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Winds Of Change
Joey had been living in New York for so long that he’d mostly forgotten about things like hurricanes. Pesky little weather systems with so much rain and wind that entire cities had been taken out before.
He’d heard the news, briefly mentioning that a storm was on the way, but he hadn’t thought much about it. Storms were commonplace in Florida, and newscasters liked to make things bigger than they were. Orlando never got hit with anything bad, and Florida weather was notorious for being fickle and ever-changing.
So, it wasn’t until his mom called that Joey started to worry. She scared him a little with her talk of ‘Category Three’ and ‘Hurricane Andrew,’ and he didn’t have things like extra bottled water or canned food. He thanked God that he didn’t have Brianna.
He did the only thing he could think of. He called Chris.
~*~
Chris was the only person around that Joey was sure would have paid attention to the news warnings. Naturally paranoid, Chris probably had the equivalent of a hardware store and a grocery store in one of his spare bedrooms. It wouldn’t have surprised Joey at all. He might even have a generator in case the power went out.
The wind was starting to pick up and Joey was a little nervous about driving in it with his little sports car, or really, any of his cars. But Chris suggested he leave everything in the garage and Chris would pick him up.
He’d already wrestled all of the pool furniture into his shed, struggled to get his pool covered and packed some things in an overnight bag. He wasn’t sure how long he’d have to stay with Chris, but if worse came to worse, he could always borrow stuff.
Joey had just figured that he could pay someone to take care of things. That was what he did. Have some handyman come put up shutters or whatever, but, apparently, he was so far inland that hurricanes were rare enough that everyone was too busy, no matter how much he offered. And Chris had already taken care of everything.
Chris laughed at him – one of his big, belly laughs that any other time would have made Joey join in even if he hadn’t heard the joke, but when directed at him, it wasn’t as fun – when Joey’d asked about taping his windows. “That never works. Either you get lucky or you don’t with the windows. If something hits them, even with tape, they’re going to shatter,” he’d scoffed.
The horn beeped outside and Joey grabbed his bag before heading out the door and jumping into Chris’ big SUV. “Hey, Joe,” Chris said brightly. But his smile didn’t reach his eyes. *That* made Joey more nervous than the dire warnings he’d been listening to on the news.
“Hey, Chris. Nice weather we’re having, huh?”
Chris smiled again and put the vehicle into gear. “Hold onto your hats, kids. We’re in for a bumpy ride.”
“What is this? Best clichés we can think of?”
Chris shook his head. “Nope. Worst. Next I’m going to break into an old Scorpions tune. Get ready for ”Rock you like a Hurricane.”
Joey snorted and choked out a laugh.
It wasn’t far to Chris’ and the radio kept them updated on the wind strength and storm size. But the damn thing didn’t actually give them a whole lot of information. Mostly, it was just stuff like school closures and reminders that the turnpike tolls were lifted. There were updates on which hardware stores were out of plywood, plastic and batteries.
“You have all that stuff?”
Chris nodded, almost absently, like it wasn’t a big deal. “I’ve been stocked up on most of that kind of stuff forever. Never wanted to be caught without, y’know? And causing a scene in the middle of a Home Depot when people are already stressed about weather has never been my idea of a good time.”
“I guess I’m a sucky Floridian, huh?”
“The suckiest.”
Joey grinned.
~*~
Chris’ house was like Fort Knox. There were huge pieces of plywood covering the windows from the outside, and once Joey got inside, he realized that there was duct tape crisscrossed on the other side.
“I thought the tape thing was a crap shoot?”
Chris shrugged. “I was bored.”
He was really prepared. Joey was impressed and a little scared. He wasn’t scared like he was of the hurricane, but still, a little bit scared of Chris’ preparedness. It was just so organized, the big freak.
Chris sprawled in front of the television on the couch and picked up the remote. Joey set his bag down and draped himself across a chair. “So, what now?”
“This is pretty much it. Unless we lose power. Then, this is pretty much it, only by candlelight,” Chris said as he glanced around.
“You have a radio and flashlights, right?”
Chris looked at him like Joey was the crazy one. “Of course. And it runs on batteries, before you even ask.”
“Of course,” Joey murmured. “So, what do you have to eat around here? No SPAM, right?”
