Copyright April 2-November 11, 2002 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.

        Nick walked over to the sofa and sat. In that one action he at once obeyed Kevin and squashed Brian, who was still on his back.

        Brian pushed at Nick just enough to relieve his lungs. There was a companionable silence. Then Brian dug into Nick's pocket. From the back of Nick's jeans he produced a phone, which he handed forward to Nick.

        Nick dialed, resting his head back on Brian's shoulder.

        Brian wrapped himself around Nick, sliding his hand into Nick's.

        Nick rubbed his thumb over Brian's wedding and engagement rings.

        Drew was deep in conversation and already late for make-up. But every ringing phone meant a possible call from Nick or Brian. He motioned for Justin to grab it for him, just in case.

        Justin picked up the phone, flipping it open. He was on the verge of greeting the caller when someone seized his elbow to drag him away to wardrobe. He managed to hand off the phone to Nick before disappearing.

        Nick stared after Justin. What the... He looked at the phone in his hand. Wasn't it Drew's? Maybe it was for him. Someone was on the other end, at any rate, so he ought to say something. "Hello."

        "Hello."

        He frowned. "Hello?"

        "Who is this?"

        It wasn't... "Who are you calling?" Justin wouldn't hand the phone to him if-

        "Who are you?"

        "This is Nick."

        "I'm...Nick."

        Nick's stomach knotted and his heart was cement. He hadn't spoken with Nick since...

        There was silence on both ends.

        Nick wanted to clear his throat. "Drew's busy."

        More silence.

        He should get Drew or-

        "Hello?" Brian's voice. "Who is this?"

        Nick licked his lips. "Nick. I'm sorry, I didn't know..."

        "Where's Drew?" Business.

        "He was here a - - I think he went to wardrobe."

        "We'll call back later."

        Brian had hung up on him. Nick hadn't spoken to him. Anger on Brian's side; pain on Nick's. They'd only speak with Drew. They had no words for him. Had Nick handed the phone to Brian, or had Brian sensed Nick's distress and taken the phone?

        Nick turned his head; Brian kissed his mouth.

        AJ gave a slightly amused, slightly proud smirk and turned away. In doing so, he met Kevin's eyes. Kevin held his gaze for just a moment before looking away from him.

        AJ didn't even bother to shrug it off. It didn't matter. Kevin looking at him was of no consequence. Let Kevin look. That was all Kevin was going to get to do.

        "Where did you go? Where have you been? Why did you leave me to answer your phone?"

        Drew looked unprepared for that assault. "I asked Justin to answer my phone. When I saw you talking, I figured it was Mom or somebody. Why? Who was it?"

        "It was Nick. And Brian."

        Drew looked at him. Drew knew the rules as well as he did, and therefore must recognize "oh, shit" territory as well as he did.

        "They're going to call you back later."

        Drew recovered from the surprise in time to grab at Nick's arm. "Don't get mad at me."

        Nick jerked free. "I'm not mad at anybody."

        "Then drop the attitude."

        "Attitude?"

        "This situation is difficult, I know that it's difficult, and I don't need you to act like a jerk to prove-"

        "I'm not trying to prove anything. I'm telling you that your boyfriend called."

        "He isn't my boyfriend."

        Nick looked at him, disbelieving, challenging. "Then what is he?"

        "He isn't my boyfriend like we're in high school experimenting with love. Nick is my lover and my partner."

        "He's your boyfriend," Nick said. "You can't dress it up with euphemisms. You married Brian. Nick is your boyfriend. You'll never make those relationships equal."

        Drew pulled open the door to the changing room and dragged Nick inside. Apparently they were about to get deep into it, and Drew didn't want to fight in public. That was just fine with Nick. Drew said, "I don't need you to explain my personal life to me. What Brian and Nick are to me together or individually is none of your business."

        "It's funny how how much of your love life is my business changes every week. It's even funnier how how much of what goes wrong is my fault."

        "Things wouldn't be your fault if your dick weren't bigger than your brain."

        The gloves were off. If Drew was going to take it there, Nick was going to take it further, and screw upsetting Drew's sensitive guilt. "Your boyfriends never seemed to mind my big dick."

        "You don't deserve them. You never deserved to touch them." Yeah, Drew was pissed at him. Good and pissed.

        Yeah, well, Nick was pissed right back. "I had to, the way they threw themselves at me."

        "Nobody wanted you. Nick was throwing himself at Jeff. We know where that got him."

        Nick had been waiting for that blow. It had only been a matter of time before Drew brought up Jeff. "Jeff was there for Nick, Jeff helped Nick when he left you. Jeff helped Nick get back together with you when he-"

        "And when Nick tried to help you and Jeff in return-"

        "Jeff hit Nick because he couldn't hit me. Does that make you happy, knowing that that's my fault, too?"

        Drew's anger dropped to the floor and broke. "It wasn't your fault."

        "Everything's my fault. You're perfect, Brian's a saint, everyone adores poor little Nick, Jeff never does anything wrong anyway. It's always my fault. I say the wrong thing, I do the wrong thing, I don't do what I'm supposed to do because I'm too selfish, too stupid, to know what to do. When I finally do the right thing, it's at the wrong time. I don't appreciate being the designated idiot."

        "I don't appreciate being the designated innocent!"

        "Then be a man and stop hiding behind everyone's protection!"

        "Stop protecting me!"

        "I'm through protecting you. You can take care of yourself. From now on my first allegiance is to Jeff, where it should have been all along. Now I'm protecting Jeff. From you."

        "I haven't done a thing to Jeff. He's the one who-"

        "Don't tell me what Jeff did. I was there for every second of it. All you know is what Nick told you, and-"

        "All I know is that swollen, rainbow-colored bruise on Nick's face!"

        "How much damage has Nick done to-"

        "Nick hasn't hurt anybody! Nick hasn't hurt one of us. Brian's hurt him and Jeff's hurt him and you've hurt him. He says that I've never hurt him, and I will die before I prove him wrong." Drew stormed out of the changing room.

        No, they weren't finished here. Nick followed him. "Can we cut the drama? Die before you prove him wrong, what the hell. And while you're spending your every waking moment judging me and Jeff, maybe you should stop and talk to Jeff to see what he has to say about it, instead of - - what?!" Justin was right up in the middle of the argument, trying to get him to shut up. Nick wasn't halfway through with what he had to say to Drew.

        Justin didn't give him a chance to start up again. "Drew, Lynn needs you." He stood there and waited, watching, until Drew stopped glaring at Nick long enough to leave. Then he turned to Nick. "Thank you for having that very personal fight in a very public place. They want you in make-up but go find Jeff first. And from now on, let's play whisper down the lane. Anything you want to say to Drew, relay it through me. Okay?"

        "I can talk to Drew myself."

        "Yeah, we've all noticed." Justin gave him a look. "Idiot."

        Nick smacked Justin and had to smile.

        The three of them were still talking when JC made his entrance.

        To appreciate JC's next action, one needed to take a good look at Justin's attire. Justin was wearing jeans and a T-shirt, which at first sight might have seemed perfectly innocuous. But the jeans were hanging low on his hips, and his shirt was a bit short. As a result, several inches of Justin's skin were exposed.

        Justin was in mid-conversation, unaware of JC's approach. JC walked up right behind him, nice and close. When JC was so close that Justin had to know that he was back there, since their bodies were touching, JC's hand came forward and slid over Justin's half-naked abdomen.

