Epilogue - Page 3
DeAnna Zankich
Sequel to | Down All the Years, Down All the Days
Summary: This story takes place three months ahead in my "Tenant" time line and after ep. 122 in the US series timeline. Basically, this takes place somewhere around the end of August.
Warnings: None
Author Notes: THIS STORY IS SET IN NEW YORK CITY BUT CONTAINS NO DISASTER CONTENT.
Spoilers: None
Lying on his back on the soft cushion of the lounge chair, Brian hovered over him. Justin stroked those well-muscled arms and smiled wantonly into Brian's sparkling hazel eyes. In an instant they were kissing, slowly at first . . . soft, ravenous licks and gentle sucks of each other lips. He shivered when he felt Brian's hot, heavy cock stiffen against his thigh. Justin reached for it, grasping and rubbing it until it felt like steel in his hand.
Brian breathed roughly in his ear. "I'm going to eat your ass just the way you like it . . . I want our audience to get an eyeful of your hard cock while I tongue-fuck you . . ."
Justin purred a little giggle. "I love it when you talk like that . . ."
Brian's silky stubble prickled deliciously against the tender skin of Justin's neck as he kissed his way down to the young man's writhing belly. He balanced himself with his feet over the sides of the lounge chair and grabbed hold of Justin's hips with his long-fingered hands. For a moment Brian just looked at him, his hazel eyes growing darker with his mounting desire. He licked his perfect lips and kissed the insides of Justin's thighs softly, moving his face back and forth so his whiskers scratched that sensitive skin. Justin couldn't help laughing. It felt great.
"Tickle?" Brian whispered.
"In the best possible way . . ." he affirmed, carding his fingers through Brian's rumpled, satiny hair.
Reaching over the edge of the lounge, Brian grabbed Justin's sweats. He balled them up and tucked them under the young man's lower back. With gentle pressure, he pushed Justin's thighs up and back until they pressed against his own ribs, then Brian leaned over and ran his tongue around and around the pulsing head of Justin's cock. He dabbed into the slit and licked the salty natural lubricant there, then he tracked that warm wetness down the back of Justin's twitching erection to his balls where he stopped to lick and kiss and bury his nose in the thatch of blonde pubic hair.
Justin sighed as he watched his lover's every move, gripping the edges of the cushion with tense fingers. He glanced up at the windows looking down on Kate's roof and he tried to see if he could spot anyone watching them. Most of the buildings were too far away for him to make anything out in the windows, but he could FEEL eyes on them. He very definitely sensed the audience he couldn't quite glimpse.
And then Brian's hot tongue slipped down between his butt cheeks and Justin's eyes slid closed in pleasure.
He moaned and arched up into the contact, his eager opening relaxing and tingling as Brian licked it greedily. He used small, torturous circles then a short penetration, then he repeated the sequence several times. Brian's thumbs gently pried the skin around Justin's anus apart, exposing the soft pinkish tissue just inside the tightly wrinkled surface. He teased that tender skin with the tip of his tongue for a few unbearable seconds before he drove his tongue deep inside and wiggled it around.
Justin cried out and fought to keep himself from coming right then, but Brian pulled back--clearly aware of the effect he'd had. He looked at Justin with mischief in his eyes.
"You all right up there?"
With his belly rising and falling rapidly, Justin smiled. They both looked at his throbbing cock, the reddened tip smeared with slick moisture. "I think you'd better fuck me soon. Otherwise, I might die."
Brian slipped the balled up sweat pants out from under Justin's back and dropped them over the side again. He kept his hands on the backs of Justin's thighs as he drew his own legs up onto the cushion, then he fit the younger man's knees over his shoulders. Grinning seductively, he bit open the condom packet with his teeth and let Justin take the slippery disc out of the wrapper.
"Hurry," Brian purred. "I think my ass is getting sunburned."
They both laughed as Brian leaned over for a kiss. Justin felt the stretch in the muscles of his thighs as Brian's weight pressed against them. The heat of the late afternoon sun warmed the bottoms of his feet.
"Can you feel them watching us?" Brian whispered.
"Yes," he said as he slipped the condom over his lover's thick, wonderful cock. "I can feel them. Should we do it doggy-style for dramatic effect?"
Brian chuckled. "I see how you are." He put his feet on the floor again, on either side of the lounge cushion, and stood up so Justin could turn over.
Once he was on his knees, he felt Brian take hold of his hips and draw him backward until Justin's shoulder blades touched Brian's chest. He guided the younger man's backside into place, his hot erection thumping impatiently against Justin's left cheek.
"Hand me the lube," Brian instructed.
They both tilted forward so Justin could pick up the tube Brian had brought upstairs with him without breaking their connection. They seemed to be pressing against each other for warmth and protection, although Justin didn't think either of them were scared. He could feel Brian's heartbeat against his back and it was racing excitedly just like his own.
He handed the tube to his experienced lover and tilted his head back for kisses as Brian's fingers softly prepared and stretched him for entry. In that position Justin could feel the sun bathing the front of his body and his face, soothing him with erotic warmth. His already straining cock seemed to swell even more from the luscious heat and exposure and he reached for it without thinking, toying with the head very gently while he and Brian kissed.
