Copyright April 2, 2002-November 10, 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.

        Justin leaned backwards until he was almost horizontal along Joey’s couch.

        Lying on Justin’s chest and between his legs, JC rubbed his thumb out across Justin’s collarbone.

        “I’ve really missed you,” Justin said softly.

        “I’ve missed you, too,” JC said.  “Every time I…anything, you weren’t there, and…”

        “I know.”  Justin held on more tightly.  “I’m here now.”

        “Drew’s coming home,” Nick said.

        “And?”

        “It might be nice to pretend to clean the house,” Nick said.

        “Okay,” Brian said, trying to fit that into what he was seeing.

        “I’m throwing away the random junk that’s all over the counters,” Nick said.  “I want him to know that he’s important to us and that we put even a little thought into his homecoming.”

        “You’re throwing away our silverware.”

        “We have more.”

        “Getting a trash bag and throwing away everything in sight isn’t cleaning,” Brian said.

        “Heh.  Funny.  You sound like Drew,” Nick said.

        “Cleaning for Drew is a great idea,” Brian said.  “He’ll love it.  Why don’t you let me finish up in here, and you can…do the laundry.”

        Nick laughed.

        “Vacuum?” Brian suggested.

        “Hey, no way,” Nick said.  “That vacuum cleaner eats things.”

        “You’re supposed to tidy around the room and pick up what’s on the floor before you vacuum,” Brian said.

        “I’m not doing that much work,” Nick said.

        Brian studied him.  “You’ll hit two venues in one day, rehearse until you’re a puddle of sweat and practice choreography until your feet bleed, tour for so long you forget what month it is and which country you’re in, and you think that picking your things up before running the vacuum is too much work.”

        “You really sound like Drew,” Nick said.  “It’s getting creepy.”

        “What can you do?” Brian asked.

        “That Drew would look at without laughing?” Nick asked.  “I can make the bed, but we might be using that.”

        “Can you round up a phone book and dial a phone?” Brian asked.

        “Who are we calling?” Nick asked.

        “I had an idea,” Brian said.

        When Joey gave up on his appearance and left the bathroom, he found Lance leaning back against the kitchen counter in a “picking guys up in a bar” pose, a glass in one hand.  Joey didn’t like it.  “What are you drinking?”

        “Iced tea,” Lance said.

        “Lipton or Long Island?” Joey asked.

        Lance smiled.

        “It’s not even ten a.m.!”

        “I like to be ahead of the competition,” Lance said.

        “I thought you were trying to reform,” Joey said.

        “You bring out the worst in me,” Lance said, and took a sip.

        “Give it to me,” Joey said, putting out his hand.  “Give me the glass.”

        “Here.”  Lance dropped it; the glass shattered upon contact with the floor, splashing alcohol over his bare feet.

        “Damn!”  Joey grabbed Lance, lifting him over the glass to safety.

        Lance, his hands having closed on the front of Joey’s T-shirt for support, laughed and looked up into Joey’s face.  “I’m not a damsel in distress, Joey.”

        “Right,” Joey said vaguely.  There was something about having Lance in his…embrace…that felt…

        “Joey,” Lance said.

        “Lance,” he said, only it came out sounding almost breathy, and he couldn’t feel his toes.

        “Your hands are wandering,” Lance said in an amused yet warning tone.

        Lance’s lips were awfully red.

        “I told you,” Lance said, in a quieter voice now.  “Don’t start anything you can’t finish.”

        Awfully red, and awfully - - Joey quickly lifted his hands from where they’d been getting friendly with Lance’s ass, and patted Lance’s shoulder.  “We should get that glass cleaned up,” he said heartily.

        Lance pushed Joey away.  “Do what you want.”

        “You’d think it would be easier than this,” Nick said.

        “Drew’s usually where he’s supposed to be, when he’s supposed to be there,” Justin said.

        “Are you saying that Jeff isn’t?” Nick asked.

        “When I list Jeff’s top five finest qualities, punctuality doesn’t make the cut,” Justin said.

        “I have a list like that,” Nick siad.  “Jeff’s top five finest qualities.”

        “My list may have different things on it than yours,” Justin said.

        “Maybe,” Nick agreed.  “Maybe.”

        Drew jogged up to them.  “I’m here.  Where’s Jeff?”

        “Maybe he’s not coming home with us,” Justin said.

        “Ah, forget him,” Drew said.  “Let’s get started.”

        “I second the motion,” Justin said.  “All in favor?”

        “Oh, hey, guys,” Jeff said, joining them, kissing Nick’s cheek.  “Sorry I’m late.”

        “Darn it,” Drew said.

        “So close,” Justin lamented.

        Jeff paused.  “What?”

        “Never mind,” Nick said.  “Let’s do this.”

        The four of them joined hands in a circle, lowering their heads and closing their eyes.  Justin began with a short prayer, then said, “I am thankful for packed houses of happy fans, and for the safety of everyone involved in this tour.”

        “Always take the good ones,” Drew muttered.  Jeff kicked him.

        Nick cleared his throat.  “I am thankful for every show that went off without a hitch, and for Nick and Brian getting to visit Drew.”

        “That was mine!  You can’t take that one!” Drew objected, opening his eyes to glare at Nick.

        “Quiet,” Jeff said.  “I am thankful for the time we got to spend together, and the continued blessing of sharing our music across the world.”

        Drew stopped glaring at Nick long enough to close his eyes and bow his head again.  “I’m thankful for being able to do what I love to do with the people I love to do it with, Nick, Jeff, and Justin.  And I’m thankful for getting a better quality of hotel this time around.  And, what I’m looking forward to…  I’m looking forward to being with Brian and Nick again.”

        “I’m looking forward to my own home with my own bed and getting to sleep in,” Jeff said.

        “I’m looking forward to American TV with American sports on it,” Nick said.

        “I’m looking forward to a safe flight home,” Justin said.  “Amen.”

        “Amen,” they chorused, and broke the circle to hug each other.

        “We’re wearing too many clothes,” Justin said.  “I want to be close to you.”

        “Skin,” JC said.  “You against me.”

        “Yes,” Justin said, running his hands over JC’s back.  “Skin to skin.”

        JC kicked off his shoes and toed out of his socks, then lifted himself from Justin just enough to tug off his shirt.  Together, they wriggled out of their jeans and underwear.  Fully naked, JC resumed his place on top of Justin, who moaned softly and closed his eyes.

        “You always feel so good, Justin.”  JC stroked the outside of Justin’s thigh.  “So good.”

        “God, JC, I’ve missed you.”  Justin ran his hands over JC’s back, feeling the difference in sensation and intimacy now that JC was naked.  “I hate touching you through things.  Through clothes.  I like to touch you directly.”

        JC luxuriated in feeling his skin against Justin’s, everywhere they were touching, from chest to thigh to foot.  Nothing between them, no barriers.

        Justin stroked the muscle of JC’s arms, the knots of JC’s spine, the silky smooth skin low on JC’s back.

        JC caressed Justin’s naked hip.  “So good...”

        Justin’s fingers counted JC’s vertabrae.  Justin had used to do that all of the time, before.  It was one of the millions of things he’d thought were lost.  Now he did it gently, lingering over each one, cherishing each inch of skin he covered.

        “What do you want, Joey?” Lance asked, getting himself some bottled water from the fridge.

        “I want to go home and sleep,” Joey said.

        “Then go,” Lance said.  “You look like you could use it.”

        “Who were you with last night?” Joey asked.

        “A man,” Lance said.

        “Was it AJ?”

        “Is AJ a man?” Lance asked.

        “You shouldn’t spend time with him,” Joey said.  “He does things to you.”

        “He does things to me?” Lance asked.  “He’s the one who noticed I had a drug problem and got in my face about it.  I feel better, more centered, more happy, than I have in months.  Because of him.  Because of the way AJ and I are relating to each other.  It’s like we’re past all of those boxes and labels, we’re just people who understand each other and can be completely open.”

        “And how open were your legs last night?” Joey asked.

        “Fuck you,” Lance said.  “I don’t have to explain myself to you.  I am gay, Joey.  I fuck men, and men fuck me.  You don’t have to like it or accept it or give a rat’s ass about it, you just have to get out of my business and let me do it.”

        “How could you even think about being with AJ again after everything that he did to you?”

        “He cheated on me.  We broke up.  He had sex with Kevin.  He loves Kevin.  More power to him.”

        “Lance-”

        “Maybe not all of us are meant to wander into the sunset with our one true love.  Maybe some of us aren’t going to connect with our one special person.  But AJ knows that his is Kevin, and I hope that he gets what he wants.”