        Lance tried not to stare. He really did. But JC's fingertips started to caress Justin's treasure trail, stroking up and down it, then traced that line of pubic hair right down inside Justin's jeans. JC's hand was behind Justin's fly, inside Justin's jeans, and Justin was starting to lean back into JC, and how was Lance supposed to carry on an intelligent conversation when JC was doing that right in front of them?

        JC's slender, masculine hand was inside Justin's jeans. Inside Justin's underwear, too, from the looks of it. Lance's eyes focused on the movements of JC's hand behind denim. JC had a gentle grasp on Justin's dick. Joey was the only one still talking. Lance had forgotten what the hell they'd been talking about; JC had no interest in their conversation; and Justin was standing there like nothing was going on, casually leaning back towards JC, mouth open. Lance felt a surprising surge of resentment. The most surprising thing about it was that he was resenting Justin. How could Justin be that casual about what was happening? How could Justin take JC for granted? Lance would give almost anything to have a lover like that, someone as devoted as JC, someone as infatuated as JC, someone who made the simplest of acts a sexual revolution.

        Why couldn't Lance have someone who loved him like that? Why couldn't Lance have someone like JC?

        And why was Justin not escaping with JC to a private corner? Was his dick numb from overuse?

        Every day, JC was getting a little bolder, a little more open. There used to be a time when JC wouldn't touch Justin like that even in front of them, because sex with Justin was a sacred and private thing. Apparently it was a little less private these days. Could JC be mellowing?

        "Hello, this is Nick."

        "My brother is an asshole."

        "Whoa." That didn't sound quite like his Drew. But if Drew was having trouble, Nick was right there for him. "You need some help? You want me to come regulate?"

        Drew laughed. "Nick, only you. I'm frustrated and I'm angry and I start to vent, and you don't ask questions, you don't doubt me, you're right by my side even though you don't know what's going on."

        "You're my Drew. It's my job to help you no matter what. Now tell me what's wrong so I know whose balls to break." He'd made Drew laugh and calm down a notch. Good.

        Silence. A sigh. "Nothing. Nothing new."

        "You're allowed to talk to me." It was okay. Drew hadn't so much as mentioned Nick, or Jeff, since leaving Kendig. Now that he had, Nick wanted him to continue. There was some rule that no one was allowed to talk about the in-laws anymore. Probably Brian's rule.

        "Not about this," Drew said.

        "Why not? This what?"

        "Nick, you know. Brian doesn't want-"

        "Brian's not here. He's not on the phone with us. He's not even in the room. He's off with Kevin somewhere. Go ahead. Don't be shy. Tell me about your brother the asshole."

        "I'm not going to go behind Brian's back."

        "What kind of husband are you?"

        "A good one, I hope."

        "Yeah, well, while you're off being a good husband, Brian's playing footsies with his boyfriend."

        "I hope that's not all he's playing with you."

        "Hey, Drew."

        "What?"

        "How's your brother?"

        "Nick..."

        Nick pretended to misunderstand. "Yeah, him."

        "All right." Drew gave in. "He's a jerk. We had a fight, an argument, and I can't believe what he said. I'm sorry he was on the phone, I didn't know it was you, I thought Justin was going to answer for me-"

        "It's okay. I haven't heard his voice in a while." Nick continued without pause. "It takes two to fight. What'd you say to him?"

        "Nothing I didn't mean."

        "Nothing you didn't mean in anger, at the time."

        "He acts like Jeff hasn't done anything wrong! Like we're blowing it out of proportion."

        "Maybe we are."

        "Brian is instituting a zero tolerance policy on hurting you. I support it."

        "But it's okay to hurt Nick and Jeff?"

        "They'll be fine."

        "You're not fine."

        "I will be once I'm home with you."

        "You have a whole tour to finish first. A tour, Drew. With concerts. Shows, appearances. What about the fans? Your show must suck right now. You and Nick and Jeff must be giving half-assed performances, and I bet Justin can't work under those conditions."

        "What am I supposed to do?"

        "You're supposed to kiss and make up."

        "What about you?"

        "You can kiss me, too."

        "You're not being realistic."

        "You're my Drew and you have to do what I say. Forget Brian. He's old and senile. He can't even get it up anymore."

        "He what?"

        Nick laughed. "Sorry. I shouldn't lie to you."

        "Don't scare me like that."

        "He gets it up better than ever. God, he fucked me so hard last night - - shit, he's back. What were we talking about?"

        "Nothing we can discuss in front of Brian."

        "Damn. Hold on. Now? Shit. Drew, I have to go. Brian - - back off, get your own phone! Hey!"

        "Drew? How are you? Ow!"

        "Drew, you don't have to answer that. Okay, I have to go. Tell me you love me."

        "I love you, Nick."

        "I love you, too. Give your dick a squeeze for me."

        "Kiss Brian for me. Bye."

        "I will. Bye." Nick hung up and kissed Brian. "Bring on the ominous music. We need to talk."

        What was he supposed to do? Apologize again? He and Justin were cool again, like nothing had happened. If Justin was happy with him, by all rights JC should be, too. But JC would hold a grudge forever, if it were Justin-related. Or so Chris was learning.

        Justin was Chris's friend, but Justin had a lot going on. JC wasn't Chris's friend in any definable terms, and had nothing whatsoever to do with him. Lance was distracted. Preoccupied. Chris kept catching him watching JC and Justin. Or maybe just watching JC. For what reason, Chris didn't know. That left Joey, and Joey was the same as ever, which was a serious reassurance.

        Outside of the tour, there was, of course, Howie.

        Howie.

        Talk about an unpleasant queasy flip in Chris's stomach. Howie was on tour. Away from him. With Backstreet Boys and groupies and fans and a thousand new encounters every day. If it was easy for Chris to get sex by virtue of being in *NSYNC, it had to be doubly easy for Howie, considering Howie's personal attractions. Howie's body alone...

        Chris was too old to get a hard-on this easily.

        The best thing about being on tour was always the performance itself, the show. Right now, the performance wasn't what it had been. Which meant that the tour was kind of sucking for Chris. He couldn't spend time with JC; he couldn't spend too much time with Justin because JC didn't let him; Lance was too distracted to be good company; Chris couldn't monopolize Joey's time, even though Joey was being a good friend about it. Naturally, Chris wanted to connect with Howie for support. He tried, and he did. But that source of support wasn't what it once had been.

        Chris wanted to go home.

        "Brian, I'm worried about Drew."

        Okay. "Why?" Nick frowned, framing an answer. Brian wished they were having this conversation after sex, instead of before. He wanted to talk with Nick, and he wanted to know what was going on, and he wanted to make sure that both Drew and Nick were all right. At the same time, he'd been wanting to make love with Nick all day.

        "He's my Drew, and if anything happened to him, I'd overreact and protect him and do anything to make sure it didn't happen again," Nick said. "You're doing the same for me because I'm your Nick."

        Brian smiled gently. His Nick.

        "But if I were doing that to Drew, and then he got over it, and he was okay again, and he wanted to move on and heal and recover and whatever, and I were still trying to protect him, I might end up holding him back and causing more trouble than was...was...warranted."

        "What are you saying?" Brian asked.

