Innocent Betrayal

Chapter 1

Plot Bunny courtesy of Carmina

Justin was running around the house trying to find his keys. He was already late to his mother house for their monthly family dinner and knew she was going to be upset because of it.

"Luke, are you sure you haven't seen them?" Justin called from underneath the bed.

"Justin, if I had seen them, don't you think I would have said something? Now why don't we just take my car, and we'll look for them later. Your Mom is going to flip if we don't get there soon," Luke replied laughing as he watched his partner searching under the bed.

"But I'm going to need them for tomorrow. I have to drop the rest of the canvases off at the gallery by noon," Justin explained, getting off the floor in a panic.

"We'll find them when we get home, I promise. In fact, I refuse to go to sleep tonight unless we have those keys. Okay?"

Justin smiled at Luke, loving how supportive his lover was. They had been together for over four years now, and Justin couldn't ask for a better partner. Luke was the first guy that Justin had met that was completely happy to sit back and let Justin be exactly who he was; a true eccentric artist. They had met at Justin’s first showing and for Luke it was love at first sight. Justin had noticed him from across the room and picked him out as his trick of the night, but soon they became something so much more. After a few months of dating, Justin knew he loved the man and even if it wasn’t the all consuming, head over heels kind of love, it was enough for him. They moved in together on their first anniversary and Justin had been happy ever since.

“Okay, but remember...no fucking until they are found,” Justin teased, placing a soft kiss on Luke’s mouth.

“Now you know I’ll find them, Babe,” Luke laughed in reply. “Now let’s get going. I hate facing your mother’s wrath when we’re late for her family dinner.”

They kissed once more and headed out the door hand in hand. Justin looked over to the house next door noticing the U-Haul parked in the driveway.

“Looks like we’re finally getting our new neighbors.”

“Yeah, let’s just hope that they aren’t a couple of homophobic assholes like the last ones,” Luke replied, thinking back to the last neighbors they had.

“What? You didn’t enjoy being called a faggot every time you went to the mailbox?” Justin chuckled, knowing how upset Luke would get when he was treated differently.

“Not really, no. In fact, if Wendy and John hadn’t put their house on the market, I think I would have suggested we move. There’s no way I would have wanted to spend the next fifty years next to people like that,” Luke explained.

“Well, hopefully we won’t have to worry about that anymore. No let’s go. If we hurry, we’ll only be a half hour late,” Justin said as he climbed in the car.

Brian was looking around at their new house, wondering if they had made the right decision. It was Kyle’s idea to give up their loft by Liberty Avenue and move into a family type community. Brian had his reservations about living in the “straight” community, but finally agreed to his partner’s request. He figured that if things got bad, they could always sell the house and move back to their loft, which Brian hadn’t gotten around to putting on the market yet.

“Hey Babe, get your head out of the clouds and help me finish unloading the truck already. You’ll have time to daydream later,” Kyle teased, knowing how much Brian hated to be accused of daydreams. It was a private joke between them, since Kyle knew Brian didn’t believe in dreams. His rotten childhood managed to take away all of his dreams and fantasies, leaving him with a cold view of the world and everyone in it. In fact, Kyle had to work on Brian for over a year before he finally got Brian to consider what they had as a relationship. Now, five years later, they were together in every sense of the word and Brian did seem to be happy. He still couldn’t share his feelings with anyone, but Kyle knew that Brian loved him; as much as he was capable of loving anyone.

“Watch it, Kyle or you will be spending the first night in our new house on the couch,” Brian warned. He hated when Kyle accused him of dreaming. He gave up on dreams a long time ago. Jack Kinney saw to that.

“Ouch...okay, sorry, but I could use some help here, you know?”

“I’m not the one who refused to hire a moving company,” Brian pointed out.

“I told you before that I’m not throwing money away on something that we can do ourselves. I don't care how much money you're sitting on, got it?" Kyle explained once again. He knew he was beginning to sound like a broken record, but he didn't care. Brian Kinney may be worth a couple of million, but there was no way Kyle was going to allow him to spend it on frivolous things.

