Spin and Fall

Chapter 11

Monday, Brian was busy, even though he had worked most of Friday. The business seemed to grow on its own now, with clients calling Kinnetik instead of him trying to make contacts. Still, they lacked most of the big fish he had left behind when he’d been forced out of Vangard. He needed large accounts that brought in major bucks.

Trying not to obsess about ex-clients like Liberty Air and Darrington Department Stores, he instead was looking at other large potential clients that might need new blood in their advertising.

He was amazingly aware that Justin was also working somewhere in the building. Seeing him when he’d entered the meeting that morning had literally taken his breath away. He’d never seen JT in a suit, never mind such a gorgeous one. He’d looked so professional, so at ease, so…fucking hot. And it was like he had known what Brian was going to say and had come prepared, the twat. The shirt was fabulous, and the Converses, with the tie and the yellow hair… Brian had wanted to fuck him on the conference table in front of everyone…

Justin seemed completely confident, watching the gorgeous panels he had created, and refusing any help with his team. The phone call in the middle of the afternoon had at first thrown Brian for a loop, until he’d caught on that it was about getting more out of Stuart than his font matching magic. Good luck with that…

Sunday’s business section of the PG had announced in small print that John Carruthers had left Monongahela Technologies for personal reasons when he had still been in the process of revamping their whole image. As far as Brian knew, the personal reasons had to do with his imminent divorce due to his wife discovering that his male personal secretary was doing more for him than typing letters. The young man’s name was Kip Thomas, and Brian, who had his own personal history with the slime ball, had no doubts the whole affair stunk to high heaven, but he saw a small window of opportunity, and he was going to take advantage of it.

He called John Carruthers’ direct line, which Cynthia had just handed him. Who knows how she’d gotten a hold of it… The woman was worth twice her salary. He grinned. He shouldn’t think things like that. He sometimes suspected her of ESP, and he could not afford to pay her twice her salary…

A male voice answered.

“Hello?”

“John? It’s Brian. I have the prelims you asked for…”

“Uh… I’m sorry. This is Adam Arnold. I’m John’s replacement. And you are?”


“Brian Kinney, from Kinnetik. John and I have been discussing the new image for MT. Are you a temporary replacement? Should I bring you up to speed on what John and I are going for? He is keeping it very much close to the vest as far as I know… When can I expect him back?”

“Hmm… Mr. Kinney, John has taken a very sudden, indefinite leave of absence… He left very little in the way of notes for me to work from. As far as I can tell, he was working with a… Vince Gardiner on the new image…”

Brian laughed. “That’s Gardner Vance, from Vangard. Did you see his stuff? John thought it was laughable, I mean, really… So passé. Vangard was leaking stuff to the press to milk their association with MT. It really pissed John off. Kinnetik is very discreet. We have been working on this together for weeks, and not one word has leaked. Our prelims are ready. Gosh, it must be a bit overwhelming for you to be thrown into this… John usually comes here, to see the work, but if it will be easier for you, I could come over there… Up to you really.”

“Uh… Mr. Kinney. What’s a prelim?”

“Ah. I see the problem. First, call me Brian. Second, it seems to me you may be in need of a crash course in Image Creation. So it might be best for you to come to us. I will have you up to speed in a matter of hours, and you can talk prelim, boards, hoardings and market coverage with the best of them. I have to free up a half a day, quickly by the sound of it… Hold for a minute, will you?”

God. How quickly could he come up with prelims for a whole new image for one of Pittsburgh’s largest Fortune 500 companies? He called Justin. There was no answer at his desk and time was ticking. He called his cell.

“Justin Taylor”

“Justin… JT, how fast, outside of office hours, can we come up with a new image for Monongahela Technologies?”

“Shit. They’re huge. The two of us together? Three nights. Four if we stop to fuck.”

“I’ll call you back.”

Shit. What was the guy’s fucking name? Alan. Aardvark. Arnold? Adam Arnold.

“Adam?”

“Oh, thank god, Brian, I thought I’d lost you there.” Boy. This guy was eager for help and in way over his head. Forget fucking. Three nights.

“Thursday morning, at 8:00. I’m afraid that’s the soonest I can free both my Art Director’s calendar and mine for several hours running. Will that work?”

“God. You are a lifesaver. I have a board meeting on Friday morning and an appointment with that Vince guy next Monday. I’ll have something for the board, right?”

“Absolutely. John had talked of bringing Justin and I in to do the presentation to the board so he wouldn’t have to sweat it. We can do the same for you, if you want…”

“You’re kidding? Of course I want!” Adam laughed in relief. “Now I can concentrate on the accounting mess John left behind until I see you guys on Thursday.” He laughed again. “I might just unplug the phones!”

“I know what you mean… Hey. What’s your e-mail so I can send you our address and so on, in case you need anything…”

“A.Arnold @ MT.com.”

“Great. I’ll send you a few things I think might help you. Don’t hesitate to call with any problem, Adam. I’ll be happy to help in any way I can…”

“Thanks. Thanks a lot, really. I was feeling pretty overwhelmed before your call…”

“No problem. Talk to you soon.”

Brian hung up, and didn’t know whether to shout with glee or completely panic. He was literally holding the hand of a man who, in his other hand, held the key to a multi-million dollar account… and he had engaged Kinnetik in producing weeks of work and research in three fuckless nights, with no written contract in sight saying there would be any kind of financial reward at all. Well he’d engaged his and Justin’s ass, actually. He was going to work this amazing challenge with Justin. That did it. He got up, raised a fist and shouted in glee.

Cynthia walked in. “What are you so excited about?”

“Justin and I are showing Adam Arnold from Monongahela Technologies the prelims for the company’s new image on Thursday, and if all goes well, we are presenting it to their board on Friday.”

