Together As One
Chapter 9 
“Justin Taylor.”

“Hey Sunshine,” came the voice on the other end of the line.

“Hey Bri, I was hoping you’d call.”

“You were? Anything wrong?” his voice suddenly filled with concern.

“Not really, it’s just that I…” Justin let his words dangle not wanting to reveal how much he missed hearing Brian’s voice. 

“Just what, Justin?” Brian asked. He had a feeling he knew what the man wanted to say because he had been feeling the same way too. He enjoyed the phone conversations with Justin, in fact. He actually found himself missing the conversation on the days they didn’t occur. The blond was witty and intelligent, and their discussions really challenged him. It was rare when he found someone who could keep up with him, and he chuckled to himself when he remembered how Justin had reminded him a time or two about having scored 1500 on his SAT’s. 

“Never mind. What did you call for?”

“Can’t I just call because I want to hear your voice,” Brian said softly, then quickly cleared his throat, thinking he had revealed too much in that single statement.

Justin couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face. He realized just what it meant for Brian to say what he had, and he noticed the discomfort and the quick change of subject once the words were out. He would let it go for now, but not for long. He knew how hard it was for Brian to admit his feelings, but there would soon come a time that he would call him on it.

“Um…I called to let you know I received your sketch.”

“You did…great. What did you think of it?” he asked feeling a bit foolish for needing to hear Brian’s approval, but his opinion meant a great deal because he knew that his friend’s didn’t bullshit. In fact, it was well known that he prided himself on being brutally honest; a trait that was often was not received favorably by others.

“It was fucking brilliant,” Brian complimented. “I think it’s one of the best pieces I have ever seen.”

Justin smiled; a grin that would have lit up Broadway. “You liked it?” he said. He knew it was one of his best works, but to hear it coming from Brian meant far more than even he thought it would.

“Yes, I did. You captured the essence of Maple Mountain and the Inn. When someone looks at the picture, it draws them in and surrounds them with the mountain’s natural beauty. It’s like you’re actually there; feeling the crispness of the air and experiencing the warmth of the area.” In fact, Brian liked the picture so much that he was planning on having the original framed so that he could hang it in his office to remind himself of Justin. Of course, he would never reveal this fact to the blond.

A feeling of giddiness flowed through Justin as he listened to Brian talk about the sketch. He was hoping that he would be able to feel what he tried to put down on paper, and, apparently, it had achieved the desired affect; something that couldn’t have pleased him more.

“Thanks Brian. Your opinion means a lot to me. I’m happy you liked it.”

“I sure did Justin. Anyway, my team is working up the ads as we speak. As soon as they’re done I’ll send them over for your review. I have to go, we’ll talk again soon.”

“Okay, I look forward to seeing them. Later, Brian.”

“Later.”

A week later, Brian was at his desk reviewing the final contract for the Brown Athletics new ad campaign. He would be meeting with Leo Brown in several weeks and wanted to make sure everything was prepared.

Hearing a knock on the door, he looked up from to see Cynthia coming in carrying a stack of what looked like new advertising boards. He couldn’t wait to see how the final ad appeared using Justin’s sketch.

“Hey Boss,” Cynthia called out as she walked into the office.

“Are those the boards for the Inn?” he asked with more excitement than he had intended.

“Yes, they are and you wouldn’t believe how amazing they look,” she exclaimed as she laid them out on top of his desk.

Cynthia watched the expression on his face has he viewed the final product for the first time. Looking them over, a smile played on his lips as he carefully inspected each board. 

“I gather you’re pleased with what you see?”

“They’re fucking fantastic, if I do say so myself,” he smirked.

“Well, I would say a lot of it has to do with the artist who did the sketch,” she teased. She’d noticed a change in Brian after his trip to Bennington and she also noted that the same look would come over him every time Justin’s name was mentioned; or when he received a call. It was just a flicker in his eyes; something the average person wouldn’t have even noticed, but knowing her boss as well as she did, she’d see the look. She knew there was more to his feelings for the blond than he was letting on.

“Yes, the sketch was perfect,” he looked at his assistant with his famous tongue in cheek expression. “I think I’ll give him a call and let him know they’re done. It would give him an excuse to check in on the blond who was slowly making him realize he wanted more in his life.

“Okay, I’ll leave you alone. When you’re done making your call, let me know and I’ll pack up the boards and get them ready to send to Justin for his final approval.”

“Cyn, hold those for a bit. There maybe a change a plans.”

Using the fact that the boards were ready to be delivered, Brian decided he could use some time off and thought why not Justin by delivering the boards in person. After all it’s a long weekend and it would do me some good to get away.

“Cyn,” Brian called on the intercom. “I need you to make flight and hotel reservations for me. Use any airline, but make the hotel the Maple Mountain Inn.

“Okay, Boss, anything you say,” she chuckled.

“Smartass.”

“When do you want to leave?”

“Book me out on the last flight Wednesday night, for a Sunday return. Get my room at the Inn quietly, and if there’s a problem call Mrs. Taylor, but to see to that Justin doesn’t know I’m coming. I’d like to surprise him, so if you have to deal with his mother to get me a room tell her to not to mention my visit,” he ordered.


“Yes Boss, I get the message.”

A few minutes later, Cynthia walked into Brian’s office and handed him his flight information. “You were in luck, they still had a few rooms available, so I was able to get you in without having to talk with Mrs. Taylor. You were lucky to be able to in, the clerk said there were a couple of last minute cancellations, and you got one of them. It’s supposedly one of their busiest weekends.”

“That’s great. Thanks Cyn,” he smiled at his assistant. Brian couldn’t wait to see the look on Justin’s face when he showed up.

“Oh, by the way, your tickets will be at the Liberty Air counter and I also reserved a car for you.”

“Now I know why I keep you around,” he smirked. 

“Remember that the next time you give me a raise,” she gave him a wink and headed back to her desk. 

On one of the rare days when he awoke before his alarm went off, Justin took the few peaceful moments to sit at his window and gaze out at his favorite view. He wished on more than one occasion that Brian could be here to share this special time with him.

There relationship seemed to be evolving and drawing the two closer. They liked to talk, and telephoned or emailed one another frequently.

It was strange, Justin thought, how Brian seemed to sense that he was needed and would call to say he was just checking in to see how things were going. Just hearing his soothing voice calms my frazzled nerves and puts an end to my drama queen moments. 

