Brothers Like Us

BROTHERS LIKE US By Lawrence Michael Martell

CHAPTER 22

Andre walked into Good body's gym. He smiled at Stephanie exchanged dap with Kenny G and went into the locker room and changed his clothes. As he walked out he glanced at the place where it all began. In there where he and Julien Linton walked down that road. Right there where Julien opened the flood gates that Andre was now swept up in. It was all that Negroes fault. It was his entire fault. Andre walked out into the gym with his serious gonna get this workout going attitude in place. Andre walked over to the free weights and began working on the bench. He loaded the bar with 250 lbs. He didn't have s potter and he didn't want or need one. This was Dre and there was no weight that he couldn't handle. He got down on the bench and began his work out, feeling the delicious burn in his arms and chest.

Julien walked into Good body's Gym and it had been awhile since he'd been there. Not since what had happened between him and Andre. Plus he was busy with other things and had just not taken the time to go anywhere and workout. So when he woke up and noticed some flab around his middle he knew he had to get back to working out and why go to another gym when he was a member at Good body's. Besides the chances of him coming on the same day and running into Andre again were slim and none. After speaking with Stephanie, who threw some heavy flirting his way, and talking to Kenny G he went to the locker room and changed into his workout clothes. As he started out of the locker room he couldn't help but remember the scene between himself and Andre. He still couldn't believe he did that but more than that he couldn't believe that Andre was still on his mind. DAMN! Julien left the locker room. He had other things to deal with and Andre was not one of them. Julien had just walked out into the main gym area when he noticed the brother working out on the bench press by himself without a spotter. Not a good idea. Julien walked over, he needed to workout on his chest anyway and this guy needed a spotter. As Julien got closer he realized that there was something familiar about this brother and once he was close enough he could tell but it was too late to turn around. DAMN!

Andre was pushing out his last rep of his last set. His chest was tight and burning and his arms throbbing. He had his eyes closed as he forced it out and exhaled a hard, determined blast of air. He got the weight up and when he opened his eyes he couldn't believe what he was seeing. WHATTHEFUCK! That was when the weight shifted and slipped. The 250 lbs weight bar came crashing down and Andre closed his eyes because he knew he was dead.

"MOVE MAN!" Andre opened his eyes and saw Julien holding the weight. Andre scrambled from under the weight. Julien put the weight back in its place and went to Andre.

"You okay, man?" He asked offering him his hand. Andre looked at Julien's outstretched. He took it and got up off the floor. "Yeah man I'm fine." Andre said looking around to see if anyone noticed anything. The gym wasn't crowded and everyone seemed busy with their own thing.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" Andre hissed under his breath.

"It's called working out." Julien replied. Andre glared at Julien. "Well can't you work out some place else?"

"I'm a member here."

"Damn, nigga! Every time I turn around you are up in my face some place." Andre replied.

"Maybe that's a sign." Julien said.

"Yeah? It's a sign that..." Andre looked around again to make sure no one was within earshot. "It's a sign that you want more of this Hard Nine." Julien and Andre stood there for a long moment staring into each other's eyes like two dominate Alpha male dogs waiting for the other to blink. Waiting for the other to bow down. Julien decided that it wasn't going to be him.

"Yeah...maybe I do." Julien replied, defiantly. Andre blinked. But before he could say anything, Julien walked away. Andre looked around. What the fuck just happened? Hell no! That nigga didn't. He watched Julien walk over to the weight machine and before he knew it he was following him over. Julien was pumping the machine just as Andre walked over.

"What the fuck was that?" Andre demanded.

"What?" Julien said not stopping his work out.

"That shit you said over there? What was that?"

"What do you think it was?" Julien replied still working. Andre looked around. "Mothafucker, who the fuck do you think you are?" Julien stopped his work out and stood up so that he and Andre were standing face to face, a bit too close. They were once again staring into each other's eyes; their bodies were tense and whip cord tight. Julien realized that this time he had Andre on the ropes. Oh hell yeah!

"You want to know who the fuck I am?" Julien replied. "I am the motherfucker that you want but can't get. SEE YA!" And with that Julien walked away. He wanted to look back to see what Andre was doing but he didn't. He just wanted to get out of there. He would grab his bag and not even change, just get out. He couldn't believe what he did? What had gotten into him? Why would he do that? Julien grabbed his stuff and quickly departed just was Andre was coming into the locker room.

"Hey Yo Yo...wait up?" Andre said.

"What? I don't think we have anything to say." Julien said.

"I think we have plenty...I mean..." Andre looked back at the steam room and the empty locker room. "Look man...what happened with us...you know...I've been thinking...I mean...Look, I'm not gay or nothing like that..."

"Really?" Julien replied with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah...I mean No...I mean...Shit since all that happened...man...it's just that I'm so....GOD DAMN!" And with that Andre kissed Julien. It was a hard kiss, an animal kiss, a wild, violent, passionate kiss. Julien tried to fight it but he couldn't...he didn't want to...he gave into the kiss and he responded with the same wild passion. How long had he thought of this? How long had he dreamed about this. He ran his hands under Andre's shirt, touching his powerful chest. He felt the heat off his body and the electricity. It was crazy, it was intoxicating. When his fingers caressed Andre's nipples, Andre moaned and kissed him harder, pressing his body closer together and Julien could feel that hard nine inch dick bulging hard and strong.