“MT! Holy shit! They’re huge! Wait a minute. Thursday when? You have appointments on Thursday… And when did you get that contract? How long have you two been working on this? And you have appointments on Friday as well!”

“Cynthia, Cynthia, Cynthia… That’s why I have you! Justin and I have not started the work, we don’t have a contract, and I just bull-shitted my way through. Adam Arnold is a nice accountant who thinks I’m his new best friend, and Vance has the contract, which we are going to steal from under his nose.”

“Oh, well, in that case…” She grinned at him, raised her arm in the air and shouted with glee.

He really loved that woman… Now he had to call Justin back.

“Justin Taylor.”

“Hey, it’s me again.”

“Oh, good. Listen, I had just made it home when you called, but we can’t work here, because we’ve fucked here and I won’t be able to concentrate. I’ve put on some sweats, I’ve got my work clothes for tomorrow and I’m on my way to your place. Order some takeout, will you? I have this really cool idea I think you’re going to like. Hurry up, I’m really hungry. Your cum is the only food I had all day…”

Brian grinned. Fucking workaholic. “I’ll be there in fifteen. The elevator code is the same as the garage. The door code is…Uh…” Oh, fuck. He’d forgotten about that… “I change it all the time, you know? I give it out to someone in the gang and next thing you know they’re all waltzing in there like it’s Grand Central Station…”

He actually had had the same code for six years until the recent change. Why had he done something so lesbianic? Fuck. He’d certainly never thought then he would ever see the little blond twink again.

“OK. Got it. Do not share the code with gang, check. What is it?”

Well, there was nothing else to do... “JT132”

“…Oh. And you changed it… when?”

“Sometime back in February, I think…” When he had pretended he had no interest in going back to Seattle, or that nothing special had happened during his stay there…

“I see… Uh, Brian? At the Edgewater? I stole your jock straps when I left.”

That was both slightly disgusting and very endearing, but that Justin should admit to it to make him feel better about his own uncharacteristic sentimental move was the kindest thing anyone had done for him in a long time.

“…Oh. Well, all right then… I’m on my way.”

He wondered what Justin’s idea was. He wondered what Justin would think of the loft. He wondered what Justin looked like in his sweats. He wondered if giving him a blowjob as they waited for the food counted as distracting sexual activity. He did not wonder if they were going to pull it off. With the two of them working together, there was not a doubt in his mind…
 

*****

Brian watched Justin, admiring his perfectly relaxed body language, the way the purple suit hung on his slight frame, and how good a contrast the vibrant lime green of his shirt and tie was against his pale skin.

He did not need to listen to the words. They’d rehearsed their presentation until they were so comfortable with it, it sounded fresh again, as if they were making it up as they spoke. That included the joke Justin had just made, his slightly sheepish look for how bad it was, and his laughing with the board members, more at himself than at the joke.

Brian knew every member of that board loved the young blond man and his spontaneous ways, his candid remarks, and his accidental revelations, having no suspicion that it was all a very carefully calculated risk; every word, every expression previously weighed and analyzed.

His own part of the presentation had been no less polished, but of course for him they had gone for a completely different effect. He had been the gorgeous man completely oblivious of the effect his unconscious display of sexual power had on his audience. He had seduced each and every one of them into either wanting him, wanting to be him, or wanting to be fucked by him. He had made each of them feel singled out from the rest by his sudden focused attention, lasting until he seemed to recover himself and look away, as if he realized he was letting his personal preference override his professionalism.

His own slightly moiré Zegna suit, with its short one button jacket was just reflective enough to showcase, inadvertently of course, his impressive cock. The conservative white shirt and gorgeous but discreet tie were proof enough that the display was completely accidental.

Justin concluded his presentation looking, for just a moment, like a self-conscious high schooler who has just realized he was monopolizing the conversation at his parent’s dinner party. Brian wanted to fuck him so badly his cock was throbbing with it.

They’d had a really beautiful fuck that morning, with everything in it that had emerged from their four nights of intense cooperation - admiration, trust, physical attraction, unwavering support, respect, friendship. Brian was so fucking in love with Justin it was becoming a part of him, an essential component of his personality. That he did not say it out loud anymore, even to himself, was just self-preservation. It was fucking scary to have so much invested in another person, even if you read the same feelings on his face, in his body, in your kisses and in the way he took you and brought you to that place of uncharted, ever greater pleasure only he seemed to have a key to.

But, god help him, Brian still wanted to fuck him. Even as he tried to sublimate this need by his own surrender, it grew and grew and it screamed to be recognized. He wanted to fuck Justin, slide into his body, take possession of him, fuck him into insanity and oblivion, bring him back and fuck him some more.

He felt like a traitor, a liar, and a heel. But there it was. Justin sat back down next to him, his scent marvelous. Brian squeezed his shoulder, as they had rehearsed; the approval of the mentor, like a silent “You’ve done us proud, Kid.”

Adam had signed the contract with Kinnetik the day before, voiding MT’s previous engagement to Vangard, which carried an ex-employee’s signature. Now he was smiling and pushing the same contract around, for each member of the board to sign along with him as a show of support, to let him know they were impressed with the way he’d stepped up to the plate.

It was Brian’s idea for Adam to take credit for choosing them over ho-hum Vangard, saying Vangard had been John Carruthers’s choice, but that Adam had recognized the potential of the smaller, more edgy Kinnetik. He’d shown early prelims of Vangard’s work at the beginning of the board meeting, comparing them to a quick sketch Justin had drawn on a yellow pad showing Kinnetik’s idea. That also was a total set up, but it changed Adam’s image from that of a stop-gap accountant thrust into a position he was ill suited for, to a surprise go-to visionary they were lucky to have found.