Pulling his thoughts away from Brian, Justin took one last look out his window and sighed. This was going to be one of the busiest weekends of the season and he offered a silent prayer hoping that nothing went wrong. He only wished Brian could be here.

So far, the weekend was looking to be a perfect one…at least the weather reports indicated as much. Glancing outside, he saw that the world had put on its best show; the weather was clear and sunny, with a light, crisp breeze. Several inches of snow had fallen overnight, providing perfect powder for the skiers.

He got dressed hurriedly and headed downstairs to grab some breakfast.

“Morning Mom; morning Mol,” Justin greeted.

“Morning Sweetie. Your breakfast is on the table. You’d better make sure to eat enough, you’re going to need it today.”

“Yeah, it’s going to be very busy. I hope all goes well.”

“It will Justin,” his mother reassured.

“Hey Jus,” Molly piped in, “My friends and I are going to going to be skiing today,” she stated excitedly. She had been looking forward to this weekend for a long time.

“Well, you and your friends be careful out there.” he warned his sister, giving her a wink just to let her know he meant business, but that she should have fun too.

“We will Jus,” she smiled up at her brother. “You don’t have to worry about us,” she stated trying to sound older than her thirteen years.


“I’m be heading for the office now, so you know where I’ll be if you need anything. First, however, I’m going to check in with Todd to see that everything is in order,” Justin said as he headed out the door.

After talking with his foreman, Justin headed for the office to get caught up on some paperwork. He decided earlier to put some time in paying bills and going over the budget. After that, he planned on spending the rest of the day helping out wherever necessary. The Inn was booked to capacity for the long weekend an extra pair of hands wouldn’t hurt; especially when everybody else would be busy as well.

Heaving a sigh, he pulled out the bills that needed to be paid and sat down to reviewing each statement before writing out the check. This was one part of his job that he didn’t like. He hoped that once things were squared away, he could turn this task over to someone else; but for now everything had to monitored closely and that included what bills were paid and when. It was quite a juggling act since the accounts were still not completely straightened out.

He stood there with his arms folded across his chest leaning his long, slender body against the door frame of Justin’s office. A smile played on his lips as he quietly observed the beautiful blond whose sole focus at the moment seemed to be some file in front of him.

“Special delivery for a Justin Taylor,” Brian stated in as formal a tone as possible while silently waiting to see the expression on his friend’s face.

Looking up from his work, Justin blinked several times not believing what he was seeing. “Brian!” came a joyful shout as blue eyes sparkled with delight after he finally realized it wasn’t his imagination. Quickly removing himself from behind the desk, Justin made his way over and warmly embraced his favorite ad exec. “What a surprise. You must be a mind reader,” he exclaimed.

“Why is that?” Brian replied as he wrapped his arms around Justin and returned the hug. He enjoyed the way Justin felt in his arms; they seemed to fit perfectly together.

“Just this morning I was thinking about you and wishing that you were here for the weekend,” he replied as he hugged Brian a little harder.

Sensing that something was off Brian reluctantly pulled away from the embrace and looked into troubled blue eyes, “What’s wrong, Justin?”

“Nothing,” he responded too quickly.

“Justin,” Brian prompted. 

“I’ll tell you later, I promise. I just want you to hold me for a minute,” Justin said as he leaned into the security of Brian’s arms. 

“Okay, I’ll hold you to that promise and don’t think I’m going to forget,” Brian smiled to himself enjoying the feel of Justin in his arms.

Looking up at Brian, Justin asked “So why didn’t you call me to let me know you were coming?”

“I thought I’d surprise you. Besides the boards were done and I deserve some time off, so I thought I’d deliver them to you personally instead of trusting some delivery service. You know they aren’t always reliable,” he stated dryly.

“Uh, huh,” Justin looked at him doubtfully, but a coy smile played upon his lips.

“What? You don’t believe me, Sunshine. I’m wounded,” he said in a teasing manner. While it had only coincidental, it all seemed to work out perfectly; the boards being completed in time for the long weekend. He had been looking for a reason to visit Justin without being too obvious. “I know you have a house full of guests and duty calls, but I thought I could follow you around and check out the operation of the place if you don’t mind.”

“That would be great. Since it’s busy, I planned on helping out wherever necessary so that might entail checking in guests or preparing a room. It might be boring but at least we’d be able to spend some time together.”

“Sounds good, Sunshine. I’ve carried a few suitcases in my day. Come on lets get going.”

“Oh, by the way, since you’re here, be prepared to have Thanksgiving dinner with my family,” Justin chuckled as he heard Brian groan.

To say the least, Jennifer was surprised to see Brian and her son walking into the lobby together. She immediately noticed the change in Justin’s demeanor from earlier that morning; he now appeared to be relaxed and the signs of strain had all but disappeared. His cheerfulness seemed to come out naturally now, quite unlike the forced display he tried to put past her at breakfast. As she had in the past, she wondered what was going on between the two men. Her motherly instincts told her that her son had unwittingly given his heart to the man, the question that remained in her mind was whether this man was ready to accept and cherish it. She was afraid that Brian was not really ready for what Justin had to offer and she worried that there was heartbreak on the horizon for her son. Why couldn’t he fall for someone else; someone closer to his age, and, hell, at least someone who lived in the same state. Wiping the concern from her mind for the moment, however, she smiled cheerfully as the two men approached her.

“Hey, Mom,” Justin greeted. “You remember Brian?”

“Yes, I do. Nice to see you again Brian.”

“Thank you, Jennifer. It’s nice to see you too.”

“I am surprised, however. Were you able to get a room? I know when I checked the list several days ago we were pretty full,” Jennifer remarked.

“Apparently I was lucky. When my assistant called there happened to be a last minute cancellation,” Brian explained. He had a feeling Jennifer wasn’t too thrilled with his appearance.

“Well, I guess you were in luck. I didn’t think we’d be seeing you again.”

“Well the boards are done for the ad and I thought I’d bring them up here personally instead of trusting them to a delivery service,” Brian glanced at Justin who seemed to be enjoying seeing him receive the third degree from his mother.

“How long will you be staying? What are you planning on doing while you’re here?”

“I leave Sunday morning. It’s a long weekend so I thought I deserved some time off and I thought I’d spend time…” Brian let his answer trail. He couldn’t understand why he felt compelled to give her any sort of explanation. Feeling a bit uncomfortable being under such scrutiny, Brian looked at Justin silently pleading with him to step in any time and stop his mother from giving him the third degree. 

