This is a 'missing scene' for Melanie, 'cuz she asked. Hope it's okay enough for more Richie, yes?

~~~

Justin concentrated on the tiny, swirl patterns the painter's brush had made on the surface of the wall before him, and tried to ignore the sharp ache in his backside.

Shifting his weight from one foot to the other, he reached back to rub the reddened flesh with both hands. Regretting the movement immediately as a white-hot flash of pain lanced through him.

Unsuccessfully, young Evers blinked back the fresh surge of tears the action had caused.

It wasn't fair!

A 29 year old adult should not be standing naked, nose pressed into a corner, and his bottom registering 180 degrees from the ministering of his lover's hand not 40 minutes ago.

Fighting the urge to cry aloud, fighting the urge to try and soothe his butt again, he stole a glance at his stony-faced lover. Choate sat working diligently at his desk, harsh features made harsher by the frown on his face. How long had it been since Justin had last seen those much loved features so angry? It had been the night of his father's gala. His first, and he had thought last experience with this kind of thing.

Okay. Justin understood what he had done wrong then. His lover's well placed hand had made him understand the lesson well enough to never make that mistake again. Two months he had stayed out of trouble, well. . .almost two.

Damn! Just how many rules did this man have? So far, too many! How was he supposed to be able to keep up with all those damned rules? Justin thought peevishly as he looked back guiltily at his Marine for the curse word. 'No cursing' was definitely one of them, not to forget, 'no lying'. Justin was fairly certain 'no cheating' went in there somewhere. Oh, and 'no drugs'.

The young man groaned in misery as he tried to decide for the thousandth time if this relationship was worth it.

Young Evers shook his head as he remembered their awesome mind-blowing sex. Nerve sizzling, mind-numbing sex, each and every time.

His Paddy had proven himself a considerate, patient, attentive lover. Impressive in the equipment department. Justin smiled wickedly. Oh, yeah, most impressive. Creative, inventive . . . Justin sighed. Barring that, the Councilor's Chief Aide almost made good company, although his sentences tended to be a bit too short for normal, polite conversation. What he lacked in social skills, he made up for in other ways.

He was supportive of Justin in his endeavors such as they were. And he encouraged him to achieve more, reach his potential. The Chief Aide listened to young Evers as if what he said had merit, as if his opinions had value. They laughed together, played together. Justin smiled -- argued together. Although, the younger man seldom won, his Marine wasn't overbearing. . .well, yes he was, but it wasn't--overbearing. Most of the time, the disagreements sprouted from Justin's independent nature, his obstinance; his brattiness. Of which the Chief Aide had little, or no, patience for at all.

The younger man's pout intensified as he shifted on his feet again. He'd just been having fun with a few friends. Nothing heavy! Well, maybe a little heavy. He knew he shouldn't have listened to Gideon and Andreas. Especially, not to Andreas.

All this never would've happened if the Councilor's Chief Aide hadn't insisted they take the limo!

Justin shifted again, and again the resulting pain reminded him of the reason he stood there.

The fault lay on Paddy's shoulders. . .no, the fault belonged to Ralph. Yeah! If the chauffeur hadn't--

~~~

Justin bounced down the residence's stairs. Dressed in black for an evening of partying, his jacket slung negligently over his shoulder supported by a crooked finger. His heavy braid mirrored his energeticmovement, crashing against his back. Tonight, young Evers wore it secured by a black silk scarf woven through it, tied in a knot at the tip. A tiny silver and emerald sabre earring dangling from his earlobe. Instead of boots, he wore soft-soled loafers, also black.

"I thought you were in for the night,"said the large shadow looming at the foot of the staircase.

Justin jumped. "Paddy, you scared me! Why don't you make noise when you walk?" Stopping two steps from the bottom, he leaned down and kissed his lover.

Choate returned the quick kiss, but wasn't fooled for a moment. When young Evers tried to pull away, he found himself captured by his braid. "I thought you were in for the night," the big Marine repeated, tugging gently on his prize.

"I was, but Gideon called. He and Andreas want to check out this new place uptown."

"Little boy--" said a warning voice. Choate had never liked Gideon. He liked Andreas even less.

Justin took the upper part of his braid in his hand and pulled trying to get the rest free. "You've got something else to do anyway."

The Marine tightened his grip, not enough to hurt, but enough to keep what he held in his possession. "Justin--"

The hostage interrupted the lecture before it started. "I'll be back before you get home."

The gaze regarding him narrowed. "This thing could go on all night."

Justin smirked smugly at his lover.

Suddenly, the self-righteous smile vanished from young Evers' face, quickly replaced by a look of apprehension, as his big Marine used the braid entwined in his fingers like a leash to lead him over to the comm phone.

"Paddy!" the smaller man protested, skipping to keep up with the wide stride.

Choate lifted the receiver with his free hand, pressed *6, and waited. "Ralph," he said after a moment's pause to regard his captive. "Justin needs you to drive him tonight."

His young lover tugged sharply on the rope of his braid. "I do not!"

Choate tugged right back. "In ten minutes. . .thank you, Ralph." He turned to find two green eyes glaring at him.

"I don't want the limo," Justin said, hands on his hips.

The big man had to smile. "Yes, you do," he said softly.

A mulish expression settled on Justin's face. "No, I don't."

Lightning-fast, Choate assessed the situation. Justin would do this, but the Marine wanted it done without a battle. What he needed was to cloak the steel fist inside a velvet glove. Dangle a carrot instead of brandishing a stick.

Using the braid he still clutched in his hand, the Marine reeled his upset young lover in closer. Softening the expression on his face, the older man stopped pulling when Justin's chest came up flush with his. "Who'll be the designated driver?" he said, lowering the tone of his voice to the timbre that worked best on this captive.