        "I need to deal with Nick and Jeff, and so does Drew, and so do you. And none of us can do that while you're defensive and protective and creating this big fortress to keep the evil out."

        "Deal with them how?"

        "That's up to me. I'm the one who was... I'm the one the big drama happened to, so I should be the one to decide what happens next."

        "You can't play on our sympathy to get your way."

        "Why not?"

        "Nick, what do you want to do?"

        "I think I know. You can wait and find out like the rest of the world."

        "You have to tell me."

        "After I decide for sure."

        "All right. You don't have to make permanent, long-term arrangements. We're all still trying to decide how we feel about what's happened."

        "I know."

        "What about Drew? Is he all right?"

        "He and Nick were fighting today. Sounds like it was kind of a nasty fight. Drew was very manly and pissed off. It was cute."

        Brian smiled. "He's all right?"

        "Yeah. I talked to him."

        Brian stroked Nick's hair.

        "I told him you fucked me hard last night."

        "You did?"

        Nick grinned. "Yeah."

        "You didn't have to tell him that."

        "I thought it might take his mind off the fight."

        Brian chuckled. "That was nice of you."

        "It was nice of you, too. That was a good fuck."

        "Thank you. You looked like you were enjoying it."

        "Hell yeah." Nick kissed Brian. Brian's fingers curled around his hair. "Fuck yeah," Nick breathed, sliding against Brian's body.

        JC took over for Justin, scratching his balls gently yet thoroughly. Justin gave a contented moan and kissed JC deeper, deeper, hips rising against JC's hand. He worked off his underwear and let JC stroke his naked body. Oh, god, that felt so good... JC scratched his back, massaged the muscles in his arms and legs, caressed his hard-on, kissed his face, whispered love into his ears. His neck was licked, his feet rubbed, his fingers nibbled.

        While JC was behind him, rubbing his thighs and squeezing his ass and leaving a love bite on the back of his neck, Justin came in his own hand, jacking himself off, breathing hard and trying not to beg. Trying so hard not to beg, after years of being trained to do it. He knew how to beg, knew what to say, knew what JC liked to hear. Knew what JC wanted from him, in any situation.

        After he came, he did a slow-motion drop to the mattress, rolling limply to his side. JC went with him, sweaty body covering him, sucking on the side of his neck now. He couldn't take any more. He wanted more, God knew he wanted more, JC sure had to know he wanted more.

        JC had to give him more.

        Justin kept his eyes open, not wanting to lose himself in sensation. It wasn't safe. Slight tremors ran through his body. JC's hands ran up and down his torso, greedy for the feel of him. Their bodies shifted and JC's cock was hard and throbbing against his thigh, familiar and still, still, exciting. Justin's legs parted, inviting, asking, wanting; he wanted to feel JC there, between his thighs, inside of him, at the very least against him. He wanted to feel JC's hips flex, JC's body thrust, JC wanting him and taking him and-

        JC's cock slipped between his thighs and he closed them tightly, giving JC a warm channel, willing to stoop to this level to get JC closer. JC was thrusting, cock between his thighs, the motion eased by JC's flow of pre-cum and Justin's sweat.

        JC's left hand lifted Justin's right knee, parting his thighs. Justin wanted to howl with disappointment as the simulated fuck ended prematurely, but JC pushed him flat onto his back and slid down, licking his thigh. Tasting. Licking up Justin's sweat and JC's pre-cum and even Justin's cum. Justin moaned, eyes closing, willingly departing from reality.

        Kevin wasn't with AJ any longer. Without warning, without explanation - - did AJ ever feel the need to explain himself? - - AJ had removed himself from Kevin's side. From Kevin's bed. Not from Kevin's heart, because that wasn't AJ's decision to make. But AJ had cut Kevin off from and any all sexual contact. Not a touch, not a kiss, had passed between them. Not since Kendig.

        Kendig. For a brief time, for a few days, AJ had graced Kevin's bed. Not before, and not after. Only in Kendig.

        Kevin yearned for a return.

        He'd hit Nick Carter Littrell Lachey. Brian was ready to make him pay for life; Drew was shocked, appalled, and not speaking to him; Nick Carter Littrell Lachey was locked in a tower safe from him. His own personal Nick, his husband, was remaining loyal to him. It wasn't blind loyalty; he'd fucked up royally and they still had problems to take care of. But Nick was going to stay by his side while they dealt with Nick, Drew, and Brian. He was fortunate to have Nick in his life.

        No doubt Nick and Drew's fight that afternoon had related to him in some way or another. If Nick and Drew were fighting under normal circumstances, he'd want to know about it; now that the fight was in some ways his fault, he wanted to know even more. He needed to know. He wanted to know what everyone was thinking, wanted to know everyone's positions, so that he could figure out what to do.

        He had no idea what to do.

        He wanted to straighten things out with Drew first. He'd rather talk with Nick Carter Littrell Lachey first, but that didn't seem to be an option at the moment. As long as that was the case, he wanted to talk to Drew. Only Drew didn't seem receptive. Quite the opposite; Drew wanted nothing to do with him.

        To understand Drew's position exactly, he needed to know what Drew was thinking. So he needed to know what Drew was saying when approached on the subject. So he needed to know what Drew had said to Nick during that day's argument. So Nick needed to talk to him about it.

        Justin waited for his heart to stop racing.  The walls were shimmering.

        "Justin," JC murmured, kissing Justin's ear, stroking his side with a loving touch.

        JC was touching him purely for the sake of touching him, and saying his name just for the sound of it, not because JC wanted something.  That was good, too, because Justin was all sexed out.

        "Justin," JC said, kissing his shoulder.

        JC wasn't giving out sex vibes for Justin to pick up on, so as long as Justin didn't give out sex vibes for JC to pick up on, they'd be okay.

        "Baby."  JC kissed his neck.

        Oh, that felt good...  Justin closed his eyes, offering JC more of his neck.  So loving, and so impossibly sexual without meaning to be...  Justin moaned a little.

        "Justin."  JC started sucking on his neck, and JC's caress slid down to his thigh.

        Oh, no, no, he hadn't meant...  He wasn't...  JC...   Oh...

        Nick looked at him. "Subtle, Jeff."

        "Tell me so I can get some sleep."

        "What do I get if I tell you?"

        "A good night's sleep."

        Nick faced Jeff, mirroring his position. "I want more."

        "More?" Jeff pretended not to know what Nick meant.

        "A lot more."

        Jeff braced himself. He could handle this. He could say no. He could face Nick down.

        "Do we have a deal?"

        "No."

        Nick shrugged and settled in to go to sleep.

        Damn it. What did Nick want from him? Okay, it was obvious what Nick wanted from him. But he wasn't prepared to give it.

        He'd given Nick a blowjob last night. They'd been in bed, naked, making out, and Nick had been hard, and Nick had been sexy and hot and wanting him, and he'd wanted to make Nick happy, so he'd-

        Shit! He couldn't believe it. They hadn't kissed tonight. They hadn't even kissed.

        Their sex life was suffering a sharp decline, but had things gone this far?

        Jeff touched Nick's naked shoulder.

        "Mmm." Nick acknowledged that Jeff wanted his attention.

        "Wake up."

        "Why?" Nick's eyes remained closed.

        "I said so."