Laughing to himself, noticing how uncomfortable his mother was making Brian feel and his silent plea for help, Justin put his hand up to stop his mother from asking any more questions. “Mom, enough with the third degree already,” Justin snickered. “ I think you have grilled Brian enough for one day. It’s not a problem that he’s come for a visit is it?” Justin questioned.

“No, of course not… I was just surprised when I saw him walk in with you that’s all,” Jennifer stated, hoping she covered herself. She had hoped to discover what was going on between the two men in front of her.

“Anyway Mom, we’re here to help out. But first I need to go check with Todd. 

“Great. We could use some extra hands to get the guests checked in and their bags up to their rooms as soon as possible. They’re all anxious to get some skiing in. While you check in with Todd, I’ll put Brian to work.” 

Turning to face Justin, Brian rolled his eyes and leaned in to whisper, “Please don’t leave me all alone with your mother, I’m not sure I’ll last that long. ” He placed his tongue in his cheek and looked pleadingly at the blond.

Laughing out loud at Brian’s look of desperation, “Don’t worry,” Justin reassured, “Her bark is worse than her bite. Look, I’m just going to check in with Todd and I’ll be right back.”

“How about I go and check in with Todd, and you stay here,” he said cheekily.

“I’ll be back in a few minutes and then I’ll rescue you from my mother’s evil clutches,” Justin snorted as he turned to go search for the foreman.

“I’m counting on it, Sunshine,” Brian called out to Justin’s retreating form.

Shaking his head and smiling to himself as he walked away, Justin knew that, with the arrival of Brian, things were looking a whole lot brighter.

The day seemed to be progressing smoothly. The weather was holding, and the guests were arriving in droves and hitting the slopes as soon as they were checked in. Everything seemed to be going fine and Justin started to breath a little easier. Feeling the first signs of hunger as his stomach began to rumble, he glanced at his watch, and was shocked at the time. He hadn’t realized how much time had gone by since he left Brian with his mother, so he decided that it was time for lunch and went in search of Brian. He had been working the front desk helping to check in the arriving guests, and appeared, as Justin took him in sight, he truly needed rescuing

As Justin approached the desk area, he could almost hear the audible sigh of relief that Brian released. He noticed a slightly frazzled appearance on the older man and giggled to himself. The normally “cool under fire” façade had all but disappeared and Justin felt a little sorry for the man. 

“Hey Brian, ready for lunch?” he laughed as he noticed the look of relief on his face.

“Hey Sunshine, I thought you forgot about me,” Brian smiled as Justin approached him. 

“I’d never do that. Where’s my mother?” he asked.

“Oh you mean the dragon lady,” Brian replied snarkily.

“I heard that young man,” Jennifer retorted as she came up behind Brian.

“Oh Jennifer, I…uh…didn’t see you,” Brian remarked and at least had the good graces to look a little embarrassed at being heard making his comment.

Not being able to stifle his laughter, Justin let it out and loudly. “Mom, have you been terrorizing Brian?”

“No not much,” she chuckled. “Have I Brian?” she glanced at him with a raised brow.

“Um…no Ma’am,” he said respectfully, unsure of her teasing. 

“Well, I’ve come to rescue him from your clutches and take him to lunch. Would you like to join us?” he asked.

“No thanks,” she replied and saw the look of relief and thanks in her son’s eyes. “I still have some things I want to do before I take a break. You two have a nice lunch.” 

Watching the two men stride through the lobby toward the dining room, she noticed how many heads turned to admire the striking couple. Brian was tall, slender, and had dark looks with an air of confidence; Justin fair, blond, compact, and an aura of innocence. Even she had to admit they made a handsome couple, and she could tell, as only a mother could, that her son had fallen under the Kinney spell. She only hoped that the feelings were reciprocated and in some strange way she knew that they were even if he had never verbally admitted it. She saw something in his hazel eyes whenever she caught him looking at her son. 

Just as they approached the dining room, they were stopped by Sara, the clerk from the front desk; who let Justin know he had a call on the house phone.

Looking at Brian, he said, “That’s strange. Why would someone call me on the house phone?”

“Hello, this is Justin Taylor. ”

As Justin began to listen, Brian noticed how pale the blond had turned and the look of horror and panic that had overtaken his features. 

“Justin Taylor?” came a muffled voice on the other end of the line.

“Yes.”

“If you don’t turn over the deed to the land that was promised by your father, more accidents will happen. Just to let you know I’m not messing around, I’ve planted a bomb on the grounds of the Inn. You have thirty minutes to locate it before it goes off.”

“A bomb! What are you talking about? What deed, and who is this?” Justin asked, concern rising in his voice. 

But the caller hung up, so Justin laid the phone back in its cradle and looked up at Brian’s concerned face.

“Brian,” he whispered, “Did you hear? What do I do?” 

Gently grasping the younger man’s shoulders, in an attempt to ground him, Brian leaned close and looked deeply into Justin’s eyes to get him to focus on the sound of his voice.

“Justin,” he said quietly and calmly, “We need to evacuate the guests that are in close proximity to the Inn, and we need to establish a perimeter around the building to keep them back. We also need to get the police over here right away. Do you understand?” 

Pulling out of his daze, he slowly nodded his head, acknowledging what Brian had instructed. Then he watched as Brian reached for his cell phone and dialed 911.

“Right, I’ll to get Todd and a few of the employees to start searching the area for the bomb.”

After Brian was finished with calling 911; he reported the situation and was told the police would be there immediately……. Justin radioed for Todd and instructed the man to gather some of the other employees and to meet him in the lobby immediately.

As Justin was making his call, Brian went in search of Jennifer to apprise her of what had transpired. Seeing her near the front desk, he approached and pulled her toward an area that allowed for some privacy.

“Jennifer, I need to talk with you,” he spoke in a brisk manner as he pulled her aside.

“Brian, what’s the matter? What’s wrong?” 

“There’s a problem…..”

“What kind of a problem?” she emphasized the word as she was the concern written on his face.

“Justin just received a bomb threat.”

“A what!” she practically shouted, then lowered her voice realizing the panic she might start if she were overheard by the guests. “What,” she repeated quietly. 

“Justin received a bomb threat a few minutes ago. He’s contacted the police and is gathering Todd and some of the other employees to start searching for it until they arrive.”

“Why would someone do this?” she whispered in a strangled voice.

“The caller mentioned being promised some land by your husband.”

“What land?” she asked baffled by the caller’s demand.

“I don’t know and I don’t think Justin does either, but there hasn’t been much time to give it any thought. Right now I’m more concerned about evacuating the guests before anything happens.”