"Designated--" Justin lost his train of thought as he watched the tip of Choate's tongue snake out to wet his lips.

"Gideon won't want to drive, and Andreas won't not want to drink. If Ralph drives, there won't be any question that you get stuck babysitting them." The voice deepened. "And, I won't have to worry about you." The Marine leaned in closer. "And you can enjoy yourself more." Closer still. "How does that sound?"

Justin swallowed as his lover's voice reverberated along his skin and down his spine turning his insides to syrup. Those lips, the ones that could make him scream with pleasure, were just a breath away. "I. . ." He had been arguing about something, hadn't he? "Okay," he whimpered finally, still unable to regain coherent thought.

"Good. And later, we can take a shower together. . .I'll wash your hair, get all the smoke scent out." Choate dug his fingertips into said hair to massage Justin's scalp. "How's that?"

"Fine," Justin whispered, and found his next drawn breath stolen by his lover's lips pressed tightly over his.

Hours later, it seemed, a discreet cough interrupted Choate's plundering of the soft mouth beneath his. The Marine had heard the poor man enter, start at them, and withdraw to stand a few feet away. He'd also heard him reenter and fidget at the door, but wanted to make certain his little love was compliant before releasing him.

"Ralph is here," Choate whispered in Justin's ear.

Who? "Ralph?" Young Evers blinked, a bewildered look upon his face. They were talking. He didn't want to talk. He wanted to bury himself back in the solid warmth of his lover's flesh.

"Ralph. The chauffeur. You were going out with Gideon and that other one."

"Ummm," was all Justin's stalled mind could manage.

The big man turned him towards the door. Retrieving his jacket from where it had fallen on the floor, he placed it in Justin's slightly trembling hands.

"Have a good time," he said, giving the smaller body a little nudge forward.

Justin took a few faltering steps, then stopped, looking down at the jacket in his hands as if it were a snake.

"Go start the car, Ralph. He'll be out in a minute," Choate told the confused driver.

When they were alone, the Marine glided up behind Justin. "What's wrong?" he whispered in a tiny, pink earshell.

"We were fighting," Justin said, although his tone said he wasn't sure of the validity of that statement.

"No. We were having a discussion," Choate said, voice tinged with amusement.

Justin frowned. "But, you won," he said helplessly.

"Did I?" Choate asked as he nuzzled at the succulent flesh beneath Justin's earlobe. "I remember not wanting you to go out at all."

Once again, he turned young Evers towards the door. This time, teasing the center seam of the seat of his Levi's with his finger, while pressing his mouth to the juncture of Justin's neck and shoulder.

"Hurry back," he said, releasing the soft skin now bearing the reddening mark of his mouth. He sent Justin forward with a playful pinch of the firmly rounded flesh of his asscheek.

"Oh!" Justin exclaimed, neck and bottom tingling from the attention they had received.

"Paddy, are we about ready?" Councilor Evers said as he came around the corner from his den a moment later. "I don't want to be late." He stopped, surprised to find his son downstairs at this hour. "Justin?"

Young Evers' face flushed and he evaded his father's eyes. "Good night," the young man said, then fled the room, exiting by the front door.

"What was that all about?" said the puzzled Cascade Councilor.

"Nothing, sir," Choate murmured as he took two coats from the foyer's closet. "I thought I'd drive us tonight, if it's all right with you," he said, ushering the older man from the room before he could offer objection.

~~~

To Justin's surprise, when the sleek, black limo pulled up in front of Gideon's condo, his two companions seemed more than thrilled. Andreas' face broke into a smile as Ralph slid from his place behind the wheel to open the door and help them in.

Settling into the roomy, posh interior, Andreas and Gideon took the seat opposite Justin, both taking in their host's somewhat dishevelled state and slightly swollen lips. Andreas noted the fazed look in Justin's eyes and commented on the fact that he had barely acknowledged their greeting.

"It's like we're not even here!" Andreas huffed. "Well, I like that!" He nudged Gideon. "Why's he smiling like that?"

Gideon leaned closer to Andreas to whisper conspiratorially, "Have you seen the new light of his life?"

"New? When did he drop Terry?"

Gideon rolled his eyes dramatically as he waved the statement away with his hand. "Oh, child! Terry is so yesterday's news!"

Andreas grinned as he bounced closer to Gideon in the seat, licking his lips in anticipation of hearing juicy gossip. "So, is it Ritcher?"

"What?!" Gideon squealed, horrified. "You have got to be kidding! The only people who go for 'SS' like Ritcher are empty-headed little bottoms with a death wish, like you."

Andreas huffed again, insulted at the accusation. "Sour grapes!" he sneered. Then his eyes grew round as his mouth. "Don't tell me it's you. . .OWWW! What did you do that for?"

Gideon sat back in the seat, his arms crossed over his chest, a disapproving frown on his face. "So you'd catch your mouth before it ran away with your head."

Andreas pouted as he rubbed the injured flesh of his forearm. "I was only kidding! Damn, Giddy! That's going to leave a bruise!"

"It'll give you something to show off at the club when we get there. Tell everyone Richter gave it to you."

Andreas' frown dissolved into a more speculative look, then settled into one of curiosity. "So? Who is it? Are you going to tell me?"

Gideon moved closer once again. "His father's chief aide."

The young man blinked in confusion. "Excuse me?! Who?"

"You've seen him, dweezel!" Gideon scolded as he brought his hand up as high as it would go over his head. "About yea tall, body like you wouldn't believe." The young man's eyes glazed over as he began to pant. "Rugged, muscular, outdoors type. . ."

Andreas smiled knowingly as his friend started on a roll. "Down, boy," he said, putting a restraining hand on Gideon's arm.

Kuschel fanned himself with his hand. "If that were a question of what it'd take," he cooed, "believe me, I'd be on my knees in a second," he concluded with an accentuating snap of his fingers.

"Ummm. Sounds like a full-course meal."

Gideon squeezed Andrea's hand resting on his arm. "Honey, this man is a banquet to make my butt ache."

Justin smiled to himself as he watched the scenery speed by through the limo's tinted glass. They knew he could hear them, but let them have their fun. He had the topic of conversation in the flesh. Evers easily slipped into a delicious daydream featuring said topic of conversation.

"Justin."

Young Evers came out of his musing at the impatient sound of the caller's voice.

Andreas held out a 2-inch long gold cylinder. His friends sat together on the seat opposite him, both watching him with heavy-lidded eyes. Andreas held out a small square of glass with his other hand. On it was a light sprinkling of fine, white powder and one very short, narrow pale line.

"I'm afraid Giddy and I were little piggies." Andreas giggled at his joke. "But we saved you some. Well, sorta."

Justin looked up into his friends' faces, dumbfounded, then quickly, stole a nervous glance back at Ralph.

"Come on, Justin," Gideon urged. "We'll be there in a minute."