        Nick decided that it was good enough reason; he opened his eyes and rolled closer to Jeff. Jeff took advantage of the moment and kissed him. His mouth opened to Jeff; his hand ran down Jeff's naked back. "If you let a whole day and night pass without this, I was going to kick your butt," Nick said, sliding his naked leg against Jeff's.

        "You could have made the first move," Jeff said, grinding his hips against Nick's just to feel Nick's cock getting harder. Getting harder, swelling to its full size, hot and-

        "It only counts if you do it," Nick said. "Because you never do anymore."

        That statement wounded Jeff's masculinity. "Last night-"

        "Last night I came to bed naked and-"

        "Last night I kissed you first," Jeff said.

        "After I did everything but throw myself on your dick."

        "It's nice to feel wanted."

        "I wouldn't know."

        "Are you pouting?" Jeff asked.

        "If we don't get back to our regular sexual programming, I'm going to do something drastic."

        "I think you'll be able to survive."

        "I know that you have great reserves of strength, and you're capable of denying yourself, and right now I think I envy you for it. I don't have that. I can't turn it off like you can. And trust me, right now, it's on."

        "You can live without getting laid," Jeff said to Nick.

        "Not for much longer."

        "Try."

        Nick took Jeff's hand and put it on his cock. It burned into Jeff's palm through Nick's boxers. Jeff hadn't been prepared for this evidence of Nick's sexual need. His own cock hardened in sympathy.

        Nick lifted Jeff's hand from his cock and placed it against his chest, over his heart. His heart beat a steady, heightened rhythm against Jeff's touch.

        Nick's cock had throbbed with need. Nick's heart pulsed with that same need. "What do you want?" Jeff asked, unable to remove his hand from that powerful beat.

        "Make love to me," Nick said.

        Jeff knew what Nick wanted, but he could work around it. He-

        "I want you in me," Nick said. "You know how much I want it, don't make me say it."

        "Want what?" Jeff asked, just to irritate him, hoping that the irritation would distract Nick from the point. There was no way on earth he was going to put Cockzilla in Nick. He'd promised himself, for Nick's sake.

        "You know what I want, and you know why I want it," Nick said.

        "I don't remember," Jeff lied.

        "Don't act stupid on purpose," Nick said. "I don't want to say it again, but I will if you're going to make me."

        "Say what?" Jeff asked. Nick wouldn't say it. Nick wouldn't-

        "I want you to do me," Nick said. He was looking right into Jeff's eyes, direct, challenging. Honest and unafraid. "I want to feel your huge dick in me. I want to feel you getting deep inside me until I can't breathe because I'm so full of you. I want your dick huge and hard and swollen and pushing into me, forcing itself on me and making me love it. You don't know what it's like, seeing it, feeling it, knowing that it wants to get in my body, wanting it in my body and being so excited, I'm not afraid of it, I want it, I love it, and seeing it, the anticipation, how big it is and how hard it is and-"

        Jeff smacked Nick's forehead to get him to shut up.

        He'd been right.  The walls were shimmering.  Maybe that was because of the intense sexual vibe in the air.  Again, only JC.

        "I love you, Justin."

        Yeah, he'd damn well better.  Justin was not going through this insanity, obsession, and crippling need if he wasn't getting love out of it.  He wasn't going through this crazy wild killing sex life if he wasn't getting love out of it, either.  If JC weren't in love with him, he'd be staying the hell away from JC, because this kind of sex was not something he'd put himself through for the fun of it.

        "What's wrong, baby?"

        "Don't normal people have fun, quick orgasms and move on?"

        "Yes."

        "We never do that."

        "I don't want to do that.  You deserve better, baby."

        "You're making sure I get it, too."

        "Are you saying-"

        "I'm saying that sex with you is too good."

        JC's hand became still on Justin's abdomen.  "What do you want me to do about that?"

        Justin laughed.  He couldn't help it.  "Keep it up, and screw me cross-eyed any time I think about complaining."

        JC smiled.  "I'll do my best, baby."

        Justin hugged JC, rubbing JC's skinny back.  "I wouldn't give this up for anything.  Shimmering walls, broken headboards, I wouldn't trade it for the world."

        "You know I'm only trying to show you my love, baby.  I only want to make you feel good."

        "It feels so good it hurts sometimes."  A lot of the time.

        "I know it does, Justin, and I'm sorry.  But that's what loving you is like for me."

        Justin hugged him closer.

        Nick's eyes were blue.

        "I want it," Nick said.

        Jeff's fingers skimmed across Nick's lush mouth.

        Nick grinned. "Or you could let me do you."

        Jeff yanked his hand back and glared at Nick. It was not fair of Nick make him vulnerable and sentimental and then pull that on him.

        Nick had the shame to look slightly, slightly, remorseful. He moved even closer to Jeff, trying to hug Jeff, making his voice all low and intimate and, to Jeff's ears, sexy. "I know you want me. I know you like to do me. I know it feels good. I know how good I feel on your big, strong dick."

        This was ridiculous. Jeff was not going to fall for-

        "You can zone me," Nick said, voice soft, his body in Jeff's arms feeling every bit as gorgeous as it looked. "I want you so much, my body's so hungry for you, my mind is so eager for you, you can zone me without even trying. You can zone me so hard I'll be the horniest slut from your wildest dreams. Everything you do to me, I'll love it so much I'll be begging for more. You know I'm so sexy when I'm in the zone. And I'm so easy to please. Come on, Jeff. Don't you want to zone me?" His warm, muscular body rubbed against Jeff just enough to make sure that Jeff wouldn't be able to speak to answer the question. "Don't you want to fuck me?"

        Oh, god. Jeff dragged his cock out of his boxers, his mouth feeding on Nick's rich kiss. Nick's laugh stuttered off into a groan of pleasure. Jeff wrestled Nick into submission, climbing on top, and closed Nick's fist around his cock. Nick automatically started to jack him, greedy for his kiss, muscular thighs quivering at Jeff's touch. Nick wanted him. Every inch of Nick's glorious body wanted him.

        Too bad Nick wasn't going to get him.

        Nick's hand was getting down to business. Jeff fucked into Nick's fist, hoping that Nick wouldn't realize his plan until it was too late. Under normal circumstances, he could take a good jacking and still hold back from orgasm long enough to make love to Nick for as long as Nick wanted it. But tonight, he just wanted to come. He only wanted one satisfying orgasm. It had been too long since he'd made love with Nick that final day in Kendig. It had been too long since he'd come. And Nick felt so good right now...

        Jeff felt it coming. Instead of easing back, which he had great experience doing, he urged it on. He wanted to come, wanted that wave of ecstasy, wanted that rush of pleasure, wanted yes, oh yeah, here it came, come on, come on, come on - - he rocked into Nick's hand, ending the kiss, panting for breath, and he came, came in long thick spurts, drenching Nick's chest and arm.

        Nick was rudely snapped out of his sexual fantasy. "You-!" He flicked Jeff's temple, hit Jeff's shoulder, then shoved Jeff off of him. "What was that?!"

        "I believe it's called an orgasm," Jeff said. "You'll find the evidence dripping from your-"

        "You were supposed to be doing me!"

        "Sorry I got it in your hair again," Jeff said, trying to wipe it off.

        Nick smacked away Jeff's arm. "You owe me."

        "You were turning me on on purpose, getting me as hot and bothered as you could. What did you expect?"