“You’re right, the guests come first. We’ll worry about everything else later. What can I do to help?” she asked realizing that Brian had stepped in and taken over, and once she was grateful to have his calm and self-assured presence. 

“Get a few of the employees to quietly round up the guests that are indoors and move them to the area that we have set up. Emphasis to them that we need them to do it quietly and discreetly so as not to create a panic; Okay?”

“Okay, I’ll do that.” Before leaving she laid a gentle hand on his arm and squeezed it, “I’m glad you’re here, Brian,” she stated gratefully, “Thank you.”

“I am too and you’re welcome,” he smiled appreciatively. 

Seeking out the younger man, Brian called out to him as they approached one another.

“Justin, I think we should start searching the grounds while the guests are being evacuated. We may not have much time and there’s no telling when the police will get here; the roads are really congested with the holiday traffic. I think we should split up, you go one way and I’ll go the other. We’ll meet back here, and hopefully find it by the time the police get here.”

As the intense search began and the minutes ticked by, the two men started to cover as much of the area as they could. It wasn’t three seconds after Brian rounded the corner behind the Inn, when he heard a loud rumble and saw a billowing cloud of black smoke silhouetting a form with blond hair being thrown viciously against the maintenance shed wall; rendering the body limp and unconscious. 

“Oh…My…God… Justin!” Brian shouted as he raced to his side. The blond had been only a been a few steps ahead as they both turned the corner, now he laid at Brian’s feet bleeding and unconscious. 

Quickly kneeling beside the limp body, Brian checked to see that he was still alive and breathing. Tears clouded his eyes as he gently cradled the blond head in his lap. Pulling out Justin’s cell phone he dialed 911 to have them send an emergency response team and an ambulance. 

Hearing the sound, Jennifer quickly followed the signs the explosion had made. A crowd had gathered and formed a circle, and she had to push her way through. She gasped as she noticed her son being cradled in Brian’s lap and the errant tears that were escaping and trickling down the older man’s cheeks.

“Oh… My… God!” she exclaimed. Seeing Brian’s somewhat shaken appearance, she kneeled beside him. “What happened,” she asked in a voice tinged with hysteria, but received no answer. She realized that the older man was nearing a state of shock and didn’t want to push him too much, but she had to know what happened to her son. “Brian,” she once again asked the man quietly, “What happened?”

Brian turned his tear streaked face to look at the women, pain evident in his eyes, then quickly averted his gaze and focused on the limp form he held in his arms. He was afraid that she would blame him and make him accountable for her son’s injuries. 

“We were going to split up. I thought it would be faster. He came around the opposite corner before I did and that’s when the bomb went off. He… got there… before me. I’m sorry, Jennifer it shouldn’t have been him.” 

“Brian,” she paused and drew a sharp intake of air when it finally hit her what the man was saying. Although she was frightened that her son was injured, she didn’t wish for it to be someone else lying there. Wrapping her arms around the older man’s shoulder, she said softly, “It’s not your fault Brian. It’s the person who placed the bomb that I blame, not you. You tried to help.”

“Thank you,” he said.

As the onlookers watched the drama unfold, the sounds of sirens got closer and when they stopped someone went out front to show the police and the paramedics to where they were needed. 

The officers on the scene started checking around and were directed toward Brian as the one who was there when it happened.

“Are you Mr. Kinney?” the police officer inquired.

“Yes,” he replied as he realized the officer was addressing him. 

“I need to ask you a few questions.”

“Huh?” As if noticing the officer for the first time, Brian stared blankly at him.

“Mr. Kinney,” the officer repeated, “I need to ask you a few questions.”

Jennifer finally stepped in when she noticed Brian’s unresponsiveness, “Officer, I’m Jennifer Taylor, the man that has been injured is my son, we own the hotel.”

“Yes Ma’am, but right now I need to find out what happened and I understand Mr. Kinney was here when the explosion occurred.”

“Yes he was, but he’s in shock right now. Could you ask your questions later? We’re on the way to the hospital now; meet us there if you want.”

As the paramedics checked Justin’s vitals, they inserted an IV, placed an oxygen mask over his face, wrapped a neck brace around his throat, and placed him on a board before loading him on a gurney. Brian watched as the blond was being administered to and wished he was the one on the gurney instead. 

He stood back and watched as Justin was being carefully placed inside the ambulance. He wanted more than anything to be the one to ride along as the journey to the hospital was made, but he realized it wasn’t his place, since Justin’s mother was there. 

Jennifer recognized anxiety and fear on the older man’ face as he followed every movement the paramedics made with her son. As much as she wanted to be the one making the ride with him, she knew deep down that Brian’s need to be with Justin was far greater than her own; she willing relinquished her right over to the older man. 

“Okay Mrs. Taylor, get in,” the paramedic requested as he offered up his hand to assist her inside the vehicle.

Having made her decision she turned to Brian, placing a hand on his shoulder she gently pushed him forward. “Brian you go with Justin.”

“But Jennifer,” he started to refuse.

“No Brian, I want you to go with him. You need to be with him now. I’ll meet you there, and besides, I need to go find Molly and let her know what has happened.”

“Thank you, Jennifer,” he whispered. Smiling gratefully he gave her hug before quickly hopping into the ambulance. 

Even with sirens blaring, the ride to the hospital seemed to take forever. Brian sat beside Justin and held his cold, clammy hand; quietly praying to a higher power to take care of this warm and loving being. He knew that if it hadn’t been for Justin he would never have realized that someone could so profoundly touch his soul as only he had. 

“Sunshine,” he softly whispered. “I need you; please wake up,” he quietly pleaded hoping his voice would penetrate Justin’s subconscious. “Come on Sunshine, I want to see that famous smile of yours. You promised me the weekend and I’m holding you to it,” he kept rambling. 

The paramedic suggested that Brian keep talking. He said that a familiar voice often could bring a person around. 

As the driver wove through the traffic, Brian continued his litany of ramblings hoping to pull Justin into consciousness. In the midst of one his confessions, Brian felt a twitch from the hand he was holding. At first the thought it was his imagination, but he watched as Justin attempted to squeeze his hand. 

“Come on Justin, wake up,” he gently cajoled as the blond blinked his way into wakefulness. “Come on Justin you can do it. Open your eyes.”

Becoming more aware of his surroundings, Justin made a grab for the oxygen mask trying to remove it. The paramedic stepped forward and assisted him in lifting the mask off his face temporarily as he tried to speak. 

