Ashton and Justice

ASHTON AND JUSTICE by STEPHANI HECHT Amber Quill Press, LLC http://www.amberquill.com

Ashton And Justice An Amber Quill Press Book This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author's imagination, or have been used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental. Amber Quill Press, LLC http://www.AmberQuill.com http://www.AmberHeat.com http://www.AmberAllure.com

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher, with the exception of brief excerpts used for the purposes of review. Copyright © 2011 by Stephani Hecht ISBN 978-1-61124-154-9 Cover Art © 2011 Trace Edward Zaber Published in the United States of America

Also by Stephani Hecht Double Shot Cappuccino I'll Run Away For The Holidays

Dedication To everybody who's not afraid to give love a chance.

Chapter 1 Two hours, five minutes and thirty-eight seconds. That was how long before Justice could blow off this mess of a party and retreat to the safety of his apartment. He dodged a frat brother making out with some blonde chick and leaned against the wall, wishing desperately he were somewhere else. Anywhere would do--prison, a desert island with no water, a country music concert, the fiery pits of hell. Anything would be preferable to being the only openly gay guy at a college kegger. "Will you try to at least look like you're having fun?" His older brother Craig thrust a plastic cup of beer into Justice's hand. Justice took it, more aware than ever just how un-alike they and the lives they led were. Even though their birth certificates claimed they were blood related, they couldn't be more different. Where Craig had sunny, blond hair, Justice had

plain brown. His dull, gray eyes didn't even come close to attracting the same attention as Craig's deep blue ones. The most stark contrast had to be their builds, Craig had the muscle-bound, football player look down perfectly, whereas Justice was small, thin and...well, insignificant. "Sorry," Justice mumbled automatically as he took a sip of the tepid drink. It seemed he was always apologizing to his brother or father for some reason or another. It'd gotten to the point where he'd considered prefilling out "My bad. I know I'm always fucking up" cards just to make things easier on himself. That is if Hallmark made cards with that saying. But didn't they claim to have a card for every occasion? Craig gave him a patronizing smile. "Look, don't be a brat. I'm doing this for your own good and as a favor to Dad. You need to get out of that shithole apartment of yours once in awhile or people are going to start thinking there's something wrong with you." It was on the tip of Justice's tongue to argue that his apartment was far from a shithole, but he held it in. He'd learned long ago that it didn't do

any good to argue with his brother. It only ended with Craig either hitting him or verbally cutting him down. "You're right. I needed to take a break from all my homework and stuff." Justice forced himself to smile. "Thanks for bringing me." "Just make sure you don't embarrass me." Craig gave him a not so gentle punch on the shoulder before walking back to his friends. Once more alone, Justice busied himself by people watching. Since he didn't have much else to do, it seemed like the most entertaining way to pass the time. There were two beefy, dark-haired guys who were interesting eye food--that was until they started sucking face with the same girl. Ew! There was no way they couldn't be exchanging all kinds of interesting germs with that kind of tongue action. Then there were the three sorority sisters who were sitting on the couch to the left of him. The middle one sobbed loudly, while her two friends patted her back in sympathy. Justice couldn't be for sure, but it seemed that she'd been dumped

by some jerk named Randy. That was okay, though, because Randy was an idiot who had a

dick the size of a thumb with an IQ to match and he couldn't find a G-spot even if he had Google Maps and a GPS at his disposal. Distracted by thoughts of poor Randy and his misfortunate penis, Justice took a huge swig of beer. As soon as the now warm liquid hit his mouth, he cursed himself for being an idiot. He'd never been able to handle beer on a good day, let alone the cheap junk they were serving at the party. His stomach rolled as he forced himself to swallow. Even though he managed to get it down, he couldn't hold back the full-body gag that followed. Bringing his hand to his mouth, he prayed that nobody noticed his embarrassing moment. A soft chuckle off to his right dashed all those hopes. Horror danced in his chest as he jerked his head in the direction of the noise. Then, when he got a good look at the source, his heart began pounding for a whole new reason. Just five feet away, stood the most gorgeous man Justice had ever seen. Tall, but thin, with

short, dark brown hair and a smile too sexy to be legal, the guy had to be pure perfection. By far, though, his best feature had to be his eyes. They weren't just brown, they were deep, soulful, and surrounded by thick, dark lashes. While he wore a Central Michigan T-shirt and jeans like so many of the other partygoers, on this guy it somehow managed to look classy. So much so, that he almost seemed as out of place at the kegger as Justice. Justice silently chastised himself as he looked back down at his cup of beer. Deep and soulful? Most gorgeous man ever? Damn, if Craig could only hear his thoughts. There would be no end to the ribbing and scathing comments. With good reason, too. One of the many traits Justice had picked up from their deceased mother had been a streak of sappiness that he never had learned to hide. That still didn't stop him from glancing back up at Mr. Yummy. His stomach flipped when he noticed the other guy looking back, his face showing mutual interest. Justice felt the corners of his mouth kick up in his first genuine smile of the

evening. The dark-haired stranger returned it before walking over. "Hey, I'm Ashton," he said by way of greeting. "Hi," Justice returned. When Ashton cocked a brow in question, he hastened to add, "I'm Justice." Ashton moved in closer. Even over the stench of beer and too many bodies pressed together, Justice could detect the scent of sandalwood. Though it'd never appealed to him before, at that moment it sent a jolt of desire through his body. "So, I take it you're not a fan of the beer?" Ashton nodded to Justice's cup. "I much prefer a cold Mike's Lemonade." "I'll have to remember that." "Why?" "So I know what to order for you on our first date." Ashton flashed a playful look. Justice laughed. He couldn't believe such a hot guy was actually flirting with him. What's more, he was flirting back. That had to be a first. Usually Justice stuck to the corners and rarely ventured out to socialize at all. "You seem pretty certain that I'm going to

agree to that plan," Justice countered as he took a step forward. His fingers itched to reach out and touch Ashton. Even a light caress would have sufficed. Just so long as he got to test how hard and warm the other man's flesh felt. Justice clutched the cup tighter in his hand to resist from giving in to his urges. "Does that mean you're going to tell me 'no'?" Ashton asked. Justice shook his head. "If I could, I'd suggest that we bail from this party and take off now." "What's holding you here?" Justice felt himself blushing while he shrugged. "I kind of promised my brother that I'd stay for at least three hours." "Was that the blond you were talking to a few minutes ago?" "Yeah, I know we don't look much alike." "You're right. You are way better looking than him." Ashton reached up and lightly brushed one knuckle down Justice's chest. Justice sucked in a breath. Oh, my Lady Gaga! Once again, he thought he had to be

dreaming or something because guys like Ashton didn't flirt with mousy dorks like him. He looked down at the area of his chest that had just been blessed enough to be touched by Ashton. The skin still tingled from the caress. "Funny, most people usually think it's the other way around," Justice confessed. Ashton leaned in and whispered in Justice's ear, "Surprise. I'm not most people." A shiver went down Justice's spine and traveled to his cock. "No, you're not." Justice set his cup of beer on a nearby table because he'd started to tremble so badly he worried he'd spill the stuff on him. The only thing worse than drinking the junk was reeking of it. Something he'd know from previous experience when Craig and his friends thought it would be fun to douse the "sissy boy." Still keeping his lips inches from Justice's ear, Ashton asked, "So, if you won't leave with me now, at least have some mercy on me and give me your phone number." Somehow Justice's hands ended up on Ashton's shoulders. His mind began to spin from

all the emotions colliding inside him, the two biggest being arousal and shock. Arousal because--Hello!--Ashton was sex bundled up in a college T-shirt, and shock because Justice never moved this fast before. His dates were few and far between and never before had he touched, let alone kissed, until at least one or two weeks of knowing the other guy. Yet, as he found himself pressing his body closer to Ashton, Justice knew with a certainty that they'd be kissing within seconds. Justice closed his eyes and began to inch even closer. "What in the fuck do you think you're doing?" Craig snarled. Before Justice could react, his brother grabbed him by the arm and jerked him away. Justice opened his eyes and gasped as he readied himself for yet another one of Craig's verbal assaults. Instead, much to his surprise, Craig shoved Justice behind him before turning his fury onto Ashton. "I don't know what kind of game you think you're playing, but keep my brother out of it," Craig snapped, his face red with anger.

"Craig?" Justice wondered what in the hell was going on. It's not like he already didn't know that Justice was gay, so it couldn't be the fact that he'd been getting up close and personal with another man. So, he had no idea what had pissed Craig off so much. Ashton held his hands up in a peaceful gesture. "We were just talking." Craig snorted. "I'll bet. It's more likely that your dad sent you out to screw with our family because of our father." "I'm sorry, I still don't understand," Ashton replied calmly. "You don't think I wouldn't recognize you as Carter Garner's son?" Craig challenged. Justice stomach dropped at the name. Carter Garner ran the biggest illegal drug ring in the state. The name was so sickeningly familiar because he heard it every night at the dinner table as his own father, a DA, railed about how he couldn't wait to finally hang a conviction on the criminal. To make matters even worse, the two men had been involved in a very public battle of words.

"What does that have to do with me talking to Justice?" Ashton slowly shook his head. Craig gave a bitter laugh. "As if you didn't know that Justice is Lloyd Knowl's son." Ashton blinked a few times, understanding spreading over his face. "As in DA Knowl?" His shocked tone seemed too real to be faked and Justice found himself believing him. That still didn't mean Justice felt any relief, not with all the tension in the air. Given his brother's volatile temper, he knew it was only a matter of seconds before fists started flying. Justice felt genuine fear that for once Craig's temper wasn't aimed in his own direction. He realized he had to somehow get Craig as far away from Ashton as possible. "Craig, let's just leave," Justice suggested softly as he put a gentle hand on his brother's arm. That proved to be a huge mistake. Craig hissed a curse, turned, and shoved Justice. Pain shot through Justice's body as his back slammed into the unforgiving wall. To say all hell broke loose after that would

have been a tragic understatement. Several of the partygoers "oohed" while Ashton let out a few choice curses of his own. "Don't you fucking treat him that way." Ashton lunged at Craig. At the last minute a dark-haired guy reached out and held Ashton back. Several frat brothers stepped forward. A pair of them grabbed Craig by the arms, while another took hold of Justice's wrist. As they were being shown the front door, Justice dared to shoot a glance back at Ashton. The other man was still holding him, but all his attention was directed at Justice. The look of hurt and sadness stamped on Ashton's face cut into Justice like a blade. I'm sorry, Justice mouthed right before he was led out the door.

Chapter 2 Ashton had never felt so helpless as he watched Justice walk away. He was torn between wanting to run after him so they could continue their conversation, and wanting to run after Craig so he could punch the jerk. "You can let me go now," he grumbled to his cousin Bryce. "Are you sure about that? If you get into a fight and get arrested it's me your dad's going to blame. Call me a coward, but I don't ever want to get on Uncle Carter's bad side," Bryce replied with his usual smooth, even tones. Of course Bryce would be cool and unaffected by all this. It took a lot to get the guy worked up, so even nearly getting into it with the DA's oldest son wouldn't be a bother. Ashton shrugged off Bryce's hold and turned to glare at the man. "I'm positive. Now let's get out of here."

They left via the back door, lessening any chance of him running into Craig and his buddies on the way out. Ashton tried to tell himself not to get too upset by the events of the past couple minutes. After all, now that he had Justice's full name, it shouldn't be too difficult to track down the man. Even then a warm feeling went over him as he thought about Justice. How his dark brown hair had looked just messy enough that it seemed to be begging to be tamed. The way his face had tipped up so trusting as his full lips pursed for a kiss that never came. The man also had a hint of vulnerability that called to Ashton--his soft gray eyes were so full of innocence yet hinted of weariness, too. Almost as if he expected somebody to start yelling at him at any moment. He climbed behind the wheel of his Jeep and started the engine, barely waiting for Bryce to get the passenger door shut. That finally managed to ruffled Mr. Everything Is Always Okay's pants a bit. He shot Ashton a disgruntled look. "You're not going to stay pissy because you almost got into a fight with Craig Knowl are you?"

"That's not what upsets me." Ashton pulled out onto the road. He gripped the steering wheel as he fought the urge to release his anger with some good old-fashioned speed. He restrained his reaction by reminding himself that would almost certainly lead to him getting a ticket. It seemed as if the entire police force was on a lookout for his car and they were just itching for an excuse to pull him over. All because his last name was Garner. His chest grew tight as he thought about the unfairness of it all. He was nothing like his father. Ashton had never so much as swiped a hotel towel, yet the world still labeled him a thief, a loser, a blight on the nice upstanding community. "You want to talk about it?" Bryce urged in a soothing voice. "It doesn't matter what I do, they still hate me," Ashton spat. "I work two jobs to pay my way through college, volunteer at the GLBT center, and I've never once been in trouble with the police. Yet, every time somebody finds out my last name they instantly hate and fear me." Ashton wanted to laugh at the sheer irony of it

all. He was the kind of guy that couldn't even stand to kill a spider, even though they creeped the hell out of him. Instead he'd put a glass over it until Bryce came home and released it outside "I don't know. Justice didn't seem to mind so much. Even after he found out who your father was, he kept giving you the eye," Bryce said. "The eye?" Ashton echoed. "You know, the I want to get to know you a whole lot better eye." Ashton shook his head in disgust, but a smile threatened to break free. "I need you to talk to Larry for me." That got a second ruffled feather reaction from Bryce. He cocked a brow and let out a low whistle. "Why would you need the services of your Dad's best hacker?" "I want Justice's number and something tells me DA Knowl wouldn't let that be public information." "You probably have a point there, but I have a better idea." "What?" "Well, I've noticed Justice on campus before

tonight and he seemed pretty friendly with Paula Chase." "Who's Paula and how in the hell can she help me get Justice's number?" Bryce gave a knowing smile. "Paula just happens to be close friends with Kiki." Now it was Ashton who smiled. "Is this the same Kiki who has a massive crush on you?" "Yeah, and she'd do anything for me, including asking Paula for a certain somebody's number." For the first time since Craig's massive cockblock, Ashton felt a thrill of excitement. "The best part of all will be that we won't have to involve any of my dad's employees." "Yes, we both know how much you hate asking him for anything." "Well, wouldn't you? Thanks to him, my mother is constantly trailed by police, my older brother is in prison, and the entire town treats us like we're trash," Ashton seethed. "He does love you. Which is a whole hell of a lot more than my dad ever did." Ashton's heart went out to his cousin. "I'm sure your dad cares about you, too. When's the last

time you saw him?" "The day they sentenced him to life for killing my mother. I've never gone to visit the bastard and I never will. He can rot away for all I care." Okay, so much for Bryce not being unflappable because he was just throwing the emotions around. It made Ashton feel a bit guilty for whining over his own problems. If he and Bryce were the huggy types, Ashton would have pulled the car over to give his cousin a comforting embrace. But one trait they'd both picked up from their fathers had been an aversion to physical affection "Have you ever written him?" Ashton asked. Bryce stared straight ahead, his jaw set hard. "Nope. He's sent me a few letters, but I never bothered to read them." They rode in silence for a moment before Bryce changed the subject. "Give me an hour, tops, and I'll have Justice's phone number for you. Just don't go to Larry. You don't need to be indebted to that piece of slime. Even if you are Carter's son, he'll make you pay some kind of disgusting price."

