"Thank you." It was only just audible.
"How’s your hand?" The youngest of the kidnappers stroked the bound brunettes face, playing his thumb over his skinless and bleeding lips causing JC to hiss slightly at the stinging sensation.
"Hurts."
The kidnapper sat down on the floor cross legged in front of his prisoner. "You’re a mess."
JC never answered him instead he hung his head in shame. He hadn’t washed since he had been abducted, he hadn’t even been allowed to clean his teeth or comb his hair. His scalp felt as if it was crawling and his chin was covered with a rough stubble.
"You’re prettier without the beard. I personally always liked the little chin strip you had. What did your fans call it? I remember the kitten strip. " He ran his hand over JC’s thigh. The naked man drew his legs up to his chest defensively and the kidnapper chuckled softly. "you think I’m going to rape you . don’t you?"
"Aren’t you?" Trepidation sounded in his voice, his bottom lip quivered as he cringed backwards feeling the man move closer to him. Breathing in his ear.
"No.... I’m not."
The man moved away again. So tell me, My colleague says you’re a fag. Are you?"
JC nodded. "I’m gay .. yes."
"So you got a boyfriend?"
"Yeah."
"What’s his name?"
JC gulped he didn’t want this conversation but was too afraid to refuse to join in. He depended on this man to keep him alive. The soft voiced man was fighting in his corner. So he had to be friendly to keep him on side.
"Justin"
The kidnapper whooped and clapped his hands "Oh respect the man, Your fucking Justin Timberlake. So tell me do you do him or does he do you?"
The bound man flushed, embarrassed at the personal query. He was kicked on his leg.
"Answer the question JC."
"He ... um ... he does me."
"Does it hurt? You know ... taking it up the butt."
"Why don’t you ask your colleague I’m sure he’d give you a demonstration." As soon as the words left JC’s mouth he regretted them, his defence mechanisms had kicked in. His face stung as he was bitch slapped. "He’s right you’re just a dirty fag." he was dragged backwards by his hair.
"I’m sorry ... I’m sorry ... please, I didn’t mean to be bad ...... please." JC begged as he slid helplessly across the tiled floor. "I’m sorry. Don’t let them kill me please....... I’ll .. I’ll tell you anything you want to know, Everything. I don’t want to die" His last sentence was screamed, pleadingly. His hair was released, His chin cupped in a vice like grip and lifted up. Soft lips covered his, licking tenderly at the brutalised flesh.
" I won’t let them kill you JC. I was angry with you, that’s all. I forgive you." He kissed JC again. "It’s not personal JC, it was never personal. It was always about the money. You have to go back in the box now."
"Let me go."
"Do I have to gag you or will you stay quiet?"
JC sucked his skinless lips into his mouth letting his head drop forward "I’ll be good."
* * *
"It wasn’t him."
!Oh sweet Jesus!" Chris dropped like a stone on to a chair grabbing up a cushion and clenched it to his face not wanting his friend to see him cry.
"Does Joe know?"
"Yeah I called him." Lance handed a large JD to the older man before pouring himself one.
"How’s Justin?"
Lance sighed. "He started crying, shaking, damn Chris he fainted. I put him to bed as soon as we got back. I’m worried about him, Have you noticed he’s not eating?"
Chris drained his glass then played with the glass turning it over and over in his hands.
"Yeah I know. It’s killing him not knowing. In a way ... if it had been him ... well at least it would be over and Justin .... we all could start living again." Chris lifted his big brown eyes seeking the cool jade of Lance. "That sounds selfish doesn’t it? I want him back just as much as the rest of you ... I just want to know ... I want it to end for him. The thought of him being hurt ... They’re not going to let him go are they?"
Lance pulled the older man into his embrace and kissed his hair. "I need another drink!"