Vacation. It sounded like a good word. And it was - it just wasn't a good word to say within earshot of Elizabeth Lodge.

"How was I supposed to know?" Emmett said, looking guiltily at Julian. "When they said 'we have a beach house,' I didn't know it meant they were coming with us."

Julian sighed deeply. "E, there are certain words you cannot say in my mother's presence: Aunt Clarice, 'we're out of tonic,' and plans. The woman can smell the potential for organizing someone else's life like a shark smells blood. You said the word - you reap the whirlwind."

Emmett flopped down onto the bed. "I'd say you were being a drama queen," he said, draping one forearm over his eyes. "But I was there. It was like she sucked all the air out of the room. Your dad and Julia both went pale."

"Don't worry," Julian said. "No one ever died from family togetherness."

"Ha!" Emmett pulled his arm away and smiled triumphantly. "Yes, they did! The Manson Family. Of course, I don't think Charlie Manson golfed as much as your dad."

It was okay, as long as the weather held - three days of glorious sunshine in which they were able to plead the fairness of Emmett's skin and go back to the house during the hottest part of the day and fuck in air-conditioned bliss. But Mother Nature's a bitch, and a day that started out foggy slowly progressed to the unbroken gray sheet of an overcast sky.

Julian sank into the armchair next to the bed. "Canasta," he moaned. "And Gin Rummy, and tennis on television. I can't believe this used to be my life. I must have been a complete bore."

"I dunno," Emmett said, leaning up on one elbow. "You certainly weren't boring when you fucked me on our first date."

Julian grinned. Nope, that hadn't been boring at all - neither had any other day with Emmett since. Just the thought had Julian's cock stirring. All Emmett had to do was look at him in that thoughtful, appraising way he had and Julian could feel his skin flush and his breath quicken. His mouth actually watered when he thought about going down on Emmett, the smooth slick salt of Emmett's cock on his tongue.

"What are you thinking about?" Emmett said softly.

Julian opened his eyes. "I'm thinking about sucking your cock."

Emmett laid back on the bed, sprawling with arms and legs opened wide. "Feel free," he said.

Julian was standing up to go to him when they heard feet on the stairs.

"Yes, I'm sure!"

It was Julia, her voice loud enough to carry. "No more tennis. I'm taking a nap."

The door to the room next door closed, and Julian sank back into the armchair. "Fuck," he said.

Emmett looked over at him. "Wrong; we're both entirely too loud."

"I know." Julian knew he sounded petulant. "We might as well take a nap."

In answer, Emmett ran his fingers up the ridge of his cock where it pushed at the front of his shorts.

Julian raised an eyebrow. "Hmmm," he said. "What's going on with you, E?"

Emmett pushed up into his own palm. "I kinda like the idea of trying to be quiet."

"So I see." Julian really wanted to go back to the bed with Emmett, but he didn't want to admit that the thought of Julia next door had completely murdered his hard-on. It didn't seem to have cooled Emmett, though. He looked so fucking hot, touching himself with no hint of embarrassment while watching Julian through slitted eyes.

"Get undressed," Julian said, and Emmett was quick to respond, stripping out of his tee shirt and shorts. While Emmett was stripping, Julian glanced over to the open closet door, frowned a little, then made a decision. "Roll up on your side," he said to Emmett. "Facing me."

Emmett did, and Julian looked him over from head to toe. "God, you're hot," Julian said, his voice pitched low. "Are you gonna jerk off for me?"

"Whatever you want," Emmett said, his hand already starting to move.

Julian was leaning against the wall opposite the bathroom when Julia came out with wet hair, wrapped in a plush bathrobe.

"Julie," he said quietly. "Whatcha doin'?"

"Shower," she said shortly, but her face went red.

Julian looked at her until she looked away. "Funny thing about this house," Julian mused, keeping his eyes on her face. "I haven't been here in fifteen years, but I still remember everything about it."

"That's nice, Jules, but let me by, okay?"

Julian ignored her and didn't move out of her way. "Everything, Julie. Everything. Like the tree in the corner of the yard that we used to climb, and the loose board on the steps down to the beach."

Julia's face flushed a little more, and Julian's grin got a little bit wider. "And the hole in the wall between our closets; the one we made so we could talk after mom and dad went to bed."

"Yeah, so?" Julia looked at the floor and tried to get past, but Julian cut her off.

"So, I know what you just saw." And he did. Julia had just seen Emmett's arm moving and ass clenching as Julian had whispered filthy things and watched as Emmett stroked himself to a quick, rough orgasm.

"I..." Julia started.

"Did you like it?" Julian said. He wanted to loom close over her just to be an ass, but he wasn't sure if his breath smelled like the come he'd just licked from Emmett's hand and belly and thigh.

"Julian!" Julia sounded scandalized.

Julian smirked at her, then stepped back. As she got to her bedroom door, he spoke. "Sleep well, Julie. We'll see you at breakfast. You know, that thing where you sit at the table across from Emmett?" It took everything he had not to burst out laughing at the look on her face.

Back in the bedroom, he checked on Emmett, who was sleeping peacefully. When he went to hang up his shirt, he heard the door of Julia's closet close with a quiet snap and grinned.