~~~

Lights - bright flashes of color - blinded him. The music - driving, pounding - deafened him. The air, heavily-laden with the scent of hundreds of writhing bodies - threatened to suffocate him.

Searching through the crowds, he finally found Andreas and Gideon bouncing around the dance floor like life-sized marionettes, a lunatic in control of their strings.

Justin had to get some fresh air!

Once outside, Justin found the air hot, heavy, hard to breathe and not much comfort. After a minute of disorientation, Evers finally got his bearings and headed in the direction of the parking lot. After peeking into many windows and checking many license plates, he found the Councilor's limo. He'd get Ralph to drive him around, the A/C going full blast, until his head cleared.

Opening the driver's door, Justin poked his head inside. "Ralph, I. . ."

Empty.

Where could he have gone?

Say, what's this?

The keys in the ignition?

Smiling at his good fortune, Justin slid behind the wheel, closed the door and started the engine.

~~~

Freedom! Ahhhh, wonderful.

Justin felt like a bird in flight.

The windows down, sad song blasting on the radio, he sang along at the top of his lungs about a good love gone bad.

But a limo wasn't made to handle like a sports car. And, as Justin cleared the next hill, he swerved dangerously, taking several frantic seconds to regain control of the car. By that time, a cop on a motorcycle came out of nowhere, lights flashing, sirens blaring.

Another thing a limo couldn't do, young Evers quickly discovered, was stop on a dime.

Standing on the brakes to try to stop the speeding metal monster, only succeeded in fishtailing the rear end sending the car spinning out of control.

When young Evers regained consciousness he found himself strapped onto a stretcher. Some man with bad skin asking him questions, like:

"Do you know your name?"
"What day is it?"
"Do you know where you are?"

As they loaded the dazed young man into the back of the ambulance, he caught a glimpse of the sleek, black limo, now happily locked in matrimony to a very large tree.

The motorcycle cop said he was lucky to be alive.

Suddenly, the attendant nearest the victim heard a soft whisper:

"My name is grass."
"Today is my last day on planet Earth."
"I'm in shit up to my eyeballs."

The man quickly closed the doors, scurried around to the driver and told him to hurry, they had a possible head trauma.

~~~

Newly assigned to the Councilor's staff, a young Lindell Walters stood behind the large figure of Patrick Choate and nervously twisted the message in his hand. The poor man didn't dislike working under the stern-faced chief aide, he was terrified working under the stern-face chief aide. Especially when he was the bearer of news like this.

"Lindell?"

The young man looked up to find Choate watching him.

"Did you want something?"

"An officer called," Lindell managed to stammer. "It seems there's been an accident."

Choate plucked the piece of paper from the trembling hand. "What kind of accident?" he asked as he unfolded it. "¡Mierda!"

"Paddy?"

The chief aide turned at the sound of the Councilor's voice.

"Justin's been involved in an automobile accident, sir."

Loren frowned in concern. "Is he all right?" he asked anxiously.

"I don't know, they've taken him to the hospital."

At that moment, the speaker announced, "Cascade's Councilor, Loren Evers."

The Councilor hesitated a moment, torn between duties.

"You go, sir," Choate told him. "I'll see to Justin."

"Call me, Paddy," Loren whispered as he headed for the stage.

"As soon as I know something," the Marine called over his shoulder as he shoved his papers in Lindell's hands and headed out the door.

~~~

As Choate reached the Jeep, he pulled out his cell phone and flipped it open, punching in a number with his thumb.

After the third ring, a gruff, sleepy voice answered, "A meteor the size of Texas better be entering the Earth's atmosphere."

"Not quite, Daniel, but close."

"Choate, this had better be good."

"I have a favor to ask."

There was a lengthy pause. "Does it involve a dead body?" Daniel asked almost fearfully.

"I can get rid of that myself."

After another long pause, Daniel said, "I never know when you're joking, you know that?"

"And you never will. Now, about that favor, it involves losing a police report--"

~~~

Choate stepped from the Jeep and walked into the Councilor's chauffeur.

"Mr. Choate!"

The big man took the distraught employee by the shoulders. "What happened, Ralph?"

"I don't know. I just went to the bathroom. I swear, I was only gone for a minute or two! I didn't expect any of them to come back for hours."

The Marine gave the man a hard shake. "Calm down!" He ordered brusquely. "Now, tell me what happened."

Ralph drew a long, deep breath. "When I came back, the limo was gone. I went into the club and found those other two, but Mr. Justin was missing. When I got back to the parking lot, the police were there. They told me there'd been an accident. When I got here, the doctor's wouldn't tell me anything because I'm not family."

