Date: Mon, 13 Sep 2004 12:00:40 -0700 (PDT) From: Shannon Subject: Model Me Chapter 17 Disclaimer: Anything mentioned in this story is complete fiction. The sexuality of anyone in the story is not necessarily true, but just written to entertain. If you are underage or if it is illegal to read pornographic material where you live, please leave now. Also, if you are uncomfortable with gay relationships, you should not read any farther. For everyone else, enjoy the show.... Lance finished up signing his last few papers with a flourish, throwing the pen down on the desk over them. He ran his hand over his eyes, grateful that Brian had called to reschedule lunch for an early dinner instead. Lance was actually surprised when he was able to concentrate on the work he was doing. For the most part all he could do was analyze Brian's voice over his cell phone. The man sounded pretty happy to be seeing him later on and apologized profusely for having to postpone the date. He had actually used the word date, which Lance found adorable. He couldn't even remember the last time he had been on one. But he was still unsure of what exactly he wanted out of the, now official, date. Did he really want a relationship with the man, a friendship, or was it just dinner with a gorgeous interesting single guy? He still hadn't come to any conclusions when he stood up from his desk and stretched his arms high above his head. He thought for a moment about going home to change but figured he should try not to be fashionably late, something he had a feeling Brian would be anyway. He opened his office door to leave and was startled by a man standing face to face with him. "You scared me," he said letting go of the breath he held in his lungs. "Sorry," JC said. "Are you cutting out already? It's only four." "Yeah I need to go." "You look pretty sharp," he said stepping back to eye the man. "Thanks," he said almost blushing at JC's approving looks. "I really have to go." "Hot date?" "Something like that," he said feeling a little uncomfortable flaunting a hot model in JC's face. "It's with Brian." He decided it wasn't flaunting if he just casually mentioned it. "Brian?" JC asked thinking a minute. "Oh Craig's friend?" "Yeah." "He seems nice. I didn't know you guys were, you know." "We're not its just dinner," he said heading to the elevator. "What are you doing here anyway?" "I thought I'd let you take me out to get something to eat," he said following Lance. "On a Saturday?" "Yeah why not?" "I just thought you'd be busy, that's all." "Free and clear for a few hours but I guess I'll let you have some alone time with your boyfriend." "He's not my boyfriend. Why don't you go out with Jay?" "He's with Craig, something about the will. He told me he was going to tell his mom soon too." "Really? He's going to need a lot of luck with that one," he said remembering when he came out to his own family so many long years ago. "Why do you say that? Lynn was so cool when you told us." "I know, but it could be different if it's her own son." "How?" "It just might be," he said stepping into the cabin of the elevator. "I'll see you later." "Okay. Don't forget to call me and tell me how the date went." "Good bye Joshua," he said letting the doors close on his friend. He smiled to himself as he descended to the first floor. He had handled the encounter flawlessly. It couldn't have gone any better if he had written it out himself before hand. Lance drove the short distance to the restaurant almost wanting to walk the six blocks instead of use his car. If it wasn't for his expensive suit and the cold wind that whipped around downtown Orlando he would have. As he got closer to their meeting place he got more and more nervous. He kept checking himself in the rearview mirror trying to see what Brian was attracted to but failing miserably. He thought if maybe he knew exactly what drew the model to him he could play up that part of himself. He pulled into the side parking lot still unsure of what Brian saw in him and walked down the street to the restaurant. Lance paused in front of the charming French bistro and took in a deep breath of cool air. It was his first date in about a year and a half, pining after JC had definitely put a wrinkle in his social life, and he was as nervous as he could possibly get. He tried to suck it up and be a man, his father's words not his, and finally entered the restaurant. He scanned the small crowd of people looking for the guy that made his heart skip a beat. He finally spotted him at the bar; grateful that he wasn't the average fashionably late let's make an entrance model. "Hey," he said sitting next to him. "Hi," Brian said smiling at him brightly. The contrast of Brian's perfectly straight white teeth to the red hair on his head and freckles