The Taming Chapter 4 Plot bunny Katie (starlight) When Justin and Brian arrived at the loft building on Tremont, Brian reluctantly took his helmet off and handed it to Justin, who removed his as well. Justin slipped them over the handle of his bike and leaned back into Brian. Brian’s lips were near Justin’s ear, he nipped the blond’s lobe slightly and laughed softly. “I could get used to this Sunshine.” His words were spoken tenderly and Justin gave a little wiggle as if to sink further into Brian’s embrace. “You are like some damn drug, one little taste of you and I want more.” “It wasn’t always like that Brian.” Justin sounded sad. “Yes it was Sunshine, yes it was.” Brian rested his head against Justin’s. “I always wanted more of you, right from the first kiss we shared, but I knew I couldn’t have you. You were too young, and me, you said it best. I’m a stubborn, old Irishman set in my ways. I wouldn’t have been for you.” Justin sighed. It was obvious that two dates, no matter how much fun they were, wasn’t about to change Brian. “It’s okay Brian, I understand now. I didn’t at first. Actually I didn’t for a long time, understand I mean. But I know now what you were trying to tell me then. Love isn’t meant for guys like you and I. Fucking is the only thing that’s real.” “Good night Brian. Call me about when you’re going to pick me up tonight.” Justin was obviously dismissing the older man. Feeling out of sorts, Brian got off of the bike. He waited while Justin attached the spare helmet to the rear. Justin smiled at him sweetly, too sad, tired and disappointed to say anything more tonight. He slipped on his helmet and with a wave of his hand, sped off down the street. Brian stood on the sidewalk watching Justin’s tail light disappear into the night.. Shaking his head, Brian walked inside his building. He needed time to think. Time to analyze what it was that Justin was trying to tell him. Because by now he’d come to the conclusion that this bid for attention wasn’t about revenge or raising money for the GLC. There was another whole agenda involved. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Justin drove toward the river. He wasn’t ready to go back to his apartment. He parked the bike near his favorite bench and sat down. The water could be seen as a glistening piece of wet against the shadowed background of rocks and trees. It lent an air of mystery and force to the otherwise quiet city night. He knew now that he wasn’t going to even attempt to extract any revenge for what wrongs believed done years before. It wasn’t worth it. Brian was almost as damaged now as he was then. Oh he’d become a little bit more open, that was probably Gus’ doing as well as the six years that had passed. But he was still was closed up to the fact that two men could fall in love, despite what Justin parroted back to Brian about it being impossible. His cell phone rang, he pulled it out of his jacket pocket and answered it automatically, figuring it was Daphne, no one else ever was thoughtless enough to wake him up or expect him to be awake. “Hey” he said, his voice tired, his depression sounding loud and clear in the night air. “Where are you?” “Brian?” Justin looked at his phone; sure enough it was Brian’s cell number on the screen. “Yes it’s me, now that we have that cleared up, where are you? You aren’t at home.” “Brian, I’m not seventeen. I don’t have to call when I get home so that you know I’m safe. I’m all grown up now Mr. Kinney.” Justin smiled to himself at the concern that was in Brian’s voice. Maybe he shouldn’t give up on the older man. He heard Brian sigh. “I know you aren’t seventeen Sunshine, but apparently your hearing is going. I asked, where are you?” Justin giggled at the exasperation in Brian’s voice. He could still drive the man crazy. “I’m at the river sitting on our bench.” “You know, somehow that’s where I thought you’d be. I’m almost there.” Justin looked up at the headlights driving down the side street leading to the part of the river he was watching. The car turned into a parking space beside his bike and Brian got out. “I can see you. White is hard to miss.” “Well, you look like a black shadow walking toward me.” “That’s what you called me earlier.” Brian was beside the bench that Justin was sitting on. He closed his phone and sat down beside the younger man. Justin put his phone away, the two of them stared straight ahead at the river. It was familiar, this quiet contemplation of the rushing water. There had been times in their past relationship, and yes even Brian now admitted it had been a