“It has nothing to do with how much money I’m sitting on. It has to do with making the move easier. If we had hired that moving company I talked to, we would be all settled in and sitting poolside by now,” Brian sighed, tired of the way Kyle always turned everything into an argument about money.

“Brian, I told you years ago that your money was yours and I had no intention of using it to make our lives easier. Between my job and yours, we make more than enough to live a good life,” Kyle pointed out once again.

“So what am I supposed to do with my bank book? Throw it out? This is bullshit, Ky! I’m sick of feeling as if what I want doesn’t matter. I have a right to spend that money anyway I want and I sure as hell don’t need your permission. You wanted to move everything ourselves? Well, knock yourself out. I’ll be out by the pool!” he exclaimed, stomping off towards the back yard.

Kyle sighed over his partner’s theatrics. He knew how upset Brian got when he refused to let him spend any money, but Kyle couldn’t help but feel like a kept man when Brian tried to use the money he received from his parents death to fund something for them. Being with someone with that kind of money could cause a man to feel less of a man and Kyle refused to let that happen. He took a deep breath and followed the path Brian took, finding him standing by the pool.

"I'm sorry, Bri. It's just that you know how I feel about your money. When we're a couple of old queens, trying to live off social security we can think about using your money, but until then I want to make it on our own. Can you blame me for that? How would you feel if it was the other way around? If I was the one with money and you had to work for every little cent?"

"That's bullshit, Kyle! You're a doctor, for fuck's sake. You make more than enough money to support yourself without me, so don't make it sound like you’re teetering on the poverty line. In fact, between the two of us we make a very comfortable living, which is why we were able to put such a large down payment on the house. Spending a couple thousand out of my money to pay someone to pack us up and move us wouldn't have been a big deal. I’m just so tired of having to do without something because it doesn’t fit into the budget you set for us,” Brian explained angrily.

“Alright, how about this. In two months, we will be celebrating out fifth anniversary. How about if I let you spring for a wonderful vacation in some tropical setting? We’ll lay on the beach sipping drinks with the umbrellas in them and fucking all night long. How does that sound?” Kyle asked, taking Brian into his arms.

Brian looked at Kyle suspiciously. “You’re going to let me pay? For everything?”

“Well...you can pay for,” Kyle stopped when he saw Brian glare at him. “Yes, you can pay for everything,” he laughed.

“Alright then. I call a travel agent and set something up. Any suggestions on where you would like to go?”

“Surprise me,” Kyle replied, placing a soft kiss on Brian’s mouth. “You know I love you, don’t you?”

“I know. Now let’s get that truck unpacked,” Brian replied, heading towards the front.

Kyle stood there watching Brian walk away before mumbling to himself, “and maybe one day you’ll love me just as much.”

Justin and Luke returned home later that night to find their new neighbors still working at unpacking the moving truck.

"Do you think we should offer to help them? It's getting dark out and soon they won't be able to see what their doing," Luke said, curious as to who they were.

"Do you think that's a good idea? After what we went through last time, it might be better to keep our distance," Justin replied, anxious about what they could be getting themselves into.

"Look, Jus…we are who we are, and they are our neighbors. They'll find out about us sooner or later anyway. Besides, it's not like I plan on going over their and announcing you as my lover…unless they ask. We'll just go over and introduce ourselves and offer to help," Luke explained gently.

"You're right. We are who we are, and if they don't like it they can kiss my ass. Let's go," Justin stated, climbing out of the car.

Justin and Luke approached the truck, hearing someone moving around inside.

"Excuse me. We live next door and couldn't help but notice that you've been moving since early this morning. Would you like some help?" Luke asked the faceless person inside.

"Yes! Bless you! I was beginning to think we would never get done. Just don't tell my boyfriend I said that. He's still mad that I refused to hire a moving company. My name's Kyle McDermott," Kyle replied, climbing out of the truck.

"You're boyfriend?" Justin asked incredulously.

"Yeah…shit, is that a problem?" Kyle questioned nervously. The last thing he needed was to find out that his neighbors were homophobic after it took months to get Brian to agree to move to the suburbs.

