Copyright April 2, 2002-February 24, 2003 by Matthew Haldeman-Time

Rating: NC-17 for graphic male-male sex

Pairings: Thus far we've had JC/Justin, Nick/Drew/Brian, Nick/Jeff, Nick/Drew/Brian/Nick/Jeff, AJ/Lance, AJ/Howie, AJ/Kevin, Chris/Howie, and partridge/pear tree.

Disclaimer: The young men who comprise the Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, and 98 Degrees 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.

Wherein Drew won't go behind Brian's back, AJ can screw anybody he wants, and could JC be mellowing?

Notice: First, read "I Need You Tonight," "Boy Lead the Way to Ecstasy," "Not Easy," "No One," "Rest in Peace," "Destiny," and "Together." I know it sounds like a lot, but it'll only take you an hour or two.

        “What’s going on, CK?” Justin asked.

        “I’m going to go get a tattoo.  Want to come and hold my hand?”

        “Sure,” Justin said.  “What are you getting?”

        “It’s a secret.”

        “Where are you getting it?”

        “It’s a secret.”

        “Why am I coming with you if you won’t let me see it?” Justin asked.

        “You’ll get to see it, but I’ll have to induct you into a new private society, where you’ll take a vow of silence,” Chris said.

        “Okay,” Justin said.  “Does Howie know you’re doing this?”

        “Why would Howie care?”

        “I figure he has a vested interest in what you do to your body,” Justin said.

        “It’s none of his business,” Chris said.  “I don’t like this tone you’re taking.”

        “Okay, calm down, never mind,” Justin said.  “Are you sure you want to do this?”

        “Yes,” Chris said.  “I’m adorning myself permanently as I see fit, and anyone who doesn’t like it can take a flying leap into a fiery volcano.  Let’s go.”

        “Let’s go,” Justin agreed.  He rolled his eyes at Brian behind Chris’s back, and followed Chris out the door.

        Drew and Justin threatened to charge Nick Timmons-Lachey and Jeff with unnecessary roughness if they didn’t stop tackling each other.

        After Nick Carter Littrell Lachey tackled Drew, his own teammate, for the third time, Nick Timmons-Lachey declared that they were now playing touch football.

        “Touch football, not touch Jeff’s butt, Carter!”

        They switched teams, because Nick said that as long as Nick was going to run around after Jeff and Drew, it might as well be for a legitimate reason.  Nick, Nick, and Justin were on the same team.

        “Wait, this isn’t fair,” Nick said.  “We have the two baby shrimps on the same team.  We can outrun them in two strides.  Nick, you be on their team to even it out.”

        “Baby shrimps?” Jeff repeated.

        “Go on over there,” Nick said to Nick.  “Justin J. and I will kick everybody’s butt, isn’t that right?”

        “Sounds right to me,” Justin said.

        “I could take you with both hands behind my back,” Drew told Justin.

        “Maybe if you were on a ladder,” Nick said.

        “You don’t stand a chance,” Nick said to Nick and Justin.

        “Say your prayers,” Nick said.

        Nick, Jeff, and Drew won.

        “Well, sure,” Nick said.  “It’s because they spend more time on their biceps than on their singing.  Justin and I are musicians, not gym queens.”

        Nick, Jeff, and Drew looked at each other.  “Did you just call me a gym queen?” Drew asked.

        “Did you just call me a gym queen?” Jeff asked.

        “I know you didn’t call me a gym queen,” Nick said.

        “Gym queen, gym queen, gym queen,” Nick said.

        Justin cleared his throat.  “It’s not entirely inaccurate.”

        “Oh, you’re staying out of this,” Nick said.  “Carter-”

        “I am not a gym queen,” Drew said.  “They’re the ones-”

        “Jeff’s pumped,” Nick said.  “He has muscle mass.  You’re ripped.  You have muscle definition like nobody’s shit.  Nick’s got a lot of both.”

        “A fair assessment,” Justin said.

        Nick glared at the two of them.  “I’m going to the gym, and shut up about it.”

        Nick laughed.

        “Yes.”

        “There?”

        “Yes.”

        “But...  Chris.  You know this is permanent.”

        “Yes.”

        “But you don’t...  I mean, I...  Are you sure about this?”

        “Yes,” Chris said.  “I don’t care what anyone says.  I don’t care what everyone thinks.  And yes, I’ve thought about the worst-case scenarios, all of them, but this is what I want.”

        “Okay,” Justin said.  “If you want it, I’ll stand by you for it.  How big is it going to be?”

        “Nick’s so dramatic,” Drew said.  “He and Jeff almost never fight for real, so he likes to pick stupid fights.”

        “Yeah, but Jeff’s actually mad back at him,” Nick said.  “That’s different, isn’t it?”

        “Yeah,” Drew said.  “Don’t worry about it.”

        “You lift more than I do.”

        Drew looked at him calmly.  “Yes, I do.”

        Nick looked irritated.

        “What do you want me to do about it?” Drew asked, still calm.

        “I think I’d look better if I had a body like your brother’s.”

        “You wouldn’t have the booty I love.”

        “Yeah, but he has a damned fine ass.”

        “Maybe he does, but it’s his.  I like yours.  Brian likes yours.  Nick, I like your body.  I’m attracted to it.  There’s a lot of you, and I love it.  You’re not fat, you’re just...  Big.  But you’re big all over.  There’s nothing awkward or out of proportion.  You’re healthy.  If I wanted tight muscle definition, I’d get a mirror.  Brian isn’t built like Jeff, and you want him anyway.”

        “I want to look sexier for you.”

        “Sexier?  You want to look sexier?”

        “Don’t laugh at me.”

        “Nick, you can’t look sexier.  You can’t be sexier.  You are sex.”

        Nick frowned.

        “Sexiness is related to body shape, yes.  It’s also about attitude and personality.  You’re the sexiest person I know.  Sex is part of you, it’s in your aura, it’s...  You’re sexual.  You’re sexy.  You’re sex.  Walking, talking, living, breathing sex.”

        “I thought that was JC.”

        “Stop comparing yourself to everyone else, and think about who you are yourself,” Drew said.  “You, yourself, are sex.  You are beautiful.  You are loved.  You are desired.  When we make love, have you ever caught me measuring your biceps?  I don’t know how much you weigh.  I don’t know what size your clothes are, although I wish I did, because I keep wanting to buy you things.  All I know is that when we’re in bed together, and we’re falling asleep, and I run my hand over your body, it feels so good to me, I know I belong with you.”

        “You and Brian do like to touch me,” Nick admitted.

        “We love to touch you,” Drew said.  “You feel so good, I can’t describe it.  Things wouldn’t be that way if we were checking for new ounces of fat.  When I look at you, I like what I see.  When I touch you, I like what I feel.  I wish you’d gain more weight, so you’d get your ass back again.”

        “Bad Drew.”

        “Butt,” Drew said.  “It used to jiggle, Nick.  It doesn’t jiggle anymore.”

        “Poor Drew,” Nick said.  “Sorry.”

        “I’m trying to get over it.”

        Nick was ignoring Jeff.  He wasn’t watching.  He wasn’t looking.  He wasn’t listening.

        Jeff didn’t even know which machine Nick was working on.

        Nick didn’t even care what Jeff was doing.

        Oh, so Nick was working on his quads.  Yeah, he needed to, if he ever wanted to catch up to Jeff.

        Oh, of course, Jeff was trying to get some abs.  Yeah, good luck.

        Look at Nick over there, concentrating hard, that intense look in his eyes.  Nobody cared.

        Look at Jeff, flexing, moving all that weight, showing off, like anybody cared.

        Nick was just a pretty boy.

        Jeff was nothing more than a musclebound show-off.

        Wiping off sweat like he’d worked hard enough to sweat hard in the first place.

        Stretching like he’d exerted himself in some real work-out.

        Nick was only in the gym to look good to other people.  Just look at what he was wearing.  Serious weight-lifters didn’t dress like that.  Was he on his way to a Chippendale’s audition?

        Why was Jeff even bothering to wear clothes to work out in the first place?  He only stayed fully dressed three hours a day, anyway.  He always had to display his body, like anyone was interested.  He’d only been keeping his shirt on lately because Nick Carter was around, and who knew how long that would last.

        Oh, stomach crunches now.  Nick should just give up.

        Oh, right, the bench!  Predictable.  Like everyone was going to stop and applaud just because Jeff could lift more than the rest of them.  He needed to step it up, because Nick was right behind him.  Not that Jeff ever worried about that.  No, Jeff was too proud of those buffed arms and those gleaming breasts.