Andre ran his hands down Julien's body, down his fine ass body. God damn, god damn...He wanted this more than he had known himself. He grabbed a hand full of Julien's ass and squeezed and massaged them. Julien sighed and moaned and Andre grinded his hard dick into Julien. Damn this felt great; it felt good, damn good. He began pulling Julien's shirt over his head. He wanted to see that body. Once the shirt was up and off, Andre began kissing Julien's chest.

"OOOOh Shit!" Julien moaned. As leaned against the locker room wall. Andre kissed down to Julien's belly button and slipped his tongue in. Julien giggled and laughed, that tickled and he pulled Andre up. They looked into each others eyes and once again they kissed but this time it wasn't as wild and uncontrollable as before. It was slow, sexy and erotic. Julien began kissing Andre's face and moved to his ear and down to his neck which caused Andre to moan.

"Damn yo that's my fuckin' spot there." Andre replied. Then he heard something. The sound of someone coming into the locker room. Quickly stepped away from Julien just was two older brothers walked into the locker room. Neither one seemed to notice Andre nor Julien. Julien picked up his bag and headed out of the locker room. He was out to his car when Andre came up to him.

"Hey...where you going?" Andre asked.

"I'm going home." Julien said.

"I mean...after what...I mean...look...this whole thing has me..."

"Confused? Yeah, well me too Andre. This is all very confusing to me as well."

"It is?" Andre seemed surprised to realize that Julien was confused.

"Yes...Look, I don't know why all this happened." Julien began. "I mean...everything that has gone down the whole thing...I just don't know."

"You don't?" Andre asked.

"No...I don't but I do know this...You have gotten under my skin and it scares the hell out of me." Julien got into his car, started it up and was gone.

Jamal Moyenda was improving by leaps and bounds since he'd come out of the coma. The physical injuries were being treated very well and the doctor's were pleased with his progress. Mohammed was by his son's side everyday and every chance he could get. Along with him were Jamal's mother and Sonny, who had returned to XWF, still managed to come and check on Jamal and to be with Mohammed. Mohammed had not gone back to the XWF and had been given extended time to handle his family situation, which he was thankful for. The doctor's were telling Mohammed that their prognosis for Jamal were very good. They didn't foresee any long term effects from his coma, which pleased Mohammed. Everyday he was with Jamal talking to him and encouraging him and telling him how much he loved him. He almost lost his son and that scared him more than anything and he made a promise that he would not let another moment go by without telling him that he loved him. He also had to make a decision. His son needed him but his career as a wrestler was one that had him on the road more often than he was at home. Teena was giving up custody to him and that meant he had to be around more for his son. There was only one thing he could do. Leave professional wrestling. His son needed him and that was more important that wrestling or anything else. He loved wrestling but he loved his son more and his son needed him more.

One night while Mohammed was in the hospital room with Jamal, who was sleeping, he had a surprise visitor. When he looked up and saw Brett he was surprised and speechless.

"Hello Mohammed," Brett said as he stood at the threshold uncertain. "How is Jamal?" Mohammed looked at his sleeping son and then at Brett, his ex...the man he once loved. He motioned for Brett to come in.

"He's doing much better. He has improved since he came out of the coma." Mohammed explained. Brett came into the room and stood my Jamal's bed looking down at the sleeping teen. He looked up at Mohammed and then back at Jamal and smiled.

"What are you smiling about?" Mohammed asked. Brett shook his head. "I just realized how much he looks like you, especially when he's sleeping." Mohammed looked at his son.

"You see it. He sleeps with his hands next to his head with his thumb right at his mouth but not in." Brett explained.

"Yeah...I see that. So that's what I look like when I sleep?" Mohammed asked. Brett looked at him and smiled. "Yes, it's very cute. I use to love watching you sleep."

"Brett..." Mohammed was starting to feel awkward.

"Look Mohammed...I know what went down between us was bad and there is no going back but I want us to try to at least be civil if not friends."

"Brett, you're asking a lot from me." Mohammed replied.

"But nothing that you can't give."

"Perhaps but right now I'm concentrating on Jamal." Brett looked down at his feet and his nervousness was evident to Mohammed.

"What's going on, Brett?" Mohammed asked. Brett took a deep breath. "I have something to tell you and it may upset you." Mohammed sighed. The last thing he needed to hear was the story and saga of Brett's cheating. "Brett, I don't really want to know this."

"Mohammed pleases. This is important and it concerns Jamal." Mohammed perked up. "Jamal? What does this have to do with Jamal?" Brett began pacing. Now that he was here doing this he was terribly nervous and afraid. But he had to do this. It was time. "Mohammed on the day that Jamal had his accident...On the day of the accident he saw me with Dalziel."

"What?"

