Hey, sassy girl," Justin said weakly. Lance helped him up. "I was just on my way to the shower. This must not be it. I'll see you later." Justin escaped. In the hallway, he stopped and looked around.

Chris shrieked and ran.

Chris clapped his hands for attention. "It's just a jump to the left."

They jumped to the left.

"And then a step to the right."

They stepped to the right.

"With your hands on your hips."

They put their hands on their hips.

"You bring your knees in tight."

They brought their knees in tight.

"But it's the pelvic thrust that really drives you - - wait, wait," Chris said. "Justin and Lance are too young for this."

"JC's too good at this," Lance said.

"Justin, I'm telling your mother," Chris said. "Stop that!"

Joey watched JC and Justin Time Warp together. He loved Justin, they were best friends, but he wanted Justin to stop doing the pelvic thrust with JC! Justin pulled Chris into the line. JC reached out a hand and, oh, Joey found himself tugged into place in front of JC. Left, right, hips, knees, oh, he needed a mirror so he could see JC. They kept going, Chris hauling Lance into the line, and Joey made sure not to thrust against JC, and then JC was behind him and JC's hand was on his shoulder and JC was grinding against his ass.

The dance deteriorated. Chris was doing the Hokey Pokey; Justin was trying to get Lance to do the bunny hop; JC had turned Joey around again and was doing something Joey would never, ever do in public.

Well, not with a guy, anyway.

He'd done this in public with women before. Once or twice.

The curve of JC's ass fit neatly against his palm.

Damn.

Everybody else started doing the Macarena. JC gave Joey a smile and danced down the hallway. Joey needed an ice pack for his balls.

They started to argue over whether the Macarena was left, right or right, left.

Joey followed JC. JC was in the bathroom. Joey opened the door and walked right in on JC standing before the toilet. He walked up behind JC, kissing JC's neck, letting his hard-on press against JC's ass through their clothes.

"Joey," JC said.

He covered JC's hand with his, holding JC's hand holding JC's cock.

JC leaned back against him, into him.

He wanted to touch JC's naked body. He wanted to-

"Joey."

Joey jerked to attention.

"Tell Chris the right comes before the left," Justin said.

"Why would it be backwards?" Chris asked.

"That's how the Macarena goes!" Justin said.

Joey sat on the sofa and slumped.

When JC came back through, he danced with Justin.

Joey hated the world.

"Okay, okay, here we go, be the man," Chris said. "Lance! Get back here, come on-"

"What are you doing?" Joey asked, pushing Lance back in Chris's direction.

"Thanks," Chris said, holding onto Lance's arm to keep him tethered. "Karaoke!"

"Karaoke?" Joey asked.

"Yes, karaoke. Lance!" Chris held on with two hands. "Joey, go get our audience. We can all play."

Joey jogged back outside and fetched Justin, then found JC writing in Justin's room. He toted JC down the hallway and set JC on the sofa. "We're here!"

"What are we doing?" JC asked.

"We sing, you applaud, you sing, we applaud," Chris said.

"Wow, I've never sung in public before," Justin said. "JC, I'm scared."

Chris, one arm hooked through Lance's, said, "You ready?"

Lance glared at him.

Justin realized that Lance was going to sing. He sat on his hands and paid attention.

Chris reached over to the stereo with his free hand and started the music.

"The Righteous Brothers!" Joey shouted. JC put his hand over Joey's mouth to keep him quiet.

Chris started the song again and hit Lance.

"You never close your eyes anymore when I kiss your lips," Lance said. "And there's no tenderness like before in your fingertips. You're trying hard not to show it but baby, baby I know it."

Chris stopped the music. "You're fired."

"That was moving," Justin said.

JC dropped his hand.

Joey licked his lips.

"Joey, get up here," Chris said.

"Do I look like Bill Medley?" Joey asked.

"No, it's Bobby...Bobby...Bobby...shit." Justin tried to remember.

"No, Bill Medley's the low voice," JC said. "Bobby...Justin! Now I can't remember."