        Jeff ground his teeth.

        Nick growled.

        “If I were Howie, I’d be knocked flat on my ass for a week,” Justin said.

        “Is it too big?  Too small?”

        “No, it’s just right,” Justin said.  “I’m glad JC’s afraid of needles, because you’re going to start to give him ideas.”

        Chris grinned.  “He’s my test audience.  If he wishes he’d thought of it first, I know mine’s perfect.”

        “Nick.”

        “You’ve worked out with Nick and Jeff before, right?”

        “Yeah.”

        “Are they always like this?”

        “No.  This is different.”

        “I can’t tell if they’re about to jump each other’s bones or beat each other senseless.”

         “This is what happens when you mix too much testosterone with a surge of endorphins,” Justin said.

        “It’s this weird vibe, this...intensity.  Sex and the potential for violence.  Jeff’s proven he’d rather do anything than hit Nick, but would Nick hit Jeff?”

        “No,” Justin said.  “They’re very careful not to use their strength against each other.”

        “That’s good.  But they have to get the aggression out somehow.”

        “My guess would be through sex.”

        “Damn.  Should we leave them alone?”

        “Yes.”  Justin lowered his weights.  “Guys, I’m taking off.  I have some shopping to do.”

        Nick was on his feet, storming past Jeff.  “I’m coming with you.”

        “That’s...just great,” Justin said.  “We’ll see you guys later.”

        Without warning, Jeff was up, too.  He gave Justin a “Wait here” and stormed after Nick.

        Nick started after Jeff.

        “He said wait here,” Drew said.

        “If you think I’m not listening at the door, you’re crazy,” Nick said, and kept going.

        His other hand was busy.  Lance was painting his nails.

        Joey wondered when Justin was coming back.

        Jeff stormed in after him.  “What is wrong with you?!”

        Nick jerked his locker door open.  “Nothing a lot of time away from you wouldn’t fix!”

        Jeff curled his hands into fists, closing his eyes, deliberately calming himself.

        “Don’t pull that with me,” Nick said.  “You want to punch me and you know it.  So do it.  Do it!”

        Jeff opened his eyes.  “I do not want to hit you.”

        “I’d love to hit you,” Nick snapped.  “Get out.”

        “Why?”

        “Oh, look, now you’re calm and centered and mature, and I’m the asshole.  That’s great, Jeff, that’s great!  You always act like you’re so much better than I am!  So much better than everybody!”

        “I do not think I’m better than you,” Jeff said.

        “You do.  You always have!  I told you to get out!  I’m taking a shower and I’m going out and if you want to get yourself your own room for the night, that’s just fine with me!  I am not sleeping on the sofa because you’re feeling self-righteous for one more night!”  Nick kicked off his sneakers and peeled off his socks.  Jeff was still looking at him.  “What?!”

        “I can’t remember how many different locker rooms we’ve been in together.”

        “And they all smell like old sweat and older shoes,” Nick snapped, pulling his shirt off over his head.

        “I’ve wanted to get you off in at least half of them,” Jeff said.

        Nick threw his shirt at Jeff.  “Get that off.”  He yanked down his shorts, grabbed his soap, and stalked to the showers.

        “It’s getting good,” Nick said.  “Nick’s being an asshole and Jeff is being nice so maybe Nick will do him.”

        “Nick-”

        “Ssshhh, I’m listening.”

        Jeff walked closer.  “I don’t want to fight with you.”

        Nick’s back tensed with hostility.

        “I’m sorry for everything I said that upset you.  You are who you are, and I love who you are.  I love your arrogance.  Why do you think I let you take over?  Why do you think I give you the spotlight?  It’s what you are, it’s where you belong.  You take the lead, you’re in the front, and you look good there.  It’s natural to you.  I don’t resent you for it.  I’m not even jealous.  You came to my group, and suddenly you brought your best friend and your brother, and you were singing lead, and you were standing out in front, and you were the focal point of half our videos, and you were on magazine covers, and you were big famous Nick Lachey of 98 Degrees.  And instead of being mad at you for it, instead of demanding my share, too, I just thought, god, I’m glad I know him.  I’m glad I’m a part of this.  I’m glad to be here, standing behind him.”

        Nick didn’t turn.

        “I never told you this, and I shouldn’t tell you now, because you’ll never let me live it down.  At some point, I don’t know if it was after we first saw the final cut of the ‘The Hardest Thing’ video, or it if was after one too many magazines gave you the centerfold, but the gay boy inside me started putting Nick Lachey pin-ups on the wall, kissing them with stars in his eyes by day and jerking off to them by night.  I’m a fan, I’m a groupie.  Maybe that’s why I don’t care if your ego gets the better of you.  Maybe that’s why I don’t care if you act like a prima donna.  Sometimes I like it.  Sometimes I think yeah, maybe you’re right, you should have it your way every time.  You aren’t a self-centered asshole throwing your weight around, you’re just a pop star who’s used to getting what he wants because he’s Nick Lachey of 98 Degrees.  And I love you.  Not in spite of it.  Maybe because of it.”

        Nick turned slowly.  Water poured down over his chest.  He tipped his head back, letting the water slick back his hair.  His cock was rising, hardening and lengthening as it filled.

        Jeff stepped closer.  “I don’t want to fight with you.  I just want to make love with you.  If you want it quiet, I’ll be quiet.  However you want it.”

        Nick looked at Jeff, not giving in.  “You said if I ever wanted you again, I’d have to beg for it.”

        “You don’t have to beg,” Jeff said.  He was close enough to be getting damp by the mist from the spray.  “I’ll beg.”

        Nick stepped back.

        Jeff stepped forward.  He kept going until he was against Nick, and their mouths met, and Nick’s hands were on his back.  His clothes were getting soaked, and Nick had to be freezing against the tile, but Nick’s tongue was in his mouth, and the rest of the world fell away.

        Before he knew it, Jeff was on his knees there in the shower, taking Nick’s erection into his mouth, sliding his tongue over the swollen dickhead.  Water coursed over him, but all he cared about was the sweet bitter taste of Nick’s cum as it spurted over his tongue to be swallowed down his throat.

        “God, I love you,” Nick said, relaxing back against the wall, eyes closed, hand on the back of Jeff’s head.

        Jeff stood and kissed Nick’s mouth.  “I love you, too, Nick.”  He kissed Nick again, and Nick’s hands came to Jeff’s body, feeling over him through his drenched clothes.  “I want to make love to you right here.  I want to take you here against this wall, wet and rough.”

        Nick pushed down Jeff’s shorts enough to make his cock rise up, full and erect.  Nick moaned at the feel of Jeff’s erection in his hand, tilting his pelvis forward.

        Jeff rocked against Nick’s body while Nick’s hands slid back to Jeff’s ass, encouraging the motion.  “I want to turn you to the wall and fuck you,” Jeff said.  Nick groaned and kissed him, inviting him.  “I want to force pleasure on your body until you’re begging for more.  I want to own you until you give in and call out my name.  I want to take you with my big dick until you're screaming with ecstasy from the power of it.”

        “Yes, yes,” Nick said, his hand back on Jeff’s cock, fisting it while he kissed Jeff in between words.

        “But, Nick,” Jeff said, and stopped the kiss.  “Someone might hear us.”

        One, slow blink.

        Jeff turned and walked away.

        “How’s Nick?” Nick asked.

        “Shocked stupid,” Jeff said.  “Fortunately, it’s a good look for him.  Justin, watch out for him.  Tell him I know what he wants to buy and he should go ahead and get it and stop being a drama queen.”  Jeff kissed Drew’s cheek and walked out through the other exit.

        Drew rubbed his cheek.

        “Nick’s a gym queen and a drama queen,” Nick said.  “Not bad for a bi guy.”  He heard the water stop.  “I’m going to go change-”

        “Not while he’s still naked,” Drew said, dragging him back.

        “I’ve seen it before,” Nick said.

        “Yes, but you’re not allowed to see it anymore,” Drew said.

        “I get to see him in his underwear.  This isn’t much different.”

        “It’s different enough,” Drew said.  “Wait until he’s dressed.”

        “Come on, Drew, he’s dry by now!  I missed the best part!”

        “What does he want to buy?” Drew asked Justin, keeping Nick tethered.

        “I have no clue,” Justin said.

        “Let’s go ask him,” Nick suggested.

         “Stop driving me nuts,” Drew said.

        “No,” Nick said.

        “Yes,” Drew said.

