“Well I guess that’s it then,” he said sadly.
Roy took him in his arms and hugged him. “You were always my pride and my joy Joshua.”
JC lowered his eyes. “I know.” He looked up to the house. “Where is that boy?”
Roy laughed and shook his head. “He said something about having to call Jonathan before you left.”
“Lord the way he has carried on you would think we were going to the other side of the world not just twenty minutes down the road.”
“I know how he feels Joshua. I got used to having you live with me again this past year.” Roy squeezed JC’s hand. “You will come back and see me won’t you, you won’t forget me?”
“Of course I’ll come back. Dad you can see my place from here, look,” JC pointed across the lake. “I’ll wave to you every morning.”
Jamie came galloping out of the house and heaved a duffle bag into the back of the truck.
“Bye Gramps. I’ll come by after school on Mondays and Wednesdays if that’s okay with you.”
Roy laughed. “And here was me thinking I had got rid of you at last.”
Jamie gave a silly false laugh. “Oh you are so funny.”
Roy took the teenager in his arms and hugged him goodbye. “Look after your daddy,” he whispered in his ear. “Don’t let him get too lonely.”
“I won’t,” Jamie promised.
JC and Jamie climbed into the truck and waved goodbye as they drove away to their new home. Roy wiped away a tear, he knew that sooner or later JC would want a home of his and Jamie’s own but he was banking on later rather than sooner. The phone ringing made him run back in to the house.
“Roy Chasez,” he panted.
“Fuck,” Justin cussed under his breath. “Hi Roy it’s Justin. Can I speak to JC please?”
“He’s not here.”
“Please Roy. I told him I was sorry. I’m trying to understand. Really I am. Please ask him to speak to me.”
“I can’t Justin. Joshua doesn’t live here anymore.”
Justin was stunned. “Where is he?”
“I can’t tell you. If Joshua wanted you to know where he was he would have told you.” Roy felt a pang of pity. “If and I mean if I talk to Joshua I will ask him to phone you, but I can’t promise anything. You overstepped the mark Justin. Joshua will tolerate anything anyone throws at him but you did the unthinkable. You attacked Jamie, his child, his whole reason for living.”
“Tell me what to do Roy, tell me how to make it better.”
“You can’t. I have to go. Bye.”
On the other end of the phone Justin held the receiver close to his ear just listening to the monotone that told him Roy had hung up. Jonathan hovered around the door behind him.
“I know where he’s gone,” he said.
Justin reluctantly met his brother’s eyes. “Tell me…please.”
“Number 7 Lake Cottages. It’s on the other side of the lake.”
“Thanks.”
“I didn’t mean to make things difficult for you.” Jonathan chewed his lip and then continued. “I never meant to fall in love with Jamie. It just happened.”
“I know.”
“I don’t want you to hate me,” Jonathan said sniffing back his tears.
“I don’t hate you,” Justin whispered. “I don’t hate Jamie. It was just the shock.”
“He loves you. Jamie told me he hears him crying sometimes at night.”
Justin wiped his eyes on his sleeve. “I really fucked it up Jon.”
Jonathan put his arms around his brother. “Maybe not.”
Justin looked hopefully at the younger man.
“Jamie wants his dad to be happy and he thinks that’s only going to happen if he is with you.” Jonathan pulled away and walked over to the front door. “7, Lakeside cottages, 8:30 tomorrow night; it’s all arranged JC will be expecting me to go for a welcome dinner only you will be going in my place. Jamie will let you in and then it’s up to you.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
Jonathan shrugged. “Just accept us.”
Justin nodded silently knowing that he had no choice.
~*~
JC put the finishing touches to the table that stood in their new kitchen/dining room and stood back admiring his handy work. Jamie nodded appreciatively. He went to pick up one of the cut crystal glasses and withdrew it quickly when his father went to slap his hand.
“I’m going to have to touch it later,” he said cheekily.
JC polished the silver cutlery one final time. “I don’t want your grubby fingerprints on it till then. What time is Jonathan coming?”
“8:30.”
“You want me to go visit grandpa?”
Jamie blushed. “No. I want you to be our waiter.”
JC coughed, “you want what?” he spluttered.
Jamie fluttered his big brown eyes. “Oh go on papa.”
JC rolled his eyes knowing he couldn’t refuse his son anything. “Alright, but you owe me. I’ll go and put on my suit, we may as well do this right.”
“Vous remercier le papa.”
“English Jamie, English.”
“Thank you daddy.”