The aide released the frightened man and started towards the hospital. "All right, Ralph."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Patrick! I don't know how. . .I was only gone. . ."

Choate turned back. "It's all right! Why don't you get a cab and go home, I'll take it from here."

The man nodded slowly, his shoulders slumped despondently.

"It's all right," Choate repeated for the fourth time, as he gave the chauffeur's arm a reassuring squeeze. "You go home and get some rest. I'll call when I know anything."

~~~

The ER desk nurse looked up into the angriest face he'd seen in a long time.

"Can I help you, sir?" he asked, while silently wondering if he should call security.

"I'm looking for Justin Evers. The police said they brought him here about an hour ago."

A resident, standing not too far away, plucked a chart from the rack at his elbow. Quickly scanning the information on the clipboard, he said, "Auto accident victim--"

"How is he?" the angry man interrupted urgently.

Both men jumped at the intensity of his voice.

The resident recovered first. "Actually, Mr. Evers was extremely fortunate. He was wearing his seat belt, the car's airbag deployed as it was designed to do, and the tree impacted the car on the passenger's side.

"He sustained a pretty good knock to the left side of his head. I'm afraid he's going to have one helluva mouse. We thought he'd dislocated his shoulder, but turns out he was lucky there, too. We've immobilized it, just to be on the safe side. It should stay in the sling for a couple of days. Other than that, he's fine."

"Can I see him?"

"Of course, follow me."

~~~

They found Justin in exam room three trying, one-handedly, to struggle back into his clothes.

For a moment, Choate stood there admiring the twin, round globes playing hide and seek through the back slit in the hospital gown.

"We wanted to keep him overnight for observation," the resident said, unaffected by the spectacular view, breaking the mood.

Justin turned at the sound of the doctor's voice dropping the pants in his hand as soon as he saw who stood there. "Paddy!" he screenced happily, throwing himself at his lover.

Choate caught him in a tentative embrace, mindful of the injuries, and stopped Justin before he could kiss him. "I'll take it from here, doctor. Thank you."

The doctor touched Choate's arm. "Can I speak to you a moment, outside."

Choate nodded once as he released the younger man. "Justin, I'll be right back," he said before following the doctor out into the hall. "Is there something wrong?"

"I wanted to make sure the patient really knew you," the doctor said, hesitantly. "Are you family?"

"Yes," came the terse reply.

"Brother?" he asked, almost hopefully.

"Lover, doctor," Choate corrected impatiently. "Is there something wrong?" he asked again.

This confession seemed to make the doctor even more nervous. "Is there another family member I can--" His sentence ended in a squeak as the Marine stepped into the doctor's personal space.

"This is all the family you're gonna get, doc. Spit it out."

The poor man swallowed hard. "The toxicologists' test. We took one when the patient was brought in." He stopped.

"And?" Choate prompted him. "He was drunk?"

The doctor shook his head. "It showed trace amounts of the drugs Ecstasy and cocaine in his system."

"What?" Choate growled.

"Not much," the man said hastily, "but enough to get him high. Impair his judgement."

"Justin had been taking. . .drugs?"

"Not much,"the doctor repeated, as if that mattered to the man he talked to, "given the timeframe and the amount found in his system, but, yes."

The Marine's lips thinned into a very tight line.

~~~

Later, in the car, Justin turned to his lover. "You're mad," he said unnecessarily.

"No, little boy. I passed 'mad' several miles down the road," Choate started the Jeep with a snap of his wrist.

"I'm in trouble?" he asked in a small voice.

The Marine shifted gears and pulled off the parking lot. "What you are, is a master at the understatement."

They rode rest of the way home in uneasy silence, Justin periodically fidgeting in his seat. When Choate pulled up in front of the residence, he turned to look at the young man.

"Are you in pain?" the big man asked gently.

"Just a little uncomfortable," his lover admitted. "They gave me something at the hospital."

"That should be wearing off soon. The doctor gave you a prescription. I filled it at the hospital pharmacy while you were getting your things together. After I settle you in your room, I'll bring it up to you." He opened the car door and put a foot outside.

The young man frowned, unsure he'd heard correctly. "My room?"

"Yes. For the time being." He stepped the rest of the way outside and walked around to Justin's door.

"I can't stay with you?" Justin asked as Choate opened his door.

"No." The Marine handed the smaller man gently out of the car and to his feet.

Justin clung to him for a moment. "Why not?"

Choate slammed the car door maintaining his steadying grip on his little love. "I'll be gone for a few days," he said, starting them both up the walkway to the house.

"Define 'a few'," Justin said, leaning heavily on the hard body next to him.

"Seven," Choate answered gruffly.

Then Justin countered with, "Three."

Choate stopped to open the door. "This isn't negotiable," he said, turning the knob.

Justin stepped inside ahead of him. "Five?"

"Master Justin."

Both turned as Vincent approached.

"Are you all right?" the older man asked anxiously. "Mr. Patrick called to tell us you'd been in an accident."

"Help Justin up to him room, will you, Vincent?"the Marine said, handing the young man off to the valet. "I have to ask Yuan for something from the kitchen."

"But, Paddy--" Justin said turning back, he found himself talking to thin air.

~~~

Later, Justin sat in the center of his bed watching the door. His back propped up on pillows resting back against the headboard as he waiting anxiously for Choate.

After a brisk knock, the door swung open, and the Chief Aide walked in. He carried a glass of milk and a prescription bottle.

"Here," he said, holding out the bottle.

Obediently, Justin opened his hand and his lover shook out two tablets.

Choate handed him the glass of milk.

Young Evers made a face. "I'd rather have juice."

"The instructions say, 'take with milk'." Choate stood there, the glass extended, until Justin sullenly took it from his hand.