        “No,” Nick said.  “Not unless you pay me.”

        “Pay you?” Drew asked.  “What?  I’m not paying you.”

        “Aren’t you richer than he is?” Justin asked Nick.

        “Yes,” Nick said, and stuck his tongue out at Drew.

        Drew stuck his tongue out at Nick.

        “The maturity level of the people surrounding me is astounding,” Justin said.

        “What?” Nick asked.

        Chris walked in with a small bandage on his neck, the right side, below and behind his ear.

        Justin walked in, faltered, and tried to smile.  “Hi.”

        “Hey, baby,” JC said, looking up with warmth in his eyes.

        “When can we see the new tat?” Joey asked Chris.

        “Never,” Chris said.  “Lance, can you do my nails next?  They keep breaking, and I don’t know what I’m going to do about them with the prom coming up.”

        “Shut up and let JC be gay,” Justin said.  Brian tried not to laugh.  “What color is that?”

        “Looks like pink to me,” Joey said.

        “Luxury Seashell,” Lance said.

        “That was my guess,” Chris said.

        “Is that my phone?” Brian asked.

        “Mine,” JC said.  “Justin?”

        “I’m on it,” Justin said, uncovering it from a layer of paper.  “Hello, JC’s phone.”

        “Hello, JC’s fuck on the side.”

        “Carter, what an unpleasant surprise.”

        “Let me talk to JC.”

        “Sorry, he’s busy.”  Justin remembered who else was in the room, and took a quick look at Brian.  Brian was staring at the phone with a great deal of longing.  Justin hesitated.  It couldn’t hurt if he handed Brian the phone for a minute, could it?  “Hey, hold on.  Can you sit there and breathe for about two minutes?”

        “Why?”

        “I want to give the phone to somebody.”

        Silence.

        “Hello?” Justin asked.

        “God, yes.”

        “Are you crying?”

        “No, you bastard, I’m not crying.”

        “You’re crying!”

        “Go to hell.  Now I can’t do this.  Fucker.  Ask Brian if he can call me tomorrow.”

        “Can you call Nick tomorrow?” Justin asked Brian.

        The longing intensified, but in silence; and to the world, Brian merely nodded.

        “He’ll call you tomorrow,” Justin said.  “And don’t call me a fucker or JC will rip your head off.”

        “JC has given me the freedom to say whatever I want about you,” Nick said.

        “He has not,” Justin said.  “He doesn’t let anybody talk shit about me.”

        “No, he lets me,” Nick said.  “I can call you whatever names I want.”

        “What else do you say about me?”

        “Well, I know all about your sex life.”

        “So does everybody on this tour.”

        “No, I mean in vivid detail.”

        “The hell you do.”

        “Try me.”

        “I got a new tattoo.  What is it?”

        “JC’s name on the curve where your skinny ass starts.  You got it after he signed you during a whack-ass fucked-up role-playing scene.  Then after you got it, when you finally showed it to him, he fucked you in the dressing room over the sofa and on the floor, and finished by coming on you.  He wanted to come on your face, but he’d never tell you that.”

        “How much does JC tell you?”

        “Everything.  You know that.”

        “I know you tell him everything.  I didn’t know he told you everything.”

        “Everything.  Both ways,” Nick said.

        “What do you tell him that you don’t tell me?”

        “What Brian’s cum tastes like.”

        Justin’s gaze darted over towards Brian.

        “Are you still there?”

        “What if I wanted you to tell me?”

        “What would you give me for it?”

        “Information.”

        “I want to know what underwear he’s wearing.”

        “Hold on.”  Justin lowered the phone.  “What kind of underwear are you wearing?”

        Brian looked down at himself.  “I don’t remember.”

        “Check.”

        “Now?” Brian asked.

        Justin nodded.

        “Let me politely avert my gaze,” Chris said, making a show of turning his back.

        Brian tugged his pants down a little at his right hip, and pulled the edge of his underwear up so he could see it.  “Light gray boxer-briefs.”

        “Light gray boxer-briefs,” Justin said.

        “Damn, that’s fucking sexy,” Nick said.

        “Is it?” Justin asked.

        “On Brian, yes,” Nick said.  “And if you think I would ever tell you what Brian’s cum tastes like, you must have confused yourself with JC.”  He hung up.

        “Jerk,” Justin muttered, hanging up.  He watched Lance apply a final coat to JC’s nails.  Then he frowned.  “Lance, look up.”

        Lance looked up.

        “I knew I saw that yesterday, but then you had make-up over it, didn’t you?”

        “Yeah,” Lance said.

        “What were you doing that you got bruises in the exact...same...”  Justin’s voice trailed off.

        Chris went to sit with Joey, out of harm’s way.

        “JC,” Justin said.  “JC, you didn’t.”

        “It’s all right,” Lance said.

        “It’s over, Justin,” JC said.  “Lance apologized and now it’s over.”

        “You need to apologize,” Justin said.  “You assaulted Lance?!”

        “He hurt you,” JC said.

        “He’s Lance!  God, JC, he’s our best friend.  You can’t keep turning on our friends every time something happens.”

        “I have to protect you, baby,” JC said.

        “From Lance?!”

        “Justin, it’s okay,” Lance said.  “I understand.”

        “There are bruises on your face!” Justin said.  “JC, this is not okay with me.  You do not do this in my name.  I love you but sometimes you go too far.”

        “It doesn’t even hurt,” Lance said.  “I know JC and I are still friends.  It wasn’t about that.  It was about you.”

        “I don’t want anything to be about me,” Justin said.  “Nothing should be about me.”

        “That would be new,” Lance said, with a smile to erase the sting.

        Justin had to smile back.  He crouched down in front of Lance and JC.  “JC, tell Lance you’re sorry you hurt him.  And mean it.”

        JC reflected inwardly, then turned to Lance.  “I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to hurt you.  You’re my best friend, man, I love you.”

        “I love you, too,” Lance said.

        Chris elbowed Joey.

        Justin gave Lance two quick kisses, one on either bruise.  “I’m sorry, too.”

        “It’s okay,” Lance said.

        “JC, stop looking jealous.  Here.”  Justin kissed the corners of JC’s mouth.  “Is that better?”

        JC smiled.  “Yes.”

        Justin rolled his eyes and turned back to Lance.  “I’ll try to keep JC from turning into an attack dog.  I’ll put him on a leash if I have to.”

        “Take pictures for us,” Chris said.

        “I feel like I’m on a date,” Nick said.

        “That’s because we never do anything together that’s not either being at home or being at work,” Drew said.

        “Yeah.  Do most people on dates bring security along with them?”

        “I don’t think so.”

        “I almost miss being mobbed.  Now everything’s so tight, they won’t let the fans near us when we’re out in public.”

        “Scheduled, secure meetings aren’t the same as being recognized on the street,” Drew agreed.

        “I remember when we got too big to do meet-and-greets.  Now we have to, or we’ll never get any face time with the fans.”

        “Things change,” Drew said.  “But some things never will.  The fans understand.  They still love you.”

        “Can I buy you stuff?”

        “Like what?”

        “I don’t know.  Clothes?”

        “Do I have to wear them?”

        “Funny.  Jewelry?”

        “I don’t really wear a lot of jewelry.”

        “Can I buy you a new watch?”

        “Sure.”

        “When I said I wanted to buy you clothes, I didn’t mean like what I’d buy for myself.  I meant nice clothes.  Clothes you could wear to look sexy on TV.”

        “Oh,” Drew said.  “Okay then, if you want to.”

        “Jerk.  Like you dress for the cover of GQ every day.”

        “I do better than you,” Drew said.

        “I don’t put a lot of effort into getting dressed because I know as soon as I’m done, someone’s going to come up and start undressing me all over again,” Nick said.  “Drew.”

        “I’m not responding to that in public,” Drew said.

        “Because you know I’m right.  Let’s find you a watch and some clothes,” Nick said.  “Clothes for Drew...  Where should we start?  The children’s department?”

        JC must have been tuning in to Justin’s frequency again, because JC turned to him with desire and greed all shot through the blue of his eyes.

        Justin knew what JC wanted: to kick everybody out and screw him right there on the floor.  Justin wanted the same thing, but it wasn’t exactly considerate.  “No, JC.”

        JC kissed him, pressing forward, taking his mouth, tilting him back.  He was practically in Lance’s lap, with JC’s tongue doing things in this kiss only JC would have the balls to attempt.  He wanted to let JC, he wanted to beg JC, but at least for once he could try to respect the other people in the room.  “JC, no,” he said, trying not to gasp when he felt JC’s hand on his side.