"Don't come yet . . ." Brian warned. He nipped Justin's bottom lip then suddenly slid his huge cock inside the boy's body. "You'd better wait for me."
They both groaned as the connection was completed and they stayed still for a moment just breathing and feeling each other's heartbeats. Brian's hand reached around and cupped Justin's tight balls, softly rolling them with his fingers and tickling the hairs on the boy's thighs at the same time.
"Make a really good show of it, Justin . . ." Brian urged as he slowly began to move. "Let them hear you moaning all the way in Mid Town . . ."
"You're driving the train, daddy," Justin teased. "If you want me to moan, you've got to MAKE me moan." He knew he was going to get smacked for the `daddy' remark and right on cue Brian's hand cracked solidly against Justin's right butt cheek.
Even though Brian was irritated by the word, it also spurred him on at that moment. He drew his cock out and slid it back in with long, even strokes while his fingers dug into the smooth flesh of Justin's ass. "You want me to drive, do you?" he growled lustfully. "Buckle up, baby."
Justin grinned and moaned out loud as Brian drove his cock in a fierce, frantic motion. It would have hurt a little if it didn't feel so good and he had to hold on to the top of the lounge chair for support. Brian's pumping threatened to knock him off balance. He felt his lover curve his hips under, redirecting the head of his cock inside Justin's body so it rubbed his tingling prostate on every stroke. Not that Justin needed any help coming. He was so close, he was trembling and he bit his bottom lip, trying to concentrate--to will it back. But Brian held onto his hips and plunged in and out, his stiff cock seeming to grow even more inside Justin's body.
They were both groaning and gasping for air and then Brian's hand spread across the small of Justin's back, urging him forward. He understood that he was meant to be on his hands and knees and he let go of the chair in front of him to bend over. Once his hands were in place on the cushion, Brian drew his hips back impossibly far, almost holding Justin up with his strong hands. Justin's legs fell over the sides of the chair and his toes brushed the warm surface of the roof garden. He barely had a hold, but he didn't need one. Brian was supporting his body entirely.
He tried to look over his shoulder so he could see what the neighbors were seeing, but if he turned too far he would loose his grip on the cushion. Their position was precarious and Brian already had enough to do. Justin lifted his hips to increase the depth of penetration and he swooned when Brian let out a deep raspy moan. God, he loved that sound. It indicated raw, pure joy and Justin lived for the times when he could make Brian feel that good.
Those long fingers dug into the flesh of Justin's ass, holding him still as Brian rode him. Justin closed his eyes and just let go . . . reeling from the erotic sensations that seemed to be everywhere at once. His nipples throbbed, his skin was warm and sweaty, the tender skin between his butt cheeks was exposed to the heat of the sun, increasing the sensitivity ten-fold. His cock bobbed and bounced against his belly, tingling like crazy with every slight movement. Inside, he felt the most incredible heat. He sighed and moaned, lifting into each of Brian's thrusts, trying to intensify everything--all the contact, all the sensations, all the pleasure.
Brian's groans became guttural and desperate and then he suddenly pulled out, flipping Justin over and dropping him onto the cushion on his back. He whipped off the condom and began tugging on his purple, swollen cock violently. Justin just watched him for a few seconds, the whole vision suddenly moving very slowly to his perception.
Brian's hand was a blur on his cock and his face was contorted in a lustful mask of pleasure. Shining drops of sweat decorated his smooth chest and his nipples were dark pink and tender looking. Justin reached for them, softly pinching them with his fingers. Brian cried out and his hand stopped just below the large, perfect head of his cock. A hot blast of creamy semen splashed across Justin's belly, followed by another and another. The last hot spurt landed on the head of Justin's quivering cock and Brian reached for it, using it to lubricate and draw out the brimming orgasm.
Justin felt like he'd been coming for ten minutes already and when contact was finally made with his cock, he arched up and almost screamed from the pleasure. It hit him like an explosion and he was rocked by the hard contractions. His eyes squeezed closed but he could smell Brian's sex-heated skin when his lover leaned over to kiss him. He loved the taste of the sweat around Brian's lips. Brian kissed him all the way through his climax, gently chewing his lips and stroking his tongue as the vibrations ebbed and died away.
Finally they collapsed back on the cushion and Brian covered Justin's body with his own, lying with his head on the younger man's chest. As he ran his fingers through the silky sweat on Brian's back, Justin looked around at the windows again. He still couldn't see anyone but he was even more acutely aware of the presence of onlookers.
"No applause," Brian murmured.
"Huh?"
"We didn't get any applause. Our act must need some work."
Justin giggled. "Well, then we'll just have to practice, won't we?"
Raising up on his elbows, Brian looked at him with a playful grin. "We'll be here for two more days. That's plenty of time to rehearse."
"You have that marketing forum, though. That is why you came here."
He sighed and rolled his eyes. "Christ. That thing. I'm going to be bored unconscious."
Justin reached over the edge of the lounge chair and picked up the white towel Brian had been using earlier. Carefully he draped it over Brian's smooth backside to keep him from getting sunburned there. He pet the soft light brown feathers of hair back away from Brian's forehead and looked at him closely.