"Dalziel and I wanted him to see us...We...No; I was taunting Jamal with my fling with Dalziel." Mohammed couldn't believe his ears. "WHAT? What are you saying? Are you saying that you were throwing this up in my son's face? Why?" Brett took another deep breath and explained how Jamal had found out that he had been with Dalziel and how he threatened to tell Mohammed then and how Brett threatened to reveal that not only was Mohammed was gay but to imply that Mohammed had sexual relations with his own son. He explained how Jamal was trying to protect his father and that even Eric knew and was going to tell Mohammed. As Mohammed listened his blood boiled and he was filled with so much rage that he knew he would have killed Brett with his bare hands had they not been in the hospital. The he looked down at his son and when he realized the burden that he was bearing. Tears formed in his eyes. His son was trying to protect him, trying to take care of him and it should have been him doing that for Jamal. When Brett was finished, Mohammed sat silently for a long time while Brett waited for what he knew was going to happen. What he got was unexpected.

"Thank you." Mohammed said.

"What?" Brett was startled and surprised. Mohammed sighed. "Thank you for tell me...I mean...what you did was fucking foul and I don't know if I can ever forget it nor forgive it but you came here like a man and told me the truth and for that I'm saying thank you." Brett let out a sigh of relief. "Mohammed I know that you hate me..."

"NO! No...I don't hate you...I could never hate you. I dislike what you did. I hate what you did but I don't hate you. Brett, what we had for many years...for me...was great and I have no regrets for that...I will always have the good memories of those times and the things that we shared and those are memories that you were and are apart of and I can never hate you for that." Brett wiped at the tears in his eyes. "Mohammed...I'm so sorry for everything I did...I don't know why...I mean...you were...are a great man and you deserved better."

"Yeah...I do and I did. Thanks for apologizing and thanks for coming by." Mohammed said.

"Look, Mohammed...I don't want anything from you...no money...no support...nothing. I have to get my head on straight and get my life right." Mohammed smiled and Brett looked at him oddly. "What are you smiling at?"

"Nothing, except you are the second of my two exs to tell me that they need to get themselves straight."

"Teena said that?" Brett asked.

"Yeah, right before she told me that she wanted me to have full custody of Jamal." Mohammed explained.

"OH Mohammed that's great. You've always wanted that." Brett stated.

"Yeah but now I have to make decisions and changes in my life to be there for him." Brett shook his head. "Mohammed Moyenda I know you are not talking about leaving wrestling."

"Yes...I am." Mohammed said. "I have to take care of Jamal. If it wasn't for me he wouldn't be here."

"Wrong. It's my fault. Mohammed, you are a great parent....A great father and if anyone can handle career and fatherhood it's you."

"Right. So when I'm on the road who is going to take care of Jamal?"

"Is Teena dead? She's his mother. Besides Jamal is not a helpless child so don't treat him that way. Mohammed you will find a way to make it work BUT if you give up what you love you will grow to have resentment and that will kill you because you will resent Teena for giving you your son and you will resent your son though you will never show it where anyone would know it but you would and Jamal would suffer and you would suffer. Now do you want that?"

"No, I don't and you know that." Mohammed said. Brett stood up and went to the door. He stopped and turned around and looked at Mohammed. "Mohammed Moyenda, you are a great man and you will find a way to do this and do it well because that is just who you are. I'm glad I got to know you and be apart of your life. Thank you." Brett said. Mohammed walked to Brett and hugged him and kissed his cheek. "Thank you." Mohammed watched as Brett walked down the hospital hall away. At that moment he missed Sonny, who was on the way to Chicago.

"Dad?" Mohammed turned around to see Jamal sitting up in the bed.

"What are you doing up?" Mohammed asked as he walked over to his son's bed.

"Was what Brett saying true?" Jamal Asked.

"What?" Mohammed asked.

"Are you going to stop wrestling?" Jamal asked. Mohammed held Jamal's hand. "Well son, I'm thinking about it." Jamal squeezed his father's hand. "Well don't do it."

"Jamal, your mother wants me to have full custody of you and I can't be on the road and take care of you. You need me and I need to be there for you." Mohammed said.

"Dad, you have always taken care of you."

"Yeah except for this time and look what happened."

"That wasn't your fault." Jamal said. "Dad you love wrestling and Brett is right...if you had to stop because of me..."

"No son...Brett is not right. I love you."

"And I love you dad. So if you love me don't stop wrestling for me."

"But Jamal...you will need someone to be with you when I'm on the road."

"What's wrong with Mom and then there's Uncle Eric...I will be fine." Mohammed smiled and kissed his son's forehead. "When did you become so smart?"

"It's easy...I'm your son." Mohammed embraced his son and held him tight. He had been truly blessed by God and Allah to have such a great son in his life.

Detective Cecil Montgomery pulled up to the home of Yul Bennerman with a smile on his face. Everything was going his way. Victor Du Bois was out of the way and as far as the department was concerned it was a righteous shoot and there would be no investigation. Thanks to Bund he now had a meeting with the top man in the city and before he was done, Cecil Montgomery would be off the force and living high and happy in the Caribbean. Yeah, it was all working out.