Ashton glanced back over at his cousin, touched that Bryce still worried over him. Then again that'd been the way it'd always gone down. While the rest of the world looked down and sneered at them, the two of them stood together. "Thanks, I owe you," Ashton replied simply. Better than going all sappy and spewing what he was really thinking. That would only lead to an awkward, getting in touch with our feelings

moment. In their family that would just be tragic. **** When Justice opened the door to his apartment, it didn't come as a surprise to find his father waiting for him. That still didn't stop him from freezing, hand on the handle, his mouth opened like some cartoon character expressing shock. "Get in here and close the door," Lloyd ordered in an overly cool tone. The DA seemed so out of place in Justice's run-down apartment. Dressed in an expensive charcoal suit to match his carefully clipped gray hair, he appeared almost uncomfortable to be

surrounded by piles of books and papers. To add to the whole surreal feelings was that Lloyd sat in the battered, recliner that Justice had rescued from the curb two trash days ago. When Justice still didn't move, Craig gave him a not-so-gentle shove from behind. Once they were inside, Craig shut the door behind him and blocked it with his massive body. Okay, so it looked as if this wasn't going to be a social visit. Justice swallowed hard against the ball of fear clogging his throat. Lloyd stood, smoothing the wrinkles from his suit in short jerky movements. Justice waited in silence, knowing his father wouldn't speak until he'd decided Justice had squirmed enough. True to form, three excruciating minutes slowly ticked by before Lloyd broke the silence. "I just received a very disturbing phone call from Craig."

Yeah, jackass, I was sitting right next to your head prick when he made it, Justice snarked inside his head. Outwardly he lowered his eyes in the show of perfect obedience. While he would have loved nothing more than to fire a few choice

comments back, he knew that would only worsen his punishment. "Yes, sir," he mumbled, his heart pounding with fear. "I had to leave a meeting and come all the way over here to deal with you. Do you think I have time for these kinds of games?"

Wow, and you still managed to beat us here? Damn, you must have been flying. I guess there's nothing like having the threat of a gay son scandal to get you moving. "Sorry, sir," Justice replied, a cold sweat breaking out over his body. "Now what is this I hear about you talking to Carter Garner's brat?" "I didn't know that's who he was, I swear. He seemed really nice," the words burst from Justice's trap before he could censor them. He flinched, but it was already too late. Lloyd swung, the back of his hand connecting with Justice's mouth with a loud smack. Justice staggered, but managed to stay on his feet as pain exploded over his face. He quickly straightened, knowing that if he didn't Lloyd would

see it as a sign of weakness and strike out again. He could feel a warm trickle of blood going down his chin, the sensation sadly not unfamiliar. Lloyd always loved to go for the face first. Unless it was election time and then he kept his blows to areas that could be covered up during photo opportunities. Justice longed to wipe it away, but he knew that also was a no go. Years of experience had told him how Lloyd expected this to play out and any veering from the plan would not be tolerated. So he kept his hands to his side as the blood ran unchecked. It would probably end up getting on his shirt, but he'd become a pro at getting bloodstains out of clothes. His father moved closer, his minty breath fanning against Justice's cheek. It became too much, with Craig behind. Justice began to feel boxed in. While he fought it, panic clawed at his chest. His breaths grew shallow and rapid, his pulse quickening so much that he could hear it thumping in ears. "Please," Justice whispered. He tried to take that single word back, but

once again he was too late. He earned two more slaps, each one harder than the last. He tried to back up, only to have Craig deliver a sharp punch to his kidney. Justice let out a cry of pain, this time powerless to stop himself from falling to the ground. More agony shot through his legs when his knees slammed onto the cheap carpet. Despite the additional hurt, he still tried to stagger to his feet, but didn't move fast enough to avoid Craig's foot. Just his luck, Craig loved to wear steel-toed boots, a fact Justice's gut didn't appreciate. The kick knocked the wind from Justice. He fell forward onto his elbows as he sucked in to no avail. Tears filled his eyes and he hated himself for showing that weakness on top of everything else. Lloyd reached down and grabbed Justice by the hair, tugging hard so Justice had no choice but to go back up on his knees. Lloyd continued to pull, until Justice's head was tilted back and they were locking gazes. A shiver went through Justice as he saw the angry glint in Lloyd's

normally cool, blue eyes. They remained that way for a moment, the only sounds in the room Justice's wheezing breaths and Craig's snickers. Finally Lloyd grunted in disgust before he threw Justice away from him. "If it weren't for the fact that you help me get the liberal vote, I would have disowned you years ago," Lloyd spat. Justice sat up, his hand going to his stomach in a protective gesture. He tried to apologize but all that came out was another wheezing sound. "If it weren't so close to another election year, I'd toss you away now. Otherwise what use would I have for a faggot son?" Lloyd continued. The slur hurt ten times worse than any of the blows. Justice closed his eyes and willed himself to let it not affect him so much. How could it not, though? Whatever happened to parents loving their kids no matter what? A dash of bitterness went through Justice. Yeah, right. His dad had never cared for him. Not even when he'd been little. So when Justice came out of the closet, he'd all but nailed the coffin on that relationship shut.

Lloyd smoothed out his suit once more before threatening, "Don't let me hear about you talking to that piece of trash again. If I do, you're not going to like what happens." Lloyd nodded to Craig to open the door and they both left. Neither one of them bothering to toss out a goodbye. Justice listened tensely to the sounds of their departing footsteps. It wasn't until he'd been certain they weren't coming back that he allowed himself to sag in despair. He brought his fingers to his lips, wincing as he came into contact with the tender flesh. Damn, looked as if he'd be sporting another split lip. Going by the way his jaw ached, he'd have at least one bruise to go along with it. No sense sitting around and feeling sorry for himself. Justice pushed himself to his feet and staggered to the bathroom. He started a hot bath, adding plenty of bubbles. Since he was feeling down, he even allowed himself to use his most expensive kind, so the room soon smelled like an orange field. While he waited for the bath to fill, he stripped off his clothes, setting his cell phone on the sink

top. Then, even though he knew he wouldn't like what he found, he forced himself to look into the mirror. Justice let out a soft groan as he tilted his face side to side. It wasn't the worst his face had ever looked, but he wouldn't be winning any modeling contracts any time soon, either. One side of his face was red, but he could still see a purple bruise blossoming on his right cheekbone. As expected, his bottom lip had grown nice and fat, too. The blood had mostly dried on his face making him look like an extra in a boxing movie. God, how he wished he had the courage to stand up to Craig and their father. Here Justice was in college and living on his own, yet he remained under his dad's rule more than ever. Justice would do anything just to be able to go somewhere where nobody knew him. Where he wasn't Craig's Queer Brother o r Lloyd Knowl's Gay Son. More than that, Justice just wanted to be free from the beatings and verbal slurs from his own damn family. He let out a weary sigh. He may as well have been wishing for rainbow tooting unicorns,

because he was never, ever going to be free of his father. Lloyd would see to that. Justice made a face of disgust at his own reflection before he turned away and shut off the water. As he stepped into the bath he hissed, both from the pain from his injuries and because of the hot temperature. He gingerly eased himself in, knowing in the end the heat would soothe his back and stomach. Sure enough as soon as he eased in, some of the pain melted away. A satisfied moan slipped past his battered lips as he sat back and closed his eyes. While he tried to keep his mind on other subjects, such as classes and midterms, his brain had other ideas. Despite the beating and his father's warning, all Justice could think about was Ashton. Justice couldn't help but wonder how things would have gone differently if Craig hadn't interrupted. If not for that, Justice felt quite certain they would have at least kissed or, better yet, gone home together. It'd been so long since Justice had been with anyone, let alone someone as hot as Ashton. His cell phone chirped, alerting him that he

had a text message. Justice was tempted to ignore it, but decided he better check to make sure it wasn't from Craig. Picking it up, Justice cocked his head to the side in confusion when he didn't recognize the number. Opening the message so he could read it all the way, Justice stomach flipped in shock.

I hope you didn't get into too much trouble for talking to me tonight. Justice frowned as he debated what to do. His father's warning echoed in his ears, yet all Justice had at this point to identify the messenger was a number. There was no name attached to the text. So it wasn't like he was totally disobeying, he reasoned. After all, he should make sure that the texter even had the right number. With trembling fingers he replied, Who is this? The answer came seconds later, Ashton. Fear strummed through Justice as he stared at that name. At the same time a small dash of excitement filled him. Wow, who would have thought that an attractive guy like Ashton would ever take the time to track down little ol' him? Justice darted a look at the bathroom door,

almost as if he expected to see his father or Craig standing there, ready to dish out some punishment. When all he saw was his darkened living room, Justice chided himself. He was being crazy. There was no way that even somebody as connected as his father could find out about a simple text exchange. So, did you get in trouble? Ashton pressed. Justice smiled as much as his swollen lip would allow. It felt nice to have someone worry over him, even if it were only via cell phone.

Don't worry, it wasn't anything I couldn't handle, Justice typed back. Good, your brother seemed pretty angry. He's always angry. Justice should know, too, since his stomach probably had a permanent imprint of Craig's boot.

LOL. It sounds like some of my family members. Justice just bet it did. He knew from his father that most of Ashton's family tree didn't exactly live a tame life. He knew it would be rude to respond that way so instead he typed, How did you get my

number?

I have my ways :-P Laughter burst from Justice at the funny face at the end of Ashton sentence. So much for him being an evil, criminal mastermind. Somehow Justice didn't think most mobsters would finish a message that way. Oh, mysterious. I like that in a guy. Justice only hesitated a second before he shot back the flirtatious reply.

So does that mean I get to see you again? Justice let out a gasp of surprise. He couldn't believe that even after the show Craig put on that Ashton would ever want to speak to him, let alone ask him out. Justice hesitated, torn. Part of him wanted to see Ashton so bad that his body hummed in anticipation. Yet another part of him was terrified to go against his father's wishes.

Are you worried about what our fathers will say? Ashton asked, almost as if he could read Justice's mind.

Aren't you? Justice challenged. Somehow he didn't think Ashton's father would be thrilled to find out his kid was dating the son of his biggest enemy.

Sure, but I still want to see you again. I think you're worth the risk. "Oh, my God," Justice whispered. Could Ashton get any better? At that moment he knew he had to see Ashton again. I think you're worth it, too, Justice confessed.

So when will I get to see you again? Justice only hesitated a second. I'll be at the library tomorrow around seven at night. Can you meet me there? Yes, I can hardly wait. He hesitated, his eyes darting to the doorway again. Even though his father didn't stand there, his presence still loomed. If he were found out, the ramifications would be huge. Then the small flicker of defiance that'd always existed bloomed to life. Fuck Lloyd. Fuck Craig. Most of all, fuck their demands. For the first time in his life, Justice was going to go after something, consequences be damned. He typed one final message into the phone.

I can't wait, either.