Tossing back the pills, the young man downed them with half the glass of milk and started to hand it back.

"All of it," Choate said sternly.

Groaning aloud, Justin gulped down the remainder of the frothy white stuff and handed the Marine back the glass.

Choate turned to leave.

"Paddy, don't go," Justin called, as he reached out to him.

At the pleading quality of the voice behind him, his lover stopped in his tracks.

"I know you're mad at me," Justin said in a pitiful voice. "But that doesn't mean you. . .we can't touch. Would you at least hold me until I fall asleep?" Justin waited. "Please."

Slowly, the Marine turned back around. Walking back over to the bed, he placed the empty glass on the night stand and sat on the bed next to Justin, taking him in his arms.

The younger man put his head on the broad chest, wrapping his arms as tightly around the muscular waist as they would go.

"I love you, Paddy," he said as he nuzzled into the warm muscle under his cheek.

The Chief Aide squeezed him tightly, as he kissed the top of the dark head. "I love you, too, little boy," he said softly.

The next morning, when Justin woke up, Choate had gone.

~~~

Andreas Norrshe slowly awoke to total darkness and to the realization that he was no longer in his own bed. That he was no longer in a bed at all. He was sitting in a cold, metal chair, his arms and legs held immobile by heavy restraints.

"What the--" he hissed, struggling vainly to free himself.

"You're awake."

Andreas started at the deep voice sounding near his ear.

Panicking, the young man screamed, "I can't see! Where am I? Why can't I see?" Sweat broke out in beads across his forehead.

"Your name was given to us as a major drug dealer specializing in coke and Ecstasy."

"A drug dealer?" Andreas screeched. "By who? I don't deal drugs, man! Whoever told you that shit, they were lying."

"But you don't deny using?"

Norrshe debated the merits of lying, then quickly remembered he had no idea where he was, or who he was dealing with. "I. . .I use occasionally, man! You know, a little recreational entertainment. That's all!"

"And you like to spread the wealth."

The sudden shift of conversation confused the young man, "What?"

"You share your drugs with your friends?"

"Share? Well. . .yes, I have, but--" Apprehension and reason kicked in. "What's this all about? Who are you? Where am I? Am I under arrest? I want to see my lawyer, man!"

The voice came close enough for Norrshe to feel the heat. "Your lawyer can't help you here, Andreas," it whispered with sheer menace. "Nobody knows you're here. Your ass is mine until I let you go. If I let you go."

A chill crept up the young man's spine and he wet himself.

~~~

That evening, a tentative knock sounded on Justin's bedroom door.

"Paddy?"

The door slowly opened. "No, son," the Councilor said as he stepped into the room. "Can I come in?"

Wondering what had brought his father to his rooms, Justin nodded.

"I just wanted to see how you were doing."

Justin settled back in the bed. "I'm fine. Just a little sore. Do you know where Paddy is?"

Loren Evers shook his head. "He told me he had something important to take care of and that he'd be back in a few days."

Justin brightened. "A few days? You're sure he said a few days?"

"Yes." The older man held on to the doorknob like he was drifting and it was an anchor. "Son, about this limo business--"

"You going to yell at me?"

The Councilor was confused. "Yell at you?"

"About wrecking the limo," Justin said sadly.

"No. I don't care about the limo, son. I was worried about you."

"It seems like everybody is worried about me," Justin groused as he curled into a tight ball in the bed.

"Of course we're worried about you." Loren shifted nervously, knowing what he should say next, but unable to verbalize it.

"I know it was a stupid thing to do, okay?"

Relief flooding the Councilor, now he didn't have to say it. "Yes, it was a stupid thing to do, Justin."

Strained seconds stretched into strained minutes, while both father and son became more and more uncomfortable in each other's presence.

"I'm sure Paddy will be back soon," Loren mumbled as he eased out the door. "Good night, Justin."