Chris laughed. “Not unless we get really desperate. And honestly, I’d rather kill and eat my neighbors than eat SPAM. It’s nasty.”
“Does that mean I have to cook?”
“Gotta earn your keep somehow, Fatone.”
Joey made a face but got up to look through Chris’ cupboards.
~*~
By that afternoon, the sky was ugly and dark with clouds. The wind was whipping through the trees and rain kept smattering against the covered windows. Joey couldn’t see the wind or rain, thanks to all the shit on the windows, but there were reporters on the news with coverage of it, and he could hear it too.
They didn’t talk a whole lot. Every once in a while, Chris would look over at Joey and grin with a sarcastic comment on whatever one of the reporters had said. Mostly, they just watched movies from Chris’ collection of DVDs and switched over to the news to check things in between.
Joey had to laugh at the poor idiot on the news. He was on some beach every time they switched over to the news, shouting into his microphone as the wind blew around him. He rattled off info about record gusts and rain meters. Chris nicknamed him Johnny Reno and every time he would say something about the waves, Chris would laugh hysterically. Joey was pretty sure it referenced some movie that Chris loved, but he didn’t ask. It was just fun to watch Chris like that.
Joey had mostly stopped listening to the news, whenever Chris turned it on. It just repeated itself over and over. Instead, he was watching Chris and just laughing along with his comments. Chris was way more interesting than the television, anyway.
Later that afternoon, Chris pointed at the clock and suggested it was time for Joey to get up and make dinner. “There’s an apron behind the door. Use the meat in the freezer first,” he ordered.
Joey wasn’t the best cook, but he could sauté mushrooms and he could use the counter-top grill to make steaks. A bunch of fresh fruit was in the crisper in the bottom of the fridge, so Joey dug it all out and made a fruit salad for dessert.
Just as Chris wandered into the kitchen and brushed by Joey, something crashed outside and made Joey jump. Chris laughed at him, but pulled open the back door and stuck his head out to look. Joey crowded behind him and peered over his head.
A branch from one of the trees in Chris’ back yard was lying next to the house. Joey guessed that it had hit the house, from the noise.
“Look, you big girl,” Chris teased. “It’s just a branch.”
Joey shrugged. “You should pull it into the shed so the wind doesn’t whip it into one of your windows,” he suggested.
Chris twisted and looked at Joey over his shoulder. “We’re going to turn you into a prepared homeowner in no time!”
“Fuck off, Chris,” Joey said with a grin before heading back to the food.
Chris ducked out the door with a loud bang as it closed, giving Joey the finger good-naturedly as he did.
~*~
After dinner and a couple of beers, the lights flickered a couple of times and then went out. There was a loud noise as the generator kicked on, but it didn’t light all the rooms. Joey looked at Chris questioningly. “It’s only connected to the appliances. I don’t want to waste gas on the television, no matter how tempting it is. We can entertain ourselves, can’t we?”
Joey knew that Chris didn’t like the dark so he got up to find the flashlights or some candles so they could finish eating. “Top drawer, on your left. Candles below that,” Chris directed.
In the drawer, just like Chris said, there was a huge Mag-light flashlight that Joey handed to Chris and Joey had to snicker. “This thing is almost as big as you,” he teased.
Chris looked up, a grin already on his face. “Are you hitting on me, Fatone? Because complimenting the size of my equipment is definitely the way to go.”
Joey laughed. “You dork. I meant it’s just about as tall as you are.”
“Oh, fuck you, Joey.” He grabbed the light and pressed it on before shining it right in Joey’s face.”
Joey fumbled for the other light in the drawer, but it was much smaller and nowhere near as bright when he turned it on.
“I could make a comment about an obvious comparison here,” Chris said gesturing with his light. “But I’ll let you keep your dignity.”
Joey laughed again. “I could say something about proving it, but I’ll let you keep your dignity,” he mocked.
Chris scowled. “You know that I’m about two seconds from dropping my pants, right?”
Joey knew that Chris could never leave a challenge alone. “Yep. Which is why we should probably do something else. I don’t put out on a first date.”
“Liar,” Chris said and reached for the buttons of his jeans.
Joey had mostly been joking. Mostly. Because he and Chris had been doing the same dance for years. So long that it was practically second nature, but there something about the storm and if Chris had actually gotten his pants down, Joey wasn’t sure what would have happened.
