Page 61 of Julien (Confessions 2)

As Robbie massaged Julien’s growing erection, Julien pumped his hips up off the seat. “I don’t think it is either.”

“No?” Robbie asked, feigning wide-eyed innocence.

“Non.” Julien moved a hand to clamp it down over Robbie’s and let out a rush of air. “Ahh, princesse. You’re testing my restraint.”

“I’m just being thorough. Priest wants me to make sure you’re safe. I’m following a direct order.”

“I see,” Julien said, and brushed his lips over Robbie’s. “So it’s Priest’s fault that I’m now sitting here with an erection?”

“Oui. So embrasse-moi. Let’s tease him a little. It’s only fair,” Robbie whispered, and Julien groaned.

“You’re getting good at that.”

Robbie increased the pressure of his hand and grinned against Julien’s lips. “Then reward me.”

And when Julien did just that, and slid his tongue inside Robbie’s mouth, Robbie made sure to aim his eyes across the aisle to Priest.

Damn. The man’s stare was like a tangible thing. Robbie swore he could feel it at all times, and knew that Julien did too. Priest didn’t have to speak. He didn’t have to move. He just had to be in the same vicinity as them and they were instantly aware of his presence.

When the corner of Priest’s lips tugged into an arrogant grin, Robbie wished they were all somewhere they could get naked. It had been a long week, and with the way Julien had been working overtime, they’d barely had a moment where they’d all been in the same room at the same time. And now that they were, they were on a flight that Robbie knew was going to bring Julien to a place of eventual pain.

“Arrêtez,” Julien said, and nipped at Robbie’s lower lip. “You need to stop or this is going to get out of hand.”

Robbie pouted. “Can we finish later?”

Julien took hold of his face and kissed him quickly. “I’d be disappointed if we didn’t.”

“Okay… I suppose I can wait, then,” Robbie said, and ran his tongue across his top lip, taking a final taste of Julien before looking over at Priest. “He’s all buckled in. Nice and safe.”

Priest arched an eyebrow. “From turbulence or you?”

Robbie poked his tongue out at the dry remark, and when Julien laughed, Robbie found himself settling back into his seat with a smile on his face.

For a moment there, he’d taken Julien’s mind off what was ahead this weekend, and that was what mattered the most—that he and Priest got Julien through the next two days in one piece, because from what Robbie understood, that wasn’t as easy as it sounded.

PRIEST STUDIED Julien’s profile as he sat across from the two men he now considered his. A slight smile remained after the burst of laughter that had just escaped his husband, and Priest wondered just how long that would last.

This weekend was never an easy one. The anniversary of Jacquelyn’s death, and the circumstances behind her passing, usually culminated in a total clusterfuck that had Julien unraveling in ways he fought so hard to avoid on a daily basis. It was the one time of the year that Priest watched Julien extra closely, and this time around would be no different.

As the flight attendant announced the time and weather at their final destination, Priest checked once again on the two across from him. Julien’s eyes were now shut, but Robbie’s were locked on his, worry having replaced the light that had been there a couple of minutes ago.

Priest had said it before and he’d say it again: Robert Bianchi was a smart one. Smarter than he gave himself credit for, Priest thought. It was in the deep understanding that filled those blue eyes of his right now. In the ability Robbie had to playfully take Julien’s mind off what was ahead, yet at the same time keep his concerns to himself until a moment like this where they shared the burden—and Priest had to admit, he was thankful to have Robbie with them this time around.

What they were about to walk into was something that no one could imagine. It was like heading off to war. No matter how prepared you thought you were, until you got there, you never quite knew what you were up against.

Where they were going was a place where years of guilt, years of pain, had manifested into something ugly, and eight years ago, Priest had realized that not all demons were the same.

They weren’t always obvious and didn’t always hide away in the dark like his did. Sometimes, they were out in the light for everyone to see. In a face, in a photograph, in the way a mother and father looked at their son with disdain in their eyes. But the one thing about demons that never differed was that they never missed an opportunity to drag a person into the darkness, whenever they found a weakness.

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