"That is why you came, right? The forum?"
"Of course," Brian said, his brow knotting slightly. "What do you mean?"
Justin shrugged, wishing he'd never brought the subject up. "I just meant that . . . " Sighing reluctantly, he looked away. "Never mind."
"I didn't come to see Stuart," Brian said irritably.
He looked back into those hazel eyes imploringly. "I just want you to know that I totally hate it when I say things like that. It makes me feel like a big insecure whiner."
Brian chuckled and put a kiss on Justin's nipple ring. "I don't mind."
Raising his eyebrows, Justin said "you don't mind that I'm acting like a possessive little princess?"
"Nope."
He squinted curiously, biting his bottom lip. "Since when?"
Brian shrugged. "I don't know. I just don't mind. I get possessive with you all the time."
"Well, yeah . . . but I LIKE it. I always have. You never liked it."
"I didn't say I liked it, Justin. I just said I didn't mind." Brian shifted, meaning to get up but Justin held onto his arms.
"Okay," he said calmly. "God. One thing that never changes with you is you never fail to tell me when I've pushed you into a corner. Just forget I mentioned Stuart, all right? Please. Lie down . . ."
Brian softened and settled back down with his head on Justin's chest.
The conversation was over, that was clear, but Justin's mind continued to run wild with possibilities. Brian was going to be alone with Stuart all day Saturday and Sunday with only Kate to supervise. Justin had no idea what the structure of the marketing forum would be, but he didn't think they would all be together the whole time. Kate was only one person, after all. She couldn't be everywhere at once.
While they lay naked dozing in the sun, Justin began having dreams. He heard voices he did not recognize and strange music. He saw colors and smelled sweet perfume. Before he could make sense of any of the images, he drifted off with his hands resting on the smooth plane of Brian's back.
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Stuart:
After lunch and a tour of Wall Street, Vince was beginning to fade a bit. The jetlag was having its way with him and he couldn't keep his eyes open. Richard took him back to the hotel for a rest and Stuart returned to the Stephani's townhouse with them.
It was nearly five o'clock and the sun cast long, golden shadows through the pristine living room. While Kate made cocktails in the kitchen, Richard went up to the loft office to check for messages. Stuart leaned on the counter beside his friend and watched her put ice into the martini shaker.
"Where's Brian?" he asked.
"I don't know." She turned toward the laundry room and walked over to look inside. Craning her neck upward, she smiled and nodded to Stuart. "Door's open. He probably fell asleep in the sun up there like he always does."
Stuart smirked mischievously and started for the stairs. Kate put her hand in his chest, stopping him.
"Listen, you. I'm coming up there in two minutes with drinks, so don't you dare get up to anything naughty. I have the number at the hotel--I'll call Vince immediately and tattle."
He chuckled and kissed her cheek. "Katey-girl, relax. I'm just going up to say hello. I won't lay a hand on him, I promise."
She eyed him doubtfully then allowed him to pass with a rueful sigh.
Stuart tiptoed up the narrow staircase that led to the roof garden. He and Kate had drinks up there one night when he visited her the year before. They could see the entire skyline of Manhattan from there with the stars twinkling overhead. He remembered talking until the wee hours, like they always did, with the sounds of traffic bleating far below. In his mind, that was a quintessential New York Memory.
As he stopped out onto the roof, he heard the soft trickle of the fountain. It reminded him of his wedding day and the memory made him warm all over. Stuart glanced around the roof garden and spotted the bodies on the lounge chair. He held his breath as he took in every detail of the sight before him.
Brian's long-legged frame was curled around the body of a very handsome young blonde and they were both sleeping on one lounge chair in the last of the afternoon sun. It was lovely and warm up there, the stone surface of the roof having retained a good deal of the day's heat. A white towel fluttered over Brian's smooth backside and his soft light brown hair blew in the light breeze. He was dead asleep, his beautiful lips parted and relaxed as his head rested on his young lover's chest.
Stuart crept forward very slowly, making sure to remain utterly silent. Once he reached the lounge chair he sat down on the concrete carefully, praying his knees wouldn't crack like they sometimes did. Fortunately, he was able to keep quiet enough not to wake either of them and he sat watching Brian and his lover for a long moment.
The blonde boy wasn't at all what Stuart had expected. He was a bit older and more polished. His haircut was very neat. His smooth, fair skin was dusted with silky looking platinum hairs and his full lips were salmon-colored. Long pale lashes rested against his plump cheeks and his small nose turned up slightly at the end. He was quite beautiful, really. Although he was clearly young, he did not look at all nave. Not even while he slept. His natural demeanor was assured and self-possessed, especially in the way his arms clung gently to Brian's back.
Stuart looked closer at his former lover's skin and saw that it was quite reddened from the sun. Brian's lower back and shoulders were sun burnt and had already started to freckle. They must have been sleeping out there for a few hours.
Stuart fought the urge to touch Brian--to reach over and place his cool hand on that hot looking skin, soothing it gently until Brian woke up. He watched the covetous way the boy held him, even in the relaxation of sleep. Sitting that close, Stuart could smell Brian's warm body and he licked his lips. Letting his eyes travel up the smooth slope of Brian's back to his shoulders and then to his lovely face, Stuart's breath stopped suddenly. The young man was awake and looking right at him with piercing blue eyes.