        “You’re going to have all of those,” Joey said.  “You deserve everything great.”

        “You run so hot and cold-”

        “You run hot and cold!” Joey accused.  “I’m dizzy trying to keep up with you!”

        “All I’m doing is being honest,” Lance said.

        “So am I,” Joey said.  He put his hand on Lance’s wrist.  “Spend today with me.”

        Kevin took AJ’s hand, letting AJ lead him into the house and close the door.  Such a simple thing, AJ offering a hand to him, but it was sweet intimacy, just the sort of gesture Kevin had longed for.

        “You know the territory,” AJ said, walking him through the house.  “That just leaves the house rules.”

        “House rules?” Kevin asked, surprised and inclined to laugh.

        “You get the same rules the significant others always get,” AJ said.

        “Oh, those rules,” Kevin said.  They stopped in the bedroom; he let AJ’s hand go, not wanting to keep AJ tethered for too long.  “AJ’s rules for girlfriends.  Don’t answer the phone, because the caller could be anyone from AJ’s mother to a reporter to a fan to a DJ live on the air, and it’s up to AJ to decide how to handle each call.  Don’t invite people over without warning and permission.  Don’t touch the thermostat, because it’s set very precisely to keep AJ comfortable.”

        “Very good,” AJ said.   He began to undress.  “That leads us to the new rules.”

        “You have new rules?” Kevin asked.

        “Yes,” AJ said, and peeled out of his tank top.  “The first rule is, I have to be honest with you.”

        “About everything?”

        “About everything,” AJ said, looking him directly in the eyes.  “How I’m feeling, what I’ve been doing, everything.”

        “Is that a house rule, or a relationship rule?”

        AJ hesitated, shrugging one shoulder.  “I can be flexible.  We can make it a relationship rule.”  He dropped his gaze and began to open his pants.  “The other new rule is special.”

        “Special,” Kevin repeated, looking at AJ’s taut, muscular thighs.

        “Yes,” AJ said.  Stripping out of his underwear, now naked, he put his hands on Kevin’s shoulders.  He looked confidently into Kevin’s eyes and said, “Kevin gets what Kevin wants.”

        Kevin put his hand to AJ’s back.  He was sure he’d heard wrong.  “What?”

        AJ slowly, promisingly, slid his hands down Kevin’s chest.  “You heard me.”

        “Are we talking about how we decide which movie to watch?” Kevin asked.

        “It applies to…”  AJ’s hands reached Kevin’s waist; he tucked his fingers into Kevin’s belt loops and lowered himself to his knees.  “Everything.”

        Kevin was becoming very aroused, very quickly.  He shifted his feet a little farther apart for balance, and closed his eyes as AJ stroked him through his pants.  “What made you choose this new rule?”

        “I love you,” AJ said, and it was still so new and so shocking that Kevin’s eyes opened.  AJ unfastened Kevin’s fly with efficient fingers.  “You get my first love, and my first loyalty, and my time, and my attention.”  AJ put one hand back, setting his palm flat behind himself on the ground, leaning back into it.  There before Kevin’s eyes, he undulated, slowly, running his free hand down his chest, over his abs, over his arousal.  He looked up; dark eyes pinned Kevin.  “I know you’re going to be good to me, Kevin.”  He reached for Kevin’s hip, straightening on his knees again.  “I know you’re going to treat me so well, I’ll be so content I’ll let you have me whenever you want me.”

        Kevin’s cock throbbed, heavy with blood in the constraints of his underwear.  “I’ll be good to you,” he promised.

        “I know you will,” AJ said, and began to lower Kevin’s underwear.  “That’s why I’m here.”  He licked his lips slowly, promising pleasure with each flicker of his tongue.  “Now let me be good to you.”

        “No,” Joey said.  “I want to spend today with you.”

        “Am I supposed to forget that ‘how open were your legs last night’ comment, and paint the town with you?”

        “I’m sorry,” Joey said.  “That was out of line.  Your sex life is personal and private.  It’s none of my business.  But I’m worried about you.”

        “I’m fine,” Lance said.

        “Good,” Joey said.

        “You can stop touching me now, Joey.”

        Joey withdrew his hand from Lance’s wrist.

        “I don’t know what you want,” Lance said.  “Do you?”

        “I want my best friend back.  I want my Lance back.”

        “Your Lance?” Lance asked.

        “Yes,” Joey said.  “Mine.”

        “I was never yours,” Lance said.

        “Then maybe I was yours,” Joey said.  He didn’t know where that had come from, but it sounded right.

        “My what?” Lance asked with impatience.

        “Your best friend,” Joey said.  “Your loudest defender, your humble manservant, your biggest fan.  Yours, period.”

        “You’re coming across as a little desperate,” Lance said.

        “I miss you,” Joey said.

        “Fine,” Lance said.  “We’ll spend today together.  Doing what?”

        Joey lifted his hand, caressing Lance’s cheek.  Green eyes.  Soft lashes.  “You’ve always been so pretty.”

        “Not pretty,” Lance said, crossing his arms over his chest.

        “Pretty,” Joey disagreed.  “Ever since we met.”  He brushed his thumb over Lance’s lower lip.  “It’s different now.  You’re older and…changed.  But you look…”

        Lance lifted one eyebrow.

        “Sexy,” Joey said.  “Does that fit?”  He put his hand to the base of Lance’s neck, tilting Lance back ever so slightly.  His thumb caressed Lance’s pulse point as he gazed on Lance’s face.  “Or maybe…”  His hand slid down onto Lance’s chest.  When his thumb passed over a nipple through Lance’s shirt, he stopped, still gazing at Lance’s face, his thumb teasing the small point of Lance’s nipple.  “Maybe the best word would be…”  His gaze rested on Lance’s mouth.  “Hot.”

        Lance tilted his chin an inch up and to the side.

        Joey’s gaze dropped to Lance’s neck.  His hands drifted down to Lance’s hips, bringing Lance’s pelvis forward against his, and Lance inhaled suddenly at the feel of Joey’s hard-on beside his own.  Joey’s left hand braced Lance’s lower back, while his right arm came around Lance’s shoulders, bringing Lance to the proper angle.  He lowered his head and kissed the side of Lance’s neck.

        Lance held still.  He wasn’t going to take an active role, because he wasn’t going to let Joey blame this on him.  This one was all Joey.  And it felt good, it felt special, it felt better than fucking and coming last night, because it was Joey.

        At first Joey simply kissed his neck.  But then Joey’s hand slid down over his ass, cupping and squeezing, and Lance let out a low moan, and Joey started sucking right over his pulse, and Joey started humping him, turning around and backing him into the tall cabinet.

        “Ooohhh…  Aaahhh…  Joey…”

        God, it felt so good, his dick was throbbing, Joey was rocking and grinding against him, everything was building and building…  Lance was breathing hard, his hands splayed against the wood of the cabinet door.  Joey was marking him, deliberately marking him, he knew it.  Maybe he was Joey’s, after all.  Maybe he was about to be made Joey’s.

        “Oh, god, uh, uh, oh…”

        Joey’s hand on his ass was going down between his thighs, fingers pressing and exploring.  He didn’t know what Joey wanted, because he didn’t have the parts Joey was used to honing in on.  But being touched, the rough pressure of Joey’s fingers through his pants, had him bringing his hands up from the cabinet to Joey’s torso, gripping Joey’s solid, muscular body.

        Joey licked over his voicebox.  “I want to fuck you,” Joey said, finding the other side of his neck.  “I want to fuck you.”

        “God, yes.”  Lance felt an extra wave of heat surge through him at Joey’s words, and he turned his head, finally getting Joey’s mouth on his.

        Joey kissed him hard, taking, plundering.  Lance stopped trying to keep up and let Joey take over, concentrating on not coming as Joey jerked down his pants.  Broad, strong hands gripped the backs of his thighs and Joey hoisted him up.  Lance panted, his dick rubbing against the cotton of Joey’s T-shirt and his brain starting to register that Joey really was ging to fuck him, and fuck him hard.  God, he was going to come.

        But Joey was trying to position him for that first thrust, and he was bone-dry.  He needed something.  Anything, but something, god, he wasn’t going to ruin this with pain.  Joey had come to him and Joey wanted him and he hadn’t had to blackmail, bribe, or seduce.  It was happening, it was the real thing and it was finally happening, Joey wanted to fuck him, and he’d be damned if he let pain get in the way of that.  He, god, he could feel the head of Joey’s dick rubbing against his asshole, Joey’s hands tightening on his thighs, a half-second away from doing it.