It was all working out. Bund and Errol sat in the SUV across from Bennerman's place and watched as Det. Cecil Montgomery pulled up and into the estate. Errol couldn't wait for everything to go down. Everything was in play and in motion. That sorry motherfucker was going to pay for what he did.

"Hey E," Bund said. "You sure everything is gonna go down the way you planned?" Errol nodded. "Everything is gonna happen they it should. That punk ass is gonna feel it and I'm gonna make him feel it for a long time."

"Yo man, I can't believe you got Rasta to be down with all this." Bund said. Errol smiled. "Let's just say that he ain't no fan of Montgomery either." Errol watched Rasta's house knowing that soon it would all be over.

"So how was the funeral?" Sean was at the group meeting which he had missed since Victor's death. But after the funeral and everything he returned and it felt good. Everyone in the group welcomed him back and expressed their concern and condolences for his brother. It was great to be missed and to have someone concerned about you. He hadn't realized how much he actually missed the group and how they had become a part of his life. It was Avery that met Sean at the door with a hug and asked him how the funeral was. Sean hugged him back and as he went to his usually spot on his overstuffed beanbag, removed his shoes and socks, which was between Greg AKA `G-Shot' and Michael. He looked around at everyone and smiled.

"The funeral was beautiful. Victor is...was...is from New Orleans so they had a good ol' fashioned New Orleans funeral." Sean explained.

"OOOH Chile!" Whitley exclaimed waving his blood red finger nailed hands like he had been filled with the heaven spirit. "I went to Nawlins a few times and you talk about Cajun Spice and Creole cooking...Those boys down there was hot, hot, HOT!"

"There are some pretty attractive men in New Orleans." Michael said with a hint of a wistful smile, which caused members of the group to look at him. "Hey! I did have a life once."

"I feel ya Mikey." G- Shot replied with a wicked smile.

"Mikey?" Michael shot up an eyebrow. Sean giggled. "Anyway...it was a very nice funeral and I guess it helped Shane too."

"Why do you say that?" Dr. Segars asked.

"Well, a couple of things. One, being around Victor's family gave him someone to share his love, life and grief with. To share memories about Victor and stuff like that. I will say that meeting Victor's twin brother was interesting." Avery yelped. "SAY WHAT! Victor had a twin? Identical in everyway?" Sean smiled. "I don't know anything about that."

"Sean," Matthew said. "What was the other thing that happened?" Sean sighed. "The partner of the cop that killed Victor came to the wedding."

"Really? Why did he come?" Dr. Segars asked.

"He said he wanted to express his condolences to the family."

"That's very admirable and very brave." Segars replied.

"Yeah whatever."

"You sound like you don't believe that?"

"I don't but Shane and Victor's family bought it...except for Vincent and me."

"I see. So what about this detective that you don't like?" Sean looked at his bare feet. "It's not as much as him but his partner."

"The one that killed Victor?" Segars asked.

"Yes."

"Do you know these two detectives?" Segars asked. Sean exhaled. "They are the detectives that were supposed to be investigating my rape."

"Wow," Michael replied.

"So one of the detectives that were investigating your rape shot and killed your brother's lover. How do you feel about that?" Dr. Segars asked. Sean shook his head. "How do I feel? I hate it. It makes me sick and it makes me wonder if it was done on purpose." Matthew spoke. "Wait? Are these the two cops you told us about that came to your home?" Sean looked at Matthew, surprised that he remembered that. "Yes, they are? Linton and Montgomery. Montgomery was the one that Victor had words with and he is the one that murdered Victor."

"Murdered?" Segars said. "You said murdered, why?" Sean looked Segars in his eyes. "Because that's what he did."

Cecil Montgomery was a happy man. He walked out of Yul Bennerman's home with a huge smile on his face. He was pleased with himself. He had just made a deal that would make him wealthy beyond his belief. Yeah, who said crime didn't pay. They were wrong, it paid well. He got rid of Carlos and his crew, he got rid of Victor and now he had come right in and took what Victor was trying to set up. Nothing could stop him. He had it all. Detective Montgomery got into his car and drove away from the Bennerman place. Three miles into his trip he noticed a black SUV stalled in the middle of the road. Montgomery stopped his car. What the fuck, he was a cop. He should at least check things out. As he got out of his car he felt for his service revolver and moved towards the vehicle. He saw two legs under the SUV and the sounds of someone cussing and swearing. Apparently they were trying to fix something.

"Hey, under the vehicle. I'm Detective Montgomery. You need any help?" The guy came out from under the SUV and Montgomery couldn't believe his eyes.

"Bund!? What are you doing here?" Montgomery demanded. Bund rose to his feet. "Hey...Monty Mont! Hey man I was visiting one of my girls and the SUV started acting crazy. Whatcha doin around here?"

"Police business." Montgomery stated. "Why don't you call triple A?"

"Cause a nigga ain't got no Triple A." Montgomery laughed. "Bund, you are something else." Bund smiled. "Yeah...I try."