“Brian?” he whispered in a raspy voice.

“Shhh. Don’t speak.” Relief washed over him like an ocean tide as Justin awoke. 

“Brian, what happened?” he persisted.

“You were thrown back against a wall when the bomb went off. Luckily you weren’t a few seconds earlier or else you would have caught the brunt of the explosion. As it was, you did catch some of its force and that’s why you were injured.”

Nodding his head in understanding, Justin’s eyes slowly drifted closed.

Arriving at the hospital, Justin was immediately taken into an examination room, and Brian stood by helplessly to wait for Jennifer and Molly to arrive, and for a doctor to check him over.

Pacing the long, endless corridor, Brian spotted Jennifer and Molly hurriedly making their way towards him. 

“How is he?” Jennifer worriedly inquired.

“The doctor is with him now ant the nurse said he will be out as soon as he can.” Brian tried to allay any fears; but wasn’t sure if that effort was for him or for Jennifer. “He came to during the ride over. The paramedic said it was a good sign, and that possibly that nothing was seriously was wrong,” he informed Jennifer and noticed the sigh of relief that escaped her lips.

Anxiously awaiting the report on Justin, the trio stood in the hallway with their eyes focused on the door as if the were willing it to open. A few minutes later their prayers were answered as a distinguished looking man dressed in green scrubs approached them.

“Mrs. Taylor?” he inquired taking notice of three concerned faces.

“Yes. I’m Mrs. Taylor,” she responded.

“I’m Dr. Samuelson. I’ve checked your son over and it appears that he suffered a slight concussion. We’re going to take him up to x-ray to make sure everything is okay. So far, we know that there is no internal bleeding, however, he will need a few stitches on the back of his scalp. Right now, he’s awake and cognizant of his surroundings, so if his x-rays come back as I think they will, we’ll send him home, but he will need to be watched through the night. He said he’s anxious to go home. He’s a very lucky man.”

“Thank you doctor; I’m so relieved,” she smiled gratefully and shook the doctor’s hand then turned toward Brian where she saw the look of anxiety that once marred his features turn into relief. “He’s going to fine Brian,” she reassured.

The doctor, who also saw the relief on Brian’s face nodded and said, “You’re welcome Mrs. Taylor. It’ll be a while before he’s released so why don’t all of you make yourself comfortable in the patient lounge and the nurse will come and get you when Justin is ready to go.”

About an hour later, a nurse came and told them Justin could go home, so Jennifer went and got her car and pulled it up to the entrance. Slowly he stood up from the wheelchair where he had been confined and Brian assisted him into the backseat of the car. Once the younger man was settled, Brian slid in beside him and gently laid the blond’s head on his lap. 

As they headed for home, immense weariness over took him and Brian leaned his head back against the seat, and closed his eyes. He kept one hand entwined with Justin’s while the other one tenderly ran his fingers through his hair. He seemed to have an overwhelming need for contact with Justin and gathered reassurance from his closeness. 

Brian could almost hear Justin purring as the gentle stroking lulled him to sleep. Raising his head to gaze down at the blond, Brian smiled at the look of peacefulness that had settled over his face. 

Gently shaking the blond awake as they arrived at the home, the three got out of the car and carefully walked toward the house. Stopping just short of the door, Justin turned toward Brian and said firmly, “I’m not staying here.”

“What do you mean, Sunshine,” he asked, even though he knew exactly what was being said.

“Justin?” Jennifer questioned, “What’s the matter?”

“I’m not staying at the house,” he repeated.

“What do you mean you’re not staying at the house? Dr. Samuelson said you need someone to keep an eye on you,” she commented.

Now Brian knew exactly what Justin was saying. He’d been thinking about the same thing himself. He needed Justin to stay with him at the Inn, but knew that Jennifer would never allow that to happen so soon after the explosion. 

If the it hadn’t happened, Brian was almost certain that Justin would have been spending the night in his bed, and both would have had something entirely different on their minds. But now it was a different matter; it was one of emotional need and reassurance that both men craved; to be able to reach out and feel each other’s body and know that all was right.

“Mom, I need to be with Brian. This accident scared the shit out of me and I need to know Brian is there; he feels the same way, too,” he vehemently stated as he looked up at the man, seeing tenderness and concern reflected in the hazel eyes.

Jennifer watched at the two men as they looked deeply at one another, and she knew what they were feeling; it wasn’t lust, but an overpowering desire to share one another; a reaffirmation of being alive.

His arms wrapped around Justin for support, Brian stood by quietly not uttering a word as the younger man adamantly insisted on staying at the Inn with him. He felt it was best not to intervene, as he didn’t want to be the one to usurp Jennifer’s position of being the closet person to Justin.

Jennifer noticed the stubborn set of Justin’s jaw and realized that her son was not going to be persuaded into staying unless she offered a better alternative. 

“Mom, I’m staying with Brian.” There was a finality in his voice 

“But Sweetheart, I think it’s best that you stay here,” she looked toward Brian hoping that he would help her convince Justin that being at home was in his best interest; afraid that if he left now, she’d loose him forever.

“No Mom, after what’s happened today I need to be with him.”

Seeing the stress the situation was causing Justin, Brian finally decided to speak up in a dual effort to calm the blond and keep peace between mother and son. Maybe, he thought, for at least tonight, it was best that Justin stay home; after all they still had a few days in which they could spend time together.

Although he felt the same way as Justin, and had an intense desire to be with him and hold him, he knew that the feeling wasn’t going to disappear overnight. He also understood Jennifer’s need to watch over her son and to be there for him. Hell, he should have been lucky enough to have a mother who loved her children half as much. She was the antecedent of the evil Joanie whose only true love had been the bottle.

The accident made Brian realize things about his feeling towards Justin: he now understood that in an instant he could lose someone very special; and he knew that it could have ended for them today if Justin had been only a second or two closer to the explosion. 

Brian was about to let Justin know that he thought Jennifer was right when she spoke first. As much as she didn’t like the alternative she came up with, she knew that if she wanted her son under her roof during the night she was going to have to suggest that Brian stay at the house with him.

“Justin, Honey, I know this isn’t exactly what you might have in mind, but how about Brian staying here?” she looked both men in the eye.

“Brian?” Justin questioned.

Brian was about to balk at the suggestion when hopeful blue eye looked up at him. He knew there was only one right answer.

“Sure, Justin.” At this point he couldn’t find it in his heart to refuse the man anything he asked for.