"Not at all. My name is Luke Stevens, and this rude shit is my boyfriend Justin Taylor," Luke chuckled, extending his hand. He felt a light smack on his arm from Justin, which caused him to laugh harder.

"I'm sorry, Kyle. It's just that our last neighbors were total homophobes and I guess I just figured we were going to get more of the same," Justin explained apologetically. He was eying the man appreciatively. He was tall, with soft features and all American good looks. If Justin hadn’t been happily partnered with Luke, he might have tried to make a play for him.

"That's okay, I understand. Brian was convinced that we didn't belong in the suburbs. He claims they’re for straight people. I guess he tends to be a little bit of a heterophobe,” Kyle explained with a chuckle.

“I know what you mean. Justin’s one of them, too. He thinks everyone hates us, but this neighborhood isn’t too bad. We don’t go to any potluck dinners, but we do get a wave here and there. The real trouble came from the Henderson’s. They actually sold their house to get away from “our kind”. In fact, I’m guessing they didn‘t know you‘re gay, otherwise they would have declined the sale on principle,” Luke replied with a touch of bitterness.

“I guess that would explain the look we got after all the paperwork was signed and I kissed Brian. Damn, if I had known I would have really put on a show for them,” Kyle laughed.

“I would have paid to see that,” Justin laughed with him. “So where would you like us to start?”

“Oh yeah, I guess standing around here all night talking isn’t getting anything done, huh? Oh, here’s Brian now,” Kyle pointed out, looking towards the front door. “Hey babe, come meet our new neighbors.”

Justin looked over at the man coming out of the door and suddenly it was as if the world fell off it’s axis. Brian was the most beautiful man he had ever seen and he couldn’t seem to look away, his eyes drawn to the luscious lips that began moving, although Justin couldn’t seem to hear what they were saying.

“Is this what you’ve been doing while I was busting my ass inside?” Brian teased as he joined the others.

“Hey, what can I say? I was being neighborly,” Kyle replied with a smile. “Brian, this is Luke,” he said, nodding at the brown haired man.

“Nice to meet you, Luke.”

“And this is his boyfriend, Justin,” Kyle added, gesturing to the blond.

“You too...uh...Justin,” Brian stammered, suddenly noticing the blond to his right. He looked into a pair of deep blue eyes and lost the ability to think let alone speak coherently.

Justin took the offered hand and tried not to visibly recoil from the jolt that he felt shoot from his hand all the way down to his groin. “Welcome to the neighborhood...uh...Brian.”

“Hey Bri, they offered to help us finish unloading the truck. Isn’t that nice of them?” Kyle asked, placing his arm around his partner.

“Yeah...that’s uh...great. I guess we better get to work,” Brian replied, pulling away from Kyle and climbing back into the truck.

The foursome spent the next two hours unloading the rest of the truck effortlessly, getting to know each other in the process. Kyle and Luke laughed at the irony of them living next to each other, neither one of them aware of the tension between their partners. Brian focused on the unpacking, his mind reeling from the feelings he was experiencing from being with Justin. He didn’t understand what his problem was. He’d never had that kind of reaction to another man before and it puzzled him now. Maybe it was just because he was tired. They’d spent the last few days packing up the loft and moving. He probably just needed some sleep. At least that was what he was telling himself.

Justin was lost. He couldn’t seem to concentrate on anything other than the hazel eyed man that was moving in next door to them. He was confused by what he was feeling each time Brian walked into the same room as him, not to mention the guilt he was feeling. He felt as if he was betraying Luke by lusting after their new neighbor. In their years together, they hadn’t always been monogamous, but they had been for the last two years and before that it was only occasional tricking. This, whatever it was, just felt wrong, and Justin couldn’t wait to go home and get away from both Kyle and Brian.

“Hey, I’m really beat. Is it alright if we head home?” Justin asked Luke as soon as he could get him alone. “The truck is empty now.”

“Sure. Is everything alright? Are you feeling okay?” Luke asked with concern.

“Yeah, I’m just tired and I have to move all those canvases in the morning. If you want to stay a little longer,” Justin began to suggest, kind of wishing he could have a little time alone to sort out what had happened to him.