“That’s better. I won’t be long.”
Jamie smiled to himself as JC went to dress up. He walked over to the kitchen door and turned the key in the lock before putting it in his pocket. He then poured two glasses of red wine and placed them on the table.
He checked his watch; Justin should be there any minute. He stepped out into the hallway and peered up the stairs, he could still hear his father moving about in his room so quickly he darted to the front door and opened it.
Justin stepped back in shock and looked at the fist that he had readied to knock with.
“Oops,” Jamie said stifling a giggle. “That was close.” The teen stood aside to let Justin in. “Go straight to the dining room and be quiet. Papa will join you there momentarily.”
“Why are you doing this Jamie, why are you helping me?”
Jamie stared into Justin's face and stepped closer to him speaking in hushed tones. “I think you are a hypocritical, egotistical asshole, but for some strange reason my papa is in love with you. He gave up so much for me that I would do anything and suffer anyone to make him happy again and if being with you is what will make that happen then so be it.” Jamie’s French accent was more pronounced than Justin had ever heard it before.
The teen’s eyes dropped to the bunch of roses that Justin had clenched in his right hand. “Get rid of those. Un bouquet de fleurs will not impress him. Instead they will anger him more. You must be strong and make him admit that he is in love with you.”
The sound of JC on the stair alerted them to his impending return.
“I will send him in here but he is not expecting to see you,” Jamie said quickly. “Stand out of sight.”
Jamie darted out into the hallway and met his father. “I think the meat is burning papa, I am not sure. Will you check it for me while I go and get ready? Jonathan will be here any minute and I still have to get dressed.”
JC grinned. “Sure,” he said obligingly and went trustingly into the kitchen. As soon as he was inside Jamie darted forward and shut the door locking it and putting the key in his pocket along with the kitchen door key. He picked up his jacket and went outside. Jonathan was leaning against the wall waiting for him.
“How’s it going?”
Jamie grinned. “I didn’t stay to find out mon cher; I beat a hasty retreat before the shouting started.”
“Wanna go to the theatre? Brad Pitt is on.”
The dark skinned teen pressed up against his boyfriend and kissed his lips lovingly. “And why would I need Brad Pitt when I have you?”
Jonathan shoved Jamie away and sniggered. “You French are all the same. You think flattery will get you in my pants.”
“Will it?” Jamie asked naughtily.
“Ask me later after we watch Brad Pitt.”
~*~
The smile slid from JC’s lips as he spotted Justin. He turned on his heel and grasped the door handle, pulling it with all his might.
Realising it was locked he strutted over to the kitchen door and tried that too.
“We need to talk Jace,” Justin said sitting down at the table. He stared at his wine glass and drew circles with his finger around the base while he waited for JC to join him.
JC glared at him angrily and strode back to the door that led back into the house, trying it again and swearing loudly in French when it still didn’t budge.
“Open this fucking door Jamie!” he yelled pounding at the wood with his fists.
“That won’t work. Jamie has gone to the movies with Jonathan.”
“He’s done what!” JC pounded harder on the door. “Jamie Scott get your ass here right now and let me out.”
Justin sighed and got up. He came up behind JC and grabbed hold of his wrists, pulling him against him. “I said stop it Jace you will hurt yourself.”
The brunette struggled. “Let me go,” he demanded. “I want you out of my house.”
Justin spun JC around and slammed him roughly against the wall, trapping him there with the weight of his body. “I said stop JC.” Justin covered the angry smaller man’s mouth, massaging his lips with his own and lapping at the plush cushions.
JC resisted for a few seconds and then fell into the kiss, allowing his mouth to open so he could taste the hot wet tongue that was persistently pressing against his teeth. He groaned long and loud as Justin's tongue filled his mouth and his hips pressed forward of their own accord, rotating and grinding against Justin's groin.
“Want you,” he breathed. “I want you and I hate that I do.”
Justin mouth travelled over the smooth skin of JC’s neck, suckling just under his ear then kissing around to his Adam’s apple.
JC writhed helplessly, still pinned against the wall with his wrists held above his head. “We can’t. I can’t.”
“I love you,” Justin moaned against JC’s throat. “Don’t ask me to stop. I don’t want to stop.”
“You hurt me.”
“I know. I didn’t mean to.”
“I don’t trust you not to do it again.”
Justin smothered JC’s lips once more and pressed hard against him.
JC groaned as Justin's hard cock pressed against his. He struggled half-heartedly for a few minutes before giving in completely. Justin broke the kiss so that JC could take a breath and the slim beta whimpered and breathed, “I love you.”