across his nose and cheeks made Lance want to melt. He told himself to hold it together, he refused to fall in love again and get his heart broken so soon. "Did you want something to drink?" Brian asked sipping his white wine. "No thank you." Ever since the accident he got sick every time he smelled alcohol let alone actually drank it. "I have a table already over here," he said leading Lance to a nice dark red booth by a huge bay window. He couldn't wait to see the sun start to set through the window. The light reflecting off of Brian's gorgeous face would be breath taking. "How was work?" Brian asked once they were seated. "Good," he said not able to help the smile that crossed his face. Something about the question made him think about the man asking him that every night for the rest of their blissful lives together. "I had two really early meetings though." "How did they go?" "Pretty good. I got to hear from a few people that want me to sign them." "Anyone interesting?" "There's this one guy that actually sang something for me acopella that was awesome. I'm definitely going to run him by the powers that be." "I think it's really cool that you have your own label. Most people stop being productive once they've made a lot of money." "Thanks, I think," he said smiling. "Do you ever hear bad people?" "Not really. By time there's a meeting scheduled with me at least ten people have listened to them first. We do have certain types of music that we don't pick up and that comes into play sometimes." "Like what?" Lance looked at him still smiling. He couldn't believe that he was so interested in the company. Usually after a few questions people got bored or just started asking about famous names that he's worked with. Or, more often then not, wanted to talk about Nsync instead. "Well we don't do much with rock and alternative, classical, opera, hardcore rap, that kind of stuff. The producers that I like to work with just have their own style and it doesn't mix well with some types of music. Honestly I think they would be open to trying anything as long as the artist and managers were on board which is rare for everyone to want the same thing." "Would you care for another drink?" the waitress asked Brian, appearing almost out of thin air. "No thank you." "Can I get you anything from the bar?" she asked Lance. "Oh no thanks." "I'll be back in a few minutes to take your order then." "So are you an alcoholic or something?" Brian asked once the waitress had turned and left their table. "No," Lance said laughing. "But if I was one I'd probably be offended right now." "What's up with the anti drinking thing you have going on then?" "I just had a little too much to drink a few nights ago and crashed my car, since then I haven't felt like drinking." "That's what happened to your arm?" he asked touching the tan brace. "Yep, I'm really stupid sometimes." "I don't think you're stupid," Brian said still touching the brace, almost holding Lance's hand again. "Thanks." He looked down at the perfectly manicured hand and then back up at the light green almost completely clear eyes staring into his. "What did you do today?" "We had to go to a will reading for Craig's dad," he said taking his hand back and placing it on his arm. "How was it?" Lance asked not liking the far off look that crossed the man's face. "Good I guess," he shrugged. "Can I ask you something?" "Sure." "Well Jeremy left me one of his companies, this modeling agency, and I have no idea what to do with it." "Do you want to keep it?" "Yeah, it was a gift so of course I want to try to run it but I've never ran a business before." "Most companies have a board of people who make decisions do you know if this one does?" "Yeah it does." "My first suggestion would be to go there get familiar with how it was run when Jeremy was alive and then take it from there. If he had really good people working for him you might not have to do anything." "It's weird though because I kind of want to be involved. I mean I've always modeled that's all I've ever done and now I have this chance to run a successful business that has to do with what I love." "I think you can do it. There're just going to be things that you'll have to ask about if you're not familiar with them you know?" "Yeah," he said looking down for a moment. "I'm really excited about this." "You should be." "I'll get to live in New York again and everything." "It's based in New York?" Lance asked his eyes filling with hurt. Where did he think it would be based anyway? A modeling agency in New York only made too much sense. "Most of his businesses were. Don't you think it'll be great?" Lance was trying to be as supportive as possible, pasting a fake grin on his face. "Yeah, great." *** JC turned the corner sharply intending to use Lance's