The door closed solidly on any reply young Ever would have made.

~~~

Justin sat on the cushion of the windowbox in his room and stared out the window only half-listening to the conversation. Gideon lay stretched out across his bed, chattering away a mile a minute.

His shoulder was healing nicely, the bruises had faded, but still no Paddy. He had been gone four days now and Justin wanted him home.

Then something Gideon said caught his attention.

"What, Giddy?" Justin asked, turning back to the room.

"Were you listening to anything I said?"

"No. Now repeat what you just said."

"I asked had you seen Andreas?"

"Not since the night I wrecked the limo. Why?"

"He disappeared right after that. Just vanished. No one knew where he was. And I looked everywhere for him." Kuschel pulled a face. "I even called his parents. I was just about to contact the police and report him missing, when, suddenly, he shows up yesterday."

"Shows up, where?"

Gideon picked absently at the print in the fabric on the coverlet underneath him. "Back at his apartment."

"Did he say where he'd been?"

Gideon shook his head. "No. He just said, 'Away'. Like that explained everything."

"And?" Justin prompted.

"And, get this, I called him last night to ask if he wanted to party. He said no."

"Andreas? Our Andreas?" Justin asked incredulously.

"Our Andreas."

"Did he say why?"

"He said he didn't do that kind of thing anymore. Says he's turned over a new leaf. Says he's going back to school, get his degree. Maybe teach."

"Andreas who dropped out of university the second year because he was bored out of his skull?"

Gideon flipped over on his back and put his hands behind his head. "The same one."

Justin chewed on his lower lip thoughtfully. "What do you suppose got into him?"

Gideon shook his head. "Haven't a clue, luv. He wouldn't say. And another thing, he's given up drugs."

Justin leaned closer. "He what?"

"Coke, Ecstasy, weed. The whole lot. And, when I went over to visit him, the apartment was. . .clean."

Young Evers had to laugh at his friend's serious expression. "Clean as in neat?"

"Clean as in spotless. J.C., you'da thought his mother had sent her housekeeper over again. You could actually see the floor,"Gideon said in wonder.

"Am I interrupting?"

Both young men turned at the sound of a new voice. Patrick Choate stood at the door.

"Paddy!" Justin squealed in delight as he leaped from his seat and raced across the prone body lounging on his bed.

"Hey, have a care, luv! This isn't a thoroughfare," Gideon complained as his friend's pell-mell flight bounced him mercilessly on the bed.

Justin ignored him as he flung himself into Choate's arms.

"I missed you! Where have you been?"

The Marine caught him easily. "I had something to take care of." He looked down at Gideon stretched on the bed watching him with wide eyes. "Go home," Choate growled.

Gideon blinked disbelievingly. "Excuse me?"

"Paddy!" Justin admonished.

"Ralph is waiting downstairs. He'll give you a ride."

Gideon swung his feet over the bed to the floor and sat up. "I--"

Choate lowered Justin until he stood on his own two feet and advanced. "If you're having a problem moving, I'll help you--"

Gideon jumped off the bed like a shot before the hands extended towards him could make contact. "I can take a hint!" he huffed, skirting the outside of the bed, giving Choate a wide berth. "Catch you later, J.C."

Choate shut the door and locked it.

"Paddy, that was rude."

The Marine turned back to his little love and immediately began to divest him of his clothing.

"Oh! Well," Justin said, smiling as he began to help, "if this's the reason you wanted us alone, all you had to do was say so!" As soon as he was naked, Justin leaned in to place a kiss on his lover's lips and suddenly found himself face down as Choate carried him over to the windowseat. "Paddy!" The young man squealed as his center of balance spun wildly.

Choate ignored his squirming as he sat, making himself comfortable, and drew Justin face down across his knees.

Shit! Damn! Hell! Justin knew this position! Rolling and scrambling, he tried desperately to break the big man's grip and escape what he feared would be the inevitable outcome. His effort proved useless.

"Paddy! No!"

Choate easily anchored the wiggling body draped across him lap, drew back his arm and brought his open palm down hard on the curvaceous target.

Justin yelped, his arms flailing wildly. "What did I do?"

As another fire igniting swat connected, Justin's legs bowed backward until his feet almost met the Marine's shoulder.

Taking a moment to readjust him, Choate tucked the flailing legs between his hard thighs. Now immobilizing the target, the new position raising the pinkened flesh and providing a better aim, the Marine began again.

"If this is about the limo. . .Paddy!" Justin screeched as the hand found the center of his bottom. "The insurance replaced it! YEOW! PADDY! What's the big deal?!!" Justin reached back with both hands only to find them imprisoned as well. "I won't do it again! I won't touch the limo! Never! Paddy! Never again!"

The Marine never missed a beat. The hand fell unerringly and ruthlessly, again and again.

A replay of the gala night flashed through the young man's mind, bringing with it panic. Not again! "Paddy, please!" Justin panted as he blinked back tears. "I promise! Please!"

"And what about the drugs, little boy," the Marine said harshly punctuating each word with a blazing connection of calloused hand to tender flesh.

"Drugs?" That question brought a swat that threatened to loosen Justin's bladder. "All right! Paddy! It was just a little coke!"

For the next several moments, Choate left his young audience with little precious air to breathe. Releasing Justin's wrists, he used that arm to wrap around the slender waist and raise the bottom closer into range.

Helplessly, the young man clutched at his lover's closest thigh and buried his face in the fabric of the pants that encased them. 'Obviously, that's the wrong answer,' Justin thought as he blinked back tears.

Young Evers didn't know what to promise to make his lover stop, so he concentrated on the individual threads of fabric in his lover's pants that were now dark from his tears, and tried to keep his urine where it should be.

Obviously, Paddy was more angry about the drugs than the limo.

"Paddy," Justin wailed as it seemed like one swat blended fluidly into the next and the entire surface of his bottom was one great flaming track of pain.

Words like 'addictive', 'illegal', harebrained', irresponsible' and 'death' flowed into his consciousness.

"I won't do it again, Paddy! No more drugs! Not even joints! Paddy, stop! I promise! Please!"

Suddenly, Justin felt himself snatched off the lap and placed on his feet to gaze into his lover's angry eyes.

Choate shook the smaller man until his teeth rattled. "I could've lost you!"

"I'm sorry, Paddy," Justin whimpered, reaching out to be hugged.

Instead, the Marine stood, placing his little love an arm's distance away, and started towards the door.

"NO!" Justin cried as he followed. "Don't leave me again!"

Choate fended off the clutching hands. "Justin, I'm too angry--"

"NO!" The young man threw his entire body forward and clung to him. "You're leaving me was worst than a spanking could ever be." Burying his face in the soft fabric of the Marine's shirt. "Please, Paddy."

Staring down at the shiny, black crown, Choate admitted to himself, Justin was right. Leaning over, he snatched the cover off the bed and wrapped his lover in it.

Lifting the slight figure up against his chest, he unlocked the door and carried Justin down to his suite.

Closing the door behind them, Choate locked it and placed Justin back on his feet. Pointing to the far corner, he waited until, head lowered, a dejected young Evers slowly made his way there. Snatching the cover away, the Marine watched the very red, naked bottom until it stopped in front of the designated place.

~~~

Justin concentrated on the tiny tracks the paint brush had left on the surface of the wall and tried to ignore the sharp ache in his backside. Shifting his weight from one foot to the other, he reached back to rub the blazing, reddened flesh with both hands. Regretting it immediately as the white-hot flash of pain lanced through him.

He blinked back a fresh surge of tears.

It wasn't fair!

A 29 year old shouldn't be in this position!

Twenty minutes to go.

Justin stole a look over to his lover.