Chapter 3 Ashton had to resist the urge to run as he entered the library the next evening. All day he'd been able to think of nothing else but being able to see Justice again. Ashton didn't know how this guy managed to get under his skin so quickly, but for some reason, getting closer to Justice had become number one on his to-do list. The library was frigging huge. Not only that, but there were three levels, so he had a lot of ground to cover. Ashton rushed through, his gaze scanning all the tables and down the rows of bookshelves. He'd just about given up on the first floor until he spotted Justice leaning over the second story railing. "Justice," Ashton called, his voice a little too loud for the surroundings. Several people jerked their heads in his direction, but Ashton disregarded them. The only one who mattered was Justice. There were even

a couple of shushes tossed Ashton's way, but he still didn't care. Not when he had Justice in his sights. Ashton grinned in excitement. Yes! He hadn't lost his chance after all. Thanks to Bryce's connections and that text conversation last night, he had Justice within his grasp once again. This time nobody, not even a million Craigs, were going to get in his way. Justice leaned over the railing and flashed a smile before putting his finger to his lips. The cutest blush spread out over his cheeks as he darted timid glances at the other occupants. As he had at the party, he wore casual clothes. A pair of worn jeans molded his legs perfectly and he had on a Columbus Blue Jackets sweatshirt. "I was worried you wouldn't come," Ashton said still not moving. Some small part of him didn't want to let Justice out of his sight, even long enough to go to the stairs leading to the next level. It was irrational and a bit crazy, but Ashton couldn't help it. It seemed that ever since he'd first seen Justice his mind remained locked on irrational, so why keep

fighting it? "Well, I'm here so you can stop yelling," Justice replied in a loud stage whisper. He darted another couple of glances side to side before jerking his head to the stairs. When Ashton still didn't move, Justice gave another one of his heart-pounding grins. He then slowly walked to the side, leading Ashton into the right direction. The entire time he kept his gaze locked on Ashton. Now that Justice guided the way, Ashton couldn't stop his yap, however. "You don't need to worry. Craig isn't here this time." "Yes, but there are plenty of others who could tell," Justice hissed, although the smile remained in place. "They won't tell on us," Ashton replied. After all, who could think of breaking up such a perfect reunion? They continued to move toward the stairs, Ashton doing a somewhat awkward sideways walk, while Justice ran a hand over the railing. Several more people stopped to watch them, but if Ashton wasn't mistaken, a few of them

appeared to be enjoying the show. "How can you be so sure?" Justice cocked a brow. "Because nobody else cares about who our families are. To them we're just another pair of college kids who want to get to know each other better." "You mean a rose by any other name?" Justice quipped, his lips twitching with repressed laughter. "Something like that, but this story is not going to end in tragedy like that one did." At least Ashton hoped it didn't, be that physical or emotional. He already knew that Justice had the power to break his heart. That was a position Ashton had never allowed himself to be in before. "How can you be so sure?" Justice challenged. Yes, Ashton how could you be so certain? An inner voice chimed in. Ashton reached the bottom of the stairs and started to make his way up them. He had to go a little slower than he would have liked, since he

couldn't tear his gaze from Justice, but it was a small price to pay. Especially since Justice stood there and waited for him, all the while looking at Ashton as if he were the best thing ever. "Because all good stories have a happy ending," he replied, simply. "And you think ours is going to be a good story?" "Of course I do. It's going to be the best one ever." All of Ashton's good humor faded once he stood in front of Justice. Up close he could now make out that Justice had a fat bottom lip and a good-sized bruise on one cheek. Ashton grabbed Justice by the hand and led him between a row bookshelves. Since that particular one dealt with heavy Russian literature, he felt pretty certain they wouldn't be disturbed for at least a few minutes. "Did Craig do this to you?" Ashton demanded as he lightly ran the pad of his thumb over the bruise. "No, my father did." "Because we were talking to each other?" Justice nodded, another blush coming over

his face. "Yeah, he's pretty strict about who I hang out with." Guilt slammed into Ashton at the thought of Justice being in any amount of pain on account of him. Even though Ashton had always had a protective streak, never before had it been this strong. At that moment he wanted to pound on the DA and Craig for harming Justice. Which just shocked Ashton because he wasn't the violent type at all. "Let me guess, the son of Carter Garner is not on his approved list." "No." Justice gave a rueful smile as the flush deepened over his cheeks, almost as if he was shamed by his father's biased behavior. "Yet, you still came today," Ashton's voice hitched in shock. Most of the guys he met usually shied away as soon as they found out who Ashton was. The knowledge that Justice not only didn't care about that, but risked another beating to meet him tugged at Ashton's chest. Why Justice obviously saw so much in him when the rest of the world found him lacking was a mystery to Ashton.

Damned if that would stop Ashton from grabbing onto the opportunity and holding on tight, though. "Yeah, I figured you were worth the risk," Justice said as he cast his gaze down shyly. If Ashton hadn't already had it bad for Justice, that admission would have done it for sure. Ashton continued to rub his thumb over the injury, furious that somebody would raise their hand to such a sweet guy. Being as gentle as possible, he nudged Justice's chin until he lifted his gaze. "Does he hit you often?" Ashton asked, getting lost in the other man's gray eyes. Justice shrugged. "Only when I disappoint him or make him mad." Ashton would be willing to bet that happened a lot. Yet, the press painted the DA as the good guy, while demonizing Carter. That just took the irony gold medal. While his dad may be many things, he'd never once struck Ashton. "I could kill him for hurting you," Ashton whispered before he leaned forward and brushed the softest of kisses against Justice's cheek. "But you could never do that, because that's not who you are," Justice whispered back.

Ashton jerked back, shock coursing through his body. "You're so certain of that, even though you know who my father is?" Justice gave him a tender smile. "You're nothing like him." "How can you know that? We've just met each other." "I don't know. I just do," Justice said with a sheepish shrug. The blind faith coming from Justice floored Ashton. He bent forward and delivered another kiss, this time to Justice's battered lip. All the while, he took extreme care to be as gentle as possible. While Ashton yearned to really lay one on Justice, he didn't want to hurt the man any more. "Let's get out of here," Ashton suggested. "Are you sure that's a good idea?" Justice hedged. "What if Craig spots us? The only reason I suggested us meeting here is because I know the last place he and any of his friends will be is the library." "I've already thought of that. Bryce is waiting out back for us in his SUV. Its windows are tinted,

so nobody will be able to see us inside." "Where will we be going?" The way Justice's eyes softened, told Ashton the guy was warming up to the idea. Good, now he just had to make sure that their plan went smoothly. That way Justice would continue to trust him on future dates. "There's this small restaurant my uncle owns a few miles from here. He promised to let me use the back dining room, so we'll have complete privacy." Justice hesitated for only a moment longer before nodding his head. "Sure, it sounds like fun and I missed dinner anyway." "Great, let's get going," Ashton said. He grabbed Justice's hand and led the way down the stairs and to the back door. When Justice simply accepted, even going so far as to thread their fingers together, a heady thrill went through Ashton. They pushed through the door and walked outside. As anticipated, Bryce sat behind the wheel of his SUV. While the driver and front passenger windows were clear, the ones in the

backseat were tinted. They were so dark there was no way Craig or anybody else would be able to spot Justice in the backseat. Ashton opened the door and ushered Justice inside. Ashton slid in after him, a thrill going through him as their bodies briefly brushed against each other. In the closed confines of the car he could detect the crisp scent of the Justice's cologne. While Ashton recognized it as a knockoff brand, it didn't take away from its appeal. If anything, it made him want to bury his nose in Justice's neck so he could get a really good whiff. Since Ashton didn't think that would be good first-date behavior, he held back. He caught Bryce's gaze in the rear-view mirror, the snarky expression unmistakable even in the glass. Ashton thought back to all the ribbing he'd given over the years whenever his cousin would "fall in love" with yet another top-heavy blonde. He realized then that Bryce would be giving him some payback. "This is my cousin, Bryce," Ashton said, as he shot Bryce a be good or I will strangle you glare. When Bryce gave him a wicked smile in return

Ashton knew he was screwed. Bryce turned and waved. "Hello, Justice, we only met briefly last night, but Ashton has talked about you so much I feel as if I've known you for years."

Note to self: kill Bryce. Ashton flashed Bryce a fake smile. "Can you drive us to Uncle Terry's, please?" "Are you sure you wouldn't rather go to Mike's? It's a lot more fun." "No, Terry's place will be just fine," Ashton replied tightly. "But Mike's has the best burgers in town and the entertainment is so...well, entertaining."

Second note to self: kill Bryce in the most painful way possible. "I don't think his place is exactly date worthy," Ashton replied as he curled his hands against the leather seat. The urge to wrap his fingers around Bryce's neck grew strong. While he usually didn't mind his cousin's teasing and smartass comments, Ashton really wanted to impress Justice. "What kind of business does your Uncle Mike

own?" Justice asked, falling right into Bryce's verbal trap. Ashton groaned as he flashed an I will get you back for this look at Bryce. "A girly strip club," Bryce informed with a huge grin. Justice opened and closed his mouth a few times. "Yeah, I think Ashton may have a point. That really isn't my kind of place. Besides I don't have any singles and the last time I went the girls got cranky when I tried to shove quarters down their G-strings." Bryce blinked, for once stunned silent, no doubt shocked to have his own medicine shoved down his throat while Ashton howled with laughter. Just when he thought it couldn't be possible, Justice somehow had managed to surprise him yet again. Ashton once more met Bryce's gaze in the rear-view mirror and wasn't surprised to see the admiration flashing in his cousin's gaze. "I think I see his appeal," Bryce admitted. Ashton reached out to reclaim Justice's hand. "Yeah, he's pretty great."

The adorable flush came over Justice's face again. It was pretty obvious Justice hadn't been on the receiving end of too many compliments. "You keep talking like that and I'm going to get a big head." Bryce opened his mouth to fire off another comment, but after exchanging looks with Ashton, clamped his lips together. While Bryce may come off as a bit slow sometimes, in fact he saw more than most gave him credit for. So Ashton knew that after taking in Justice's bruises and timid nature that Bryce put two and two together and came up with DA Knowl is an abusive ass. Bryce turned the vehicle on, then pulled out onto the road. The drive was short, so they made mostly small talk the entire way. Justice confessed to being an avid fan of the Blue Jackets, so they bantered back and forth over various NHL teams and their chances in the upcoming season. The time passed quickly and Ashton was surprised to see the familiar outline of the restaurant. Bryce parked in the back, then got out to make sure nobody was watching before he came back over and opened the back door.

Justice cocked a brow. "With all this sneaking around I'm beginning to feel like I'm a secret agent man or something," he said as they climbed out from the backseat. "Maybe I should get some fancy clothes and change my name to Austin." "I promise no evil men are trying to feed us to sharks with lasers on their heads. Although, they may try to cryogenically freeze us," Ashton quipped. "Darn, that kind of adventure was on my bucket list, too." "Funny, all that's on mine is bungee jumping and finally going on that Alaskan cruise." Bryce kept his mouth shut, but he did roll his eyes at their banter. He opened the door for them, and as they entered the restaurant, Ashton allowed himself to take comfort in the familiar surroundings. The restaurant had been in the family for years, and even after his uncle had taken over, nothing changed. Simple, yet classy with its wood walls and plank flooring, the inside was always dark no matter the time of day. Every table had

drippy, wax candles as a centerpiece and they were always lit. Several photos taken over the years dotted the walls and there was even a picture of his uncle shaking hands with the last Michigan governor. Uncle Terry approached, his arms already stretched out for a hug. Ashton returned the embrace, his arms struggling to reach across Terry's girth. His uncle liked to call himself a bit fluffy around the middle. Most others would say he was overweight. To Ashton, he was just simply his favorite uncle. As his father's youngest brother, Terry shared a lot of the same traits. He had the trademark Garner dark hair and eyes. Unlike Carter, Terry possessed a gentle heart. He always had a kind word and good advice. It was no wonder Ashton felt closer to Terry than his own father. Justice lingered behind, almost as if he wanted to be as inconspicuous as possible. His shoved his hands into his pockets, shoulders hunched as he studied his shoes. Ashton pulled out of his uncle's embrace and took Justice's hand.

"This is--" Terry cut him off, "DA Knowl's youngest son, Justice. I remember from all the newspaper articles." Ashton smiled, while Justice stiffened. The reaction didn't come as a surprise. While Ashton knew his uncle would never betray their trust, Justice had never met the man before. Also, Ashton had a sneaking suspicion that Justice never had the luxury of being able to confide in any family members. "Don't worry. My uncle won't say anything," Ashton assured, giving Justice's hand a squeeze. Gone was the Justice who'd been throwing around teasing comments just moments before. Instead, Ashton found himself confronted by someone who looked two seconds away from diving under the closest table and curling into a fetal position. Ashton grinned, hoping to ease some of the tension away, but failed miserably. Justice gave a weak smile in return as he plucked at the drawstrings of his sweatshirt. His eyes were slightly wide and his fingers trembled just a bit. His tongue darted out to lick his lip, only to

retreat when it passed over the injured area. Ashton didn't know whether to hug the guy or offer him some ice, since the wound looked like it still smarted. Meanwhile he continued to dart glances to both the front and rear door, almost as if he expected a monster to pop through at any moment, so he needed to measure the quickest exit. Damn, did Justice always have this lost, kicked-too-many-times look about him? How often did he walk around with fat lips and bruises? Did he live every second of his life in fear of being attacked? The thought that Justice might have to constantly exist under a shield of hate made Ashton want to hold the other guy in a tight embrace, just so he could know that not the whole world was so hard and cruel. Ashton vowed at that moment that no matter how long it took, he'd show Justice that life didn't have to be about fear, degradation and cruelty. Justice would come to learn that real families cared about each other and didn't seek to harm one another. Most of all, Ashton became determined to make it so the smiling, joking

Justice who'd been out in the car, would become a permanent fixture.

Chapter 4 All in all, Justice thought he was doing a great job of not showing his nerves. While his heart pounded like mad and a heavy dose of panic screamed through his body, he maintained a smile. Ashton studied him closely for several moments before giving his hand another squeeze. "It's okay, Justice. You're safe here." Shame flooded Justice as he realized that maybe he hadn't been fooling anyone. Even Ashton's uncle had a sympathetic look on his face. The older man cleared his throat before saying, "Come on, let me show you to your table." Justice trailed after Ashton, but they continued to hold hands. Despite the flurry of emotions battling inside him, Justice found a bit of comfort from that touch. Silly really, that something so simple from somebody he just met should feel so right, but it did. So much so, that when they

reached their table, Justice found himself reluctant to let go. He did though, sliding into the chair opposite of Ashton. True to Ashton's promise, they were the only ones in this area of the restaurant. If it weren't for the dim sounds of conversation, doors opening and silverware clinking against dishes, Justice would think they had the whole place to themselves. He took the menu with a murmured thanks and opened it, not really seeing the words inside. Terry disappeared, so it left just Ashton and Justice in the room. Justice tried to concentrate on the menu, but failed miserably. Instead his gaze kept drifting to Ashton. Justice still couldn't understand what the guy saw in some dorky loser like him. Ashton had everything going for him. He was hot, rich and had a great personality. The high-end blue sweater and designer jeans probably cost more than Justice's entire wardrobe combined. Plus, he exuded confidence while Justice bumbled his way through life. Moreover it looked as if Ashton's family could actually stand to be around him.