privately office line to see what Wade was up to when he ran into something hard. "I'm so sorry," he said picking up the papers that fell onto the floor. "It's alright," the man said kneeling to help gather them also. JC stood handing the man the stack he had retrieved. "Thank you. I don't think we've met officially. I'm Dan I'll be filling in for Terri while she's on maternity leave," he said in a soft English accent. JC just nodded his head. He had vaguely remembered Lance mentioning to him that he was putting in a call to a temp agency for a new secretary for a few months but didn't recall him mentioning he would be so hot. The guy standing in front of him looked less like a secretary and more like an Olympic swimmer. He was tall, maybe 6'5, with broad shoulders and very lean muscles that JC could just make out underneath his tight black sweater. His hair was a nice healthy blond that was longer on top but cut short to his neck having the appearance that he had just ran his fingers through it. A few strands of thick blonde locks fell into his eyes as he looked up at JC and stood. "I'm JC," he said shaking the man's outstretched hand and staring into his pale gray eyes. "I know Mr. Chasez," he said adjusting the papers in his arms. "Mr. Bass has left for the day already." "Oh I know and please call me JC." "Okay JC," he said throwing the man a killer smile. "Can I get you something?" "No thank you." "I should get these copied for Mr. Bass then." "Okay," JC said getting a whiff the man's cologne as he walked by him. He stood there watching the way the man's gray slacks hung on his hips and clung to his butt shaking off the trance when he turned the corner to the copy room. He never spent much time at Lance's office but suddenly he decided he should start helping him out a little more with paperwork. *** As Justin lay on his bed he wondered why nothing ever went his way. The will reading had been emotional and apparently full of surprises for him. Craig had never once mentioned that his father owned Abercrombie & Fitch, he would have definitely remembered that. Currently the man was worth billions. When Justin thought he was just a model for Abercrombie things had been different, he felt equal to him. But all of a sudden he felt like Craig could do a hell of a lot better then some singer who was deathly afraid of being alone in his own house at night. Sure Justin fought through those feelings of giving up and running back home to his mom but either way he was still a mess at times. That was one thing he had been keeping from Craig. One thing he hoped the man would never find out about him, at least not until he had it under control. How could he get upset at Craig for not telling him every little detail of his life when Justin was keeping a few secrets of his own hidden far away? He couldn't. He just had to focus on their future together, yes they would have a future together and it would be beautiful. Screw New York, screw his fears, screw everyone who didn't want to support him. He needed Craig and he knew the man needed and wanted him, billions or no billions. He sat up suddenly when there was a knock at his bedroom door. That was what he had been waiting for all day. "Come in," he said amazed that his voice had not cracked let alone actually worked. Lynn entered smiling at him and closing the door behind her. "So what's the big discussion about?" "Me," he said following her with his eyes as she sat on the bed next to him. "Okay," she said slowly. "Are you alright?" she asked feeling his forehead with her hand. She would have normally just been quiet and let him say what he wanted to get off his chest but he had gone completely pale next to her. It looked like he was going to be sick any minute. She held his hand feeling it shake violently in hers. "Yes momma. I just need to tell you something and I'm not sure how," he said looking down at his lap. How was he going to tell her if he couldn't even look her in the eye? "Go ahead sweets," she said squeezing his hand. "Whatever it is it's nothing to be this nervous about." He nodded still not meeting her eyes, "Momma, do you like Craig?" "Craig? Yeah he's a nice boy," she said wondering where the line of questioning was going. But in her heart she already knew. "I like him too," Justin said meeting her eyes. She almost gasped at what she saw in them. He didn't just like the boy; he was in love with him. She let go of his hand quickly almost throwing it back at him. "What are you saying?" she asked not even wanting to hear what would pour from his mouth but almost needing to. "I'm in love with him," he said quietly. He was looking straight into her eyes and could almost pinpoint the moment when her heart was ripped out of her chest and thrown to the floor. "You're what?" she