“And Mom, he’ll stay with me in my room. Will you be okay with that?”

It wasn’t something she agreed with, but at this point she was just too tired to argue and besides they would have been together had they stayed at the Inn. “Yes Justin, I’m fine with that.” 

Cocking his head to the side, Brian looked at the women. He could tell the prospect wasn’t something she would have liked… probably because of Molly being in the house. “Are you sure about this Jennifer? I can sleep in the guest room or on the sofa if it would make you more comfortable.”

“No way!” Justin exclaimed excitedly. “She said she was fine with us, right, Mom?”

Jennifer could see Justin getting more agitated and she wanted to avoid that. “No Brian, it’s okay, really. I don’t want to make Justin to be any more upset than he already is, and if your staying with him is going to keep him calm, then I’m fine with it.”

Brian had to admire the woman and her acceptance of the situation. Justin was fortunate to have a mother who loved him as much as she did.

It’s been a long day. Why don’t we go inside. You two go upstairs and get settled while I go and take care of Molly,” she suggested.

Jennifer stood at the bottom of the stairs, a worried look on her face as she watched the two men make their way slowly towards Justin’s room; Brian keeping a protective arm around her son.

As she watched them make their way upstairs, she realized the depth of the feelings the two had for each other; whether one of them was willing to admit it or not. The incident today only intensified their feelings and made them realize sooner what it was that had. Jennifer shuddered at the thought at how close she had come to losing her son. It terrified her to know that someone might have harmed him and she prayed that the police would quickly find out who was behind the bombing.

Justin gingerly sat at the edge of the bed; his body ached and his head throbbed from where they had made impact with the wall. 

Noticing how exhausted he looked, Brian sat beside Justin and set about to carefully undress him. When he was finished with his task, he pulled back the covers of the bed and gently helped the blond move between the sheets. Then he went to retrieve a glass of water so that Justin could take the pain medication the doctor had prescribed.

Placing the glass on the nightstand, Brian removed his own clothing and lay down beside the younger man. He positioned himself so that they gently spooned one another and carefully draped his arm across Justin’s waist to hold him tight. 

Justin relaxed into the embrace, feeling truly safe and secure for the first time in a long while. He entwined his fingers with Brian’s; needing as much contact with the man as possible. Slowly, exhaustion took over and he drifted off into a dreamless sleep; Thanksgiving dinner all but forgotten.

His mind in a constant whir of emotion, Brian lay awake for a while unable to sleep. He couldn’t believe how close he had come to loosing someone he was growing to care for faster than he ever imagined possible. 

Hearing the soft snoring of the man in his arms, Brian eyes fluttered closed as Justin’s steady heartbeat lulled him to sleep.

After making sure Molly was all right, Jennifer wearily made her way to her own room, stopping to check on Justin. As she quietly opened the door and peaked in, the scene before her brought a small smile to her face. She saw the two men snuggled under the covers, her son shielded in the warm cocoon provided by Brian’s arms and the contented smile that had settled on his face.

Justin started to stir as the warm sun peaked through the window and bathed his body in its warmth. He realized he was held in a protective shield of long slender arms and nestled deeper against Brian, enjoying the reassurance of being held. Ever so slowly, as not to wake him, Justin turned to face his partner. A gentle smile began to play on his lips as he watched the beautiful man beside him in peaceful slumber.

As he watched the man sleep, Justin lightly brushed away the strands of hair from Brian’s face, then gently traced the outline of his jaw with tender and soft kisses. Releasing a soft sigh, Justin had a hard time believing all that had happened the day before and now… having Brian in bed beside him was like a dream come true.

Sensing he was being stared at, Brian cracked open one eye ever saw sparkling blue ones staring back at him. He stifled a smirk and smiled lazily at the blond.

“Morning Sunshine,” he drawled as he leaned over to plant a kiss on Justin’s lips. “You look a lot better this morning. How do you feel?” Brian got his answer when he felt something poking at his thigh. “I see someone is feeling chipper this morning,” Brian laughed. But even as he joked, he couldn’t stop his own body from giving away what he was feeling also.

Blushing, Justin coyly smiled, “Care to check me out to see if I’m alright?”

As much as Brian wanted to ravish the body next to him he was concerned that Justin wasn’t up to the level of strenuous activity that they might pursue. “How do you really feel Justin? A lot happened to you yesterday. “

“I’m fine Brian, a little stiff here,” he smiled brightly, a giggle ready to burst forth.

“I know what part of you is stiff. It’s been poking at me for a while, but I’m talking about the rest of you. You should be taking it easy,” Brian stated concern evident in his voice.

“I feel fine. My body aches and there is some stiffness, but nothing I can’t deal with.”

“How’s your head?”

Justin grimaced, “It throbs a little and it’s tender where the doctor stitched it, but it feels a lot better,” he confirmed as he planted a deep kiss on surprised lips letting his tongue invade the other’s mouth.

Brian was concerned for the blond and didn’t want to cause him any more physical discomfort than he was already in, but he understood Justin needs because he was feeling the same way. He also wanted to let the blond know that he couldn’t make him any promises for their future, but this time he was not a one night stand. He wanted to tell him that being with him was something special and they would work out ways to spend time together. On the other hand, he would understand if Justin changed his mind about being with him, as he had always known that the younger man wanted more from him; but he still wasn’t sure just how much he was willing to give.

“Justin, after what happened yesterday, I know you want to consummate our relationship as a confirmation of being alive; to know there will be more sunrises and sunsets, but I also understand your feelings about being a one night stand. I want more than anything else to be inside you; to feel you envelope me in your warmth,” his hazel eyes darkened with desire.

Justin laid his finger on Brian’s moist lips, to gently silence him, “I know you can’t make me any promises, but I need you and want you and deep down I know you have strong feelings for me and I’m willing to….

“Are you sure, Justin” Brian asked as he started to nuzzle the side of his neck.

“Yeess,” he let out a soft hiss as Brian started to trail his tongue along the gentle curve of his neck. 

Brian blew a warm breath, and felt the blond shiver beneath him. He continued to lick and nibble, and when he heard a groan escape the younger man’s lips he smiled to himself.

“Oh, Briiiiiiii,” Justin mumbled, his mind and body being swept up in the sensations the warm tongue was doing to him.

“Are you enjoying this, Sunshine,” Brian drawled as he continued his way down his lithe form.

“Oh God, yes!”