"Well, get this thing out of the road." Bund looked at Montgomery. "Oh so you gonna leave a nigga here?"

"You are a grown man. But I'll call a truck for you." Montgomery said as he walked back towards his car.

"Aight...cool." Montgomery got back into his car and drove away. He passed Bund, who waved and shouted. "DRIVE SAFELY...KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD!" Montgomery smiled. He had to take care of Bund and then that was it.

Everything was going perfect. Rasta called his cell and told him that the meeting was about to end. He and Bund went to their position. The plan was simple. Errol would go hide while Bund would park the SUV in the middle of the road and pretend to fix it. Once Montgomery came up and got out, then Errol would get into the back seat of the car and lay low on the floor. Once Montgomery was in the car it was up to Errol to handle his business and handle it he was. The car slowed to a stop at the stop sign. Errol sprang up, the piano wire wrapped around his gloved hands. He wrapped it around Montgomery's neck and squeezed.

The shocked Montgomery hardly had time to react when the man popped up from his back seat and began choking him. He gagged and struggled to fight but the man in the back seat had the advantage. As he struggled and fought he heard the man saying something over and over again and then as his world turned black he realized what the man was chanting Victor Du Bois over and over again. Those would be the last words he would hear before he died.

Errol stuffed the rag into the gas tank of the car. He looked inside of the car one more time where the lifeless body of Detective Cecil Montgomery lay in the front seat, his neck freshly strangled and cut from ear to ear. He smiled as Bund arrived in the SUV.

"C'mon man!" Bund called out. Errol reached into his pocket and pulled out a bag with a bottle in it. Errol took a swig and then poured the rest on top of the car and on Montgomery's dead body.

"This was for you homey. The job is done." Errol tossed the bottle inside the car as he lit a lighter and the rag and walked to the SUV. Bund stepped on the gas and they were gone. A few minutes later an explosion ripped threw the evening and Errol rubbed a tear from his eye.

Julien had been sitting in front of the Midnight Lounge for close to an hour watching the men and women walk in and out of the place. There was no need to lie about what he was doing there. He was there for one reason and one reason only. He had hoped that he would see Andre there like he had the last time he was here and like he had at the gym. What had happened at the gym between them this time was all he could think about all day, try as might, he just couldn't shake the feeling and he could not get rid of the image and when he thought about the kiss in the locker room he thought about the steam room and the touch and feel of Andre's body and the sounds of his moaning. It was just way too much for Julien to deal with. Here he was a police officer...a damn detective and here he was having a sexual encounter with a man that at that point was considered a suspect in a murder and he risked his badge for a cheap sex act. He had been a cop for a long time and it was difficult being a gay cop. Julien had dealt with it the best way he knew how and that was by being pretty much celibate. He couldn't remember the last sexual encounter he had...before the thing with Andre. He was even dating anyone. When other cops and their wives invited him out with them he would go and when they fixed him up with a blind date...a sister, sister in law, a best friend, a niece, even a granddaughter...he was always diplomatic and very gentlemanly on the date and when they wanted to get intimate it was by the luck of the fates or God that he would get a call about a current case that would force him to live which would ultimately lead to the young lady not wanting to get involved with a cop. So basically his life was work, home and when things got difficult he just took matters into hand by jacking off and going to bed. So he should not have been surprised by his sexual attraction to Andre Robinson, though he was annoyed that for some reason he could not control it. That for some reason Andre Robinson made him feel so sexual and that he was so sexually attracted to him. When they were kissing in the locker room he felt himself giving in and he wanted so bad to give in. He wanted so bad to have Andre Robinson work his body but then those men came and as he left he realized that even if he could let himself go, Andre Robinson was having issues with his own sexuality and until he came to grips with that then there was nothing he could nor would do with him and there was still the matter of a murder investigation. Speaking of which, Julien realized that he had not checked in with his partner. Something was going on with Cecil. He knew in his heart that Cecil murdered Victor Du Bois but what he couldn't figure out was why? It had nothing to do with Victor being gay, he felt sure of that so what else could it be? Julien picked up his cell phone and decided he would forget Andre Robinson; he had work to do and a partner who needed to answer some questions.

Just as he was about to start his car there was a tap on the passenger side window and when he looked up his heart shot to his throat. It was Andre Robinson. He tapped again and Julien hit the power window button to lower it.

"So what up Yo?" Andre began. "You gonna sit out in your car all night or what?"

"Actually," Julien replied, "I was just getting ready to leave."

"Police business?" Andre asked.

"No." Julien replied and then kicked himself for saying it.

"Oh so you going to some other joint to sit in their parking lot?" Andre asked.

"Is there something you want?" Julien asked. Andre sighed, he looked around and then back at Julien. "Damn you don't make it easy on a brotha do you?"

Julien sat waiting. Andre cleared his throat.

"I wanted to talk about what happened at the gym."

"Okay." Julien answered.

"Well dang can a brotha at least sit in the car with you?" Julien unlocked the door and watched as Andre climbed in. He was immediately hit with the fragrance of fine cologne and a hit of alcohol. Andre had been drinking but he didn't appear drunk.