asked standing in front of him. She had known what was coming but it was a lot harder to except then she thought it would be once she heard the words. "You have got to be kidding." "I'm not," he said suddenly afraid. He hadn't been so frightened by his mother since he was fourteen and had stolen her car and crashed it into a mailbox down the street. She looked at him with a mix of confusion, anger, and disgust. "Momma," he said softly almost trying to bring her out of the coma she had slipped into before his eyes. "Don't call me that Justin," she said spitting the words at him suddenly. "Your father and I did not raise you to be a...a faggot. How could you do this to me?" After his admission she wanted nothing at all to do with him. She couldn't even stand being in the same room as him. Tears sprung out in her eyes but Justin didn't see them. He was staring intently at the wood floor underneath his feet. "Answer me!" she screamed at him. She wanted to hit him. She wanted to beat the gay out of him right then and there, but she knew that wasn't possible. She knew that nothing she did or said could cure his sickness. "I don't know." "Fine you don't know that's great. Is that what I'm supposed to tell your father, that you don't know why you're throwing your life and your family away like this?" "I'm not throwing anything away." "Yes you are Justin. I refuse to let you influence your little brothers and make a mockery of everything we stand for. What am I supposed to tell everyone at church?" "I wouldn't do that," he said finally meeting her eyes. "You were so supportive of Lance why can't you be the same way with me?" "Lance is not my son and as far as I'm concerned you aren't either." With that she left the room slamming the bedroom door behind her. Justin didn't know what to do. He couldn't move or talk, he couldn't even cry. He was stunned by the words his mom had spoken to him. He kept expecting her to come back into the room and apologize for her outburst, but she didn't. He watched the flat screen monitor on the wall flip on as she ushered the boys and Stacy out to her car parked in the driveway. Had he really lost his family, like she said? Why was she able to discard her first born just because he was different? He vowed to himself that he would get those answers one way or another. *** "Hi," Dan said glancing up from his desk. He was in deep thought over something lying in front of him on the flat computer screen. "Hi," JC said taking in the man's appearance. He had made his phone call and was ready to leave but he had to see that gorgeous British guy one last time. "Lance makes you work on Saturdays?" "I just had some stuff I wanted to finish up for him before Monday." "Like what?" JC asked practically looming over the man. "Well I was working on a new filing system. The old one was very outdated." He clicked on a few things on the computer screen. "See?" "Looks nice," he said genuinely impressed that such an attractive person was actually good at their job. "What are you still doing here?" "I just had to make a phone call since Lance left me hanging for a model." "Really?" he asked laughing. "Yeah, hot date. Don't tell anybody though." "I won't," he said looking back at the screen instead of up at the beautiful man he was suddenly enthralled with. "What about you?" "What do you mean?" JC asked sitting on the edge of the desk. "Don't you have a hot date too?" JC laughed thinking about how he left Wade that afternoon, still in bed and hard as hell. "I don't know, why?" "Well if you were free tonight then maybe we could get a drink or something?" JC thought about it for a moment. He was very attracted to the man in front of him, very attracted, and he did seem to have a few qualities that Wade lacked but it just didn't feel right for some reason. He didn't want to cheat on Wade before their relationship even really got started. And plus, the whole office romance thing was very overdone, even if it wasn't technically his office. "If you don't want to its fine," Dan said quickly. "I shouldn't have asked." "No," JC said smiling at him. "It's okay. I should have told you that I'm kind of seeing someone right now." As soon as those few words hit the air between them, JC knew it was the right thing to say. He may not have been in love with Wade yet but he did have strong feelings for the man and refused to do anything to hurt him. "That's okay," Dan said finally meeting his eyes again. "It probably wasn't a good idea anyway." He figured that it was too good to be true to date a cute guy and have a good job all in the first few weeks he got to the States. He wasn't discouraged though, that wasn't like him. Eventually he would find someone he clicked with that wasn't taken. Whenever that would be. *** When Brian asked him