        JC sat up.

        Justin pushed himself up off of Lance.  His dick was hard.  He wanted to climb into JC’s lap and fuss, “Baby, my dick’s hard,” and let JC take exquisite care of it for him.  But he was being mature.  Or trying to.  He ran his hand over his curls and sighed.

         “It feels wrong,” Chris said.  “It just feels wrong.”

        “I know what you mean,” Joey said.

        “What?” Justin asked.

        “You have a hard-on and JC got off you,” Chris said.  “It’s just not right.  JC, do your thing.  Help him out.”

        “Justin asked me not to,” JC said calmly without looking up from what he was discussing with Brian.

        “Justin gets turned on, JC takes care of it.  JC finishes the job,” Chris said.

        “That’s how this works,” Joey said.

        “And now you’re throwing the whole system out of whack,” Chris said.

        “Completely out of whack,” Joey said.

        “I think we should go,” Chris said.  “I think we should go, and the two of you should work this out.  We’ll be back in...what?”

        “An hour?” Joey asked.

        “Is an hour too long?” Chris asked.

        “JC and Justin,” Joey said.

        “Is an hour too short?” Chris asked.

        “We’ll be back in an hour,” Joey said, getting up.

        Chris rose, too.  “Brian?  Lance?”

        Lance?  Lance could have hit Chris right then, maybe broken his nose.  Lance was not leaving.  Lance was not moving.  He hadn’t moved a minute ago, and that had turned out all right.  JC had kissed Justin, and Lance had watched JC’s tongue slide right into Justin's mouth, had seen the slow movement, had almost felt it himself.  JC had been tilting Justin back, and Justin had run into Lance and kept going, leaning back against him, ending up against his thigh, across his lap.  JC, of course, had come right along with Justin, until it was JC there, JC leaning forward into his lap.  He’d wanted to touch JC’s hair, but Justin had done it instead.  Bastard.

        Lance could have touched JC’s hair.  Could have slipped a hand between their bodies and touched JC’s arousal.  Could have stayed there forever, watching JC kiss Justin, watching JC’s desire intensify, watching JC make love to Justin for real.  Oh, he’d heard them, and he’d witnessed a quick flash here and there, but he’d never watched JC make love.

        What Lance had wanted to do was close his eyes, will away Justin, and stay there in that position, with JC’s head in his lap, his dick hard, JC’s mouth on it.  JC’s mouth on his dick, JC’s mouth on his mouth, not on Justin’s.

        When Justin had said no - - who’d known Justin was capable of saying that word? - - and JC had stopped, Lance had wanted to hurt Justin for ending the moment.  But on the way up, the back of JC’s hand had brushed past Lance’s hard-on, and it was all Lance could do to remain still and silent.  Of course it had been unintentional on JC’s part, a split-second accident, so quick JC hadn’t even noticed it - - but what if JC had noticed?  What if it had registered in JC’s brain, and JC knew that Lance’s dick was hard, and JC knew that Lance was hard over him, and - - or what if it had been intentional?  What if JC had done it on purpose?  To check?  To feel?

        And now Chris and Joey, well-meaning idiots, or just plain idiots, were telling JC to go ahead and screw Justin while the rest of them left.  Like Justin needed to be fucked again.  Justin was a slut.  Justin was a whore.  Justin was the easiest lay Lance had ever met.  Easier than any girl Joey had ever picked up.  Even easier than a real prostitute, because Justin didn't even require money.  He was a wind-up toy.  JC's personal dick-milker.  But that was okay with Justin, because all he wanted from JC was sex.  He was using JC for sex.  That was why he demanded to be fucked every hour on the hour, and then treated JC like shit between fuckings.

        Lance had been present for the pre-show.  He’d felt the weight of them, Justin’s back arched over his thigh, Justin’s head in his lap, JC right there as well.  He was being kicked out for the actual event, but he was damned sure going to be back immediately afterwards.  He’d felt the rising heat of JC’s passion, and he wanted to witness the scene after JC’s passion had been spent.  He wanted to see post-sex JC, back in control but still flushed, eyes shining, mind getting back to business but body still in tune with sex.

        Lance had seen JC and Justin come back from a quick screw session, Justin looking sated, JC all business but bearing a visible erection.  And they’d all know that JC had given Justin a blowjob, and they’d all ignore it and move on.  They’d talk about whatever they needed to talk about, and JC would be right there with them, but Justin would be distracted, eyes on JC’s crotch, chewing on his lips.  And sometimes halfway through the discussion, Justin would interrupt with this quiet, plaintive, “JC,” and JC would give him a warm smile and say, “Okay, baby,” and they would leave again.  Before, before now, before AJ, Lance would watch them go with a sense of disbelief.  He’d wonder how Justin could possibly be that affected by the state of JC’s dick, especially since JC himself didn’t seem particularly concerned.

        Now Lance understood.

        Lance slid his phone half under the bag holding JC’s manicure kit, and stood.  He’d leave.  But he’d be back.

        Brian smiled at JC, gathering up paper.  “I’ll see you later.”

        “Guys,” JC said.  “Come on.”

        “No, no, this is right,” Chris said.

        “Just make sure you make it worth our while,” Joey said with a wink as he ushered Lance and Brian out to the hallway.  He closed the door with a firm click.

        Justin laughed.

        JC twisted closer, kissing Justin’s neck.  “Give me permission, baby.  Tell me yes this time.”

        “Yes,” Justin said, sliding his hand in between JC’s thighs.

        “Tell me I can make love to you, Justin.”  JC pulled Justin’s shirt off over his head.

        Justin lay down on his back, his hand on JC’s groin guiding JC over him.  “You can make love to me, JC.”

        JC’s tongue flickered soft and wet against Justin’s nipple.  “Ask me to make love to you, baby.”

        Justin put his hands to his own fly, now, opening it, pushing down his pants and underwear, exposing his hard arousal.  “JC, will you make love to me?”  His voice ached and trembled over the words when JC moved down his body to lick his groin.

        “Beg me for it, baby,” JC coaxed, licking up the shaft of his erection.

        “Please, JC, please, baby, make love to me,” Justin begged, spreading his thighs, raising his knees.  JC’s hands were on his hips, lifting him, and JC’s tongue was oh right there, right there.  “JC, please, JC.  JC, please.”  Justin moaned without words, twisting, when JC’s tongue breached his body.  Just that quickly, it was gone, but it couldn’t be, Justin wanted more, Justin needed more, “More, more, JC, please, JC...”

        JC was over him, one finger slicking lube up his ass, kissing him, letting him rock urgently against JC’s body.  “Do you want it, baby?”

        JC’s voice was soft but impassioned, and Justin could only beg hungrily against JC’s kisses, clawing at JC’s zipper.  Once it was down, and Justin could feel the heat of JC’s erection through JC’s underwear, could feel the wet of pre-cum through cotton, he shoved his hand inside, closing his fist around JC’s cock, moaning in triumph.  This was it, this was all, this was what he wanted.

        JC’s finger slid out.  “Do you want it, Justin?” JC asked, licking at his mouth.

        Justin put JC’s erection where he wanted it, positioning himself against it.  He felt his lips moving, but all he heard was the frustrated howl building up inside.  In, in, he wanted it in!

        A slow push of JC’s hips, a burn that lit Justin from the inside out, and it was in.  JC was in.

        Justin was on the move, rocking frantically into JC’s thrusts, writhing, pulling at the roots of his own hair, and begging, begging, begging.  JC had to give him more, more, more, fuck him harder, harder, faster, faster, more, more.  He loved JC he needed JC loved JC needed JC JC JC JC.  He came, but that only intensified the driving of JC’s hips, only made him want JC so much that tears came.

        JC came in him, kissed his tears, kissed his mouth, and they rolled across the floor, kissing, stopping in a new spot to fuck again.

        “I think I have enough,” Drew said.

        “Let’s go try stuff on,” Nick said.  “Where’s the fitting room?”

        “Back there,” Drew said.  “Nick, this is too much.”

        “We have to see what fits,” Nick said.  “Hey, Ken, are there cameras in this dressing room?”

        “Why does that matter?” Drew asked.

        “Because they’ll have footage of you undressing, and they’ll sell black market copies of the tape,” Nick said.

        “No, they won’t,” Drew said.

        “Okay, in you go.”  Nick came in with him, piling hangers on the hooks.  “You guys stay out there.”  He closed the door and fixed the latch.  “Strip.”