        "You were supposed to do me! Not get yourself off and-"

        "Oh, sorry. Well, good night."

        Nick smacked Jeff's shoulder as Jeff reached for the covers. "You owe me."

        "What do you expect me to do?"

        "Think of something."

        "I already came."

        "You can get it up again."

        "It's late. We should be sleeping."

        "You should have thought of that before."

        "Good night, Nick."

        "You're unbelievable."

        "I love you, too, sweetheart."

        "I'm going to get you for this."

        "You're welcome to try."

        "Timberlake, I'm going to ask you to keep a tighter rein on that boyfriend of yours."

        "Husband."

        "Whatever. Look, I have enough trouble keeping track of Brian and Drew. I can't keep tabs on your guy, too."

        "You don't need to keep tabs on JC."

        "I think I do, now that he's all up in the mix. Do you know how long he was on the phone with Brian yesterday?"

        "What?"

        "And the day before that-"

        "That's Brian?"

        "Short guy, blue eyes, all cheekbones."

        "JC's been on the phone with Brian? I thought..."

        "He's having an affair with Brian and he's lying to you about it? I guess he has to lie about it, because why would he have an affair and then-"

        "JC is not having an affair with Brian!"

        "He has to get sex somewhere. Brian's a really good place to get it."

        "Carter, they're not having sex! Why is he on the phone with Brian all day every day?"

        "That's what I'm calling to find out, Timberlake."

        "You could ask Brian."

        "You could ask JC."

        "Let me get the lowdown and holler back at you later."

        "I can't believe JC's doing something you don't know about."

        "He's not keeping secrets from me."

        "Don't be jealous. Brian could tempt anyone to sin."

        "I am not jealous of anyone. JC doesn't even think about anyone but me."

        "Sounds boring." Nick hung up and dialed another number.

        "Hello?"

        "May I speak with Mr. Littrell?"

        "What?"

        "Is Mr. Littrell at home?"

        "Uh...no."

        "Is Mrs. Littrell available?"

        "I guess that would be me."

        "I'm calling about the recent order your husband made."

        "Which order?" Drew asked.

        "Let me see... Two whips; one buttplug, black; one vibrator, pink; one pair of handcuffs, forest green leather; three-"

        "Oh, that order. What about it?"

        "I'm calling to let you know that if you make just one more purchase of fifteen dollars or more, you will receive a complementary cat-o'-nine-tails."

        "I didn't know that. I'm sure that my husband would appreciate that gift. Fifteen dollars or more... What would you recommend?" Drew asked.

        "There's a very nice set of body paints. It has a great variety of color, and two of the hues are edible."

        "Edible?" Drew asked. "That does sound interesting. Do you have anything else?"

        "There is one... No, I'm not sure it's right for you."

        "What is it?"

        "It's only purchased by a certain type of customer."

        "Please, tell me."

        Nick hesitated. "We only offer it to our very best clients. It's called The Kept Boy."

        "Go on." Drew's voice was low and encouraging. Nick had to smile.

        "The Kept Boy comes in various types. We've just developed a very special new model. He's young but not too young, about five years younger than the consumer. He's tall and, of course, well-hung." Nick paused for only a second to give the big hook. He knew Drew's weaknesses like no one else. "He has very nice balls. Big but not too big, perfect for his size. He likes to have them," heartbeat, "sucked." Nick waited to let Drew savor the idea.

        "What...what color is his hair?"

        "Blond. Natural blond. His eyes are blue. I should warn you that this model isn't right for just any home. He's very...friendly."

        "Friendly?"

        "Friendly. He likes to play. Especially in bed. He's very open to new experiences. He brings a freshness to long-standing relationships, but he's also good at breaking in virgins." Breaking in virgins. He knew Drew had to be hot after that one.

        "Does he like to play...games?"

        Nick could feel himself grinning like a fool.  "He loves them. What sort do you have in mind?"

        "He's experienced, you said."

        "Yes."

        "But he wouldn't be averse to playing a virgin?"

        Oh, yeah. "That sounds like something he'd enjoy." Nick was going to have to enjoy that fantasy later. He wanted to think about Drew wanting him that way.

        "What's his neck like?" Drew asked. Back to business. Going over the product specs.

        "Long. Filled out like a grown man's, but not thick like a football player's."

        "And his mouth?"

        "Soft. Wide enough for a well-built cock. He has very nice teeth."

        "Does he bite?"

        "Only if you want him to."

        "One more thing."

        "What's that?"

        "His nose."

        "Very lickable. You'll enjoy watching his nostrils flare. What do you think? Will he make a nice addition to your family?"

        "He sounds perfect. We'd love to have him. As soon as possible."

        As soon as possible. Nick didn't doubt it. "He'll be there as soon as he can. Thank you for shopping with us. And, Mrs. Littrell?"

        "Yes?"

        "Have a nice day." Nick hung up and dialed another number.

        "Carter, what?"

        "Hey, Justy. How's your crew?"

        "Lance hasn't been the same since AJ ripped his heart into a million pieces and pissed on it."

        Nick winced. "Yeah. Sorry about that."

        "How is AJ these days?"

        "He's jerking Kevin around by the balls. Hey, give me the inside tip. How's Chris?"

        "Chris? You're asking about Chris?"

        Howie was Nick's homeboy, and Howie was all Romeo over Chris. "Humor me. How's short and sweet?"

        "He's fine. He's trying to keep busy. He's annoying the hell out of Joey."

        Enough small talk. "What did JC say about Brian?"

        "I didn't get a chance to ask him."

        "I gave you half an hour."

        "You gave me ten minutes. And he's on the phone."

        "Then get him off the phone and-" A thought hit Nick. A suspicion. No, Brian was asleep. He was sure of it. He... Nick ignored whatever Justin was saying and ran to his bunk. He jerked open the curtain and there! Brian! Awake and on the phone! "Brian's on the phone, too," he told Justin.

        "What's going on?" Justin asked. "And don't tell me that they're having an affair."

        "Can I help you?" Brian asked Nick.

        "I'll talk to you later," Nick said to Justin, and hung up his phone. To Brian, he said, "You're having an affair with JC and I'm going to tell Drew." He turned around and climbed into Howie's bunk. "Scoot over."

        Seconds later, Nick fell unceremoniously out of Howie's bunk, onto his butt. "Jerk!"

        "Yes," JC said. "I just don't find you attractive anymore."

        Justin looked at him.

        JC smiled.

        "You're sick," Justin said.

        JC squeezed his hand. "I'm not having an affair with Brian."

        "If you were going to have an affair, who would it be with?"

        "Nobody."

        "I'm serious."

        "So am I."

        "JC. If you were going to screw somebody besides me, who would it be?"

        "I'm not interested in anyone besides you. I've had you. No one else is worth it."

        "That's flattering and very typical of you. Now answer my question."

        JC thought about it for a second. "I guess Lance."

        "Lance?" Justin was surprised. "Our Lance? The one on this bus?"

        "Yes."

        "Why Lance?"

        JC blushed.

        Now Justin really wanted to know. "Why Lance?"

        JC was embarrassed. It was extremely cute and, somehow, sexy. "I think he wants me."

        Could JC be more oblivious? "Of course he wants you. Everybody wants you. Wait. He wants you? Lance wants you? How do you know?"