Three little words were all it took to send Justin's heart soaring. He crushed JC against him and smothered his face with kisses. “Never,” he moaned. “I’ll never hurt you again, never. Marry me.”
Justin pulled back still holding JC by his arms concerned that the beautiful beta had began to tremble and had tears rolling down his cheeks.
“What is wrong darling?”
JC hiccupped and hid his face in Justin's chest as his sobbing increased. “Jace please, what is it? What did I do?”
JC looked up his eyes brimming. “Do you mean it? You want to marry me?”
Justin brushed the tears from JC’s face with his fingers. “There has never been anyone else. Marry me, be with me.”
“What about Jamie? If I marry you then he and Jonathan will be related.”
“Only by marriage not by blood.”
“People won’t see it that way. All they will see is that my son… your son is sleeping with your brother.”
Justin couldn’t help but snigger. “And you don’t think that they will notice that they are both alphas first?”
“No. I love you but I can’t marry you. It’s not right; I have to think of Jamie.”
Justin gripped JC’s arms tightly. “Fuck Jamie, fuck my brother. Think about it Jace, even Jamie knows that we are made for each other. Why the hell do you think he locked you in here with me?” Justin took a deep breath then continued. “Think of yourself for once in your damn life. Be my husband, have my children.”
“I can’t,” JC’s eyes overflowed once more.
Justin wanted to shake some sense into him but instead pulled him to him and kissed him tenderly until JC wilted in his arms. “Marry me,” he breathed. “Don’t think about it. Don’t over analyse it, just say yes. Please JC say yes.”
“Yes,” JC whispered. “Yes.”
Justin gave a brief laugh and then whooped with joy, swinging JC around and around.
“IloveyouIloveyouIloveyou,” he gushed. He put JC down and gathered him into his arms, kissing him hard.
JC wriggled free. “Dinner is burning,” he said running to the stove.
Justin followed him and wrapped his arms around his waist, resting his chin on JC’s shoulder as he pulled the roast beef from the oven.
“Forget the food Jace. Just turn it all off.”
“But I worked hard.”
Justin reached over and took the hot meat tray from him and dropped it onto the top of the stove. “I said forget the food. You are all the nourishment I need right now.” he attacked JC’s neck, running his tongue up and down under his earlobe.
“I want you baby.”
“Not here,” JC said breathlessly. “I want our first time to be special, not like the way I lost my virginity, a hurried fuck. I want candles, silk sheets and red wine.”
“They are yours angel.” Justin dug his hand in his pocket and pulled out the spare key that Jamie had given him when he arrived.
He grinned sheepishly. “Jamie was worried you might get over agitated at being alone with me.”
JC frowned. “What else did you two cook up between you?”
Justin took JC’s hand. “Come and see.”
He led JC out of the kitchen and up the stairs. “Is this your room?” he asked.
JC nodded. Justin opened the door and motioned for JC to go inside, hesitatingly JC complied. The room had been filled with candles that cast flickering shadows on the walls and filled the air with the sweet scent of vanilla.
JC went further into the room and dragged his fingers over the black silk covered bed. “Who did this?” he asked.
“Jamie before he went out with Jonathan. He wanted to make sure everything was perfect for you. Look in the box.”
JC looked around and then picked up a small box that sat on his pillow. It was wrapped in a piece of blood red silk and was topped with a white bow. He opened it with shaking hands and squeezed his eyes shut when he saw what was inside. His mouth trembled and his fingers shook as he lifted the ring free.
“Its incredible,” he uttered almost silently.
“I knew it was yours the minute I saw it. The way the sapphire sparkled reminded me of your eyes.”
“It’s beautiful.”
Justin took the ring from him and took his left hand and slipped it on his second finger. “Perfect,” he said.
JC lifted his hand, admiring the engagement ring that glittered on his finger. “I don’t know what to say?”
“I love you Joshua Chasez. Tell me you love me too.”
A smile spread slowly over JC’s lips and he moved into the circle of Justin's arms. “I love you too,” he breathed. He lifted his lips to his fiancés and they kissed softly and tenderly. As they broke away from each other JC looked around his room.
He swallowed hard. “I’m not ready Justin. It’s perfect; everything is perfect, the candles, the bed, the ring. But I’m scared. I have only ever had intercourse once and that was with Jamie’s father.”
Justin held him in his arms. “I can wait,” he whispered reassuringly.