Something Justice never experienced. "Get whatever you want," Ashton urged. "Huh?" Justice started, embarrassed at being caught ogling. "I said for you to order whatever you want," Ashton replied, a sexy, lopsided smile coming over his handsome face. Justice tilted his face downward, both to hide the bruises and the heat coming over his cheeks. God, what in the hell had ever possessed him to agree to go out on an actual date? It would probably take Ashton ten minutes tops to realize what a lost cause he had on his hands. Justice would be lucky if he didn't find himself taking a taxi home. He nervously licked his lips, wincing in pain as he was once again reminded of his split lip. "What's good here?" he asked. "A lot of people love the steak, but my personal favorite is the lasagna." "Okay, then I'll go with that." "Are you sure?" "I trust you." Ashton's smile faltered for moment as he

began to fiddle with his silverware. When the silence stretched, Justice began to worry if he'd said something wrong. An apology was forming on his lips, when Ashton looked up and said, "Nobody aside from Bryce has ever trusted me with anything before, not even with something as small as ordering a meal for them." "Why not? Even though we've just met, I can tell you're great." Now it was Justice who glanced down as he realized he'd come off as some kind of gushing stalker. "You're the only one who's ever thought that. Most people turn their back on me once they hear what my last name is." Outraged, Justice looked back up. "Why the hell would they do that? You're nothing like your father." A rueful smile twisted Ashton's lips. "How do you know that?" Justice paused as he fought for an answer. In truth, he really couldn't, not since they'd just met the night before. Yet, there was something inside Justice that screamed he could trust Ashton, that

while he may share the same blood as his father, they were cast from a different mold. "Do you think I'm like Craig and my father?" Justice challenged by way of answer. Ashton slowly shook his head. "You're everything they pretend to be." A warm feeling pooled in Justice's gut at those words. "And how do you know that?" "Like you, I just have a feeling. Besides, I asked around about you." Justice cocked his head to the side. "Really? Who did you ask?" "Don't worry, I was very discreet about it. I mostly talked to Paula Chase." "Oh, no," Justice groaned. "I can only imagine all the embarrassing stories she told you." Best friends since junior high, Paula had seen Justice at his best and worst. He had no doubt she shared all of the stories from both categories. A waiter came and took their order. Ashton waited until he left before answering. "She said that you were sweet, generous and too forgiving for your own good." "Don't let her fool you. She's only saying all

that stuff to get on my good side. She borrowed my car last week and put a dent in it and she's afraid that I'm still mad at her." "Are you? Mad at her that is?" The waiter came and delivered breadsticks and salads, amazing Justice with the speed of service. Must be one of the benefits of being the nephew of the owner. Justice took a couple of bites, being careful of his cut lip, before answering, "No, she didn't mean it and I know how bad she feels about the whole thing." "So is your car at least drivable?" "Yes and no. It's not severely damaged, but my dad took if away from me for not taking better care of it." As soon as that admission slipped out, Justice winced. The bruises already labeled him a victim and he didn't want to add to it, by sharing any more facts about his father's abuse. Justice cleared his throat before abruptly changing the subject, "This bread is awesome." Ashton studied him for a few moments before replying, "Thanks, it's the same recipe they've been using for years."

"So are you going to go into the family business after you graduate?" Justice's face burned as he realized how that question could be taken in the wrong way. "What I meant is, are you going to work in the restaurant, not the other thing." "Don't worry. I have no aspirations of following in my father's criminal footsteps," Ashton replied, his voice strained. Justice shocked himself by reaching across to hold Ashton's hand. "I know. I'm sorry my question came out so wrong. Whenever I get around someone I get a bit clumsy at times." Ashton curled their fingers together, his touch warm and soft. Tingles of pleasure danced up Justice's arm as he found his gaze transfixed on the man's full lips. He wondered what it would be like if they kissed. Not a light, barely there number like in the library, but a real knock you on your ass lip lock. "So what are you majoring in?" Justice asked, desperate to get his mind off his libido. "Pre-med. How about you?" "Law."

"Ah, I should have guessed. Just like your father. He probably had that all planned out since the day you were born and he named you Justice." Guilt swamped Justice. As always whenever the topic of majors came up, he felt bad because truth be told, his heart really wasn't in law. He just forced himself to go through the motions to please his father. "Tell me, Justice, if you had your choice what would you really want to major in?" Shocked by how quickly Ashton saw through him, Justice let out a small gasp. "I've always wanted to get into social work." Ashton gave a tiny smile as he rubbed the pad of his thumb over Justice's knuckles. "Somehow that doesn't surprise me. That line of work suits you much better." Justice gave a sad sigh. "It really doesn't matter, since that option isn't open to me." "It could be if you wanted." A spark of anger went through Justice. "My father doesn't like it when I argue with him. I'm sure yours is the same way."

Ashton cocked a brow. "Why? Because he's a criminal?" "Kind of," Justice admitted before amending. "With running an operation as big as his, I'm sure he doesn't like to have to give an order more than once." "He may be that way with the people who work under him, but never with me. He's always encouraged me to make my own decisions and has supported me throughout them." God, how Justice would love to have that freedom in his own life. "I wish I had a father like that." Ashton cocked a dark brow. "My father is the suspect in no less than three murders and one of my earliest memories is of him beating one of this lackeys. Plus, I can't go anywhere without having to worry about the local police harassing me, just because I'm his son." Justice flushed, horrified over his thoughtlessness. "I'm sorry. There I go, putting my size ten shoe in my mouth." With a tender smile, Ashton reached over the table and lightly ran his finger over Justice's

injured lip. "Don't worry about it. Even with all that, something tells me that maybe I do have the better of two evils." "I just have a really bad habit of letting my own down too much. It tends to make him angry," Justice replied. Even with all the beatings and harsh treatment, he still felt the need to come to his father's defense. A habit he carried from childhood, Justice felt hard pressed to break it. Sure, the asshole may be a jerk, but wasn't family supposed to stick together? "Is your mother still in the picture?" Ashton asked. A pang of sadness stabbed Justice. "No, she died when I was ten. It was a car accident. She was coming home from work one night and a drunk driver crossed over into her lane." "I'm sorry to hear that." "That's okay. It was a long time ago and they say she went quick," Justice replied with forced indifference. The food arrived. Justice stared down at the plate of hot, gooey lasagna as he gathered his

emotions together. Just thinking about his mother set him on edge. Even after all the passing years, he didn't know if he hated her for dying and leaving him alone to face his father and Craig. That left Justice with a heavy dose of self-hatred. After all, what kind of jerk hates their mother for being dead? That was just all kinds of twisted. "I've seen pictures of your mother in the paper. She looks really pretty," Justice said to change the subject. A fond grin crossed Ashton's lips. "She's great. I wish you could meet her. She would really love you." "Given my last name, somehow I doubt that." "She wouldn't judge you because of who your family is." Justice picked up his fork as he tried hard to believe that. "How about your father? Would he be so understanding?" Ashton wrinkled his nose as he shook his head. "Probably not. He really doesn't like the DA." "Yeah, my dad feels the same way about your father," Justice admitted.

"Maybe they should try couples counseling or something?" Justice laughed, some of the tension leaving his body as he pictured the image of his ultraconservative father lying on a red, leather couch and pouring his heart out to some therapist. "Somehow I don't think that would work for them." "You're probably right. My dad has never been one of those get in touch with your feelings types. He's more of a do as I say or else," Ashton agreed. Working purely on instinct, Justice's hand came up to touch his lip. "Yeah, mine, too." They ate, the silence broken up by small bouts of unimportant conversation. When they finished Ashton stood. When Justice did likewise, Ashton reached out and pulled Justice into his arms. Justice didn't fight it. If anything he melted into the embrace, his head coming to rest on Ashton's shoulder. For the first time in years, Justice felt warm and protected. Most of all he felt totally at ease, as nearly all his worries seemed to drift away.

Justice finally confessed his biggest doubt. "I don't get what you see in me." Ashton put his arms down and pulled back before he tucked a couple of fingers under Justice's chin, nudging his head up, so their lips were inches apart. "Funny, I was just about to say the same thing to you." Justice gaped at him, shocked to hear those self-deprecating words coming from somebody as near perfect as Ashton. "Just so you know, I'm the one who's way out of his league here. In case you haven't noticed, you're hot, nice and funny, which makes you one hell of a catch." "You really don't have any idea of your own appeal." Ashton leaned forward, their mouths so close together Justice could feel their breath mingling. "Are you going to kiss me?"

Duh, what do you think he's going to do? Give you a demonstration on the new protocols for the American Heart Association's CPR Guidelines? Come on! For once get your act together. Don't blow this before you even get on first base.

"Stop thinking too hard," Ashton admonished before adding, "And yes, I'm going to kiss you. I just have to be gentle because I don't want to hurt your injury." "That's okay. I don't mind the hurt. That is, I'm not a pain junkie or anything. I'm just used to it. That is because of...well, you know," he stammered, not wanting to voice aloud what his bruises already screamed. He cringed at his own verbal clumsiness, but Ashton just smiled. "You're so cute when you don't know what to say." "Well, then I must be the poster child for fucking adorable because I'm constantly struggling to think of appropriate responses to conversations," Justice shot back. Ashton just gave a slight shake of his head, like Justice's behavior was some new mystery to be solved. He then closed the tiny bit of space left between them and, ever so gently, pressed their lips together. Desire pounded through Justice as he felt the warm glide of Ashton's tongue against his upper lip. At the same moment he became vividly aware

of the hard press of Ashton's body as the man snaked an arm out and hooked Justice by the waist. The move made it so their chests slammed together, but in a delicious way. The kiss continued, soft little pecks that didn't do nearly enough to tame the arousal flaring inside Justice. He let out a whimper as his cock filled, the urge to rock against Ashton's muscular thigh just too much to resist. Ashton's free hand slammed onto Justice's ass. At first Justice thought it was to still his movements, but a gentle squeeze soon let him know that Ashton only did it to encourage his behavior. Only when Justice tried to deepen the kiss did Ashton pull back, tearing a sob of protest from Justice. He flinched, wondering if his petulant behavior would earn him Ashton's wrath. Or worse yet, make it so Ashton didn't like him anymore. Much to his relief, Ashton merely smiled as he gingerly caressed the bruises on Justice's face. "We need to be careful or we'll rip the wound on your lip open again." "Sorry," Justice breathed as he reached up to

touch his mouth. Ashton reached out and grabbed Justice's hand, stilling the movement. "You have nothing to be sorry for. If anybody should be apologizing, it's me for losing control." "I liked it when you lost control, though." "Do you want me to take you back to the library?" Ashton asked, his fingers shifting up to lightly brush through the front of Justice's hair. Justice silently shook his head, too afraid to voice his true wishes. "Would you rather Bryce and I drop you back at your apartment?" The air between them grew thick with sexual tension. It felt as if an iron band were trying to squeeze the crud out of him. Breathe. Breathe.

Breathe. You can do this. It's not as if you're a virgin or anything. So it shouldn't be so damn difficult to ask him to have sex. He licked his lips and forced himself to take the risk. "I want you to take me someplace more private. A place where we can be alone. For the whole night if you'd like," Justice rasped past his dry throat.

Chapter 5 Ashton sucked in a breath of disbelief as a fresh wave of desire shot through his body, before centering on his cock. The thought that this beautiful, gentle man was offering himself up so freely when it was obviously something he didn't do often, both humbled and turned Ashton on. He cupped Justice's face. Ashton realized he'd become touchy-feely as far as the other man was concerned, but damned if he could stop himself. All he had to do was look into Justice's soft, gray eyes, smell that cologne, and Ashton had the burning need to feel the warmth of Justice's flesh. To know that if only for a brief time he belonged to Ashton. He leaned forward and pressed their lips together in a soft kiss before pulling back and saying, "My uncle owns a hotel that's just outside of town." "The same one who owns this place?'

"No." Justice cocked his head to the side. "Not the strip club owner?" Ashton laughed. "No, my father comes from a large family." "They sound pretty close." "Nah, they mostly can't stand the sight of each other." "Then why are you going to them for anything?" "Because, arguments or not, that's what family is supposed to do for each other." Going by the way Justice's brow creased while his lips pressed together in a frown, that comment confused him. It made Ashton want to curse. He couldn't imagine what it would be like to not have his family at his back. He took Justice by the hand and led him to the back door. On the way out he shouted a thanks to his uncle, who returned it while shooting a concerned glance in their direction. Ashton still didn't worry about him exposing them to his father. His uncle had always kept his confidence in the past.