"Thanks man." Andre said.

"No problem. So what do you want to talk about?" Julien asked in his cop voice. Andre looked at his manicured finger nails while he spoke. "It's just that...I wanted you to know..."

"Let me say it for you. You're not gay. You are down with that and you didn't mean for that to happen." Andre looked at Julien with hard determination in his eyes. "No. I wanted it to happen and I am glad that it did because shit has been going on since we first met and it's driving me crazy and has me confused and I don't like being confused, I don't like thinking about you all the fucking time and I don't like dreaming about you and I don't like thinking about you touching me in the steam room and I don't like remembering that kiss and I don't like the fact that I want it to happen again and again and that it might not happen because I'm too scare of all this shit going on inside of me because I don't understand it. I just don't understand it one goddamn fucking bit!" Julien had listened as Andre went one. Andre had said all that in one breath, he just rattled it off without hesitation without any thought he just let it all roll out and as Julien listened and watched he saw that what he was saying was real and that he was being truthful and sincere. He could see the confusion and he could see the fear but he could also see that Andre wanted to understand what was going on and he wanted Julien to know that too.

"Andre..." Julien raised his had to silence him. "No man...look. All my life I knew one thing and one thing only. That I was straight. I mean I can name all the bitches I have fucked and hearts I broke. I ain't proud of all that but that was what I was doing. I never had a gay experience...there was this time with one of my boys that I use to ball with back in the day but we were drunk and then there was my cousin Steve when I was like 15 and he was 17...we did some stuff..."

"Was he gay?" Julien interrupted.

"Who Steve or Terry?" Julien shrugged. "Both."

"Terry is...at least he is now...I didn't know back then and my cousin...well everyone knew he was gay."

"Did you know?" Julien asked. Andre looked at his nails again. "Yeah...I guess I did know." Julien nodded. "I see."

"I mean...I ain't got no beef with no one that's gay. I mean me and Eric have been boys since college and all...I mean I never thought..." Andre looked at Julien and noticed that the he was listening to him, believing him and not judging him. He stopped talking.

"What's wrong?" Julien asked.

"Man...I can't lie."

"What are you talking about?" Julien asked. Andre sighed. "I'm gay." Julien just nodded his head but said nothing.

"I guess I always knew but I didn't want to be gay."

"Why?"

"Why? Man don't we have enough trouble being black without being fucking gay too?" Julien couldn't help but laugh. "Try being a gay black cop. It ain't no picnic either." Andre nodded. "Yeah, I guess it is rough. I mean how do you date and all?"

"Easy. I don't." Andre raised an eyebrow. "What? A fine motherfucker...I mean...why?" Julien shrugged. "Fear. I guess I'm afraid that someone on the force would find out and then there would be questions and concerns and the next thing you know someone will be saying that I touched them here or did this there. Why be bothered with the hassle."

"Yeah but in the steam room when you...when ummm...I mean you weren't worried about your job then." It was Julien's turn to look at his nails. "Andre, what I did was wrong and I should not have done it."

"Oh? So you saying that you didn't want to?"

"Well No I wanted to...that is to say I saw you and...Damn!" Andre laughed and tapped Julien's shoulder. "Don't worry I know that confused feeling."

"Thanks." Julien said. Andre did not remove his hand from his shoulder.

"So what do we do about all this?" Andre asked. He felt Julien's shoulder and was surprised at how solid it was and how muscular it felt. Julien was looking at him with an odd smile on his face.

"I have no idea." Julien said. Andre cleared his throat again and then turned so that he was facing Julien. Looking him square in the eyes.

"You are a sexy brotha." Andre said. Julien smiled and felt his face heat up. "Thank you."

"Look, how about we go somewhere and talk some more where there isn't fifty million people around." Julien looked around. "I don't think that there are that many people in the Midnight Lounge." Andre shook his head. "You always a smart ass?"

"Yes." Julien replied with a smile. Andre laughed. "Aight cool, cool!"

"So where do you want to go?" Julien asked.

"My place, your place."

"I see and what are we going to do at my place, your place?" Andre smiled. "Whatever happens, happens and this time no one will have to run off."

They went to Julien's place which was fine with Andre since he didn't know if Eric would be at the crib or with his boy Jermaine. God, he would have to tell Eric about what was going on and he couldn't help but wonder what his reaction would be. What if Eric got upset, it could happen. What if he came on to him? Naw, Eric was too into Jermaine besides they were like brothers. Would Eric tell all his friends? Shane, Sean, Mohammed? All these questions were in his head while he and Julien drove to Julien's place. They talked about a lot of things and Andre realized that he and Julien had some things in common such as basketball...they both loved Jordan and agreed that he should have stayed retired but were glad to see him in action again. Iverson was good but there were issues. Shaq was just too commercial and too much of a celeb and they felt that hurt not only his game but the sport. By the time Andre got to Julien's townhouse apartment in a pretty decent part of town he really liked what he was learning. Once at Julien's he checked out all his CDs. The brotha had all types of jams from Old school soul and R&B to Hip Hop, jazz, blues, and gospel. He slipped in Luther Vandross while Julien went into the kitchen and brought out two beers. Julien sat in his overstuffed chair and Andre sat on the sofa. They sipped beer and talked while Luther sang. By beer number three they were listening to Whitney Houston and talking about her marriage and situation with Bobby Brown. Beer four brought on Ginuwine's `Pony Song' and Beer five they were listening to Ronald Isley as Mr. Bigg and Kelly Price with R. Kelly. Andre removed his boots and began to crack his toe knuckles.