        "It's the way he looks at me. Justin, it's not a big deal. He's trying to get over AJ. It's good for him to notice other people. You know there's not a possibility anything would ever happen."

        "Lance wants you," Justin said. Of course Lance wanted JC, because everyone did. Lance was only human, and Lance had the opportunity to witness JC in action. But...what if Lance really did want JC? Not merely as an abstract notion, not merely because JC was inhumanly, beautifully sexy, but because Lance was attracted to JC? What if Lance actually thought about JC, and fantasized, and... That was ridiculous. Lance knew how JC felt about Justin. Of all people, Lance understood that there was no chance there.

        "Don't worry about it," JC said.

        Justin shouldn't feel threatened. He shouldn't be mad at Lance. He was being stupid. "Ask me."

        "Ask you what?"

        "Who I'd do if I were with someone else."

        "No."

        "Why not?"

        "I don't want to know."

        "Why not?"

        "I don't like the idea of you with someone else."

        "JC, I'm not actually going to do it." He saw the tightness around JC's mouth. "Okay. Never mind."

        "Chris."

        It was the prettiest day of the year.  "Hi, Howie."

        "Talking."

        "Talking about what?"

        "Music."

        "Don't make me pry it out of you."

        "We're working on a project. Thinking about starting a project. There's nothing serious yet."

        "A project? What is it?" Justin was interested.

        "You told me to get a hobby, to find an interest outside of you. That's music. So I started to think about what I'd want to do. I got an idea, and I contacted Brian, and he's interested. So we're trying to see how it could work. It's only in the planning stages."

        "How'd you pick Brian?"

        "He's very talented. But his musical interests and his strengths are different from mine. I thought it would be good to work with him and see what he has to offer."

        "What is this project?"

        "It's a collaboration."

        Justin decided to get to the real issue. "Why don't you want to talk about it? You tell me anything, especially if I ask. What's different this time?"

        JC looked right at him, slowly, with care and respect. "I don't want to hurt you."

        "Hurt me?" JC would never hurt him.

        "You're not involved. Not as a singer or performer. You're welcome to contribute to the songwriting, but we made a strict list of singers, and..."

        "You didn't choose me," Justin said.

        "No," JC agreed.

        "Who did you pick?"

        "It's a wish list. We haven't spoken to any of them yet. There's me, Brian, Chris, AJ, Nick Timmons-Lachey, and Justin Jeffre."

        Chris, JC, Brian, Nick, AJ, Justin. Damn.

        "It's too many voices, but we couldn't decide any other way."

        "What are you going to do?"

        "Cut an album."

        "An album?"

        "We're all on the same label, so that should make it easier. We'll write songs specifically to show off the voices we've chosen. It's more to explore musically than to make a hit song. We could make a video, just for the fun of it. It's a one-time thing, for the novelty of it. Brian and I are writing songs right now, so we'll have something to offer when we talk to the other guys."

        Something hit Justin. "You picked Chris."

        "He has an amazing voice."

        Justin kissed JC.

        JC blushed, surprised at the attention.

        They'd picked Nick. The other Nick. Nick Timmons-Lachey. They wanted Nick to sing with them. Brian wanted Nick to sing for him.

        Drew would be proud of his brother when he heard about Brian and JC's project. He'd be proud that Nick was invited to join the elite. Hand-picked by Brian.

        Nick had always been proud of being a Backstreet Boy, for many reasons. Sometimes, it was an issue of status. Being in the Backstreet Boys meant a lot more than being in 98 Degrees. But this time, that didn't seem to matter. They'd chosen the other Nick anyway.

        Hotter, buffer, and a more respected singer. Was there anything else Nick Timmons-Lachey wanted to take away from him?

        No.  That was okay.  Nick Timmons-Lachey could have this project.  Take this opportunity. He’d never be in Brian’s bed.  Never be in Brian’s heart.  He could sing with Brian for this album. He’d never be a Backstreet Boy and get to sing with Brian in the studio and onstage and backstage and on the bus and around the house and in the middle of the fucking sidewalk if they wanted.

        Nick Timmons-Lachey had been hand-picked by Brian for this project.

        Nick Carter Littrell Lachey had been hand-picked by Brian for life.

        "I'm fine, thank you; and how are you?" Chris asked, offering a hand to shake.

        Justin shook Chris's hand. "I'm fine. How's Howie?"

        "He's fine, thank you; and how are you?" Chris asked, offering a hand to shake.

        Justin shook Chris's hand. "I'm fine. How's Howie?" he repeated.

        Chris twiddled his thumbs. "Sexy as ever."

        "How do you know? You haven't seen him. He could have lost all of his hair. Maybe he's gained twenty pounds."

        "Shut up."

        "Maybe his dick fell off," Justin said.

        "Maybe yours did."

        "Maybe yours did."

        "Maybe JC's did."

        "Back, Satan!" Justin cried, holding up his fingers in the form of the cross.

        "Just call me a man who knows how to hit where it hurts," Chris said.

        "Don't you ever say that again."

        "I don't care if I don't see Howie for another five years. As long as I know he has it and it works, call me happy."

        "Happy. I thought you were Dopey," Justin said.

        "I thought you were Horny."

        "Horny is not one of the seven dwarves."

        "Horny, Sleazy, Slappy, Kinky, Messy, Ugly, and Drugged-out," Chris listed.

        "Oh, that's right. You're Ugly," Justin said.

        "I know you're Kinky."

        "I am not."

        "Are so," Chris insisted.

        "Am not."

        "Are so."

        "Am not."

        "Are so."

        "Can I play, too?" Joey asked, sitting on Chris's other side.

        "You can be Sleazy," Chris decided.

        "Sleazy? Is Howie here?" Joey asked.

        "No, he's out doing your girlfriend," Chris said.

        "I don't have a girlfriend."

        "He's out doing your boyfriend?" Justin suggested.

        "I don't have a boyfriend," Joey said.

        "You should get one," Justin said. "They're all the rage."

        "Seems like they're all taken," Joey said. "Who's left?"

        "JC's taken," Justin said, just to be sure that they knew.

        Chris and Joey rolled their eyes at each other.

        "You could seduce Chris," Justin suggested to Joey.

        "Okay." Joey got on his knees in front of Chris. "Chris, do you..." He thought about it. "Chris, I..." He didn't know what to say.

        "You need practice," Chris said.

        "You need to be bi," Justin added.

        "Maybe I'm the wrong target," Chris said. "Try someone else."

        Joey crawled over to Justin. "Justin, do you-"

        "Someone else," Chris said.

        JC and Lance walked in. "You guys ready?" JC asked.

        Joey began to walk to JC on his knees.

        "Someone else," Chris and Justin said.

        Joey veered right. "Lance, I... Lance, do you..."

        "I know," Justin said, standing and helping Joey up. "JC can give you lessons in seduction."

        "Joey needs lessons in seduction?" Lance asked.

        "Seducing men," Chris said.

        "Men?" JC asked.

        "You know, the hairy people with testicles?" Chris asked.

        "Joey's straight," Lance said.

        "That doesn't seem to have made a difference with any of you," Joey said.

        "You can't turn somebody gay by making a pass at him or wishing really hard," JC said. "I was gay before I met Justin."

        "So was I," Lance said. "I mean, I, you know what I mean."

        "I don't know. Howie pretty much altered my entire perception of the world," Chris said.

        Everyone looked at Justin.