        “You don’t have to be in here with me,” Drew said.

        “No, I do,” Nick said.  “Strip.”

        “I can do this by myself,” Drew said.  “You go-”

        “Strip,” Nick repeated.

        “Nick, there are people right outside the door.  I don’t want them thinking-”

        “They’re the same people who look the other way when you give me tongue in the backseat,” Nick said.  “They’re the same people who-”

        “I know, I know, but what about the store people?”

        “We don’t know them.  Besides, they’ll have a good story to tell their friends tonight.  If you don’t strip, I’m going to undress you myself.”

        “Fine.  Just don’t touch anything.”

        “Why would I want to?”

        Drew narrowed his eyes.

        Nick smiled and deliberately fluttered his lashes.

        Drew toed out of his shoes and pulled off his shirts.  He smacked Nick’s hands away and put on one of the new shirts.  Nick sat on the bench to watch.  He took off that shirt and tried on another.

        “Do pants,” Nick said.

        “I’m waiting until you look less mischievous,” Drew said.  “These sleeves are too long.”  He tried another one.

        “I could do this all day,” Nick said.

        “I’m sure you could.”  Drew kissed him and changed shirts again.

        “Muscle shirts!  Those sleeveless ones.  We forgot those.”

        “That’s okay,” Drew said.

        “I know it’s okay,” Nick said.  “You have about thirty of them.”

        “Seventeen,” Drew said.  “They’re comfortable.”

        “They’re sexy.”

        “That, too,” Drew said.

        “Would you stop obsessively hanging everything on its neat little hanger before moving on to the next shirt?”

        “No,” Drew said.

        “Come here.”

        “No.”  Drew swatted at Nick’s hands and tried on another shirt.  “I like this one.”

        “Me, too.  Come here.”

        “No.  And if you don’t behave yourself, I’m kicking you out.”

        “You and what army?”

        “The large men outside this door who are paid to protect me from any slight danger.”

        “They’re paid to protect me, too.  Oh, you have to get that one.”

        “Why?”

        “It looks so sexy if you wore it every day I’d fuck you every day.”

        “It looks like something Nick would wear.”

        “That, too.”

        “I’m going to count to one hundred, slowly, in my head.  When I’m finished, I’ll let you know, and then you may speak again.”

        Nick didn’t say anything.

        Drew changed shirts.

        Nick silently devoted himself to cataloguing his favorite things about Drew’s body.

        Drew kissed Nick.  “One hundred.”  He took off a shirt and unbuttoned his jeans.

        “Time to try on pants?”

        “Yes, and behave yourself.”

        “I will.”

        “Good.”

        “Just come here first.”

        Drew stood in front of him.

        Nick kissed Drew, tangling their tongues.  His hands slid inside Drew’s opened jeans and cupped Drew’s ass.  His voice was a hot whisper against Drew’s skin.  “I want to suck your dick.  Let me suck on it.  I just want to be on my knees sucking it and sucking it and sucking it.  I don’t care if you come, I don’t care how many times you come, I just want it in my mouth, I want to suck on the head of it, the perfect round head of it.”

        Drew’s whisper was full of shock and desire too great to be suppressed.  “Nick.”

        “Your cock between my lips, the head against my tongue, it’s so big, Drew, your dick is so big and I want it so much.  I’m hard just thinking about it.”  His hands rubbed Drew’s ass through Drew’s underwear, gently squeezing.  His lips brushed Drew’s.  “Let me suck on it, let me suck on it and suck on it and suck on it until you can’t take it anymore and let me keep sucking on it after that, too.  I know once you gave it to me you wouldn’t take it away again, I know you’d let me have it and keep it to suck on as often and as long as I wanted it.”

        “Nick...”  Drew put a knee on the bench, straddling Nick’s thigh.  Nick could feel the growing bulge of Drew’s arousal.

        “Drew, I love your cock,” Nick whispered.  “I love it and I want it and it’s so fucking hard and it’s so fucking big and I love it when it’s soft and I love it when it’s hard and when I look at you and I know it’s sitting there inside your drawers nestled up with your balls, soft and fat and totally ignored, I want to pet it, rub it, lick it, take it in my mouth and suckle it all day long.”

        “Do it,” Drew whispered, “take it, suck it.”

        “I want to, I will,” Nick whispered, “I’ll suck on the head and I’ll suck on it all and I’ll deep-throat you until you scream.  All you have to do is look at me and pull it out and I’m there, I’m on it, you don’t have to ask, you don’t have to say a word, just sit back and let me suck your big fat cock with my cocksucking mouth.”

        “Suck it,” Drew repeated, his face in Nick’s neck, burrowing his hand inside his underwear.

        “I’ll suck it I’ll nurse it I’ll suckle on it so good you’ll never want it out of my mouth again,” Nick promised, wanting it right then, wishing he could have it right there.

        Drew dragged his cock out of his underwear, panting, whispering, “Suck it.”

        Maybe Nick’s plan was working too well.  He’d forgotten that if he teased Drew to a certain point, Drew stopped being teased and started being sexed.  Now he didn’t know what to do, because personally he was ready to fulfill every promise he’d just made; but this was Drew.  If Drew were in his right mind, he would blush and say no and be horny all afternoon.  But Nick had sexed Drew out of his right mind.  Nick let go of Drew’s ass and ran his hands up Drew’s naked back, hoping it would be soothing and not arousing.  “Ssshhh.”

        “Suck it,” Drew insisted, breathing harder.

        “When we’re in the hotel,” Nick promised.  “As soon as we get to the hotel.”

        “Now,” Drew said, and his hand started working over his dick, rubbing and pulling.

        Shit.  Nick put his hand over Drew’s, trying to still it.  “Not now, Drew.  Listen to me.  When we’re at the hotel, we can do whatever you want.  Just not right now.”

        “Now,” Drew said.  His body was moving in a needy, insistent rhythm.

        Sounding panicked hadn’t worked.  “Drew, no.  I’ll give you head at the hotel for ten hours straight if you can stand it, but right now, nobody is getting anything.  I love you and I want you, but we can’t do it here.  You’d be embarrassed, and you’d be ashamed, and I don’t want to put you through that.”

        Drew became still, panting gently, letting Nick's words register.

        “I’m sorry I got you excited,” Nick said, wishing he hadn’t had to say no, feeling bad for having worked Drew up that much.

        Drew slipped off of him, standing.

        “I went too far, and that’s my fault.”

        Drew tried to tuck his erection back in his underwear.

        Yeah, that wasn’t working.  Nick thought fast.  “Okay, I’m going to go pretend to shop some more, and distract everybody.  You stay in here, take care of that real quick, and try on more clothes.”  He pulled off his outer shirt and handed it to Drew.  “We don’t have any tissues.  You can come on this.  You were about to, anyway.”  He kissed Drew and slipped out of the little fitting room.  “Where are the watches?”

        “It’s not hard,” Lance said.  “I watched AJ do it all of the time.”

        “Can you paint mine?”

        “If you want me to,” Lance said.  “We’d have to go out and buy new colors.  All JC has is clear, pink, and purple.  You’d need AJ’s colors - - black, blue, green.”

        “And you’d need better-looking nails,” Chris said.

        “Are they done yet?” Lance asked.

        “Probably not,” Joey said.

        “I left my phone in there,” Lance said.

        “I hope you won’t need it for another few hours,” Chris said.

        Brian leaned around the corner.  “Sandra’s ready for you.”

        “Who wants to go break it up?” Chris asked.  “Musical chairs!”

        All three of them dove for the chair Chris pointed to.  Chris, having known which chair ahead of time, sat down first.  Lance and Joey pushed each other.  “Rock, paper, scissors will decide the loser,” Chris announced.  “One, two, three, shoot!”

        Joey’s paper covered Lance’s rock.  “Have fun,” Joey said.

        “Be polite,” Chris added.

        “Wash behind your ears,” Joey said.

        Lance gave Joey a look and went down the hallway.  He knocked politely at the door.  “Guys?  It’s time.  JC?”  He waited.  He counted to thirty.  “Guys?  JC.”

        “Come in,” JC’s voice said.

        Lance turned the knob and went in.  JC was barechested, his fly open to reveal black boxer-briefs.  He was zipping up Justin’s pants while Justin pulled on a shirt.  “Sandra wants us,” Lance said.  His fingers itched to rub inside JC’s open fly, to feel JC’s underwear, to feel the soft heat inside JC's underwear.  He wanted to touch JC’s cock, to hold it in his hand.  He might even settle for brushing the back of his hand against it, the way JC’s hand had oh so accidentally brushed against his.