"Hiya," he whispered. "I'm Stuart."
With his eyes keenly assessing Stuart's face, the blonde boy smiled. "I figured," he whispered in a voice rough from sleep. "I'm Justin."
Stuart Jones grinned and batted his eyes, turning up his irresistible Irish charm. "He's got a sunburn," he reported, nodding to Brian's naked back.
Justin peered over his lover's shoulder and regarded the long curve of Brian's body. "Ohhh," he breathed, frowning. "Yes, he does. I hope Kate's got some aloe."
Just as her name was mentioned, Kate stepped up onto the roof. She balanced three very full martini glasses in her hands and moved gracefully across the warm concrete in her high-heeled boots. The sound of the leather heels striking the concrete woke Brian and he stirred in Justin's embrace. Blinking, he sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. The towel slid off and he sat naked between Justin's legs as he stretched his arms over his head and yawned.
Justin sat up, shielding his privates with his hand as he reached for his sweats under the lounge chair. He covered his lap with them, then reached for the white towel Brian had so carelessly dropped. His watchful gaze flitted to Stuart as he did so.
"Don't be shy," Stuart purred. "You're lovely. And I'm sure you're aware that I've already seen him."
Almost prudishly Justin draped the towel over Brian's ample package, his fair cheeks burning with a sudden shy blush.
Brian watched Justin do all these things with a curious little smile, then he looked at Stuart. They grinned at each other flirtatiously.
"Hey," Brian said. "Where's Vince?"
"I have cocktails," Kate said cheerfully, teetering over to the chair. She handed each of them a glass then wiped the vodka she'd spilled off her hands on the butt of her trousers. "Justin, I hope you like these. They're the total opposite of sweet."
He sipped the clear martini tentatively, his handsome young face contorting slightly from the taste. "Phew!" he said, then took another sip. The second taste must have agreed with him more because he smiled at her. "It's good," he said. "It just took a minute."
She laughed. "Now you'll never be able to face a Cosmo again. I'm such a horrid influence on the young." She ruffled Brian's disheveled hair. "Must be the company I keep."
He ignored her and sipped his drink.
Stuart watched Brian over the edge of his own glass, his eyes shamelessly devouring the American's naked body. The white towel barely covered his lovely cock and a tiny bit of his light brown pubic hair peeked out just over the towel's edge.
"Will you guys behave long enough for me to go down and get myself a drink?" Kate asked.
"I'll baby-sit," Justin said then offered a cheeky smile.
Kate winked at him. "I'll bring Brian something to wear so he's not so damned distracting. Do you want anything from your room?"
"No, thanks," he said. "I'm fine."
"I'm fine with the towel," Brian protested.
"Yes, dear," Kate said. "You're TOO fine with the towel. That's the problem. I'm going to bring you some jeans or something."
"Oh," Stuart said. "Brian's got a sunburn on his back. Do you have any lotion?"
"I do?" Brian twisted around trying to see.
"That's right," Justin said, his voice wavering. He was clearly upset that Stuart pointed out the sunburn before he did and his youth made this impossible to hide. "Do you have some aloe?" he asked Kate.
"Sure," she said. She gave Stuart a warning look. "I'll spank you," she whispered, then turned to go back downstairs.
He tried not to giggle because he knew he was being bad, but Stuart just couldn't help it. He smiled at Justin with saccharine sweetness and raised his glass to his lips.
This was going to be more fun than he'd imagined.
Justin:
It was still warm up on the roof of Kate's house even though the sun was setting in long gold shadows through the surrounding buildings. Justin didn't really want to put on his sweats, but he knew he had to. After Kate went back downstairs, he looked at Brian and was dismayed to see him blatantly flirting with Stuart.
"So, where is your husband?" Brian asked.
Stuart glanced over at Justin and his pretty eyes glinted in the waning sunlight. "He's back at the hotel. Jet lag got him. He needed a nap."
"He let you come back here by yourself?" Brian teased. He sipped the drink Kate had given him but he never took his eyes off Stuart Jones.
"You're not THAT much of a threat, luv," the brunette said. He held out his hand for Justin's drink. "I'll hold that if you want to put your sweats on."
Momentarily unsure of the Irishman's intentions, Justin squinted at him suspiciously.
Stuart offered a crooked grin and fluttered his long, black lashes. "I won't peek, even though I'd like to."
Justin did not look to Brian for his permission or his opinion, he just handed Stuart his cocktail and sat with his legs over the edge of the lounge chair. He stared challengingly at the Irishman. "You're going to have to turn your head."
Grinning with devilish defiance, Stuart kept his attention on Justin.
Brian reached over and put his hand across Stuart's eyes. The brunette giggled, but he stayed still and Justin slipped into his sweats. Once he was dressed, Brian removed his hand and Justin took his drink back.
"Thanks," he said, sitting back down.
"Pleasure." Stuart winked at Brian playfully. "He's got a lovely cock."