"I'll add ten minutes for each word," Choate said, not looking up from the papers he held in his hand.

The full lower lip crept out even further in a pout as Justin turned back to the wall.

The next twenty minutes could have just as well been twenty years, they crept the same speed.

"Time's up, little boy," Choate announced at last.

Justin turned from the corner. Striding over to where his lover sat, he took the papers from his hands, and crawled into his lap.

Hissing the smaller man immediately raised up as his ass contacted the hard flesh of Choate's thighs, Drawing several deep breaths, Justin gingerly eased his bottom back into place, wrapped his arms around his lover's neck and buried his face there.

"I'm sorry, Paddy," Justin whispered, his voice breaking on a sob.

"When I saw pictures of that limo, I could've strangled you with my bare hands," Choate growled, said hands gliding over the muscles of his young love's back. "And when I heard you'd been doing drugs. . .if I hadn't left to cool down for a while--" Choate let his voice trail off.

They sat quietly for a time, Choate making soothing noises as he continued to rub the weeping man's back.

In a voice almost trembling with a myriad of barely contained emotions, Choate growled, "If you ever do something like that again--"

Young Evers reacted to the sense of urgency his lover alluded, and whispered sincerely, "I won't!" Then he kissed him.

~~~

In the dream, Choate lay on a warm sea of golden sand near a spectacular ebony waterfall. Stirring in his sleep, he reached out blindly for something, his hands came up empty. Turning over, he breathed in deeply, scenting. . . Did he smell food?

The Marine slowly opened his eyes a slit to find the bed beside him conspicuously empty when he knew it shouldn't be. Glancing around the room, he quickly located the object of his search.

Justin knelt by the side of the bed holding a sausage link under his nose, smiling apprehensively. "I didn't think you would ever wake up."

The Marine opened his mouth and Justin slid the sausage in, jumping when strong, white teeth nipped at his fingertips.

"What time is it?" the big man asked, savoring the warm meat on his tongue.

Justin grabbed for a toast point. "Almost seven."

"You? Up before nine?" Choate reached over, taking the small wrist to halt Justin's action. "What's this?" he said indicating the tray of food on the table by the bed.

"Breakfast," Justin said, faint color creeping across his cheeks. The young man's hair flowed loose around his face and the Marine's robe hung like drapery from his slender shoulders.

Choate raised up on his elbow and scowled disapprovingly. "You woke Yuan up to fix us breakfast?"

The younger man shook his head, the robe slipping further down. "Fixed it myself."

Choate raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

"It's just eggs, toast and sausage," Justin said defensively. "Oh, and coffee. He's programmed the coffeemaker to come on automatically, so all I had to do was fill the carafe."

Choate reached out to tug at the robe. "Take this off."

Justin rose to his feet, the silken robe sliding seductively down his body to pool at his feet. "I couldn't fix breakfast in the nude, Paddy," he whispered guiltily. They'd discussed 'rules' the evening after the gala. After one of their 'sessions', he stayed nude until his lover said otherwise.

"Come here," the big man rumbled.

Justin gestured helplessly towards the tray on the table. "But, Paddy. Breakfast. I'm hungry."

"Put the lid back on it. It'll keep. I'm hungry, too."

The young man frowned and barely had time to drop the warmer lid back in place before he found himself lying facedown on a hard, muscular chest, enveloped by warm bands of steel.

The small man smiled down into the rugged face, almond-shaped, emerald eyes crinkling slightly at the corners as they gazed into warm brown ones. "What are you hungry for?"

"This." Choate buried his fingers in the thick mass of his lover's hair. He drew Justin's face down until he could seal their lips together in a possessive kiss. Then he drank deeply of the nectar that made up his imp's essence.

When he finally released them so that both men could draw a deep breath, Justin rested his head heavily in the crook of a large shoulder.

"Whoa," he breathed. "I think I short-circuited."

Choate raised his head enough to look down Justin's body. Both hills of his ass were still red.

"Sore?" he asked, lightly running his fingers over them.

Justin hissed as his flesh flinched away from the touch. Whimpering, "Yes," as he wiggled his hips, grinding their erections together. "But, I want you inside me."

Choate shook his head as he kissed the younger man between his brows. "Then we'll elicit the Marine's credo."

"The Marine's credo?"

"When the plan fails, improvise."

Choate smiled at his lover's look of confusion and pushed gently at Justin's shoulder. The younger man allowed himself to be turned and repositioned until he found his nose resting in the soft thatch of hair that nested the Marine's jewels.

"Hmmm. I think I like this credo," he murmured, nosing one heavy sac aside. Then he felt a hot tongue swipe across the blossoming head of his own erection and groaned at the sensation. "Ahhhh, I definitely like this credo. Paddy!" he squealed as the big man twisted their bodies, flipping them until Justin lay sprawled on his back.

Raising up on his knees to keep his weight off the small body beneath him, Choate wrapped his hands around the smaller man's lower back. The older man lifted to keep his lover's bottom off the bed and to bring the throbbing erection closer to his mouth. Past experience had taught the Marine that the flared head of Justin's dick was a definite 'trigger' and the quickest way to take the younger man to the pinnacle.

Justin's toes curled and his back arched upwards as his Marine's hot mouth suctioned in the reddish-purple mushroom of his hardon and the tongue curled around it. Four days of waiting for this became the accelerant for the bullet-train of Justin's climax as it jumped the track of his control and raced at breakneck speed through his body.

"Paddy! Sh--" Justin squeezed his eyes tight against the fireworks that exploded before them. He remembered, just in time, and bit his lip to end the string of curse words that threatened to tumble from his mouth.

Choate's own cock grew harder and began to leak as the small body beneath him began that beloved sound, that thrum that coiled within him like a feeling of warmth and comfort he had never known.

The Marine's prime objective became to pull that thrum into the, Oh!, that signalled his lover's rapture. Suddenly, the body in his hands stiffened and arched and he got his word, along with the hot rush of his lover's elation flowing into his mouth as the turgid flesh jerked in staccato movements in his hands and he milked it with the muscles of his mouth until the body seemed to melt with sigh of joy.

Choate then eased them over until Justin was on top again, and let the younger man sag heavily upon his chest and stomach.

It took a few minutes for young Evers to come back to himself, and when he did, the closest object in his line of vision made his mouth water.

Resting his weight on his elbows, Justin wrapped both hands around the base of the rock-hard cock in front of him and began to lick. Long, slow, ice cream molding licks of his tongue that traced the veins that ran along the surface of his lover's penis.

The Marine grunted and bucked as Justin worked his way from the base to the flared and weeping tip of his erection, and clutched the narrow hips quivering just inches from his face.

Pushing his butt back, Justin silently begged to be touched, for the big man to do something. Strong hands gently caress his flanks, soothing him. Trying to spread his knees farther apart, the smaller man arched his back and began to concentrate on the task before him. He had just begun to suck the tip of the erection into his mouth when young Evers felt his lover's hands gently open his asscheeks and a hot wet tongue touch him in an intimate caress.

To keep from screaming out loud and waking the entire residence, Justin pulled Paddy's entire erection into his mouth.

The switch from the concentration of moist heat centering on the big Marine's cock's head and the abruptness of the scalding heat completely surrounding his entire shaft nearly drove him over the edge. Add to that the suction from that hot mouth and tongue. . .Madre de Dios, that tongue was doing things to him dangerous enough to kill! Choate bucked his hips helplessly twice into that steamy cavern before his climax ripped from his center to flood down his young lover's throat.

Justin made a soft noise before the muscles of his throat worked to swallow the creamy substance.

Settling back on the pillows beneath him, the chief aide tried to regain a calm heart rhythm. He wanted nothing more than to surge up on his knees and plunge into the dark pink rosette that winked wickedly at him.

Justin rested his cheek against the washboard abs beneath him and tried not to beg.

Choate felt the tension radiate from the small body he held in his hands. The downside of spanking Justin was no penetration for a few days. He kissed the reddened flesh that still emitted heat. He had been so scared when he'd received that message. He would make it good for his amante. He knew how.

Curving his arms around Justin's thighs, the Marine gripped the erection he found there.

Justin groaned as he felt the hand envelop him. It was about time!

Then he felt the nudge that brought him back and closer to Choate's face.

"Help me, Justin. My hands are full. Hold yourself open for me."

A chill of anticipation tracked an icy path down Justin's spine. "What, Paddy?"

"Move back a little more. That's it. Raise your butt up a little more. Good. Now, part your cheeks so I can see."

Justin buried his hot face in his lover's stomach. "Paddy," he moaned, embarrassed beyond words.

"Give it to me, chiquito." The big Marine licked at the crease at the bottom of one round mound. "Justin. . ." he said, his voice carrying a warning to comply.

Slowly, reluctantly, Justin reached behind him. Resting his weight with his chest and forehead against Choate's body, he did as he was bid.

The second Choate's objective came into view, the Marine took the offensive.

Justin yelped and almost lost his balance as he felt the tongue point enter him.

Countering the thrust of his tongue with a long pull of the erection in his hands, the Marine began to work his magic on his little love.

Soon the room filled with the sound of Choate's lapping tongue and Justin's thrums of pleasure.

Slowly, slowly the Marine built his lover towards the apex again. This time, as he felt Justin's thrum reverberate though the muscles of his chest into his heart, he released his lover's cock.

Justin made a pitiful sound of protest, but Choate used his free hands to press his lover down against him. Immediately, Justin started moving, using gravity and his own weight to aid the delicious friction of their bodies flowing together.

Suddenly, his Marine replaced the blunt point of his tongue with the invasive force of not one, but two fingers. Once deep inside Justin's hot, tight passage, the digits curved, seeking, seeking. . .finding. . .

Two seconds before the bright white flash of light faded into darkness, Justin cried out his lover's name.

