Chapter 25

“Justin?” JC was surprised, his chest tightening. “What... what are you doing?”

Justin scratched his head. “Let me come over-”

“No.”

“No? Come on-”

“No.”

Justin bit his lip. “Look, I need ya help.”

“My help?” JC asked, his brow knitted.

“Yeah. I... just let me come see you.”

JC sighed and brought a hand to his lips, chewing on his thumbnail. He wanted Justin to persuade him more before he said yes.

“C, I... Everything’s fucked up right now. I need to talk to you. Please.” Justin whispered and slumped on the toilet seat, closing his eyes.

JC stayed silent, weighing his options. Justin could come over, they could fight again and nothing would have changed. He could come over, they could get together again and everything would be ok again. Seeming as if he had nothing to lose, JC nodded.

“Hello?”

JC realized Justin couldn’t very well see him and cleared his throat, trying to calm his racing heart. “Yeah. Yeah, come over.”

Justin attempted to smile and nodded himself. “OK... alright, I’ll be over in a second. Look...”

JC waited. “Yes?”

Justin checked around him instinctively, casting his eyes downwards once more. “I missed you.” he whispered before hanging up hastily, sagging against the floor, hoping this would help.

Marcelle backed away from the bathroom door with wide eyes, his mind having a hard time wrapping around the words that just left his friend’s mouth. Justin couldn’t be gay... he couldn’t.

JC was sulking on his couch; a knee brought to his chest, his chin resting on the torn denim.

“Who told you he was a piece of shit?”

Count on Joey too rub it in your face when you were down.

“I don’t remember why I still invite you over.”

Joey smiled and took out a can of beer. “Because even though I’m harsh, I’m honest. You need that. Look, it wasn’t your fault, alright? Love’s blind sometimes. You just need to get over it and move on. And speaking of moving on... you quit the case?”

“And my job. She would have gotten me fired anyway.”

“Damn, kid. You’re crazy. So, what are you gonna do?”

JC shrugged and gritted his teeth together, his jaw muscles working against his knee.

“You need to get another job... Shit, you have to start all over.”

“Ok.”

Joey shook his head. “You couldn’t count on him from the beginning. Luckily, you have friends that put up with that bullshit. Lance is coming by, also. I know you said no one over, but I wanted you to be around people.,” he said, taking a long swig of his drink afterwards.

JC looked up and gave a slight smile. “Thanks, Joe.” Even though Joey was hard to deal with, and very hard headed, he did have good intentions and was loyal to a fault.

The doorbell rang and JC sluggishly got up, dragging his feet as he went to the door. He hoped Lance didn’t mind that he wasn’t in the mood to party.

But when he opened the door, crystal green was not looking back at him, instead cobalt blue.

“Hey.” Justin sighed and JC swallowed thickly. His hair... “I know.” Justin ran a hand through the mop of golden curls on top of his head. “I just... You wanted to see it out and I... Can I come in?”

JC’s palms itched as he leaned against the door frame, his eyes still frozen to the blonde curls that he had never seen, nor had ever thought he’d get the chance to.

“C?”

JC snapped out of his daze and blinked. “Huh?”

“Can I come in?”

JC was about to open the door when he remembered Joey and shut it instead, shaking his head. “Uh, no. I... no.”

Justin raised an eyebrow. “Why not?”

“‘Cause. What did you want to talk about?”

“You not still mad, are you? Damn, you been mad for a minute now.”

JC frowned. “Justin, you are over an hour late. You said you were gonna show up and you didn’t. Why can’t I be mad?”

Justin shifted and ran a hand through his hair. “I just wanna talk to ya.”

“Outside is fine.”

“Nah, outside ain’t.”

JC crossed his arms and stood up straighter. “Justin, I’m about to go back inside right now. This obviously isn’t going anywhere.”

“Hold up. Just...” Justin whispered and moved closer, his right hand grazing JC’s red cheek. It was still mid February and JC was out there in a T-shirt and cut up jeans.

“Justin.” JC’s eyes fluttered close, his face tilting as Justin came closer. He couldn’t deny this man and it was becoming so painfully clear. “Wait. People could see us.”

That got a reaction and Justin stepped away quickly, his hand slipping off easily. He shook his hand and rubbed the back of his neck.

“Justin, what did you want to say?”