        “Go fix your hair,” JC told Justin, and Justin left.  JC found his socks and shoes, then his shirt.  “Do I look like I’ve been having sex?”

        “A little,” Lance said.  Justin demanded to be fucked so often, JC spent half of each day looking like he’d just been screwing.  Lance was used to it, and driven mad by it.  “It might help if you closed your pants.”

        JC laughed, and took care of that.  He wiped his mouth with his fingers and tucked in his shirt.  “Better?”

        “Here,” Lance said, coming forward.  He flicked his fingers through JC’s hair, then adjusted JC’s necklace.

        “JC, I...”  Justin stopped talking.

        Oh, look who was back.  Lance forced himself to let go of the thin leather cord of JC’s necklace.  The knot was damp.  He knew Justin had been chewing on it again.

        “What is it, Justin?” JC asked.

        “Nothing,” Justin said.  “Lance, do you have any mints?”

        “Joey does,” Lance said.

        “Good,” Justin said.  He looked at Lance just a little too intently.  “I don’t want to go into an interview with my breath smelling like JC’s cum.”

        “Justin,” JC said, embarrassed.

        Score one for Justin.  Lance decided to let him have his little victory.  He wouldn’t be that smug for very much longer.

        “Oh, angel.”  Nick put his hand on the small of Drew’s back, and kissed Drew again.  “It was my fault.”

        “Did you mean it, or were you just talking to get me excited?” Drew asked.

         “I meant it, every word,” Nick said.  “I think about it every day.  I have daydreams, fantasies, about your dick.  And I have a lot of daydreams and fantasies about making it an all-day sucker.”

        “Don’t say that,” Drew said.

        “Did you take care of business?”

        Drew turned red.  “Yes.  I’m sorry about your shirt.”

        “That’s what I gave it to you for.  I didn’t really like it, anyway.  Did you try on more clothes?”

        “Yeah.  What’s that?”

        “A watch.  Can I buy it for you?”

        “It’s nice,” Drew said.  “It’s exactly what I want.  How much does it cost?”

        “It’s a present.  You can’t ask that.”

        “That means it’s expensive,” Drew said.

        “I’m never going shopping with you again,” Nick said.  “I’m trying to throw away my money on you!  Let me!”

        “I don’t want you to waste your money on me,” Drew said.

        “It isn’t wasted,” Nick said.  “I want to buy you shit.”

        “Buy me lunch,” Drew said.  “I’m starving.”

        “Do you want all of these clothes or most of them?”

        “What’s on this hook.”

        “Three shirts and one pair of pants,” Nick said.  “I wanted to get you at least ten things.”

        “This is all I want,” Drew said.

        “We’re going to stand here and you’re going to try on every item of clothing in this store until you have ten things,” Nick said.

        “Fine.”  Drew started adding shirts to the pile.

        “What about the pants?” Nick said.  “You don’t like them?”

        “They don’t fit,” Drew said.

        “Too tight in the crotch for your big dick?” Nick asked.

        “Don’t be obscene,” Drew said.  “They’re too...  If you laugh at me, I will hurt you.”

        “I’m not laughing.  I can’t even think of why I’d laugh?  How is pants not fitting funny?”

        “The legs are all too long.”

        Nick burst into laughter.

        Lance had been adjusting JC’s necklace.  Sliding the cord to put the knot in the back, positioning the Leo just so on JC’s chest.

        Justin wanted to smack Lance across the mouth.

        That was his JC.  His JC to touch.  His JC to groom.  His JC’s necklace, therefore his necklace.  Not Lance’s.

        Lance should not touch JC.  Not any part of JC at any time.

        Damn it, they’d signed so many papers, he had legal rights to everything JC owned.  What rights did Lance have?  None.  None at all.  No right.  No right to touch JC, no right to adjust JC’s necklace or paint JC’s nails or hold JC’s hand or rub ointment in the scratches Justin left on JC’s ass!

        Lance could go running back to AJ for all Justin cared.  If it got him off JC, so much the better.  And why not?  Lance and AJ had been in love.  They’d been serious, they’d been good together.  Justin had never seen Lance that involved with anyone.  So what if AJ had cheated?  Chris was back with Howie.

        But Lance had too much pride for that.  Too much pride to go back, too much pride to risk looking desperate, too much pride to return to someone who’d once made a mistake and done him wrong.  Even if he was in love.  Even if AJ had changed him, brought things out of him, so that he was a different person, now, than the one he’d been before.

        But Lance didn’t have enough pride to keep himself from looking like a complete bastard jackass while he chased around after Justin’s husband.

        Justin’s husband.  Husband.  Not that that whole holy covenant of marriage was slowing Lance down, but it still mattered to Justin.  He and JC weren’t dating, weren’t seeing each other, weren’t merely an exclusive couple.  They were married.  They were united.  They were one in Justin’s eyes, in JC’s eyes, and in God’s eyes.  Who knew what the hell Lance was looking at, but as far as Justin, JC, and God were concerned, nothing would ever come between JC and Justin Timberlake Chasez.

        Maybe Lance hadn’t gotten the memo.

        Maybe Justin would have to re-notify him.

        “Yeah,” Nick said.

        Nick pushed the door open and came in with Drew.  He carried a small shopping bag.  “Having a big day?”

        “Oh, yeah,” Justin said.  “It’s been wild.”

        “I see,” Nick said.  “Hey, what’d you buy?”

        “Sneakers,” Justin said.  “The details are too stimulating to be repeated.”

        “Why are you looking slumped and moody?” Nick asked Nick.

        “I'm fine,” Nick said.

        “How was your shopping trip?” Justin asked.

        “Awful,” Nick said.  “Do you know how hard it is to buy clothes for Drew?  Nothing fits!  He has the stupidest weirdest sizes!”

        “I hope you weren’t trying to find pants,” Justin said.  “His legs are too short.”

        “You’re not funny,” Drew said to Justin.

        “Hey, Nick L., we bought you something,” Nick said.

        Nick looked up.  “Really?”

        “Yeah.  But I’m not giving it to you if you’re going to scowl like that.”

        “I’m not scowling,” Nick said.

        “Show me dimples,” Nick said.

        “Nick-”

        “Dimples or no present.”

        Nick smiled.

        “Good boy.  Here.  It’s from both of us.  I picked it out and I made Drew pay for it.”

        Nick hesitated.  “Where’d you get it?”

        “Does it matter?” Nick asked.

        “If it’s from a sex shop-”

        “It’s from some exclusive snobby store,” Nick said.  “Drew wouldn’t go in the sex place with me.”

        “Trust you to find one to try to go into,” Nick said.

        Nick raised an eyebrow.

        “Sorry,” Nick said.  “I didn’t mean it like that.”  He looked into the bag and lifted out a slim, rectangular, black velvet jewelry case.  “What is this?”

        “Your present,” Nick said.

        Nick cracked open the box.  It was a whole set.  Necklace, bracelet, earring.  Shimmering gold and dark red rubies.

        “Close your mouth,” Drew said.

        “You bought this for me?” Nick said.

        “Don’t read too much into it,” Nick said.  “We only did it because we love you.”

        “You’re saying Drew paid for this?” Justin asked, leaning over Nick’s shoulder.

        “It started off because we were buying clothes for Drew and I was thinking about what you wear,” Nick said to Nick.  “You have those sexy-ass shirts with the long sleeves and the wide, kind of horizontal necklines.  I thought, you know, you expose all of that damned delicious skin, the shoulders and neck and collarbone, but it’s all bare.  You should put a necklace there.  So we started looking at necklaces, and then I thought you should have an earring to match, and I wanted gold, and I wanted red because that’s kind of how I think of you, and when I saw that necklace I knew it was the one, and there was the matching - - yeah, so there you go.”

        “I don’t know what to say,” Nick said, getting up, hugging them.  “Thank you.”

        “See, I told you he’d like it,” Nick told Drew.

        “No, I told you he’d like it,” Drew said.  “You were the one second-guessing yourself all the way here.”

        “I didn’t know, he might have hated it,” Nick said.  “He might think it was too effeminate.”

        “I don’t hate it,” Nick said.  “Thank you.”

        “He wants to know why you think of him as red,” Drew said.

        “Oh,” Nick said.  “Uh...okay.  Well, it’s sort of...  We have this, uh, thing, where we think of each other in terms of colors.  Brian’s blue.  Sort of a light blue.  Drew’s purple.  I’m, um, gold.  You’re red.  Rich red.  Like blood.  Or passion.”