~~~

The young man came back to awareness in tiny stages. First, conscious of the hard, solid warmth beneath him. He lay sprawled across his lover's body, Choate's hand petting him in long strokes along his back.

Justin couldn't help himself, he began to purr.

The Marine smiled. "You are so greedy."

Evers hugged him, lifting his head to lick a nipple. "I can't help it, you are so good."

The big man jumped as the warm mouth suckled again.

"Brat!" he said affectionately, taking Justin under his arms to lift him and bring their faces even. "No."

"But, Paddy. . ."

"Next time, I'm slipping saltpeter in your milk."

At his lover's look of horror, he had to laugh.

"You are joking?"

"Yes, brat." Choate smoothed the tangle of hair back from his little love's face and brought him closer for a heart-stopping kiss.

When Justin was released, he lowered his head to the crook of the big man's shoulder with a contented sigh, then yelped when a big hand smacked his still sore bottom.

Pouting, he reached back to rub, looking at his Marine accusingly. "What was that for?"

"That was to get your attention." Choate's expression turned grim. "You ever, ever do something like this again, little boy, and I'll take you someplace where no one can hear you and spank you until I lose the feeling in my hand. Understand me?"

Justin's eyes grew wide before he nodded slowly.

"Good. I love you, little boy," he said as he settled the small body on top of his once more. "And, now that I have you, I don't think I could bear losing you."

Justin shivered, and his lover drew the sheet up over their bodies.

He hugged the big man hard. "I love you, too, Paddy," he whispered, and listened to the strong heart beating beneath him, letting the soothing sound lull him to sleep.