Bryce met them at the car and cocked a brow questioningly. "Where to next?" "Andy's," Ashton replied as he opened the door for Justice. He tensed, waiting for a glib response, but Bryce merely nodded. Although the corners of his lips twitched in the beginnings of a smile. On the way to the hotel, Ashton had Bryce stop at a drugstore so they could get some supplies. While in the backseat they exchanged a few kiss and caresses, they otherwise kept things pretty PG. Once they arrived, Bryce parked in the back lot. "Wait right here and I'll get you a room key. I called ahead so they should have everything ready." After he left, Justice stared at the large building. His eyes were as wide as a Hummer's hubcaps as he let out a low whistle. "You didn't tell me he owned one of the fanciest hotels in Michigan." Ashton shrugged. Since he'd grown up going to the place, he'd never thought of it that way. "Do you want me to have Bryce take us somewhere

else?" Justice shook his head. "I've always wanted to come here, but my dad said no. He never gave us a reason." "Well, now you know. It's because of who owns it. While most of my uncles run perfectly legitimate businesses, they're still painted with the same crap-coated brush." Justice glanced at him. The expression of tenderness and understanding was almost Ashton's undoing. "That's not fair." "No, it's not." "I'm sorry they have to go through that. Just like I hate that the same thing happens to you," Justice said as he grabbed Ashton's hand. Bryce came back out and tapped on the window. Ashton took a deep breath to collect his nerves before he opened the door, then took the key with a mumbled thanks. After saying goodnight to Bryce, they went up to the second floor and found their room. As they entered, Justice walked slowly through the suite, his gaze devouring the décor--high-end wood furniture and fully stocked mini-bar. Ashton

smiled, pleased he was able to impress the other man. "I take it this is a little better than your apartment?" Ashton teased lightly. Justice tossed a grin over his shoulder. "Yeah, that's a bit of an understatement. You're probably used to all this." "Actually my apartment probably isn't much better than yours. I work two jobs so I can pay my own way. I usually don't even ask my uncles for favors like I did tonight." "Where do you work?" "At the campus bookstore, and I also pick up some shifts at one of the pubs in the downtown area." "I can't believe we never ran into each other before last night. I've been going to the campus for nearly a year now." "I guess I wasn't lucky until that party. I almost didn't go to it, either," Ashton admitted as he slid off his shoes. Justice's gaze tracked the movement before a grin came over his face as he did likewise. "I work a couple of jobs, too."

"What do you do?" Justice tugged off his sweatshirt, revealing a plain, white tee underneath. "I wish I could say it was something dramatic like I'm a rent boy or that I'm selling myself for medical trials." "And here I thought that's what every hungry college student did. At least that's how it is in books and movies." Ashton moved in and ran one hand down Justice's chest. A shiver went down his spine as he felt, even through the material, the hardness and warmth of Justice's flesh. "I work at the movie theater and then I put some hours in at a little mom-and-pop pet store." "The one over on Main Street?" They continued to strip while having the mundane conversation. Ashton nearly swallowing his tongue when Justice took off his tee and revealed his chest. "I don't understand why you would hide that hotness under all those layers." Justice paused, fingers midway to his fly as the most appealing blush covered his cheeks. "I've been told I'm too thin." "You're perfect. I'm just lucky nobody else has

noticed before I had the chance to meet you." "Really?" Justice cocked his head to the side, for the first time seeming to be ready to accept a compliment. "Really," Ashton replied as he took over the job of unbuttoning Justice's jeans. Ashton lowered both the pants and the underwear before dropping to his knees before Justice. He gave Justice's cock a few good, long strokes before gazing up from under his lashes. "Like I said, perfect." Justice's breath hitched as his teeth worked his bottom lip, a bit of blood welling from the wound. The way his eyes darkened with passion as a flush covered his cheeks, advertised he wasn't feeling any pain, though. There was so much Ashton wanted to do. So many spots he wanted to lick, suck and bite. In the end, Ashton decided to go for Justice's cock since it was the most tempting of all. Giving Justice one more heated look, Ashton dipped his head forward and slowly ran his tongue over the head of Justice's swollen dick. Justice jerked, a sound somewhere between a sob and a whimper

coming from his parted lips. Ashton smiled to himself. If one little lick got that big of a reaction, he couldn't wait to hear some of the noises Justice made when things got really good. Ashton slowly ran one finger up the length of Justice's cock, this time earning a low moan. A pearl of pre-cum formed at the tip and the temptation was too much to resist. Ashton licked it clean, letting out a moan of his own at the brief, salty taste. Part of him wanted to suck Justice until he came. His mouth watered for more than a drop. He wanted Justice to fill his mouth. Ashton forced himself back. He had many things he wanted to do before Justice found his release. Most of all Ashton wanted to drag the encounter out, so that every moment counted. He only allowed himself a few more licks before he got to his feet. Moving in so their lips were only inches apart, he deliberately paused. Justice gave a soft whimper as he went in for a kiss, but Ashton put a hand in the center on his chest to stay him. "Get the rest of your clothes off and get on the

bed," Ashton ordered. Justice let out another frustrated sound, but he obeyed, awkwardly hopping around as he lost his shoes, socks, underwear and jeans. Ashton smiled at the adorable picture Justice presented before moving onto his own clothing. "On your stomach," Ashton commanded when Justice began to climb onto the bed. Justice looked over his shoulder, his face flushed with passion. Their gazes connected and the sheer intensity of the emotions clashing between them almost had Ashton coming on the spot. Need, hunger, lust and maybe even a little bit of confusion flickered through Justice's stormy eyes. Ashton suspected he had the same emotions playing in his. Pausing to grab the bottle of lube and a condom, Ashton climbed on the bed, straddling Justice's hips. A frown came over Ashton's face as he noted a dark bruise marring the lower right side of Justice's back. "Let me guess. Your father did this, too." "No, that one came from Craig, although he did it to impress my dad. For the past couple

years, they like to team up on me." Justice glanced over his shoulder. "But I really don't want to ruin this by talking about them right now." Justice craned his head back for a kiss and Ashton gladly complied, a long moan rumbling from his chest at the taste of the other man. While Ashton hadn't exactly been a slut in the past, he'd still had his fair share of partners. None of them could begin to compare to the sweet flavor of Justice. Ashton pressed up close, so his chest was against Justice's back. "Fuck, your skin feels so good pressed to mine," Ashton breathed. He fumbled with the bottle of lube, finally managing to open it and squeeze the thick liquid over his fingers. Giving the tip of Justice's ear a kiss, Ashton said, "If any of this hurts make sure to let me know." Justice nodded, his breath hitching as Ashton's fingers brushed against his opening. While the need inside Ashton grew to almost painful proportions, he forced himself to go slow. This marked the first of what he hoped would be

many encounters, and he wanted to make it perfect for Justice. When Ashton finally slid one finger inside, desire shot through him when he felt the tightness of Justice's ass. It almost made him wonder if this were Justice's first time. Given the bouts of shyness, it wouldn't be a stretch of the imagination to think that maybe Justice had never been in any kind of relationship before, be it a casual hook up or long-term. "Justice, are you a virgin?" Ashton asked gently, even as he continued to work his finger in. That same cute blush covered Justice's cheeks. "Kind of. I've never really had a chance to get out much. Craig and Dad have always kept me under a pretty tight rein." The fact Justice was finally willing to risk defying their order, mixed in with the fact that he was choosing Ashton as his first, was both humbling and a bit overwhelming. Unable to voice the flurry of emotions swelling in his chest, Ashton leaned down and kissed Justice. At the same time, he slowly inched a second finger inside Justice, all the while paying

close attention for any signs of discomfort from the other man. The blush remained, so Ashton sought out some words to soothe away the embarrassment. "That's okay, I like it that I'm going to be your first."

I'll be your last, too, if I have anything to say about it. He left that last part unspoken, not wanting to spook Justice away. Instead he just licked a slow lazy path down Justice's shoulder as he continued to saw his fingers in and out. When Justice began to let out low moans as he thrust back, Ashton took that as permission to up the action a bit. He curled his fingers so he could brush against Justice's sweet spot. "Holy cow on a cracker! What was that?" Justice exclaimed, his eyes growing wide. "Did you like it?" Ashton asked, doing it again. "Yeah!" Justice yelled, his back arching. "Wait until it's my cock inside you doing that." Justice let out a little whimper as one of his hands shot out to fist the pillow. "I want it now." "In a second. I want to make sure you're

stretched enough to take me." "Oh God," Justice whimpered again. Ashton added a third finger, once more curling them to deliver a teasing pleasure. Justice yelled out another cry of passion, this one tinged with an edge of desperation. "I really think I'm ready now." When Ashton pulled his fingers out and moved away, Justice let out a noise of dismay. Looking over his shoulder, he demanded, "Where are you going?" With a smile, Ashton held up the condom. "I'm just grabbing this." Justice gave a weak chuckle. "Oh, right. Gotta play it safe." Ashton ripped it open and slid the condom over his cock, making sure to add another layer of lube. Going behind Justice again, Ashton put one hand on the man's hip. "I'll go slow and easy." Justice nodded, his teeth working his battered bottom lip once more. A fine sheen of sweat built up on his flank, making for a slippery grip. Ashton tightened his hold while he used the other hand to guide his dick to Justice's opening. Moving with

slow, deliberate movements, he pressed past the tight ring of muscles. Someone began chanting, "Oh God. Oh God. Oh God. It's so good." It took Ashton a few moments to work it out in his lust hazed mind that it was him who was babbling. He still couldn't stop himself. Justice felt so hot, so tight, so damn right, that Ashton's mind shut down to everything but the pleasure ripping through his body. The urge to thrust in fully became strong, but Ashton held himself in check by reminding himself yet again that he wanted this moment to be perfect for Justice. So he stilled, giving Justice's body time to get adjusted to the intrusion. It wasn't until Justice let out a soft sight as his body relaxed that Ashton began to slowly fuck him. Justice let out a long groan, his head rolling back onto Ashton's shoulder. Ashton kept up the gentle pace, even after he sensed that Justice could take more. He wanted to savor every shiver of pleasure, every hitched breath, every moan. Even when Ashton reached around to begin stroking Justice's cock, he kept

the movements slow and measured. That still didn't keep things from ending too quickly. Justice let out a gasp as his cock jerked. His erection pulsated, warm streams of semen covering Ashton's hand. Before the last ripple of pleasure had rolled over Justice, Ashton joined him, an intense orgasm hitting him harder than a blow from a MMA fighter. An embarrassingly revealing shudder ripped through Ashton as he buried his nose in the top of Justice's head. As Ashton filled the condom, he became lost in the slightly fruity scent of Justice's hair. Once they recovered, Justice pulled away. Doubt and a bit of shyness flickered over his face as he gazed down at the pillow. Ashton decided that just wouldn't do. As long as Justice was in his presence the man would only feel happiness and acceptance. Reaching out, he trailed a finger up and down Justice's shoulder. "Stay with me tonight," Ashton suggested. "You mean here at the hotel?" "Yeah, we have the room until morning. Might as well put it to good use."

Ashton could almost see the gears working in Justice's head as he worked that offer over in his mind. Finally he gave a hesitant nod. "Yeah, I think I'd like that." "Good, why don't we get a shower and then we can have some more fun?" This time there was no hesitation before Justice nodded his agreement.

Chapter 6 Justice finished stocking the cat food, a smile on his face despite the mundane task. He knew he'd probably look goofy to anybody who entered the store. After all, who frigging grins over a few cans of Friskies? He couldn't help himself, however. Ever since that first date with Ashton a week ago, Justice hadn't been able to hold in his happiness. It wasn't as if anyone was around to see his display of goofiness. Besides Justice, the store was empty, the beautiful warm weather luring all would-be shoppers away. So when the bell on the front door dinged, it surprised him. He rushed to the register to help, only to stop, a wider smile spreading out over his face when he found Ashton standing there, looking as hot as ever. He wore a pair of faded jeans that hugged his ass perfectly and short-sleeved, blue button up shirt. He leaned to the side, his hip pressed

against the checkout counter, his hands in his front pockets. As always, Justice's breath hitched as he took in the pure awesomeness of the other man. No better yet, his man. Even though it'd only been a week, Justice now fully accepted that Ashton's feelings ran just as intense. "What brings you here today? Did you suddenly acquire a cat since I left you this morning?" Justice teased. They spent almost every night at the hotel, always in the same room. During that short time, they'd learned nearly everything about each other. They'd also spent a good amount of time exploring each other's bodies. As a result, Justice now had every one of Ashton's erogenous zones burned into his memory. A new skill he hoped to put to use for a very long time. Ashton's lips kicked up into such a lazy grin that it made Justice glad he wore his ugly, green work smock. Otherwise, the feeder rats in the tank a few feet away would have known how happy Justice felt at the moment. "No cat, I promise you. I'm allergic," Ashton

replied in the same teasing tone. Justice nodded over to another tank, this one containing a gecko. "How about one of these little guys, then? You can snuggle up with it every night." Ashton reached out and grabbed the front of Justice's shirt, pulling him in close. "You're the only one I want to snuggle." Justice shot a glance through the large paned window, worry slicing through him. While various displays blocked most of the view, years of paranoia still left him leery. Ashton brushed the back of his knuckles against Justice's jawline. "Easy, babe, it's just us, the rats, and the gecko," Ashton soothed. "I even had my driver park a couple of blocks away, so nobody passing by will see my car out front." The term of endearment set Justice's heart pounding. Before he could worry himself out of it, he leaned in and pressed their lips together. As soon as the intoxicating taste of Ashton invaded his sense, Justice's fears flew out the front door. In fact, they became so caught up in the moment, that Justice almost missed the sound of tires

crunching on the gravel of the parking lot. Tearing himself away from the kiss, Justice peered through the display items to peek outside. His stomach seized in fear as he recognized his brother's sports car. "Shit, it's Craig. What is he doing here? He's never shown up at my work before," Justice hissed, his chest tightening in panic. Ashton cupped Justice's cheek. "Calm down, it'll be okay. I'll just hang out in the back of the store until he leaves." A full-on body tremble set in as Justice barely repressed a whimper of fear. He hadn't been exaggerating when he said his brother had never visited the store before. In fact, Craig often made condescending remarks about the place, calling it dirty and disgusting. For him to show up now spelled all kinds of bad news. Justice took several deep breaths as he tried hard to calm his racing heart. Even though he tried hard to hide it, Justice knew his confusion and fear showed on his face, which is not how he wanted Ashton to see him. Ashton didn't appear to think less of him, though. He just gave Justice a kiss, maybe to