        “Joey,” he panted, “Joey, Joey.  I need-”

        And just like that, it happened.  Joey looked at him, met his eyes, and saw him.  There was a flash of horror, pure horror, in Joey’s eyes, and then Joey dropped him, backing up and turning away all at once, hastily pulling clothes together.

        “Joey,” Lance said, furious with himself for the vulnerability in his voice.  He sounded pathetic; he sounded like one of those needy girls that were always following Joey around.  And yeah, wasn’t that funny, because if he were one of them, Joey would be fucking him cross-eyed right about now.

        “I can’t, you’re,” and Joey wouldn’t look at him.  “I can’t, I have to go,” Joey said, fumbling for the doorway.

        “That’s fine, go, run, you motherfucking coward!” Lance yelled, surprising himself with the volume he achieved on the last words.

        “I can’t,” Joey said again, and was out of the kitchen.  Lance heard him go out the front door.

        “Bastard!” Lance shouted.  “Motherfucking bastard!”  God damn it!  He pulled his pants up, dropping onto the nearest chair, covering his face with his hands.  That bastard.  That cowardly homophobic bastard.  Maybe not homophobic, no, maybe just confused.  Well, Lance was not feeling sorry for poor confused Joey.  No, Lance would rather fuck Joey up.

        So close, they’d been so close, he’d felt that thick cockhead lining up against his asshole, ready to penetrate, a second away from being inside.  And then Joey would have fucked him, and maybe, god, if he couldn’t be Joey’s lover, at least he could be Joey’s very best friend whom Joey fucked on the side.

        He hadn’t wanted a lot, just a quick finger to stretch him, maybe a two-second coating of precum to make it easier.  Nothing fancy.  But he’d drawn Joey’s attention back to reality, and apparently, Joey wasn’t willing to fuck him in reality.

        What the hell had Joey been doing, then?  He wasn’t a girl, and that must have been obvious in the erection Joey had been humping against.  Maybe Joey’s hormones had gotten carried away, and Joey had stopped caring, until a dash of reality had brought it all home to him.

        But Joey’s hormones had gotten carried away over him, and he was clearly male.  Maybe Joey’s dick remembered fucking him that one night, and wanted to try it again.

        Since Joey had come home from kidnapping Justin, every time Joey was alone with him, Joey started touching him.  Fondling.  Groping.  It was like Joey’s hands couldn’t stay off of him.

        Joey always had been a toucher, but not like this.  That was always teasing or roughhousing or general affection.  This was sexual.

        Joey wanted him.

        Just not enough to fuck him.

        “Upstairs,” Justin said, stroking the flat of JC’s shoulder blade.  “We haven’t touched in too long, JC.  I missed the feeling of your hands on me.”

        “I know, Justin.  I wanted to touch you.  I wanted to feel you in my arms.”  JC rose from the couch, bringing Justin with him.  “Come upstairs with me.”

        The phone rang.

        AJ reached for it, bringing it to his ear.  “Hello,” he said, and licked around the point of Kevin’s nipple.  “What?  The hell he did.  The fuck he did.”  AJ sat back, stroking Kevin’s ribcage with his hand.  “You can’t let him do this shit to you, James.  You’re better than that.  I know, the ones you love make you weak, but you have to be stronger than that.  Yeah.  Yeah.  Bye.”  He hung up and leaned in to lick beneath Kevin’s pecs.  “Lance is coming over.”

        “Oh,” Kevin said dryly, “hooray.”  He sat up, reaching for his shirt.

        “What?” AJ asked.

        “Why is he coming over?” Kevin asked, shrugging into his shirt.

        “He needs a friend, and I’m a friend.”

        “Why are you his friend?”

        “When Lance and I were lovers, we built a strong bond.  We walked away from each other, and we had to struggle to understand what that meant, but the second we walked back into each other’s lives, we were right there again.  Lance and I will always have this link of understanding between us.”

        “He’s cruel, he’s manipulative-”

        “He’s my friend,” AJ said.

        “He was your lover!”

        AJ put his hand on Kevin’s thigh.  “You don’t have anything to be jealous of.”

        “You’re not known for being faithful.”

        “Don’t bring that shit on me,” AJ said.  “I loved Lance, and I cheated on Lance, yes, I did, but what I felt for him was nothing compared to what I feel for you.  I love you, Kevin.  I’ll make you promises if that will make you feel better.”

        Kevin’s eyes were watchful.  “What do you think it’s acceptable to do with someone, while you’re committed to someone else?”

        “Be alone in a room together.  Hold hands.  Hug.”

        “Kiss?”

        “No.  Maybe on the cheek, if it’s one of the guys.”

        “If it’s a former lover?”

        “No.  I guess that rules out Howie.”

        “No, Howie’s an exception.”

        AJ nodded.

        “I don’t have to worry about leaving you alone with Lance?”

        “I can’t speak for Lance, but you don’t have to worry about me.  And I know how to set boundaries.”

        “I don’t trust him.  I’m not even close to trusting him.”

        “Do you trust me?” AJ asked.

        Kevin studied AJ carefully.

        “I love you,” AJ said.  “I came to you.  I submitted to you.  I’m yours forever.  I won’t do anything that I know would hurt you.  I respect you, and I won’t show disrespect by being with anyone else.  But Lance is my friend, and he needs me right now, as a friend.”

        “That’s your decision,” Kevin said.  “I don’t want to dictate who gets your time.  I’ll be at home,” he added, rising from the bed.  “Give me a call.”

        “You don’t want to stick around and keep an eye on us?” AJ asked, watching Kevin’s eyes for clues.

        “No,” Kevin said.  He relaxed his posture slightly, and kissed AJ on the mouth.

        AJ watched him walk away.

        “He’s on his way,” Brian said.

        “Fuck this.  Let’s go to the airport.”

        “You’d rather pace there?” Brian asked.

        “We’ve been waiting for this for too long.  I miss Drew.  I want to be with him.  I want to make love and take a bath and work out and talk about you and watch TV and eat Chinese and argue over pizza and do all of the things we always talk about doing but never have time for.”

        “I know,” Brian said.  “If you can wait another half hour, then we can drive out to the airport.”

        “Let’s go to the hotel,” Nick suggested.  “We can go there to check on everything and make sure it’s all set up, and then I can leave you behind and go pick up Drew.”

        “All right,” Brian said.  “Good thinking.”

        “Wait!  I should change clothes.  I want to look good.  And what about you?”

        “What about me?”

        “What are you going to be wearing?”

        “Not much.”

        “You have to give Drew something to unwrap,” Nick said,

        “All right.  Let’s go poke through the closet.”

        “I’m going to bomb his car,” Lance muttered, walking into AJ’s house.

        “That’s an option,” AJ said.  “Let’s get to that idea later.”  They went to the front room and settled onto the couch.  “What started it?”

        “Last night, I told you, he started touching me, I reciprocated, and he kissed me.  Then he pushed me away, and I walked out on him.”

        “Right.  You went to Len’s?”

        “Yeah, I did.  This morning, I got back to my place, and Joey was there, sitting there waiting for me.”  Lance described what had happened, from Joey’s questions about where Lance had been and why he was spending time with AJ, to Joey claiming to want to spend more time with him and coming within a thrust of screwing him.  He skipped the part about the drink.

        AJ wanted to clarify a point.  “He had your pants down, and he knew you had a dick, and that didn’t bother him?”

        “He didn’t seem to mind up until he freaked out and ran.”

        “Then he’s okay with screwing guys?”

        “No.  He can’t be.  He’s straight.”

        “Is he?” AJ asked.

        “Yes,” Lance said.

        “He fucked you, didn’t he?”

        “He’s straight,” Lance said.

        “Maybe you should ask him,” AJ said.

        “He couldn’t fuck me,” Lance said.  “He panicked and ran.  That says ‘straight’ to me.”  Lance shook his head.  “I thought that if I pushed and manipulated and blackmailed, I could have him.  And then today he was kissing me and pulling down my pants, and I thought maybe I could have him, part of him, without going through all of that.  But maybe I was wrong.  Maybe no matter what I do, I’ll never-”

        “If you want him, you can have him,” AJ said.

        “He’s straight and I disgust him!” Lance exclaimed.  “He’s never going to touch me again, AJ.”

        “Ask me how my night was,” AJ said.

        “How was your night?” Lance asked.

        “I told Kevin I love him, and he accepted me.  We’re together now.  I spent the night with him.  We’re going to spend every night together.  Now, I’ve pulled some shit with Kevin.  I’ve been stringing him along and jerking him around since we met, using him and ignoring him and taking him for granted and taunting him.  He’s had every reason to drop me on my ass and walk away.  But we’re together.  I got my man.  You can get yours, if you try.”