"What's wrong?" Julien asked as he sipped his seventh beer and was feeing the effect of it.

"My feet are a bit sore." He replied. Julien sipped his beer, went to the kitchen and brought out two more. He handed one to Andre and then sat on the sofa next to him. "Gimme your feet."

"What?" Andre replied.

"Gimme your feet." Julien repeated.

"Whatcha gonna do?" Andre asked.

"Massage them." Julien answered. Andre put his socked feet across Julien's lap. "Do you mind if I take off the socks?"

"Nope, I hope you can stand the smell. My feet can be ripe." Andre warned.

"Don't worry. I'm a cop I've smelled worse." Julien chuckled. He removed Andre's socks. There was a definite odor to them but nothing so bad and offensive. Andre had beautiful feet with cute, long, masculine toes. Julien touched Andre's foot and Andre giggled and jumped.

"What's wrong?"

"Shit man...I'm ticklish." Andre giggled.

"Oh sorry. You didn't tell me you were ticklish."

"I didn't think it was that important at the time."

"Okay." Julien replied. He looked at Andre with a mischievous glint in his eyes. Apparently Andre noticed it too.

"Naaaaaw man, please don't do it."

"Don't do what?" Julien asked with fake innocence.

"Don't tickle my feet." Andre said.

"Me? Tickle your feet? I never thought of that until NOW!" Julien raked his fingers across Andre's tender soles that set Andre wiggling and laughing. Julien continued raking and tickling his soles while Andre, who was pretty strong, tried to get away while laughing wildly.

"AHHHHH SHIT MAN....HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...DAMN PLEASE...PLEASE!" Julien continued tickling Andre, wrapping his legs around Andre's ankles to keep him in one spot and to keep him trapped.

"OOOOH DAMN....DAMN....HEHEHEHEHEHE...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Andre was helpless as he felt Julien working on his feet. It was such a wild sensation. No one had ever tickled him before. It felt great...It felt damn great and he didn't want it to stop. He was getting wildly turned on as well. He wiggled and rolled on the sofa as Julien kept on tickling. Then he stopped and Andre looked at him with tears from his laughter in his eyes. Julien was looking at him deeply and Andre felt his throat tighten. He watched as Julien raised his toes to his lips and began to kiss them starting first with the big toe and then moving down. Andre had never had anyone do that either and it felt better than the tickling. He laid back and couldn't help moaning and groaning as Julien's tongue worked each toe. When Julien got to the pinkie toe and began sucking it, Andre went crazy. It sent sensations through him that he had never felt before. It was so intense that he wanted it to stop but he also wanted it to last forever.

Julien was kissing Andre's toes, he was swept up and swept away with the feeling and the atmosphere and maybe just a bit too much beer but whatever it was it felt good. He let his hand creep up the wide leg of Andre's pants as he massaged his muscled calf and the back of his knees. He heard Andre moaning and the sound of him loosening his pants and undoing his belt. The sound of his zipper being zipped down and Julien looked up to see Andre's dick at full attention. Apparently he had on no underwear. He looked at Andre whose eyes were filled with desire and passion. Julien moved up Andre's body and gripped his dick and was about to lower his mouth on it when Andre stopped him.

"No."

"What?" Andre smiled. "I want you to but I want you to do something first."

"What?" Julien asked. Andre reached down with both his hands and cupped either side of Julien's face and drew him up to his. He looked into his eyes and then said softly. "Kiss me." Julien smiled and moved in for the kiss. It was soft, light and filled with passion. It wasn't hard and animal like in the gym. It was wonderful...it was great...it was romantic. Their tongues danced. Their lips pressed and nibbled. They wrapped their arms around each other and held on with the kiss. Julien was just as excited as Andre. He reached his hands under Andre's shirt and felt his muscled, ripped abs and moved up to his chest and nipples. Andre moaned as he fumbled at the buttons on Julien's shirt and spread it to expose his chest. He felt it then stopped kissing to look at it.

"Damn...you are PHINE!" Andre commented.

"Thanks." Julien replied as he kissed Andre again. Andre ended the kiss again. "Julien, let's go to your bedroom." Julien agreed and got to his feet and offered a hand to Andre. Andre looked at the hand and then took it as Julien helped him to his feet. They kissed all the way into the bedroom.

They began by undressing each other and once they were totally naked they stood there in each others arms admiring their bodies. Touching chest and nipples and abs with trembling excited fingers. Julien then laid Andre on his back on the bed and began rubbing his entire body down with light strokes of his fingers causing Andre to get all goose pimpled and excited. He then kissed him from his head to his feet and back up.