“Okay, Chris. Keep it in your pants. What are we supposed to do with most of the power out?”
Chris raised his eyebrows and undid the first button.
“Besides that. I meant something that will take longer than thirty seconds.”
“You know, Fatone,” Chris said softly. “Daring me to do things that I already want to do is a surefire way to get yourself jumped.”
Joey looked at Chris carefully. Both flashlights were still on, but shining at the ceiling, bathing the kitchen in soft shadows. Chris grinned suddenly and turned his light towards the doorway. “I’ve got some board games here somewhere. What do you say to me kicking your ass at Monopoly?”
“You wish, Kirkpatrick. Bring it on,” Joey said almost automatically.
Chris laughed as he moved through the house, looking for the old, tattered box that Joey knew was probably as old as Justin. He smiled as he followed Chris with a couple more beers and his own flashlight.
Something had happened there in the kitchen. Their innuendo had never quite gone that far before. Joey wasn’t sure what exactly had changed things, but anticipation burned in his belly.
~*~
Monopoly wasn’t as much fun with only two people. Joey couldn’t make deals with Lance under the table or make fun of JC for being the slumlord of Baltic Avenue.
But Chris still cheated and Joey sighed as he caught him trying to steal a couple of the large bills from the bank. Joey owned most of the board, luck helping him roll several doubles, plus he landed on Free Parking several times helping him win a wad of cash.
Joey snatched back the pieces of paper just as Chris tried to slide them under the board and tossed them back into the bank. Chris pouted at him and Joey couldn’t take it anymore. He leaned over and kissed him.
Chris stared at him for a second, giving Joey the chance to pick up his property deed and study it. “There’s a hotel on that square, Chris. I think you’re busted,” Joey said with glee.
He hadn’t even moved his little shoe yet. Chris stared at the board and then up at Joey. After thumbing through his meager pile of money, he agreed. “I guess you’re right. You win. Do you want to take it out in trade?” He was finally smiling.
Joey never won. Justin always did. He had to laugh. “You owe me over a grand. You think you’re worth that?”
Chris squeaked in disbelief and lunged across the table, tackling Joey to the floor, and in the process, bumping the board. Pieces of plastic and paper money flew everywhere.
They wrestled for a few seconds, like they had years ago, just laughing until Joey had Chris pinned and was sitting on his thighs. Joey grinned and stared down. “Ready to pay up?”
Chris wiggled. “I’ve lost at Monopoly before. You’ve never asked for payment like this.”
Joey shrugged and dropped his hands onto Chris’s shoulders. He leaned down for a quick kiss before whispering, “Something in the air. Plus, being all prepared really turns me on.”
“I was a boy scout,” Chris lied.
“You were not,” Joey pointed out as he stole another kiss.
When he pulled back, breathless but still holding Chris down, Chris grinned up at him. “This is a little sudden, Joey. Since when were you hot for my ass?”
Joey let go of Chris’ shoulders and immediately Chris’ hands moved to Joey’s chest. “You don’t seem to be complaining.”
“I didn’t say it was sudden for me.”
Joey pulled his shirt off and reached for Chris’. He spread his palms out across Chris’ belly and slid his hands up his shirt. “It’s not sudden for me either, man.”
Chris smiled and sat up. He pressed his lips to Joey’s quickly before pulling his own shirt off and then leaning in for a real kiss.
They had been playing Monopoly by candles and flashlights. Luckily, when Chris leaped at Joey, he hadn’t upset the candles. Soft light shined down on them. The wind was still blowing outside. Now that the television was off, Joey could hear it whistle through the trees in gusts. Rain pelted the boards over the windows and the house. When the wind would blow really hard, Joey could hear it plainly.
Joey pulled back to catch his breath and smiled when Chris opened his eyes. “I probably would have crawled into your bed tonight anyway.”
Chris narrowed his eyes. “Why?”
“Storms freak me out. Remember that time in the big house when I huddled under the blankets with Justin? We were both so scared and his mom and the rest of you just laughed at us.”
“You big girl,” Chris called him again with a grin.
“Does it feel like I’m a girl?” Joey thrust against Chris and smiled at the gasp he got in return.
“Nope. I take it all back.”
“That’s what I thought.” Joey nodded and pulled Chris back to him for another kiss.