what was on the agenda after dinner Lance just wanted to blow him off so he could go home and lick his wounds. Before they had even ordered their food Brian had dropped a bomb that crushed all of Lance's hopes and dreams. Of course the man had no claim on him. They had only been out once but there was just something about their easy conversation and light laughter that made Lance believe they were meant to be together. Apparently he had been wrong though. "It's only six," Brian said looking at his watch. "I know but there's not really anything for us to do." "We can just talk." Lance looked at him standing in the parking lot looking so pristine against the dirty backdrop of the downtown streets. "Okay," he finally agreed. "Where?" "Your place, my place whatever." "Follow me in your car?" "I think I can do that," he said smiling. There was no way he was going to let the man end their evening that abruptly. As he drove, Lance thought about how much the red head following his Mercedes would inevitably hurt him. He was pretty sure Brian would be leaving in a few days for New York, casting all thoughts of Lance out of his mind forever. That is until Justin and Craig got married or something and both men were in attendance at their commitment ceremony. Maybe he should just put his feelings of wanting a serious committed relationship on hold for the night. Spending some "quality time" with the model couldn't be so bad. He would just have to try his hardest to push his position on monogamy aside for one night and just have fun. He pulled into his driveway and placed his car in the garage. They sat in the living room on the couch, Brian glancing around a bit and smiling at him brightly. He had only been there the night before but he had been more focused on Lance then the art on the walls then. Lance met his smile not really sure where to go from there. Had it really been that long? "What are you thinking about?" Brian asked turning his entire body towards him. "Nothing why?" "It just looks like you are. How long have you lived here?" "About three years." "I've always wanted to live in a house like this. Not one of those huge million room estates but just a really nice house, something cozy and comfortable to have friends and family over." "That's what I wanted too." "Do you think you'll stay in Orlando forever?" "I don't know about forever," he said smiling. "That's a long time. I guess either here or maybe L.A. though." "That's cool. I can't wait to move back to the city for a while after that I'll probably be ready to settle down." "Yeah," Lance said looking down for a moment. "What's wrong?" "Nothing. I'm just glad you're here." "Really?" he asked with raised eyebrows. "Yes really. I enjoy talking with you." "Me too," he said looking deep into his eyes. He wanted to kiss the man so badly but he remembered that Lance wanted to take things slow. "When do you think you'll leave?" he asked placing his hand on Brian's upper thigh. "I'm not sure probably a day or two," he said trying not to focus on the hand. He had a feeling it was an innocent gesture but the inevitable boner he would get would not be so innocent. "That's nice," he said leaning towards his mouth. Lance kissed him softly lingering on his sweet lips for a moment before pulling him closer with his hand on the back of Brian's head. He slipped his tongue into the man's mouth loving the way he tasted as he pushed his body against Brian's, almost laying directly on top of him. Brian pushed against him, their lips leaving each other's with a loud sucking noise. "I thought you wanted to take things slow," he said still extremely close to the man's face. It was so strange to him that he was the one stopping what would most likely become a very appealing sexual act. He could walk up to practically anyone he wanted, flirt with them a little, and then wind up fucking them but Lance was different. Sure he wanted to fuck him, the hard-on in his pants told that story, but he wanted to get to know him first, something that had never really occurred to him before. "I can go slower," he said kissing and sucking on his neck. He finally knew what getting your grove back was all about. "This isn't like you," he said pushing him away again. "We barely know each other," he said still kneeling close by him. "Exactly. I thought you wanted to get to know me." "Well we don't really have time for that do we?" "What do you mean?" "You're moving to New York." "Yeah for like a week or two while I figure out what the hell I'm supposed to do with my own modeling agency." "You're coming back?" he asked suddenly feeling very foolish. "That was the plan. You thought I was just going to date you until I left and then forget about you?" "I don't know," he said moving away from him. "I'm sorry." "Don't be