        “You...you think of me as red?” Nick asked.

        “Yeah.”

        Nick lowered his lashes, then looked at Nick from beneath that cover.

        Nick’s gaze met Nick’s, skittered away in shy fear, came back, skittered away, and came back again.

        “I can’t believe you’re having a moment,” Drew said.

        “Quiet,” Nick said.  “We’re bonding.”

        “Thank you,” Nick said.  “I’m, I’m...  Thank you.”

        “You’re welcome,” Drew said.  “It was our pleasure.”

        “You’ve seen the way JC is with me.”

        “Yes,” Brian said.

        “The way he looks after me, the way he looks at me, the way he talks to me, the way he touches me.  He takes care of me, he values me, he protects me, he makes sure I never have to worry about anything, anything big, any details.  I always have fresh drawers, he takes care of all of the money and bills, I never run out of deodorant, he keeps lube on him at all times, he handles everything down to the last detail so all I have to do is the twenty-four-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week, fifty-two-weeks-a-year job that is *NSYNC.  And he isn’t just taking care of me.  He wants me.  He can’t keep his hands off of me.  He can’t keep his eyes off of me.  He wants me.  You can hear it when he breathes.”

        “Yes,” Brian said, gently encouraging.

        “You can’t miss it.  He doesn’t even try to hide it.  JC lives for me.  I’m his world.  I’m his entire universe.”

        “Yes, you are,” Brian agreed.

        “Anyone who knows us knows that.  Anyone who’s talked to us knows it.  If you’ve ever seen us in the same room together, you know it.”

        “Yes,” Brian said.

        “So anyone trying to express interest in JC would be doing it with complete disrespect for him, me, and what we have together.”

        Brian hesitated.

        “If you’ve seen us together, you know what’s going on between us.  If you still try to hint something to JC after that, what does that mean?  It means you think you can give him something I can’t?  I give JC everything.  I am JC’s everything.”

        “You’re assuming that it would happen with direct intent,” Brian said.  “Maybe it’s not being thought through that exactly.  Sometimes people feel something inside, and they act on that emotion, even if it’s irrational.”

        “Calm, cool, logical people?”

        “Yes, depending on what they’re going through.”

        “I don’t get it,” Justin said.  “I don’t understand it.  Is he trying to hurt me?”

        “I don’t know,” Brian said.  “I think he’s confused.  He’s been hurt himself.”

        “I know that, and I’ve tried to respect it,” Justin said.  “But this is starting to be too much.”

        “I know it is,” Brian said.  “I’ve watched you dealing with it.”

        “What would Nick’s advice be?” Justin asked.

        “Tell Lance off straight to his face, put him in his place, and tell him to stay away from your man,” Brian said.  “If that doesn’t work, push him around.”

        “What would your advice be?” Justin asked.

        “Wait until the tour’s over.  You’ll be separated, JC will be busy with the Fools, AJ will be in town, it’ll be a completely different set of circumstances.  If it’s still happening, then take care of it.”

        Justin nodded.

        “You can’t do much to make it more obvious that you and JC are very much in love and very much committed to each other,” Brian said.

        “No, not really,” Justin said.

        “Don’t let it threaten you,” Brian said.  “Don’t let it pull you away from JC.  Stay as close to him as you are now.  Become closer.  If you let it affect your relationship, it might cause the damage you’re afraid of.  And if you feel threatened, and show it, JC might take that as an insult.  You know how important it is to him that you know and believe that you come first above all else.”

        Brian couldn’t have been more right about that.  Hearing those truths and that advice, Justin felt better.  He’d trust JC.  He’d love JC.  He’d give Lance time to get over it.

        And, if they all went home and Lance was still trying to time-share Justin’s husband, Justin would kick some Bass ass.

        Best-best friend in the world or not, Justin didn’t let anybody borrow his shoes, didn’t let anybody insult his mama, and sure as hell didn’t let anybody on JC.

        “No,” Drew said.  “Make love to me.”

        “Now what did I do to deserve that special treat?” Nick asked, walking Drew backwards toward the bed.

        “You stopped me from humiliating myself in the dressing room,” Drew said.  “It could have been awful, but you stopped me.”

        “Trust me, it hurt me more than it hurt you,” Nick said.  “Protect Drew from evil forces, get to screw him,” he murmured, musing.  “I like this system.  I’m going to treat you great from now on.”

        “You always treat me well,” Drew said.  “Now make love to me.”  The backs of his legs met the bed.  “Tomorrow, all day tomorrow, you can put your mouth on my dick.”

        “Nothing’s going to happen while they’re out with Joey,” Howie said.

        “It’s the principle of the thing,” Chris said.  “Lance is devious.”

        “Why aren’t you out with them?” Howie asked.

        “My body part hurts.”

        “Which body part?” Howie asked.  “Should I be worried?”

        “No, it’s not that body part,” Chris said.  “That one’s a little depressed over missing you, but it’s okay.  It’s another body part.”

        “What did you do to it?”

        Chris wasn’t a coward.  Howie would love him anyway.  “I tattooed it.”

        “I see,” Howie said.  “How does it look?”

        “It looks good,” Chris said.  “It feels...  I feel different.  Like my life’s different.”

        “I wish I could see it,” Howie said.

        “I wish I could see you,” Chris said.  “Why did you - - why did they stop making Batman movies?  I’ve always wondered.  It was a huge franchise, and then they stopped.  Was it because they were running out of actors to play Batman?  Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, who’s next, Matt Lauer from NBC’s ‘The Today Show?’  And how did Val Kilmer get in there?  When was Bruce Wayne ever blond?”

        “Why did I what?” Howie asked.

        “What?”

        “You started to ask me a question.  Why did I what?”

        “Really?  Hmm.  George Clooney, what kind of big step down was that for the Bat?  Having good hair on ‘The Facts of Life’ and being the good-looking one on ‘E.R.’ do not suggest an Oscar-award winning performance in this man’s future.  How did he get to be Batman?”

        “He’s attractive.  It was the fourth movie.  They weren’t planning on breaking records.”

        “Attractive,” Chris said.  “What sorts of men do you find attractive?  Charming, crinkly-eyed George Clooney types?”

        “Sexy, funny, Chris Kirkpatrick types.”

        “Oh, well, then.  That’s okay.  Yeah.  All right.”

        “Chris, what did you want to ask me?” Howie asked patiently.

        “Oh, nothing, I don’t even remember,” Chris said.  “It can’t have been important.  I have to go, so I’ll just-”

        “Chris.  I love you.  If you’d tell me what you’re worried about, I could help you.  Since you won’t tell me, all I can say is that I love you, I want you, and I miss you.”

        “It’s nothing,” Chris said.  His eyes were closed so he could trap Howie’s words inside himself.  Love.  Want.  Miss.  “I love you, too.  I want you, too.  I miss you, too.”

        “I meant what I said,” Howie told him.  “I’m attracted to you.  When I meet other men in the course of my day, I compare them to you in my head, and it always makes me glad I’m with you.  They’re not as funny.  They’re not as sexy.  They don’t have your talent or your ears or your comedic timing or your restless fidgets or your annoying habits.”

        “And somehow this is a good thing?” Chris asked.

        “I love all of that about you.”

        “My ears stick out, I fidget, I have annoying habits, and this is for some reason making me stack up better than other people in your eyes?  Who are these people you’re meeting, the offspring of Richard Simmons and Roseanne?”

        “There are things about you that you see as flaws.  I love those things.  Now that I know you, other people are boring.”

        That sentiment struck Chris in just the right place.  Howie had said exactly what Chris had always wanted to hear.

        “I could be with you forever and never lose interest,” Howie said.

        “Whether I get boring or not, I’d annoy the hell out of you.”

        “You don’t now.”

        “That’s because you’re free to go.  If you were really tied down to me, you’d go crazy and jump ship early in the game.”

        “No,” Howie said.  “I don’t think so.  That’s not true.”

        “Hey, these guys are my best friends, and I annoy them.  They get sick of me, they yell at me to shut up, they threaten me with violence-”

        “I like your stories,” Howie said.  “I like your running gags.  When you get nervous and start to babble, if I kiss you, you stop.”

        “How can you not get fed up with me?” Chris asked.  “I irritate myself so much I want to hurt myself for being that annoying.”

        “You aren’t perfect.  That’s okay with me.”

        Chris wanted to close his eyes and be with Howie again.  “Perfection’s overrated, anyway.  I have to go, so, uh, sloppy kisses and quick handjobs, I’ll see you later.”  He hung up.