        "What?" Justin asked. "JC's hot. I'm bi anyway, but... It's JC."

        "And somehow that explains everything?" Lance asked.

        "Yeah."

        Beep.

        "Drew, that message sucks. I told you to let me do it. By my calculations, you're onstage right now. I wish I could be there to see it. Damn, I have to be quick or it'll cut me off again. I'm calling to remind myself that when I get home, I want you to stand on the kitchen table and do a striptease for me. I'm trying to decide which song I want. What do you think?"

        "Hey, this is AJ."

        "Hi. This is Lance." It was lucky for him that his name came out automatically; if he'd had to stop to think about it, he wouldn't have remembered what his name was.

        "Lance. What can I do for you?"

        "I was just calling to" think fast think fast think fast damn it think fast "say hi." Stupid. Lance closed his eyes. "How are you?"

        "A little tired, a little irritable, a little horny. What about you? How are you doing?"

        Talking to AJ was so familiar that Lance almost forgot himself and slipped into their old patterns. "About the same as you."

        "I hear the tour's going really well."

        "Yeah. I guess you guys are getting close to the end now."

        "I don't know what I'm going to do with myself."

        Lance didn't know what to say.

        "Are you seeing anybody?"

        "Not really. Are...are you?" Lance braced himself for the answer. He wasn't going to mention Kevin's name. Not aloud.

        "No," AJ said. "Here and there, you know. Nothing worth writing home about."

        "My mother will love you." "You're taking me home to meet your mother?"

        "Speaking of seeing other people," AJ began. "Are you going back to women, or straddling the fence?"

        "What?"

        "Before me, you were straight. Now that we've broken up, will you go back to your old ways?"

        "I am not straight," Lance said. "You're not so powerful that you altered my sexual orientation. My primary sexual attraction is to men, and I plan to continue to see men for the rest of my life."

        "Sounds like I hit a sore spot."

        "What about you? Being bi, you can screw just about anybody you want. That should make you happy."

        "I can screw anybody I want," AJ said. "Too bad not just anybody can screw me." He hung up the phone.

        "Bastard," Lance muttered.

        Nick was proud of Brian. He wanted Brian's project to be a great success, and he wanted it to make Brian happy.

        But he'd eavesdropped on Brian's conversations with JC. And he'd gone through Brian's new lyrics.

        Brian was writing for Nick. The other Nick, Drew's brother Nick, Nick Timmons-Lachey. Brian was writing for Nick. Writing songs with him in mind. Writing songs for him to sing. And god freaking fucking damn it, if Brian was writing songs about that Nick...

        Brian had told JC that he could hear Nick singing it, when he wrote it.

        Brian had never said that about him.

        Lance looked closer. JC had nice toes. Kind of long. That toe ring, in addition to being a dead giveaway to JC's sexuality, was one of the sexiest things Lance had ever seen. The polish was dark. Purple. It sparkled.

        The heel of JC's foot was cupped in Justin's hand. Justin's fingers started to stroke back up JC's ankle. Caressing JC's skin. Cherishing the line of JC's tendon, the curve of JC's ankle bone.

        Lance went to his bunk.

        Jeff hit Nick with a pillow and got into the bed. "Yes, I want you. You know I want you. Now grow up."

        Nick put the pillow over Jeff's hips and sat on it, knees on the mattress. "Grow up?"

        "Grow.  Up. What are you doing?"

        Nick was rocking slowly, riding the pillow, riding Jeff's hips. "Nothing."

        "You're molesting the pillow."

        "That's okay. It's not my pillow."

        "It's my pillow!" Jeff remembered. He stole Nick's and put it under his head. "Now it's yours."

        "Are you going to keep me celibate for the rest of our relationship?"

        "Yes."

        "We're married."

        "We've already consummated the marriage. We're not having kids."

        "There are other reasons for having sex."

        "Like what?"

        Nick leaned down, hands on either side of Jeff's shoulders. "Fun."

        "Sex is fun?"

        "Yes." Nick kissed Jeff's chest. Loving, hot wet heat on Jeff's skin. "It can be a lot of fun." Another kiss and he sat up again to continue rocking, that hypnotic rhythm, that constant muffled weight over Jeff's cock. "Do you want to work up to it?"

        "Work up to what?"

        "Work up to sex. If you don't want to use your penis, use something else."

        "Like what?"

        "You'll think of something."

        He could think of quite a few things, and each one made his balls hotter. His tongue. His fingers. Forbidden toys. He and Nick never used toys, never used anything that wasn't already a natural body part. He almost never used his tongue as it was. He did use his hand, sometimes. His whole hand, inside Nick's body. Slowly working deep, deeper, finger by finger. His fist. His fist and Nick's flesh.

        His fist. Nick's flesh.

        Jeff wrenched his hand from his husband's grip.

        His fist. Nick's flesh.

        Jeff smacked Nick across the face.

        His fist. Nick's flesh.

        Nick's hand smoothed across his forehead. "What is it? What's wrong?"

        Jeff shook his head and closed his eyes. "Nothing. Go to sleep."

        Nick slid off of him to lie beside him. "Jeff. What's wrong?"

        "Nothing," Jeff repeated. He tried not to move away from Nick's nearness. "Go to sleep."

        It worked, too.

        As the Backstreet Boys continued to tour, AJ picked up a man here, a woman there. They were only one-night stands. AJ wasn't in the mood for a relationship right now.

        If he wanted sex, with a relationship attached or not, he could come to Kevin. But Kevin didn't know how to make that concept any clearer. And AJ didn't seem interested.

        What had Kevin done? Why had AJ dismissed him? Had he simply been the most available warm body during the break-up with Lance? Now that they were on the road, there were other warm bodies, with more variety.

        He wasn't bad in bed. AJ had liked it. He was sure of it.

        He was lying to himself. He wasn't willing to give AJ sex and only sex. He wanted more of AJ than that. He wanted to give more of himself than that.

        That was why AJ was staying away from him.

        At least he wasn't being used.

        But being used might be better than being rejected.

        AJ was proud to have been invited, and declared that any project of Brian's, he was in on.

        Justin was flattered to have been asked, and said that he'd be happy to contribute to the album.

        Nick was amazed that Brian would let him join the project.

        Chris was amazed that JC would let him join the project. He didn't dare say no.

        Lance crawled out of his bunk, too. "Yeah?"

        "I'm working on this song for the project. I'm" was Lance looking at his toes? "trying to get this bass line right. Justin Jeffre's part. Could you sing it for me?"

        "Sure."

        JC stepped closer and showed him the part, humming it for him to give him an idea.

        Lance bent his knee. His thigh was touching JC's.

        "Could you sing from," JC's finger traced a path down the page, "here?"

        Lance tried it out. He looked at the paper and tried not to notice how hard JC was staring at him. JC was only staring because JC was concentrating, listening, thinking about the song. JC was staring at him for professional reasons, probably not even seeing him but envisioning someone or something else.

        When he finished, JC made a few minor changes and asked him to sing it again.

        1. Nick, but Nick was off-limits to him and to Jeff.

        2. Drew, but he was fighting with Drew, and Drew wasn't interested in listening to him right now.

        3. Brian, especially since he'd just been invited to come on board Brian and JC's project. However, regarding that project, he hadn't once spoken with Brian personally. He was trying to decide whether he wanted to approach Brian right now, or give it time.