reassure him, before he ducked out of sight. Just as Ashton disappeared from view, the front door opened. While earlier, the bell had sounded so light and cheery, it now seemed to have an ominous feel to it. Justice's heart sank even farther when he spotted the angry glint in Craig's eyes. Justice still forced himself to plaster a smile on his face. "Hey, what are you doing here?" Craig's answering smirk immediately let Justice know he was in major trouble for something. His chest constricted even tighter as he fought to keep his breaths steady and even. The last time he'd hyperventilated in his brother's presence, it'd only made things worse. "Dad called your apartment phone the past two nights and you didn't answer," Craig announced. It took every bit of Justice's willpower to school his features so they remained innocent. Damn, he realized his dad would figure out that he'd been going out a lot, but he hadn't imagined it'd be so soon. "It's the end of term. I've been putting in a ton

of extra hours at the library." Craig leaned in closer, so his beer infused breath brushed against Justice's cheek. Although every instinct in Justice's body screamed for him to back away and retreat, he forced himself to stand still. At the same moment, shame flooded him because he knew there was no way Ashton couldn't be hearing every word of the exchange. It made Justice want to close his eyes and shrivel up into a tiny ball. "Do you honestly think I believe you?" Craig asked, his voice so sharp Justice couldn't help but jerk in reaction. "Yes, I do," Justice whispered, a cold sweat breaking out over his body. "You've always been a piss-poor liar." Crap, the situation had gone south fast. First Craig showing up, when he'd obviously been drinking, then him airing their family issues in public. Both things he usually wouldn't dare do for fear of infuriating their father. With each passing second it became clearer that his brother was getting out of control. Justice took in a steadying

breath as he willed Ashton to stay hidden. Justice didn't even want to think about how ugly things would get if his lover rushed to his aid. "Please, don't do this." Justice didn't realize he'd spoken aloud until his brother backhanded him. It was a quick strike, most likely because even with the booze lowering his inhibitions, Craig realized he was going too far. The blow still managed to connect hard. Pain exploded in Justice's head as his newly healed lip broke open. As the blood trickled down his chin, a small part of Justice yearned to rebel. He'd become long weary of the same old game playing out, especially since Craig seemed so intent on upping the ante, and not in Justice's favor. He then realized it would never end. No matter how hard he tried, or how successful he became, it'd never be enough for Craig or his father. So why he continued to try so hard became a mystery to Justice. He almost finally struck back, his hand only being stayed because he didn't want things to get that intense with Ashton so close. Then Craig stepped forward. "It's times like

this I wish you'd been in that car with Mom the night she died. That way I wouldn't have to deal with you as an embarrassment." Those hateful words made a wave of nausea roll over Justice, but even then a huge part of his thoughts remained focused on Ashton and the fact that he could be discovered at any minute. If he and Craig were to get into it, it wouldn't end well for either side **** Ashton curled his fingers around the edge of the shelf as he fought back a yell of anger. It proved to be a near impossible task. With each harshly spoken word directed at Justice, Ashton felt his control slipping a bit more. It didn't mark the first time Ashton had witnessed violence or verbal abuse. While his father tried to shield him from it, more than once he'd seen the darker side of the family business. No other incident had ever affected him this way, though. It felt almost as if every slur and insult was being delivered to him. No, worse, because it was the man he cared about who was being hurt. He wanted to rush forward and intervene and

deliver some pain of his own. He stayed back, knowing it would only make things worse for Justice. By the way the conversation had been going, Craig only suspected Justice of something. Craig didn't know anything concrete. So, the last thing Justice needed at that moment was for Ashton to come to the rescue and announce their forbidden relationship. He still knew he had to do something. He just couldn't sit there with his thumb up his nose while his lover suffered. An idea sprang to his head and he pulled his cell from his phone. Even though the ramifications of his action would weigh heavily in his own household, Ashton still didn't hesitate. With shaking fingers he quickly typed out a text to his driver, Baker, one of his father's newer "employees." I need your help. Come into the

store and just act like you need to buy something. Whatever you do, don't mention my name. After he hit send, a tiny measure of hope sparked in Justice. While Baker may be fresh, he still seemed to have a pretty good brain in his head. Hopefully he'd be able to pick up on the

situation once he walked in and figure out what needed to be done. The wait seemed to take forever. He became so tense he jerked when Craig spoke, "Good thing you're wearing a mask at the law enforcement gala tonight. Otherwise, the papers would have a field day about all the marks on your face." A low growl worked its way up Ashton's throat. Here Justice was humiliated and probably brokenhearted by some of the things that'd been said and all Craig cared about was whether or not a few journalists would see a bruise or two. It made Ashton want to deal out a few blows of his own to the bastard's smug face. Thankfully the door opened, the bell tinkling, reminding Ashton a bit of the sound that ended a round of boxing. As hoped, Craig quickly took a few steps back and plastered on a smile, acting as if nothing more than a friendly exchange had been going on. "Is everything okay, here?" Baker asked, his voice blessedly cool and even. "Yes, I was just leaving," Craig replied.

Ashton could hear the sounds of footsteps leaving before Craig added, "Justice, I'll see you at the gala tonight. Your costume will be delivered to your apartment later this afternoon." The bell sounded again marking his departure, but Ashton still waited a few moments. Once he knew it was safe, he rushed out of hiding. Justice leaned heavily against the counter, one hand to his face. A thick trickle of blood ran from his bottom lip, the trail going down his chin and the front of his shirt. "Shit," Ashton breathed. He reached out with trembling fingers to touch the wound, only to pull back when Justice let out a hiss of pain. Baker studied the scene for a moment, his flat gray-eyed gaze going back and forth between Ashton and Justice. Ashton knew the man was taking in everything and pegging the situation. While Baker may look the part of the thug, with his large muscles and dark buzz cut, he also struck Ashton as damn intelligent. In the end, all the man did was give a slight nod. "I'll go get the first aid kit from the car."

After he left, Justice stated, "You called him in here, didn't you?" "Yeah, I couldn't figure out any other way to make Craig stop hurting you." "Aren't you worried about your dad finding out about us?" Ashton knew for a fact that Baker would be giving a full report once he got back. While it annoyed him, Ashton couldn't fault the man. He had a job to do and one of them was to report any threats against Ashton. Call him crazy, but he felt pretty certain making nice with the enemy's son would rank up high on the threat list. "You let me worry about that," Ashton said as he pulled Justice into a gentle embrace. He just needed to hold the man. To know that, if for at least that brief moment, he had Justice under his protection. Justice tried to pull away, "I don't want to get blood on your shirt." Ashton cupped him by the back of the head and brought him in for a proper hug. "Don't worry about that, either." It gave Ashton a small measure of relief when Justice finally gave in and sagged into the

embrace. He even rested his cheek against Ashton's shoulder as he let out a shuddering sigh. "I so did not want you to have to witness that," Justice said. "It's not your fault, so you have no reason to be embarrassed. I just wished I'd been able to stop it sooner." "It's okay. I've had much worse." That pissed Ashton off so much every muscle in his body tensed. For the first time ever, he understood the rages his father sometimes flew into. At that moment, Ashton could have been capable of just about any act due to his anger. Justice shook his head. "I'm just shocked that Craig did it here in public. One of the unspoken rules in my dysfunctional functional family is that we always keep our problems private. This is the first time Craig ever hurt me outside of our house or my apartment." "He shoved you at the party," Ashton reminded him. Justice's face twisted up in a grimace of pain and fear. "Yeah, I guess he did. He's been getting worse lately."

"If I have anything to say about it, this will be the last time you have to abused," he vowed impulsively. Justice gave him a crooked smile before he used the back of his hand to wipe away some of the blood. "I don't see how we can stop it. I've been going through it ever since my mom was out of the picture. I don't see it changing anytime soon, either." Ashton faltered as he realized Justice had a point. The DA held an iron grip over his youngest son's life and he wouldn't give up that control without a fight. Unless they found a way to break those chains, there was no way they could ever have a life of their own. Baker came back in with the first aid kit, drawing Ashton from those troubling thoughts. The bodyguard/driver came over and put the kit down on the counter. As the man opened it, Justice shot Ashton a questioning glance. "Baker has his medic license," Ashton explained with a shrug. "So, how come he's with you today?" Justice asked, the slightest hint of jealousy flavoring his

tone. A thrill went through Ashton and, despite the tense situation, he found himself biting back a smile. It felt good to have somebody care about him enough to get possessive. "My dad had some issues with an old work associate, so he decided to put a guard on me for the next couple days," Ashton explained. "And here I thought I was the only one with an exciting life," Justice teased. Baker took out a chemical ice pack and shook it to activate it before placing it to Justice's lip. "Here, this should help with the swelling." "Yeah, wouldn't want my dad's cop buddies seeing my face all bruised up," Justice drawled as he took the ice pack. "Given that you have that party tonight, I'm surprised Craig hit you there at all," Ashton said. "Me, too. Like he said, my mask should hide most of it so long as I keep it on all night." "I don't suppose there's any way you can get out of going?" Justice snorted. "I'd have a better chance of growing pigtails and cat ears."

Baker laughed before he moved the ice pack and gently palpated Justice's lip. When Justice hissed in pain, the bodyguard shook his head. "I don't think you need any stitches. You should still have it looked at to make sure." "I'll be okay. I've had--" "Worse," Ashton finished dully. His heart sank farther as he scrambled his mind to find a way to protect his lover. All Ashton came up with were more questions, none of which he had the answers to. **** Later on that afternoon, Ashton sat in his father's living room and pondered the numerous problems rushing through his head. He lay back on the leather couch and threw an arm over his face, his gut clenching as he recalled the beating and how helpless he felt to end Justice's suffering. His father entered the room and took the chair closest to the couch, but Ashton didn't say anything. He understood that his father already knew about the pet store incident, so it only made sense that he'd come to talk about it. "I'm not breaking things off with him, so you

can get that out of your head," Ashton declared, still not moving his arm to uncover his face. "What makes you think that I'd tell you to?" his father countered. Ashton finally moved and turned to look at his dad. The older man wore his casual clothes, which for him meant a pair of khakis and a dark polo. Ashton couldn't recall a time where he'd seen his father in jeans or a T-shirt. He even styled his dark, salt and pepper hair conservatively, looking more like a banker rather than the head of the biggest drug operation in the Midwest. "Are you going to try and tell me that you're happy I'm dating the DA's son?" "I'm not going to lie and say I'm thrilled. If Justice's father finds out, he'll come after you hard." Ashton rolled his eyes. "He already rides my ass and not in a good way. I don't see how he can make things worse for me." "Trust me, son, he can and will once he finds out about you two. Is that something you want to risk?"

"Yes, I do," Ashton replied without a moment of hesitation. "How long have you known Justice?" "A week." "He must be pretty special for you to act this impulsively." Ashton waited for some sort of reprimand, or perhaps some chiding over acting like some dramatic drama king. Instead his father continued to study Ashton as if seeing something new in his son. Going by the wry smile on his face, his father didn't find the fresh development lacking. "What makes him so different from all the other boys you've dated?" "I care about him. More than anyone I've ever dated before. In fact, in enough time I'm pretty certain I could fall in love with him," Ashton replied simply, surprising even himself by that admission. His dad raised a brow, but didn't scoff at the declaration. His stoic response once again shocked Ashton. His conflict must have shown on his face, because his father asked, "What were you expecting, me to yell or maybe forbid you to ever see him again?"

"Well...yeah, I was." "Like I said earlier, I'm not happy about who his father is, but if that's what you want, I'll do my best to support you. Haven't I always encouraged you to make your own decisions in life?" Ashton paused as he thought that one over. Perhaps it was due to a newfound maturity in himself, or perhaps it came from watching the way Justice suffered under his own father's oppression. Whatever the reason, Ashton realized for the first time just how much his dad always supported him. Ashton sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the couch. Locking gazes with his father, he said, "Thank you for once again being there for me. I couldn't ask for a better father." Dad's lips curled up into a smile that never quite reached his eyes. His gaze grew troubled and for the only time in Ashton's memory, he noted a bit of regret in his father's expression. Strangely, that tugged at Ashton's chest and made him almost want to cry. "There are a lot of people that would argue with you about that one," Dad finally said, his

voice a bit gruff. "That's because they don't know you as well as I do." "So, what are you going to do about Justice?" Ashton rolled that over for a few minutes, before the solution hit him. It would be the perfect way for them to finally be together without the fear of Justice being hurt again. The only catch was it would require a huge sacrifice on both their parts, plus it would be asking Justice to take a huge leap of faith. Something that Ashton didn't know if Justice would be ready for yet. While he now realized his deep affection for Justice, there were no guarantees that the other man would return the feelings. "I have an idea, but I'm going to need your help," Ashton said. "Anything, son, just name it."

Chapter 7 Justice let out a long-suffering sigh as he adjusted the costume mask. It felt hot and itchy, and, even worse, he knew he looked ridiculous in the thing. He didn't dare say a word against the monstrosity, though, since his father had been the one to pick it out and send it to his apartment. A bright yellow contraption, with a puffy shirt and tight pants, he knew he looked more like Big Bird, than sexy and mysterious. Which always had been the image that came to him whenever he thought of masquerade parties. The sexy part that is, not the looking like a walking, living creature from Sesame Street. He pulled at the itchy costume as he cast a jaded glance over the crowded hotel ballroom. While it was nice, it still didn't begin to compare to the hotel where he and Ashton spent the night. Then again, Justice didn't exactly see the local law authorities holding any kind of party at a place

owned by any of Ashton's relations. All of the people at the party were friends of his father's, which meant they treated Justice as a nuisance to be tolerated and nothing more. On the other hand, they all treated Craig as if he were some hometown hero or something. His brother remained glued to their dad's side as they both pandered to the group. "God, have you ever seen a bigger collection of suck-ups in your life?" an oddly familiar voice to his right asked. Justice turned and stared at a man in one of the most outlandish costumes he'd ever seen. Mostly gold, with some brief appearances of white and black, the outfit looked like Aladdin m e e t s Showgirls. A white mask, with gold accents completely obscured the man's face, and a big feather-topped turban covered his head. It still only took Justice a few moments to recognize who it was. "Oh, my God! Ashton, what are you doing here?" Justice hissed, as he dodged a glance from side to side. "I had to see you."