~*~
They made out on the floor for a while, rocking their hips together as they touched everywhere they could reach. Joey groaned and pulled away. “We should…we should do something.”
“We are. We’re making out.” Chris threaded his fingers through Joey’s hair and pulled him back for more kisses.
“No, I know. But… I’m about ten seconds from coming in my pants.”
Chris grinned and reached down to rub his hand across Joey’s still clothed, but hard cock. “Yeah? So… What you’re saying is that we should go to my bedroom?” He squeezed gently.
Joey shuddered and thrust into Chris’ hand. “Yeah. God, Chris.”
“You’re the one on top, dork. I can’t get up until you do,” Chris laughed.
Joey scrambled up with much more coordination than he should have been able to manage and reached down to pull Chris up to his feet. There was a little red hotel stuck to Chris’ back that Joey brushed off. Cardboard deeds and paper money was strewn everywhere, but Joey wasn’t about to start cleaning up now.
Chris blew out the candles and picked up the flashlight. “Come on, Joey.”
Joey grinned and followed Chris upstairs.
~*~
It could have been awkward when they got to Chris’ bedroom. But apparently, Chris didn’t want that. Because as soon as the door was closed, he pushed Joey against the wall and licked his neck. Joey could only moan and spread his legs as Chris crowded close.
“So sexy,” Chris whispered. “Wanted this for so long.”
“Yeah,” Joey breathed. He struggled to get his lust-stupid fingers to work. He needed to be naked. He needed Chris to be naked.
Usually, it wasn’t like this. Joey was supposed to be smooth, in control. But this was *Chris* and he just couldn’t think.
Chris’ hot mouth distracted him from his work on his buttons. Joey moaned in frustration. “Naked,” he panted, hoping somehow that Chris was able to do something, anything. Joey moaned again as Chris’ fingers slid against his stomach. “Yeah,” he panted.
Pulling back, Chris ran his hands down Joey’s chest to his pants and grinned as he flicked the buttons open with way too nimble fingers. Joey didn’t know whether to wonder if Chris wasn’t as into this as he was or if he should just be grateful. But then Chris slid his hands inside Joey’s boxers and he didn’t care at all.
“Hey, Joe? Want to move this to the bed?”
Joey nodded stupidly and tried to push away from the wall. He ended up stumbling over his pants, now down around his ankles. He chuckled weakly and somehow managed to step out of them.
By the time Joey made it to the bed, Chris had already flung his clothes somewhere. Joey couldn’t tell where, but it wasn’t like it mattered. Joey grinned at Chris and slid up on the bed. Chris bounced down on the mattress and ended up between his legs, grinning back.
“Hey,” Joey said indignantly.
Chris just continued to grin and draped himself across Joey’s chest and leaned in for a kiss. Joey was so on board with the kissing and Chris kissed differently than Joey had expected.
He’d seen Chris kiss girls before, even a couple of guys and it had always looked like it was a prelude to something else. Short, fast, almost perfunctory. But now, and before in the living room, Chris was anything but. Long, lazy kisses, like they had all the time in the world.
Which they kind of did. The wind raged outside, but inside, it was just the two of them, lost in each other.
As Chris kissed him senseless, Joey slid his hands down Chris’ back to his ass and pulled him closer. Chris broke the kiss, panting and cocked his head.
“Trying to tell me something, Joey?”
Joey nodded and did it again. Their cocks slid together and Chris groaned. Joey had to laugh. “Yeah…I am,” he whispered. “Want you. Want you inside me.”
Chris shuddered. “You’re sure?”
Joey nodded. “God, yes.” He arched his hips into Chris. “Very sure.”
“Good,” Chris breathed before reaching into his bedside table for a condom and a small bottle of lube. Joey watched as Chris slid down and kneeled between his legs.
Joey took a deep breath and tried to relax as Chris’ blunt fingers slid up his thigh. He shuddered slightly, but forced his eyes open.
Chris was beautiful. Deep in concentration, his bottom lip caught between his teeth as two of his fingers carefully pushed inside. Joey arched his hips towards Chris.
“God, Joey,” Chris said breathlessly. He looked up as Joey grinned and then Chris smiled wickedly and twisted his fingers.
Joey shuddered. “God, Chris,” he whimpered.
