JC woke to the wonderful sensation of soft kisses moving over his chest, down his ribs and still lower. Every once in a while the caress would change. He smiled – butterfly kisses – his lover’s eyelashes. Feeling those silky, fluttering whispers against his lower abdomen made his muscles jump.

“Guess you’re not gonna let me sleep,” he growled good-naturedly.

“Nope,” was the sleep-low voice’s reply.

JC opened his eyes to find the wide jade eyes of his lover gazing up at him. “C’mere, Lance. I want a morning kiss.”

Moving back up the lean muscled body of his lover, Lance complied readily to JC’s demand.

“Good morning, pretty boy,” JC murmured as his long, elegant fingers stroked the other man’s spiky blonde hair back. “I thought after last night, you wouldn’t be awake so early.”

“I don’t sleep like you do. Besides, C, it’s gonna be a month before I see you again,” Lance reminded him.

“I know, baby.” JC had commitments in California when Lance had to remain on the east coast. It would be the longest separation they’d face since becoming lovers six months earlier.

Lance had saved him. JC easily conceded the fact – if only to Lance. He’d been at the end of his rope emotionally. The bass singer had tossed him a lifeline called love. At first, JC had rebuffed him. He liked girls, he kept saying. But girls only broke his heart, Lance reminded him. True enough. JC had never picked women who were right for him, never finding a good fit – or as he so aptly put it, he sucked at romantic relationships.

How many nights had Lance stayed behind with JC instead of going clubbing or to strip joints with the guys, because he hadn’t wanted to leave JC alone? Lance was always encouraging and enthusiastic when JC had something new to explore. They had long talks into the night – and on one such night, JC had fallen asleep in Lance’s bed.

Instead of taking advantage, Lance had pulled to covers over JC and slept on top of them to give him his privacy. JC had awakened, curled up against the blonde’s back. Overwhelming curiosity and a desire for closeness drove him to put his mouth against the flesh of Lance’s neck, on the pulse beat. He flicked his tongue along the sensitive cord there, then along the shell of his ear.

“Mmm...JC…” Lance purred in his sleep and pushed back against JC, thinking he was having a wonderful dream.

When the man didn’t awaken, JC was emboldened. What would kissing Lance be like? What would touching him be like? It never occurred to JC others might think it insanity to even entertain such thoughts! What would it feel like to make love with Lance?

“Lance.” JC pushed the covers down so only the boxer briefs they wore would come between them. He let his hands roam over his friend’s body. The skin was soft, but hard muscles lie directly beneath.

“You awake, C?” Lance drawled, feeling the hard, insistent erection rubbing against his bottom.

“Oh, yeah…”

Lance rolled to his back, JC hovering over him. Jade met sapphire. “You want this?”

“I don’t know.”

“It’s okay not to know.” He smoothed the soft tumble of dark curls from JC’s forehead. “It’s a huge step for you.”

“Can I kiss you?”

Lance smiled. “I’d like that.”

Tentatively, JC leaned forward and placed a quick kiss on Lance’s full lips. He did it again, allowing their lips to cling briefly. Next he took Lance’s upper lip between his and tugged gently, then repeated the caress on the bottom lip.

Lance gripped fists-full of sheet to keep from grabbing JC. His beautiful, sexy friend was going to drive him crazy!

JC smiled into Lance’s eyes. “I’m likin’ this so far.” He drew one finger around the soft lips he was enjoying. “How about you?”

“Me, too, C.”

“What do you taste like, James?”

“Come on and find out, Josh,” Lance invited.

“Lance, can I ask something?”

“Sure. Anything.”

“Why won’t you touch me?” JC sounded bewildered and disappointed.

Releasing his fists, Lance raised a hand to JC’s cheek. “I didn’t think you wanted me to yet – and I don’t want to rush you.”

Turning his mouth into Lance’s palm, JC kissed the soft flesh gently, teasing it with the tip of tongue. “I think I’ll like it.”