Brian laughed and nudged Stuart's leg. "Fucker. Shut up."
Stuart offered a coquettish smile to Justin. "I'm joking. Really. I wasn't peeking."
Shrugging, Justin said "I don't care if you were. I do have a nice cock." He reached into his drink and picked up the olive choked toothpick with his fingers. He tugged one of the olives off with his teeth while he held his gaze on Brian.
His lover was watching him in that testing, teasing way he had when he was in the presence of a worse influence than himself. Brian got like this sometimes when he was with Michael. Even after everything that had happened, Michael Novotny still regarded Justin as a transient annoyance that would be sooner removed if treated unkindly. Unfortunately Brian usually fell into the trap of playing like a boy whenever he was with his boyhood friend.
Justin was patient. He knew Brian would snap out of it and start acting like a grown up again soon. In the meantime, he knew he had to keep on his toes. This sexy Stuart Jones was wily.
He could easily see why Brian was drawn to him. Stuart was lithe and kitteny and his skin and hair looked soft and irresistible. On top of all that, his body was great--lean and sculpted, graceful. He appeared tall but he really wasn't. Stuart was only about two inches taller than Justin. His lips looked like plump dark pink ribbons and they were constantly rippling in an impish smirk. Justin wondered what those lips felt like then suddenly he had to chase off an image of Brian in bed with this beguiling man. He surprised himself with that fantasy and for a moment he felt disoriented.
Footsteps on the stairs made them all look in that direction expecting Kate to come back up to the roof. Instead, Richard emerged with a pair of Brian's jeans draped over his shoulder. He was holding a cocktail of his own and he smiled jovially at his guests as he crossed the roof garden.
"Hello, boys."
"Hey," Brian said, taking his jeans from Richard with a little smile. "Thanks."
"Yeah, you'd better get dressed, sonny. I had three messages on my voicemail about a couple of young guys screwing on my roof. People almost called the cops."
Justin's jaw dropped and he stared at Richard in horrified shock. "Oh my God," he said, feeling the blood run out of his face. "People you know live in these buildings right here?"
Richard chuckled amiably. "Oh, everyone said it was a great show. One of the messages was from a colleague in my office--nice woman, a trader in her forties who lives on the top floor of that building." He pointed to the high-rise apartment over his left shoulder. "She has a pair of high powered binoculars and she said she watched the whole thing at close range." He winked at Justin playfully. "She asked me to tell the blond boy he has a great little tushy."
He closed his eyes and sighed, completely mortified.
"Justin," Brian said and he looked at his lover miserably. "Richard's kidding."
Looking up at their host, Justin was immeasurably relieved to see the sparkle in Richard's pretty gray eyes. He grinned hugely.
"I'm sorry, kiddo," he said. "I couldn't resist. But now we know what you two did all day, don't we?" He ruffled Brian's hair affectionately. "Here, let me hold your drink while you get decent. Stuart's a married man now, don't be torturing him."
Brian handed over his cocktail and then stood up unabashedly, letting the towel Justin had draped over his lap simply fall to the ground. Richard looked over at Stuart as Brian stepped into his jeans.
"Easy, big guy," Kate's husband teased.
Justin didn't know what else to do, so he grabbed the towel and wound it up into a tube, snapping Brian's naked belly with it irritably.
"Ouch!" Brian reached for the sore spot, which was already welting and turning red. He turned on Justin with an icy glare. "What the hell was that?"
"That was for showing off," Justin grumbled. "You stood up like that on purpose."
"Stuart has seen my naked a hundred times!" Brian protested. "And I truly doubt Richard gives a shit."
Richard laughed heartily as he sat down on the warm concrete beside Stuart. "My goodness, there's a lot of tension up here! I think we all need these drinks."
Brian was still pissed about being smacked and he reached for the rolled up towel in Justin's hand, pulling at it roughly. "Give me this towel," he barked.
Justin quickly set his cocktail on the floor by the lounge chair then grabbed the towel with both hands, knowing that if he didn't keep Brain from getting it, he was going to be blistered from angry wallops.
"Give me the fucking towel--LET GO!" Brian's brow was knit petulantly but he was laughing. "Justin--fucking let go!"
They tugged back and forth on the towel until Brian's greater height, strength and agitation got the upper hand. Justin never let go of the towel so he was simply lifted up when Brian pulled hard enough. Once he was out of the chair, Brian procured the towel easily but instead of snapping Justin's skin with it, he grabbed the boy'swrists and wound the towel around to hold them.
"Brian!" Justin struggled against his lover's strong, warm body trying to free his hands. "Stop it . . ." he groaned.
"You little shit, that really hurt," Brian hissed against his young lover's ear. He was still smiling but he was using all his strength to keep Justin's wrists bound. "I'm going to have a huge welt."
Their struggles had moved them down to the other end of the roof garden, away from Richard and Stuart. Justin turned his face up to speak softly to Brian, even though they were well out of earshot. "You were acting like a asshole showing your dick off to Stuart like that," he said, looking right in Brian's eyes. "I don't care if he has seen it a thousand times--you're supposed to be MY lover now! That pissed me off."