        “You didn’t have to try very hard,” Lance said.

        “You’re strong enough to do this.  You may have to get in his face and push his bottons,” AJ said.  “Or you may have to let him miss you.”

        “Or both,” Lance said, and his tone was dangerous.

        AJ smiled.  “You think you can handle that?”

        “You could do it with one hand tied behind your back,” Lance said.

        “Yes, but you’re not me,” AJ said.

        Lance smirked.  “You’d be surprised.”

        AJ laughed, proud of him.

        “You’ll help me?”

        “Of course,” AJ said.  “Let’s strategize.”

        “The nice thing about off-time in my personal life is that I don’t have to change clothes ten times a day,” Brian said.  “Between quick-changes and photo shoots and trying to get wardrobe for videos, I think we change our clothes enough while we’re working.  When we’re off, we should be able to spend all day in the same outfit.”

        “I’m ignoring you,” Nick said.  He started going through Brian’s section of the closet again.  “You know what’s wrong here.”

        “What?”

        “Me helping you get dressed is like the blind leading the blind.  You’re dumb and I’m dumber.”

        “Are you criticizing my fashion sense?” Brian asked.

        “You don’t have any fashion sense,” Nick said.  “And even then, you’re doing better than I am.  I have anti-fashion sense.”

        Brian laughed.  “We’re not that bad.”

        “It’s pretty sad that Drew’s the best dresser of all three of us,” Nick said.

        “We could call AJ,” Brian suggested.

        “I know how we can do this,” Nick said.  “What do I wear that makes you hard?”

        “Clothes don’t arouse me,” Brian said.

        “Pretend they do.  What do I wear that makes you stop and want me?”

        “I don’t know,” Brian said.

        “You’re helpless,” Nick said.  “Okay, here.  Let’s think.  You’re going to be in the hotel room.  Doing what?”

        “Opening the door,” Brian said.

        “Naked in bed.”

        “What?”

        “You should be naked in the bed,” Nick said.

        “I’d feel ridiculous.”

        “We’ve seen you naked before,” Nick said.  “You don’t have that much to be ashamed about.”

        “I don’t have anything to be ashamed about!” Brian said, gently pushing Nick.  “I’d just rather not pose in bed like some seductive centerfold.”

        “You’re annoying,” Nick said.

        “You pose in the bed and I’ll pick up Drew.”

        “You’re the surprise, not me.”

        “He’ll still be surprised.”

        “You’re ruining everything.”

        “Thanks.  That was my plan.”

        “Look, why don’t, maybe…”  Nick sighed and sat on the foot of the bed.  “What about the hotel robe?”

        “Maybe,” Brian said, sounding unsure.

        “Open over your underwear?”

        “Maybe…”

        “Whatever you decide on, it has to be easy to get out of.  Bare feet.”

        “What are you wearing?” Brian asked.

        “Uh…  A little French maid’s outfit?”

        Brian burst into laughter.

        “Great.”  Nick got up and flipped through hangers in the closet.  “Jeans.  T-shirt.”

        “You could try to look nice,” Brian said.

        “What, dress up?” Nick asked.  “Yeah, let’s pull out a full suit and tie to pick up Drew from the airport.”  He snorted.

        Brian’s eyes lit.  “Yes.  Yeah!  Where’s that suit?”

        “What?  I’m not wearing a suit,” Nick said.

        “You’re wearing a suit,” Brian said.

        “I’m not wearing a suit!”

        “Where is it?” Brian asked, searching the closet.

        “I’m not wearing a suit!  Especially not that tan one.”

        “No, the one with the pinstripes,” Brian said.  “Let me check the other closet.”

        “I’m going to lock you out of this room,” Nick threatened as Brian jogged down the hallway.

        “Be right back!” Brian called cheerfully.

        “The pinstripes?” Nick yelled down the hallway.  “That one has a fucking vest!”

        Chris crouched down behind him, tugging on the end of his ponytail, kissing behind his ear.  “Howie.”

        “Chris.”  Howie twisted around to kiss his mouth.  “How’s the house?”

        “Great.  We got everything out of storage and took it over there.  I’m going back in a minute to let the next truckload in.  I just wanted to check on things back here.”

        “It’s fine here,” Howie said.  “The movers are getting out all of the furniture and boxes.  The packers are in the kitchen right now.”

        “All of the lights and water and everything are working fine,” Chris said.  “We won’t be finished, but we can sleep there tonight, if you want.”

        Howie smiled.  “I’d like to.”

        Chris kissed him.  “I have to get back.  If they can’t get in, they’ll just take it all home with them.”

        “Okay.”

        “Are you okay?” Chris asked, taking Howie’s hips in his hands and turning Howie completely to look at him.

        “We’re already living together.  It’ll just be in our house, instead of my house, but it’s not a major step.”

        “Right.”  Chris waited for more, searching Howie’s face.

        Howie let out a slow breath.  “We’re not going to get married, are we?”

        Chris felt like he’d been sucker-punched.  He forced himself to breathe normally, and tried to keep his voice steady.  “What makes you say that?”

        “It’s okay,” Howie said.  “We don’t have to.  We’re not having children or getting green cards.  I don’t think my family would have known what to do if I’d told them we were getting married, anyway.  It was a nice romantic dream, but sometimes I get carried away with the romance.”

        “You think I don’t want to marry you?” Chris asked.

        “We decided that if I want to ask, I have to wait for you to tell me I can.  Or else you could ask.  But you’re never going to, are you?  You’ll never be ready.”

        “You don’t know that,” Chris said, trying to sound calm and not defensive.

        “It would have been nice to move into our house as a married couple,” Howie said.

        “Yeah,” Chris said.

        “I’m not blaming you for anything,” Howie said.  “I never have.”

        Chris nodded.  “I have to get back to the house.”

        “Chris,” Howie said, putting a hand on his knee.  “This has been my house for years now, and it’s been our house.  I’m a little sentimental over moving out.  Ignore it.”

        “Yeah.”

        Howie looked like he regretted having said anything.

        Chris kicked himself.  He’d pushed; he’d asked.  Howie hadn’t intended to tell him, but he’d asked, and Howie wanted to be honest with him.  He kissed Howie, pulling Howie’s hair out of the ponytail and burying both hands in it, ending the kiss but keeping Howie close.  “Someday,” he said.  Howie’s full lips were very soft, perfect for brief, gentle kisses.  “Someday.  I promise.”

        “I don’t want to push you into something you’re not ready for,” Howie said.  “I’m not trying to trap you into anything.”

        “I know,” Chris said, and kissed him.

        “I mean it,” Howie said.  “If you’re never ready, I’d rather never make that commitment.”

        Chris drew his left hand back to his lap, twisting a lock of Howie’s hair around his right index finger.  “I know.”  He let go.  “Did you ever feel like you’ll never be in love like this ever again, like if things get any better your heart’s going to burst?”

        Howie smiled.  “Every day.”

        “We should do something to celebrate moving in,” Chris said.

        “We could throw ourselves a housewarming party,” Howie suggested.

        “Okay, but let’s invite strangers.”

        “Strangers?” Howie asked.

        “We spend too much time with our friends,” Chris said.  “I think it’s time to branch out.”

        “You look simply smashing, darling,” Brian said, tugging here, tucking there.

        “I hate suits,” Nick said.  “I never wear suits.”

        “Stunning,” Brian said, brushing at a speck of dust.

        “Drew’s not going to recognize me.  I mean that literally.  He won’t know it’s me.”

        “You’ll open your mouth and prove it,” Brian said.

        Nick flicked Brian.

        “You look great,” Brian said.  “We’ll have to dress you up more often.”

        “I’m totally overdressed,” Nick said.  “I look like an ass.”

        “Drew’s going to love it.”

        “It’ll take an hour to get out of this thing,” Nick said.  “I’ll miss the whole first round of sex taking off all of these clothes.  I hate ties!  You know I hate ties!”

        “We’d better go,” Brian said.  “You have to drop me off at the hotel first, and Drew’s plane gets in soon.”

        “Hell.  Brian,” he kissed Brian quickly, “I hate you for making me wear this.”

        “Understood.”

        AJ’s voice was dark with intimacy.  “I’m sitting here thinking about you.”

        Kevin couldn’t believe how his life had changed.  A year ago, he would have paid through the nose to get AJ to call him like this.  “Hi, AJ.”

        “I want to take you out to dinner tonight,” AJ said.  “Somewhere expensive, somewhere I can look at you by candlelight.”