sorry. I should have explained things a little bit more," he said scooting closer. "Why should you? We've been on one date." "I know but I want to go on a lot more with you," he said holding his hand. "Really?" "Yes really. I like you." "I like you too," he said almost losing himself in Brian's eyes. He leaned in again but only to kiss his cheek. Brian placed his hand under Lance's chin and kissed his lips gently, New York and his new company the farthest things from his mind. *** Soon after his emission to Dan, JC left the office feeling more clear-headed and elated then he had in a long time. When he finally reached his house he was actually excited to be seeing Wade again and it wasn't the type of excitement that started with his pants getting tighter and ended with him fucking the man repeatedly. He burst into the front door and then into the kitchen where he heard water running in the sink. He grabbed a stunned Wade by his hips and spun him around placing his lips lovingly over the man's. "What was that for?" he asked smiling cheerfully at him when they broke the kiss. "I just missed you," JC said running his fingers through his short spiky hair. He placed his hand on the back of the man's neck, pulling their mouths together once again. JC wasn't sure what was going to happen between them in the long run but he did know that was the first relationship he had been in that he ever thought would last. *** "Baby its okay," Craig said running his hands over Justin's back as he held him on the bed. He rocked him back and forth upstairs in his room whispering to him softly that everything would be alright, even if he didn't believe it himself he still needed to assert a little confidence for his boyfriend. After hearing about the short but emotional conversation Justin had with his mom Craig had almost wanted to cry himself. How could she be so selfish to think that disowning her first-born son would actually help the situation? Sure Craig had figured she would be confused, maybe even upset that he hadn't told her sooner, but just down right pissed off? That was not something he had foreseen. Justin cried harder in his chest probably reliving the scene in his mind as Craig kissed his forehead. It was as though Justin was grieving for his mother like she had just passed away. Craig figured that in a way she had. She had been so loving and understanding to him over the years that when he needed her the most and she wasn't willing to even call him her son anymore, the person that she used to be changed drastically in his eyes. It was like she had died, but not a quick passing, a slow painful one right in front of him and to him it was probably like he had pulled the trigger himself. There was nothing he could do but watch as his world come crumbling down in front of him after he confessed the darkest secret a son could ever tell his parent. "I'm sorry," he said softly, his head still buried in Craig's firm chest. "There is absolutely nothing for you to be sorry for," he said holding him tighter and kissing the top of his head. "I just...I wish she could have understood." "Me too, but baby even though she didn't it doesn't mean you did anything wrong." "I shouldn't have told her," he said sitting up. Craig smiled weakly at him and wiped the tears off of his rosy cheeks. "I don't think you really believe that. Keeping this from her would have hurt you so much." "But this hurts," he said tears starting to flow again. "I know baby," Craig said hugging him again. "I know." "I didn't want it to be like this," he said softly into Craig's neck. "And it shouldn't have been. It was just a real shock to her." "I'm so glad I still have you." "You'll have me forever." "Really?" Justin asked pulling away from him to look at his beautiful face. "You'll never leave me?" "No of course not. What made you ask that?" "I just thought," he said sniffling a bit, "that you would move to New York." "Because of Abercrombie?" Justin nodded accepting the Kleenex Craig handed him. "I might have to leave for a few days here and there but I swear to you I'm not going to move there. At least not without you," he said smiling. "Really?" Craig stared at him, it was almost like he had reverted back to a child begging the man to reassure him that he would never be alone, never be abandoned. "I promise baby. Unless we both go I don't want to." Justin grabbed him and held onto him again, not clinging that time though, just hugging him like he usually did. He kissed his lips softly. "I love you and if my mom can't accept that then I'm glad she hates me." "She does not hate you Justin. She's just upset okay? I'm not going to promise you that she'll ever change totally but I'd like to hope that she will one day." "Me too, but if not I guess I can live with it as long