relationship, when they used to escape the gang of family and friends and sit on this bench in silence letting the water heal what ever hurts had happened. “That’s how I used to think of you. A dark shadow coming out of the night to wrap me in folds of comforting security. Always with me, always protecting me, always loving me.” The words were spoken. Words that Justin hadn’t meant to speak. But now they hung in the quiet night waiting to be plucked out of the air and taken back, or perhaps accepted as the gift they were meant to be. “What happened to your philosophy of queers never falling in love?” Brian attempted to joke. “That was your philosophy. You taught it to me. It just took me awhile to learn it. I guess there aren’t any SAT’s for life lessons.” “What do I know about love? It’s not like I had a lot of examples of it while I grew up.” “Sure you did, you were just too damn stubborn to open your eyes and your heart and accept the love that was given to you.” Justin turned to him. “Your parents might have been shits, and even your sister wouldn’t get the sister of the year award. But Deb has loved you like a son for years and so has Vic. Michael has loved you since the day the two of you met. Lindsay loves you and probably always has. Gus loves you and I fucking loved you too.” He turned away fighting the prickling tears. “Go away Brian. We’ll be seeing each other soon enough.” “Is that how it is now?” Brian asked quietly. “You loved me past tense?” “Brian I’ve had six years to get over the crush I had on you. Six years of building a life for myself that didn’t include you.” “Is that why you named your company Kinnetek?” Justin was silent. How could he explain that Kinnetek was a dream he’d had. A fantasy he’d built around the two of them taking the advertising world by storm as partners. Finally he said. “I’m not ready to talk about my company name with you. Maybe someday, but not now.” “Fair enough.” Brian took out a cigarette and lit it. Justin glanced over at the man sitting on the bench, his long legs stretched out in front of him, his back barely resting against the top board of the bench as he took a luxurious drag of the cigarette. Justin often thought that the cigarette companies should hire Brian as a spokes person, the fucking USA would be smoking in a week, he made it look so hot and sensual. It was like he was making love to the thing. “Aren’t you going to leave? Don’t you have to get up in a few hours?” “No and yes.” Brian took another drag, this time letting the smoke out in perfectly formed smoke rings. “Why are you here?” Justin asked. “Because you are Sunshine. You are my date and as such I’m responsible for you to get home safely. It’s in the rule book on dating.” “I guess you must have an old copy, my newer up to date version says that if your date is older than seventeen, then he can get home on his own.” “Ahh, but you missed the appendix where it states that if said date is riding on a damn big motorcycle, you are still responsible to make sure he arrives home safely.” Justin giggled. “You make it hard to reflect on life’s little mysteries. Something that is best done alone. I suppose I’d better go home.” “Reflect Sunshine, or sulk, there’s a fine line there.” Brian stood up and offered his hand to Justin. “Come on, I’ll walk you to that beast you’re riding on.” Justin took Brian’s hand, their fingers automatically linking as if time meant nothing to their hands. They walked slowly to the parking area. Brian watched Justin straddle the bike. He took the helmet from Justin’s hands and put it on him. He raised the visor and kissed Justin on the nose. “For luck” he whispered to him before getting into the corvette. Justin started the motor and drove home. Not surprised to see Brian following him, a dark shadow with two yellow eyes, stopping only to wait until Justin was safely in the underground parking garage of his building. For the first time in a very long time Justin felt safe. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Justin was up and running on the treadmill when the phone rang a few hours later. He checked the time, it was seven thirty. This had to be Daphne. He grabbed the phone continuing to run. “Hey” his said. “What are you doing? Did I interrupt you fucking?” “Only you would ask that Brian?” Justin said with a laugh. He turned the treadmill down to a mild walk to cool down. “I’m on the treadmill.” “You’ve got to be kidding. I just left you minutes ago.” “Hours Brian, hours, ask Gus to explain the difference to you.” “So I guess meeting me for breakfast at the diner is out eh?” “Not this morning. I have to shower; I’d be at least a half an hour.” “If you cut out jerking off in the shower, you’d be done faster.” “I’ll remember that if I’m pressed for time.” “You could also shower with a friend, think of the water saving possibilities.” “But then I would have had to have the ‘friend’ stay over. No sleep overs Brian, remember your rule, well I’ve discovered it’s a good one. It keeps things less complicated." Justin turned off the treadmill and walked to his bathroom where he reached into the shower and turned it on, adjusting the water the way he liked it while he listened to Brian. “Are you done with the public service announcement yet Brian?” Justin asked. “Because that sound you hear is my shower waiting for my well toned, slightly bronzed, very hot, you should be so lucky, body.” “I’ll see you at the diner then Sunshine. Shall I order for you?” “I’ll be there. And yes you can order for me.” Justin laughed as he hung up the phone before stepping into his very quick shower. Half an hour later, he strolled into the diner. He was wearing a casual pair of pleated linen trousers with a plain white tee shirt. It was hot and he planned on working in the graphics department most of the day. Justin spotted Brian immediately. He was sitting in the same old booth that Justin figured had been enshrined by now. Brian waved him over. “Hey Sunshine, your breakfast is getting cold, I told you not to jerk off in the shower.” “Asshole.” Justin said as he slipped into the booth beside Brian to the astonishment of Michael and Emmett who were sitting opposite. Brian leaned over and kissed his cheek. It was as if the space time continuum had opened up and it was six years ago all over again. He’d barely sat down when Debbie plunked the full breakfast special in front of him. “Hey Sunshine, Brian said you were coming. I’ll get your coffee in a sec.” “Hey Deb, I can get it.” Justin jumped up and grabbed the coffee pot, refilling Brian, Michael and Emmett’s cups as well as filling his own. Déjà vu he was thinking. “We’ve missed you here Sunshine.” Deb said with a laugh as she picked up the coffee pot and headed for other tables. “Well if it isn’t the Boy Wonder.” Michael drawled. “Hey sugar, I thought you were going in early today.” Emmett smiled as he stirred his coffee. “The best laid plans.” Brian drawled. “I’ll be there shortly.” Justin said as he began to eat his breakfast. “Well boys, I have to run now that the boss is here. I think I’ll make some cinnamon buns for the boys in the back. I know you all have been working hard over that Willsie contract.” “That would be cool Emmett, can you pick up some stuff for lunch too. I think we’ll be working through, the deadline is tonight and I have another one we need to start on as well.” Justin smiled at his receptionist and friend. “Will do, I’ll surprise all of you. Don’t forget, Teddy’s appointment is today.” “I haven’t forgotten.” Justin had finished his breakfast and was now sipping the coffee that Brian had prepared for him. “Hey Brian, thanks.” Justin acknowledged. Brian nodded. Michael glared. “If you’re working on the Willsie thing today, why don’t I bring over what I have later this afternoon? If we work together we can get done faster and it should present a more cohesive campaign.” Brian offered. “Sure, I was going to suggest that anyway. I think that we need to work closely on some of these campaigns.” Justin took a sip of coffee. “Come over after one, we should have it almost done by then, I’ll save you a cinnamon bun.” “Brian doesn’t eat cinnamon buns.” Michael said. “Hmmmm, I remember a time when he did.” Justin smiled fondly. He turned to Brian, “I’ll still save you one. You can relive your wild youth.” “But will my wild youth be there?” “Oh he’ll be there, wilder and better than ever.” Justin ran his fingers over Brian’s cheek bone. “I’ve really got to run. Some of us do work.” “While others delegate, you need to be taught some management techniques, my son.” Brian said tongue in cheek. Justin laughed. He took out some bills and threw them on the table. “Breakfast is on me boys.” Then he leaned down and claimed Brian’s lips for his own. It was a combination of wanting to taste the man who’d been sitting beside him, and wanting to piss off Michael. “You are still a brat.” Brian murmured before Justin pulled away. “I never could fool you.” Justin murmured back. Justin had barely cleared the door when Michael began. “I don’t believe you Brian. Are you starting up with him again? This whole buying you for twenty grand really was just a ploy to get you back.” He shook his head. Brian got up, grabbed his briefcase, leaned down and kissed his old friend. “It’s a good ploy, apparently it’s working.” He grinned and left the diner. Michael was speechless. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ “Hey Sunshine” Brian walked into the large studio. It was the first time he’d been back there and he was impressed with the layout. Heads turned and looked his way, Justin grinned. “Guys, this is Brian Kinney of Teekay Advertising. He’s here to work with us on the Willsie thing.” “I’m here to work with you.” Brian answered. “Well then you’ll be working with us all. We’re a team here Brian.” Justin walked over and unbuttoned Brian’s jacket, he slipped it off of his shoulders and then tossed it over the back of a chair. “No prima Dona’s here big guy” he grinned. Brian shrugged his shoulders, he rather enjoyed this Justin. The Justin who was confident in his abilities, who knew what he wanted and wasn’t afraid to go about getting it. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Brian lay on the sofa in Justin’s office; he was watching Justin work on the computer at his desk. “Are you almost done?” he asked for the tenth time. “Since when did you become a work aholic?” “Since when did you become a nag?” Justin answered back. He hit save and shut down the computer. “All the staff went home hours ago.” Brian said. “Half an hour ago.” “Well it seems like hours.” “Whoever came up with this idea to date every night must not work.” Justin sighed. Brian stood up and walked behind Justin. He began to massage his shoulders. “You work too hard.” “So do you.” “But not today.” “No, not today. That feels good.” Justin purred as Brian’s strong fingers worked out some kinks in the back of his neck. “It’s time for our date.” “Brian, you don’t have to do this, I won’t tell Linds.” “Brian Kinney never goes back on his word. I said I’d take you out for seven dates and seven dates it will be.” Justin sighed. He really was tired. The last two nights he’d barely slept. “Where too?” “I thought we could do something less strenuous tonight. Save the big stuff for another night.” Brian leaned down and rested his chin on Justin’s shoulder. “You don’t have any weird ass ritual thing planned for tonight do you? No dancing boys, no goat sacrifice?” Justin laughed. ”That’s next week.” “Good, I’d hate to mess up your busy schedule. “I thought maybe dinner in, your choice, Thai or Chinese and we could watch a movie.” “Your house or mine?” “Well it doesn’t matter, but I did ask you, so it should be my house.” “Okay, I hope you’ve got some better movies than you used to have.” “I even have popcorn and root beer.” “Cool, you have expanded your horizons.” Justin leaned back into Brian and then stood up. “Let’s go.” Justin followed Brian to the apartment on Tremont in his car. He felt like the thing had a homing device in it, so familiar was each twist and turn. Upstairs in the loft they went to their familiar places. Justin grabbed the menus from the drawer, Brian opened two cold beers from the fridge. A friendly argument ensued over their choices of food and then Brian called in the order. He watched Justin walk over to the sofa and sit down to check out his music collection. It was like six years ago. Sneakers had been replaced by designer loafers, cargo pants by linen trousers, but it was still Justin. “I’m going to have a quick shower, do you mind?” Brian asked. “The food won’t be here for at least forty five minutes.” “Go ahead, fresh is best.” Brian smiled as he padded to the bathroom and started the shower. He needed to take care of his raging hard on that kept appearing all day. He was in the shower, hand on his cock when he felt the door open and Justin slip in like he used to. “Can I help you with that?” Justin asked as he sank to his knees. Brian didn’t have time to answer. Justin’s hot mouth covered the end of his cock and then sucked it back into his throat. All Brian could do was hold on and pray his knees wouldn’t give out as Justin expertly manipulated his cock and balls, hitting all the old familiar spots that he knew would drive Brian wild. When he was done shooting his load down the throat of the man on his knees in front of him, Brian didn’t know whether the water on his face was from the shower or tears of joy because Justin was there with him. He wasn’t about to question it though. He helped Justin to stand and covered his mouth with his, his tongue seeking and tasting himself as the kiss deepened. Justin pulled back with a grin. “I couldn’t resist a wet naked