        “Sage Allison’s?” Kevin suggested.

        “I’ll pick you up at seven,” AJ said.

        “What are you doing until then?” Kevin asked.

        “Doing laundry, visiting Howie, and deciding what to wear,” AJ said.  “You should pack a bag of stuff you want to keep over here.”

        “Am I going to get sacred closet space?” Kevin asked.

        “You’ll get toothbrush space,” AJ said.  “We can negotiate for closet space.”

        “Check,” Brian said.

        “Roses.”

        “Check.”

        “Rose petals.”

        “Check.”

        “Bed.”

        Brian grinned.  “Check.”

        “Bathtub with lots of bubble stuff in case.”

        Brian peeked into the bathroom.  “Check, check, and hot tub.”

        “Hot tub?” Nick asked, looking over Brian’s shoulder.  “Cool.  I think we’re ready.  I don’t want to be late for Drew.”

        “He’s at the new house, directing the movers,” Howie said, rising, dusting off his knees.

        “You said you were moving,” AJ said.  “I didn’t realize you were moving your entire house in one day.”

        “We should have a lot done today,” Howie said.  “We should get everything moved in.  Everything will be packed in boxes, and half of the furniture will be in the wrong place, but it’ll all be there.”

        “I’m impressed,” AJ said.

        “I’d offer you a drink, but the kitchen’s empty,” Howie said.

        “I haven’t seen your new place,” AJ said.

        “It’s perfect,” Howie said.  “Chris gives Kevin credit for picking the right one, but Kevin says it was Chris’s favorite from the beginning.  We were talking about throwing a housewarming party.  What do you think?”

        “A party sounds great,” AJ said.  “Chris would let me come?”

        “I talked him into considering inviting our friends, so you may be invited.”

        “Without me there, it wouldn’t be a party,” AJ said.  “You have to invite me and Kevin.  You have to invite Brian and Nick, which means inviting Drew.  Chris will want to invite Justin and JC, and Joey, and Lance.  Joey and Lance will bring dates.”

        “We should probably invite Nick and Jeff, and Justin.”

        “You inviting the family?”

        “Not at the same time,” Howie said.  “Maybe we’ll have two parties.  One with family and friends, one with all of you.  It would be hard to explain all of your behavior to some people.”

        “Especially with JC and Justin there.”

        “Are you kidding me?  I’m thinking about you, Lance, Kevin and Chris in one house at the same time.”

        “That’s…going to be a little different from now on,” AJ said.  “Lance and I are tight now.  And Kevin are I are lovers now.  So things are changing.”

        “What?”  Howie pulled AJ out onto the patio.  “You and Kevin are what now?”

        “Lovers,” AJ said.  “Boyfriends.  People who are in love and have sex.”

        “What happened?”

        “I went to him, I laid it all out, he went for it.  We’re having dinner tonight.”

        “Is this for real?”

        “Yes,” AJ said.  “It has ‘long-term relationship’ written all over it.”

        Howie hugged him.  “I hope Kevin makes you pay for making him wait this long.”

        “God, he’s good for me,” AJ said.

        “He loves you,” Howie said.  “He really loves you, AJ.  And he’s strong enough to stand up to you.  You know you need that.  Do Nick and Brian know?”

        “They found out last night.  Long story.  I can’t believe Nick hasn’t told everyone.”

        “Drew comes home today,” Howie said.  “Nothing else is going to come close to mattering.”

        “Drew knows all of the hip new games,” Justin said.

        “Sounds like more of a kids’ party game,” Nick said.

        “I’m more of a fan of pin in the tail on the donkey,” Justin said.

        “Twister,” Jeff said.

        “Musical chairs,” Justin said.

        “Spin the bottle,” Jeff said.

        “Whisper down the lane,” Justin said.

        “Seven minutes in heaven,” Jeff said.

        “I’m sensing a theme to your games,” Justin said.

        “I’m just naming the ones I was best at,” Jeff said with a grin.

        “You were named ‘biggest flirt’ in your high school yearbook, weren’t you?” Justin asked.

        “No, that was Brad Patton,” Jeff said.  “I got ‘Best Kisser.’”

        “You,” Justin accused, “are lying.”

        “Ask Nick,” Jeff said.

        “He didn’t go to your high school,” Justin said.  “Has he ever seen your yearbook?’

        Jeff flashed another grin.  “No, but he has kissed me.”

        He should’ve fixed his hair better, too.  It was getting too long to do anything with, because he was letting it grow out, mostly because Drew and Brian liked to touch it, and he liked to be touched.  But he should’ve done something with it.

        The arrival screen started flashing.  Nick put his glasses on, scanning the screen, running his fingers through his hair to see if he could magically style it.  There, that one was Drew’s plane, and it was here.

        Drew was here.

        Odd nervous bubbly fluttery things started happening in Nick’s stomach. He put his hands in his pockets so he wouldn’t fidget, and paced a little more.

        “Nick probably won’t be there, anyway,” Jeff said.

        “He probably forgot,” Nick said.

        “He does have other things to do,” Justin added.

        “In fact, he, oh, god.”  Jeff stopped walking.

        “What?”  Nick stopped too, looking around the lounge.  “Oh.”

        Drew pushed Jeff out of the way, looking for Nick.  The only person there was - - oh, god.  Oh, oh god.  “Nick?”

        Nick took off his glasses.  “One laugh out of any of you, and it’s ass-kicking time.”

        Drew walked over, dropping his bag halfway there.  Nick had stopped pacing between a row of chairs, and Drew stepped onto a chair, gazing into Nick’s face.  “Put them back on.”

        Nick put on his glasses again, running nervous fingers through his hair.

        The long, slow arch of his eyebrows.  His eyes, blue and emotive.  The curves of his nose.  His soft, pink lips.  The dimples to the side of his mouth that he didn’t even know he had.  “I’m home,” Drew said.

        Nick’s thumb passed over Drew’s lower lip.  “You’re staying.”

        He was finally home, finally back with Nick.  There was still an aching hole where Brian should have been, but they’d do something about that, they’d bring Brian home.  “Yes,” he said, taking Nick’s face in both hands, drawing his fingers down Nick’s cheeks.  “God, I’m so lucky,” he said, and kissed Nick, closing his eyes as their lips met.

        Kissing Nick.  He hadn’t done this in too long.  Nick’s tongue still did incredible things.  Nick still made that sexy, throaty sound if Drew kissed him too hard.  Drew didn’t want to muss him, because he looked fantastic, but it was impossible not to touch his hair, feel the soft blond strands of it again.  Drew’s other hand flitted over the front of Nick’s suit, not sure where to land, finally stopping on the back of Nick’s neck and pulling Nick forward, kissing him deeper and deeper.

        “Come home with me,” Nick panted against his lips.

        Yes, yes.  Drew closed his eyes against Nick’s beauty, trying to pull himself together.  Nick’s hands were on his hips, keeping a polite distance between their bodies, which was probably safer, because as hard as Drew was right then, if he had half a chance to rub against Nick, he’d have a hard-on obvious enough for any security camera to catch, and no decent way to get rid of it before leaving the lounge and walking past God knew who.

        “Lachey, what are you staring at?” Nick asked impatiently.

        Since he hadn’t been staring at anything, Drew opened his eyes, confused.  Nick was looking over his shoulder, which reminded him that there might still be other people in the room.  He checked; Tweedledum, Tweedledumber, and Tweedledumbest were still present.  “What are you still doing here?”

        “We have no tact,” Justin said.

        “We wanted to say hi to Nick,” Jeff said.  “Not that you’re not doing a great job of that, yourself.”

        Security was walking in to escort them out of the airport.  Drew sighed, forcing himself to let go of Nick and step down.  “Say hello.  Don’t linger.  We have places to go.”

        Jeff handed him the bag he’d dropped, and shook Nick’s hand.  “It’s good to see you.  We’ve missed you.”

        “Welcome home,” Nick said, kissing Jeff’s cheek.  “You look good.”

        “You’re not looking bad, yourself,” Justin said, accepting a hug.

        “I’m glad you’re back,” Nick said to Justin.  “We’re really short on intelligent people these days.”

        “I go where I’m needed,” Justin said.

        Jeff snorted.

        Justin laughed.

        “Carter,” Nick said.

        “Lachey,” Nick said.  They shook hands.

        “Any idea when Brian’s coming home?” Jeff asked.

        “That depends on Justin,” Nick said.

        Jeff’s eyes flickered.

        “Everybody ready?” Justin asked.

        “Yes,” Drew immediately said.