With a shuddery breath, Justin licked his lips and began. “I don’t want to go back there. We was chillin’ and suddenly, the 64s were blowin’ our spot. Marcelle is pissed as shit and wants to murder everyone, Slim is stressed about getting more 18s to come with us tomorrow and I just don’t know-”

“You were the ones who shot up that shop over on August and Trines?” JC asked suddenly and Justin bowed his head.

“They was schemin’ on us. We was just getting them back.”

JC’s chest was tight again and he shook his head. He hated that Camme’s words were still replaying through his mind, swarming around to constrict his heart.

“Why are you here with me, then?”

Justin threw his hands up in frustration. “I ain’t goin’ back there. I’m staying here... with you.”

JC cursed and rubbed a hand over his face. “Justin-”

“Don’t say no. I need you right now, please.”

“You didn’t need me a few days ago! Why am I going to believe you now?”

Justin grunted. “Because I lo-... Because I need you and I’m tellin’ you that now. I don’t know where Ima go if you say nah.”

Justin’s look was so pathetic; JC felt himself crumble instantly. JC cursed again and reached behind him for the doorknob, twisting his wrist. The door opened and the couple walked through the threshold, Justin’s eyes immediately zooming in on Joey upon the couch.

And the Italian was staring back, shooting daggers with his gaze. JC ignored the obvious tension and reached for Justin’s wrist, dragging the younger man into the bedroom. Justin, who had taken off his jacket before, laid it on the stool and cast Joey a warning look before the door closed.

Once inside the bedroom, Justin couldn’t help himself; his body gravitating towards JC and just being able to wrap his arms around the brunette made his blood warm.

When he felt familiar arms circle his waist, he buried his face into JC’s neck, kissing the tender skin.

“Don’t do that again, alright?” JC whispered and breathed in the intimate smell of his lover.

Justin nodded and brought JC closer, overwhelmed by the need flowing through his veins. There were tears prodding at his eyelids and he tried hard to conceal them, holding JC tighter.

JC pulled back only to cup Justin’s cheeks and bring him in for a kiss they had both yearned for, Justin’s body aching for more as he searched the brunette’s mouth with his tongue.

His hands ran over JC’s body with reckless abandon, just needing to touch the older man in anyway possible. JC’s hands covered his as they settled on the buttons of his pants and soon the material was discarded, Justin’s cold hands burning JC’s sides.

“I’m sorry.” Justin whispered against JC’s lips before giving the brunette another world shattering kiss.

Joey was furious. Justin had JC wrapped around his pinky and the blonde was using it to his every advantage. And though he was sure JC could make the right decision, Joey was a little doubtful that the brunette would if Justin was anywhere to be seen.

That’s why the young man was now going through the blonde’s jacket, sifting through the man’s wallet. He needed to find something to expose Justin, something that would set JC in the right direction. But after only finding a few ounces of weed and some cigarettes, Joey was ready to give up.

Then, the silver glint caught his eye and he picked it up, palming the small phone. He didn’t know what to do with it and was about to put it back when a loud moan came from the bedroom and a light bulb flashed above Joey’s head.

It was risky and probably wouldn’t work, but he had to try. Joey, who was familiar with this kind of phone, flipped through the menu, pressing OK to see the phone book. He had decided the first name he came upon would be whom he called and when a “Marcelle Cell” came up, he pressed the green phone button, holding the phone to his ear as he kept his eyes on the bedroom door.

The rings ceased as someone picked it up and Joey licked his dry lips, his eyes alert for anything.

“Um... Marcelle?” he asked and the other person scoffed.

“J, what the fuck are you doin’?”

Joey cleared his throat again. “This isn’t Justin.”

There was slight scramble on the other line before the person began again. “This is his phone.”

“You do realize that you’re friend is a homo, right?”

“Who the fuck is this?”

Joey shrugged and couldn’t help the smile that spread over his face. “Just a person looking out for ya.”

“How the fuck would you know? And who the hell do you think you are usin’ his-”

“He’s fucking that cop right now, Marcelle. He’s switched on y’all and I just thought it would be wise that y’all know that your boy roots for the other team.”

Marcelle was silent and Joey took that as a good sign, hoping the wheels were turning in the other man’s head.

“Who are you?”