It also gave Kinnetik a completely impregnable contract, securing five years of relationship with the technological giant. Millions in the bank, both in reality and figuratively. The fact that Brian had walked away from Vangard with the Brown account, and shortly after had regained the Remsen Pharmaceuticals account had placed him on the map. This contract would be mentioned in the business section of this Sunday’s New York Times. It made them leaders in their field.

He wanted so much to be a fly on the wall of Gardner’s breakfast nook on Sunday. After all, Gardner had his final presentation coming up on Monday… Though there would be a message on his voicemail canceling it, of course.

The contract had gone around the table. The board members were relaxed, joking. They had other business to attend to, so Brian and Justin stood up, Justin with the contract in his hand and giving the board members his Sunshine smile, unbeknownst to them the first genuine facial expression of his they had seen that day. Adam walked them to the door, as did the president of the board, who also invited them to dinner at his house a couple of weeks hence.

They shook hands with both men, and left. In the elevator, a completely deflated Justin handed Brian his car keys. They drove to the loft where Brian called Cynthia to tell her it was in the bag, and then unplugged the phone. Smiling, he picked up Justin’s suit and tie off the floor where he’d dropped them on the way to the bed. He hung them next to his, got naked as well, and slipped into bed next to his beautiful boy. As soon as he laid down, Justin crawled on top of him, his head on Brian’s heart, and the rest of him sprawled all over him. Brian could have sworn Justin was doing so in his sleep, because the soft snoring sound that signaled he was deeply in slumber never ceased.

He closed his eyes himself and finally, after four sleepless nights, shut it all down and slept.

 

*****
 

Justin woke up in a dark loft, alone in bed. He looked at the clock. It was 11:15PM. He’d slept for twelve hours and was still exhausted. There was a note on the clock.

“Meet me at Babylon?”

But there was no way. He was too tired. He dragged himself up, packed the clothes he’d worn at the loft the past four nights and the work clothes he’d brought so he’d not have to go home before work. His purple suit was hung, which was not his doing, and he smiled. He got his toiletries with his zipped meds pocket, his chargers, his laundry bag and found his keys and his wallet on the bar in the kitchen. Feeling guilty, he went back and made the bed, then left.

At home, he started a laundry, prepared a dry cleaning bundle, hung his suits, brushed and flossed his teeth, took his normal meds and a Xanax and went back to bed.

He woke up again, feeling halfway human, on Saturday at 10:30AM. Four nights of just half hour catnaps here and there followed by full workdays at a challenging new job was not something he ever wanted to do again. Without Stuart keeping track of the projects he had to approve or help with, sending him to his appointments and feeding him lunch, he’d never had made it. That man had taken to being a personal assistant like a fish to water…

Justin was horny as all get out. The only time he and Brian had fucked had been Friday morning before the board meeting, when the die had been cast already anyway. It had been amazing, both of them having realized through their intense nights just how perfect a match they were in every way. Justin had never really thought it would happen to him, but he was madly in love. Life without Brian was not even an option.

Justin jerked off, remembering the feeling of entering Brian, of pleasuring him, of making him lose control. Making love with him was so completely satisfying… He came quickly, saying his name, and almost fell back asleep. Instead, he called Emmett, making plans to meet him at the gym.

They worked out together, Justin telling him of his week of hard labor. Apparently Brian had been just as horny as he was. According to Emmett, he’d fucked almost nonstop in the backroom the night before. Justin laughed. Apparently his boss recuperated faster than he…

That evening was the Diner, Woody’s and Babylon for the whole gang. Everybody knew about Brian and Justin’s excellent adventure that week, and so no one was surprised by their sudden friendship and complicity, even if Michael was not overly pleased about it.

Under his long sleeve T-shirt, Justin was completely twinked out, with a short, tight silver shirt over hip hugging white cargoes and white wrestling shoes. He disappeared into the bathroom at Babylon as soon as they got there and gelled his hair full of sparkles, also putting sparkly lotion all over his torso and arms. He grinned in the mirror, knowing that he looked angelic, though not in the least girly. He loved looking sixteen sometimes.

He went back out and danced with Emmett for a long time. He could see Brian at the bar eating him with his eyes, and put on a real show, designed to torture his lover.

To his surprise, Theo showed up and started dancing with him and Emmett. He was chagrined when Emmett abandoned him for some shaven headed black guy, allowing Theo to make a move on him again.

“You’re wasting your time,” Justin said. “I don’t bottom, not for you, not for anyone…”

“Maybe I want to bottom tonight,” said Theo.

“Yeah, right…”

“I watched you fuck Terry. You were amazing.”

“I like Terry.”

“I’m sorry I was a jerk last time. Look at you. You don’t look like a power top… You look like a sprite or an elf or something.”

“A fairy?”

They both cracked up. Then Theo bent down and whispered, “Come on, little fairy, take me to the back room and make me moan… eat my ass and fuck me…”

“Are you clean?”

“Very, very clean. I’ve been wanting this since I saw you do Terry… I’m prepared…”

“I’m really horny. You suck me first, and you got a deal.”

“Let’s go.”

Leaning against the wall, Justin enjoyed the blowjob immensely. He’d been so fucking deprived. Brian came in with a blond twink and set himself up across from Justin, getting his cock sucked too. They stared at each other the entire time. Justin was getting really close when Brian discretely pointed at him, then at his blond trick, grabbed the trick’s head and started fucking his mouth. God, Justin loved it when Brian did that to him. Brian was reminding him of the blowjob on the dance floor at Purr, and it worked. He immediately came in thick spurts into Theo’s mouth. Brian chuckled but then came as well, deep down his trick’s throat. Justin realized Brian had picked the blond for the sole purpose of putting on this little show for him, and he smiled.