        Jeff shook off whatever was bothering him.  “Why don’t you wear suits more often?” he asked his Nick, following the others out of the lounge.

        “Why don’t you?” Nick asked.

        Jeff shrugged.  “This body wasn’t made to be hidden under layers and disguised by tailored lines.”

        Nick grinned.  “Egomaniac.”

        “Hey, I tell it like it is,” Jeff said.

        “You look great in suits,” Nick said.  “You look great in everything.”

        “Well, thank you,” Jeff said, putting his hand on Nick’s back.  “So does Nick Carter.”

         Nick elbowed Jeff sharply.  “You were supposed to say, ‘So do you.’”

        “No, sorry, my head’s still spinning from the sight of Nick looking like this year’s best-dressed young CEO.”

        “I thought we got off the plane in the wrong version of reality,” Nick said.  “That couldn’t be our Nick.  But then he opened his mouth and, yeah, that’s our Nick.”

        Jeff laughed.

        “What was with that look in your eyes?” Nick asked.

        “When?”

        “When Nick mentioned Justin Timberlake.”

        “Can you tell when Nick’s lying?”

        Nick snorted.  “No.”  He frowned.  “Why?  You think he’s lying about something?”

        “Something about Brian, maybe,” Jeff said.  “I don’t know.  I think he’s hiding something.”

        “I wouldn’t worry about it,” Nick said.

        They reached the doors, and stopped.  “Time to part ways,” Justin said.

        “Until tomorrow, anyway,” Jeff said.

        “Good tour,” Drew said.

        “Good tour,” Nick agreed, and the four of them embraced.  After a little bit of back-slapping and one discreet cheek kiss, they went their separate ways.

        Nick and Brian had driven their own car to the hotel, then hired one of their bodyguards to drive between the hotel and the airport.  That way, Nick wouldn’t have to be distracted by driving, and could focus on Drew.

        Nick tugged Drew into the back of an Escalade and into his arms.  “Mmm, I missed you,” Nick said, kissing him.

        “I don’t want to wrinkle you,” Drew said, smoothing Nick’s lapels.  “You look incredible.  I want to ask you how the stock market’s doing.”

        “Hell if I know,” Nick said.  “It’s the glasses, isn’t it?”

        “It’s everything,” Drew said, unbuttoning Nick’s jacket and stroking his vest.

        “I don’t think I have stock market hair,” Nick said.

        “You have great hair, I love your hair.”  Drew rubbed his thumb over the knot in Nick’s tie.  “I want to buy you a briefcase.”

        “You’re the kinkiest person I’ve ever met,” Nick said.

        “Why do you have this?” Drew asked.  “What did you wear it to?”

        “I don’t even remember,” Nick said.  “Somebody, Armani, Versace, those two guys Dolce and what’s-his-face.  Somebody.  They wanted to do our outfits for something, so they sent us clothes to butter us up.  I wasn’t even sure it would fit.”

        “You wore it just for me?” Drew asked.

        “Brian told me to dress up and look nice,” Nick said.  “It’s his fault.”

        Drew stroked Nick’s eyebrow.  “How is Brian?”

        “He’s okay,” Nick said.  “He’s still a little weird sometimes, but he’s feeling mostly better.  He really misses you.”

        “I wish - - are we going the wrong way?”

        “What?  Oh, no.  I thought, see, I know you miss Brian, but I didn’t want you to feel bad, so I got us a little hotel room.  A little romantic getaway thing.”

        “You didn’t have to do that,” Drew said.

        “Besides, I didn’t want to have to wait to get the whole way home before I could fuck you.  The hotel’s closer.”

        Drew laughed.

        “I’ve missed your body,” Nick said, running his hands over Drew through Drew’s clothes.  “I’ve missed making love with you.”

        “Tell me about it,” Drew said.  “I don’t know how we stay apart for as long as we do.  I don’t know how we live like this.  I don’t know how we’ve survived it.  Every day, every night, I go crazy from missing you.”

        “It’s so hard on you,” Nick said.

        “It’s hard on you and Brian, too,” Drew said.

        “You still have the prettiest eyes,” Nick said.

        “I don’t have pretty eyes,” Drew said.

        “They’re very pretty,” Nick said.  “They go with your cheekbones.”

        “God, I’ve missed this,” Drew said, and Nick found himself being kissed.  “You say the craziest things like they make perfect sense.”

        Nick closed his eyes and kissed back.

        “I think we’re here,” Drew said, raising his head and looking out of the window as the Escalade slowed.

        “Thank god,” Nick said.  “I can’t do this waiting thing much longer.”

        The door opened, and Drew stepped out.  When he turned, the heat in his eyes stole Nick’s breath.  Drew hadn’t been touched in too long, and with Drew, that was a dangerous thing.  When sexual need built in Drew, it built.  Drew was about to go up in flames, and take Nick with him.

        And Brian.  Nick was looking forward to that.

        They carried the luggage inside.  Nick had the room key, so they went straight to the elevator.

        As soon as the doors closed, Nick asked, “Is there a camera in here?”

        “I don’t care,” Drew said, dropping his bags and yanking Nick to him, kissing hungrily, rapidly unbuttoning Nick’s vest, tugging at Nick’s tie.  “I want it,” he said.  “My body wants it.”

        Nick reached behind Drew, pushing the button for the penthouse, trying not to rip off Drew’s clothes right then and there.  “What, you want what,” he asked, gripping the handrail to keep from grabbing Drew in places he shouldn’t.

        “Fuck me, I want you to fuck me,” Drew said, pushing Nick’s coat back off of his shoulders.  “I want your dick in me, I want your body on my body, I want you to fuck me.”  Drew’s kisses were demanding, his tongue insistent.  When Drew met him in a full-body embrace, and Nick could feel how hard he was, and Drew started moaning, Nick decided to take him there in the elevator.

        The elevator stopped; the doors opened.

        Nick peeled Drew off of him, aiming Drew towards the open doors.  Drew dragged luggage off of the elevator; Nick followed, picking up a bag while pulling his suit jacket on again.  Nick got the key from his pocket, unlocking the door.

        Brian was nowhere to be seen.

        Drew dumped his bags, grabbing Nick again, pushing at his jacket, pushing at his vest, trying to get through to his skin.  “Now.  Now,” Drew said, unbuttoning his shirt.

        Nick cupped his hand between Drew’s legs, groaning as Drew rubbed into his hand, reminded just how long and thick Drew’s erection got.  His knees weakened, and his kiss became more submissive, letting Drew take over.

        “Off,” Drew insisted, pushing and pulling at what remained of Nick’s suit.  “Now,” he said, kissing Nick’s mouth, his hands busy over Nick’s body.  Drew’s urgency drove Nick to let go of Drew’s dick and strip him.  Drew’s compact body rippled with muscle under Nick’s hands.  “Fuck me,” Drew said, climbing backward to kneel on the bed, ripping open Nick’s fly.  Nick focused on kissing Drew so he wouldn’t come too soon as Drew reached into Nick’s underwear and pulled out his erection, clutching it eagerly, pulling Nick forward.

        Nick spotted lube on the bedside table.  Time to get back in the driver’s seat.  Drew was kissing and demanding and taking under him, stroking his dick and rocking up against him.  Nick got his fingers wet and, without warning Drew, slid his finger up inside Drew’s ass, rubbing right over Drew’s prostate.

        Drew moaned and collapsed, then made a low, purring sound and arched, moving against Nick’s touch.

        Nick’s dick twitched eagerly at the sight, at the sound.  Drew was stroked up and ready for action, instantly and completely open for him.  Nick touched Drew’s prostate again, gently, and watched Drew’s abs ripple.  He loved having his own personal wind-up toy.  “What do you want?” he asked, just to make Drew say it.  He loved hearing it from Drew, loved sex in Drew’s mouth.

        “Your dick, I want you to put me on your dick,” Drew said, twisting under him.  “Fuck me with it.  Ooohhh…”  He reached up and pulled at Nick’s shirt.  “Now, now, before I come, I’m going to come, hurry…”  Drew writhed, making confused, wanton noises.

        Nick relucantly took his finger out; Drew twitched, making unhappy sounds.  He got rid of the rest of his clothes, then greased up his dick, lifting Drew’s hips.

        Drew knew what that meant.  He tucked his knees up and panted eagerly, barely able to wait for it.

        Nick knew how badly Drew wanted this.  Drew’s desperation was thick in the air around them.  There would be time for gentle words and teasing and foreplay and everything else later.  Right then, what Drew needed most was him, inside.