as I have you." "You're wonderful," Craig said touching the side of his damp face. "I love you." "I love you too," he said kissing Justin's full lips. Their kisses got more intense when Justin held him tighter loving the way their mouths fit together. His tongue entered Craig's mouth urgently massaging it as his hands moved up and down the man's back. They slipped under the tight t-shirt he was wearing running over his smooth rippling back muscles. He leaned forward placing his body on top of his lover's and slipping one of his hands down his pants. Craig moaned in his mouth having dreamed about the moment Justin would touch him that way again. He moved his body up to meet the hand that invaded his pants as he ran his tongue along his neck sucking on the sweet sensitive skin that was laid out before him. Justin ran his hands back up his body feeling the man's temperature rise. He undressed him slowly pulling off his shirt and kissing him as he pushed his jeans and boxers off of his hips. He pulled off his own clothes quickly longing to have his nude body over the man's. He kissed every inch of Craig's chest and abs, sucking and licking as he made his way down the body he was infatuated with. He never thought he could get enough of the man lying underneath him. Craig pulled him back up to his mouth when he thought he couldn't last in Justin's any longer. They kissed again, Craig stroking Justin's cock between their bodies. He shifted a little placing it exactly where he wanted it. "Are you sure?" Justin breathed close to his face. He remembered that the last time they did it he had left the next morning. He never intended to do anything like that again and he hoped that Craig knew that. "Yes, I love you and I want you to make love to me forever." "I love you too," Justin said as he entered him slowly. He placed his mouth over Craig's full pink lips sucking on his tongue as he made love to him. A thin sheen of sweat broke out over both of their bodies as they moved back and forth expressing everything they felt in their hearts in the physical act of love. "Justin," he said softly in the man's ear as he felt himself start to reach climax. The mix of Justin inside of him and the man's abs rubbing up and down on his cock was beginning to be too much for him. "Oh," Justin moaned barely able to speak. The muscles in his arms flexed and strained against his skin as he came inside of Craig. As soon as Craig felt the familiar splash inside of him his own cum started to flow over his and Justin's stomachs. Justin slowed down, kissing the man and staying inside of him until he fell out. He kissed his lips again and held onto Craig tightly feeling their wet sticky bodies pressed firmly together. He rested his lips on the man's forehead. "I love you." "I love you too," Craig said kissing him deeply. "I want to ask you something," he said when they broke the kiss. He reached across Craig's body to the nightstand drawer and pulled out a small black box. "I was going to give you this today no matter what my mom said." "If you ask me to marry you Justin I swear to God," he said turning on his side to mimic his lover. He laughed. "Just open it," he said placing it in his hand. Craig did so looking up at the man when he saw the small shining object lying in the velvet box. "What's this?" "What do you think it is?" "A key." "I want you to move in with me baby," he said holding the man's hand. "Seriously?" "Yes, I want to share the rest of my life with you and I figure this is as good a start as any." Craig practically jumped on him kissing him intensely and passionately. "Is that a yes?" Justin asked slightly out of breath by the unexpected show of affection. "Yes Justin yes," he said kissing him again. "A million times yes." As Justin looked into the man's smiling green eyes he kissed him deeply. He knew from the very first moment he had met Craig that he would spend the rest of his life with him. He was thrilled that his heart had chosen to fall so deeply in love with the man wrapped in his arms. He knew after everything they had been through that they would indeed be together forever. The End **Well kids it had to end sometime, eh? I hope everyone had as much fun reading the Craig and Justin saga as much as I did writing it. Thank you so much to everyone who has ever emailed me to let me know how the story has touched them. I tried to get back to as many of you as I could, but alas I'm a procrastinator like so many others and may have failed to reach a few. I also wanted to thank all of the loyal readers that stuck it out with me even when I wasn't updating as often as I should have. I really hope everyone liked the new and last chapter of Model Me, email me at Swimfan_777@yahoo.com with any comments and/or criticisms, all are appreciated.**