"Hatfield!" Chris shouted. "No, wait. Who?"

"May I go now?" Lance asked.

"You suck," Chris said.

"We love you, Lance," Joey said.

"I love you, too, Joey." Lance scratched Joey behind the ears and went to his room.

"Ha," Joey said. "Lance likes me best."

"Loser," Justin muttered. "Bet he'd like me, too, if I were hung like a-"

"Justin!" Chris said.

"No, if I were hung like Joey," Justin said.

"Oh, because Lance chooses his friends on the size of the goods," Chris said. "And because your teeny one inch isn't good enough."

"We all want Chris for our best friend because he has hairy balls," Joey said. "That's the only reason he's in *NSYNC."

"Mine are uneven," Justin muttered.

"What?" JC asked. "Oh, Justin, you're still worried about that? It's been years, man. You can't grow a new pair. Enjoy what you got."

"Your balls are uneven?" Joey asked.

"They're lopsided," Justin said, scowling. "There's - - shut up."

"Do you have groin issues?" Chris asked. "Joey envy. Lopsided balls. Lance won't like you if he knows your balls are lopsided. Maybe you can get implants."

"Shut up."

"Justin, you have a great body. All parts of it. We've seen everything, and it's all, it's all..." Chris snapped his fingers. "Word."

"Incredible," JC said.

"It's all incredible," Chris told Justin. "Trust us. We've seen it. You got a great body, kid. Lance!"

"What?!"

"Come scratch Justin behind the ears!"

"Chris," Justin hissed.

Lance came back down the hallway. "Right now?"

"You're not busy," Chris said.

Lance walked over and stood before the sofa. He scratched Justin behind the ears.

Justin's eyes drifted shut. He smiled and pushed into Lance's hands.

JC tried not to laugh.

"Slut," Chris mouthed.

Lance scratched Justin under the chin, too.

Joey pulled his cock out of his pants and held it in one hand. He looked down at it.

Everybody's jewels fit. Chris had a short cock and hairy balls. Lance's were perfectly proportioned and looked natural there between his thighs, in a way most guys' didn't. Justin's set was young, healthy, and ready to play. And JC's... Every inch of JC was beautiful. Even there. Especially there.

And Joey's? He palmed his balls and sighed. Big personality, big dick. He stuffed it back in his pants. Size mattered. He didn't think JC was all that impressed. What did it take?

Maybe if he were cute and sexy. Maybe if he were a girl? No...well... Nobody really knew what JC's sexuality was. Nobody ever asked, and JC hadn't had sex for a long time now.

A really long time.

Maybe JC was horny.

Maybe Joey could help him out a little.

"I'm legally insane," Joey declared.

"Big news," Chris said from the hallway.

Joey laughed. He could always count on his friends.

When Lance came out of the bathroom, ready for bed, in T-shirt and underwear, Justin followed him to his bedroom.

"What?" Lance asked, turning on his bedside lamp.

Justin turned off the overhead light for him.

Lance stood there, waiting.

Justin stopped fidgeting and walked closer. "I need to find someone who loves me back."

Lance nodded.

"I want you to be in love with me. The way I'm in love with you."

Lance was looking at him.

Justin wanted to take it back. He couldn't. He'd said it. Maybe it had been a joke. Maybe it had been a test. Maybe he hadn't meant it at all. Ha, ha, gotcha! He'd see what Lance said first. Then he'd die of humiliation.

Lance kissed him.

Justin stared.

"Do you want to stay?" Lance asked.

Stay?

Lance kissed him again.

Stay.

Joey stayed up late, kicking Chris's ass in Tomb Raider. Chris hit him and went to bed. Joey ate chips and watched some really freaky silent movie. Then he polished off the Dr Pepper and went to brush his teeth.

In his bedroom, he switched on the light and pulled off his socks.

Then he froze.

JC was in his bed. Sleeping in his bed.

Joey looked around. Yeah, this was his room.