"Oh, did it?" Brian said facetiously, fighting a grin. He bent forward and dug his teeth into the soft flesh of Justin's neck right above his shoulder. He growled deeply.
"Ooouuuwwwww . . ." Justin was only mock struggling then. Truth was he found the rough contact brutally arousing. "Brian . . . stop it, you'll get me hard . . . stop it!" He started giggling and lost his strength, then Brian's arms were around him in a tight clutch.
"Apologize," Brian instructed.
"No, you were being a shit!"
Brian laughed and bit Justin's shoulder again, holding him close against his body with his arms. He reached down between Justin's legs and cupped his genitals in his large hand. He didn't squeeze, he just held on tight enough to make his intentions clear. Justin froze, breathing hard from their play fighting. He tried not to think about how good Brain's hand felt on those very sensitive parts of his body.
"Please let go . . ." he softly begged.
"Apologize," Brian stated.
"The fuck I will!. You deserved it." He knew he was asking for trouble and he looked up to see if Kate had returned yet. Justin thought he might need her help soon.
Richard and Stuart were still sitting on the concrete floor beside the lounge chair sipping their drinks. Richard was facing his companion and saying something in a low voice. Stuart was looking directly into Justin's eyes.
"Apologize, you little shit," Brian said, his voice a forceful, erotic purr. "I'll chew your ear off and swallow it."
"No," Justin said and he could feel his lover's cock heating up as it pressed against his backside. He rubbed his butt cheeks against it teasingly.
"I insist," Brian said.
"I insist that you deserved it." Justin wriggled again and Brian's grip tightened. His teeth grazed the soft tissue of Justin's earlobe.
"You're just jealous," Brian whispered. "It's making you behave badly."
"I am NOT the one who behaved badly," Justin hissed back. "If you want him to see your dick so bad, go fuck him, why don't you!" He twisted hard but Brian's grasp was tight. Justin was unable to break free. Suddenly angry, his heart pounded and he pressed against Brian's body from behind, indicating that this wasn't fun anymore. He was done playing.
All at once Brian let go, but he caught Justin's right arm and spun him around so they were facing each other. Forehead to forehead, they looked in each other's eyes.
"Listen," Brian said very softly. "I do NOT want to fuck him, all right? But you are going to have to get over us flirting. Stuart and I don't know how else to communicate. There's nothing to it. Just ignore it."
"There IS something to it, Brain," Justin insisted. "You loved him. I remember, even if you don't. You were fucking crushed when he got married."
"Look at me." Brian pulled the boy closer, locking his gaze on Justin. "That was four hundred life times ago! Let the past deal with itself, Justin. What's happening here and now is nothing more than some harmless banter. Let it go. I won't put up with you flipping out every time I make eye contact with Stuart Jones."
They just looked at each other for a long time, both still breathing hard. After what seemed like an eternity Brian spoke again, his voice still a hoarse whisper.
"At some point you'll have to trust me," he said.
"Oh?" Justin raised his eyebrows defiantly. "Why is that?"
Standing back, Brian set his jaw and sighed. "Because I asked you to."
All his angry determination seemed to simply melt and he just stared at Brian. Images came into his mind of the passed few months--all the things he and Brian had done together, all the things they had said. The fear and craziness of the attack, the uncertainty during his recovery, the arguments they had about why Brian was REALLY sticking so close to him after his release from the hospital.
Around and around they'd gone on that subject and they always ended up right back at the same place--right where they were then. Brian had told him a hundred times he was there because he wanted to be there. It wasn't out of guilt, it wasn't out of loyalty and it wasn't because he wanted to protect Justin from any further harm. Brian wanted to be with him. He never promised anything he couldn't give and he always seemed to be pushing his own personal envelope with each new situation, but Brian stayed.
It was always Justin that fought it. To him, it all seemed too simple to be true. The only way he could handle everything that was happening was to distance himself emotionally--as much as he could, anyway. He wanted Brian badly and loved him so much it hurt, but Justin also knew that having Brian could potentially hurt a great deal worse.
"I'm going back over there, okay?" Brian said softly. "Regardless of what you think, I'm not planning to have sex him. But I do want to spend some time with him. You probably can't take this like I mean it, but I've missed Stuart."
Justin looked down, feeling childish and annoyed with himself.
Brian lifted his chin and looked at him. "So, is it all right if we go hang out with my friends? If you're not careful, you might actually like them."
"I like Kate and Richard a lot," he mumbled.
"Well, I can't force you to give Stuart and Vince a chance, but you might be pleasantly surprised if you do. They're both very cool."
"Vince isn't even here."
"And that should tell you something," Brian said. "If Vince isn't worried about Stuart being alone with me, then you don't need to worry, either. They're married, for fuck's sake. And Vince has never trusted me before."
Justin lowered his chin sarcastically. "What a surprise that must have been, Brian. You kept fucking his fianc behind his back."
Brian only chuckled a little smugly.
Justin glanced over at Stuart again and the handsome Irishman was still looking right at him. Taking a deep breath, he said "if he tries anything . . . I swear to God, Brian. I'll toss him off the roof."
Brian tried not to laugh but lost the battle. He shook his head and pulled Justin into a hug. "You're damned jealous for someone who isn't my boyfriend."