Brian gently flipped Justin onto his stomach and starting from his shoulders he kissed his way down his spine till he reached the soft mounds of his butt. He felt the smaller man spread his legs wider as his own erection rubbed against Justin’s thighs then he to gently spread the cheeks of Justin’s ass as his tongue continued probing deeply.

Hearing the short raspy breathing Justin was making, Brian realized it wouldn’t take him long to bring him to the edge. He felt Justin push back against him and knew the blond was ready. Taking out the lube, he squeezed some out onto his fingers and inserted the first and pausing before he added another. He wanted to make sure Justin was prepared for the initial intrusion of the blunt tip of the shaft. 

Sheathing his cock, Brian placed it against Justin’s waiting hole and pushed through the first ring of muscle. Justin stiffened as he entered him and he stopped briefly until he felt the blond relax and begin to push back against him. 

Justin groaned as Brian breached him and felt a sense of completeness once Brian’s cock was fully engulfed inside him. Brian angled his hips and a steady rhythm ensued, their movements gradually increasing in speed. The brunet’s hand snaked beneath the blond to stroke his shaft. When Justin came, his muscles tightened around the older man’s erection and he heard a guttural moan escape Brian’s lips as he felt him ride out his own waves of pleasure. 

Breathing hard, Brian collapsed against Justin feeling their hearts beating rapidly from their mutual orgasm. Releasing a sigh of contentment, Justin tilted his head back and received a soft lingering kiss. He relished in the feel of Brian’s warm silky lips.

Justin felt a sudden sense of loss and emptiness as he felt Brian’s cock slide out of him and he wished Brian could remain inside him forever; the constant need for contact still remained strong from the day before. 

Brian removed himself from Justin, disposed of the filled condom, and gathered the blond in his arms; once again holding him tightly.

The two men fell into a light sleep after their morning activity and were finally awaken by the sound of a persisting knocking on the door.

“Jus, are you awake,” came Molly’s voice from the other side of the door.

Gently shaking the younger man awake he whispered, “Sunshine, someone is paging you.”

“Whaaaat,” came the whiney and incoherent response.

“Wake up, I think your sister is knocking on the door.”

“Christ can’t she ever leave me alone,” he grumpily replied.

“It’s time to get up anyway, Sunshine. It’s almost noon,” Brian chuckled softly when he saw the surprise look on his face.

“Shit, I can’t believe we slept in that long.”

“Well I don’t think we were exactly sleeping the whole time. I seem to recall some sucking and fucking going on,” the brunet smirked.

“Oh yeah…we did that too,” he agreed as a faint blush warmed his face. Putting on a robe he went to open the door. “What’s up Mol?”

“Mom called from the Inn and said I should check in on you. So that’s what I’m doing,” his sister stated with finality. “What were you and Brian doing anyway? I heard some strange noises coming from your room earlier.”

“Molly, that’s none of your business,” Justin exclaimed as he felt his face warm again as he remembered what he and Brian had been doing.

“Ohhhh…you and Brian were having sex, I bet,” the young girl giggled at her brother’s look of discomfort.

“Molly, you better get out of here before you get in trouble,” Justin huffed at the audacity of his younger sibling.

Closing the door, he turned back around and was greeted by Brian’s laughter as he watched the brother and sister. 

“You think that was funny? She heard us fucking, Brian. God, it’s embarrassing to know your kid sister heard you.”

Not being able to stop it, another fit of laughter burst forth from Brian’s lips as he watched the blond go into his drama queen mode. “Justin, you can’t help it if you make a lot of noise when you have sex,” he stated matter of factly.

“Me make noise,” the blond sputtered. “I seem to recall some sounds coming from you too,” he pouted. 

His eyes twinkling he opened up his arms in invitation, “Come here, Drama Queen.” Brian wrapped his arms around him when he stepped into his embrace.
“Stop being so dramatic. It’s all a part of having sex. Would you rather we had not done it?”

Snuggling deep into Brian’s arms, he shook his head, “Of course not,” he stated with vehemence. “It’s the best way to wake up in the morning,” he sighed. 

“No regrets?” Brian questioned.

“No regrets,” the blond confirmed. “I guess we should get dressed and go downstairs.

After showering together and dressing they went downstairs. Justin felt his stomach rumble, reminding him he hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast the day before. He and Brian never did have the quiet lunch he had planned for the two of them before he was interrupted by the anonymous phone call.

They were about to enter the kitchen when they heard a knock on the front door. Brian stopped as Justin went ahead to answer it, but both men were surprised to see a police officer standing on the porch. Coming up to join him, Brian placed a supportive arm around Justin’s waist, a gesture that didn’t go unnoticed by the policeman. 

“Can I help you officer?” Justin asked.

Looking at the blond who answered the door, the officer inquired, “Are you Justin Taylor?” Turning his focus, “And are you Brian Kinney?”

“Yes, I’m Justin Taylor,” he answered, bringing the officer’s attention back to him. “And this is Mr. Kinney.”

“I’m Officer Andrews from the Bennington Police Department. I need to ask you some questions about the incident that occurred yesterday. I tried to question a Mrs. Jennifer Taylor and some of the employees, but no one could provide any information and according to reports you two were the only ones in the vicinity of the explosion,” the officer looked at them; again observing the protective nature of the taller man toward the blond.

“Why don’t you come in Officer,” Justin offered, stepping aside to allow the man to enter.

The officer took a seat in a proffered armchair, while the two men sat on the sofa beside one another, touching just enough to provide reassurance and support they needed.

“Mr. Taylor, can you tell me what happened yesterday?” the officer asked.

“I was outside heading toward the back coming around the right corner of the building, I had taken a few steps, when the bomb went off,” Justin stated as he recalled the loud noise just before being thrown backward.

Officer Andrews scribbled a few notes on his pad before turning to Brian, “And where were you Mr. Kinney when this happened?”

Brian eyed the officer skeptically before answering, not sure if he trusted the man or not; he believed that all police were homophobes and he caught the look the man had given them when he placed his arm Justin’s waist. “I was coming around the opposite side of the building, but Justin was a few steps faster than I was.”

“Mr. Kinney, you’re a guest at the Inn, is that right?”

“Yes, I am. I came for the long weekend.”

“Where are you from? “

“Pittsburgh.”

“How do you know Mr. Taylor?”

“Why do you need all this information? I didn’t set the bomb,” Brian stated. He was getting more agitated by the minute with the inane questions the officer was asking.

“I didn’t say you did, Mr. Kinney. I just need to cover all my bases.”