Theo stood up and thought the smile was a compliment of his non-negligible skills.

“Like that, did you? That was a lot of spunk you lavished on me…” He licked his lips. Justin was surprised. He never swallowed the cum of random fucks. Theo kissed him, and he was a really good kisser.

“I’m so horny for you, little fairy, I almost came in my pants when you let go…”

Justin caressed Theo’s hard dick through his jeans, and knew he was telling the truth, his pants being soaked in precum. He undid the buttons to better massage him. He was big, as big as Brian. Already Theo was toeing off his shoe. Well, wasn’t that nice. It looked like guys knew exactly what to do to make his life easier.

As a reward for good behavior, Justin crouched down and blew him, giving him the JT’s “Blow your mind” special treatment. His dick felt a lot like Brian’s, but smelled different; his cologne less citrusy, and his natural musk less pronounced. It was still nice. If he ignored his nose, he could imagine he was blowing his boss in the Janitor’s closet… Theo cried out, “Fuck, oh, Fuuuck” as he came, in about three minutes…

Justin spat out his cum, turned him around and attacked his hole with a vengeance. He loved rimming tops. If you did it right, you could make them beg like wanton sluts… And Justin did it very right. His own cock sheathed and lubed, he used his lubed hand to revive Theo’s dick as he relaxed the tight, defensive outer sphincter of the top, which had closed reflexively as soon as Justin touched it. Brian’s was only now overcoming the natural reflex and actually relaxing when stimulated...

It didn’t take too long though for the pleasurable stimulation of the thousands of nerve endings in the area of Theo’s hole to open, wanting more. Justin teased the rim, going deeper and deeper and yes, there came the inevitable slutty begging, for “More, more, yes, oh yes god please don’t stop don’t stop don’t stop, oh god, oh sweet Jesus, oh fuck, fuck me god please fuck me please….”

Justin fingered him, with plenty of lube because he was so fucking tight, up to three fingers, stretching him, lightly drumming his prostate, until Theo was as wide as he could make him. He added more lube and plunged in, and god! That was so fucking good…

“Oh, God, wait, wait, wait… OK. Wow. You’re fucking big, little fairy…”

“Justin,” said Justin, starting to thrust slow and easy.

Theo chuckled. “Justin.”

“I’m just telling you so you know what name to scream when you come in a few minutes…”

Theo chuckled again. “Your cock feels good, little fairy, but not that good…”

Justin smiled. Oh ye of little faith… Then he fucked him.

…“Oh, god, Justin! Justin! Yes! Yes! Yes! Justin! Oh! Justin!” As the rectal contractions of Theo’s orgasm milked his own deep into the man’s ass, Justin smiled to himself. Mission accomplished…

He tucked himself back in as Theo, who had turned around, leaned down to bring their foreheads together.

“God, Justin. That was… God. Unfuckingbelievable.” He chuckled again. “Never bottom, my friend, you’re right. You may have the ass for it, but you were born to top… Just… use your powers only for good…”

They both cracked up.

“Get dressed, you big Nelly bottom,” said Justin. “I’m going back to my friends…”

He walked out picking up a clean cum towel, and was thrilled to see Brian at the bar. He handed the towel to the bartender, and asked for some hot water and a Bafferts mint flavored gin. Theo had been super clean, as promised, but the pleasant scent of him lingered. He did not want Brian to smell another man on him, no matter how nice the other man’s scent. He washed his face, and realized the bartender had put a little soap on the towel. He gave it back to him, and it was returned again wetter, and this time, soap free, for a rinse. The gin was waiting. Justin rinsed out his mouth thoroughly, and spat the liquor back in the glass. That was a twelve-dollar mouthwash, but he wanted to dance with Brian and be able to get real close without Brian even thinking about where Justin’s mouth had been.

“Glenn?” said Brian, who at first had been watching Justin a bit mystified, but finally caught on that this was all on his behalf. “It’s on the house…”

“Yes, Boss.”

“Start storing some Scope back there for Justin, OK?”

“OK, Boss.”

Justin laughed and said, “Thanks… Dance with me?”

“How could I say no, knowing you went to so much trouble?” Brian was grinning at him.

They were glued to each other; Brian’s head bent down so they could talk.

“I won’t be eating ass in the backroom every time. I think I’ve made my point. It’s just those tops, you know, they require special handling,” teased Justin.

“Ah, the difficulty of appearing to be the perfect seventeen-year-old piece of blond boy ass…” Brian’s eyes could not hide how he felt about that. The hunger… Justin felt a deep-seated pinch of guilt, but pushed it away, knowing (hoping…) Brian was only responding to the image he was projecting that night.

“Fuck off, Kinney. What would you know about my constant trials? You were probably born 6’3” with a huge cock and a domineering aura. I bet you have never bottomed in your entire life. Do you even have an asshole, Asshole? Considering you never fucking eat, it probably closed up from disuse…” Justin was amazed. He had no idea where his delivery of this silly little speech had come from, but it had been perfect, and hilarious.

They started laughing like idiots and laughed so hard, they actually had to stop dancing. Looking away to try to catch his breath, Justin saw Michael staring at them from the bar, looking forlorn.

“Hey, Brian. I’m going to dance. Go talk to Michael, he misses you.”

Brian looked towards the bar, gave Michael a big smile, and after whispering, “You are very kind, Justin,” into his ear, went to join his best friend.

Justin just danced. He was hoping to get a blowjob again before he went home, but for now, he just wanted to lose himself in the music. Blake, Ben and Emmett were there, and he joined them, mostly so no one would bug him. He closed his eyes and let the beat take him.

