“You remember our cell phone numbers, right?”
“Yes, Mom.”
“And you remember our e-mails? Our room number on the cruise ship?”
“You wrote down the room numbers.” I reassured her. “I’ll be fine, Mom.”
“I know, honey…But if something happens, tell me.”
“Mom, Justin is an adult. He’s twenty-two. And do I have to remind you I grew up with the guy? I know him inside out. And I’ve already checked the weather. There’s no hint of severe weather alerts. I talked to Justin last night and he says everything is in prime working order.”
Mom relented, “All right, but…you don’t know him that well. He was mostly Diana’s friend.”
I shrugged, “True. But we’ve had our moments. Besides, I trust him. There’s nothing to worry about.
“Alright, alright. Have fun. Try not to be too wild.” She smiled at me.
“Like that’ll happen.” I rolled my eyes. “Thanks, Mom. And we’ll be fine. Really.”
She gave me one last hug and then got in the car. Both my parents waved good-bye at me as the airport service purred its way out of the driveway.
And Justin would be coming to pick me up any minute now.
Going back in the house, I got my luggage and shoved a house key in my jeans pocket. Then my cell phone vibrated. Someone had texted me.
It was from Justin.
Hey, r u ready? Gonna be in ur driveway in a flash!!! C ya soon.
Sure enough, the rumble of Justin’s Jeep was heard just as I put my cell phone away.
I lugged my bags out and waved at Justin Cahill as he stopped the Jeep. He got out, flashing a grin at me just before he enveloped me in a hug.
I sighed, inhaling the scent of Justin’s aftershave and feeling the warmth of his skin under the tank top. His heartbeat was against my chest, thumping out a rhythm that slowed my own heart and left me feeling at peace.
The embrace ended too soon. I grinned at Justin, my eyes roving over his unshaven jaw and brown eyes.
“Nice way to start the day,” he teased. My smile grew in a full-fledged beam.
“I suppose so,” I replied. “Are your parents gone from the house?”
Justin nodded. “On their way to meet yours at the airport. It’s wonderful that they thought of this,” he added. “Because I’ve really missed spending time with you. I haven’t seen you since I graduated from high school.”
“I’ve missed you, too.” I said, bending down to pick up my suitcase.
“Oh, I’ll do that.” Justin snatched the suitcases away from me. “Just get in the car.”
I got in as Justin put the suitcases in the backseat. Then I found my seat vibrating as Justin turned the car on.
As Justin maneuvered the Jeep on the freeway, I found that the roar of the engine made it impossible for conversation except at a shouting level. So I watched the mix of urban life and green trees blur into a kaleidoscope of gray and green. Then we went on an Exit and we were in the affluent part of Bellevue’s residential neighborhoods. The houses flashed by, further and further apart.
The engine was purring now as we went on the familiar and then the Jeep went up the snaking driveway and into the garage of Justin’s house.
He turned off the car. Broke the silence.
“Welcome to Casa de Justin,” he grinned.
We left my luggage in the car and Justin led me in the master bedroom.
“So, this is where you’ll be sleeping,” he told me.
I frowned, “What about you?”
“I’ll be—well, I was thinking about sleeping with you.”
I raised an eyebrow and Justin chuckled nervously, looking down at his sneakers as he spoke.
“Diana and your mom have both told me you’re afraid of the dark. I thought that sleeping with you may…quell those fears.”
“Sleeping in the same bed?” Both eyebrows rose.
“Is that okay? I’ll sleep somewhere else if you don’t feel comfortable.” Justin raised his hands, as if in surrender. “You’re just my responsibility.”
I frowned, “Why don’t I try it for one night? Alone. And then we’ll take it from there.”
“That’s fair.”
He led me on a tour, pointing out the highlights of the house. There was a heated pool and a hot tub out back. The media room had surround-sound speakers, a sophisticated music player and a 60” LCD TV. There were assortments of gadgets in the kitchen. His own bedroom had a TV and an Xbox 360, along with a sleek Mac computer.
The house itself was close to perfect, as buildings could get.
“I think I’m going to like this house.” I grinned.
Justin’s hand squeezed my shoulder, “Good. Better get used to living in here for two months.”
Something under my skin jumped. Two months. I was going to be alone with Justin for two months.
“Hey, Connor, you all right?” Justin’s face was tight with worry.
I realized that I’d tensed up. I deliberately loosened my muscles, drawing in a deep breath, “Fine. I’m fine. Just excited, I guess.”
“You scared me for a minute there,” Justin smiled at me, a quick flash of teeth.
“There’s nothing to worry about.” I shrugged. “I’ll be all right with you.”
“Of course.” Justin squeezed my shoulder again. “And I’m really happy to have you here, Connor. Really.”
I blushed and dropped my gaze to Justin’s sneakers, “Thanks.”
Justin changed the subject, “So what do you want to do this afternoon?”
We decided on the Xbox.
“Just warning you,” I said as Justin handed me a controller. “I’m not a video-game person, so play fair.”
Justin smirked, “Of course. I always play fair.”
I arched an eyebrow at him and sat by him as Enter the Matrix loaded up.
“We’re going to have a fight against each other,” Justin told me. “I’m going to give you Niobe because she’s easy. And then I’m going to be Ghost.”
I nodded, focused on the game.
“And you can relax.” Justin rubbed my shoulder, chuckling. “It’s not that big of a deal.”
I took a deep breath, “Okay. I’m ready.”
Niobe was surprisingly easy to control, and Justin assisted me with whispers in my ear about this Matrix trick or that fighting flourish. And I ended up winning the fight.
“Oh!” I jumped up and down in triumph. “Yes!”
“Nice job.” Justin rewarded me with a hug and my excitement quickly became replaced with a deep contentment. I found myself sighing, nuzzling my face in his neck. I could feel the heat of his skin through his thin t-shirt and his scruff brushed my ear as he rubbed my back in soothing circles.
“Justin?” I murmured his name against my neck.
“Yes?”
“Will we be like this if I decide to let you sleep in the same bed as me?”
There was a short pause and then Justin’s embrace became tighter, shaping my body against his.
“Yes.” he whispered. “Is that all right with you?”
“Mm.” I tightened my arms around him. “I think so.”
Justin laughed, his lips next to my ear.
“You think so?” he teased me.
I broke the embrace, glaring up at him, “If you tease me like that in bed, I’m not going to sleep with you.”
He said nothing, his eyes widening.
My cheeks flamed as I realized what I could’ve meant, “Oh, shit! I didn’t mean it like that.”
Justin laughed, pulling me back in a tighter hug, “Of course not, you silly boy. I was only teasing you.”
I rolled my eyes, but I found myself chuckling, “Be nice, though. I am your guest.”
“I’ll always be nice. Unless you don’t want me to.” Justin smiled against my shoulder.
“Now who’s got the potty mouth?” I shoved him away. “Can we listen to a mix CD I made?”
--
Author's Note: This is a Work-in-Progress. Just something I came up with while listening to love songs. If you have any titles in mind for this story, please offer them!
P.S. It's probably gonna be strong on the sensual stuff. Not explicit, but just strong. I'm rating it R for sexual content and language, plus thematic issues.