"Whatever," Justin muttered.
From across the roof garden he could feel the Irishman's eyes on him, searching his face, his body language, watching everything. He didn't know why his actions were of so much interest to Stuart, but Justin wished he would stop staring.
Stuart:
As they watched the play fight going on between Brian and his boy lover, Richard leaned over and whispered to him.
"Someone is dreadfully jealous of you, my friend."
"That's mad," Stuart said. "Brian and I are just having a laugh."
"I know that, but the kid doesn't. Maybe you should put his mind at ease." Richard offered an affable smile. "Brian's enough trouble for Justin without the added pressure of an ex-lover kicking up dust. You're something of a legend to the poor boy, I'm afraid. At least that's the way Kate tells it."
Stuart watched while Brian struggled with his lover on the other end of the roof garden, a bit amazed by how sad the spectacle made him feel. He wasn't sad because they were arguing, he was sad because Brian had clearly moved on from him. Stuart thought of Brian often and had been looking forward to seeing him that weekend. But as he watched his American lover and that very young man having their vehement discussion, he knew that he'd lost his window with Brian Kinney. Not that he really wanted to revisit the affair they'd had, but he'd lie to say he hadn't wanted the door to remain open--at least for a few snogs once in a while. Brian was such a lovely kisser, after all.
"I mean, unless I'm misinterpreting things," Richard said. "And you and Vince have an open relationship . . ." He waited for Stuart's reply with his eyebrows raised inquisitively.
Laughing softly, Stuart said "believe me, Richard. My marriage is far from open. If I so much as look at another bloke, I get the cold shoulder for weeks. Vince is very possessive."
"That's what I figured. So, this little flirty thing you're doing with Brian is just . . . goofing off."
He shrugged. "It's just . . . the way we are with each other. Doesn't mean anything." He lowered his chin and looked in Richard's sparkly gray eyes. "Don't worry, Mr. Stephani. I won't get in trouble. And I won't get Brian in trouble, either." Stuart watched the two Americans for a thoughtful moment. "But it is weird . . . him being . . ."
"In love?" Richard offered.
The sound of the words impacted Stuart in an almost physical way. He looked down at the olives in his drink because he didn't want to look at Brian anymore. "Yeah," he said. "That. It's strange to see him like that."
"Well, from what I remember seeing you and Bri together at Claridge's . . . you two were pretty close."
"Yeah . . ." Stuart sipped his drink then took a deep breath. "That was a different time for both of us. Now, I just . . . want to be friends." He grinned at Richard impishly. "But there's no harm in flirting with your friends, is there?"
Kate's footsteps on the stairs preceded her cheerful voice as she returned to the roof garden with her drink and a bottle of aloe lotion. She walked over to where Stuart and her husband sat on the warm concrete and looked over at Brian and Justin as they continued their intense conversation.
"What's this?" she said. "Issues?"
"I'll give you a recap," Richard said. "Brian stood up in front of Stuart without his pants on and Justin didn't like that so he snapped Brian in the tummy with a rolled up towel. This did not bode well for our Bri. He got mad, dragged the kid over there and they are now in the throes of either killing each other or working it out."
"Ah," Kate said. "I see. Well, Brian should know better than to run around naked on our roof. Especially in front of my lecherous Stuey." She stroked his curls affectionately.
"I didn't touch him," Stuart insisted.
"Maybe not," she said. "But I'm sure you mauled him with your eyes."
"No law against that." He winked at her.
"I thought since Vince can't join us that we'd just stay here for dinner," Richard said. "Give me a chance to try that pasta thing I made up last week on objective humans."
"Oh, that's yummy," she enthused. "He did this tomato and chicken with basil thing that curled my toes. Fab. Are you sure you don't mind cooking again, sweetie?"
"I welcome the chance." Richard stood up and called to get Brian's attention. "I'm making pasta for dinner, is that okay with you guys?"
"That's great," Brian said. He had his arms around Justin as they walked back over to the lounge chair. "You don't feel like going out?"
"Let's wait until Vince is with us," Kate said. "Besides, Richard has this dish he wants to make for you guys. It's totally yummy."
"Well, let me help you, at least," Justin said. "I love to cook."
"Excellent," Richard said. "Then it's you and me, kid. The rest of you behave yourselves up here. I don't want to have to call the authorities." He put his arm around Justin's shoulders and they went down the stairs into the house.
Brian stretched out on the chaise lounge and picked up his drink, stirring the mixture with the skewered olives. Kate sat beside Stuart on the warm concrete, her arm leaning over Brian's leg.
"You and Blondie aren't really fighting, are you?" she asked Brian.
He shook his head. "He's jealous." He smiled at Stuart. "Sorry about flashing you."
"Yeah, I'm sure you're a wreck about it," Stuart teased. "Cunt. If we're going to be `just friends', you have to be fair, Brian. I'm only human."
Smiling, Brian leaned forward and gave Stuart a lingering, sweet kiss. They smiled at each other a bit hungrily and Stuart felt his blood race from the connection.
"You can't kiss me anymore, either," he told the American in a soft, sad voice.