 

*****
 

Brian came back to the loft alone. It was 2:30 in the morning and he was bushed. Justin had actually left Babylon a little after 1:00, looking worn despite having slept a huge amount in the past couple of days. He looked really thin, as if he’d not eaten in a while. The first night they’d worked, they’d had Thai food, but after that Justin had always eaten before coming. Cynthia had made sure to instruct Stuart to feed his employer, but that was only fruits and protein bars.

According to Cynthia, Stuart was fabulous in his new role. Leave it to Justin to change a bad situation into a good one… Brian got himself a glass of bourbon. A very full glass.

Brian had had his usual three blowjobs and a fuck, but he was definitely not happy about the situation. At least he and Justin were getting together at Justin’s tomorrow night. No tricking for his boy…

Justin’s first blowjob had been fun, with Brian teasing him from across the room. That, he didn’t mind. But the rest… Justin had given that Theo guy one of his amazing blowjobs in return, which was bad enough, but then he’d eaten his ass and fucked him. And when the guy had come calling out Justin’s name, just like Brian couldn’t help doing himself half the time, Justin had smiled contentedly, happy to have given the guy the orgasm of a lifetime. Fuck.

He hated watching Justin fuck other guys. He remembered that threesome they’d had in Seattle. He’d told Justin then he did not want him fucking the trick. When Brian fucked tricks, he did with them something he didn’t do with Justin, something different.

But what was the difference for Justin between him and the tricks? Justin kissed them, he blew them, he rimmed and he fucked them, just like he did Brian. There was no difference.

And if at least he was cold and business like with them… But no. He knew their names, he talked to them, he fucking laughed with them… Shit. Brian was just some glorified trick…

The glass had exploded against the wall before Brian was even aware of launching it. He’d not known how angry and… jealous he was. And it tied itself with his desire to fuck Justin, to take him, to possess him, to make him his. Which he couldn’t. How long could he go on pretending all was hunky-dory?

He went to bed and lay there, thinking. Why did he follow Justin into the back room? It was like scratching a scab. He should just stay away when Justin was tricking. As for the rest… He’d told Justin he would be satisfied with what Justin could give. He would try hard to make it true. He knew well enough that Justin would give up as much control to Brian as he could, and do whatever Brian needed to make up for his inability to bottom. After all, Justin did not give up control to his tricks. That was something that was uniquely Brian’s. And if it still weren’t enough, he’d just have to be creative. He fell asleep, feeling better.

 

*****
 

The entire flight, Brian and Justin worked on their idea for Kids Love Fish!’s new dolphin shaped fishsticks commercial. It was so completely ridiculous, they guffawed a couple of times, getting irritated looks from their fellow first class passengers. Justin’s art was fabulous, with the blond mom and her friend on the first floor balcony, feeding the fishsticks to her son by throwing it into the air while he jumped like a trained dolphin ten feet out of the water and caught it mid-air.

The dialogue between the women, written by Brian, was hilariously kitschy, all about the benefits of fish on brain development, muscle built up from lean protein, and benefits to heart and arteries, with the kid jumping up and adding: “Don’t forget, Mommy!” and jumping again: “It’s super yummy too!!!”

Creating this ad was part of the “Sink Vangard” strategy. They would bring an unsolicited campaign to any company brought to Vangard by Brian, using his old contacts.

Kids Love Fish was their first target. They had decided to let their creativity run wild, with no censor. They could not afford to spend weeks working on each campaign. Whatever idea they came up with, they ran with. Trying to steal Gardner’s clients was going to be a lot of fun: They allowed themselves to go all out with unbridled silliness, or seriousness or sexiness, or whatever they felt like, definitely much, much further than they could go with contracted clients.

It wasn’t until the descent started that Justin got nervous. He’d been trying hard to feel positive about meeting Brian’s children and their mothers, but he knew how important the kids were to him, and was scared shitless that they’d hate him on sight. He had absolutely no experience with children, apart from Molly, and she’d had to love him: She was his sister…

The women knew Brian was bringing his lover and had prepared Gus for his presence. Brian had warned him that he would be sleeping alone on the foldout couch, because Brian always slept with his son. He suddenly was having serious second thoughts about the entire thing. Maybe if he stayed on board, he could just return to the Pitts and leave Brian and his family alone.

Brian’s finger was suddenly under his chin, turning his face to him, and he was being kissed, an amazing loving and pleasurable kiss, in full view of half the first class passengers. Brian was not one for public displays of affection outside of Liberty Avenue, which made the experience all the more significant.

“Stop over-thinking this, Justin. Gus is going to love you, Lindz and Mel are going to think you are too good for me, and as long as you smile, tickle her and push her in the swing, JR is going to think you are the greatest thing since tits. Were you this nervous before your interview with Kinnetik?”

“Pfft. Of course not. I'm worth my weight in gold to any Art Department. This is different, Brian. I… You know… I want to be… Maybe in the future we… Well, I’d like to be… Oh! Fuck it. If Gus hates me it would ruin… everything.”

Oh, god. Another kiss. It was so good, too…

“You twat. It’s too late. You already are.”

“Uh?”

“Whatever you want to be in the future, Justin, you already are: My lover, my partner, my best friend, my boyfriend, my main squeeze, whatever it is you want, it’s already yours. Even if Gus hated you, he’s only five, and I see him once a month at best. It would be too bad, but it would not ruin anything. I lo… I’m happy with you Justin. Nothing is going to change that.”