"So, you decided to crash a police-sponsored party. Are you crazy?" Due to the mask, Justice couldn't see Ashton's face, but a warm chuckle told him how humorous the other man found the situation. Justice put a hand over his own mostly clad face as he let out a groan. "You must be certifiably crazy. That can be the only possible explanation." "I've been accused of that more than once in the past." Justice peeked out from between his fingers. "You do realize that you're going to be in a ton of trouble if somebody discovers you're here?" "After what happened to you earlier today, I wanted to check up on you, plus we need to talk." "You could have just texted me." Despite himself, Justice couldn't help but feel touched that Ashton willingly took such a big risk just to see him. Justice darted a glance at his father and brother, relief flowing through him when he noted they were still hip deep in ass-kissing mode. Then again, with the way things usually went at these thing they wouldn't notice Justice for

the rest of the night period. So long as he kept to the corner and didn't call attention to himself, he may as well have been a lamp for all they cared. So if he were to say...take off for some fun of his own, they would never be the wiser. He ran his tongue over his torn bottom lip as he debated his next move. If Ashton could take a risk, then the least Justice could do is return the favor. Plus, hadn't he just that day realized that he'd never get his father's approval? So why in the hell should he keep trying so hard to please the man? No, more! At that moment, Justice realized he needed to grow up and live life by his own terms and rules. He didn't want to have to continue to exist under a suffocating blanket of fear. "Follow me," he whispered to Ashton. Justice led him to an empty conference room. After shutting the door behind them, Justice carefully flipped the lock. Ashton slipped off his mask and turban, then set them on the enormous table, which occupied most of the room. While the lights were off, the full moon shone through the large widows. That made it so Justice could

make out each and every feature on the man he'd grown to care for so deeply. He only took his gaze off Ashton long enough to take off his own mask and toss it to the side. Ashton ran his tongue over his lips as he stared back at Justice, the desire in the man's eyes was unmistakable. "You look so fucking hot right now," Ashton finally said. Justice laughed as he gestured to his outfit. "In this? I look like a demented canary." Ashton slowly walked forward until they were only inches apart. "We really need to talk." "Later. I want you to fuck me first." It gave Justice some satisfaction to see the look of pure shock crossing Ashton's face. "Right here?" "I would prefer if you bent me over the table, but if you want to drop to the ground on this specific spot, I won't argue. Just so long as I get your cock in me." Ashton blinked a few times. "Aren't you afraid that we'll get caught? No offense, but before now you were terrified for us to even be seen talking in

public. Now you want me to take you in the conference room of a very busy hotel?" Justice leaned forward for a wet, hot, openmouthed kiss that left them both breathless. It hurt his lip a bit, but the pleasure was well worth it. Sill keeping their mouths inches apart, Justice said, "I'm done being afraid. Besides I care more about you than I fear them." One last brief flash of uncertainty passed Ashton's gaze, so Justice decided to cheat a bit so the other man saw things his way. Darting his tongue out, he licked a lazy path along the outside of Ashton's mouth. At the same time, Justice reached down and rubbed Ashton's cock. "At least part of you thinks this is a good idea," Justice teased. "Okay, but you have to promise that we'll talk after." Justice nodded as he continued to massage Ashton's erection. "Anything. Just so long as you fuck me first." "Do you have any supplies on you?" Ashton asked with a crooked smile. Dismay shot through Justice as he froze.

"Crap. I didn't expect to run into you here, so I don't have anything on me." Ashton chuckled before he gave Justice's nose a kiss. "Don't worry, I was only teasing you. I have some stuff in my pockets." Justice laughed, his hand fumbling with the ties to Ashton's pants. "You had me scared there for a minute." The laces on Ashton's costume bottoms proved difficult, but Justice managed to get them undone. Once the flaps were open, Justice dropped to his knees. Pulling out Ashton's cock, Justice ran his tongue up the length, a low moan coming from his throat. "Damn, you taste so delicious," he crooned. He paused a moment to swirl his tongue along the crown, collecting a smear of pre-cum before he parted his lips and slowly sucked all of Ashton's length in. Ashton let out a shuddering cry, his hands shooting out to fist into Justice's hair. "Shit, you're getting good at this," Ashton praised as his hips snapped forward. Justice anticipated the move, so he opened

his throat and fought his gag reflex. Ashton's answering groan was his reward. Justice began to bob his head up and down, alternating the strength of his suction. He wanted this to be the best blow job in Ashton's life. To wipe away the memory of any other encounter he may have had before they met. All too soon Ashton gently pulled Justice away. Justice let out a small whimper of distress as Ashton's cock slipped from his lips. "I was just getting started," Justice protested. "If I don't get inside you soon, I'm going to jump from my skin," Ashton explained. "I guess I can give up your cock for that," Justice quipped as he stood and began to unzip his pants. As soon as he'd finished, Ashton grabbed him by the shoulders, spun him around and bent him over the table. All the air left Justice's lungs in one surprised oom ph as he felt his pants and underwear being roughly lowered. Soon the sensation of a warm tongue rimming him followed. "I thought you were going to fuck me?" Justice

protested, even as he thrust back against Ashton's mouth. "Soon, babe. I just want to make sure you're ready to take me." Since that sounded like a damn good plan to Justice, he allowed himself to relax against the table and give in to the pleasure Ashton insisted on gifting him with. Soon, one finger, followed by another joined the mix, filling his ass and stretching him. Justice continued to gasp and moan his way through it, even when the cool slick of lube entered into the play. Finally, the welcome sound of the condom wrapper being opened filled his ears before Ashton stood. He tensed, waiting for the press of Ashton's cock, but it didn't come. After a moment, Justice began to worry he'd done something wrong. "Is everything okay?" he asked, anxiety creeping into his chest. Ashton smoothed a hand down Justice's back. "Yes, I was just thinking about how beautiful you are and how much you mean to me." Justice's heart stuttered at the raw emotion

layering Ashton's voice. Justice glanced over his shoulder, his gaze immediately finding and locking with Ashton. As crazy at it sounded, Justice realized that he'd never be the same again--that they'd never be the same. "You mean a lot to me, too," Justice confessed. His chest tightened a bit at giving so much power to somebody else. By confessing his feelings to Ashton, Justice now gave the man a powerful weapon should he ever want to hurt him. "I hope you really mean that," Ashton said. "Of course I do. I--" Justice's reply was cut off with a gasp as Ashton finally pressed inside him. Then Justice forgot about all other worries aside from the wonderful sensation of Ashton filling and stretching him. "That's it, just like that," Justice hissed as he pressed back against Ashton. Ashton bent over and nipped Justice's earlobe. "I would do anything to protect you." After making that declaration, Ashton began to make love to Justice. They moved together in

fast, sharp snaps, the fear of discovery not allowing any time for lingering. Ashton gripped Justice's hips in a tight hold. Since Justice didn't want to lose that bite of pain, he reached around and began to stroke his own cock. Even with the stress of being caught, Justice's orgasm came too quick. He bit his bottom lip, hoping the hurt would hold it back, but he lost the fight. His cock jerked, right before warm fluid covered his fingers. Ashton's muffled whimper marked that he'd come, too, his grip somehow managing to grow even tighter. Justice knew he'd relish those sets of bruises, just as he had the last. Ashton gave the nape of Justice's neck a kiss, before they pulled apart and cleaned up as best they could in the small adjoining bathroom. Once they were done they pulled out two chairs and sat opposite of each other. The seriousness of Ashton's expression set Justice's body trembling, only this time the reaction came from nerves. Justice ran a hand nervously through his hair as he began to tap his foot nervously.

"What's going on? You're scaring me," he admitted. Ashton reached out and took Justice's hand. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do that. It's just that what I want to ask you is big and I don't want to blow things by flubbing it up." "Just say it." "My father knows about us," Ashton blurted. Panicked, Justice let out a small gasp. "Is he pissed?" "No. I'm not going to lie and say he was exactly thrilled about who your father is, but once he realized you're the most important thing in my life, my dad supported us." Justice shook his head. "What did you just say?" "That he supported us." "Not that. What you said right before that part." Ashton gazed up from under his lashes. "That you're the most important thing in my life." A bubble of hysteria clogged Justice's chest. "Just like that? After one week?" "Well, we did say we were like that other famous story. They fell in love at first sight, so why

can't we have strong feelings about each other, too?" "But our story won't end up the same way," Justice replied weakly, echoing their conversation from the library. "I know I'm probably moving too fast for you. Hell, at times it feels like it's too fast for me, but I can't deny my feelings." "I care about you, too. Much more than I know I should since this relationship is so new," Justice replied, his voice full of wonder because he'd just realized that fact for himself. Ashton gave a relieved laugh before he kissed Justice. Once they broke apart Ashton delivered another bombshell. "I want you to run away with me." Justice jerked back in shock. "What? Are you crazy?" "I don't want to see your father hurt you anymore. The only way we can make sure that happens is for us to go someplace where he can never find us." "But, how could we manage that? I don't know about you, but I only have fourteen bucks in my

bank account and even that's a wash since I have a twenty-five dollar check pending." "My dad has agreed to help us. He'll help us find a new place, obtain new identities, and get us started at a new school." "Why would he agree to do that for me?" "Because he knows how much you mean to me." Ashton gave Justice's hand a tight squeeze. "But, I thought you hated taking any handouts from him. That's why you've been working two jobs." "Keeping you safe is more important than my stubbornness." Justice swallowed hard as his eyes filled with tears. Damn it! He never cried. Not when his father berated him. Not when Craig beat him. Yet, here he was ready to break down. He couldn't help the emotions raging through him, though. Never before had he even dreamed that he'd find anyone who cared for him, let alone someone as wonderful as Ashton. "What about your family? Won't you miss them? I know how close you and Bryce are." Justice felt compelled to point out.

"Sure, I'll miss them, but it's a price I'm willing to pay." Ashton scooted closer until their knees touched. His expression grew earnest and almost pleading. "So, what do you say? Will you come with me?" Justice found himself shaking his head before his mind even registered that he'd be turning down the offer. "I can't." Ashton's face fell. "Why not? I thought you said you cared about me." "And that's why I can't do it. I won't allow you to give up everything just so I can run away. It'd make me a coward and something tells me that in the end you'd lose respect for me if I became that way. Hell, I would lose respect for myself." "I wouldn't think any less of you. All I care about is you never being abused again. I can't continue to stand by and watch them hurt you. This is the only way I can think of to make it end." Justice reached forward and cupped Ashton's face. "It will end, because I'm going to do something I should have done ages ago. I'm going to stand up to them. I'm a grown man and it's time they accepted that and let me make my

own choices in life." "I don't see them just simply agreeing to that." "Oh, I'm sure they'll fight it. It's going to be a struggle, but for once I'm going to be more determined than they are." Ashton shook his head, his gaze troubled. "What made you decide to do this now? This is a huge risk you're taking." "Yeah, but if it makes it so we can be happy in the end, then it's worth it." Justice fanned the pad of his thumb over Ashton's cheek. Ashton still didn't look too certain, going by the doubt lingering in his eyes. "So, how are you going to start your great big quest for independence?" "First off, I'm done hiding our relationship. Tomorrow morning I'm going to my dad and I'm telling him about us." "He's going to flip when he finds out." Justice shrugged. "Probably, but I'm done being afraid of him. I've been doing it for way too long. That's no way to live." "I'm going with you." "I don't know if that would be such a good

idea," Justice hedged. Putting himself in danger was one thing, but he didn't want to see his lover harmed. "I don't care. I'm not letting you go see that bastard unless you have some backup. I'll see if Bryce will come along, too." Justice cocked a brow. "And what happens if my dad sees that as a threat and has us all arrested?" "My dad will bail us out and get us one of the best lawyers in the state." Ashton gave a wicked grin. Justice sighed, knowing he wouldn't win the argument. Truth be told, had the situation been reversed, he'd probably make the same demand. "Okay, but only if you promise to get me out of here. I can't stand one more second of watching Dad and Craig's pandering." "Deal. I should warn you about one thing, though." Ashton nibbled his bottom lip in an anxious gesture. Since it was usually Justice who made that kind of gesture, his gut gave a nervous jump. "What?"

"My dad wants to meet you." "Are you sure he'll still want to? Even though we're not running away anymore?" "Yeah." Ashton lowered his head. "Unless, of course, you don't want to. I wouldn't blame you for not wanting to associate with a known criminal." Justice swallowed hard. Meeting the parents of one's lover was never fun to begin with. Add in the fact that said parent was a murder suspect, with a known hair-trigger temper, and it made things downright scary. Still, he knew he couldn't let Ashton down. "Sure we can go see him tonight. Just let me dash home first and change. I refuse to be dressed like a giant yellow bird the first time I meet him." He took in a deep breath. He only hoped he made a good impression on the guy, because Justice didn't even want to contemplate what Ashton's father did to guys he didn't like.

Chapter 8 After Ashton and Justice left the party, they separated briefly so they could change out of their costumes. Once he'd gotten back to his apartment and dressed in a pair of jeans and sweatshirt, Ashton updated Bryce on the change of plans. He then hurried to pick Justice up, so they could go to Ashton's father's home. Bryce insisted on driving Ashton to Justice's apartment and Ashton didn't argue, knowing that if Craig or the DA showed up, they could use the extra muscle. Plus, he'd already ticked his dad off earlier by ditching Baker. Maybe if Ashton took some initiative by bringing his own protection, it would soothe the situation some. They pulled up to Justice's apartment, Bryce pulling a face as his gaze cast over the run-down building. "What in the hell is the son of the DA doing living in this dump?" "Justice's father didn't believe in giving his

youngest son any financial assistance," Ashton said, even as a wave of anger hit him, too. Damn, Justice probably lived amongst the very criminals his father helped lock up. It was a flagrant display of how little the DA cared about Justice's safety and something Ashton's dad would never consider doing. "I'd never thought I'd say this, but my dad doesn't look half bad compared to the asshole Justice got stuck with," Bryce snorted as he parked. They got out just as Justice came outside. He'd changed into a pair of jeans and his favorite Blue Jackets shirt. Even though he knew it was sappy, a warm feeling went through Ashton as he recalled how Justice had worn that outfit on their first date. Anxious to get to his lover, Ashton barely took time to put the car in park before he rushed out and put his arms around Justice. They shared a long, deep kiss that probably went on way too long going by the number of times Bryce pointedly cleared his throat. Justice pulled back, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Hi, Bryce."