“No, that’s okay. I’m a little tired, too. How about I take you home and give you one of my famous back rubs?” Luke offered suggestively.

“Back rubs? Why is it that when you give me a back rub, you hardly spend any time on my back?” Justin chuckled.

“Because there are so many other places on you that I find more interesting,” Luke laughed, kissing Justin soundly.

“Oops! Sorry,” Kyle said sheepishly when he walked in on his new neighbors kissing. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“That’s okay. It’s your house,” Justin replied blushing.

“Hey Kyle, we’re going to head home, alright? Blondie here is a little tired and I want to take him home and put him to bed,” Luke teased, holding Justin close.

Brian walked in at that moment and couldn’t help the little twinge of jealousy that came over him. He wouldn’t mind being able to put the blond to bed, although neither one of them would be getting any sleep. He shook his head to rid himself of those thoughts before speaking.

“Thanks for all the help. We owe you one.”

“No problem, it was fun. Hey, maybe we can get together one night? There’s a new Italian place down the road that Justin and I have been meaning to try,” Luke suggested.

“That sounds great, doesn’t it Brian? How about Friday night? I’m not on call at the hospital this weekend,” Kyle replied excitedly. He was genuinely happy to have a nice couple living next door. At the loft all the neighbors kept to themselves.

“Oh, you’re a doctor? Justin asked.

“Shit Babe, you must really be tired. He told us that earlier while we were outside. Don’t you remember?” Luke looked at Justin, his concern growing.

Justin gave an apologetic smile and just shrugged, knowing that he didn't hear the conversation due to his preoccupation with Brian. He needed to get out of there. "I guess I'm more tired than I thought."

"Well let's get you home then. Kyle, Brian, welcome to the neighborhood. Friday night sounds great. We'll talk before than and set up a time. Good luck settling in,” Luke offered as he led Justin towards the door.

"Thank again, Guys. We'll talk soon," Kyle said as he showed them out. Once the door was closed he turned around and addressed Brian.

“What's was wrong with you tonight? Our neighbors were nice enough to come over here and help us and you barely said two words."

"Sorry Ky, I'm just tired. I'm going to take a shower. I'll do some more unpacking while you're at work tomorrow," Brian replied as he headed towards the bathroom.

"Do you want some company?" Kyle asked suggestively.

"Uh…not tonight. I'm really tired," Brian replied, ignoring the hurt expression that crossed Kyle's face.

Brian made his way into the shower and revealed in the feel of the hot water running over his body. He reached for the soap and lathered up before gliding his hand to his semi hard cock. He began stroking it, visions of the blond running through his mind. It didn't take long before he shot his load, silently whispering Justin's name as he came. He was beginning to think they should have stayed in the loft, just like he suggested.

As soon as Justin got home he took a shower after declining Luke's offer to wash his back. He needed some time alone to work through the feelings that Brian's presence was creating. Once he found a quick release, prompted by Brian's image, he made his way to the bed and collapsed. That was where Luke found him a little while later.

"I found your keys. They were on top of the microwave,” Luke told him as he walked in the room and began undressing.

“Thanks,” Justin mumbled in reply.

“Are you sure everything is alright, Babe? You don't seem yourself."

"What the fuck is wrong with you? I fucking told you I'm just tired," Justin snapped angrily.

“Okay! Jeez, you don't have to bite my head off!" Luke exclaimed, his own anger building.

Justin sighed, feeling bad about yelling at Luke. He was only showing his concern. "I'm sorry, Luke. I really am just tired. I'm going to try to go to sleep so I can be my normal, cheerful self tomorrow."

"Sounds good to me, cause I'm not liking this Justin too much right now," Luke replied coldly, climbing into bed next to Justin.

"Come here," Justin whispered, pulling Luke in his arms to try to make peace.

They lay there together quietly, but while Luke drifted off to sleep contentedly, Justin stayed awake for a long time, trying to figure out what he was going to do about his attraction to Brian. It made him wish the Henderson's were still living next door.

End of part 1
5/30/04

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