Copyright March 9-28, 2002 by Matthew Haldeman-Time

Rating: NC-17 for graphic male-male sex

Pairing: Brian/Nick/Drew

Disclaimer: The young men who comprise 98 Degrees and the Backstreet Boys 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 story is for China and other substitute sleeping companions.  May you someday be the primary.

Wherein Nick.  Can't.  Sleep.

Notice: A short story based in the "Living" universe, maybe mid-"Destiny?"

        He'd had a very good orgasm.  Brian and Drew were deep asleep.  The room was dark.  The night was peaceful.  He should be asleep.

        He couldn't sleep.

        He tried the thing Kevin used to recommend: lay quietly with your eyes shut.  Only that got boring.  So he counted sheep.  Only that was the stupidest exercise ever.  So he watched Drew sleep.

        Drew was right beside him, sort of turned toward him.  Totally asleep.  Totally naked, too.  Nick couldn't see all of the naked, but he could feel it if he wanted to, under the covers.  Only sometimes, sometimes, he didn't like to touch Drew in the dark.  Like this.  With Drew unaware beside him.  Just reaching out and touching Drew, while Drew was unconscious, and he couldn't see where his hand was going and his fingers would skate right across scars.  Old wounds.  That wouldn't make Nick sleep any better, that was for damn sure.

        Brian was on Drew's other side.  Nick could hear him breathing.  Deep, even breaths.  He wondered what Brian was dreaming.  It didn't seem fair, suddenly, that Brian was asleep and off in whole different, other worlds without him.  Worlds he could never reach.  He wasn't used to being shut out of any part of Brian's existence.

        Nick couldn't sleep.  He rolled to his back and sighed.  The light on the stereo was blinking, blinking, blinking.  God, that was annoying.  Why did it have to be that bright?

        He was going to put a stop to it.  Nick pushed aside the covers and got out of bed, crossing the room in the darkness of night.  He wasn't afraid of stepping on something or tripping, because Drew kept the room pretty clean.  He did walk across discarded clothing, but no doubt that would be gone by this time tomorrow.

        Nick squinted at the stereo.  He couldn't turn on the overhead light, because he didn't want to wake up Drew or Brian.  But he couldn't see.  Maybe he could turn on the lamp.  Just for a minute.  He closed his eyes, turned on the lamp, waited for the flaring brilliance to dim, and opened his eyes.  Drew and Brian were still asleep.  The stereo light was still blinking.

        It had to be this button.  This one and this one.  Maybe this one.  Maybe if he...  Yeah, okay, but...  No, damn it, this made sense.  This was the button and this one did that and this one obviously wasn't what he wanted but this one...

        Damn it.  Stupid thing was broken.  Nick told it to fuck itself, turned off the light, and went back to bed.

        The stereo light was flashing.

        He turned his back to it, pulling the covers over his shoulder.

        Now he was looking at Drew again.  Drew was asleep.  His eyes were adjusting to the darkness again.  He raised his fingers and touched Drew's mouth.  Pretty mouth.  One of his favorite mouths ever.  Ever.

        Nick wanted to put his fingers up inside Drew.  No, better yet, he wanted Drew to fuck him.  He couldn't wake Drew up and ask for it.  Well, he could.  But Drew would say no and go back to sleep, and then he'd have to be mad.  And he didn't want to be mad at Drew.

        Counting sheep.  What the fuck.

        Maybe he'd count orgasms.  Starting with the most recent, going back as far as he could.

        But then he'd get horny, remembering, thinking about it.  And if he got horny, he couldn't do anything about it.  Not anything satisfying, with these guys asleep on him.

        He didn't know why he couldn't sleep.  It wasn't like there was any good reason for it.  Not even a half-assed reason.  He just couldn't sleep.  And it was freaking annoying.

        Maybe he'd talk to Drew.  Drew talked in sleep.  It could be entertaining.

        Drew rolled over, away from him, toward Brian.

        Drew sucked.  Nick flicked Drew's ear.  Leaving him in his time of need.

        Hmm.

        Nick moved closer to Drew until he was spooned right up against Drew's back.  Drew's ass was right there where it belonged, against his groin.  He put his hand on Drew's hip, then let his fingers crawl into Drew's pubic hair.

        Crisp, curling little hairs.  Nick tugged gently, and Drew twitched.  "Ssshhh," Nick whispered, to reassure him, and held still.  Drew wasn't about to wake up.  Good.  More fun for Nick.  More playtime.

        Nick touched Drew's cock.  He loved it when it was soft, Drew's penis, a beautiful thing.  But when it was hard, oh god that was a completely different story.  Then it was the ultimate source of all pleasure.  His pleasure and Drew's.  Drew's pleasure was his pleasure.  And Drew's cock gave endless pleasure.

        Nick reached over Drew.  Brian was too far away.  He touched Brian's face, gently, and whispered, "Frick."  Brian came closer in sleep, beckoned by Nick.  Very good.  Nick ran his thumb across Brian's lips and went back to Drew.