He went over to the bed, behind JC, and, oh.

He reached out with one slow hand. His fingers trembled. He eased the sheet off of JC's shoulder.

JC was naked.

He raised the sheet a little more. JC was bare-ass naked.

He lowered the sheet and backed up.

JC was naked and asleep in his bed.

What the fuck was he supposed to do now?

He was in Lance's bed and Lance was kissing him.

"So soft," Lance whispered, kissing him again.

Oh, he liked Lance's voice. But he didn't feel soft. He felt hard. He was hard. He remembered to close his eyes and lifted his hips a bit. He dropped his hips, fast. Lance was hard, too. He was hard and Lance was hard and he'd felt Lance's so Lance must have felt his and...

Wait a second.

Lance was hard.

Lance was turned on.

Justin pushed and rolled until he was on top of Lance. Oh, wow.

Lance looked up at him. Ran a thumb over the bridge of his nose.

Justin wanted to turn up the lights so he could see better. He put his hand on Lance's oh, damn. Lance had a hard-on. It was alive in there.

Lance made a low, hurt sound. Justin's gaze snapped up; he watched Lance's lips part on a soft moan.

"Lance. Lance." Justin didn't know how to ask. "What do you want me to do?" He'd only ever been with Scott. He wasn't sure how this usually went. Was he allowed to do what he wanted? How did they decide who did what? Was he supposed to ask, or just go ahead?

Lance made this really sexy gasping noise, so Justin kissed him. "Take off...your clothes first," Lance said. "And...you have to stop touching me or I'll..." He moaned.

Oh, right. Sorry. Justin let go. He'd liked the way it felt in his hand. Hot, and hard, and... Oh, clothes. He stripped. His cock was glad to be out in the open, freed from his jeans.

Lance sat up and got naked, right there in front of him, and stretched out on the bed again.

Well, damn. Justin got on top of Lance again, lowering his hips until his cock rested against warm skin. Oh, that felt good. Maybe he could moan. Not too loudly or anything. Just a - - ooohhh... Justin's eyes closed as his lips parted. He wanted to say Lance's name but he didn't remember how his mouth worked.

Lance kissed Justin's other shoulder, running his hand up the inside of Justin's right thigh. He cupped Justin's balls and moved on to stroke Justin's cock.

Hot and excited and sweating and shivering and oh, god, everything from nipples to knees was oversensitive. Justin tilted back his head to let Lance kiss his neck, shoving his cock against Lance's palm. Lance gave his erection the gentlest squeeze and he almost came, bucking, shocked by the pleasure. Lance's teeth caught his skin and he gasped, feeling that spark of pleasure-pain, feeling Lance's fingers massage that place behind his balls.

Oh, god, Lance... Justin wanted to come. Was going to come. He wanted more, he'd hoped for more, it was too soon, it was too much, he hadn't even-

Lance slid down his body and licked high up inside his thigh. He moaned, spreading, arching, not believing for one second that this could be real, not willing for one second to stop.

There was, wow, Lance sucked cock like, hell, Justin's spine was being pulled out through his balls. Holy, oh, god, it hurt and it felt so good, it was, the suction, the...Lance's... He had to hang on, he had to ride it out, he wanted it to last, there was no way he - - oh, oh, oh god, oh - - oh, Lance...

Justin panted for air.

Joey stripped naked. Then he put his underwear back on. Then he put his shirt back on. Then he took his shirt off again. Then he went to the door. Opened the door. Locked the door. Unlocked the door. Locked the door. Turned off the light. Waited for his eyes to adjust. Waited for his brain to adjust.

His brain was still lost in space.

His dick was saying, "JC's naked! Let's go meet JC's ass!"

JC wasn't saying anything. JC was asleep. Naked. In his bed.

Inventory. Naked person in Joey's bed. Door locked, lights off. Joey in underwear.

Yeah, this looked like a sex scene.

Joey scratched his shoulder. Crossed himself. Took out his earrings.