The plane landed very smoothly as Justin saw the truth of what Brian had just said in his eyes. Brian was rolling in his lips, self conscious under Justin’s scrutiny. It was Justin’s turn to kiss him. What he had thought was far too presumptuous to reveal was that someday, he’d like to be Gus’ other Dad. He was being so ridiculous. Gus had two moms. He didn’t need two Dads. And the ridiculousness was total if you included JR, whom Brian seemed to consider his own as well. She already had three dads and two moms! So he whispered to Brian, “Your main squeeze. That’s what I was hoping to be in the future…”

Brian chuckled. “Jerk.”

Justin interlaced his fingers with Brian’s on the arm of the chair for a moment. “Thanks.” He let go.

Brian smiled at him, as the seat belt light went off. They got up, got their overnight bags, and left the plane, Justin trying hard to relax. As soon as they stepped out, a little blur landed in Brian’s arms, hugging him tight. Brian moved out of the way so people could pass by. Gus slid down his body, and holding onto his leg looked up at Justin.

“You’re my Daddy’s Justin?”

Justin crouched to be his height. “Yes I am. Are you my Brian’s Gus?”

Gus giggled. “Yep! That’s me!”

“I would have known you anywhere: You look just like him.”

“Really? But my Daddy is so tall…”

Justin sighed. “I know… I have to get on my tippy toes just to give him a kiss…”

“Me too!” Gus seemed to think about something, and said, “Well, maybe you can kiss me sometimes… I’m not tall.”

Justin leaned over and kissed the soft cheek. “I like that. You skin is nice and soft.” Then he whispered, “Sometimes my Brian is so poky!”

Gus whispered back, nodding emphatically, “I know!”

Justin winked at him and Gus giggled as he stood up again. He smiled at Brian.

“Thanks for being patient.”

Brian’s eyes were full of love. “You’re welcome.”

He picked up his son again and they met the pretty woman Justin had so profoundly resented only six weeks earlier.

She smiled at him and said, offering her hand, “You must be JT. I’m Lindsay. It’s so nice to meet you!”

“Nice to meet you as well,” said Justin, though it wasn’t entirely true. He thought there was something phony about her. He chastised himself. He had to get rid of the residual instinctive dislike that he felt for her. She was NOT Aidan’s wife…

Brian leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Not his wife, not his wife, not his wife…

A little awkwardly she said, “Well, shall we go?”

As they walked to the car, she explained they had taken out JR’s car seat to make room for Brian, and that Justin could sit in the front with her. Lindsay efficiently got them out of the parking and onto the highway.

“So, JT. How did you and Brian meet?”

Brian and Gus were deep in conversation, and Lindsay had turned on kiddy music to play only on the back speakers. It was enough to make the front seat conversation hard to listen in on, and Justin realized he was going to be submitted to an interview much more grueling that the one led by Cynthia… He decided that if she was going to be nosy, he was going to be bluntly honest.

“Please call me Justin. We met at a gym in Seattle, while Brian was there on business.”

“And you hit it off?”

“Well, we were fucking less than three hours later, so I guess you could say we hit it off.” He answered her disapproving glance with a sweet smile.

“Brian said you saw each other again a month later?” Shit. She was undeterred.

“Yes. Brian came back again for business meetings, and this time, stayed with me.”

“And these two visits were enough to make you decide to move to Pittsburgh and work for him?”

He was very tempted to answer, "Yes, that’s how good the sex was…" but stuck with the truth.

“Actually, it was all serendipitous. I never expected to see him again. I applied to eight different advertising firms for a job. Kinnetik was the first one to answer. I was interviewed by two other employees, and liked what they offered, so I took the job.”

“Are you trying to tell me you didn’t know it was Brian’s firm?” she asked, rather rudely, he thought. “Surely they mentioned him!”

Well, though phrased undiplomatically, her surprise was reasonable, really. “Of course they did. I had even researched him , studied his work… But you see, I knew Brian by his middle name only. I had no clue he was Brian Kinney. We did a whole project together by e-mail without either one of us having any clue who the other one was. I was extremely happy when I found out. I had missed him like crazy.”

She gave him that phony smile again. “You have to admit the whole story sounds unbelievable, a little too much like a fairy tale… Young artist unknowingly takes job in estranged lover’s successful company…” A phony giggle to go with the phony smile.

Was that… bitch calling him a liar? What did she think? That he was after Brian’s money? Fine!

“Well, considering I am independently quite wealthy, I’m not sure which one of us would be Cinderella…” He had hoped to shut her up, but she did not miss a beat.

“Oh! Did you have a nice trust fund?”

OK. That was it. The gloves were off…

“I had a small one, before my dad found out I was a fag and kicked me out of the house at age seventeen. I played pool professionally to pay my way through school, and then designed the video game “Rage” which I sold to Microsoft for a tidy sum and a percentage of the profit. I invested, wisely if I say so myself, in its rival, Apple, and of course, “Rage” and “Rage 2” have been amazingly successful. Last month the royalties alone were $34,000.00, a third of my yearly salary at Kinnetik. I work because I am passionate about what I do, and incredibly good at it. I am with Brian because we are amazingly well suited, from our interests, to our enthusiasms, to our out of this world fucking. Any more questions?”

She had the grace to blush. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m Brian’s best friend, and I guess I am a little too protective of him…”

“I was under the impression that Michael was Brian’s best friend, and that Brian was a big boy, who could take care of himself.”

“Well, Michael certainly is Brian’s oldest friend. But you are wrong about Brian. Behind his devil-may-care façade, he is incredibly fragile…”

One of Brian’s best friends viewed him as a superhero, and the other one as a tragic romantic figure. Did they have any clue who the man really was? Then he remembered what Brian had said on the plane… …you already are: My lover, my partner, my best friend… and chuckled to himself. He needed to calm down. That woman was probably very nice. After all, Brian liked her enough to have a child with her…

Turning to Lindsay with a genuine smile, he said, “I’m sorry, Lindsay. It is very intimidating to meet the people closest to Brian’s heart. I am being a defensive jerk.”