        Nick had no idea how long he could keep from coming.  If Drew was anywhere near as perfectly tight as he remembered, it was going to be impossible not to have an orgasm on the first thrust in.  But he couldn’t.  Drew had waited too long for this; he had to make it good.

        Drew was panting and moaning, writhing in Nick’s hands, his cock flushed dark and angry.  “Steady, angel,” Nick said, breathing carefully, making one controlled thrust.

        Drew’s eyes shot open.  “Nick,” he gasped, raising his hips sharply.

        Nick groaned, losing control as his cock surged deeper into Drew’s body.  He slammed home and froze, locking every muscle in his body, trying to hold back orgasm.

        “In me, uh, in me, oh…”

        “Jesus,” Nick said, rocking back and thrusting forward.

        Drew shook his head, fingers digging into Nick’s back.

        “God, you feel good,” Nick said, his voice choked.  “Stop moving, you have to hold still.”

        “Oh, uh…”  Drew twisted, clawing down Nick’s back and up Nick’s thighs, trying to get Nick closer, deeper.

        “It’s okay, you can let go,” Nick said, thrusting again, again, finding a careful rhythm.  God, he was going to shoot right then, too soon, had to hold back.  “You can come.  You can let go.”

        Drew rocked against Nick faster than Nick’s rhythm allowed, pushing himself, working closer and closer.

        “You’re there, you know you’re there, you can feel it,” Nick said.  “Just let go.”

        “Oh!  Nick, Nick, oh!”  Drew shuddered over a powerful climax, his dick spurting hot white cum up over his chest.  Breathing heavily, Drew closed his eyes.

        Nick tried to name the planets in order.  Mercury, Venus, his dick fucking ached, no, Mars, his balls were going to fucking explode, no, Mercury, Venus…

        Drew shuddered.

        Nick’s hands fisted in the bedclothes.  Sweat trickled down from his temple.  Mercury.  Venus.  He wanted to come.  Earth.

        “Oh…”  Drew pressed down against him.

        Nick’s eyes rolled back in his head.  Fucking Jesus Christ, Drew was fucking evil.

        Drew started breathing funny.

        Nick sucked in his breath and risked opening his eyes.

        “More,” Drew whispered, his eyes dark and wet, his body beginning to twist with need.

        Not fair, not fair, damn it!  Nick tested himself, thrusting gently.  Drew made a quick, greedy sound, hooking his knee over Nick’s shoulder.

        Nick tried to take himself out of his body, closing his eyes so he couldn’t see Drew soaking up erotic bliss, trying to ignore the screaming demands of his balls, trying to ignore how incredible rocking in and out of hot clenching perfection felt on his dick.  Mercury.  Thrust.  Venus.  Thrust.  Earth.  Thrust.  Drew was making a polite little sound that meant he was in a very happy place, and if Nick stopped, he’d get very angry.  Mars.  This was torture, this was absolute torture, he had to come.  Mercury Venus Earth Mars.  Drew was starting to pant.  Panting was good; panting meant Drew was ready to move things along closer to orgasm.

        Nick opened his eyes, peeking.

        Drew tilted his head back, moaning a little, twisting his nipple, hard again, aching.

        Oh, Jesus.  Nick came, groaning at the relief of it, going weak with release.  A little shaky in the joints, Nick panted for breath.

        “Oh,” Drew said.

        Nick tried to clear his head, pulling out of Drew, sitting back.  Out of the corner of his eye, he glimpsed something.  He turned his head and saw Brian through the crack of the bathroom door, gesturing to him.  It was only because he was so wasted that he didn’t have the energy to respond, which was the only thing that saved him from alerting Drew.

        Drew sighed, stretching.

        “Sorry about the…”  Nick wasn’t sure how to finish that sentence.

        “The what?” Drew asked.

        “You didn’t get to finish,” Nick said.

        “Oh, no, that’s okay,” Drew said.  “You know me, I’d make you keep going for hours if I could.  It felt great.”  He smiled.  “It felt a lot better than great.  Thank you, Nick.”

        Nick touched the crown of Drew’s erection.

        Drew inhaled sharply, but relaxed again.  He smiled.  “I’m so foolish.”

        “Why?” Nick asked, trailing his fingers down to the soft skin of Drew’s balls.

        “I’m sitting here with one of the most amazing, sexual creatures God ever created, wishing Brian were here to suck my dick.”

        Nick grinned.  “That’s not foolish.  Brian gives great head.”  He pushed two fingers inside Drew.  “I could do it instead, you know.  It won’t be like Brian does it, but it’ll still be pretty good.”

        Drew stiffened, then relaxed.  “Oh,” he said, the muscles of his ass contracting around Nick’s fingers.  “Don’t, you…  Oh…”

        “What?” Nick asked, pushing in deeper, brushing right over Drew’s prostate.

        “Don’t, oh, Nick, don’t,” Drew said.  “More, more.”

        “Yes or no?” Nick asked, stretching and fucking.

        “No, no, no,” Drew said, “oh, god, no, god, it’s too good.”  He closed his eyes tightly, tensing again.

        Nick slowly slid his fingers out.

        “Wait, wait, yes,” Drew begged, spreading his thighs.

        “What do you want?” Nick asked, holding his fingers still, trapped just inside Drew.

        “To fuck somebody,” Drew said.

        “To fuck Brian,” Nick interpreted.

        “It just feels so good,” Drew said.

        “And you’re so hard,” Nick said.

        “And I want him on it.”

        “Did I tell you I have a surprise for you?” Nick asked.

        “You’re going to make love to me?” Drew guessed, opening his eyes.

        Nick smiled.  “Later.  Soon.  Later.  Stay here.  I’ll be right back.”  He slipped his fingers all the way out and kissed Drew’s lower lip, then slipped off of the bed and went into the bathroom, closing the door.

        Brian was there, his jeans open, his lack of underwear exposing light brown curls and a glimpse of the head of his straining erection.  His kiss was equal parts hunger and celebration.

        “Ready?” Nick asked, looking into his eyes and seeing sex.  Brian was ready.  Brian was past ready.

        “He wants me,” Brian said.

        Nick kissed him again.  “Let’s go.”  Nick opened the bathroom door.  “Close your eyes,” he said.

        Drew’s eyes closed.

        Nick stepped aside.

        Brian stepped forward silently, easing himself onto the bed, kneeling between Drew’s legs.

        Drew fidgeted.

        Brian licked Drew’s balls.

        Drew’s eyes opened.

        Brian licked up the shaft of Drew’s erection.

        “Brian!  Oh, oh my god, Brian?”

        Brian licked at the sudden flow of precum.

        “Brian,” Drew said, sitting up.  “Did you do this?” he asked Nick.  “He’s here!”

        Brian sucked Drew’s cock into his mouth, swallowing.

        “Oh, god,” Drew said.  “God, that’s so, oh, Brian…”  Brian’s head in his lap, he stroked Brian’s hair.  “I can’t believe you’re here, you, oh, oh, wait, whoa, no, no,” he said, hooking his fingers under Brian’s chin and lifting Brian off of his erection.  “You’re here,” he said, his eyes amazed, his eyes skimming down Brian’s body.  “You’re, oh.”  His gaze rose from Brian’s crotch to Brian’s eyes.  “You’re hard.”

        Brian moved in for Drew’s erection again, murmuring a quick “Drew” before sucking him down.

        Drew moved slightly, thrusting a little into Brian’s mouth, closing his eyes and arching his back as he stroked Brian’s hair.  He stayed that way, gently thrusting, letting Brian work him over, until Brian started humming.

        Drew shook himself, pulling his dick out of Brian’s mouth, pushing Brian up and back and down until Brian’s back hit the mattress.  Drew moved in, on all fours over him, gently squeezing his erection through his jeans.  Pleasure and pain crossed Brian’s features; he was breathing hard through his mouth, staring up at Drew.

        “You always were pretty,” Drew said, gazing at Brian’s face, unzipping his jeans.  Brian’s erection sprang free of the restraining denim.  “So pretty,” Drew murmured, easing down Brian’s jeans.  “So pretty everybody wants to fuck you.”  Brian’s jeans hit the floor.  “But I’m the one you’re giving yourself to.”  Drew raised Brian’s knees, moving in closer between his thighs.  “Isn’t that right?”

        “Yes,” Brian said, mesmerized, submissive.

        “You’re mine, and you’re going to stay mine,” Drew said.  “Beautiful, and good, and loving, and mine.”

        “Yours,” Brian said, crossing his wrists over his head.

        Drew smiled.  “You are good at this.  I knew you would be.”  His voice betrayed his surprise when he added, “Very good at this.  Brian?”