Here went nothing.

Lance's eyes rolled back in his head. He propped himself on his elbows, trying to sit up, wanting to watch. His hips jerked, wanting to thrust into Justin's mouth. Soft, wet, hot mouth. So gentle, so sweet... No teeth, tender suction... He couldn't hold still, couldn't help himself from thrusting just a bit, just oh, yes, Justin... Lance moaned, and his cock went down Justin's throat, hot and close and yes, god...yes...

Joey got into his bed. Under the covers. One hand covering his rising dick through his shorts, he slid over, up behind JC. He settled in, inch by inch, millimeter by millimeter, until he was spooned right behind JC, right there, chest to back, cock to ass.

His hand rested on JC's thigh. Slender, taut, muscular, naked thigh.

Chris sat up in bed, frowning.

That was coming from Lance's room.

Chris's jaw dropped.

Lance was doing Justin!

Earplugs, earplugs, earplugs...

Every time the pleasure spiked and exploded, Lance's balls hit Justin's ass. Justin lowered his head, gripping the bedclothes, feeling each thrust in the arches of his feet. It had never been this good. He bit his lip, trying not to moan, unable to hold back the sound.

Lance was at his back, fucking into him, driving deep inside with that perfect, hard cock. Sweat dripped from Justin's temple onto the mattress.

So hard, so full, so deep inside. Moving, thrusting, back and forth, opening him and taking him and making his body sing. His thighs ached and he wanted to come and his knuckles were white.

"Come on," Lance said, soft and low, right by his ear. "Come on, Justin."

Oh, god...

JC slid back against him, finding his heat welcome.

Lance's thrusts forced Justin higher, louder, until ecstasy exploded behind his eyelids and erupted from his cock. He shot hot white pleasure onto his chest, onto the bed, shuddering and shocked.

Faster, deeper, harder. Justin couldn't take it, couldn't, too much, too...too... And then Lance was shivering and moaning and holding him around the waist, pulling him flush back against Lance's body.

"Justin," Lance whispered.

Justin opened his eyes.

Lance's hand ran up Justin's chest, back down again. Teasing a nipple, collecting cum. Justin couldn't stop shivering.

"Oh," Lance breathed. "You taste good."

Justin pictured it, Lance licking a finger, licking his cum, tasting him.

"I wish you were still hard so I could suck you again."

Lance's cock left him. He didn't know what to do now.

Lance kissed his shoulder blades, stroked his ass.

Justin turned, finding Lance, seeking a warm embrace. Lance was real and solid and loving and accepting and right there.

"I love you, Justin." Lance kissed his shoulder. Stroked his back. "Let me be the one to treat you right."

Joey's hand slid forward, over JC's hip. Found JC's sex, soft and warm. JC stirred; he held still. JC subsided. He ran his fingers over JC's cock, trying to memorize the feel of it, the silk and the heat.

JC's cock came awake in Joey's hand. He encouraged it, stroking and pulling, until it was swollen and erect. He ran his hand up JC's torso, caressing tight muscle and smooth skin. His hips rubbed up against JC's ass, seeking the heat in the cleft. He trailed loving kisses over JC's shoulder.

Chris knocked on the door.

JC laughed.

"Ah!" Chris said. "Joey!"

"Not now," Joey shouted.

"Is JC in there?!"

"Not now!" Joey shouted. JC rolled over, facing him, kissing his mouth. He hauled JC into his arms, against his body.

"Earplugs, earplugs..."

"Use cotton balls," JC advised, raising his voice to be heard through the door. He kissed Joey again.

"Thanks!" Chris yelled.

"Go away!" Joey yelled.

"Okay!" Chris yelled. "Good night!"

JC laughed and ran his hand down Joey's arm. "Good night, Chris."

Joey kissed JC's neck, one hand in JC's hair guiding back JC's head. Beautiful neck. Smooth skin. Masculine and beautiful and, "JC."

"Joey," JC murmured, hips creating hot, unholy friction.

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