"Hey, Justice. I heard that your costume was smoking. You should have left it on for when you met my uncle. I'll bet he would have loved it." Ashton knew Bryce's comments were an attempt to calm Justice's nerves. It worked. Justice let out a soft laugh as they started to walk back to the car. They were just opening the doors, when a dark blue sports car pulled up with a screeching halt. Justice grew pale and his eyes widened in fear. "Shit, it's Craig. They must have noticed I left the party." Craig and one of his friends jumped from the car and rushed toward them. Both still wore their costumes, showing they had indeed left right from the event. "You stupid, little fuck. You just couldn't leave well enough alone," Craig yelled at Justice. Ashton shoved Justice behind him and faced off against Craig. "I'm warning you now, Craig. Leave him alone." Craig and his buddy laughed. "Or what? You'll do something about it?" "I don't want to fight you, but I will if you try to

hurt Justice." "Justice is leaving with me right now," Craig declared. "No, I'm not," Justice spoke up. A stunned silence fell over the group as Craig blinked a few times, his mouth dumbly hanging open. Ashton bit back a smile at the jerk's reaction. He was willing to bet Craig had never dreamed that Justice would stand up to him. If the situation hadn't already been so tense, Ashton would have started to applaud. Justice stepped around Ashton and locked gazes with this brother. The fear that normally lurked in Justice was absent, replaced with a grim determination. "I'm going to be with Ashton and I don't care what you or dad say about it. While you may think that you're so much better than Ashton and his family, you couldn't be more wrong." "What do you mean? They're nothing but a family full of thugs," Craig seethed. "At least they love each other, which is more than I can say for you and Dad. The only ones you love are yourselves. Well, you can have each

other, because I'm done being your punching bag." When Justice turned to go to the car, Craig lunged forward. He pulled up short when both Ashton and Bryce moved in closer. "You can't leave. You need to get your ass back to that party before you really get into trouble." Justice paused and looked over his shoulder. "Yes, I can leave. I don't answer to you anymore. If you ever want to have a real relationship with me that's free of your abuse, then call. Otherwise, I never want to see you again. Goodbye." Ashton tensed as he waited for Craig to attack, but the coward kept his fists to himself for once. No doubt because the odds weren't in his favor. He had to know that if he got aggressive, Ashton and Bryce would intervene and he'd come out the loser. Without another backward glance, Justice climbed into Bryce's car. Ashton gave Craig a mock wave, then got in beside Justice. No sooner had Ashton closed the door than Justice launched himself into Ashton's arms. Ashton held him tight before placing a kiss on the top of his head.

"I'm so proud of you." Justice craned his head up. "You are?" "Yes, it took a lot of guts to do what you just did." "I should have done it a long time ago." Ashton tapped him on the nose. "Don't waste any more time on regrets. Just think of the happy future we'll have together once this is all behind us." **** Justice rested his cheek against Ashton's chest and kept it there for the duration of the trip. He knew he should at least make some attempt at conversation, but his mind whirled with so many emotions he could barely think straight. He couldn't believe he'd finally stood up to Craig. While the repercussions of that action terrified Justice, it also sent a thrill of excitement through him. For the first time, he felt hopeful about his future. Sure he knew things would get worse before they got better, but he now knew he held the strength to take on the challenges. "Are you nervous about meeting my father?" Ashton asked.

"A little bit." Justice wasn't about to admit that the prospect of soon being face-to-face with Michigan's number one criminal scared the piss out of him. Ashton already felt self-conscious enough about his family. Justice was damned if he'd let his own anxiety add to it. They drove up to a set of gates. A man standing off to one side of them nodded before pressing a button to open them, allowing the car to pull in. As they drove by the guard, Justice couldn't help but notice the telltale bulge under his coat that indicated he was armed. Justice glanced up at the huge home, stunned by the sheer size and wealth on display. White, with long pillars and a circular drive, it looked like someplace Paris Hilton or the Trumps should be living in. There was even a large fountain that had a spitting cherub in the center of it. As they got out of the car, Justice still stared at the home, trying to imagine Ashton growing up there. Somehow, the opulence didn't seem to go with the laid-back, humble guy. Ashton grabbed Justice's hand and led him up the marble steps to the front door. Along the way

they passed more armed men, all of which nodded respectively to Ashton. Justice tried hard not to stare at them, not wanting to come off as some naive gawker. The inside appeared much richer than the outside. All the floors were highly polished marble and a huge double staircase led upstairs. A large chandelier added to the whole upper-class look. Justice glanced down at his battered tennis shoes, wondering if he should take them off before he left scuff marks on the nice floor. Ashton saved him from his inner dilemma by giving his hand a tug. "Come on, I'll show you to the living room, then I'll go find my dad." Ashton dragged Justice to a room that had dark wood shelves lining three of the walls. All of them were full of leather bound books that just seemed to be begging to be read. A large black couch sat in the center of the room. Justice sank into it, his stomach a mess of fluttery nerves. He still made himself smile at Ashton as he left. Once alone, Justice found he couldn't stay sitting, so he got up and began to study the titles

of the books. It came as a pleasant surprise to see some of his favorite books there. When he spotted Romeo and Juliet, a genuine grin came to his face. He made a mental note to reread that story as soon as possible. The door opened and Justice spun around. He'd expected Ashton, so when he found a conservatively dressed older man standing there, Justice was hard pressed to hide his shock. His heart pounded when he quickly recognized the man as Carter Garner. "Hi, Ashton just went to find you...what I mean is I'm Justice...uh, Ashton said you wanted to meet me." Justice briefly closed his eyes, horrified at his stammering introduction. That was so not how he wanted their first conversation to go. Mr. Garner would probably shoot him in order to save his son from the bumbling idiot. "Sit down," Mr. Garner said, his cool voice revealing nothing about what he may be thinking. Justice rushed to do as ordered, perching himself on the edge of the couch. Mr. Garner took a seat next to him. Justice smiled, trying hard to

act as if this were a normal meeting, instead of an encounter with a murderer. "Ashton told me you refused his offer to go into hiding." Mr. Garner brushed a piece of lint off his pants. Fear rushed through Justice as he wondered if Mr. Garner considered his refusal an insult. "I didn't mean to offend or make light of your offer to help. I just didn't want Ashton to have to make such a huge sacrifice on my part." Mr. Garner studied him for several long seconds. Justice resisted the urge to squirm as he found himself feeling like a bug under a microscope. He just hoped he wasn't about to get squished by a giant, Mr. Garner shaped shoe. "Do you care for my son?" The blunt question took Justice aback. He blinked a few times before recovering. "Yes, I do. Which is why I can't allow him to leave behind all his friends and family." Something flickered in Mr. Garner's eyes. Justice could have sworn it was admiration, but it was gone before he could get a good read on it. "While I'm very proud of the man my son has

become, I sometimes worry that he's too impulsive when it comes to certain matters of the heart." Justice swallowed a growing lump in his throat as he wondered if this was where Mr. Garner said he didn't want Justice to continue to see his son. Just as he felt his hope begin to dim, Mr. Garner smiled at him. "I think you're a good fit for him. You seem to be level-headed. Something he needs in his life." Justice let out a sigh of relief. "He's just as good for me. Before him I never had the courage to stand up to my family." "I hope things work out for you two. There are tough times ahead for our family and he's going to need somebody to lean on." "What do you mean? Ashton never mentioned any trouble to me." Mr. Garner gave a rueful smile. "Your father may be a lousy parent, but he's a damn good DA. He's going to find a charge to nail on me and it's going to stick. It's only a matter of time." While Justice felt himself wanting to apologize, he reminded himself that, nice or not,

Mr. Garner really had earned a place in prison. He still worried about how that would affect Ashton. Justice vowed to himself that when that happened, he'd make sure to be there to support his lover.

Chapter 9 Justice stared at his father's front door, his heart hammering so hard it was a wonder they didn't hear it three counties over. Ashton held his hand and Justice clung to that support, it being the only thing that kept away a full-blown panic attack.

I can do this. I have to do this. After everything that Ashton and I have gone through, we deserve to have our own happy ending. "You sure about this?" Ashton asked as he gave Justice's fingers a squeeze. Bryce and Baker came up and stood behind them. Justice glanced at them, taking in their determined expressions. He knew that no matter what that none of them would let him down. So he couldn't let them down, either. Justice steeled himself and gave a nod. "Yes, I'm positive. Let's get this over with." He went up to the door and knocked. While it

may seem strange that he couldn't just let himself in, Justice didn't have any other option. When he'd moved out, his father had taken away the keys to the doors, almost as if he feared his own son would come in and rob him or something. Just his luck, his father had to be the one who opened the door. As soon as he spotted the group on the porch, his dad's face twisted into a scowl. Not exactly the reception Justice would have liked, but he really hadn't expected anything less. His father still stepped to the side and let them in. No doubt because he didn't want the neighbors to see the incident playing out. "What do you want and why in the hell are you bringing this trash to my house?" his father demanded in a hard voice. A wave of anger slammed into Justice. "Don't you dare disrespect Ashton like that. You can call me whatever you want, but I won't stand by and listen to you insult my boyfriend." "Boyfriend?" The DA smirked. "Craig told me that you believed yourself to be in a relationship with Carter Garner's son. I'd hoped your brother had been wrong this time, but as usual you never

fail to disappoint me. Can't you see this boy is just using you? That it's his father's attempt to get back at me for going after him?" Justice shook his head. "Why does it always have to be about you? Is it so hard to believe that maybe somebody could want me just because they thought I was a good person?" "Yes." Ashton's grip tightened on Justice's hand in a silent show of support, but he otherwise didn't say anything. Justice returned the gesture as he waited for the familiar feelings of hurt to hit him. Instead he found nothing but the same burning desire to be free. "You're wrong. Ashton does care about me, and I feel the same way about him. So, I'm going to keep seeing him and you can't stop me." His father's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Are you sure you want to cross me that way, son? Just think of all you have to lose should I cut you off." "What? I pay for my own college, apartment and everything else. Sure, you may have bought me a car, but you even took that away. Or if you're referring to our relationship, we've never had one.

I've always been the son you wished you never had--your disappointment. Well, fine, then you and Craig can have each other. I'm done trying to please you. I'm going to live my life how I see fit and there's not a damn thing you can do about it." The DA nodded meaningfully to Ashton. "You want to bet? It'll be hard to have your little love affair if your boyfriend is in jail." "Ashton has never done anything wrong, so you better leave him alone," Justice snapped. "Or else, what?" "I'll make sure every one of your dirty secrets gets out. How you were off with your mistress the night Mom died. How you beat me. How you really talk about gay people. All of it. I'll write a book that's so explosive it'll make Mommy Dearest look like a comic." Not that Justice would ever stoop that low, but his father didn't know that. His threat worked, though. The DA's face grew pale and for the first time it was him who took a step back. He swallowed hard several times before he made a slicing motion with his hand. "If that's the way you want it then get the hell off

my property. I never want to see you again." Since that suited Justice fine, he turned and walked out of the house. Never once did he even have the temptation to look back. If anything he had to stop himself from skipping on the way out, he was so happy. Going to the car, he climbed into the backseat. Ashton slid in after him. Once they were settled Ashton took Justice into his arms. Justice sank into the embrace, his heart soaring with relief. He'd done it! Now he was free. Most of all, he and Ashton could finally, truly be together. They didn't have to hide it anymore. "Are you okay?" Ashton asked. "I'm better than okay. I've never been happier in my life. I can't ever thank you enough." "Hey, you did it all by yourself." "True, but I never had the strength to stand up to them before I met you." Justice tilted his head up to gaze at Ashton. Ashton gave him a loving smile. "I think we both give each other strength." "Maybe. I do know one thing for certain." "What's that?"

"You were right. Our story did end much, much happier than that other one."

Stephani Hecht Stephani Hecht is a happily married mother of two. Born and raised in Michigan, she loves all things about the state, from the frigid winters to the Detroit Red Wings hockey team. Go Wings! You can usually find her snuggled up to her laptop, creating her next book or gorging on caffeine at her favorite coffee shop. For more information about Stephani and her writing, please visit her website at: www.stephanihecht.com. **** Don't miss Double Shot Cappuccino, by Stephani Hecht, available at AmberAllure.com!

When Tyler and his best friend, Luke, joined the military five years ago, they made a pact to defend their country and make their families

proud. Now, Tyler is home and Luke never will be, tragically losing his life in combat. The first place Tyler goes when returning to the small town of his youth is the coffee shop owned by Luke's younger brother, Nash. Tyler is both thrilled and dismayed to find that he's instantly attracted to the younger man. What's more, Nash makes it clear the attraction goes both ways. Nash still hasn't gotten over his brother's death. He's lived the past year in a fog, his only joy being his shop and making it a success. But when Tyler comes back into his life, everything changes. Not only does Nash have a reason to live again, but he finally sees hope for the future. Yet he soon learns that a happily ever after may not be in the cards when Tyler makes it clear he doesn't want a commitment. Can Nash convince Tyler to give their growing love a chance? Or are they destined to be alone forever?

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