She laughed. “It’s incredibly intimidating to meet the man he has chosen as well. I’m being an aggressive bitch…”

He laughed too. “All right then. Let’s start over. Your son is gorgeous!”

She smiled. “He looks just like his dad…”

“Exactly…” They cracked up.

“You are so in love with him,” she teased.

“Head over heels,” he admitted.

She smiled at him again. “It’s obvious he’s in love with you, even if he’ll never say it. He brought you to meet his son… So I am really glad his feelings are returned. It’s such a huge step for him.”

Since Justin did not care to hear more of Lindsay’s psychological analysis of Brian, he changed the topic. “Brian said you used to be an art teacher?”

“Yes, I was, for years, before Gus was born. I loved it, but the pay… Managing a gallery is pretty exciting, and very interesting but sometimes I miss teaching. Luckily, Gus is at the age where we can start drawing together, so I get to teach him, and eventually JR. Why did you choose advertising?”

“It’s fascinating. The subliminal images within the images, the constant change in style, the diversity of the subject… I love it. I draw and paint as a hobby, as you probably do, but the advertising visual art is what I’m passionate about.”

“I could never have handled the pressure of creativity on demand and production with a deadline. I’m way too complacent.”

Justin smiled. “Diversity is a wonderful thing.”

“Well, we’re here!” She turned off the music. “Brian, be prepared for a surprise!”

Mel and JR were on the porch, but she came down the stairs and put the baby down. Though dressed in dark blue sweat pants and a white t-shirt with a yellow digger on it, hand me downs from her brother no doubt, there was no mistaking that baby for a boy. She had long shiny dark hair held back with a pink barrette and the face of an angel. JR smiled at Brian and toddled uncertainly right into his waiting arms, a big proud grin on her face. He hugged her tight, “JR! You can walk! I’m so proud of you…” and Justin could see how much he loved the child. “Dada!” she said. “Dada!”

Apparently confused, Brian looked up at Mel and Lindz who both were making resigned faces. Gus explained, “JR thinks you’re her Daddy too, Daddy. She calls Uncle Michael ‘Dada Mike’, and Uncle Ben ‘Dada Ben’, but she calls you just ‘Dada’. Mommy said not to worry about it, that she’ll understand later. And I don’t mind, Daddy. I know you’re my Daddy, but I don’t mind sharing you for a while…”

Brian put the child back down and she teetered for a moment before finding her equilibrium. Gus crouched down much like Justin had done to speak to him at the airport, pointed at Justin and told his sister, “That’s Justin, JR. Can you say Justin?”

“D’stin.”

“No JR. Justin.”

“D’stin.”

Gus looked at Justin apologetically. “I’m sorry, Justin, she’s just a baby. She can’t talk too good…”

JR toddled to Justin.

“Uppy, D’stin!” she said commandingly with her arms raised. Justin picked her up and kissed her cheek. “Hi there, Beautiful!”

She petted his hair and said, “Shoft”. Then she put her chubby arms around his neck and her head on his shoulder, obviously meaning to stay a while. Justin looked at Brian and grinned.

Mel walked to them, smiling a nice genuine welcoming smile. “That’s my daughter!” she said. “Horribly shy little thing…” With a smirk Justin didn’t quite understand Brian kissed her cheek. Mel smirked back at him, but you could tell she was sincerely happy to see him. She grabbed Justin’s bag. “Looks like your hands are full, Justin. I’ll take this in. Welcome to Toronto. Have you been here before?”

“No, never. Just Vancouver and Quebec City. It looked very nice on the ride over. Is it very different from Pittsburgh?”

“The weather is colder, and the people warmer.” The entryway was warm and welcoming. The house had good vibes. “Why don’t you have a seat in the living room, through there. I’ll put your bag in the office. JR is little, but she weighs you down after a while.”

Brian went up to put his bag in his son’s room, and Lindsay excused herself and went to go check on lunch, leaving Justin alone with the children.

JR sat up in his arms, pressed his cheeks together with her chubby hands until his lips stuck out, giggled and slid off his lap, then off the couch in a practiced move. She maneuvered around the coffee table on all fours to get to a toy chest. She got out a squeaky giraffe, which, suspiciously, did not squeak, and tried patiently to stuff it into a purse half its size. She seemed quite content. Her brother watched her, then looked at Justin, shaking his head.

“I’ve tried to tell her it’s too small, but will she listen?”

“I have a baby sister too,” said Justin.

They exchanged a look of commiseration and complete understanding, and sighed. Gus came and sat on the coffee table in front of Justin, his legs swinging. He looked from Justin to the window and back again.

“Your eyes match the sky,” he said out of nowhere. Then, without a break, “Do you work with my Daddy?”

“Yes, I do.”

“So you see him everyday?”

“Pretty much.”

“You’re so lucky.” Gus looked wistful. “I only talk to him on the phone a lot.”

“I am lucky. Very lucky.” He knew how Brian felt about the women moving to Canada, but surely that was not a topic to discuss with the child. Justin was scrambling for some non-accusatory way to tell Gus Brian wished his son was still in Pittsburgh, but Gus had apparently moved on.

“Mama says you’re his friend. Mommy says you’re his boyfriend.”

Justin didn’t quite know what to say to that.

“So which one are you?” asked Gus, who apparently had meant the previous statement to be a question.

“Uh… Both. Yes, I’m both, definitely.” Nice diplomatic answer, he thought.

“Uncle Mikey is his best friend. My best friend is Matthew, and sometimes Bridget.”