"Awwww yeah...I likes that." Andre moaned. Julien smiled as he lowered his head and opened wide his mouth and took Andre's dick in his mouth and with his tongue and lips he began sucking Andre's dick.

"JULIEN!" Andre yelped. "What the hell? Oh, shit...that feels good! Goddamn...goddamn that shit....OOOH BABY DAMN!" Inch by inch of Andre's magnificent dick was swallowed into Julien's mouth. Andre's swollen nuts and dick were on fire and ready to explode as Julien went to work on him. This felt better than in the locker room, this felt better than when he was with Dalziel and the reason he could come up with was that he was with someone that he really liked and that once...for once he was relaxed and letting himself be who he was. While Julien sucked his dick, Andre let his hands run down Julien's body. He gripped his tight ass and began massaging the plump tight mounds. Julien moaned as he sucked Andre's dick even harder. Andre slipped his finger into the crack of Julien's hot ass and teased his asshole. Julien let out a sigh of excitement and wiggled his ass to encourage him on. Between the dick sucking that Julien was giving him and fingering his tight asshole, Andre was ready to explode. Julien continued sucking his dick and Andre just couldn't take it no more. He pulled Julien up and kissed him He wanted more. He wanted to fuck him. He wanted to love that ass. That was when he realized he didn't have any condoms. He had not expected to fuck anyone tonight and when he saw Julien sitting in his car outside of the Midnight Lounge it was a spur of the moment idea to go talk to him. What was he going to do?

"Julien," Andre said. "Do you have any condoms?" Julien shook his head. "I didn't plan on doing this at all."

"Damn...I want to make love to you." Andre pouted. Julien kissed him; let his tongue enter Andre's mouth. He took his free hand and began jacking Andre's dick.

"OOOH YEAH! Shit...AWWW shit now!" Andre exclaimed as he reached over and did the same to Julien. They lay on the bed kissing deeply and jacking each other off. It was a wild and sexy situation that neither man wanted to end.

"OH shit...yeah jack that dick...jack it!" Andre cried out as he felt himself approaching a climax.

"Uhhhh-Yeah!" Julien moaned as he too was approaching his own orgasm. They jacked and pulled, pulled and jacked as they kissed and caressed. Then...

"OOH OOH OOH! I'm gonna...I'm gonna cum!" Andre let out.

"Me too...me too...Yes...yeah...."

"AWWWWWWWW!" They let it out in unison as they both shot hot cum on their stomachs. They lay in the bed twitching and stroking until it had all subsided. Then they began kissing and nibbling. Finally Julien got out of bed and when he returned he had a warm wash cloth and began to clean Andre up. Andre enjoyed that too. No woman had ever done that to him before.

It felt good. Julien crawled back in bed with Andre and Andre pulled him closer and kissed him lightly on the face and lips.

"That was great." Andre said.

"Thanks...I agree."

"So detective...I think it's time for us to go to sleep and next time someone has to have condoms." Julien looked at Andre questioningly. "Is there going to be a next time?" Andre replied by kissing him. "You damn skippy there's going to be a next time."

The ringing of the phone awoke Julien with a start. He was disoriented at first and when he felt another body in his bed, arms over his body he was confused but when he looked and saw Andre he remembered what had happened. The fact that he was still here had to mean something.

"Dang, you gonna answer the phone, boo?" Andre murmured in his sleep as he snuggled into Andre's chest. Boo? Did he call me boo? Andre was smiling when he answered the phone at 2 am in the fucking morning.

"Hello?" He answered with sleep still in his voice.

"Linton?" Julien sat up. It was Lt. Dennis. "Yes sir, Lt."

"Linton I need you to come to the station ASAP."

"What's wrong?" Julien asked concern in his voice. Andre was awake and sitting up looking at Julien.

"It's your partner...Montgomery."

"What happened to him?"

"Julien, he's dead. He was blown up in his car."

"WHAT!?"

"He's been murdered. I need you here right now!"

"On my way." Julien said hanging up the phone. Andre noticed his odd expression and from the tone of the conversation something major had just happened. "What's up?" Julien sat at the edge of the bed. "My partner...Detective Montgomery. He's dead. Someone murdered him."

"Damn!" Andre replied.

"I have to go to the office..." Andre got out of the bed. I understand. Julien looked at him and stopped him. "Whatup?" Andre asked.

"Thank you." Andre smiled and kissed him. "Thank you. Thank you for listening."

"Ummm...you don't have to leave...I mean it's late...you can stay if you like." Andre smiled. "You know what...I'll stay but it will be on a night when you don't have something going on and when someone has condoms." Julien smiled. "Okay. I'm gonna hold you to that."

In less than fifteen minutes Andre and Julien were both gone. Andre was thinking about what he as going to tell Eric. Julien was thinking about who killed Detective Montgomery, his partner, and why they may have done the world a favor.

CHAPTER 23 Coming Soon.

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