Brian Kinney, sorry.” He stepped under the spray and quickly washing himself down before opening the door and disappearing, leaving Brian in the shower wondering just what had happened. “I see you’ve made yourself at home.” Brian drawled, aiming for nonchalance when he walked into the kitchen where Justin was dishing out their dinner. Justin had on a pair of Brian’s sweat pants and one of his tee shirts. His always cold feet had on a fresh pair of socks. Justin flashed a grin at him. “You’re predictable; I knew nothing would change in your closet other than the current fashion.” He waved his hand at his sweat pants. “But red sweat pants Brian, that I would never have believed.” “They were a Christmas gift from Michael.” Brian had to agree, he had never worn them. “Ahh, I guess after all these years together he knows your taste in clothing well.” Justin snerked. Brian only smiled back. Justin did have a point. “I’m starved.” He grabbed a plate and headed for the table. “Come on Sunshine, dinner awaits.” “You’re such a refreshing change for a date.” Justin said as he sat down. “Clearly you have to continue to read the dating handbook, but you aren’t doing too badly.” “And you’re the expert on dating I suppose.” Brian took a bit off Justin’s plate sampling something that looked different. “I haven’t spent the last six years looking for my nightly entertainment in the back room at Babylon.” “I took Mikey to the comic book convention in Cincinnati two years ago.” “Brian and Mikey’s excellent adventures don’t count as dates.” Justin helped himself to a piece of egg roll on Brian’s plate. “Tell me about your dates then.” “Too many to recount, you need to be more specific, male or female.” “Like Mikey, Daphne doesn’t count.” “It wasn’t Daphne.” “You went out with a girl?” “A woman Brian, I’m all grown up remember.” Justin continued to eat. “I actually took her on three dates. Her name is Miranda and she’s a lot of fun. I met her four years ago when I was in Italy.” “You were in Italy?” “Are you going to let me tell you the story?” Justin continued. “Miranda is the daughter of the professor I was living with. It was an exchange student thing. I took her to the movies on our first date and then we had coffee at a little café afterward. On our second date I took her to a dance the school was having. And on our third date we went to a family thing they were having.” “No fourth date?” “No she caught me fucking the groom at the family thing I mentioned. She took exception to it, I think she had him earmarked for herself.” Brian laughed. “What about your first date with a man?” “Now that was romantic. It was my first year at PIFA, the guy was a violinist that had been chasing me for weeks. I finally agreed to go out with him. He used to serenade me outside my window at the frat house with romantic tunes on the violin. For our first date he bought me one perfect red rose and took me to dinner to a little Italian place not far from PIFA where part way through the dinner, he played something romantic for me with the band that was there. We had chocolate cake for desert and we each shared forkfuls. Very romantic and sweet.” “What about your second date with this guy?” “There was no second date.” “Why not, if he was all candle light and roses?” “I caught him fucking the waiter, that’s how he paid for dinner.” Brian laughed so hard he could hardly breathe. “Geeze Sunshine, is this all you have to go on for dating?” “Hardly Brian, you asked about first dates. I’ve been dated and I have dated. Sometimes it’s fun, most of the times it’s boring as hell, occasionally it’s a joke.” He sighed. I think I’ve gone on enough of them though to know what a good date is and what a bad one is.” “If that’s what they are like, why do you even bother?” Brian was curious. He picked up their empty plates and carried them to the sink. “Can I get you another beer?” “Sure” Justin said before answering Brian’s question. “I actually like dating. I like being picked up at my apartment and treated like something special even if it is only for a few hours. And there’s always the slim chance that the guy who asks you out, or the one you ask out will be the ‘one’.” “The ‘one’?” “Yeah, you know, the ‘one’ that mysterious person that may be someone you could fall in love with. That is if you believed in love. The one you’d want to come home to each night and share life’s sweetness and sorrows with.” Justin looked away. He’d found the ‘one’ a long time ago. The trouble was finding another ‘one’ when your heart was already taken. “Oh, that ‘one’.” Brian handed Justin