        When Brian came closer, Drew had sighed, settling more comfortably between their bodies.  Being in the middle was fun.  It could be hot and crowded, but it was fun anyway.  Nick reached down and cupped Drew's groin, warm and soft and ever so very important.  Drew muttered, burrowing into Brian.

        Good Drew.

        Nick stroked Drew, seeking sensitive places.  He traced the familiar, private lines of Drew's body that he had been the first to learn.  He touched Drew's inner thigh, picturing in his mind the love bite on Brian's inner thigh.  His fingers found all of Drew's secrets, secrets he'd already learned, secrets he loved.

        "Drew," Nick whispered.  "Drew."  He never could resist.  He wanted to make Drew wake up and have fun with him.

        Drew was trying to snuggle closer to Brian, away from Nick, who was trying to wake him.  But his body also wanted to snuggle closer to Nick, because that was what was distracting him with pleasant, erotic feelings.  He was mostly asleep but also sexually aroused, and he wanted to stay there in that abstract happy place.

        Nick tried to hold still, but the urge to thrust against Drew's ass, just for the feel of it, just for frustrating friction, was starting to overwhelm him.  He really, really, really wanted to get off against Drew.  His cock was hard.  He wanted to do things with it.  He wanted Drew to do things to it.

        Drew moaned, wrapping his arms around Brian, as Nick pressed a careful finger behind his balls.  Perineum, paramecium, whatever; it was one fucking hot spot.

        Nick let go of Drew and turned his wrist.  Brian was right there.  He stroked up Brian's thigh right to Brian's cock.  Hell, yeah.  Drew made a fussy noise and rubbed against Brian's hips, against Nick's hand, wanting Nick's attention to return.

        Well, he had two hands, didn't he?

        Nick worked his left arm under Drew, coming up around Drew's side, and palmed Drew's balls.  His right hand stayed with Brian.  Hmm.  Oh, yeah.  Same body parts, different men.  He closed his eyes, smelling Drew, touching Drew, touching Brian.

        Funny how this wasn't making him any sleepier.

        Nick pressed his forehead between Drew's shoulder blades, biting back a moan, jacking Drew's cock like it was his own.  Drew's ass pushed back against his groin and he thrust against Drew in return, grinding his teeth.  He wanted to fuck Drew.

        A slow, low groan from Brian.  Nick wasn't going to give him a chance to gain the sense to protest.  His precum was wetting Nick's hand, and Nick wanted to fuck him.  First Drew, then Brian.  Maybe first Brian, and then Drew.  That would be good.  Make Drew wait for it.  Take Brian now, now, now-

        Oh, god, better slow down.  He was getting a little too excited, and he'd be coming all over Drew's back in a second.  Coming against Drew's ass.  Hard, tight little ass.  His jism hot and thick over Drew's well-muscled back.  He wanted to come against Drew, all over Drew, see Drew's skin wet with his sweat and his-

        God, Drew, Brian, Drew.  God, yes, damn.  Nick shuddered, suppressing the urge to bite Drew's shoulder.  Damn, that had felt good.  But, shit.  He'd come.  He hadn't fucked anybody yet!  He'd wanted to fuck Drew.  He'd wanted to fuck Brian, damn, he'd really wanted to fuck Brian.

        Drew gasped and shivered in his arms, against him.  Oh, shit, oops.  He hadn't intended to make Drew come.  At least not just now.  He'd kind of set off a chain reaction there.  "Oh," Drew said, slow and surprised, and there was another tremor.

        Nick's hands were wet and sticky.  So was Brian's stomach, and both the front and back of Drew.  Shit.

        "Sorry," Drew said, quiet and reluctant.

        Nick kissed his shoulder.  No reason to apologize.

        Drew leaned back into Nick some more.

        Nick nuzzled Drew's neck.  His lips found a soft patch of skin near Drew's nape.  He kissed up behind Drew's ear.  Drew's hand reached back and rubbed his thigh.

        Maybe he could go to sleep now.  He should clean up first.  But that would wake him up more.  He was kind of ready to try to sleep, and getting up to clean would have him wide awake all over again, and hey, he didn't have to get up to clean up Drew.  He could lick Drew clean.  Lick all of the cords of muscle in Drew's back.  Lick over Drew's hard ass.  Lick into Drew's ass, inside Drew, get-

        Drew rolled over and kissed him.  Mmm.  Damn.  He loved Drew's mouth.  He loved the way Drew kissed.  Right now it was deep and intimate and slow.  A warm, satisfied kiss.  Post-orgasm Drew.  He put his arms around Drew, slid his hand down Drew's back.  Okay, a little messy, but he wanted to squeeze Drew's ass for a second.  Drew murmured something and sucked on his tongue.  The mattress moved.  Probably Brian getting up.

        Brian!