        “Yours,” Brian said again.

        Nick edged around the bed, wondering what he’d missed.  Brian’s lashes were moving, and Brian’s breathing was fainter; Drew’s finger was stroking him inside, getting him ready.  When Drew’s finger came out, it was slick, but Nick didn’t remember him doing that, and the lube was on the other side of the bed.

        Brian had lubricated himself already, beforehand.  For Drew.

        God, he was good at this.

        “Drew,” Brian breathed.

        “Mine,” Drew said, thrusting into him.

        Brian cried out.

        Nick went down on his knees.

        “Mine,” Drew said again, angling Brian’s hips.

        Brian had been waiting his whole life to find someone to submit to, someone to give the control to.  Now that he had, he was giving himself over to it completely.  He gazed into Drew’s eyes like he found the meaning of life there, his breathless excited panting breaking off into moans of sexual need every few strokes.  His hand began to creep into his lap, reaching for his erection.

        “No,” Drew said.

        Brian’s hand dropped to the side.  He’d been hard for who knew how long, probably since before they’d gotten there, and his erection looked painful.  Drew was thrusting into him so steadily and forcefully, each shot over his prostate had to be killing him, it felt so good.

        Drew pulled out.

        Brian panted, relieved and tortured at once.

        Drew put his hands on Brian’s hips and rolled him over, then pulled him to his hands and knees.  Carefully, Drew fitted himself back inside.  Brian’s lashes fluttered and his jaw dropped; his fingers dug into the bedding.

        But Drew wasn’t moving.  Nick frowned and glanced at Drew’s face.

        Drew patted the mattress.

        Nick frowned more.

        Brian, unaware of their exchange, moaned.

        Nick didn’t have to be asked twice.  He sat at the foot of the bed, lay with his back flat, and slid upwards, between Brian’s hands, under Brian’s body.

        Drew shifted Brian’s knees farther apart, lowering Brian’s hips, and stroked Brian’s erection, guiding it to Nick’s mouth.  Nick closed his eyes, swallowing.  Brian was making the most intensely grateful sounds, exerting his masterful control and holding still.

        Nick relaxed his throat.

        Drew thrust, slamming deeper into Brian, sending Brian down Nick’s throat.  Brian groaned, fucking Nick’s mouth.  Nick breathed carefully, licking at the head as Drew pulled back.

        Brian buried himself down Nick’s throat, his hips caught in an impossible situation.  He let Drew’s momentum carry him in and out of Nick’s throat, between Nick’s lips.  Nick was a professional, and Drew was an extremely fast learner, and Brian was throbbing, vibrating between them, on fire.  Just when it had become too much, just when things had become unbearable, Nick had come to him, soothing and inflaming at once, making everything better and everything worse.

        He couldn’t overtake Drew’s rhythm and fuck Nick’s mouth, because he’d been enslaved by the rocking of Drew’s hips, and nothing could end that but Drew himself.  No one, no one, gave head like Nick did, but Brian couldn’t stop to appreciate that fully because he was being spread and held and fucked like there was no tomorrow.

        On the other side of things, Drew was owning him, thrusting into him with powerful strokes, sending him places he’d never been, reaching places inside him that had never been touched, and he couldn’t focus on the mind-blowing pleasure being created within his body because he was distracted by the incredible sensation of his dick rubbing across Nick’s tongue and plunging down Nick’s throat.

        On top of all of that, Nick’s erection was thickening and hardening right in front of his eyes.  The long, thick shaft and the darkening head, they looked so ripe...

        Drew pressed his forehead to Brian’s shoulder, one hand stroking down Brian’s back.  “Mine.”

        Nick groaned, his hands rising to Brian’s sides.

        Drew growled, pressing Brian forward, fucking him faster.

        Brian lowered his head, closing his eyes, because the sight of precum dripping down the side of Nick's erection was playing hell with his brain, and he was trying to block out the overwhelming, torturous ecstasy that Drew and Nick were building in his body.

        Nick’s hand met Drew’s hand halfway up Brian’s thigh.  Drew’s hand slid over Nick’s, caressing the sensitive skin inside Nick’s wrist, stroking Nick’s forearm.  Nick turned his hand, mating their palms, lacing their fingers, and Drew moaned.

        Brian’s body was so far past the point of orgasm, he didn’t know if he’d ever be able to find release.  He didn’t know what Drew wanted from him.  He rocked against Drew’s thrusts, meeting Drew’s hips in counterpoint, rocking back and feeling the explosion of Drew’s cock slamming deep into his body.

        Drew’s body was hot against Brian’s back and thighs, his breathing fast and rough behind Brian’s ear.  “Mine.”

        Nick was going to lose his mind.  He could sense Brian’s control slipping, if Brian had had any control over the situation to begin with.  Brian was either going to have the mother of all orgasms, or turn into a screaming freak.  Nick would never let anything bad happen to Brian, so he had to make Brian come.

        Drew thrust forward, then pulled back.  Brian rocked forward as Drew pulled back, sending his cock down Nick’s throat.

        Nick latched on, sucking.

        Brian rocked back to meet Drew’s thrust, and Nick was still sucking.  The suction was too intense; Brian could feel his balls rising, his cum rising, his dick ready…

        Drew slammed into him.

        Brian came hard, hearing himself cry out, flooding Nick’s mouth.  His hips were still following Drew’s driving motion, and he spurted down Nick’s throat, then over Nick’s lips as he pulled out, coming on Nick’s face.  Drew took Brian’s dick in hand, milking it dry.  Then he moved back, his arm around Brian pulling Brian back, too.  Pliant in Drew’s arms, Brian dropped his head back onto Drew’s shoulder, bearing down on Drew’s cock, putting one arm back, his hand in Drew’s hair.  Drew thrust into him, and came, growling.  Drew’s teeth nipped Brian’s earlobe.

        Nick passed his thumb over his cheek, then sucked the cum off of it.

        Drew whispered, “Mine,” and laid Brian down, his head on a pillow, kissing his cheek.

        Brian watched Drew lick his hand.  Brian’s cum was on that hand.

        Then Drew turned, crawling over Nick’s body, down between Nick’s thighs.  “Oh, god,” Nick said.  “You know I love your mouth, Drew, but I need time.  Just give me five minutes to process what the hell you did to Brian, and oh, oh, ah…  Oh, yes…”  Nick groaned, closing his eyes, tensing his body.  “God, that’s - - whoa!”  A kiss at his cheek made his eyes shoot open again.

        Brian smiled and licked cum from the corner of Nick’s mouth.

        “Hi,” Nick said.  “God, Drew’s…oh, yes…good at that.”

        “So are you,” Brian said, curling up beside him, kissing his nose.

        “Oh, god.”  Nick pulled Drew’s hair to get Drew off his balls and back onto his dick.  “Thanks,” he remembered to say to Brian.  “Oh, god…  Not the, oh…”

        Brian kissed Nick, stroking his stomach, feeling the tension in his body and in his kiss.  Nick’s hand settled on Brian’s shoulder, and suddenly Nick stopped kissing back, fingers digging into Brian’s skin.  Brian stopped kissing him and looked into his eyes.  First confusion and the sound of heightened breaths, then a wild rush of pleasure as Nick called out Drew’s name, then the blue clouded over as Nick moaned, and Nick’s eyes closed.

        Drew coughed.

        “Amateur,” Nick said.

        Drew pinched his thigh.  “I’m slightly out of practice.  But deep-throating’s like riding a bicycle.  It’ll come right back to me.”

        Nick’s eyes opened, and the blue was sparkling with points of happiness as he pulled Brian closer, putting his arm around Brian.  He turned to Drew, taking Drew’s hand, and Drew crawled up his body, kissing his mouth, settling onto him with sexual ease.

        “Mmm,” Nick said, stroking Drew’s thigh, his other arm tightening around Brian.  “That was nice.”

        “Nice?” Drew asked.

        “You lose points for coughing, and Brian loses points for coming on my face-”

        “Sorry,” Brian said.

        “Don’t apologize,” Drew said.  “I wanted you to.”

        “-but overall,” Nick continued, “I’d give us a seven out of ten.”

        “Seven?” Brian demanded.

        “What, too high?” Nick teased.

        “You’re here,” Drew said to Brian.  “You’re here.  How are you here?”

        “You’re here,” Brian said.  “Why would I be anywhere else?”

        Drew leaned off of Nick to kiss Brian.

        Nick watched the gentle mating of their mouths, the slow strokes of their tongues.  “Now that,” he decided, “out of ten, I’d give it an eleven.”