his beer. “The television is in the bedroom. I found it too distracting out here.” “And it’s not distracting in the bedroom?” Justin smirked. “My you have changed.” “Actually Sunshine, I like to relax with a good movie every now and then. My bed has always been my favorite place to relax. It seemed like a natural spot.” Justin followed him into the bedroom. Flashes of memory raced through his mind as he climbed onto the bed on ‘his’ side. He pulled the pillows in place until he was comfortable. Brian joined him in a few minutes with a bowel of popcorn. “I promised you popcorn.” He said as way of explanation. Justin had been watching the flat screen on the wall opposite the bed. Brian had a video of an exotic fish tank playing, so it had appeared as a living picture. He was all snuggled into a nest of pillows, his beer in his hand and his eyes shut. Justin was fast asleep. Brian didn’t know what to do at first. His best memories of Justin had been watching him sleep. It was too good to pass up. He carefully removed the bottle of beer from Justin’s hand and sat it beside the bowel of popcorn. Then he got up and locked the loft door and set the alarm. He tidied the kitchen and turned off all of the lights. It was almost ten o’clock. Their late nights had caught up with both of them. Brian lay down beside Justin. He’d let the blond sleep for a couple of hours before waking him and sending him home. Head on a pillow he turned so that he could watch the sleeping beauty beside him. Justin moaned and snuggled deeper into the pillows, then he turned, reaching for Brian the way he used to. In seconds Brian found himself tangled up in warm sleeping boy, no make that man. There was hard muscle where there used to be soft, but he smelled the same, he tasted the same, and he loved to cuddle close the same. Brian who hated having anyone stay in his bed with him while he slept, realized that only Justin had ever been allowed to stay. Sleeping was when you were the most vulnerable. It was the time when angry and drunk parents could scare you so much you wet yourself. It was a time to hide away until the light came, tossing and turning hoping you’d survive until morning. With Justin, sleeping had been peace. It had been a time to feel safe wrapped as he always was in the blond’s strong arms. Even six years ago, sleeping Justin would hold him and keep him safe. He’d forgotten that. Brian’s eyes closed and he drifted off for the first full night’s sleep he’d had in years. Brian opened his eyes. It was daylight and he was still wrapped in Justin’s arms. Blue eyes smiled into his. “So Brian, do you have a houseboy?” “No.” Brian answered lazily wondering at the question. “A maid?” “Only on Thursday” “Large mice with a preoccupation to make coffee?” Justin’s grin was wide. They looked at each other and mouthed “Mikey”, Brian could smell the coffee now. “Hey Brian, I made you coffee and brought you some of Uncle Vic’s raspberry coffee cake.” Michael stepped into the bedroom. His eyes grew wide as he stared down at the two men who were wrapped tightly together. “Hey Mikey” Brian said. “Since when do you stop in and make me breakfast?” “I had to go into the store early. We never spend any time together.” “Hey Michael, I’m starving I hope there’s enough of that coffee cake to go around.” Justin yawned and then ducked his head under Brian’s chin. He hated to move, he felt so good waking up in Brian’s arms. “Those are Brian’s sweat pants.” “No shit.” Justin reluctantly pulled out of Brian’s arms and sat up. “I’m sure he looks fetching in them.” He leaned in and kissed Brian. “I have to go big guy. I’ll take a rain check on that coffee cake. You and your little friend play nice. I’ll see you tonight.” “I’ll pick you up at seven.” Brian said to Justin’s retreating back. “I’ll call you.” “Later big guy.” Justin called back before he slammed shut the heavy door to the loft. “You fucked him.” Michael accused. “Whom I fuck is none of your concern.” Brian said. He got out of bed and headed into the bathroom, making a mental note to have his lock changed. Michael showing up without calling was getting old. Very, very old. He finished in the bathroom and stalked into the kitchen. Michael handed him a mug of coffee. “I didn’t know you and Justin were fucking.” “Give it up Mikey.” Brian growled. “But he’s just a kid.” “He’s twenty four.” As he said the words Brian realized that today was Justin’s birthday. He was twenty five today. He knew what he was going to do for their date tonight. He could out romance a god damned fiddler any day of the week. Tbc.