        Nick sat up, staring in the darkness.  Brian was leaving the room!  Oh, shit.

        Drew's hand came over Nick's eyes and Drew turned on the bedside lamp.  He lowered his hand, and the two of them watched Brian go.

        "Where's he going?" Nick asked.

        "Looks like the bathroom," Drew said.

        Nick felt guilty.  And rejected.  He woke Brian up for sex, and then sort of ignored Brian, and that was his fault.  But Brian didn't have to leave!  And leave for what?

        Brian still had to be hard, right?  He hadn't come.  Had he?  What was he going to do, masturbate in the bathroom?  It was a mystery to Nick.

        And now that the lamp was on, Nick could see that yeah, he did need to clean up.  He and Drew both.  Definitely Drew.  Maybe he could lick Drew clean.  Maybe he'd offer.

        Brian was coming back.  Walking back to the bed.  Naked.  Nick tried to be polite and meet Brian's eyes, but it was so damned tempting to stare at Brian's cock.  It was hard, long and thick, and Nick wanted to lick it.  His mouth watered.

        Brian got on the bed, ignoring Drew, heading straight for Nick.  Nick was at once excited and apprehensive.  This could be good.

        There was a brand-new, fresh tube of lube in Brian's hand.  Definitely good.  So that's why Brian had left the room.  To get supplies.

        To get ready to fuck Nick.

        Okay, so maybe he deserved it.  And maybe he wanted it.  Maybe.  But Brian would have to make him prove it.

        Nick tried to play it cool when Brian shoved him flat on his back.  He tried to be casual about it when Brian spread his thighs and gave him one experienced finger.  Then his knees were up over Brian's shoulders, and it was pretty damned hard to feign indifference when Brian was fucking the cool right out of him.  Fucking right into him.  Not too hard, but fast and straightforward.  There was no hesitation on Brian's part.  No-nonsense, unapologetic fucking.  He could feel Brian's cock, hard, its steady rhythm, its controlled motion.  He looked up into Brian's eyes and saw Brian's lust.

        A bead of sweat dropped from Brian's jaw to Nick's shoulder.  Nick found himself breathing in the same ragged pattern as Brian.  The steady pace of Brian's fucking altered only once, when Brian leaned down and kissed his mouth.

        Nick used to play it up for Brian.  He used to writhe and pant, be young and lithe beneath Brian, pout with his lips and beg with his eyes, drive Brian to fuck him harder and harder until Brian came.  He used to be the most irresistible thing Brian could imagine.

        He wasn't young and pretty anymore.  Not like that.  There was always his unique conversational style, of course, but ever since Drew had come along, he saved it for certain occasions.  He didn't want it to lose its power.

        He wasn't pretty and tempting.  He didn't want to rely on his mattress chatter.  But he still knew how to make Brian come.

        Nick closed his eyes and concentrated on the feel of Brian's cock, thrusting deep inside, full and hard, back and forth, back and forth, on the verge of leaving before driving into him again, again, again.  Stretching him, filling him, sparking flare after flare of shocking, deep pleasure.  Oh, god.  Nick rocked against Brian, encouraging each thrust.  His mouth opened and he let Brian hear the groans of impending ecstasy that vibrated in his throat.  His hand rose, slipping up his sweat-slick chest and over his face to his hair.  His hand was in his hair, fingers against his scalp, back arching, Brian over him and on him and in him, bright bursts of pleasure chasing one after another, and it was too much, it was more than he could take, his eyes were closed and his mouth was open and his body was exploited and he pulled at the roots of his hair, on the verge of ecstasy, on the verge of screaming.

        Brian came.

        Drew was so wrapped up in watching them that he almost slid off of the bed.

        Nick caught his breath, slowly relaxing, opening his eyes.  Brian was staring at him.  Half shocked, half drawn further into lust.  Was it his imagination, or was Brian leaning closer?  He glanced to the side, in case Drew was going to be of any help.  No, no help there.  In fact...

        Uh-oh.  Brian wanted him.  Drew wanted him.  Brian was lusting after him, and since Brian was on top of him, there was a pretty good chance Brian would try to get some more action.  Drew was looking all awed and desire-filled.  Drew still couldn't get over seeing the two of them together.  Especially when they put on a good show.  Which was fairly often.

        Only Nick didn't want that right now.  Okay, so he liked the fact that he could turn them on at will.  But could he turn them off, too?  He hadn't gotten any sleep.  He sort of wanted some sleep.  He just needed to clean himself up a little and settle in with his pillow and he'd be ready for a nice rest.  But these guys seemed to have other ideas.

        Brian was sucking on his neck.  Drew was inching closer and closer, wet-lipped and wide-eyed.

        He was ready to sleep now.  Time for bed.  Good orgasm, good fucking, he was set for the night.  He didn't, oh, mmm, he didn't, he...  God, Brian was good at that.  He...  Drew...  Maybe he could stay up a little bit longer...