        He had to talk to somebody. On the practical side of things, Drew was his brother; Brian was his brother-in-law; Drew was in 98 Degrees; he was joining Brian's project. Each was a very good reason to straighten out this dramatic mess. On the less practical yet still compelling side of things, Nick loved Drew, loved Brian, and loved Nick. He also loved Jeff. He needed, if not perfect love and harmony, at least the ability to co-exist.

        And then his phone rang.

        "Hello?"

        "Hi."

        That voice... "Who is this?"

        "Let me check my nametag. Wait, hold on, it should be in the concert program. There was one over on the... Okay, hold on. Uh... No, no - - here. Nick. Nick Carter. That's my stage name. My real name is Nickolas Gene Carter Littrell Lachey. You can call me Nick."

        "Nick."

        "You catch on fast. I'm calling about a few common acquaintances. Your brother, Drew, and his - - what do you people call it? His lover? His significant other? His partner? You know, Brian, the one with the big nostrils."

        "His husband."

        "Right. Drew and his husband. Now, I understand you're on the outs with them. Having a little spat, you might call it."

        Nick decided not to comment.

        "I think I can make that disappear for you. Vaporize, if you will."

        "How?"

        "You sound skeptical, but you won't for long. All you have to do is tell them you're sorry, tell them you love them, and let me do some fancy footwork on my end."

        "It isn't that easy."

        "I can make it that easy."

        "Why?"

        "They're good friends of mine, and they love you. I want to see them happy. And if that means patching things up between them and you, well, then, that's what I'll do."

        "Nick-"

        "You just get ready to grovel. And wear some tight pants; that might help." Click.

        Nick hung up in silence. It wasn't that easy.

        "I can make it that easy."

        Nickolas Gene Carter Littrell Lachey would make it that easy. For Brian and Drew's sake.

        That was love.

        Jeff sat beside him. "Why are you sitting here looking constipated?"

        "Nick called."

        "Nick - - Nick?" Jeff looked as shocked as he'd felt.

        "Yeah, it was definitely Nick. It's hard to mistake his conversational style."

        Jeff had to smile. "How is he?"

        "He's, I don't know, you'd know what to say to him, I have no idea. It's like he's... It's like he loves them, so he'll do whatever he can to help them. No matter what it is."

        "Nick would have encouraged Drew and Brian to get married even if he'd thought that they would leave him," Jeff said.

        "I have to talk to Drew."

        "You have to talk to Brian."

        "JC, have you read these?"

        "These what?" JC asked, getting dressed. They had to be out of the hotel in a few minutes.

        "These songs you wrote." Justin wanted more of JC's attention, so he waved the notebook a little.

        "I wrote them, and you want to know if I've read them?"

        "Do you know what you wrote?"

        "Lyrics," JC said. "Words. What did I spell wrong?"

        Justin grabbed JC by the unfastened fly and pulled him in. "You wrote about me."

        JC zipped up. "I always write about you."

        "That's different."

        "How?" JC turned away again to get his shirt.

        Justin grasped JC's elbow and turned him back. "All the rest of the time, you're the one singing about me."

        "I'm still going to be singing about you."

        "But... Not with the guys."

        JC got it.

        "This will be different. It won't be you and the guys. It'll be you and other people."

        "They're our friends. They're your friends."

        "AJ?"

        JC silently conceded the point. "I'll be there, and I'll be singing."

        "I know. And Chris will be there." Chris's presence reassured Justin, at least, if not JC.

        "I sing about you, baby. That's what I do. And I write about you. No matter what, no matter who's there or who's listening."

        "They won't know it's about me," Justin said, trying to convince himself. "Who am I kidding, everybody will know it's about me."

        "We'll see how it goes. You'll have a chance to hear everything before it hits the album. Okay?"

        "Okay." Justin rubbed JC's naked arms, ruminating. He met JC's eyes. "You know, this is a chance for you to try new things. Write songs *NSYNC can't sing."

        "Like what?"

        "Anything. Maybe something more cutting-edge."

        "Cutting-edge."

        "I'm your muse. Let me inspire you."

        "Inspire me to do what?"

        "Write what you really feel about me."

        "I already do."

        Justin kissed JC, one hand on JC's back, the other hand sliding up between JC's thighs. He let JC open his mouth and lick his lower lip. As he massaged, JC's cock was growing harder inside JC's jeans. He broke off their kiss and looked into JC's eyes. "What are you feeling right now?"

        JC kissed him again before he saw it coming. Caught by surprise, Justin gasped into JC's mouth as his hand tightened on JC's groin.

        There was no doubt what JC was feeling.

        Nick hit the wall and grunted, then pushed forward and turned, putting Brian in his place.

        Brian roughly kicked his jeans off.  Now with his back against the wall, he climbed Nick's body. Nick's hand was on his ass, supporting him, as he gripped Nick's hips with his thighs, wrapping himself around Nick. As Nick's tongue fucked into his mouth, Brian worked a hand in between their bodies and clawed at Nick's zipper.

        Nick stepped back enough to tilt Brian against the wall, an inch or two between them. This gave Brian a chance at his fly while he jerked Brian's underwear down to bare Brian's ass. Nick stepped in again for full-body contact, jerking Brian down against his cock, while his finger went straight for the puckered hole of Brian's ass.

        Brian didn't want to wait. He wanted Nick now. He sucked hard at Nick's jugular, digging his fingers into Nick's shoulder. In his position, he couldn't rock against Nick's cock to any satisfaction. He had to be fucked.

        Nick didn't wait to be asked. He thrust hard into Brian, groaning at the tight clench of Brian's ass. Brian went limp against the wall, letting Nick fuck him, holding onto Nick enough to ride Nick's rocking frenzy. Nick cursed, pushing Brian into the wall, driving up and into Brian. Brian felt tight around his cock, so tight, so fucking good-

        Drew wakened, his body soaked with sweat, his underwear soaked with cum.

        They needed a name. Everyone from each of the three bands was asked for one suggestion.

        AJ: Not Quite As Good As the Backstreet Boys

        Brian: Conglomerate

        Chris: NSJNCK

        Drew: Verse Six

        Howie: AJ and the Supremes

        JC: Space Cowboys

        Jeff: Nick and the Pips

        Joey: Not Nearly As Good As *NSYNC

        Justin Jeffre: Six Really Good Singers

        Justin Timberlake Chasez: JC and Who?

        Kevin: Backstreet Boyzzzzz

        Lance: The Rolling Beetles

        Nick Carter Littrell Lachey: Multisexual

        Nick Timmons-Lachey: Lovesick

        They tried again, and got a few more suggestions:

        Second Edition

        Point of View

        AeroSYNC

        SYNCosmith

        BackSYNC Kids

        Degrees of BackSYNC Kids from O-Town

        Third Degree ("I'm JC, I'm Brian, I'm AJ, I'm Nick, I'm Chris, I'm Justin, and we're going to give you the Third Degree!")

        Finally, they settled on "Sentimental Fools."

        JC and Brian, with the help of anyone interested, were going to write all of the songs and get completely prepared while on tour, so that as soon as the tour ended the Sentimental Fools could hit the studio. They were all used to making an album, so the recording and producing should go smoothly.

        AJ didn't consider himself a sentimental fool. He suggested that the group take Howie instead.