Brian looked down, swirling his olives in his drink. "I know. But give me one more before I really have to stop." He covered Stuart's mouth with his, gently kissing him again.
"Hey, now . . ." Kate warned, keeping her voice quiet, just for them. "Consider me the branch officer of the local Frenching Police. You two have your tongues in the wrong mouths."
"So write us a ticket," Brian murmured, nibbling Stuart's bottom lip.
"I'm serious," Kate said. "You guys are THIS close to wearing my drink."
Brushing his nose across the soft stubble on Brian's chin, Stuart moved away reluctantly. They exchanged an almost sheepish smile.
"Your young one is quite nice, actually," Stuart said. "Lovely body."
Brian settled back against the lounge chair. "Yeah. He's sweet."
For a moment Stuart just watched Brian's face as he stirred his martini with the stick full of olives. Even though it had only been three months since they last saw each other, Brian looked very different to him. His haircut pronounced the structure of his cheekbones and the curve of his full, erotic lips. The shape of the cut also made those beautiful hazel eyes stand out more. Brian was naturally stunning, but at that moment in the last of the Manhattan daylight, he was ethereal.
"Brian's in love," Kate said softly. She was looking at him, too, and must have been seeing him the same way Stuart had.
Brian said nothing. He gave her a bored look and sipped his drink, apparently not interested in refuting her statement.
"That's what I thought," Stuart said playfully.
Those hazel eyes locked on his. "You did?"
"I watched you sleeping together," he explained. "You looked . . . very peaceful. At ease."
"That happens when people are unconscious," Brian retorted.
Stuart winked at him. "Seriously--your lad's lovely. Don't hold out any hope that he'll ever be able to tolerate ME, but I think he's nice."
"Nice as in sexy or nice as in nice?" Brian asked.
"Nice," Stuart said.
Brian looked at Kate again and she patted his knee.
"It's okay to be in love, you know," she said. "In fact, most people think it's pretty cool."
He still made no reply, he just looked down into his drink as though everything he wouldn't say was floating there on the surface of the vodka.
"How's the married thing?" he asked, turning his lovely eyes to Stuart. "I mean, really. Is it what you wanted it to be?"
Stuart's mind filled with images of their honeymoon in Athens. His favorite memory was of Vince sleeping one afternoon in their hotel room. Stuart had come in from a walk on the beach and found his partner stretched out on the bed in a tangle of sheets, his body tanned from days lying naked in the sun. He was like a work of art in that golden room, sleeping so comfortably in the rumpled crush of their honeymoon bed. In that moment, Stuart had known Vince was really his. That beautiful creature had committed himself to Stuart with all his heart and soul and as he stood there, he felt a huge rush of amazing fortune. Stuart knew he would remember that moment for the rest of his life.
"Yeah," he said, his voice almost a whisper. "It's fucking excellent."
Brian smiled slowly, as though the meaning of the words were sinking in and taking soft hold deep inside him. "I'm glad," he said.
Smiling into those beautiful, haunted hazel eyes, Stuart believed he really was.
Kate:
It takes Justin until after my husband's luscious dinner to actually speak to Stuey, but once they start talking they do okay. The kid shows his smarts by choosing an innocuous topic and the two of them chat for a while about the differences in television ads in the UK and the States. Eventually we all get into the discussion and it becomes a pretty cool conversation.
A few times during after dinner drinks in the living room I spy Justin watching Brian very closely. He isn't ogling, he's clocking--making sure his naughty beau doesn't flirt with Stuey without him knowing. Justin catches me looking at him once and he blushes. I make sure to smile to let him know his secret is safe with me.
I like Justin. Didn't think I would, but I do. And I think he's good for Bri. Now, we wait and see if Brian will LET the boy be good for him.
I walk Stuart out to his cab to kiss him goodnight and while we're hugging, he whispers to me that he likes Justin, too.
"Don't tell Brian," he says, smirking. Always the smirk with my Stuey.
"Mum's the word," I tell him. "Kiss Vince for me--on his tummy right above his navel." I wink and Stuart giggles at our inside joke. Whenever we ask to send a kiss by proxy, we always specify exactly where it should go.
"I'll meet you and Brian in front of the Javitz convention center, yeah?" he asks as he's getting in the cab.
"Bright and early, baby. 7:45."
He rolls his eyes. "Christ. See you then, luv. Good night." He kisses my hand one more time before he shuts the door and I blow him another kiss as the taxi drives off.
As I walk back up the steps to the house I see the light in the upstairs guestroom go on. I grin thinking about how Richard and I stifled our giggles the night before while we listened to the boys doing each other. Brian has such deep, erotic moans. We could tell just by the raw, abandoned sound of them that he's totally into that kid.
I stop on the porch for a second to look out at the city. Our Manhattan neighborhood has a distinctive scent at night--a mixture of vehicle exhaust, wet grass, warm concrete, the peanut and chestnut venders and a combination of all the local eateries. A few people stroll by on the sidewalk below me and they glance up with amiable smiles. I wish them a good night and go inside the house, feeling like life just couldn't get any nicer.
Of course I've lived long enough to know that feeling is always a bad sign.
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