“Damn! Do you realize how sexy you are?” Lance grumbled.

JC laughed at the statement. “I am? You think I’m sexy?”

“Hell, yeah!”

Lying back, JC opened his arms and said, “Show me how it’s done, Lance.”

JC was awed by the tenderness and respect Lance showed him. No one had been as careful or understanding. He was an innocent and his new lover encouraged his curiosity and experimentation -- and when JC proved an adept lover – Lance was appreciative.

The only negative was the hiding. They had agreed they could not be together openly due to family and career concerns. They were new best friends by day and passionate lovers by night. JC doubted he would ever tire of Lance – and Lance knew he’d found true love.

“Don’t suppose you could get your fine ass to LA for a conjugal visit,” JC said, nipping at Lance’s lips. “I’ll make it worth your while,” he promised.

Lance’s low, throaty chuckles sent shivers of awareness down JC’s spine. “Sorry, beautiful. I doubt I can get away – and you’re always worth my while.”

“How am I gonna do without you for 35 whole days?”

“That’s what cellphones, email and IM’s are for.”

“Ah, technology…We gonna have cyber sex, pretty boy?” JC grinned.

“Name the time and the day, I’ll be there for you.”

“Yeah…” JC leaned to kiss Lance softly. “You’re my rock, baby.”

Suddenly tired of talk of the coming separation, JC flipped Lance onto his back, coming over him. “But we got today, so let’s do it!”

The two kissed, caressed, and licked at each other. JC’s long, lean body moved on the shorter, sturdier blonde. Lance sucked hungrily on the salty, sensitive skin above the lion medallion his lover always wore.

“Don’t you be giving me any hickeys!” JC laughed as he tugged Lance’s mouth back to his.

“Now, beautiful! I want you now!” Lance rasped.

JC reached for the tube of lube on the nightstand and slicked himself up. Parting Lance’s hard thighs, he lifted him slightly and parted his butt cheeks. He gently pushed into the tight hole little by little, waiting for Lance to adjust to his invasion. Finally, in to the hilt, he sighed at the wonderful tight fit.

“Yeah, baby. I feel it too.” Lance’s low voice was soothing and dreamy.

“This first moment…it’s the best.” The blue-eyed lover leaned forward for a tender kiss. “I love you, pretty boy.”

The blonde stroked the dark curls at the back of his lover’s head. “I love you, too, sweetheart.”

JC slowly rocked his body into Lance’s. Taking the other’s hands in his, he let Lance’s manhood rub against his stomach – pleasing him in two ways.

“Feel good, baby?” JC asked in a whisper as Lance moaned softly.

“Always…you always—“ Lance’s hands tightened around JC’s, his green eyes closed in an agony of fresh bliss. “Jay-cee!" he cried as he shuddered from the force of perfect pleasure. “Damn!”

JC finished with short, hard thrusts to reach his own climax. “Baby!” he shouted as he jetted into Lance’s body, behind his eyes the rapture exploding into starbursts. He collapsed on his lover’s chest, panting and complete.

Lance petted and kissed JC’s hair, soothing him as he floated down from his heaven.

“It keeps getting better,” JC purred, kissing the smooth flat chest of his lover. “How does that happen?”

“It’s called love, beautiful.”

JC lifted his head, grinning. “If anyone else called me that, I’d break ‘em in half.”

“You’ll always be beautiful to me.”

“Even when I’m old and flabby?”

Lance chuckled, not being able to foresee such a day when his slender, muscled lover would attain such a body. “Even then.”

It had been damn hard to leave Lance’s warm, loving arms, JC thought as his flight landed LA-X. A real struggle. He’d never know that kind of love before. Lance was everything he had always looked for in a girl. Sweet. Tender. Fun. Smart. Caring. He loved JC for all the things he was – and never reminded him of all the things he would never be. JC had been looking for a girl. He had found a man.