“Hmmm…” Justin wondered if there was another question hidden in there.

“What’s the difference?” asked Gus.

So there had been. Justin was still not quite sure what it was though…“Pardon?”

“You’re real polite,” said Gus approvingly. “Mama says to say pardon instead of “What?” Did your Mama teach you to say pardon?”

“Uh… Yeah. I think so…”

“Between friend and boyfriend.”

Oh, boy. Justin was totally confused now. “What?”

Gus giggled. “You’re funny. What’s the difference between “friend” and “boyfriend”?”

Hm. Something simple, easy for a child to understand. “Well, huh, I think a friend… likes you. They can even like you a lot, but a boyfriend… loves you.”

“Do you love my Daddy?”

Ahh… Finally an easy one. “Yes, I do.”

“See: Mommy’s right. ” He smiled, happily. “I gotta pee!” he said and scampered out of the room.

Well so much for diplomacy. Holy shit. Justin felt a bit overwhelmed. Plus he really had to pee too… He got up from the couch and walked to JR. She’d abandoned the giraffe and the purse and was lining up girlie colored Duplos, pink, purple, pale yellow, turquoise, orange… Since when did Lego make blocks that weren’t primary colors? He handed her a lime green block, and she took it from him but set it down between her legs and grabbed a pale yellow one to put on her line, then a pink one and then an orange one…

Maybe she didn’t like green. He handed her another green one. She took it, laid it down as well and continued her line with a turquoise block. Hmm… He handed her a purple block. She took it and put it with the green blocks. He handed her a yellow block and it joined the rejects. A pink one, same, an orange one… she put that one on the line, then took one of the green discard and put it down, then the purple discard, and used it. Then she searched and found another orange one. The line was curving around her in no pattern Justin could understand. She used his second green one and smiled at him.

Mel and Lindz re-entered the room. Justin looked at them, and grinned, then handed JR a pink block, which went to the discard pile in favor of a yellow one. He handed her an orange one and she used a turquoise, then a purple one and she used the pink block he’d given her earlier.

He stood up and sighed. “I just don’t understand women,” he said dramatically.

Mel grinned at him. “Really? In this case, it’s easy, Justin. It’s quite obvious she’s fucking with your head…”

Justin burst out laughing. “Come on,” Mel added. “I’ll show you to your quarters.”

“And I’ll change your diaper, stinky butt!” said Lindz behind them, picking up JR.

The office was well used, with two desks. Lindz' was covered with pictures of paintings, Mel’s with intimidating thick files.

A futon couch had been opened and looked very comfortable, with a feather duvet, four fluffy pillows and a beautiful patchwork coverlet. A lamp was clipped to the arm of the futon couch, next to a small digital clock. Mel pointed out hooks behind the door. His bag and a nice hooded white terry cloth robe already hanging there, then showed him the downstairs bath with its small shower.

“We used to have a real guest bedroom, but we decided not to double up the kids after JR was born. I hope you’ll be all right. Our bedroom and the kids’ are all upstairs, so don’t worry about waking anyone up.” She blushed. “I meant if you watch TV on the computer or whatever. We go to bed really early…”

He could tell that’s really what she’d meant, and was afraid he might think she had been making some crack about a possible visit from Brian. He answered blandly, “I brought my headphones anyway, but thanks.” He smiled at her. “I’ll be very comfortable. Thank you.”

She was very pretty, he thought, though the less feminine of the two. She looked at him and giggled. “I’m sorry if I act weird. I’m trying to relax, but I have been dying to meet you for weeks, ever since Brian told me about you. He looked so… happy. He and I have had our differences, but I was so glad he found someone…” She grabbed his arm suddenly. “Oh. Lindz doesn’t know I’ve known about you for so long. Brian only told her a week ago. He’d wanted to keep it to himself, and believe me… Well. You’ve met the gang. They can be a bit much.”

Justin chortled, thinking what Michael or Debbie’s reaction would be like, and through Emmett, the entire Liberty neighborhood… “Yes. I understand his desire to keep our relationship under wraps, believe me… Plus, well, he’s my boss. Though he was here with all of you when I was hired, and had no clue who I was, I’d rather keep our relationship quiet at work until I’ve proven myself to the rest of the team…”

“I want to hear that whole story. It’s so great. I’ll leave you to settle in, and lunch will be ready when you are.”

Justin gladly used the bathroom, and looked at himself in the mirror. He’d try to dress conservatively, to look his age, with a blue cashmere sweater and tan cords, but it was one of those days where he woke up looking like a dewy seventeen, and nothing he did made a difference. He washed his hands, and ran into Brian on his way out. Interestingly, his lips ran into Brian’s as well, and he was backed into the bathroom and the lock was closed.

It was such a nice kiss… “You’re OK?” asked Brian.

Justin smiled. “I’m fine. All’s well, Brian.”

Brian smiled back. “I knew it would be. Come on. They’re waiting.” And Brian started kissing him again, as if he’d not heard himself. Then he grinned and said, “Quit it, Justin!”

“Wh…” More kissing.

“Quit looking so fucking hot…” More kissing, more sensuous, the large hands going places that led to beds.

“Brian!” said Justin, pushing him back.

Brian was smiling at him hungrily. “What?”

“Lunch?”

“…Oh! Shit. Let’s go.” This time he actually opened the door and got out of the bath. “You go ahead, I have to…” He gestured in the direction of his crotch but Justin pointed to his own bulge. They walked together to the kitchen.

“Bare breasted dykes on bikes.”

“Fat balding men.”

“Taxes.”

“Richard Simmons.”

By the time they reached the table, they were completely relaxed.

TBC…

 

Theo


       

   
 

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