        Silence.

        Chris sat on the bed, Indian-style, and clasped his hands.  He sighed a little.  He fidgeted.

        Why had he been given free rein to screw Howie that first night?

        What kinds of men was Howie attracted to?  Short pasty aging singers?  Great, so not much competition there, besides Billy Joel.  If Billy Joel was short.  Which he might be.  Chris tried to remember.

        Howie was probably interested in hot mature slick-looking guys, or sexually available younger guys, or whatever beautiful-perfect guys were into.  The guy running through Howie’s sexual fantasies was probably some liquid-eyed Latin guy with tight abs and a pretty dick who liked to - - oh, wait, that was the guy running through Chris’s sexual fantasies.  Howie probably didn’t fantasize about himself.  Well, maybe he did.

        Chris should have gone out with the guys.  Maybe he would, tomorrow.  It’d take his mind off of Howie and maybe prevent him from mentally sabotaging his own relationship.

        Jeff sat beside him, stretching out.  Their knees were touching.  Nick felt tense and fluttery.  He wanted to make love to Jeff.  He didn’t care who heard.

        “Did you get it?” Jeff asked.

        “What?” Nick asked.

        “What you wanted to get Brian.  Did you get it?”

        “Yeah.”  Nick wondered when would be a good time to mention...  “Uh, Nick and Drew got me something.”

        “Nick and Drew?” Jeff asked.  “If it were just Nick, I’d be worried, but if it’s from both of them, it should be okay.  What is it?”

        “Jewelry.”  Nick glanced at Jeff out of the corner of his eye.

        “What kind?”

        “A necklace, a bracelet, an earring.  It’s a set.”

        “Can I see it?”

        “Yeah.  It’s...here.”  Nick handed it over without making eye contact.

        Jeff opened the case and whistled.  “Nice.  Nick paid for it?”

        “Drew did,” Nick said.

        “Wow.  It’s nice.  You should wear it sometime.”  Jeff handed it back.

        “You’re okay with it?” Nick asked.

        “Yeah,” Jeff said.  “If you were my wife, it would be inappropriate for anyone but me to give you jewelry.  But you’re a man, and it’s Nick and Drew, so I know it’s nothing but a token of their love.  That doesn’t bother me.”

        “And it’s okay that I got Brian...”

        “Yes,” Jeff said.  “I know how you feel about him.”

        “It’s not-”

        “I know.”

        “I don’t-”

        “I know,” Jeff said.  “I know.”

        Nick was out of conversation material.

        Jeff put his hand over Nick’s and turned off the TV.  “Nick, look at me.”

        Nick turned his head and looked at Jeff.  There was an odd peace in Jeff’s eyes sometimes, a peace that came not only from Jeff’s strength and confidence, but from Jeff’s love.

        “I’m sorry that I got mad at you.  I was frustrated, and I got mad, and I acted like a jerk all morning.  I talked myself into getting madder at you than I really was.  Then in the locker room, I realized that I wasn’t mad at you.  I didn’t want to fight.  I was tired of fighting with you.  I wanted the fight to be over so we could make love.”

        Nick knew he should say something to apologize.

        “I wanted to make love, you didn’t.  You thought I wasn’t respecting your side of the issue, I thought you were pushing me away.  I’m willing to give in.  We can try to have quiet sex.  I’ll give it a try because I know that’s what you want right now.”

        “No,” Nick said.

        “Nick, what else can I do?  What do you want?  I asked for sex, you said no, because you didn’t want anyone to hear us.  Now I’m saying okay, let’s do it quietly so no one hears us, and you’re still saying no.  You don’t want to make love at all?”

        “No,” Nick said.  “No, no, I mean...”

        “Oh,” Jeff said.  He smiled and ran his hand up Nick’s forearm.  “What changed your mind?”

        “You, in the locker room,” Nick said.  “I know we’ll never manage to have quiet sex, so either it’s loud sex or no sex.”

        “We could try no sex,” Jeff said.

        “Over my dead body,” Nick said.  “Justin can buy earplugs.”

        Jeff laughed.  “We can buy a pair for him.  Or we could try not to kick the headboard as often when we’re wrestling.”

        Nick stood and pulled Jeff to his feet.  “It’s not wrestling.  It’s foreplay.”

        Jeff kissed him.  “I love you.”

        Nick smiled and touched Jeff’s chin.  “That’s what all the groupies say.”

        Jeff slowly made eye contact.

        Nick kept smiling.

        Jeff’s voice was tense.  “I.  Am not.  Your groupie.”

        “What was it you said?  Before or after you said you’d beg me if I ever wanted it again, I don’t remember.  What was...  Oh, right, right,” Nick remembered, nodding.  “‘I’m a fan, I’m a groupie.’”

        “I am not your groupie,” Jeff repeated.  “I am also not going to beg you.  I was saying whatever I had to to get some.  It’s called being a man, which I guess you wouldn’t know anything about.”

        “So, how long has this been going on?” Nick asked.  “Since, what, 1998?  Earlier?”

        “I am not your groupie!”

        “Now, now,” Nick said.  “Don’t raise your voice or I won’t autograph your dick for you.”

        “Rein it in, Lachey, or you’re spending another night on the couch.”  Jeff started to walk past him towards the bed.

        Nick caught Jeff’s arm and tried to pull him back.  Jeff refused to budge, so Nick was forced to cut around in front of him again.  “Really,” Nick said.  “Tell me.  What would you do to get just one night with me?”

        Jeff would have slammed his foot down on top of Nick’s, but their feet were bare, so the effect would have been lost.  “You.  Are.  Insufferable.”

        “Tell me the truth.  Does that just make you want me more?”

        “Insufferable!”  Jeff really did walk past Nick this time.  Arrogant smug gloating self-centered - - stripped to his underwear now, Jeff pulled down the sheets to get into bed.

        “It does, doesn’t it?” Nick asked.  “The worse my ego gets, the more you want me.”

        Jeff lay flat on his back and hated the ceiling.

        “What ever happened to the gay boy inside you who was jacking off to posters of me?” Nick asked, undressing while Jeff pointedly did not watch.  “He must be the happiest boy alive, now.  Is he the reason you came that fast when we first got together?”

        Jeff had control over his orgasms and his temper, luckily for Nick.

        Nick slid in beside him, too close, Nick’s leg rubbing against his leg, hand running over his abs.  “How much money would you pay to make love to Nick Lachey of 98 Degrees?”

        Jeff tried not to growl.  “Believe me, the experience is priceless.”

        Nick laughed.  Smug bastard.  “Jeff.  Come on, tell me the truth.  When I start acting out of arrogance, you want me more.”  He kissed Jeff’s cheek.  His hand stroked down the shaft of Jeff’s cock.  “Tell me.”  He kissed Jeff’s shoulder.  His fist worked over Jeff’s growing arousal.  “I know it was all shit and nonsense, I know you were making it all up, I know you’ve never cared about status or stardom, we both know we’re equals.  But that part sounded too real.  It would explain why you put up with me.”

        This was too much.  Nick was too good, and too simple, to be true.  Jeff pulled his chin up and kissed his mouth.  “Yes.  Your raging ego makes me love you more and it makes me want you more.  I could never tell you that, because I don’t want to encourage you.”

        “I don’t think you’ve ever lied to me before,” Nick said.  “Not like that.  You’ve said stuff you didn’t mean when we were fighting, but you’ve never lied to make up with me or get laid.”

        “I’ve never had to do much of anything to get laid, except make eye contact,” Jeff said.

        Nick laughed.  “Seriously.  Why’d you say all that?”

        “It’s like you said,” Jeff said.  “I was willing to tell you anything I had to so we’d stop fighting and start making love.”  That much was true.

        “It was...weird.  Don’t do it again.”

        Jeff kissed him and stroked his hair.  “I won’t.  I won’t lie to you.”  Another kiss.  “I promise.”

        Nick climbed more on top of Jeff, kissing him, gently groping him.  “I want to make love to you.”

        Jeff liked the way Nick’s muscles flexed when Nick rocked against him like this.  “I want to make love to you.”

        “Mmm.”  Nick came up for air.  “I already called it.”

        “Too bad,” Jeff said, groaning a little when Nick’s erection slid along his.

        “Race you to the lube for it,” Nick said.

        “Where is it?” Jeff asked.

        “One...”

        Jeff tried to look, but Nick was kissing him.

        “Two...”

        Where the-

        “Three!”

        Justin smiled and pulled the covers over his head.