“He hired my company to do some advertising work for the Inn,” Brian stated in a clipped tone. He was not going to make it easy for the officer; if he wanted more info he would have to ask.

“Thank you, Mr. Kinney.”

“Mr. Taylor, how did you know there was a bomb on the premises?” the officer questioned Justin.

“We were headed to the dining room for some lunch when I had a call.”

“We?”

“Yes, Brian and I.”

“Where did the call come from and who was the person who told you received a call?”

Taking a few moments to recall before he spoke, “The call came in on the house phone, and an employee notified me of the call, right Brian?” he turned to look at brunet.

“Yes, it was the girl that was working behind the reception desk, but I don’t know her name,” Brian confirmed, as he laid a reassuring hand on Justin’s thigh.

“That’s right; her name is Sarah,” Justin recalled.

“Can you give me her last name, Mr. Taylor? I’ll need to speak with her too?”

“Sure; it’s Sarah Clarkson.”

“How long has she been employed at the Inn?”

“I’m not sure. I think about five or six years ago. I wasn’t here when she was hired. ”

“Do you know anything about her?” Andrews inquired.

“Not much. My father hired her right after I left. It seems Sam knows her. I’ve heard she’s from around here, though.”

“Who’s Sam?”

“Sam McAdams. He was the previous manager.”

“Previous manager?” 

“Yes, he quit several months ago.”

“Did he actually quit or did you fire him?” Andrews eyed the blond cynically.

“Now wait a minute,” Brian stepped in, not appreciating what the officer was implying. “You think Justin’s lying?” he asked heatedly.

“Take it easy, Mr. Kinney. I’m not implying anything; I just have to make sure. If Mr. Mc Adams was fired, he might be considered a disgruntled employee and might have a grudge against Mr. Taylor and the Inn.”

Settling back against the sofa, Justin gave Brian a reassuring squeeze of his hand, to let him know he appreciated him standing up for him. “He quit on his own; he claimed to have gotten a better offer from the Bennington Imperial.”

“How long did he work for you?”

“Actually not very long. He was hired to help my mother after my father died.”

“Oh that’s right, your father was Craig Taylor,” Andrews stated.

“That’s correct.”

The officer noticed that the younger man didn’t elaborate much on his father. He wondered what kind of relationship they had, if any. “You mentioned Mr. McAdams was hired after your father died. Where were you at this time?”

“Are all these questions necessary,” Brian questioned the officer. “How are they relevant to finding out who set the bomb?”

“Mr. Kinney, I know these questions are tiresome. But it’s important I understand the full picture,” the older man patiently explained. “I know there have been several other incidents and they could all be tied together.”

“Other incidents?” Brian raised an eyebrow as he looked over at Justin. “I think someone has been keeping things from me.”

Looking slightly embarrassed at being caught withholding things, Justin said “I was going to tell you later, but this happened and we really haven’t had time to talk.”

“Uh, huh,” Brian remarked as he looked suspiciously at the blond.

“Anyway after the funeral,” Justin continued wanting to move the questioning along, “I went back to Pittsburgh, to resume my life. I hadn’t planned on moving back right way.”

“What made you decide to return?” 

“Well there were a couple of things; one being my mother and sister, and the other is I had been away for several years and missed the place. I always knew, eventually, I would move home.”

“What was Mr. McAdams feelings when you returned?” 

“I got the impression that he wasn’t very thrilled. I think he thought that when he was hired it was to be a long term arrangement; after all I hadn’t planned on moving back quite so soon.”

“So he was upset when you did return?”

“I guess you could say that. He didn’t care for the idea that I took over the management of the Inn. I suppose you could say that my approach was different than his and he felt my actions questioned his abilities. I was willing to work with him, but I don’t think he liked the idea that a younger man was telling him what to do.”

“Okay, I think that’s it for now,” Officer Andrews stood up and tucked his notepad into his pocket. “I’ll go speak with Ms. Clarkson before I leave.” He shook hands with both men, “Mr. Taylor; Mr. Kinney; I’ll be in touch.”

“Officer, what can you tell us about the bomb,” Brian questioned before the officer left. 

“Well, not much really. It appears to have been very primitive in style; simple dynamite and timer. It’s hard to tell at this point, but as things come up I’ll keep you informed. 

Closing the door behind the officer, Justin hesitantly turned to face his lover. He knew Brian would want to have the talk he promised him when he first arrived. 

He smiled brightly, “How about some lunch?” he asked hoping to deflect the onslaught of questions he knew were racing through the older man’s mind.

“Trying to avoid something, Sunshine?” 

“Me? Of course not,” the blond stated innocently. “But let’s have some lunch first I’m starved and I’ll tell you everything while we eat.”

An hour or so later, lunch was finished and so was Justin; his explanations to Brian of all the mishaps that have been occurring were provided without omission. 

“Why didn’t you tell me what has been going on?” Brian questioned. He felt hurt that Justin hadn’t told him sooner. He thought they had something stronger between them.

Just for an instant, a look of hurt flashed in the hazel eyes; it disappeared just a quickly, but Justin had been focused on Brian and had seen the change of color. 
He stretched his arm across the table, and placed his hand over Brian’s and gently grasped it as he felt Brian try to pull away. He knew the man would never admit to being hurt but it was written in that instant he looked into his eyes. “Brian,” Justin said soothingly, turning over Brian’s hand so he could twine his fingers with his, “Don’t be pissed at me, I just didn’t want to burden you with my problems.”

“Justin, I thought we were more than friends?”

“Of course we are. But I know how busy you are with Kinnetik. You’ve mentioned to me on numerous occasions how you are hoping to build it into a world class agency. I know how important the success of Kinnetik is to you and how hard you’ve worked to get it to this point.”

“That’s true, but I’m never to busy for people who I consider important to me; and I consider you very important,” he stated with emphasis.

“You consider me important?” he smiled coyly at the burnet, garnering a smile from the man.

“Of course you twat. You’re very important to me,” he responded.

Justin leaned across the table and placed his hand behind Brian’s neck and pulled him closer. He kissed him hard, running his tongue along his lips, and probing softly for entrance. Kissing deeply, tongues dueling, both men’s breathing became shallow as the kiss heated. They pulled away quickly when they heard someone clearing their throat. 

Both embarrassed and red faced, they turned toward the door to see Jennifer standing there, arms folded and a small smirk on her face.

“I see someone is feeling a lot better,” she commented happy to see her son up and about. 

On to # 10