“Yeah.” Chris said as he thrust inside a few times, curling his fingers. When Joey was meeting every thrust, Chris finally pulled his fingers out and wiped them on the sheets.
Joey couldn’t help the little noise he made at the loss, but the promise of more kept him from begging with words. He bit his lip and squeezed his eyes shut to hold back the words that threatened to spill.
He heard the slick noise of Chris prepping himself and Joey let out a deep breath as Chris lined up his cock and pushed slowly inside.
The first push always burned, always made Joey tense up until the remembered to relax. Chris held still, waiting for him, taking small shuddery breaths. Joey squeezed his hands on Chris’ thigh when he was ready and rocked his hips up, taking more inside.
Chris moaned and his eyes flew open. “Jesus, Joey.”
“Move, Chris. Come on.” Joey rocked up again. “Fuck me.”
“Yeah,” Chris breathed and started a slow, torturous rhythm. Deep, agonizing strokes that had Joey begging for more.
“Chris. Chris. Please,” he could hear himself saying and was helpless to stop.
Chris shifted a little and his hips started finally moving faster, angling so that his cock brushed against Joey’s prostate with each thrust. Joey saw stars.
“Joe. Joey, God.” Chris’ voice was rough with desire, lower than Joey could ever remember hearing it. The rhythm consumed them.
Joey reached for his own cock and stroked in time to the thrusts inside him. It felt like sparks going off underneath his skin, or else his lungs were going to explode from his chest. He was lightheaded with the sensations coursing through him.
Chris’ thrusts were nowhere near a rhythm at that point. “Joey…Joey,” Chris chanted, like his name was the only thing he knew.
Joey could barely remember to breathe, each thrust pushing the air from him but it didn’t matter. He stroked his cock faster, more firmly until he was right on the edge. One more stroke from Chris and he wouldn’t be able to hold back anymore.
And then Joey was coming, euphoria washing over him as his body clamped down. He could hear Chris’ moans from what sounded like far away and felt him still above him, but Joey was so caught up in his own orgasm he was sure that he blacked out for a few seconds.
When Joey could breathe again, he opened his eyes and stared over at Chris. Chris was sprawled next to him, still gulping in mouths full of air. Joey grinned and ran his fingers through his sweat-soaked hair. “Mmm…,” he hummed.
Chris answered back with a hum of his own, but words failed them both.
For a few minutes, the only sounds in the room were their breathing and the wind blowing outside.
“Think the storm has passed?” Joey said hoarsely.
Chris grinned. “Who cares?”
Joey chuckled and turned towards Chris. “I don’t. As long as we don’t have to move for a while.”
“Hours, Joey. Plenty of time for sleeping.”
“Good,” Joey whispered, already half asleep.
Chris’ arms wrapped around him and Joey smiled. The storm outside didn’t bother them at all.
~*~
By the next morning, Joey couldn’t tell if the power was on or not. But Chris was nowhere that Joey could see. The bathroom door was open, but the room was empty.
Joey made a stop in the bathroom and when he looked up in the mirror, he grinned. In the steam, Chris had wiped a smiley face. Joey guessed that the power was back on if Chris showered.
He headed down to the kitchen, but Chris wasn’t there either. But he noticed that the wood was off one of the front windows and sunlight was streaming in. Outside, Chris was on a tiny step stool with a screwdriver, poking and banging at the wood on one of the other windows.
“Want me to get those high ones for you?”
“Shut up, Fatone. You’re the pussy afraid of storms.”
Joey stuck his tongue out and grabbed the tool from Chris. “You ass.”
Chris grinned and held onto Joey’s arm as he stepped down. “I have someone to put them up, but I either have to wait forever or take them down myself.”
Joey nodded and set to work on the hardware holding the wood up. Chris’s arms wrapped around him from behind and he whispered, “Thanks.”
“Me? Dude. I’m just unscrewing a few screws here.”
Chris shook his head and let go. “Hey, why don’t you come inside? We can shower, I’ll make you breakfast and then we can go back to bed. Screw the windows. Let someone else do it.”
“We’re screwing windows now, too?”
Chris smacked his ass. “Come on, Joey. I’m hungry.”
Joey stepped down from the stool and pulled Chris into the house. Breakfast could wait.
[ main l rps l fps ]
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