“No one you would know. Just know that I’m being honest and you need to get your man, quick.” Joey hung up after he finished, tucking the phone back in the coat. He put the coat back on the stool and grabbed his keys from his pocket, smiling at the closed bedroom door as he left the small apartment.

“Fuck...” Justin moaned into JC’s shoulder, his teeth grazing the sweat glazed flesh.

JC panted beneath him, pleasantly sated as Justin’s chest heaved against his. His eyes were closed, stars painted on his eyelids. His hands moved blindly over Justin’s strong back, dipping along the small of his back.

“C?”

All JC could do was moan in response, his body too tired to do much more.

“I came over here to talk...”

JC’s eyes fluttered open slowly and he was getting ready for it, the blow to his stomach when Justin would leave saying this was all a mistake.

Justin looked him in the eye and suddenly everything diminished when all he saw were baby blues staring back at him.

“I can’t tell you how scared I am. Right now, you... ya got me by the balls, ya know? And I can’t fight this shit anymore. I can’t be tough and just forget about you, I can’t leave you alone. I just...” Justin’s soft voice tapered off and JC lifted an arm, his hand sifting through the blonde curls he was loving, his palm skimming over the heated cheek.

“We could leave.” JC whispered and Justin blinked. “I mean...”

“You leavin’?”

JC nodded and scratched at Justin’s eyebrow. “I quit my job.”

“What?!” Justin was on his hands now, looking at JC like he was crazy. “Why?”

“I wasn’t doing anything for the case. She was going to close it anyway.”

“But ya job, why’d you-”

“I don’t know. I just wanna try something new for a while.”

Justin nodded though he was still frowning. “You’re leavin’.”

JC nodded again and Justin sighed.

“I can’t go wit’ you, ya know that, right?”

“Why not?”

“Because I belong to this block. This is where home is to me.”

“Home is where the heart is.”

Justin shook his head. “Home is where your family is. My block is my family.”

JC licked his dry lips and nodded. “Alright.”

“Where are you goin’?”

“I don’t know.”

Justin leaned forward and kissed JC, rolling them over so JC was on top, his tongue loving JC’s mouth.

“Mm.” JC moaned as he pushed forward, his body already on fire.

“C?”

Justin opened his eyes and reached over, fiddling with the nightstand before warm arms wrapped around JC’s waist once again. JC smiled down at him and the greeting made Justin melt, his body in overdrive as his heart raced.

He lifted his hand and pressed the condom wrapper to JC’s chest, his legs spreading as JC settled between them.

JC tilted his head to the side and tried to straddle Justin’s thighs again, knowing if he was going to do this right, he couldn’t be behind Justin. The condom wrapper was still pressed to his chest but he didn’t think much of it as he tried to climb up Justin’s body, the blonde pushing him back.

“Justin, what are yo-... Oh.” JC quickly caught on as Justin’s legs raised and circled his hips, Justin’s eyes gazing right into his, the question not needing to be asked.

With trembling fingers, JC tore the package open and put it on himself, doing all while he watched Justin, ready for the younger man to back out.

When there were no objections, JC swallowed thickly, jittery hands raising Justin’s strong legs higher, his other hand guiding himself slowly.

But when the head of his cock touched Justin’s ass, JC pulled away slightly, too scared. He had wanted this forever and now, it was here, he couldn’t take it. He couldn’t.

“I can’t.”

Justin shook his head, reaching forward, his lips crashing onto JC’s as he pulled forward, JC sliding in slowly. JC groaned deep in his throat with might, the tight heat clasped around him messing with his senses. He didn’t move as Justin lay still, their lips still pressed tightly together, Justin’s eyes clamped shut as pain seared through his muscles.

“I can’t.” JC panted, but Justin shook his head again and started to move, the motion going straight to JC’s groin, his hips disobeying as they moved on their own. He tried to slow down, not wanting Justin to be hurt but he was too tight and too hot and all his that he was going to come way too soon.

“C.” Justin moaned suddenly and JC’s eyes shot to the younger man’s face, his hips raising quicker and Justin’s back arched up from the bed sheet as JC dipped his head, his tongue circling an erect nipple.

His hands held Justin’s hips as he thrust, sweat breaking out on his back, dripping down to his thighs as Justin mewed beneath him. The younger man writhed, begging for more, his eyes still closed; though JC was still very apparent behind his eyelids.

Part 26
Tricky